Chapter 40. He decided to approach him, to get closer to that last...
Just as the heavy Baccarat crystal ashtray was about to crash down with a whoosh, time seemed to stretch out abruptly.
Lin Suxing, who had been protecting his grandfather, suddenly contracted his pupils. The muscle memory he had developed over the years of practicing Sanda and Muay Thai erupted instantly under the instinct of crisis!
Instead of awkwardly retreating, he swiftly took a small half-step forward to meet the incoming weapon, simultaneously lowering his center of gravity!
At the same time, his left arm immediately moved upward and outward with lightning speed to block, and the ulna of his forearm struck the most vulnerable tendon on the inside of Lin Yuan's wrist with perfect precision!
"Ugh!" Lin Yuan's wrist suddenly felt a sharp pain and numbness, and he screamed out of control. His swinging motion instantly became deformed and the force greatly reduced.
Almost simultaneously with Lin Suxing's block, his right leg silently slipped between Lin Yuan's legs, pinning his supporting leg.
The thin young man's eyes were cold. Without the slightest hesitation, his left arm, which had successfully blocked the attack, pressed down and locked Lin Yuan's injured arm, restricting his movement.
At the same time, using the momentum of his forward thrust and lowering of his waist, his right shoulder, like a cannonball, slammed solidly into Lin Yuan's wide-open chest!
"Bang!" A dull thud.
Lin Yuan felt a tremendous force slam into his chest, forcibly squeezing the air out of his lungs. His vision went black, and his frenzied roar came to an abrupt halt; he suddenly lost his voice!
His lower body was pinned down, and his upper body was hit so hard that he immediately lost his balance.
Lin Suxing gave him no chance to catch his breath! The moment he crashed into Lin Yuan's arms, he pulled down hard with his left hand that was gripping Lin Yuan's arm, while simultaneously hooking his right leg back!
"Bang!"
Lin Yuan's massive body crashed onto the smooth, hard wooden floor like a felled tree, his head making a sickening thud as it hit the ground.
Like a fish out of water, he opened his mouth in vain, unable to even utter a scream. The violent shaking and pain instantly robbed him of his consciousness, and he fainted.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye! From the moment Lin Yuan swung the ashtray to the moment he was completely subdued and fell to the ground, it only took two or three seconds.
A deathly silence fell over the living room. Only Lin Yuan's motionless body lying on the ground and Lin Suxing's slightly rapid breathing proved that what had just happened was not an illusion.
Lin Suxing stared at his father, who lay motionless on the ground, his face turning deathly pale. He quickly took a step back, looking helplessly at his brother and grandfather, his voice filled with panic and guilt: "I'm sorry... Grandpa, brother, I... I didn't control my strength..."
It's not a good idea to knock someone's son/father to the ground and knock them unconscious in front of them.
Especially since the person who was knocked down was his own father.
Old Master Lin Dechang had recovered from his initial shock. He breathed a heavy sigh of relief, and instead of blaming Lin Suxing, his eyes were full of admiration: "Good boy! You did the right thing! Were you supposed to just stand there and let him beat you to death?! That's how it should be!"
Lin Dechang couldn't help but feel a little scared. The hardness of the Baccarat crystal ashtray was beyond what the human body could withstand. If it had hit his old bones, it would have been terrible!
If his two good grandsons weren't here today, Lin Yuan, that unfilial son, would practically kill his father on the spot! Lin Dechang glanced coldly at Lin Yuan lying on the ground, no longer caring about whether the other man lived or died.
Lin Siyi also stepped forward quickly. She first cautiously checked Lin Yuan's breathing and, after confirming that he had just fainted, straightened up and patted her younger brother's shoulder heavily, her eyes filled with undisguised admiration: "Beautiful, I didn't expect Su Xing to have this skill."
He never expected that his seemingly delicate and somewhat frail younger brother would harbor such a decisive and assertive side.
With his brother and grandfather's affirmation, Lin Suxing felt a little less guilty. He answered in a low voice, "When I was little, my adoptive mother found me a coach. I learned Sanda and Muay Thai for a while, for self-defense..."
His gaze remained fixed on Lin Yuan lying on the ground with concern. The old butler, quick-witted, had already summoned two reliable servants who quietly helped the unconscious Lin Yuan to his feet and led him away from the living room.
