57: Chapter 57 Family Dinner

The sales manager, who was drinking coffee on the second floor, poked his head out impatiently when he heard the shouting. When his gaze fell upon that black card and the youth standing beside it, the coffee cup in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter.

The brown liquid splashed all over his pants, but he didn't even bother to wipe it.

He scrambled down the stairs, running so fast that he nearly fell flat on his face at the last step.

"Lin... Mr. Lin!"

The manager rushed in front of Lin Fan and bowed ninety degrees, his originally aloof and proud face now covered in a nearly fawning smile, while cold sweat trickled down his forehead. "I am the manager here, Wang Qiang. I didn't know you were visiting; please excuse me for not welcoming you sooner!"

Lin Fan?

The name was like a clap of thunder, exploding in the hall.

The expressions on the faces of those wealthy ladies who were watching the scene instantly froze.

Master of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.

Partner of the City Lord's Manor.

"Who just said this place was a shelter?"

Lin Fan ignored the manager's bow, his gaze sweeping indifferently toward those wealthy ladies.

His eyes were calm, yet they seemed to carry a physical weight.

The face of the woman with wavy hair turned pale instantly. She felt as if she were being stared at by an Ancient Desolate Beast; a shudder from the depths of her soul made her legs go weak.

"No... it's a misunderstanding... it's all a misunderstanding..."

She stuttered an explanation, trying to force a smile, but her facial muscles were so stiff they wouldn't obey.

"Clear the hall."

Lin Fan withdrew his gaze and spat out three words.

"Yes, immediately."

The manager felt as if he had been granted a great amnesty. He immediately straightened up and turned to the wealthy ladies, his expression instantly switching to one of cold ruthlessness. "Everyone, I am truly sorry. Longhu No. 1 has a distinguished guest today, so we are suspending service. Please come back another day."

"On what grounds? We're customers too."

Someone muttered indignantly in a low voice.

"Because he is Lin Fan."

The manager replied coldly, "If you're dissatisfied, you can go to the City Lord's Manor to complain."

There was a deathly silence in the hall.

No one dared to say another word. In Jianghai City, going against the City Lord's Manor was seeking death.

The wealthy ladies left dejectedly. Before leaving, the woman with wavy hair stole a glance at Lin Fan, her eyes filled not only with fear but also a hint of regret.

If she had known it was this gentleman, she should have called her eighteen-year-old daughter over for a chance encounter earlier.

"Swipe the card."

Lin Fan pointed to the black card. "Imperial Dragon Residence, full payment. The password is six eights."

"O-okay."

The manager held the black card with trembling hands. "Although that villa was reserved by the boss for himself, since you want it, the boss will certainly have no objections. I'll go process the paperwork now; please wait a moment!"

Half an hour later.

Imperial Dragon Residence.

This was a Chinese-style courtyard covering three mu.

With pavilions and terraces, there was a view at every step.

The massive floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the distant Longhu and the setting sun.

Lin Fan pushed open the heavy red sandalwood door.

The hall was covered with a thick Persian carpet, so soft underfoot it felt like walking on clouds.

Lin Xiaoya stood at the door, looking at everything that was so luxurious it felt unreal. She rubbed her feet on the doormat repeatedly, simply not daring to step inside.

"Brother... the carpet is so white, and my shoes are dirty."

She pulled back her feet, her face showing a sense of awkwardness born from being overly overwhelmed.

Lin Fan laughed.

He casually tossed the things in his hand onto the entryway cabinet and then squatted down.

"Lift your foot."

He took hold of his sister's ankle and helped her take off those canvas shoes that had already been washed until they were yellow. Then, he took a pair of brand-new pink rabbit slippers from the shoe cabinet and put them on her feet.

"This is our home."

Lin Fan looked up at her, his tone serious. "In your own home, you can step however you want. Even if you burn the carpet to roast sweet potatoes, no one would dare say anything."

Lin Xiaoya looked at her brother squatting in front of her.

Tears suddenly began to fall.

All the grievances, fears, and cold shoulders from over the years turned into tears at this moment, splashing onto the carpet.

"Alright, stop crying about being poor."

Lin Fan stood up and ruffled her hair. "Go pick a room. The largest one on the second floor with a balcony is yours."

After sending his sister off, the smile on Lin Fan's face faded.

"Boss, the goods are here!"

Fatty's loud voice came from outside.

Several trucks with the Myriad Treasures Pavilion logo were parked in the courtyard.

