Chapter 21: The Lin Family of Yanjing

Lin Chuanzhi watched as his wife and son chatted away, and as Liu Runli sang their son's praises to the skies, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. Finally, unable to hold back, he turned to Liu Runli and said, “Alright, that’s enough! Back when I built the Lin Group into such a huge corporation, I don’t remember you ever praising me like this!”

It was only because Lin Chuanzhi truly couldn’t stand it any longer that he blurted this out, though the question itself was rather childish—what father gets jealous of his own son? Of course a mother’s love for her child might sometimes surpass her affection for her husband; that was perfectly normal.

But today, Lin Chuanzhi seemed determined to compete with Lin Feng for his wife’s favor, shedding the stern fatherly image he usually maintained before his son. After decades together, he had never received such lavish praise from his wife as Lin Feng was getting now. Why should it be so? In short, Lin Chuanzhi was feeling distinctly out of sorts.

Unfortunately, he had picked the wrong moment. Today, Liu Runli was in no mood to let anyone belittle her son—not even Lin Chuanzhi. Seeing her husband’s disgruntled expression, she was just about to question him when Lin Feng, sensing the impending argument, quickly stepped in as peacemaker. He interposed himself between his parents, coaxing his mother, “That’s right, Mom. I wouldn’t have achieved any of this without Dad’s support. Not to mention, Dad was the one who invested half a billion in my company—without that money, I wouldn’t have been able to start up at all. Dad deserves the most credit.”

Lin Feng’s words immediately restored Lin Chuanzhi’s good humor. Pleased, he beamed at his son, his pride evident in his expression as he basked in the praise. As for Liu Runli, she was less than pleased, but with Lin Feng standing between them, she decided not to argue further with her husband.

“Hmph! Lin Feng, why are you taking the old man’s side? He hardly did anything. All he ever did before was lecture you. He’s the worst one in this family,” Liu Runli grumbled, clearly unhappy that Lin Feng was siding with his father.

Lin Feng didn’t respond to her complaint, instead turning to his father. He hadn’t forgotten the reason for his rushed return home—it had all started with that urgent phone call from Lin Chuanzhi. Looking at his father, he asked, “By the way, Dad, you called me so anxiously earlier. Was something wrong? You said it was hard to explain over the phone, but now I’m home. You can tell me now.”

Lin Chuanzhi sighed. “It’s not good news. Do you remember your childhood? Where you used to live?”

“What? Chuanzhi, do you mean they’ve found us? Didn’t we agree never to contact them again? How did they show up now—are they threatening you?” Liu Runli asked, suddenly anxious.

He sighed again. “It’s because Lin Feng has become too outstanding. He’s attracted their attention. Before, they didn’t care about my little company and paltry wealth, but your company is different. In just a few days, you’re making incredible profits—and that’s only domestic sales. The international market hasn’t even launched yet. Anyone with sense can see what potential your company has. And that new operating system—well, that’s what truly tempts those old families!”

“And why should they get anything from my son? All these years, we’ve lived our own lives—never received a bit of help from them. Now they have the nerve to come and demand something?” Liu Runli fumed.

Lin Feng, however, remained calm, sitting quietly and looking up at his father with an unruffled expression. “Dad, when you say ‘they’... who do you mean?”

“They... I don’t know if you remember, but when you were small, we lived in the Lin Family Compound in Beijing. Yes, the very one you see on TV, where that prominent leader is your grandfather. He’s retired now. Back then, I left because I couldn’t see eye to eye with my brothers or the old man. So, I took your mother and you, just a little boy, and settled here in Zhanhai. After all these years of hard work, I finally built something of my own. Now, those people have set their sights on what you’ve created—they want you to hand it over,” Lin Chuanzhi explained helplessly.

“Oh, so they think a word from them is enough for me to just turn over everything? On what grounds?” Lin Feng asked evenly.

Seeing his son’s calm, unflustered demeanor, Lin Chuanzhi felt gratified. “Those old families are arrogant like that. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have broken with them in the first place.”

“Well, if you could break with them, so can I. We’ll live our own lives—no need to curry favor. What I’ve built won’t be so easily taken. If they dare reach for it, they’d better be ready to lose a hand,” Lin Feng replied, his tone cold and resolute.

