Chen Kai returned to his villa and informed Chen Yan about dinner plans when he spotted the kid on the second floor.

"Is this... okay?"

"Huh?" Chen Kai was puzzled by the question.

Chen Yan gave a look, 'as expected, his goldfish memory has activated'.

"...what?"

Chen Yan sighed, "You're considered a bastard thief by Uncle Huai's wife and son, but you're freely entering their home for dinner. Aren't you placing yourself on a platter for them? Would you be content until they stab you to death? Brother, not everyone has great psychological qualities like you."

Chen Kai caught what he was saying, but still had that nonchalant look in his eyes. To him, Sun Yilan and his younger brother Boyang aren't threats. He didn't need to exert any type of dominance.

One will never give up the position of Madam Chen, and the other will probably straighten out for himself sooner or later.

"It doesn't matter. They can't really do anything to me. It would be cool to see the old man's face when he finds out my identity. Wait, do you think he knows? He's an old fogey in the shopping mall, I'm sure some of his buddies may call to inquire in the guise of knocking him down." Chen Kai pinched his chin in a contemplative manner, trying to visualize his dear old grandfather's face with the news.

He chuckled amusedly at the thought, then refocused on his brother.

The damn kid gave him a look of 'I know what you're thinking about'.

Chen Kai waved his hand at his brother in a majestic manner and walked away. "Enough about them. I was in a good mood, thinking about your sister in law. Go away."

"Hehhehe, sorry, brother emperor! I shall take my leave!" Playing along with his brother's playful, majestic flair, he gave a mocking bow and retreated to his room.

He has a feeling that after tonight's dinner, the results will be interesting.

~~~~~~~~~

"Haaaa!"

Ditching the casual jacket off his shoulders, Chen Kai breathed a sigh of relief when the door to his suite was closed shut.

Keeping up the demeanor of a leader was mentally exhausting, even talking to his subordinates and outsiders in that facade was tiring.

Times when he's relaxed were few, and that's with people he trusted.

Freeing his shoulder-length hair from the hairpin, Chen Kai made his way to the balcony and took residence in the single swing chair that looked over the backyard.

The afternoon sun was bright, and its warmth penetrated his clothing, leaving an exhilarating feeling of peace on his body.

This feeling was rare since he came to Earth.

Since transmigrating, he has been on the go.

From solidifying his new status in Nanjing, dealing with past matters of the substitute family, recovery of his bloodline, stabilizing his hegemony overseas in the dark parts of business - it was quite a year.

Compared to his other lives, this life adjustment was pretty calm.

"Retired. So this is it, huh?" he muttered to himself.

He did think of each life as his last, wanting to die before his lifespan expired, but his soul still followed the path of transmigration. This is the end of that path.

Over the past year, he gained family, riches, and solid origins for his future descendants.

His riches from his past lives have been converted to Earth's treasures like gems, land, and technology to advance the current era. He has no need for anything. The profit coming in from his private companies goes to his private accounts, while the new boost in the Li Consortium profits goes back to the family and their subordinates.

Anything he wants to develop will be for the two people in his household.

Chen Yan will tell him what he needs when the time is right.

As for his little wife, Su Lian - he doesn't know as yet.

His wife.

A hint of worry flashed across his eyes.

"System, show me my inventory."

[Received.]

A blue light screen, only visible to him, appeared.

All physical relics from the past that he received while overseas were there. He decided that a few unimportant ones would stay in this Shanghai villa and send a few to his Hangzhou home.

Land deeds. House deeds. Monster cores. Interstellar materials. Blueprints.

Jewelry and Clothing designs. Core technologies for vehicles and household appliances.

Relics from his life as an Emperor and SSS-Hunter.

Storage rings and bracelets he refined. Cultivation manuals. Martial Arts manuals.

In a secluded section of the inventory grid were two items.

His gaze was focused on those two.

Now that his life was stable, it was time to focus on the person he wished to spend his life with. It hasn't been fair to her, and because of him, she has been harassed by ignorant men and secretly slandered by gossipy co-workers.

His Lian always reported the good and not the bad. During their last call, he heard the disappointment in her voice when he told her of this trip extension.

If he delays any longer, will she harbor any resentment?

It's possible. He left her side when their relationship was budding.

Guilt stained his dark eyes.

Will she rethink their relationship? So far, it's been a more emotional bond between them. Bonds can be broken.

A trace of anxiety appeared in his heart.

Feeling the unease getting heavier, he quickly started a video call with her, not caring about the time or where she could be at the moment.

Waiting for the call to connect, he manipulated a bit of power and coated the phone. Steadily, it rose to eye level, just as the call was answered.

"Wife!" Chen Kai called out to her gently. His starry dark eyes softened upon seeing her, his brows softened gradually as the unease and anxiety hid away once more.

"Husband." Su Lian returned his call reflexively, forgetting where she was and who she was speaking with.

Chen Kai, for a moment, was dazed by the little changes he noticed. His wife has always been a beauty, but he found her features had become slightly sharper, enhancing her natural bone structure even more. That pert nose, naturally shaped eyebrows, sharp chin - each distinct feature was in harmony.

Her bright eyes shone under his gaze; they were delicately framed with perfectly curled lashes, and her lips were full and seductive when she smiled.

To him, just by looking at her, she was teasing his heart, heightening his impulse to simply trap her in his arms, never wanting to let go.

Su Lian, on the other side, saw all of his emotions flashing across his eyes. His pure affection for her couldn't be forced or faked.

His doting smile hit her heart directly.

Her Kai.

"You've become more beautiful since the last time we chatted," he said softly.

"Of course. Thanks to the hardships of the workforce," she retorted, tipping her chin upwards with her fake arrogance.

"Cute."

"Hey." Her face flushed at a rapid speed when he uttered that word.

Chen Kai laughed, " I've been thinking about you. You deserve to be spoiled when I get back. I'm sorry for staying away so long. You won't resent me, right?"

Su Lian listened to his words that were gentle, coaxing, and apologetic. She wanted to say that she had felt neglected by him and began second-guessing her decision, but couldn't. She couldn't blame him for his absence; he's coming back. What he had to do was unavoidable. She couldn't demand most of his time.

"Kai... No. I don't resent you. Let's talk more about this when you return home."

Chen Kai held her gaze before agreeing. "Okay. Hey, I'm having dinner with Madam Chen and my half-brother at Dad's house."

"Is that... okay?"

Chen Kai: "..." Why do they think I'm mentally incapable?