Gao Wu: Oh no! Young Master Zhen is a cultivator!

Chu Xining looked at Lin Ran's profile, hesitated for a moment, and finally changed the subject: "The Hunan restaurant up ahead is newly opened. The chef was brought in from Xingcheng. The chopped pepper fish head is very authentic."

"I remember you didn't eat spicy food before."

"People always change." Chu Xining's eyes curved into a smile. "Like how Brother Lin Ran wasn't always this cold and aloof."

Lin Ran's heart skipped a beat. Had this girl discovered something?

"Me? Am I? I think I'm pretty easygoing, not cold at all."

"Brother Lin Ran seems very gentle on the surface, but he's actually quite aloof inside. I can sense that." Chu Xining's gaze was intense. "Can Brother Lin Ran still open his heart to me?"

For a moment, Lin Ran didn't know how to respond.

Just then, the Maybach stopped in front of the Hunan restaurant, and Lin Ran immediately changed the subject: "We're here. Let's go try the chopped chili fish head you mentioned."

Chu Xining pouted and followed Lin Ran off the stage, stepping into the restaurant.

Meanwhile, Lin Haozhe returned to the Lin family villa alone.

More than a dozen dishes were already laid out on the table. Song Yishu came out of the kitchen with a soup bowl in her hand and looked towards the door.

"Haozhe, where's your brother?"

She cooked for her son today, wanting him to taste her cooking.

But as dusk approached, they only saw Lin Haozhe return alone, with no sign of Lin Ran.

"The school has arranged a make-up talent test, so Ran-ge might not be back for a while."

Lin Haozhe said calmly, "Besides, when school was over, I saw two female classmates inviting him to dinner, so he probably won't come back until after he's eaten."

Song Yishu put the soup bowl on the table, and before she could ask anything, Lin Zhiyao spoke up first: "You've only been here a few days, and you're already involved with a female classmate?"

"After all, Brother Ran is the eldest son of the Lin family, so women will always come up to him," Lin Haozhe said, feigning to defend Lin Ran.

"Hmph! You used to be the eldest son of the Lin family, so why haven't I seen you having dinner with female classmates?" Lin Zhiyao pouted. "I think he's just restless!"

When Lin Ran returned, the moon was already hanging above the treetops.

Pushing open the living room door, I found it brightly lit.

Lin Hongbo sat upright on the main sofa, holding a cup of tea with steam rising from it.

Song Yishu stood close to him, her eyes filled with worry.

Lin Zhiwan crossed her arms and leaned against the window, still wearing her business attire.

Lin Zhixia sat at the other end of the sofa, looking at a document from both sides.

Lin Zhiyao, meanwhile, was sitting cross-legged on a beanbag chair in the corner, fiddling with her holographic bracelet.

Lin Haozhe sat on the far side, holding a book with a focused expression.

Clearly, the whole family was waiting for him.

Judging from this situation, it seems like a three-way trial is about to take place.

Lin Ran slowly changed into slippers in the entryway and walked into the living room with a relaxed gait.

"Why are you so late? What were you doing?" Lin Zhiwan broke the silence first, her tone accusatory.

Lin Ran asked calmly, "Didn't Lin Haozhe tell you?"

"What kind of attitude is this?" Lin Zhiwan raised an eyebrow.

Lin Ran met her gaze: "So, what kind of attitude do you want me to have?"

"Alright, Zhiwan." Song Yishu quickly reached out and pressed Lin Zhiwan's arm to comfort her: "He's your brother, not your subordinate."

"Even a younger brother shouldn't talk back to his older sister like that," Lin Zhiwan said, still indignant.

Lin Ran found a seat and casually said, "The action of force is mutual."

"What did you say?"

"It's nothing." Lin Ran shrugged, not intending to repeat himself.

At this moment, Lin Zhixia gently closed the document in her hand, placed it on the coffee table, and looked up at Lin Ran: "You shouldn't be an ordinary person, right?"

"Which aspect are you referring to?" Lin Ran feigned ignorance.

"Did today's test reveal any special talents you might have?"

"No. The test results are the same as before; I still haven't awakened." Lin Ran said calmly.

"An ordinary person could never defeat an Awakened One who has reached the Qi Opening Realm, let alone an A-level Fire Awakened One."

