Chapter 910: Father-Son Talk

The weather had begun to warm up, sunlight filtering through the dense branches of the old locust tree, scattering dappled shadows across the old courtyard.

Lin Dongfan walked out of the living room.

Lin Dongfan saw Lin Weishang sitting on the stone bench, wondering what this kid was thinking; he looked worried, head down, silent.

Lin Fuxing, sitting nearby, was playing a game on his phone when he suddenly shouted, "Holy crap! There's an Angela in the bushes…" completely unaware of his brother's silence.

Lin Dongfan stepped forward and said, "Fuxing, go keep Grandfather company first."

Lin Fuxing, engrossed in his game, didn't look up: "Wait till I finish this match." His reflexes were truly fast—nothing like when he does homework.

Lin Dongfan snatched the phone away.

Lin Fuxing instantly panicked, jumping up: "Dad! I'm in the middle of a team fight……"

"Is a team fight more important than Grandfather?!"

Lin Dongfan gave him a death stare; Lin Fuxing immediately sensed a terrifying killing intent, so scared he didn't dare even fart.

He didn't even want the phone, sidestepping past Lin Dongfan and heading straight for the main hall.

Lin Fuxing left.

Under the locust tree in the courtyard, only Lin Dongfan and the silent, head-down Lin Weishang remained.

Lin Dongfan sat beside Lin Weishang, softened his tone: "What are you thinking about?"

"Dad…"

Lin Weishang glanced at Lin Dongfan, then lowered his head: "Nothing."

That might fool others, but not Lin Dongfan; he smiled faintly: "Nothing? I can see you've got a lot on your mind."

"!!!"

Lin Weishang kept his head down, silent.

Lin Dongfan wasn't in a hurry either; he took out a cigarette, lit it, took a slow drag, and said, "Weishang, you've been living here with your paternal aunt and Grandfather—are you still used to it?"

Lin Weishang nodded.

He replied, troubled: "I'm used to it. My paternal aunt treats me well, and my great-grandfather treats me well too."

"Then why aren't you happy?" Lin Dongfan asked.

Lin Weishang lowered his head, voice timid: "I… I'm not unhappy……"

"You're my son—do you think I can't tell whether you're happy or not?" Lin Dongfan stared at him: "Tell me the truth."

Lin Weishang fell silent again.

After a while he spoke softly: "Dad, am I… am I not supposed to change back to the Lin surname?"

"Who told you that?" Lin Dongfan's face darkened slightly.

Lin Weishang shook his head: "Nobody told me; it's just what I thought."

Lin Dongfan stared at him: "Why would you have such a thought"

"My great-grandfather treats me well, but whenever the eldest brother comes… the atmosphere changes." Lin Weishang looked dejected: "My great-grandfather gives the eldest brother red envelopes, serves him dishes, while I… I can only sit aside and watch. Sometimes I really feel like I'm redundant in this family."

Hearing these inner thoughts, Lin Dongfan's face grew much graver.

Lin Dongfan took a deep drag of his cigarette.

He slowly exhaled.

Then he asked Lin Weishang a political question: "Weishang, do you know what it meant when Grandfather agreed to bring you back home back then?"

Lin Weishang looked at Lin Dongfan, utterly bewildered.

Lin Dongfan said bluntly: "Your mother, Yin Qiuhong, is a corrupt official who fled overseas. By taking you in, the Lin family, in a sense, has to bear enormous political risk."

Upon hearing this, Lin Weishang's face changed dramatically.

He had only known he was his father's love child, something to be hidden. He never imagined his mother was also a fugitive corrupt official. No wonder she's been making excuses all these years to avoid returning home.

Lin Weishang asked Lin Dongfan: "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"You're still a middle schooler—what's the point of telling you? It would just burden you psychologically." Lin Dongfan smiled, then recalled: "Back then Grandfather once said—this child bears the Lin name, he is the Lin lineage! Anyone who dares to bring up his origins is going against me, Lin Muyuan!"

Lin Weishang stared, stunned, again looking troubled.

Lin Dongfan patted his shoulder.

He comforted him:

"Grandfather's regard for you isn't measured by red envelopes or served dishes. By letting you bear the Lin name, he's giving you his highest acknowledgment. And by keeping you close, he's trying to protect you."

"!!!"

Lin Weishang lowered his head, his eyes a little red, his emotions nearly breaking.

