Chapter 82: Rick Lee-Tang!

Chapter 82: Rick Lee-Tang!

Okay, before I get back to my family dinner, let me explain something to my first Earth self. What is up with my name Rick Lee-Tang?

Over the last thirty thousand years, situations like mine have not been uncommon. The four great families, along with the seventeen sub-families under them, added the Lee name at this level. They established special rules to handle legal issues, specifically unique exemptions for main family branch members. It all comes down to using that added name with a hyphen.

Naturally, there are strict limitations on how it can be used. First, you must be blood-related and descend directly from a main branch member. That condition alone limits who can claim it. The rule mostly helps bastards from the main family who get legitimized as older children or adults.

Current examples include me, the son of the first Tang miss, Sally Tang. Another example involves Ashley Hue. If she ever got brought into the Main Branch, she would become Ashley Hue-Long. For the second level of the family under the big four, the Song, things shift a bit. Scott will eventually take his mother's Song name and become Scott Tang-Song.

Now, do I go around introducing myself as Rick Lee-Tang every single time I meet someone new? No, I can use both last names together or separately under the law. But if I get removed from the Tang family like Scott did, then I lose the legal right to use the Tang name entirely.

So what happens to me when I marry Tina? That is a good question, and the answer is actually pretty easy. The only name I can change through marriage is my Lee last name. I could technically become Feng-Tang and drop the Lee name forever, but I won't do that. Even if I marry both Tina and Linda, I can only take one of their names or just keep my own.

Why all this nonsense over adding the Tang name to mine? It is all about the children of the clan. My Tang name can pass down to my kids. When Mary and Hana give birth, my children with them can take the Tang name or the Lee name, but they cannot use both.

This name rule is so damn important because it keeps clans from going into extinction. The Lee clan almost faced that exact nightmare two thousand years ago. The Lee of today originally came from the Li main clan. Technically, we are all just bastard children of the first Yellow Emperor. Phew.

Why are all these random thoughts jumbling around in my head right now? It is because Anthony is sitting right across from us, explaining all this noble knowledge to my two wives. He is laying out exactly why joining the clan is the best move for my future children...

We are all hanging out in the living room, waiting for the kitchen staff to finish setting up the meal while the lecture takes place. I lean back against the cushions, watching the serious expressions on my girls' faces as the weight of the clan system sinks in.

"So that is why you two lovely ladies are so important to our Tang family," Anthony says, leaning forward and resting his hands on his knees. "Rick and your children will be the pillar for a new branch of the Tang. They will be first in line to take over if something tragic ever happens to Helen here."

Hana shifts in her seat, her genius mind instantly tracking the strategic angles of the setup. "So, like in those TV soaps, we are the spare family in a tragic scenario. The Tang does not ever want to use us, but it is the only viable way to avoid targeted assassination aimed at eliminating the Tang family entirely."

My uncle nods slowly, his face hardening as he pulls from his own past experiences. "I was the spare in my family. My older sister was the next Head until my father made the error of removing her. I became the next Head solely due to the loss of my older sister. Naturally, I was not prepared for that role. My sister would have guided the Tang much better, but that is just the ugly side of nobility. Helen and I, with your help, want to change this about the Tang going forward."

Hana looks over at Mary and gives a quiet nod of agreement. Seeing the silent understanding between them, Mary reaches over to wrap her hand tightly around my arm. She looks right at me with complete certainty. "If you want to do this, the two of us will back you all the way. We will even name our children Tang for the sake of the clan."

Anthony smiles, looking genuinely relieved in his heart that Mary and Hana are standing firmly behind me on this.

Suddenly, a massive realization hits me. I sit up straight, tapping my fingers against my knee. "Uncle, when I marry Tina Feng, she is keeping her last name and forming a side branch for the Fire Birds. How is that going to complicate things?"

