Chapter 1

If you were to ask which security agency in Fuzhou City was the largest, it would undoubtedly be the Fuli Security Agency. The Fuli Security Agency had many security guards, and its leader, Lin Zhenan, was skilled in business and had a broad-minded personality, earning respect from both the underworld and the law. In recent years, the business had grown even larger, and the Fuli Security Agency had a hand in the security trade across several provinces.

One would think that with a thriving business and a virtuous wife, Lin Zhenan should be content. However, he was not very happy. This was all because of his eldest son. Three years ago, his wife gave birth to a pair of twins.

Although they were twins, they looked different, which was not unusual.

The younger son, Lin Pingzhi, was obedient and intelligent. At three years old, he was as delicate as a jade child, precious and fragile. Lin Zhenan and his wife doted on him immensely.

The problem lay with his eldest son. From the moment he was born, the elder son, Lin Yang, was unusually quiet, only crying when hungry or needing to relieve himself. Otherwise, he would either be sleeping with his eyes closed or staring blankly with his eyes open.

At first, they thought he was a prodigy and would surely amount to something great when he grew up. However, as the years passed, he still hadn't learned to speak by the age of three. He would just sit in the courtyard, staring blankly, lacking the liveliness of a child. The people of Fuzhou City began to spread rumors that Lin Zhenan had a foolish son.

The eldest son of the prestigious Fuli Security Agency being a fool? This was a great embarrassment for Lin Zhenan, and he naturally didn't treat his eldest son well. However, since he was his own flesh and blood, he didn't neglect him too much, providing him with everything he needed. He just favored his younger son more.

Su Zhong sat on the steps of the courtyard, his chin resting on his hands, watching the security guards and leaders practicing their martial arts in the courtyard. He had been in this world for three years, and watching the guards practicing, he had to accept the reality that he had been reincarnated.

The people in the courtyard were long used to the presence of this young master. They didn't mind his staring; it didn't hurt them. Besides, they were loyal to the Lin family and weren't afraid of his gaze. At first, they were curious about the "foolish" young master, but after a while, they lost interest when he never responded to their greetings.

However, the notion that the young master was a fool became more deeply ingrained.

"Yang'er, are you watching your uncles and aunts practice martial arts again?" A gentle woman approached, picked up Lin Yang, and carefully cleaned the dust off his clothes. She looked at him with a soft expression.

Su Zhong let the woman fuss over him. She was none other than his stepmother, Lady Lin. He had grown accustomed to this identity and accepted Lady Lin. Having been reborn in this world, he had clung to his memories of the past and been wary of the new world, which was why he hadn't spoken a word.

This led everyone to believe he was a fool, even his own father, Lin Zhenan, who had grown distant from him. But Lady Lin had always been attentive and loving, even more so than to the obedient and charming younger son.

Su Zhong, who had initially been uncomfortable, had come to accept her as his mother, thanks to her three years of devoted care.

Lady Lin was used to her eldest son's lack of response. While others thought he was a fool, she knew her son better than anyone. Over the three years, she had discovered that her eldest son was far from simple.

He had a very disciplined routine, waking up early in the morning and going to bed on time at night. He never cried or caused trouble, unlike the younger son who ran around and was hard to manage.

As for why he hadn't spoken, she didn't understand at first. But over time, she noticed that her eldest son was very distant and indifferent to the outside world. His eyes always carried a sense of detachment, as if everything around him was like the moon in the water—clear but leaving no trace. This detachment was the reason her husband had grown to dislike their eldest son.

However, she never gave up. After all, he was her son. She believed he was not a fool but a genius. Every time she looked into his clear, black-and-white eyes, she felt as if she was looking at an old man who had weathered many storms.

"You're still young, but in a couple of years, when your body grows, your father will teach you martial arts. His sword skills are very powerful. Our Lin family's Exorcism Sword Technique is famous in the martial world. Unfortunately, the Wang family's saber technique is passed down only to male descendants, so I couldn't learn it. Otherwise, I could secretly teach it to you..." The seemingly gentle lady had a mischievous side.

Lin Yang's eyes twitched slightly at this. Ignoring his mother's rebellious thoughts about secretly passing on the technique, the mention of the Exorcism Sword Technique made him shudder. The technique was powerful, but its cultivation conditions were extremely harsh.

