The Tycoon Inheritance

Fanrong Building

With the help of a uniformed chauffeur, an elderly gentleman left the confines of a dark blue specially customized Rolls Royce under the envious and curious eyes of office workers around them.

The man boasted a full head of white hair but didn't have the commonly frail body to match his age. His eyes were bright with vigor and his robust tall stature that men of his family gained genetically stood firmly on the sidewalk as he looked around at this new environment. The jade dragon head cane in his hand thumped against the concrete when he took a step forward. He relaxed his stern look and walked carefully towards the glass doors.

His long-time friend and steward who was a step behind him stifled a word of rebuke when he saw the 'harmless' old man image being acted out. Seeing that this impromptu visit put the old guy in a good mood, he held back a few remarks.

"You said this was one of the buildings he procured?"

"Yes. He has four floors dedicated to his private company."

"If he has the same sharp business tact as our family, he may be doing most of his major movements quietly."

The steward nodded his head in agreement. Having being friends with this illustrious family, the trait amongst the family members has always been –earning wealth quietly. They survived many eras by living with this trait, it was good to know that there was a descendant still alive and carrying on this belief.

"The young master is very capable," the steward commented when they stepped over the threshold.

The lobby was large. The minimalist design and the touch of technology were very in line with modern companies abroad and in most eastern countries. There were three receptionists behind a black glass top receptionist desk; each of them was a beauty in their own right and immaculately dressed.

When the old man got closer, he glanced at the moving company logos behind the trio on a 70" monitor. The logo for Shenghuo Group was the most eye-catching with a hint of subtlety. A hint of pride colored his dark eyes.

"Welcome to Fanrong, Elder Li and Elder Tong!"

The greeting was expected but not the personal titles that were included. The two old men were a bit surprised but regained their composure.

"Hello, elders, I am Miss Fang. Special Assistant Xiao will be down to escort you to Chairman Chen's floor." This Miss Fang spoke firmly in a gentle voice and didn't have an arrogant show in her posture.

The professionalism of the trio pleased Elder Li and Elder Tong.

Miss Xie showed them to a seating area at the side. It had a great view of the entire lobby, they could witness the hustle and bustle of the elites and easily recognize the hierarchy of companies in the building.

The more he looked on, the more he was pleased with this great-nephew of his.

Elder Li wasn't one to show his emotions but Elder Tong was adept of his personality.

"The bloodline is saved, old man," he said quietly.

"Little brother would be proud of the little brat's first steps towards his rightful place," Elder Li added solemnly.

The two lapsed into silence, remembering the dead and marveling at the young ones taking over the mantle.

They were engrossed in the scenery when they spotted a fine young man striding purposefully towards them. The unapproachable prince-like manner and looks had a lasting impression on them. The young man's lengthy hair was styled neatly in an ornate silver crown, exposing his handsomely semi-delicate features.

This was Xiao Wei. Chen Kai's Special Assistant.

He came to a halt and performed a respectable bow in greeting before speaking.

"Elder Li. Elder Tong. I am Xiao Wei. The young master will be here in a few minutes, do you wish to wait for him upstairs or should I give you a tour of Fanrong?"

Not too humble, nor subservient.