If Anthony heard any other eighteen-year-old kid boldly claim he would win over and marry a girl like Tina, he would probably laugh them out of the room. Instead, he just smiles warmly at me. "It won't hurt anything on the surface. In fact, it will make our bond to the Feng family even stronger. She and her children will always be Feng, even if you are the father. But her children being tied by blood and marriage to a Tang man means our families are far less likely to be at odds. I highly encourage your marriage with the second daughter. Ha-ha, most men have to be forced into such a good match."

Mary glances between them, her mind already jumping to the next piece of the puzzle. "Now, what will happen with Linda Lang, with Scott gone and Rick effectively taking his spot?"

Anthony shakes his head, the warmth fading from his expression as he faces the reality of the political fallout. "This, unfortunately, is the slap I must endure publicly. Though their engagement was never officially announced, it was privately known within our circles for some years. Scott and Linda were supposed to form a political connection to strengthen the bond between the Tang and Lang, similar to how Rick will with Tina."

Mary leans forward, pushing the question further. "Then would you have Rick marry Linda in that case? What if Linda explicitly wants that marriage?"

"Sigh. In a perfect world, I would say if the kids like each other, then let the wedding plans happen. But..." Anthony crosses his arms tightly over his chest, his brow furrowing as he explains the harsh reality. "George Lang is a complicated, incredibly proud man. He may be deeply insulted that Scott is no longer in the position of fiancé, viewing it as my loss of face for breaking the first agreement. If I just approach him and say, hey, I have my new nephew here ready to marry your daughter instead of the son I promised you for years, he might take more offense than if we just let the whole thing fall apart. This entire situation is in Lang's court now."

He turns his gaze back to Mary, laying out the alternative scenario that looks even worse for us. "He may even slap me in the face by still marrying his daughter to Scott. Scott will more than likely join the Song clan now, which is a subordinate clan to the Tang. George can still save his own reputation that way and stick it to me at the same time. Now you see why noble politics are so disgusting, right?"

Hana adjusts her posture, speaking up as she deduces the final outcome. "And now that Rick will be a Tang, if Linda left her family entirely to stay with Rick, then a major conflict between the Lang and Tang could happen, right?"

Anthony smiles at the gorgeous blonde, nodding at her sharp intuition. "And for the Tang, that is absolutely the worst outcome. Having the two families at odds would be a nightmare. Would it lead to open bloodshed? No, certainly not. But our two businesses would definitely clash openly in every market."

I let out a breath, a defeated smile crossing my face as I realize my own luck. Telling Linda not to leave her clan turned out to be the exact right move, even if I did it completely by accident at the time.

"But you lovely ladies are missing the big picture here," Anthony says, standing up and stretching his arms. "I will never force Helen or Rick to marry anyone they do not want to. This choice may come back to bite me later, but I want to be a better man than my father ever was."

Helen smiles softly at that, reaching out to pat her father's arm in quiet appreciation. She actually has a couple of potential guys in mind to consider, but at least she gets the freedom to choose them on her own terms.

Right then, a maid steps into the living room, bowing low as she announces that dinner is finally ready. Her timing completely breaks the gloomy political mood hanging over the room. I stand up quickly, knowing full well that pregnant women are even more dangerous if you keep them waiting for food.

We move into the dining room to sit down. I take the seat right at Anthony's right hand, with Helen sitting directly across from me. Mary and Hana take the spots further down on my side of the table, while Nadia and Nichole sit across from them. Once we are officially wed, the twins will naturally follow Mary and Hana down the seating order.

About halfway into the meal, the clinking of silverware quieted down. My uncle sets his fork down and looks over at me. "I am going to have a bodyguard-maid follow the twins for you. I honestly do not know what the Song are up to now that Scott's ego is completely crushed. Debby is a cruel, backstabbing woman, and I take their security very seriously, Rick."

I nod in agreement, swallowing my food. The exact same worry had already crossed my mind after everything that went down.