Lin Zhixia's tone was firm, as if she was convinced that Lin Ran was hiding something.

"I'm just a little stronger than the average person," Lin Ran shrugged.

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiyao scoffed, "Are you trying to fool us? Second Sister is an intern investigator at the Special Affairs Bureau. You'd better cooperate."

"When did this place become a special intelligence interrogation room?" Lin Ran asked back.

"You..." Lin Zhiyao sat up straight, about to lash out.

Lin Zhixia raised her hand to stop her, then looked at Lin Ran again: "What methods did you use to fool the testing equipment? And what was your purpose in disguising yourself as an ordinary person?"

"Your imagination is truly remarkable; no wonder you got into the Special Affairs Bureau," Lin Ran said with a half-smile.

Strictly speaking, Lin Zhixia's suspicions were not without merit, but she had presupposed a false truth, so naturally she could not get the correct answer.

"Although I don't have a good impression of you, you are still a member of the Lin family."

Lin Zhixia paused for a moment, then continued, "I hope you can be more honest. If you encounter any trouble, perhaps I can help you."

"There is indeed a troublesome matter," Lin Ran said, going along with it.

"What is it?" Lin Zhixia pressed.

"I want to know how to quickly obtain crystal nuclei."

Lin Zhixia frowned slightly: "This shouldn't be related to the question I asked you."

"But this is the problem I urgently need to solve right now," Lin Ran said seriously.

He does need crystal nuclei now, and he needs a lot of them.

Lin Hongbo finally spoke: "What do you need the crystal core for?"

He placed the teacup on the coffee table, looked at Lin Ran, and said seriously.

"The crystal core can help me become stronger," Lin Ran said bluntly.

"You haven't awakened yet, have you?" Lin Hongbo frowned slightly.

Lin Ran shrugged: "But I'll get the gene serum soon, won't I?"

"The drawbacks of using crystal nuclei directly are too great, and there is also the risk of losing control."

Lin Hongbo shook his head and said earnestly, "Even if you awaken, I don't recommend that you use crystal cores to enhance your strength."

"Besides gene-enhancing drugs, Lin's Pharmaceuticals also offers various body-tempering drugs and spiritual energy replenishing drugs."

He looked at Lin Ran and said sincerely, "After you awaken, I can help you prepare some things."

"Compared to potions, I still prefer crystal cores," Lin Ran said firmly.

Only he himself knows what he needs most.

While purified medicines are indeed more easily absorbed by the human body, he possesses the Xuanhuang Cauldron, so there is no need for this additional purification step.

With enough crystal cores, he can reach the peak of Qi Refining in a very short time.

If the crystal nuclei were replaced with medicine, the required quantity would probably be astronomical.

"Why are you so stubborn, child?" Lin Hongbo frowned deeply.

Lin Zhiyao couldn't help but mutter, "My good intentions were completely wasted."

"So, you meant well too?" Lin Ran looked at her, his smile playful.

"I..." Lin Zhiyao paused slightly, "Of course I hope you can turn over a new leaf and become a proper young master of the Lin family."

The living room fell silent instantly upon hearing this.

Lin Zhiwan's fingers, which were resting on her arm, tightened slightly without her noticing, and Lin Haozhe's hand holding the book also paused slightly.

Seeing this, Lin Ran roughly understood what was going on.

Lin Zhiwan worked diligently in the Lin Group and should have been the first heir, but the sudden appearance of her younger brother undoubtedly made him her biggest competitor.

Therefore, she would inevitably dislike Lin Ran.

Lin Zhiyao's hostility towards her was mostly due to the long-term influence of Lin Haozhe.

Just like those fabricated misdeeds before, they probably all came from Lin Haozhe's mouth.

His status as an adopted son is rather awkward. If Lin Ran hadn't gone missing, he certainly wouldn't have ended up in the Lin family.

With Lin Ran's return, he seemed to have become the superfluous one.

The fact that he can still maintain a superficially amicable relationship with Lin Ran shows that he has already demonstrated considerable composure and forbearance.

As for why Lin Zhixia harbors prejudice against him, Lin Ran has no clue yet.

But none of this mattered to him, since he was no longer the Lin Ran he once was.

"Then you're probably going to be disappointed," Lin Ran said calmly.