"We'll wait for him upstairs," Elder Li answered. Beside him, Elder Tong made a minuscule gesture with his hand before adjusting his careless demeanor. This caught Xiao Wei's silent observation of these two guests. He didn't stupidly question these actions but his impression of his friend's new relatives grew higher.

~~~~~~

Chen Kai arrived at his company a few minutes later under the careful watch of his bodyguards. Since inheriting the Li Family's mantle, he noticed he was slowly going back to his past role of an eyesore tycoon. Word has spread in some circles that the Li Family's successor returned. Contacts have been coming out of the woodwork, catching the eyes of those older heads who have a tight hold on Nanjing's business world. Some have even sent hackers to test the cyber security of all of his companies.

This wasn't the type of retirement he had planned.

'System, couldn't I have a simple Fate Line of a simple guy? Where did all these bigshot relatives and associates come from?'

[Even if the Fates placed you in a simple body, your achievements and rewards wouldn't stay hidden for long. The host can make minor adjustments if he likes. Maybe step on their heads and stay on top so you won't be bothered.]

Chen Kai: '….. Too much work.'

System: [….]

' I should connect all of them and be a behind-the-scenes boss. That seems to work for most novel leads.'

[Most of them were forced to reveal their strength after bothersome flies came knocking.]

Chen Kai: 'I can…'

[There are laws, host.]

Chen Kai: ….

[These things are minor and the majority of your wealth and properties are hidden. What you're worried about won't happen.]

An hour later in the top floor of Shenghuo Group.

Chen Kai: ……

System: [ ….]

"My esteemed and hearty Grand Uncle, do you mind repeating that last sentence? Umm… I don't think I heard your words clearly," Chen Kai said with an uneasy look on his face. The young man in his twenties was now playing the role of 4-year-old spoiled kid.

He didn't sign up for this. This was his retirement.

Old Li can sense his nephew's resistance. The poor kid can blame himself for being so outstanding.

"My part of the family business would have you as its heir. I have no kids and was too busy to be held down by a good woman. You're back in the family so it's perfect for you to take things over." Old Li had a hearty smile on his face as he spoke, a huge contrast to the solemn and dispirited on the kid's face.

"What about illegitimate kids? Those kids are accepted now. Don't you have one or two hanging around somewhere?" Chen Kai asked. His voice went higher with grand expectations due to the possibility of his Grand-Uncle being a scumbag.

Elder Tong turned his sight away from the bright and hopeful eyes of this Li child. He couldn't laugh as loudly as he could at the uncle and nephew duo. He tried his best to stifle it.

Elder Li was livid. He made a move to knock some sense to the brat but he was slippery like a loach. The kid dodged the walking stick when it was an inch away from his body. "You damn brat! What's with that question? Who ignores such a big inheritance!"

"Tch!" Chen Kai clicked his tongue and eyed this grand uncle of his with a look of contempt.

"Oye! Oye! What's with that look" Elder Li wanted to smack that look off his face. Hmph! Damn brat!

Elder Tong silently sat by, amused by his friend's reaction. He did try to persuade the guy to at least leave a child or two in the country while he dances across the world. He would have had an heir instead of a nephew running from more money.

"What look? Grand Uncle, aren't you being a bit cruel to me? You know how expansive the companies I now have are. How can you throw more on my back? I bet they're the type of businesses I can't openly ignore and throw an assistant in them."

"How did you know?!" Elder Li and Elder Tong asked in slight surprise.

Chen Kai: "…." These old farts. Isn't it logical to gain this much wealth for the Li Family by playing on both sides?

Looking at Chen Kai's expression of 'I may be young but not dumb', they knew that this new patriarch was mildly underestimated by them. Sigh, thank heavens he got his mother's smarts.

"Kid, I have no one else to pawn them off to. With the fast growth of your 'public' companies, you will need my people. Placing you as the heir would make your daily life easier."

"It's already easy. Have you ever seen such a laidback CEO as me? I only have to sign some papers and intimidate some folks to keep things smooth," Chen Kai grumbled.

"Oh. So you're saying the swift takeovers and ruthless terminations that have been happening at your companies take no effort?" Elder Li asked with a raised eyebrow stained in mockery.

Chen Kai avoided the old man's eyes, refusing to answer that teasing question.

"Don't forget that he was at ease when he struck his old family back to their old days of being ordinary office workers," Elder Tong added.

"Yes. Yes. He was so relaxed that he had time to take a little revenge on his old classmates. My nephew is so laidback that managing a few more businesses would be a breeze."

The old men continued with their spiel until they saw the exasperated look on Chen Kai's face. Old Li had a grasp on his nephew's personality from the first day they spoke over the phone. The brat had an alienated, unapproachable look but his thoughts and actions were wild and ruthless. His words can make you angry and also put you on high defense. He knows how to speak and gain much – that's a rare talent among the young generation presently. Under Elder Li and Elder Tong's scrutiny, they saw a heavy restraint on his true nature. The kid is the right fit for his people.

