Chapter 85#

The Disabled Big Shot’s Stepson#

“What?” Lin Xiaodong was called out of class by Ye Shiyuan, thinking that something had happened to his dear uncle and aunt. Before he even had time to celebrate, he heard Ye Shiyuan tell him to quickly find Lin Pei. “What do I need to find him for?”

The youth looked bewildered. Could it be that Lin Pei thought he had drawn him too ugly, so he wanted to destroy the evidence? Surely not?

“What are you thinking?” Ye Shiyuan sighed heavily, finding him utterly hopeless, and could only tactfully tell Lin Xiaodong his true purpose. “Haven’t you realized? The Head of the Family’s attitude towards you is clearly different from others. Although I don’t know how you managed it, Xiaodong, if you just work hard, this position of successor might be yours!”

“I’m not interested,” Lin Xiaodong shrugged. “What’s so good about being the Head of the Lin family? Not only do you have to manage a large family, but the risks are also so high, with poisonings and revenge killings happening all the time. I’d like to live a few more years.”

“However,” he suddenly changed the subject, “since you’re looking for me so urgently, something must have happened to Lin Pei, right?”

Ye Shiyuan tightly closed his mouth.

Actually, he wasn’t sure what he felt when he saw that scene in the corridor just now.

Moreover, Ye Shiyuan knew that Lin Pei hated subordinates who acted on their own initiative the most, and his actions would definitely incur the man’s warning. But after all these years, Ye Shiyuan couldn’t bear to see Lin Pei close himself off because of an accident—the Lin family owed Lin Pei, but Lin Pei had done nothing wrong to the Lin family; in fact, he had given his all without reservation.

“Go see him,” he finally said to Lin Xiaodong. “Even if your bloodline is thin, no matter what, since your surname is Lin, you should be grateful that the Head of the Family has given you a relatively peaceful life.”

Large families are interconnected. During the most difficult times, Lin Pei alone bore the heavy burden. Once he fell, it could affect the fate of several generations.

Lin Xiaodong did not refute.

However, he didn’t entirely agree with Ye Shiyuan’s words, because from the information, the youth had indeed not enjoyed any so-called protection from the Lin family. Instead, when his parents died, a bunch of various relatives emerged, dividing up the property that should have belonged to him. In the end, he even died at the hands of his cousin during this successor selection, living a tragic and helpless life.

But Lin Xiaodong also knew that Lin Pei’s energy was limited, and he didn’t blame him for that.

He walked to the corridor Ye Shiyuan had mentioned. Lin Pei was still in his original spot, looking out the window. Hearing footsteps, he turned his head, but was stunned when he saw Lin Xiaodong’s cunning eyes: “Aren’t you in class? Why are you here?”

“Class ended early,” Lin Xiaodong said vaguely.

He didn’t want to expose that Ye Shiyuan had come to find him, but Lin Pei was so smart that he understood the relationship with a little thought. The man frowned deeply and said sternly, “Nonsense! Call Ye Shiyuan over, and you go to class!”

“No,” Lin Xiaodong said flatly. “I don’t want to go to class. If you want to call him, you call him.”

Lin Pei glared at the brat’s rogue-like appearance, couldn’t help but grind his teeth, and finally endured, “Then push me back to my room.”

“No.”

Lin Pei couldn’t stand it anymore: “Then what do you want?”

“I want to go to the top of the castle to have a look,” Lin Xiaodong finally confessed with a smile. “I heard from Mr. Ye that only the Head of the Family has the key to the terrace. It’s a rare opportunity, so why don’t you take me there?”

Ye Shiyuan!

Lin Pei fiercely made a mental note of him, then asked expressionlessly, “What do you want to do on the terrace?”

“Look at the scenery,” Lin Xiaodong said calmly. “And my parents met around my age. They once snuck up there and said they would never forget the view.”

Thinking of Lin Xiaodong’s parents, Lin Pei fell silent.

After a moment, he sighed, “Come with me,” which was a compromise.

The system asked him in confusion, “When did the information mention anything about the Lin couple’s youth?”

“I made it up,” Lin Xiaodong said casually. “Otherwise, Ye Shiyuan would be in trouble.”

Anyway, Lin Pei couldn’t expose such an old story, so Lin Xiaodong followed the man with a clear conscience, even kindly offering to help push the wheelchair, but was flatly refused.

The key was carried by Lin Pei, placed in the treasure box under his wheelchair. Lin Xiaodong looked at the various items inside with amazement, wanting to get closer to examine them, but Lin Pei had already bent down and closed the small window in front of him.

“Stingy,” Lin Xiaodong rubbed his nose awkwardly.

