Chapter 610: When You’re Dead, It’s All Mine

He hadn’t been back for almost two months, but returning to his home in Swan Castle still felt just as familiar.

Warm.

Comfortable.

This was the very first house he’d ever bought. It was also the one he had poured the most effort into decorating, and the one he had lived in the longest.

Later, he had bought more expensive and luxurious properties in many other places—like the one in Yang City, the two in Xiangjiang, and even one in Dubai…

But this one would always be the first, holding a special place in his heart like a first love.

The living room door opened, and out walked five people: four adults and one child. They were Uncle Nine, Yang Guangyao; Yang Huixian’s father, Yang Guangming; his own father, Lin Haifu; his cousin from the village, Lin Sen, who stood beside his father; and a sturdy little boy by Lin Sen’s leg, who must have been his son.

Lin Chu was momentarily taken aback by the sight. After a brief thought, he quickly pieced together what was happening.

‘My dad already knew I was coming back. He must have been too antsy to wait and came to Peng City ahead of time.’

‘As for Yang Guangyao and Yang Guangming, they were elders too. Since they were Yang Huixian’s family and my own dad was here, it made perfect sense for them to show up as well.’

‘Lin Sen was probably here to drive my dad around and help him with day-to-day things.’

He hadn’t interacted much with this cousin before. Lin Sen was seven or eight years older than him, and they rarely even saw each other during the New Year holidays.

Perhaps they had reconnected recently because of the ancestral hall renovations.

“Dad…”

“Uncle Yang, Uncle Nine…”

“Cousin…”

Lin Chu greeted each of them with a faint smile.

“Alright, let’s get ready to eat.”

With others present, his father’s face was unreadable. He just offered a casual reply before turning and walking back inside with his hands behind his back, appearing somewhat aloof.

Seeing this, Lin Chu just shook his head and smiled.

‘The old man is putting on airs now.’

‘Weren’t you the one who always said, “If the family has no prodigal son, where will the fortune come from?”‘

‘Here I am, being so prodigal and so rich, and you won’t even give me the satisfaction of saying, “My son is incredible”?’

Yang Guangming, on the other hand, was quite enthusiastic, fussing over him and asking how he’d been.

After a few pleasantries, they went inside.

A sumptuous feast was already laid out on the table. Wine had been opened, and everyone took their seats.

“Ah Chu, you seem to have matured quite a bit since we last saw you…”

Yang Guangyao said with a smile, trying to smooth things over for the father and son. Though he didn’t have the best relationship with his own son, he was quite understanding when it came to other people’s family dynamics.

There was hardly a father alive who didn’t dote on his son. The way Old Lin was acting was simply a sign that he was worried sick—the kind of worried that made a man grind his teeth in frustration.

“I have. Lately, I’ve been reading and practicing martial arts, trying to become a man of both brain and brawn.”

Lin Chu answered without a shred of modesty.

At that, Lin Haifu couldn’t help but shoot his son a look. ‘Physically, he’s definitely bulked up,’ he thought, ‘but damn it, can’t you be a little more humble when you speak?’

‘Who’s sitting next to you?’

‘He’s a leader in Peng City, and an elder. And you just accepted the praise like that?’

“Oh? What have you been practicing?”

Yang Guangyao asked, his interest piqued. It had been a while since he’d last seen Lin Chu, and he was genuinely surprised to hear that he was developing in this direction.

And at the same time, he hadn’t let his career slide at all.

He was well aware of much of the information about Lin Chu.

To be fair, the moves Lin Chu was making in Dubai were all on the right track, perfectly timed to ride the latest wave of opportunity.

If he succeeded, it wouldn’t be surprising for him to attract the attention of even higher authorities. He might even be held up as a model for international business expansion.

“It started when I was traveling in Russia. I underwent about a month of high-intensity, paramilitary-style training at a military base there.”

“And now that I have my own security company, I just keep training every day with the guys.”

“I also hired a few bodyguards from Martial Arts Schools back home, so I occasionally practice some traditional stuff with them. It’s good for staying in shape and for self-defense.”

Lin Chu said with a casual laugh. He wasn’t trying to brag; it was just the truth.

Hearing this, the others at the table all looked slightly surprised.

They knew from various sources that Lin Chu’s private life could be described, to a certain extent, as chaotic. He was the type who could never seem to settle down, and describing his lifestyle as one of wild debauchery wouldn’t be an overstatement. They never would have expected him to possess this kind of self-discipline.

This didn’t quite seem to match the “rumors.”

“I should have sent you to the army back in the day! It would have saved me so much trouble, and I wouldn’t have to worry about you every single day!”

Lin Haifu finally spoke up, his tone laced with irritation.

‘In front of his two prospective in-laws, he couldn’t just blurt out that there was *another* woman living in their house. And this family here in Peng City was connected to government officials! If he really wronged them, wouldn’t they make trouble for him?’

“Come on, Dad. You can’t bite the hand that feeds you. If I’d gone to the army, would you be living this well right now?”

Lin Chu teased with a smile as he casually poured his father a glass of wine. He, however, raised his own teacup. “I’ve quit smoking and drinking, so I won’t be having any alcohol today. I’ll toast with tea instead. Dad, here’s to you.”

These words were what truly shocked Lin Haifu.

He stared at his son, his eyes wide with disbelief.

‘This kid managed to quit smoking and drinking?’

‘He’s that disciplined?’

Yang Guangming laughed heartily. “Quitting is a good thing, a very good thing. Your whole demeanor is different now, you carry yourself like someone who’s weathered some real storms… Oh, Old Lin, don’t be so hard on the boy. It’s never easy out there on your own. The best thing we can do as parents is not cause them trouble or hold them back.”