"…. Is everything stable on your end?" Chen Kai asked in defeat. Curse him for having a soft heart for these new relatives of his.

Old Li's eyes became brighter at the expense of his nephew's withered demeanor. Elder Tong giddily accesses his device to share information with his new Young Master.

'As you were saying, omnipotent system.'

System: [….. Host, compatibility is a rare thing…]

"The first stronghold is in Hong Kong…. It started off with a bit of smuggling and a few black markets when the reformation began…."

So much for a quiet retirement.

On the other side, Chen Yan and Su Lian received a simple text from Chen Kai.

(Leaving the country for a few days. Maybe more, I don't know. :) )

Su Lian: ….

Chen Yan: ….

Is this the right way to relay such news? He was leaving the country without prior notice and with whom? Where is he going? How many days are a few days? This guy is so random.

Su Lian smiled helplessly at the text and replied without any trace of sadness or disappointment in her mind.

After a few back and forth between them both, she refocused on her work only to realize a few unpleasant glances. This has become a normal occurrence for her; she doesn't care about other's thoughts when they have nothing to do with her life.

The scheduled work for the morning was over and in need of some quiet to go over what happened over the weekend, Su Lian opted to eat her lunch in the company's cafeteria. The company can be said to be one of the many successful financial security companies in the country. Being able to be a junior right out of college is a great feat for Su Lian. This brought along a lot of unreasonable envy from her new female colleagues and a few admirable fondness from upright seniors. The latter reactions bred jealousy from those envious females which led to their contempt of her.

Uncontrollable factors for a newbie. She couldn't stop their feelings or petty actions, that's why she remained in a neutral stance with them.

Taking the initiative to occupy a two-seater lunch table that was away from a crowded area, Su Lian ate at a leisurely pace and took her break time to draft an informal severance letter for her family.

A bitter feeling rose from her chest. She wanted to know if she was being ungrateful by wanting to live her own life and selfishly wanting a bit of familial love from her parents and brother. She had a very comfortable upbringing and lived a wealthy lifestyle but those were nothing in front of her longing for a warm loving family.

A cold and absent mother. An equally absent and chauvinistic father. A brother who was a stranger to her. Living with those dynamics can change a young child's personality. Su Lian was lucky enough to have attentive nannies.

"It's best to draw the line with them," she said under breath. She shuddered in unease at the thought of her father using his 'parental role' to drag her back to Hangzhou for a beneficial business marriage.

"Miss Su."

Raising her head from her phone, she met the eyes of a coworker she vaguely remembers. "Yes?!" she answered distantly while trying to recall this woman's name.

"Can I sit here?"

Su Lian was seriously trying to get her name but couldn't. Her blank stare made the woman uneasy and also annoyed. Su Lian on the other hand glanced at the empty tables around them and the private table three steps away from her. Her eyes spoke loudly and this embarrassed the woman.

Sipping on the pumpkin soup that was specially made for her, Su Lian gave a slight nod of permission to the woman and continued her meal.

The woman placed her lunch plate before her and immediately spotted the contrast of her meal and Su Lian's. Can homemade food be better than a starred chef's? By the color, imagery, and flavorful scent, she found the not-so-pleasing answer instantly. She frowned minutely before replacing it with a practiced polite smile.

"Wow, Miss Su, your homemade lunch looks and smells delicious. It's such a big difference from our company's restaurant."

"Yes, it is."

"…." Aren't you supposed to be humble and flatter the starred chefs in their workplace? The woman was dumbfounded by Su Lian's straightforward answer. Her thoughts went astray once more when she got a closer look at Su Lian's outfit. Her lips twitched in disbelief and the envy was blazing from her eyes. She spotted the top quality of the champagne-colored silk blouse and the fine gold jewelry on Su Lian's body – those do not match the salary or means of a fresh college graduate.

She heard about the rich boyfriend, the clothes she's wearing with so much pride is probably bought with the guy's sugar mama. A hint of disdain and ridicule flashed across her eyes. She had an innate dislike for girls like Su Lian.

Beautiful, capable and rich.

Those girls are at the height of society and loved by all, a total opposite of her.

"That blouse is pretty," she commented.

"Thank you." Su Lian's perfunctory answer rubbed her ego the wrong way.

Su Lian on the other hand gave up on trying to remember the woman's name and focused on emptying her lunch box. What she got from the out-of-the-blue visit, the awkward comments, and the hardly concealed looks was that the woman came with a hidden agenda.

It was so obvious but the woman's ego failed to make her aware of this.

"Miss Su, it's been a month and more. How are you adjusting to the work force? Siling Security is well known across the country, I'm sure you felt and have seen the prestige of it…"

"It has been a fresh experience," Su Lian answered with a meaningful smile.

In the eyes of the woman, it looked like she was gloating. 'This sl*t. Is she pleased to have her senior's attention and that the men has lost their eyes when they see her? Why is she dressing so glamorous?! Its to entice the men of course.'