The man glanced at him indifferently, pushed the wheelchair to the wooden door, and used the key to open the tightly shut terrace door.

A gust of wind rushed in, and Lin Xiaodong subconsciously closed his eyes.

And when he opened them again, what met his eyes was a vast expanse of green lawns, lakes, and endless forests under the azure sky. Birds flew in flocks, circling in mid-air, unwilling to stop for a long time. The whistle of a train came from the distant mountains, its long-drawn sound echoing in the sky, captivating the heart.

The cool wind from high above whistled past. Lin Xiaodong subconsciously quickened his pace, running to the edge of the terrace and looking down, his face showing a mixture of excitement and novelty.

Lin Pei pushed his wheelchair to his side, silently gazing into the distance with him.

But besides the scenery, his attention was more focused on the youth beside him. Seeing that Lin Xiaodong’s expression was not as downcast as he had expected, Lin Pei breathed a slight sigh of relief and said to him, “If you want to come to the terrace, you can come directly to me next time.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely genuine.”

The curve of Lin Xiaodong’s lips unconsciously widened: “You’re not as annoying as I imagined.”

Lin Pei’s eyes flashed: “…So you used to hate me a lot?”

“No!” Lin Xiaodong immediately denied it.

The youth turned his head and muttered softly, “I just thought you were a bit… that.”

“What?” Lin Pei narrowed his eyes dangerously.

“A bit… serious,” Lin Xiaodong carefully chose his words, saying tactfully, “like a taut string, making people a bit afraid to approach. But it’s much better now.”

“I can’t help it,” Lin Pei said after a moment of silence. “Too many things are waiting for me to handle. You think life is very peaceful now, don’t you? But I’ve never felt that way. With a slight mistake, I will fall into a raging fire, and it will also implicate the entire Lin family.”

“But it’s not so busy that you don’t even have time to sleep, is it?” Lin Xiaodong looked at the dark circles under his eyes and couldn’t help but complain.

Lin Pei smiled and didn’t explain.

But in fact, many complications occur late at night. When the brain relaxes, suddenly throbbing nerves and years of accumulated pressure all erupt at this moment. In traditional Chinese medicine, there are many related theories. In reality, many elderly people suffering from illness also pass away late at night.

So, despite having the best medical conditions and rehabilitation environment, Lin Pei hadn’t had a good night’s sleep for a long time.

“If next time you’re like that night again, and the pain is really unbearable,” the youth in front of him said very seriously, “then don’t endure it this time. Just shout it out.”

Lin Pei was in a good mood and even joked with him, “Won’t you say I have no public decency?”

“No,” Lin Xiaodong said. He didn’t seem to notice the amusement in the man’s voice and still answered Lin Pei’s question in a serious tone, “It was my problem before. As compensation, you can wake me up anytime, and I’ll stay up with you.”

The wind blew from the distant mountains. Lin Pei looked at the youth’s clear, amber-colored eyes in the sunlight. The frozen clock in his body seemed to move forward one notch at this moment.

With a “click,” his life, which had been stagnant in a wheelchair since that disaster, finally began to flow again.

The heartbeat in his chest was steady and powerful. Lin Pei released the armrest he had clutched until it was sweating, lowered his eyes, and stared at Lin Xiaodong’s straight and slender legs, nodding slowly and solemnly.

“Good, it’s a deal.”

From that day on, everyone in the castle noticed that their Head of the Family had changed.

The rehabilitation equipment, once ignored, was polished brightly. The master bedroom also changed its previous gloomy appearance. Lin Pei finally took the initiative to draw the curtains during the day—which almost made Ye Shiyuan think he had entered the wrong room when he came to report work on the second floor again.

“Head of the Family, you’ve finally come to your senses,” he said with relief.

“Less nonsense. I haven’t settled accounts with you about Xiaodong yet,” Lin Pei ignored him, only coldly raising his eyelids. But Ye Shiyuan blinked, surprised, “Head of the Family, did you just call Xiaodong by his name directly?”

He was just about to report the progress of the second stage of training to Lin Pei, but he didn’t expect the man to already have a favored successor. Ye Shiyuan sighed in his heart, thinking that while Lin Xiaodong was smart, his personality was truly too unmotivated. If he were really adopted by Lin Pei as a stepson, there would definitely be a lot of controversy within the family in the future.

But as long as it was Lin Pei’s choice, they, as subordinates, would definitely fully support it.

“According to your arrangements, the second stage mainly focuses on physical training and professional skills. These are the results of the sixteen children this week.” As usual, Ye Shiyuan placed a stack of reports on Lin Pei’s desk.

