I’m No Longer Human After Being Blacklisted – CH60

Chapter 60: Lin Jiu’s Background

In B City, at the Liao family estate…

In the study, Master Liao’s face was grim. “Is there no other way?”

“It’s difficult. We’ve spent money and pulled strings, but it’s no use. The authorities are strict. I’ve heard that the first batch of mutated seafood sales permits went to people who aren’t ordinary citizens. We might need to collaborate with some special personnel to ensure we can get our hands on mutated seafood. Otherwise, we probably won’t get the permit.”

Liao Tingyue, the eldest son of the Liao family, now controlled most of the family’s businesses.

“What kind of special personnel?” he asked. “That person didn’t specify.”

Master Liao fell silent, lost in thought.

The Liao family owned a chain of star-rated hotels. If they could serve mutated seafood, it would boost both the family’s reputation and their hotels to the next level.

Times had changed, and families like theirs needed to adapt or be left behind. They all knew the biggest opportunities lay in the sea. But whether it was the sales permit or the fishing authorization for mutated seafood, both were hard to obtain. Even the country’s largest corporations had failed, yet these unremarkable little seafood shops had managed to succeed. How could powerful families like theirs sit by without trying to get a piece of the action?

None of them had expected that the authorities would be so strict, leaving no loopholes at all. To get the licenses and fishing permits, one had to meet the conditions. Otherwise, no amount of money, business size, or family reputation would help.

Liao Tingyue said, “Tomorrow, I plan to personally visit City A. Two seafood shops there have obtained sales licenses, with the Magic Fish Shop leading the pack. I’ll meet the owner and see if I can find out who these ‘special personnel’ are. Since they’ve managed to get a license, they must have some connection with these people. If we can establish a relationship through those two shops, our Liao family could be the first in City B to obtain a license.”

Old Master Liao squinted his eyes. “That Magic Fish Shop certainly seems special. I wonder who’s really backing it. When you go, try to find that out too. Building ties with whoever’s behind the shop will naturally be more beneficial than just befriending the shop owner.”

Liao Tingyue responded, “Understood.”

A knock on the study door interrupted them.

“Come in.”

Old Zhong opened the door but didn’t enter. “The third daughter-in-law is here. She says she needs to see the master.”

Old Master Liao had three sons, but only the eldest, Liao Tingyue, remained by his side.

He instructed Old Zhong to let the third daughter-in-law in.

Zhou Chanying, the third daughter-in-law, entered the study. Upon seeing Liao Tingyue on the sofa, she greeted him, “Big brother.”

Liao Tingyue acknowledged her but didn’t stand up.

Old Master Liao looked at his youngest daughter-in-law, sighing inwardly. “What brings you here?”

Zhou Chanying, dressed in somber tones and well-maintained, wasn’t like other wealthy women who spent their days at home drinking tea, attending social gatherings, or shopping. She was usually busy managing a small part of the Liao family’s businesses.

She remained silent, seemingly struggling to find the words, her expression a mix of sadness and hesitation. “Dad, do you remember that child?”

Old Master Liao’s face immediately darkened. “Why bring that up now? It’s been years. There’s no need to dwell on it.”

Zhou Chanying seemed to steel herself. “Dad, that child might not have died. The trafficker who was caught only said they threw the child into the river, but the police never found a body, so…”

Old Master Liao’s voice turned cold. “That child never should have been a part of the Liao family. Whether he’s dead or alive has nothing to do with us. I’ve said it before—no one is to bring this up again. Is this why you came to see me?”

Zhou Chanying’s eyes reddened. “For all these years, I’ve been searching for that child. I thought, if we find him, maybe Tingwang might wake up. I know he resents me—it’s my fault for not watching the child closely, which allowed that heartless nanny to take advantage… Dad, I’ve blamed myself for years. If I hadn’t lost sight of the child, Tingwang wouldn’t have rushed back, wouldn’t have been in that car accident, and wouldn’t have been in a coma for nearly twenty years. It’s all my fault. I just want to find that child…”

Old Master Liao’s face was livid. Sensing the tension, Liao Tingyue interjected, “Sister-in-law, have you found any leads on the child?”

Zhou Chanying nodded. “There’s someone I suspect. I had people investigate his background. In Huaifeng County, City D, there’s an old chef who found a child by the river. Many people in the county know about this. The trafficker who was arrested all those years ago was caught in City D, but they never found the child. The traffickers’ testimony also said they threw the child into the river… I wonder if that child could be the one we lost back then?”

Liao Tingyue frowned. “That’s quite the coincidence. But how did you suddenly find this lead after so many years?”