Anthony takes a sip of his drink before continuing with the game plan. "After University tomorrow, take the twins straight to the life statistics office and marry them quickly. Their divorce will already be filed first thing in the morning. The girls' father is a bit of a stickler for the rules and might cause major issues if they were caught unmarried for long. I am sorry to rush you like this, but we want to protect the girls and your children above all else."

Hearing his words, both Nadia and Nichole freeze, their eyes widening in absolute surprise before pure joy takes over. I can practically see the wheels turning in their heads as they start imagining what kind of white dresses will look best for a quick school-day wedding.

I set my own glass down, looking across at my future brides before turning back to my uncle. "That is no problem at all. I want to marry them as soon as possible, but what about my Tang status?"

For the first time, Anthony actually looks a bit ashamed. Helen and I both stare right at him, watching him rub the back of his neck before he finally confesses.

"Cough. Actually, I had faith you would accept. I already added you to the registry this morning. At midnight, the life statistics office and all four great families will receive the official update regarding you and Scott's changes in nobility. Sorry about that."

Helen gapes at her normally strict father, her cute mouth hanging half open. A lopsided smile creeps onto my face as the reality sinks in. The old man was clearly frantic to hook me. I mean, Scott's body isn't even cold yet, and Anthony is already announcing me to the high society families like he had the whole thing mapped out months ago. Then again, looking at his guilty expression, maybe he did.

"I, Anthony Tang, Head of the Tang House, formally acknowledge the son of Sally Tang," Anthony declares, his voice dropping into a deep, booming tone that fills the dining room. "I grant you all rights, privileges, and noble status you rightfully deserve, effective immediately. Rick Lee, you are now Rick Lee-Tang, and I formally greet you as my nephew. And, of course, I welcome his lovely wives."

The heavy tension dissolves instantly. Everyone at the table raises their glasses, letting out a collective cheer as we toast his formal declaration. The strict noble atmosphere vanishes, replaced by a warm, casual mood while we finish up the rest of the dinner.

The sun is dipping below the horizon, casting long orange shadows through the high windows. Before we get up from the table to head out, my uncle gestures for us to hold on a second.

"Rick, girls, let me lay out a few things before we all separate for the night," Anthony says, resting his forearms on the white tablecloth. "First, I welcome you all to live right here on the main compound, but I know you are all new to this world and probably prefer your privacy. I will keep the twins' villa behind this main house open for your family's use at all times. Tomorrow, right after you marry them, the twins can move straight into your place. They won't be staying in the villa anymore."

Nadia and Nichole exchange a look that is equal parts thrilled and totally bewildered, but they keep quiet so we can hear him out.

"Rick, instead of just handing you a standard trust fund, I looked at your clear need for extra space and a lot of future kids," Anthony continues, reaching into his suit jacket. "I took the accumulated eighteen years of back pay that the Tang house owes you and your mother, and I used it to buy the property on lot number five. It sits right next to your current place on lot seven in the Garden Estates. The contractors are fully furnishing the entire building right now. It will be completely ready for you to move into on Friday, along with a small domestic staff and the twins' maid-bodyguard."

Aside from Helen, who just sips her drink with a knowing smirk, every single person at the table freezes in shock. Anthony slides a thick manila envelope across the polished wood toward me. I open it up to find legal deeds, property registration papers, and a shiny set of brass keys.

"Mei Xia, here are the keys for the white Lincoln limousine you all arrived in," Anthony says, shifting his gaze toward the front door where Mei is waiting. "You have driven this specific model before, so handling it won't be an issue for you. Rick, the vehicle is officially yours now. When you attend formal clan affairs, use it to show off your proper status. If you are just running around alone, drive whatever you want, but your family is growing fast. Take the luxury ride."

I stare down at the keys in my palm, a heavy warmth settling deep in my chest. It feels like every single thing Mary and I went without during the hard years is finally coming to us all at once. I swallow the lump of gratitude in my throat, deciding actions speak louder than words. I slide out of my chair and give my uncle a solid man-hug. We both look incredibly stiff and awkward doing it, too. Helen giggles from across the room, later teasing me that her father never gave Scott a single hug in his entire life, which explains why the old man looked so hilariously confused.

