Chapter 235: Unbearable

“Hey—”

The private room door was pushed open without any politeness.

Along with a waft of alcohol, a big-bellied figure swaggered in holding a wine glass, with two people following behind him.

The air in the room seemed to drop to freezing point instantly.

Father Lin’s hand holding the teacup froze mid-air. He stood there stunned for a few seconds before forcing out an extremely awkward dry laugh:

“Ah… big brother, you… why are you here too?”

Following behind the uncle was Lin Yu’s aunt, whom he hadn’t seen for many years.

She looked much older than in his memory. The flesh on her cheeks sagged, making her cheekbones stand out more. Her triangular eyes drooped even more with age.

She wore an eye-searing purple mink coat, with a gold necklace hanging around her neck.

And the one walking at the very back—

Cousin Lin Han.

The moment Lin Yu saw him clearly, he couldn’t help but suck in a breath.

Good lord… these past few years, did this guy go train in a pigsty?!

His already round figure had now swollen into something like an overinflated balloon—his weight had definitely broken the 100 kg mark.

He wore a dark gray formal suit, topped with greasy, slicked hair.

“Haha, what a coincidence! I just ran into Xiaoyu in the restroom, so I figured you must be here too!”

The uncle walked in on his own, completely treating himself as family.

His gaze swept around the room, then finally landed on Lin Xue.

Those eyes, squeezed thin by fat, suddenly lit up:

“Oh ho, Xiaoxue’s really grown up—turned into a fine young lady.”

“Hello, Uncle. Hello, Aunt.”

Lin Xue stood up and nodded perfunctorily.

“So your whole family is here traveling in Xinhai City?”

The uncle took a sip from his glass and asked knowingly.

“Yes, we’re having New Year’s Eve dinner here tonight.”

Although Mother Zhang felt uncomfortable, she still maintained basic courtesy as she responded.

“That’s nice!”

The uncle dragged out his tone, putting on the air of someone experienced in life.

“Back in the hometown, cooking all that food and cleaning up afterward is such a hassle. Eating out is better—spend some money and buy yourself some ease.”

As he spoke, he laughed and forcefully shoved the still-dazed Lin Han forward.

“Come, Jianguo, sister-in-law. We came today mainly to celebrate Lin Han here. The kid’s promising! He just got into the government system in Xinhai City a few days ago—now he’s a proper public servant!”

The uncle patted Lin Han’s thick shoulder, chin slightly raised.

“In the future, if Xiaohan and Xiaoxue need anything in Xinhai, just take care of each other. Come on, son, say something to your uncle and aunt.”

Dragged forward, Lin Han lazily lifted his eyelids.

With a look of superiority, he swept his gaze over everyone present, let out a heavy breath through his nose, and gave a single dismissive:

“Mm.”

Then he tugged at his tight suit hem, put on an old-fashioned bureaucratic air, and slowly said:

“If anything comes up, you can come to me.”

Come to you? Who the hell do you think you are?

Sitting in his seat, Lin Yu’s eye twitched wildly.

Looking at this fat lump who could barely breathe without wheezing, Lin Yu felt like ten thousand alpacas were stampeding through his mind.

Damn it—this guy just got into the system and hasn’t even settled in yet, and he’s already acting like some big leader?!

Lin Yu originally thought if he ignored them, they’d show off a bit and leave.

But unexpectedly, after scanning the room, Lin Han walked straight toward him.

Swaying his head slightly, he raised his wine glass at Lin Yu, putting on a condescending elder’s posture:

“Xiaoyu, since we ran into each other, come—have a drink with your cousin.”

“No, no, cousin.”

Suppressing his disgust, Lin Yu waved his hand.

“I’ve got something to do today, I’m not drinking.”

“Not drinking?”

Lin Han exaggeratedly raised his eyebrows and slammed his glass onto the table.

His cloudy eyes flashed with displeasure.

“Not drinking? That won’t do! Xiaoyu, not that I want to criticize you—young people like you just entering society, your attitudes are getting more and more improper!”

While speaking in an official tone, he grabbed the bottle and poured a full glass of liquor, shoving it toward Lin Yu.

“If you don’t understand drinking culture, how are you going to communicate with leaders? How are you going to survive in society? You need to train your tolerance—otherwise how will you deal with leaders in the future? You don’t understand basic social etiquette at all!”

His tone turned direct and forceful:

“Come, I’m happy today. Drink this glass. From now on, I’ll look out for you.”

At this moment, Lin Xue coldly watched him with her arms crossed, completely unmoved.

Mother Zhang quickly stepped in to smooth things over:

“Lin Han, Xiaoyu hasn’t been feeling well lately. His stomach’s not great—he shouldn’t drink. You’ve had enough too, go back.”

Hearing this, Lin Han’s face instantly filled with contempt.

He let out an exaggerated sigh and shook his head.

The uncle quickly chimed in, speaking earnestly:

“Oh come on, sister-in-law! You really should persuade Xiaoyu to focus and go take the civil service exam. That iron rice bowl is the way to go! Where does he work now? Did he also pass like Lin Han?”

Before Lin Yu could respond, Mother Zhang forced a smile and answered:

“He didn’t pass. He’s working at a private company now… sigh…”

At the words “private company,” Lin Han’s disdain became even more obvious.

He sneered and shook his head again.

The uncle added with a knowing tone:

“Well, if he doesn’t like it, no need to force him. Not everyone has the brains or luck for that.”

The aunt, who had been watching the show, finally found a chance to jump in.