After a pause he said: "Dad, I misunderstood you all. I'm sorry……"

"It's not your fault—you're still young, there's too much you don't know." Lin Dongfan asked with a smile: "Do you know why Grandfather always dislikes your paternal aunt? Because she's stubborn, refused to marry and have kids when young, only marrying Liang Jingzhong after retirement and menopause—she practically deserves a beating."

The troubled Lin Weishang was finally made to laugh.

Seeing his son smile, Lin Dongfan also relaxed: "Weishang, I know what's on your mind. Every time your eldest brother comes home, he becomes the family's focus, leaving you with almost no presence. But don't forget, you're the one who's always by Grandfather's side—no one can replace your place in this family."

"Dad……"

Lin Weishang looked at Lin Dongfan, his eyes reddening, tears welling up.

Lin Dongfan said: "Enough, no need for drama. I'll ask you this: do you want to keep sitting under this locust tree feeling sorry for yourself, or pick up your confidence and become a real man?"

Lin Weishang straightened his back: "Dad, I promise you I'll study hard from now on and never bring shame to the Lin family."

"That's more like my son."

Lin Dongfan smiled and patted Lin Weishang's shoulder.

He rose and shouted toward the house: "Lin Fuxing, get your ass out here!"

"Coming."

Before his words even faded, Lin Fuxing had darted over like a gust of wind: "Dad, have you come to your senses? Are you giving my phone back? Thanks."

Speaking, he stretched his hand out in front of Lin Dongfan.

Lin Dongfan slapped his hand: "Your dad—me—am I that kind of reasonable person? Get out of the way, stand properly!"

Lin Fuxing, whose hand had been slapped and shrank back, hurriedly stood side by side with Lin Weishang.

Lin Dongfan looked at these two sons.

One is outgoing and lively, always thinking he's a total badass genius; the other is silent and reticent, usually burdened with worries, but fortunately his nature is steady.

They are not born of the same mother, but they are both Lin Dongfan's biological sons.

Lin Dongfan said solemnly:

"Fuxing, Weishang, you two remember this: no matter when, when doing things you must be of one mind! Brothers united, their profit cuts gold—did you remember?"

"Dad, you're underestimating us again, aren't you?" Lin Fuxing said proudly: "Don't think that just because I don't usually hang out with Weishang, we're on good terms."

Saying that, Lin Fuxing put his arm around Lin Weishang's shoulders.

Lin Weishang instinctively struggled a bit, but Lin Fuxing held him even tighter, leaving no room to break free.

Lin Fuxing continued to show off to Lin Dongfan: "His gaming gear is all from me; I bought the skins for over three thousand and gave them all to him—just ask if we're brothers or not."

"!!!"

Speaking of gaming, Lin Weishang's face turned as pale as paper.

He even broke out in a cold sweat from nervousness, secretly glancing at Lin Dongfan, fearing that if his secret gaming were exposed, his father would be disappointed.

Unexpectedly, Lin Dongfan laughed: "Over three thousand? You little rascal, you're quite rich."

"Mainly because I have a wealthy tycoon dad."

Lin Fuxing really has a slick tongue, smiling and carefree, never shy.

Lin Dongfan smiled at the two brothers: "That's right, brothers should be like that: share gear, chase girls together—that's what my sons should be like."

"!!!"

Lin Weishang, who had just let out a breath, now blushed with embarrassment at the mention of "picking up girls"—such a high-class term he truly dared not touch.

Which decent father would teach his middle-school-aged son to pick up girls?

Lin Weishang looked at Lin Dongfan in disbelief.

He really wanted to ask, "Dad, did you drink too much today?" but the words rose to his throat and he swallowed them back.

Compared to Lin Weishang's introversion, Lin Fuxing is much bolder.

Lin Fuxing smirked and asked:

"Dad, shouldn't you give me a hush fee? As long as the money's enough, I promise not to tell Mom that your head is full of picking-up-girls thoughts."

"Asking for a beating, huh?!"

Just as Lin Dongfan raised his big palm, his phone in his pocket rang—it was Secretary Xiao Chen calling, so he had to stop and answer the call.

"Xiao Chen, what's up?"

Lin Dongfan held the phone, listening for a moment, and his expression changed as he listened.

After hanging up the phone.

Lin Dongfan turned and hurried to the hall, grabbing his coat: "Old master, something's come up in Wuzhou—I have to rush back there..."

"What's wrong? So urgent you haven't even eaten dinner yet." The old master said.

Lin Dongfan said while putting on his coat: "No time, you guys eat; I'll come see you again when I have a few days free." He also instructed Chu Lingxi to bring the kids and stay here to keep the old master company.