But he specifically mentioned Lin Xiaodong: “Xiaodong is very unaccustomed to this stage of training. He has approached me several times, saying he wants to quit. Head of the Family, what do you think…?”

“Ignore him,” Lin Pei snorted and picked up the report. “I know his physical condition. This amount of exercise will only benefit him, not harm him. As for his complaints, just let them go in one ear and out the other.”

A trace of a smile also appeared on Ye Shiyuan’s face: “Understood.”

“However, this Lin Qi,” Lin Pei’s movements suddenly stopped when he turned to one of the pages. “I remember, he seemed to have come with Xiaodong originally?”

“Yes, Lin Qi is his cousin. His parents live in the city suburbs and are Xiaodong’s current guardians,” Ye Shiyuan quickly replied. “It’s just that branch of their family… you know.”

Lin Pei thought of what he had recently investigated—the matter of Lin Xiaodong’s parents’ inheritance being completely embezzled by his uncle and aunt—and couldn’t help but sneer: “I also admire the courage of this family. Other things aside, Lin Xiaodong’s parents worked for the country. They dared to touch those assets? Truly courting death.”

If he hadn’t ordered a thorough investigation after returning from the terrace that day, and if this matter were exposed, the entire Lin family would be implicated!

“In the upcoming competition, find an excuse to send Lin Qi back,” he lowered his head again and said nonchalantly. “As for the inheritance, let Xiaodong handle his own revenge after he takes over my position.”

“Understood!”

Hearing this, Ye Shiyuan’s heart also settled.

This selection was never entirely about performance. The most important thing was Lin Pei’s own choice. Since the man had already chosen Lin Xiaodong, then the Lin family’s resources and everything else would be tilted towards him.

For the other children, this was not unfair.

In fact, giving each of them an equal opportunity to present themselves before Lin Pei was already the greatest fairness.

Actually, Ye Shiyuan’s most favored candidate was Lin Shanshan. Although she was the youngest and a girl, her displayed knowledge, wisdom, and initiative far surpassed many adults. However, for the generally conservative and traditional Lin family, a female leader with a pioneering spirit and daring to act was still a bit too early.

“What, make me captain?”

After hearing that the outdoor camping three days later would require them to cook and find their own food, Lin Xiaodong already had a headache. Upon hearing Ye Shiyuan publicly announce that he was the camp leader, he felt even more overwhelmed.

He immediately raised his hand in protest: “I object! Mr. Ye, why me?”

Lin Qi, standing not far away, had the same question. After Ye Shiyuan called Lin Xiaodong out of class that day, the youth didn’t return until class was over. Lin Qi, using the excuse of going to the restroom, secretly ran out to see what they were doing, and unexpectedly overheard Lin Xiaodong and Lin Pei’s conversation, the content of which made him freeze on the spot.

Who was Lin Pei?

The Head of the Lin family, worth tens of billions. Every week when he called his parents, they repeatedly urged Lin Qi over the phone to perform well in front of the man and strive to win his favor—so in every competition, Lin Qi exerted all his effort to be first, and in class, he desperately raised his hand, just wanting Lin Pei to look at him more.

However, Lin Xiaodong, who never worked hard and even just drifted along, could actually chat and laugh with Lin Pei in private!

Lin Qi had never suffered such grievances since childhood. Whether at home or at school, he had always suppressed Lin Xiaodong. And under his parents’ teachings, he firmly believed that Lin Xiaodong owed their family, that the youth was an ungrateful good-for-nothing, a white-eyed wolf.

But ever since coming to this castle, he had repeatedly suffered setbacks at Lin Xiaodong’s hands, and now he was completely overshadowed in front of Lin Pei. How could Lin Qi endure this!?

In the team, he glared fiercely at Lin Xiaodong’s raised right hand from behind, secretly cursing in his heart that this fool was truly disgusting, taking advantage and still acting innocent. And he didn’t know what kind of deal he had made with Ye Shiyuan, to be made captain without even a selection—Lin Qi maliciously thought, could it be that Lin Xiaodong had secretly climbed into his bed?

But regarding Lin Xiaodong’s objection, Ye Shiyuan only frowned and explained to everyone, “Although teachers will accompany us throughout this outdoor camping, there are still risks. The reason you were chosen as captain is because you are the oldest and can look after your companions. If anyone has objections, you can re-elect after the camping begins, but for now, Lin Xiaodong is tentatively the captain.”

Even Lin Shanshan nodded in agreement: “I agree too.”

Lin Xiaodong, who was being stared at by a group of children with sparkling “Big Brother, we’re counting on you” eyes: “…………”

So, was he going to be a nanny for these little brats!?