《Suppressing the Protagonist in the Start to Seize the Heroine》 Chapter 1: Transmigrating into the novel world and becoming the villain? Chapter 1: Transmigrating into the novel world and becoming the villain? Chapter 1 : Transmigrating into the novel world and becoming the villain? March 2002! Zhongjiang City, Jiangning First High School, Senior Class 1! It was written on the blackboard that there were still one hundred days until the college entrance exam! The homeroom teacher, Wang Yi, said seriously as he stood on a podium, I believe everyone in the class has heard about the situation of Xia Shiyus father suffering from renal failure and uremia. In light of the less fortunate circumstances surrounding Xia Shiyus family, everyone, do what you can based on your familys situation. Those with money should donate more, those without money should donate less, understand? Understood~!! Wang Yi nodded with satisfaction when he heard the response from the students. Okay, lets end the class. I dont want to take up too much of your class time. Wang Yi picked up the teaching materials on the table and walked out of the classroom. At the same time, Su Lin, who was sitting in the third row, finally digested all the memories in his head. He murmured in disbelief, I transmigrated! And I transmigrated into a novel. Su Lin never thought he would transmigrate into a novel. Mere moments ago, he had been eagerly anticipating the conclusion of The Perfect Billionaire Reborn. Little did he fathom that his little nap while waiting would commence a transmigration, immersing him in the very inception of the novel. He became a villain who had the same name as him in the novel. The reason why Su Lin could endure reading this clich rebirth novel was because the name of the villain was the same as his. Looking at the time on the blackboard, Su Lin shook his head. The plot of the novel has not started yet. To be precise, it was three days before the beginning of the plot. If he wanted to change Lin Xiaowans impression of him, it was not something that could be done with a few words. Lin Xiaowan saw Su Lin looking at the textbook on the table and thought that Su Lin was pretending. She curled her lips and continued to do the class exercises. Thinking of his current situation, Su Lin sighed, Hey, Ive read a lot of villain novels before, but something like transmigrating as a villain is very rare, ah. Moreover, this is a fictional world. Ye Feng is a rebirth native. He has too many advantages. As long as he completes the initial accumulation of funds for his gambling, it will be easy for him to succeed. However, I am not without advantages. My advantage is that I have knowledge of the previous plot. So I am familiar with the plot of the novel. Su Lin weighed the current situation he was facing. Ye Feng had a great advantage, but so did he. As long as he did not risk his life, he could do well in this world. But at the same time, Ye Feng would also live well. Moreover, this guy had a golden finger. After Ye Fengs rebirth, his memory was superb. Although it did not reach the level of eidetic memory, he could remember things after reading it a few times. Thinking of this, Su Lin paused. Golden finger? Yes, a golden finger. How could a transmigrator not have a golden finger? Su Lin silently shouted, Come out, system~!! [Ding~! The supervillain system has finished loading Not activated.]. [Activation conditions: Suppress the male protagonist after his rebirth, Ye Feng, so that he will not be able to smoothly obtain the first bucket of gold. Make him unable to obtain the favor of the campus belles, Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan. Also, change Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyus subjective image of the host.]. Hearing the voice of the system, Su Lin was beyond happy. I knew it. After all, I am a transmigrator. How could I not have a golden finger? Su Lin looked at Ye Feng, sitting in the corner, and had a bold idea in his mind. Should he think of a way to get rid of him and achieve his goal in one go? But soon he dismissed the idea because society was bound by laws and he was a rightful citizen, unlike the protagonist. If he kills Ye Feng now, something uncontrollable might happen. After all, Ye Feng was the protagonist, the child of destiny of this world. He did not want to put himself in a difficult situation.Updated from Chapter 2: Su Lin’s strategy, suppressing Ye Feng? Chapter 2: Su Lin¡¯s strategy, suppressing Ye Feng? Su Lin remembered that Ye Fengs first bucket of gold was hoarding a piece of equipment called [Necklace of Fate] in the game [City of Angels]. [Necklace of Fate] wasnt worth much. Before the update, it was only 50 Yuan. However, a few days later, when the game was updated, people suddenly discovered a bug in the splash damage of [Necklace of Fate]. The damage could be stacked infinitely. As long as one person in the team had this necklace, they would be able to clear the latest world boss dungeon. Instantly, [Necklace of Fate] became a hot commodity. Its price increased from 200 Yuan to a peak of over 6000 Yuan. This continued until the game developers discovered the bug and patched it so that the splash damage could only be stacked five times. Only then did the price drop rapidly. Ye Feng also took this opportunity to use the 50,000 Yuan donated by the school to buy [Necklace of Fate] and made a few million Yuan. Now that Su Lin knew how Ye Feng made his first bucket of gold, he felt that it would be much easier to mess with him. His next step was to find someone to do something for him. Su Lin set his eyes on Chen Yang in the back row. Chen Yang and Xia Shiyu were both poor students in class. Their parents died early, leaving only him, his old grandfather, and a ten-year-old little sister who is in the second year of middle school. Other than his grandfather occasionally earning some money from farming, the rest of the family relied on subsidies to survive. Chen Yang usually gave people the impression that he was ruthless and bad-tempered. Su Lin knew that this was just a cover for himself. In the original novel, Ye Feng borrowed 100 Yuan for Chen Yangs little sisters treatment and gained a super loyal henchman who did a lot of shady things for Ye Feng. In the later period, even Chen Yangs younger sister was not spared, and she was included in the harem. After school, Ye Feng purposely slowed down. He knew that Chen Yang was always the last one to leave the classroom every day in order to get some leftovers from the cafeteria for his little sister. Seeing that there was no one in the classroom, Chen Yang picked up his backpack and prepared to leave. As soon as he exited the classroom, he saw Su Lin leaning against the window. Chen Yang frowned and didnt say anything. Su Lin hated poor students like him and didnt even want to talk. Even if he had something to say, it would be in an authoritative tone. Obviously, Su Lin wasnt waiting for him here. As to why Su Lin was standing here, he wasnt curious and didnt want to know. Chen Yang was about to leave when Su Lin shouted, Chen Yang! Yang Chen turned around and looked at Su Lin with confusion. Vice class monitor, whats the matter? Su Lin nodded. Lets talk while we walk? As for running away, thats even more impossible. You still have a grandpa and a little sister at home. Ive heard that you even fought with gangsters outside of school for your little sister. If youre really going to abandon them for 200,000, then I, Su Lin, have nothing to say. Chen Yang took the money and the card from Su Lins hand and said, Vice class monitor, I will definitely do this for you. Su Lin nodded, he wasnt worried about Chen Yangs lack of ability to do the job at all. He smiled and said, Dont feel burdened, and dont think that I am deliberately pitying you. Just think of it as a temporary job. You work for me, and I will pay you. You cant tell anyone about this, including your family. Everything has to be done in secret. Can you promise? Although Chen Yang didnt understand why Su Lin asked him to do this, he knew that this was his only chance to go to college. He had to seize it. Su Lin, I wont tell anyone, including my sister. Alright, thats all I need to hear. Next, Ill tell you exactly how to operate it. Class monitor, the cafeteria is about to close. I want to get some food before I leave. Su Lin laughed and scolded, You have a few thousand yuan, and you still want to eat the cold food in the cafeteria? What? Anyway, you are working for me, Su Lin. How can I make you work when youre hungry? Well Su Lin said seriously, Sigh, in the period of time you work for me, you, your grandfather, and your sisters food and drink costs will all be deducted from the card I gave you. Hearing this, Chen Yang hurriedly refused, Class monitor, I cant take this money. You have already helped me a lot. You dont want it? Do you think you have more money than me? Just take it. Class monitor, thank you. Su Lin waved his hand, Just do what I asked you to do. Lets talk about business first Chapter 3: Asking the campus belle for help, Su Lins plan Chapter 3: Asking the campus belle for help, Su Lin''s plan Chapter 3 : Asking the campus belle for help, Su Lin''s plan Until they walked out of the school gate, Su Lin told Chen Yang a lot of details, and Chen Yang memorized them one by one. Chen Yang saw Su Lin sitting in a Mercedes-Benz S350, but there was no envy on his face. Instead, he said firmly, One day, I will be able to drive such a car. In the car, the driver Liu Yong looked at Su Lin sitting in the back and said with surprise, Young master Su, why did you come out so late today? I had something to tell my classmate, so I left late. Oh~!! Liu Yong nodded. Su Lin placed his bag on the seat next to him and said casually, Uncle Liu, is my dad coming home tonight? Su Lin had no qualifications about calling Su Zhenguo dad. After all, Su Zhenguo gave him too much, and he was really good to Su Lin, almost giving him everything he asked for. In the original novel, when Su Lin graduated from high school, Su Zhenguo gave him more than one million yuan to buy an AMGGT. He was just an orphan before transmigrating. Now that he suddenly had such a family, he didn''t have much resistance. He even had some expectations in his heart. Liu Yong looked at Su Lin with doubt again. Today''s Su Lin was very different from the past. Usually, Su Lin wouldn''t take the initiative to talk to him. Usually, Liu Yong would always be the one who took the initiative, and Su Lin would reply, ''it was all good, oh, hmm, and other words.'' But today, Su Lin is actually talking to him in complete sentences. Su Lin raised his eyebrows and asked, What''s the matter, Uncle Liu? Liu Yong shook his head and suppressed the doubts in his heart, Mr. Su just bought two buildings in Donghai City, and he wont be back for a while. Oh~!! Call him later and tell him that I need money tomorrow, and I want to take two hundred thousand yuan from the safe. Two hundred thousand? Young master Su, what are you going to do with the two hundred thousand yuan? My classmate''s father has uremia, and he needs money for a kidney transplant. The school is organizing a fundraiser, so I want to donate some. Su Lin replied calmly. Hearing Su Lin''s answer, Liu Yong''s eyes flashed a trace of surprise. Then he understood something. No wonder Su Lin was so polite today. It turned out that he was trying to do something for someone. No wonder Su Lin talked so much to him today. That classmate should also have a special relationship with Su Lin, and it was definitely a female classmate, a beautiful female classmate. Liu Yong looked as if he had seen through everything. Once such rumors spread out, it will be a kind of shackle for me and Xia Shiyu. The college entrance exam is coming soon. Do you think this time is suitable for such rumors to spread? Lin Xiaowan seemed to be meeting a different Su Lin. Her almond-shaped eyes widened, and she carefully looked at Su Lin as if there were flowers on Su Lins face. If she did not confirm that the Su Lin in front of her was the one she knew, she would not believe that Su Lin would do such a thing. Xiaowan, why are you looking at me like this? Dont you recognize me? Lin Xiaowan shook her head, then nodded. She said with some disappointment, I knew the Su Lin before, but todays Su Lin I dont think I recognize you, sigh~!!! Looking at the beauty in front of him, who looked melancholy, Su Lins face also brimmed with a smile. This lass was truly worthy of being the first female lead. Her current appearance was simply too adorable, especially when her small mouth was slightly agape coupled with her shocked expression. It made people want to taste what it tasted like. Su Lin said indifferently, I dont care about the Su Lin before or now. Xiaowan, just tell me, are you going to help me or not? Su Lin, if I dont help, what will you do? Donate yourself? Su Lin shook his head. If you dont help, I will only donate two hundred to show my sincerity. How can you do this? Then you dont care about Xia Shiyus father? Lin Xiaowans eyes widened. Care? Why should I care? Xia Shiyus father has nothing to do with me. Whether I donate two hundred thousand or two hundred, it is my sincerity. It is absolutely impossible for me to donate the money myself. Or I can just take it back home tonight. But Su Lin shook his head. No buts, Xiaowan, make a decision as the other students will be here soon. What do you want to do? Hurry up. I Okay, if you dont want to help, then I will just take it back home. Lin Xiaowan held Su Lins big hand. I will help, I will help. Feeling the delicate little hand on the back of his hand, Su Lin smiled. Thats right. I, Su Lin, am a wise man who is about to graduate. How can there be such rumors starting at this time? Hmph, I really dont understand what is going on in your head. Chapter 4: Lin Xiaowan’s doubts and resentment! Chapter 4: Lin Xiaowan¡¯s doubts and resentment! Chapter 4 : Lin Xiaowans doubts and resentment!The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Lin Xiaowan put the money into her bag, zipped it up, and looked around to make sure no one saw it. Then she patted her chest and felt relieved. Su Lin had already returned to his seat and began to read a book in a serious manner. It was said that a serious man was the most charming, and Su Lin was like that at this moment. In an unprecedented moment, Lin Xiaowan found herself captivated by Su Lins striking appearance as he immersed himself in reading a book. In the end, she shook her head and got rid of this thought from her mind. What kind of person is Su Lin? Is his usual arrogance and contempt all an act? But why is he doing this? Doesnt he like me? But I hate arrogant men the most. Isnt he purposely trying to make me hate him? Could it be that he doesnt like me but actually likes Xia Shiyu? But peoples eyes cant lie. Just now, Su Lin really made up his mind that if I didnt help, he wouldnt donate. What should I say? If he really just wanted to donate money, then why did he treat the poor students in the class like that? The more Lin Xiaowan thought about it, the more confused she became. Her mind was occupied trying to figure out the situation until the morning bell rang. However, Lin Xiaowan would never have thought that Su Lin did this deliberately. With Lin Xiaowans personality, she is probably trying to brainstorm what to do. As an earthling, although Su Lins EQ was not very high, he was not an idiot. When dealing with a campus belle like Lin Xiaowan, he knew that the usual method would not work. He was not afraid of a bad impression, but he was afraid that he would not leave an impression on her. Not long after the bell rang, Wang Yi walked in with a simple donation box. The students in the classroom instantly stopped reading and looked up at him. Wang Yi coughed and said, The donation box is here. I will personally organize this donation. Starting from the first row, Wang Yue, you take the lead. Wang Yue, who was sitting in the first row, did not say much and got up and walked to the podium. Other students should also prepare the money you want to donate. This donation is anonymous and will not be counted. Just put it in the box. As he spoke, Wang Yi stepped aside. Wang Yue took out a hundred-dollar bill and put it in the donation box in front of all the students. Seeing that Wang Yue had finished donating, Wang Yi nodded and motioned for the next person to continue. Lin Xiaowan shook her head and didnt speak. At this time, Su Lin had already walked off the podium in the midst of the booing. When it was Lin Xiaowans turn, the classroom became lively again. The two stacks of money in Lin Xiaowans hand were too eye-catching. Wang Yi saw the money in Lin Xiaowans hand, and the corner of his mouth twitched. He reminded her, Lin Xiaowan, are you going to donate this money to Xia Shiyu? Lin Xiaowan subconsciously glanced at Su Lin, but Su Lin was reading and didnt look at her at all. This made her feel a bit bitter. If she knew this, she wouldnt have agreed to Su Lins request. But if she didnt agree to Su Lins request, he really wouldnt have donated the money. Mr. Wang, yes. Wang Yi nodded and didnt ask more. He knew Lin Xiaowans family situation better than anyone else. Her father was the mayor, and her mother was in a trading company. Her family situation was much better than Su Lins. Donating 200,000 yuan was not a big problem for her, and Lin Xiaowans personality was usually helpful. However, only Su Lin knew that, although Lin Xiaowan seemed to be nice to everyone, she didnt have any real friends. She just wanted her school days to be simple and not mixed with too many interests and calculations. Damn, those two stacks are at least 200,000 yuan, and she donated another 20,000 yuan. Thats a total of 220,000 yuan. Shes too rich. Hiss~!! No wonder the campus belle doesnt like anyone. With this financial ability, no one in the class can compete with her except for Su Lin. Su Lin donated 200 yuan, and Lin Xiaowan donated more than 200,000 yuan. How can they compete? Indeed, theres no comparison. Su Lin is rich but heartless, and Xiaowan is kind and charitable. Both are class leaders, but the gap is too big between them. She is indeed my goddess! Xia Shiyu, who was sitting in the front row, also widened her eyes. She thought it would be good if they could raise tens of thousands of yuan. She didnt expect Lin Xiaowan to be so generous with more than 200,000 yuan. If there were two more donations, she would have enough money for her fathers kidney transplant. Soon she shook her head again. This kind of greedy thought was not good. She should be thinking about how to thank Lin Xiaowan. After all, it was more than 200,000 yuan. Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan with some surprise. She also donated 20,000 yuan. Although he knew this girl was rich, he didnt expect her to donate so much. Was she influenced by him? Chapter 5: To tell the truth, shocking Xia Shiyu Chapter 5: To tell the truth, shocking Xia Shiyu Chapter 5 : To tell the truth, shocking Xia ShiyuUpdated from When the last person finished donating, Wang Yi looked at the students below and said, Continue with the morning reading and wait for the teachers to tabulate the schools donations. Xia Shiyu, go back and prepare. After the flag-raising ceremony on Monday morning, the principal will hand over the money to you. Xia Shiyu nodded with tears in her eyes. She originally had a happy family, but illness took away her mother two years ago, and now it was going to take away her father. Such a situation would be a fatal blow to any high school goddess. Xia Shiyu was already full of despair about life. Unexpectedly, instead of her relatives and friends helping with her circumstances, it was the school that helped her. Especially those classmates who donated money, it gave her a new expectation for life. Dont be stressed, study hard. Wang Yi finished and walked out of the classroom with the donation box. The homeroom teacher in the classroom next door also walked through the aisle with the donation box. Do you think well be able to raise all the money with this donation? I think its possible. Our class alone has more than 200,000 yuan. Even if each class only donated 10,000 yuan, it would still be several hundred thousand. Forget it. Without Lin Xiaowans money, our class only has a few thousand yuan in donations all together. Thats true. Most of them donated ten or twenty yuan, only a few people donated more than a hundred yuan. .. Only Su Lin knew that the donation this time wasnt too much. Although there were many rich families in the school, it didnt mean that they would donate more. Some parents didnt want to pay, and some people directly discounted the money given by their parents and pocketed the rest. As soon as the bell rang, Xia Shiyu called Lin Xiaowan out of the classroom. Lin Xiaowan had donated so much money. Of course, she had to thank her properly. However, she didnt know how to thank her. As the two golden flowers of Jiangning First High School, they were often compared. Xia Shiyu was gentle like water, and Lin Xiaowan was cold like a fairy. The two attracted a lot of attention when they walked together, but these people didnt include Su Lin. Chen Yang wanted to report to Su Lin about the purchase last night, but Su Lin told him to talk after school. Then he turned his gaze to the two girls chatting outside the window. Well, you dont have to worry about this. Su Lins father is one of the richest people in Jiangning City. It is easy for him to donate as much as he wants. 200,000 yuan may be an astronomical number for you, but for Su Lin, it may be a reward for a good exam score. Xia Shiyu looked at Su Lin, who was reading, and thought, It seems that I misunderstood him before. He is really a very gentle person. But why does he treat people so arrogantly and make his relationship with his classmates bad? Xia Shiyu couldnt figure it out. She shook her head and thought only Su Lin could answer this question. Looking at Xia Shiyus silence, Lin Xiaowan smiled. Shiyu,I know what you are thinking. You are curious about why he usually makes people angry, right? Xia Shiyu looked at Lin Xiaowan in surprise. Hehe, you are not the only one whos curious, but I am also curious about this. I really dont know what this guy is thinking. How about we ask him together? Xia Shiyu shook her head. Lets not. Su Lin must have his own difficulties. Okay, I will ask him myself. Lin Xiaowans eyes were full of curiosity. Ah! Isnt that a little inappropriate? Whats wrong with that? I am just asking. If he wants to say it, then say it. If he doesnt want to, then forget it. Okay Xia Shiyu looked at Su Lins face and thought about how to thank him. Before she could think about it further, Lin Xiaowan, who was next to her, said seriously, Shiyu, in my opinion, Su Lins worries are not unreasonable. Just keep this between you and me. Dont tell anyone else, okay? Xia Xiaoyu hesitated for a moment. When she thought about how thoughtful Su Lin was for her, she felt sweet. Xiaowan, dont worry. Since Su Lin doesnt want people to know, I will definitely not tell anyone. Mhmm!! For some reason, Lin Xiaowan didnt want others to know about Su Lins unknown side. Although she didnt have any other thoughts about Su Lin at this time, these thoughts were subconscious and unfounded. Chapter 6: Moral High Ground Chapter 6: Moral High Ground Chapter 6 : Moral High Ground Looking at the two girls outside the window, the classroom was filled with whispers. Although they knew that Xia Shiyu must be thanking Lin Xiaowan, they saw that Shiyu didnt feel like she was thanking her; instead, they felt like they were chatting with each other. Our campus beauty, Lin, is too calm. She just donated two hundred and twenty thousand just like that. With that amount of money, one can buy a house in Zhongjiang. Hehe, this is the difference between an ordinary person and a rich person. Look at campus beauty Lins calm face. She doesnt look like someone who just donated two hundred thousand. Unfortunately, my wealth doesnt allow me to, or else I would like to try spending money like water. Feng Yifei looked at Lin Xiaowans back, his eyes full of obsession. As long as it was a student at Jiangning First High School, there werent many who didnt like Lin Xiaowan. Feng Yifei also liked her, but he could only watch and didnt dare to pursue her because he was clear about his situation. No matter how he compared himself, he was far behind Su Lin.Updated from Lin Xiaowan didnt even like Su Lin, why would she like him? Today, after seeing Lin Xiaowans feat of spending money, he completely let go of his thoughts. Such a woman was definitely not someone he could touch. Xia Shiyu, on the other hand, came from a poor family, had a good character, was beautiful, and had a good personality. She was a good choice. However, Xia Shiyu often went to and from school with Ye Feng. Rumors in the class said that the two were childhood friends and grew up together. If he wanted to pursue Xia Shiyu, he must deal with Ye Feng. Feng Yifei narrowed his eyes and thought that Ye Feng was a coward and it would be easy to deal with him. While he was thinking, Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan had already returned to the classroom, laughing and talking with each other. When they passed by the aisle, Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin, who was sitting in his seat, and asked, Su Lin, have you collected the homework? Hmm? Su Lin paused and then remembered that, as the vice class monitor, he was also the math class representative. Fortunately, everyone had the habit of handing in their homework by themselves. Except for a few veterans, everyone else took the initiative to pass their homework to the desk. Lets go to the office together. Su Lin already knew that Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu had chatted outside for a while. Presumably, they had something to talk about. They said that it was fine if I didnt go, but they asked me to lend them money to buy water. Hehe, except for a few of us in the class, the rest of the students basically didnt have much money. They never returned the money they borrowed from me. I didnt care about this before and never asked them to pay me back. One time I was in a bad mood and did not lend them money. As a result, those people started rumors, saying that I was heartless because I was rich and looked down on the poor. In less than half a day, almost all the students in the class knew about it. Since these people spread rumors about me, I certainly couldnt let them continue to not return the money I lent them. So, I went to them one by one, asking them to pay me back. Those female students who thought they were standing on moral high ground stood up at this time, saying how rich my family was and how poor they were. They shouldnt have to return the money, or they should return it later. Hehe~!! These people will only do things from the moral high ground. I think if what happened to me happened to them, they wouldnt be able to endure such a thing. Hearing this, Lin Xiaowan was silent, not expecting that Su Lin was unwilling to talk to the students in the class because of this. Why didnt you explain? If you explained at that time, there would definitely be people who would believe you. At least I Explain? Why would I explain? How would I be in the mood to explain? Su Lin interrupted. Lin Xiaowan was silent. At that time, Su Lins mother had just passed away, and he wasnt in the mood to explain anything. He was indeed right. Hehe, repaying evil with good is something that only saints can do. Im just an ordinary person; Im not that noble. Su Lin sneered. Then you dont have to blame everyone. There are still a lot of good students who know how to repay kindness. For example, Xiao Yu and Chen Yang are both good people. Lin Xiaowan tried to persuade Su Lin. So, didnt I donate money to her? And Chen Were here; lets hand in the homework. Realizing that Su Lin changed the topic of conversation, she no longer pursued the matter. She followed Su Lin into the office, and at the same time, her mind was spinning rapidly. Hearing Su Lins words, it was clear that he not only helped Xiao Shiyu but also helped Chen Yang. In the class, the only poor person with the surname Chen was Chen Yang. Everyone knows that he goes to the cafeteria every night to get food. The two walked out of the office and walked back much faster. Chapter 7: Lin Xiaowans persistence Chapter 7: Lin Xiaowan''s persistence On the way back to the classroom, Lin Xiaowan was much quieter. Su Lin had hit the nail on the head. Right now, her heart was filled with mixed feelings, and she felt a little uncomfortable. She had been with her classmates for three years. She knew that some of them had bad characters, but most of them were good. However, because Su Lin didn''t explain once, he was misunderstood by the whole class. This misunderstanding was so deep-rooted that she couldn''t mediate it. This made her feel very uncomfortable. Su Lin did so many good things, but because of one thing, he became like this. Su Lin... I... Xiaowan, don''t say you sympathize with me. You know, the last thing I need is sympathy. Don''t think about helping me, I really don''t need it. Do you really not care? Su Lin smiled. Don''t you understand me now? And I saw you chatting with Xia Shiyu just now. She should know by now about the donation, thats enough. .. Looking at Su Lin''s smile, Lin Xiaowan felt uncomfortable, but she couldn''t do anything about it. She couldn''t help Su Lin, even if she wanted to. This made her feel very aggrieved; it was a feeling she had never felt before. Xiaowan, don''t worry about it. The college entrance exam is in three months. Let me spend these three months in peace. But you haven''t experienced the baptism of human form. These three months may not be as easy for you. If you are ever unhappy, you can talk to me about it. (TL: Basically, it means she''s innocent and hasn''t experienced what humans are capable of doing, such as using you for their own gain.). Lin Xiaowan was puzzled. Me? Why wouldnt it be easy? Oh! Xiaowan, you have to listen to me. Stay away from Su Lin. Yan Huan kindly reminded her. Yes, yes, I know. Huan, dont worry about me. Instead of thinking about me, you should think about Ye Feng. He is deeply in love with you, Lin Xiaowan joked with a smile. Yan Huan turned back and gave Ye Feng a glance, then disdainfully shook her head. Me and Ye Feng? Impossible. Were destined to be from two different worlds. Ye Feng is one of the few students in class that teachers have given up on. Even if hes putting in effort now, the idea of him going to college seems pretty unlikely. Not to mention, Yan Huan ranks in the top ten in the class, with grades that could land her in prestigious universities like 985 and 211. (TL : 985 and 211 universities are peak universities in China which is Peking University, Tsinghua University, Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Wuhan University, Nanjing University, Fudan University, and Xiamen University.). So, when Yan Huan claims theyre from different worlds, theres some truth to it. Once the ordeal of the college entrance exam is over, their paths will likely never cross again. Even though Ye Fengs grades arent great, his intentions toward you are sincere; we can all see that, Xiaowan said bluntly. But what good is sincerity alone? Ye Fengs parents work at Jiangning Food Factory, which hasnt paid salaries for three months. If I were to be with him, wed both be left in the cold. Yan Huans parents also work at Jiangning Food Factory, but her family situation is much better than Ye Fengs. Her parents hold higher positions, while Ye Fengs are mere employees. Combined with her occasional encounters with Ye Feng, she dislikes him intensely. Especially since Ye Feng harbors inappropriate feelings for her, which only disgust her rather than evoke any sweetness. In her eyes, being liked by Ye Feng is utterly repulsive. If you still want to be my friend, Xiao Wan, dont bring up Ye Feng again. This guy lacks ambition and is wasting away playing games, Yan Huan stated firmly. Alright, but I have to remind you, Huan, you wont find someone as devoted to you as Ye Feng in the future. Yan Huan pursed her lips and remained silent. Despite being slightly less attractive than Lin Xiaowan, she still holds a prominent position in the class. In her perspective, without the burden of Ye Feng, university life will be much better. Unlike now, where she feels stuck and without any male admirers. Ding-ling-ling! As the bell for the next class rang, the two concluded their conversation. Chapter 8: Talk with Xia Shiyu Chapter 8: Talk with Xia Shiyu At lunchtime, Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan walked into the cafeteria together. Regardless of the era, mealtime is always the most active. So, when the two entered the cafeteria, they found that there were not many available seats. Xiaowan, here~!! Upon hearing Yan Huan''s voice, Lin Xiaowan looked over and saw that Yan Huan had saved her a seat. She was pleased, but then she thought of Xia Shiyu beside her. Seeing Lin Xiaowan''s hesitation, Xia Shiyu took the initiative and said, Xiao Wan, you go ahead. I''ll go find Su Lin. I haven''t properly thanked him today. Lin Xiaowan nodded in agreement and said with a light chuckle, Su Lin may seem indifferent and hard to talk to, but once you start chatting with him, you''ll find that he''s actually quite approachable. Don''t be nervous. Mhmm~!! Xia Shiyu saw Su Lin sitting in the corner by the window as soon as she entered the door. She was not nervous, as she felt that a gentle person like Su Lin would definitely not be difficult to talk to. The two separated, and Xia Shiyu went straight to Su Lin after she got her food. Su Lin, can I sit next to you? Hearing Xia Shiyu''s gentle voice, Su Lin couldn''t help but sigh. This girl''s voice is really something. Lin Xiaowan has a typical sweet voice; if she were to act cute, it would be deadly. On the other hand, Xia Shiyu''s voice is gentle and delicate, possessing a kind of magical charm that makes people involuntarily let down their guard. Su Lin nodded. This seat is meant for people to sit. Sit. Xia Shiyu smiled and sat down next to Su Lin. This scene was seen by many students, and their hearts instantly shattered. Especially Feng Yifei, who planned to make a move on Xia Shiyu, when he saw Xia Shiyu take the initiative to find Su Lin, he was even more furious. Old Feng, goddess Xia went to Su Lin, did you see it? Feng Yifei nodded with an unfriendly expression. I saw it. Hehe, this is reality. Old Feng, even if you donated three thousand to her family, so what? Su Lin only donated two hundred, but his family is richer. Xia Shiyu nodded vigorously, Alright! Ill definitely do that when the time comes. Hehe! Watching Xia Shiyus charming demeanor, Su Lin burst into laughter. He knew that, despite her seemingly delicate appearance, this girl would become the renowned female CEO in Zhongjiang City in the future. She started her own business in her third year of university. Before the age of thirty, she was already worth tens of billions. After the company went public, she became one of the few female billionaires in the country listed on Forbes. After Ye Feng was reborn, he first borrowed money from Xia Shiyu to accumulate his first bucket of gold. Then he started his own company and started the internet business. Other than expansion, everything else was taken care of by Xia Shiyu alone. Su Lin, who read the original novel, knew that this girl was very tenacious and capable. He understood that he couldnt afford to let such a person slip away. However, Xia Shiyu herself still didnt know the extent of her potential. Su Lin soon adopted a more serious expression, I dont want anyone to know about my donation, including your parents and relatives. Can you ensure this, Xia Shiyu? Perplexed, Xia Shiyu asked, Why? You are still too young. Su Lin stated with a chuckle. If your dad knew that I donated so much money to you, what would he think? Would he think that we are dating? If others found out, they might think Im supporting you financially and engaging in some questionable activities. Consider the consequences of such rumors. Xia Shiyus face turned pale instantly. If such rumors spread, it would be a disaster. Even though her relatives kept their distance from her, tarnishing her reputation like this would be devastating. Do you know the severity of the situation now? Xia Shiyu nodded, Su Lin, for you, this is Youve already agreed to work for me. Just focus on your work and repay me that way, Su Lin interrupted her as he laughed. Hearing Su Lins laughter, Xia Shiyu joined in, but little did she know that Su Lins use of the 200,000 yuan was far from straightforward. In the near future, she would not only be working for Su Lin but also This was just the beginning of a new chapter in their intertwined destinies. Chapter 9: Chen Yang’s decision Chapter 9: Chen Yang¡¯s decision Chapter 9 : Chen Yangs decision Not far away, Feng Yifei saw the radiant smile on Xia Shiyus small face, and he was almost captivated by it. However, the realization that the smile wasnt meant for him but for Su Lin left him disheartened. If this person were Ye Feng, he could have someone rough up Ye Feng and make him scram. But this person was Su Lin, and he had no way to deal with him. Fu*k!! Old Feng, dont even think about it. Look at the way Goddess Xia is smiling; I guess you dont stand a chance. This Su Lin guy has always liked Lin Xiaowan, right? Why is he hanging out with Xia Shiyu? Feng Yifei said, sounding somewhat angry. Well, you cant blame others. Su Lin has good grades, looks handsome, and comes from a wealthy family. Old Feng, you really cant compete with him. Sigh Su Lin, no matter what, I want to thank you. If it werent for you, my dad wouldnt even qualify to be able to get a transplant. Mhmm, Xia Shiyu, you go do your work. When I have time, Ill go to the hospital to see your dad. Su Lin smiled. Okay. Watching Xia Shiyu leave with her plate, Su Lins gaze lingered on her for a moment. He exclaimed in his heart, Xia Shiyu is indeed a female lead. Xia Shiyus beauty was not as graceful as Lin Xiaowans. On the contrary, she was the kind of girl from a humble family who was not tall, only 1.6 meters, and her palm-sized face was very delicate. If she changed into the popular JK outfit from the previous world, she would have mesmerized many LSPs. Su Lin quickly retracted his gaze and narrowed his eyes. He was looking forward to the development of Ye Feng after his rebirth. I hope it wont be too boring, Ye Feng. Youve been reborn as someone approaching thirty. Dont disappoint me. The afternoon passed in intense review. Although there were still three months until the exams, the progress in the senior year was swift, covering all the topics for the semester. They had already entered the phase of intensive review. As the bell rang, the entire building began to vibrate. Su Lin didnt take anything and sat in his seat without any movement. Though the attributes are a bit lousy, its not easy to come by. So, I estimate we can still collect over two thousand in total for the entire game. And collecting in the later stages might be a bit challenging since I can only do it at night due to classes during the day. Su Lin laughed. Are you stupid? You can find someone to collect them for you. Find a player in the game to collect them. You can give them 71 necklaces, and the profit will be theirs. Su Lin chuckled. Youre naive. You can get other players in the game to help you. Give them seventy-one pieces, and the profit in between is theirs. But seventy-one pieces, more than two thousand pieces, would be over forty thousand, Chen Yang hesitated, his expression reluctant. He wished he could spend the day collecting equipment at home and save that money. Big Bro Ling, you said it would only take a few days. I can take leave for these days. The over forty thousand can easily be saved. Su Lin shook his head. No, the college entrance examination is approaching. You cant ruin your future for this small amount of money. Although forty thousand might sound like a lot to you, its not much to me. While having a good diploma doesnt guarantee success in the future, it can elevate your upper limit, understand? I Chen Yang was convinced by Su Lins words. Su Lin was the only person who had looked up to him like this since he was a child. These days, not to mention 40,000 yuan, even 400 yuan could kill someone but Su Lin didnt care at all. There was an element of him being wealthy, but more importantly, he respected Chen Yang as a person. Chen Yang knew his own worth. Perhaps in the future, he could have a car and a house and become a boss, but following Su Lin would undoubtedly lead to a better life. In an instant, Chen Yang made a decision, determined to follow Su Lin. He would rather risk his life than live a mediocre life. Su Lin waved his hand and said, Dont mention it No need to mention this matter again. If you think the commission is too high, you can lower the price a bit, like 60 yuan. Its best to find people you know. Alright, Ill give you a limit of 65 yuan. You can give others 55 yuan or 66 yuan. Just get the job done, and the extra money is yours. Ill transfer the money to your card later. Okay~!! Well, continue collecting equipment. Ill create an account now. Once its ready, send the equipment to me. Alright! Su Lin opened the game and began registering an account. Although he trusted Chen Yangs character, once this batch of equipment multiplies in value, it would be another matter. Chen Yang might not be moved by a hundred or two hundred thousand now, but once it multiplies by tens or hundreds of times after an update, it could reach millions. (TL : LSPs is the acronym of a Chinese word directly translated into a dirty old man. It is widely used among the Chinese-speaking ACG groups with a rather positive and self-mocking sense. People use the word to refer to themselves or others when they show affection for artworks with sex/lewd implications.) Chapter 10: Unusual Lin Xiaowan, Speculations of Lins Parents Chapter 10: Unusual Lin Xiaowan, Speculations of Lin''s Parents At the same time, Lin Xiaowan had already returned to Zhongjiang Family Courtyard. Everyone residing here was either government officials or influential figures in Zhongjiang. Lin Xiaowan had been thinking about the events of the day all the way back. Although not many things happened, the impact on her worldview was significant, especially considering Su Lin''s actions. It gave her an entirely new understanding of Su Lin as a person. Seeing Lin Xiaowan enter the door, Lin Guoqiang put down the newspaper in his hand and greeted with a smile, Xiaowan, you''re back. How was school today? ... Seeing Lin Xiaowan absentmindedly heading towards the bedroom, Lin Guoqiang and Wang Xiaoqian exchanged glances. What''s going on? Why does Xiaowan seem a little absent-minded today? Wang Xiaoqian looked at the closed door and pondered. After a while, she looked at Lin Guoqiang and said, Old Lin, do you think our Xiaowan is in love? Lin Guoqiang jumped up from the chair, What, Xiaowan is in love?! Lower your voice; I''m just suspecting. Xiaowan is about to turn eighteen, the age of innocence and romance. Isnt it normal to have someone she likes at this age? Wang Xiaoqian analyzed. Normal? How is it normal? Xiaowan is only seventeen, not yet eighteen. Even if she''s eighteen, so what? Her main task now is to focus on her studies. Alright, why are you shouting so loudly? I just have a suspicion. Hmph~!! Don''t let me find out who it is. If I find out, I''ll whip him with a belt. No way. Don''t be in such a rush. What''s the hurry? You quickly go to the kitchen and get the food; I''ll call Xiaowan for dinner and inquire about the situation. Wang Xiaoqian twisted Lin Guoqiang''s waist. Aiyo, wife, be gentle. ... Wang Xiaoqian walked to Lin Xiaowan''s door and knocked, Xiaowan, can I come in? Come in~!! Wang Xiaoqian opened the door and saw Lin Xiaowan holding a pen and staring at a book in a daze. She closed her eyes. It seemed that even if she wasn''t in love, something must have happened. Xiaowan, what''s going on? If you have something on your mind, do you want to tell Mom? Xiaoqian took the initiative to ask.Follow current novels at novelhall.com, I''m fine. Brother Lin, I collected 120 more necklaces. Should I send them to you now? Su Lin nodded. Send them all. Yang, didnt I give you a few thousand yuan? If you are interested, you can collect some yourself. Then we can make money together. Su Lin reminded. Make money? Brother Lin, you mean these necklaces will increase in price? Chen Yang exclaimed. Of course, why would I hoard them if they wont increase? But how do you know about this? Chen Yang was intrigued, although worried about what if the necklaces didnt increase in price, leading to a loss. He wasnt as rich as Su Lin, who could take hundreds of thousands of yuan without worrying about losing all of it. He only had a few thousand yuan, and he had to bear all the expenses of his family. I definitely have my channels. Later, you find more people. Remember what I told you. Understand? Su Lin. Chen Yang nodded. Brother Lin, dont worry. I remember what you told me to do. I just dont understand why you let them register so many accounts. Su Lin smiled mysteriously and said, You will know when the time comes. Okay! Seeing that Su Lin didnt ask more, Chen Yang didnt continue to ask. Su Lin could tell him these things if he wanted to, but if he didnt want to, he wouldnt ask more. Su Lin patted Chen Yangs shoulder and said, I know you cant afford to lose. Dont you still have me? Ill cover for you. Chen Yang was instantly tempted, but in the end, he shook his head. Brother Lin, this business is yours. Although I dont know why you think this necklace can make money, since you are so sure, I think it can really make money. Ive taken so much money from you. I cant steal your business anymore. So Id better not. Su Lin laughed. Although he had guessed that Chen Yang would refuse, he didnt expect it to be for this reason. Okay, you can go back now. Your family is waiting for you to go back for dinner. Yeah!! Su Lin patted Chen Yangs shoulder and walked out of the room. Chapter 11: Daughter and Mother talk Chapter 11: Daughter and Mother talk Chapter 11 : Daughter and Mother talk Hello! Teacher Wang, how is my daughter Xiaowan doing in school recently? Has she been bullied, or is there any unusual behavior? Xiaowans mom, Lin Xiaowan is doing well in school. She has good grades and gets along well with her classmates. By the way, I was just about to call and thank you. Wang Xiaoqian frowned slightly, unsure of Wang Yis intention with these words. However, she didnt speak out, sensing that this matter was related to Lin Xiaowans concerns. Speaking of which, Lin Xiaowan is indeed a good child. You and Director Lin have set a great example. Here, on behalf of student Xiao Shiyu, I want to thank you for your generous donation of 220,000 yuan for her fathers medical treatment.The school wants to use this incident as an exemplary model. Do you have time to visit the school? 