Second-Generation Heir x Illegitimate Son 35

The threshold of the Lin Family had been nearly trampled flat recently; it was far more bustling than a few years ago when Lin Sui became the top scorer in the college entrance examination.

The members of the Lin Family were internally numb, looking at Lin Sui as if he were some rare treasure.

The person being stared at, however, was quite at ease. He sat with his legs crossed, leisurely eating cut fruit, looking no different from the playboy he used to be.

Lin Min was beaming with pride: "I knew my brother was meant for great things."

The elders of the Lin Family were glowing with excitement: "I just knew that An'an would surprise everyone with a single brilliant feat once he made his move!"

"As expected of my youngest uncle. I actually get to participate in Sifang's closed beta! That's a holographic online game! Uncle, you're way too cool!"

The nephew, Qingqing, rushed forward to flatter him, selectively forgetting the previous shadows of fear he had of him.

If this were the first time, others might have thought it impossible, but Lin Sui had already pulled off a stunt like this before, doing something massive without making a sound. The first time was unfamiliar, but the second time was a charm. Coupled with Lin Sui's calm demeanor—neither talking about his hardships nor complaining about the difficulties, just maintaining an airy, nonchalant look—others naturally stopped making a fuss in front of him. But the moment they turned away, they were as excited as they should be.

This was a revolution and impact on an entire industry, involving multiple fields. Everyone was shrewd and astute. Seeing that he was at odds with Tianqi Company, even though it wasn't explicitly stated, terminating the cooperation was a clear expression of his stance. There were plenty of people ready to steer their ships according to the wind.

Lin Min didn't know what had happened between Yan Qin and Lin Sui to cause them to fall out like this. When she tried to ask, Lin Sui deflected with other topics. Seeing that Lin Sui didn't want to talk about it, Lin Min dropped it.

It was just that when she saw Yan Qin at a dinner party, she felt a bit guilty. After all, they were the ones who stopped the cooperation first. Ninety percent of Tianqi Company's current predicament could be said to have been caused by them. She originally thought Yan Qin would glare at her angrily, but unexpectedly, while hurriedly greeting her, Yan Qin still gave her a polite smile, exactly the same as before.

She even felt it was a little more sincere. Hiss... that was even more terrifying.

Yan Qin had been running around busily these past few days, but his mood wasn't terrible. There was even a surge of energy flowing through his body.

"Old Yan, you've been working non-stop for four or five days now. Take a rest," Chu Feng felt panicked looking at the bloodshot eyes and the exhausted yet strangely energetic state of Yan Qin. He took a deep breath and pressed him down in the office break room. "Hurry up and sleep."

The dilemma Tianqi Company currently faced was not just a broken capital chain and multiple suspended projects, but also a loss of personnel. Other companies were crazily poaching their staff. Although Sifang hadn't meddled directly in this, Chu Feng still inevitably felt frustrated.

"Young Master Lin really played a brilliant move to pull the rug out from under us, forcing us into this state."

"Enough, save your breath."

Tao Ting pinched the bridge of her nose. Although she also harbored some resentment, she knew this matter started with Yan Qin going crazy first, keeping someone as a caged bird. The Lin Family's Crown Prince was proud and arrogant; it was impossible for him not to retaliate once he broke free. She just hadn't expected Lin Sui to actually be the man behind Sifang. Setting everything else aside, she still deeply admired this point.

"He didn't treat Old Yan well in the past, and now..."

Chu Feng was endlessly annoyed. He didn't know what Yan Qin had done. Tao Ting only knew because she was meticulous enough to discover it from the Cyan Butterfly security system.

Yan Qin interrupted Chu Feng's words and corrected, "He actually treated me quite well in the past too."

Looking back now, he could taste what was different. Lin Sui was domineering, but beneath that tyranny was absolute protection.

Chu Feng huffed angrily, "Just let him steal your soul then."

"With his reputation out there, it's inevitable that others fail to notice it. Sometimes, with many things, it's not about looking at what others say, but what they do."

Yan Qin didn't want to argue; he was merely stating facts.

Anyway, it was enough that he knew the Young Master's goodness. There was no need to care about the gaze of others; he would cherish it himself.

Yan Qin rested for a few hours and then got up to continue working, striving so as not to let down the Young Master's teachings.

Lin Sui saw all of Yan Qin's efforts.

He didn't blindly suppress and obstruct him. Although he was acting as a whetstone, he couldn't just directly snap the blade.

