Chapter 57: A Powerful Backer

Lin Zhenting instantly deflated, but he refused to believe it. “Impossible! Second Sage Manor is a mountain of gold—how could you not be tempted?”

“I truly am not,” Zhao Kai replied. “Don’t assume everyone is like you. What’s mine is mine, and if it isn’t, I won’t take it even if it’s offered.”

His words were open and honest, his face sincere. Yet Zhou Chengwang, unable to raise his head, felt his cheeks burning with shame, longing to vanish into the earth. Teaming up with Lin Zhenting before had been understandable, but now, knowing Lin’s true nature, he had allied with him once more. Zhao Kai was perceptive; he could not have missed the reason for Zhou’s actions. Zhou felt humiliated by himself all over again.

“Zhao… Brother Zhao…” he stammered, “I’m sorry, I…”

His hands twisted together, and this grown man behaved like a bashful maiden. Zhao Kai patted his shoulder. “I know what you want to say. Still, my principle remains: I won’t take what isn’t mine. You are my friend, so I would never betray you.”

Zhou Chengwang, never very confident, was an outsider who had taken the woman he loved first, and later was favored by the elders—his sense of disparity was only natural. Zhao Kai had seen this long ago, but mere words would not suffice; only by letting Zhou witness his resolve could the barrier between them be broken.

“The Grand Master and Second Master have high hopes for you. They asked me merely to lend you a hand,” he said.

Zhou Chengwang’s eyes reddened, and unable to hold back any longer, he clung to Zhao Kai’s clothes and sobbed loudly.

Zhao Kai was bewildered. A man’s tears are not easily shed, yet Zhou Chengwang wept unrestrainedly, rivaling any woman.

“Brother Zhao, I’ve wronged you. Rest assured—I will never doubt you again, nor will I ever betray you!”

Betrayal was a harsh word, but as long as he didn’t fall for Lin Zhenting’s schemes again, it would be fine.

Lin Zhenting’s face was gray with defeat, his head hanging low in dejection.

Zhao Kai looked at him. “You’ve got three seconds. Disappear from my sight.”

“Brother Zhao, you’re just going to let him go?”

Of course not. Zhao Kai was simply tallying up accounts, intending to settle everything with Lin Zhenting at once.

“Husband, are you going to reclaim the Lin family estate for me?” Lin Fei’er exclaimed in surprise after hearing Zhao Kai’s words.

“Yes, it was always yours. I’m only helping you take it back,” he replied.

Lin Zhenting had swaggered for so long; his resources must be depleted by now. Since he was of no use, keeping the Lin estate in his hands would only bring trouble—better to reclaim it.

Moreover, he was still drowning in debts. If he became desperate and used the Lin residence as collateral, Fei’er would lose her home.

Lin Fei’er never imagined she would one day return to the Lin family. Overjoyed, she threw herself into Zhao Kai’s arms.

“From now on, the Lin family is yours. I won’t let anyone bully you.”

“Thank you, husband,” she said, snuggling happily into his embrace.

Zhao Kai gently stroked her hair, then gave Lin Zhenting the night to pack up his belongings. He should be finished by now…

—

Staring at the piles of luggage, Lin Zhenting’s face turned green. After leaving Zhao Kai’s place, he was warned by Zhao’s men that the Lin estate would be reclaimed and he should pack and leave quickly, lest he lose both dignity and possessions.

He was like a stray dog. He, the proud young master of the Lin family, now had even his residence taken back.

“Young master, someone’s urging us to leave. Should we go…?”

Go? This was his home; where could he go?

“I’m not leaving! This is my house! If Zhao Kai wants me gone, he’ll have to kill me. Otherwise, I won’t take a single step!”

Without the Lin family, he would be a beggar on the streets, despised by all.

“But Zhao’s men are here, and if we don’t leave, they’ll throw us out…”

“Let them try! I’d like to see if Zhao Kai dares to kill me!”

“Kill you? I’m not that ruthless,” Zhao Kai remarked leisurely, overhearing his words.

At the Lin family gate, Zhao Kai stood tall and elegant with Lin Fei’er at his side, looking down at the disheveled Lin Zhenting. A crowd gathered, whispering and pointing, and Lin Zhenting’s humiliation deepened.

“Fei’er, it’s been a while since you’ve been home, hasn’t it?” Zhao Kai asked.

“Yes, it has. The garden’s been renovated, and all the flowers I planted are gone,” she replied.

“No matter. I’ll have them replanted. If you’re unhappy with anything in the house, just say so—I’ll have it redecorated for you.”

Zhao Kai assumed the role of master, provoking Lin Zhenting’s rage. This was his home, his domain.

“Zhao Kai, don’t be so arrogant! Everyone knows I’m the Lin family’s heir. What right do you have to strut around here?”

“The Lin family’s heir?” Zhao Kai scoffed. “If Master Lin were alive and learned you mortgaged the family ancestral home’s deed, do you think he’d still acknowledge you as his son?”

Lin Zhenting’s face turned ashen, and he stammered, “I—I didn’t mortgage it, I was only borrowing it temporarily…”

He hadn’t actually mortgaged it, only lent it to Master Gao for a while.

But a loan shark would never return such a thing. If he hadn’t used some tricks to retrieve it, the Lin family truly would have been lost.

“Since it’s only temporary, wait until you can redeem it before calling the Lin estate your home.”

“Oh, right. I’m a businessman; I don’t play favorites. The deed is in my hands, so the interest will be double what it was before. I’m giving you a bargain—Master Gao charges five times as much.”

“You’re being outrageous!”

“So what if I am? If you have the ability, take it back.”

Zhao Kai waved the deed before him. Lin Zhenting gritted his teeth, and seeing his miserable state, Zhao Kai felt a surge of satisfaction.

“Fei’er, Master Lin only had one daughter. Now that you’ve reclaimed the ancestral home from a wastrel, you’ve fulfilled your filial duty. I believe Master Lin in heaven will be proud of you.”

Zhao Kai handed the deed to Lin Fei’er—it was rightfully hers, returning to its true owner.

Lin Fei’er’s eyes brimmed with tears, moved beyond words. She had never imagined she would ever return.

“Husband, thank you…”

“No need for thanks between husband and wife. Somebody, throw this stray dog out.”

“You dare! The Lin family’s shops are still in my hands; I still have a share!”

He had almost forgotten about that.

“In that case, let him stay as a gatekeeper. At least someone will watch over those shops; no one manages them anyway.”

Zhao Kai had never cared for those shops, but since they belonged to Fei’er, he wanted to reclaim them all for her.

Lin Zhenting was consumed by grief and rage. He had always bullied Lin Fei’er, but now she trampled him underfoot.

“Who dares to make my godson a gatekeeper? Do you have a death wish?”

A voice, neither masculine nor feminine, rang out. As the crowd parted, Zhao Kai saw clearly who had arrived.