“Oh? Boy, do you know what it means to go up against the Lin family, one of Beijing’s Four Great Houses? There’s nothing they want that they can’t get. What can you use to fight them?” Lin Chuanzhi asked, curious. He didn’t believe Lin Feng was naive or ignorant.

Lin Feng nodded, showing he understood the weight of the Lin family’s power, yet he seemed confident. Smiling, he said, “Don’t worry, Dad. If soldiers come, we’ll counter with generals; if water comes, we’ll use earth to stop it. Even in China, the Lin family isn’t all-powerful—they’re only one of Beijing’s four great families, after all. There are still three others. Besides, Zhanhai isn’t even within their sphere of influence.”

“Feng’er, are you really going to take them on? It’s dangerous, you know. Those families care nothing for blood ties—only for profit. For profit, there’s nothing they won’t do!” Liu Runli fretted, not knowing the full extent of Lin Feng’s abilities.

“She’s right, Lin Feng. Are you sure you want to fight them?” Lin Chuanzhi echoed her concern.

“It’s not that I want to fight them—it’s that they want to fight me. If they insist on using force, I’m ready to go to the end,” Lin Feng replied, unwavering.

To reassure his parents, Lin Feng decided to reveal his secret about the Dragon Soar Gang. He said, “But don’t worry, Mom and Dad. If they do act, it’ll be through politics or economics—those are the only two ways that suit a family like theirs. And those are precisely what I’m least afraid of. As long as the new operating system remains in my hands, they won’t dare make rash moves. As for more underhanded methods—I fear them even less. Truth is, the Dragon Soar Gang is under my control now. Do you think they could make a move in Zhanhai and get away with it?”

“What? The Dragon Soar Gang is under your control? Then the rumors—the last leader and his family were eliminated by a mysterious figure—was that you?” Lin Chuanzhi exclaimed, standing up in shock.

“Yes,” Lin Feng confirmed with a nod.

Liu Runli was so startled she began to tremble. “What? Son, you… you killed someone? How could you do such a thing?”

“There was a conflict with the Li family’s boy. Given what they’re like, they wouldn’t have let us off. I didn’t want to trouble Dad, so I handled it myself—and took over the Dragon Soar Gang in the process,” Lin Feng said lightly, as if it were nothing.

“Good. Very good! You’ve grown up. From now on, do as you see fit. I’ll stay out of the Lin family’s affairs, but whatever you do, remember to stay safe. Don’t forget—you still have family,” Lin Chuanzhi said, looking deeply at his son. He was both gratified and amazed by Lin Feng’s transformation.

“Don’t worry, Mom and Dad. I’m grown up now, and I’ll be careful,” Lin Feng reassured them, hugging his mother’s arm playfully.

“Oh, you! Still acting like a child even now,” Liu Runli laughed, patting his head.

As the family basked in their contentment, Lin Feng’s phone suddenly rang, breaking the warm atmosphere. Seeing the unfamiliar number, Lin Feng was surprised but answered the call.

“Lin Feng? Is that you? It’s Ling Shixuan,” came a woman’s voice on the other end.

“Oh, it’s you! I never thought you’d call me. Honestly, I’d expect you to keep as far away from me as possible,” Lin Feng replied with a touch of self-deprecation.

“Could you come out for a bit? I’m at the café on the first floor of Haixia Plaza,” she asked, her tone almost pleading.

Hearing her voice, Lin Feng responded coolly. In the past, he might have been thrilled to accept, but now his heart was calm, and he felt nothing for Ling Shixuan.

“Oh? Inviting me for coffee? Did I hear that right? I don’t remember us being that close.”

“I know! It’s hard to believe, but in just over two months, everything’s changed so much. Young Master Lin, you’ve certainly fooled the world! Are you really afraid to meet with a helpless woman like me?” Ling Shixuan said with a sigh.

With FutureTech’s meteoric rise, as its chairman, Lin Feng had become the talk of Zhanhai—making headlines every day. Old stories were dug up, and everyone said that his previous life had all been an act, that he was in fact an undisputed genius.

Lin Feng also knew that Ling Shixuan hadn’t had an easy time lately. Last time, news from Vermillion Bird indicated, “Ever since Wang family’s third son first met Ling Shixuan, he’s been relentlessly pursuing her.” Holding the phone, Lin Feng thought for a moment, and, unable to find a reason to refuse, finally agreed to meet her.