Lin Yan had said he would not eat with them, but he broke his word after all.
Across from him, Zhu Zhuqing and her daughter, Zhu Zhuyou, sat facing each other. It was a very warm scene.
Lin Yan sat opposite them, his gaze fixed entirely on the delicious dishes on the table, about to pick up his chopsticks.
But just then, a soft, adorable child's voice suddenly rang out, clear and innocent:
"Daddy, Mommy, can we sit together and eat like this every day from now on?"
In an instant, everyone fell silent.
At her words, Lin Yan's chopsticks froze. His heart jolted too, and he nearly choked on his own saliva, thoroughly startled.
Holy crap, this little girl let it slip. Was that deliberate or an accident?
Did she know he was her father?
He only knew that none of the children the system cultivated were ordinary, and this little one's package was already the highest tier.
Because of his mistake, he had also added innate fortune for her afterward, and it was even second-tier.
This little one had been born with knowledge, and her ability to see into all things far surpassed that of her peers several times over.
Zhu Zhuqing was badly startled too and hurriedly covered Zhu Zhuyou's mouth:
"Children's words don't count, children's words don't count."
Lin Yan took the opportunity to take the offered way out, his tone turning serious:
"Don't call me that. I'm the shopkeeper who cultivated you, the person who forged your talent and foundations, but I'm really not your father.
From now on, just call her Mommy. Don't call me that again."
He was afraid of getting entangled in bonds that would be difficult to extricate himself from later.
Lin Yan hurriedly explained to Zhu Zhuqing:
"My Martial Soul and bloodline have nothing to do with dragons. Your Martial Souls are both related to dragon mutations, so don't overthink it.
Besides," Lin Yan said with an air of mystery, "my status is exalted, and my bloodline is exceedingly rare. How could I possibly leave it in the shop to be matched with just anyone?"
Lin Yan spouted a load of nonsense, but Zhu Zhuqing understood him.
Although she was a little suspicious, since Lin Yan had stated it so solemnly, he definitely could not be the father.
Zhu Zhuyou, however, nodded with only a vague understanding and said nothing more, continuing her meal.
Only then did Lin Yan breathe a sigh of relief. As he ate, he looked at Zhu Zhuqing and said:
"Your repayment is due tomorrow, and you definitely won't be able to pay. I'll personally visit your Zhu Family tomorrow to collect the debt. Is there anything you'd like to say?
Do you want to come along?"
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing quickly raised her head and looked nervously at Lin Yan:
"Boss, may I ask how you're planning to collect the debt?"
"Simple." Lin Yan's tone was casual. "Courtesy before force. I'll start with kind words and collect the debt according to the rules.
If the Zhu Family knows what's good for them and repays it in full, all will be well.
But if they refuse to pay, I'll simply take it myself."
"But Boss, you know there's no way I'll receive any inheritance, so they can't possibly acknowledge this astronomical bill against my inheritance.
Besides, my parents haven't even passed away, so there isn't any inheritance. I don't currently meet the conditions for a division of the family property."
"Whether you meet the conditions doesn't matter. If I say you do, then you do. All I need is your legitimate status and the corresponding share you might be entitled to. Those two things are enough to give me grounds to collect from them.
Remember, this is a world where strength reigns supreme. In this world, the weak are meat for the strong. Only the strong deserve a seat at the table and have the right to discuss how the weak's resources are divided.
So, same question: do you want me to take you along tomorrow to watch?"
"Of course I do, but Boss, the Star Luo Zhu Family is one of the Star Luo Empire's foremost hereditary ducal houses. They've produced empresses generation after generation, and they have the entire Star Luo Imperial Family behind them. Their influence is immense.
Moving against the Zhu Family is the same as moving against the entire Star Luo Imperial Family. The consequences would be unthinkable. Are you really not afraid?"
Although she found the thought of Lin Yan taking revenge on the Zhu Family immensely satisfying, the consequences would also be terrifying.
After hearing this, a supremely confident smile instantly appeared on Lin Yan's face:
"Have you forgotten the Escort Package you just heard about?
Remember the 'Demon King Guard'?
Below god level, I'm invincible. Above god level, I trade one life for one."
Zhu Zhuqing's heart shuddered at his words.
No matter when it was or how many times she had heard it, whenever Lin Yan said those words, she found them deeply shocking.
It was outrageously arrogant, carrying a sense of absolute invincibility.
She had already subconsciously chosen to believe that Lin Yan possessed this Demon King Guard, so she eagerly pressed:
"Then will you need to deploy the Demon King Guard to collect the debt tomorrow?"
"Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?" Lin Yan shook his head. "For a mere Zhu Family, I alone am enough."
With that, Lin Yan continued, "Never mind a single Zhu Family. Even if the entire Star Luo Empire stood before me, I wouldn't spare it a second glance.
I'm collecting that debt tomorrow, no matter what. If they obediently pay up, fine. But if they dare deny what they owe, I'll take it with my own hands.
When that happens, how much I take won't be up to them, nor will it be up to me. It'll all depend on heaven's will."
Zhu Zhuqing instantly understood what he meant. If they refused tomorrow, he would loot the Zhu Family in the name of collecting the debt.
Zhu Zhuqing could not help looking forward to it, but soon she still voiced her concern:
"Boss, would doing this break the rules?
I'm doing it deliberately, using my inheritance share to saddle the family with an enormous debt as revenge against the Zhu Family.
If someone else does what I'm doing in the future, wouldn't their family get cheated to death?"
"You actually have the mind to worry about that?"
Lin Yan smiled and looked at her.
"But you've hit the nail on the head. It's actually very easy to explain. You and Ning Rongrong from before are opposite examples.
Ning Rongrong is cherished by her family and has the whole family's support. She chose to take out a loan, and her family backs her up. That's a good thing. She has a strong sense of family.
Of course, that might not be the best example, because Ning Rongrong's family isn't short on money, so there's no trouble collecting the debt.
Now suppose there's a family similar to your Zhu Family, with abundant assets but very little liquid cash, one that would go bankrupt if tens of millions were withdrawn.
If I now talk one of their heirs into using his inheritance share to cultivate offspring, then go to collect the debt afterward, what do you think his family would do?"
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. She had not been born into that sort of normal family, so she did not know.
"There are two possible outcomes. One is that, after learning the truth, they decide it's an excellent deal and readily hand over his inheritance share. From then on, they focus on nurturing that top-tier child prodigy, bringing even greater prosperity to the family in the future."
"And the other outcome?"
"Naturally, they think it's too much money and it would hurt to part with it, so they refuse to pay."
"Then what would you do, Boss?"
"I'd collect the payment by force, of course."
"Then isn't that no different from robbery?"
"No, it isn't robbery. It's a normal transaction.
Any normal family would agree immediately once they learned what the money was used for, because it's a guaranteed profit with no risk of loss. Even if they had to empty the family coffers, they'd produce the money.
If they couldn't produce it, they'd negotiate with me. Installments or a loan, either could be discussed. But if they take a hard line and absolutely refuse to repay it,
then there's only one other possibility.
They want the child but don't want to pay. Why wouldn't I go straight at them?
Do they really think I'm running a charity?"
Before you continue