Chapter 41: Return to the Family: A Complicated Household

Second floor.

Louis was packing his things: ash from the stove, silver needles, peach wood talismans with divine statues, a pistol…

At that moment, Emma knocked on the door.

“They called for you?”

“Yeah, Grandfather’s side is settled. He wants me to go back for a visit.”

Several months ago, the family had called Louis, saying the Mexican drug gangs were retreating and would stabilize in a few months, at which point they could bring him home.

As for his kidnapping, there would be a resolution by then too.

David and the others knew about this.

“Aren’t you going to say goodbye to David?”

“No need. Saves him from running back and forth.”

Louis zipped up his backpack, slung it on, then carefully checked the pistol’s magazine—this thing couldn’t be taken lightly.

Emma watched Louis, silent for a moment, then asked, “Will you come back?”

???

Louis glanced at her in surprise, “Haha, what are you thinking?”

“Grandfather wants me to stay here. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent Uncle David to evaluate the local high school. But I’ll probably have to return often from now on.”

Emma’s expression instantly relaxed.

For some reason—perhaps because of this thing called friendship—just thinking Louis was leaving made her heart ache strangely.

Yet now that she knew he’d return, she felt a strange sense of regret.

Contradictory emotions.

“By the way, while I’m gone, don’t cause trouble. Or when I come back, you’ll regret it.”

Louis issued a warning.

No matter good or evil, neither lasts forever—it must be struck occasionally to ensure lasting peace.

Emma froze. Okay, now she was certain: this guy better not come back!!

They went downstairs.

Seeing Louis with his backpack, Yulencar looked surprised, then seemed to realize something, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.

Louis glanced at her and knew exactly what the postnatal brat was thinking. “Don’t get your hopes up. I’m coming back. Emma, keep an eye on her. If she causes trouble at school, when I return, we’ll see how well she handles the Great Fire Transformation.”

Yulencar’s face instantly drooped. Emma, however, was already watching Yulencar with a cold, predatory gaze, as if waiting for her to do something.

Nearby, Jiali was confused. She didn’t understand what Louis meant, nor why the relationship between Yulencar and Emma seemed… odd.

Aren’t they sisters?

And is Louis leaving? Where is he going? Will he return?

Jiali’s mind was a jumble of thoughts.

At that moment, Louis glanced at the dazed Jiali, frowned, and tossed her a small peach wood cross. “Remember you said your family is religious? Here, take it. Bye.”

Then he turned and walked away with effortless grace.

Thus, Louis boarded the private car, watched by Emma, Yulencar, and Jiali, heading toward Miami.

But.

Halfway there, the car suddenly stopped. Two figures—one yellow, one red—leapt onto it, and then the car resumed driving.

…

Miami.

The second-largest city in Florida, an economic hub already showing promise as one of the world’s most livable cities.

But its growth stemmed from its unique geography: coastal proximity to Cuba, Mexico, and Latin America made it a hotspot for illegal immigration—and drug smuggling.

In the 1970s, the city rose on this trade, even earning the nickname “Powder Capital.” Only later, with the rise of tourism, did that reputation fade. Still, Mexican criminal influence lingered here.

The Cano family, meanwhile, was founded in the 1930s during the heyday of organized crime by Karl Cano and a group of local brothers. Today, it has grown into one of the largest crime families in America, nearly matching the power of the major syndicates.

Miami is this family’s stronghold. Here, the Cano family can at least hold its own against the capitalists.

Downtown Miami.

A grand estate: fountains, lawns, white stone slabs, and black-suited men with bulging waists…

A black sedan rolled slowly in. The guards glanced at the emblem on the hood and the driver, then let it pass.

Inside, after several turns, the car stopped at the entrance. Louis stepped out. Jin Guang and Kong Dong leapt down, curious yet wary, scanning their surroundings.

Louis stared at the building. Memories flooded his mind.

Though officially a bastard, he’d lived here since birth, raised by his grandfather and uncle. As for his parents?

His father, though college-educated, was a wastrel—earned his own money, spent it on himself, ignored family affairs, traveled endlessly, rarely came home.

His mother was a spendthrift. Originally from China, she came from a well-established family with considerable wealth. But when the political winds shifted, she became obsessed with the idea that foreign business methods were superior. She tried importing goods from Southeast Asia and Japan. Result?

She was swindled out of her entire fortune; with only enough money left for a ship ticket, she turned to relatives in America who were involved in gangs. There, somehow, she met his father. Perhaps influenced by America’s corrupt atmosphere, or perhaps broken by her downfall, they quickly became lovers.

But they had no real affection. They never married, yet gave birth to Louis. Then, bored, they abandoned him: one returned to a gang in San Francisco as a core member; the other dumped Louis back into the family and resumed her carefree life.

In essence, Louis was nearly an orphan.

Fortunately, the Cano family was Italian, like China, valuing family deeply. And Louis himself showed genius-level talent, delighting his grandfather. So his life was comfortable—plenty to eat, drink, and care for.

As Louis sank into these memories, hurried footsteps rang out.

An elderly Chinese man stepped out the door, eyes wide with joy, tears streaming down his face.

“Young Master!”

The old man rushed forward. Jin Guang and Kong Dong bared their teeth instinctively—but Louis stopped them.

He let the old man embrace him tightly.

Moments later,

the old man quickly released him, bowing slightly. “Young Master, welcome back.”

“Fusheng Grandpa, I’m home.”

The old man was the sole remaining servant of Louis’s mother. He’d served as butler in the family home, stayed loyal even as the family declined, followed them to a foreign land, and only protested when Louis’s mother abandoned him—then volunteered to come along.

The Cano family eventually accepted him, but he still called Louis only “Young Master.”

In short, aside from parents who might as well not exist, Louis lacked nothing materially and had people who cared for him. He was, in truth, fortunate.

Now, with his memories awakened and his inheritance restored, his future was bright—he was, without doubt, a winner in life.

Huh?

Did I trade my parents for a smooth life?

A bizarre thought flashed through Louis’s mind. He quickly calmed, stared at the white, opulent house ahead, and stepped inside.

(End of Chapter)