As for Lin Zhenan's martial skills, Su Zhong dismissed the praise. Lin Zhenan's Exorcism Sword Technique was impressive within the Fuli Security Agency, but in the martial world, he was merely a third-rate expert.

"Mother, can you teach me to read tomorrow?" Su Zhong, held by his mother, whispered softly, his head resting on her shoulder.

"Sure, I'll teach you tomorrow..." Lady Lin stopped suddenly, quickly cradling her son and staring at his ordinary face, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Yang'er, did you just speak? Say it again, say it again." Lady Lin's words were incoherent, her eyes brimming with tears. Her son had finally spoken, proving he wasn't a fool.

Seeing his mother's tears of joy, Su Zhong felt a surge of emotion. In his previous life, he had been too focused on his own struggles and hadn't spent much time with his parents. Now, unable to return, he often felt deeply unfilial. Seeing his mother cry because he had spoken, the barrier between him and this world suddenly vanished, and he truly embraced this new life.

"Mother, can you teach me to read tomorrow? You must teach me yourself." Su Zhong repeated, more naturally this time. The first time he called her "mother" felt awkward, but with the barrier gone, the second time was smoother.

"Of course, anything you want. I'll teach you to read tomorrow." Lady Lin hugged Su Zhong tightly, too happy to speak.

Su Zhong lay quietly in his mother's arms, and she just held him, stroking his head. She hurriedly sent a servant to the front hall to tell Lin Zhenan that their eldest son had spoken.

...

"Madam, are you sure you're not lying?" Lin Zhenan's eyes were filled with doubt. He couldn't see his eldest son as someone who could speak.

"Come, son, call me 'Father' and let me hear it." Though he didn't believe it, he decided to try. He trusted his wife, and he also hoped Lin Yang could speak, proving he wasn't a fool. He certainly wanted his son to be normal.

Su Zhong glanced at Lin Zhenan, who was holding Lin Pingzhi with a doting look, then stared blankly at the floor. Lin Zhenan felt a surge of frustration, sensing the coldness in Su Zhong's eyes. But he quickly became elated, knowing that any response meant his son wasn't a fool.

He had never fully believed the rumors. While others might not have noticed, Lin Zhenan, a shrewd businessman, had long detected the coldness in his eldest son's eyes. Those eyes were not those of a fool. His dislike for his son wasn't due to rumors but because the cold eyes made him uneasy.

A child with the eyes of an adult might seem gifted at first, but over time, it felt as if nothing could escape those eyes, even causing a sense of dread. He feared his son was possessed by a demon, a common concern for someone in the security business.

Moreover, the younger son was adorable and charming, making the contrast even more stark, and he naturally favored the younger one.

"Madam..." Lin Zhenan's face was strange, the thought of demonic possession bringing his mood back down. The unease returned.

"How can you speak to your son like that? You'll scare him." Lady Lin rolled her eyes. This wasn't the way to talk to a child, not like a street performer.

"Yang'er, are you hungry? Do you want Mother to make you some snacks?" Lady Lin held Su Zhong, stroking his head gently.

Su Zhong, who didn't like Lin Zhenan, respected his mother deeply: "Mother, I want to eat tea cake."

With a clatter, Lin Zhenan's teacup fell to the ground, his eyes wide with surprise. His son had really spoken. He immediately became elated: "Son, son, call me 'Father'." Lin Zhenan's unease was forgotten in his joy.

After three years, it was finally happening.

Su Zhong rolled his eyes and ignored him.

Lady Lin covered her mouth and giggled. Little Lin Pingzhi looked at his green-faced father, his smiling mother, and his cold-faced brother, then said in a baby voice: "Father, I want to eat tea cake too."

"Of course, I'll prepare tea cake for my Pingzhi right away." Lin Zhenan was delighted and found his son's request for attention amusing rather than annoying.

"Everyone, spread the word, rewards for everyone in the agency." Lin Zhenan shouted to the guard at the door.

The guard, hearing this, beamed with joy, glanced curiously at Su Zhong, then, after a glare from Lin Zhenan, went to spread the news.

This was no small matter. The "foolish" young master had spoken. By dinner time, everyone in the Fuli Security Agency knew that Lin Zhenan's eldest son was not a fool. It was said that the head of the agency was so happy that his mouth was twisted with a smile.