"It was the same for me. The higher ups are proud of their employees as all were hired due to their qualifications and professional etiquette…"

"That's nice."

Her lips twitched in annoyance by Su Lian's lack of participation in the conversation. She was so focused on talking and her end goal that Su Lian was three-quarts away from finishing her meal while she barely touched the now cold spicy noodles on her plate.

"I overheard that Miss Su rejected a colleague's pursuit…."

"I hold present and future positions with my partner. Those are girlfriend, Fiancee, and wife," Su Lian interjected firmly.

The woman winced when she accidentally bit her tongue at Su Lian's swift interjection. "Ouch... hahaha. What bad luck for that senior. Miss Su is very lucky and it looks like this gentleman knows how to pamper you. How… sweet," she commented through gritted teeth.

Swallowing the laugh in her throat, Su Lian fought to keep a straight face while looking at the woman. She looked like she had eaten a fly and was trying to keep up a delicate and unflustered appearance. If one didn't know, she gave the image of savoring a delicacy. This woman is so entertaining.

"Yes, I'm very lucky."

That beaming smile made the woman more adamant to destroy those silly dreams of perfect love. Maybe she will feel better after seeing a beauty being broken.

"So it's all planned out, college graduate now a working woman. From how you say it, this lover of yours, he's a college mate, right?" The amicable and concerned smile on her face was stiff; entirely noticeable to Su Lian.

'For heaven's sake, what is her name?' Su Lian muttered inwardly. Her mind was in a 'Where's Waldo' state trying to pinpoint where their two parts crossed. She was certainly not in the personal investment department, not even on their Finance floor. Who is this busybody? Well, let's see where she's taking this drawn-out speech.

"Mmm… we met freshman year," she answered with a bright smile.

"Impressive. It's rare to hear of such pure relationship but one must guard yourself…"

"Oh?"

"Yes!" The woman became excited when Su Lian gave that reply of interest. "Men are fickle creatures. One must be guarded against them no matter how well they treat you. Word got around that your boyfriend is a young master of a rich family but there are a few voices saying… well…. Not nice things."

Su Lian frowned. " What does my husband's status have to do with them?"

'Is that the main point? Why are you glossing over the important parts?' the woman yelled inwardly.

"Human nature. The mouths of others can not be controlled." Su Lian stopped there and didn't inquire about the 'not nice things.'

"Don't you want to know what they say? This can tarnish your reputation and possibly the company's image."

With a raised brow, Su Lian silently gave the response of 'Aren't you overthinking things?'

"Aren't you curious? They say that your boyfriend is being kept and showering you with the rewards from his backer. They say rumors can be true. Are you sure that he's not cheating you out of this perfect lifestyle," the woman said with great conviction. Outsiders may think that she was Su Lian's friend who was angry on her behalf.

Su Lian on the other hand was initially dumbstruck by the brain hole those gossipmongers had. Then she laughed.

Her laugh was genuinely filled with amusement, tears formed at the corner of her eyes making her beautifully shaped eyes glimmer under the light of the restaurant.

"Wait. Wait. This is too funny. He'll find this hilarious. He's rich because he has a sugar mama!!! The creativity is top-notch! Let me tell him." Su Lian's laughter reached the ears of those who started the speculation; they were also the ones who spearheaded the rumors because Su Lian took away the attention of the senior they liked. Many of the young ladies who entered the company with her and the previous ones found her presence threatening. If they knocked her down a peg and showed her the reality of things, she wouldn't flaunt herself anymore.

Su Lian wasn't bothered by the idiotic talk about her but they crossed the line when they brought Chen Kai into their mess.

"My husband has a sugar mama. Funny. Let's ask him," she giggled and gave the woman a mocking look.

"Men are liars. I don't think he will admit it just because you ask," the woman said righteously. She was actually trying to stop her from taking things to another level. As one of the instigators, of course, she knew it was all fake. Why make it a big thing?

"Who are you to know my man? None of you personally knows him or me and dare to create a fantastical background for him in your childish rumors. Don't think that, being silent makes me someone easy to step on. Annoying bugs, " Su Lian countered fiercely.

"Su Lian! Who are you calling bugs?!" The indignant shout came from three tables over. It was clear how far Su Lian's angry voice traveled.

"Isn't you who jumped first?" Su Lian asked over her shoulder.

The young lady who sent herself into the fire became frozen on the spot with her face turning red in embarrassment. Her friends around her somehow found other things interesting.

"Tch!" Su Lian ignored the girl and placed a video call to Chen Kai. The woman across from her became flustered and reached out to stop her but Su Lian nimbly moved the phone out of the way. The call was answered and Chen Kai's doting voice was heard clearly by all.

"My wife. What is it? You usually text around this time."

Su Lian's anger simmered to a boil when she heard his voice. Her entire state became relaxed and it was visible to everyone.

"A clarification is needed from you. Do you have a sugar mama?"

