Chapter 494: The Mighty One Hides His Strength

On impulse, I suddenly realized I was in the wrong—what should I do?

On this matter, Lin Dongfan hesitated not at all; his first reaction was to charge ahead, taking the unreasonable route.

In the world of men, fists are truth!

Who would have thought that, with his fists already raised and just about to smash Pi Ke Nan's face, Xu Jijun would suddenly pop up to show off.

Moreover, Xu Jijun's show‑off was stunning.

With just a simple warning, before anyone even got out of the car, Pi Ke Nan was frightened like a grandson, his attitude doing a sudden 180‑degree turn.

"Oh, you're Brother Xu's sibling—my apologies, great flood washed away the Dragon King's temple. Brother, haven't you had lunch yet? Come on, little brother will treat you."

"……？？？"

Lin Dongfan's raised fist suddenly had nowhere to go, leaving him embarrassed.

The other side was already all smiles, calling each other brothers; that punch definitely couldn't be thrown, or else it would make him look narrow‑minded.

Lin Dongfan spoke righteously: "If I punch you once, I've also punched Director Li once—we're even."

"Brother, you decide this."

Pi Ke Nan carefully assumed a humble attitude.

Li Mingtang gave Lin Dongfan a sideways glance, full of mixed feelings: "Can this be settled? As for shamelessness, it's gotta be you, Fan Ye! You swing your fists at people, I'll use my face to pay your debt."

"Since Xu Jijun's here, you two chat—I'm leaving." Li Mingtang rubbed his sore cheek, turning and wondering whether to go to the small clinic or the big hospital.

Lin Dongfan waved goodbye: "Let's meet again another day."

"Forget it—I want peace and quiet over the New Year, don't call me."

Li Mingtang left without looking back, ultimately choosing the big hospital mainly because it offers free treatment, so he wouldn't have to pay.

Pi Ke Nan on the scene was still waiting for Lin Dongfan's reply.

He again asked Lin Dongfan: "Brother, have you eaten? Today I'll treat you."

"Forget it, you can go."

Just because of one meal you want to call yourself brothers with the young master—what are you thinking?

Lin Dongfan couldn't be bothered with Pi Ke Nan, he opened the car door and took the passenger seat in Xu Jijun's car. After all these years apart, getting in was still the old routine—they instinctively bumped fists.

Xu Jijun laughed excitedly: "I happen to have two modified Lamborghinis in my garage—dare to race me for a lap? Pick any car you like; if you win, the car is yours."

"We'll talk about the race later."

Seeing a pack of He Tianxia cigarettes in the car, Lin Dongfan picked one up and lit it.

Blowing out clouds of smoke, he cut to the chase: "I'm asking you—are you after my wife?"

"What are you saying?"

Xu Jijun gave a faint smile: "You're a month older than me, so your wife I should call sister‑in‑law. Have you smoked yourself silly? Spouting nonsense in broad daylight."

"Still stubborn as a dead duck—did you send her a message last night?"

"Yes, I sent a message."

"In the middle of the night, you were meeting my wife?"

"Brother, you need to hear me out—this really isn't what you think."

Seeing Lin Dongfan's serious expression, Xu Jijun didn't dare keep joking.

He explained earnestly: "Not long ago I accompanied my father to the veterans' activity center and happened to run into the Lin family patriarch and his wife. Listening to the two old men chat, I learned the Lin patriarch had found his long‑lost grandson, named Lin Dongfan. At that moment I was shocked—the first thing that came to mind was you."

"Keep making it up."

"Who's making it up? It's all fact—that day I chatted a bit with the sister‑in‑law, wanting to learn about your situation; she said nothing, and when I asked her for your number, she still wouldn't tell me."

Saying this, Xu Jijun looked glum.

He lit another cigarette.

He continued: "Later, after inquiring through various channels, I found out you work at the Anti‑Corruption Bureau. I guess the sister‑in‑law feared I'd try to use you as a back door, that I'd cause you trouble, so she refused to give any of your information. We have to say, she's beautiful and meticulous, kind to you beyond words—makes one jealous."

"So you want to undermine my position?" Lin Dongfan pressed.

