Chapter 133: Isn’t Ecology an easy major?

"Whether it was in the past or in the future, you are from the Bai family. Fate has brought you to the Bai family; this will never change. You are a precious... child of the Bai family. We all think of you as our family’s third brother."

The old abbot had said it was their ancestral grave that was smoking, not the Lin family’s.

Grandpa Bai had the sudden urge to fan the blue smoke that was about to drift to the Lin family’s grave back toward the Bai family.

How could he let the Bai family’s ancestor go to the Lin family? So that the blessings of the Bai family could be transferred to the Lin family?

"Or do you want to change your surname to Bai?" Grandpa Bai’s eyes suddenly shone.

Indeed, this was a good idea. This way, the ancestor would feel more comfortable staying with them and no longer think of going to the Lin family.

Lin Feng: "..."

Tentatively, he asked, "...What exactly did the old abbot say?"

The old man’s reactions were a little different from what Lin Feng had expected them to be.

Shouldn’t he be angry and scared that he had taken over his grandson’s body?

Grandpa Bai was startled. His fervor finally subsided, and he turned to study the boy’s expression.

Could it be... that the boy had already realized he knew about his identity from the old abbot? Was that why he had been so determined to leave?

In the end, the old man did not dare ask these questions, fearing heavenly backlash. After a long silence, he lowered his voice and spoke mysteriously.

"He told me many things. But heavenly secrets should not be spoken of too clearly. Some things are better understood in one’s heart and left unsaid."

Lin Feng... Lin Feng naturally took this as confirmation of his earlier suspicions.

He immediately connected the old man’s words to what he had heard before leaving the two elders in the meditation room.

Grandpa Bai already knew that he was no longer his real grandson. However, because the old abbot had told the old patriarch that he was a good person, Grandpa Bai had decided to accept him into the Bai family anyway. Perhaps he considered it fate.

’The Bai family is indeed full of good people,’ Lin Feng sighed inwardly.

But he really could not stay any longer. He simply had no face to do so.

"I have made up my mind, Grandpa. This world is a beautiful place, full of countless possibilities. I want to give myself a chance to stand on my own two feet. This is my aspiration."

In the end, Grandpa Bai could not dissuade the determined boy.

Afraid of offending their ancestor any further by insisting, the old man finally relented with a gloomy expression.

However, he still made one last attempt.

"Are you sure you don’t want to change your surname to Bai?"

Lin Feng: "..."

Lin Feng: "...No, Grandpa."

Their conversation in the temple grounds ended with this rather inexplicable exchange. Lin Feng still could not quite make sense of it, as to why their conversation turned out this way, but it no longer mattered.

Grandpa Bai knew the truth, and Lin Feng no longer had to walk on eggshells around him.

More importantly, the old man was not angry with him despite everything.

It all seemed too good to be true.

Lin Feng returned home with the Bai family with this dazed and unreal feeling.

...

Later that night, during dinner, sounds of exclamation filled the dining room.

Bai Jianning almost dropped her chopsticks. "What? How can that be?! Third Brother is going to live alone?"

Bai Jiancheng was equally surprised. "Why can he live alone, when you told me before that I couldn’t? That is unfair!"

Wei Ranmiao shot her second son a sharp look.

Bai Jiancheng immediately shut his mouth, looking thoroughly unhappy.

Bai Jian’an pushed up his glasses. "Grandpa, Dad, Mom, Third Brother is physically frail. How can we possibly feel at ease with him living by himself?"

Bai Tingyu and Wei Ranmiao exchanged a glance before looking at Grandpa Bai and then at Lin Feng.

Their expressions were complicated, but one emotion stood out above the rest.

Awe.

Yes, awe.

After returning from the temple, Grandpa Bai had immediately summoned the two other people who knew about Lin Feng’s unusual circumstances to his study.

There, the old patriarch explained the gist of what the old abbot had told him, carefully choosing his words with metaphors and double meanings.

It had been a torturously long and roundabout conversation. Fortunately, Bai Tingyu and Wei Ranmiao eventually understood what he was trying to say.

To think that the person now residing in the boy’s body was actually an old ancestor!

Seeing the boy’s young and tender face, and even the soft and gentle mannerisms...

To be honest, both of them still found it difficult to believe.

But why had the Bai family, including Wei Ranmiao, who had married into it, become so superstitious?

Well, it wasn’t entirely because of their nature as businessmen, although that was certainly part of it.

The other reason was that they knew of several reclusive masters whose words often sounded like incomprehensible poetry at first.

Yet, when certain events eventually unfolded, everything would fall into place. Those seemingly cryptic words would suddenly make perfect sense.

Thus, the couple had chosen to believe.

Considering the boy’s unusual abilities, it was easier for them to accept that the soul residing in his body belonged to a meritorious ancestor who had achieved deification!

And so, the three of them had reached a rather absurd consensus.

Their ancestor must have been a strong spirit.

As expected of their ancestor!

Back at the dinner table, Grandpa Bai finished chewing his food, swallowed, and took a sip of water before finally speaking.

"It is your Third Brother’s wish. Unlike your two older brothers, who need to assist your father in running the company, Xiao Feng needs to find a path of his own."

Bai Jiancheng was still unconvinced. He also wanted to find a path of his own.

Grandpa Bai glanced at the most rebellious child in the Bai family with warning. "Don’t even think about it. You have responsibilities and duties as the child carrying the surname of the Bai family."

Bai Jiancheng: "..."

Grandpa Bai: "Your Third Brother’s situation is more complicated. Given his position, he cannot become too deeply involved in the family businesses on either side."

Wei Ranmiao nodded and added to her father-in-law’s explanation.

"Xiao Feng’s interests lie in ecology and nature. He will likely pursue wildlife conservation, go to deserts, or work in other natural habitats. He needs to learn how to be independent as early as possible."

"...Huh? What?" Lin Feng’s chopsticks suddenly froze.

He looked up blankly, the locks of his hair swaying with the movement, making him look especially dull at the moment.

"Auntie, what do you mean going to the desert or wildlife conservation? Isn’t ecology a major that doesn’t require much effort?"

An ominous feeling crept over Lin Feng.

He hurriedly tried to recall what he and Housekeeper Yang had asked the automated question and answer chat box.