Chapter 53: Extra (The End)

End of January.

The college students had just started their winter break. Lin Yang couldn’t even wait for the next day. He packed his luggage and was ready to go home that very day.

When the plane landed, it was already close to midnight.

The two brothers picked up their luggage and pushed it as they walked out.

A black Benz was parked at the airport exit. Fang Yuwei stepped out of the car. She was wearing a gray-blue long trench coat with knee-high boots, simple yet elegant.

Over the years, she hadn’t changed at all. In fact, she seemed to grow younger. Her expression was full of a youthful vibe.

When she saw her two sons, a big smile spread across her face. Her dark and clear eyes were filled with joy as she quickly took small steps to run toward them. “You’re finally back. Mom missed you both so much—”

“Slow down.” Lin Yan frowned when he saw her running in boots.

Fang Yuwei took each of her sons by the arm and looked left and right. “Did you lose weight?”

As a parent, she feared her children had become too thin.

Lin Yang nodded vigorously.

He had lost weight.

Please increase his allowance!

“I haven’t lost weight.” Lin Chao was very honest.

Lin Yang sighed silently and quickly began praising Fang Yuwei. He looked at her closely. “Mom, when did you get a perm?”

“Does it look good?” Fang Yuwei touched the curls on either side of her face. “Just got it last week.”

“It looks great. Mom, you’re getting more and more beautiful.” Lin Yang looked at her. “This coat looks really nice too. It matches your temperament perfectly.”

Fang Yuwei’s smile deepened, her arched eyebrows full of delight. She secretly shared, “Yesterday a young girl who just graduated came to the office. She actually asked if I wasn’t married yet.”

Lin Yang asked, “Why would she ask you that?”

“She said she doesn’t want to get married and asked me how I maintained this mindset without marrying.” Fang Yuwei laughed again. “I told her I am married. I said if my son were a few years older, I’d introduce you to him.”

Lin Chao reacted. “Mom, don’t play matchmaker randomly.”

“She’s really a nice girl,” Fang Yuwei defended, even pulling Lin Yan in, “Your dad has met her too. She’s very polite.”

Lin Chao frowned and pressed his lips together. “I don’t want to get married so soon. I still have many things to do.”

Lin Yang quickly echoed, “Me too. I’ll wait until I’m at least thirty!”

He thought of Zhao Ying, and he was so poor now he didn’t even have money to spend on a girlfriend. Wouldn’t that just be holding her back?

Lin Yan opened the trunk and said to the two, “Put your luggage in. Let’s go home.”

People continued to push carts out from the terminal. Once the sons walked away, Lin Yan reached out to take Fang Yuwei’s hand and rubbed it in his palm, speaking gently, “It’s cold outside. Get in the car first.”

He was originally going to come alone. It was late, and she was used to sleeping early.

But she insisted on coming. And it was so cold tonight.

“Okay.” Fang Yuwei got in the car.

After placing the luggage, Lin Yang and Lin Chao got in one after the other and sat in the back seat.

Fang Yuwei handed two lunchboxes to the back. “Hungry? Grandma made claypot rice for you.”

Mother Lin knew airplane meals tasted bad, so she specially prepared it.

“Grandma is so kind.” Lin Yang grinned. Then he added, “Mom and Dad are kind too. It’s so late and you still came to pick us up. That’s really hard on you.”

Look at that mouth. He’s been charming since childhood.

“Oh right,” Lin Yang pulled out many snacks from his backpack like he was presenting treasures, holding them out with both hands to Fang Yuwei, “Mom, these are all tasty local specialty snacks. I saved some for you.”

“So many?” Fang Yuwei looked pleasantly surprised as she took them from his hands and looked through them one by one. “And they’re all different flavors.”

“They’re all delicious!” Lin Yang stuffed claypot rice into his mouth and spoke unclearly.

Fang Yuwei opened a bag immediately. It was crispy rice crackers. She fed the first piece to Lin Yan.

Lin Yan opened his mouth and ate it.

Fang Yuwei turned to her sons with a smile. “I had to bribe your dad with one piece first. Otherwise, he wouldn’t let me eat this kind of snack.”

Lin Yang gave her a thumbs-up. “Dad already ate it. He can’t object now.”

Lin Yan: “…..”

“Feed him another piece.” Fang Yuwei put two pieces in her own mouth. While waiting at a red light, she fed another one to Lin Yan.

“I’m not eating anymore.” Lin Yan didn’t like snacks like that, especially not late at night.

“Eat!”

Just as Fang Yuwei finished speaking, Lin Yan slowly opened his mouth. She stuffed two more pieces into her own mouth and playfully scolded, “Your son specifically brought these back. You’re not allowed to refuse to eat.”

Lin Yang was eating and quickly distanced himself from the matter. He hadn’t let his dad eat any.

Lin Yan lightly responded, “Mm.”

Lin Yang: “….”

His dad really only listens to his mom. After so many years, she’s been spoiled more and more like a child, while they have gradually grown up.

Lin Yang still vaguely remembered that when he was little, their dad used to chase them around the playground feeding them. Later, he just started revolving around their mom. Maybe it was because they had grown up and become sensible.

