BUZZ. BUZZ.
Just as Qin Lin was feeling suspicious, his phone buzzed. It was a call from Fatty Qi, his childhood friend and sworn brother from the welfare institute.
"Brother Qin, get to the welfare institute, quick! Grandpa Wang was beaten, and they're trying to forcibly demolish the place!"
"Okay, I'll be right there!"
Anxiety gripped Qin Lin. Without a second thought, he put away the six remaining marriage contracts and hailed a taxi to the welfare institute in the old city district. He had grown up in the welfare institute since he was five and had long considered it his home. To him, Grandpa Wang, the man who raised him, was his own flesh and blood.
He knew that with the constant development in Hangcheng City, a construction company had long targeted the well-situated welfare institute. They wanted to tear it down and build an office building in its place.
Qin Lin wasn't against the demolition. After all, urban redevelopment was good for the city's growth, and it was a chance to improve the institute's facilities. If the company agreed to build a new, fully-equipped facility for them in the suburbs, then Qin Lin, Fatty Qi, and the other kids who grew up there would have no objections.
However, the demolition company had colluded with the local administrative office. Using forged documents, they claimed the land belonged to the city and proposed simply dissolving the institute and scattering the children among other facilities. Naturally, Qin Lin and the others refused. The welfare institute was their home, and Grandpa Wang had dedicated his entire life to protecting it. How could we let this despicable development company just take our land for free!?
"Damn it!"
Arriving in the old city district, an enraged Qin Lin rushed straight into the welfare institute. The institute's walls had already been knocked down. Grandpa Wang, a red palm print swelling on his cheek, stood with Fatty Qi and a few others, forming a human barricade in front of several bulldozers.
When the children saw Qin Lin arrive, their panicked eyes turned to him.
"Brother Qin!"
"Uncle Qin."
"Uncle, they hit Grandpa Wang!" one of them cried out. It was clear the demolition crew's thugs had terrified them.
"Don't be afraid, everyone. It's going to be okay," Qin Lin said, waving reassuringly to the children before turning to the old man. "Grandpa Wang," he asked, his gaze fixed on the mark on his face, "what happened?"
"Qin Lin." Grandpa Wang, his hair and beard completely white, grabbed Qin Lin's hand, his voice trembling as tears streamed down his aged face. "They said the deadline on the notice was up and that the property rights now belong to them, so they could start the demolition. I only argued for a moment before they struck me. If Fatty Qi and the others hadn't arrived when they did, the whole place would be gone by now."
"Don't you worry, Grandpa Wang. We're here now. They won't be demolishing the welfare institute!"
Knowing the institute was Grandpa Wang's life's work, Qin Lin patted his hand reassuringly and gestured for a nearby girl to help the old man. Then, under the worried gazes of the crowd, he stepped forward and stared down the demolition crew's leader. "Go back and tell your boss that unless our conditions are met, you are absolutely not touching this place!"
"Kid, I think you're tired of living!" the lead thug sneered. "Our young master will be here any minute. I'm telling you, this welfare institute is coming down today, one way or another!"
SCREECH!
The roar of an engine grew louder as a BMW 7-Series sedan sped toward them recklessly, braking hard. A man and a woman stepped out.
"Shen Zhao! Chen Mengyuan!"
Qin Lin's pupils contracted as he saw the despicable pair emerge from the car. I can't believe the mastermind behind this is the Shen Family Group!
"Qin Lin? How did you get out?" Chen Mengyuan exclaimed, her eyes wide with astonishment as she clung to Shen Zhao's arm. She had planned for Shen Zhao to forcibly demolish the institute while Qin Lin was detained as payback for humiliating her on the plane.
"Who let you out?" Shen Zhao was just as surprised. He had specifically told his contact at the public security bureau to sentence Qin Lin harshly—at least ten days to half a month in detention.
"How I got out is none of your business," Qin Lin said, his expression turning icy. His eyes, filled with a chilling frost, swept over the wretched pair. "And you will not be demolishing this welfare institute."
Beside him, Fatty Qi was completely bewildered, staring at Chen Mengyuan clinging so intimately to Shen Zhao's arm. "Uh, Brother Qin? What's going on?"
"It's nothing," Qin Lin said, shaking his head with a cold sneer. "I was just blind before. To think I actually fell for such a filthy slut."
"Qin Lin, shut your mouth!" Chen Mengyuan snapped, her face flushing with anger. "You're just a poor bastard! You were never good enough for me!"
"Hey, why waste your breath on him?" Shen Zhao scoffed, pulling Chen Mengyuan's slender waist closer. He looked at Qin Lin with disdain. "Take these unwanted orphans behind you and get the hell out of my sight!"
"You shut up!" Qin Lin's face tensed. Knowing how sensitive the children were, he shot back immediately, "This is our home! Like I said, you're not tearing it down unless you agree to our conditions!"
"Ha! You think you can stop me?" Shen Zhao laughed viciously and waved a hand at the thugs surrounding him. "What the hell are you all standing around for? Get them! Tear it down!"