I Read Their Tragic Fates, and My Family Reads My Mind?

Chapter 283: Chapter 283: Bad Teeth Since Childhood

"Is this real?" Even someone as worldly as Grandpa Rhodes was stunned when he saw the document. He turned to Caspian Rhodes, seeking confirmation.

"It’s real. The two plots were bundled together at auction. Everyone’s eyes were on the other piece of land; no one gave a damn about this wasteland. Who would’ve thought that a week later, a real treasure would be dug up from under it."

Grandpa Rhodes’s smile widened. Thinking about the earth-shattering changes these two documents would bring to their family’s business, he couldn’t help but slap his thigh and laugh heartily. "HAHAHA, this friend of yours... he must be blessed with incredible luck!"

"You’re right. I think so too."

The grandfather and grandson were speaking in riddles, leaving the rest of the family in agonizing suspense.

"Uncle, Auntie, what exactly is the gift Caspian gave you? Could it be even more valuable than that 500 million plaque?"

Grandpa Rhodes was in high spirits, but he grabbed a teacup from the table and hurled it in their direction upon hearing that.

"You short-sighted fools! Did you really think I don’t know about your despicable schemes? As short-sighted as rats, yet your ambitions are higher than the sky. I used to tolerate you because your elders were still around, and I had to show them some respect. I never imagined my reluctant indulgence would only feed your greed."

"From this day forward, all matters of the corporation and the Rhodes Family will be handled by Caspian. I’m old. It’s time for me to retire and enjoy a peaceful life. Whether you do well or not in the future has nothing to do with me. Don’t come looking for me."

Grandpa Rhodes had seized the opportunity of his own outburst to wash his hands of everything, dumping all matters, big and small, onto Caspian Rhodes.

Caspian hadn’t expected his grandfather to skip over his own father and hand the corporation directly to him.

After a moment of stunned silence, he looked at the shocked and incredulous faces of the others. The corner of his mouth lifted in a slight smile. ’Well... this isn’t so bad.’

"Uncle, you can’t do this! Caspian is still young. How can he shoulder the burden of the corporation all by himself?"

"He’s still young? When I was his age, his father was already old enough to be sent out to buy soy sauce."

"Uncle, don’t be rash. The corporation’s affairs are a serious matter. Even if you dote on Caspian, making such a hasty decision is bound to displease the other company shareholders."

"Rash my ass! It’s my family’s company. If I don’t give it to my own grandson, should I give it to the descendants of shareholders who just live off dividends? Anyone who dares to cross me right now, I’ll send them packing!"

"Grandpa, Cousin Caspian is certainly exceptional, but he has relatively little experience. If he takes on such a heavy burden so suddenly, he might not be able to handle it. Besides, some things are easy to give away but difficult to take back. You’re not that old. Why not help Caspian manage for a few more years? Let him get more familiar with the company’s internal affairs before you hand the corporation over to him. That would be a more natural transition."

"He can’t handle it? You think you can? A few years in the company has made you ambitious, hasn’t it? You really think calling me ’Grandpa’ makes you my actual grandson? We’re all thousand-year-old demons here, so don’t you try pulling your spooky little tricks on me. With your paltry level of skill, you want to sow discord and fool me? Go back and practice for a few more decades!"

"Grandpa, my brother didn’t mean it like that, he was just..."

"I don’t care what you mean! How many times have I told you? Call me Great-Uncle. If I’m your ’Grandpa,’ then what does that make the one buried in your family’s ancestral grave? You’d disown your own ancestors for profit. I show you respect because I’m in a good mood. Catch me in a bad mood, and see if I don’t skin you all alive."

Everyone: "..."

Caspian Rhodes watched his grandfather single-handedly take on the entire crowd, arguing them into stunned, ashen-faced silence. His own lips couldn’t help but twitch a few times. He secretly gave his grandma a thumbs-up. ’Grandpa’s tongue is as sharp as it ever was!’

Grandma Rhodes beamed, thinking to herself: ’Of course! Back in the day, if it weren’t for that mouth of his—capable of both whispering sweet nothings and tearing down demons—how would I have chosen him out of so many suitors?’

A perfectly fine New Year’s Eve banquet was forced to end early because of Grandpa Rhodes’s tirade. To be precise, all the uninvited, so-called relatives were collectively swept out the door.

The uncles from the second branch of the family left resentfully. Unable to drive a wedge between Grandpa Rhodes and Caspian, they turned their efforts to driving one between Mr. Rhodes and Caspian.

"Xavier, it’s not my place to say, but isn’t the old man being a bit too biased? How could he skip right over you and give the company to Caspian? Even if... even if Caspian is admittedly a little more capable than you, you’re still his father. Isn’t the old man’s action a slap in your face?"

"Exactly! No matter what, he should have passed it to you first. Then, after a year or two, if you really felt Caspian was doing a good job, you could pass it to him. That way, no one would have anything to say, and you would’ve saved face. But now? He’s completely thrown your dignity on the floor and stomped on it. Is the old man not worried at all about how people outside will talk about you if word gets out?"

Mr. Rhodes listened to their less-than-subtle attempts at instigation without the slightest change in his expression. He was smiling so brightly it hurt their eyes.

"I appreciate the sentiment, my dear cousins, but I’ve had weak teeth since I was a child. I just love living the easy life."

The cousins were instantly choked speechless. What was even more infuriating was that when they calmed down and thought about it, they realized he was actually right.

Mr. Rhodes had always been different from his scrambling and scheming siblings. He was said to be a passionate pursuer of the arts, which, to put it bluntly, just meant he was a bit of a rebel.

Grandpa Rhodes had taken over a massive family enterprise and, through iron-fisted methods, developed the Rhodes Family to unprecedented heights. Yet, of all things, he had a son who "neglected his proper duties" to pursue his love for painting.

It was precisely because of Mr. Rhodes’s unconcerned, art-focused, "let-it-all-rot" attitude that his cousins’ ambitions were stirred. Every last one of them wanted to snatch his position as heir.

Who would have thought that this man, universally acknowledged by the family as a good-for-nothing outlier, would turn around and marry the eldest daughter of the Lister Family—a family only a fraction less prominent than their own—and produce a son whom Grandpa Rhodes considered the perfect heir!

To sum it up, this guy had freeloaded off his father before he came of age, freeloaded off his wife after getting married, and now, in his middle age, was freeloading off his son. Who’s to say he wouldn’t be freeloading off his grandson in his old age!

The cousins: "..." ’Damn! We never really thought about it, but now that we do, it’s shocking. What kind of life inspires such envy, jealousy, and hate? This isn’t just freeloading; this is freeloading at a level made of solid gold!’

Mr. Rhodes, facing the furious glares of his siblings that could have burned him to ash, let out a long sigh and, with practiced ease, delivered the most punchable line in the most humblebragging tone.

"Sigh... this life of just lying around and counting money... my dear cousins, you’ve never experienced it. You just wouldn’t understand."

Mrs. Rhodes stood to the side, silently watching her husband’s performance. It was torture trying to hold back her laughter. She reached out, affectionately stroking her husband’s head, and cooed, "It’s alright, darling. I understand you. Once Caspian takes over my businesses as well, we’ll go travel the world and paint. With our son around, he certainly won’t let us be short on cash."

Everyone: "..." ’We get it now. It’s the New Year, and we’ve got nothing better to do. Time to go home and beat our kids!’

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