Chapter 141: Just Consider This Your Home

The atmosphere in the hall instantly dropped to an icy chill.

Chen Wanqing looked at Lin Feng with some surprise, as if she hadn’t expected him to say such words.

Similarly, Chu Tianli was also somewhat incredulous—not because of Lin Feng’s somewhat arrogant tone, but because of the meaning behind his words.

“Do you think the Chu family’s reputation is more important than your life?”

In a moment of tension, Chu Tianli pressed him fiercely, locking his gaze onto Lin Feng, eager to hear his answer.

“What other choice is there?”

Lin Feng spoke frankly, his eyes devoid of any fear. “I don’t think I’m worth that much.”

“You’ve already been accepted back into the Lin family.”

Chu Tianli couldn’t help but remark, his gaze burning even hotter.

“What does the Lin family have to do with me? If they want to discard me, they can. If they want to find me, they can. Why should I feel grateful to such family?”

...

The topic died there.

Chu Tianli took a deep breath; the anger that had flared was now completely gone. He looked at Lin Feng deeply and then said to Chen Wanqing, “Wanqing, go check on the lunch preparations.”

Chen Wanqing wanted to say more, but meeting Chu Tianli’s gaze, she immediately understood and nodded.

“All right.”

After Chen Wanqing left, Chu Tianli’s gaze once again fell on Lin Feng.

Unlike the previous scrutiny, this time there was a trace of melancholy.

“Child, come with me.”

He slowly stood up and walked toward the study.

Lin Feng frowned slightly, not understanding why Chu Tianli’s gaze had changed, but given the circumstances, he silently rose and followed him into the study.

Seeing Lin Feng’s tension, Chu Tianli’s eyes flickered with a hint of a smile as he advised, “Relax here. No need to be so tense; I’m not going to eat you.”

His tone was completely different from before, as if he had already accepted him.

Lin Feng breathed a sigh of relief and bowed slightly to Chu Tianli. “Mr. Chu, I apologize for being rash earlier.”

His composed manner earned a bit of Chu Tianli’s admiration.

After closing the study door, Chu Tianli looked back and said softly, “Child, it seems you do not value your life much.”

Hearing this, Lin Feng was taken aback, a touch of disbelief crossing his face.

---

“You can’t be like this. Life is the most precious thing. You have to cherish it, not destroy it or use it as a bet.”

Without a doubt, Chu Tianli’s words struck straight to Lin Feng’s heart.

For all this time, Lin Feng appeared bold and carefree on the surface, but in truth, every step he had taken was a desperate gamble.

Lin Feng couldn’t help but think to himself: old hands are always more cunning.

But...

“Why are you telling me this?” he asked.

Chu Tianli suddenly smiled, his eyes growing gentler and even touched with a hint of longing. “Nothing much, just teaching you to love yourself. Otherwise, your father would be disappointed.”

“Father?!”

Lin Feng froze, instinctively asking, “You know my father?”

“More than just know him.”

A shadow of sorrow passed through Chu Tianli’s eyes. He walked directly to the cabinet in the study, twisted a hidden mechanism, and a small drawer at the top of the cabinet popped open. He took out a photo album and handed it to Lin Feng.

“Your father and I were both border guards years ago.”

Taking the album and opening it, Lin Feng saw a young Chu Tianli and a young man whose eyes resembled his own.

Beneath the photo was a name:

Lin Zhenyong.

“The squad your father led was wiped out in a battle while covering for my squad. This was the last item he left behind.”

He spoke as he handed Lin Feng two red string bracelets for good luck. “Your father bought these as gifts in the border market but didn’t have time to send them. They’ve been kept until now.”

Receiving this news for the first time, Lin Feng felt no particular emotional stir.

After all, these were people he had never met. Aside from his heart suddenly racing, what piqued his curiosity was:

“People from the Chu family join the military too?”

Chu Tianli had expected Lin Feng to be deeply moved or even shed tears, but Lin Feng’s mind leapt so quickly Chu Tianli almost couldn’t keep up.

He looked at Lin Feng deeply and explained, “It’s a family tradition, like training. You don’t have to participate, but then your status isn’t legitimate—”

He glanced at Lin Feng with a teasing smile, “And it was your Aunt Chen who urged me to do it...”

“Oh.”

Lin Feng nodded, carefully flipping through the album before closing it.

“Then, Mr. Chu, have you...”

Before he could finish, Chu Tianli interrupted forcefully, “Just call me Uncle. No need for such formality.”

---

Lin Feng twitched at the corner of his mouth but obediently said, “Alright, Uncle Chu, have you ever looked for me or my biological mother afterward?”

“Of course.”

Chu Tianli’s eyes grew somber. “When we found your mother, her mental state had deteriorated greatly. To avoid further upsetting her, we could only help her family and your younger sister in secret. As for you—”

“Child, after I left the squad, I sent people searching for you for twelve whole years...”

He didn’t continue.

Lin Feng understood the outcome.

The whole situation had come together, except for one point he hadn’t figured out: how the Lin family had evaded the Chu family’s watchful eyes. But that was all in the past, and Lin Feng didn’t want to discuss it further.

He quietly tied the red string bracelet around his wrist.

Seeing this, Chu Tianli smiled kindly, stepped forward, patted Lin Feng on the shoulder, and said with great satisfaction, “Child, from now on, the Chu family is your family. If you have anything, just talk to your uncle.”

The meaning was clear.

Before Lin Feng could compose himself, Chu Tianli pulled him out of the study.

In the dining room, Chen Wanqing was already instructing the servants to prepare lunch. Seeing her husband holding Lin Feng’s arm affectionately, she smiled immediately.

“Oh, you wouldn’t let me speak just now, and now you’ve turned into family!”

Breaking the tense atmosphere from before, Chu Tianli ran over, grabbed Chen Wanqing’s shoulder and said, “My dear wife, I was wrong. I promise I won’t be harsh with you anymore!”

Chen Wanqing pouted, crossing her arms. “Hmph! Who believes your nonsense!”

“How about a sledding trip to Iceland in a few days?”

“That sounds better!”

Watching this cloyingly sweet scene, Lin Feng was speechless.

Seemingly realizing he was there, Chen Wanqing suddenly blushed and smiled, “Xiao Feng, please sit down. Don’t be polite. Just treat this place like your own home!”

“Yeah, come on, sit!”

Chu Tianli nodded repeatedly.

This scene warmed Lin Feng’s heart.

He nodded and, without further hesitation, took the guest seat.

As the servants served dishes, Chen Wanqing’s voice rang out again—but this time, her words caused Lin Feng, just as he lifted his chopsticks to eat, to tense up!

“Hey, Xiao Feng, did Uncle Chu tell you when you’re going to get engaged to our daughter?”