In Cheng Huanzhen’s plan, Little Uncle should stay in the hospital for observation for at least three days.

But Lin Chen didn’t want to stay.

So, he glanced at Cheng Huanzhen, who was sitting by his side seriously studying the morning’s medical examination records, and called out, “A-Zhen.”

Cheng Huanzhen looked up in confusion.

Lin Chen reached out, naturally hooked his arm around Cheng Huanzhen’s neck, and under the latter’s surprised gaze, pulled him right in front of his face.

Cheng Huanzhen braced his hand against the bed to steady himself. Bent over and looking up, he asked confusedly, “Little Uncle?”

Lin Chen said gently, “Close your eyes, I’ll perform a magic trick for you.”

Cheng Huanzhen: “?”

Cheng Huanzhen obediently closed his eyes in confusion.

Seeing that he didn’t ask a single unnecessary question, Lin Chen was in a rather good mood. He added a kiss to this magic trick, landing it softly on the tip of his nose.

Cheng Huanzhen’s nose twitched slightly, and he subconsciously wanted to reach out and hug him, to nuzzle into his embrace.

Lin Chen used his only free hand to tap the back of Cheng Huanzhen’s neck, stopping him: “Don’t move around. You aren’t allowed to interrupt my spellcasting.”

Cheng Huanzhen let out an “Oh,” and slowly retracted his hand.

Lin Chen glanced sideways, his hands operating quickly.

Finally, he stopped the kissing and chuckled lightly, “You can open your eyes now.”

Cheng Huanzhen opened his eyes.

He looked at his Little Uncle earnestly and asked, “Little Uncle?”

He saw his Little Uncle smilingly hand him a tablet—it was his own tablet—and say, “Take a look. What is our plan for today?”

Today was only the second day since Little Uncle had been found.

Cheng Huanzhen could recite today’s schedule with his eyes closed.

He took the tablet without turning it on and said, “My schedule for today is to accompany you in the hospital, Little Uncle.”

Little Uncle said patiently, “Just look at it.”

Cheng Huanzhen tilted his head in puzzlement—Little Uncle always liked to do this, so he had learned to do it too.

After agreeing with an “Alright, Little Uncle,” Cheng Huanzhen sat on the edge of the bed, unlocked the tablet, and opened the schedule page.

On the page, it was clearly written—

16:00, Take Little Uncle to handle discharge procedures.
17:00, Take Little Uncle to the dessert station at XX Road, XX District for strawberry cake.
18:00, Take Little Uncle to…
…
20:00, Take Little Uncle back to the old mansion to see Grandfather.

Cheng Huanzhen: “…”

Cheng Huanzhen: “?”

Cheng Huanzhen was silent for three seconds, then suddenly looked up and said in a very certain tone, “You just changed this. Little Uncle.”

Little Uncle looked extremely surprised: “What do you mean I changed it? Don’t slander people. I merely cast a ‘Schedule Rationalization’ spell!”

Cheng Huanzhen: “Oh. Magic.”

Cheng Huanzhen said seriously, “But this magic isn’t cautious enough, Little Uncle. Executing secret missions might lead to secret injuries in the body. We should observe in the hospital for three days first.”

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow: “My fever is almost gone, what secret injuries could there be? It’s not like I went to take on some family’s commission in this short half-month!”

Lin Chen continued, “Besides, Old Mr. Cheng is still furious with me.”

Lin Chen sat up cross-legged and took out his WeChat to show Cheng Huanzhen. It displayed various messages Old Mr. Cheng had sent him intermittently throughout the day… Summarized in one sentence, he was demanding to know what exactly was going on!

“Since I’m back now, naturally I have to go visit the old gentleman first. Save him from getting even angrier at his age and getting sick from rage. Wouldn’t that be terrible?”

Lin Chen looked incredibly innocent.

Cheng Huanzhen stared at him for three seconds, then suddenly said, “Wait for me, Little Uncle.”

Then he took his phone to the corner of the ward, lowered his head, and tapped away for a long time before coming back.

He turned the phone screen to Lin Chen and said, “Little Uncle, you don’t need to leave the hospital because of Grandfather. I persuaded him to come directly to the hospital to see you.”

Lin Chen: “?”

So, half an hour later, Elder Cheng stormed aggressively into the ward.

As soon as Elder Cheng saw Lin Chen, his anger flared. He let out a heavy hmph and sat heavily on the chair, as if afraid Lin Chen wouldn’t notice his displeasure.

Elder Cheng glared at him: “What is wrong with your body that requires a man in his seventies like me to personally come to the hospital to see you???”

Elder Cheng glanced at Cheng Huanzhen, who was sitting upright and tense beside them as if facing a great enemy, and became even more unhappy.

