I'm not dead yet. When did it become your place to speak?
Jin Baiwei's deep and commanding voice echoed through the room.
His powerful gaze swept over everyone, and the entire hall instantly fell silent.
"If you all want to be heirs, you need the ability and luck for it. If you don't have it, then stay in your place and enjoy the benefits the Jin family gives you. Otherwise, get out."
The old man was angry.
Everyone fell silent.
Except for the middle-aged man, Jin Youyi, who had spoken first, his face full of dissatisfaction.
"Dad, why do you say I have no ability? You just don't believe in me."
"Hmph, you stir up trouble without even checking the facts? Is that your ability?" Jin Baiwei showed no mercy, then turned to Jin Shan.
"Come on, show me what you've got!"
"Yes, Grandpa."
When the box was opened, the aroma spread, and everyone couldn't sit still.
Jin Youyi licked his lips. "Jin Shan, you invented a new dish and didn't tell us?"
"Shut up!" Jin Baiwei glared at him. "Why should I tell you? If you could invent a new dish, I might consider handing the restaurant over to you."
Good at nothing but creating trouble.
Jin Shan's expression didn't change, unaffected by Jin Youyi's scolding.
"Grandpa, try it."
Jin Baiwei, already eager, picked up his chopsticks and tasted a piece.
In that moment, he felt like he had wasted his life.
Tears flowed uncontrollably.
Jin Youyi jumped up in excitement. "Jin Shan, what did you make? You made my dad cry?"
"You useless man, come on, everyone try it before speaking."
Jin Baiwei's moment of realization was interrupted. He wiped away his tears and waved at the butler.
Jin Youyi was the first to taste it. Almost unable to control himself, he would have eaten it all if the butler hadn't reacted quickly.
Soon, everyone was eyeing the box like hungry wolves.
Jin Baiwei took a deep breath. "Now do you understand what luck and ability are?"
"One month from now, on my birthday, I will officially announce Jin Shan as the head of the Jin family."
"I… should take a break."
He gave a look to the butler, who followed him, carrying the box.
As soon as Jin Baiwei left, the Jin family surrounded Jin Shan.
In the Jin family, whoever had the best cooking skills, whoever could make delicious dishes, held the power to speak.
Not to mention, this was an entirely new taste, and everyone went wild for it.
But Jin Shan simply shook his head, unfazed. "We'll talk about this later. Uncles, aunts, it's late, so I'll go rest now."
After saying that, he left in big strides.
Jin Youyi spat angrily. "That brat, what's there to be proud of? Just because he invented a dish?"
He muttered to the people around him, and their occasional sinister laughter made everyone's spine tingle...
At the Duo family.
Danielle rubbed her sore back and pushed the man beside her away.
"Three days, Zachary, three days, even if you're in heat, there should be time for a break, right?"
Zachary pressed closer again. "I don't know why, but after eating that bear meat, I just can't stop."
He tried to kiss her again, but Danielle turned her head to avoid him.
"If this goes on, I'll die in this bed."
"No, I have to get up. I haven't seen my son in three days."
Zachary wrapped his arms around her waist, refusing to let go, his head rubbing against her neck.
"I sent Rain to the Fei family. He said he wanted to play with Fei Qingqing."
Danielle was stunned. "When did you send him?"
Zachary paused for a moment, thinking. "I think I sent him the first night."
Danielle's voice trembled, "Did Rain really say he was going to Fei Yang's house to play with Qingqing?"
Zachary avoided eye contact. "I think, maybe, yeah."
Bang, bang, bang.
Danielle was furious.
She grabbed a pillow and started hitting Zachary without hesitation.
"You jerk! You sent Rain away because of that thing? Are you even his father anymore?"
Zachary smirked. "If I wasn't, I wouldn't have sent him. I would have thrown him away instead."
"Zachary!"
Danielle was trembling with anger, her chest rising and falling.
Gradually, Danielle realized something was different about Zachary's gaze.
For the past three days, every time she woke up, she had fallen into a faint under that same gaze. What more was there to understand?
Before Zachary could pounce on her, Danielle quickly retreated into the space.
But she forgot, Zachary could teleport.
Before she could even relax, Zachary appeared behind her, grabbing her and pinning her to the ground.
"So, you like being on the ground, huh? Should've said so earlier, I'll make it happen."
"Zachary, you jerk… Woo…"
She didn't know how much time passed, but Danielle was completely drained of energy.
Thankfully, Zachary still had some awareness of being a father and felt a little bad for abandoning their son for so long.
Only then did he reluctantly pull away.
Half an hour later, the two finally left the house.
Danielle took a step and nearly stumbled.
Zachary, feeling guilty, rubbed his nose. "How about I go pick him up? You stay home and rest."
Danielle glared at him but didn't say anything, walking ahead on her own.
Zachary reached out his hand, unsure whether to speak or not. If he didn't, she might walk too far away.
"Honey, you're going the wrong way!"
Danielle froze in place, her hair moving as if blown by wind. "Zachary!"
Zachary quickly ran after her. "Wait! I'll grab a taxi."
"Honey, stop being mad. Even the driver is glaring at me."
"Honey? Honey?"
…
Danielle's head was pounding from the noise.
"Shut up and let me have some peace."
The taxi quickly stopped in front of a tall building.
Danielle looked up, and the building seemed to be at least twenty to thirty stories high.
This was the low-income area of the middle circle, and the area was filled with these kinds of high-rise buildings.
Not only was the lighting bad, but there were no elevators inside.
Without an elevator in a building that high, anyone with poor physical strength might never get home.
Danielle had climbed two floors and was already struggling. She wasn't feeling well to begin with, and now, moving only drained her more.
"How many floors is Fei Yang's house on?"
Zachary smiled slightly. "The top floor."
"Oh my God, just kill me now."
Danielle sat down on the ground, defeated.
"Zachary, how did you climb up before? Wouldn't you have been exhausted?"
Zachary looked innocent. "I can… teleport."
Although he couldn't teleport very far now, he could always teleport several times if needed.
Plus, they weren't short on money anymore and could buy high-level crystals to replenish energy.
Danielle's gaze turned cold, and she suddenly exploded with rage.
"Why didn't you say that earlier? You just watched me struggle and climb, were you laughing at me?"
Danielle grabbed Zachary by the ear, and just as he was about to tease her again, his wristband vibrated, and a message arrived...