Chapter 103: The New Neighbor

Kyoto, this bustling metropolis, draws countless young dreamers who come here recklessly, chasing their aspirations. Yet it resembles an ancient mythical beast lingering for millennia, quietly devouring those very dreams.

As night falls, the city’s vibrant neon lights become its anthem, casting dazzling glows that chase away weariness and sorrow.

The bus station, a place filled with joy or melancholy, is always crowded. Everywhere, one can see people who have struggled for years preparing to leave, alongside young newcomers stepping in with fresh dreams.

At this very moment, amid the ebb and flow of the crowd, a man wearing sunglasses and a duckbill cap emerges holding a child dressed identically.

At the entrance, an unremarkable man steps down from an Audi.

“Brother Chuan, you’re finally back! I’ve been waiting here for a long time,” he says, walking up in big strides with a broad smile.

“Heh, how have you been lately? How’s the family?” replies the man with sunglasses softly, smiling.

“Get in the car first, I’ll tell you everything on the way…” The man takes the luggage, places it in the trunk, and opens the door for the man in sunglasses and the child to get in.

These two are none other than Lin Chuan and his son Lin Yiyang, who have just arrived back from Quancheng by bus.

Once inside, the Audi swiftly turns around and heads out of the bus station.

On the road, driver Xiao Wu shares many recent happenings since Lin Chuan left a month ago.

Since Lin Chuan officially announced joining Tiandi Culture, his company has attracted high attention from all sectors. And because of this, just days after Lin Chuan left Kyoto, Gao Mingyuan signed several rookie artists who had just debuted.

Most of them are fresh graduates with solid singing fundamentals. Especially a boy band called “Power Boys,” whom Xiao Wu says are the most talented singers among the newcomers.

Besides them, there’s a female artist who made Xiao Wu grumble endlessly. He says her singing is poor, her looks unremarkable, and every time she visits the company, she carries a haughty attitude.

“I don’t know what General Manager Gao was thinking signing someone like her. To me, she’s just a pretty face with no real talent…” Xiao Wu shakes his head as he drives.

“Uncle Gao must have his reasons. Don’t worry about it, and don’t show any dissatisfaction in front of outsiders to avoid unnecessary trouble,” Lin Chuan gently advises with a smile.

Xiao Wu comes from a poor rural background with little formal education but excellent driving skills. When he first came to Kyoto alone, Gao Mingyuan hired him as his personal driver, a role he’s held ever since.

Honestly, after all these years, Xiao Wu should have learned some savvy—knowing what to say and what not to. But he’s straightforward and can’t keep things bottled up.

Moreover, Lin Chuan is his idol, so after over a month apart, the moment they met, he couldn’t help but vent all his frustrations.

If Lin Chuan were someone less upright, a little scheming in front of General Manager Gao could have made life difficult for him.

The car sped smoothly and cheerfully until they arrived at Lin Chuan’s residence in the Jinxiu community.

The security guard at the gate, familiar with Xiao Wu, barely questioned them—just a quick registration and they were through.

Downstairs, Xiao Wu hurriedly opened the door, fetched the suitcase from the back, and hesitated: “Brother Chuan, really no need for me to help upstairs? This suitcase isn’t light, and you’re holding the child.”

“No worries, we’re already downstairs at home. It’s late; you should head back. I can manage on my own,” Lin Chuan smiled.

“Uncle Xiao Wu, you should go. I heard your stomach growling just now…” Lin Yiyang stuck out his tongue playfully.

“Well... alright then. Brother Chuan, if you need anything, call me anytime. I promise I’ll be there whenever you need,” Xiao Wu said, scratching his head awkwardly.

“Fine, head back quickly. Oh, and tell Uncle Gao I’ll be at the company tomorrow,” Lin Chuan nodded.

“Got it!” Xiao Wu agreed, climbed into the car, and with a roar, the Audi turned and drove toward the community gate.

Looking up at this still unfamiliar apartment building, Lin Chuan exhaled softly, holding his son’s hand with one hand and the suitcase with the other, stepping inside.

It’s not yet seven o’clock, but the sky has already turned completely dark.

At this time, every household is preparing dinner, and even inside the elevator, the aroma of delicious food wafts through.