Elder Cheng scoffed coldly: “First, you weren’t kidnapped; second, you weren’t sold. I thought your disappearance for so long meant you had cheated Huanzhen of his feelings and planned to take the money and run! Hah, what, did you stop halfway through running and still dare to come back to see me?!”

Lin Chen: “…”

Lin Chen pressed down on Cheng Huanzhen, who had bristled with anger beside him, and asked Elder Cheng patiently and gently, “You look like you haven’t played chess in a long time. Shall we play chess tonight?”

Elder Cheng raged: “Don’t change the subject, I’m asking you a question! You cheated me out of a whole one hundred million, and now you want to cheat away our Cheng family heir? Do you really think I can’t handle you?!”

Lin Chen: “I checked the weather forecast. It says tonight is cloudless and not cold, very suitable for lighting a lamp and playing chess in the garden.”

Elder Cheng: “Stop talking about chess or no chess. Do you think playing chess with me will gloss over this issue? I tell you, I am not…”

Lin Chen: “I’m going to travel globally soon. Shall we play chess tonight?”

Elder Cheng: “…”

Elder Cheng said fiercely: “Play. You just wait for me. Tonight, I will utterly crush you!”

Having successfully coaxed Elder Cheng, Lin Chen looked smilingly at Cheng Huanzhen.

Lin Chen: “See, Elder Cheng invited me to play chess tonight.”

Cheng Huanzhen kept a cool, straight face: “.”

Lin Chen said gently, “Nothing will happen to me again. I promise you, okay, A-Zhen?”

Under this gentle “A-Zhen,” light as a breeze, Cheng Huanzhen’s anger deflated.

He lowered his head dejectedly and said melancholically, “But, Little Uncle, you won’t tell me where you went for this half-month, why you suddenly disappeared from the stairwell, why you suddenly reappeared back in the stairwell, and why you came back with a fever… I was really worried, Little Uncle.”

Lin Chen cupped his face, kissed his forehead, kissed his eyelids, and kissed the tip of his nose, coaxing him: “I promise it won’t happen again. Trust me.”

Cheng Huanzhen: “…”

Cheng Huanzhen was very unhappy: “Little Uncle, you said that last time too.”

But no matter how unhappy he was, he ultimately agreed to the new schedule created by magic and draped a jacket over Lin Chen.

It was just that this unhappiness drove him to lay down a harsh ultimatum: “There won’t be a third time, Little Uncle. If something happens to you again, I really won’t believe your coaxing anymore!”

…

When Elder Cheng returned to the old mansion, several heads of wealthy families happened to be visiting as guests.

After discussing some business matters, they entered tea time.

One family head chatted with Elder Cheng: “I heard your grandson Huanzhen has been making quite a stir lately. When I went to Province G a few days ago, I saw missing person posters there… How is it going? Is there any progress? I know some people; do you need help searching alongside Huanzhen?”

Elder Cheng got angry at the mention of this: “It seems this matter really has become known nationwide! Hmph, I said that brat Huanzhen is still immature. As soon as he panics, he throws out every method he has, not knowing how to control the impact!… No need, the person was found last night. It was nothing serious.”

Another family head smiled gossipily: “I heard that the lost child surnamed Lin has an unusual relationship with your Huanzhen?”

Elder Cheng became even angrier.

More than just unusual! He felt his grandson’s very soul was about to be completely cheated away!

But before he could voice his complaints, another family head of similar age frowned: “Homosexual? What is the other party’s background? It isn’t some greedy poor kid coming out to scam money, is it? Hmph, there have been so many of this type these years. Their faces are all carved from the same plastic surgery mold, specifically targeting kids like your Huanzhen who don’t have much dating experience but are talented and will inherit family assets. They keep talking about true love and soul resonance, but actually, they are just coming for the money! If you ask me, scammers like this…”

Elder Cheng: “?”

Elder Cheng frowned unhappily: “What scammer? Who’s being scammed? Old Liu, watch your words. Xiao Lin and my Huanzhen have had a serious relationship for three years! Leaving aside that my Huanzhen isn’t stupid enough to be scammed, just speaking of Xiao Lin—with his ability, with his assets, scam what?! Hmph, it’s just that you haven’t met him. Let me tell you, if I get the chance to show Xiao Lin to you, you might just regret that it wasn’t your daughter who met him!”

Family Head Liu was unhappy hearing this, so the two old men chattered and debated for a good while. The more Elder Cheng argued, the unhappier he got, until he simply drove everyone away!

But after everyone had left, one family head remained sitting by the tea table as steady as Mount Tai, leisurely brewing and tasting tea. Upon receiving a suspicious glare asking “Why are you still here,” he even raised his teacup to invite him.

