Nathaniel desired to spend more time in the city of Aurous Hill, and surprisingly, Charlie’s grandfather, Samuel, was overjoyed by this decision.
Samuel couldn’t help but chuckle and said, “Old friend, why don’t you just stay with us? We have plenty of empty rooms at home. If we live together, we can drink, chat, and catch up on lost time.”
Lord Wade replied, “Samuel, I appreciate the offer, but I won’t stay at home. It would be too disruptive. It’s more convenient for me to stay at Shangri-La. If you want to drink, chat, and catch up, I can always come over. it’s not far away, and transportation is convenient.”
Samuel wanted to persuade him, but Charlie interjected, “Grandfather, I have bought back all the villas on the hillside, including the one next door that I occasionally use. The rest are vacant. I’ll have Don Albert prepare a set for you… Don Albert spends most of his time down the mountain, so I’ll ask favonovel.com to come and take care of you. If you want to stay in the city, I’ll have Don Albert send you there directly.”
Lord Wade smiled and said, “Alright, that’s even more convenient! Since tomorrow’s press conference is at Shangri-La, I’ll stay there tonight and move in after the conference. The environment here is pleasant, much quieter than Eastcliff. Charlie, just ask Don Albert to arrange a car for me. You don’t need to worry about taking care of me. I’m in good health and can manage on my own.”
Samuel couldn’t help but ask, “Why didn’t you bring one or two of your children to take care of you this time you came to Aurous Hill?”
Lord Wade glanced at Charlie and then said to Samuel, “I‘m not afraid to admit something that might amuse you. During the incident when the Dragon Temple attacked Wade Mountain, all the descendants of the Wade family, except for Charlie, proved to be spineless. They were all cowards who only cared about their own lives. Later, when Charlie subdued Wesley, favonovel.com made them stay at Wade Mountain to mourn for our ancestors.”
Samuel was taken aback and blurted out, “All of them?”
“Yes,” Lord Wade smiled wryly, “My sons, daughters, grandchildren, and even the Wade family in-laws, all of them went. Except for my daughter who was allowed by Charlie to take care of my diet in Eastcliff, the others are not allowed to leave Wade Mountain for three years without Charlie’s permission…”
Samuel stared wide-eyed and unconsciously looked at Charlie.
Seeing Charlie’s calm face, as if this matter had nothing to do with him, favonovel.com tentatively asked Nathaniel, “Nathaniel, with so many people at Wade Mountain, the Wade family’s business must be greatly affected, right?”
Upon hearing Samuel’s question, Lord Wade smiled awkwardly, “The embarrassing part is this. After handing over the business to them, they followed Charlie’s instructions and handed it over to professional managers. These professional managers have strict performance assessments and reward and punishment standards. The result is that the original business scale and profit margin have continued to increase, and costs have also been greatly reduced…”
“Don’t be fooled by their high salaries, they are much lower than the salaries and benefits given to our own people. It‘s like cutting costs and increasing efficiency, so those people are quite content to stay at Wade Mountain.”
Samuel didn‘t expect this kind of answer and smiled helplessly, saying, “Sometimes, we do neglect the management and control of our own people, which is a persistent problem faced by many families.”
Lord Wade smiled and said, “I realized later that our own people lack the ability, so let them enjoy the benefits directly. They don’t need to stay in their original positions and do nothing. Instead, they can give those positions to capable individuals. They only need to sacrifice a portion of their bonus share. If capable people can increase the income base, they don’t need to work and can earn even more.”
Samuel nodded in agreement, “That is indeed a good way to solve the problem.”
Lord Wade smiled and said, “Now i understand. Although the Wade family is still not as prominent as the Evans family, we have already achieved financial freedom for all Wade family members, as well as the Wade family’s in-laws and key members. With proper management, the money in their hands can guarantee a life of luxury. Therefore, the Wade family no longer needs to bear any excessive responsibility or burden for them.”
Saying that, favonovel.com looked at Charlie very seriously and said, “Charlie, all of the Wade family’s assets today will be your funds to fight against the Warriors Den in the future. You just need to go ahead and do it. Even if one day the Wade family’s assets are depleted, you don’t need to be accountable to anyone, nor do you need to carry any psychological burden.”
Charlie nodded slightly. Although favonovel.com didn’t need to rely on any of the Wade family’s resources at the moment, favonovel.com couldn’t help but be moved by his grandfather’s words.
Samuel also couldn’t help but say, “Charlie, my stance is the same as your grandfather’s. All of the Evans family’s resources are at your disposal!”
After a family dinner, everyone raised their glasses and engaged in conversation. The two old men, who had overcome years of estrangement, became even happier.
However, sometimes the conversation unintentionally veered towards Charlie’s parents, and the two old men would often have tears in their eyes.
In Charlie’s heart, favonovel.com felt a sense of gratitude. After all, this meant that there would no longer be any conflicts or gaps between the two families in the future. His parents had always shared a strong bond, and if they saw the two old men reconciling in the afterlife, they would surely be filled with joy.