220,000 yuan? Wang Xiaoqian repeated, wide-eyed. When did she donate so much money? Yeah, Xiaowans mom, you may not be aware. Xiaoshiyus father is suffering from renal failure and needs a kidney transplant. They didnt even have the guarantee deposit for the matching test before After Wang Yi rambled on, Wang Xiaoqian finally understood what had happened. Lin Xiaowan mentioned this donation when she came home yesterday. However, they only gave a thousand yuan, and the remaining 219,000 yuanwhat was going on? After hanging up the phone, Wang Xiaoqian felt more and more uneasy. She went to Lin Guoqiangs study and explained the situation in detail. Old Lin, do you think our child is taking money from people? Lin Guoqiang frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said, We know our daughter. She would never randomly accept money. Although shes only seventeen, she understands things early on. Have you ever seen her accepting anything from others since she was a child? Moreover, to avoid this, we havent skimped on her pocket money from childhood, just to prevent our daughter from being deceived so this is impossible. But Teacher Wang repeatedly said that our daughter donated 220,000 yuan. This is not a small amount of money.Visit for the best novel reading experience Lin Guoqiang frowned, I took Xiaowan to school this morning. When passing by the bank, she did indeed withdraw some money, but it was only around 20,000 yuan. About the remaining 200,000 yuan No, I need to find out. Wang Xiaoqian stood up. You can ask, but be gentle. Dont go accusing her as soon as you approach her, Lin Guoqiang reminded. Wang Xiaoqian nodded, I understand this. Our daughter is grown up, and her temper has come up. I know better than you on how to speak to her. Uh Lin Xiaowan became nervous instantly, staring at Wang Xiaoqian cautiously. Mom, what did Teacher Wang say on the phone? Dont be so nervous. He called to thank us, Wang Xiaoqian patted Lin Xiaowans shoulder. Xiaowan, you should explain the donation to me. Its 200,000 yuan which is not a small amount. Lin Xiaowan made a troubled face. Mom, can we not discuss this? Why? Is there something wrong with it? Wang Xiaoqian asked seriously, Xiaowan, you know about our family situation. When it comes to money with unclear sources, even if its just a hundred yuan, we need to verify it. Not to mention 200,000 yuan. You should understand the seriousness of the matter. I I dont know how to explain. Her mind was in turmoil. Wang Xiaoqian sensed her daughters dilemma and said, Daughter, did you make some agreement with someone, and thats why you find it difficult to talk about? Lin Xiaowan nodded. I promised not to disclose it to others. Revealing it would have a bad impact. Why? Are you worried that I will talk about it everywhere? Its not what you think. You may not say it out loud, but youre thinking like that in your heart. Wang Xiaoqian held Lin Xiaowans hand and said, You may have agreed not to talk about it with your classmates, but you didnt make such an agreement with your parents. You should tell us about this money. If you dont, Ill go to the school tomorrow and investigate. Ah, Mom, dont force me. Xiaowan hesitated for a moment before finally giving in. Alright, Alright! Lin Xiaowan also realized that hiding and evading wouldnt work at this point. With Wang Xiaoqians personality, if she said it, she would definitely go through with it. If tomorrow she really went to the school to make a fuss, it would truly ruin someone. Okay, rest assured. As long as where the money came from is not shady, your dad and I wont tell anyone after knowing. If you dont want to say anything, then Ill go to the school tomorrow and find out. Oh, Mom, please dont pressure me. Im telling you this for your own good. Wang Xiaoqian comforted Lin Xiaowan and said, Daughter, we understand your character. You wouldnt randomly accept money. Although youre only seventeen, you understand things that others may not at this age. From a young age, weve given you pocket money, all to prevent you from being deceived. So accepting money like this is impossible. Lin Xiaowan sorted out her words and began to explain the origin of the 200,000 yuan. Chapter 12: A Grand Strategy? Chapter 12: A Grand Strategy? Chapter 12 : A Grand Strategy? After more than ten minutes, Lin Xiaowan finally explained the details of the 200,000 yuan, including the agreement with Su Lin. Thats the situation, Mom. We agreed not to tell anyone. After listening, Wang Xiaoqian was somewhat surprised. A seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy could think so thoroughly. Donating 200,000 doesnt mean much; many big shots in Zhongjiang City donate money every year. However, donating money without seeking fame and considering the other party completely is either an act of great kindness or great evil. Xiaowan, is the Su Lin youre talking about Su Zhenguos son? Lin Xiaowan nodded, Yes, we even had a meal together before. Mom, you havent forgotten right? How could I forget? I remember that boy staring at you all the time. Lin Xiaowan blushed instantly, Mom, what are you saying! Seeing her daughters reaction, Wang Xiaoqian understood. Her daughters heart was beginning to flutter. Xiaowan, whats your opinion of Su Lin? Lin Xiaowan didnt know that Wang Xiaoqian was now trying to gather more information about Su Lin. After thinking for a while, she frowned, I dont know how to describe Su Lin. He has changed a lot, and I feel my previous impressions of him were completely wrong. Oh? What did you think of him before? To sum it up, he treated everyone equally in front but strictly observed class hierarchy behind. He never treated students from families with average conditions politely, never looked at them directly, spoke with an air of superiority, and never paid attention to most classmates. He used to be arrogant and condescending. And now? Now I cant say for sure. Tell me more. Let Mom analyze it for you. Lin Xiaowan was unguarded and began to talk about what Su Lin had said to her today. She needed to think of a way; otherwise, her daughter might fall into this trap sooner or later. Su Lin, Im sorry. Hmm? What happened, Xiaowan? Just now, Teacher Wang called home to thank us for donating so much money, and my mom came looking for me. I told her about your donation. After sending the message, Lin Xiaowan covered her eyes, not daring to look at the screen. After all, she had promised Su Lin not to tell her parents, but as soon as she got home, she spilled the beans. Hehe, if its said, let it be. Such a big matter, not talking about it with your parents wouldnt be appropriate. Ah but this way, Teacher Wang might find out too. Dont worry; even if Teacher Wang knows, he will definitely keep it confidential. But I never thought about keeping Uncle and Aunt in the dark from the beginning. If they dont understand the situation, they wont sleep well at night with such a big thing. At this moment, in Jiangning Huating Villa District, Su Lins mouth was filled with a smile. Before letting Lin Xiaowan donate money, he had already considered various situations that might arise. As for Lin Xiaowans parents, he had considered them first and foremost. To make people respect you, you need to make them acknowledge your abilities. Although Su Lins family conditions were not bad, compared to Lin Xiaowan, there was still a considerable gap. What he needed to do now was to become familiar with them, showcase his abilities in front of Lin Guoqiang, and let him realize that Su Lin isnt just an ordinary high school student. Once he demonstrated enough, Lin Guoqiang would find Su Lin quite impressive. Then the resistance to Su Lin being with Lin Xiaowan would be much lighter. In the original novel, Su Lin didnt manage to completely win Lin Xiaowan even after more than a thousand chapters. There were various reasons, but a significant one was the resistance from Lins family. Especially Lin Guoqiang, who was a typical doting father. Gaining his approval was extremely challenging. Su Lin didnt care about these things; in the original novel, this guy played it poorly. More than a thousand chapters and was still not able to win over Lin Xiaowan? It was mostly due to the authors problem. But Su Lin wouldnt make such a mistake. After all, he was a villain, and villains didnt have so many taboos. He acts when it was time to act and wouldnt hesitate when it was time to take action. No dilly-dallying overnight doing nothing; the previous Su Lin wasnt capable of such things. Chapter 13: Su Lin’s Accurate Prediction Chapter 13: Su Lin¡¯s Accurate Prediction Chapter 13 : Su Lins Accurate Prediction That night, Wang Xiaoqian explained the whole situation to Lin Guoqiang without omitting any details. Lin Guoqiang furrowed his brows, pondering for a while before sighing, Su Zhenguo is indeed lucky. This Su Lin, even though he is only in his third year of high school, he is already outstanding. After experiencing university life, if he chooses a career path, hell definitely thrive. Wang Xiaoqian pinched Lin Guoqiangs waist, saying, What are you thinking? Im talking about our daughters affairs. Lin Guoqiang waved his hand and said, Wife, I think youre overinterpreting it. If Su Lin really had the intention to scheme for three years, then hes a genius. I think this is a typical coincidence. If he really has such an exaggerated idea, our Xiaowan would have been deceived long ago. Upon careful consideration, Wang Xiaoqian felt that what Lin Guoqiang said made sense. Still, she frowned, saying, I dont understand where you stand. Clearly, someone has set their sights on your daughter, and youre defending others. Humph, wanting to have ideas about my daughter, Su Lin is not qualified at the moment. The college entrance exams are approaching; after she enters university, Xiaowans horizons will broaden, and she wont be fixated on the immediate surroundings. Lin Guoqiang said confidently. Arent you worried that something might happen in these three months? I feel like our daughter has some interest. What? Are you suggesting they are already a couple? No, I didnt say that. Im just worried. Then send our daughter abroad to study? Studying abroad? By then, if Su Lin follows her, theyll truly be out of sight, and theres nothing we would be able to do about it. This I need to think of a solution; we cant let our daughter be deceived. Seeing Lin Guoqiang getting serious, Wang Xiaoqian smiled. She knew how clever Lin Guoqiangs mind was. If he decided to plot against Su Lin, he would do it thoroughly. The night passed without words. Su Lin got up from the bed. Ah, its tough being in the third year of high school. We even have classes on Saturdays. Having classes on Saturdays had become the norm in Zhongjiang City, with each school doing everything possible to boost their college admission rates. At the ferry of Xunyang River, seeing off the guests in the night; maple leaves and flowers shiver in the autumn breeze. The host dismounts, the guest stays on the boat, raising a cup with no music playing. Unable to turn joy into happiness, the bitter parting happens in the moonlit river. Suddenly, the sound of pipa playing on the water is heard, the host and guest forgets to leave Listening to the loud recitation of The Song of Pipa in the classroom, Su Lin began humming along.Visit for the best novel reading experience Yan Huan searched all over herself, turning out her pockets, Xiaowan, I remember bringing my meal card, but I really cant find it now. Boo hoo Lin Xiaowan carefully observed Yan Huans every expression, trying to confirm whether Yan Huan was lying. However, Yan Huans expressions were flawless, only showing a face of urgency while rummaging through her pockets. Lin Xiaowan sighed in her heart. If it wasnt a coincidence, then Su Lins words were indeed accurate. It was an excuse without any flaws. Gradually, Lin Xiaowan started to believe Su Lins words. Huan, Im sorry, I left early today and forgot to bring money. Ah, I see. Yan Huan was disappointed. However, she quickly added, Xiaowan, can I borrow your meal card? Ill return it when I find mine. Um Seeing Lin Xiaowan hesitating, Yan Huan felt dissatisfied inside. Still, she didnt show it on her face. After all, in her eyes, Lin Xiaowan was someone naive with a lot of money. Having a fallout with such a person would be truly foolish. Xiaowan Okay, okay. Since I rarely use my meal card, you can take it for now. Thank you, Xiaowan! Youre really kind. Afraid that Lin Xiaowan might regret it, Yan Huan snatched the meal card from Lin Xiaowans hand. Later, she felt her approach was somewhat inappropriate and could only force a silly smile at Lin Xiaowan. Xiaowan, lets go eat together. For some reason, Lin Xiaowan suddenly felt that her three-year-long desk-mate had become bland. She didnt want to spend time with Yan Huan anymore. So, Lin Xiaowan shook her head. No, Ill eat with Xiaoyu. You can use the meal card, just return it to me before school ends. Yan Huan heard the distant tone in Lin Xiaowans voice. She quickly said, Xiaowan, come with me. Ill save you a seat. Lin Xiaowan firmly shook her head, No, I already told Xiaoyu yesterday. I want to check on her dads situation. Well okay. Both fell into silence. Although they didnt express everything in words, both girls understood that their once-intimate relationship had become a thing of the past. From today, they would gradually drift apart. Yan Huan reflected for a while, reconsidering every word she said, but couldnt figure out what went wrong. In the end, she went downstairs with a few close girl friends. Chapter 14: Changed His Target Again Chapter 14: Changed His Target Again Chapter 14 : Changed His Target Again In the cafeteria, Su Lin sat across from Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu. Su Lin was enjoying his meal, while Xia Shiyu ate delicately. Only Lin Xiaowan looked troubled as she was constantly poking at her food with chopsticks. Su Lin and Xia Shiyu both noticed Lin Xiaowans unusual behavior. Shiyu, whats wrong with Xiaowan? Xia Shiyu shook her head. I dont know. She was fine in the morning. Ask her Xia Shiyu knew that Su Lin liked Lin Xiaowan. When she heard about Su Lins relationship with Lin Xiaowan, her eyes dimmed. She nodded. Alright!! Grasping Lin Xiaowans shoulder, Xia Shiyu shook her gently. Xiaowan, whats going on? Youre not eating, is the food not good? Or is something bothering you? Lin Xiaowan raised her head, glared at Su Lin, and said, Nothings wrong. Why would I have any concerns? Perplexed, Su Lin scratched his head. If you dont have any concerns, why are you glaring at me? Its all your fault, the jinx. Me, Jinx? Su Lin pointed at himself, puzzled. Yes, its because of what you said about Huan yesterday Lin Xiaowan timely stopped herself, but Su Lin already understood what she wanted to say. Yan Huan was a person who would resort to any means to get a small advantage. She was notorious for borrowing money everywhere, as written in the novel. Su Lins words proved accurate when she asked Lin Xiaowan for money the next day. Later, Ye Feng was reborn and refused to help Huan return the money she owed. Only then did everyone realize that Yan Huan had unknowingly owed a lot of people money. Su Lin chuckled and said, So I was right. Xia Shiyu looked at Su Lin. Su Lin, whats going on? Su Lin shrugged. Its just a small prophecy. Unfortunately, it came true. Lets eat. Your mouth wont stop even during meals. Hehe, Old Feng, you just dont understand. Shes only wearing loose clothes. I dont understand? I, Feng Yifei, started dating in junior high, and I started playing in senior high. You think I dont understand? Alright, stop arguing. Too much arguing will ruin relationships. But seriously, Old Feng, do you have any interest in Yan Huan? If you dont, then Ill make a move. Feng Yifei glared at Liang Jun, How could I not? She has such a great figure. Does that Ye Feng guy deserve her? When the time comes, if you really succeed, find someone to teach him a lesson. Good idea. Although Ye Feng can fight one-on-one, with a few more people on our side, well definitely beat him. Hehe, alright, Ill go talk to Yan Huan later. You guys head back to the classroom first after eating. Old Feng, good luck with your conquest. Haha, its not a big problem. Yan Huan looks decent, but she wears so little every day. Isnt she attracting bees and butterflies? Hahaha The group burst into laughter, a kind of laughter only understood by boys. Hearing the laughter, Su Lin also looked towards Feng Yifeis direction. I guess Feng Yifei is planning to make a move on Yan Huan. I wonder if it will end up like in the original story, with Ye Feng turning the tables. Then Su Lin thought about how he indirectly helped Feng Yifei by taking Ye Fengs first bucket of gold. How could Ye Feng show off without his first bucket of gold? How would he be able to slap Yan Huan and Feng Yifeis faces? In this way, he indirectly helped Feng Yifei once. Life is really unpredictable. Who would have thought that by doing this, Feng Yifei would end up with the beauty? Tsk tsk. Su Lin, what are you talking about? Can you speak louder? Su Lin smiled and said, Im talking about Xiaowan. Shes quite cute when shes angry. Lin Xiaowan rolled her beautiful eyes, Cant you focus on your studies when you have nothing to do? Haha, your parents gave you such a beautiful pair of eyes, but you use it to roll your eyes. What a pity. Hmph Smooth talker!!!! Chapter 15: Flag Raising Ceremony Chapter 15: Flag Raising Ceremony Over the weekend, Su Lin and Chen Yang spent the entire day in an internet cafe, continuously acquiring Fate Necklaces. To Su Lin''s surprise, their luck was good, and they collected a total of four thousand five hundred within three days, far exceeding his expectations. Brother Lin, we have already increased the price to 200. We''ve been looking for two hours and we only got one necklace. I don''t think we will be able to get more. Chen Yang said regretfully. In three days, they had already earned tens of thousands. Moreover, it was very easy. Having earned tens of thousands in just three days, Su Lin found the work to be both profitable and easy. Chen Yang knew that this kind of job was hard to come by and felt a bit guilty, thinking he was taking advantage. Su Lin let him do it because he thought highly of him. Otherwise, this job could have been done by anyone else. This made him feel a little guilty. He felt that he had taken too much advantage of Su Lin. Hearing this, Su Lin laughed, It''s not that easy. The purchase is over, but we haven''t sold it yet. Yang, do you really think that I''m doing charity? I''m doing business, okay? If we just keep this batch of equipment in our hands, it will be a loss of hundreds of thousands. Brother Lin, just tell me what you want me to do. Chen Yang was instantly energized. He wasn''t afraid that Su Lin would give him a lot of work, but he was afraid that Su Lin wouldn''t give him anything to do. Su Lin smiled, It''s simple. Now, we need to spread the word. Let people post on forums, gaming websites, such as Baidu Tieba, Game Forums, and 17173, praising the Fate Necklace, emphasizing its splash damage stacking effect. Ah~! Brother Lin, what''s the point of bragging like that? I know about this necklace. Its splash damage is too low. Even if it stacks, it''s useless. Just brag about it. Don''t worry about the details. Answer your own questions, build up the threads, and hype up the posts. This... Okay, I''ll do whatever Brother Lin says. Su Lin nodded, Now just do it. If there''s anything you don''t understand, don''t think too much about it. Just do as I say. Okay~!! Alright, I''m heading back. I have class tomorrow. Finish up here and go home early. Xia Shiyu nodded seriously, Teacher Wang, I understand. Yes! Call two more classmates to go with you. Let it be Lin Xiaowan and Ye Feng. Lin Xiaowan was the class leader, and Ye Feng and Xia Shiyu grew up together. Wang Yi felt that it was perfect to let these two go together with her. Teacher, youre not coming with us? Xia Shiyu asked nervously as this was more than two hundred thousand yuan. What if they ran into bad guys? Wang Yi shook his head. I wont be going with you. The school is now short on teachers, and I have too many classes. I cant spare the time. Besides, youre not carrying cash, so it shouldnt be a big problem. If youre worried that something might happen, you can call two more classmates. Xia Shiyu nodded and at the same time, she wondered if she should call Su Lin. For some reason, she felt that Su Lin would feel more secure. After the morning assembly, Xia Shiyu approached Su Lin and explained that she wanted to invite him to accompany her to the hospital. Su Lin pondered for a moment and then agreed. In the original story, Ye Feng borrowed five thousand on the way and easily resolved the issue. Su Lin knew that Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowans intelligence was forcefully lowered due to the protagonists aura. This time, with him around, would something special happen? Su Lin didnt agree to come to stop Ye Feng from borrowing money. On the contrary, he hoped that Ye Feng would borrow more. This way, hes plan would be more impactful and ruthless. Su Lin, thank you. You donated so much money and youre still willing to come with me. Su Lin looked at Xia Shiyus pitiful expression and wanted to reach out and pat her head, but then he felt that it was too rude. He scratched the back of his head and smiled. Xiao Yu, what are you saying? Youre going to work for me. Youre treating me like an outsider. Mhmm!! Xia Shiyu smiled sweetly and continuously nodded. She had already prepared herself for Su Lins potential affectionate gestures. When Su Lin withdrew his hand, she felt a bit disappointed, thinking Su Lin didnt want to get close to her. When she heard Su Lins words, she felt that her thoughts were unnecessary. Looking at Su Lins handsome and sunny face, Xia Shiyu felt that it would be great if time was frozen at this moment. Meanwhile, Su Lins gaze had already fallen on Ye Feng. In less than twenty minutes, this guy would be reborn. Chapter 16: Ye Feng’s Rebirth Chapter 16: Ye Feng¡¯s Rebirth Chapter 16 : Ye Fengs Rebirth In the warming March of Zhongjiang City, the morning breeze still carried a chill. Many students, feeling the cold, put their jackets back on. Wang Yi, holding a set square, was gesturing on the blackboard. Su Lin had already figured out that this was a geometry problem he left last week. The problem was very simple, it just required some thinking and drawing two auxiliary lines. As Wang Yis back faced the students, the classroom wasnt calm. There was quite a bit of whispering, and Su Lin glanced at Ye Feng in the back row, who was already asleep. Su Lin cheekily thought that if he woke up Ye Feng now, perhaps he wouldnt be able to be reborn. In the end, he chose not to wake Ye Feng up. After all, he still had to activate the system. Only three students in the whole class was able to solve this geometry problem: Su Lin, Lin Xiaowan, and Xia Shiyu. Students, geometry problems are relatively simple reminders in the college entrance examination. They only require creative thinking and applying formulas to get the answer quickly. Lets start by finding Listening to Wang Yis words, Su Lin sighed in his heart. Fortunately, he fully received the memory of the previous Su Lin, otherwise, he would not understand at all. Although the mathematics in this world was no different from that on Earth, Su Lin had been working for many years and had long forgotten his knowledge of mathematics. The use of auxiliary lines Wang Yi saw Ye Feng in the back row asleep on the table and so he shook his head imperceptibly.. Ye Feng liked to fight, had poor grades, and slept in class. If such a student was in the first year of high school, he would be willing to try and save him from failing. Unfortunately, it was the third year of high school, and the second semester at that. For someone like Ye Feng, as long as he didnt disturb the class, Wang Yi could turn a blind eye.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only After who knows how long, Ye Feng opened his eyes, looking confused at the scene in front of him. Hey am I not attending a class reunion? Whats going on here? Could it be that I got drunk and am dreaming? Wang Yi said angrily, I threw it, so what? Oh ~! So its Wang Dapao. Wang Dapao, why do you like to throw chalk so much? Most of the chalk in the classroom was thrown by you. Hahaha Hahaha F*ck! Brother Feng, youre so fierce. Ye Feng is awesome, you dare to call the teacher, Wang Dapao directly. Ye Feng saw that everyones smile was so vivid, and everyones expression was so natural. He was stunned. Could I be reborn? Although I was not doing well in my life, I know a bit about the concept of rebirth. Wang Yi did not know what to say when Ye Feng pointed at him and spoke to him that way, all he could do was just stare at him. Su Lin also looked at Ye Feng with some amusement. He knew that the current Ye Feng was no longer a seventeen-year-old youth but a soul from the future. Xia Shiyu looked at Ye Feng, then pursed her lips, showing an indifferent expression. She no longer needed anyone to comfort her now. In the past few days, her relationship with Lin Xiaowan had improved dramatically. They talked about everything, and Lin Xiaowan took great care of her. She had already emerged from despair. Ye Feng, its fine if you sleep in class, but you dare to talk back to me?! Go stand outside. Ye Feng walked out of the classroom obediently. He felt that he needed to calm down and figure out whether he was reborn or not. If so, on which day was he reborn? Seeing Ye Feng walk out of the classroom without a word, Wang Yis expression improved a lot. He looked at the students below the stage and said, Dont learn from Ye Feng, he has completely given up on himself. A person who has given up on himself wont achieve anything, even when entering society in the future. Looking at Ye Feng standing outside and enjoying the scenery, Wang Yi couldnt help but feel angry again. But this time, he didnt say anything. Since Ye Feng had given up on himself, then it was useless for him to say anything. Chapter 17: The Match Begins Chapter 17: The Match Begins After a calm reflection of over ten minutes, Ye Feng was certain that he had been reborn. Glancing through the window at his classmates, Ye Feng unexpectedly noticed that Yan Huan and Feng Yifei were already flirting with each other. This pair of b*tches, they claimed to have no connection until after progressing from university, but they are already together while in high school. I''ll deal with this pair sooner or later. Ye Feng shifted his gaze to Xia Shiyu, his eyes filled with tenderness. Xia Shiyu listened attentively to Wang Yi''s lecture, occasionally taking notes. Observing as a bystander, Ye Feng noticed Xia Shiyu occasionally looking toward Su Lin causing his eyebrows to furrow. Why is Xiaoyu looking at Su Lin? That guy is not a good person. Maybe its also just a coincidence that Lin Xiaowan is next to Su Lin. This should be the time when Uncle Xia is in the hospital. No, I have to find a way to help him. I was really crazy in my previous life. How could I put all my energy into Yan Huan and leave a lifelong regret?Visit for the best novel reading experience Fortunately, I''ve been reborn. I can make up for the regrets of the last life. Xia Shiyu, this life, I won''t let you face difficulties alone. I need to find a way to make money. Uncle Xia''s illness can''t be delayed. Missing the best time means waiting for death. Ye Feng quickly noticed the time on the blackboard. 97 days until the college entrance exam. Today is March 3, 2002. This... Isnt today the day the school donated money to Xiaoyu? Lottery? Scratch cards won''t do. Writing novels? No, it''s too slow. Selling internet cafe permits? Where can I get an internet cafe permit? Internet cafe games games! A glint flashed in Ye Feng''s eyes as he thought of a quick way to make money. However, this method required money, and not just a couple of thousand yuan. It needed at least more than fifty thousand yuan. Where could he get that much money? To help Uncle Xia, I can only borrow money from Xiaoyu for now. Later, when I earn money, I''ll help her with the medical expenses. At this time, Xiaoyu shouldn''t be completely disappointed in me. It shouldnt be a problem to borrow from her, right? Ye Feng looked uncertainly at Xia Shiyu''s delicate face, but unfortunately, Xia Shiyu hadn''t glanced at him from start to finish. Ye Feng felt an ache in his heart, speculating that Xia Shiyu might be disappointed in him by now. No, I can''t let this go on. I have to help, let''s just borrow fifty thousand. In the past life, the Fate Necklace rose to over six thousand per piece. It happened after the monthly exams, yes, Xu Jie personally told me that. We used to go to the internet cafe together every day. He kept talking about it until the end of the college entrance exam. Shiyu looked at Su Lins awkward and impolite smile and thought it was very cute. Pfff~!! Ahahaha Shiyu, I didnt mean to. I was in a hurry to bring it this morning, but how about I go home during lunch and bring the notes to you? Su Lin looked at Shiyu carefully. Xia Shiyu shook her head, No need, its just a notebook. If its useful to you, keep it. Su Lin was surprised, Keep it with me? What about you? Dont you need to study English too? Xia Shiyu confidently smiled, Review English? Su Lin, have you forgotten my English scores? Only then did Su Lin remember that Xia Shiyu had excellent English scores, consistently scoring above 145 every time. Unlike Su Lin, whose weak subject was English, Xia Shiyus weak subject was math. As for Lin Xiaowan She had no weak subjects. When did Shiyu get so close to Su Lin? I didnt expect that I was the only one in the class who didnt know anything in high school. Su Lin actually already tried to pursue Shiyu in high school, but he didnt succeed in the previous life. Im such an idiot. Ye Feng felt that even though Su Lin didnt succeed in the end, he still had to stop him. He felt that Su Lin didnt have good intentions getting close to Shiyu. Shiyu What notebook? Can you show it to me? Ye Fengs face was filled with what he thought was a very kind smile. Shiyu looked at Ye Feng and frowned. Feng, your English score is always 20 to 30 points. Even if I show it to you, you wont understand. Su Lin suddenly laughed. Hahaha! Interestingly, I didnt expect the last place in our class to be so determined. Ye Feng frowned. As long as you want to study, its never too late. Su Lin, do you think its funny that I want to study? Su Lin: Chapter 18: Ye Feng with Insufficient Intelligence Chapter 18: Ye Feng with Insufficient Intelligence Looking at the angry Ye Feng, Su Lin knew that this guy was digging a hole for him. If he said that he looked down on him, he would take the opportunity to make a bet and amaze the world with a single brilliant feat during the monthly exam. Of course Su Lin wasn''t going to fall for that. Shaking his head, Su Lin stated, I never look down on someone who wants to study. Su Lin''s words had no sarcasm and his tone was gentle, which made Ye Feng look at Su Lin in surprise. ''This guy didn''t take the bait?'' Unexpectedly, at the age of eighteen, this guy was already quite intelligent. No wonder his grades were so good; he was even able to expand his family''s real estate business beyond Jiangnan Province. Then what did you mean by what you said? Ye Feng pressed. Su Lin raised his eyebrows and pointed at Xia Shiyu. If you want to know what I mean, ask Xiao Yu. Also, if you want to borrow notes, I think the first years notes are more suitable. Su Lin stood up and looked at Xia Shiyu. Xiao Yu, I''m going to the washroom, you guys take your time. Ye Feng felt frustrated that Su Lin wasn''t following his script. He doesn''t pretend to be sophisticated and then left. Moreover, he shifted the conversation to Xia Shiyu. Was he making Xia Shiyu the villain? Sure enough, Xia Shiyu soon spoke, Ye Feng, Su Lin is right. If you sincerely want to learn English, reviewing the notes from the third year won''t help. You should start from the first year. Hearing Xia Shiyu agree with Su Lin, Ye Feng felt annoyed and sneered, Ha! Shiyu, since when did you have such a good relationship with Su Lin? Xia Shiyu''s chest rose and fell rapidly due to Ye Feng''s words. Ye Feng, who I have a good relationship with, what does that have to do with you? Uh... You play games every day. Other than Xu Jie and Yan Huan, who else in the class is qualified to play with you? Having said that, Xia Shiyu felt regretful. Growing up together, she knew Ye Feng''s personality well. But thinking about what happened at home recently and Ye Feng''s indifferent attitude, she turned and walked out of the classroom. Ye Feng wanted to say something, but when he turned around, Xia Shiyu was already at the door. He regained his composure only to see Lin Xiaowan giving him a disdainful look. I... Ye Feng wanted to explain, but he found himself speechless. Anything he said now seemed like an excuse. He could only return to his seat, take out his notebook, and start jotting down major future events. Big Brother Feng, what are you writing? Why are you pressing it with your hand? Su Lin smiled. This is all thanks to our class leaders generosity. She alone donated two hundred and twenty thousand yuan. Shes really a role model for our generation. After Su Lin finished speaking, he faced two pairs of eyes staring at him, one was Lin Xiaowans eye roll, and the other from Xia Shiyu, filled with gratitude. Ye Feng looked at Lin Xiaowan like she was a monster. How did two hundred and twenty thousand suddenly appear? Hearing Ye Fengs muttering, Lin Xiaowans face darkened. She kicked Su Lin and said, Dont talk to him. This guy is playing dumb. Lets go. Although the hospital is not far, we still have to get back before self-study class. Su Lin nodded with a serious face. Aright. After that, the three of them walked toward the school gate together. Only Ye Feng followed behind the three of them and kept talking to himself. Ye Feng, looking at Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu being so intimate with Su Lin, felt his temples throbbing. Everything has changed. Why and how did Lin Xiaowan suddenly donate so much? Although her family is wealthy, I remember she only donated a thousand Even if you take away two hundred and twenty thousand yuan, it still doesnt add up. Theres still a difference of sixty thousand yuan. How can this be? Looking at the three people ahead talking and laughing, Ye Fengs mentality collapsed again. Especially seeing Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu being so close to Su Lin. In his previous life, the two of them didnt interact much in school. Is it because of my rebirth that theres a butterfly effect? But I was reborn today, and the donation was a few days ago. Everything should have developed according to the original trajectory. How can there be a butterfly effect? Despite having more than ten years of experience from his past life, Ye Feng was now somewhat puzzled. Could I have remembered it wrong? Other things might be wrong, but donations cant be wrong. Fifty thousand and over two hundred thousand are still distinguishable, and this was a donation from a single person. Lin Xiaowan Could Lin Xiaowan also have been reborn? No, its impossible. If Lin Xiaowan really is, and she wants to help Xia Shiyu, she wouldnt have donated just over two hundred thousand. Plus, a persons experience and temperament cant be concealed. She is a genuine high school student. Forget it, maybe Im overthinking. This world might be a parallel world, not the original world I came from. If that is the case, some changes are normal. With more than two hundred thousand yuan, its easier for me to operate. Chapter 19: Calculations Gone Awry For Ye Feng Chapter 19: Calculations Gone Awry For Ye Feng Ye Feng quickly caught up. Su Lin saw Ye Feng walking side by side with them without saying a word and quietly listening to their conversation.Updated from He thought to himself, This guy really deserves the experience gained over more than ten years from his past life. He''s trying to extract useful information from the three of them. Fortunately, neither Xia Shiyu nor Lin Xiaowan mentioned the donation, or else Ye Feng, with his sharp mind, would surely suspect that the problem lay with Su Lin. Su Lin smiled, I''m doing okay. As you all know, my weak point is English. This time, after reviewing both of your class notes, I should improve significantly. Hehe, then I look forward to your outstanding performance. Maybe you can surpass Xiaoyu and become the second best in the whole school. Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan and smiled. Second in the whole school? Why can''t I be first? First? Lin Xiaowan giggled. If it''s first, that''s good too. It would give me a sense of crisis. Otherwise, being the first for three years straight is getting a bit boring. Look at that, when women start showing off, they hold nothing back. Xia Shiyu looked at Su Lin, Su Lin, you better study the notes I gave you well. You might surpass me. Hahaha! Both girls laughed simultaneously. Seeing Xia Shiyu''s genuine and captivating smile, Ye Feng was utterly stunned. It had been years since he had seen such a smile from her. After leaving school, Su Lin suggested taking a taxi. The two girls readily agreed. Soon, a taxi passed by. Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu sat in the back, and Su Lin, quick on his feet, followed suit. The three of them sat in a row, leaving Ye Feng reluctantly opening the front door. Ye Feng felt a bit redundant now. He could see that perhaps due to Lin Xiaowan''s substantial donation, Xia Shiyu had formed a close bond with her, reaching the level of good sisters. Thinking about it, it seemed normal. Xia Shiyu was that kind of girl, expressing gratitude in her own way to those who treated her well. As for Su Lin, he was probably purely playing to Lin Xiaowan''s preferences or he was just doing what he liked. Ye Feng tagged along and tried to join their conversation. He sensed that Su Lin''s tactics were somewhat naive, following the girl''s topics without setting his own rhythm. Without a proper rhythm, especially when pursuing intelligent girls like Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan, it was utterly ineffective. Little did Ye Feng know that Su Lin, as long as he didnt mess things up, was already in an unbeatable position. At this point, he didnt need to control the rhythm. Ye Feng, you pig brain, what kind of topic are you talking about? Su Lin was thinking that, in the original work, Uncle Xia had a successful operation, and the donor kidney came from a city in the north. The cost of the entire procedure was not 600,000 but over 800,000. Xiaoyu, dont be sad. Su Lin is right. Huaxia is so big, there will always be a suitable one. Dont worry, Ill go back and talk to my parents and ask them to help you find one. Lin Xiaowan held Xia Shiyus little hand and felt sorry for her. After a few days of getting along, she really saw Xia Shiyu as her sister. She really liked Xia Shiyu, this sensible girl who made her heart ache. When Xia Shiyu was with her, she always had a bright smile on her face, but whenever she was alone, she was like an injured little beast. Lin Xiaowan knew that if it was something else, her father Lin Guoqiang would definitely not help, but when it comes to saving people, he would not hesitate. Weve arrived at the Hospital. Hearing the drivers words, Su Lin realized that they had arrived at the entrance of the hospital. Xiaowan, I didnt bring money. You pay. Okay. After paying, the four of them got out of the car and stood at the entrance of the hospital. Lin Xiaowan found that there were flowers and fruits sold at the entrance of the hospital. She remembered that she came on behalf of her class and it was not appropriate to visit empty-handed. Xiaoyu, you and Ye Feng go pay first. Su Lin and I will go buy some flowers and fruits for Uncle Xia. Xia Shiyu responded, Xiaowan, Im already very happy that you could come to see my father. You dont have to buy flowers and fruits. Lin Xiaowan shook her head. No, Xiaoyu, Su Lin and I came on behalf of our class. How can we go empty-handed~!! Xiaoyu, let them buy it. The class monitor is right. They represent the class, not individuals. Let them go. Otherwise, if Wang Dapao finds out, they will definitely be criticized, Ye Feng said. He knew that now was the best time for him to convince Xia Shiyu to let him borrow money. If he missed this time, it would be difficult to find another chance. Su Lin glanced at Ye Feng. He knew that this guy was going to start borrowing money. He nodded calmly and then walked toward the flower shop with Lin Xiaowan. Lin Xiaowan frowned and looked at Ye Feng. She felt that Ye Feng seemed to have something to say, but she couldnt figure it out. In the end, she could only leave with Su Lin. Chapter 20: Borrowing Money, Convincing Xia Shiyu Chapter 20: Borrowing Money, Convincing Xia Shiyu Chapter 20 : Borrowing Money, Convincing Xia Shiyu Seeing the two leave, Xia Shiyu turned and entered the hospital. Ye Feng, after organizing his thoughts, followed suit. Lin Xiaowan finally voiced out her doubts, Su Lin, did you notice that Ye Feng was acting a bit strange today? Su Lin was at a loss. Strange? Really? Yeah, think about it carefully. Ye Feng rarely talked to Xiaoyu, but today Ye Feng was a bit enthusiastic. To be precise, he was overly enthusiastic. His state was also a bit abnormal. He kept staring at the three of us as if he was thinking about something. Lin Xiaowans analysis was very accurate. Su Lin looked at her with some surprise. Su Lin, Im talking to you. Why are you looking at me like that? Su Lin shook his head, I just didnt expect your observation skills to be so strong.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Its not that Im good at observation, but Ye Feng is too abnormal today. If he had split up with us at the main gate and headed straight to the internet cafe, I wouldnt be surprised at all. Hehe~! Ye Feng seems determined to study. Even if he acts strangely, it has nothing to do with us, right? Lin Xiaowan fell silent for a moment, then nodded, True, if he genuinely wants to study, we cant stop someone from improving. Lets go and buy some fruits. What fruits can someone with uremia eat? Su Lin chuckled, I thought you knew everything, but turns out you have your dilemmas. Uremia can eat fruits with low potassium, such as apples and pears. Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin with her beautiful eyes full of surprise. How do you know this? Hehe! I like to read some extracurricular books. Really? Lin Xiaowan was a bit incredulous. She also enjoyed reading extracurricular books, and she read quite a few. How did she not know these details? Seeing Lin Xiaowans disbelief, Su Lin didnt explain, Xiaowan, youre meticulous. You choose; Ill carry it. Good! At the same time, Ye Feng caught up with Xia Shiyu. Xiaoyu, if I say I have a way to help you raise the remaining 300,000, would you believe me? Hmm How about 80,000? Dont you have 280,000? Pay the 200,000 for medical expenses first, and the remaining 80,000 will do. That much? Hehe, what do you think? To make money, you need to invest some capital. Ye Feng laughed. Okay, but you have to keep me informed about the progress of this 80,000. Let me know what you do with this money. No problem, but lets make it clear. You cant interfere with how I handle it. You can only listen and not tell Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan. Ah, cant I tell Xiaowan? Ye Feng solemnly nodded, You cant. If you talk about it, it wont work. Who knows if theyll compete with us in business? Ye Fengs idea was simple: Let Xia Shiyu watch how he operated. This way, she could be at ease, and he could be at ease. Another advantage was that he could keep an eye on Xia Shiyu every day, and through this period of interaction, he could win Shiyus heart. When Su Lin realizes whats happening it would already be too late and Xia Shiyu would already be his girlfriend. Xiaowan and Su Lin are not such people. I believe that Lin Xiaowan is not such a person. As for Su Lin hehe. Feng, is there any misunderstanding between you and Su Lin? Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding can there be between him and me? Its just that he has a certain reputation in the class. I believe you should be clear about that. Xia Shiyu was silent. Although Su Lin excelled in all aspects, he didnt have a good reputation in class. She didnt expect it to affect Ye Fengs misunderstanding of him. Xia Shiyu wanted to say that Su Lin donated a lot of money to her, but when she thought of her promise with Su Lin, she could only keep it to herself. Sigh Then I wont tell them. But we have a deal. You must report to me in time. Okay!! Ye Feng knew that Xia Shiyus business sense was very strong. He will only be able to become successful because of his rebirth, but Xia Shiyu was different. She was really talented. Now that she was with him, he could awaken her talent in advance. This way, his summer vacation plan could be carried out smoothly. By then, he would need Xia Shiyus help. Chapter 21: Game Update, Fate Necklace with Explosive Attributes Chapter 21: Game Update, Fate Necklace with Explosive Attributes After discussing with Ye Feng, Xia Shiyu went to pay the hospital bills with her bank card. The nurse, noticing someone making a payment for Xia Junming, glanced at Xia Shiyu involuntarily. Nurse, can my dad start dialysis now? The nurse nodded, As long as the payment is made, he can start. But I must remind you, it''s already late for dialysis. Kidney transplantation must happen quickly. If you miss the optimal time, it might be too late. Ah!! How long can it be delayed? I can''t say for sure because I''m not a doctor. But probably a month or so, it wont be possible after that. Oh!! Confidently, Ye Feng interjected, Xiaoyu, don''t worry. I''m sure I can help you raise the money within a month. Xia Shiyu nodded, but there was not much trust in her eyes. She felt like a drowning child, grabbing anything around her. Seeing her skepticism, Ye Feng didn''t say more. He thought actions spoke louder than words, and once the facts are in front of her, there would be no need to talk about whether she believed it or not. Xiaoyu, is the hospital bill paid? Turning around, Xia Shiyu saw Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan. Su Lin had two fruit baskets in his hand and Lin Xiaowan had a bouquet of flowers in her hand. The two looked like a perfect couple, making Xia Shiyu somewhat envious. Xiaowan, I told you not to buy fruit. Why did you buy so much? You should ask Su Lin. We agreed that I would pick them, but this guy kept adding one after another, and in the end, we bought two baskets. Hehe, thank Su Lin. Su Lin waved his hand, These fruits are suitable for uremic patients. Xiaoyu, when you go back, make something for Uncle Xia, preferably as a liquid. Mm~!! Alright, let''s not stand here. Let''s go see Uncle Xia. Okay~!! [Yifeng Love Letter]: Necklaces of Fate for the entire server, 700 Yuan for one necklace. I''ll buy as many as you have. Transaction on the platform. Reputation guaranteed. [Yifeng Love Letter]: Necklaces of Fate for the entire server, 700 RMB for one necklace. I''ll buy as many as you have. Transaction on the platform. Reputation guaranteed. [Zi Yang Merchant] PM: Brother Lin, someone is trying to steal our business. 700 RMB for one necklace. Do we still need to raise the price? [Shuangmu Lin] PM: No need, Yangzi. Let him buy. We just need to stabilize the price at 600 RMB. Let him keep the price at 700 RMB. [Zi Yang Merchant] PM: Brother Lin, are you saying that we should stop buying and raise our price to compete with him? [Shuangmu Lin] PM: That''s right. We''ve already bought enough necklaces, so we need to leave some for others. [Zi Yang Merchant] sent a private message: Alright, Brother Lin. I understand. Ye Feng didn''t pay much attention to the game update but devoted more time to studying. After his rebirth, he found that his memory had significantly improved. He only needed to read a book three or four times to remember it firmly which gave him a glimmer of hope. He felt that, perhaps, with some effort, he could get into a good university in this life. Dreaming further, he imagined attending university with Xia Shiyu, Lin Xiaowan, and others. Hence, he didn''t spend any time on the game. The version update concluded, and at eight in the evening, the first world boss respawned. Su Lin controlled his character to enter the battlefield with very average equipment, except for the special Fate Necklace in his necklace slot. Following the order from the guild, hundreds of players entered the battlefield. With an order from the guild, a few hundred players controlled their characters to enter the battlefield. Su Lin''s character was a Swordsman. Because of his trash equipment, he was a cannon fodder character. However, he didn''t mind at all. Controlling his character, he charged straight into the battle and unleashed an AOE skill. An AOE skill was unleashed. -1424.-1475.