But the old man asked as if nothing had happened, "What exactly happened back then that caused Su Xing to be stranded abroad? Neither Lin Yuan nor He Yun ever told me about this."
Being kept in the dark is unpleasant for anyone, especially when it's something as important as having your own grandchild switched at birth.
Lin Siyi hadn't expected that her parents hadn't told her grandfather about such an important matter, and she felt quite guilty: "Grandpa, it's my fault for not telling you about this."
Grandpa Lin sighed deeply: "It has nothing to do with you. I know you're very busy in North America. Ever since they insisted on pushing Lin Heritage to become more accessible to the general public and going public, there has been a rift between us. After that, they stopped consulting me on anything."
Lin Siyi took a deep breath and began to explain: "Back then at the hospital, due to some unforeseen circumstances, Su Xing and another child were switched at birth. Lin Ke is not a member of the Lin family, while Su Xing, who is actually related to us by blood, was raised by another mother."
"What?!" Old Master Lin Dechang abruptly straightened his back from the sofa, his face instantly filled with a furious rage. He slammed his mahogany cane heavily on the ground again, making a chilling thud. "Nonsense! Utter nonsense! What are Lin Yuan and He Yun good for?! They can even mistake their own son! Letting my Lin family bloodline wander and suffer outside?!"
His gaze toward Lin Suxing was filled with indescribable heartache, as if Lin Suxing had suffered a great injustice outside.
Lin Siyi paused, then continued, "Until six months ago, I discovered that Lin Ke has type AB blood, while everyone else in our family, except him, has type O blood..."
It is well known that mothers and fathers with type O blood cannot have children with type AB blood.
"That's when we found out he wasn't our biological son. After months of searching and DNA testing, we finally found Su Xing and brought him back."
"Wasn't a blood test done at birth?" Old Master Lin was incredulous. "How could they make such a basic mistake! What idiots! Two useless pieces of trash!"
Lin Siyi remained silent for a moment, giving her grandfather time to process this shocking news.
Lin Suxing felt his grandfather's heavy gaze, filled with guilt and love. He quickly stepped forward and explained gently, "Grandpa, please don't get angry, it's not good for your health. I... I'm actually doing quite well. My adoptive mother, although she's not wealthy, is extremely good to me. She did her best to raise me, sending me to learn piano. Later, seeing that I had a good temper, she was afraid I would be bullied outside, so she saved up money to send me to learn Sanda and Muay Thai for self-defense. She is a very, very good mother."
“Su Xing’s adoptive mother is indeed a mother of excellent character, which can be seen from Su Xing’s past conduct.” Lin Siyi interjected at the right time, cleverly steer the topic in a positive direction.
He grew up with his grandfather and knew that his grandfather was the stubborn type who would get angrier the more you tried to persuade him, so the only thing to do was to change the subject.
He was worried that his grandfather's body wouldn't be able to handle being repeatedly informed of being cuckolded and his son's mental breakdown.
Getting angry at this point would be highly inappropriate.
Hearing his two grandsons say the same thing, especially Lin Suxing's sincere gratitude towards his adoptive mother, the old man's raging anger was gradually replaced by a complex mix of relief and lingering fear.
He sighed deeply, looking at Lin Suxing with a complicated expression. His tone softened, carrying the concern of an elder: "Good child, the past...sigh. So, where are you going to school now? What are your plans for the future?"
Lin Suxing lowered her eyes slightly and answered softly, "I was admitted to the film academy in S City, and now... I am an actor."
He wasn't sure if these business people who had been in business for many years would have any prejudice against celebrities in the entertainment industry, so he spoke softly.
"An actress?" The old man seemed slightly surprised, but unexpectedly, as if recalling something, a nostalgic smile appeared on his face. "Isabella's biggest dream when she was young was to be an actress. Unfortunately, she gave it up for the sake of her family. You inherited her looks, so you should shine on the screen! Good! You've chosen a good career!"
This unreserved support warmed Lin Suxing's heart.
The atmosphere in the living room eased up considerably because of Lin Suxing's presence.
Looking at his beloved grandson who had been lost and found again, Old Master Lin Dechang felt more and more gratified. As if he had suddenly remembered something, he gestured to the old butler to bring a delicate sandalwood box.
“I’m getting old, and my legs aren’t as nimble as they used to be,” the old man said, taking out a thick, sealed invitation from the box and handing it to Lin Siyi. “This is a banquet invitation sent by an old friend from China. My old bones can’t withstand this long journey.”