Lin Yan was driving carefully. Fang Yuwei sat in the passenger seat, eating snacks and chatting with the two kids.

Lin Yang kept sharing things about school with her, occasionally mentioning how Yang Liyu and the others were doing. Fang Yuwei cared quite a bit about those kids and asked many questions. Knowing they were doing well eased her mind.

Lin Chao didn’t say much, only occasionally chiming in.

Lin Yan only answered when Fang Yuwei specifically asked him questions.

Over the years, Lin Yan’s business expanded quickly. Although his temperament seemed gentle as before, he was much more steady. The only unchanged thing was his devotion to family. Except for necessary work and social events, he stayed with Fang Yuwei.

When they arrived home, Lin’s father and mother got up from the sofa and walked over.

“Grandpa, Grandma.”

“My dear grandsons are back, and they’ve lost weight.”

“Come here, Grandpa wants to see if you got tanned.”

Father and Mother Lin had originally been honest and taciturn, but after managing Lin Yan’s business for years and meeting many people, they gradually became more expressive.

The two brothers had grown up around their grandparents without leaving even one day. Now that they were back for just half a year, the old couple had been worried and sleepless for days.

Mother Lin had made some nourishing soup. Everyone sat down to drink a bowl, chatting and catching up.

Lin Yan stood up first, “Mom, Dad, Xiao Wei and I are heading back first. I just got back today and am a bit tired.”

Mother Lin thought of how he came back from the neighboring province in the evening and then picked up the two kids, so she quickly stood and said, “Go get some rest. Rest well.”

Since Fang Yuwei received a teacher’s welfare apartment, they no longer lived here. Lin Yan said that place was closer to her work, so they didn’t have to commute back and forth.

Fang Yuwei also stood and told the two kids, “Rest well. You can sleep in tomorrow.”

“Got it, Mom.”

“Goodbye, Mom and Dad.”

Lin Yan held Fang Yuwei’s hand and led her out the door.

In the car, Fang Yuwei’s lips kept lifting into a smile as she talked about the two kids, “They got a bit darker, probably from military training sun, but a little tan is healthy and looks nice.”

She kept chatting, but Lin Yan didn’t respond.

“Why aren’t you very interested in the kids?” Fang Yuwei looked sideways at him with some dissatisfaction.

Lin Yan denied it, “No.”

He called the two every couple of days. Lin Yang told him about every little thing. What was there to be interested in? Last month, when he transferred flights in City A, he even went to see them.

“You do have interest,” Fang Yuwei muttered.

Lin Yan glanced at her. At the red light, he reached out and covered her hand with his, holding it in his palm and squeezing gently. “Why are your hands so cold?”

She wasn’t wearing gloves, and it was so late — already past midnight.

“I’ve been sleeping alone these past few days. It’s chilly, so naturally my hands and feet are cold.” Fang Yuwei looked ahead and spoke sarcastically.

Lin Yan had been on a business trip for a few days, and she had been sleeping alone.

“No one to care for or love me, so it is what it is.” Fang Yuwei sighed. When the light turned green, she urged him to drive forward, “I’m sleepy. Let’s go back so I can sleep.”

Lin Yan sped up a bit.

After parking and going upstairs, as soon as they opened the door, Lin Yan wrapped his arms around Fang Yuwei.

“What are you doing?” She was startled.

Lin Yan took the opportunity to close the door, lowered his head, and kissed her, “Did you miss me?”

“No.” She smiled and shook her head, trying to avoid his lips.

“Really not?” Lin Yan was persistent, kissing deeper, “Hmm?”

“No—mmph—” Fang Yuwei looked stubborn. Suddenly pressed against the wall by Lin Yan, sensing what he was about to do, her face flushed crimson as she grabbed his hand, “What are you doing!”

“Helping you warm up.”

Such a suggestive phrase paired with the action from Lin Yan made Fang Yuwei’s ears turn red, “Aren’t you embarrassed? How old are you?”

This comment hit the nail on the head, especially since everyone thought Fang Yuwei looked like she was in her twenties. Lin Yan definitely wouldn’t admit he was old.

He held Fang Yuwei so she couldn’t leave, making her bend over.

After some playful tussling on the sofa, when they finally reached the bed, Fang Yuwei’s body was limp and her face flushed. Seeing Lin Yan approach, her soft hand tried to push him away, “I don’t want you.”

Lin Yan caught her hand, kissed it, pulled her close, his gaze gentle and affectionate as he kissed the corner of her eye, soothing her softly.

Soon, the restless Fang Yuwei calmed down and stayed quietly in his arms.

Now she was easier to coax than when the two kids were little. Holding him tightly with both hands, clingy and sweet, she laughed and mentioned the earlier matter, “That young girl thought I was only in my twenties. Do I look like I’m in my twenties?”

“Yeah.” Lin Yan nodded.

Fang Yuwei smiled even more happily, teasing him twice in his arms before planting a kiss on his cheek, her smile tender and sweet, “It’s because you take good care of me. I declare, it’s all thanks to you. Keep it up.”

Her skin was always fair, younger-looking than most people, but perhaps her vitality was more infectious.

