Upon hearing Christian's reputation mentioned, Aaron finally calmed down. Right, he couldn't ruin his heir over an illegitimate child.
Dalia, seeing his anger dissipate, breathed a sigh of relief, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. As expected, just the mention of his precious son made him tense.
Late at night, the study was brightly lit. Aaron sat on the sofa, his eyes coldly fixed on Christian. "What exactly happened today?"
Christian remained silent.
Seeing his son's demeanor, Aaron understood his thoughts. He recalled something Zuri had once said, which he had dismissed as absurd but now seemed more perceptive than he realized. "I will send her away."
"Why?"
"Because I'm your father."
"But you're not my biological father," Christian shouted angrily.
"You carry the blood of the Lin family."
Christian was stunned. "What do you mean?"
"You are my son," Aaron finally revealed the long-kept secret.
Standing outside the door, Zuri was equally shocked.
Christian was a blood relative of the Lin family?!
In that instant, all her previous doubts and questions found their answers. Christian was of Lin family blood, which was why Aaron always defended him. But what about Saira? Whose child was she then? This Lin family was truly intriguing. She, who was openly acknowledged as the Lin family's biological daughter, wasn't truly one of them, while the adopted son was. Interesting, truly interesting.
Zuri withdrew her hand from the door slowly.
Inside, Aaron continued, "Whether it's Zuri or that disgrace, they are just stepping stones for you. Your job is to lead the Lin family to greater heights, to make it the number one family in Oceanic. Once you achieve that, you can have any woman you want."
Stepping stones? Zuri narrowed her eyes. So that was the value she and Saira held in the Lin family.
Zuri no longer cared to listen to what was being said inside and turned to leave.
During the New Year, Farida's family went abroad for a vacation, and Azura spent the holiday with Leo in the capital, while Zuri stayed home, sleeping and reading.
Flying Stone Café
Nolan sat alone in a corner, and even through the glass windows, passersby were drawn to him. "That man is so handsome," whispered a waitress hiding behind the counter. "Did you see the watch on his wrist? I saw it in a magazine once; it's a rare Vacheron Constantin model, starting at least half a million."
"Wow, rich and good-looking."
While the waitresses speculated, the café door opened, and Zuri walked in, glancing around before heading straight to the window.
The waitstaff were about to approach when they saw the girl sit opposite the cold-looking man. "Hello, I'm Zuri," she said, looking at the impressive man before her.
Nolan looked at her, focusing on her eyes, which were even more striking up close. "Hello, Nolan."
"I've been meaning to thank you for standing up for me on social media. Thanks for your support, Mr. Feng," Zuri finally said what she had wanted to for a long time.
"It was nothing, don't mention it."
"So, what brings you to see me this time?" Zuri got straight to the point.
She was always curious; she had no dealings with Nolan. If there was any connection, it must have been that matter. Was he trying to persuade her since he couldn't convince Evan?
Though he had previously helped her, it was impossible for her to just hand over Evan. The two matters were separate.
Seeing her straightforwardness, Nolan didn't beat around the bush. "Recently, a 'stock market prodigy' has emerged in Oceanic City. What do you think of this 'prodigy'?"
'Stock market prodigy'?!
Zuri felt a chill, her eyes narrowing as she studied the man before her. This 'stock market prodigy' was something she had carefully hidden since the start. Was he testing her, or did he already know something?
Zuri smiled. "Mr. Feng is quite interested in the stock market here. As it happens, I know the 'prodigy.' He's my cousin. If you need his contact, I can give it to you."
Nolan smiled without speaking, pushing a plate of exquisite pastries toward her. "Try these; see if you like the taste."
Zuri looked at the small cakes and then at the man across from her, feeling a sudden, inexplicable pressure. The man before her exuded a powerful aura, making her feel exposed.
She took a bite, maintaining her composure. The taste was good.
Nolan observed her quietly eating the cake, his voice calm. "FX Company highly values talent. The 'stock market prodigy' fits our standards perfectly. If it were you, would you refuse our company's offer?"
"I'm still young, focused on my studies. As for my cousin's decision, you can ask him yourself."
They both understood the situation without stating it outright.
"I've reviewed the 'stock market prodigy's' trading records; they're on par with mine, perhaps even better. At her age, I couldn't have been so precise. Such talent is rare. If she joins our company, she will undoubtedly have more room for growth."
"FX's main business is in the international financial market; that's where she belongs."
To someone truly passionate about finance, this would be an enticing offer. After all, Wall Street is a dream destination for any trader.
Unfortunately, that wasn't her.
She was merely leveraging her past life's memories, which were helpful for a time but not forever. Pursuing something not truly hers would only lead to downfall.
"Mr. Feng, you should ask him."
Nolan understood and looked at the girl in front of him, feeling a sense of loss, knowing that such talent was being wasted. Not being domineering, he wouldn't force her.
He handed her a simple black business card. "If your cousin ever changes his mind and wants to try, he can call this number."
"Okay."
Zuri took the card, noting its unique material—neither metal nor paper, delicate and smooth, with only a phone number and no name.
It was a unique card, different from the ones Evan had shown her before.
When Grayson entered and saw the card in Zuri's hand, his expression paused briefly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes before he looked away.
Zuri watched as Nolan got into a car and left in a black and gold Maybach.
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As Zuri got into the car, a message notification sounded.
Kaden: [I'm sorry about last time. Are you free tomorrow? My treat.]
