Chapter 44: Heaven on Earth

“You sure know yourself well,” Lin Zhentian said, unsure whether to laugh or cry at Lin Tai’s candidness.

If it weren’t for his obedient daughter Lin Ziyu, Lin Zhentian wouldn’t know how long the Lin family’s business could survive in Lin Tai’s hands.

“Dad, I’ve got that much self-awareness,” Lin Tai replied. Inherit the family business? Impossible. Not in this lifetime.

Being a carefree “salted fish” was way more appealing, wasn’t it?

Lin Tai had long been infected by the “salted fish system.” Beyond completing the plot, all he wanted was to laze around.

“Uh, Dad, Xiaofeng invited me out tonight, so I’m heading out,” Lin Tai said, seizing the chance to slip away as he saw Lin Zhentian gearing up for a lecture.

Talk about perfect timing—Ling Weifeng’s message couldn’t have come at a better moment.

“That kid!” Lin Zhentian didn’t stop him. After all these years, he was used to it.

“Ziyu, I’ll give you a three-month break. Rest well, and after three months, join the company,” Lin Zhentian said, looking at his daughter with relief. Daughters were the best.

“Thanks, Dad,” Lin Ziyu replied happily. Three months was enough time to win over her brother!

“Ziyu, I hope you and your brother can get along well in the future. You can see how he is … the Lin family will have to rely on you,” Lin Zhentian said earnestly.

Let Lin Tai live his happy “salted fish” life.

“Dad, have you ever considered that maybe Brother isn’t as bad as we think?” Lin Ziyu couldn’t help but defend Lin Tai.

Her brother was the most amazing person in the world!

“He’s my son—don’t I know him?” Lin Zhentian shook his head. Lin Tai was hopelessly smitten with Xia Shihan. He was beyond saving!

Outside the Lin family estate, a flashy Lamborghini was parked. Its gull wing doors flipped upward.

“Bro, hop in quick!” Ling Weifeng waved at Lin Tai. “Let’s go have some fun.”

“Fun, my ass. Didn’t I tell you to stay in Hainan for a month? Why’d you come back early?” Lin Tai said, exasperated. He’d sent Ling Weifeng away for a month to keep him safe.

And now, Ling Weifeng had come back on his own.

“You’ve got the nerve to talk? You didn’t even tell me about that huge mess you got into. When I heard about it in Hainan, how could I not rush back?” Ling Weifeng had been enjoying a nice vacation in Hainan.

Sun, beach, beauties—everything was perfect.

Until he saw the Longteng Hotel video and the flood of netizens cursing below it. Ling Weifeng couldn’t sit still.

He took a red-eye flight back.

“It’s got nothing to do with you. They’re all cursing me,” Lin Tai said. Ling Weifeng had always had a good reputation, and the online frenzy barely touched him. The one getting the most hate was Lin Tai.

The comments were brutal, and the keyboard warriors were relentless.

Even when the full video came out later, what did it matter? Lin Tai’s reputation was still trashed, though it dragged Ye Bai down with him.

“That’s exactly why! They’re cursing you!” Ling Weifeng saw Lin Tai as a brother. Seeing his good friend slandered online, he genuinely worried Lin Tai might take it too hard.

He was furious that Lin Tai didn’t tell him about his grievances.

“Ahem, so where are we going tonight?” Lin Tai coughed lightly, feeling both touched and helpless.

Touched by Ling Weifeng’s brotherly loyalty.

Helpless because Ling Weifeng underestimated him. From the moment Lin Tai became the villainous side character, he stopped caring about his reputation.

Let them curse—he’d just ignore it.

“Next time something happens, you tell me first, or we’re done as brothers,” Ling Weifeng said, knowing when to back off without pushing further.

“Tonight, your boy’s taking you to see the world,” Ling Weifeng said, a sly, suggestive smile creeping onto his face.

“What the hell?”

“Heaven on Earth. Heard of it?”

“Heaven on Earth?” Lin Tai slapped his forehead, nearly forgetting. As a dedicated villainous side character, he’d almost overlooked the plot.

Heaven on Earth was a bar, founded by the young master of the Yan family, one of the ten minor families. It was very legitimate and extremely upscale.

There were no requirements for women—free drinks included—but men needed a certain status or a member’s invitation to enter.

Lin Tai remembered that in his previous life, after the video scandal broke, Ling Weifeng took him to Heaven on Earth to help him unwind.

It was almost laughable. Nearly every young master from the ten minor families had membership, except Lin Tai.

Those young masters looked down on him.

If it weren’t for Ling Weifeng, Lin Tai wouldn’t have even gotten in.

At Heaven on Earth, according to the plot, Ye Bai’s mole, Zhao Gang—the guy from the detention center—would approach Lin Tai to become his lackey.

In Emperor’s Return, Zhao Gang had a fairly significant role.

Half a month later, Lu Ziyan’s movie would start filming, and the idea to set the studio on fire came from him. It was a crucial plot point for Lin Tai.

Because of that fire, Ye Bai saved Lu Ziyan and Su Qingyan, restoring his reputation and gaining the Su family’s backing.

Meanwhile, Lin Tai, the villainous side character, offended both the Lu and Su families in one fell swoop.

Their retaliation followed swiftly.

The studio fire incident was arguably the biggest disaster Lin Tai caused in the entire novel.

Lin Zhentian paid a heavy price to protect Lin Tai’s life from the Su and Lu families. Though this plot felt unfair to Lin Zhentian, Lin Tai had no choice but to follow it.

At least, in the end, Lin Zhentian would have a peaceful resolution.