Lin Siyi took it with both hands, opened it, and even the usually composed Lin Siyi couldn't help but show surprise, but he quickly concealed it well.
This was no ordinary business dinner, but a private gathering hosted by three powerful families in China. The invitees were all key figures or designated heirs of their respective factions.
To his surprise, the invitation letter explicitly stated that only his grandfather, Lin Dechang, was invited; his father, Lin Yuan, and mother, Jiang Heyun, were not even listed as invitees.
“Grandpa, this…” He looked up at his grandfather, his eyes filled with inquiry.
The old man waved his hand, his expression knowing: "My old friend has always been like this, with a sharp eye and high standards. He sent the invitation specifically to this old man like me."
His gaze swept meaningfully between Lin Siyi and Lin Suxing. "Siyi, take Suxing with you. Let him see the world and meet people."
He suppressed his surprise and nodded solemnly: "Yes, Grandpa, I will make the arrangements."
***
The Tolomeo reading lamp tilted slightly, casting a warm halo on the large ebony desk and illuminating the edges of the open documents.
The light and shadow spread across the desktop, outlining the silhouette of a dark brown leather office chair, in which a tall figure sat almost blended into the darkness.
Li Xinian was slumped in the back of the chair, the light barely reaching the half of his wrist resting on the armrest, his pale skin standing out starkly in the dim light.
He tilted his head slightly, the shadow cleverly concealing the depth of his mixed-race features, with only his tightly pursed thin lips appearing faintly at the edge of the halo.
To his right, a wall of bulletproof glass windows compressed the city's night view into a flowing painting. In the distance, the lights of skyscrapers twinkled silently in the night like scattered diamonds.
"Mr. Lin has a busy schedule recently. In addition to preparing for the audition for 'I Am Immortal,' he has just confirmed that he will be shooting the cover for the next issue of Figaro magazine."
The man tapped his fingertips unconsciously on the table as he listened to his subordinate's routine report on Lin Suxing's recent situation.
Since that clumsy incident with the thugs, although he didn't say it outright, he had secretly increased the number of people protecting Lin Suxing.
Karl's voice remained steady, but he paused almost imperceptibly when mentioning the next piece of information, his tone tinged with hesitation. "However... we understand that the theme of this shoot, according to the draft concept provided by the magazine, might be... rather explicit, requiring... um, to take off one's shirt. Moreover, the editor-in-chief of *Figaro* doesn't have a good reputation in the industry, known for his bold and even slightly offensive aesthetic perspective, and his penchant for exploring the tension between vulnerability and eroticism in models and celebrities, which deters many artists who value their reputation. Mr. Li, do you think we should step in and communicate with the magazine's editor-in-chief to adjust the shooting plan?"
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Li Xinian paused his tapping on the table, a dark and unfathomable light flashing in his deep eyes.
...half-naked?
This word seemed so out of place when placed next to Lin Suxing's delicate, innocent, and somewhat naive face.
A strange sense of unease quietly arose, like tiny vines wrapping around my heart.
He could almost imagine how the boy's fair skin would be interpreted and exploited under the bright lights and countless scrutinizing gazes in that cramped photography studio filled with staff.
Why would he take on a shoot like this? Was it to become famous as quickly as possible? Or... did he encounter some unavoidable pressure?
Based on his understanding of Lin Suxing, the boy didn't seem like the type to easily compromise or sell his body for fame.
That inherent purity and stubbornness cannot be faked.
The study was so quiet that the ticking of the grandfather clock could be heard. Karl held his breath, expecting a cold "Go and get rid of it."
However, after a long while, Li Xinian's tightly pursed lips relaxed slightly. He raised his hand, rubbed his temples, and when he spoke again, his voice had returned to its usual calmness, even carrying a hint of deliberate aloofness:
"No need."
Karl was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised.
Li Xinian's gaze fell upon the deep night outside the window, as if he could see through the distance and see the young man striving for his dream.
He suppressed the vague displeasure and confusion in his heart and added in a calm tone:
"He made his own choice, and he will bear the consequences."
He simply suppressed that vague displeasure and concern deep in his heart, as if hiding a tiny spark that could burn him.
***
Several days later, in the outskirts of Beijing, China.
In the center of a meticulously maintained, expansive garden stands a magnificent ancient European-style manor.