Qi Jingming: “Your Huanzhen doesn’t take the usual path. Good! He has a future! When will you bring the person over for tea so I can take a look first?”

So, when Lin Chen arrived at the old mansion, this was the scene he saw:

Qi Jingming and Elder Cheng were sitting opposite each other, brewing tea, tasting tea, and chatting. Seeing him arrive with Cheng Huanzhen, Qi Jingming smiled and raised his teacup to him.

Lin Chen: “?”

Lin Chen looked at Qi Jingming: “What a coincidence, Uncle Qi.”

Qi Jingming: “I heard you two are dating, so I came specially to look. Not a coincidence. Calling me Uncle now that there are outsiders present? That’s truly heartbreaking.”

Lin Chen sighed: “There is another father figure here; I can’t show favoritism.”

Then he took a seat.

Cheng Huanzhen called out politely: “Uncle Qi.”

And followed suit in sitting down.

Elder Cheng was surprised: “Xiao Lin handled your family’s matters too?”

Qi Jingming: “Otherwise, why would I say your Huanzhen has a promising future? In forty-one years of opening orders, only your Huanzhen recognized him. Smart kid.”

The last sentence was directed at Cheng Huanzhen as a compliment.

Cheng Huanzhen was confused: “Forty-one years?”

Lin Chen turned to him: “It’s a very long story, don’t listen to nonsense.”

Cheng Huanzhen: “Oh.”

Seeing Lin Chen, the anger that Elder Cheng had just dissipated through bragging flared up again instantly.

He pointed at Lin Chen and said to Qi Jingming: “Just in time. Look at him. I asked him to be my godson and he refused, insisting on downgrading to a grandson! Jingming, tell me, what is this about? He can’t even calculate the accounts properly!”

Drinking tea, bickering, unable to settle the bickering.

Elder Cheng, very dissatisfied, ordered the old butler to move the chessboard to the garden and led the group to the back garden.

Once the viewing chairs were set and the chessboard placed, Elder Cheng slapped the stone table forcefully and said viciously to Lin Chen: “Today I’m going to properly crush your prestige in front of Huanzhen and Jingming. Come battle!”

So a game of chess began. Elder Cheng opened fire fully, carrying a murderous aura, aggressively swinging his blade all the way, slaughtering Lin Chen’s pieces into disarray!

After slaughtering him for three games like this, Elder Cheng said in annoyance: “If you’re going to play, play properly! Is this all the skill you have? With just this level of skill, you dare to hook my grandson away?? I just bragged about your chess skills to Jingming; are you trying to slap my face in front of him?!”

Lin Chen looked innocent: “If I really won against you in front of Uncle Jingming, how bad would that look?”

Elder Cheng’s eyes widened: “Do I look like someone with poor sportsmanship??”

Lin Chen blinked: “Alright, well, you said it.”

So when the new game started, Lin Chen opened fire fully, unhurriedly slaughtering Elder Cheng back for three games.

Elder Cheng’s mood hit rock bottom instantly! He wouldn’t even let the pieces be put away, staring at the chessboard, dead set on replaying the game to figure it out, the matter of Lin Chen and Cheng Huanzhen instantly vanishing from his mind.

Lin Chen smiled reservedly, said a few polite words, and leisurely bid farewell and left with Cheng Huanzhen.

Qi Jingming never disturbed people replaying chess games.

So he also left with Lin Chen.

Qi Jingming’s car was parked at the gate of the old mansion. Seeing him, the driver actively got out and opened the door.

Qi Jingming sat in the back row of the car, beckoned to Lin Chen, and said: “Rare for us to meet, want to catch up?”

So Lin Chen coaxed Cheng Huanzhen, settled him aside, and got into Qi Jingming’s car alone.

The car door closed, the window rolled up.

Qi Jingming signaled the driver with his eyes and said to Lin Chen: “This is my confidant. No need to worry about him.”

Lin Chen sighed: “You want to hear me call you Daddy that much?”

Qi Jingming was calm: “I stayed at the Cheng house for so long specifically to give you a reminder; of course, you have to call me Daddy to thank me.”

Lin Chen: “Oh?”

Qi Jingming: “The Cheng family is a massive establishment. No matter how strong your personal ability and financial strength are, later on, once the honeymoon phase passes and conflicts arise, it will be very easy for you to suffer a loss.”

Lin Chen: “Daddy really dotes on me.”

Qi Jingming: “So I thought of a good idea for you.”

Lin Chen listened attentively: “Daddy, please speak.”

Qi Jingming rested his elbow inside the car window, his gaze falling upon Lin Chen along with the moonlight. With a calm and gentle smile in his eyes, he said: “Acknowledge me as your godfather, and I’ll be your backer. How about it? It’s a good idea, right?”