Chapter 445: Chapter 382: Old Lin, You Don’t Recognize Me Anymore?

The moment Lin Dazhi and Liu Hongmei saw him, their expressions changed in an instant.

Wei Shang and the other military officers in the conference room all scrambled to their feet.

"Lord General!"

They greeted Lin Yi in a hurry.

Lin Yi smiled and waved them off. "Please, sit down."

He then walked over to stand opposite Lin Dazhi and Liu Hongmei.

He regarded them with a faint smile.

Across from him, the pair’s faces were etched with disbelief.

After a long moment, they hastily rubbed their eyes.

It felt like they were dreaming. Lin Yi chuckled.

"What? It’s only been a little over a year. Don’t you recognize me?"

"Y-Y-You... you’re Lin Yi?"

Lin Dazhi finally managed to stammer out, his voice trembling.

Lin Yi smiled and nodded.

In that instant, an indescribable feeling welled up in Lin Dazhi’s heart.

’It was true.’

’They had only been apart for a little over a year, yet he couldn’t even recognize his own son.’

A little over a year ago, Lin Yi had still looked so thin and small.

His frame was so frail he looked malnourished.

But the Lin Yi of today was nearly six feet tall.

Even through his clothes, he still looked incredibly strong and solid.

His facial features were sharp and well-defined over wheat-colored skin. And though he wore a smile,

it couldn’t hide the coldness in his eyes.

Making eye contact with him was enough to send an involuntary shiver down one’s spine.

Especially given his status. The respect radiating from the others the moment they saw Lin Yi was impossible to fake.

’Is... is he really Lin Yi?’

’He had now become someone so far above Lin Dazhi’s station that it felt completely out of reach.’

’He even found himself involuntarily lowering his head, not daring to meet his gaze...’

A year isn’t a long time, but it isn’t exactly short, either.

In that one year, Lin Yi’s change could only be described as a complete metamorphosis.

He now looked more mature, more confident.

Lin Dazhi even stole a few glances at him.

He didn’t see any hatred in his eyes.

’Does he still resent me?’

’Or has he let it go?’

Lin Dazhi wondered cautiously.

In the end, the answer he came to was... the man he was now was simply beneath Lin Yi’s notice.

’There was no forgiveness, no hatred, and not even a shred of familial affection.’

’Perhaps to Lin Yi, he now meant less than a common stranger on the street?’

However, Liu Hongmei, who was beside him, wasn’t having such complex thoughts.

Her face lit up with delight as she looked at Lin Yi. She immediately stood up and started around the conference table,

walking toward him.

But as she got close, just as she was about to approach Lin Yi,

Feng Lei stepped in and blocked her path.

Seeing this, Liu Hongmei quickly said, "What are you doing? I’m Lin Yi’s moth—... Auntie!"

Just as Liu Hongmei was about to say that word,

a chilling gaze shot toward her.

In an instant, Liu Hongmei corrected herself.

Only then did Lin Yi retract his gaze, not even bothering to spare her another glance.

"Old Lin, it’s only been a little over a year, but you seem to have gotten older."

"And your hair is much whiter than before."

Hearing this, Lin Dazhi nodded.

"Yes. I’ve had a lot on my mind, and my body isn’t what it used to be."

He kept his head down the entire time, not daring to meet Lin Yi’s gaze.

Whether he was filled with regret at that moment, no one could say for sure.

But his unease was plain to see.

Seeing Lin Dazhi offer up such pleasantries,

Liu Hongmei shot him a look and quickly interjected, "That’s right. Our family has been sick with worry over your brother’s situation, especially your father..."

Before Liu Hongmei could finish, Lin Yi glanced at her again.

"Aunt Liu, watch your wording. Who is this brother of mine you speak of?"

"Ah? Well..."

His question left Liu Hongmei speechless.

Clearly, Lin Yi did not acknowledge Lin Yu, nor had he ever admitted that Lin Yu was his brother.

The eyes of everyone else in the room turned to Liu Hongmei.

Instantly, she felt a burning sense of humiliation, as if she’d been publicly shamed.

It was as if her pride had been thrown to the ground and stomped on, and the rest of her words died in her throat.

She cast a helpless gaze toward Lin Dazhi,

repeatedly signaling him with her eyes, as if pleading for him to say a few words on her behalf.

However, Lin Dazhi was feeling nothing but overwhelming insecurity.

He didn’t even dare to look up at Lin Yi, so how could he possibly say anything?

He was terrified that saying even one more word would ignite Lin Yi’s anger.

Lin Yi didn’t bother with Liu Hongmei any further.

"Alright. It’s chaotic outside, so don’t go back for the next few days."

"I’ll have them arrange a room for you. You can stay here for the time being."

"Once this whole situation is resolved, I’ll have someone escort you back."

After he finished speaking, Lin Yi stood up to leave.

But at his words, the expression on Lin Dazhi’s face changed immediately.

"Lin Yi, are you locking us up?"

Lin Yi paused and glanced back at him. "Not locking you up. It’s for your own safety. You’ll just stay here for a few days. Once we confirm it’s safe, you’ll be allowed to go back."

"Old Lin, I’d advise you not to cause any trouble. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee what my men will do."

After leaving them with those final words,

Lin Yi didn’t linger, heading straight outside.

Inside the conference room, only Lin Dazhi and Liu Hongmei remained.

At that moment, both of their expressions turned ugly.

Clearly, they had been placed under house arrest.

As for why, they had no idea.

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