Moreover, although Tianqi Company's current situation was not optimistic, it was still connected with the higher-ups. The system he was testing was very important. No matter what, the higher-ups wouldn't let him fall. These past few days, Lin Sui had already received hints telling him to stop while he was ahead.

Lin Sui gave a heads-up to his recent business partners. New Year's Eve was approaching, so it was better for everyone to be happy and festive.

Thus, the pressure on Tianqi Company's side lightened. Lin Sui heard that Yan Qin had cut his losses by selling off a portion of their technology to turn around capital. Some people said it was a pity; after all, knowledge was wealth. Even if the price he got was considerable, Yan Qin still sold it short, and he might have even created rivals for himself.

Lin Sui, however, merely smiled and made no comment.

If that had been his life's blood, something that could never be surpassed again, then naturally, it would be selling it short. But if it was merely a beginning, Yan Qin would naturally have ways to establish a firm foothold, so how could it be called selling it short? Although severing a limb to survive was the worst of all strategies, sometimes it was also a brilliant maneuver.

It started snowing in Jingzhou during the Preliminary Eve, and it kept snowing until New Year's Eve.

The Lin Family had many people, and there were many happy events this year. Not only had Lin Sui's company gained great fame, but Lin Min also got engaged. Therefore, New Year's Eve was exceptionally lively.

Lin Sui drank quite a bit of alcohol during the banquet. It wasn't until he was half-drunk that he reached for his phone to check, discovering missed calls and messages from an hour ago.

The numbers Lin Sui gave out to people were all different. This phone could only be reached by a select few.

Seeing that his call hadn't gone through, the little dog had sent him a message.

Lin Sui dealt with a relative who came to greet him, went downstairs, crossed the courtyard, and arrived at the back door of the garden.

A tall figure stood there. Snow had fallen on his shoulders, making him look like a sculpture.

He only moved when he saw Lin Sui approaching.

"Ah Sui, wishing you a peaceful New Year's Eve."

Yan Qin moved his lips, exhaling wisps of white breath into the freezing air.

"Wishing you a peaceful New Year's Eve too," Lin Sui paused as he looked at his nose, which was red from the cold, and said, "What are you here to give me?"

Like presenting a treasure, Yan Qin pulled a food container out of his overcoat and opened it in front of Lin Sui.

"In my hometown, it's a tradition to eat dumplings for the New Year. This container's insulation is very good, so they should still be hot. I made your favorite shrimp filling."

Inside the insulated container, plump little dumplings were squeezed together. However, since they had been scooped out a while ago, they were inevitably a bit limp and not as juicy as when they first came out of the pot. There were also chili peppers on the side. Lin Sui hated sour things and never ate vinegar, so Yan Qin hadn't prepared a vinegar dipping sauce either.

Yan Qin held it with both hands, waiting for Lin Sui to take the chopsticks and taste them.

The wind and snow had messed up his hair, yet he still maintained his reserved and noble appearance. It was just that the gaze he directed at Lin Sui carried a bit of silliness.

Looking at him, Lin Sui was slightly dazed for a moment.

In their past life, there was a period when Yan Qin always avoided seeing him. He had thought his own feelings had been exposed and thus incurred disgust. Just as he was planning to leave, Yan Qin, looking somewhat embarrassed, slid a black jade hairpin artifact into his hair. Yan Qin said that he had only learned that Dao companions must exchange tokens of love when he was invited to a Dao Binding Ceremony a few days prior. So he had forged this artifact hairpin. Unfortunately, he was clumsy with his hands and it took him several days to finish.

Before that, Yan Qin's hands had always held a sword. When had he ever held a carving knife to craft those exquisite runes?

At that time, Yan Qin's expression of offering a treasure was just like this moment, only now he was even more cautious.

"Don't want to eat them? It's okay, I'll put them away first then."

Seeing that Lin Sui didn't move, Yan Qin showed a smile.

Just as he was about to put the lunchbox away, Lin Sui picked up the chopsticks, dipped a dumpling into the sauce, and brought it to his mouth.

The young man had red lips and white teeth. His cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, and after being frozen by the frost and snow, that redness became even more bewitchingly vivid.

He looked like a spirit of the snowy night, but at this moment, he was eating unhurriedly.

Yan Qin didn't move either, quietly watching him eat.

Lin Min and her fiancé were getting some fresh air by the window. When they unconsciously caught sight of this scene, she covered her lips.

In the sky full of swirling snow, outside the back door of the garden, two silhouettes faced each other quietly. The prosperity and clamor behind them could hardly disturb them.

