Chapter 116: Chapter 115: I’m a Person Who Takes Relationships Very Seriously

"Xiaolin, you want to buy land. What exactly for? To open a factory? For real estate development? Or do you just feel prices are low now and you’re planning to buy and hold?"

After finishing his call and coming out of the bathroom, Yang Guangrong saw that the food was ready in the kitchen, but his daughter hadn’t arrived yet. He chuckled and handed Lin Chu a cigarette, stalling for a little longer.

He even took out a lighter, wanting to light it for Lin Chu.

Lin Chu quickly declined and lit the cigarette himself before smiling. "Actually, I’m thinking of building a nursing home. But it has to be big, with a nice environment, and convenient transportation and amenities nearby. It’s for my father and some other elders from my clan to retire in. Also, I think the senior care industry will be the next big thing."

"So it’s partly for family, and partly a business idea."

Secrecy is the key to success.

’The things you truly want to do, you shouldn’t even mention to the gods. Keep them hidden deep in your heart.’

If he brought up his goal of a welfare home now, it would attract a lot of unnecessary trouble, from moral disagreements to all sorts of strange suspicions. So, Lin Chu simply used a more reasonable excuse as a front.

’Anyway, whether it’s a nursing home or a welfare home, it’s all just construction.’

Once he got the land and the buildings were up, it wouldn’t be a problem even if he only sectioned off one area to serve as a nursing home.

Hearing Lin Chu’s words, Fang Wende and Yang Guangrong looked at each other, their eyes lighting up.

’Not bad.’

"Senior care really is the next big thing. The aging population is an unstoppable trend. It’s just that around here, you can’t really feel it yet. There are too many young people."

Fang Wende said with some emotion.

Yang Guangrong, however, was more focused on the filial piety. He sighed in admiration. "Xiaolin, your father raised a good son. Respecting the old and loving the young—that’s true tradition."

Lin Chu also smiled and nodded. "Yes, and I have a good father, too. My dad might not have much money, but he taught me well. Being his pride is my pride as well."

"Let me tell you something from personal experience: My dad had his heart set on an Audi A6 for the longest time. When I made my first pot of gold, I bought one for him. Driving it back home caused a sensation in the entire village. That sense of accomplishment... no matter how much more money I made later, nothing could replace it."

Hearing this, Fang Wende couldn’t help but nonchalantly glance at his own son.

Fang Weidong lowered his head, a little ashamed.

’My apologies. Since graduating from college, I, yours truly, have worked for less than six months, spread across two jobs. The first was a moderator at a Werewolf game store, the second a DM at a LARP script-killing shop... The money wasn’t important. It was all for my own entertainment and to meet pretty girls.’

’A grown child is supposed to give his parents money for household expenses?’

’Who ever heard of such a thing?’

’It’s always been my family giving me money.’

As for Yang Guangrong, his eyes were getting a little misty. ’This kid is just too filial!’

The more he looked at Lin Chu, the more satisfied he felt.

Lin Chu saw the look in his eyes, and his heart skipped a beat. ’Damn, I might have laid it on a bit thick. But I wasn’t even bragging; I was just telling the truth.’

’This Old Yang clearly has ideas about making me his son-in-law.’

’But...’

’How am I supposed to fool around then?’

’A family like this—a wealthy, local village chief—has a pretty powerful background. If I really became their son-in-law, could I still fool around? They’d break my third leg!’

’Do they look like pushovers?’

’No way. I have to refuse. Absolutely have to refuse.’

’In the past, becoming a live-in son-in-law to a wealthy local family would have been a dream come true. But now, I don’t need it at all.’

...

A knock came at the door. Fang Weidong quickly went to open it and returned with a woman. The entire living room seemed to brighten.

Lin Chu glanced over. He was a bit stunned, but also wanted to laugh.

’This is... extravagant.’

’Seriously extravagant.’

She looked as if she had just walked off a runway at Paris Fashion Week, wearing a low-cut, deep-V black dress adorned with crushed diamonds. A dazzling diamond necklace hung around her neck, and her wrists and fingers were covered in all kinds of accessories—ornate, luxurious, and noble. Carrying a Hermes bag, she was practically a walking luxury goods display.

The girl was undeniably attractive, with a great figure, but her style of dress was... hard to describe. She didn’t look like someone who leads a normal, domestic life—she didn’t even look like a normal person.

’Of course, I can’t rule out the possibility that she’s doing this on purpose to protest this family-arranged matchmaking drama.’

"What is this slutty outfit you’re wearing! You look like a streetwalker! Go change your clothes, into something more modest!"

Yang Guangrong glanced at his daughter and suddenly cursed at her, his words utterly scathing.

Lin Chu almost burst out laughing.

’This father... is really something else.’

His daughter, however, seemed used to it. She maintained an elegant smile. "I just came from the office. I was at a client cocktail party, and then I got your call and rushed right over, didn’t I? Dad, you need to apologize. You’ve insulted my personal dignity."

Yang Guangrong heaved a long sigh, looking as if he were about to have a stroke.

’Honestly, he couldn’t even bear to look.’

’All that exposed white skin... what was the point?’

’Of course, if it were someone else’s daughter, he wouldn’t care. He’d probably hope she showed even more.’

’But... his own daughter!’

’He was about to die of anger.’

