The Tycoon Inheritance

'Eh?! I'm a hidden rich kid. Isn't this too clichéd?'

[Host, your entire existence is clichéd.]

Chen Kai inwardly frowned at the system's sarcastic comment.

'Aren't you becoming too sentient? Your growth has a familiar attitude though,' he mused, trying to figure out who the system's speech reminded him of.

System: ….

'Anyway, this Fate line is pretty stable compared to the others. I can really relax with this life.'

[Yes. Good for you, host.]

There it is again, that perfunctory tone. So familiar!

System second guessing its host's IQ: …..

Chen Kai wasn't aware that his entire personality reflects on his bonded system, gaining emotional sentience depends on the host's accomplishments and ranking results as a transmigrator. He's in the ten percent who achieved this.

Pushing away the system's new abnormality, Chen Kai returned his attention to the housekeeper who was giving him an in-depth history lesson on the present land he was walking on.

The more he listened, the more tethered he become to this inheritance.

This land was precious to his mother's family. It was a physical token of their achievements, their loyalty and their sense of belonging to the country.

The Li Family began as traveling merchants and escort teams since ancient times. The family had good feng shui to produce many males each generation even in the lines of their married off daughters. Through the changes of generations, the Li Family gained scholars who are held in high regard, they purchased the present land when one of their family members gained an official rank.

Producing a scholar didn't stop the Li Clan's business acumen, nor did they stifle the other talents.

Soldiers with high ranks were honored, prestigious court officials were celebrated, and businesses flourished in the Li Clan over the centuries. The business men set their eyes to the beauty of the overseas countries and the scholar and military branches kept guard of their family land. They were able to keep it through the cultural revolution and keep their family's prestige to the present era.

The Laohu Lily Garden was kept under the main branch of the family and used for homecoming family reunions over the years. The property is meant to stay under the main branch while the other businesses in other provinces and overseas were settled amongst the other branches.

The previous owner of the 'ancestral home' was from the main branch.

Li Muqing, Chen Kai's mother.

Now the last line of the main branch has returned. The entire compound seem to be in a quiet celebration.

The housekeeper walked in a leisurely manner for Chen Kai to observe one of his new homes as his own. They were all notified by the overseas branch that the young master will return home soon. No photos were given, only a name. Those who served the Madame when she was young can clearly see her image in her precious son.

Chen Kai was naturally captivated by his family's history. No matter which era he lived, he had to have a piece of traditionalism in his home or attire. Seeing the immaculate preservation of the compound and buildings made him love it even more.

He noticed the servants were dressed in traditional servant clothing in colors of blue and purple. They moved in uniformed actions, creating a colorful imagery of flying flowers through the compound.

A glimpse of the past.

Seeing his interest, the housekeeper informed him of their opening times of a 4-day business week leaving three days for heavy cleaning, restocking and reservations.

"That's good. It gives the family time to visit and stay in their own courtyards."

Pleased by the young master's comment, the housekeeper's steps became lighter

Reaching the left wing, they entered one of the three private tea rooms on the top floor that was attached to a terrace.

The housekeeper stood a step behind him when they reached the pair of carved wooden doors and knocked gently to alert the occupant.

"Come in."

The voice was of the gentleman who called Chen Kai. According to the housekeeper, this private tea room was a special one only catered to friends of the family. This made him curious about this lawyer from Shanghai.

He dismissed the housekeeper and entered.

"Why is this place so zen?" he muttered aloud. Chen Kai walked in, with his eyes wandering around the perfectly designed room in his natural indifferent manner. There was a hint of arrogance in his smile and his languid steps.

This was all caught by Ji Moxuan. The older man couldn't help but exclaim what he thought: "You are certainly your mother's child." His words held astonishment and a barely hidden sadness.

Chen Kai looked at the man for a good few seconds before offering him a handshake. "Lawyer Ji," he voiced calmly, not knowing what expression to display.

"Little Kai. I'm Ji Moxuan, a close friend of your mother." The older man introduced himself with a melancholic mood visibly surrounding him as he shook Chen Kai's hand.

