Chapter 1: Unexpected
"You useless brat, can't even handle a small thing like this, what can you do?" Li Lihua stabbed Xu Ke's head fiercely with her sharp, manicured fingernails, each jab harder than the last.
"If it weren't for the old man in the family speaking up, how could a waste like you possibly marry Mengyao? Do you even realize that with our Mengyao's figure and looks, no rich young master in Luocheng wouldn't match her, yet she ended up marrying a wimp like you, it really pisses me off."
"It's been three years since you married Mengyao, have you done anything that would make people give you a thumbs up? A grown man staying home daily, doing laundry, sweeping, cooking, making our Mengyao support you, do you think you look anything like a pillar of the family? Huh? I thought this was already your limit as a waste, but then you even managed to break a dish while washing it. Do you have any redeeming qualities left at all? If I were you, I'd be too ashamed to stay in this house any longer, and would have divorced Mengyao long ago to give her freedom."
Li Lihua railed at Xu Ke with her hands on her hips for ages, yet without a shred of response, only fueling her anger further. Without thinking, she gave Xu Ke a slap. Li Lihua didn't hold back, and the slap was unprecedentedly loud, Xu Ke's cheek swelled visibly, and Li Lihua's hand stung badly.
"Damn it, I've never met anyone as shameless as you." Li Lihua shook her hand and cursed.
"That's enough, today is Xiaohua's engagement ceremony, we can't be late." Lin Shichang emerged from the room in a well-tailored dark blue suit, "Why haven't you changed your clothes yet? Hurry up, we need to get going." He glanced at his wife who still hadn't changed, frowning in displeasure.
"This waste made me so angry that I forgot, give me a moment, I'll be down shortly." Li Lihua gave Xu Ke a fierce glare, threatened, "I'll let you off today, but remember, we'll settle this score when I return."
He, Xu Ke, once the eldest son of the Xu Family in Shangjing, a favored son of the heavens, now a son-in-law of the Lin Family in Luocheng!
Three years ago, after the death of his parents, he was hunted by assassins, knowing for sure it was his uncle's family behind it all, for the sake of the family fortune.
He fled gravely injured to this city, and if not for Old Man Lin's rescue he likely would have died in that dim alley, and Old Man Lin had to pay a heavy price to stop the Xu Family from chasing him further, on the condition that Xu Ke never return to the capital.
Xu Ke was grateful to Old Man Lin and even married the most beautiful woman among the Lin family's young generation, Lin Mengyao, but also made a five-year agreement that he wouldn't divorce or leave the Lin Family within five years.
In others' eyes, he was just a waste, no one in the Lin family other than Old Man Lin sincerely accepted him, more regretfully, Old Man Lin passed away two months after their marriage, leaving him, this son-in-law, as the punching bag of this family.
The phone rang; it was a string of unfamiliar numbers. Xu Ke hesitated for a moment before picking up.
"Is this Mr. Xu Ke?" The voice on the other end was a man's, exceedingly polite.
Such a tone made Xu Ke immediately suspect it was an advertisement or sales pitch, but there was virtually no one in the Lin family who spoke to him this way, which made him want to listen a bit more, so he said, "Yes, who might you be?"
"My surname is Zhang, I'm the full-time lawyer for Lin Group, because Mr. Xu Yongchang and his family have passed, according to legal stipulation, you are the sole legal heir of Mr. Xu Yongchang, and all his assets will be inherited by you, Mr. Xu Ke..."
The person on the other end continued speaking, but Xu Ke could no longer hear, only one voice in his head — Grandpa's dead! Uncle's family is all dead!
"Mr. Xu, Mr. Xu, are you listening?"
The voice on the phone finally pulled Xu Ke's thoughts back to reality, he sighed lightly, "Has my gran... grandfather's funeral been held?"
"It's already been properly handled, all of Mr. Xu's assets are ready to be handed over to you, when would you be available?"
"Anytime in the next couple of days."
Three years... from the time he was expelled by the Xu Family and saved by Old Man Lin to marrying Lin Mengyao, it's been a full three years.
During these three years, he lived like a walking corpse; the name 'Xu Family' was a massive Five-Finger Mountain weighing him down, he had already given up on revenge, intending on completely exiling himself, becoming the wretch people spoke of.
But Uncle's family just died so mysteriously, he didn't compete for the Xu family's assets, yet they landed in his hands, it's somewhat absurd and laughable.
Half an hour later, Xu Ke had already arrived at the entrance of the hotel and saw his wife Lin Mengyao standing in the hotel lobby.
She was so beautiful, surpassing worldly beauty, every time Xu Ke stood before her, he couldn't help but feel ashamed of his own appearance.
However, this wife was only a title, in reality, although they lived under the same roof every day, Lin Mengyao never truly regarded him as her husband.
Xu Ke knew very well that Lin Mengyao only accepted this marriage because of her grandfather.
"Sorry, I'm late."
Lin Mengyao frowned tightly, opened her mouth but eventually let out a light sigh, then came over to take Xu Ke's arm, "Let's go in."
Only in the presence of some Lin family members would Lin Mengyao assume the role of a wife, acknowledging Xu Ke as her husband.
At those moments, Xu Ke would feel very happy, even though the happiness was always so fleeting and came with even more ridicule.
"Lin Mengyao?"
A man's voice came from behind.
Lin Mengyao and Xu Ke turned their heads simultaneously and saw a young man, his bearing was impressive, with a slight smile on his face and his gaze fixed directly on Lin Mengyao.
"Lu Chi! You're back?" Lin Mengyao's face lit up with a touch of mild surprise.
"Yes, it's been years since I last saw you; you've become even more beautiful." Lu Chi completely ignored Xu Ke standing next to Lin Mengyao and walked over to greet Lin Mengyao diligently.
Lin Mengyao immediately regained her composure, smiled slightly, and cordially said, "When did you return from America? I didn't hear any news before, it's really surprising to meet you here."
"I haven't been back for long, wanted to surprise you, that's why I didn't say. But I plan to stay in Luocheng for a long time since I'll be helping out in my father's company, as I've been away for so long Luocheng has changed a lot, I might need your help to get reacquainted with this city. Please take care of me."
"Sorry, my wife is quite busy with work, she might not have the time to show you around Luocheng. However, I'm quite familiar with the city, if you need, I can take you for a walk around."
He didn't like the way the other man looked at Lin Mengyao and stood directly in front of her.