Squinting her triangular eyes, she said with a fake smile:

“Our Lin Han is different—he’s destined for success. Those working-class jobs? Just expendable tools, easily replaced. The government system is stable—iron rice bowl, guaranteed income!”

“Hehe… yes, yes…”

Mother Zhang’s smile had already become stiff.

She could only awkwardly go along with it.

The aunt then turned her gaze to Lin Xue in the corner:

“What about Xiaoxue?”

“She’s still in grad school.”

Talking about her daughter gave Mother Zhang more confidence.

“She’s doing very well too—working on a project with a very famous professor from Germany…”

“Still studying?!”

Before she could finish, Lin Han suddenly let out a sharp shout, like his tail had been stepped on.

“How many years have you been studying? Aren’t you sick of it? What’s the point of girls studying so much? The old saying goes—virtue is a woman’s talent! Study too much and you’ll turn stupid, won’t even find a partner!”

He grew more excited the more he spoke, acting like a life mentor:

“Look at society now—degrees are worthless! Master’s graduates are everywhere, even PhDs on the street! By the time you graduate, you might not even find a job! Better to secure a stable job early. Or just stop studying—I can introduce someone to you…”

Bang!

A loud slap hit the table.

Lin Yu, who had been sitting silently, suddenly stood up—so abruptly that the redwood chair behind him crashed to the floor.

The room fell into instant dead silence.

His eye twitched violently with rage.

“Hey… have you f*cking said enough?”

The moment those words came out, the already tense atmosphere turned completely frozen.

Everyone stared at Lin Yu as if looking at a monster.

His chest rose and fell.

He had finally understood—

This whole thing wasn’t about concern.

It was pure showing off.

Did they really not know Lin Xue got into grad school at Xinhai University?

When her admission letter came out, the whole family group already knew.

Everyone else congratulated them.

Only this uncle made a sarcastic remark:

“Xinhai University? Really? Are grad schools expanding that much now?”

The jealousy practically seeped through the screen.

And now, after their useless son got lucky and achieved something, they couldn’t wait to step on others to feel superior.

Human nature—so cheap.

But this smug, drum-beating arrogance—

It was f*cking unbearable.

Looking at these three disgusting people, countless curses flashed through Lin Yu’s mind, but in the end they condensed into a single blunt command:

“If you’re drunk, then get the hell out! What are you doing here—waiting for a foot massage?!”

After saying that, he subconsciously glanced at his parents.

They stared at him in shock, as if they couldn’t believe that their usually quiet son would explode like this.

Lin Xue was also surprised—but the slight tremble at the corner of her lips showed clear satisfaction.

“Y-you…!”

Lin Han’s fat face twisted instantly.

His brows knotted, eyes widening like some furious deity.

“How dare you talk to me like that?! I’m your cousin!”

“f*ck you!”

Lin Yu didn’t hold back at all.

He slapped the pointing fat hand away.

Smack!

The force sent the wine glass flying.

Crash!

It shattered on the floor, liquor splashing everywhere.

“Hey!”

The uncle shouted in shock.

“Enough! What are you doing—fighting at the dinner table?! Lin Yu, stop causing trouble!”

“Shut the hell up!”

Lin Yu pointed straight at his nose.

“Who the hell do you think you are? Who invited you? Do you even know what you look like right now?”

“Like some nouveau riche dragging along a useless son, showing off everywhere—‘Look at my precious boy!’”

“Barking like a dog—nobody cares!”

“You little bastard!”

The aunt’s face turned liver-colored.

“Who are you calling a dog?! Say it clearly!”

“I’m calling you dogs!”

Lin Yu’s voice rang out clearly.

“Your whole family are dogs!”

“AAAAH—!”

Lin Han completely lost it.

He charged like a tank.

“Get lost!”

Bang!

Lin Yu kicked him.

The massive body flew backward and slammed into the wall.

The impact shook the room.

Lin Han collapsed like a flipped turtle, clutching his stomach, unable to get up.

“Lin Han! My son!”

“Lin Yu! You dare hit someone?!”

The uncle, furious, stepped forward and raised his hand.

But when he met Lin Yu’s ferocious gaze—

His movement froze mid-air.

This kid… he really dares to hit people…

Half a century old, body hollowed out by indulgence—

He knew he wouldn’t stand a chance.

He awkwardly withdrew his hand.

“Call the police! Call them now!”

He pointed at Lin Yu, spitting furiously:

“You’re not leaving today! You injured my son—I’ll make you all pay for it! Lin Jianguo, look at the son you raised! When the police come, you’re finished!”

Hearing “call the police,” Lin Yu’s parents turned pale.

If the police came…

Even if the other side started it, would it count as self-defense or mutual fighting?

They had no idea.

And the other side had just claimed to be in the system…

Fear clouded their hearts.

“……”

Just then—

A calm voice came from the doorway:

“No need to make it that troublesome.”

At some point, the door had been pushed open.

Cool air flowed in, dispersing the stifling tension.

A tall man stood at the entrance.

He wore a long black coat, the hem swaying slightly.

Black sunglasses hid his eyes, leaving only a sharp jawline visible.

Cool—but not shocking.

What made the difference—

Was the dark blue ID booklet in his hand.

Lin Han, still on the ground, trembled the moment he saw it.

He knew exactly what that was.

Years ago, during a police raid, he had almost been taken in—those plainclothes officers had shown the same thing.

“I saw everything that just happened.”

The man spoke calmly, but every word carried weight.

“Self-defense. No need to waste police resources.”

His gaze swept across the room.

No one dared meet his eyes.

Finally—

His eyes landed on Lin Yu.

“Done with your meal, boss?”