FI CH91: Lin “White Moonlight” Su, Returns!

The banquet hall instantly erupted into a frenzy.

“Triple S-rank with special privileges, higher than both chairmen!”

“Since the rating rules were revised, isn’t this the first Triple S-rank to be born?”

“It’s not just Triple S, it’s All S!!”

…

In an instant, all eyes in the hall, whether amazed or fervent, were fixed on Lin Su.

The two men from before had long since shrunk into a corner of the hall amidst the heated discussions, trying their best to fade into the background in embarrassment.

Up close, Lin Su looked at Bai Jiang with mild surprise.

“Xiao Bai, did you guys plan this?”

Bai Jiang clasped his hands with a smile. “Mhm, Family Head Lu proposed it this week. It was a unanimous vote by the four great families. We wanted to give you a surprise, Teacher~”

Lin Su was pleased. “How thoughtful.”

Although he didn’t really care about that A-rank, “SSS” certainly sounded better than “ASS.”

Bai Jiang was happy. “It’s nothing!” ^▽^

After this bombshell rating was announced, the subsequent succession speeches seemed rather dull. As it was a gathering of all the major prominent families, this news would surely spread among them before the banquet even ended.

Lin Su dragged He Zhenling to sweep through the food tables.

He held his plate and sighed, “Alas, I’m even more in the limelight now.”

He Zhenling glanced sideways with a light chuckle. “You have so many wings anyway, they’re enough to block the wind for you.”

Lin Su said softly and shyly, “I… prefer your plume.”

There were two seconds of silence beside him. “…Mhm.”

He Zhenling turned his head away, as if naturally. “It’s open.”

Lin Su gazed at his proper and self-possessed side profile and couldn’t resist touching the crane feather pattern on his ring. The breathing next to him suddenly grew heavy! He Zhenling turned back and pulled his hand down—

“We’re outside, don’t touch carelessly.”

He had his little moment of flirtation and retracted his hand. “Oh.”

…

The banquet ended a little after four in the afternoon.

The slanting sunlight passed through the mountain forest leaves, dappling greens and golden reds, casting a thin layer of gold before the hall’s main entrance.

Lin Su and He Zhenling were about to leave when two voices called out from behind them, “Mr. Lin, Chairman He.”

Turning around, they saw Qi Wang and Xue Zhibai approaching.

Qi Wang was holding an exquisite wooden box, carefully sealed. He walked over in a few steps and presented the box. “This is the best batch of talismans I’ve made in the past year. If you two don’t mind…”

Lin Su took it and glanced inside. The spiritual energy in the brushstrokes was clear and transparent. Under Xue Zhibai’s guidance, his technique had become even more refined than before.

He said reassuringly, “Then I’ll gladly accept.”

Xue Zhibai emphasized, “This is my disciple’s finest work. Don’t use them like tissues the way you use my talismans.”

Lin Su replied, “I won’t. Using you is enough.”

Xue Zhibai was speechless.

Qi Wang was speechless.

After a few pleasantries, the two parties said their goodbyes.

Qi Wang and his master returned to the hall. Lin Su watched at the entrance for a few moments before a voice spoke beside him.

“The quality is very high. No wonder he was able to establish himself in the Qi family so quickly.”

Lin Su retracted his gaze. “Ever since Qi Yuheng left, the Qi family hasn’t had any outstanding juniors. With Da Lang returning to the main family, he’s managed to lift the Qi family up—”

He turned and left with He Zhenling. “Otherwise, it’s really hard to say who the four great families would be in the future.”

Xuenima followed, pleased. [So Da Lang is a lucky star.]

Lin Su pointed out, “You’re calling him ‘So’ now.”

[…Heh! Don’t just interrupt my sentences like that.]

After the banquet, the next day was Monday.

Yi Shui was supposed to start classes this week.

She wasn’t in any of the classes Lin Su taught, so they didn’t run into each other all morning. He finished his classes and went back to his office to rest.

In the afternoon, there was a knock on his office door.

Knock, knock, two sounds. Lin Su said, “Come in.”

The door opened, and a small head with a cascade of light-colored long hair peeked in. “Lin… Brother Teacher.”

Lin Su pulled a chair over. “Xiao Shui, have a seat.”

Yi Shui closed the door, walked in, and climbed onto the chair to sit properly.

