The next day.
Inside the Lin Family estate's Council Hall, the seats were filled early in the morning.
The current Family Head, Lin Baijian, lounged somewhat listlessly in the seat of honor. His weathered face was paired with bloodshot eyes, and he looked utterly drained, exhausted beyond measure.
Those unaware of the truth would likely have assumed he had worn himself haggard over family affairs, pouring out his heart and soul.
Little did they know that Paradise Quarter had drained him dry.
"Cousin, is Li Yun really still alive?"
A refined-looking middle-aged man spoke up to ask.
The woman beside him also looked at Lin Baijian with shock and uncertainty in her eyes.
Most of the Lin Family members seated in the Council Hall at this moment were, like those two, from branch and collateral lines. The Lin Family blood flowing through them was more or less impure.
Thus, upon hearing that Lin Liyun—the sole direct-line descendant—was still alive, they had all rushed back from far and wide, gathering in this hall to get to the bottom of it.
Zhong Sanxiao looked around the hall. Seeing that even the branch of an uncle by marriage from over a hundred li away had deliberately hurried over, he felt somewhat comforted. But when his gaze shifted to Lin Baijian's side and fell upon that seat, still empty, his expression darkened with anger.
"The Second Family Head hasn't returned?"
Zhong Sanxiao shot an angry look at the guard he had sent yesterday to notify Lin Bairu.
The guard immediately bowed and answered tremblingly, "The Second Family Head said that the clan's affairs have nothing to do with him anymore!"
Zhong Sanxiao's face sank.
Lin Baijian's expression also turned unsightly. This was clearly a blatant refusal to acknowledge him as Family Head. He immediately