-1452 [Splash] -1434 [Splash] -2547 [Splash] -4527 [Skill interrupted, Splash effect reset]. Everyone in the guild was stunned when they saw the bright red numbers continuously increasing. F*ck... Double Wood Lin must be cheating, this is too fierce. The damage numbers are over ten thousand! That''s crazy. The splash damage is over ten thousand. That''s fake. Fake, fake. Even with top-tier equipment, I only deal six thousand damage. Seeing this, Su Lin typed in the guild channel, I''m not cheating; its just the additional damage from the Fate Necklace. Stop joking. The additional damage from the Necklaces of Fate is a fixed percentage damage. How can it be over ten thousand? Take a closer look!! Someone opened the Fate Necklace''s attributes and carefully examined them. Damn... The fixed damage is gone. The entire guild channel fell silent in an instant. The damage had changed from fixed to growth. Su Lin, with his rubbish equipment, could deal over two thousand. If he had top-tier gear and combined it with a Fate Necklace, wouldn''t a single AOE hit for several hundred thousand? Moreover, the Splash effect could stack infinitely. As long as the skill wasn''t interrupted, the damage would continue to stack. Seeing that the effect of the Necklaces of Fate was discovered a few days earlier than in the original novel, Su Lin smiled. Chapter 22: Earning 1.5 Million in One Night, Regretful Xia Shiyu Chapter 22: Earning 1.5 Million in One Night, Regretful Xia Shiyu That evening, the price of Fate Necklaces skyrocketed. Players in the world channel dominated the public chat with offers ranging from a thousand to over two thousand late into the night. Su Lin had more than four thousand necklaces in his hands. Roughly calculating, selling these necklaces at an average price of three thousand each could earn him about 15 million. At the same time, Chen Yang went wild. Calculating at the price of two thousand, Su Lin could make over ten million. In the internet cafe, he sat in his seat in a daze, completely stunned. A necklace with an average price of less than one hundred sold for two thousand. Brother Lin will earn tens of millions. This is the difference, this is the gap. Thinking about this, he suddenly felt that the twenty thousand he earned wasn''t worth it. However, he soon snapped out of it. His feelings towards Su Lin now were nothing but admiration and awe. Brother Lin''s move is truly amazing. He has been planning since the day of the necklace collection. No wonder he asked me to post in the forum. It''s all to hype up the Fate Necklaces. Now, the explosive point has finally appeared. Too amazing!! Yang Chen didn''t have any special thoughts about Su Lin''s ten million. On the contrary, he really wanted Su Lin to make money. Now that he saw Su Lin make money, he was very happy for him. Chen Yang didn''t harbor any special thoughts about Su Lin making over ten million. On the contrary, he sincerely hoped that Su Lin could make money. Seeing Su Lin indeed making money now, he was truly happy for him. Su Lin, without much consideration, directly listed five hundred necklaces on the platform for three thousand each, setting a minimum purchase of ten. [City of Angels] was a game comparable to DNF, so he didn''t have to worry about the equipment not being able to sell. The next morning, when Su Lin woke up, he found that he had already sold over four hundred necklaces. With Su Lin''s pre-planning, the Fate Necklaces exploded immediately after the update. It took a full hour to distribute all the necklaces and put up another two thousand necklaces. One and a half million in the time it took to eat breakfast. Even my cheap dad doesn''t earn as much as I do. Hehe. When Su Lin arrived at school, he was called out by Yang Chen. Brother Lin, your Necklace of Fate is amazing. I saw the price rise to three thousand and three hundred this morning. Su Lin chuckled, Its just the beginning; the price will continue to rise.Visit for the best novel reading experience Big Brother Lin, did you know that the Necklace of Fate would increase in value? Su Lin approached, What are you two talking about? Lin Xiaowan, feeling sorry for Xia Shiyu, said, Xia Shiyu is still worried about her father. Im comforting her here. Oh? Xiaoyu, Uncle Xia is already on dialysis, The matching is also in progress. You should be happy now. Whats there to worry about? Xia Shiyu, upon seeing Su Lin, tried to smile, but it turned into an awkward expression. Alright, Xia Shiyu, dont force a smile. If you cant smile, then dont. Whats really going on? Tell us. We might be able to help you. Yeah, Xia Shiyu, whats going on? Ever since we went to see your father, youve been acting strange these days, speaking absent-mindedly. I Xiaowan, Su Lin, dont ask. I cant say. It would have been better if Xia Shiyu didnt say this. As soon as she said this, Lin Xiaowans face changed. She looked at Xia Shiyu and said seriously, Xiaoyu, what happened? Dont scare me. Woo woo!! Xiaowan Dont ask, I really cant say. Looking at Xia Shiyus serious expression, Lin Xiaowan could only helplessly compromise, Alright, alright, I wont ask. Xia Shiyu, something must have happened. You must remember that Im here for you, and so is Su Lin. Well help you. Su Lin nodded. Xiaowan is right, we will definitely help. Shiyu, you dont have to worry too much about Uncle Xias kidney transplant. Xiaowan and I will help. She knew about Ye Feng hoarding equipment, but her emotions were in turmoil. Despite many days passing, there was no improvement, and her heart had sunk. The discomfort wasnt about the possible loss of the eighty thousand Ye Feng borrowed. Instead, it was the sadness of not knowing how to explain it to Lin Xiaowan and Su Lin when the time comes. Especially Su Lin, who generously donated so much money to her. Instead of using it to get her father treated, she let someone use it to hoard equipment on a game. Xia Shiyu wanted to slap herself. How could she be so stupid? Now, she was panicking. At this time, Ye Feng sat in his seat and looked at Su Lin and the other two outside. He kept saying, Soon, soon, it will be sold. Xiaoyu, wait for me. Once it rises by another two thousand, Ill sell all the necklaces. Then therell be money to treat Uncle Xia. Su Lin, humph, dont ever think about touching my Xiaoyu. Youre better off being a scumbag!! Chapter 23: Taking Action! Chapter 23: Taking Action! Chapter 23 : Taking Action! Xia Shiyus problem did not end like this. After sending Xia Shiyu back to her seat, Lin Xiaowan came out of the classroom again to find Su Lin. Xiaowan, why did you come out again? Su Lin looked at her with some surprise. Lin Xiaowan, with a serious expression, said, Su Lin, I think Shiyus changes are related to Ye Feng. Uhh Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan with some astonishment. This girl was indeed clever, figuring it out so quickly. He was grateful that his previous trap was well-planned; otherwise, with Lin Xiaowans intelligence she would have revealed something. Why do you think so? Su Lin also became serious and asked. Shiyas changes started after the day we went to the hospital. But on our way there, she was still fine, chatting and laughing with us. Although she was worried about her dad, it wasnt to the extent of being absent-minded. On the way back, Shiyas attitude changed significantly. Do you remember she didnt say a word on the way back? Su Lin nodded; at that time, Shiyu had already given the money to Ye Feng, so it was natural for her to start worrying. Thats why she acted that way. Indeed, she didnt say a word on the way back. But at that time, none of us were in the mood for talking. We visited Uncle Xia, and seeing him like that, who would be in the mood for laughter? Su Lin explained. Lin Xiaowan nodded, But these days, Ye Feng occasionally goes to talk to Shiya. Every time Ye Feng leaves, Shiyas face becomes pale and lost. Xiaowan, you care too much about Shiyu. From childhood to now, although it seems like I have many friends, very few are true friends. Shiya is someone I genuinely care about, so I will definitely pay extra attention to her. Su Lin nodded and expressed his understanding. But Shiyu doesnt want to talk about it, what can you do? Su Lin smiled and said, Its the same everywhere in the world; there are so many black market dealers. Unfortunately, these guys are just second-rate merchants, sipping soup. But if they want to sip soup, they better act quickly, or they might end up choking on it themselves. Su Lin wore an enigmatic smile on his face as he observed the situation. Some of the black market dealers were buying hundreds of necklaces from him. Su Lin didnt care; those black market dealers could buy however many they wanted. Anyway, the money was in his hands. As for whether the black market dealers would fail, it was not something he should worry about. It was normal for merchants to lose money and earn money. Moreover, these merchants were not fools. They knew that the sooner they sold the goods, the sooner they would be safe. Meanwhile, in the Xingfu Residential Area in Zhongjiangs old town, Ye was also keeping an eye on the Necklace of Fates prices. His family did not have the money to buy a computer, so he could only determine the price by looking at the forum posts on his phone. 3,500 now, a fivefold profit. No rush, wait a bit longer. Sell at 5,000, then there will be enough money for Uncle Xia Junmings kidney transplant. Due to Su Lins malicious price manipulation, Ye Feng had to raise his internal price to ensure it covers Xia Junmings kidney transplant cost. Little did he know that a huge trap was waiting for him. At this moment, Su Lin was writing an email. [City of Angels Epic Bug Necklace of Fate, the splash effect is infinitely stacked!!!]. Im sorry, Ye Feng, and the black market dealers in Angel City. Although Im doing this with the intention of flipping the table, I cant help it. Fate has destined me to be the antagonist, and you, Ye Feng, are fated to be incompatible with me. Since thats the case, dont blame big brother for being ruthless. Su Lin is unaware of whether the official developers have discovered the Necklace of Fates bug. If they have, thats great, but if not, theyll need his assistance. He is helping the official developers discover this major loophole, and once identified, theyll surely patch it immediately. To prevent Ye Feng from seizing the opportunity, he must ensure the official developers discover this bug sooner. After all, Ye Feng is the protagonist, who knows, he might decide on a whim to sell all the necklaces. After finishing the email, it was already late at night. Su Lin directly created a new account and sent it anonymously to the official email. Done! With a snap of his fingers, Su Lin turned off the computer. Xiao Yu, dont blame me for being ruthless. Dont worry, Ill pay for Uncle Xias treatment. Su Lin quite likes Xia Shiyu, after all, fictional characters and living people evoke completely different feelings. Chapter 24: Protagonist is about to show off, and Su Lin wants to make a bet Chapter 24: Protagonist is about to show off, and Su Lin wants to make a bet Chapter 24 : Protagonist is about to show off, and Su Lin wants to make a bet In the morning, Ye Feng walked with an air of confidence. Today is Saturday, originally he planned to sell the necklace after the monthly exams, but now it seems that the price might reach 5,000 tonight. He never expected the price to increase in value so rapidly. In his previous life, Xu Jie mentioned a transitional period of about half a month. However, after the rebirth, he realized how terrifying this game could be. The necklace''s price changes every hour. Last night, it was still 3,500 on the forum, and when he woke up, it had already risen to 4,000. Besides marveling at people being so wealthy, all that remained was anticipation for the price to rise further. Arriving at school, Xu Jie immediately found Ye Feng. Brother Feng, have you played Angel City? Ye Feng nodded, Yes, just played a bit less these days. Xu Jie, feeling uneasy, said, Brother Feng, your recent absence from the game is a real loss. Let me tell you, someone in Class 7 sold a Necklace of Fate in the Internet cafe yesterday, right on the spot. Can you guess how much it sold for? How much? 2,500! Unbelievable! 2,500, that''s quite high. Ye Feng made a surprised gesture. Xu Jie continued, High? Not at all. Right after that person bought it, others started bidding. It immediately went up to 3,000. Later, I found out in the guild that there''s a bug in the Fate of Necklace. Now all major guilds are buying them to fight world bosses. Last night, World Conqueror''s guild fought two world bosses and got a Contest Order. I heard that it could have been sold for 300,000, but World Conqueror didn''t want to sell it. Ye Feng listened with delight, Is this necklace really that valuable? More than just valuable. This necklace has been constantly increasing in price. I bet if the bug isn''t fixed, it''ll easily reach 10,000. Ye Feng shook his head, 10,000 is unlikely. As the necklace becomes more popular, in a few days, the entrance of the dungeon will be crowded. By then, there will be more Necklace of Fate. Uh... That makes sense, but it''s definitely going to rise. World Conqueror''s guild is the only guild that has a Necklace of Fate per member. The other major guilds haven''t acquired them yet. Sigh! Tell me, why is my luck so bad? I spent half a day in the dungeon yesterday, but I didn''t even get a single drop. Haha~!!! Brother Jie, I still have something to do, you go play first. Alright, then I''ll leave first. Seeing Xu Jie run away, Ye Feng walked to Xia Shiyus side. Shiyu, dont go to the hospital after school tonight. Come with me to the Internet cafe. Xia Shiyus eyes widened. Ye Feng, you mean Ye Feng nodded. Its time to collect the goods. Lets go collect the money together tonight. How much? Xia Shiyu asked curiously. Do you dare to make a bet with me? Why wouldnt I dare? Su Lin looked at Ye Feng and Feng Yifei with some disappointment. This time, Feng Yifei was going to be humiliated. It was an old-fashioned face-slapping play. Su Lin expressed indifference and looked at Lin Xiaowan, who was watching the scene, and asked, Xiaowan, why dont you stop them? Lin Xiaowan smiled, Let Ye Feng learn a lesson. His grades are so poor, yet hes so overconfident. I really dont know who gave him that confidence. Su Lin chuckled, Are you suggesting that Ye Feng will lose? Lin Xiaowan nodded confidently, If its against Feng Yifei, Ye Feng might have a chance, but against Yan Huan, its impossible. Su Lin snapped his fingers. I think Ye Feng will win. Oh? Feng will win. Oh? Lin Xiaowan, intrigued, looked at Su Lin, Based on what? Just intuition. Hehe~!! Learning isnt assessed by intuition; its about capability. How about we make a bet? Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan with a sly smile. What bet? Lin Xiaowan asked with interest. Su Lin smiled, Simple. Lets bet on whether Ye Feng or Yan Huan will win. I bet on Ye Feng. If I win, next Sunday, youll go out with me. And whatever I choose for our outing, youll have to participate. Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaowans cheeks blushed slightly. It was well-known in the class that Su Lin liked her, but Su Lin had always been proper in their interactions, treating each other like friends. She had almost forgotten about this due to their usual interactions. Unexpectedly, Su Lin was now inviting her out, and the purpose was evident. Seeing that Lin Xiaowan did not respond, Su Lin asked, Are you afraid of losing, or dont want to go out with me? Hmph, you think you will win? Su Lin shook his head. Before the results are out, no one dares to say that they will win, but I think Ye Feng will win. You brought this upon yourself. So, what if I bet on Huan winning, and you lose? Su Lin shrugged, You decide. As long as its something I can do and not illegal, Ill agree to it. Looking at Su Lins doting eyes, Lin Xiaowans heart trembled. This gaze was too sweet and easily intoxicating. She looked to the side and did not look at Su Lin and said, Okay! Then its a deal. After that, she looked at Su Lin and said, Su Lin, you will lose. Hehe, we will wait and see!!! Chapter 25: Fatal Blow Chapter 25: Fatal Blow Seeing Su Lin''s calm and composed smile, Lin Xiaowan asked with amusement, Su Lin, why are you so confident in Ye Feng? What''s your basis? Su Lin couldn''t reveal that the current Ye Feng was reborn, with enhanced memory making him a monster. Making up a reason, he casually said, It''s the power of love, of course. Although Ye Feng and Yan Huan aren''t dating, his feelings for Yan Huan before were genuine. Just imagine, if someone you truly liked treated you like that, wouldnt you strive to improve yourself? Lin Xiaowan nodded, Makes sense. Although I havent been in a relationship, if something like this happened to me, I would also strive to improve also. But Su Lin, you''ve overlooked one thing. The monthly exams are less than a week away. Even if Ye Feng studies non-stop, his grades won''t improve that quickly. Su Lin shrugged, That''s not certain. Human potential is limitless. Hehe, I''m already thinking about what you should do when you lose. Su Lin rubbed his chin and smiled, Then I should think about where to take you for fun. I heard there''s an amusement park at the border of Jiangning and Changning, and they have a haunted house. Xiaowan, we''ll go there when the time comes. Ah!! Lin Xiaowan was in a dilemma. Despite being fearless almost her entire life, she was scared of ghosts and zombies. Even though she knew they were fake, she couldn''t help it, she was still afraid of them. She hadn''t expected Su Lin to take her to a haunted house if Ye Feng really won. Just thinking about that scene gave Lin Xiaowan chills. Su Lin smiled and didn''t continue to scare Lin Xiaowan. The news of Ye Feng and Yan Huan''s be spread throughout the senior high school in less than half a day. Almost no one thought highly of Ye Feng. It couldn''t be helped. His poor grades had been deeply rooted in people''s hearts, and Yan Huan''s grades were really good. The gap between them was too big. After school, Su Lin didn''t wait for Chen Yang. They had already switched to online contact through QQ. So, there was no need for Su Lin to wait for Chen Yang after school, especially since he had a driver to pick him up, making him one of the earliest to arrive home than many of his classmates. He turned on the computer and logged into the game as soon as he got home. [The game needs to be updated...]. [Greetings, dear player. Due to abnormal game data]. Good sh*t! It seems like the developers have patched it. Ye Feng, oh Ye Feng, how are you going to play this time? Although he didn''t know how much Ye Feng borrowed from Xia Shiyu, Su Lin estimated it to be at least fifty to sixty thousand. Since the game patch has been released, the Necklace of Fate will now become worthless. Now that the Necklace of Fate could no longer be stacked infinitely, and the fixed value had also been changed. Forget about reducing the price to fifty yuan; no one would buy it even for twenty yuan now. Ye Feng opened the forum and began to read the posts. A post with a red line at the top instantly caught his attention. [Necklace of Fate bug fixed, World Conqueror might be the biggest winner.] . [Necklace of Fate bug official patched released.]. [Necklace of Fate bug fixed, price plummeted, black market dealers became the biggest loser.] [Necklace of Fate] Ye Feng collapsed into the chair like he had lost his soul, This How is this possible. Feng, what happened? Can you tell me? Xia Shiyu asked with concern. Ye Feng, with bloodshot eyes, looked at Xia Shiyu, Xiaoyu, the Necklace of Fates bug has been fixed. The equipment is now worthless. What do you mean by worthless? Ye Feng smiled bitterly, It means that the over a thousand necklaces I have are only worth a few thousand bucks now. Ah~!! Xiaoyu, listen to me. I I still have other ways Xia Shiyu burst into tears. Xiao Feng, youre lying to me, right? What you said is foolproof. I Shiyu, I still have other ways. Shiyu, listen to me, I can still Dont say it, dont say it, Ye Feng, dont say it. Shiyu I want to know how much of the 80,000 yuan is left. Xia Shiyu forced herself to calm down. This If I had sold it earlier, I could have recovered a few thousand yuan. But with the bug fixed, such a large amount of necklaces wont be sold quickly. Ye Feng smiled bitterly again. With a look of misery, Xia Shiyu said, Ye Feng, take your time to sell those necklaces. I my dad is still in the hospital; I have to go take care of him. After saying this, Xia Shiyu stumbled out of the internet cafe. Ye Feng wanted to chase after her to explain something but was pushed away by Xia Shiyu. Ye Feng, can you leave me alone? I Seeing Xia Shiyus saddened face, Ye Feng wanted to say that he had other ways, but Xia Shiyu wouldnt listen to a single word. He could only lower his head and let Xia Shiyu leave. Chapter 26: System Activated, Su Lins Hand Slipped! Chapter 26: System Activated, Su Lin''s Hand Slipped! Su Lin, who was doing his homework at home, suddenly heard a sound in his mind. [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for completing the activation requirements. The Supervillain System has been activated.]. [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a warm gift pack. Do you wish to activate it?]. Activate!! [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the skill : Retentive Memory.]. [Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the skill : Eight Extremes Fist (Master)]. [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the skill : Appraisal (can inspect an individual''s basic information and favorability)]. [Ding~! Due to the host''s suppression, the protagonist Ye Feng''s memory ability has been reduced by 10%. Memories of his previous life have been reduced by 10%.]. [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a comprehensive body enhancement.]. For a full twenty minutes, Su Lin absorbed the changes brought about by the system. As if his body had been enhanced, his previous one-pack abdominal had disappeared and was replaced by an eight-pack abs. Eight Extreme Fist, Tiger Lunge, Iron Mountain Lean, Half-step Crushing Fist, and so on seemed to have been engraved in his bones. System, are you there? [Yes, host.]. I want to ask whether this world is a straightforward rebirth novel world or a composite of multiple novels. Su Lin, who had read villainous novels, knew very well that protagonists like Ye Feng were of the lowest level. If characters like the God of War''s return, the Physician descending the mountain, or the Immortal rebirth appeared, things would get complicated. [Host, this is a world that is constantly improving and evolving. The possibility of other characters appearing from other novels in the future cannot be ruled out.] Uh... I was just f*king celebrating the fact that I gained strength and martial arts, and now this?! [Host, instead of putting your thoughts on this, why don''t you think of ways to suppress the protagonist Ye Feng and obtain more abilities?]. Uh... that makes sense. Tell me, what tasks do you have? [This system is called the Supervillain System. As the name suggests, its purpose is to create a supervillain.]. [This system''s only mission: The host needs to suppress the protagonist through his own arrangements, pursue the female lead, and change the original plot''s direction. Each time the task is completed successfully the system will reward you accordingly.]. Ye Feng, who was thinking of a way to sell the items, suddenly felt like he had lost something, but it also felt like he had lost nothing. Eh? Why did I suddenly feel like I lost something? Anyway I should hurry up and sell all my equipment so that I can stop the bleeding. Ye Feng finally realized what was going on. Because of his arrival in this world, there were many butterfly effects, and these butterfly effects led to the current situation. For example, the Necklace of Fate was a relatively large butterfly effect. He regretted not selling them sooner. While he was occupied with the current situation he failed to notice that some of the memories in his mind were gradually becoming blurry. If I had sold it last night, I would have hundreds of thousands of yuan by now. Sigh. Oh well, it''s time to strategize for the long term. As for Shiyu, I''ll let her calm down for a bit. Little did Ye Feng know that Xia Shiyu was already disappointed towards him. She walked alone in the street, chagrined and regretful. Why did she believe Ye Feng after hearing a few words? Why did she spend all her money on some gaming equipment? She cried too hard earlier so she didn''t feel much. Now that she came back to her senses, she realized that with every breath she took, she could feel the strong masculine scent on Su Lin''s body. The scent with hormones made her body soft and unable to muster up any strength. Xia Shiyu didn''t dare to look at Su Lin as she buried her face in his chest and sobbed, Su Lin, I did something wrong. Su Lin, with both hands embracing Xia Shiyu''s back to prevent her from falling, smiled, Oh? What happened? I took the money you donated... Xia Shiyu quietly told Su Lin everything that happened during the past few days. The past few days were her most depressing days. Even when Xia Junming was diagnosed with uremia and felt helpless, she wasn''t this depressed. Su Lin, you''re not mad at me right? It''s eighty thousand yuan. Su Lin laughed, Since I gave it to you, spend it however you like. If the investment fails, it can only be attributed to your capabilities. But Xiaoyu, are you still treating me and Xiaowan as outsiders? You believed Ye Feng''s few words, why didn''t you believe that I could help you? Su Lin lightly patted Xia Shiyu''s perky buttocks. Ying~~~ Su Lin... You''re bullying me!!! Shiyu, if I said my hand slipped, would you believe me? Originally, Su Lin planned to gradually improve his relationship with Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan. But after finding out that this world had more than one child of destiny, Su Lin felt that time was not on his side. He felt he should speed things up a bit and get more rewards; otherwise, if those war gods, dragon kings, and immortal beings really showed up, he would be in a tight spot. Casually, he used his Appraisal Skill on Xia Shiyu. [Supervillain System]. Name: Xia Shiyu Age: 17 years old Height: 162cm Weight: 44kg Current favorability : 70 Rising Chapter 27: You Bully!! Chapter 27: You Bully!! Chapter 27 : You Bully!! Xia Shiyu blushed and buried her face in Su Lins chest, not expecting him to tease her like that. Su Lin hugged Xia Shiyu and smirked at her. He wanted to see when this girl would dare to sit up. As the weather warmed up, people wore fewer clothes. Su Lin and Xia Shiyu both wore long sleeves and a jacket. Xia Shiyus jacket was open, so Su Lin could feel the softness in front of him. Seeing the sky getting darker, Su Lin checked the time and it was almost ten oclock. He patted Xia Shiyu again, Xiaoyu, how long do you plan to keep hugging me? Its already ten. Xia Shiyu knew that she couldnt drag it on any longer. She could only sigh and sit up. She shyly avoided looking at Su Lin. You just hugged me and didnt want to let go. What, you dont want to look at me now? Its not that Turning back, Xia Shiyu saw Su Lins mischievous face and quickly punched him, Su Lin, youre bullying me again. Wuwuwu Im already like this and youre still bullying me. Su Lin pinched Xia Shiyus little face and smiled. Im not bullying you. Youve hit me so many times and I dont dare to fight back. Fine~! Su Lin, you want to fight back I I Su Lin didnt wait for Xia Shiyu to finish her sentence, instead he pulled her and headed towards the car. Seeing the Merced Benz S350 car, Xia Shiyus expression dimmed. This car alone could save her father twice. Su Lins appearance, character, family, and academic performance were all top-notch. Su Lin was destined to encounter an outstanding girl, like Lin Xiaowan and she was destined not to be worthy of Su Lin. But Xia Shiyu knew that the throbbing in her heart was genuine. For a moment, Xia Shiyu panicked. If Su Lin gets a girlfriend in the future, he would definitely not come out in the middle of the night like tonight. Xia Shiyus face suddenly became as pale as paper. Su Lin, who was holding Xia Shiyu, felt the coldness of her little hand. Su Lin smiled. Shiyu, that bit of money wont be missed. Dont let it bother you.. It just so happens that I made a lot of money from my investments recently. I can lend it to you to treat Uncle Xias illness. Xia Shiyu quickly said, No, no, Su Lin, I cant take your money anymore. Su Lin stopped and pinched Xia Shiyus cheeks. Who said Im going to give you money? Youll have to pay it back later. So much money, I cant afford to pay it back.. Su Lin laughed. Im not in a hurry. You can pay me back slowly. If one year isnt enough, then two years. If two years isnt enough, then three years. I What ah? Were both underage. Do you think Ill take you to a hotel? Su Lin looked at Xia Shiyu like she was an idiot. But you can also take me home, Xia Shiyu said under her breath. What did you say? Speak up; I cant hear you when youre speaking so quietly. Looking at Su Lins face, Xia Shiyu couldnt say the words she had thought of just now. She could only Su Lin sighed, Ive been living alone for I dont know how long. My dad only comes back home for a few days a year. Dont worry; theres no one at my house. Ah, no one?! Yeah, whats with that look? Do you think I would plot something indecent against you?Su Lin said with a darkened expression. No, no, I just Alright, alright, we still have something important to do once we arrive at my house. Dont talk for now; were almost there. When Su Lin finished his words, Xia Shiyu looked out the car window and saw a row of villas. At the entrance of the villa area, Xia Shiyu stared blankly at the luxurious Jiangning Huating Villa. Although she had never lived in a villa before, she had heard of the most expensive villa area in Zhongjiang. Were here, get off. Okay. Xia Shiyu looked at the three-story villa in front of her and thought, since Im here, I might as well stay for the night. She wasnt worried that Su Lin would do something perverted. After all, they had known each other for a long time, and except for the slip of the hand earlier, Su Lin had always been very reliable. After entering the villa, Su Lin asked Xia Shiyu to sit in the living room while he went upstairs. Xia Shiyu felt a bit anxious, not sure what Su Lin was planning to do. Just as she was about to call Su Lin, he came down from upstairs.Its so late. Su Lin, what are you doing with a pen and paper? Su Lin said emotionlessly, Write an IOU and sign a contract of course. IOU? Contract? Of course. Arent you going to help your dad with the treatment? IOU is for the money you borrow from me, and the contract is for the time you will be working for me. Understand? Su Lin raised an eyebrow. Xia Shiyu nodded. But how do I work for you? Youll understand after reading the contract. Lets be clear, its entirely voluntary. If you agree, sign it; if not, just leave it be. Chapter 28: Xia Shiyus Thoughts Chapter 28: Xia Shiyu''s Thoughts Su Lin sat down next to Xia Shiyu and placed a template IOU in front of her. Just write according to this template. When Xia Shiyu saw the template, her eyes were filled with gratitude. Su Lin, did you already plan to lend me the money? Su Lin nodded, Of course. Considering our entire Jiangning First High School, there are only a few people with the capability to help you. Xiaowan has the ability, but she herself doesn''t have that much money. I''m different; my money is self-earned, so lending it to you is no burden. After careful consideration, I realized that if I didn''t help you, what would you do? If Uncle Xia really passed away, you would be completely alone with no one to rely on, and your relatives would fight over the inheritance. You might even lose your house, living at other''s mercy. Su Lin~! Xia Shiyu covered her mouth with one hand and quickly picked up a pen to sign the IOU. [Ding~! Xia Shiyu''s favorability towards the host has reached 90.]. Seeing this, Su Lin smiled. When Xia Shiyu hesitated at the amount section on the IOU, Su Lin suggested, Let''s start with six hundred thousand. Uncle Xia will need to stay in the hospital for some time after the surgery. Okay!! Xia Shiyu had already figured it out. Eight hundred thousand might take her ten or twenty years to repay. She would use the last half of her life to repay Su Lin. Even if Su Lin did something excessive to her, she was willing. After all, in this world of 2002, the economy was comparable to Earth''s 2010, and everyone was earning around two thousand. Eight hundred thousand was a huge sum, not everyone could afford it, and certainly not everyone would be willing to lend it. With this thought in mind, Xia Shiyu stopped being pretentious. She was very fast and signed the IOU in a few minutes. Su Lin, do I need to put my fingerprint on the IOU? No, it''s just a formality. What fingerprint? I don''t have red mud in my home. Su Lin chuckled. Haha, aren''t you afraid that I won''t pay up? Hahaha, Xia Shiyu, even if I didnt let you sign this IOU, you would remember it very clearly. Um, okay. The IOU is signed. Now, sign the contract. Xia Shiyu took the contract without even looking at it and signed it directly. Don''t you want to look at the contents of the contract? This is a work contract. Your future work content is all in it. Arent you afraid that Ill sell you off? Su Lin raised his eyebrows. Sell me? I dont think Im worth sixty thousand even if Im sold. As for the job description, you can tell me later. Xia Shiyu said sweetly. Until Su Lin appeared and made some slip of the hand actions towards her, did she realize that in this world, there was not only family but also love and her love had already appeared at some point in time. You dont have to worry about Uncle Xias surgery anymore. Do you want to celebrate? Su Lin suggested. Xia Shiyu nodded. Okay, since theres no class tomorrow, lets celebrate. But its already so late. How do we celebrate? Su Lin laughed. The house lacks everything except cigarettes and alcohol. Wait here, Ill go get it. Seeing Su Lin rush away eagerly, Xia Shiyu was also filled with anticipation. After being in the villa for so long, Xia Shiyu finally had the mood to look at some of the furnishings and decorations in Su Lins home. Su Lins villa was a typical duplex villa with an outer courtyard and a garage. In addition to the sofa, the living room walls had an old-looking calligraphy painting. Although Xia Shiyu didnt understand, she could tell that the painting was extraordinary. It seemed to be the handwriting of some ancient tycoon. The villas decoration leaned towards an antique style, with a cold color scheme. However, Xia Shiyu didnt feel a stuffy atmosphere. On the contrary, she felt that this kind of decoration was very retro, with a unique style. Soon Xia Shiyus attention was quickly drawn to the coffee table. Under the coffee table were many photos, mostly of Su Lin in his childhood, which looked very cute. Shiyu Shiyu, what are you doing? Youre so focused. Su Lin, I didnt expect you to be so cute when you were a child. Su Lin followed Xia Shiyus gaze and saw that there was a photo of a child who was about five or six years old. He was riding on a small wooden horse, wearing a cape and holding a wooden sword in his hand like a general going to war. Uh. these were taken at the photo studio before. Hehe, so cute. Saying that, Xia Shiyu pinched Su Lins face, Too bad, your face was chubby back then, and now its all slim. Its normal for it to slim down. Su Lin grabbed Xia Shiyus hand to stop her from pinching further. Let me pinch a few more times; you just pinched my face earlier. Ahem. Chapter 29: Drunk Chapter 29: Drunk Chapter 29 : Drunk At this moment, Su Lin deeply regretted suggesting to celebrate with Xia Shiyu. Watching Xia Shiyu hugging a bottle of wine, her face flushed, her eyes soft like silk, swaying as if she could fall at any moment, Su Lin felt a headache. He didnt expect this girl to be so bad at drinking. I thought she could handle it when she drank a whole glass in one go. Now, she looks like a drunken fist martial artist. Waving her small hands, Xia Shiyu cheerfully said, Su Lin, Su Lin, come and drink, why are you just standing there? Su Lin shook his head, Xia Shiyu, youre already drunk. Its better not to drink anymore. Rest early. Xia Shiyu held the bottle and shouted like a puppy protecting its food, No, Su Lin, we agreed that you have to drink with me today. You dont know, I almost jumped into the river today to kill myself. If it werent for you, I probably wouldnt want to live now. Looking at Xia Shiyu, Su Lin sighed as he contributed a lot to her becoming like this. But Su Lin was not proud about it. Speaking of which, he didnt have any grudges with Ye Feng. But there was no choice; their positions were different, no personal grudges, just because of different positions. So he had to suppress Ye Feng, and if necessary in the future, he might even have to eliminate Ye Feng. Su Lin, drink with me~!! Looking at Xia Shiyus drunken eyes, Su Lins heart softened. Okay, okay, okay, Ill drink with you. Lets drink to our hearts content today. Yeah, Su Lin, youre the best, I love you. Mua~!! Hehe~! Drink. Su Lin touched the side of his face that Xia Shiyu had kissed, still carrying a hint of alcohol. You girl, I dont know if youll die of embarrassment when you wake up tomorrow. What is this? After squeezing it again, she realized what it was and it seemed like she had squeezed on some abs. Suddenly, Xia Shiyus whole person became alert, and the alcohol disappeared in that split second. She opened her eyes and saw a perfect, handsome face. It was Su Lin. Xia Shiyu immediately reacted and looked at Su Lins appearance. He should be asleep. Xia Shiyu quietly pulled her hand out, then she gently got up. She carefully looked at herself and Su Lin. Although their clothes were messy, they were still wearing them and didnt take them off. Xia Shiyu breathed a sigh of relief and began to think about what happened last night while she was drinking with Su Lin. She covered her face with both hands. Xia Shiyu, Xia Shiyu, how could you do such a thing? You even took the initiative to kiss Su Lin. Youre too unreserved. Xia Shiyu patted her burning face and wanted to find a hole to crawl into. She was very glad that Su Lin was still asleep, she felt that she could just go and die. But she was able to do what she didnt have the courage to do yesterday. Xia Shiyu tiptoed down from the bed. Just as she put on her shoes, she saw Su Lins upper body exposed. She didnt know when his clothes were pushed up, revealing his eight-pack abs which were very eye-catching. Wow! Su Lins body is so good. I couldnt see it when hes wearing clothes. I didnt expect him to have abs. She covered her eyes with one hand and pulled the blanket over Su Lin with the other. Im going to die, Im going to die, so embarrassing. Xia Shiyu, Xia Shiyu, why did you do so many embarrassing things last night? Su Lin must be laughing at you. She covered her red cheeks and thought of the sensation on her palm just now. Xia Shiyu felt like her hand was no longer clean. Mhmm!! Suddenly hearing Su Lins soft groan, Xia Shiyu almost jumped up in shock. Fortunately, she managed to control herself. She glanced at Su Lin sneakily. Thankfully, Su Lin was just turning over. She quietly covered him with the blanket again and tiptoed out of the room. She didnt dare to close the door. She was afraid that the sound of the door closing would wake Su Lin up. She could only sneak out. Chapter 30: Ye Feng’s Actions Chapter 30: Ye Feng¡¯s Actions Chapter 30 : Ye Fengs Actions Sulin woke up to a pleasant fragrance of food, feeling sore and tired when he opened his eyes. Damn, how can I feel sore and tired with my physique? Xia Shiyu, what did you do last night? Sulin complained while moving his fingers. Last night, he brought Xia Shiyu to the guest room, but as he was about to put Xia Shiyu on the bed and go back to rest. However, Xia Shiyu clung onto him and couldnt be put down. In the end, Xia Shiyu pushed him away and the two of them fell onto the bed together and the two fell asleep together. Although Xia Shiyu was beautiful, being pressed down by her for a whole night was not a good feeling. Especially his shoulder, it felt like it was crippled. F*ck! I cant let this girl drink anymore in the future. Su Lin made up his mind to never let Xia Shiyu drink again. After a simple cleanup, Su Lin went downstairs. Is it auntie whos cooking, or is it Shiyu? This smell, its so fragrant, it shouldnt be the cook. Sulin murmured, following the enticing aroma to the kitchen. Sure enough, he saw Xia Shiyu wearing an apron and stirring the pot with a spoon.Visit for the best novel reading experience Su Sulin, youre awake. I saw ingredients in the fridge, so I made porridge, Xia Shiyu explained. This porridge has a great effect on sobering up and relieves the effects of alcohol. Su Lin heard her and said, Relieves the effects of alcohol? You were drunk on the spot, and you still need to relive it? Xia Shiyu blushed as she thought of the awkward scene when she woke up in the morning. Xia Shiyu subconsciously looked at Su Lins lower abdomen, the eight pack. What are you looking at? Uhh nothing. Su Lin, have you washed up? If not, go. Xia Shiyu urged Su Lin. Shiyu, are you chasing me away? Xia Shiyu didnt say anything, instead she walked in front of Su Lin and pushed him out of the kitchen. She wasnt ready to face Su Lin yet because she was too embarrassed about what happened last night, but Su Lin suddenly came downstairs. He smiled and went to wash up and freshen himself up. He knew that Xia Shiyu was easily embarrassed, so he didnt tease her. Ten minutes later, Su Lin finished washing up. Su Lin raised his eyebrows. Go to the countryside? It seemed that Ye Feng had found a way to make a fortune again. It made sense because Ye Feng suppose to get his first bucket of gold by hoarding equipment but failed due to Su Lin. To circumvent this, there must be other ways for Ye Feng to be able to get another opportunity since his a destiny child. Su Lin felt lucky to have Chen Yang if it wasnt for him informing him about what he and Ye Feng was about to do. He wouldnt have been able to suppress Ye Feng this time around. Su Lin laughed. Why are you going to the countryside so early in the morning? We plan to buy medicinal herbs together. He cant handle it alone, so he asked me for help, Chen Yang replied. Sulin instantly understood. Medicinal herbs in the countryside were inexpensive, but their prices would skyrocket once brought to Zhongjiang or Donghai. After contemplating, Sulin said, So, are you both planning to sell these herbs? Should be. Ye Feng said hes going to buy gastrodia elata and sell it in Donghai. Gastrodia elata? Quite interesting. Yangzi, go with them. While youre there, investigate the stock of gastrodia in the countryside and the demand in Donghai. Well handle the trade ourselves for a better profit. Brother Lin, well do it ourselves? Mhmm, how much did Ye Feng pay you? He said hell pay me three hundred per trip. Su Lin sneered. Three hundred? By the way, you havent spent all the twenty thousand I gave you, right? Yes, theres still a lot left. Okay, if we can make money, you can use the money in your hands. You didnt get to eat meat last time. This time, you can have some soup. Brother Lin Thats settled then. Chapter 31: Indifference Chapter 31: Indifference After Ye Feng approached him, his first thought was that three hundred yuan was still money, just a matter of running an errand. But when Su Lin found out, he quickly identified the business opportunities in it and wanted to bring him along to make money. Chen Yang had experienced Su Lin''s generosity; whenever he made a move, it resulted in millions of income and dozens of times in profit. Su Lin even involved him in this venture, investing over ten thousand this time, which would undoubtedly bring in a substantial return. Ye Feng, on the other hand, was much more stingy. Giving him three hundred yuan as an errand fee was treating him like a servant. Although Su Lin was rich, he never treated him as a servant, but as an equal. The difference in EQ between the two was obvious. At the same time, Ye Feng finally managed to convince his family with his glib tongue and gave him five thousand yuan. Adding on the Necklace of Fate he sold, he managed to recover three thousand yuan. He now had a total of eight thousand yuan in his hands. This eight thousand yuan is my starting point. Shiyu, wait for me for a few days. In a few days, I won''t let you down this time. Ye Feng looked at Xia Shiyu''s house, but unfortunately, he didn''t see anyone. He figured that Xia Shiyu should be taking care of her father in the hospital. Ye Feng clenched his fist. In my previous life, because of the abundant rain in Zhongjiang, the wild gastrodia was all fattened up. I heard from my uncle that the price in Donghai was raised to three hundred yuan per kilogram, which made a lot of pharmacists rich. This time, I''ll definitely make money. Ye Feng calculated in his mind. If he was in a hurry, he could make two trips today. The gastrodia in the countryside was only a few dozen yuan per kilogram, and this trip could turn eight thousand into forty thousand. As for the second trip, he probably wouldn''t have time to deliver the goods. It would be good if he could make it back in time, but he wasn''t worried. He could just ask his dad to sell the goods. Ye Feng''s idea was simple. As long as this thing could make money, he could convince his parents to let them take over the business. This year was a bumper harvest year for wild gastrodia. If they could collect all the gastrodia in Zhongjiang, Xia Shiyu''s father''s surgery fee would not be a problem. The reason why he didnt choose to make medicinal herbs was very simple. It was easy to hoard the Necklace of Fate, and it wouldnt waste much time and effort. He didnt expect that his first attempt at stocking up would be met with failure. This time, there would definitely be no problem in reselling gastrodia and this time, he was going to drag his family along. Ye Feng and Chen Yang met. Yang, thank you for your hard work today. Ill treat you to lunch later. Ye Feng knew how difficult Yang Chens family situation was, so he felt that treating Yang Chen to dinner was already good hospitality. Ye Feng shook his head and didnt explain. He just looked at the smiling Xia Shiyu with a deep gaze. It seemed that after his rebirth, things didnt develop as he expected. In his opinion, Su Lin must have done something to make Xia Shiyu have a good impression of him. It was probably related to Xia Shiyus fathers condition. Unfortunately, he didnt grasp the opportunity and Su Lin took advantage of it. Xiaoyu, wait for me. It wont be long before I can help you. Su Lin I didnt expect you to have feelings for Shiyu during high school. I really thought you were a romantic and only liked Lin Xiaowan in high school. Now it seems that you are a complete asshole. Thinking of this, Ye Feng was even angrier. He had to stop Su Lin and had to let Xia Shiyu see his true colors. But thinking that he didnt even have the courage to face Xia Shiyu, Ye Feng could only lower his head and walk towards the bus stop. However, realizing he lacked the courage to face Xia Shiyu at the moment, Ye Feng could only lower his head and head towards the bus station. Chen Yang followed behind, clearly observing Ye Fengs expressions. Chen Yang was also scolding Ye Feng as a scumbag. A few days ago, he nearly got into a fight with Feng Yifei over jealousy for Yan Huan. Now, he was starting to get jealous of Su Lin because of Xia Shiyu. This guy wasnt handsome and his grades werent good, but he was quite ambitious. Ye Feng couldnt grasp Yan Huan, and now he was eyeing Xia Shiyu. Compared to Su Lin, Ye Feng seemed like a child. Xia Shiyu and Su Lin seemed to have some kind of relationship, how could she be interested in Ye Feng? Su Lin, what are you looking at? Su Lin regained his senses. I just saw two familiar shadows. They seemed to be Ye Feng and the others. Xia Shiyus eyes were emotionless and indifferent. Only in front of Su Lin does she act cute. Su Lin, dont mention him in the future. He has nothing to do with me and I dont want to see him in the future. Su Lin rubbed Xia Shiyus head and nodded. Okay. Seeing Xia Shiyu like this, Su Lin felt a sense of relief. This result was exactly what he aimed for with his plan. And he knew Xia Shiyus personality. If she said she didnt want to talk to Ye Feng in the future, then she really wont talk to him. Xia Shiyu held Su Lins arm and said, Lets go. Okay!!! Chapter 32: Intercepted Again Chapter 32: Intercepted Again Chapter 32 : Intercepted Again Su Lin first took Xia Shiyu to the bank and transferred the money to her account. Then he took Xia Shiyu to play around in Zhongjiang. The two were like a couple in love as they wandered around Zhongjiang. Finally, during lunch, Su Lin received a message from Chen Yang. He and Ye Feng were already on their way back, but they didnt go back to Zhongjiang. Instead, they went straight to Donghai. Su Lin calculated the time and estimated that Ye Feng would arrive at Donghai around three or four oclock. It would be four or five oclock by the time he finished selling the goods. Zhongjiang was a coastal city, so they would arrive a bit later in the evening, but not too late. Knowing Ye Fengs personality, he would probably want to make another trip to earn more money with the funds in his hands. Thinking about this, Su Lin began to plan. Handling the purchase of medicinal herbs alone would be challenging, but with the help of Su Zhenguo, it would be much easier. Xiaoyu, after lunch, you go check on Uncle Xia and ask when they plan to schedule the surgery. Alright. Well, I have something to attend to in the afternoon. After Im done, Ill go see Uncle Xia. Xia Shiyu shook her head, My dad is not in the right state of mind now. Its useless for you to go see him. You better focus on your work. She then helped straighten Su Lins collar like a caring wife. Then Im leaving. Do you want me to drive you there? Xia Shiyu shook her head. No, you didnt drive. Hehe, although I didnt drive, it doesnt mean theres no car I can use to take you there. Su Lin grabbed Xia Shiyus hand decisively and said, Okay, Ill take you there. They took a taxi and Su Lin dropped Xia Shiyu to the hospital. He left under her reluctant gaze. As soon as Su Lin returned home, he called Su Zhenguo. He realized that he hadnt spoken to Su Zhenguo since he came to this world. Fortunately, with the memories of the previous Su Lin, he wouldnt reveal any flaws. Hey, Xiao Lin, how come you have time to call me today? Is it because you dont have enough money? Dad will send you one hundred thousand.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only Su Lins face darkened. Listening to the voice on the phone that sounded like he was coaxing a child, he finally understood why the previous Su Lin had developed such a personality. He was spoiled. Dad, you dont have to give me money. Im looking for you for serious business. Oh? Proper business? What business? Su Zhenguo was interested. Li Hongyang shook his head, Young Master Su, since the boss asked me to do things for you, there is no trouble. The boss said that it was rare for Young Master Su to do something serious, so he asked me to do what you asked. But I dont know how much gastrodia you are going to collect, the price, and how much are you going to sell? Su Lin smiled and said, To be honest, I dont know the purchase price yet, nor how much to collect. Er Li Hongyang and the others were dumbfounded on the spot. Sure enough, the entrepreneurship of a rich second generation was like a joke. Not knowing the purchase price, not knowing how much to buy, not knowing the selling price it was a classic case of not knowing anything. But Li Hongyang didnt intend to remind Su Lin. However, Li Hongyang had no intention of reminding Su Lin. Before leaving, Su Zhenguo had instructed him not to interfere in Su Lins affairs and to just follow Su Lins instructions. Obviously, Su Zhenguo wanted to see how capable Su Lin was. Just as they were whispering to each other, Su Lins phone rang. Chen Yang has already separated from Ye Feng. Chen Yang was not in the mood to care about the three hundred yuan in his hand, but called Su Lin immediately. Hello, Brother Lin. Yangzi, tell me the situation. I have prepared people and money. Tell me the situation. Okay, Brother Lin. After following Ye Feng to Donghai, I found out that there is a medicinal material market here. It doesnt look big, but its a wholesale market with great strength. Ye Feng bought more than fifty kilograms of gastrodia for eight thousand yuan and sold it in less than a minute at a unit price of 280 yuan per catty. Oh? Whats the purchase price? At the time it was 54 yuan. Su Lin could hear Chen Yang suppressing his excitement. No wonder. He spent twenty thousand yuan and came back with almost one hundred thousand yuan. Whats the demand? A lot, a lot. I dont know exactly how much it is, but Ye Fengs gastrodia was bought by others at a fast rate. They didnt even talk about the price and it was sold directly. Ye Feng just told me that it was a loss. Okay! Yangzi, come back quickly. I will arrange people to go to the countryside to collect from door to door. Chapter 33: Xia Shiyu Brings Breakfast for Su Lin Chapter 33: Xia Shiyu Brings Breakfast for Su Lin After getting the information he wanted, Su Lin arranged for Li Hongyang to collect the goods. Brother Yang, I''ll give you a purchase price of 50 yuan per kilogram. If you negotiate, you should be able to press it down a bit, and the money you save will be yours. Li Hongyang quickly waved his hand. No, no, Young Master Su, although I''m here to help, my position is still in the company. If the boss knows that I''m eating from both sides, I''ll be fired. Su Lin smiled, Don''t worry, you don''t have to be concerned about my dad. I''ll talk to him. If we manage to collect gastrodia from Zhongjiang and the surrounding counties, we should have about 20 tons, roughly 40,000 kilograms. Brother Yang, are you sure you dont want this hard-earned fee? Hiss~! Li Hongyang hadn''t calculated it before, thinking that collecting a few hundred kilograms for Su Lin would be a big deal. However, when Su Lin mentioned 40,000 kilograms, Li Hongyang realized he was tempted. Just a trip to the countryside, and in two or three days, he could make 40,000 yuan if the price dropped by one yuan per kilogram. This is just a conservative estimate. Zhongjiang''s gastrodia has a great harvest this year. Plus, those farmers used to store them at home. Brother Yang, if you don''t want it, I''ll let someone else do it. I want it! Why wouldn''t I? Su Shao, rest assured, this trip, I will dig up everything about their households for you. Li Hongyang pushed his glasses and said seriously. Su Lin nodded; this was exactly the effect he wanted. By giving Li Hongyang the opportunity to take a share, Su Lin made it clear what he meant. Dealing with smart people was advantageous; a little hint was all it took. Alright, Brother Yang, I won''t keep you any longer. Go and arrange it now. Time is of the essence. Li Hongyang nodded. He didn''t want to linger in Zhongjiang now. Pressing down the price by one yuan per kilogram would result in an income of 40,000 yuan. That was a lot of money. Su Lin gave Li Hongyang two million yuan. He wanted to give more, but Zhongjiang was only that big, and the production of gastrodia was limited. No matter how much money he had, it wouldn''t be useful if people didn''t have anything to sell. As for whether the gastrodia could be sold or not, Su Lin wasn''t worried at all. The wholesale market was called the wholesale market because it traded by the tone. In the end, Ye Feng brought more than 50 kilograms and was snatched away on the spot. It could be seen that there was a shortage of goods at this time. In the blink of an eye, Monday arrived. [Lin Xiaowan: 17 years old, 168 cm, 48 kg. Current favorability (60 rising).]