Chapter 141 — Old Buffon's Origins

Sun Lin did want to train him, but the fellow was simply beyond saving. His daughter, by contrast, had both ability and boldness—only she was a woman, and the things of this trade were ultimately not for women to handle.

So Sun Lin had never let his daughter touch the affairs of the underworld, entrusting her only with a portion of the business side of things.

For this reason, Sun Lin also wanted to see this time whether Yang Ce had the talent to lead the underworld.

After passing the toll station, Yang Ce gave Sun Jie a call. Sun Jie had long been ready; upon receiving Yang Juehuan's call, she immediately drove off to pick him up.

"Your car?" Sun Jie looked at Yang Juehuan's ride with some surprise.

"Heh, well, I'm going to your home—I had to borrow a nice car to put up a proper front, didn't I?" Yang Hengye said.

"Oh, come off it. My dad has already investigated every bit of your family's assets," Sun Jie said helplessly, though in her heart she was somewhat grateful for Yang Minlan's regard for her.

The two luxury cars drove one after the other toward the Sun family compound.

The Sun family was the most powerful clan in Donghai. The Sun villa was like an independent fortress, a symbol of the Sun family's status and power. For a hundred li around the villa there was only open land. To buy up such a vast tract of land in a provincial capital was not something money alone could accomplish.

It was said that this was done not only for safety but also for tranquility—otherwise the passing cars nearby would drive one mad with the noise.

Sun Lin had been standing at the second-floor window all along. Seeing his daughter's car return with a BMW following behind, he could not help but start—when had Yang Ce bought a car?

The one who came out to receive Yang Ce and Sun Jie was the Sun family's steward, Sun San. In Sun Lin's view, even this was already giving Yang Ce considerable face.

"Miss, Mr. Yang," Sun San said courteously.

"Uncle San!" Yang Ce greeted Sun San warmly. "Thank you for last time!"

"You're welcome, Mr. Yang," Sun San said, neither servile nor overbearing. Outside, Sun San was a man of force, but within the Sun family he was merely a steward. And Yang Ce might well be the future son-in-law, so naturally Sun San showed him some respect.

"That's enough, Yang Ce—did you come to see my father or to reminisce with Uncle San?" Sun Jie was anxious; her father had already lost his temper once this morning, saying this Yang Juehuan put on more airs than he did.

Now, seeing Yang Ce dawdling and not going inside, she could not help but scold him.

"Oh, then let's go." Yang Yanzhou said, and promptly put his arm around Sun Jie's lower back, heading toward the house.

"What are you doing?" Sun Jie was startled and hissed at him in a low voice.

"Aren't you my girlfriend? What's wrong with putting an arm around you?" Yang Ce asked, feigning puzzlement.

Sun Jie gritted her teeth and had no choice but to endure it. "Fine," she said fiercely. "Today you can do whatever you like, but if you blow my cover, don't blame me for settling scores with you."

"Heh heh, don't worry, I won't blow it," Yang Ce said smugly. "Besides, after what we've been through together, we've at least got that much rapport."

Sun Jie glared at Yang Ce but couldn't vent her anger. She had to pretend she hadn't heard, but this Yang Ce was truly detestable—his hand behind her had actually started to wander, slowly creeping toward Sun Jie's backside.

"Xiao Jie, you're back." At that moment, a woman in her forties came over to greet them, smiling. "So this is Xiao Jie's boyfriend?"

Yang Ce knew what this woman's standing was and didn't dare claim anything falsely. The Sun household had far too many people—butlers, servants, aunts and uncles left and right—and who knew whether Sun Lin had a concubine or two tucked away somewhere.

"Mom, this is Yang Ce," Sun Jie hurried to introduce them. "Yang Ce, this is my mom."

"Oh, hello, Mom." Yang Ce's head had been full of sordid thoughts, wondering whether Sun Lin kept three wives and four concubines, and when Sun Jie spoke to him so abruptly, he didn't think much and simply blurted that out.

"Yang Ce!" Sun Jie could tell he was distracted and pinched him hard.

The woman, however, was beaming from ear to ear. "Good, good. This child has such a sweet tongue. The only regret of my life is that I never gave birth to a son—now I have one."

"Uh, Auntie, hello." The pinch from Sun Jie snapped Yang Ce right back to his senses, and he hastened to correct himself.

"Xiao Jie, what's the matter with you?" The woman immediately grew displeased and shot Sun Jie a glare. "What Yang Ce calls me is between the two of us—what business is it of yours? Why are you interfering?"

"Mom, I—" Sun Jie was caught between laughter and tears, though she knew her mother's temperament well. When giving birth to her, her mother had had a difficult labor and ended up delivering her by cesarean, which meant she could never bear children again. That had always been her mother's one regret, for her mother adored boys.

Though her father said nothing about it, a family fortune this vast needed an heir, and her mother felt all the more guilty for it. So much so that a single "Mom" from Yang Ce had delighted her beyond measure.

"Auntie, I'm sorry, this has nothing to do with Xiao Jie," Yang Ce said, sweating with embarrassment. "Actually, just now—it was like this. It's my first time at your home, and I was a little nervous, so I accidentally called you Mom along with Sun Jie."

Sun Jie scoffed at his explanation. Nervous? Nervous and you still let your mind wander? That was obviously nonsense. "Is that so? Well, no matter," said Mother Sun. "How about you just call me Mom from now on? It's all the same anyway—once you and Xiao Jie get married, you'll have to change and call me Mom too, so just think of it as doing it early."

"Mom, there's not even the first stroke of the character between him and me yet—what are you talking about?" Sun Jie chided. Truthfully, Sun Jie had never considered the possibility of developing things further with Yang Ce. After all, the age gap between them was too great, and Yang Ce already had a girlfriend.

She had sought out Yang Ce this time only to put her father off for a while. Sun Jie was a proud woman with high standards. At least for now, Yang Ce merely struck her as pleasant enough, not unlikeable—but for her to fall in love with him, he would still have to accomplish something worthy of her notice.

"I think young Yang is quite good. I approve," Mother Sun said without a moment's thought.

"Ahem." Seeing that he could no longer stay out of it, Sun Lin spoke up. His wife loved to act on emotion; if the matter were settled just like that, it would be a bit too hasty, wouldn't it?

"Dad." Sun Jie had also spotted her father coming down the stairs.

"Hello, Uncle Sun," Yang Ce said with a smile, greeting Sun Lin. Privately, however, he was carefully sizing Sun Lin up from head to toe.

To be continued.

647. Add One More

Sun Lin was an unremarkable-looking man, not tall, his hair somewhat thinning, yet he could not conceal the sharp, commanding air about him. Yes—the air of a man in power.

Yang Ce was gradually acquiring that same air himself, only he was usually so easygoing and so devoid of seriousness that he concealed it very well.

Sun Lin, however, had no need to conceal it. The Sun family of East Sea—even concealment would have been useless, so he might as well be forceful.

It seemed this unimpressive fellow, Sun Lin, owed that beautiful daughter of his entirely to Mother Sun. Though past forty, she still retained her charm, and one could tell she must have been a beauty in her youth.