A group of employees in uniform were moving things down. It wasn't furniture, but boxes of cultivation resources with seals on them.

Mutated Beast Meat, High-Purity Nutrient Solution, Alloy Training Equipment...

Fatty was directing everyone, drenched in sweat but glowing with excitement.

"Be careful! That box contains Blood Bird's Nest for Little Sister Xiaoya's health. If it breaks, I couldn't afford to pay for it even if I sold all of you!"

Lin Fan walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window.

The sunset was like blood, dyeing half of Longhu red.

He sat down on the sofa; from this angle, he could see the entire outline of Jianghai City.

Before, he was at the very bottom of that outline, looking up at this place.

Now, he was at the peak, looking down at all living beings.

Lin Xiaoya had changed into a loose set of loungewear and was holding a large rabbit plushie as she carefully moved to sit beside Lin Fan.

"Brother."

"Hmm?"

"Do we... really not have to go back to that leaky little house anymore?"

"No need."

Lin Fan reached out and put his arm around his sister's thin shoulders.

"In the future, no one will be able to make us bow our heads again."

His gaze pierced through the glass, looking at the city lights gradually flickering on in the distance. In those lights, he wondered how many people were still struggling in the mire just as they once had.

But this damn world was just like that.

If you don't want to be an ant, you must become a dragon.

"System."

Lin Fan called out in his mind.

"Let's see what's in the system space to raise my realm. There have been too many returned items lately; if it weren't for the limit on body consumption potions, I would have drunk them like water. Tonight, I want to break through to Two-Star Martial Artist."

...

The soup base in the copper hotpot was bubbling, and white steam rose under the crystal chandelier, blurring the luxurious furnishings of the villa's dining room.

The fresh aroma of mutton mixed with the pungent smell of chili filled this large house that had only just begun to feel like a home.

"Brother Fan, I toast you."

Fatty Zhang Hao was red-faced, holding a bottle of Maotai with only a bit left at the bottom, his tongue so thick it felt like it was tying in knots. "In this life... being able to follow you is a blessing from my ancestors. Really, I... I..."

As he spoke, his eyes turned red, and he began to wail while hugging the wine bottle.

"Shut up."

Lin Fan looked at him with great disdain. "Your snot is going to fall into the bowl! Why is a grown man crying?"

"Clang!"

A loud crash came from the kitchen, followed immediately by a burnt smell.

Chu Yaoyao rushed out carrying a plate, her face smeared with a dollop of white flour, and her expensive custom dress was covered in soot.

"Try it, this lady's handmade tomato and scrambled eggs!"

She slammed the plate onto the table.

On the plate was a black, charred mass of carbonized matter whose original ingredients were completely unrecognizable.

Lin Fan's eyelid twitched as he looked at that "biochemical weapon."

"Miss Chu."

Lin Fan put down his chopsticks and spoke sincerely, "If you want to poison me to inherit the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, you can just use Crane Red Poison directly; there's no need to go through all this effort to burn through the pot."

"You—!"

Chu Yaoyao's cheeks puffed out in anger, and she was about to lash out when she saw Su Qingxue, who had been quietly arranging the plates, covering her mouth and chuckling.

Su Qingxue had taken off her school uniform today and changed into a simple home sweater with her long hair casually tied up, losing some of her usual coldness and gaining a rare domestic air.

She placed the peeled shrimp into Lin Xiaoya's bowl, her movements as skilled as a virtuous wife and mother.

Lin Xiaoya sat in her wheelchair, looking at the fierce-looking Chu Yaoyao on her left, then at the gentle and considerate Su Qingxue on her right.

The little girl blinked her large eyes and leaned toward Lin Fan's ear, asking in a voice she thought was quiet but could actually be heard by everyone at the table:

"Brother, which one is actually my sister-in-law?"

"Pffft—"

Lin Fan, who had just taken a sip of red wine, nearly sprayed it out.

The air in the dining room instantly froze.

Chu Yaoyao's face flushed red all the way to her neck, and she scrambled to grab that plate of charred tomato and scrambled eggs. "What is this child talking about? Who... who would want this Shrewd Merchant!"

Su Qingxue's hand paused for a moment.

She didn't argue or act shy; she simply picked up her wine glass and took a light sip. The red wine stained her lips, which shimmered with an alluring luster under the light.

At this moment, Lin Fan felt that this meal was giving him a bit of indigestion.