Lin Sui ignored the System chattering endlessly in his mind and led Yan Qin into the room by the hand.

The slightly smaller hand seemed as though it were meticulously carved from premium mutton-fat white jade, forming a stark contrast with the other rough, scarred hand it was holding.

Yan Qin tried his best to suppress his discomfort. The warm, soft sensation in his palm was exceptionally unfamiliar to him, and whenever he thought of the owner of this hand, he felt even more uneasy.

That inexplicable itchy feeling in his fingertips reappeared. He could only pinch the palm of his other hand to restrain the strange sensation welling up, as if ants were gnawing at the blood vessels under his skin.

"I'll have the kitchen make something you like to eat today."

This seemed like a supreme reward and affection. The young master's expression before him was gentle, looking at him as if he were a well-behaved pet.

His arrogance seemed carved into his bones and blood, displayed openly without any concealment.

"Right, over by the northwest corner of the wall is Wu Yun's favorite dog hole. You should have seen it yesterday. Don't be as playful as it was."

Lin Sui spoke seemingly casually, his fingers resting against the side of Yan Qin's neck, gently stroking it. Amidst the peaceful atmosphere, he uttered words that made Yan Qin's heart tremble.

The northwest corner was deep inside the garden, an extremely hidden place.

Yan Qin remembered avoiding the servants yesterday. The young master didn't seem to like having too many people around; besides the two permanent servants in the house, the ones who cleaned and tended the garden were hourly workers. Moreover, he hadn't felt any strange gazes yesterday. If he had still been seen, it could only mean there were mechanical eyes in the house, and more than one.

Perhaps the moody, violent, and arrogant young master before him also knew that his personality drew hatred, so he had filled the house with traces of surveillance.

This made Yan Qin's vigilance rise even higher. He remained habitually silent, using this to avoid any potential conflicts.

"I have already contacted the doctor. They will come a bit later to give you a physical checkup. Don't run around."

After Lin Sui finished giving this instruction, he left the room and went downstairs to eat, in quite a good mood.

Yan Qin left the room after the young master departed. The servants had prepared his toiletries in the washroom on the same floor. It was somewhat ironic and absurd to say, but being a pet for Lin Sui made him live more like a young master than he had in the Yan Family. However, Yan Qin knew his identity as an illegitimate son and had never expected to be treated like a master.

As Yan Qin walked down the corridor, he indifferently cast a glance at the black-haired young master sitting in the dining room, then withdrew his gaze.

The doctor arrived quickly carrying a toolbox. When he saw the tall teenager waiting in front of him, his expression became somewhat awkward.

He reminded him uneasily, "Young Master Lin, I am a veterinarian."

"Oh..." A look of sudden realization finally appeared on Lin Sui's face. Propping up his head, he said in distress, "I forgot. You are Wu Yun's personal doctor."

A glimmer flowed through his eyes, as if he had truly forgotten this matter.

"It's fine, just take a look at him. Remember to apply his medicine."

Lin Sui waved his hand and said nonchalantly.

His whole body was written with a despicable and annoying arrogance and superiority, but paired with his extremely outstanding appearance and the unruly aura he exuded, it surprisingly gave people a twisted sense that it was only natural for him to be this way.

He was an evil flower cultivated in soil of gold, silver, and jade, exuding a fragrance of cold-bloodedness and arrogance.

So much so that his belittling and insults, revealed beneath his lazy exterior, seemed like rewards and doting, distinct and ostentatious.

Yan Qin pressed the tip of his tongue against the roof of his mouth. Staring at the young master's slender white neck, he allowed the doctor to take out the household medical kit and somewhat unskillfully apply medicine for him.

After the doctor left, the household servant hesitated before stepping forward and cautiously asking for instructions, "Young Master, normally at this time, it's the time for Wu Yun to go out and play."

Lin Sui propped his chin up and asked Yan Qin, "Do you want to go out?"

Yan Qin seemed to think about it for a moment, then nodded.

"Then go. Come back early, and don't get lost."

Both Yan Qin and the inquiring servant seemed to be momentarily stunned by his agreeableness. Lin Sui withdrew his smile.

"What, walking a dog requires someone to hold the leash. Do you need one when walking you too?"

Of course that wasn't necessary. The servant muttered in their heart, 'It's just that the young master used to be too abnormal, though he's even more abnormal now.'

