Chapter 243 - 242: You Know, I’ve Never Been to Loster

「Ten days later.」

Netizens saw a notice that shook the nation—our motherland had scored a huge win!

A huge number of corrupt officials were purged. From the big "tigers" to the small "flies," none were spared.

An entire underground industrial chain was uprooted. The evidence released was appalling, and the situation was far worse than anyone had imagined.

This move also served as a warning to those who had been wavering, prompting them to toe the line and do their jobs properly.

After all, the boss had basically used their ultimate ability right from the spawn point. It showed just how long this move had been in the works. Who knew if they, the small fry, would be next?

’Boss: Thanks for asking. I didn’t have a long-term plan. I just bought the ultimate cheat code. The whole point was to scare the shit out of you bastards who take money but don’t do any work.’

The once-muddied waters, after being stirred up, were now becoming clearer.

This wasn’t the time to spout nonsense like "clear water harbors no fish." The whole point of that pool was to make it clearer and clearer; it was never meant for raising fish and shrimp.

A clean environment paid for with lives isn’t something that any random freeloader is worthy of enjoying, let alone shitting all over.

The Lowell Family handed Sheryl Avery over. Meanwhile, Yvonne Lowell had someone give Brian Hogan’s father-in-law a heads-up, and he had his daughter go and file for divorce from Brian Hogan that very day.

Fortunately, his daughter was a sensible woman. Besides, she never had any feelings for Brian Hogan and only needed a child to ensure her parents would be cared for in their old age.

If her father hadn’t been against it, she would have gotten rid of the father and kept the child right after giving birth.

So when she found out she could get a divorce, she happily rushed straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Although Brian Hogan was still in the mandatory cooling-off period for their divorce when he was arrested, it ultimately had no impact on her family.

Old Mr. Lowell was finally released from his confinement. The moment he saw the announcement, he whipped out his phone and started rounding up his friends.

"Hey, Old Man Grant! Get your butt back to Mid-Levels! Us brothers are gonna go cast a few lines! No excuses, you have to come! You’re not scared of getting skunked, are you? I promise I won’t laugh! If you don’t come, I won’t let Nola see that brat of yours!"

"HEY! Old Man Sutton, come fishing! I’ll even give you a three-rod head start. Yes, I’m doing great! Alive and kicking! Stop dilly-dallying and hurry up! Don’t just sit around all day scribbling those ugly characters of yours!"

"Old Man Crawford, my hands are itching for a game, get over here. Stop pretending, you’re not Old Man Ford, what work could you possibly have? It’s not like you’ll get a perfect attendance award. Missing a day or so won’t kill you. Hurry up, all the other Old Biddingtons are here. We’re just waiting on you, y’know."

"Is this Old Man Ford? Oh, nothing important. Just wanted to let you know that us old geezers are heading out for some fishing, and we might even get a game of mahjong in later. You just stay put in your compound, alright? Gotta go, we’re heading out now!"

...

"You want to go to Country M with me?"

Yvonne Lowell was propped up in bed, looking at the ’delicately clingy’ Leo Grant nestled against her. She reached out and pushed his head away.

But his head, as if equipped with GPS, leaned right back in, even giving her an intentional nuzzle.

"Mhm, can I? You know, I’ve lived my whole life without ever visiting a top-tier university like Loster. If you don’t let me go with you, I’ll be sad and full of regret for a long, long time."

Yvonne Lowell couldn’t help the twitch at the corner of her lips. "Stop faking it. Why weren’t you sad and full of regret when you got accepted but decided not to go?"

"I had a sudden epiphany, that’s why I’m only thinking this way now. All the more reason to make up for the ignorance of my youth. Don’t worry, my dad is voluntarily covering for me this time."

Last time, all he did was subtly play the victim to Ms. Ford, and it landed his dad on the study couch for half a month.

Ms. Ford had even declared that from now on, for any trips involving his future daughter-in-law, he was free to go, and his dad would cover for him.

It made Mr. Grant grind his teeth in frustration, but he was powerless to resist.

Mr. Grant even said that if he’d known he was raising such a rebellious son, he would have gotten rid of the child and kept the mother back then.

No, wait. Later, Mr. Grant said he should have just gotten a vasectomy. It would have saved Ms. Ford a trip to death’s door and kept him from being saddled with such a vexing brat.

Leo Grant found this utterly ridiculous. ’Who did he think shared the same bloodline here? After all these years, his dad was still completely clueless.’

Although his status in the family wasn’t high, he held Yvonne Lowell—his personal get-out-of-jail-free card and ultimate weapon.

Seeing his expression, how could Yvonne Lowell not understand?

"Whatever. Let’s go together then."

’A moment of silent pity for Uncle Grant.’

A triumphant glint flashed in Leo Grant’s eyes. He cupped her face and planted a loud kiss on her cheek.

Yvonne Lowell rubbed her tingling cheek and gave him a speechless look.

"You need to remember at all times that you are a human. Don’t pick up dog-like habits."

"My mom insisted on having me in the Year of the Dog. I can’t help it. If it’s something our ancestors passed down, it must have its reasons for existing."

Leo Grant, feeling no shame, planted another one on her other cheek.

...

After getting permission to go along, Leo Grant made a special call to Caleb Lowell the next day and "casually" brought it up.

Seemingly reporting in, but actually showing off.

Little did he know that after hanging up, Caleb Lowell sat at his desk, lost in thought.

After an unknown amount of time, Caleb Lowell picked up the internal line. "Ian Miller, come in for a moment."

Assistant Grant knocked and entered very quickly. "Boss, you were looking for me?"

"Yes. I’m planning a trip to Country M in a few days. Organize any urgent matters for me to handle first. While I’m gone, I’m leaving the company in your hands."

Assistant Grant’s leg instinctively took a step back. "Bo... Boss, you don’t need me to accompany you to Country M?"

’My dream life is to fly around as your gofer, not to sit at a desk working myself to death and getting stressed out of my mind!!’

"No need. I’m just going to Pluto’s headquarters for a few days to observe and learn. Besides, I need you to hold down the fort at the company."

"I’m counting on you this time," Caleb Lowell said without batting an eye. "I’ll triple your bonus this month."

"No problem, Boss! I will work diligently and fight on the front lines for the company!"

’Assistant Grant: If you put it that way, I’m wide awake! Can’t argue with money, right?’

"Alright, get back to work," Caleb Lowell said with a wave of his hand.

That evening, back at home, Caleb Lowell pulled a Leo Grant and brought up the matter (i.e., showed off) at the dinner table.

It got Charles Lowell and his wife itching with curiosity, as if a cat were scratching at their hearts.

They also sought Yvonne Lowell’s opinion, and after getting an affirmative answer, they decided to go along as well.

And just like that, the Loster trip came full circle.

What started as a trip for two had now become a trip for six.

Of the six members of the Lowell family, everyone except Harrison Lowell, who was away filming, decided to go. And they were bringing Leo Grant.

When Leo Grant heard the news, he was dumbfounded. There was supposed to be only one third wheel, and now there were four? Was this some kind of super-size combo?!

He hated his stupid mouth!!