Zhou Chanying explained, “It was by chance. A little while ago, there was buzz online about a small celebrity who looked… looked like ‘her’. After I heard about it, I went online to see the comparison photos. The resemblance was striking, so I started investigating the celebrity’s background. The more I dug, the more things seemed to match up…”

Old Master Liao’s expression grew darker. “If this came up a while ago, why are you only mentioning it now?”

Zhou Chanying hesitated. “I know you don’t like that child, so I’ve been debating whether to say anything. But when I heard big brother was dealing with the license situation, I thought of the child again. Maybe he could help.”

Liao Tingyue was momentarily stunned and exchanged a look with Old Master Liao, who furrowed his brow but said nothing.

Liao Tingyue asked, “What’s his name?”

Zhou Chanying replied, “His name is Lin Jiu. He’s the owner of the Magic Fish Shop.”

Liao Tingyue was taken aback. He had just been discussing this person, and now it turned out he had a connection to the Liao family.

Old Master Liao was equally surprised.

Zhou Chanying noted their reactions. “Dad, big brother, whether or not he’s Tingwang’s child can easily be determined with a paternity test. If he really is the child, it might not be a bad thing for the Liao family.”

Liao Tingyue furrowed his brow, catching the implication of Zhou Chanying’s words.

Old Master Liao was silent. Moments earlier, he had adamantly declared that the child’s fate had nothing to do with the Liao family, but now he was being asked to acknowledge that this child might be a member of the Liao family. Was he ready to swallow his pride?

Zhou Chanying continued, “Dad, no matter how many mistakes were made, they were the adults’ fault. The child is innocent. He couldn’t control his birth, and he shouldn’t bear the burden of others’ mistakes. Tingwang would surely want to see him. If the child comes back, maybe Tingwang will wake up.”

The silence quickly turned to anger. Every time Old Master Liao thought of his youngest, most intelligent, and beloved son, his heart filled with hatred. Because of a woman, the household had been thrown into chaos. When the woman finally disappeared, her child caused his son to rush back recklessly, leading to the car accident that left him comatose for nearly twenty years.

While the child wasn’t directly responsible for the accident, it was his disappearance that caused Tingwang to lose his focus, resulting in the crash. Old Master Liao blamed all the misfortune on that mother and child.

Each time he recalled these events, his heart ached, and his hatred for the mother and child deepened.
“His very existence is a mistake! They harmed Tingwang so terribly, and yet they still expect to live peacefully? They can keep dreaming! Tingyue, tomorrow, go to City A and confirm if this Lin Jiu is the child. If he is, bring him back. I need to settle the score with him for the pain he and his mother caused Tingwang!”

Zhou Chanying immediately interjected, “Dad, he’s still Tingwang’s child. Tingwang wouldn’t want you to harm him…”

“Enough! This is what they owe the Liao family!” Old Master Liao cut her off, having made his decision.

Liao Tingyue glanced deeply at his sister-in-law. “Alright, I’ll go tomorrow.”

The two of them left the study and walked out of the Liao family estate in silence. It wasn’t until they were about to get into their respective cars that Liao Tingyue finally spoke. “Sister-in-law, by confronting Father directly, the situation may not turn out the way you hoped.”

Zhou Chanying replied calmly, “Whether or not it goes as I hope, it won’t harm me.”

With that, Zhou Chanying got into her car and drove away from the Liao estate.

Liao Yuan was anxiously waiting at home. When he saw his mother’s car return, he rushed out to meet her.

Zhou Chanying looked at him with a blank expression. “Why aren’t you at work? What are you doing at home?”

“Mom, did you really tell Grandpa about that illegitimate child? What if Grandpa softens and brings him back into the family? He’s the hotshot owner of the Magic Fish Shop right now!” Liao Yuan practically shouted, thinking his mother had taken a huge risk.

Compared to Liao Yuan’s anxiety, Zhou Chanying remained composed. “Your grandfather has never been soft-hearted. He only cares about the Liao family’s interests. He won’t consider anyone’s feelings. By telling him directly, I made sure he remembers that he still has a son named Liao Tingwang. The owner of the Magic Fish Shop is very likely Tingwang’s illegitimate son.”

“And then what? Is Grandpa sending someone to bring him back to the Liao family?” Liao Yuan asked.

Zhou Chanying shot him a sideways glance. “What are you afraid of? You’re the legitimate eldest son of the Liao family’s third branch. You’ve got both the Liao and Zhou families behind you. Do you really think he’s going to take your place? Your grandfather is sending your uncle to City A tomorrow to confirm Lin Jiu’s identity. You should go as well. It doesn’t matter if he’s the one or not. What I want is his current status. Befriend him, bring him back to the Liao family. Only then, with your grandfather aiming to get that mutated seafood sales license, will he hand over the Liao family’s restaurant business to us.”