. Xiaowan, have you eaten breakfast? Do you want to eat together? Lin Xiaowan shook her head. I''ve already eaten. I won''t eat your breakfast, in case you don''t have enough. Tsk... Okay then, I''ll eat it myself. Don''t drool. Su Lin opened the insulated box. As soon as he opened it, Lin Xiaowans eyes fell on Su Lins lunch box. Xia Shiyus hands were very skillful. She carefully arranged all the fruits and vegetables. Cute bears, flower platters, and so on. They all looked very nice. The lunch box had three layers. The first layer was cold food, the second layer was hot food, and the third layer was rice. Lin Xiaowan admitted that when she saw this breakfast, she felt that she could eat more. Su Lin looked at the carefully arranged plate and didnt know whether to laugh or cry. Xiao Yu, why did you arrange it so nicely? Im too embarrassed to eat it. Hehe, I just arranged it casually. Su Lin, hurry up and eat before self-study starts. Okay, then I wont hold back. Although the three of them came early, the way they talked as if no one else was around made the other students jealous. Especially when they saw that Xia Shiyu brought breakfast for Su Lin, some boys who liked Xia Shiyu wanted to kill Su Lin and sit in his seat. Mmm~! It tastes great. Xiaoyu, your cooking skills are so good; you could open a restaurant, and it would definitely be popular, Su Lin praised with a thumbs up. Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes, Su Lin, what are you saying? Those chefs in restaurants are all fat and big-headed. Xiaoyu wont be like them. Uh I was just making an analogy. You cant even make analogies. At least use a better comparison. Alright, you win. Chapter 34: Resolute Xia Shiyu Chapter 34: Resolute Xia Shiyu Chapter 34 : Resolute Xia Shiyu Seeing Su Lin enjoying his meal, Xia Shiyu didnt disturb him any further. Satisfied, she returned to her seat. Only Lin Xiaowan remained sitting on the side, occasionally glancing at Su Lins lunch box. Xiaowan, I invited you to join me for breakfast, but you declined. Now youre sneakily watching me eat. What kind of hobby is this? Su Lin caught Lin Xiaowan in the act, and her face blushed slightly. Im just looking at the nice presentation. Lin Xiaowan found an excuse for herself. Su Lin smiled and didnt expose Lin Xiaowan. He picked up the fruit plate on the first layer and handed it to her. After breakfast, you need to eat some fruit to digest. This time, Lin Xiaowan didnt refuse. She took the plate and said, Thanks~! Heh! Xiaoyu prepared so much. I cant finish it all by myself. It would be a waste to throw it away. Su Lin laughed. Lin Xiaowan, eating and asking, said, Su Lin, has Xiaoyus dads situation been completely resolved? Su Lin nodded, The money is ready, and the kidney source has been found. We just need to proceed with the transplant. After that, hell need to stay in the hospital for two or three months, and it should be fine. Even after a kidney transplant, it takes that long? Lin Xiaowan was somewhat surprised. Yes, after the kidney is changed, it needs to be observed to see if there will be any adverse reactions. If there is, they must take care of it in time. If he is at home, there wont be enough time, Su Lin explained. I feel like you know a lot about these things. Ive read some books. UhThe source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) While the two were talking, Ye Feng and Xu Jie walked into the classroom together. The moment Lin Xiaowan saw Ye Feng, her face darkened. Ye Feng, this guy still has the face to come. Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan and said, Xiaoyu told you about it? Lin Xiaowan nodded, She already told me. This guy is really disgusting, swindling 80,000 yuan from Xiaoyu. How can you call it swindling? Ye Feng borrowed it, Su Lin said, winking at Lin Xiaowan. Lin Xiaowan instantly understood Su Lins intention. Her mood improved a lot. Right, its borrowing. Borrowed money must be repaid. I borrowed it, not cheated, Ye Feng emphasized. Fine, if its borrowing and not cheating, then tell me when youll repay it. Xiaoyus dad is about to undergo surgery, waiting on the operating table. When can you repay it? I I Dont want to repay? If you dont, Xiaoyu can call the police for fraud. I can repay, Ye Feng said through gritted teeth. Xia Shiyu saw that Su Lin stood up for her and felt warm inside. As for calling the police, she didnt have such thoughts. However, Su Lin was helping her and she wasnt stupid enough to slap Su Lins face. Ye Feng looked at Xia Shiyu and said, Xiaoyu, believe me Okay, dont do this. Uncle Xia is going to have an operation this week. Theres a monthly exam on Thursday. Can you pay it back before the exam? I If you cant, then call the police. I can, Ye Feng gritted his teeth and said. Hehe, Xiaoyu, do you see? This is what happens when you lend money and it turns into animosity. Look at his current appearance; is he about to devour someone? Su Lin teased, pointing at Ye Feng. Xia Shiyu looked at Ye Feng emotionlessly and said, Su Lin, I dont want to talk to this person anymore. You take care of this. Okay. Su Lin snapped his fingers. You said you could pay it back. Before school ends on Wednesday, I hope you can pay it back. Otherwise, you can explain to the police. Then, Su Lin rubbed Xia Shiyus head and returned to his seat. Although there werent many students in the classroom, there were still a dozen students in the classroom. Because of Su Lin, no one dared to come and watch, but they couldnt stop gossiping. Some of the students had already gossiped and created a complete romantic drama. Of course, Su Lin didnt care about this. He just gave Ye Feng an ultimatum and walked back to his seat. Ye Feng saw Su Lins smug look and clenched his fist. He wanted to rush up and beat Su Lin up. Ye Feng, if you dare to do anything to Su Lin, you can go to jail. Ye Feng turned around and looked at Xia Shiyu. She looked like she was going to fight him to the death. [Ding ~! Congratulations to the host for defeating Ye Feng through Xia Shiyu. You have received a chance to draw from the Emperors Treasure Chest.]. [Ding~! System new function unlocked Emperors Treasure Chest.]. [Ding ~! Due to the hosts suppression, the main character Ye Fengs memory ability has been reduced by 10%. Memory of the previous life has been reduced by 10%.]. Chapter 35: Enticing Lin Xiaowan Chapter 35: Enticing Lin Xiaowan Chapter 35 : Enticing Lin Xiaowan Upon hearing the systems voice, Su Lin looked at Xia Shiyu with surprise. He had no idea what this girl had said to Ye Feng, but it seemed to have disrupted his defenses, breaking through significantly. It was a welcome development, as Ye Fengs past memories were reduced by ten percent, especially those dated memories now becoming somewhat fuzzy. After several rounds of suppression, Su Lin felt that Ye Feng was on the verge of collapse. Without the ability to foresee the future, it was useless no matter how good his grades were. His memory was also declining, and it wouldnt take long for him to return to the state of an ordinary person. Su Lin, what were you guys talking about over there? Why is Ye Fengs expression so bad? Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan who was trying hard to hold back her laughter and was speechless. Xiaowan, why do I feel like youre gloating? Hehe, is it that obvious? Lin Xi touched her pretty face and asked. Su Lin nodded. Its all on your face. Pushing Su Lins shoulder, Lin Xiaowan asked, So, what did you guys talk about? Well its nothing much. Ye Feng was calling me a bad person, and I was telling him to repay the money he owes, Su Lin replied casually. Ah, that explains why Ye Feng looks so miserable. Too bad I wasnt there; otherwise, Id give him a piece of my mind, Lin Xiaowan said. Su Lin teased, No need to regret; Ive already conveyed your sentiments. Hehe~! Hey, Xiaoyu doesnt look good either. Su Lin nodded. Ye Feng grew up with her, so its understandable shes upset. Xiaowan, maybe you can go and comfort her later. Lin Xiaowan nodded. No need to tell me; Ill do that. Mmm.Visit for the best novel reading experience After chatting with Lin Xiaowan, Su Lin began to study the Emperors Treasure Chest. To put it simply, this Emperors Treasure Chest was a random treasure chest, and anything could be drawn. Su Lin instantly lost interest. He understood the odds of this kind of lucky draw very well. Lucky draw. After a silent command, a tattered treasure chest appeared in Su Lins mind and started to roll. Then a golden light appeared. People are naturally curious when it comes to secret matters. And Lin Xiaowan, eager to understand Su Lin better, was particularly intrigued. Su Lin thought that it wouldnt take long for Xia Shiyu to enter his business territory. It was good to let her know something now. Heres the deal. Recently, there was a massive flood in the north of Hubei and the south of Anhui, causing a sharp drop in gastrodia production. From there, it triggered a demand surge across our Jiangnan Province. Luckily, this year in Zhongjiang, the wild gastrodia is thriving. Xia Shiyus brain turned quickly, and she blurted out, So you went to buy gastrodia? Su Lin snapped his fingers. Exactly. I had my people buy up all the Tianma in Zhongjiang at a cost of 50 yuan per pound. Meanwhile, the wholesale price in Donghai has soared to 300 yuan per pound. Just now, my employee called, and weve collected a total of 24 tons. What do you think? Is this something to be happy about? Wow! Both girls were astonished. Lin Xiaowan quickly did mental calculations and looked at Su Lin. So, you earned over ten million this time? Su Lin waved his hand. It hasnt been sold yet, but it shouldnt be a big problem. Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin as if she was looking at a monster. Im still feeling complacent about being the first in school every time, but your business is already so big. Su Lin, how did your brain develop? Su Lin chuckled. Life is full of business opportunities. Xiaowan, if you want to make money, we can start a business together. Ah! Forget it, my family doesnt want me to be involved in business. Dont want to be involved in business? Su Lin scoffed. In the original novel, Lin Xiaowan was influenced by Ye Feng, Lin Xiaowan eventually abandoned politics and turned to business, achieving remarkable success. Your family doesnt want you to be involved in business? It must be your dad who doesnt want you to be involved. Lin Xiaowan nodded. Su Lin, how do you know? Su Lin laughed. Your dads thoughts are very obvious. Is he looking down on businessmen? The economy of Huaxia is driven by us businessmen. Xiaowan, what about you? What do you think? I dont want to sit in an office with air conditioning for the rest of my life. Su Lin laughed. Then its settled. Lets start a business together. Even if you want to be a civil servant, there are still four years. In these four years, you should at least be yourself, right? Su Lin, why do I feel like youre encouraging me? Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin in a daze. Su Lin spread his hands. Ive never hidden my thoughts. Chapter 36: Chen Yang’s Concept of a Chain Supermarket Chapter 36: Chen Yang¡¯s Concept of a Chain Supermarket Chapter 36 : Chen Yangs Concept of a Chain Supermarket Lin Xiaowan was finally defeated by Su Lins aggressive gaze. She secretly thought that Su Lins gaze towards her was becoming more and more unscrupulous. Unfortunately, Xia Shiyu was always on the sidelines, cheering for him. As Lin Xiaowan only recognized Su Lin and Xia Shiyu as her friends, being together every day, she found that she was more and more afraid to look at Su Lin. His deep eyes, like a whirlpool, attracted her. Okay, Ill go back and think about it. Su Lins smile became more obvious. Lin Xiaowan said that she would think about it. The reason why she said that was because she wanted time to go home and deal with her parents. But Su Lin felt that it would be difficult for Lin Xiaowan to deal with her parents. They would definitely oppose her and this was exactly what he wanted. With Lin Xiaowans personality, she would make up her mind to start a business with him. Just as he returned to the classroom, Su Lin was about to sit around until school ended when he was called out by Chen Yang. Yang, why are you in such a hurry? The goods havent been sold yet. Why are you in such a hurry? Chen Yang shook his head. Brother Lin, Im not looking for you to ask for money. Su Lin was surprised. If youre not looking for money, then why are you looking for me? Chen Yang scratched his head and said, Brother Lin, do you remember asking me what I want to do? Su Lin nodded. Yeah, why? I already know what to do. Chen Yang was a little excited. Uh Tell me about it. Su Lin was a little surprised. Chen Yang was a qualified manager, but not a qualified entrepreneur. He didnt expect him to really come up with something. Chen Yang took a deep breath. Then Ill say it. I want to start a supermarket chain. What a joke! Wal-Mart and China Resources were all in the supermarket business. How could he look down on supermarket chains? The profit in this business was huge. Hearing Su Lins words, Yang Chen instantly felt his blood boiling. To have a supermarket in every district of Zhong Jiang City, how big of an industry would that be? And he would have a share in this industry. Su Lin said with a serious face, Yang, you have to think about it carefully. If you want to do it, you have to hurry up and open the supermarket before the college entrance exam. If you do that, your grades Yang Chen waved his hand and said, No problem, Brother Lin. In fact, I dont study after school. There are a lot of things to do at home every day, but my grades have never been bad. Well, if thats the case, then go ahead and do it. By the way, you can talk to Ye Feng more when you are free. Just dont tell him about the business. Ah!! Yang Chen looked at Su Lin in surprise. He didnt understand how Su Lin knew that his idea came from Ye Feng. It was definitely not Chen Yangs idea. He didnt have the ability to think like that. Then who else had contact with Chen Yang? It must be Ye Feng. The reason why Su Lin wanted him to have a good relationship with Ye Feng was very simple. He wanted to know more about this guy. Otherwise, if he didnt pay attention, his first bucket of gold would be in his hands. By then, it would be much harder to stop Ye Fengs development. Su Lin patted Yang Chens shoulder. He didnt want to expose this matter. Instead, he said, Recently, this guy has been bothering me and Xiaoyu. You deal with him. I see. Yang Chen suddenly realized. Su Lin nodded. When the time comes to open the company, I might ask Xiaoyu to come along. Yang, you have to be mentally prepared. Yang Chen was a bit disappointed. Brother Lin, you wont be involved? Su Lin smiled. Of course I will, but I wont be involved much. I mainly let Xiaoyu practice. Brother Lin, you and Xiao Yu Its what you think. What about Lin Xiaowan? Its the same. Yang Chen: Chapter 37: Herbal Business Also Failed? Chapter 37: Herbal Business Also Failed? Chapter 37 : Herbal Business Also Failed? After school in the afternoon, Su Lin planned to invite Xia Shiyu to ride with him in his car and drop her off at the hospital. However, when he reached the school gate, he saw that his usual driver Liu Yong wasnt the one who came this time, but Li Hongyang was. Su Lin waved goodbye to the two girls and walked to Li Hongyang. Brother Yang, why are you here? Wheres Uncle Liu? Li Hongyang smiled. I asked Old Liu to stay home as I have something to talk to you about so I came to pick you up instead. Su Lin saw Li Hongyangs eagerness and guessed why he was in such a hurry to find him. Okay, lets talk in the car. Okay. Once in the car, Su Lin got straight to the point, Brother Yang, do you want to talk to me about the sales of gastrodia? Li Hongyang nodded. Young Master Su, I really admire your insight. We usually dont have access to gastrodia for eight to ten years. How did you think of going to the countryside to buy this? Su Lin chuckled. I only had this idea because I heard it from my classmates. You dont know. I just completed the purchase this morning and someone called in the afternoon. They didnt even bargain and directly asked me to name the price. Su Lin realized, No wonder you came to find me. Heh, Im not familiar with this, so I ignored them and hung up directly. You mean you want the authority to sell these products? Su Lin raised an eyebrow. Su Lin paid for the purchase of gastrodia and Li Hongyang used the manpower and earned more than 200,000 yuan in less than a day. He tasted the benefits and of course wanted to ask Su Lin for the right to sell the product. Appraisal~! [Li Hongyang: Age 27, Height 175cm, Weight 67kg, Current loyalty 70 Rising.]. Ye Feng frowned. How is that possible? How were you not able to collect it? This year is a big year for gastrodia. Sigh, Ye Weimin sighed heavily, There was a wealthy man yesterday who went around in his car and bought all of it in the countryside on the spot, paying whatever price. I was a step too late. A step too late? So thats what happened. Ye Feng carefully thought about the purchase of gastrodia in his previous life, but he found that his originally clear memory had become blurry. He only remembered that during this period of time, a big medicine merchant came to collect gastrodia. But he actually couldnt remember which day it was. Yeah, those unscrupulous medicine merchants are really too evil. They drove around Zhongjiang and collected all the gastrodia that could be collected. Then what about the ones we have? Were you able to sell the ones we have? Ye Weimin nodded, and his expression became much better. We sold the ones we have and earned two hundred thousand. Ye Feng then noticed the money wrapped in two stacks of newspapers on the table. He went forward and took a stack and said, Dad, Ill take this stack. Ye Weimin clapped his hands. Leave it. Dad, I need it. You need it? What do you need it for? Ye Weimin frowned and looked at Ye Feng. Ye Feng knew that he had to convince Ye Weimin at this time, or else he wouldnt be able to pay back his debt. If he couldnt pay back the money, with Su Lins character, he would definitely call the police. By then, it might even delay the college entrance exam, so this money had to be paid back. Dad, its like this After a long rant from Ye Feng, Ye Weimin finally agreed to let Ye Feng take the hundred thousand. He felt that his son had grown up and was becoming somewhat incomprehensible. [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for successfully defeating Ye Feng by intercepting the gastrodia business and preventing him from getting his first bucket of gold. Received a chance to draw from the Emperors Treasure Chest.] [Ding~! Because the host intercepted Ye Fengs Gastrodia business and successfully suppressed the rise of the protagonist, the protagonist Ye Fengs memory was reduced by 10%. Memories of the previous life were reduced by 10%.] Ye Feng, who was a little excited with the money, felt his brain twitch again. It was as if nothing had happened, but also as if something had happened. Some memories were completely blurred, and some were completely forgotten. Chapter 38: Jealousy and Hatred (Old Version) Chapter 38: Jealousy and Hatred (Old Version) Chapter 38 : Jealousy and Hatred (Old Version) Lucky draw~!! The treasure chest rolled quickly and then broke into two halves. [Ding ~! Congratulations to the host for drawing a snake. (Stored in the system space)]. [Ding ~! Congratulations to the host for unlocking the system space. (100 cubic meters)]. Su Lin took out the snake and was almost depressed. The snake in front of him kept swaying. It felt like a real snake in his hand. It could even stick out its tongue, position itself, and so on. Sure enough, the systems products were the best. If such a snake was placed in the goddess dorm, the female host would definitely be furious. But Su Lin had no use for it. Fortunately, the system space was unlocked. Otherwise, what use would I have for this snake skin? Su Lin comforted himself. A hundred cubic meters of system space was indeed substantial, enough to store many things.Su Lin thought if he ran out of money, he could use the system space for transportation and make a fortune. System: I didnt give you the system space to run a transportation business!!!! After playing with the snake for a while, Su Lin lost interest. This thing looked scary and could move on its own. It was just like a real snake, but it was useless. Su Lin threw it into the system space and no longer cared about it. The night passed and Su Lin woke up early again. He found that he only needed four to five hours of sleep and he would be full of energy the next day. Su Lin speculated that this should be due to the system strengthening his body. At school, Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan had already arrived early, probably because the monthly exams were approaching. Both girls were studying diligently, not noticing Su Lins arrival. Su Lin walked back to his seat, and the familiar pink insulated lunch box was already on the desk. He opened it and saw the familiar plate arrangement with different patterns. There were a lot of fruits today, winter dates, small tomatoes, and so on. Su Lin was about to eat when he noticed someone looking at him. Then he turned his head and saw Lin Xiaowans eager eyes. Lin Xiaowans eyes fell on Su Lins lunch box and looked like she wanted to eat. Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan and was about to speak when she said, Um I came early this morning and didnt have breakfast. Uh Su Lin came back to his senses and pushed the lunch box, Then lets eat together? Okay~!!! Lin Xiaowan replied to Su Lin with a sweet smile. Su Lin was a little surprised. He didnt expect this girl to be a foodie. This wasnt written in the original novel. Lin Xiaowan agreed to Su Lins invitation and then put the book on the table, standing up and walking over. Seeing this, Su Lin had to shift his position to let Lin Xiaowan sit in her place. While Lin Xiaowan admired the lunchbox, she exclaimed, Xiaoyu is so thoughtful, it looks so beautiful, and the taste is so good. After saying that, she picked up a cherry tomato and fed it into her mouth, squinting her eyes. Xia Shiyu frowned. Just give the money to Su Lin, dont give it to me. I owe you money, why should I give it to Su Lin? Xia Shiyu reached out her hand. Theres no one else here, just give me the money. Ye Feng saw that Xia Shiyu didnt want to go out with him. He couldnt say anything and could only give up. He took out the eighty thousand yuan he prepared and put it on Xia Shiyus table. Xia Shiyu took the money and stood up, walking toward Su Lin, placing the money on his desk, Ye Feng returned the money. Su Lin nodded, He must return it. Xiaoyu, why dont you take it first? Uncle Xia has just undergone surgery and still needs to stay in the hospital. It costs money to stay in the hospital for a day. Xia Shiyu shook her head, No, this money was originally yours. Su Lin smiled, Ive donated it to you; its yours now. But Lin Xiaowan waved her hand, Xiaoyu, dont refuse. Su Lin is right. After the kidney transplant, Uncle Xia will need to stay at the hospital for at least half a year. Do you have money? Without money, how can Uncle Xia see a doctor? Su Lin was surprised, Xiaowan, when did you learn about these things? Lin Xiaowan raised her snowy white neck, Do you think only you can read? I can read too, you know. Hehe. What are you laughing at? Books on this subject are not hard to find. Su Lin nodded, I just didnt expect you to be so competitive and curious. Ye Feng saw Xia Shiyu, Lin Xiaowan, and Su Lin chatting enthusiastically. He stood there looking very lonely. He didnt know what was going on, and suddenly things turned into what they are now. Just looking at Xia Shiyus sincerely happy face, Ye Feng had a feeling that he and Xia Shiyu were like two intersecting lines, and now the intersection point had passed. In the future, the two would only go further apart. Ye Feng desperately wanted to hold onto the beauty in front of him, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldnt grasp anything. Watching Su Lin joking with Lin Xiaowan and Xiao Shiyu, Ye Fengs heart was filled with hatred. It was all because of this guy; he ruined the relationship between him and Xia Shiyu. Ye Feng felt that he couldnt go on like this anymore; he had to retaliate against Su Lin. : Chapter [NaN] : Chapter [NaN] Now, there is only 4 vip5 readers. We will extend the testing chapter to c53. thanks for your support!!!Updated from Chapter 39: Monthly Exam Chapter 39: Monthly Exam Su Lin was unaware that at this moment, Ye Feng''s jealousy had turned into hatred towards him. Even if he knew, he wouldn''t care; he and Ye Feng were destined to be incompatible. Since that was the case, what meaning was there in being hated by Ye Feng? In the blink of an eye, Thursday arrived, and the monthly exam proceeded as scheduled. Early in the morning, the entire senior class three was immersed in a sea of textbooks. Even Xu Jie, who usually only thought about playing games, was pretending to read the Chinese book seriously. Only Su Lin was leisurely flipping through his Chinese textbook. The Chinese textbooks in this world weren''t much different from Earth''s, with maybe one or two different chapters, but Su Lin didn''t pay much attention to these differences. He had firmly grasped this knowledge long ago. Class dismissed~!!! The bell rang, and the classroom began to murmur with whispers. Among them, Feng Yifei and his group were the loudest, mocking Ye Feng overtly and covertly. A bunch of lackeys joined in. After two minutes, Feng Yifei stood up and said, Fellow students, let''s all quiet down. The whole class hushed, looking at Feng Yifei, curious about what he was going to say. Feng Yifei cleared his throat and said, Everyone knows that Ye Feng made a bet with my girlfriend Yan Huan about the results of this month''s exam. He said his grades this time will definitely surpass Yan Huan''s. If he loses, he will run laps on the playground after school tomorrow while shouting that he''s a pig. So, I want to inform everyone here. Don''t rush to leave after school tomorrow; lets all go to the playground first to watch the show, okay? Good~!!! The crowd responded in unison. Feng Yifei was very satisfied with their response. He thought that this way, Ye Feng would definitely make a fool of himself, which was exactly the effect he wanted. Ye Feng sneered, It''s not certain who will run laps at that time. Feng Yifei, you and Yan Huan can''t go back on your words. Yan Huan angrily said, Who''s backing out? Ye Feng, with your grades, you think you can surpass me? Truly ridiculous. Hehe, I''m too lazy to argue with you now. Anyway, don''t back out when the time comes. Hmph, just wait to run laps. When was Su Lin able to write Chinese so fast? And he even got Wang Yis approval. She shook her head and continued to write the essay. Her train of thought was almost interrupted. Wang Yi continued to walk down and soon came to the back row. When he passed by Ye Feng, he was surprised again. Usually, Ye Feng would be sleeping with the test paper at this time, but today he was writing an essay. Wang Yi kept his composure and walked behind Ye Feng, wanting to see his essay. Ye Feng wrote the essay very fast, as if his ideas were gushing. The quality of the essay was also very good. This time Wang Yi was even more surprised. He knew Ye Feng well. For family affection, Ye Feng would only write about childhood illnesses and his mother taking him to the doctor. For landscapes, he would describe tall mountains, big trees, and beautiful flowers. For the future, he would only write about wanting to become a policeman and catch thieves every day. He didnt expect that the essay he wrote today was quite good. The sentences were smooth, the words were strict, and the words were gorgeous. It was quite a famous style. Wang Yi was stunned. Wang Yi thought this was mostly copied. However, if it were copied, Ye Feng hadnt seen the exam paper before. It seemed that Ye Feng had memorized such articles he had encountered before and used them during the exam. Wang Yi thought that this was more likely. He was a little angry, but now everyone was seriously taking the exam, so he could only leave resentfully. Once the exam results are out, he would find trouble with Ye Feng. At that time, he must ask him to call his parents and have a good talk. Ye Feng was unaware of Wang Yis thoughts. He was just concentrating on writing his composition. This time, he must win!!! If he couldnt handle people like Feng Yifei and Yan Huan, what was the point of competing with Su Lin? Ye Feng never put people like Feng Yifei in his eyes. His real idea was to surpass Su Lin and finally Lin Xiaowan!!!! Feng Yifei, now filled with a sense of victory, was busy thinking about how Ye Feng would make a fool of himself. Yan Huan was also confident in her victory. The classroom was filled with the rustling of writing, and the exam continued. Chapter 40: Ye Feng’s Highlight, Lin Xiaowan’s Imagination! Chapter 40: Ye Feng¡¯s Highlight, Lin Xiaowan¡¯s Imagination! Chapter 40 : Ye Fengs Highlight, Lin Xiaowans Imagination! After spending two consecutive days in tense exams, Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu quickly gathered around Su Lin with their answer sheets as the final science comprehensive exam ended. Su Lin, what about your answers? asked Lin Xiaowan. Su Lin replied with a deadpan expression, The results will be out in an hour at most. Whats the rush? Lin Xiaowan bit her lip and said, Youve already outperformed us in math and English, I want to see if youve also made such great progress in science. Xia Shiyu nodded in agreement, Exactly, Su Lin. You got all the math questions right, and Xiaowan and I made mistakes. You might very well be the top scorer in the entire school this time. Su Lin said indifferently, Being first is no big deal. Xiaowan has been the top for three years. Whats so great about being first for three years? Ive been studying every day, and yet you, often distracted, still manage to do so well, Xiaowan retorted. Heh, I admit you study, but most of the time youre reading extracurricular books, right? Su Lin chuckled. Lin Xiaowan frowned but didnt continue the argument with Su Lin. She began checking her answers against those copied from Su Lin. The answers to the simple questions were all the same, and soon they reached the short-answer questions. Lin Xiaowan soon furrowed her brows, I got the last physics question wrong again. Su Lin, how did you answer it? I saw you finished in less than an hour, and you got all the physics questions right. Even biology is all correct. I got two biology questions wrong, sigh~!! Xia Shiyu was also disheartened by Su Lins performance. What about chemistry? Lets see, Xiaowan suggested. Su Lin, somewhat reluctantly, checked the chemistry answers with them. Both Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu soon discovered they had made mistakes again, while Su Lin was correct. They exchanged glances, both shocked. Su Lin had scored full marks in math and all four science subjects. Su Lin, you Xiaowan began. Su Lin gestured with his hand, I just have good luck. Lin Xiaowan lightly kicked Su Lins shin, Luck? What kind of luck allows someone to get the hardest questions right? The last physics question is not meant for humans; Xiaoyu and I both got it wrong. Xia Shiyu nodded in agreement. Su Lin looked helpless. At that moment, Wang Yi arrived at the classroom door. He looked at the noisy classroom and called out loudly, Wheres Ye Feng? Ye Feng, where are you? Teacher, Im here, Ye Feng responded. Ye Feng.. 130. As Ye Fengs score was announced, the class erupted. That cant be true, can Ye Feng really score 130? He never passed math before. Exactly, absolutely fake. Feng Yifei stood up, Impossible, absolutely impossible. I dont believe it. Ye Feng must have cheated. Teacher, I suspect Ye Feng of cheating. As soon as Feng Yifei spoke, the class quieted down and everyone looked at Wang Yi, waiting for him to say something. Wang Yi cleared his throat, Ye Feng did not cheat, at least not in math. I just questioned him in the office, and his score is indeed the result of his efforts. Ridiculous, how long has school started? From failing to scoring 130, do you believe that, Teacher Wang? Ye Feng saw everyone doubting him, and he felt secretly elated inside, his hidden desire to show off stirring. He stood up, I did these problems myself, no copying involved. Heh, would a thief admit hes a thief? Would a madman admit hes mad? Feng Yifei sneered. Wang Yi, This What to do now? Thats when Lin Xiaowan stood up, Teacher Wang, its simple to verify if Ye Feng did the paper himself. Just give him a problem to solve on the spot. If he solves it, he proves his innocence; if he cant, then his score is questionable. Right, the class president is correct. Solve it on the spot, or its cheating. Exactly, the president is right. Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan, who returned a bright smile. He smiled faintly, Xiaowan, you still havent given up, have you? Xiaowan whispered, Its indeed suspicious. Originally failing, and now scoring 130, would you believe it? Su Lin nodded, I believe. Why? Su Lin smiled, Because the power of love is great. After saying this, he gazed intensely at Lin Xiaowan causing her heart to flutter. She understood the meaning behind Su Lins words, combined with his gaze. So, Su Lins excellent exam results this time, could it be because of her?Su Lins previous scores were good, but not this exceptional. Now, suddenly scoring so well, what else could it be if not for her? No wonder Su Lin kept emphasizing the power of love, Xiaowan became confused. Is the power of love really that strong? If she also had a romance, would her grades improve too? Xiaowan suddenly realized she was thinking of inappropriate things, hurriedly banished them from her mind, and then glared fiercely at Su Lin. Su Lin: ??? Women, so mysterious~!! Chapter 41: Top of the School Chapter 41: Top of the School When Lin Xiaowan linked the surge in Su Lin''s grades to the power of love, she couldn''t stay calm anymore. Her mind was in turmoil. On one hand, she had promised her parents not to date until after college. On the other, she was curious about the true power of love. Among her acquaintances, Su Lin was the only suitable option for exploring this feeling. Lin Xiaowan, clear about her feelings, knew her emotions towards Su Lin were different. She couldn''t be sure if it was love, but she wasn''t averse to the idea of dating him. Once she realized this, her heart was in disarray, as Su Lin had unknowingly carved a niche in her heart. It wasn''t a significant position yet, but like a sprouting seedling, it could grow into a towering tree. Student Ye Feng''s steps for this question are completely correct. Now can you say that Student Ye Fengs results are his own? This question was solved correctly by Ye Feng. Can we now agree his score was earned fairly? the teacher said. Some students should stop being prejudiced. The fact proves that with hard work, anyone can achieve good results, no matter their starting point. Ye Feng, you can sit down. I recognize your score. If anyone still accuses you of cheating, send them to my office, the teacher added. Ye Feng sat down calmly, without any hint of excess emotion, impressing Wang Yi once again. He turned his eyes to Su Lin. His goal had never been Feng Yifei, nor Yan Huan. His goal was to defeat Su Lin and completely defeat him in the place that Su Lin was proud of. Student Lin Xiaowan, you sit down too. Lin Xiaowan stood in place and did not move. Student Lin Xiaowan... Lin Xiaowan... Ah! Teacher Wang. Lin Xiaowan came back to her senses, and her eyes were somewhat evasive. She did not dare to look at Wang Yi. You sit down. Oh, oh, oh, okay. Lin Xiaowan once again glared at Su Lin fiercely, making Su Lin puzzled again. Xiaowan, what''s wrong with you? We are in class, don''t talk. Seeing this, Su Lin nodded and did not say anything else. Lin Xiaowan gazed at Su Lin''s profile, thinking, I have to admit, this guy is really handsome. How did I not notice before? Is it like what they say in books, about not realizing it sooner?The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) She considered herself mature, not keen on dating because her classmates, especially the boys, seemed immature, always discussing games or novels. But as she spent more time with Su Lin, she realized he was quite mature, humorous, and capable in serious situations, surpassing his peers. Lin Xiaowan felt that she couldnt go on like this, but she couldnt help but think about Su Lin. They looked as if they wanted to eat Su Lin alive. It couldnt be helped. If Su Lin maintained this result, then he was very likely to be the top science student in Jiangnan Province. Similarly, Ye Feng and Yan Huans total scores were also released. Ye Feng with a score of 664 was seventh in class, Yan Huan with a score of 642 was eleventh in class. After school!!! The field was already full of people. The bet between Ye Feng, Yan Huan, and Feng Yifei had already spread among the third-year students. Therefore, after school, many students didnt leave. Walking with Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan, Su Lin noticed Xiaowans strange behavior, her eyes darting away whenever they met his. Su Lin, experienced in relationships, recognized the signs of attraction. Su Lin wasnt a virgin. When he was on Earth, he had a few relationships, although the results were not good, but he still understood Lin Xiaowans gaze. Su Lin touched his chin and looked at Lin Xiaowan in deep thought. This girl wouldnt be interested in me, right? Lets check the affection level. No matter how much I guess, its not as practical as the affection level. < Lin Xiaowan: 17 years old, 168cm, 48kg, current affection level (72 rising). > 72? Its already so high? He didnt do anything. Although he often stayed with Lin Xiaowan in school, Xia Shiyu was basically with her the whole time. He didnt use any tricks. How did the affection level rise so fast? Tsk tsk It would be great if I could get a hundred before university. What one hundred!? Lin Xiaowan asked, puzzled. Uh I mean, it would be great if you could get a hundred like me, Su Lin quickly covered up. Tsk~! You only did a little better this time. Next time, I will definitely surpass you in the next monthly exam, Xiaowan retorted with a bit of competitiveness. Seeing the budding rivalry, Xia Shiyu intervened, Dont fight. Whats the point of fighting? Xiaowan, you havent had enough of being first? Lets go to the field and watch the fun. Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan looked at Xia Shiyu simultaneously. Stare~!!! Feeling a bit embarrassed by their intense gaze, Xia Shiyu protested, Whats with that look? If you dont want to go, then dont. Why are you staring at me? Hehe~!! Su Lin chuckled. Hehe Xiaoyu, you changed the topic a bit abruptly. Xiaowan and I are in a healthy competition, he added. Thats right, we dont have a grudge, Lin Xiaowan agreed, adding a sweet smile towards Su Lin. Chapter 42: Bet with Ye Feng Chapter 42: Bet with Ye Feng Chapter 42 : Bet with Ye Feng Ultimately, the three of them headed to the playground, drawn by the bustling excitement. Wow, so many people! Are they all here to watch Yan Huan and Feng Yifei run laps? Su Lin laughed, They might be here for Yan Huan, but as for Feng Yifei? Who cares about him? Why is everyone so interested in Yan Huan instead of Feng Yifei? Xia Shiyu asked, clearly confused. Su Lin glanced at her and shook his head, Xiaoyu, you probably wont get why, maybe Xiaowan knows. Lin Xiaowan glared at Su Lin. Su Lin, youre similar to these guys. Youre all jackals of the same tribe. Su Lin nodded. On this point, I admit that Im a layman. Otherwise, why would I be friends with you two? Lin Xiaowan was angered by Su Lins straightforwardness. You really dont hide it at all. You make it sound so nice. Su Lin shrugged. If I hide it, youll say Im a hypocrite. If I dont, youll say Im a pervert. Its so hard. At this time, Xia Shiyu already understood what Su Lin was talking about because she vaguely heard a lot of explicit comments from the boys. Its the campus belle Lin Xiaowan. Lin Xiaowan also came to watch the fun. And Xia Shiyu. Xia Shiyu is so pretty. Wow! Su Lin, Su Lin is so handsome. Hes the most handsome boy in our school. Ye Feng Ye Feng is here. Ye Feng is here. Wheres Yan Huan? Is she here? I doubt shed come. Boys might be able to swallow their pride, but a girl like Yan Huan probably cant. As Ye Feng and Xu Jie approached the playground, Ye Feng boasted, Xu Jie, no bragging, but in two months, Ill surpass Su Lin and become the top student in school. Xu Jie skeptically replied, Brother Feng, come on, Su Lins a beast. His grades are insane, top scores in everything but Chinese. Youve improved, sure, but dont overestimate yourself. Ye Feng saw that Xu Jie didnt believe him. He smiled and said, I remember you said the same thing when I made a bet with Yan Huan. Then, Yan Huan and Feng Yifei both lost. Now, they dont dare to appear in school. Hearing this, Ye Feng laughed, Remember when I bet against Yan Huan, and you said the same thing? Both Yan Huan and Feng Yifei lost back then. They dont even dare to show up at school now. So, Su Lin will also lose to me.This chapter is updated by Alright, if you say so, Xu Jie conceded, somewhat reluctantly. Yes, Su Lin, bet with him. This guy is arrogant and doesnt know the immensity of heaven and earth. Vice class monitor, bet with him. Ye Feng needs to be taught a lesson. Su Lin, unperturbed by the crowd, turned to Lin Xiaowan, Whats in it for me to bet with him? If I win, Ive just beaten a poor student, and if I lose, I become the schools biggest joke. Maybe even other schools will hear about it. Xiaowan, youre not hoping to see me embarrassed, are you? Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, and with Su Lin affectionately calling her Xiao Wan, Lin Xiaowan felt her face heat up. She had no fondness for Ye Feng, especially after the incident where he spent 80,000 yuan. Her initial urge was to have Su Lin bet against Ye Feng, but upon reflection, she realized she hadnt thought it through. Su Lin, if youre afraid of losing, dont bet. I wont say anything, Lin Xiaowan said, looking at the imposing Ye Feng. She bit her lip, then pulled Su Lin aside, whispering, Take the bet. Im backing you to win. If you beat him, Ill Ill be your girlfriend. And if I lose? Su Lin asked with a smile. If you lose, dont even say you know me, Lin Xiaowan replied coldly. Su Lins eyes narrowed, Xiao Wan, are you serious? Lin Xiaowan didnt dodge this time. Instead, she looked straight into Su Lins eyes and nodded firmly, Im serious, but you have to win. Su Lin nodded, Get ready to be my wife then. Turning to Ye Feng, Su Lin announced, Ye Feng, I accept your bet. Whats the stake? Alright! Good to see a little manly. Its simple: the loser runs three laps around the playground, loudly declaring, I am a pig.'' Su Lin nodded, Yes! You are indeed a pig. Ye Fengs face was livid, Su Lin, if you lose, you wont go back on your words like Feng Yifei and the rest, right? Su Lin smiled and said, There are so many people. I still want to save face. Damn Ye Feng, who said Im going to go back on my words? Feng Yifei walked in from the crowd and glared at Ye Feng. Then, he said, Huanhuan is not feeling well. Ill help her run these three laps. After that, he threw his clothes and ran out while shouting Im a pig. Su Lin and Ye Feng were both surprised by Feng Yifeis arrival. Su Lin squinted and suggested, Running laps seems too easy, Ye Feng. How about hopping instead? Three laps of frog jumps. Otherwise, anyone could challenge me, and that would be devaluing myself. Fine! Frog jumps it is. And dont forget, while hopping, keep saying I am a pig.'' Yeah, no need to emphasize. I know you are. Pfft! Pfft! Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan both burst into laughter, soon joined by those nearby. Chapter 43: Universal Trump Card Chapter 43: Universal Trump Card Chapter 43 : Universal Trump Card As Ye Feng prepared to leave, Lin Xiaowan called out, Ye Feng, you havent mentioned the time yet. We cant possibly continue this competition into university, can we? Ye Fengs mouth twitched slightly before he replied, Lets make it the final monthly exam. Alright, then the final monthly exam it is, Su Lin nodded in agreement. Seeing Su Lin accept the bet, Ye Feng knew there was no point in staying any longer. He headed towards the playground to watch Feng Yifeis performance. This move also signaled to everyone that mere verbal sparring was useless now; they would still have to face the challenge on the playground. Hmph, this guy is too arrogant, its infuriating, Lin Xiaowan said, covering her chest in frustration. Xia Shiyu heard and said, Arrogant people will be punished. When the time comes, we will watch him make a fool of himself. Su Lin nodded, When the time comes, Ill treat you to drinks and sunflower seeds. Hehe~! Just dont lose then, or youll be the one whos the laughingstock, Lin Xiaowan playfully said to Su Lin. Su Lin thought about ruffling Lin Xiaowans hair, but since they werent a couple yet, he refrained. But it should just be a matter of two months before he could get her. He then looked at Feng Yifei who was shouting and running on the field and shook his head. Lets go, its almost time. Lets leave. During this time, the three of them Xia Shiyu, Lin Xiaowan, and Su Lin were inseparable at school. Su Lin had become the envy of many. But with his excellent grades and wealth, not to mention his good looks, no one dared to trouble him. As he was leaving, Su Lin glanced towards a corner of the teaching building. His heightened senses, a result of physical enhancement, were sharper than others. He knew Yan Huan was watching Feng Yifei on the playground. After this wave of manipulation, it was likely that Feng Yifei would have no problem forming a rapport with Yan Huan.. Unfortunately, Ye Feng didnt like Yan Huan anymore, or there would be a lot of fun to watch. I wonder how Yan Huan is doing, Lin Xiaowan said with a sigh. Su Lin shook his head, Probably thinking of ways to deal with Ye Feng. Ah! Theyre not going to fight, are they? Lin Xiaowan asked worriedly. As class monitor, she felt obliged to intervene in such matters, even though she and Yan Huan had parted ways. Su Lin shook his head, Feng Yifei will probably find someone to deal with him. After all, hes lost face. As for Yan Huan, she might use different methods. Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin as if he was a monster, It seems like youve guessed everything. Now that she thought about it, Su Lins reaction at the sports field seemed to have been prepared. Su Lin chuckled, Im close to Xiaoyu, and with Ye Fengs narrow-minded nature, he will definitely seek revenge. Right now, his options are limited, so its probably going to be academically. Isnt that easy to guess? Lin Xiaowan sighed, I dont know how you think of these things. We would never have thought of so much. Suddenly, Lin Xiaowan came to a realization. She stared at Su Lin with her eyes wide open. So, you did it on purpose just now. You asked that question on purpose. In fact, I even if I didnt say those things, you would still agree to Ye Fengs bet. Xia Shiyu nodded, My money is in my bag. As long as I dont take it out, no one will know how much I have. Su Lin nodded, Thats true, but still be careful. Its best not to let others see your money in the bank. Mm~!! Thank you, Su Lin. Su Lin pinched Xia Shiyus cheek, No need to thank me. Um~!! Xia Shiyu sneakily glanced at Liu Yong, who was driving. Thankfully, he didnt notice, or she would never dare to ride in Su Lins car again. Then, taking advantage of Su Lins distraction, she stealthily reached around his waist and pulled out the universal trump card used by women. Hiss~!! Youre doing this too, Xiaoyu? Xia Shiyu stuck out her tongue, Its your fault for messing around in the car. Su Lin chuckled, Alright, Ill remember this. Just wait and see how you cry later. Xia Shiyu looked puzzled at Su Lin, not understanding what he meant. Su Lin smiled mysteriously, not elaborating further. He didnt want to be too obvious, lest he scare her. Young Master Su, weve arrived at the Great Xia Bank. Su Lin nodded, then turned to Xia Shiyu again, Are you sure you dont need me to accompany you? Xia Shiyu nodded, No need, its close to the hospital, just a short walk. Alright, then Ill head back first. Message me when you get to the hospital. Mhmm~!! Xia Shiyu smiled sweetly, then opened the car door and got out. Seeing Xia Shiyu leave, Liu Yong started the car again and said, Young Master Su, you have good taste. This girl is not bad. Su Lin nodded. Xiaoyu is indeed not bad. Hehe!! Seeing Su Lins arrogant look, Liu Yong laughed. What are you laughing at? Uncle Liu, hurry up, lets go home!!! Chapter 44: ; Parents Laid Off, Ye Feng Encourages Them to Start a Business Chapter 44: ; Parents Laid Off, Ye Feng Encourages Them to Start a Business Chapter 44; Parents Laid Off, Ye Feng Encourages Them to Start a Business On the other side, when Ye Feng returned home, he once again saw the house filled with smoke. His mother, Liu Mei, was sitting at the dining table, wiping her tears. Ye Weimin was nearby, furrowing his eyebrow and smoking a cigarette. Ye Feng was puzzled. It hadn''t even been a day; everything was fine when he left in the morning. How did things turn out like this in the afternoon? Mom, I''m back, Ye Feng greeted with a smile, trying to cheer up Liu Mei. Seeing Ye Feng return, Liu Mei grabbed his collar, her eyes red, and asked, Xiaofeng, what outrageous things have you done at school? Ye Feng looked bewildered. Mom, I behaved well at school. Today, the monthly exam results were released, and I ranked in the top ten in the class. Let''s not talk about that. Tell me, what did you do to that girl from the Yan family? Huh? Did Yan Huan complain about you? Ye Feng asked angrily. Ye Weimin slapped the table, saying, Isnt it time to confess? Ye Feng replied, ??? We just made a bet, and she lost. That''s it. A bet? What kind of bet? Ye Weimin asked. Seeing this, Ye Feng had to explain the bet he made with Yan Huan. He didn''t expect Yan Huan to be so unfair, losing the bet and still reporting it to her parents. However, he quickly realized that it wasn''t a simple matter of reporting to her parents. After hearing the whole story, Ye Weimin and Liu Mei both sighed deeply.Updated from Xiaofeng, you really didn''t do anything else, and she didn''t go running laps? Ye Feng nodded. Ye Weimin sighed lightly. Just twenty minutes ago, your mother was laid off from the factory. Oh~! I thought it was something serious. It turns out she got laid off. It''s been three months since that lousy food factory paid any wages. It''s a good thing she got laid off early. This way, we can start our own business. Just in time, we can venture into entrepreneurship. Ye Feng breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried about convincing Liu Mei, but he didn''t expect that while he was still sleeping, someone would resolve it for him by laying off his mother. Su Lin patted his head. I havent checked my phone yet. Hmm, its a total of fifteen million, all transferred to your account. Check it when you have time. Su Lin nodded. Brother Yang, hows my dad doing over in Donghai? Li Hongyang thought Su Lin was missing his dad and said, He bought two plots of land and is busy with construction. You know, Su Shao, at this time, bosses are usually very busy, always at the construction site. I know that. I was just asking. Brother Yang, are you going to Donghai tomorrow? Yeah, there are still a lot of things waiting for me on the bosss side. I thought I was just helping out for a bit, but who knew it would turn into a whole week, Li Hongyang sighed. Hehehe, I didnt expect the delivery to be so troublesome. Those medicine suppliers were dragging their feet. Its only today that they finally sent the money. Su Lin looked at Li Hongyang and extended one last invitation. Brother Yang, are you sure you wont stay and work for me? I feel like youre wasting your talents at my dads place. Hehe, it still depends on the bosss approval. Sigh, if I ask my dad for you, hell definitely agree, but thats not what I want. Su Lin sounded regretful. Li Hongyangs ability to get things done was undeniable. Gathering over twenty tons of Tianma in a day wasnt something just anyone could achieve, and he managed to make a profit even with the low price Su Lin offered. It showed his capabilities. Unfortunately, he was a person of Su Zhengguos, and Su Lin knew that if he asked his dad, Su Zhengguo would tell Li Hongyang about his activities. That would be pointless; Su Lin didnt want to do things when Su Zhengguo was fully aware of them. After seeing off Li Hongyang, Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan were chatting on their phones. Su Lin, where are you taking me this weekend? Seeing Lin Xiaowans message, Su Lin knew that she was feeling anxious. He replied, Xiaowan, we agreed in advance that wherever I take you, you have to go. But you have to give me some idea so I can prepare mentally. Hehe, dont worry; I wont sell you. Youll find out when the time comes. Che! All secretive, no fun at all. Su Lin could imagine Lin Xiaowans cute yet slightly annoyed expression when she sent those messages. Chapter 45: A Date? Chapter 45: A Date? Chapter 45 : A Date? On the weekend, in the residential area, Lin Xiaowan got up early. Unprecedentedly, she carefully dressed herself while getting ready, though it wasnt heavy makeup. She tidied up her appearance from her outfit to her hairstyle. Darling, are you done? Why are you taking so long today? Lin Xiaowan examined herself closely, made sure everything was fine, and then opened the door. Im done, Mom. Youre usually the one who spends the most time in the bathroom. Dad and I never complain, but today, I took a few extra minutes, and youre already urging me. Wang Xiaoqian looked at Lin Xiaowan in surprise. Her daughter looked like a little princess today, much prettier than usual. A mother knows her daughter best, and she could tell that her daughter had an important appointment today. Was it with a guy? Or with her best friend? Unfortunately, Wang Xiaoqian didnt have time to dwell on it. As a company president, she was extremely busy. Seeing that Wang Xiaoqian didnt notice anything, Lin Xiaowan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Half an hour later, Wang Xiaoqian came out of the bathroom. Darling, you have some money on you, right? You can go have breakfast outside later. I have a meeting to attend this morning, so I wont be making breakfast for you. I know, Mom! Alright! Seeing that Lin Xiaowan readily agreed, Wang Xiaoqian didnt think much about it. She grabbed her purse and car keys and left the house. Lin Xiaowan walked to the window to make sure her mother had driven away before going back to the bathroom to tidy up once more. At nine oclock in the morning, Su Lin finally saw Lin Xiaowan at the agreed-upon location. Lin Xiaowan had changed her usual student attire and swapped it for a pair of casual pants. She wore light blue jeans that accentuated her long legs beautifully. Her curvy backside filled the jeans to perfection, showcasing her impressive figure. She paired them with a white round-collar long-sleeved shirt and a small jacket, giving her a mature and stylish appearance. Su Lin Xiaowan! Su Lin walked up to Lin Xiaowan and scrutinized her from head to toe. Lin Xiaowan spun around in front of him. Su Lin, is there something strange about my outfit? Su Lin shook his head. Its not strange, but now I finally understand why youve been dressing so casually at school. If you wore this outfit to school, I bet not many boys could keep their composure. Huh? Faced with Lin Xiaowans puzzled look, Su Lin chuckled twice. It means your charm is too great, and boys cant help themselves. Get lost! Oh? Have you played it before, Su Lin? Su Lin shook his head. No, but Ive seen online reviews. They all say its fun, exciting, and can strengthen relationships, friendships, and reveal a persons qualities. I thought it would be such an interesting activity, we should give it a try. Your description makes me curious too. Su Lin, do you know how its played? Yeah. The gameplay should be quite simple, more interesting than a haunted house, Su Lin replied with a smile. Hau Haunted house, are we going there too? Lin Xiaowan didnt realize that her voice was trembling. Su Lin shook his head. After playing the escape room, I wont be interested in the haunted house. Um Why does it sound like its going to be scary? Its not scary at all, really, its just like solving puzzles. Is that so? Just as Lin Xiaowan was filled with doubt, she saw a couple who had just completed the escape room coming out of the exit. The girl was fair-skinned but had been crying bitterly. She was walking unsteadily, and her boyfriend was helping her. Them? They should have failed the challenge; that girl looks quite upset, Su Lin replied casually. Failed the challenge? Su Lin nodded. Escape rooms in this world were more thrilling and interesting than those on Earth. Su Lin didnt want to scare Lin Xiaowan away; he wanted to try it himself. Just as they were talking, a few more people came out of the exit. All the girls were crying, some seemed greatly frightened, and they looked pitiful. Lin Xiaowan felt uneasy. Su Lin, how about we try other attractions in the amusement park? Ive been here before, and some of the rides are really fun. Su Lin waved his hand. Bumper cars, log flume, theyre not that interesting. Weve played them all before. Today, were playing the escape room. Xiaowan, you promised me, were doing what I suggested. Lin Xiaowan felt a bit dry. Fine~!! Seeing Lin Xiaowans reaction, Su Lin chuckled. It seemed that this girl also had a weakness. Chapter 46: Escape Room, Timid Lin Xiaowan Chapter 46: Escape Room, Timid Lin Xiaowan Chapter 46 : Escape Room, Timid Lin Xiaowan Seeing one girl after another coming out in tears, the queue outside was getting longer, and most of the boys accompanied the girls. It was evident that girls were truly a contradictory group, lacking a clear understanding of their own abilities and seeking excitement unnecessarily. Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan, whose face had turned a bit pale, feeling somewhat sympathetic. If youre really scared, we wont play this. We can go for the activities you mentioned. Lin Xiaowan shook her head. So many girls are playing it; it means this activity is interesting. Its just that their tolerance level is low. I want to give it a try. Courting death~!! Indeed, no woman could escape the law of courting death. I did advise you earlier. Dont cry later and let others think I bullied you, Su Lin teased with a smile. Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes at Su Lin coquettishly. I wont be like them. After a long one-hour wait in line, it was finally Su Lin and Lin Xiaowans turn. Lin Xiaowan carefully read the instructions on the wall. Su Lin gave her a tug, and they approached together. Are you two playing the two-player mission or the single-player mission? Su Lin glanced at Lin Xiaowan and said, Lets go for the two-player mission. He then said, Go inside, and remember not to run around inside. Pay attention to your girlfriend; if you cant continue, shout loudly, and a staff member will guide you out. Su Lin nodded. The two entered through the door. As the door closed, the interior became pitch black. Lin Xiaowan grabbed Su Lins wrist in the darkness. Su Lin, why is it so dark in here? Ive never been here; how could I know what its like inside? Hold onto me, and Ill lead you. Su Lin had enhanced night vision abilities throughout his body, and he could see clearly inside after a short period of adaptation. After walking through two corridors, they reached a door reminiscent of ancient times. This type of wooden door was rare in Zhongjiang nowadays. The door looked shabby, with two worn-out lanterns hanging above it. Xiaowan Xiaowan? Why Why did you take my memorial tablet? Ah~! Ghost! Lin Xiaowan dropped the memorial tablet and tried to run outside. Su Lin immediately scooped her up. Its fake, its fake~!! Thats fake. Ghost, Su Lin theres a ghost. Su Lin patted Lin Xiaowans back and shouted, Its fake; thats a fake person. He carried Lin Xiaowan and moved closer. Look carefully. No, no, no I wont look. You look; its really fake. Su Lin wanted to laugh, but he couldnt. If he laughed now, Lin Xiaowan would surely hold a grudge, and shed find a way to get back at him later. I wont look; I wont look. Su Lin was a bit helpless and kicked the fake person. Its really fake; see, I kicked it. Players, please do not damage the props~!! Su Lin: Lin Xiaowan: Is it really fake? Open your eyes and see; its definitely fake. Lin Xiaowan finally opened her eyes and looked at the fake person. Indeed, it was fake, and it looked very fake. Perhaps Su Lin had kicked it too hard; the fake person fell to the side, revealing the straw inside. Lin Xiaowan: ??? I told you its fake. Come on, lets return the memorial tablet. Su Lin smiled and gently put Lin Xiaowan down. Lin Xiaowan blushed a bit. She hadnt felt much when Su Lin held her tightly earlier, but now, thinking about how she was held by Su Lin, his strong chest She started thinking in the wrong direction. Alright, lets go return the memorial tablet. Chapter 47: Flirtatious Leg Kick~!! Chapter 47: Flirtatious Leg Kick~!! Chapter 47 : Flirtatious Leg Kick~!! For the first time, Su Lin realized that despite Lin Xiaowans seemingly delicate appearance, she possessed surprisingly strong wrist strength. Had his body not been enhanced, he believed his arm would have been sore for days from her grip. After traversing several rooms, they finally reached what was referred to as the ancestral hall. Su Lin, why is there a breeze in this ancestral hall? Isnt it a sealed room? How can there be wind inside? Lin Xiaowans hair stood on end from the cold draft. Although she knew it was all fake, she couldnt help but feel scared. Su Lin comforted her, saying, Dont worry about those things. Just remember its all fake. Keep muttering its fake, its fake to yourself, and you wont be scared when you see these things. Lin Xiaowan glanced at the rows of spiritual tablets, feeling a chill in her heart. She hurriedly followed Su Lins advice, muttering to herself, Fake, its all fake, theyre just props. Dont be afraid, Lin Xiaowan, its all fake~!!! Su Lin found Lin Xiaowans constant muttering adorable. He lamented not having a smartphone at this moment. Lets go, we need to put the tablet back in its place, he said. Lin Xiaowan stood still, unwilling to move, and clung to Su Lins arm, shaking it twice. There must be a trap. Su Lin, you go and return it. With some resignation, Su Lin nodded, Alright, you stay here and dont move. Ill go put it back. Okay, hurry up, Su Lin. Alright~! Su Lin took the tablet and walked over. Lin Xiaowan watched him intently, worried that something like before might happen. However, when Su Lin placed the tablet back, nothing happened. Lin Xiaowan was surprised and somewhat annoyed. Why did nothing happen when Su Lin did it, yet she encountered a terrifying event when she tried to take the tablet? Just then, a hoarse voice of an old man sounded behind Lin Xiaowan. Young man, thank you for returning my sons tablet. To thank you, I want to give you a treasure map that Ive kept for many years. Hearing the voice, Lin Xiaowan instinctively turned around. An old man with a tattered lantern had appeared behind her without her noticing. Ah~!!! Startled, Lin Xiaowan stamped her feet on the spot. Then, she remembered what Su Lin had told her: its all fake. Fake, its all fake, she muttered to herself. Its all props, just props. Why are they always trying to scare me, even the props? Ive had enough! With that, Lin Xiaowan swiftly kicked out, performing a flirtatious leg kick towards the old man. What did you mean then? . Lin Xiaowan, feeling embarrassed, quickly walked away with Su Lin, still holding his hand. Finally, she let go, turned to him fiercely, and said, Su Lin, you did that on purpose. Im not talking to you anymore. Su Lin protested his innocence, Youre blaming me unfairly. How could I know the first challenge would be this intense? And that poor guy, you kicked him so hard. He was still in pain when we left. His explanation only made Lin Xiaowan angrier. You didnt tell me he was real. I wanted to, but you screamed and kicked before I could say anything. Lin Xiaowan sobbed, My reputation is ruined because of you. Su Lin comforted her, How can it be ruined? I actually found you very cute today. Its just a pity we got kicked out after just one task and didnt get any clues. We must be the only players ever to be kicked out by the staff. Su Lin chuckled, Thats not true. I read online about a couple who actually beat up the staff. Really? Youre not lying? He nodded, Absolutely true. The guy saw his girlfriend scared and crying, got angry thinking someone was playing a prank, and ended up beating up the staff member, costing him a lot of money. At the mention of compensation, Lin Xiaowan felt guilty. Su Lin, how much did you pay? Ill repay you. Su Lin laughed, Why would I want your money? I invited you out, so its my responsibility to pay. Lin Xiaowan pouted,Hmph! As if you just wanted to take me out because you just wanted to laugh at me. Su Lin quickly reassured her, No, thats not true. Lin Xiaowan stared into his eyes, trying to read his intentions. Su Lin kept his composure, not letting on that he indeed wanted to see her reaction and deepen their relationship. Hmph, I dont believe you. Chapter 48: Breaking the Ice Chapter 48: Breaking the Ice Seeing Lin Xiaowan still sulking, Su Lin couldn''t resist and gently patted her head again, Alright, don''t be mad anymore. How about this? I''ll treat you to a big meal at noon. I heard there''s a new barbecue restaurant nearby. Their pork belly is especially delicious crispy and not greasy at all. Lin Xiaowan, who hadn''t had breakfast, was easily tempted by Su Lin''s suggestion. Barbecue? Where? There, there! But let''s make a deal, Xiaowan. If we go for the barbecue, no more sulking at me, Su Lin said in a half-coaxing, half-commanding tone, leaving Lin Xiaowan with no room to argue. She sniffled, What kind of person do you think I am? Do you think I hold grudges? Su Lin chuckled, knowing well that if he didn''t appease her now, he would face Lin Xiaowan''s relentless nagging later. Heh, I know our Xiaowan is generous and open-hearted. Enough with the flattery, I''m starving, she replied.Updated from Alright, let''s go now. Leaving the amusement park, they walked to a nearby barbecue restaurant. It was crowded, but neither Su Lin nor Lin Xiaowan paid much attention to it. Instead, they were drawn to a bubble tea cart nearby, with a sign reading ''Taiwan Bubble Tea'' in a rather rustic style. Su Lin, is this bubble tea tasty? ''Taiwan Bubble Tea''? Is it from Taiwan? Lin Xiaowan asked curiously. Bubble tea is a flavored drink from Taiwan, and it tastes alright. But this pearl milk tea is average. I''ll find a more authentic tea shop and take you there, Su Lin replied nonchalantly. Then let''s try a cup now, I''m a bit thirsty. Sure~!! Maintaining silence, Su Lin just held Lin Xiaowans hand a bit tighter. Lin Xiaowan comforted him by gently patting his hand, giving him a reassuring look. Liu Mei, confused and concerned, asked, 80,000 yuan? Whats this about? My Xiao Feng wouldnt steal money. Lin Xiaowan pointed at Su Lin, Auntie, ask Ye Feng. Hes the one who took it. Confronted by his mother, Ye Feng reluctantly admitted, Mom, it wasnt stealing, it was borrowing. Lin Xiaowan sneered, Borrowing? If it werent for Su Lin threatening to call the police, you wouldnt have planned to return it. And, Auntie, Ye Feng has already returned the 80,000 yuan, but the source of that money is questionable. You might want to look into it. After this statement, Lin Xiaowan turned to the bubble tea and said, We wont be having this tea today. And Ye Feng, if I ever hear you defaming Su Lin again, youll have me to deal with. Su Lin, lets go. As they walked away, Su Lin gave Lin Xiaowan a thumbs-up, Xiaowan, youre amazing. You left Ye Feng speechless. Lin Xiaowan replied seriously, I cant stand people who do wrong and then slander others. Su Lin, I dont have a big heart like you. Touched by her support, Su Lin knew Lin Xiaowan would not have reacted so strongly if it was just about her. It was her concern for being misunderstood about him that spurred her confrontation with Ye Feng. Su Lin, moved, confessed, Xiaowan, the more you do this, the more I like you. What should I do? Lin Xiaowan playfully responded, Then just do well in your next monthly exam. Beat that scum, Ye Feng, and Ill be your girlfriend~!!! Deal! Ill definitely score high, Su Lin promised, filled with determination. Xixi Lin Xiaowan giggled, content in their shared moment. Chapter 49: The Parents Stern Lesson Chapter 49: The Parents'' Stern Lesson Mom, don''t listen to their nonsense, I just... Before Ye Feng could finish, a sharp slap landed on his face. Liu Mei, tears in her eyes, looked at him incredulously. Xiao Feng, there''s no one else here. Tell me, what did you do with that 80,000 yuan? Ye Feng struggled to speak, knowing he couldn''t avoid the truth any longer. I... I invested it. Did you make any profit? I lost it... lost all of it, Ye Feng choked out. All 80,000? There''s a few thousand left. So, when you said you borrowed a few thousand for herbs before, it was actually for the 80,000 yuan you borrowed? Liu Mei narrowed her eyes. Ye Feng nodded, unable to articulate his usual defenses in front of his mother. What kind of investment made you lost you so much? I... hoarded game equipment, Ye Feng mumbled. Game equipment? Did you use 80,000 yuan for game equipment? Liu Mei was in disbelief. Another slap struck Ye Feng''s face. We''ll discuss this with your father when we get home. Now, pack up and let''s go. Liu Mei was almost fainting with anger. Ye Feng didn''t dare resist, fearing his actions might prematurely bring about the illness from his previous life. From the other side of the glass, Lin Xiaowan pulled Su Lin''s attention to Ye Feng''s situation. Su Lin... Ye Feng''s mother slapped him. Su Lin nodded, I see it, Xiaowan. Ye Feng''s usual arrogance is gone. It''s so satisfying to see. It''s a pity Xiaoyu isn''t here; she''d be thrilled, Lin Xiaowan said with a smile. Su Lin agreed, Xiaoyu is still at the hospital with her dad. Xiaowan, I didn''t know you had such a devilish side. After this, Ye Feng cant just walk away unscathed. What happened, wife? Why the urgency to call me home? Is business so good that you need help? Ye Weimin asked as he arrived. Liu Mei, tears streaming down, pointed at Ye Feng and cried out, Ask your precious son what he did. Let him tell you. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Ye Weimin turned to Ye Feng, What happened? I I dont know how to say it, Ye Feng stammered, his usual bravado gone in front of his father. Liu Mei broke down, Do you know what your son did? He tricked Xiao Yu from the Xia family out of the 80,000 yuan they needed for a kidney transplant. Eighty thousand! Thats more than our two years salary. Your son Ye Weimin was stunned. He couldnt believe his son had committed such an act. It wasnt trickery, I borrowed it, Ye Feng insisted, trying to justify himself. You still argue? Your classmates said you had no intention of returning it without a threat of police involvement. You need to discipline your son, Ye Weimin. Hes already swindling money at such a young age. What will he become when he grows up? Ye Weimin turned to his son, So, the 100,000 yuan you talked about for investing in stocks was a lie? The inside information was also fake? You used it to pay back the borrowed money, didnt you? I Answer me, yes or no! Ye Weimin roared. Yes Still making excuses now? You show no remorse! Ye Weimin exclaimed. Please, Dad, I Another slap followed. Old Ye, dont use your hand, use the rolling pin, Liu Mei suggested, producing the household implement. Ye Feng panicked as his father took the rolling pin, Dad Dad Aow~!!! came Ye Fengs cry of pain. Chapter 50: Broken Spirit Chapter 50: Broken Spirit Chapter 50 : Broken Spirit Ye Feng lay on his bed, staring despondently at his somewhat faded pillow. Life had lost its luster for him as he began to question his existence. Reborn with a second chance, he had thought he could quickly amass his first fortune, rise to power, win over his childhood sweetheart and white moonlight, and reach the pinnacle of life. But reality had dealt him a harsh blow. Repeated failures led him to introspection. Even with a rebirth and enhanced memory, he realized he was still fundamentally flawed. He might have improved from his previous life, but the advantages of rebirth and super memory werent enough. He pondered, Am I just a hopeless case, even with rebirth and stronger memory? Why is this happening? And Su Lin, how did he get so lucky? Ye Feng couldnt help but reflect on his actions. His greed when hoarding goods, his negligence in dealing with Tianma, and the deception with Xiao Yus money. He lamented, Even with a good hand, Ive played it terribly. Is there any hope left? The moneys gone, and I cant get out of bed for days because of the beating. Feeling every bit of pain, especially on his back and buttocks, Ye Feng realized the gravity of his fathers anger. He thought, Ill be bedridden for at least three days. I should focus on studying for the upcoming midterms and the final monthly exam. Su Lin Determined to redeem himself in his parents eyes, Ye Feng tried to study but shockingly found his once exceptional memory faltering. He panicked, Why cant I remember things? My memory has always been excellent. Is it just because Im tired from todays events? Putting the book aside, he convinced himself, A good sleep will fix everything.New novel chapters are published on [Ding! Congratulations to the host. Thanks to Lin Xiaowans report, Ye Feng has endured a severe disciplinary experience, causing a deep psychological impact and making him doubt his life choices. You have earned two chances to draw from the Lucky Emperors Treasure Box.]. Another notification followed, [Ding! Due to the hosts continuous suppression, the protagonist Ye Feng has suffered a psychological blow, reducing his memory ability by 20% and his recollections from his previous life by 20%.]. As Su Lin drove Lin Xiaowan to the hospital, he was stunned by the system notification in his mind. He thought to himself, All of this is thanks to Lin Xiaowan. If I knew telling the parents would work this well, I would have spoken up earlier. Ha-ha~! Xiao Yu, is everything okay at your dads side? There wont be any emergencies while were out, right? Su Lin asked. Xiao Yu nodded, Dont worry, Su Lin. My dads asleep, and even if he wakes up, theres not much I can do to help. Ill be back before 8 PM. Great, lets head out for some shopping, Su Lin said, gesturing with his hand. Sounds good. I actually need to buy some stuff. Weve run out of a lot of things at home, Xiaoyu replied with a smile. At the same time she also noticed some change in the relationship between Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan but didnt mind. She could sense Su Lins actions towards her were more than just friendly. But what did that matter? As for the future, Xiaoyu didnt know and didnt want to think about it. She knew she was happy now, being with Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan, and that was enough for her. Regarding the matter of feelings, she believed it was something that time would resolve. Xiaoyu got into the car, and Lin Xiaowan followed, sitting in the back seat. Xiaowan tapped Su Lins seat, Su Lin, its time for you to speak up. Whats going on? Su Lins lips curled up slightly, Xiaowan, do you remember my earlier proposal? The one about starting a business together? Lin Xiaowan asked, catching on. Su Lin nodded, Ive already found the project. Were going to open a chain of supermarkets!!! A chain of supermarkets? Like Walmart? Lin Xiaowan exclaimed in surprise. She hadnt expected Su Lin to think so big. Starting a chain of supermarkets was not a small feat. Su Lin nodded again, Yes, exactly that kind of supermarket chain. Su Lin slowed down the car and began to discuss his idea for the chain of supermarkets. Chapter 51: Agreement Chapter 51: Agreement Chapter 51 : Agreement After Su Lin finished explaining his plan, Lin Xiaowan and Xiao Yu fell into a thoughtful silence. Su Lins ideas for the supermarket were very comprehensive, covering all aspects of the business. Finally digesting the information, Lin Xiaowan asked, Su Lin, what would Xiaoyu and I do then? Were just high school students with good grades, nothing more. Su Lin shook his head, No, you both havent realized your potential. Lets start with you, Xiaowan. Your logical thinking is clear, youre good at taking initiative, and you have a knack for language. If we open a supermarket, you negotiating with suppliers would be most suitable. A supermarkets survival depends heavily on its suppliers. You handling this would be like controlling the lifeline of our business. And Xiaoyu, youre good at managing finances efficiently, ensuring that every penny is spent wisely. So, managing our finances would be the best role for you. What about managing the supermarket? Youre not planning to do it yourself, are you? Lin Xiaowan inquired. Su Lin replied with a smile, I certainly wont be handling that myself. Theres someone more suitable for it. Someone more suitable? Who? Lin Xiaowan asked curiously. You both know him. Its Chen Yang from our class. He might not be great at market expansion, but he can manage the operations. Oh, Chen Yang I wouldnt have remembered him if you hadnt mentioned him, Lin Xiaowan admitted. Right, Chen Yang doesnt stand out much in class. But I noticed he stopped going to the cafeteria recently, Xiaoyu reflected. He stopped going to the cafeteria? That must be your doing, Su Lin, Lin Xiaowan said with a half-smile. Su Lin nodded and explained, Chen Yang has made quite a bit of money following my lead. He can now support his entire familys expenses, so he doesnt need to eat at the cafeteria. Wow, Su Lin, no need to be modest. A good horse needs a good rider. Without you, Chen Yang might still be eating cold meals in the cafeteria. What else have you done for our class? Su Lin waved his hand dismissively, Thats all, really. So, Su Lin, what will you be doing? Lin Xiaowan prodded.Visit for the best novel reading experience Yeah, whats your role, Su Lin? Xiaoyu added, both girls looking at him expectantly. Su Lin smiled and said, Ill be overseeing the big picture and coordinating everything. Of course. If we rent and the business does well, what if the owner raises the rent next year? Its better to buy a building. It saves a lot of money in the long run, and getting loans will be easier. Loans? Dont you have over ten million yuan? Why do you need a loan? Su Lin chuckled, Xiaowan, do you think ten million is a lot? Once we start expanding the chain of supermarkets, its going to grow rapidly. If we open several stores at once, do you think ten million will be enough? And thats if everything goes smoothly. What if others see our success and want to start their own supermarkets? Then we might have to engage in price wars, and ten million wont even last a day. Wow, sounds exciting, Lin Xiaowan said, seemingly eager to try. Thats just healthy competition. What about unhealthy competition? A supermarket business is it really that fierce? Xiao Yu asked, a bit surprised. Definitely, but we dont have to worry about that for now. Hmm! Su Lin, which building are you talking about? Maybe I should give it a try. If I can negotiate a deal, it could save us a lot of trouble, Lin Xiaowan suggested hopefully. You want to try? Yeah! Since I decided to join in, I should give it a shot. I want to try! Alright, go ahead and negotiate. If you can get it for around one million, that would be great. The land in Zhongjiang is quite cheap now, around two thousand per square meter. I think giving Xiaowan one million should be enough. If the owner is willing to sell, a million is more than sufficient. Isnt one million too much? Lin Guoqiang is the mayor of Zhongjiang, so Lin Xiaowan had some idea about the local land prices. Su Lin shook his head, Not at all. Without a premium, why would they sell to you? Youre right. Lets go, Ill take you there. Figuring out how to close the deal is up to you. Lin Xiaowan proudly said, I wouldnt take on an easy task. Hehe. Chapter 52: Business Chapter 52: Business Chapter 52 : Business Su Lin, accompanied by Lin Xiaowan and Xiao Yu, arrived at the intersection of Zhongjiang Avenue and Xingfu Avenue. He pointed at a three-story building and said, This is the one. Below is Xingfu Avenue, with a vegetable market, hospital, and bank. Above is the Xingfu Community, with a school on the left and the Wansheng City Community on the right. Lin Xiaowan, somewhat doubtful, asked, This location seems good, but there arent many people around now. Will people come to a supermarket here? Su Lin laughed heartily, Definitely, people will come. This place will become the busiest in Jiangning in the next twenty years. Oh? Why do you say that? Zhongjiang needs development, but they definitely wont spend money on developing the old city area. Future development will surely be along Zhongjiang Avenue. And I plan to spend only a million to buy this building. If we were to buy in the old city now, it would cost at least three million, Su Lin said calmly. Indeed, the land in the old city is too expensive. So, the old city will remain just that. They wont plan anything there. Future development will definitely be here. If theres a supermarket here, I think we wont have to worry about customer traffic for twenty years. Lin Xiaowan and Xiao Yu were stunned by Su Lins words. They realized that if they had chosen a location, they would have picked the old city area, raising costs and making it uncertain whether they could break even. But Su Lin chose to invest in the future. The area might look deserted now, but once the supermarket opens, foot traffic will naturally increase. He knew how effectively a supermarket could attract customers. Most importantly, he had read in a novel that a park would be planned here soon, which would bring even more people. Lin Xiaowan gave Su Lin a thumbs-up, Su Lin, you are naturally suited for business. Err thats a bit of an overstatement, Su Lin replied with an awkward laugh. Im not overstating. Your vision and scope are far too advanced. No wonder you made so much money by stockpiling gastrodia. Hehe~!! Xiaowan, do you have the confidence to buy this three-story building? Su Lin asked, raising his eyebrows. Lin Xiaowan chuckled, According to what you said, it might be difficult to buy this place in a few years. Now, its much simpler; we just need to persuade these people to sell. Whats your plan? Lin Xiaowan snapped her fingers, Thats a secret. Wait for my good news. Aright, then Ill wait for your good news. Mm-hmm~!! Su Lin dismissed her concerns, The only way he could beat me is if he scores full marks in every subject. Do you think thats possible? Lin Xiaowan fell silent, realizing the improbability of that scenario. Talking to you is futile; youre just a freak. Im going home, Lin Xiaowan said, slightly annoyed. She opened the car door, waved at Su Lin, and left. Su Lin watched her leave, feeling a mix of emotions. Lin Xiaowan entered the family compound, relieved to see her parents car wasnt there yet. She knew that her dad might actually send her abroad if he found out about her and Su Lin. The thought made her realize she might have fallen for Su Lin, often finding herself lost in thoughts of him. Just as she opened the door, Lin Xiaowan was met with her fathers scrutinizing gaze. Dad, youre home? she asked, surprised. Lin Guoqiang looked at Lin Xiaowan with a smile, Where else should I be if not at home after work? Xiaowan, do you not want me to be at home? Lin Xiaowan quickly waved her hands, No Dad, thats not what I meant. Oh? Its not what you meant? Lin Guoqiang nodded, then asked, Where did you go today? I I went out with Xiaoyu and Su Lin, Lin Xiaowan replied. Xiaoyu? The one whose father is sick? asked Lin Guoqiang. Lin Xiaowan nodded, Yes, her. Oh! And this Su Lin? Is he the one you helped by raising donations? Lin Xiaowan nodded again, cautiously observing Lin Guoqiang, unsure of what he was getting at. After a moment of silence, Lin Guoqiang asked, Are you three close? Lin Xiaowans heart skipped a beat. She felt a mix of nervousness and excitement. We are friends~!!! Friends, ah, thats good. Your dad also has many friends, from businessmen to officials to ordinary citizens, lots and lots of friends. Uh-huh! Lin Xiaowan watched Lin Guoqiang, not fully grasping his intention. Seeing Lin Xiaowans apprehensive look, Lin Guoqiang felt angry but softened at his daughters vulnerable expression. He was upset to think that a boy had caused her to be like this. Yet, what could his anger do? He couldnt scold his daughter for this. He felt he already owed Lin Xiaowan too much for his career. Lin Guoqiang waved his hand, Go wash up for dinner. Sometime, introduce me to your friend; Id like to meet him. Uh okay, Dad. As Lin Xiaowan briskly walked to the restroom, she thought that if it were Su Lin, maybe he could indeed impress her father. Chapter 53: Xiaowan is awesome! Chapter 53: Xiaowan is awesome! Chapter 53 : Xiaowan is awesome! Back home, Su Lin immediately called out the system, ready to try his luck with the lottery. System, I want to draw a prize~!! [Host, just mentally think draw a prize.]. Draw a prize. [Wow~! Legendary gold, congratulations to the host for acquiring the skill State Banquet-Level Culinary Skills.]. [Wow~! Legendary gold, congratulations to the host for acquiring the skill God-Level Driving Skills.]. With two new skills in hand, Su Lin was quite pleased: System, your chance of issuing gold is much higher than Tencents. System: Its a pity though, cooking and driving are somewhat unnecessary for me. Why would a young master like me cook himself? And driving? I have Uncle Liu for that. When will I get some real useful stuff? System: .. Su Lin knew that complaining to the system wouldnt elicit a response. He could only look forward to the next lottery. After trying out his new skills, Su Lin found them uninteresting. He sent a message to ensure the girls were safe, then started preparing for the first supermarket. With the arrival of a new week, everyone noticed that the recently famous Ye Feng hadnt shown up at school. Various rumors started circulating. Some said Ye Feng got into a fight with thugs outside the school and was hospitalized. Others speculated that he dropped out of school. Even wilder rumors claimed that Ye Feng got into legal trouble and was now in custody. At Ye Fengs home, Ye Fengs father looked at him studying seriously and nodded in approval: Xiaofeng, Ive asked for three days off for you. Stay home and study for these three days. Once you can get out of bed, go back to school. I understand, Dad~!! Dont think about starting a business again, okay? You can think about that after graduating from university. After you graduate, you can start any business you want, and I wont stop you. For now, focus on your studies and get into a top university. Thats more important than anything else. Ye Feng remained silent. Though reluctant, he had to appease his father for now. His entrepreneurial plans would have to wait until the summer break or university. Looking at the book in front of him, Ye Feng felt overwhelmed. Ever since he noticed his memory decline, it hadnt improved. Memorizing now wasnt as easy as before; he had to read passages multiple times to remember them. What frightened him more was that the knowledge he had memorized was slowly fading if he didnt reinforce it.Visit for the best novel reading experience Alright, Lin-ge, you can rest assured. As long as its something youve arranged, Ill definitely handle it well. Su Lin nodded in satisfaction. He had brought Chen Yang in to manage the company precisely because this guy was capable and would strictly execute his tasks. Such talents were not easy to find. After chatting with Chen Yang, Su Lin turned to Lin Xiaowan, Xiaowan, how long do you think itll take for your side to be settled? Lin Xiaowan raised two fingers, At most five days, it should be a done deal in five days. Oh? You think you can convince them in five days? Care to share the method youre using? Su Lin was curious when he saw the mischievous look in Lin Xiaowans eyes. She seemed to be silently saying, Ask me, ask me. If you ask, Ill tell you. Su Lin wouldnt let this cute Lin Xiaowan down and cooperated, Xiaowan, Im quite interested in knowing. Hehe~! Actually, the method is quite simple. Just find out their pros and cons, and then prescribe the right remedy. For example? For example, they use well water instead of tap water, but last year the city prohibited well digging. Also, they have two sons who are at the age to get married. Although buying a house in Zhongjiang is not expensive, its still not cheap. And they cant possibly give one of those buildings to each son as a wedding house. So, selling it and buying a house would be the best outcome. Furthermore, their buildings location isnt good, in the middle of Zhongjiang Avenue and Xingfu Avenue. While its a prime location for doing business, its noisy for residential purposes, especially at night with garbage trucks and cement mixers. Theres more Su Lin was stunned after hearing Lin Xiaowan list so many problems. That location could be considered one of the best in the Jiangning district, but when Lin Xiaowan described it, it sounded utterly worthless. Su Lin thought that if he were the one, hed want to sell it immediately. Xiaowan, listening to you, I feel like living there would be like hell, Xia Shiyu said with a shiver. Hehe, thats the effect Im going for. Shiyu, if you were them, would you move? Xia Shiyu nodded firmly, If it were me, Id definitely move. Su Lin gave Lin Xiaowan a thumbs-up. Xiaowan, youre amazing. Lin Xiaowan blinked at him, looking a little proud. Su Lin chuckled. Chapter 54: Xia Shiyu’s Favorability MAX Chapter 54: Xia Shiyu¡¯s Favorability MAX Just a few days into April, Xia Junmings surgery began. The surgery was scheduled during the day, but by the time Su Lin and others finished school, it was still not over. Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan were accompanying Xia Shiyu at the hospital. Xiaoyu, dont be nervous. Uncle Xia has his own lucky stars; everything will be fine. Xia Shiyu hugged Lin Xiaowan tightly: Xiaowan, Im still worried, even though being nervous now is useless. Dont worry, Ive inquired about this doctor. Hes very skilled and has performed many kidney transplants. Everything will be fine, Lin Xiaowan reassured Xia Shiyu, patting her back. Um~!! Su Lin looked at Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan embracing each other, his eyes filled with envy. If only he could join them Such a sight would be pleasing to the eyes. Su Lin noticed that Lin Xiaowans demeanor was slowly changing. After spending more time with him, she gradually interacted less with others. Especially those who slandered Su Lin, Lin Xiaowan showed them no courtesy. This created a cold and distant persona, though she wasnt really like that. But as she defended Su Lin, her demeanor gradually improved, blending the coldness of a goddess with the grandeur of a noble lady, becoming irresistibly charming. Looking at the two girls getting along so well, Su Lin wished he could join them. He coughed, thinking how distant that dream seemed. But he felt it wasnt impossible. Appraisal Technique!! [Xia Shiyu: 18 years old, 162cm, 44kg, Current Favorability (99+ Stagnant)] [Lin Xiaowan: 17 years old, 168cm, 48kg, Current Favorability (81+ Stagnant)] Su Lin was surprised by Xia Shiyus information. 18 years old? Could it be her birthday today? System, is it Xiaoyus birthday today? [Yes, Host!]. The system confirmed. It must be Xia Shiyus 18th birthday today. For a girl, the 18th birthday couldnt be overlooked. Su Lin planned something in his mind. Seeing her favorability at 99, he was somewhat surprised but also felt it made sense. Xia Shiyu was probably the easiest to pursue, especially at this juncture. As for Xiaowan, her favorability stopped at 81, indicating that regular approaches were no longer effective. Su Lin thought of trying something unconventional. But there was no rush; a favorability of 81 was enough for him to be intimate with Lin Xiaowan, as long as she didnt find out about him and Xia Shiyu. Taking advantage of the girls good mood, Su Lin texted Chen Yang to order a cake and deliver it. Chen Yang readily agreed. He was now completely reliant on Su Lin and would do anything for him, even something shady. After sorting out the cake, Su Lin approached the girls: Xiaoyu, dont worry too much. We can only trust the doctors now. Xia Shiyus face was pale: But its been six hours since noon. Six hours is indeed not long for a kidney transplant, Su Lin reminded. I know~!! Seeing this, Su Lin didnt comfort her further. He felt a bit uncomfortable about bringing Lin Xiaowan. If she werent there, he could have comforted Xia Shiyu better. But with Lin Xiaowan present, any intimate comforting would make her upset. Weve been waiting outside for a long time. Its getting late; I should take Xiaowan home, Su Lin said. Is your driver still downstairs? I sent Liu Shi back and told him to just leave the car down there, Su Lin replied. Lin Xiaowan felt touched, understanding Su Lins intention. She looked at Xia Shiyu: Xiaoyu, Ill head back first. Ill wait for your good news at home. Su Lin waved his hand, What do you mean won over? They were attracted to me, got it? Never mind, you wont understand until you fall in love. Chen Yang shook his head seriously, Falling in love is impossible for me right now; I just want to make money, to let my family never worry about money again. Thats the spirit, but make sure you work hard. Ive got to go now; Xiaoyu is waiting for me. Sure, Bro Lin, Ill head back too. Call me if you need anything. Will do! Su Lin put the cake in the back seat and then drove back to the hospital. By then, Xia Junmings surgery was over. As soon as Su Lin arrived on the floor, he saw Xia Shiyu preparing to eat a boxed meal. Wheres Uncle Xia? Hes been moved to the ward. Alright, you go to the nurses station and arrange for a nurse to start taking care of him from today. Then come with me. What? Su Lin, we dont need a nurse; I can take care of my dad myself, Xia Shiyu said, sounding distressed. Hospital care is indeed expensive, the cost for a days care is equivalent to a weeks wages for an ordinary worker. Su Lin said calmly, Money isnt a problem if it can solve the problem. Just arrange it, I gave you the money to take care of Uncle Xia, not to sit in your bank account and accumulate. Okay! Although reprimanded by Su Lin, Xia Shiyu felt sweet inside. After she arranged for the nurse, she returned to find that Su Lin had thrown away her boxed meal. Su Lin, wheres my meal? Su Lin looked disgusted, That meal was just unhealthy fast food; I threw it away. But I hadnt eaten it yet; why did you throw it away? Thats wasteful. Su Lin, not waiting for an answer, pulled Xia Shiyu downstairs, Whats so good about fast food? Lets go, Ill treat you to a real meal. Err wait I No need to wait. The nurse will take care of everything; lets go. Xia Shiyu followed Su Lin to the parking lot. Get in the car! Without a word, Xia Shiyu opened the car door and got in. Once seated, she noticed the cake in the back seat. Su Lin, is it your birthday today? Su Lin sighed deeply, then turned to pinch Xia Shiyus cheek, You little dummy, its your birthday today. How could you forget your own birthday? My my birthday? Xia Shiyu pointed at herself and froze. Her eyes reddened in seconds, and tears began to flow. Unable to control her emotions any longer, Xia Shiyu hugged Su Lin tightly, Su Lin wuwu!!! [Xia Shiyu: 18 years old, 162 cm, 44 kg, current favorability (100MAX).]. [Ding! Xia Shiyus favorability towards the host has reached maximum. Congratulations to the host for winning a chance to draw from the Emperors Treasure Chest.]. [Ding! As the female lead Xia Shiyus favorability towards the host has reached maximum, the protagonist Ye Fengs luck is further suppressed, reducing his memory capacity by 10% and past life memory by 10%.]. Chapter 55: I Want It All! Chapter 55: I Want It All! Once again, Su Lin thought of the chance to draw from the Emperor''s Treasure Box, hoping for a more useful skill this time. Compared to previous rewards, which were somewhat lackluster, the initial newcomer gift was much better. Unfortunately, such generous offerings are typically one-time only. Xia Shiyu, buried in Su Lin''s chest, sobbed softly. Su Lin gently patted her head, Xiaoyu, it''s getting late. Do you still want to celebrate your birthday? Stirred by his words, Xia Shiyu released her hold on Su Lin and looked up at him with red eyes. It''s just a birthday, no need to be so moved, Su Lin joked. Xia Shiyu shook her head, Su Lin, it''s been so long since anyone celebrating my birthday with me, I almost forgot today was my birthday. Su Lin flicked her forehead, smiling, You didn''t almost forget; you actually forgot. If I hadn''t reminded you, you would have let the day pass without a second thought. Hehe, Su Lin, it''s so good to have you around! Good indeed. You can thank me however you want in the future. Of course, you can ask for any form of gratitude. Well, then... a verbal thanks will suffice! Giggle, Su Lin, you''re so silly. After all you''ve done, a simple ''thank you'' is enough? Su Lin chuckled, Buckle up, the experienced driver is about to take off. Okay~! Su Lin, aren''t we heading towards your house? Su Lin, steering the wheel, replied, Of course, we''re going to my place. Where else would we celebrate your birthday? I thought we were going for a fancy meal. Hehe, who said fancy meals have to be at restaurants? Xia Shiyu thought Su Lin had prepared a meal at home, but to her surprise, the villa was empty, with no one else around. She didn''t voice her doubts and made herself comfortable.