Chapter 027: The Fu Family!

The Fu residence.

Inside a mansion worth hundreds of millions, an elderly man who appeared to be in his sixties sat with reading glasses perched on his nose, perusing the news on his e-reader. Remarkably, at his age, he was reading the entertainment section. Yet his brow was tightly furrowed, his expression stern and commanding even in silence.

On the nearby sofa, a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties lounged back, half-reclined, idly playing a game on his phone. The cheerful music jingled from the device—a tune familiar to anyone with the slightest knowledge of current trends: it was the wildly popular match-and-link game.

If an outsider were present, they would notice that the middle-aged man was dressed from head to toe in understated, custom-tailored luxury. Even his socks, if found in a store, would cost several thousand per pair. The hall they occupied was equally understated in its extravagance—the dark gray floor tiles seamless, each a single massive slab. Such full-floor tiling demanded the highest craftsmanship and the finest materials.

The television in the living room was custom-made too, but even so, it wasn’t the most eye-catching feature. That honor belonged to the ancestral portraits displayed on the wall. From the Tang and Song to the Yuan, Ming, and Qing, in every era, their ancestors had been prominent figures.

“Welcome home!” chimed the electronic door.

The two men—one elderly, one middle-aged—turned their attention from their activities towards the entryway. The newcomer was a young man in his twenties, handsome with a simple crew cut, dressed in blue shirt and trousers. Compared to the middle-aged man’s bespoke attire and the old man’s tailored suit, the youth’s clothing was plain. Yet, the simplicity radiated comfort and precision—it was the official casual uniform for firefighters.

He crossed the entryway, and their eyes met. Fu Lin looked first at the middle-aged man, then settled his gaze on the old man. “Grandpa, what brings you here too?”

“Hmph. Since you never come home, this old man could only drag your father along to see you,” Fu Xingguo grumbled, setting down his e-reader.

For nine generations, the Fu family had only one male heir each time. Fu Xingguo had cherished Fu Lin since he was a child, doted on him as if he were a fragile treasure. He had feared the boy would slip from his hands or melt in his mouth, and now, when his beloved grandson had grown up and become independent, he barely saw him all year. So he had set everything aside and had his son bring him over to visit.

“You could’ve just called, Grandpa. Communication’s so convenient now. Even if I can’t come out, you can always video call me.” Knowing he was in the wrong, Fu Lin sidled up to Fu Xingguo, grinning sheepishly as he tried to win him over.

Of course, Fu Xingguo hadn’t truly been angry. Now, with his grandson coming over to placate him, any lingering displeasure vanished. He scrutinized the young man before him, his face softening with affection. “You’ve lost weight again. Is the food at the fire station that bad? Should grandpa send you some supplies?”

“No need, Grandpa, don’t worry. The food at our station is excellent—it’s just that our training’s been intense lately.”

“If you’re training more, does that mean you’re earning more credits too?”

Fu Lin hadn’t graduated yet. Having enrolled in National Defense University, his winter and summer breaks were nothing like those of ordinary college students. Two-thirds of each break were spent interning at various units, assigned by the university. This year, his placement was with the fire department. According to the rules, once he’d completed the required duration, he could return home to his family. But each year, to better experience life at the grassroots, Fu Lin stayed at his assigned post until the semester began, just like everyone else, with no special treatment.

“I’m not sure. That might be up to our political commissar. But Grandpa, let me tell you, I saved someone recently—a child and his mother fell into a lake, and I dove right in after them…”

Pleased to see his doting grandfather, Fu Lin excitedly recounted his rescue at Central Park to his father and grandfather, animatedly describing the thrilling experience. It was his first time saving a life, and surviving such a perilous situation made him eager to boast to his classmates back at school.

But as Fu Lin spoke with increasing enthusiasm, the expressions on Fu Xingguo and Fu Jiahua—who had been playing his game—grew grave. Fu Jiahua sat up, his demeanor sobering, while Fu Xingguo’s face was clouded with concern. The atmosphere in the living room gradually thickened, growing tense.

Sensing the change, Fu Lin’s smile faded. He knew his father and grandfather worried about him, so he forced a laugh. “Come on, Dad, Grandpa, don’t be like this.

Let me tell you—when I rescued that kid, I also met a really nice girl. It’s a pity she already has a boyfriend; otherwise, you might have had a daughter-in-law by now.”

Because the Fu family had only one son per generation, Fu Lin had been urged to marry from an early age. The family’s fortune, while perhaps not dazzling among the grandest of clans, was respectable, and their ancestors were all illustrious figures. After cycles of rise and fall, both his father and grandfather had grown modest, but finding a wife was hardly an issue. With no external pressure and his family’s longstanding hope for him to settle down, Fu Lin had always been forthright about his feelings.

The last time he met Su Yunjin, he truly understood what it meant to fall in love at first sight. Even now, he felt a pang of regret. If only he had met Su Yunjin first, he was sure he could have won over that fascinating girl.

“That’s called bamboo drifting, not some kind of martial arts. I can’t perform feats over water, and don’t ask if I know kung fu,” Su Yunjin’s words echoed in his mind, making Fu Lin’s lips curl into a smile.

“Look at this rascal—knowing we worry and still laughing like that. I should never have supported your enrollment at National Defense University. Even if you never worked a day in your life, the family could support you,” grumbled Fu Xingguo, seeing Fu Lin still lost in happy memories.

He knew the path his grandson had chosen was fraught with danger, but as an old man, as a grandfather, he had no desire to see another hero added to the Fu family annals. All he wanted was for his grandson to live safely, marry, and have children—a peaceful life, nothing more.

Fu Jiahua’s gaze darkened; he understood his father’s thoughts. The Fu family’s genealogy already bore too many heroes. Generation after generation, and now, with only one male descendant per generation, Fu Lin was his only son. Should anything happen to him, his life would be left without purpose.

With that thought, Fu Jiahua spoke. “Lin, have you ever considered coming back to take over the family business?”