She knew that obtaining the sales license would boost the Zhou family’s hotel business, and securing a foothold in the mutated seafood industry would give them a slice of the highly lucrative pie.

The opportunity was too great and tempting—everyone wanted a piece of it.

The world had changed, and if she didn’t take action now, she might end up with nothing, watching others take all the huge profits.

Zhou Chanying said, “Show some grace and confidence. Handle this well, and you’ll secure a better place in the new world.”

Liao Yuan took a deep breath to calm himself. “I understand. I’ll go to City A tomorrow.”

Zhou Chanying patted his shoulder. “That’s my good son.”

*

Lin Jiu had no idea that he was already being targeted.

While Lin Jiu remained unaware, Si Xu had already received some crucial information.

Si Xu asked the “Special Security Division” to investigate Lin Jiu’s relationship with the Liao family. What they found was surprising—years of old incidents had been uncovered. The Liao and Zhou families had jointly suppressed the information, so very few people knew about it.

Now, with various families, companies, and forces eyeing the mutated seafood market, everyone’s goal was the same: profit. What the authorities were guarding against was exactly this pursuit of profit. Capital couldn’t monopolize the market, and strict regulations were in place due to the unknown radiation involved. Anyone who didn’t meet the requirements was cut out without exception.

No one on the outside knew who exactly had qualified for the mutated seafood sales license. While they didn’t have powerful backgrounds, out of 17 seafood shops, several were newly opened and previously unheard of. Yet, they had secured the license. It was all because their status was special, and only those with the highest survival chances could venture out to sea.

The Liao family, of course, wanted in on the action but couldn’t find a way. They never expected they would turn their attention to Lin Jiu.

On the surface, Lin Jiu’s Magic Fish Shop appeared to be small and insignificant, but it had the most complex backing. Anyone eyeing it would have to face opposition from the “Special Security Division” before Lin Jiu or Si Xu even had to speak up.

Si Xu decided to talk to Lin Jiu to warn him about the Liao family.

Lin Jiu was extremely busy. The restaurant was packed again during dinner, with not a single seat available. Lin Jiu had prepared a special “magic meal” for Si Xu.

The magic meal was simple—a bowl of Silver Carp rice.

The fish had been marinated in advance, and during the marination in his smart kitchen, Lin Jiu had seriously sung a song. Later, as he pan-fried the fish, he hummed softly. Despite the simplicity of the Silver carp rice, its energy was anything but ordinary.

Lin Jiu brought the dish upstairs and placed it in front of Si Xu. “Try it.”

Si Xu had expected a full-course meal on the second floor but was surprised to find just a bowl of Silver carp rice.

He picked up a wooden spoon and took a bite. The fried fish melted on his tongue, its rich, charred flavor blending with the salty umami of soy sauce. The outer layer of the fish was crispy, while the inside remained soft, dissolving in his mouth. It was exceptionally delicious.

Although Si Xu had eaten many of Lin Jiu’s dishes before, he was still amazed by this Silver carp rice.

Lin Jiu always found a way to surprise him.

Lin Jiu asked, “How’s the energy?”

Si Xu replied, “The strongest I’ve had so far.”

After saying this, Si Xu couldn’t help but wonder. The dish was prepared by Lin Jiu, and the ingredients were the same, yet the energy level was vastly different. What could be the reason?

Lin Jiu noticed his thoughts. “This is called a magic meal. Ordinary people can’t eat it—the energy is too strong. It’s more suited for enhanced humans. Just one bowl can significantly raise their RT value.”

Lin Jiu deliberately mentioned the term “demon meal” to test the system’s boundaries. Fortunately, there was no warning from the system. Does this mean that as long as the existence of the system and the Demon Sea dimension isn’t revealed, it’s not considered a violation?

Si Xu noticed Lin Jiu’s little scheme and smiled, saying, “I’ll make sure to pass the message along.”

Lin Jiu: “…”

Does he have to be that blunt?

Si Xu pondered if he should take on the role of captain. His little Lin Jiu seemed to be feeling a sense of urgency, almost as if he needed to boost sales.

Si Xu asked, “Do you think I should become this captain?”

Lin Jiu replied, “Are they really willing to let you form Team Seven?”

Si Xu: “…”

Si Xu: “What if they agree?”

