Chapter 35: A Loving Father and Dutiful Son – Lin Ruo Zhi

"Shut up!"

Lin Changfeng was trembling with such terror that he was nearly driven mad. As he roared, tears actually welled up in his eyes.

"You unfilial son, close your filthy mouth!"

Lin Ruozhi could hardly believe his ears. He turned his head, his body stiff. "Dad, I’m your son! They beat me half to death; the least you could do is back me up! Why are you scolding me now? Why are you telling me to shut up?"

Seeing Zhu Qing'an narrow her eyes, a flicker of murderous intent manifesting within her gaze, Lin Changfeng was struck by a paralyzing fear. Ignoring the need to explain to his son, he dropped to his knees with a heavy thud in front of Zhu Qing'an and Zhang Fan. The mighty head of the Lin Group, a man who had graced the Forbes billionaire list more than once, was now sobbing like a wayward child.

"Miss Zhu, I have sinned! I deserve to die!" Lin Changfeng cried. "I—I am willing to offer my own life in exchange for my son's. Please, do not kill him. If you must kill someone, kill me instead!"

Lin Ruozhi felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his face turning deathly pale. Even if he were dim-witted, he had spent enough time around his father to know a thing or two. Though he had never been qualified to attend the Zhu family’s banquets, his father had spoken of them often. The current prosperity of the Lin Group was entirely dependent on the Zhu family. Seeing his father kneeling and weeping, and hearing him address this girl as "Miss Zhu," the reality became self-evident.

Realizing the gravity of his transgression, Lin Ruozhi’s eyes widened in horror. Like his father before him, he collapsed onto the concrete, his knees slamming down, unable to rise. He looked up, meeting Zhu Qing'an’s eyes with absolute terror. "S-so, you are..."

Zhu Qing'an’s expression was as cold as a frozen lake, devoid of the sweetness and gentleness she showed Zhang Fan. Her gaze was as sharp as a blade.

"Shut up," she commanded. "Lin Ruozhi, only one of you is walking away from here today. Since he wants to die for you, I shall grant him his wish."

She cast a cold glance at Lin Changfeng, who dared not plead further. What Zhu Qing'an said was not merely her decision—it was the decision of the entire Zhu family. Who didn't know that she was the sole heir to the main line of the Zhu family? If she wanted him dead, could he possibly survive?

Lin Changfeng dared not even show anger. With a fawning smile, he kowtowed heavily to Zhang Fan. "Mr. Zhang, my son was ignorant, but after today, I believe he will never dare to provoke you again. Please, be the bigger man and spare him!"

Zhang Fan remained silent, observing Zhu Qing'an quietly. Who exactly was this girl? How could she make a billionaire worth hundreds of billions kneel before her? And why did the man seem so resigned to his fate just because she demanded it?

*My god,* he thought, *this is terrifying.*

***

Lin Ruozhi was frantic. He gave his father a hard shove. "Dad! You keep saying you’ll die for me, so why aren't you jumping into the river? There’s a big river right there! Jump! The Miss from the Zhu family said as long as you die, I can live. Stop just talking and jump!"

Zhang Fan and Zhu Qing'an were both stunned. They exchanged glances, seeing only pure disbelief in each other's eyes.

"Damn," Zhang Fan muttered under his breath. "Xiao'an, I’ve seen my fair share of things, but I’ve never seen anyone this wicked in my life."

Zhu Qing'an’s lips twitched. "I know. It’s absurd. Doesn't he have a conscience?"

As expected, Lin Changfeng, who had been prepared to sacrifice himself, was incensed by his son's words. He glared at Lin Ruozhi, his body trembling with rage. "You beast! How could you say such a thing? I offered to die for you voluntarily, but you—you dare force me? You animal!"

"Dad, stop with the nonsense," Lin Ruozhi pleaded desperately. "You’re old; I still have my whole life ahead of me! Once you're gone, I’ll take good care of the Lin Group. I swear I’ll turn over a new leaf, okay? Just jump!"

Lin Changfeng was so furious he couldn't speak. He shot a look at his bodyguards, who immediately understood his intent. Without a word, they moved toward Lin Ruozhi. As they grabbed him, he realized what was happening and stared at his father in terror. "Even a tiger doesn't eat its own cubs! Dad, how could you!"

Zhang Fan looked on with disdain. "Enough. Save your words for the King of Hell."

In the next moment, Lin Ruozhi was thrown into the river. He struggled for a few moments before sinking to the bottom. As his life faded, he let out one last bubble of air. *Why did I ever cross Zhang Fan... I’m so rich, so young, and I haven't even begun to enjoy my life. I could have had everything...*

His thoughts dissolved into darkness.

Zhu Qing'an continued to stare coldly at Lin Changfeng. "I know he was your only son, but a man like that dying is a blessing for your family. If you ever target Zhang Fan again, I guarantee no one in the Lin family will be left standing. Do you hear me?"

Lin Changfeng didn't dare utter a single word. He remained on his knees, kowtowing until Zhang Fan’s car vanished from sight. His bodyguards approached, having witnessed the terrifying power of the Zhu family, and none dared to speak.

"Quick, help me up!" Lin Changfeng gasped. "Seal the news of my son's death. If anyone finds out, or if anyone dares to plot against Zhang Fan because of this, I will be the first to take their life!"

***

In the car, Zhang Fan could no longer contain his curiosity. "Xiao'an, who are you, really? Lin Changfeng looked like he was about to lose his mind when he saw you. Is your family really that powerful? I’ve read about things like the Illuminati or the Freemasons in conspiracy theories—are you one of those 'mysterious families'?"

Zhu Qing'an hadn't intended to tell him, but her curiosity about Zhang Fan was even greater. "Brother, you puzzle me too. My mother tried to investigate the source of the billion you used for your car and house, but she couldn't find a single trace. You should know, there isn't a secret in the world that the four great families, including the Zhu, can't uncover. You tell me who you are first, then I'll tell you about my family!"

Zhang Fan touched his nose. *So, hidden families really do exist.* But how could he explain? He couldn't exactly say, "The system gave me the money." Since it came from the system, of course they couldn't trace it.

He skipped the topic. Zhu Qing'an, seeing him remain silent, felt an itch of impatience.

After reaching home, Zhu Qing'an went to check on Wang Chunhua. Meanwhile, far away, Liu Yan finally finished disposing of the last of the remains, collapsing on the ground, gasping for air. Over the past few days, she had practically memorized every chemical paper she could find, even referencing methods from *Breaking Bad*. Fortunately, the job was done; not a trace remained.

In China, it was 6:00 PM, but in Florida, it was just 7:30 AM. Her heart was still pounding as she wondered what to do next. When she subconsciously opened her phone and saw a post on Zhang Fan’s social media, she finally broke down, collapsing to the floor in tears.