“Dad, I’m a little hungry too,” Lin Yiyang rubbed his belly and looked up.

“When we get home, Dad will make you something tasty. What do you want to eat?” Lin Chuan smiled.

“I want to eat…” Just as his son pondered what to have for dinner, the elevator dinged open.

The father and son stepped out and saw the hallway packed with boxes, almost blocking the way.

“Dad, why are there so many boxes? Is someone moving in?” Lin Yiyang frowned and murmured.

Lin Chuan was puzzled too. It did look like a move-in, but who moves at this hour of the night?

Carefully sticking close to the wall, they approached their door. Just as Lin Chuan pulled out his keys to open it, a sound came from behind.

Then a woman’s voice said, “Handsome, can you help me with something?”

The sound was so familiar—could it be...?

Lin Chuan turned around, and upon seeing the person standing there, his body froze instantly.

She was none other than...

The woman smiled sweetly, stepped forward a few steps, and politely extended her fair hand: “Hello, I’m your new neighbor. My name is Wang Yue.”

What the—new neighbor? No, is this really Wang Yue? In Lin Chuan’s mind, Wang Yue was always a very aloof girl.

But before him now, this self-proclaimed Wang Yue wore a beaming smile and seemed cheerful and outgoing.

Is this really Wang Yue?

Lin Chuan was stunned, standing there dazedly staring at this simultaneously familiar yet strange person, countless questions flooding his mind.

However, Lin Yiyang was thrilled. Seeing clearly that this woman was indeed the beloved Sister Yue he’d longed for, he shouted and lunged forward: “Sister Yue, why are you here? Are you really our new neighbor?”

“How about that? Isn’t it nice that I’m your neighbor now?” Wang Yue hugged Lin Yiyang and smiled.

“That’s great! Sister Yue is our neighbor now... Dad, did you hear? Sister Yue is going to be our neighbor!” Lin Yiyang excitedly told his father.

Little did he know his father was still in a daze... How could this be?

“Sister Yue, can I come visit your house?” After a moment, Lin Yiyang composed himself and asked seriously.

Wang Yue couldn’t help but laugh: “Of course! From today on, whenever Yiyang wants to come, you’re always welcome.”

“Then can my dad come anytime too?” Lin Yiyang pouted, his big eyes spinning adorably.

“Him?” Wang Yue glanced over at Lin Chuan, scrutinized him briefly, and said, “That depends if your dad wants to come.”

Lin Yiyang seemed puzzled by this, so he turned to his father: “Dad, do you want to come often?”

“Ah? What?” Lin Chuan snapped back to reality, looking bewildered.

Instantly, Lin Yiyang acted like a little adult, pouting, sighing, and shaking his head helplessly: “Dad, I want to visit Sister Yue’s house. Can I?”

“Sure, of course you can. Go ahead,” Lin Chuan forced a laugh and nodded vigorously.

“But Sister Yue still has a lot of stuff to move…” Lin Yiyang pointed toward the large boxes piled by the doorway.

That brat, he really didn’t mind making his dad work hard, Lin Chuan thought, but he showed no sign of it on his face. With a wave of his hand, he said generously, “Leave those to me. You go have fun with Sister Yue.”

“Great!” Lin Yiyang cheered, raising his hands and adding, “Sister Yue, let’s go inside.”

Wang Yue smiled and nodded. Before leaving, she glanced at Lin Chuan and said, “I’ll trouble you then. Later, I’ll cook something delicious for you.”

“Heh, no need to be so polite…” Lin Chuan smiled awkwardly.

Honestly, Wang Yue’s transformation left Lin Chuan somewhat unsettled. What on earth caused such a drastic change in someone usually so reserved?

Watching Wang Yue and his son disappear into the apartment, Lin Chuan sighed and approached the pile of boxes.

Not an expert in emotions or personality, Lin Chuan couldn’t fathom Wang Yue’s change—it was a mystery beyond his grasp.

Bending down, he chose a box that looked easier to move and, using both arms, tried to lift it. To his surprise, the box only shifted slightly.

He froze in disbelief, thinking, “What on earth is packed in here?”

(Today, on a whim, I created a group for all friends who have supported this book to join and discuss the plot of "The Dad". Group number: 496306822)