Mei steps forward with a respectful bow, a broad smile on her face. "Young Master, I will bring the car around to the front driveway shortly. Excuse me."

While the girls gather in a tight circle near the hallway to gossip about what they need to get done after university tomorrow, my uncle guides me toward the corner of the room. He lowers his voice to a whisper. "I take it your complete trust in Mei means I can trust her around you?"

I just smile at the poor guy. He is clearly still stressed out from dealing with all of Scott's old betrayals, leaving him naturally suspicious of everyone. "I trust her completely, Uncle. It is not a lover situation at all. She is a highly reliable maid and an excellent teacher."

Anthony lets out a relieved breath, nodding to himself. "I figured as much. If the Central Government trusts her to watch over you given your special status, then I am fully assured. I won't go digging into her background."

"Sigh. Sadly, to everyone else in the city, it is going to look like I just swooped in to steal everything Scott ever owned," I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck as the thought crosses my mind.

Seeing my defeated expression over the fact that I am inheriting the twins and Mei, Anthony claps a heavy hand on my shoulder. "But this strange setup you have is actually perfect camouflage to hide your true strengths from our foes. Just embrace the reputation. Now, get out of here and go sleep on everything. You are probably completely overwhelmed with all the madness that has gone down in the last twenty-four hours. Your mental health is just as important as your physical safety. Sally and your father, if they could see you right now, would be incredibly proud of the man you are. I will gladly take their place and help you grow."

The twins notice we are wrapping up, running over to grab my hands and pull me toward the heavy front doors.

Nichole glances around the grand foyer to make sure none of the older family members or staff are watching us. Satisfied that the coast is clear, she throws her arms around my neck and pulls me down into a deep, breathless kiss.

Nadia stands right behind me, her fingers tracing smooth circles across my back as she waits her turn with a massive, mischievous grin.

Nichole pulls back slightly, her eyes glittering with a thin layer of emotional tears as she stares up at me. "We have come a long way, Mr. Blackmailer. Honestly, I think letting you take advantage of us back then was the greatest blessing of my life. I truly love you, Ricky, and I absolutely cannot wait for tomorrow. Now, you better not break my heart, got me?"

"You got it, Mrs. Blackmailer," I tease softly.

Before the words can even fully leave my mouth, a pair of hands roughly spins me around. An impatient Nadia smashes her lips against mine, kissing me with a wild intensity that feels like she is trying to suck every last drop of oxygen right out of my lungs.

And what the fuck? She completely loses her mind, wrapping her right leg high around my thigh and grinding her hips tight against me while panting heavily right into my mouth.

Nichole catches sight of her sister going into a total hormonal frenzy just as footsteps echo from the dining room. She quickly grabs Nadia by the waist, hauling her backward with a bright red face. "Calm down, sister! Just wait until after university tomorrow. He literally cannot escape us once the paperwork is signed, okay?"

Wow, those early pregnancy hormones are making my sweet Nadia a little bit wild. She takes a few ragged breaths, finally relaxing against her sister's shoulder before looking back at me with a soft pout. "Ricky, tomorrow night, don't you dare leave my bed, alright? I absolutely need my first official night with you. Sorry, I am just really craving my man right now. Ufufu."

I step forward, gently brushing a stray lock of black hair out of her eyes. "Promise. My two new wives can completely monopolize me all night long."Helen, Mary, and Hana stroll out to join us on the front porch just as the long headlights of the white Lincoln limo cut through the driveway.

"Cousin Rick, I am definitely coming along to witness the wedding tomorrow," Helen says, waving a hand playfully as she walks past. "So do not even think about leaving the university campus without me."

"Thanks, Helen. Take good care of my girls for me until tomorrow morning," I reply, giving her a quick goodbye hug.

Mei steps out of the driver's seat, moving with fluid grace to open the rear passenger door of the massive luxury vehicle.