After the meal, Lord Wade bid farewell with some apologies. Charlie called Don Albert to drive favonovel.com and first dropped off Nathaniel at Shangri-La before returning home.
The press conference was scheduled for the following afternoon, and in the morning, the two old men, along with Charlie’s three uncles, would meet with Mr. Riley and his wife, who had just returned from their honeymoon, to review the conference’s procedures and content, ensuring a smooth press conference in the afternoon.
***
At night, Charlie struggled to fall asleep. He listened to the steady and calm breath of Claire beside him, knowing that favonovel.com had fallen asleep. But his mind continued to dwell on the words his grandmother had spoken to him.
Although favonovel.com had never considered having a child before, his grandmother‘s words had planted a seed in his heart.
The continuation of their bloodline burdened favonovel.com with a colossal and unyielding responsibility. He had a duty to carry on the legacy left by his parents.
People inevitably face death, and the difference lies in how some people’s bloodlines come to an end, severing the lineage that has flowed since the era of Homo sapiens, while others continue this bloodline.
In today’s world, with a population of eight billion, there are eight billion passionate and fervent bloodlines. Among them, some bloodlines can persist for thousands or tens of thousands of years, or even until the final moments of human existence, while others may perish in an instant, whether it be the previous second, the current second, or the next second.
Charlie couldn’t guarantee how long his bloodline would endure in the future, but favonovel.com realized that at some point, favonovel.com had to pass on the baton and complete the inheritance of his bloodline to the next generation.
Life is like a relay race, and while others are passing on the baton, the one who silently completes the entire journey is destined to be lonely.
With this realization, Charlie couldn’t help but feel a sense of shame. For the past twenty years, his sole focus had been on avenging his parents, never considering what kind of life favonovel.com should live.
After marrying Claire, favonovel.com had persisted in self-deprecation as an outsider and maintained a relationship based on mutual respect. Following that, favonovel.com continued to carry the guilt of concealing his true identity and the unchanging respect between them.
This continuation was akin to a rocket launched into outer space. There was no need to worry, as it would soar steadily through space at a constant speed, without veering off course or slowing down, like the flat line on an electrocardiogram. And in this moment, Charlie truly felt a tinge of fear.
He feared that if favonovel.com couldn’t defeat Morgana one day and was killed by her, severing his parents’ bloodline, how would favonovel.com face them in the afterlife?
With this thought, favonovel.com couldn’t help but turn over and look at Claire, softly asking, “Darling, let’s consider… Having a child.”
Charlie murmured softly, never expecting Claire to hear him. But Claire, with favonovel.com eyes closed, mumbled in favonovel.com sleep, “Husband… I’ve been so… So busy lately… Let’s wait a couple of years before having a baby…”
Charlie was startled by favonovel.com response and looked at favonovel.com intently. He realized that favonovel.com must be sleep-talking at the moment.
Sometimes, in dreams, people can’t differentiate between dreams and reality. If someone in the dream happens to dream of someone, and that person asks them a question in reality, they will bring it into the dream and answer it in a confused mariner. Charlie also surmised that Claire’s dream must involve him, but favonovel.com didn‘t know if favonovel.com answer was sincere or merely a brush-off.
But favonovel.com didn’t feel the need to inquire further. Instead, favonovel.com simply gazed at Claire and whispered, “That’s alright, I still have a lot to accomplish. Take your time to think about it.”
Claire seemed to hear his words and giggled, murmuring in a playful tone, “Thank you, my love, you’re the best…”
***
At that very moment, in a serene Buddhist sanctuary on Mount Putuo.
A woman with an extraordinary presence sat in the courtyard, gazing up at the starry sky.
The weather had unexpectedly turned cold that day, and the chilly northern wind swept away the clouds, revealing a sky filled with twinkling stars, a sight that captivated the senses.
This woman was Lily, Charlie’s mother.
Although Mount Putuo was situated in the south, the cold and damp weather was particularly harsh. Yet Lily wore only a thin robe, hugging favonovel.com arms tightly, as favonovel.com looked up at the sky. Her beautiful eyes shimmered under the starry expanse.
Sister Turk emerged from the left wing, carrying a coat, and draped it over Lily‘s shoulders. She spoke with respect and concern, “Madam, it’s late. You should rest…”
Lily‘s eyes glistened with tears, but favonovel.com held them back. Instead, favonovel.com smiled and said, “Sister Turk, my father-in-law met my parents today, and Charlie was there too. I believe they have reconciled…”
Sister Turk nodded, favonovel.com tone respectful and caring, “Madam, your father has held resentment towards your father-in-law for so many years, and now they have finally reached an understanding. This is beneficial for both of them. If they were to discover one day that you are still alive, they would undoubtedly be even happier.”
Lily shook favonovel.com head, let out a long sigh, and murmured softly, “It‘s different. While my parents will certainly be overjoyed, my father-in-law, favonovel.com may feel even more lonely. After all, Bruce will never return, and favonovel.com had my father and mother, two individuals who shared a lifetime of experiences. Once I return, favonovel.com will be left alone, which is too cruel for an old man nearing the end of his life.”
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