The main body of the manor is a magnificent five-story stone building that blends the complexity of Baroque style with the solemnity of classicism. The weathered exterior walls present a serene gray-white color in the dimming light.
Surrounding the estate is a huge circular Roman-style fountain pool, with exquisite stone statues of gods encircling the pool, and a thick jet of water gushing out from the center, reflecting a golden light under the afterglow of the setting sun and the first lights of the night.
A fleet of sleek, expensive luxury cars, like a gentle school of fish, quietly and orderly circled half of the fountain along the winding driveway before finally parking precisely under the brightly lit eaves in front of the building's main entrance.
The building was brightly lit inside, with shadowy figures visible through the huge arched windows, and the faint strains of classical music could be heard.
Under the embellishment of night and lights, the entire manor resembles a magnificent and ancient stage about to stage an important drama, quietly awaiting the protagonist's appearance.
Melodious string music flowed through the high-ceilinged hall, while crystal chandeliers reflected dazzling light.
Lin Siyi, dressed in a custom-made Tom Ford black velvet evening gown, gracefully moved among the guests, gently holding Lin Suxing in her arms.
"Miss He, Mrs. Yuan, good evening." Lin Siyi raised her glass to the guests who came over because they knew him, and then naturally put her arm around her younger brother's shoulder. "This is my younger brother, Su Xing."
When Lin Siyi and Lin Suxing returned to China, the drama at the French manor had gradually subsided.
Upon hearing the news, Lady Isabella rushed back to France from Singapore and personally oversaw the estate. She sent Jenna to distant South Africa, while the young child was left in the old house to be cared for by a special person, so as to prevent Jenna from influencing the child and causing him to become wicked, and from returning with the child to extort money in the future.
Lin Yuan, on the other hand, was forced by the old lady to stay in France on the grounds of mental instability. He is currently undergoing psychological treatment and will not return to China for the time being.
Lin Siyi took over all domestic affairs, while Jiang Heyun, who originally intended to resign and leave Yunyuan Group after divorcing Lin Yuan, was temporarily retained to assist in stabilizing family affairs during the transition period.
Because the Lin family's assets were still under the names of Old Master Lin and Old Madam Lin, the handover went very smoothly without any obstacles.
"Your younger brother truly inherited the charm of Madam Lin," exclaimed a lady dressed in Chanel haute couture. Her husband was a renowned banking tycoon.
Although everyone knew that the Lin family only had two children, it was unreasonable for such a big child to suddenly appear, but there are just too many dramatic plots in wealthy families, so everyone is quite accepting of them.
However, this did not actually achieve Lin Siyi's purpose of introducing Lin Suxing: "Three days later, we will send out invitations to everyone to participate in the Lin family banquet to celebrate Suxing's return. We will also announce Suxing's background at the banquet."
"Then I'll be waiting to visit." "Okay, sure."...
Lin Siyi's solemn tone made these high-society people, who were always arrogant, look at Lin Suxing with more respect. It seemed that Lin Suxing was not an illegitimate child, otherwise the Lin family would not have held a banquet to announce his identity.
Suddenly, a few clear remarks, accompanied by a low, contemptuous laugh, drifted from the mouths of several guests passing by, landing precisely in the ears of Lin Siyi, Lin Suxing, and the others:
"Look, isn't that Lin Ke, the youngest son of the Lin family? Why is he holding Li Jingjia's hand?"
"Tsk, you didn't know that? I heard that Li Jingjia is obsessed with him lately. The two of them are always together. Their relationship is quite special."
"Heh, the Lin family has made a brilliant move. Although Li Jingjia isn't a core member of the Li family and doesn't have much real power, he has a great reputation and is certainly not short of money. If Lin Ke gets involved with him, she'll never have to worry about food and drink for the rest of her life. Besides, he can also bring some insignificant resources to the Lin family. It's always good to have a good image."
Upon hearing this, Lin Siyi and Lin Suxing both paused in their tracks and subconsciously looked in the direction of the conversation.
Sure enough, Lin Ke was there, standing by the champagne tower not far away!
The two stood together, their heights almost identical, creating an inexplicable sense of strangeness and disharmony.
The Lin family's servants only discovered Lin Ke's disappearance three days after she "escaped" from the Lin family.
At first, the food delivered to the door was untouched. Everyone assumed that Lin Ke was throwing a tantrum and didn't want to eat. Since they were already quite fond of Lin Ke, the servants didn't pay much attention, thinking that he would get his own food when he was hungry.