Mary, Hana, and I slide into the plush leather backseat together, the door closing with a solid, expensive thud before Mei hits the gas. Hana bursts out laughing as she peeks out the rear window. Nadia is standing on the porch, waving both hands frantically and crying like I am being shipped off to war, while Nichole has her palm plastered flat against her forehead in utter embarrassment at her idiot sister. Helen just stares at the two of them, clearly witnessing a chaotic side of the twins she never knew existed.

Both of my wives immediately slide closer, each wrapping their arms around one of mine as they notice me falling into a quiet reverie. I let out a soft chuckle, breaking the silence of the cabin.

"I slept on a broken, lumpy couch for four long years while Mary and I worked our way through high school," I say, leaning my head back against the soft headrest. "This backseat is about a million times more comfortable than that. It is crazy to think about how much our lives have improved since those days. Thanks for always supporting me, Mary, Hana. I promise I will keep pushing myself to become a better man for you both. Well, at least until I get completely overwhelmed by a dozen crying babies. Then I might panic a little bit."

Mei navigates the smooth streets, steering the massive car through the guarded security gates of the Garden Estates. She catches my eye in the rearview mirror.

Mary leans forward slightly, speaking to the front seat. "Thanks, Mei. You can consider your thirty-day trial officially complete. We definitely want you to stay with Rick permanently. Just keep him safe out there."

Mei glances back, her warm brown eyes reflecting the dashboard lights as she offers a genuine smile. "Thank you, ma'am. Honestly, I feel like I am just taking care of a chaotic little brother at this point. Oh, look over there! There is lot five, completely lit up tonight."

The three of us press our faces against the tinted glass to get a closer look at the abnormally large estate. Mary just smiles softly at Mei's comment, muttering under her breath. "And that is exactly how it happened to me, sigh."

She shakes off the nostalgia, turning her head to join us as the limo slows down in front of the property. The structure is a massive, four-level mansion featuring two symmetrical wings, all wrapped in the clean, elegant white outer stone that defines the entire Garden Estate neighborhood.

A sprawling, circular white brick turnaround paths the front yard, giving the estate a timeless, stately look rather than the stark, ultra-modern appearance of the newer builds. But according to the legal paperwork sitting in my lap, despite the classic exterior, the entire interior was completely gutted and rebuilt with state-of-the-art tech and modern designs.

This place is easily twice the size of Linda's family home over on lot nine.

Mary swallows hard, her eyes wide as she speaks for all of us. "Come Friday, this is going to be our official new Tang home."

Hana beams, a bright, excited smile lighting up her face as she looks over the sheer scale of the wings. "Well, we are definitely going to need every square inch of it now that Nadia and Nichole are moving in. Those two will easily need an entire floor on one of the wings just to store their stuff, Ufufu."

Mary turns to Hana, a curious look in her eyes. "With a house this incredibly big, are you and I still going to share a bedroom like we do now?"

"Of course we are," Hana answers instantly, looping her arm through Mary's. "It means we get way more combined time with Rick that way. We are a team, so we have to stick together. If we don't, those twins will use their own twin-power to suck him into their rooms every single night."

Mary nods in firm agreement. I just shake my head and smile, completely amused by the fact that they are just casually ignoring my input entirely. No, they are explicitly warning me that the battle for my free time is about to get intense.

Soon the four of us got out of the limo and made our way inside the house. Mei and I conducted a thorough sweep of the perimeter to ensure the area was secure, applying my hardwired Stealth skills to check the dark corners before I finally joined my two wives in bed. They made it very clear they wanted to thoroughly enjoy their time with me tonight, knowing full well that the two new wives were going to completely abduct me into their bedroom lair starting tomorrow.

To my utter disbelief, Scott is actually not going to call out sick from Star University tomorrow. The guy is planning to show up on campus like absolutely nothing happened, oh boy.

Scotty doesn't know what is coming, but he will find out soon enough.