Yang Guangrong looked around, trying to find a piece of clothing or a scarf to wrap his daughter in, but being in someone else’s home, he couldn’t see anything.

His daughter gave a triumphant smile, took a Hermes silk scarf from her bag, and tied an exquisite knot around her long, fair neck. It served as a tent for her twin peaks, covering them so that basically nothing could be seen.

"Alright, stop fussing. Let’s eat."

She pulled out a chair and sat down. "Uncle Fang, how has your health been recently? Weidong, found a new girlfriend yet? Hurry up and find one, have a baby for fun, and make Uncle Fang happy. When you do, I’ll give you a big red envelope."

The father and son: ...

They looked at each other, speechless and unsure whether to laugh or cry.

But they were long used to her style.

Yang Guangrong’s daughter was named Yang Huixian. She had been strong-willed since she was a child. Their two families were old friends. She was a powerful woman who was also successful in her career. During New Year’s gatherings with her uncles, she was the type who could take the seat of honor.

Of course, it was hard for a woman like that to find a man.

She was already twenty-nine, about to cross the thirty-year-old threshold, and had never even been in a relationship. Her family was going crazy with worry.

"You should worry about yourself!"

Yang Guangrong chided her helplessly, then finally introduced his daughter and Lin Chu to each other.

When speaking to his own daughter, he wore a sour expression, but when speaking to Lin Chu, he was gentle and all smiles.

Yang Huixian’s attitude toward Lin Chu was normal—that of a man and a woman meeting for the first time: polite, distant, and courteous.

Although...

It was a bit rocky.

Still, the group sat down at the table and started eating.

"Let’s have a drink. It’s not a banquet without alcohol. Weidong, go pour the drinks. Kid, don’t you have any sense? Are you getting more clueless as you get older?"

After a few bites, Yang Huixian spoke up, taking charge and ordering Fang Weidong around.

Yang Guangrong’s brow furrowed again. He sighed internally but didn’t say anything more to her.

Over their many years together, the father and daughter seemed to have reached a delicate balance: there were things he could control, and things he couldn’t; things she would listen to, and things she wouldn’t. There was no need to argue in front of outsiders.

Fang Weidong glanced at her, helpless but compliant.

He got the alcohol.

Poured the drinks.

Yang Huixian, it turned out, had an extremely high tolerance for alcohol.

Cups and glasses clinked as they toasted and drank, and she actively initiated toasts.

Soon, the bottle was empty. After a few strong glasses each, her face was slightly flushed, her eyes curved into crescents, and her smile deepened.

Suddenly, she looked at Lin Chu. "Vice President Lin, you’re so young, your career is going well, and you’re not ugly. How many relationships have you been in?"

’Lin Chu realized this woman was really good at seizing the initiative. She was bold and had a powerful aura.’

’She was the one who really had the vibe of a mob boss’s wife.’

’She was raised in wealth, after all.’

’And even her own father couldn’t really keep her in line.’

Pursing his lips in a smile, Lin Chu sighed. "Just once, a college romance. After we broke up, I never dated again. A man should prioritize his career, you know? Besides, I’m someone who takes relationships extremely seriously. I’d rather have nothing than settle for less."

He silently added in his heart: ’But I’m not so serious about the physical side of things.’

Yang Huixian laughed out loud, her comment coming off as almost aggressively flamboyant. "Well now, who would’ve thought? You’re quite the innocent."

"That won’t do. We’re not compatible. The type I like is a tyrant, a strongman like my dad—full of charisma. You’ve dated too little, even less than me. You can’t even conquer a normal woman, so you’d have no chance with me."

Lin Chu: ...

’He almost laughed out loud, too.’

’She really has a way with words.’

’A tyrant-type man?’

’Lin Chu guessed she was probably taking a veiled jab at her dad. It was likely that Yang Guangrong was a philanderer himself.’

’Besides, her reason was bizarre. Complaining that he’d dated too little?’

Sure enough, even when his daughter said something so outrageous, Yang Guangrong didn’t respond. He looked trapped, slightly awkward, and simply placed a piece of food on everyone’s plate with his chopsticks.

"Eat, eat."

"Huixian, that’s enough out of you. You haven’t even gotten to know each other. How do you know if you’re compatible or not?"

"Xiaochu here is very charming. It just shows he’s serious about relationships. That’s what makes a good man!"

Yang Huixian teased, "Dad, you don’t get it, so you should talk less too. A true tyrant should be a ruthless man of few words."

Lin Chu smiled politely and feigned a slightly regretful sigh. "Ah, it’s alright. Since she’s already said so, there’s nothing more for me to say. Let’s just be friends then."

Hearing this, Yang Huixian was satisfied. She smiled and nodded. "No problem. You know how to read a room. You’re sensible. Stick with your big sis from now on. As long as you’re obedient, I’ll take care of you."

Lin Chu: ...

’This woman is a real handful.’

Fang Weidong was starting to feel restless, as if ants were crawling all over him. He was itching, trying so hard not to laugh that he felt he was about to suffocate.

’Everyone else at the table didn’t get it, but I did. I saw it crystal clear.’

’Sister Huixian: A successful career woman who’s never been in a relationship, acting like a seasoned player, a wolf, trying to look all powerful. In reality, she’s just putting on a tough act.’

’Brother Chu: A man who has been with countless women, pretending to be a sheep, acting all pure. Tsk, this guy is really something else. He’s a master at it.’

...

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