"My mother." Chen Kai murmured under his breath. He was wary of looking into his mother's past when he recollected the previous soul's history. Thinking that it doesn't matter to him being a so-called orphan, but buried emotions surfaced.

He wanted a family. Now that he has assimilated with this body and mind, he was still apprehensive in digging up that past but its looks like the Fate line has already decided for him.

Ji Moxuan vaguely heard the word and stayed quiet. He didn't press any etiquette or elderly authority on the child, he let Chen Kai find a spot to be comfortable and patiently waited for him to speak. He didn't mind. He can finally look at the child of his dear friend instead from afar.

This child was straightforward and disciplined. Two qualities he inherited from his parents. From the reports, he can tell how open minded and good natured he was. Chen Kai's innate indifference for his surroundings was molded from his childhood. His IQ and EQ were strong from young, allowing him to stand against those childish slander.

Those brats and their parents kept calling him a bastard and slandering him, yet he kept his position as ace whether it was in athletics, academics and morality. The kid nurtured himself the right way. In other words, he went against the expectations of society.

"Lawyer Ji. For you to show up at this change in my life, it means there is something I must receive or that it was prepared a long time ago."

Ji Moxuan didn't respond. He only held the expression of 'proud uncle' after listening to Chen Kai's little deduction.

There was a package blue in color on a small table along with a folder. The package was handed over first.

"This is your graduation gift from your mother. She gave me instructions to give you this according to your choices in life."

Chen Kai understood.

This man and probably a few helpers were watching over him. Maybe its his experiences or his understanding nature that Chen Kai didn't ask the question of 'why didn't you take me away from there?' or 'do you know what I went through?' He wasn't the previous soul and from that one's actions by accepting his untimely death, he wouldn't ask those questions.

He looked at the neatly wrapped package and the small envelope tucked under the now yellowed ribbon. He can make out the characters to his name Kai. The calligraphy was neat and whimsical giving the reader a glimpse of the writer's personality.

He didn't touch it nor grab it in a great emotional upheaval, he was calmly smiling on the outside but on the inside his emotions were in disarray.

"You don't have to take it in all at once. It has been twenty years since she left and her absence still affects me. I can't understand your feelings but I can empathize. Take it slowly. All I want you to know is- Qing'er loved you to the highest realm. Her entire world was recreated with you as the center when you were born.

I believe she would have prepared an explanation on certain things."

"Yes." That single word was said with a strained voice. He was afraid he say more than that, as he wouldn't be able to control his unsettled emotions.

Ji Moxuan reached for the folder and retrieved its contents, not wanting to agitate the child more. It was already a sensitive meeting between the both of them.

Six contracts were laid out before him and a thick file with the seal of confidential placed above them. At the head of the contracts he read the name of each property, each one was grander than the other.

He glanced at the lawyer and waited for his explanation. The older man didn't disappoint; he retrieved an envelope from his briefcase and placed it on top of the contracts.

"This… this is your mother's will. She finalized it when you were three. Qing'er was the previous madame for the main branch and had a lot of responsibilities. She was the matriarch of this Li Clan. Before her death, she chose a successor to carry on the traditions of the family and kept the businesses that were solely under her name.

This ancestral home has been passed down to first born descendants from the main family. You're the last, so now its yours. Everything is detailed in this file along with important contacts outside of the Li Clan."

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF LI MUQING

He read that line silently. The Chinese characters carried a somber aura while the English letters were forthcoming with the deceased last accumulated words. He glanced at the documents below then back at the will. Knowing that there's an inheritance was well-received but actually seeing the physical evidence was a bit overwhelming.

He still had questions but didn't know how to ask them or who should he pose these questions to. Chen Kai never expected to be caught up in this emotional rollercoaster.

Wasn't he suppose to simply sign in acceptance and take care of things from a distance?

He knew that was fickle thoughts back then but they were still in his mind.

Time.

He needed more time to digest all of these information and revelations.

Thinking about the package, these new properties and the will, Chen Kai realized someone wasn't mentioned.