Sometimes Fang Yuwei felt like a young girl around Lin Yan because he was so good to her. With Father Lin and Mother Lin also doting on her, she naturally showed her softer side.

“I know, Teacher Fang,” Lin Yan nodded, gently rubbing her smooth back repeatedly, then turned his head to kiss her, “Sleep well. You can sleep in tomorrow too.”

Fang Yuwei slept until noon.

Lunch was all brought back by Lin Yan from the Lin family’s place for her.

During this holiday, it was Fang Yuwei’s birthday. Lin Yang and Lin Chao secretly saved some money to buy her a birthday gift.

Lin Chao already had some savings, and the money Lin Yang saved was all earned secretly by handing out flyers as a part-time job.

Every year, the two brothers did this. When they were younger, they used to draw pictures and make crafts for Fang Yuwei. Later, they saved their red envelope money to buy her gifts.

Even if it was just a hair ring, it was carefully selected and wrapped in a gift box, filled with all their sincerity and blessings.

No matter how much Lin Yang spent recklessly, the money for buying gifts for their mom had to be saved.

But because he hadn’t graduated yet, saving money and earning through part-time jobs was very hard. Lin Yang really hoped to graduate quickly, work hard, and earn money so that he could have a bigger budget for gifts for Fang Yuwei.

But right after finishing his internship and about to graduate, Lin Yan told Lin Yang to come back and take over the family business.

When Lin Yang got the call, he had just used the thirty yuan he earned by handing out flyers all morning to treat a few people in his dorm to instant noodles, even extravagantly adding two sausages and a pack of dried small fish.

Of course, he refused. While eating noodles, he said, “Why doesn’t brother come back?”

Isn’t it always the eldest son who takes over?

Lin Yan said calmly, “Chaochao got a civil servant job and plans to serve the country. If you have such ideals, then you don’t need to come back either.”

“…” Lin Yang forgot that his brother’s goal was to serve the country. He stopped eating and pretended to be pitiful, “Dad, I’ve been outside all these years. You know I like to travel. I want to stay in City A and don’t want to come back.”

During his four years of college, Lin Yang traveled on a budget everywhere, hiking mountains and rivers, staying in hostels. He even handed out flyers to earn meals. He had a lot of fun, but didn’t have big ambitions like Lin Chao.

He simply didn’t care about the family business.

“I’m not asking you to come back. The company also has malls in City A. You can start there and get familiar.” Lin Yan said.

Lin Yang stopped stirring his noodles, then quickly responded, “After I stay in City A for a while, I’m going to City B, and then City C—”

Lin Yan interrupted, “The company has malls and supermarkets in most first- and second-tier cities, and also real estate. There are overseas operations too. Are you still going out?”

Lin Yang gave an embarrassed smile, holding his noodle fork trembling, “Dad, are you joking?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

Lin Yang found it hard to digest. After a moment of silence, he cautiously asked, “How much are our family assets?”

Does someone really have to come back and inherit?

Lin Yan roughly said a number. Lin Yang dropped his fork completely, even his noodles didn’t seem appetizing anymore. He hung up and started to lose focus.

His dorm mates had been quiet since he took the call, all holding bowls of noodles, now looking at him together.

Lin Yang felt like crying but couldn’t, looking helpless and confused at them, “It’s over. My family really has some money.”

The others weren’t surprised, instead slurping their noodles and blinking at him, as if this was expected.

“Why don’t you react?” Lin Yang clenched his hands so hard his palms sweated. He couldn’t handle such pressure alone.

Li Mao calmly said, “We knew your family was rich.”

“How did you know?” Lin Yang didn’t believe it, “I didn’t even know!”

“From the first day you drove a ten-million Maybach and wore a watch worth a few million, I knew you weren’t simple.” Li Mao pointed at the watch on his wrist, “Patek Philippe, three to four million.”

“Isn’t it three or four hundred?” Lin Yang looked at the watch, “You’re telling me three or four hundred?”

“Three or four million!” Li Mao raised his voice, almost cracking, “Who told you three or four hundred? Patek Philippe! That’s three to four million, Young Master Lin!”

“How is the Maybach worth ten million? And what kind of watch costs three or four million?” Lin Yang felt it was beyond his ability to accept. He even took off the hot watch and was about to toss it aside, but thinking about the price, he quickly wiped the table before slowly putting it down. He picked up the box and sipped some spicy noodle soup, “No, the most important thing is my dad definitely wants me to come back and inherit. Is there any way I don’t have to go back?”

The few people who hadn’t found jobs yet were speechless.

A total blow. Absolutely a blow.

Lin Yang was still dazed, drinking two big sips of noodle soup, shaking his head in despair and muttering to himself, “I’m done for. I’m done for. Dad said if I can’t inherit in ten years, he’ll train me for twenty years, and if not, thirty years.”

“Now I’m completely done.”

“I have to go home and inherit the family business. I will never be happy again.”

…

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Ayalee: That’s it for the second world! The next one, The Pitiful Female Supporting Character from a Patriarchal Family in the 2000s, will be updated next week since I’ll be away for a bit. Hang tight, and see you soon! ( ˶◕‿◕˶✿)