Lin Sui stopped after eating five dumplings. There were still seven or eight left in the box.

Yan Qin packed the lunchbox away, wiped Lin Sui's lips with a tissue, and waved at him.

"Young Master, go inside. The wind and snow are heavy out here."

Lin Sui lowered his eyes, turned around, and headed towards the lively, luxurious mansion.

He touched his own throat, his face carrying a desolation he wasn't even aware of. As soon as he walked into the house, he concealed it away and grabbed something to eat.

Earlier, he had only been focused on drinking and hadn't eaten many dishes, just having a little to pad his stomach. Along with the dumplings just now, he could have finished them all if he wanted to, but he still had to leave some for a certain virtuous little dog. Otherwise, he would have to stare eagerly at an empty box. How could satisfying just his heart compare to satisfying his stomach as well?

Lin Sui's guess was right. As soon as Yan Qin got into his car, he ate the remaining dumplings, the smile on his face never fading.

Even though Lin Sui had just eaten and left without leaving a single word behind, Yan Qin could feel it—perhaps it was precisely because he was touched that Lin Sui didn't speak.

His expressionless face as he chewed the food made Yan Qin's heart ache in little threads. He didn't know the reason. Lin Sui had clearly grown up doted on and pampered, yet he always felt that this wasn't the case.

Yan Qin stared intently at the lights of the Lin Family for a while before driving away.

Yan Zhou and his mother were sent abroad by Yan Wenhao, while Yan Wenhao was sent to the countryside to retire by him, unable to stir up any more waves.

After New Year's Eve came the first lunar month. After the holidays, everything became lively again just like before.

If one were to talk about who was most in the limelight, it would have to be Sifang Technology. However, not everyone could afford a holographic cabin. Currently, only a hundred units had been produced. Everyone was extremely envious but couldn't rush the production.

The era of universal holography probably still had a long way to go, but at least there was something to look forward to.

What amazed everyone even more was Tianqi Company. The upstart tycoon who stirred up a storm upon his return had managed to turn things around after severing his own limb to survive. In just three short months, he actually brought Tianqi Company to a new height. The bumps and hardships involved couldn't be described in a few words. This case was widely analyzed by everyone as a classic example of turning danger into safety.

Everyone was still waiting to see the Lin Family's Crown Prince... Oh, he shouldn't be called the Crown Prince anymore; he had already ascended the throne himself. They were waiting to see how Lin Sui and Yan Qin would continue to battle it out, but the two sides actually started cooperating, shocking the jaws off those waiting to watch a good show.

Those in the know laughed and said that these two were old lovers.

When Tianqi Company firmly established its foothold once again, Yan Qin couldn't hold back anymore and went looking for Lin Sui.

For the past three or four months, he had only occasionally looked at Lin Sui to ease his lovesickness. Before achieving results he was satisfied with, Yan Qin was afraid of letting down Lin Sui's teachings, so naturally, he hadn't dared to see him often.

When Yan Qin paid a visit to the Lin Family, Lin Min said, "I don't know where Ah Sui went either. He only said that if you came to ask, I should tell you that you know where."

Lin Min's face was also full of curiosity, not knowing what kind of riddle they were playing.

A location subconsciously floated into Yan Qin's mind. After thanking Lin Min, he hurriedly left.

The small villa by the lake. Lin Sui hadn't lived there for a long time, but there were still servants responsible for daily cleaning.

The fingerprint passcode on the front door hadn't expired. When Yan Qin entered, the living room was completely empty.

Faint sounds of water came from upstairs. Yan Qin held his breath and went upstairs.

In the past, he was a youth of eighteen or nineteen. Coming here again, the door frame seemed a bit low.

In the spacious bathtub, the young man leaned back diagonally, looking like a water demon.

A thin gold chain was tied around his flexible, slender waist, refracting a strange radiance through the water ripples.

The pendant engraved with the character 'Sui' rested just below the young man's navel.

"Come here," Lin Sui curved his lips and said. "I'll tie it on for you."

Yan Qin tried his hardest to restrain his urge to overstep his boundaries, but he also offered all of his ink-dark, greedy cravings—which could not be shown to others—entirely to Lin Sui, like a believer worshiping a deity.

This time, Yan Qin had a premonition that he had truly caught that cyan butterfly.

Or rather, that proud butterfly had landed on his palm.

Before being tied around his neck, the chain was diverted to some other places.

But it didn't matter. Yan Qin bowed his head and kissed Lin Sui's arched neck.

He was once again personally bound by Lin Sui, getting exactly what he wished for.