Chapter 134: Is It Just Resting with Eyes Closed? (Humbly Seeking Your Subscription)

Lin Fan picked up his phone impatiently. Without even glancing at the caller ID, he answered and barked angrily, “Who is this? If you have something to say, get on with it. Out with it.”

“Boy, you certainly have the airs of a big shot. Your temper reminds me a great deal of what I was like when I was young.” Old Master Tang’s voice came through the phone. He was not the least bit angry at Lin Fan’s words; if anything, he seemed to be praising him.

The moment he heard the old man, Lin Fan sprang up from the bed and gave an awkward little laugh. “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. How could I presume to put on airs in front of you, Old Master?”

“All right, stop flattering me and come over here.” Old Master Tang had naturally heard the embarrassment in Lin Fan’s voice, so he stopped teasing him and got straight to the point.

“I’ll be there right away, Old Master.” Lin Fan answered with a grin. He had only just returned, yet Old Master Tang already knew. He supposed the old man had heard it from his sister or Tang Rui. Fortunately, the old man had not blamed him for leaving without saying goodbye. Otherwise, Lin Fan truly would not have known how to respond.

He had been worried about Li Nanxing’s safety at the time and had simply forgotten about it. Just as Lin Fan was about to hang up, he heard the old man mutter softly on the other end, “Going away without even telling an old man like me. Who knows when these old bones of mine might give out?”

The call ended with a series of beeps.

Lin Fan pursed his lips, feeling deeply uncomfortable. He could tell that there was not the slightest trace of reproach in the old man’s words—only disappointment, and the concern of a man well past seventy for the younger people under his care.

Lin Fan shook his head and told himself that something like this must never happen again. Old Master Tang sincerely treated him well and was also his elder. Whenever Lin Fan went away, he should tell the old man personally so that he would not worry. Even a simple phone call would have been enough.

After hanging up, Old Master Tang said, “That boy went away without even telling me. If Rui’er hadn’t told me, I would have thought he was still in T City.” Though his words sounded like a complaint, a clear smile rested on his face.

“Young Master Lin must have had something urgent to attend to. He oversees such a large mercenary organization as Dragon Soul, so there are bound to be countless matters requiring his attention.” Uncle Wu smiled as he offered a word in Lin Fan’s defense.

He had an exceptionally good impression of Lin Fan. The young man was distinctive, mature, and courteous. He spoke neither arrogantly nor obsequiously, and most importantly, he never put on airs with Uncle Wu, despite the latter being merely a steward.

“Little Wu, it seems you like that boy quite a lot too. You’ve only met him a few times, yet you’re already defending him.” Old Master Tang burst out laughing.

“Don’t you like him just as much?” Uncle Wu had lived alongside Old Master Tang for so many years that the two of them understood each other far too well. “Xiang Wei has arrived. I’ve asked him to wait in the study.”

“Good. I’ll go see him. He’s been growing more and more unruly lately. I wonder what he wants this time.” At the mention of Xiang Wei, Old Master Tang’s expression darkened.

He rose and headed toward the study, with Uncle Wu following close behind.

…

Meanwhile, after hanging up, Lin Fan did not dare delay any longer. He hurried out of bed and ran toward the bathroom while putting on his clothes. His hair was slightly disheveled. Once he was dressed, he wolfed down the breakfast Zhao Ying had prepared and took the elevator downstairs.

After leaving the hotel, Lin Fan looked around, only to find no taxis. The few that passed by already had passengers. As for taking the bus, the crowds were far too dense. T City was a municipality with a huge population, after all.

Just as Lin Fan was growing frustrated, a fairly luxurious private car pulled to a stop beside him. The window slid slowly down, and a remarkably pure-looking face emerged.

“What are you doing here? Where are you going?” Tang Rui asked in surprise.

Although she knew Lin Fan had returned after taking care of some business outside the city the previous day, she had never expected to run into him here so early in the morning.

“Nothing much. I was just about to take a taxi to your place.” Lin Fan chuckled. “If it’s convenient, give me a ride. If not, forget I asked.”

He wore a smile as he shamelessly made his request.

“Oh, I happen to be heading home…” Tang Rui had only gotten halfway through her sentence when Lin Fan opened the door and slipped inside. Anyone could guess what she had been about to say.

Fortunately, he had run into her. Otherwise, he would probably still be standing there waiting for a car. T City was enormous, and meeting her here really had to be fate.

Tang Rui froze for a moment, obviously not expecting Lin Fan to climb in before she had finished speaking. But remembering how shameless he could be, she said nothing more. She started the car and drove toward the Tang residence.

For some reason, whenever she was with Lin Fan, she always remembered the moment he had stolen her first kiss.

“How has Grandfather’s health been lately?” Lin Fan leaned back in the passenger seat with his hands behind his head and asked with a faint smile.

The old man was nearly eighty. Ever since learning about the relationship between the Lin and Tang families, Lin Fan had never actually asked about his condition.

“Grandfather has been doing quite well lately. It’s just that, as people grow old, they sometimes become lonely. Fortunately, Uncle Wu is always there to keep him company.” Tang Rui turned a corner and continued, “My parents died when I was very young. Grandfather raised me himself. He always said the outside world was dangerous and refused to let me go out. But things are better now. There’s you, Sister Lin, and Feifei. Whenever Grandfather sees me with you all, he’s always cheerful. I feel happy too.”

As she said this, Tang Rui revealed a sweet smile. It was obvious that she was genuinely happy.

Through Lin Yan, Lin Fan already knew that Tang Rui’s parents had died shortly after she was born. When she was little, Old Master Tang had feared that something might happen to her, so he often made her stay inside the Tang residence. Later, she was sent abroad to study. It was not until she took over Dongxing Group some time ago that she truly began interacting with people in society.

Most of the people she met at the company, however, placed profit above everything else. Lin Fan could sense that Tang Rui was actually quite lonely and probably had very few genuine friends. Her words just now made that clear.

“So my existence is very important to you, huh?” Lin Fan teased with a wicked grin.

He rested one hand on the driver’s seat, his fingers almost brushing Tang Rui’s hair. In truth, he was not trying to take advantage of her; it was merely a habitual gesture. And besides, touching her hair once could hardly be considered harassment, could it?

“Mm. Grandfather said that when we were children, you and Sister Lin came to visit, and I often ran after the two of you. Unfortunately, I don’t remember any of that. By the time I was old enough to remember things, you and Sister Lin had stopped coming.”

Lin Fan had expected Tang Rui to blush, but instead she simply nodded as she drove, actually agreeing with him.

When he did not reply, Tang Rui glanced toward the passenger seat. She found Lin Fan resting one hand against the driver’s seat, his head pillowed on the other as he reclined in the passenger seat with his eyes closed, apparently resting…