Faced with Lin Dongfan's judgmental stare, Xu Jijun was flustered: "You're stuck in this pit, can't get out, right? I've said there's nothing like that. I only invited the sister‑in‑law for a meal—that's all. I swear on heaven, I have no other thoughts about her. I asked Li Mingtang for your number, but he wouldn't give it, saying you're in a precarious situation and it's not convenient to disclose. I've got no choice—I just went to ask the sister‑in‑law out for a bite to eat, to get closer."

Lin Dongfan, half‑believing, half‑doubting, pressed further: "Last night, when you messaged her, what did you say?"

"I told you, you wouldn't believe me—look for yourself."

Xu Jijun directly pulled out his phone, opened the message interface, and handed the phone to Lin Dongfan.

Lin Dongfan was truly not polite.

He scrolled through the messages one by one.

Xu Jijun said: "Last night I sent just two messages—one was to invite her to dinner, she said it wasn't convenient. So I asked whether you'd gone home, she said 'yeah.' My sole purpose was to find out if you'd returned home, nothing else. The old chat logs are still there; feel free to check."

"After appraisal, your brain really is sick."

Lin Dongfan tossed the phone back to Xu Jijun's hand.

He took a slow drag of his cigarette.

He smiled meaningfully: "You've gone to such trouble to find me—could it be you really want to use a back door? Which corrupt official are you after?"

"Look at what you're saying."

Xu Jijun rested his left elbow on the car door, holding the cigarette between two fingers, exhaling with heroic vigor.

A passing beauty greeted him.

He didn't even glance at her.

He pulled three gold medals from the car's storage compartment and tossed them to Lin Dongfan: "These are the medals from when we studied at Jianglan Zhengfa University and you accompanied me in the rally race."

"No fading? Damn, they're pure gold—I thought back then they were just plated."

As soon as he touched those medals, Lin Dongfan's mind played like a movie, constantly flashing the fervor and passion of his youth.

Back then I served as Xu Jijun's navigator, speeding along the rough track.

Got injured.

Also won many honors.

Thinking and thinking, Lin Dongfan felt a myriad of emotions: 'When I was so poor I couldn't even afford a meal, you jerk, you didn't even give me a share of the pure gold medal.'

"Back when I asked you to be my navigator, I said I'd give you money, but you absolutely refused. You said you just wanted to race for free—wasn't that what you said?" Xu Jijun sneered without mercy: "You're the one insisting on saving face, and now you blame me for not being loyal?"

"Money and the gold medal are two different things; the gold medal is honor, and I have a share in it." Lin Dongfan argued.

Xu Jijun said: "If you like it, just take it; I don't lack these three gold medals."

"You've been forced to show off this much, and the gold medal is confiscated." Lin Dongfan then slipped the gold medal into his pocket: "When my son gets a bit older, I'll take it out to show off."

"You want your son to be a race car driver?" Xu Jijun said, somewhat surprised: "The Lin family's descendants taking this kind of remote path—would the old master of the Lin family agree?"

Lin Dongfan replied confidently: "You don't know shit, this is an educational tool. When the kid grows up, if I tell him to join various competitions and bring back a championship, he'll definitely roll his eyes and say I'm talking easy without pain. At that point, if I toss the gold medal in front of him, won't he have to obey?"

"I understand." Xu Jijun nodded, as if realizing: "Using strength to thrash the brat—that's the power of a role model."

"That's right."

In the midst of chatting and laughing, Lin Dongfan shifted the topic: 'Come on, let's be frank—you didn't look for me just to extort some corrupt official, did you?'

"I'm going to screw you over."

Saying that, Xu Jijun started the car.

While driving, he said: 'After graduation, you left without saying goodbye, dropping off the grid. I knew you were poor back then, family conditions weren't good, and you had strong self-esteem, so after graduation you weren't keen to stay in touch. But that was your thinking; I've always considered you a brother. Now that I finally have news of you, I'll certainly come find you.'

"Damn, saying that actually made me a little moved."

Recalling those impoverished years of the past, I can't deny it—I really did feel a bit inferior back then.

Lin Dongfan also said: "Where are you taking me?"

"There's a jewelry auction today; let's go join the fun." Xu Jijun slowly turned onto the main road: "You're not short on money either—if you're interested, you could buy a piece of jewelry and give your sister-in-law a surprise."