Evan Lin thought about Yolanda Fang and glanced up at the sky, lost for a second.
She’s probably somewhere in this city right now—maybe heading to the library, or grabbing lunch with her friends.
Her family’s loaded, but she never acted like some spoiled princess. She could vibe with anyone.
Girls like Yolanda Fang? Bet she’ll meet someone awesome someday.
Evan Lin shook his head, brushing off those thoughts.
Honestly, if it was his last life, meeting a girl like Yolanda Fang would’ve been the dream partner for the old, shy Evan Lin.
Her sunny vibe and chill attitude could’ve totally lit up his world back then.
But now? Evan only sometimes misses his old days in Brightsea—just living like a normal guy. That kind of life feels super far away now.
Faye Zheng noticed Evan had gone quiet and wisely let it drop.
The two walked ahead along the Zheng estate’s little trail.
When they got to the estate gate, Evan suddenly stopped and glanced outside.
Faye Zheng looked up too, spotting the girl standing just outside the gate.
She wore a floor-length dress, had a seriously pretty face, and wasn’t petite—but carried that classic rich-girl vibe.
Standing there, she was like a quiet flower in full bloom.
"Why don’t you two chat?"
Faye Zheng paused, looked at Evan: "I’m kinda thirsty, so I’ll head in for some water."
She finished speaking and turned to leave.
"Long time no see."
Yvonne Zhu tucked her hair behind her ear, smiled at Evan: "Heard Oceanport had some drama today—Hong Kong’s crew got wrecked, Angel Epoch’s officially got Master Lin from Seacrest stamped on it, so I guessed you’d show up."
"Wasn’t planning to bug you, just wanted to drop by and see. Didn’t expect to actually run into you."
Young Tigers List No. 3, Evan Lin?
Evan shook his head—he honestly never paid much attention to that title. After the last Young Tigers Ranking Battle in Oceanport, he pretty much forgot all about it.
Back at the Zheng house, Old Madam Zheng was on the phone with Joy Zheng.
They were having a great chat.
When Evan walked in, Old Madam Zheng called him over to talk. The vibe was rare—actually pretty chill.
To keep Joy from worrying, Old Madam Zheng skipped mentioning Liana Zheng's betrayal.
Leon Zheng and Hans Zheng rushed back from outside.
Leon’s company was booming, and Hans had ridden the wave to build a private equity empire managing over ten billion yuan—he was officially in the finance game now.
Faye’s dad Gavin Pan saw Evan and kept smiling—no trace left of his old contempt or sarcasm.
He wasn’t dumb.
He was a live-in son-in-law, after all. The better the Zhengs did, the more face he had outside.
And Evan? He was obviously the key reason the Zhengs were rising.
"Evan, you’re not bad—not bad at all." Leon Zheng was drinking, cheeks flushed from booze.
Leon was never great with words. He’d always protected Joy, even if it meant being called the bad guy, and he never bothered defending himself much.
Real men just carry the weight and the pain, even if there’s a knife in their chest, even if it cuts all the way through—they never let anyone see the tears.
"Honestly, your dad? Total loser!"
Leon slammed the table, face full of rage: "I said it back then, I said it!"
"People like that can’t be trusted, can’t settle down with us Zhengs, can’t give my sister happiness!"
Leon kept talking, sniffling as he went.
A grown man, the head of the Zhengs now, and his eyes were totally red.
"Big bro, ease up a bit."
Hans Zheng, sitting nearby, reached out and patted Leon on the shoulder.
Leon brushed Hans’s hand away and looked at Evan: "Evan, our Zhengs look all shiny on the outside, but inside, we’re hollow."
"The Zhengs never produced anyone truly capable, and we couldn’t get justice for your mom."
"Those people—they’re the so-called upper class. People like us, we’re nothing to them. We don’t even register in their eyes."
"It’s your uncle’s fault—I couldn’t protect you or your mom. I’m useless, Evan…"
By the end, Leon, this grown man, just couldn’t hold back—he broke down and cried.
He was sobbing, full-on.
Everyone at the table fell silent.
Old Master Zheng and Old Madam Zheng wiped their eyes.
"It’s fine. I’ll get justice for my mom myself."
Evan saw how real Leon’s pain was—not an act at all. He sighed, his gaze softening: "I don’t know exactly what happened back then, but I can guess."
"It’s not your fault. It’s not the Zhengs’ fault."
"Give me some time. I’ll stomp those so-called upper-class people under my feet, one by one."
"I’ll make them kneel in front of my mom and repent."
"I’ll show them—my surname’s Lin, but I’m not their Lin."
Leon slammed the table again, face twisted in fury: "I said it back then, I said it!"
"People like that can’t be trusted, can’t settle down with the Zhengs, can’t give my sister happiness!"
Leon kept talking, sniffling as he went.
A grown man, head of the Zhengs, and his eyes were totally red.
"Big bro, ease up a bit."
Hans Zheng, sitting nearby, reached out and patted Leon on the shoulder.
Leon brushed Hans’s hand away and looked at Evan: "Evan, our Zhengs look all shiny on the outside, but inside, we’re hollow."
"The Zhengs never produced anyone truly capable, and we couldn’t get justice for your mom."
"Those people—they’re the so-called upper class. People like us, we’re nothing to them. We don’t even register in their eyes."
"It’s your uncle’s fault—I couldn’t protect you or your mom. I’m useless, Evan…"
By the end, Leon, this grown man, just couldn’t hold back—he broke down and cried.
He was sobbing, full-on.
Everyone at the table fell silent.
Old Master Zheng and Old Madam Zheng wiped their eyes.
"It’s fine. I’ll get justice for my mom myself."
Evan saw how real Leon’s pain was—not an act at all. He sighed, his gaze softening: "I don’t know exactly what happened back then, but I can guess."
"It’s not your fault. It’s not the Zhengs’ fault."
"Give me some time. I’ll stomp those so-called upper-class people under my feet, one by one."
"I’ll make them kneel in front of my mom and repent."
"I’ll show them—my surname’s Lin, but I’m not their Lin."