My CEO Harem Cultivation System

Chapter 288 - Family Impositions (4)

Right before Li Yang left the premises of the mansion, he encountered his father. To whom most of the Heavens could attest was as sharply dressed as him, if not only looking older and yet also contained the same focused energy about him.

[ DatPeach: This is one of those, 'Come to Daddy' type eh? ]

[ Sea Foam: I'd say that their people seem to have some sort of gene—he's hot ]

[ Owl Brain: At least we know where he gets it. In the occurrence that Yang does get old, there's not much to lose. Gray hair is also a sign of wisdom of the elderly ]

[ TheOneWhoSlaughters: A physique of a warrior even at that age is respectable ]

It was best to pretend that the chat didn't exist at all—it was something only Bao slightly paid attention to and the creature was filled with surprise at how some of the ones in the Heavens were easily thirsting after a mere mortal.

… then again, there were already countless occurrences in the millennium past of male gods going after ordinary human women that resulted in demigods scattered across this world, that maybe it wasn't so bad.

If anything, the interaction between Li Yang and his father wasn't as tense as with his grandmother. The two of them were supposed to talk as well, presumably a brief missive, just some quick and sharp words about the disappointment the man felt towards his son.

Li Yang was prepared for it. 

He'd pay half a listening ear to the same harsh words repeated over the countless years since he learned how to listen and then Li Yang would go over and tell his old man of the invitation of the Songs for a family dinner.

Of course, the man would refuse him.

Who could imagine a simple dinner?

Li Yang would have none of that happening and he'd probably make an excuse as to why it wasn't plausible to the Songs. At best, he'd have his older brother come with him to present a functionable enough of a unit in society.

"... Welcome back." Li Chao Yun nodded at him. There were a couple of bodyguards behind him even as he entered their home. "Have you already finished your meeting with your grandmother?"

"Yes," Li Yang said. "Yes, I have."

"That's good. Your absence has been felt and you left without even letting anybody know about your whereabouts, Yang. You've worried a great number of people, but at least we're reassured that you're not dead."

The old man's tone was probably dry, distant as any great desert that one might have to travel. As vast as the Kaeli Deserts that once covered the sprawling kingdom of Mitsuko… but it was still a greeting made by his father.

A small drop from a sparse rain cloud.

One of the annoyingly few occasions where something this 'decent' occurred—that was to say, despite the absence and strict expectations given to his older brother then him, the man was less painful to deal with than his own mother.

Perhaps there was an ounce of affection?

Nobody would openly ever discuss that, much less say a word about it and dare even think it was plausible to utter any hint of the word 'love' in a familial sense. Of course, this was all nonsense. He really didn't care about it anymore as the other person.

"I heard from Chuanli and his wife that they're returning within two weeks and they'll be hosting a party by then." Li Chao Yun remarked knowingly. "You've at least made a good impression on them despite your disappearance, so continue with that."

Li Yang blinked but then nodded. "I will, but they are inviting our entire family for dinner—"

"I've already informed them of your grandmother's precarious health concerns and my own unavailability to join." his father said. "Do again reiterate that I regret that I'm unable to pay them a visit, but I'll meet with them once my own schedule clears up." 

"Understood."

"Good. That's all—you're free to leave." Li Chao Yun nodded at his son and then stepped forward.

Li Yang himself was a bit surprised at how smoothly that conversation went. Of course, neither of them didn't like to waste time… but in terms of the atmosphere, it wasn't as ridiculous as when he was younger.

If that was all, he was going to head back home.

"I forgot to ask." The old man stopped in his tracks and looked behind his shoulder. There was a crease over his forehead and a frown on his lips. "You have no intention of retaking the position of CEO from your no-good brother, do you? I'm afraid that everything you built would crumble under incapable hands."

Li Yang paused and dwelled on the question. 

Almost the entirety of everything that he was fighting for, choosing to go against the desires of the Heavens for him was intrinsically and inexplicably linked with that position—that normal and ordinary life. 

That stressful and demanding position as the CEO of Olympian Corp was his normal life. 

And despite the jab that his old man threw at his older brother, Li Yang was also inclined to admit that to see everything he worked for in the past decade, simply being passed over wordlessly didn't seem right to him.

Even if there was some merit to his older brother's actions in the beginning and them also taking over when Li Yang was gone, it wasn't enough for them to simply just become the CEO. 

… but if Li Yang really did care about all of this as much as he did before, surely he would have worked faster to return here when he teleported to Telriah, didn't he?

A conflict of interests.

"I would like to think that it was about time for him to take on a more hands-on approach in our work," Li Yang answered at last. "I'm still the major shareholder, so in the likelihood that troubles occur, it's easy enough to hold a meeting, make some agreements with a few investors and then have my way with things."

"In short, you want him to do all the hard work from now on."

"Perhaps."

CEO or not, the fate of the company was still in his hands.