Those who were listening really wanted to know how the guy would answer but he didn't. They heard a boisterous laugh similar to Su Lian's, Ah~ This couple.

"Brat, you have a sugar mama? Do you even need one?" The stern and teasing voice of an older gentleman was heard.

Su Lian spotted the old man who pushed his way into the camera view. She laughed at the two as the younger one had an exasperated look on his face and the older one wore a delighted and mischievous look.

"Wife. This is my maternal grand uncle, Li Hanyue. He's the reason why I'm leaving the country for a while. Uncle, this is my gorgeous wife, Su Lian."

Listening to Chen Kai's grumbling, the old man rolled his eyes and ignored this nephew of his. He focused on the woman on the other side of the screen. The more he looked at her, the more pleased he was. Their Li Family would have some good-looking descendants in a few years.

"Good. Good. Girl, I will bring him back soon. We will officially meet when we do. Tell uncle what you want and he would bring it for you. Do you want something from those people in Paris? We should be heading there for a few days. Tell Little Kai and we will send it to the estate. I won't bother you two right now," Uncle Li's words held the meaning of praise and acceptance of her and also future pampering from him.

Chen Kai was pleased with the result.

"Love, are you comfortable working there? I can have you transfer to one of the companies under my name. Uncle has a company similar to that one. What do you think?" He didn't like his woman being bullied, if she says okay, he won't mind taking over that company to ease his anger.

Those who were listening in had their worldviews turned over repeatedly. Who can casually say the phrase - one of the companies or a company similar to that one? Aren't those rumors

"It's just a few rumors, nothing major. I just want them to hear it for themselves," she replied. Her hand was under her chin as she watched him through the screen, her eyes soft and filled with love looking at his handsome features and basking in the doting love he was showering on her at the moment.

"Who would think that a guy our age needs a sugar mama to drive an expensive car? Stay away from those who have such dirty thinking. They may be pushing their situation on others. Pathetic."

Chen Kai's admonishment and insult slammed into the ears of the listeners. The woman at Su Lian's table didn't dare make a sound. Her mind was blank after she heard the man's voice, the mellow and smooth tenor of his low voice made her ears burn and her heart tremble. She saw candid photos of him and found him 100 times better than the male gods in the entertainment circle. How can Su Lian have a perfect man like him? How does it feel to have a man like that pampering you? Loving you? A girl's dream.

After the soul shock by his voice, his words broke her girly illusion. Her face went from blushing red to frightening white. Isn't he indirectly insulting them?

"It seems being low-key has its disadvantages," he commented with a heavy sigh.

"I'm sorry, baby."

"I don't care about them. I'm with you, not them," she retorted with a proud lift of her head.

Chen Kai chuckled at her cuteness and silently made a decision then and there.

"Okay. Its time for you to get back to work. I'm currently handling some stuff for Xiao Yan, I will have to trouble you for a while. He will be out of Nanjing for a week for some added scenes then come back in time for finals. I'll check up on you guys through Argon. The second assistant is there when you need him….."

Su Lian listened attentively to his last minute exhortations while packing up her lunch box, and ignoring the resentful looks around her. Bah, why should she care about their faces? She was no soft persimmon.

"Lian. Switch to voice call."

Hearing and seeing the seriousness in his request, she was curious about what he has to say. Doing as he asked she switched to voice call and listen to what he had to say.

"I won't keep anything from you. I won't be gone for a few days, it may be at least three months."

Su Lian gripped the phone tighter, not uttering a word. Months. They would be apart for months; they have just established their relationships; this… this is too sudden.

"This is part of my inheritance. Do you understand, Lian?" he asked, putting emphasis on his words.

Su Lian was smart and her brain worked fast. She came from a wealthy family, even though her family wasn't involved, there are a few families who are and are considered terrifying. The Li Clan survived many eras, it would be a surprise if their hands were clean after so many decades.

She understood his words and the hidden meanings.

Once again she had a choice to make but the decision wasn't as hard as the previous one. She decided to be with him, with no regrets and no second guessing. To accept him, she had to accept everything about him.

"Kai." A smile blossomed on her face, her eyes sparkling at the thought of staying with this man for the rest of her life. She didn't mind the additional things to his name, as long as she could be by his side.

".. yes?"

"I am your wife."

Is there anything else to say? Four words say it all.

End of Part 1

~ Author's Note ~

Haiz. Its clear now. At the beginning I did mention that this system theme light novel is a new thing to me, so is the whole slice of life thing. I proved myself right that this type isn't for me. I've been struggling and may have lost some readers so I made a big decision.

We're going to do a 2-part series – no arguments – we are going to do it. The 2nd part will be more of my style more brash actions and words with little flowery actions.

Let's see better next month.