Since parting at the Fu residence before the new year, Kaden's phone had been off, and no one knew where he had gone. The promised thank-you meal for the next day never happened.
Zuri: [Are you okay?]
Kaden: [I'm fine.]
Zuri: [I'm available tomorrow. You pick the time and place. I'll treat this time.]
The people he had sent to secretly look after Siyuan were diligent, reporting Siyuan's situation to her regularly. It would be improper to let him pay for the meal.
Kaden: [Alright. 7 PM at Sunshine Island. See you there.]
The Lin Family Residence
Upon Zuri's return, Saira, who had been shut in her room for days, appeared in the courtyard, sitting with Dalia. From a distance, the two women looked remarkably alike in demeanor and gestures. Though their faces were different, their mannerisms and aura were strikingly similar. Was this the result of spending time together?
As Zuri approached, Saira said something to Dalia, then stood and walked over to Zuri.
"Sister," Saira greeted her.
Zuri turned her head, her gaze cold. "What's the matter?"
Saira leaned in and lowered her voice, "That incident... you planned it, didn't you? You drugged me with hallucinogens."
Even when drunk, she would never lose control, let alone do something like that with Christian. In this house, the only person who would target her was Zuri; there was no one else.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Weren't you the one who got drunk and lost control?" Zuri retorted. "Unless you've actually fallen for Christian?"
"You're talking nonsense! He's my brother," Saira gritted her teeth.
No matter how low she stooped, she would never fall for her brother, even if only in name.
Zuri chuckled, "Maybe so, but that doesn't mean he feels the same. I distinctly remember seeing Christian reluctant to let go of your kiss that day."
"You..."
Fuming, Saira watched Zuri walk away, clutching a recording pen tightly in her pocket. She had hoped to extract a confession, but Zuri's words were watertight, leaving her feeling humiliated.
"Zuri!" Saira muttered through clenched teeth.
The Next Day
Sunshine Island Green Restaurant, an eco-friendly establishment promoting harmony between humans and nature, had become one of the hottest dining spots in Oceanic City since opening six months ago. Securing a table there was nearly impossible. Entering the restaurant felt like stepping into a forest park, with each table surrounded by greenery, creating private spaces. Streams trickled through the undergrowth, and colorful fish swam freely.
As Zuri walked in, the lush, green decor did not surprise her. In her past life, Rhea loved dining here, and she often brought her along. She was very familiar with the place.
After giving the room number, a host led her to a central pavilion surrounded by purple curtains, creating a dreamy, fairy-tale atmosphere.
Kaden was already waiting. As soon as Zuri arrived, he stood up.
"Long time no see."
Zuri smiled at the young man before her, noting that he seemed more hardened than before, the youthful arrogance and naivety gone, replaced by a more mature demeanor.
"What do you like to eat?" Kaden handed her the menu.
"I'm treating, so you should order. Pick what you like," Zuri said, returning the menu.
A waiter nearby, seeing them politely decline back and forth, suggested, "Why not try our signature dishes? They're all very popular."
Kaden waved a hand. "Sure, bring us all your signature dishes."
The waiter hesitated, "We have eighteen signature dishes. For two people, you might want to choose four. If that's not enough, you can order more later."
Zuri, disliking waste, said, "Two dishes and a soup. That should be enough."
"I've heard good things about the food here. Let's see if it's true. The environment is nice, at least."
"It is nice."
Kaden was preoccupied, wondering how to answer if she asked where he'd been. Should he be honest, or lie? Honesty might upset her; after all, what he had been involved in wasn't suitable for her to know. But lying could damage her trust if she found out later.
As they chatted, Zuri suddenly noticed a tense atmosphere around them. She glanced at Kaden, who had been lively a moment ago, now looking troubled.
"What's wrong?"
Just as she asked, her phone rang. It was Xiaojing, the person Kaden had sent to watch over Siyuan.
As soon as she answered, Xiaojing's urgent voice came through. "Zuri, there's trouble. Siyuan has been taken by some people from a casino. I couldn't stop them. They looked dangerous, and I'm worried something bad might happen."
Zuri stood up abruptly. "Where are you now?"
"I'm at the western outskirts. They've already left. I can't reach the boss, and I don't know who these people are."
Kaden also stood up.
After ending the call, Kaden quickly asked, "What happened?"
"Siyuan's been taken by some people from a casino. Can you find out who they are?"
"Got it."
They hurried out, only to be stopped halfway by a waiter.
"Excuse me, you haven't paid your bill."
Kaden pulled out a wad of cash from his bag, handed several bills to the waiter, and said, "Keep the change."
They hurriedly walked out, followed at a distance by a middle-aged couple who exchanged a glance before trailing them.
"Liu Da, find out which group went to the shantytown area today. Quickly."
Zuri thought of two possible locations, places Siyuan's father frequented. As they got into the car, Kaden started the engine. Just as they began to move, someone suddenly ran into the car and fell to the ground. Before they could react, a middle-aged woman approached the window, angrily pounding on it.
"Get out of the car! You hit my husband, get out!"
Kaden and Zuri got out to find a middle-aged man clutching his leg in front of the car, groaning in pain.
"My leg! Ah, my leg must be broken!"
Kaden and Zuri could tell at a glance that the man was faking it, but they didn't have time to deal with it.
Kaden straightforwardly asked, "How much do you want?"
Friends who like this novel, "The superstar wants to slack off",please add it to your collection, throw a small stone and vote for me. Thank you all for your support!!!
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