Naturally, Lin Sui couldn't possibly confine Yan Qin at home. To catalyze the protagonist's growth, he naturally had to give him the corresponding space.

He acted like an indifferent owner and left the house by car.

He didn't state a destination, letting the driver drive at random.

The original owner was actually an eighteen-year-old high school sophomore, but the original owner frequently skipped classes and didn't go to school. For Lin Sui, there was even less need to do so.

Lin Sui had been a top student in his first life. Although he had forgotten many things after transmigrating to the Cultivation World for a trip, his memory was now better than before, and his condition was at its peak. Exams were not difficult for him at all.

Through the glass, he looked at the scenery of the modern world without saying a word.

Time in the Cultivation World felt long; it truly had been a long time since he last saw all this.

The System was surprised: [You just came out to do this? Aren't you going to resolve the matter regarding the Child of Fortune's mother?]

If Lin Sui had to say, the System was more like a mother to Yan Qin than his biological mother.

It had urged him last night to resolve the matter regarding Yan Qin's mother, so that Yan Qin could escape the Yan Family's quagmire and no longer be constrained.

Lin Sui didn't want to make a move so quickly, as it would make him seem too eager.

Lin Sui patiently asked the System: [Are you sure you want me to transfer Yan Qin's mother to a better hospital, have better nursing care, and be completely protected by me?]

The System: [Of course! That way he won't have to suffer other people's attitudes in the Yan Family!]

After saying this, the System became wary again: [Don't do anything unnecessary.]

Hearing this, Lin Sui chuckled softly. He was certain that this so-called Will of Heavenly Dao wasn't very smart, or rather, it was an existence on the level of a divine artifact, completely ignorant of complex human nature.

His existence and his actions were already enough to make Yan Qin vigilant and defensive. If he also grasped Yan Qin's only weakness in his hands, would Yan Qin feel deeply grateful?

He wouldn't. He would only hate him more, suspect him, guard against him, and suffer daily in the restless torment of having his weakness controlled.

In this way, Yan Qin would indeed break free from the Yan Family's control, but he would fall into his hands instead. For Yan Qin, that might not necessarily be better than staying in the Yan Family; it might even be worse.

That sounded pretty good. In that case, being a bit more eager shouldn't matter much.

Lin Sui gladly changed his destination and said, "Turn around first. Have someone find out where President Yan is. I'm going to meet with him."

The System was somewhat suspicious. Why was Lin Sui being so obedient all of a sudden?

When things are abnormal, there must be a demon at play. The System decided to warn Lin Sui once again not to do anything unnecessary.

Lin Sui: [Aren't I doing what you asked me to do? What are you afraid of?]

Lin Sui exclaimed to the System with a beaming smile: [Because I suddenly realized that your instructions are incredibly wise.]

If the System had a physical body, it would definitely break out in goosebumps all over. Seeing Lin Sui like this, it felt increasingly uneasy.

The System: [Flattery won't work. Don't think I'll go easy on you.]

Lin Sui praised: [Just telling the truth. I will definitely do exactly as you say. That way, I will be Yan Qin's savior. I will be his benefactor, his light, and his salvation. He will definitely be deeply grateful to me and fall hopelessly in love with me. You've really done a great job playing matchmaker.]

What does it mean to pierce the heart? This was it.

The pale blue bead in his mind was so angry that it seemed to lose control, its light suddenly flaring up.

The System's voice trembled with anger: [Don't even think about it! You don't deserve to lay a finger on him! It's all because of you that he ended up like this! He was supposed to become a hero revered by millions. You were the one who ruined his cultivation and even stole his Dao Bone!]

It was precisely to prevent this kind of situation from happening that the Will of Heavenly Dao, when dropping Lin Sui's soul, had specifically chosen a vicious persona and demanded that Lin Sui could not act out of character.

Lin Sui was here to atone for his sins, not to offer salvation. The Will of Heavenly Dao absolutely did not want the previous events to repeat themselves; Lin Sui was too good at deceiving people.

Facing the System's accusations, Lin Sui's expression remained undisturbed.

He asked: [If I were the protagonist, could my actions be called defying the heavens and changing my fate?]

The System said disdainfully: [Your kind of defying the heavens and changing fate, which is based on hurting others, makes you completely unworthy of being a protagonist.]