Lin Jiu responded, “Sure, contributing to the new world and its new order sounds good. Ideally, you’d have ten team members. I’ll make sure they’re all well-fed and strong.” Lin Jiu secretly calculated—if each of the ten members ate ten servings of demon meals, he’d be able to complete his monthly quota.

Si Xu saw the calculating look on Lin Jiu’s face and almost laughed, saying, “Alright, I’ll go back and ask.”

Back to the main topic, Si Xu had come to talk about the Liao family.

He carefully chose his words, “Xiao Jiu, have you ever thought about your biological parents?”

Lin Jiu was taken aback, “Why bring this up all of a sudden?”

Si Xu said, “Your background may be related to the Liao family in City B. They’ve noticed you and might reach out to you soon. If they try to persuade you to return to the Liao family, would you go?”

Lin Jiu fell silent.

When he was younger, he had envied other kids for having parents. All he had was Grandpa Lin. He asked Grandpa Lin where his parents were, and Grandpa Lin didn’t hide the truth—he told young Lin Jiu that he had found and adopted him.

Because of this, Lin Jiu grew up quiet and withdrawn. Whenever something happened, he would always look for the fault within himself. He lacked confidence, felt a bit inferior, and often questioned if he wasn’t good enough—that’s why his parents abandoned him, and why his uncles, aunts, cousins, and siblings didn’t like him.

As he grew older, his thoughts about his parents faded, until he gave up on them completely. To him, his only family was Grandpa Lin. He didn’t need parents, and he didn’t need relatives. After Grandpa Lin passed away, Lin Jiu was left all alone.

The world was so big, yet no one was connected to him.

At that time, Lin Jiu’s only drive was to keep living. Grandpa Lin always said that as long as you’re alive, there’s hope, so Lin Jiu kept striving to live.

Si Xu walked around, sat beside Lin Jiu, and gently pulled him into his arms, softly patting his back, “It’s okay. Whatever you want to do, I’m here with you.”

Lin Jiu looked up at him, “I’m not that fragile. I’ve let it go after all these years. Whoever my parents are doesn’t affect me.”

Si Xu saw the forced casualness in Lin Jiu’s demeanor and didn’t believe he had truly let it go.

Lin Jiu said, “I’m actually curious. Are both of my parents from the Liao family?”

If they were, what kind of mindset would lead them to give birth to him and then abandon him? If they didn’t want him, why not just avoid having him in the first place?

Si Xu remained silent. He didn’t know how much Lin Jiu understood about his own background, but he did know that the more Lin Jiu learned, the more it would hurt him.

It was a simple question, yet Si Xu didn’t answer for a long time. Lin Jiu understood what that meant.

Lin Jiu patted Si Xu, “I’m fine. If the grilled silver carp gets cold, it won’t taste as good. Eat up.”

Si Xu looked at him, full of concern.

Lin Jiu sat up straight and said seriously, “Do I look like a fool to you? The Liao family reaching out at this time is definitely not just about reuniting with family. Look at the empire I’ve built. Do you think I’d let someone else enjoy the fruits of my labor? Dream on, that’s never going to happen!”

Si Xu pulled him close and kissed him, “You can tell me anything. You’re not alone anymore.”

Lin Jiu’s nose tingled, but he smiled and said, “Alright.”

The once rootless, solitary Lin Jiu was no longer alone. He had Si Xu now.

After Si Xu left, Lin Jiu stood alone in the kitchen, lost in thought.

Instead of letting go, it was more like avoidance. But avoiding it wouldn’t help—life always finds a way to trace back to its roots.

Since that’s the case, if he didn’t want to be controlled, he had to take the initiative.

Lin Jiu summoned the system: I want to know the truth about my connection to the Liao family.

[Are you sure you’re the host? Isn’t accumulating magic points more important than figuring out your origins? Since when are penny-pinchers so generous?]

Lin Jiu: …

Lin Jiu: Shut up. This is the only time your host will be generous in this lifetime.

[Inquiring will cost 5 magic points. Proceed?]

Lin Jiu: …

Lin Jiu hesitated: Isn’t this my own background? Why is it so expensive?

[There’s no way around it. It involves a lot of people, so it consumes more energy. No way to make it cheaper.]

Lin Jiu gritted his teeth: Proceed.

He was curious about how complicated it could be for it to cost so much!

The system paused for a few seconds and then gave an answer.

[Your biological mother is Vera, the Queen of Chinese Pop. Your biological father is Liao Tingwang, the third son of the Liao family.]

Lin Jiu: …

Lin Jiu: That’s it?

Did his 5 magic points only buy him one sentence?!

Soon, a long paragraph appeared in front of Lin Jiu’s eyes, revealing the truth of what happened back then.