29: Joint trial

Old Ghost felt like he was going crazy. He suddenly stood up, pacing back and forth in the shop like a trapped beast.

“No! No!”

He pointed at Zhao Tianyang, practically roaring.

“Do you know? After he left, I returned the three hundred thousand to him!”

“I f***ing returned the money to him!”

“Which means, he didn’t spend a single cent! He didn’t pay anything! He just got a loyal slave like you for free!”

“Do you understand?! He’s playing a trick! You’ve been deceived! You’re a complete and utter fool!”

This was the truth of the matter.

A cold, cruel, and calculated truth.

That mysterious Raven Cloak wasn’t some living Bodhisattva at all; he was a speculator even more cunning than himself!

He used Old Ghost’s guilt over breaching the contract, used Zhao Tianyang’s despair, and completed a perfect investment without spending a single penny!

However, faced with a truth that could make anyone collapse, Zhao Tianyang’s reaction remained calm.

He just leaned against the wall and softly said,

“So what?”

Old Ghost’s roar abruptly stopped.

He stared blankly at Zhao Tianyang.

“You… what did you say?”

“Even if he didn’t spend a single cent, even if this was a trap,” Zhao Tianyang’s breathing became weaker and weaker, but his thoughts were incredibly clear, “the fact is, he got the serum, and then he gave the serum to me.”

“This act saved my life, even if only for an extra month.”

“That’s enough.”

“I, Zhao Tianyang, only acknowledge this one thing.”

Old Ghost was completely speechless.

He slumped back into his chair, picked up a bottle of cheap alcohol from the counter, and took a hard swig.

The spicy liquid burned his throat, but it couldn’t clear his muddled mind in the slightest.

He looked at the “madman” curled up in the corner, quietly waiting for death.

Then he thought of the other “madman” who had been unbelievably calm from beginning to end, taking the money and leaving decisively.

After a long while.

Old Ghost shook his head in disbelief, muttering a curse.

“Madmen… you’re all f***ing madmen.”

“Lunatics!”

“Lunatics!!!!”

...The next day, at the Lin family home.

Lin Yao excitedly went out early in the morning to “pick someone up,” leaving Father Lin and Mother Lin in the living room, restless.

A sumptuous breakfast was laid out on the dining table, but no one had the appetite to touch their chopsticks.

Mother Lin paced back and forth in the living room, checking the wall clock one moment, then walking to the window to peer outside the next, her face filled with unconcealed anxiety.

“You say… what exactly is going on with our Yao Yao? She suddenly said she had a boyfriend yesterday, and today she’s bringing him home. Isn’t that a bit too fast?”

Father Lin sat on the sofa, holding a newspaper, but his eyes weren’t focused on it at all.

“The child is grown, she has her own ideas.”

“I’m just afraid she’s been tricked! How old is she? She has no social experience. What if she runs into some smooth-talking bad boy?” Mother Lin felt increasingly uneasy the more she thought about it.

She stopped, clapped her hands.

“No, my heart is pounding. I need to find someone else to help me judge. I’ll call my sister and ask her to come over too.”

Father Lin put down the newspaper and nodded.

Old Su was Mother Lin’s good sister of decades and also Su Qingxue’s mother. She was shrewd and a good judge of character. Having her there would indeed put them at ease.

The call went through quickly.

Mother Lin explained the situation in a few words, and Old Su on the other end immediately agreed, saying she would arrive in half an hour.

After hanging up the phone, Mother Lin’s mood finally calmed down a bit.

In less than twenty minutes, the doorbell rang.

Mother Lin hurried to open the door. Standing there were not only her good sister, Mother Su, but also Su Qingxue, and a very energetic-looking young man behind her.

“Oh my, why have you all come?” Mother Lin was a little surprised.

“As soon as my mom mentioned it, I was also worried about Lin Yao, so I came along to take a look,” Su Qingxue explained with a smile, while naturally linking arms with the man beside her, “Auntie, Uncle, this is my boyfriend, Chen Rui.”

“Hello, Uncle and Auntie,” Chen Rui immediately greeted them politely, carrying some high-end gifts.

“Come in, come in quickly! You came, but why bring things!” Father Lin and Mother Lin quickly welcomed them in.

Suddenly, the formerly quiet living room was filled with five people, and the atmosphere became lively yet peculiar.

Father Lin, Mother Lin, Mother Su, Su Qingxue, and Chen Rui sat around the sofa, forming a temporary “in-law review committee,” all waiting for Lin Yao’s “boyfriend” who was about to arrive.

“Qingxue, your boyfriend is truly handsome,” Mother Lin observed Chen Rui, growing more satisfied the more she looked.

Chen Rui wore a well-fitting casual suit, his manners were proper, and a gentle smile always graced his face.

“Auntie, you flatter me.”

“More than just handsome!” Mother Su immediately interjected, with a hint of pride on her face, “Our Chen Rui graduated from a proper university and is an experienced professional. He’s already level thirty!”

At these words, Father Lin and Mother Lin’s expressions became a little more serious.

Level thirty, for ordinary people who hadn’t awakened a combat profession, was already a height to look up to.

Su Qingxue wore a polite smile, humbly saying, “Mom, why are you saying that? Chen Rui just doesn’t like going to places like the front lines and the Abyss to fight and kill; he wants a stable life, so his leveling is a bit slower.”

While her words sounded humble, a sense of superiority permeated them.

Chen Rui also spoke up at the opportune moment, maintaining a proper demeanor: “In today’s society, stability is the most important thing. Although my level isn’t high, my strength is decent among those of the same level, and it’s more than enough to protect Su Qingxue.”

His words were impeccable, demonstrating both strength and prudence.

Mother Su looked at her prospective son-in-law with satisfaction, then changed the subject, turning to Mother Lin.

“Hey, I say, Old Lin family, have you clarified what’s going on with your Lin Yao?”

Mother Lin’s expression instantly fell, and she shook her head awkwardly.

“That girl, Lin Yao, didn’t say anything, just told us to wait and see.”

“Didn’t say anything?” Mother Su’s tone rose a bit, “This won’t do! For a girl, the most important thing is to see if a man has a future! She can’t be tricked by some poor boy with no ability! Oh no! Is your Lin Yao still unawakened?! She’s only awakening in a couple of days… This boy wants to stabilize Lin Yao first!”

Su Qingxue also chimed in, “Yes, Auntie, Lin Yao has a simple personality and is most easily soft-hearted. Nowadays, many men who have no ability themselves specialize in tricking young girls. You really need to keep a close eye.”

As she spoke, she glanced at Chen Rui beside her.

“For a man, ability and profession are fundamental. Just like our Chen Rui, although he chose stability, he can always get a high-paying position in a big company. That’s what gives him confidence.”