Lin Sui: [I never wanted to be a protagonist; I just wanted to live! Should I have just submitted to the shackles I was born with and waited for death? Should I have become someone else's cultivation tool and plaything? There is only one Heavenly Spirit Dao Bone; he can cultivate again, but I cannot. When I carved out his Dao Bone, I swore a Heart Demon Oath. If I succeeded, he could deal with me however he pleased. I only wanted to live like a normal person, not as a tool. Is even that not allowed?]

Lin Sui had never thought about being the protagonist. He only wanted to be strong, but why couldn't he?

Lin Sui thought, he didn't loathe Yan Qin. He was even clearly aware that he himself had harbored ill intentions from the very beginning.

A person like him was meant to be a villain because he was jealous. If only he had been given a Dao body capable of normal cultivation, he wouldn't have done such a thing. But there were never any "ifs." After exhausting all methods and still being unable to change his own body, he could only resort to plundering.

He didn't beautify his actions and admitted his own baseness. His current fate was also the result of giving rise to greed.

But if he had to do it all over again, he would still do it. As long as there was even a sliver of a chance of success, he would not let it go.

The System was somewhat at a loss on how to respond to his cross-examination. It paused for a moment before saying: [This is fate.]

Fate?

Lin Sui burst into loud laughter. Hearing this somewhat chilling laughter, the driver in the front row shuddered all over, simply pretending he hadn't heard anything and continuing to drive.

Lin Sui never believed in any bullshit fate. In the very beginning of his life, when he had been switched at birth and climbed upwards covered in mud only to be suppressed, there were always people giving him this exact rhetoric.

The System hesitated for a moment and said: [How about you don't interfere with the Child of Fortune's mother for now, and only provide help when the Child of Fortune is in a crisis.]

Lin Sui knew what it was afraid of—afraid that Yan Qin would fall in love with him. He didn't want to see such a result either, which was why he was even more determined to do this.

Lin Sui: [Does your great Will of Heavenly Dao also issue orders in the morning only to change them by the evening?]

The System fell silent, pretending it hadn't just spoken.

The head of the Yan Family was somewhat surprised by Lin Sui's purpose for visiting. Yesterday, when he learned that Yan Zhou had sent the person away, he had originally disapproved and planned to bring Yan Qin back home in a few days. He hadn't expected that this little ancestor of the Lin Family had actually found out quite a bit, even chasing to his door with the intention of packing up both the mother and the son to take away.

"Isn't this somewhat inappropriate? If you, Young Master Lin, want my son to keep you company, just have him stay for a few more days. Why go to such lengths?"

"A two percent profit concession on the tunnel project."

Lin Sui couldn't be bothered to wrangle with this old fogey and directly threw out his bargaining chip.

President Yan's eyes gleamed brightly. As expected of the Little Master of the Lin Family, he was truly generous when making a move. A two percent profit concession on the tunnel project was measured in the hundreds of millions. He wanted to parlay a bit more, but Lin Sui was growing somewhat impatient.

"If President Yan isn't willing, then I'll be leaving."

Lin Sui's reputation preceded him; he was someone known for being moody and difficult to get along with. President Yan couldn't bear to let the fat piece of meat that had already reached his mouth fly away, so he immediately continued the negotiations.

After getting the exact information, Lin Sui left. He returned to his residence. By that time, Yan Qin had already returned and was reading a book on the first floor.

"Come up here and help me pack some things."

Standing on the second floor, Lin Sui beckoned to him.

As soon as Yan Qin entered the door, what he saw was large dog toys scattered all over the floor: teething sticks, plush toys, frisbees... These should all belong to that black-backed dog, Wu Yun.

"Pick them up and put them in the box."

Lin Sui sat casually in a chair, watching Yan Qin silently tidy up the items. He bent down to pick up a leash and gestured with it against Yan Qin's body.

"These were all Wu Yun's favorite things when he was alive. Pack them up and bury them in the dirt in the backyard..." Lin Sui tossed the leash in his hand into the box and chuckled softly, "You're much more expensive than Wu Yun. I paid a heavy price for you today. You need to be more sensible than him, understand?"

Lin Sui's words carried a hidden meaning, his gaze profound.

His condescending posture caused Yan Qin's heart to palpitate for no reason.