Ji Moxuan saw the small frown on the young man's face and his hesitation in taking what was given to him. He took this as Chen Kai feeling burdened into accepting this windfall of wealth. 'This kid is still so pure,' he thought inwardly with a sigh.

The pure Chen Kai: What's with that sympathetic look? What the heck, do I look pitiful right now? Crap.

"Little Kai, let's take it one step at a time. These are all yours, don't feel burdened. You can go through it slowly, sign each one then send the copies to me. I'm also the family's lawyer."

Chen Kai rubbed the center of his brows and silently cursed himself for portraying the look of pitiful orphan in front of a stranger. 'Enough of the emotional baggage searching; its best to handle things quietly as they come,' he said inwardly.

"Lawyer Ji, you must know of him, right?"

"Yes. He was also part of our friend group." Ji Moxuan didn't answer more than he should. It wasn't his place to reveal much, he can provide the basic information.

Chen Kai noticed his perfectly selected words and decided not to make things hard for the man.

"Does he knows of my existence?"

"He was made aware two days ago."

"…"

"It was your mother's idea."

"Mother wished for her son to live out an old drama, huh?"

"…. She had a love for theatrics."

" *cough* It seems like that trait can be inherited."

Ji Moxuan tried hard to suppress the laugh in his throat when he got that reply. The embarrassed look was testimony that this kid had a flair for being dramatic.

"Maybe it is."

"So what's his name?"

"Chen Huai."

Only a name. There was no hint of his dear father's background nor the place he lived.

"Thank you." He can only leave things there. Its no use asking more, probably his mother left a letter or something.

Let's end things here for today.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chen Kai ended his day early and returned to the villa. After leaving specific instructions with the head butler, he went into a minor seclusion in his courtyard.

This was the news Chen Yan received when he returned home from school. "How was his state?" he asked as two maids retrieved his backpack and also the visitor beside him.

"He was in a pensive mood and a bit distracted. The Eldest Young Master already programmed his personal robot to deliver his dinner."

"Okay. This is Han Shi. He lives at FeiYun Villa. I placed him on my green list," Chen Yan replied, walking deeper into the Main Courtyard.

"Yes, Second Young Master. Welcome to the Sleeping Dragon Villa, Young Master Han."

The butler made a note of Han Shi's name, appearance and his home address. As a butler for the Chen's, it was imperative to know their neighbors and the various positions they held.

The Han family was new to the district. Their household stems from both political and military sectors with members in different generations holding high positions.

The butler inwardly wondered how his young master and this Young Master Han became acquainted.

"Thank you." Han Shi's replying tone was similar to Chen Yan's – steady, non-subservient, a hint of arrogance. It must be said that the nurturing of affluent families is strict. One must make their position known when talking to those that serve them.

Following Chen Yan and seeing the exclusive Sleeping Dragon Villa first hand made Han Shi think about the luxurious homes he lived in across the country and abroad.

The entire estate was a mixture of Eastern and Western architecture with displays of grandeur in interior design. The villa was three floors high but the unique twist and turns in design made it look like a sprawling villa from the outside. The inside was spacious and filled with so much natural light that its hard to be uncomfortable.

Crossing the Koi pond and entering the main courtyard gave Han Shi the experience of entering a Prince's Mansion. Chen Yan became a temporary tour guide and showed him around main living spaces, before moving to the main kitchen

Han Shi once again felt a new experience just by stepping through a threshold. He moved from ancient living quarters to a modern space.

"You guys sure know how to live. Different styles but they are so melded …. A robot?! I heard the butler say it but I thought it was a small thing!" Han Shi circled around the housekeeping robot with bright eyes, scrutinizing the lifesize metallic humanoid who was looking at him also.

"They came with the Villa but brother upgraded the house AI so they are more sentient than those on the market. This is Xiao Duo. Your information has been added so now its scanning you to confirm some details."

"WOW…"

The animated eyes on the robot blinked then became crescent shaped showing its pleased mood. "Greetings, Young Master Han. Would you like a cup of fruit juice before having a light snack?"