She placed her hands on her lap and didn’t speak.

Lin Su didn’t speak either, simply pouring a cup of hot tea and taking out some small pastries. The blinds in the office were half-lowered, letting bars of sunlight stretch across the tabletop, with steam curling up from the tea.

After a moment of silence, Yi Shui’s shoulders relaxed a little.

She took a sip of tea from the cup and put it down. “What Brother Teacher said before, was it true? Can I be me… and not ‘someone’?”

Lin Su said slowly, “That’s only natural.”

Yi Shui had probably worked up a great deal of determination to come. She opened her mouth, but a look of conflict appeared on her small, calm face. Finally, she lowered her head and fell silent again.

Lin Su looked at her. “Do you like being a Tianshi?”

Yi Shui paused, then answered honestly, “I don’t.”

“I’ve been able to see ghosts since I was born. Some ghosts have died in horrific ways, but I can see them all very clearly. In my dreams, I constantly relive my past lives. Sometimes when I wake up, I can’t tell who I am now.”

Her voice was soft. “I really want it to stop.”

Lin Su’s fingertips traced the rim of his cup, shrouded in warm steam. “Then is there anything you do like?”

Yi Shui thought for a moment. “I like… painting and novels.”

Lin Su was intrigued. “Is that so?”

“Mhm, I’ve secretly read them twice. When I’m reading, they can briefly take me to another, peaceful world.”

Lin Su stroked the top of her head. “You have a great deal of inspiration. Even if you become a painter or a novelist in the future, you will be outstanding.”

The head below shot up, eyes brightening.

Yi Shui hesitated for a small moment, then said, “Actually, I’ve dreamed about it. It was a rare, very happy dream.”

Lin Su smiled. “Have you sorted out your thoughts now?”

A pair of small hands clenched the fabric of her skirt. “If I… don’t want to be a ‘genius,’ can Brother Teacher help me turn off my abilities?”

Lin Su’s eyes were clear and gentle. “If that is your wish, I can help you. But this matter requires your grandfather’s consent, so I can’t guarantee it will be done. Do you want to commission me?”

Yi Shui composed herself and took a breath. “Mhm.”

A phone was handed to her. “I accept the commission.”

The information was filled in. With a tap of Lin Su’s finger, a ding! sounded.

[Client: Yi Shui]
[Identity: Heir to the Yi Family, S-rank Tianshi, 14 years old.]
[Status: Accepted]

Xuenima lay on his shoulder. [Is this really okay?]

Lin Su put his phone away. “Returning a destiny to its rightful place is simply taking away ‘things’ that don’t belong to her and relieving her of responsibilities she shouldn’t bear. As long as the Yi family agrees, there’s no problem.”

[But doesn’t the Yi family want her to become the ‘sun that never sets’ to illuminate the entire Tianshi world?]

Lin Su smiled. “The Tianshi world has not fallen so far as to need the sacrifice of a little girl’s happiness to illuminate it.”

Xuenima’s beady eyes blinked.

Sunlight slanted in through the window blinds. A golden light floated in Lin Su’s eyes, like a long, flowing river. “An era will not stagnate because of the absence of one person, not even during the 17 years I slept…”

“It is always moving forward.”

The commission had been accepted.

The furrow between Yi Shui’s young brows relaxed a little. She leaned on the desk, nibbling on pastries.

“Do you like these?”

“I do, they taste like pine nuts.”

As Lin Su was benevolently tending to his cub, his office door was knocked on again. Knock, knock. Bai Jiang pushed the door open with a bright face. “Teacher! You have a substitute class this afternoon, right? I’m here again to—”

He paused. “Oh, Xiao Shui is here too~”

Yi Shui turned her head, her cheeks puffed out. “Brother Bai Jiang, I came to get snacks from Brother Teacher.”

Bai Jiang: ^v^?

Yi Shui blinked and understood. “Is this nickname something I’m not supposed to use?”

Bai Jiang smiled. “……Ah, yes, yes you can.”

Lin Su beckoned. “Xiao Bai, come eat with us.”

Bai Jiang sat down, trying his best to be magnanimous. “Okay, Brother Teacher.”

The three of them gathered and munched for a while.

