Chapter 25

By late October in Xindu, the weather had gradually turned cold.

The night at the bar, however, remained scorching. On the restless dance floor, men and women were everywhere, flushed with excitement.

Over in the sofa area, Chu Yuefei had just finished clowning around with Chen Xia and his group before turning back to his seat. Beside him, Lin Sheng was leaning his elbow on the table, examining a woman’s bracelet.

Chu Yuefei leaned in. "Is that a gift for Miss Baochai?"

Lin Sheng merely cast a cool glance at him before returning his gaze to the bracelet held between his fingers. A few star charms dangled from it, refracting delicate, fragmented light as they swayed.

"No?" Chu Yuefei squinted at the bracelet. "Then who is it for?"

Lin Sheng didn't answer, and Chu Yuefei didn't press for details. Because Elder Lin often tasked Chu Yuefei with urging Lin Sheng to settle down and follow the family's arrangements, they spoke about such matters quite often.

"Brother Sheng, what are you planning to do about the Old Commander?"

"What do you mean, 'what am I planning'?"

"They’ve already picked someone out for you—the daughter of 'Official Guan.' Your future wife."

Lin Sheng gave a mocking laugh, clearly not taking it to heart.

"So, have you... agreed to it or not?"

Lin Sheng shot him a nonchalant, sidelong glance. "That they've decided it is their own business."

"Actually, Guan Yueliao is quite good. Her looks, family background, and education are all a perfect match for yours. She’s virtuous, ambitious, and has the look of a woman who brings prosperity to her husband. Why not try to accept it?"

"Since she’s so good, why don't you pursue her?" Lin Sheng looked at him.

"..." Chu Yuefei felt awkward and rubbed his face. "She doesn't think much of me, does she?"

Lin Sheng remained indifferent. Chu Yuefei didn't want to give up. "Actually, the girl is quite pitiful, too. She’s had a crush on you for so many years. You could at least give her a chance. How will you know if you're compatible if you don't try?"

After waiting for a long time, Lin Sheng simply replied, "I have no interest."

Chu Yuefei could understand Lin Sheng's mindset. The Lin family’s rules were exceptionally strict. The Old Man was like a god, and his word was law. But the problem was that none of his sons or grandsons were obedient.

Lin’s uncle refused to join the military and insisted on studying literature. Fine, let him study literature, but then he married an entertainer from the entertainment industry—and after marrying her, he ended up getting divorced anyway. After the divorce, he went into business—or, in the Old Man’s words, he burrowed into a pile of filth.

Every single point was a thorn in Elder Lin’s side. From then on, all the Old Man’s expectations fell upon his grandson, whom he groomed strictly from a young age.

Chu Yuefei glanced at Lin Sheng, who was scrolling through WeChat. What a pity. This grandson didn't seem like an easy one to manage, either. He looked refined and humble, appearing to respect and obey the Old Man, but he was incredibly headstrong deep down.

A soul forged in high-pressure education turns into either a coward or a devil. Lin Sheng was clearly the latter.

He was a bit better now that he was an adult. Chu Yuefei recalled their youth; that quiet, beautiful boy had been a ruthless character. Although he was an honors student by his grades, his temperament was incredibly stubborn. Quiet, yet rebellious.

Chu Yuefei sighed inwardly. This tug-of-war within the Lin family had lasted for years; he didn't know who would win or lose, or how it would all end.

Lin Sheng was flipping through his WeChat messages with Xu Xieyi—occasionally childish emojis mixed with thoughtful, caring words tucked into respectful sentences, telling him to drink less, smoke less, or eat his medicine on time.

[Brother Lin, forgot to tell you, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!～（≧▽≦）/～]
[So... drink less, okay Brother Lin? You’ve already had a lot today.]

Lin Sheng glanced at the two messages and couldn't help but smile. The carefully considered words, like a little adult—it was actually quite endearing.

He set his phone down and picked up his glass, swirling it against the light. Behind him, men and women were frolicking, and the music in his ears was deafening.

His voice was clear. "Yuefei, let me ask you a question."

"Uh-huh. Ask away, brother. I'll tell you everything I know."

The moment Lin Sheng’s gaze left his phone, the WeChat interface with Xu Xieyi faded to black along with the screen.

"A seventeen-year-old girl... do you think it's appropriate to have one as a lover?"

Having always been a playboy, Chu Yuefei didn't find anything improper about the question. "That depends on how you go about it."

Lin Sheng made a gesture with his hand, inviting him to elaborate. The two clinked glasses.

Chu Yuefei said, "If