"… oh. Yes, thank you." He watched on as the robot deftly takes a glass from the cabinet and filled it by the tabletop juice dispenser. Three types of drinks were in the jar and was perfectly chilled. The convenience was there but it was the robot's nimble actions made Han Shi curious. Is it all due to a perfect AI? What about their joints?

What are they made of?

He received the glass from the robot lost in a contemplative daze and began to question Chen Yan.

All of his questions flew over Chen Yan's head, his response was, "Ask my brother!"

"Isn't your brother in Finance? Where did he get the brain space to dip into AI Configuration?"

"I don't know. He's like a melting pot with various skills under the lid," he mumbled while placing some snacks in the robot's arms. Han Shi laughed at his friend's nonchalance about his brother's accomplishments. Most kids in their class brag about their parents and older siblings fame but Chen Yan treats it like a normal existence.

'Is this the famous 'humble bragging'?' Shaking his head at this thought, he pushed away his curiosity and followed his friend to his courtyard.

According to Chen Yan's words, this part of the estate was the brothers' real living area. To get there, another bridge was attached from the main courtyard to their courtyards. A wave of calmness washed over his body, on this side of the estate, it feels different. He couldn't describe it but it feels like stepping into a lush forest hidden away from the world.

Why was this side different from the other parts?

"Meh. None of my business," he mumbled, to himself. He came here to play the latest games Chen Yan got. He was vaguely told of his ability to play a few banned games which he had to see for himself. Most kids have domestic console brands but when he entered Chen Yan's game room, he began to question the capability of the Chen Brothers.

The so-called game room was large as his own bedroom with the attached living room included in that estimation. The walls were white with large windows occupying two of them. The other two walls had a large Smart Tv with 4 different gaming consoles mounted on shelves beneath it. The remaining wall had tempered glass cabinets filled with different games for each available consoles.

In a corner was a gaming PC with exclusive parts and custom made desk and chair; colorful LED lights decorated the desk, moving rhythmically with the matching LED lights on the glass cabinets.

The entire room was filled with color, from the lighting to the cushioned furniture were of eye catching color and not jarring to the eyes.

Han Shi threw himself on the anime themed circular sofa and praised Chen Yan on the simple yet grand design of the room.

"Brother had it designed when he brought me back to the estate."

"Huh?" Han Shi was confused. Were the Chen brothers living apart? Oooo… family secrets!

Chen Yan laughed at his gossipy expression.

"I used to live with my aunt then something happened. At first Brother Kai was a big brother figure to me then those things happened so now he's my guardian. Recently we figured out we were actually blood related due to fated meetups with other people. As it turned out we're cousins. We have similar features so we leave it at us being brothers. Crazy, right?"

"Novel worthy!" Han Shi answered in amazement, nodding his head in agreement to the little synopsis.

"Hahahaha! I think so too." Chen Yan liked this new friend of his. Han Shi's personality was similar to his past aide and friend. Both of them hides their frivolous nature to outsiders and considerably cautious – a compatible personality to his observant and decisive nature. That's why he gave Han Shi a quick rundown of the family.

Family background is still a step one must go over to survive in this place. If you have a weak background or no family members to back you up, your path will line with more thorns.

Though they are a family of two in the eyes of the law, the Chen Brothers has a considerable amount of wealth and connections – no one would really provoke them.

He can be at ease with finding a good friend and Han Shi is the one he chose.

It was near dinner time when the Han Family's driver came for their young master. With Chen Kai in his temporary seclusion, Chen Yan took his dinner in his courtyard. He wasn't clear on what was going on with his brother but respected his need for quiet.

After dinner, the compound was quiet once more. The staff left the estate leaving the two brothers care under the robots and the home AI.

Chen Yan was completing his homework in the study when an abrupt knock shattered his concentration. Raising his head, he met his brother's indifferent gaze. What caught his attention was the slight redness at Chen Kai's eyes.

Something was up.

Before he asked, Chen Kai spoke.

"Do you want to know who is your scumbag father?"