He sat in the car on the way home.
"Young Master Chao Ci, your father didn't work overtime today. He came home early and said to see him in the study when you got back!"
Uncle Li spoke as he drove.
Lin Chao Ci nodded, understanding why his father wanted to see him.
Most likely, he had moved against that con artist classmate and his political rival.
A little over ten minutes later, he arrived home.
Lin Chao Ci was in no hurry to go to the study. Instead, he leisurely ate dinner first to fill his stomach.
The restaurant he had visited at noon had a lovely atmosphere and delicious food, but the portions were too small to keep him full for long.
Only after eating until he was comfortably full did Lin Chao Ci amble toward the study.
He knocked on the door and entered.
His father sat on the sofa to one side, looking rather displeased. He had waited so long that he had begun to worry something had happened to his son, only to discover the truth later.
His precious boy had been home for ages, but rather than coming to see him, he had gone to eat first.
He had simply left his father hanging...
After all that waiting and worrying that something had happened to him, this was how it turned out... It was infuriating.
"Father, you wanted to see me?"
Lin Chao Ci casually sat on the sofa and asked in an even tone.
"You..."
Lin Jianguo had intended to lecture him, but on second thought, he had never specified a time when he sent the message. It was only natural for his son to eat when he was hungry.
As an adult and a father, he ought to be more generous and tolerant.
He swallowed the reprimand on the tip of his tongue. After collecting his thoughts, Lin Jianguo said, "I've already submitted the record of Ding Qiushan's crimes to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. They'll send people over tomorrow to verify it!"
"As for that con artist, I haven't tipped him off or sent anyone to arrest him yet. I've only assigned a few people to watch him..."
There was clearly no need to tell his son about official affairs, but Lin Jianguo told him anyway.
Perhaps he had started treating his son as a peer, or perhaps he wanted to prove himself to him.
"Not bad. You acted decisively and cleanly! But a few details could still be improved. If it were me, I'd first report some of Ding Qiushan's minor offenses to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection!"
"Have them take Ding Qiushan into custody first, cutting off his contact with the outside world so he can't fight back!"
"That would also lower his guard. He'd think this was all you could muster in retaliation and brush it off. After all, you'd only reported minor offenses. Given a little time, he could cover his tracks!"
"What we need is those few days while he's in custody. That's enough time for the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection to find evidence and place him under disciplinary detention..."
Lin Chao Ci had spent many years in officialdom in his previous life and had extensive experience.
He immediately recognized that his father still lacked polish and offered suggestions to refine the plan.
At first, Lin Jianguo had wanted to argue, but after hearing the whole plan, he was speechless.
Holy shit... Seriously? Is this really my son? He seems more professional than me, and more devious too. I'm the rookie here!
His son's plan was flawless, accounting for everything.
It shut down every possible opening for Ding Qiushan. Who could withstand a succession of blows like that?
"Also, step up security for the time being to prevent anyone in Ding Qiushan's faction from launching a desperate counterattack. Ideally, put all their key leaders under surveillance!"
His father was clearly still stunned and had yet to recover.
Lin Chao Ci reminded him again, because Ding Qiushan had truly been a madman in his previous life. Just a few years after moving to a ministry, he had come under investigation.
He had always been brazen and had committed countless misdeeds, some of which he had not even bothered to conceal. Once the higher-ups investigated, they uncovered a wealth of evidence, enough in total to warrant a death sentence.
He had chosen to lash out in a final, desperate counterattack...
Several people had died because of him...
His father had also been implicated. There was no helping it. As the municipal Party secretary, he was the first to bear responsibility when something went wrong.
That incident had brought his father's career advancement to a complete halt, and he had been reassigned to a secondary role.
With the leader of their faction brought down, Lin Chao Ci had been forced to step up before he was ready.
Even now, thinking about it made him grind his teeth.
Ding Qiushan truly deserved to die. He was an outright lunatic.
Without him, his father would never have died in despair.
That was why Lin Chao Ci had specifically added to the plan, hoping to finish Ding Qiushan off in one decisive strike.
"Surely it won't come to that... Never mind. Better safe than sorry. I'll do as you say!"
Lin Jianguo did not take the possibility of retaliation too seriously. He still thought too well of people.
But since it was his son's well-intentioned reminder, he nodded in agreement.
Assigning a few more people to provide protection would not cause any problems anyway. It would merely cost a little more money.
Afterward, the two discussed a few other matters.
Only then did Lin Chao Ci yawn, pretend to be sleepy, and leave. He certainly did not want to stay up talking with his father until midnight.
Watching his son leave, Lin Jianguo's eyes filled with pride. "My son has really matured. With him taking over in the future, I can rest easy!"
He had no idea that the eldest son he thought so highly of was actually determined to coast through life.
Back in his room, Lin Chao Ci finally had time to check his phone and reply to everyone he was close to.
After chatting for a while, Lin Chao Ci saw that it was getting late. Since he had school tomorrow, he went to sleep.
The next day, it was six in the morning again.
Lin Chao Ci woke naturally, quickly washed up, and began another day of morning exercise.
By the time he finished, the housekeeper had already prepared breakfast, and his father happened to come downstairs.
"Not bad. A morning run is a good habit. Keep it up!"
Seated at the dining table, Lin Jianguo felt increasingly pleased with his eldest son.
Not only had he become more sensible, but he also knew to exercise and look after his health.
"Dad, you've got some nerve saying that to me. You used to be in the military before transferring to civilian work, but look at you now. Your belly is all fat. What happened to that eight-pack...?"
Lin Chao Ci curled his lip disdainfully. His father had an average build, neither thin nor fat, with a little flab around his stomach.
But years of sitting had left him with poor circulation and steadily declining energy. Coupled with old injuries from his military days, his condition had worsened further as he aged.
His health had also played a part in his early death in Lin Chao Ci's previous life.
"Ahem... A little praise, and it goes straight to your head. You even dare lecture me now. What a fine son you are!"
Lin Jianguo glanced down. His belly did indeed protrude slightly, and it was all fat.
Even if it was true, his son should not have said it so bluntly.
How was he supposed to save face as a father?
Lin Jianguo both adored his dear son and found him infuriating.
"Dad, you should exercise more too! Go for a run or take more walks whenever you have time. Anyway, I'm finished. I'm heading out!"
Lin Chao Ci polished off his breakfast in a few bites and remembered to remind his father once more before leaving.
Outside, Uncle Li had already been waiting for quite some time.
He got into the car. Haikou University was not far from the municipal Party committee compound, and they arrived seven or eight minutes later.
When the guard at the entrance saw the license plate, he did not dare stop them. He immediately raised the barrier and let the car into the campus.
"Hey, guard! Why can his car go in when mine can't?"
Before you continue