The news of Long Xiao's arrest was only learned by the Lin family the following morning. Nangong Yue inquired about the situation from Lin Xuan, who recounted everything that had happened at the Southern Courtyard Restaurant.
Nangong Yue fumed, "This good-for-nothing who freeloads off others is more trouble than he's worth. He ruined a perfectly good situation."
"Mom, you also think Director Zhao wouldn't have drugged me?" Lin Xuan asked.
Nangong Yue nodded, "Of course not. This must have been something Long Xiao concocted to impress you. What a failure."
Lin Shijie looked thoughtfully at Nangong Yue, "This whole thing is rather peculiar. Perhaps Long Xiao was right."
"Right about what? He's just a flashy, useless fellow. If the wine was truly drugged, you think he could have figured it out? Impossible!"
"Mom, Grandma's birthday banquet is in three days. If he doesn't show up because he's been arrested, Grandpa will be displeased."
Lin Wei's attitude towards Long Xiao had always been a mystery to the Lin family. Normally, no matter how poorly the Lin family treated Long Xiao, Lin Wei would not interfere. However, it was he who had orchestrated Long Xiao's marriage into the Lin family.
"We'll discuss it tomorrow. Let him reflect on his actions inside, so he doesn't cause you any more trouble in the future."
Nangong Yue made the final decision, and neither Lin Xuan nor Lin Shijie dared to voice any other opinions. As it neared noon, Young Master Jin arrived at the Lin residence carrying a large bag of gifts.
Young Master Jin had been visiting the Lin family frequently lately, always bringing gifts, which pleased Nangong Yue immensely. She very much wished for Young Master Jin to become her son-in-law.
When Long Xiao's arrest was casually mentioned, Young Master Jin was delighted, though he feigned sympathy.
"Auntie, why don't I call my father and ask him to pull some strings to get Long Xiao released?"
Nangong Yue was about to say no, wanting Long Xiao to suffer a bit, when Lin Xuan quickly interjected, "Thank you, Shaohuai."
Jin Shaohuai pretended to make a phone call to his father. He knew his father wouldn't help, but after ending the call, he announced, "Don't worry, Lin Xuan. My father has promised to get Long Xiao out as soon as possible."
Upon leaving the police station, Long Xiao went directly to the wet market to buy groceries before returning home. Seeing Long Xiao, Nangong Yue assumed Jin's phone call had worked and that he had been released due to his father's intervention.
"Long Xiao, pour Young Master Jin a cup of tea. Thank him for getting you out," Nangong Yue said with a frosty expression.
Long Xiao glanced at Jin Gongzi, put down the groceries, and asked, "What does my release have to do with him?"
"You ungrateful wretch, the only reason you're out is because Jin Gongzi's father pulled some strings."
Nangong Yue was convinced that Jin Gongzi had helped Long Xiao. Long Xiao, being a nobody with no connections or money, would have served a long sentence without Jin Gongzi's help.
The fact that Long Xiao not only didn't express gratitude but questioned his release being related to Jin Gongzi infuriated Nangong Yue.
"Long Xiao, are you so ungrateful that you'd turn your back on people after getting out? Is that how a person behaves?"
Long Xiao looked at Nangong Yue without speaking. His mother-in-law held such a strong prejudice against him that in her eyes, he wasn't even worth dirt.
Lin Shijie sighed, "Long Xiao, I know you're not fond of Jin Gongzi, but it's a fact that Jin Gongzi got you out. Listen to me, pour Jin Gongzi a cup of tea and thank him."
Long Xiao shook his head, "Dad, you didn't even ask how I got out before asking me to thank him?"
Jin Shaohuai sat to the side, watching silently. He knew very well that Long Xiao's swift release had nothing to do with him. He was now extremely curious about how Long Xiao, who had broken Director Zhao's arm, had managed to escape Zhao's brother-in-law's wrath.
"Long Xiao, then tell us, how did you get out?" Jin Shaohuai asked with a gentle smile.
"Zhou Zhizhong let me out."
Long Xiao's words elicited a burst of laughter from Jin Gongzi, "Zhou Zhizhong? Long Xiao, you're quite the storyteller. Zhou Zhizhong is the director of the West City branch. Why didn't you say Lu Tianxing himself released you?"
Lin Xuan also believed that Jin Gongzi had helped Long Xiao get out. Based on her understanding of Long Xiao, no one else would have helped him.
However, Lin Xuan felt that with Jin Gongzi present, she had to defend Long Xiao.
"Mom, before this is cleared up, isn't it a bit premature to ask Long Xiao to thank Jin Gongzi?"
"Premature? What's premature about it? The facts are clear, what more needs to be clarified?" Nangong Yue replied coldly.
"He's a freeloading ingrate. He lives off the Lin family, spends the Lin family's money, and shows no gratitude. Jin Gongzi helped him, and he acts as if nothing happened. Is this even human?"
Lin Xuan's defense of Long Xiao displeased Jin Shaohuai greatly.
"Long Xiao is indeed useless. If I hadn't helped him, he would have been sentenced. Whether he thanks me or not is irrelevant. As long as Lin Xuan is happy, I'll help him a few more times."
"Look at Jin Gongzi, then look at him. They are worlds apart. Lin Xuan, you must divorce him immediately. I can't stand it for another day. Seeing this good-for-nothing every day makes me feel suffocated."
"I won't divorce him until Grandpa agrees," Long Xiao said, looking at Lin Xuan.
"Lin Xuan, divorce this loser immediately and marry Jin Gongzi. Only an elite like Jin Gongzi is worthy of you," Nangong Yue insisted.
Long Xiao picked up the groceries and headed towards the kitchen. Nangong Yue, enraged, yelled, "Long Xiao, you pathetic wretch, you must divorce immediately and get out of the Lin family!"
"Mom, if you pressure Long Xiao to divorce again, I'll call Grandpa right now," Lin Xuan said, glaring at Jin Shaohuai.
Long Xiao's entry into the Lin family was orchestrated by Lin Wei, but the true reason remained unknown to all.
Since Long Xiao had joined the Lin family, Lin Xuan had taken over as president of the Lin Corporation, and Lin Wei had retreated to his room to study Yi Jing, physiognomy, numerology, and other such arts. No one in the Lin family dared to disturb him.
If Lin Xuan were to call Lin Wei because of Long Xiao, both Nangong Yue and Lin Shijie would be in trouble.
"Lin Xuan, what's so good about Long Xiao that you're protecting him like this?" Jin Shaohuai asked.
Lin Xuan let out a cold snort, "At the very least, Long Xiao has a good heart. He wouldn't use those despicable, low-class tactics to achieve his goals."
Jin Shaohuai had employed numerous underhanded tactics when pursuing Lin Xuan in school, all of which Lin Xuan had seen through.
Cornered by Lin Xuan, Jin Shaohuai was speechless. Lin Xuan turned and returned to her room.
After a hurried lunch, Long Xiao retreated to his room and began studying the "Dragon Collection."
The contents of the "Dragon Collection" were profound and extensive. As long as he could master all the accessible parts, rapid advancement would be relatively easy.
Not long after he started studying, Long Xiao received a call from his sister, Long Yan, informing him that their adoptive father would be discharged from the hospital that afternoon.