By the time the old housekeeper discovered that Lin Ke hadn't touched the food outside the door for three days, Lin Ke had already run away.
Lin Siyi, who received the message from the old housekeeper, said there was no need to report it to the police, because Lin Ke's escape was definitely premeditated, and he would definitely come back on his own later.
But what Lin Siyi and Lin Suxing didn't expect was that Lin Ke would actually be associated with the Li family.
Under the bright lights, Lin Ke clearly saw them. A flash of resentment and provocation crossed his eyes, and then he took Li Jingjia's arm and walked towards them.
"Oh, isn't this my dear brother, and... my 'new' younger brother?" Lin Ke's voice rose, carrying a sarcastic tone that was deliberately meant to be heard by everyone around her. Her gaze was like a poisoned needle, first piercing Lin Suxing. "I've never attended this banquet before, but you were able to attend this year as soon as you came back. That's really impressive."
Lin Siyi completely ignored his sarcastic remarks and said only, "You should have told us before you left home. Uncle Butler was also very worried about you."
These words seemed to further enrage Lin Ke. Overwhelmed by his long-suppressed resentment, he roared in a fit of rage, "Do you even care where I am?! You don't care at all! You haven't reported me to the police for so many days, not a single person has come looking for me!"
He was only immersed in his grief and resentment at being abandoned by the whole world, and he felt that his parents and brothers only had eyes for Lin Suxing. This obsessive hatred drove him to trample on the Lin family in front of everyone, as if only in this way could he prove his value and sense of existence.
He held Li Jingjia's arm tightly, as if he had grasped the reins of victory, his chin held high with arrogance.
Li Jingjia looked at Lin Siyi with disapproval, his tone filled with dissatisfaction: "Mr. Lin, it was already excessive of you to confine Keke for a month without even knowing the facts. And when he ran away, you didn't even go looking for him. Do you even act like a family? There should be a limit to favoritism."
The system beeped: "Host, a new main quest [Stand out at the Spring Banquet and outshine Lin Ke] is now available, earning you 300 points!"
"And here's some gossip I didn't tell you last time, I'll tell you this time too, hehe." The system, realizing it had Lin Suxing under its control, became even more shameless.
Lin Suxing couldn't help but curse, "You broke your promise! Have some shame! Last time when I didn't want to shoot the cover of Figaro, you used the rumor about Nian Nian's mother's whereabouts to trick me into accepting the role, and then you didn't tell me after you did!"
"Now you're using this juicy gossip to make me complete a task here? How am I supposed to finish it?!" Lin Suxing was exasperated. "I really do want to know this gossip, more than anything before, because it's a knot in his heart. I think he'd be very happy if things took a turn for the better. But you can't force someone to do something they don't want to do!"
In the distance, Li Xinian suddenly stopped, as if he were bound by invisible threads and frozen in place.
The lingering awkwardness and confusion in her heart because Lin Suxing had agreed to film the movie vanished in an instant, like dry ice placed in the sunlight.
It turns out it was for him.
A surge of scalding heat suddenly rushed into his chest, bringing a strange, aching sensation.
All his previous confusion—why Lin Suxing would agree to that style of shoot, and why Lin Suxing didn't seem like the type of person who would be willing to shoot this kind of cover for fame and advancement—was now answered.
It's not for fame, it's not for profit.
It was for Li Xinian. It was for that clue that might be related to his mother's whereabouts.
He looked at Lin Suxing, whose eyelids were slightly lowered, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyes, and her somewhat helpless and restrained appearance in the face of Lin Ke's provocation. His heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, both sour and soft.
The child bore this potentially misunderstood "stunning reputation" all by herself, just for him.
At this moment, cover designations and editor-in-chief reputations became irrelevant. Instead, an emotion almost overflowed from my chest.
He could no longer hide it, nor could he deceive himself any longer.
Lin Suxing had already taken ninety-nine steps closer to him, so let him take this last step...
-----------------------
Author's Note: Xingxing doesn't always need someone to protect him, right? Don't you ladies think Xingxing was really cool as the "filial son" who subdued his dad? [rainbow fart]
At this point, some wives might ask, "Huh? If Xingxing is such a good fighter, why was he so scared when Huang Zhuoyuan's thugs ambushed him?" The answer, of course, is because they outnumbered him and brought weapons! [Evil grin]
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