36: Chapter 36 Coming-of-Age Ceremony, Hometown Pastries

"Kid, are you coming home today?"

"Not coming back. Dad, what is it?" Inside the Villa, Lin Fang, who was deeply engrossed in his research, was a bit surprised to receive the call. It was almost 10 p.m.; why would Boss Xiong suddenly call?

"Don't just celebrate with your classmates; don't forget about me. What's wrong? Are you not going to be close with Dad now that you're all grown up?"

"After all, I've taken you for foot massages so often..."

Hearing the complaint, Lin Fang couldn't help but laugh, though he also realized what day it was. November 5th—his birthday. He had been so busy lately that he had truly forgotten, and Lin Tianxiong still didn't know he had dropped out of school.

"Dad, have you been drinking?" Lin Fang could tell his tone was a bit strange.

"Had a little."

The person on the other end of the line hiccuped a few times while speaking, then urged him again, "Don't just celebrate with your classmates today; don't forget me. Dad has something for you..."

Hanging up the phone, Lin Fang frowned. "Xiao Hei, did my dad have a drinking engagement tonight?"

【The boss's father was at... at 19:21.】

On the projection, Lin Tianxiong was clinking glasses with several mid-level leaders from Binhai City, and it looked like he had drunk quite a bit.

Picking up his coat, Lin Fang walked out of the room. The projection extinguished at the same time, and the door automatically closed slowly and locked.

Upon returning home, Lin Fang looked at the figure sitting in the living room and spoke helplessly, "Dad, I know you can drink, but you should drink less in the future."

Seeing Lin Fang return, the middle-aged man had just revealed a happy expression when he suddenly heard what he said. Lin Tianxiong immediately felt annoyed and said with a stern face, "What's the matter? You're lecturing me now? What's wrong with me having a little to drink?"

"I drink whenever I want! You can't stop me!"

"The problem is, is this just 'a little'?" Lin Fang looked at the flushed-faced Lin Tianxiong, speechless.

"What are a few glasses?"

Lin Tianxiong muttered, then pushed a dark brown pastry in front of Lin Fang. "Here, the jujube cake you eat every birthday. I had someone bring it over from our hometown."

Looking at the familiar pastry, Lin Fang was quite surprised; he hadn't expected to be able to eat it here. He took a bite; it was sweet but not cloying, with a rich jujube fragrance.

He wasn't used to those overly sweet Western-style cakes.

"Kid, are you touched?" Lin Tianxiong suddenly leaned in and asked, his face full of anticipation.

"As expected."

Lin Fang's appetite was whetted, and he ate several pieces in a row.

"You brat, you're really heartless..."

Hearing his reply, Lin Tianxiong laughed out loud. After glancing at him, he took a document out of the bag beside him. "Here... there's also this. This is the coming-of-age gift Dad is giving you. Sign it."

"My kid is grown up now, so he should have money."

Lin Fang took it and looked; it was an equity agreement: Party A gratuitously transfers 49% of the equity of Xiongba Technology Co., Ltd. to Party B...

Party B was naturally himself. Lin Fang's hand gripping the document tightened slightly; with the expansion of the game engine business, this document was already worth billions.

"Where does the money come from? Of course, I gave it to you... Don't complain if it's not enough; that depends on you. Whenever you come to take over, I'll give you the rest of the company's shares. No, I still have to keep some, so you don't refuse to give me pocket money for alcohol later..."

Listening to Lin Tianxiong's rambling as the alcohol started to kick in, even Lin Fang, with his heart of stone, couldn't help but feel warmed. He decided to prioritize testing the Metabolix-3 formula with the lowest toxicity next.

And a trace of fear of death welled up in his heart; he was one year older, and his father was one year older. This was an irreversible cycle, and the pain of losing a loved one might exceed his imagination, just like before...

Casting aside his complicated thoughts, Lin Fang signed his name on the document and then prepared to help the drowsy Lin Tianxiong back to his room to rest.

"Almost forgot, it's our Lin family tradition; you have to eat a bowl of longevity noodles when you come of age!"

"You wait, I'll make it for you." Lin Tianxiong, who had just closed his eyes, suddenly slapped his thigh and stood up with a start, about to walk toward the kitchen.

"No, Dad, wait!" Lin Fang's expression changed in horror, and he quickly held him back. He hadn't expected this old man to pull this stunt.

Ever since that day when he was 8 years old, when Lin Tianxiong had a whim and sent both father and son to the hospital emergency room, he had never entered the kitchen again. Lin Fang therefore had a deep memory of his cooking skills; usually, they hired a housekeeper to cook.

Lin Fang wanted to prevent the tragedy that was about to happen, but facts proved that he couldn't stop someone who was starting to get drunk and act out.

Especially when he couldn't knock him out.

Listening to the crashing and clattering of pots and pans starting in the kitchen, Lin Fang prayed silently. What answered him an hour later was Lin Tianxiong bringing out a huge bowl of longevity noodles, swaying left and right with the pot. "Come, kid, try Dad's cooking."

Indeed, there were no miracles. Looking at the cloudy soup, the noodles as thick as fingers, and the strange aroma wafting from it, Lin Fang didn't speak. He just silently scooped a small spoonful of soup with a ladle. As for the noodles, he didn't dare to taste them.

Upon entering his mouth, hmm?! Lin Fang's pupils dilated.

"Dad, you have some too." Lin Fang pulled up the chef who wanted to fall asleep, good things should be shared together.

"This is made for you, I'm not eating it!"

Seeing this, Lin Fang said gloomily, "If you don't eat it, I won't be close with you anymore."

Hearing this, Lin Tianxiong reluctantly opened his mouth and drank a spoonful of the soup Lin Fang had scooped for him.

Hmm?

He poisoned the soup! Tasting the flavor, Lin Tianxiong's eyes suddenly widened, and he looked at Lin Fang beside him in disbelief.

He even showed a wronged expression.

Subsequently: "Ugh—"

"Ugh—"

"Spit it out, you'll feel better once you spit it out." Lin Fang's mouth curled up, bringing the trash can over, and filial-ly patted Lin Tianxiong's back.

The next morning, the stains from last night had been cleaned up by the housekeeper from the cleaning company, who had also prepared a simple breakfast for the two of them.

Lin Tianxiong, drinking millet porridge, looked at Lin Fang with suspicion. "Kid, although you didn't succeed in harming me last night, there's no need to fool me like this. If you've dropped out, so be it; it's a good chance to come to the company and get some practice."

Lin Fang was speechless. It turned out the other party only remembered that he wanted to harm him, but forgot that the "poison" he threw away with the pot last night was made by himself.

"Dad, I'm not fooling you. That company is one I started." Lin Fang briefly explained some of the matters regarding Third-Party Technology.

"Very good, very good..."

Having received a definitive answer, Lin Tianxiong paced back and forth happily. He hadn't expected that the behind-the-scenes boss of that rising Third-Party Technology was actually his own son.

This company was on the list of the top ten emerging enterprises in Binhai City this year, and he had discussed it with a group of executives just yesterday.

A moment later, Lin Tianxiong thought of the important matter and leaned in to ask, "Kid, how should your company develop next? Dad will think it over for you; I have experience."

"Pharmaceuticals."

Lin Tianxiong: "..."

His kid seemed to have gotten carried away.