Lin Su’s afternoon substitute lecture was about to start, so he stood up with Bai Jiang. Yi Shui also slid off her chair to leave. The three of them left the office, and Lin Su suddenly called out to her.

“Xiao Shui, have you told your grandfather about your thoughts today?”

Yi Shui stopped in the corridor and shook her head. “No. Because… it feels like a very insensible thing to say.”

Lin Su smiled gently. “You can try talking to him about it.”

“It’s okay for a granddaughter to be a little willful with her grandfather.”

Yi Shui’s eyelashes fluttered. After a moment, she said, “Mhm.”

…

After class, Lin Su went home at five in the evening.

He Zhenling had business at the Supervision Association today and didn’t come to stay over.

He regretfully ate a “normal” dinner.

Just as he finished eating, his phone rang. He opened it to see an unsurprising caller ID: [Old Yi].

He answered the phone, and a heavy sigh came through. “Brother Su.”

Lin Su curled up on the sofa. “Old Yi.”

Yi Daiming got straight to the point. “Xiao Shui went to see you today, didn’t she?”

“She came to the office for some snacks.” Lin Su smiled. “Did she come home and act willfully with you?”

Yi Daiming choked for a moment, then sighed again. “Sigh… It’s not that I don’t know how hard it is for Xiao Shui. But her growth now is of extraordinary significance to the Yi family, and even the entire Feng Shui world. She could very well reach the pinnacle of metaphysics…”

Lin Su said, “Old Yi, humans cannot create gods.”

Yi Daiming said huffily, “How would you kno—” He abruptly stopped, as if something had occurred to him.

Lin Su continued, “Humans cannot create gods, and the Feng Shui world is no longer lacking a pillar. Your original intentions are a matter of life and death, but it’s time to let Xiao Shui choose her own life.”

Yi Daiming, who suddenly saw the end of the road, was speechless.

Lin Su said in a broad tone, “Do you have any other concerns?”

The other end seemed to choke for a long time before finally huffing, “Even if we don’t talk about gods or pillars, my Yi family’s heir is a huge deal! If Xiao Shui doesn’t do it, where are we going to find another one?”

“……”

Lin Su was silent for a moment.

That was indeed the most practical problem.

Yi Daiming concluded, “I will do my best to lighten Xiao Shui’s burden. Let’s not talk about this anymore. This is the end of it.”

The call ended.

The living room was quiet for a few seconds. The sound of rustling came from the corner of the balcony, where Xuenima was playing with balls. [Is this going to be your only uncompleted commission?]

Lin Su glanced at it and pinched it from across the room.

Two protesting squeaks came from the other side. [Jiji!]

Lin Su ignored Xuenima and retracted his gaze. He stared at the brilliant crystal chandelier, deep in thought for a moment, then suddenly turned his gaze back…

Two seconds later, he said gently, Ni Ma, come here for a second.

Xuenima: [?]

The next day, he only had one early morning class, and he was free to go after it was over.

It was a crisp autumn day.

The sun shone on the lush green forest leaves covering the mountain, and a clean mountain path wound its way upwards.

Lin Su stopped far from the gate of the Yi family estate.

He then took out his phone and sent a message to He Zhenling: A heads-up, there might be some developments between us on the rumor front. [Wags tail]

Lin Su calmly put his phone back in his pocket and took the small hand next to him.

At his side, a 12-year-old boy, still with a childish air, was dressed in an outer shirt and long pants. With dark hair and bright eyes, he bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Lin Su. His small figure exuded an air of transcendence and steadiness.

Xuenima’s small face was tense. “Will this really work? What if the Yi family doesn’t like boys?”

Lin Su was impartial. “Given your ‘not-so-child-friendly’ behavior last time, you are not allowed to use a girl’s face again.”

He added, “If they don’t like it, you can change again.”

With that, he led Xuenima by the hand and walked over.

They reached the gate in a few steps.

The gatekeeping disciple recognized Lin Su completely now. Seeing him, he immediately greeted him, “Mr. Lin!” As he spoke, his eyes fell on the child beside him and froze.

The big one and the small one were almost proportionally scaled.

The disciple stared. “Uh, this is…”

Lin Su’s expression was calm. “I’ve found an heir for your Family Head Yi. Tell him to come out.”

Author’s note:

Lin Su: 17 years later, I’ve returned with a genius baby.

He Zhenling: ……

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