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Hold the cake; I''m going to show off my cooking skills today. Realizing Su Lin intended to cook for her, Xia Shiyu was enveloped in immense joy, covering her mouth in disbelief, Su Lin, are you really going to cook? Su Lin nodded, Of course. Today is your 18th birthday, a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. It has to be meaningful. I want to drink then. Phew, good thing I reacted quickly, or the food would have burnt, Su Lin said after releasing her. Gasping for air, Xia Shiyu stood to one side, her face flushed. Xiaoyu, you need more practice with kissing; you even forget to breathe, Su Lin teased. Xia Shiyu felt a mix of happiness, apprehension, and sweetness. Hearing Su Lins sudden declaration, she blushed and coyly asked, Su Lin, when you said you wanted both, does that mean you like me too? Su Lin turned around and playfully tapped her nose, With your beauty, cuteness, and understanding nature, how could I not like you? Hehe~! Im not as great as you say. Xia Shiyu giggled, covering her face. Youre even better than I described. But Xiaowan Su Lin tapped her forehead gently, When its just us, dont mention other girls, remember? O-Okay~!! Su Lin found her dazed expression adorable and pinched her cheek, Youre so nave, youd help even those who trick you. Not true, I would only help you. Hehe~! Lets clean up and get ready to eat. Okay~! Su Lin hadnt expected Xia Shiyu to be so adorable after reaching maximum favorability. He felt even more affectionate towards her, knowing she lacked confidence when with him and Lin Xiaowan. Su Lin, young and wealthy, handsome, with great achievements and personality, appeared perfect to Xia Shiyu. Lin Xiaowan, beautiful, well-mannered, from a good family, knowledgeable, gentle, and generous, seemed an ideal match for Su Lin in Xia Shiyus eyes. When Su Lin said he wanted both, her first feeling wasnt anger, but joy that Su Lin liked her. She always saw the drunken night as an accident, as Su Lin never made intimate moves towards her after that. If Su Lin knew Xia Shiyus thoughts, he would loudly tell her it was not like that at all. It was just a lack of opportunity. Usually, the three of them stuck together, and with both girls favorability not maxed out, Su Lin dared not take any risks. But now it was different, with favorability maxed out. You dont need to compare yourself with others, Xiaoyu. You are great just as you are, and I really like you, you know? Su Lin, you dont think Im a burden? Su Lin laughed heartily, A burden like you, I am more than happy to carry. Hehe, Su Lin, you are so nice. Su Lin pursed his lips, slightly amused. Could he really be considered a nice person? He definitely wasnt. Ever since he met Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan, everything had been a scheme. Chapter 56: Ye Feng, Dont Call Me Anymore, Im Afraid Su Lin Will Misunderstand Chapter 56: Ye Feng, Don''t Call Me Anymore, I''m Afraid Su Lin Will Misunderstand At first, Su Lin was just hanging out with the girls with a casual attitude. But as time passed, he truly began to develop feelings for these two exceptional and wonderful women. However, Su Lin didn''t care much about these details. For him, what mattered most was the end result, even if the journey had its ups and downs. Xiaoyu, you wouldn''t blame me for being greedy, right? he asked. Hehe, I allow you to be greedy, she replied. In the dining room, Su Lin and Xia Shiyu sat side by side, very close to each other. Su Lin thoughtfully served some dishes into Xia Shiyu''s bowl, Try the dishes I cooked. How do they taste?New novel chapters are published on Mmm~!! They are delicious. Su Lin, your cooking is really good, even better than mine, Xia Shiyu commented while eating. Her cheeks puffed up adorably as she spoke. Hehe, if it''s delicious, eat more. You''re the birthday girl. And I don''t cook often, so who knows when you''ll get to eat my cooking again, Su Lin said, smiling. Hehe~!! It''s okay. I''ll cook for you in the future. Su Lin stroked Xia Shiyu''s hair, Don''t eat too fast. We still have the cake, and you need to make a wish and blow out the candles. It''s because the food you cooked is so tasty. Do you cook every day at home? she asked. Su Lin shook his head, Not really. Ah, then it''s a talent. My dad used to say I have a talent for cooking, but compared to you, there''s no contest. Her mood seemed to dip as she continued, Actually, when I was little, my dad often celebrated my birthday. But after my mom passed away, he became much quieter. Hmm~! My mom passed away early too. But my dad is different; he has his career. After my mom passed, he needed to find fulfillment in his work to add value to his life. Hmm, your dad must be a very impressive person. Hehe, he''s not as impressive as me. You''re the most impressive. Of course, I''m definitely the most impressive. Hehe~!! After dinner, Su Lin took Xia Shiyu to eat cake and blow out candles. Wearing a paper crown and half-embraced by Su Lin, she clasped her hands together, I hope Whoosh~~~! What wish did you make, Xiaoyu? I can''t tell you. Wishes can''t be spoken aloud, or they won''t come true, Xia Shiyu said seriously. Su Lin looked frustrated, Alright, then let''s eat the cake. Mmm~!! Just then, Xia Shiyu''s phone rank. Her phone was an old model, only good for making calls. She had bought it for convenience when communicating with the hospital. Xia Shiyu, who was about to cut the cake, was interrupted by the phone and seemed annoyed, Whos calling at this time? Maybe its the hospital calling. You keep cutting. Ill answer it for you. Okay~! Its in my right pocket. After the phone was hung up, Su Lin casually placed the phone on the table and then embraced Xia Shiyu, making her sit on his lap, Xiaoyu, I didnt mean that kind of feeding. Ah! How do you want to be fed, Su Lin? Simple, Ill show you. With that, Su Lin captured Xia Shiyus lips with his. After a long while Hows the cake? Tasty? Su Lin asked Xia Shiyu with a smile. Delicious, sweet. Good! Now that Ive fed you, its your turn to feed me. Okay. Meanwhile, Ye Feng was driven mad. Although he wasnt at the scene, he could imagine what it looked like. Thinking about Su Lin being fed by Xia Shiyu, he was tormented with jealousy and frustration. Why? Why is this happening? Oh, God, you let me start over, but why cant I make up for my past regrets? Why!! Ye Fengs helpless rage received no response. He looked up at the sky, remembering Xia Shiyus earlier words. With Su Lins character, would he really let Xia Shiyu go tonight? He would certainly seize every opportunity to win her over. But Ye Feng was powerless to stop it, and nothing hurt more than watching the woman he loved in someone elses arms. After a long time, Ye Feng sighed deeply, Maybe, this is fate. Back at Su Lins house, he was a bit disappointed not to hear the systems voice. Looks like Xiaoyus importance to Ye Feng isnt that high. Even today, with everything thats happened, it didnt trigger the suppression condition. Su Lin wasnt too bothered about not triggering the condition, just a bit surprised. After all, Ye Feng, in his current state, posed little threat to him. His memory and knowledge of his past life had been greatly reduced. With Xia Shiyus affection maxed out and Lin Xiaowan almost there, Ye Feng was no longer a significant threat to Su Lin. After washing the dishes, Xia Shiyu came out of the kitchen and, seeing Su Lin, smiled like a fool and threw herself at him, Su Lin~! Su Lin caught her, Just now someone said I was her boyfriend, and now shes just calling me by name? What else should I call you? Of course, you should call me hubby. Hubby~!! Hearing Xia Shiyus sweet voice, Su Lin leaned in once again. After a while, he whispered in her ear, Xiaoyu, are you going back tonight? Xia Shiyus face turned red. Looking at Su Lin, she asked, Do you want me to stay? Hehe, I remember someone promised to thank me verbally, Su Lin said with a mischievous smile. Xia Shiyu looked at him, puzzled, not understanding the implication of his words. Seeing her innocence, Su Lin felt no guilt. For an artist, the most satisfying thing is to transform a blank canvas into a perfect masterpiece to cherish forever. Su Lin lightly flicked Xia Shiyus forehead, Xiaoyu, Xiaoyu, youre too naive. Im almost reluctant to tease you. Xia Shiyu hugged him tightly, Its okay. I like being teased by you. Hehe Lets go upstairs!! Xia Shiyu, although inexperienced, sensed what was coming. Covering her face, she thought, Xia Shiyu, Xia Shiyu, you really cant keep your mouth shut!! Chapter 57: Lin Xiaowan’s Complaint Chapter 57: Lin Xiaowan¡¯s Complaint Su Lin and Xia Shiyu spent a delightful night together. For Xia Shiyu, it was her first time experiencing what is known as a verbal expression of gratitude. Waking up early in the morning, a habit she had developed from her long vigils at the hospital, Xia Shiyu gazed at Su Lin, who was still asleep beside her. She softly traced her fingers over his face, recalling the previous nights events and hurriedly buried her head in the blanket. Although she hadnt fully transformed from a girl into a woman, in Xia Shiyus view, what Su Lin had her do felt even more intimate. Oh no, Ive totally fallen for him. Being with Su Lin makes me lose all my intelligence, she whispered to herself, half in complaint, half in amusement. Xia Shiyu, youre so silly. Whatever Su Lin asks, you just do. Despite her quiet self-reproach, her eyes sparkled with joy, and she couldnt suppress the smile on her lips. Xia Shiyu gently pinched Su Lins nose and softly said, Su Lin, I might have troubled you this time. On your 18th birthday, Ill make it up to you. Thats a promise, Xiaoyu~!!! Su Lin suddenly responded, startling her. Youre awake! she exclaimed, quickly withdrawing her hand. Su Lin, amused, replied, How could I not wake up when youre pinching my nose like that? Sorry I always wanted to pinch your nose but never got the chance. I couldnt resist today Su Lin playfully pinched Xia Shiyus nose in return, No problem, my nose is all yours to pinch. Its natural and wont break no matter how you pinch it.New novel chapters are published on The two shared a loving look, followed by a burst of giggles. Lets get up; we have classes today, Su Lin said. Okay~! What would you like for breakfast, Su Lin? Tell me, and Ill make it for you. Su Lin shook his head, Lets skip cooking today. We dont have much at home anyway. Lets eat out. Xia Shiyu was about to get up but then glanced at Su Lin and paused, clutching the blanket tightly. Understanding her shyness, Su Lin said, Ill get you some toiletries first. Do you have spare toiletries here? Unbeknownst to Su Lin, Ye Fengs eyes briefly sparkled with life when he saw Xia Shiyu walking normally but then dulled again. Xia Shiyu had completely ignored him, and to him, her indifference was more painful than hatred. As they settled in, Lin Xiaowan, always cheerful, greeted them at the door. Xiaowan, youre always so early, Su Lin noted. Haha, I just arrived. How did your dads surgery go, Xiayu? I didnt get any updates last night and was worried, Lin Xiaowan asked Xia Shiyu. Xia Shiyu smiled awkwardly. After being taken away by Su Lin the previous night, the two had been inseparable. Texting? She had completely forgotten about it. If not for Lin Xiaowan mentioning it, Xia Shiyu would have almost forgotten that she had promised to inform her about the surgery results. Su Lin then intervened, The surgery went very well, and he has been transferred to the intensive care unit. I had Xiayu arrange for a caregiver, who is looking after him now. As for why we didnt message you last night, Xiaowan, didnt you know it was Xiayus birthday? Ahh! Xiayu, was it your birthday yesterday? Lin Xiaowan asked in surprise. Xia Shiyu glanced at Su Lin, wondering why he would mention it directly. Su Lin smiled at her, signaling her to be straightforward. In Su Lins view, there was no need to hide anything from someone like Lin Xiaowan. Her intelligence might uncover some hints, which could affect their relationship. Being open about it would prevent her from overthinking. Following Su Lins cue, Xia Shiyu nodded and said, Indeed, it was my birthday. I only remembered it after my dads surgery was over. Then Su Lin took me out for a big dinner, haha. Su Lin gave Xia Shiyu a thumbs up, acknowledging that they did indeed go out for a grand meal, and it was double the fun! Lin Xiaowan looked disappointed, Ah, such a pity I didnt know. She then walked up to Su Lin, glaring at him with her almond eyes, Its all your fault for sending me home so early. If we had stayed a bit longer after the surgery, I could have celebrated Xiayus birthday with her. Su Lin shrugged, Well, its the weekend tomorrow. Why dont you make up for it then? Lin Xiaowan shook her head, Im afraid I cant tomorrow. I have to sign a contract. At this, both Su Lin and Xia Shiyu expressed surprise with a !! Chapter 58: A Family of Maternal Kindness and Filial Piety! Chapter 58: A Family of Maternal Kindness and Filial Piety! Su Lin wasn''t sure what Lin Xiaowan had told the family selling the house, but he and Xia Shiyu would never forget the scene when that family saw Lin Xiaowan. Su Lin, I want to interview you. Today is the day we sign our first contract. Are you feeling nervous? Lin Xiaowan asked as Su Lin drove. Su Lin chuckled while steering, Xiaowan, look at my hands, my feet, and how steady I''m driving. Do you think I''m nervous? Lin Xiaowan seemed a bit let down, I forgot you''ve been in business before, dealing with million-level transactions. Buying a house might really not be a big deal for you. Hehe, I don''t know if I''m nervous, but Xiaowan, I can tell you are. Um! I do feel a bit nervous too, Xia Shiyu said excitedly. This is our first step in entrepreneurship. We need to make it right. As the car stopped, Su Lin, with the contract already prepared, got out, followed by Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan. Today, Lin Xiaowan had dressed more maturely, looking less youthful but more enchanting, like a bewitching rose, drawing everyone''s attention. Lin Xiaowan''s lips carried a confident smile. Su Lin declared, Let''s go, time to sign the contract. Okay! Just as they got out of the car, a woman in her forties came out from the building. Her eyes lit up like a traveler in a desert finding an oasis upon seeing Lin Xiaowan. Ah, Miss Lin, I''ve been eagerly waiting for you, the woman exclaimed. I''ve been thinking about you so much these past few days. I was wrong before, blinded by greed, asking for 900,000. Then two other people came out from the house, and they became too excited upon seeing Lin Xiaowan. Miss Lin, you''re finally here. My mom was wrong to ask for 900,000 that day. I''ve already scolded her, said the middle-aged man. Yes, yes, Miss Lin, our whole family has discussed it. 800,000, a fixed price, we''ll sell it. Just one thing, we cant delay, the payment must be made on the spot. Miss Lin, please, I beg you, you must buy this house. Su Lin and Xia Shiyu exchanged glances, and Su Lin whispered to Lin Xiaowan, Xiaowan, what''s going on? Why are these people treating this building like a curse and begging you to buy it? Lin Xiaowan gently nudged Su Lin, Su Lin, lets just seal the deal. Dont press them too hard, or it wont be fun if they back out. Su Lin nodded and then took out the contract for them to review. The brothers grabbed the contract, focusing only on the price. Confirming it was correct, they quickly handed it over to their mother, one hunching over and the other handing over a pen. Their coordination was so perfect that no one would doubt they were real brothers. Ah, what a pity, sighed the elderly woman as she signed the contract reluctantly. Brothers, you should read the contract carefully to avoid any disputes later, advised Su Lin. Lin Xiaowan added, Right, you should check the contract thoroughly. The brothers exchanged looks, then scrutinized the contract, pondering and frowning now and then as if they understood everything and yet nothing at all. Su Lin thought, with such brothers, even a billionaire family would eventually go bankrupt. Weve looked over the contract thoroughly, theres no problem, one of the brothers said. Miss Lin, when can you transfer the money? Dont worry, as soon as we finish signing the contract, the money will be in your account today, Lin Xiaowan assured with a roll of her eyes. Really? The bank is quite far from here, and you might not know the way. Let me guide you. Su Lin was somewhat exasperated and amused, We came by car. No problem, Ive got a motorcycle. Ill show you the way, the man said, pulling out a set of motorcycle keys. Well, then thanks, big brother, for the trouble. No trouble at all, well both accompany you. Su Lin: Chapter 59: Chen Yangs Sister, Chen Lin! Chapter 59: Chen Yang''s Sister, Chen Lin! While the bank clerk was processing the transfer, he seemed somewhat dazed. The company registered by Su Lin was called Zhongjiang Yulin Youxian Company, and the legal representative was shockingly Xia Shiyu, who had just turned eighteen. It was an unavoidable circumstance; Xia Shiyu, appearing the youngest among the three, was actually the eldest. Neither Su Lin nor Lin Xiaowan had reached eighteen. The trio was quite pleased with the name Su Lin had chosen for the company. Each of their names perfectly blended into the characters of the companies name. After leaving the bank, all three were quite happy, especially Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan.Updated from Yay, we finally bought it! Su Lin, how was that? Wasn''t I amazing? Lin Xiaowan asked Su Lin, seeking praise. Su Lin gave a thumbs up: Amazing, really amazing. Hehe, it''s rare for you, Su Lin, to affirm my work abilities so strongly. Su Lin smiled and said, Xiaowan, you are mistaken. I have never denied your work abilities. Why else do you think I entrusted this task to you? In fact, I have high hopes for both you and Xiaoyu. If Xiaoyu had done it, she could have bought it too, but it wouldn''t have been as smooth. Xiaowan, you have a way with people. Those guys were even thanking you earlier. Hehehe, I feel like this is what they call ''helping someone count their money after being sold''. Hahaha~!! All three laughed heartily. Su Lin checked the time and found it was still early. He hadn''t expected buying the house would go so smoothly. Xiaowan, since we finished work so early today, all thanks to you, why don''t you decide what we do next? Lin Xiaowan took Xia Shiyu''s hand and said, Xiaoyu, I wasn''t there for your birthday. How about I make it up to you today? Xia Shiyu waved her hand, Xiaowan, I don''t really care about birthdays. Its past, so its past. No way, it''s your eighteenth birthday, you can''t just let it casually pass like that. Xia Shiyu thought to herself, ''It wasn''t casual at all. Me and Su Lin already had a perfect birthday.'' Xiaoyu, I know you don''t care much about it, but this is your eighteenth birthday, your coming-of-age celebration. It can''t be taken lightly. Seeing the situation, Su Lin stepped forward, Xiaoyu, since Xiaowan wants to celebrate for you, just agree. Otherwise, she''ll blame me forever. Lin Xiaowan glared at Su Lin again, Blame you to death? Its all your fault anyway, hmph. Hehe~! Su Lin wasnt foolish enough to argue with Lin Xiaowan on this matter. Such arguments never ended well, and it was always his fault in the end. Su Lin waved his hand. This was negotiated by Xiaowan. You havent seen the scene, people begging Xiaowan to buy it. Even I was stunned. Xiaowan is very capable. Yangzi, you will probably work under her in the future. You have to keep up with the pace!! Chen Yang said confidently, Dont worry Brother Lin, I can definitely keep up with the pace But arent you going to manage the company yourself? Of course I am. The company isnt on the right track yet, how can I not manage it? But I might start another company in the future, so!! Although Su Lin didnt say it clearly, Chen Yang already understood what Su Lin meant. His heart was burning. He wanted to work under someone like Su Lin, who had strength, ability, and a plan. Okay, the house has been bought. The rest of the decorations and staff will be left to you. Yangzi, if you dont have enough time, you can find a few assistants, Su Lin reminded him. Chen Yang shook his head. Forget it. The company is new, and you dont have assistants. Why would I need assistants? If I really cant, I can ask my sister to help. Su Lin was surprised. Your sister? Yes, my sister!! Speaking of his sister, Chen Yangs demeanor became infused with pride, as if he had been energized by the spirit. He eagerly said, Bro Lin, you really shouldnt underestimate my sister. Shes quite talented. Shes already self-studying the textbooks for the first year of high school. I found some time to test her, and she scored more than 680 points. Wow! Thats really impressive. Su Lin then recalled that in the original story, Chen Lin and Ye Feng met in university. Ye Feng graduated normally, but Chen Lin had skipped grades to get there. It seemed that those connected to the protagonist were never ordinary; they were all extraordinary in some way. Yes, Bro Lin, my sister is indeed very smart. Ill ask her to help out when she has free time, is that okay? Su Lin nodded, That would be fine, but I should meet her first. If it doesnt work out, its better for her to focus on her studies. Mm, dont worry, Bro Lin, she definitely wont disappoint you. Su Lin, observing Chen Yangs confident attitude, thought to himself that Chen Lin must be quite capable, certainly more so than Chen Yang. However, Chen Lin was only fifteen, in her third year of middle school. Su Lin pondered the possibility of her developing feelings for him in the future and whether it would be appropriate or not. It was a question worth considering. Chen Yang could never have imagined that while he was enthusiastically promoting his sister, Su Lin was already contemplating the implications of becoming her brother-in-law. Ultimately, Su Lin decided not to take advantage of the situation. After all, he understood from the system that this world might have more than just Ye Feng as the protagonist. Where theres a protaganist, theres a female lead. Although Chen Lin was impressive, she was only a supporting character. Su Lin saw no need to pursue a relationship with an underage supporting character. If he were to encounter other female leads, well, that might be a different story Chapter 60: Ye Feng Complains, I Advise You to Behave Yourself! Chapter 60: Ye Feng Complains, I Advise You to Behave Yourself! On Monday, Chen Yang took a leave of absence for three days. Su Lin had tried to persuade Chen Yang, but when he didnt listen, Su Lin didnt push further. After all, it was Chen Yangs own path to choose, and while Su Lin could offer guidance, he couldnt dictate every decision. Besides, he had faith in Chen Yangs abilities; even if Chen Yang chose to drop out of school now, he could still manage the company well. Talent is undeniable! So, Su Lin decided to let things take their natural course and let Chen Yang figure things out on his own. Arriving at school in the morning, Su Lin was surprised to see Lin Xiaowan being called out by Ye Fe Given Lin Xiaowans nature of abhorring evil, her impression of Ye Feng was extremely poor, almost hateful. Yet, she still followed Ye Feng out. Su Lin quietly followed them, curious about what new trouble Ye Feng might stir up. He saw the two stop at a corner near another staircase, where Lin Xiaowan, impatiently, said to Ye Feng, Ye Feng, you said you would tell me about Su Lins sinister intentions. Go on, I want to see what kind of story you can come up with. Ye Feng, looking at Lin Xiaowan, felt a sting in his heart. Why were Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu both so protective of Su Lin? One was his childhood sweetheart, and the other his unrequited love. Unfortunately, there was no answer for him. Seeing Ye Feng silent, Lin Xiaowan turned to leave, but Ye Feng quickly said, Xiao Lin Xiaowan, Su Lins sinister intentions are simple. He wants to have his cake and eat it too. On one hand, he says he likes you, and on the other, hes flirting with Xiaoyu. A few days ago, late at night, he even tricked Xiaoyu into going to his house. Su Lin, overhearing this, inwardly cursed. Ye Feng was not playing fair at all, resorting to underhanded tactics. Lin Xiaowan paused, then turned to Ye Feng, You say Su Lin wants to have both? Did you see it? Ye Feng shook his head, Thats why I say its his intention. He wants it this way. Haha, which man doesnt want to have both? Dont you want it? Lin Xiaowan sharply retorted with a cold laugh. This See, you want it too. The problem is, you dont have the chance, but Su Lin might. So, youre just jealous. Su Lin almost burst into applause. Lin Xiaowans straightforwardness was absolutely admirable. Ye Feng, you dont understand Su Lin at all. Youre just judging a noble heart with your petty mind. I know what kind of person Su Lin is, better than you do. Su Lin, were you listening the whole time? Su Lin shook his head: Not really I started listening from the part about being a gentleman. You Su Lin cheerfully said: Xiaowan, I really didnt expect you to say such things. Hmph, well settle this later. Lin Xiaowan, annoyed, kicked Su Lin lightly and then ran off. As Lin Xiaowan left, Su Lin turned his gaze to Ye Feng, his eyes cold: Ye Feng, have I been too lenient with you in the past, making you think you can provoke me without consequences? Hmph, Su Lin, you know what youre up to, Ye Feng retorted, unfazed. Su Lin was tall and well-built but never engaged in fights, unlike Ye Feng, who had been brawling since childhood. Ye Feng was looking for an opportunity to get back at Su Lin for all the pent-up frustration. Su Lin nodded: Exactly as you said. And what can you do about it? What can I do about it you say? Heh Ye Fengs fist swung towards Su Lins nose with obvious malice, intending to disfigure him. Su Lins eyes grew even colder. He had hoped to settle this verbally, but it had escalated to physical confrontation. He quickly grabbed Ye Fengs wrist, pulled him forward, and delivered a knee strike. Ugh Ye Feng doubled over in pain, his face turning the color of liver. Su Lin had not held back with that strike. After letting go of Ye Feng, who was too pained to retort, Su Lin looked down on him: Thought you were tough? Down on the ground after just one hit? Ye Feng looked at Su Lin, despair in his eyes, realizing he was completely outclassed. Even in a fight, he couldnt match Su Lin. Su Lin dusted off his hands and addressed Ye Feng: Ye Feng, considering your childhood connection with Xiaoyu, I dont want to resort to other measures. But remember, that doesnt mean I wont. In this society, a life can be both valuable and worthless. If you provoke me again, be ready for retaliation. It wont be just words next time. Ye Feng listened to Su Lins casual yet ominous words, feeling genuine fear. He knew Su Lin meant what he said. Who among the wealthy had entirely clean hands? Every tycoons initial accumulation had its bloody aspects. This is both my first and last warning to you. I advise you to behave yourself! With that, Su Lin walked away, leaving the statement hanging in the air. If Ye Feng continued to cause trouble, Su Lin wouldnt hesitate to take action. Chapter 61: Greed Chapter 61: Greed Returning to the classroom, Su Lin saw Lin Xiaowan looking towards the door. When she saw him, she playfully rolled her eyes at him and then turned her head away, looking angry. Su Lin, smiling, walked over and pulled a stool next to her, saying, Oh dear, who has made our little Xiaowan angry? Who is ''our''? Watch your words, Su Lin, Lin Xiaowan retorted. Cough cough, Xiaowan, I didn''t do it on purpose. I saw Ye Feng calling you out and was a bit worried about what he might do to you. So, I followed and ended up overhearing some things. It wasnt intentional, Su Lin explained. Hmph, who knows if you''re telling the truth. This is a school, what could Ye Feng do to me? Lin Xiaowan said skeptically. Things could be different as Ye Feng even tried to start a fight with me just now. What, you two fought? Did you get hurt? Lin Xiaowan''s eyes scanned Su Lin, checking for any injuries. You''re okay, right? Su Lin waved his hand, With Ye Feng''s physique, could he really beat me? I grabbed him and gave him a knee strike. He''s still lying there now. Ugh... why were you so rough? Its one thing to hurt him, but what if the police took you away? Lin Xiaowan said angrily. Cough cough, I was just giving that guy a warning. I''ve been too nice to him before, and he thought I was easy to push around, always picking fights with me. I had to retaliate, Su Lin said with a smile. Why retaliate? Ye Feng wasn''t wrong. Su Lin, don''t think I don''t know what you''re up to. Forget about it, it''s impossible, Lin Xiaowan glared at Su Lin fiercely. Su Lin pinched Lin Xiaowan''s face, What are you thinking, Xiaowan? Am I that kind of person? Pfft! Su Lin, you''re so hypocritical. Are you saying you never thought about embracing both sides? Lin Xiaowan said disdainfully. Cough cough cough, of course, I''ve thought about it, but it''s impossible, so I gave up on that idea a long time ago. Hmph, at least you have some self-awareness. Neither Xiaoyu nor I would agree to that. Su Lin, it seems I need to reconsider being your girlfriend, Lin Xiaowan said seriously. No no no, don''t do that. How can you go back on your word, Xiaowan? And besides, those thoughts were just thoughts. Xiaowan, you''re the one I like the most. Go away... so cheesy! Lin Xiaowan was flustered by Su Lin''s series of responses. She tried to push him away but couldn''t, and when Su Lin suddenly moved his hand, she fell into his arms. Xiaowan, I haven''t even won over Ye Feng yet, and you''re already so eager~~. Lin Xiaowan gritted her teeth, I was wrong before. Youre not a gentleman at all; youre just a bad guy. Su Lin gently tapped her nose and chuckled, Im actually quite happy to be called a bad guy, unlike Xiaoyu, who always gives me good guy cards. Lin Xiaowan couldnt help but laugh at Su Lins remark. Xia Shiyu indeed often called Su Lin a good person, not only to him but also to her. Those good guy cards were almost issued daily. Lin Xiaowan looked at her directly, Xiaoyu, do you like Su Lin? Xia Shiyu was startled, then nodded, Xiaowan, you noticed? How could I not? These past few days, youve been constantly covering your face and giggling at Su Lin. Id be a fool not to notice. Uh, I was giggling? Lin Xiaowan nodded, Not just giggling, but looking especially silly. Xiaoyu, I like Su Lin too. Will you compete with me fairly? Xia Shiyu was taken aback, then shook her head, Xiaowan, Su Lin is originally yours. How could I compete with you? But you like him. Does liking someone mean I have to fight for him? Su Lin has been good enough to me, Im satisfied, Xia Shiyu said calmly. Love is selfish, Xiaoyu. Dont you want to fight for your love? Theres only one Su Lin in the world, do you want to regret it forever? Xia Shiyu looked at Lin Xiaowan, I wont regret it for life. I have you, I have Su Lin, what more could I ask for? Besides, you and Su Lin are a great match both talented, from good families. Youre a match made in heaven. Xiaowan, if you and Su Lin were together, Id be very happy and bless you. You Lin Xiaowan was frustrated, not expecting Su Lins prediction to be so accurate. Xiaoyu, are you feverish? Xia Shiyu shook her head, Xiaowan, youre missing a point. For a fair competition, Su Lin must have no feelings for either of us. But now, its clear he likes you. If we talk about fair competition now, its no longer a fight! Lin Xiaowan fell silent. She thought about it and realized Xia Shiyu was right. She liked Su Lin, and Su Lin liked her. A fair competition now would be like taking advantage of someones vulnerability. Okay, Xiaowan, stop worrying. If Su Lin liked me, I wouldnt let him go either. Think about it, if Su Lin liked me, wouldnt you do the same? Lin Xiaowan remained silent. If Su Lin liked Xia Shiyu, she would definitely silently bless them. Love is indeed selfish, but it requires love in the first place. Xiaoyu, I understand. I wont ask these questions again. Mm, Xiaowan, lets be best friends for life. Alright! Best friends for life. Xia Shiyu looked at Lin Xiaowans smile, squinting her eyes and thinking to herself, Xiaowan, if you have to blame anyone, blame Su Lin for his greed. From the moment Su Lin expressed his desire for both, Xia Shiyu understood his intentions. Extremely greedy, wanting everything within reach. But she liked him and was willing to indulge him. Chapter 62: Breathing Through the Same Nostril? Chapter 62: Breathing Through the Same Nostril? Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu had a conversation outside, and although Su Lin didnt know the details, seeing them return to the classroom like close sisters, he felt he had taken another step towards his ultimate goal. When Lin Xiaowan sat down beside him, Su Lin smiled and said, Xiaowan, I was right, wasnt I? Hmph. Just eat your breakfast; its getting cold, she said, ignoring his words. Su Lin responded with a smile, Want to join? No thanks, I already had breakfast. You go ahead. Alright then, Ill eat. Su Lin then saw Ye Feng walk in, clutching his stomach. The knee strike had really scared Ye Feng; it took him twenty minutes to barely recover. Ye Feng could tell from Su Lins gaze that he meant business. Having experienced setbacks repeatedly, Ye Feng no longer had the ambition he once did. Su Lin glanced at Ye Feng but didnt continue to watch him. If Ye Feng took his words to heart, good; if not, Su Lin wouldnt mind giving him a lesson he wouldnt forget. In the following days, Su Lin became busy with his routine life. Chen Yang, on his three-day leave, had recruited many people, and the supermarkets construction had also begun. Su Lin, Lin Xiaowan, and Xia Shiyu helped at the supermarket whenever possible, as it was their first entrepreneurial venture, and they were very committed to it. By mid-April, the supermarkets exterior was complete, and the interior was being finished up rapidly. Su Lin gathered Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan together. Xiaoyu, Xiaowan, the supermarket will be finished in about ten days. I just realized we havent done one important thing. What important thing? Ive already signed contracts with all the suppliers, said Xia Shiyu.New novel chapters are published on My financial side is fine too. Sister Juan is professional, and every transaction is recorded, added Lin Xiaowan. Su Lin shook his head, Not that. We havent come up with a name for our supermarket yet. Oh! Thats right, we havent named it. Isnt it Yulin? Xia Shiyu innocently asked. Lin Xiaowan chuckled, Xiaoyu, thats our company name, not the supermarkets name. Oh, I see. Xiaowan is right. From vegetables to rice, snacks, and electronics, the supermarket caters to every need. Hearing their analysis, Su Lin nodded, Thats one of the reasons I wanted to start a supermarket. One of the reasons? Are there others? Su Lin nodded, Another reason is that Im optimistic about the future real estate market. Supermarkets are usually in prime locations, and property values are sure to rise. Even if the supermarket doesnt work out, just selling the property would be profitable. Lin Xiaowan quickly grasped Su Lins intention, her expression complex, No wonder you said to buy instead of rent, you had a backup plan. Hehe, Xiaowan, one must not only look at immediate benefits but also think long-term, Su Lin said profoundly. Your strategic vision is commendable. But you always miss the details. Su Lin blushed, Thats why I have you and Xiaoyu. You both are meticulous. Ive always said Id handle the companys strategy and overall coordination, and you two would handle implementation. Hmph, thats just an excuse for your laziness. These days, Xiaoyu and I have been so busy, and youre the most relaxed. Xia Shiyu, unusually, didnt speak up for Su Lin but nodded in agreement, Xiaowan is right. I havent had time to read at home for a long time. Every time I get home, I just fall asleep. Su Lin, Im worried about the midterms. If we do poorly, Su Lin, youll have to make it up to us. Cough cough, how about I tutor you both? Su Lin offered with a grin. Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes, You have the nerve to say that? Dont forget, your English improved because of mine and Xiaoyus notes. Exactly. We made a mistake lending you our notes. We both didnt score as well as you. Hehe you two are on the same side now, huh? United against me. Its your fault for always exploiting us! Thats not exploitation; thats making reasonable use of your abilities. Remember, individual strength is one thing, but when we combine our abilities, we can achieve great things. Lets not argue; youre always right. Im hungry. Su Lin, Im hungry too. Su Lin waved grandly, If youre both hungry, lets eat. You two get in the car; Ill call Chen Yang! Chapter 63: Lin Xiaowan Got into Someone Elses Car, Lin Guoqiang Explodes! Chapter 63: Lin Xiaowan Got into Someone Else''s Car, Lin Guoqiang Explodes! In the afternoon, around five o''clock, numerous cars were parked outside Jiangning First Senior High School, waiting to pick up students after school. Due to the mid-term exams being held across the school today, dismissal time was earlier than usual. (TL: In China 7-9th grade is middle school, 10-12 is high school and both usually attend the same school.) A black Audi A6 slowly came to a stop among the cluster of cars. Lin Guoqiang, gazing at the school''s gate, let out a deep sigh. Hearing the leader''s sigh, the driver beside him, somewhat puzzled, asked, Guoqiang, why the sigh? Lin Guoqiang glanced at his old comrade and shook his head, Speaking of which, Xiaowan is in her senior year now. I can count on my fingers the number of times I''ve picked her up from school. Many times, I passed by the school without stopping at the gate. Tian Wei, who had been with Lin Guoqiang since their days in the Imperial Capital, had a long-standing relationship with him. He always drove for Lin Guoqiang and knew him inside out, so Lin Guoqiang often shared trivial matters with Tian Wei, trusting him immensely. Hearing this, Tian Wei commented, Guoqiang, your work is special, and you''re too busy. Yes, that''s true, but I''m well aware that I could make time if I really wanted to. Most of the time, I just dont want to spare the moment, preferring to deal with more matters, Lin Guoqiang said with a hint of discomfort. Xiaowan, I''ve watched her grow up. She''s beautiful, intelligent, gentle, and dignified, and she has your traits. She will surely understand you. It''s precisely because she''s so understanding that I feel worse. She''s now getting close to the child of Su Zhenguo. You don''t know how worried I am, but I''ve never had the time to come and check on her at school, Lin Guoqiang said guiltily. Today you came, didn''t you? I''ve heard of this Su Zhenguo, a very impressive entrepreneur, well-known even in the province. Lin Guoqiang nodded, The province has been strongly supporting our local entrepreneurs. In recent years, many have emerged, and this Su Zhenguo is one of them. He''s very capable. This year, he''s been buying land aggressively in Linhai and Donghai. It won''t be long before he expands beyond Jiangnan Province. That impressive? It can''t be easy to expand beyond the province, though. Lin Guoqiang nodded again, That''s not for us to worry about. Speaking of which, Xiaowan admires Su Zhenguos child a lot. Theyve been quite close recently. Today, I want to see for myself how impressive this kid is. Xiaowan sings him praises all the time, Lin Guoqiang said with a hint of jealousy. Hehe, Guoqiang, this doesnt sound like you, Tian Wei said, almost as if he was watching a drama unfold. Hmph! How is it not like me? Different times call for different measures. Now that Xiaowan is eighteen, I cant just cut it off bluntly. Otherwise, with her temperament, she will surely go to extremes. Then it will be Xiaowan who suffers, Lin Guoqiang said, slightly annoyed. He knew Lin Xiaowan best. The eighteen-year-old girl, seemingly sensible and obedient, had inherited his genes deep down. Once she set her heart on someone, nothing could pull her back. Xiaowans out? Where, where? Lin Guoqiang instantly perked up. Tian Wei pointed at Lin Xiaowan beside Su Lin, There, but she didnt look our way, she just crossed the street. Thats strange, why didnt Xiaowan ride her bike today? Why did she walk out? Hearing Tian Weis words, Lin Guoqiang said, Maybe she wanted to walk with friends. Lin Guoqiang knew that Lin Xiaowan hadnt had real friends during her three years of high school until recently, when she mentioned making two friends at school. They often talked about them lately. Ah Wei, drive over there. Okay~!~! Tian Wei nodded and started the car, preparing to turn around and intercept Lin Xiaowan. Unfortunately, there were too many cars at the school gate at that moment, making it impossible to catch up immediately. By the time Tian Wei managed to turn the car around and try to intercept Lin Xiaowan, he saw her getting into a Mercedes with Su Lin. This Guoqiang, they At that moment, Lin Guoqiang was about to explode with anger, watching his daughter happily getting into a Mercedes with Su Lin. The feeling was indescribably bitter, especially seeing Lin Xiaowans smile, which he hadnt seen in years. He was both furious and self-reproachful. Theyve driven off~!!! Follow them, Lin Guoqiang gritted out three words. They had seen the entire process of Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan getting into the car, especially Su Lin taking the drivers seat. This Su Zhenguo really has guts, letting his son drive to and from school. This must be a first in our Jiangzhong, Tian Wei commented somewhat sentimentally. Hmph, that kid must be driving without a license. Later, Ill have the traffic police impound his car, Lin Guoqiang said viciously. Tian Wei glanced at the angry Lin Guoqiang beside him, swallowed hard, and chose not to continue the conversation. As Lin Guoqiangs driver, he knew this boss all too well. A typical stoic leader, now with his nose out of joint, obviously furious. It was clear how angry he was. But thinking about it, it seemed normal. His daughter got into another mans car, and that man was with two other girls, with his daughter being just one of them. If it were him, hed also want to hit someone. Chapter 64: Taking Advantage? Lin Guoqiang’s Roar! Chapter 64: Taking Advantage? Lin Guoqiang¡¯s Roar! Su Lin, along with Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu, were chatting and laughing, unaware that they were being followed. They were discussing the specifics of their supermarkets grand opening, so their attention wasnt on the car trailing them. Lin Xiaowan never imagined that Lin Guoqiang would come to pick her up from school. After about fifteen minutes, Tian Weis expression changed, Guoqiang, this road doesnt look familiar, its heading towards the development zone. Lin Guoqiang waved his hand dismissively, No matter where they go, just follow them. Today, I want to see what Xiaowan is really up to. Alright, but remember Xiaowan is a sensible girl. Dont get too angry. Hmph! Sensible? I thought Xiaowan was sensible before I came here today, but now Im not so sure, Lin Guoqiang said, barely containing his anger. He felt like he could slaughter Su Lin at that moment, his fury mou Seeing Lin Guoqiangs state, Tian Wei sighed but said nothing. He understood why Lin Guoqiang was so angry hed be furious too if his daughter acted this way. Another fifteen minutes passed, and Su Lins group parked in front of the supermarket, which was under renovation. Theyve stopped. Hey, this place is being renovated. What are these kids doing here? Tian Wei was surprised, looking at the building under construction. Lin Guoqiang was also puzzled, but he remained silent, choosing to continue observing. He knew the truth would soon reveal itself. Su Lin, Ill go check todays financial situation with Xiao Juan, said Xia Shiyu. Go ahead, Xiaoyu, Su Lin waved her off. Okay~!!! As Xia Shiyu left, the foreman approached with two helmets, Boss Su, youre here to check the progress again? Su Lin took the helmet and handed one to Lin Xiaowan, Yeah, we had some free time today, so we came to check. Hows the progress, Wang Gong? All going smoothly? Wang Gong nodded, With the payment settled, the guys are working hard. Progress is fast. Thats good. Well go in and have a look. You carry on with your work, and well call you if needed. Okay~!! Wang Gong didnt intend to chat more with Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan, mostly due to the age and perspective gap. Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan, holding pre-prepared blueprints, entered the supermarket. Guoqiang, are they supervising the work? Tian Wei asked uncertainly. The scene surprised him. Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan, both senior high school students, were starting a business? Lin Guoqiang was surprised too, It must be Su Zhenguos sons doing. Xiaowan wouldnt have such a grand idea. Getting her involved in school activities is one thing, but starting a business? Shes still too young for that. Tian Wei nodded in agreement, Should we get out and have a look? Go to hell~!! Lin Xiaowan kicked his leg. Ouch~! Xiaowan, youre quite strong, you nearly wrecked my leg. Stop it, your bones are as hard as iron. A kick from me wont hurt you, but it hurts my foot, Lin Xiaowan grumbled. Su Lin chuckled. His physique had become much stronger compared to Lin Xiaowans gentleness, almost like iron indeed. Im warning you, dont hit me casually, or Ill get angry. Su Lin shrugged, Then you also need to stop joking about me and Xiaoyu, especially when were together. Ill try Then Ill try too After touring the three floors and planning the placement of goods and aisles, they left the supermarket. Su Lin looked at the supermarket, somewhat troubled. Whats wrong? Any other issues? Su Lin nodded, Indeed, were missing an elevator. Having an elevator would surely increase foot traffic. Not many supermarkets in Donghai have one. If we have it in Zhongjiang, itll be quite prestigious. But youre opening in just over ten days. Its not easy to buy an elevator domestically on such short notice. Su Lin nodded, Thats a problem, but not an unsolvable one. He thought of Li Hongyang, Su Zhenguos right-hand man, who could surely contact an elevator manufacturer. But isnt your budget too tight for an elevator? Su Lin shook his head, Definitely not. Xiaowan, I owe it to you for saving me two hundred thousand. Two hundred thousand for an elevator, maybe a little more, should be enough. Unaware of current elevator prices, Su Lin assumed two hundred thousand would suffice for a two-story elevator. Hearing this, Lin Xiaowan beamed with pride, Thats right without me, they might not have sold to you even for a million. You should open more companies for me. Su Lin laughed, Not even a penny in wages. Bang~!! Why the horseplay, why kick me? Its your fault for teasing me. I saved you so much money, busy day and night with you, and you wont pay me wages. Thats like treating me as free labor, Lin Xiaowan said, slightly angry. Though she hadnt thought about wages, Su Lins blunt words still upset her. Su Lin immediately stepped forward, took Lin Xiaowans hand, pinched her nose, and said with a smile, You fool, dont forget were starting a business together. Paying wages wont work. No wages, but shares, yes. Ive prepared them for you, Xiaoyu, and Chen Yang. Meanwhile, in an Audi across the street, Lin Guoqiang roared in a textbook fashion, That brat, daring to take advantage of my daughter!!! Chapter 65: Empty Nesters? Chapter 65: Empty Nesters? Tian Wei, watching Lin Xiaowan enjoy herself, thought to himself, This isn''t taking advantage; this is flirting. Guoqiang, should we go over there? Go over? To watch my daughter flirt with another guy? Let''s go, let''s just leave. Out of sight, out of mind. We''ll talk about it when we get home!!! Lin Guoqiang waved dismissively. Tian Wei, surprised, noted that Lin Guoqiang didn''t intervene despite Lin Xiaowan and Su Lin''s interaction. What Tian Wei didn''t know was that Lin Guoqiang was in a deep dilemma. He wanted to rush over and take Lin Xiaowan away, but his rational side told him that doing so would only worsen things. It would push Lin Xiaowan closer to Su Lin. More importantly, Lin Guoqiang noticed the smile on Lin Xiaowan''s genuine face when she was with Su Lin. When was the last time I saw such a smile on Xiaowan''s face? High school, middle school, or elementary school? I can''t believe it''s been so long since I''ve seen her smile so sincerely. In the car, Lin Guoqiang reflected on his past behavior towards Lin Xiaowan. For the last eighteen years, he had adopted a hands-off approach in raising her. She had always been sensible and never caused him worry. However, this only made him feel more regretful. I have indeed neglected her too much. Meanwhile, Lin Xiaowan and Su Lin were playfully bantering when she caught a glimpse of an Audi driving away. It looked familiar, much like her father''s car. But she quickly shook the thought off. Knowing her father''s character, if he saw her fooling around with Su Lin, he would surely have come over to take her away. So, it must have been someone else''s Audi. What''s up, Xiaowan? What are you looking at? Nothing... I just saw a car pass by that looked familiar, Lin Xiaowan replied. Su Lin followed her gaze, only seeing the tail of the Audi before it disappeared. That must be an Audi, right? Xiaowan, you dont think it was your dad, do you? Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes at Su Lin, That''s not impossible. My dad''s car could appear anywhere in the city, just not at the school. Su Lin, holding Lin Xiaowan''s hand, reassured her, Don''t worry, I''m here to take you home. Mm~!! Su Lin, let''s see how Xiaoyu is doing, and then we can all go have dinner together, Lin Xiaowan suggested cheerfully. Hehe, Xiaowan, you don''t eat dinner at home anymore? You''re always having dinner with us. Ai, you know my family''s situation. My mom can usually make dinner when she''s less busy. But with foreign trade booming like this, shes too busy to come home and cook. Alright, then you get in the car. Ill go call Xiaoyu. Okay~!! Su Lin went to Xia Shiyus temporary office, where she was busy verifying financial records. She had to ensure every single receipt, ranging from a few yuan to thousands, was correct to avoid any financial errors. Not formally trained in finance, Xia Shiyu relied on a calculator, and luckily, there werent too many invoices to go through that day. Mm~!! On the other hand, Lin Guoqiang got home, planning to cook dinner and wait for Lin Xiaowan. He wanted to ask about her relationship with Su Lin. But by 8 p.m., there was still no sign of Lin Xiaowan, and Wang Xiaoqian was also absent. Around 9 p.m., Wang Xiaoqians car finally pulled up. Lin Guoqiang, seeing the time, was even more upset. His daughter was out late, and it was already 9 p.m. Wang Xiaoqian entered, Oh, the big boss is home early today and even cooked dinner? Lin Guoqiang glared at her, Youre aware its time to come home. Look at the time. Its 9 p.m., my usual time. I say, Lin Guoqiang, why are you fussing? Just because you came home early today, you start bossing me around? Dont forget your usual arrival time. Uh Lin Guoqiangs face reddened. Compared to Wang Xiaoqian, he was indeed more negligent. Returning home in the early morning was routine for him, and sometimes hed just sleep at the municipal government building when there was a lot of work. Eaten yet? Come eat with me. Ive eaten. Wheres Xiaowan? Doing homework? Wang Xiaoqian glanced towards Lin Xiaowans room. Hearing this, Lin Guoqiang blew up, Your precious daughter hasnt come home yet. Hm? Whats wrong? Why are you so annoyed? Wang Xiaoqian looked at him in surprise. What else? Our daughter is in a relationship, Lin Guoqiang said, sounding aged. A relationship? Thats impossible! Our daughter isnt just anyones child. Shes not a village girl from the mountains. Who in Zhongjiang could catch her eye? Suddenly, Wang Xiaoqian seemed to think of someone. Her eyes widened, Could it be that Su Lin? Lin Guoqiang sighed, Yes, him. After dealing with city affairs today, I happened to pass by No.1 Middle School. I had Ah Wei follow me to pick up Xiaowan, but then After Lin Guoqiang finished, Wang Xiaoqian digested his words before responding, Then why didnt you bring her back with you? I I thought shed come back after she was done, but its 9 p.m., and shes still not home. Heh, have you forgotten how long its been since we last cooked at home? Wang Xiaoqian glared at him. Well I cant be blamed. Were both busy; theres no time to cook. So, Xiaowan is probably out eating with that boy. Just wait, shell come back after dinner, Wang Xiaoqian said calmly. Are you not worried at all? Lin Guoqiang said, frustrated. Wang Xiaoqian rolled her eyes, I am worried, but what can I do now? We dont know the full situation. We can only wait for Xiaowan to come back and ask her. Ah Why did I come back alone Chapter 66: Scheming Chapter 66: Scheming Outside the family housing complex, Su Lins car stopped at the entrance. Seeing it was almost half-past nine, Su Lin said with a hint of helplessness, I didnt expect that wed have to queue up for dinner. Its late now, Xiaowan. Wont your parents say something? Xiaowan, smiling, replied, My parents might not even be off work yet. They are usually very busy and often come home late. And even if they are home, they wouldnt say much. Su Lin nodded, Then Im relieved. Go on, see you at school tomorrow. Sure! This time Im definitely going to score higher than you, Xiaowan said, raising her little fist in a gesture of determination. Hehe, its good to be confident. Lets see the results tomorrow. Xiaowan, watching the feigned smile on Su Lins face, felt like punching him, but considering their stark difference in combat abilities, she ultimately just stepped out of the car in annoyance. Watching Xiaowans retreating figure, Su Lin thought to himself that her silhouette was definitely killer-grade. Just one more month, and they would officially be in a relationship. With a smile, Su Lin drove away. Entering the gate, Xiaowan saw two cars in the garage, indicating that both her parents, Lin Guoqiang and Wang Xiaoqian, were home. She didnt pay much attention to this, as she had come home late before. As soon as she opened the door, she saw her parents staring at each other, seemingly in the middle of an argument. Xiaowans eyes darted around before she greeted, Mom, Dad, Im back, intending to quickly head to her room. But Wang Xiaoqian wouldnt let her off so easily, Xiaowan, why are you in such a hurry? Where have you been so late? Mom~! I just went out for dinner with some friends, Xiaowan responded. Where did you have dinner? At a barbecue restaurant on Xingfu Avenue. It was crowded tonight, so we had to wait for a table. Thats why Im late. Whats up? Xiaowan asked, sensing something odd about her parents behavior, especially their strange looks. Wang Xiaoqian breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. As long as it was just dinner, she was worried there might have been more to it. Little did she know, Su Lin indeed had other plans, but with Xia Shiyu around, they couldnt go through with them. Oh~! Did you go alone? No, why would I go that far alone? I went with friends. Who were these friends? Mom, whats with the interrogation today? Xiaowan frowned, her keen mind sensing something was off. Its just that Im worried about you dating~~, Wang Xiaoqian sighed. Dating How could that be? Im not dating anyone, Xiaowan said, her face turning red. Both Lin Guoqiang and Wang Xiaoqian exchanged a look, realizing her blushing was akin to an unwitting confession. Wang Xiaoqian stepped forward, Xiaowan, are you sure youre not dating anyone at school? I cant think without smoking, Lin Guoqiang said, somewhat aggrieved. Smoke, smoke, smoke, itll kill you someday. Im telling you, just one. Who would have thought the authoritative Lin Guoqiang would be so afraid of his wife? Lighting up, he said thoughtfully, The way things are now, separating them directly wont work; it would backfire. But letting things develop is also not an option. Xiaowan is no match for that boy Su Lin. In just over a month, shes taken a liking to him. Thats not something ordinary kids can do. So we need to find a solution that works for both sides. What solution? Tell me. If force doesnt work, then lets try a softer approach. Starting tomorrow , lets try to come home early. Xiaowan eating dinner outside isnt ideal. What do you think? Wang Xiaoqian nodded, What else? Pick up and drop off from school~!! This way, their only time together will be at school, where there are people everywhere. I doubt that Su Lin would dare to be too bold there. Can you do pick-ups and drop-offs? Wang Xiaoqian gave Lin Guoqiang a skeptical look. Err If I cant, theres still you, Lin Guoqiang said, trying to please. But we need a valid reason. If we say this outright, it wont work. Xiaowan is too perceptive. Just say its for the college entrance exams. For her exams, both a mayor and a chairman will make time. She cant refuse, can she? Wang Xiaoqian narrowed her eyes and nodded with a smile, Not bad. After the exams, well take her to the Imperial Capital, and then for college, either go abroad or to Tsinghua or Peking University. I definitely disagree with studying abroad, but Tsinghua or Peking University is okay. But what if Su Lin follows her there? Hehe, I hope he does. The Imperial Capital is full of hidden talents, and Tsinghua and Peking University are gathering places for the nations top students. By then, Su Lins competitiveness, hehe Arent you afraid that our daughter will be taken away by someone else? In the stronghold of the elite, Xiaowans standards will only rise. Eventually, shell set them so high that even we cant find fault. A daughter has to marry someday. Wang Xiaoqian remained silent. Alright, lets do as you said. You do the morning drop-off. Why me? Lin Guoqiangs face fell. Wang Xiaoqian pursed her lips, the plan sounded good, but executing it would be quite a challenge for them. Chapter 67: The Little Cotton-Padded Jacket Lets in the Cold Chapter 67: The Little Cotton-Padded Jacket Lets in the Cold Sweetie, heres the thing. Since your college entrance exams are coming up, your dad and I discussed it and decided to pick you up and drop you off at school every day until the exams are over. This way, you can focus more on your exam preparations and get more rest. What do you think about our idea? Wang Xiaoqian finished and looked at Lin Xiaowan, waiting for her response. Xiaowan, taken aback, asked in disbelief, Mom, are you serious? Of course, weve discussed it. Starting tomorrow morning, well take you to and from school. Your dad will do it tomorrow. Hearing this, Xiaowan realized that Wang Xiaoqian and Lin Guoqiang were probably serious. Piecing together the events of the evening, she guessed they were concerned about her possibly dating at school and thus came up with this plan. She wasnt sure whether to be happy that her parents finally had time to take her to school or sad that it was just a strategy because they were worried about her dating. Mom, as long as you can wake up, Id be delighted for you to take me to school, Xiaowan said with a beaming smile. Wang Xiaoqian, seeing Xiaowans smile, felt a bit uneasy, suspecting an ulterior motive, but she brushed it off, thinking her daughter wouldnt have such intentions towards her own parents. Thats settled, then. Tomorrow when you wake up, come and wake your dad, and hell take you to school. Okay~!! Wang Xiaoqian had prepared a whole speech to persuade Xiaowan, but seeing her easy acceptance, she felt relieved. After Wang Xiaoqian left, Xiaowan sneakily locked the door and opened the window. Standing in front of it, she called Su Lin. A few seconds later, Su Lins affectionate voice came through the phone, Xiaowan, missing me already? Whos missing you? Are you home yet? Just got home. Whats up? Su Lin sensed something off in Xiaowans voice. I Su Lin, I regret it. Regret what? Su Lin asked instinctively. Regretting making that bet with you. Lets cancel our bet, okay? No way, absolutely not. Xiaowan, what happened that made you want to give up the bet? Su Lin asked seriously. My parents suspected I was dating and questioned me. I thought it was over after that, but they decided to start taking me to and from school tomorrow. I think theyve guessed something. Su Lin, lets just wait until college to date, Xiaowan cautiously suggested. The next morning, Xiaowan indeed got up early. It was just past six when she went to knock on her parents door. The sleeping Lin Guoqiang and Wang Xiaoqian were startled awake, both rubbing their eyes, looking groggy. Whats the matter, Xiaowan? Dad, didnt you say youd take me to school? Come on, get up, Xiaowan urged from outside the door. Lin Guoqiangs face turned green. He had stayed up late working and had just four hours of sleep before Xiaowan came knocking. Its just past six, Xiaowan. Why so early? Not early. By the time I get ready, itll be almost seven, then off to school for the morning self-study session. That doesnt even include breakfast time, Xiaowan explained from outside. Do kids go to school this early these days? Lin Guoqiang said weakly. Wang Xiaoqian pushed him, Come on, it was your idea. Dont let Xiaowan wait. Ive only slept four hours. Driving tired could lead to an accident. Hmph, you slept four hours, and so did I. Werent you the one promising to take her to school? You didnt forget as soon as you said it, did you? Lin Guoqiangs face fell further. Eventually, he got up, pushed by Wang Xiaoqian. Seeing Lin Guoqiangs sleepy appearance, Xiaowan chuckled. Dad, hurry up. I need to get to school early. After Xiaowan playfully tapped the back of their heads, they felt their plans to control her backfire. If Lin Guoqiang and Wang Xiaoqian genuinely wanted to take her to and from school, she would have been happy. But knowing their intentions were to separate and monitor her and Su Lin, she felt a little upset. Hence, she decided to give them a taste of their own medicine. Finally, when they arrived at school and it was already bright, Xiaowan walked to the classroom with a stern face. Lin Guoqiang, seeing the students at the gate, muttered, Isnt it too early for morning reading? Why is Xiaowan so upset? He prepared to leave, but then a Mercedes approached. Recognizing it as Su Lins car, and seeing him inside, Lin Guoqiangs face darkened. This brat really dares to drive so brazenly. Ill have someone impound his car today. Hmph, distracting my daughter from her studies. Su Lin, noticing the Audi, found the drivers angry expression strange. Whats with this guy? After passing the Audi, Su Lin parked in a less crowded spot, easier for getting out. Chapter 68: Parent-Teacher Meeting Chapter 68: Parent-Teacher Meeting Arriving in the classroom, Lin Xiaowan had already turned on the lights and opened the windows. Seeing Su Lin come in, she expressed surprise, Su Lin, you''re here so early? Su Lin nodded, Of course, I have to be early. Otherwise, I might lose my future wife. Stop it, what are you talking about? Xiaowan retorted playfully, throwing an eraser at Su Lin, who skillfully dodged it. Tsk tsk, Xiaowan, you seem to have violent tendencies. I''m seriously doubting my future life now; I might die of domestic violence. Seeing the mischievous smile on Su Lin''s face, Xiaowan instinctively felt it was a double entendre but couldn''t figure out where exactly. Domestic violence? Hmm, you should be scared. Its not too late to regret it now. Domestic violence? I can handle that, Su Lin said, placing the eraser back on the teacher''s desk. I saw an Audi A6 earlier. The man inside looked about forty, quite world-weary, wearing a mud-colored coat. Could that be my future father-in-law? Su Lin asked with a grin. What future father-in-law? That''s my dad. Where did you see him? In the car. He was glaring at me, as if he wanted to kill me. But I can assure you, apart from that one time we had dinner, I haven''t seen your dad. I can''t figure out why he was glaring at me, Su Lin said, puzzled. Glaring at you? That''s odd. But this morning, I woke up my dad up early to take me to school. Considering his rare rest time, it''s all because of you that I''ve become like this, Xiaowan said, also giving Su Lin a glare. Her expression was quite similar to Lin Guoqiang''s. Uh... Xiaowan, you can''t blame me for your filial piety issues. My filial piety is fine. The problem is you. If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t have thought of such a bad idea, so it''s still your fault. Okay, okay, you''re right, you make sense. Here''s a hug of love to compensate you, Su Lin said, opening his arms, which Xiaowan dodged, That''s not compensating me; that''s for yourself. Su Lin glanced at Xiaowan''s chest, somewhat surprised, feeling it had grown larger. Xia Shiyu had been eating with them too, and he even helped her with blood circulation occasionally, yet she didn''t seem to grow at all. Hearing Xiaowans teasing, Su Lin laughed. She was so adorable in every aspect; it made him want to hold her and tease her endlessly. Soon after the bell rang, Teacher Wang Yi entered the classroom with exam papers, along with a ranking list showing everyones grades and class ranks. Lin Xiaowan, come up and distribute the math papers and this list. Everyone gets a copy. As Xiaowan stood up to distribute the papers, Teacher Wang Yi continued, Since we have a ranking list, we wont announce the scores today. Everyone knows their own scores, so theres no need to report them each time. Our class still has three students in the top ten of the whole school. However, some students grades have fluctuated too much, so they need to focus more. Turning to Ye Feng, Teacher Wang Yi said, Ye Feng, your math results were not ideal. You made mistakes in areas you shouldnt have. You need to solidify your math knowledge. Ye Feng nodded silently, knowing his midterm exam results would drop. His super memory had declined significantly, and he was forgetting things he had previously mastered. Blaming it on his rebirth, Ye Feng was in a constant state of confusion, unsure when his past memories would vanish completely, reducing his memory to that of an ordinary person. Despite focusing solely on studies recently, he could only maintain his grades. Additionally, Su Lin is still the top scorer in the school with 748 points. Xiaowan also significantly improved, scoring 736 points, ranking second in the school. Su Lin, Xiaowan, you both need to maintain your performance. Su Lin nodded confidently, while Xiaowan felt a bit down, realizing this was her best performance yet but still not matching Su Lin, who scored full marks in all subjects except Chinese. Lastly, about the parent-teacher meeting. Its on Saturday afternoon at one. All students are off, and its crucial for parents to attend. We have many things to discuss with parents regarding the upcoming college entrance exams. Su Lin, Xiaowan, your parents have never appeared at school since high school. This is somewhat unacceptable. Dont tell me theyre too busy; try your best to get them to come. Su Lin smiled but didnt respond. Since his rebirth, he hadnt seen Su Zhenguo at home, always busy at construction sites. The likelihood of him attending a parent-teacher meeting was slim. Xiaowan, however, nodded and glanced worriedly at Su Lin, knowing Lin Guoqiangs visit would cause a sensation. She was curious to see how Su Lin, who never suffered a loss, would handle the situation. As Xiaowan thought about it, she couldnt help but look forward to the sparks that might fly between Su Lin and her father. Chapter 69: Dominant Presence Chapter 69: Dominant Presence Days flew by, and soon it was Saturday. As Su Lin arrived at school and sat down, he noticed Lin Xiaowan humming a tune at her seat. Wow, Xiaowan, you seem to be in a good mood today. Have you escaped the clutches of your parents and gained a new lease on life? Su Lin teased with a smile.Visit for the best novel reading experience How did you know? Xiaowan looked up at Su Lin, surprised by his guess. Heh, you''ve been so worried these past few days, you almost turned gray. Now, you seem to have broken free from their grasp, Su Lin chuckled. Giggling, Xiaowan said, My dad didn''t come home last night; he rested at the city government building. My mom is still sleeping. She said it was my dad''s turn to drop me off today. Then, my dad said he would be busy later and let me go to school on my own. Huh, why is he suddenly busy? Is he coming to the parent-teacher meeting today? He should be. He said he would finish his work before noon and then rush over. Well, that''s good. Too bad my dad won''t be here. He''s still in Donghai. Looks like I''ll have to wait until the summer holidays to see him, Su Lin said lightly. Su Lin, I used to envy your freedom, but now, I feel sorry for you. Living alone must be tough, Xiaowan said, her eyes filled with sympathy. Su Lin was puzzled: ???? No, I''m doing quite well. Its nice to be free and unsupervised. But your dad has always been so busy. How did you manage before? Su Lin thought about his previous life and how he was somewhat introverted, probably due to his family situation. Heh, I was confused at first, but then I got used to it. How did you stop being confused? Su Lin held Xiaowan''s hand with a smile: Because I met you. Me... Seeing the gentle smile on Su Lin''s face, Xiaowan impulsively hugged him and whispered, Su Lin, I''ll be with you from now on. Mhm~!! They embraced until footsteps echoed from the staircase, prompting Xiaowan to release Su Lin, her face flushed with heat. Regretting her impulsive action yet not feeling sorry about it, Xiaowan thought about how optimistic Su Lin was despite living alone, making her realize she might have been taking her own fortunate circumstances for granted. Su Lin, Xiaowan! I''m here, Xia Shiyu called out, entering with her lunch box. Seeing the familiar lunch box, Su Lin smiled again. He couldn''t understand why Xiaowan felt sorry for him. With two beautiful girls around him, breakfast delivered every day, plenty of money, excellent grades, and a worry-free life, what more could he ask for? Yes, Su Lin is also a child we dont need to worry about. His grades are excellent, almost full marks in all subjects. In fact, language could also be full marks, but the school thinks its too much, so we symbolically deduct a few points each time. That impressive? Lin Guoqiang feigned surprise. Su Lin is our pride, a seedling for Tsinghua and Peking University. We dare not report this carelessly, Wang Yi said solemnly. Hmm, Ill talk to him later. A student with full marks in all subjects, there arent many in our Xia Countrys history. Yes, a typical case of like father, like son, Wang Yi admired. Seeing this, Lin Guoqiangs heart twitched. Another one praising Su Lin. Was this boy really that good? Lin Guoqiang felt that Su Lin was being overly praised. His grades might be good, but his character couldnt be that perfect. Although not an expert in physiognomy, Lin Guoqiang could still discern someones character. Su Lins features indicated intelligence, wit, slickness, and shamelessness. Such a person would do well in business or politics but was prone to walking a tightrope. That was one of the reasons why Lin Guoqiang didnt want Lin Xiaowan to be too close to Su Lin. A person who walks a tightrope is inevitably an adventurer. Adventurers are surrounded by uncertainty, and Lin Guoqiang wanted Xiaowan to have a safe and unadventurous life. So, he decided to meet Su Lin himself. As they approached the classroom, Lin Guoqiang immediately spotted Su Lin sitting in his seat. And Su Lin also saw him right away. At that moment, Su Lin could only think of the classic line from the movie Let the Bullets Fly: Dominance on display!!! Was this a show of force or a warning? Su Lins mind raced, Lin Guoqiang face made it clear that he targeting him. Damn!!! Today was definitely not going to be easy. Lin Guoqiang was clearly not coming with good intentions. Wang Yi, oblivious to the sparks between Su Lin and Lin Guoqiang, pointed to Lin Xiaowans seat: Mayor Lin, thats Lin Xiaowans seat. Lin Guoqiang nodded and then sat down at Lin Xiaowans spot. But his eyes werent on Teacher Wang at the blackboard; they were fixed on Su Lin. Su Lin: Did he have to be so direct? Chapter 70: Exposing Weakness and Striking Back Hard! Chapter 70: Exposing Weakness and Striking Back Hard! Due to Lin Guoqiangs rare appearances in the media, few people in the classroom recognized him. Those who did recognize him doubted themselves such a high-ranking mayor wouldnt have time to attend a parent-teacher meeting for his child. Although he was surrounded by many people when he came in, most assumed these were parents consulting Teacher Wang Yi about their childrens progress. Lin Guoqiang was pleased that no one in the classroom recognized him. It would have been troublesome if they had everyone would want to greet and chat with him, disrupting the meeting. Su Lin was somewhat speechless. Ever since sitting down, Lin Guoqiang had been glaring at him, as if his gaze could kill. Su Lin wondered why a mayor would resort to such tactics. Wasnt it boring? Just as Su Lin was about to speak, Lin Guoqiang finally said, Young man, are you the son of Su Zhenguo? Su Lin nodded: Uncle Lin, we had dinner together last year. Hmm~! Xiaowan has been mentioning you a lot lately. Uh What did Xiaowan say about me? When Su Lin called her Xiaowan, Lin Guoqiangs eyes narrowed: She said youre compassionate, excel in academics, capable, strong, creative, and have a broad perspective!!! Lin Guoqiang listed all the praises Lin Xiaowan had for Su Lin as if it was nothing. Su Lin realized that Lin Guoqiang was making fun of him. How could anyone be so perfect? By saying this, Lin Guoqiang was trying to embarrass him. Uncle~! Did Xiaowan really say that about me? Su Lin feigned an innocent look, appearing quite elated. Lin Guoqiang: Was the boy missing the point? A full-score student couldnt understand what he meant? Impossible. Su Lin was playing dumb. Young man, drop the act. Playing dumb? I stopped doing that when I was eighteen. Only kids play dumb, Lin Guoqiang scoffed. Su Lin smiled: Uncle Lin, arent you also playing games with me? Praising me so much, are you complimenting or mocking? And I am a child. Im only eighteen, and you, a forty-year-old, are mocking someone. Hmph, if it werent for Xiaowan, I wouldnt bother mocking you. Tell me honestly, do you have dishonorable intentions towards my daughter? Lin Guoqiang glared at Su Lin menacingly. Uncle~!! Isnt dishonorable a bit inappropriate? Xiaowan is beautiful, has a great personality, talented, gentle, and generous. Its only natural for me to like her. Uncle~!! You cant take away my right to like someone. Seeing Lin Guoqiang glaring at him speechlessly, Su Lin knew not to overdo it: Uncle~! Just relax. Were all preparing for the college entrance exams now. After the exams, its university. You cant stop me from pursuing Xiaowan then. By that time, you can introduce Xiaowan to the outstanding youths you think highly of. Well compete fairly, and whether it works out will depend on my ability. Lin Guoqiang narrowed his eyes: What are you planning, young man? Im just seeking an opportunity, Su Lin said earnestly. Opportunity? Lin Guoqiang looked at Su Lin suspiciously, instinctively not believing his words. But Su Lins face showed no other expression. Uncle, if you forcefully separate me and Xiaowan, it will backfire. Were not in a relationship yet, but after your meddling, Im sure Xiaowan, with her temperament, will definitely be with me. So, in a way, Im helping you resolve your worries. You think youre being kind-hearted? I said, Im just fighting for my chance. I believe in mans determination conquers fate, Su Lin declared confidently. Man conquers fate, fine, Ill see how you do it. Heh Lets wait and see, Su Lin chuckled. Lin Guoqiang snorted and stopped arguing. He felt he had been hasty in confronting Su Lin, not knowing him well enough, and Su Lin had hit his weak spot. Moreover, Su Lin wasnt like those in their system; he was unpredictable in conversation, jumping from one topic to another, making it hard to pin him down. Youre opening a supermarket on Zhongjiang Avenue? Su Lin nodded: Yes, Uncle. That area is a new development zone, the future economic center of Zhongjiang. I think opening a supermarket there is an excellent choice. Now it was Lin Guoqiangs turn to be surprised. During their conversation, he had thought Su Lin was just shameless. He hadnt expected Su Lin to have such a thorough analysis of Zhongjiangs economy. Lin Guoqiang knew about Zhongjiangs economic construction, and he was sure Xiaowan didnt know about it. What makes you so sure it will be the economic center? Real estate development, new residential areas, parks, schools moving there, and the hospital under construction. Isnt it obvious? Lin Guoqiang: Chapter 71: Focus on Studies, Love Comes Second! Chapter 71: Focus on Studies, Love Comes Second! This time, Lin Guoqiang truly saw Su Lin in a new light. Simply by considering the facilities under development, Su Lin could predict the future direction of Zhongjiang City''s growth.New novel chapters are published on Such foresight wasn''t unheard of among businessmen with sharp instincts, but Su Lin was only eighteen, a senior high school student. Moreover, his vision was more far-reaching than mere development plots; Su Lin chose the center of the development area, clearly a superior strategy. Lin Guoqiang sighed lightly, Xiaowan said you have a strong sense of the big picture and a far-sighted vision. I thought she was exaggerating, but it turns out you really have some skills. Su Lin felt exhilarated as if he had just taken a couple of sniffs of cocaine. Being praised by his future father-in-law felt fantastic. Uncle~! Don''t flatter me. Keep glaring at me instead. Otherwise, I can''t figure out what you''re up to, Su Lin joked. Humph~! Don''t think I don''t know what you''re thinking. You must be feeling quite smug, right? Uh... A little bit, a little bit. Lin Guoqiang patted Su Lin''s shoulder and smiled, Still too young. Su Lin: ... Seeing such a kind smile, Su Lin became alert: This old guy is definitely scheming something. Hes trying to lower my guard, but unfortunately, I know his true nature! Su Lin was not a naive young man. He quietly signaled to Teacher Wang Yi and then turned to Lin Guoqiang, Uncle~! I have matters to attend to at the company, so I can''t chat with you today. Some other time, I''ll visit you. By the way, Xiaowan is the business manager of our company, so I''ll take her with me. Lin Guoqiang was left fuming again. Su Lin''s so-called visit was clear enough he intended to come next time as Lin Xiaowan''s boyfriend. And mentioning taking Lin Xiaowan away in front of him was too much. Humph~!! Before Lin Guoqiang could respond, Su Lin waved his hand and walked out of the classroom. His departure as a student didn''t catch much attention from the parents, who continued listening to Teacher Wang Yi. Lin Guoqiang felt he had been more frustrated today than in the entire past year. Su Lin had shown no regard for his status and spoke without any reservations. This time, Lin Xiaowan didnt protest about not being his girlfriend yet, but rather walked with Su Lin out of the school. Su Lin, you didnt anger my dad, did you? Su Lin sighed, Its impossible not to have angered him a bit, but hes probably more guilty now. Thinking about it, I might have gone too far in cornering him, but for you, its worth it. Hehe~! Arent you afraid my dad will make things difficult for you later? Lin Xiaowan blurted out. After saying it, she realized her words were a bit off and immediately shut her mouth. Unfortunately, Su Lin caught the key point, patting Lin Xiaowans hand, Xiaowan, with your words, Im much more at ease. As for whether your dad will make life difficult for me, I dont know, but we need a future first. If I cant get past today, I dont think there will be a future. Lin Xiaowan fell silent. If Su Lin had backed down today, Lin Guoqiang would have completely written him off. Even if their feelings were strong, facing Lin Guoqiang at home in the future would be impossible. Lets go to the supermarket. Xiaoyu is already working there; we cant be lazy. Lin Xiaowan admired, Xiaoyu really treats the supermarket as her second home, staying there whenever she can. Su Lin nodded, She feels she owes me a lot and wants to repay me, but I dont care about that kind of repayment. Ive advised her many times without success. Shes becoming a strong woman. For her, its not just her effort but also yours, so shell give it her all. Hmm~! Let her be. Only by feeling valuable can she be happy. Xiaoyu is such a person. And you, what kind of person are you? Su Lin paused, then said, Im just a common man. Eh~! Su Lin, youre underrating yourself. Hehe, Xiaowan, although I have many merits, Im essentially a common man. I like money, showing off, and beautiful women. Su Lin said, looking at Lin Xiaowan. Lin Xiaowan blushed under Su Lins intense gaze, Su Su Lin, were at school, lets go to the supermarket first. Seeing Lin Xiaowan s shy reaction, Su Lin chuckled inwardly. This side of Lin Xiaowan was another kind of beauty, utterly enchanting. Chapter 72: First Meeting with Chen Lin, Caught in a Scheme. Chapter 72: First Meeting with Chen Lin, Caught in a Scheme. On Sunday, Su Lin received a call from Lin Xiaowan, who said she was accompanying Lin Guoqiang to visit some relatives and couldnt come out. Su Lin was somewhat stunned, Xiaowan, your dad is definitely doing this on purpose. Hes getting back at me. Pfft~!! Who told you to make him lose face yesterday? He said today he owes me a lot, so he plans to spend time with me. Actually, hes still going to handle official business; Im just tagging along, Lin Xiaowan said with amusement. She didnt expect Lin Guoqiang to act like this, taking her to Donghai. This is his idea of spending time with you? Hes just taking you along while he works, Su Lin commented, somewhat speechlessly. Hehe~! Dont worry, I wont be bored. The daughter of the elder were visiting is about my age, and we know each other, Lin Xiaowan replied. Uh~! I see. Well, have fun then. Yeah, yeah~! Tell Xiaoyu I wont be coming. Okay, Ill tell her later. After hanging up, Su Lin shook his head. Lin Guoqiang was really acting childishly, resorting to such petty tricks. But with Lin Xiaowan not around, it was a good opportunity for him and Xia Shiyu to spend some time alone. Lately, they hadnt had much time to themselves, mostly hanging out in a trio. Though it was fun being with three people, there were limitations to what they could do, which was a kind of torture for an eighteen-year-old like Su Lin. After getting ready, Su Lin drove to the supermarket. As he arrived, he saw a petite figure carrying a bucket into the supermarket. He was sure this girl wasnt Xia Shiyu she was smaller in stature. The girl struggled a bit with the bucket but didnt stop moving. Su Lin, curious, followed her, wondering if she was a workers daughter. Just then, Chen Yang came out of the supermarket. Not noticing Su Lin, he spoke gently to the girl, Didnt I tell you not to bother with this? Why did you make so much again? Hehe, brother, this is the plum juice I made. You cant buy this outside, and its more cost-effective than buying water, Chen Lin replied, wiping sweat from her forehead and revealing a delicate face. Why not charge it to the company? Because theres no invoice, Chen Lin interjected. Chen Yang, smiling bitterly, explained, Dont mind what Xiaolin says. I Its okay. I know you. If you were that scheming, youd be rich by now. Calculate how much you spent, and Ill have Xiaoyu reimburse you, Su Lin waved off. Okay! Chen Yang agreed. Su Lin looked at Chen Lin and smiled, Yangzi, you have a good sister. Chen Yang forced a smile. He knew this was all Chen Lins doing. He guessed she came to set up this scene to bring up the issue of buying water. Lets get a couple of water dispensers. Buying water isnt a solution. Understand? Chen Yang nodded, ready to follow Su Lins instructions. Alright, Im going to check on Xiaoyu. You two keep busy. And leave me two servings of that plum juice. After Su Lin left, Chen Yang turned to Chen Lin, somewhat annoyed, Didnt I tell you Id handle this? Why did you bring it up, and why the act? How will Lin Bro see me? How will I face him? Chen Lin countered, With so many workers working day and night, youd spend hundreds daily on water, thousands monthly. They see you paying and dont conserve. Youll lose out in the end. Our familys monthly budget used to be less than a thousand yuan. Now youre wasting money like this. I wouldnt agree if I knew. Chen Yang looked at her stubborn face, Xiaolin, you dont understand. Im in charge here, and Ill be the manager with shares from Lin Bro. Its my duty to pay. Dont you see the bigger picture? Chen Lin shook her head, I dont understand~!! Its okay. Ill tell you what happened since I started working with him. Maybe then youll understand. Okay Chen Lin was curious about what Su Lin did to earn such loyalty and support from Chen Yang. Chapter 73: Afraid of Living Alone! Chapter 73: Afraid of Living Alone! The unexpected arrival of Chen Lin caught Su Lin off guard, but he soon had other things on his mind. Arriving at Xia Shiyu''s office, Su Lin found her intently learning how to use a Word document on the computer, completely oblivious to his presence. However, as soon as Su Lin approached her, Xia Shiyu turned around, Su Lin, you''re here. Su Lin touched his nose and said, Xiaoyu, your ability to recognize people by their scent is improving. Hehe, what scent? It''s just your smell. Is Xiaowan coming? Xia Shiyu glanced towards the door. Su Lin closed the door and sat next to her, Xiaowan is busy today and won''t be coming. Oh? What could be more important than the company? Her dad took her to visit relatives. Su Lin then playfully tapped Xia Shiyu''s head, Let''s not talk about her. Are you learning how to use a computer? Yes~!! I bought a computer as you suggested. Im just not good at using it yet, so Im practicing here at the company. Su Lin stroked Xia Shiyu''s hair, Do you want me to teach you? Do you know how to use it? Su Lin nodded. Although he wasn''t an expert, his knowledge was more than enough to teach Xia Shiyu. He lifted her onto his lap, her cheeks blushing. Let me show you how to use it. Okay~!! Xia Shiyu smiled sweetly. She had been restraining herself for a long time, and now, with Xiaowan absent, she was excited to spend some alone time with Su Lin. Hehe... I''ll teach you about spreadsheets. Xia Shiyu quickly grasped the basic functions of spreadsheets as Su Lin explained and demonstrated. She admired, Su Lin, this spreadsheet is amazing. It includes all the calculation methods. Its a pity that we barely have computer classes at school, and when we do, they just teach us typing. Su Lin nodded, The computers in schools are outdated. They should be thankful they can still be used for typing. Hehe, but this LCD computer looks so much better. It doesn''t have that bulky look. Computers will become even better-looking in the future. This one is still quite ugly. From his perspective, having seen various computers on Earth, the one before them indeed looked outdated. Why didnt you invite her for lunch? Ive heard you talk about your sister many times and have always wanted to meet her. Chen Yang thought about the uncomfortable meeting between Chen Lin and Su Lin that morning and forced a smile, Xiao Lin is about to take her middle school exams. Its better for her to focus on her studies. He then looked at Su Lin, Lin Bro, about this morning Su Lin patted Chen Yangs shoulder, Your sister is only fifteen. Dont blame her. Su Lin was generally kind to others, except in his stance against Ye Feng. In business, he was clear about separating personal and professional matters. This mornings incident was not something Chen Yang should have had to cover. Xia Shiyu, curious, Su Lin, what happened this morning? Hehe, just a little episode. Nothing major. Yangzis sister is quite cute. She even made us plum juice, right, Yangzi? Yep! By the way, Xiaoyu, Yangzi has been buying water for the workers lately. Later, you should settle his expenses and keep a record. He shouldnt have to pay out of his own pocket, Su Lin said. Xia Shiyu nodded, Chen Yang, come to my office this afternoon to settle the money. Chen Yang nodded, knowing Su Lins word was final. The construction will be finished in a few days, and then we need to stock up. Whether we succeed depends on this upcoming May Day. Lin Bro, dont worry. The supermarkets opening will definitely be successful. Right, you should go and distribute flyers soon, and contact the Zhongjiang TV station for some advertising. Chen Yang was puzzled, Advertising for our supermarket? Yes. Do it like those mobile phone stores. You understand. Got it. Make plenty of flyers, enough for every person in Zhongjiang City. Dont worry about the cost. If money can solve it, its not a problem. Su Lin declared with a wave of his hand. Chen Yang was inspired by Su Lins enthusiasm. He believed this approach would make the supermarket a hit. He had put so much effort into the supermarket, and though Su Lin was the boss, he only occasionally checked on the construction progress and never interfered in other matters. Alright, Yangzi, since your sister is not here, I wont invite you for lunch. Xiaoyu and I are going to eat now. You finish up and eat soon too. Lin Bro, Ill be done soon and will eat after. Alright~!! Chapter 74: Zhao Yanyan, the Leg Goddess Chapter 74: Zhao Yanyan, the Leg Goddess In a certain area of Donghai City in a family compound, two young girls embraced each other. Xiaowan, long time no see. Yanyan, I came to see you. Zhao Yanyan and Lin Xiaowan hugged tightly, then separated. Zhao Yanyan looked at Lin Xiaowan with a teasing expression: Xiaowan, you''ve grown even more here. I almost felt suffocated just now. Yanyan, why don''t you mention how much taller you''ve gotten? I''m already considered tall among the girls in my class, but standing next to you, I feel like a dwarf, Lin Xiaowan replied, playfully hitting Zhao Yanyan. Alas! I didn''t want to grow taller, but it just keeps happening. You don''t know, I''m already 175 cm tall. Wow... 175 cm, you''re almost as tall as the boys. Especially your legs, they are so long. Using Su Lin''s words, you could be a leg model, Lin Xiaowan said admiringly. Long? I wish they were shorter. You don''t know the troubles these legs bring me. Zhao Yanyan said with some distress. Troubles with such long and beautiful legs? Look at these pants. They''re supposed to be for someone 180 cm tall, yet they still don''t fully cover and leave half of my ankles exposed. You don''t understand how cold it gets when the wind blows in East Sea. Zhao Yanyan''s comically distressed face made Lin Xiaowan laugh out loud. Hahaha, Yanyan, that''s really tough. Hehe, we''re in the same boat, Xiaowan. Do you dare to run during PE classes? Zhao Yanyan glanced at Lin Xiaowan''s chest. By the way, Xiaowan, you mentioned Su Lin just now. Who is Su Lin? That name sounds like a guy. Zhao Yanyan''s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked at Lin Xiaowan: Xiaowan, don''t tell me you''re in a relationship now. Lin Xiaowan hit Zhao Yanyan lightly: How could that be? Not yet. Not yet? So you''re about to be in a relationship? Who is this Su Lin? Where is he from? Is he handsome? Do you have a photo? Let me see. Lin Xiaowan: Oh, come on, Xiaowan. We''ve been sisters for so many years. You''re not going to hide him from me, are you? Zhao Yanyan pretended to be hurt. Yanyan, what are you talking about? Su Lin and I are just good friends. Whether we''ll be in a relationship in the future, I can''t say. But I mean, if we do start dating, I will definitely tell you, Lin Xiaowan said somewhat shyly. Seeing her reaction, Zhao Yanyan became even more enthusiastic. Even if Lin Xiaowan and Su Lin weren''t dating yet, it seemed they would soon be. Lin Xiaowan stepped forward and kicked Lin Tian again, this time hitting him on the cheek: If you cant control your eyes, you might as well donate them to the blind. What the who are you? Zhao Yanyan said, Lin Tian, with your status, youre nothing in front of Xiaowan. Her dad is at my house right now, a valued guest of my dad. If you know whats good for you, leave now, or Ill tell your dad, and he will definitely beat you. Hearing Zhao Yanyan threatening to tell his dad, Lin Tian immediately shuddered. He feared no one but his father, a former soldier who didnt hold back when disciplining him. Zhao Yanyan, looking disdainful, said, Thats all youve got. Lets go, Xiaowan Lin Xiaowan nodded. Im sorry, Xiaowan, for making you deal with this. Lin Xiaowan shook her head, I used to encounter this kind of thing often. We had even more exaggerated situations at our school, like school bullies blocking the way and school hunks giving flowers. Oh? How did you deal with them? Just ignored them. Pity, Lin Tian is not like those school bullies or hunks. Hes shameless and really annoying, like a sticking plaster, Zhao Yanyan said with disgust. Xiaowan, you said ''used to.'' Does that mean these people no longer bother you? How did you manage that? Lin Xiaowan paused, then thought of Su Lin. Ever since she got close to him, the school bullies and hunks stopped bothering her, even the love letters in her drawer decreased. Thinking of Su Lin, she smiled sweetly. Xiaowan, that smile are you thinking about your Su Lin? Zhao Yanyan teased, now completely curious about Su Lin. Lin Xiaowan''s background was well known to Zhao Yanyan. She was considered a princess, yet she showed such a smile for a boy. This made Su Lin is even more intriguing. Eh... No, let''s go, Yanyan. Show me around Donghai. I havent really explored it yet. Seeing Lin Xiaowan reluctant to share more, Zhao Yanyan felt disappointed, Okay, I''ll treat you today. Let''s have fun in Donghai. Hehe... Lin Xiaowan thought of Su Lin again, wishing he was with her. Shopping was never boring with him around, unlike now, where she found little interest in anything. Meanwhile, Su Lin was enjoying a delicious meal at Lushao Tang, unaware of the system''s alert in his mind. [Ding~! A new female lead detected. Would you like to receive information? Upon receiving, you will inevitably stand against the protagonist.]. Caught off guard by the sudden alert, Su Lin decided to accept. After all, encountering the protagonist was inevitable. Receive!!! [Ding~! Transferring information]. [Ding~! Transfer complete. Would you like to view it?]. View~!! Chapter 75: Bluffing Xia Shiyu! Chapter 75: Bluffing Xia Shiyu! Su Lin quickly received the information transmitted by the system about the protagonist, Lin Tian. Born into a family of high-ranking officials, Lin Tian''s father, Lin Yourong, was a former soldier and a top-ranking officer. Initially, Lin Tian led a life of indulgence, but on the day of his high school graduation, he was reborn. Unlike Ye Feng, the waste protagonist, Lin Tian was highly capable. However, in his previous life, his father was killed in a car accident, and his mother passed away soon after. After growing from university, Lin Tian entered the world of commerce and, after 20 years, became a billionaire. His life took a drastic turn when he died from excessive drinking during his company''s IPO celebration, only to wake up 20 years earlier, before his father''s accident. After his rebirth, Lin Tian saved his father and discovered the accident was linked to an employee of the Su''s Construction Group. Blaming Su Zhen Guo for his father''s accident, Lin Tian harbored deep resentment. Though the accident was later proven to be unintentional, Lin Tian''s two decades of hatred couldn''t be extinguished. He decided to take down Su Zhen Guo and Su Lin through business means. Starting with a supermarket, he partnered with Zhao Yanyan to compete against Su Lin The data ended there. System, why does it end here? What about Lin Tian''s subsequent actions? [Host, future events are for you to unfold.]. Can I just kill him now? Su Lin asked, somewhat eagerly. [Sorry, Host. Killing Lin Tian now would result in sanctions.]. So, I can only suppress Lin Tian through business and winning over the female leads? [Correct, Host. You can use the rules to your advantage and plan ahead.]. Got it! This is getting more challenging. [Host, this is just a basic protagonist. Not a big challenge.]. Su Lin: ... I know it''s not a big challenge, just more difficult compared to Ye Feng. But managing and talent reserves would be a problem, Su Lin said casually. We could recruit from universities. I plan to attend Donghai University, so I could arrange a partnership with the school and bring in management talent to help you. Surprised by Xia Shiyus plan, Su Lin admired her boldness but knew each step had to be perfect to avoid a chain reaction. Xiaoyu, make a detailed plan and show it to me before summer vacation. You mean to follow my expansion plan? Xia Shiyu was taken aback. Su Lin nodded, We have money, so lets expand aggressively. But werent you going to handle the strategic issues? Your strategic vision matches mine, but youre more meticulous. Youre the best person for this. Xia Shiyu looked at Su Lin skeptically, feeling like he was flattering her to be lazy. Su Lin, embarrassed by her gaze, said, Xiaoyu, I still have to deal with Donghai. You cant expect me to manage both Zhongjiang and Donghai. Is that so? Yes I guess. Alright, Ill reluctantly agree then. Su Lin embraced Xia Shiyu gently, Dont overwork yourself. Learn to delegate. Okay!!!. Chapter 76: First Lure the Heroine into the Company! Chapter 76: First Lure the Heroine into the Company! In fact, Su Lin didnt want to hand over the company to Xia Shiyu too early. His original plan was to take care of it for a while and give it to her after her ability improved. Unfortunately, time waits for no one. He didnt expect to meet the new lead so soon. Through the information, Su Lin knew that the elder Lin Xiaowan visited was Zhao Yanyans father, the director of the Donghai City Police Department. The girl Lin Xiaowan was talking about should be Zhao Yanyan. Although the information didnt mention Zhao Yanyans appearance, Su Lin didnt need to think to know that she must be a very beautiful girl. Otherwise, how could she be the female lead? He wasnt worried about Zhao Yanyan at all. He had to take care of Lin Tian as soon as possible. Therefore, he handed over the responsibility to Xia Shiyu so that he would have time to deal with Lin Tian. Since Lin Tian chose to compete with him in business, Su Lin felt that it was enough for Xia Shiyu to play with him. It was okay to suffer a little loss. The key was to grow quickly. As long as it was him, stealing? Stealing a house is a technical job perfect for him~~! After lunch, Su Lin took Xia Shiyu home to cuddle for a while before he sent her back to the hospital at night. It wasnt that Su Lin didnt want to eat this girl, but he didnt have the chance. He only had one day off a week. With his strong physique, if he and Xia Shiyu progressed further, how could she go to class? The next day, when he arrived at school, Su Lin saw two boxes on Lin Xiaowans table with beautiful packaging. It was obvious that they were gifts Lin Xiaowan brought back from Donghai. Su Lin walked in front of Lin Xiaowan with a smile. Xiaowan, are these two big boxes gifts for me? Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes at Su Lin. Wishful thinking, these are for Xiaoyu. For Xiaoyu? What about mine? You have two boxes here, one of them must be mine. Su Lin reached out to take the box. Pa! This isnt yours, this is Xiaoyus. Su Lin looked at the other one. Then this one must be mine. Mhmm! Lin Xiaowan responded softly. Su Lin was overjoyed and opened the box next to him. Eh! Why did you tear it down in the classroom? Su Lin replied with a silly smile. This is the first present Lil Wan gave me. I cant wait until I get home. I have to see it live. Do you think its possible to get your friend to join our company and open a branch in Donghai? If shes willing to join, we could advance our expansion in Donghai by several months. Arent you worried about Yanyans ability to handle things? Su Lin glanced at Lin Xiaowan and said, With you being so outstanding, Xiaowan, that Zhao Yanyan cant be too bad, right? I cant believe your friend would be just an ordinary person. And Im not asking her to start immediately; once her branch gets going, itll be summer vacation, and we can go over to supervise. Hearing this, Lin Xiaowan fell into thought. Although she didnt often interact with Zhao Yanyan, Lin Xiaowan knew that Zhao Yanyan was also a very capable person. Moreover, the initial preparation for opening a store was indeed very time-consuming. If Zhao Yanyan could join them, it would indeed be a great help for the companys development. As for what might happen between Su Lin and Zhao Yanyan, Lin Xiaowan felt that by then, she and Su Lin would have established their relationship. Given Zhao Yanyans personality, as long as Su Lin had a girlfriend, even if she liked him, she wouldnt deliberately destroy someone elses relationship. So, there was no need to worry about that aspect. Su Lin, do you really want Yanyan to join in? This is your business, what if she messes it up? Seeing Lin Xiaowan softening, Su Lin silently cheered, thinking theres a chance. He smiled and said, This isnt just my business, but ours. If Zhao Yanyan wants, it can be her business too. As long as shes capable, shell definitely get stock options or even shares in the future. Su Lin knew well that when a company grows to a certain extent, sharing stocks is inevitable. As for the concern of a unified opinion and a coup after sharing stocks, he wasnt worried at all. He would only give stocks to those he trusted, like Lin Xiaowan, Xia Shiyu, Chen Yang. Either their favorability was maxed out, or their loyalty was maxed out. It seemed like he was distributing shares, but in reality, he was still the boss. Xiaowan, find a way to get Zhao Yanyan to come to Zhongjiang, or lets have her come for our opening. This way, she can see were not just messing around, and its also a formal meeting to understand the situation. If shes really interested, then lets bring her in. Lin Xiaowan nodded, Ill ask Yanyan later. But dont get your hopes up, Su Lin, Yanyan isnt that interested in business; her biggest hobby is dancing. Su Lin chuckled and said, Dancing? Dont worry, once she experiences the charm of doing business, shell lose interest in dancing. Eh Where does your confidence come from? Shes been studying dance for many years. Su Lin chuckled without answering. Sometimes, studying something for many years doesnt mean one likes it. Just like studying, there are dozens of people in the class who have been studying for nine years, but how many of them truly love studying? Its okay, youre with me, Xiaowan. Youll help me find a way, right? Hmph~! Daydreaming every day, thinking of nothing but nonsense beautiful things. Chapter 77: Zhao Yanyan Agrees to the Invitation, Su Lin Makes Final Preparations! Chapter 77: Zhao Yanyan Agrees to the Invitation, Su Lin Makes Final Preparations! Upon Lin Xiaowan''s agreement, Su Lin also began to look forward to it. He was curious about how Zhao Yanyan, working in the enemy''s company, would react to Lin Tian''s proposal to join their venture in opening a supermarket. Although he had never met Lin Tian, Su Lin was already anticipating his reaction. Alright~! Stop standing here. Xiaoyu is coming, I''ll go give her the gift. Su Lin nodded, And bring me my lunchbox on your way back. You can''t go get it yourself? Lin Xiaowan reflexively retorted Su Lin, then wrinkled her nose and walked towards Xia Shiyu. Su Lin didn''t mind this at all. Xiaowan always seemed eager to pick a fight with whatever he said, probably because she never got the upper hand and wanted to win against him for once. But Su Lin never played by the book, denying her the chance. Xiaowan, did you go to Donghai for fun yesterday? Yeah, Xiaoyu. It''s a pity you weren''t there. I was so bored. Xiaoyu, I brought you a gift back. A gift~! Of course... Watching Lin Xiaowan looking like she wanted to chat with Xia Shiyu and don''t have the intention of getting it for him, Su Lin shook his head, stood up, and went to get the lunchbox. Xiaoyu, what did you make for breakfast this morning? Su Lin, you really know how to exploit labor. Xiaoyu is always helping you in the supermarket whenever she''s free, and she still has to cook breakfast for you every day, without any repeats. Xia Shiyu gently smiled and said, Xiaowan, don''t blame Su Lin. I do these things willingly. If only he knew his luck, Lin Xiaowan said as she shook her head in disbelief. Su Lin shrugged, If you want to eat, just say so. I''m not going to stop you, no need to beat around the bush. Who wants to eat? I had breakfast before I came, okay? Ah... sincere woman. Su Lin, you stand right there, what did you just say... Su Lin shrugged and turned to Xia Shiyu with a smile, Let Xiaoyu open her gift. I''m curious about it. Xia Shiyu put the box on the table, I''ll open it at home. Look at Xiaoyu, then look at yourself, Su Lin. You even threw away the packaging. Su Lin was unperturbed by Lin Xiaowan''s disdainful look, Go whisper to Xiaoyu. She''s been dying to know where you went yesterday.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only Yep yep. After hanging up, Lin Xiaowan clenched her fist and made a yeah gesture. Deep down, she didnt want to introduce Zhao Yanyan to Su Lin, but she understood that bringing Zhao Yanyan into the fold was a very wise move. Ultimately, she coaxed Zhao Yanyan over for Su Lin and the companys development. Zhao Yanyan, too, fell into thought after hanging up. She had too little information at hand, but it wasnt hard for her to analyze. Especially Lin Xiaowans call. She guessed Lin Xiaowans invitation to Zhongjiang was either to use her family background for help, to bring her into the partnership, or just to introduce her to Su Lin. Why think so much? Just go and find out. Su Lin, such an ordinary name. Where does your charm come from that keeps Xiaowan talking about you? Im a bit curious too. On the other side, Su Lin received a call from Lin Xiaowan, telling him Zhao Yanyan agreed to come over for the May Day holiday. Su Lin was overjoyed, Xiaowan, you really have a way. Hehe I dont have any methods. Its just that Yanyan is interested in you. Lin Xiaowan said with a hint of jealousy on her tone. Heh~! Even Xiaowan gets jealous. It seems Zhao Yanyans charm is really great. Im actually quite looking forward to meeting her now. Su Lin said with a smile. Su Lin~!!! Alright, alright, dont talk so loud, its bad for your vocal cords. Xiaowan, see you tomorrow. See you tomorrow. After hanging up, Su Lin called Chen Yang to make final preparations for the opening. Yangzi, are the flyers for our Quan Le Gou ready? Theyre ready, Lin Ge. I was just about to discuss this with you. When do we start printing, and how many? Su Lin chuckled, How many? Make sure every person in Zhongjiang city gets one. Print me half a million copies, then find some temporary workers to distribute them throughout the city. Make sure every part of the city gets our supermarkets opening flyers. That Brother Lin, this will cost a bit. Is money a problem? Once the reputation is out, well make it back in a few days, especially during the opening days. Just think about the income with hundreds of thousands in the city, even if only one percent come. Chen Yangs scalp tingled at the thought. Alright Yangzi, just do as I say. Okay, Brother Lin. Ill do as you ask. Mm-hmm, start tomorrow. I want every dog in Zhongjiang to know about Quanlegous opening. Chen Yang: Chapter 78: Grand Opening of Store, A Sensational Hit! Chapter 78: Grand Opening of Store, A Sensational Hit! In the subsequent days, Su Lin fully unleashed his capability, showing what it means to have true financial strength. In the seven districts of Zhongjiang, nearly everyone became aware of a supermarket opening in Jiangning, renowned for its remarkably low prices. Laundry detergent for two yuan, eggs for a few cents, pork for just over ten yuan, and so on. The news stirred up excitement among the elderly in Zhongjiang. The youth were not left out either. Su Lin initiated a promotion offering a chance to win a game console with purchases, and all children''s toys were sold at a 20% discount. This strategy effectively targeted all age groups across Zhongjiang. On May Day, bright and early, Su Lin drove Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu to the eagerly awaited opening of Quan Le Gou''s first store. Xiaowan, later call our suppliers to ensure they are ready to deliver more goods, especially those on promotion. We need to have at least two million yuan worth of additional stock, Su Lin instructed. Lin Xiaowan was amazed. Su Lin, we''ve already prepared several million yuan''s worth of stock, do we really need more? If we can''t sell them, they can''t be returned, and we''ll be stuck with them. Su Lin responded with a light laugh, Xiaowan, you are underestimating the purchasing power of Zhongjiang''s residents. These are just a few million yuan''s worth of goods, watch how quickly they''ll be snapped up. Lin Xiaowan, familiar with the population size of this central city market, found it hard to believe. I''ve never underestimated their buying power, but together with the suppliers'' stock, this totals over five million yuan. Su Lin confidently assured her, It won''t be long before you realize I''m right. Hmm, I shall wait and see, Lin Xiaowan said, her admiration for Su Lin growing. She found his confidence in the face of significant decisions very attractive. Arriving at Zhongjiang Avenue, Su Lin pointed out, Look, do you still think we can''t sell everything? Lin Xiaowan was stunned to see the bustling crowd. The area outside Quan Le Gou Store was packed with people, easily numbering in the thousands. The street was lined with cars. Alright, Class Monitor, Ill go handle it, Chen Yang responded and then hurried off. Su Lin, Xia Shiyu, you guys go ahead and look around, I need to make calls for restocking, Lin Xiaowan said. Su Lin nodded, letting Lin Xiaowan leave first. Lin Xiaowans phone didnt stop ringing until after ten oclock, finally giving her a break. Watching trucks unloading goods at the back of the supermarket, she felt relieved. She rubbed her slightly sore shoulders, Ah, finally done with the calls. These suppliers are as frantic as if theyve been injected with chicken blood. But, why do I feel like Ive forgotten something? she wondered aloud. Su Lin, rubbing Lin Xiaowans head affectionately, reminded her, You forgot about your friend from Donghai. Ah Lin Xiaowan gasped, I I forgot about Yanyan. Just as she finished speaking, her phone rang, displaying Zhao Yanyans name. Su Lin, pulling Xia Shiyu to the side, remarked, Hey, I reminded her several times earlier, but she didnt hear me even once? Xia Shiyu nodded, Xiaowan has indeed been too busy. With so many suppliers and so much stock to replenish, she hasnt had a moments rest. Su Lin nodded in agreement, Later on, lets have Chen Yang handle some of the less important suppliers. If we keep this up, there will be no time to rest. Hehe, wont that make Chen Yang even busier? Xia Shiyu asked. Hmm? Its for training his ability, Su Lin said sternly. Chen Yang, bustling around nearby, suddenly shivered, Eh! Why did I just shiver? It must be because Ive been resting too little recently. Ah, after these three days of the May Day holiday, I really need a good rest. Chapter 79: Astonished by the Leggy Beauty, Su Lin is Stunned. Chapter 79: Astonished by the Leggy Beauty, Su Lin is Stunned. As soon as Lin Xiaowan hung up the phone, she rushed to Su Lin, patting his shoulder, Hurry, hurry, let''s go to the bus station. Your friend is already at the bus station? Su Lin asked. Lin Xiaowan, on the verge of tears, replied, She''s been waiting for over half an hour. She called several times, but the line was always busy.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n)) Why didn''t you tell her to take a taxi? Su Lin asked with a smile. Take a taxi? Yanyan must be furious by now, no time for that. Come on, Su Lin, let''s hurry over there. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Su Lin nodded and quickly got into the car with Lin Xiaowan. Aiyo, how could I forget about Yanyan? She''s definitely going to scold me to death, Lin Xiaowan lamented. Su Lin, somewhat helplessly, said, I reminded you several times earlier, but you told me not to interrupt and even kicked me. You saw how it was, I was constantly on calls, completely swamped. The people of Zhongjiang are just too crazy, Lin Xiaowan said, still shaken by the experience. When they left, the supermarket was still crowded with people queuing to check out, a line that might last even past lunchtime. Especially those elderly customers, they were shopping so crazily. Su Lin, did you hear? Some of them came at five in the morning, before dawn, just for those few cents of discount. It''s madness. Hahaha, Xiaowan, you don''t understand. For them, getting to the market early is a pleasure. Saving a few cents makes them happy for days. Sometimes we don''t understand because we''re not their age yet. These elderly people have been busy all their lives, and now they feel restless with too much free time, so they rush to the markets early. Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin in surprise, Su Lin, you even guessed their psychology! No wonder you had those people distribute flyers earlier. Hehe, I''m not a psychologist. Just reading up on the internet is enough. Supermarkets in the capital and other big cities have early markets to attract the elderly, Su Lin said with a smile. Lin Xiaowan wanted to continue the conversation but her phone rang again. Watching her busy, Su Lin felt a bit sorry for her. After she hung up, he asked, Didn''t Yangzi arrange an assistant for you? Lin Xiaowan nodded, He did. If you have an assistant, let them handle some of the less important clients. You can''t personally manage everything in a supermarket; you''ll be run ragged. Hehe, I find it quite interesting, especially dealing with these small merchants. Even so, you shouldnt be too busy. Listen to me, delegate some less important clients to your assistant, and give some to Yangzi too. That way, youll be more relaxed. As a leader, you need to learn how to use people. Zhao Yanyan, with a cold expression, retorted, Go away Lin Xiaowan, dont think acting cute can change the fact that you left me waiting at the bus station for an hour Dream on if you think a hug will make me not angry, thats impossible. Lin Xiaowan, trying to appease her, said with a giggle, Yanyan, it wasnt intentional, I was really too busy, bombarded with calls all morning. You just opened a supermarket, how busy can you be? Just then, Lin Xiaowans phone rang again. Sorry, Yanyan, I need to take this call. Oh, this is Su Lin, my friend~!! Su Lin, this is Zhao Yanyan, the one I told you about. You guys talk first. Leaving Su Lin and Zhao Yanyan to face each other, Lin Xiaowan walked away to answer her phone. Zhao Yanyan scrutinized Su Lin, noting his high attractiveness and handsome features, particularly his smile that could outshine many celebrities. His physique was excellent. With her years of dance experience, she could tell that Su Lin had one of the best body proportions among Asian men. Zhao Yanyan thought to herself, No wonder Xiaowan is smitten by Su Lin. With his looks, which girl wouldnt be charmed? But Lin Xiaowan isnt shallow; there must be more to Su Lin that attracts her. Shell have to discover that herself. Su Lin allowed Zhao Yanyan to boldly size him up, standing still as she examined him from head to toe. When Zhao Yanyan finally felt embarrassed about staring, she spoke, Su Lin, Xiaowan has mentioned you. Su Lin nodded, Xiaowan has also spoken about you. Oh? What did she say about me? Zhao Yanyan curiously asked. Beautiful, with long legs! Su Lin remarked, glancing again at Zhao Yanyans legs. Zhao Yanyan burst into laughter, covering her stomach, Haha Xiaowan was right. If I stand in front of you, the first thing you notice are my legs. I thought she was joking, but it turns out to be true. Su Lin, puzzled, glanced at Lin Xiaowan. Highly aloof? Really? Zhao Yanyan, sensing Su Lins gaze, provocatively asked, Do you find my legs that attractive? Su Lin nodded, Your legs must be at least 1.1 meters long. Its rare to find such long legs in China. Zhao Yanyan, half-jokingly, asked, Arent you worried Xiaowan will be jealous? Su Lin nodded earnestly, Afraid, but still cant help looking. Zhao Yanyan laughed heartily, Su Lin, you truly are a common man. Chapter 80: Zhao Yanyan in Disarray Chapter 80: Zhao Yanyan in Disarray Su Lin looked at Zhao Yanyan with a baffled expression. She was supposed to be aloof, but Su Lin couldnt detect any sign of that trait. Yanyan, Su Lin, what are you guys talking about? You seem so happy, Lin Xiaowan asked as she approached them. Zhao Yanyan winked at Lin Xiaowan, Nothing much, just something you guessed right, quite amusing. Lin Xiaowan quickly understood the implication of Zhao Yanyans words and shot Su Lin a glare, to which he just shrugged. To Su Lin, anyone would take a second glance at Zhao Yanyans long legs; it was perfectly normal. Yanyan, dont bother with Su Lin; hes always like this. Lets head back, Lin Xiaowan suggested. Su Lin, maintaining a serious face, nodded and opened the car door to get in. Zhao Yanyan, curious, asked, Is your supermarket really busy? Lin Xiaowan nodded affirmatively, Extremely busy. Why dont you hire more staff then? More staff? We have enough employees already. Oh, Yanyan, its too much to explain right now, but youll understand once you see for yourself. Just then, Lin Xiaowans phone rang again. Zhao Yanyan overheard a bit of the conversation and was astonished. Lin Xiaowan ordered another 500 cans of foreign milk powder. Could they really sell that much? Noticing Zhao Yanyans intrigued expression, Su Lin thought she was probably underestimating their business. Thankfully, she didnt make a premature judgment. For the next twenty minutes, Zhao Yanyan witnessed a never-ending stream of phone calls, leading her to ask Su Lin, Is Xiaowan always this busy? Su Lin shook his head, Its just because of the grand opening today. The promotions and the May Day holiday attracted a lot of people. Normally, its not this busy. Hows the business at your supermarket? Zhao Yanyan inquired with curiosity. Su Lin smiled, Its doing quite well, probably the first comprehensive supermarket in Zhongjiang. Oh~!! Zhao Yanyan fell into thought, wondering why Su Lin hadnt received a single call while Lin Xiaowan was so busy. She decided to wait and find out the mystery herself. Upon arriving at the supermarket, Zhao Yanyan was again taken aback. The three-story building, complete with elevators, was something rarely seen in Donghai, let alone in Zhongjiang. Although she couldnt see the entire depth of the store, just the front view told Zhao Yanyan that this supermarket was no small venture. The bustling crowd coming in and out with bags full of purchases, and the packed parking lot, spoke volumes. So, the plan is to have me join you? But Ive never done this before. Running a supermarket is business, not like school debates or sports events. Su Lin pointed at himself, Did I ever run a supermarket before? Did Xiaowan? We were both new to this and didnt understand much, but look at our success. Youre different, Yanyan. With a branch in Donghai, we can share our experiences with you, helping you avoid many mistakes. We can also train staff for you; we have been building our talent pool. So, you wont have to do much. What would I need to do? Find locations, purchase properties, oversee renovations, contact suppliers, Lin Xiaowan answered. Zhao Yanyan felt overwhelmed, I have to buy properties? Su Lin laughed, Not buy, just search first. Theres still a month until the college entrance exam. We can start searching and negotiating, and by summer, we could finalize everything. Xiaowan and I will help you in Donghai. Yes, Ill be there too, Lin Xiaowan added. Zhao Yanyan, her mind in disarray, raised her hand, Lets lets put this aside for now. Lets go inside and have a look first. My mind is too cluttered to give you an answer right now. Su Lin thought it might not have been the best time to discuss this right after getting out of the car, but he and Lin Xiaowan had gotten carried away. Su Lin nodded, Take your time to think, Yanyan. But the sooner the better, so we can start preparing. Right, Yanyan! Lin Xiaowan agreed. Zhao Yanyan, looking at the supermarket and Lin Xiaowan, felt her resolve wavering. She had spent years dancing, but in the end, it was still performing for others. Business, however, was different. Seeing Lin Xiaowans radiant demeanor and Su Lins confident eyes, Zhao Yanyan admitted she envied them. Lets not talk about this now. Later, lets have a good meal with Xiaoyu and Yangzi, and welcome Yanyan properly. Sure! Yanyan, come with us to the second floor and see. Ah Okay. Zhao Yanyan followed Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan into the elevator, curious about what the second floor held. Seeing her inquisitive look, Su Lin once again had an idea. He and Lin Xiaowan exchanged a glance, both seeing the smile in each others eyes. Chapter 81: Lin Xiaowan’s Sense of Crisis Chapter 81: Lin Xiaowan¡¯s Sense of Crisis At noon, Su Lin and the group enjoyed a lavish meal at the Triumphal Arch Hotel, delighted by Quan Le Gous successful purchasing. Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu were particularly happy. Xia Shiyu would have joined Lin Xiaowan for a drink if Su Lin hadnt objected. Yangzi, have you checked this mornings sales? Su Lin asked. Chen Yang nodded, Before I left, I checked. Each of the ten cash registers exceeded one hundred thousand. Roughly, I think it should be around 1.5 million. 1.55 million? So, youve made back your investment today? Zhao Yanyan was astonished. It was only half past twelve, and they had already sold 1.5 million in just over four hours. A turnover of 3 million seemed easily achievable. Zhao Yanyan, although unclear about supermarket profits, knew they couldnt be too low. Xia Shiyu shook her head, 3 million is just the turnover, we have to deduct the cost. But even after deducting the cost, its still a lot. And 3 million a day means tens of millions a month, Zhao Yanyan remarked. You cant calculate it like that, Lin Xiaowan explained. Most of our 3 million turnover came from promotions, so the profit isnt high. Many people buy a lot of things to save money, so our turnover will definitely drop sharply after May Day. Zhao Yanyan disagreed, Zhongjiang has nearly two million people, and over five hundred thousand in the city alone. A turnover of 3 million isnt much. Believe me, Xiaowan, your supermarkets popularity should last a while. Su Lin agreed, Yanyan is right. We might have exhausted some peoples spending power, but dont forget, there are still hundreds of thousands of people in the city. Today, only the more daring ones came. Once word of mouth spreads, our store should remain popular for a while, though it wont match todays figures. Su Lin was impressed with Zhao Yanyan. Her business acumen and big-picture thinking were commendable. Su Lin, with your supermarket so successful, wont others copy it soon? Arent you worried? Zhao Yanyan asked. Su Lin smiled, Certainly, but not everyone can afford to open such a big supermarket. 2 million in cash is not something many in Zhongjiang can come up with. And even if they do, not many dare to venture into a business they know nothing about. So, were safe for the short term. By the time they catch up, Ill have expanded to the countryside. Zhao Yanyan seemed to understand why Lin Xiaowan was so fond of Su Lin. His charisma was indeed captivating.Updated from She whispered to Lin Xiaowan, No wonder youve been hiding him. Su Lin is quite charming. I feel attracted just being around him for a short while. Lin Xiaowan, looking vigilant, warned, Yanyan, thats not a joke you should make. Got it, Zhao Yanyan said, giving Lin Xiaowan a meaningful look, which made Lin Xiaowan tense. Thinking about Zhao Yanyans words, Lin Xiaowan felt it made a lot of sense. With Su Lins growth rate, it wouldnt be long before he ventured out of Zhongjiang, out of Donghai, to cities like the capital and magic city. To compete with the best of the best. More outstanding women would appear in his life, and some might be better than her. For the first time, Lin Xiaowan felt a sense of urgency, a crisis looming. Su Lin was growing too fast. She could keep up now, but what about the future? What if she couldnt keep up with his pace? The thought terrified Lin Xiaowan. She knew she could use her family background to tie Su Lin down, but that would be a transaction, not love. She didnt want that, which was why she had agreed to the bet with Su Lin instead of waiting for an arranged marriage. Xiaowan, you take care of Yanyans matters. Youre good friends and talk often, so communicate online about anything. Lin Xiaowan nodded, feeling slightly relieved, Su Lin letting me liaise with Yanyan reassures me a lot. Welcome to Yulin, Yanyan. From now on, were colleagues. Zhao Yanyans eyes shifted between Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu, finally resting on Su Lin with a half-smile. Yulin Xia Shiyu, Lin Xiaowan? An interesting choice of name. Her gaze then moved to Xia Shiyu, a beautiful girl with a sweet smile, whose eyes never strayed from Su Lin. Zhao Yanyan sensed there was a story between Su Lin and Xia Shiyu. Unfortunately, her hurried visit today, following Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan around the supermarket and chatting about various things, left her no time to clarify their relationship dynamics. Xiaowan, from today, were colleagues. Hehe, I want to set up a Quan Le Gou in Donghai too. Yanyan, running a supermarket is very demanding, especially at the beginning. Arent you studying dance anymore? Dance? Ive been learning it for twelve years since I was six. Apart from school activities where I get to perform, theres no use for it elsewhere. So, I think business might bring more sense of achievement. Uh-huh! Su Lin laughed, understanding the challenges of learning dance. Most students in dance dont actually enjoy it. Chapter 82: Su Lin: My Sacrifices are Enormous Chapter 82: Su Lin: My Sacrifices are Enormous In the afternoon, Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan saw Zhao Yanyan off, waiting until her bus completely disappeared before returning to their car. Su Lin, noticing Lin Xiaowans tired and subdued demeanor, expressed his concern with a touch of sympathy, Xiaowan, you must be exhausted today, huh? Lin Xiaowan shook her head, Its okay, just a lot of phone calls. The truly busy one is Chen Yang, managing both the supermarket and the warehouse. Su Lin chuckled, Yangzi has a strong ability to handle pressure. The more pressure, the better he performs. Chen Yang is being fully utilized by you, not just him, Xiaoyu and I are also being squeezed dry by you, Lin Xiaowan remarked. Su Lin, how do you perfectly utilize everyones strengths like that? Su Lin gently stroked Lin Xiaowans hair, Its all about using people effectively, a skill that requires learning. Xiaowan, in this aspect, you have much to learn from Xiaoyu.New n0vel chapters are published on Mhm! Lets head back. Well stay until nine, then calculate todays income, and Ill drive you home, Su Lin suggested as he started the car. Su Lin Hmm? Whats up, Xiaowan? Su Lin looked puzzled, sensing Lin Xiaowan had something on her mind. Su Lin, if you meet a girl in the future in the capital or the magic city who is more beautiful and capable than me, what would you do? Su Lin scoffed, There might be girls more beautiful, and maybe some as capable, but none who meet both criteria. But what if there are? Would you leave me for her? Su Lin shook his head, Thats impossible, Xiaowan. Humans arent like animals. I have feelings. Just because someone is beautiful and capable doesnt mean Id abandon you. Su Lin didnt continue his thoughts aloud, which was basically to keep both women if possible. Xiaowan, this doesnt sound like you. Whats wrong today? Xia Shiyu wanted to support him silently, so their relationship shouldnt be known to Lin Xiaowan, whereas Lin Xiaowan worried that revealing their relationship might drive Xia Shiyu away. Su Lin was about to agree to Lin Xiaowans request when a thought struck him. Feigning a pitiful tone, Su Lin said, Xiaowan, think about how pitiful I am. I finally get to date you, but it has to be a secret affair, hidden from Xiaoyu. Isnt it the same as not dating if she cant know? I dont want this either, but Xiaoyu I understand your feelings towards Xiaoyu, but you should also understand mine. After hesitating, Lin Xiaowan made a decision. She leaned closer and whispered something into Su Lins ear. Startled, Su Lin abruptly pulled the car over and asked, Xiaowan, are you serious? Blushing, Lin Xiaowan nodded, Yes, but only once, Su Lin. Not more than that. Once it is. We have a deal, Xiaowan. You cant back out, Su Lin said, his eyes shining with mischief. Lin Xiaowan felt her heart race, realizing she might have just walked into a trap. Lets go. Xiaoyu is waiting for us, she urged. Not so fast. First, a little interest. Considering my great sacrifice and the one-time opportunity, you owe me a little extra. Wh-What kind of interest No, no, no Ten minutes later, the car finally resumed its journey. Lin Xiaowan glared fiercely at Su Lin. This guy Hes too much! Meanwhile, Su Lin hummed a tune, savoring the memory of his recent experience. Not bad at all! he thought, pleased. Chapter 83: Three Days of Tens of Millions in Revenue, The Final Monthly Exam Arrives Chapter 83: Three Days of Tens of Millions in Revenue, The Final Monthly Exam Arrives Throughout the drive, neither Su Lin nor Lin Xiaowan spoke. Lin Xiaowan was feeling both shy and angry, while Su Lin purely didnt want to provoke her. He knew from experience that maintaining silence was the best course of action. Upon reaching the supermarket, Xia Shiyu came with good news. Su Lin, Xiaowan, weve hit three million in sales! Already? Su Lin asked, surprised. Thats three million now? Lin Xiaowan echoed. Xia Shiyu nodded. Yes, the backend data just came in. Weve just hit three million, and four million isnt impossible by closing time tonight. Su Lin then asked seriously, Xiaoyu, can you calculate the gross profit? Xia Shiyu replied with a giggle, Ive already done the math on the way here. Excluding labor and electricity costs and just considering the cost and selling price, our gross profit is about 1.3 million. That much? Su Lin was astonished. Xia Shiyu, holding onto Lin Xiaowan, said, This is all Xiaowans achievement. She managed to negotiate lower prices with many suppliers, providing us with substantial profits. Items like rice cookers and induction stoves brought us multiple times the profit. Wow one can only imagine how much others overcharge, Su Lin said with a laugh. Xia Shiyu playfully remarked, With you entering the market, Su Lin, I bet they wont be able to sell at such high prices anymore. Su Lin, frowning, noted, Thats not certain. We can handle business competition, but we need to watch out for their schemes. Let them scheme. Well just report them and get them imprisoned, Lin Xiaowan said lightly. Su Lin shook his head. Its not that simple in business. Many schemes are legal yet can make life very difficult. He then asked Lin Xiaowan, Do you want to stay with us till closing at nine, or should I take you home earlier? Lin Xiaowan, giving Su Lin another glare, finally said, Lets wait until closing. Im curious to see how much well make today. Xia Shiyu, astonished, said, Wow, to think weve recouped our two million investment in just one day. Supermarket profits are really substantial. Lin Xiaowan nodded, Our supermarket sells daily necessities, they wouldnt dare mess with us. If theres any hint of trouble, well just switch suppliers, so they all behave very well. Hehe, I never doubted your abilities, Xiaowan, Su Lin said with a smile. Next, Yangzi, start scouting locations, and then well prepare for the college entrance exams. After the exams, weve got a big battle to fight. After assigning some tasks to Chen Yang, Su Lin took the girls back home. Su Lin, can Yangzi handle all this? Isnt it too much? Lin Xiaowan asked worriedly. Yeah, Su Lin, youre really pushing him too hard. Xiaoyu and I cant stand to watch it, Lin Xiaowan added. Su Lin tapped each girl on the head, You two think too much. Yangzi, like me, knows how to delegate. He looked busy today, but he was actually quite relaxed since he just directed the heads of departments. Hes just under a lot of pressure. Youre different, Xiaowan. You could have prepared earlier, but you ended up making and receiving hundreds of calls today. Theres a clear difference, okay? Lin Xiaowan retorted, Its your fault for not explaining things clearly at the start. You said suppliers were important and not to let others handle them. Alright, my bad. Ill make sure to explain things more clearly in the future. Hehe, Su Lin, Xiaowan was so tired today, and youre still picking on her, Xia Shiyu said playfully. Lin Xiaowans cheeks reddened. Although Xia Shiyu meant verbal teasing, Lin Xiaowans thoughts were elsewhere. Just earlier, Su Lin had indeed teased her quite a bit on the way back, and she hadnt resisted much. Looking back, she felt foolish for believing everything Su Lin said. Over the next three days, the trio spent most of their time at Quan Le Gous first store. The total revenue for these three days also successfully broke ten million, and Su Lin had not only recouped his investment but made a considerable profit. Meanwhile, many others were eyeing this profitable supermarket model, contemplating opening their own in Zhongjiang. Su Lin didnt mind others copying his methods, but many of his strategies were too advanced, and some were quite risky. Like the simplest strategy of giving discounts if it werent for Lin Xiaowan securing low prices, could he have recouped his investment so quickly? Without getting the lowest prices from suppliers, discounts would have been suicidal. Two calm days after school resumed, the final monthly exam arrived as scheduled. Chapter 84: Ye Fengs Curtain Call, Becoming an Ordinary Person Chapter 84: Ye Feng''s Curtain Call, Becoming an Ordinary Person Su Lin, it''s our last monthly exam today. You haven''t been studying much recently, will your grades drop? Lin Xiaowan asked with concern.New n0vel chapters are published on Facing Lin Xiaowan''s reminder, Su Lin chuckled, Don''t worry, Xiaowan. Even if my grades drop, defeating Ye Feng is a piece of cake. Are you worried I cant beat him? It''s not that. I just want to remind you that even though you''re talented, you still need to put in effort. You''ve heard the story of Shang Zhongyong, right? Lin Xiaowan said. Hehe, Shang Zhongyong''s talent was limited. Xiaowan, I''m a true genius. I won''t disappoint you, Su Lin replied confidently. What are you two talking about? Xia Shiyu asked curiously. Just discussing life''s big issues, Su Lin said nonchalantly. Big issues? Did something happen with the company? Xia Shiyu asked, looking worriedly at Lin Xiaowan. Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes at Su Lin and then shook her head, Nothing. I was just reminding Su Lin to study more. Hes been slacking off, not doing his homework for two days now. Mr. Wang doesn''t mind. He said as long as I maintain my grades, doing homework is optional. Hmph, I''ll beat you this time. You''re destined to be disappointed. As the classroom filled up, the students buzzed with discussions. The big showdown between Ye Feng and Su Lin was set to conclude today. Unlike Su Lin, who appeared lax, Ye Feng had been entirely focused on his studies recently, either reading books or on his way to read them. In contrast, Su Lin seemed much more casual, rarely doing homework or being seen studying. Some students who were not in favor of Ye Feng started to waver in their beliefs, thinking that Su Lin might actually lose, enabling Ye Feng to pull off a comeback. Su Lin just shook his head at these thoughts and didn''t explain anything. Ye Feng might be formidable, but Su Lin had his own advantages. Before long, Ye Feng entered the room. The chattering quieted down as everyone''s attention turned to him. Feng Yifei took the opportunity to speak up, Ye Feng, the bet with Su Lin is on today''s exam, right? Ye Feng nodded and stopped, Yes, that''s right. Why, do you want to bet with me too? I''m always ready. Hehe, I wouldn''t bother betting with you. I don''t like Su Lin much either, but I find you more disgusting. Ye Feng, you''re definitely going to lose this time. In reality, Feng Yifei was quite grateful to Ye Feng. Because of their previous bet, Feng Yifei got together with Yan Huan, something that might not have happened until university without that bet. Ye Feng chuckled, I remember you said the same thing last time, and you ended up running six laps around the field. Feng Yifei started comparing the answers. Wow! Physics is exactly the same, Su Lin and the Class Monitor both got full marks. I can''t believe it another full score. Su Lin is such a beast. Yep, another full score. But this time the Class Monitor is also amazing, full marks in Physics too. There are two different answers in Biology. Its hard to tell whos right or wrong. Just follow Su Lin''s answers. He''s definitely correct. How about Chemistry? There''s one difference in Chemistry. Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin with a hint of resignation, I lost to you again. Su Lin gave Lin Xiaowan a thumbs-up, Getting full marks in Physics is already very impressive. It''s nothing compared to you. Su Lin smiled lightly, Stop comparing yourself to me, or you might lose confidence. Hehe, I won''t lose confidence. Jokingly, Su Lin raised an eyebrow at Lin Xiaowan, So, Xiaowan, does this mean you''re my girlfriend now? Lin Xiaowan shook her head, The results haven''t come out yet. Let''s wait for the results. The outcome will be the same even if we wait an hour. One hour also counts. You have to keep your word. Lin Xiaowan defensively crossed her arms, watching Su Lin warily, remembering their recent encounter in the car. She had been nave enough to believe whatever Su Lin said. Xiaowan, we''re in a classroom. Do you think I would do anything to you here? Su Lin said with a helpless expression. Let''s just wait for the results, insisted Lin Xiaowan, pouting adorably. Su Lin wanted to pinch her cheeks but she swatted his hand away. Alright, I''ll wait with you for an hour. Just before school ended, the exam results finally came out, and overall scores were compiled. Mr. Wang walked into the classroom with the papers to hand them out. In the end, Su Lin topped the entire Jiangning No. 1 High School with a score of 749. Despite making further progress, Ye Feng, with a score just over 680, still couldn''t beat Su Lin. [Ding~! Congratulations, Host. You have successfully suppressed Ye Feng in the bet and earned three chances at the Emperor''s Treasure Box.]. [Ding~! Due to the Host''s suppression, the protagonist Ye Feng''s memory capacity has been reduced to that of an ordinary person, and all memories of his previous life are erased.]. [Ding~! As Ye Feng loses all memories of his previous life and his protagonist''s halo falls, he becomes an ordinary person.]. [Ding~! Successful elimination of a protagonist. System evaluation in progress.]. [Ding~! Evaluation complete. System rating: A.]. [Ding~! As this is the Host''s first elimination of a protagonist, you receive one Epic Treasure Box draw.]. Chapter 85: Confirming the Relationship! A Kiss Seals the Deal! Chapter 85: Confirming the Relationship! A Kiss Seals the Deal! Ye Feng, sitting in the back row, suddenly became dazed, feeling as if he had forgotten something important. He struggled to remember but couldnt recall anything useful. Even the book on his desk, which only he could understand, now made no sense to him. He wondered why he had written so many useless things. He even forgot the term reborn person. Ye Feng remembered borrowing money from Xia Shiyu but forgot that as a reborn person, he wanted to stockpile equipment to make money. He still remembered going to sell gastrodia, but his memories from his previous life were gone. He only remembered his bet with Su Lin if he lost, he had to hop like a frog around the playground three times, shouting, I am a pig. And this time, he lost, becoming the classs laughingstock. Ye Feng instinctively looked towards Su Lin, who wasnt looking at him but was passing a note to Xia Shiyu, asking her to supervise Ye Fengs frog hopping on the playground. Xia Shiyu agreed without much thought. Wang Yi, looking at Ye Feng in the back, shook his head, thinking Ye Feng was indeed getting ahead of himself by recklessly betting with Su Lin and now losing thoroughly. However, Wang Yi was pleased that Ye Fengs grades had improved a lot, making him a candidate for key universities. As for Su Lin, he was already at the peak, and Wang Yi, looking at the students below, said, I dont encourage others, but for Su Lin, feel free to bet with him. Just dont bet too much; running around the playground is fine. Mr. Wang, were not foolish to bet with that freak Su Lin. Thats just asking for trouble. Exactly, Mr. Wang, Su Lin is inhuman. We wont be overconfident to seek our own demise. Id rather bet with Feng Yifei. I think I have a better chance of winning against him. Feng Yifei threw a book over: Youre like an old lady picking soft persimmons to pinch. Picking out the weak and running from the strong. Ha ha ha~!! Alright, the results are out. I wont delay your time after school. School ends early today, so dont linger on the way and go home early, okay? We know, but, Mr. Wang, we want to watch Ye Feng hop like a frog before going home. Right, right, I want to see too. I want to see too. Wang Yi waved his hand, saying, Its fine in school. If you want to watch, go ahead. Wow~!!! With Wang Yis words, a crowd rushed out, heading to the playground to watch the spectacle. Ye Feng was surrounded by numerous people. Many wanted to leave with Su Lin, but he sent them away. Soon, the classroom was nearly empty. Lin Xiaowan was trying to sneak away from the classroom but didnt expect Su Lin to block her., She looked at him with a bit of annoyance. Su Lin chuckled, Xiaowan, Xiaowan, I knew you wanted to leave last, thinking Id be taken away by them. Hmph, no way. Hehe, I didnt think Id like a girl before high school either. So, isnt it all your fault? Its your own fault you cant control yourself. How can you blame me? Similarly, emotions cant be controlled. Xiaowan, we are meant to be together, Su Lin spoke tenderly. Hmph, dont think I dont know, you just want to bully me. Wrong, thats not bullying, its cherishing, cherishing you, Su Lin corrected seriously. Pfft~!! Its too late to regret now, Su Lin, you cant be mean to me in the future, otherwise I I Otherwise what? Su Lin asked with a smiling gaze. Otherwise, Ill bite you to death, like today. After speaking, Lin Xiaowan held Su Lins hand, Su Lin, does your hand hurt? What do you think? Theres a blood mark, does it hurt or not? Sorry, I was just so upset and confused. I didnt know what was happening. I just held onto your hand subconsciously Its okay, Im not angry. Really? Really!!! But still, Xiaowan. What is it, Su Lin? Now that were a couple, calling me by my name seems a bit distant, doesnt it? Lin Xiaowan thought for a moment and then nodded, It does seem distant. What should I call you then, Brother Lin? Thats what Yangzi calls me. Its not interesting if you call me that. Then what? Gege? Lin Gege? Ah, thats too sweet. Xiaowan, say it a few more times. Lin Gege Lin Gege Lin Gege Wu wu wu wu Su Lin was intoxicated by the sweet voice of this little sister, utterly enchanting. (TL: Ge usually means brother and Gege literally means older brother. It is commonly used by younger siblings or younger individuals to address a male person who is older than them, indicating respect and closeness. In a broader context, especially in contemporary usage, (gege) can also be used affectionately by females to refer to their older boyfriend or a male they are romantically interested in, similar to terms like oppa in Korean. It conveys a sense of affection, closeness, and sometimes admiration.)ReAd latest chapters at novelhall.com Only Chapter 86: Holding Hands with One Chapter 86: Holding Hands with One Lin Xiaowan, contrary to being a sweet girl, was the kind of woman who seemed destined to shine brightly, standing at the center stage. This was why, when she obediently used a sweet nickname for herself, it felt particularly satisfying. Imagine a domineering female CEO, majestic outside but shedding her disguise to act coquettishly at home with you what man could resist such a contrast in charm? Su Lin, its getting late, shall we go downstairs? Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan and smiled, Why dont you call me Lin Gege anymore? I find it very pleasant to hear. Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes at Su Lin, Do you want me to keep calling you that? Doesnt it get annoying? Hehe, as long as its you calling, Ill never tire of it. Amidst their conversation, a commotion arose from the playground. Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan looked down from the window to see Ye Feng holding his head, frog-jumping around the track. The track was crowded with people; Feng Yifei was even taking photos of Ye Feng. Lin Xiaowan, seeing Ye Fengs predicament, coldly said, Serves him right. People like him need to be taught a lesson. Youre right. He really needs to be disciplined, and now hes getting his comeuppance, agreed Su Lin.The source of this content no/v(el)bi((n)) Yeah, yeah, Su Lin, youve done so much, and today is so satisfying. Lets go down and join the crowd, suggested Lin Xiaowan with a mischievous smile. Su Lin, seeing Lin Xiaowan eager to join in, nodded and released her. Lin Xiaowan got off Su Lin and then pulled him to go outside. Wait Whats wrong, Su Lin? Lin Xiaowan asked with concern, seeing his pained expression. Su Lin forced a smile, Ive been sitting too long; my legs are a bit numb. Pfft~!! Serves you right for not letting go of me just now. Xia Shiyu was happy for Su Lin, without a hint of jealousy, perhaps because Lin Xiaowan was involved. She always felt Su Lin should be with Lin Xiaowan. As for herself, she was content to quietly stand by Su Lins side. Xia Shiyu looked at Su Lin, who winked at her and, when Lin Xiaowan wasnt looking, took Xia Shiyus hand. Xia Shiyu trembled, as this was the first time Su Lin had held her hand so publicly. Su Lin then turned to Lin Xiaowan and took her hand too. Lin Xiaowan was startled and tried to pull away. Su Lin whispered, Xiaowan, no one is watching us right now. If you pull away, they will. I dont mind admitting our relationship, but are you ready for that? Su Lin~! Shh, Xiaoyu is right here, Su Lin said with a smile. Lin Xiaowan calmed down, smoothing her hair and then turning to the playground. Ye Fengs spectacle was still ongoing, but Su Lin didnt stay to watch, taking Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu with him. Xia Shiyu was wary of Lin Xiaowan discovering her and Su Lins interaction, worried it might ruin their relationship. Similarly, Lin Xiaowan was concerned about Xia Shiyu noticing, fearing it would hurt her, knowing her fondness for Su Lin. As for Su Lin, he thought such incidents should happen more often. Frequent occurrences would get the girls used to it, bringing him closer to his ultimate goal. Xiaoyu, going to the hospital or home? Home. My dad is much better now, with a special nurse taking care of him. He should be fine. Su Lin raised an eyebrow, Sounds like theres a story there? Hehe, Im trying to matchmake that nurse auntie with my dad. What? Xiaoyu, what did you say? Lin Xiaowan looked shocked at Xia Shiyu. She couldnt believe her ears. Hehe, just what you heard. I think that Xu auntie is nice to my dad. Maybe theres a chance. Xia Shiyu glanced at Su Lin, thinking, Finding a partner for dad, so I can be with Su Lin without him being lonely. They left the playground and the drama behind, each absorbed in their thoughts and the new dynamics unfolding among them. Chapter 87: Suspicious Lin Guoqiang Chapter 87: Suspicious Lin Guoqiang When Su Lin dropped Xia Shiyu off at her home, he noticed Liu Mei pushing a Wanwan Milk Tea cart. Is that Ye Fengs mom? Lin Xiaowan, who had a good impression of Liu Mei, asked. Su Lin nodded, We met her at the amusement park before, remember? We bought milk tea from her. I just dont get it. Ye Fengs mom seems like such an honest person. How did Ye Feng end up like that? Lin Xiaowan said, frowning. Su Lin responded lightly, Perhaps its because Ye Feng became arrogant due to his early success. As for early success, whos had more than you? Our supermarket has only been open for a few days and has already made millions, Lin Xiaowan pointed out. Hehe~! Thats just good luck, and having you and Xiaoyus help. Without you two, my supermarket wouldnt have been so easy to set up, Su Lin humbly replied. Xixi, Su Lin, youre pretty amazing too. Im heading home now. Okay, see you tomorrow, Xiaoyu. Bye~!!! After Xia Shiyu went inside, Su Lin prepared to drive off. Su Lin about us Call me husband, Su Lin interjected. No way, I wont call you that. If you dont, Ill have to enforce house rules. Lin Xiaowan instinctively put her hands behind her back to stop him from touching her. Hahaha~! Xiaowan, youre too cute, Su Lin couldnt help but laugh, amused by her protective stance. Annoyed and embarrassed, Lin Xiaowan hit Su Lin playfully, Youre awful, Su Lin. Ill beat you up. Stop, stop, Im driving. Lets not get violent, he quipped. You asked for it, she retorted, still a bit shy.Folloow current novE?ls on nov/3lb((in).(co/m) Alright, Xiaowan, let me take you home. Lin Xiaowan shook her head, Lets go to the company first. Its too early to go home, and theres no one there. Ill have to come out for dinner later anyway. Why didnt you say that when Xiaoyu was here? Lin Xiaowan then gave Su Lin a look. Oh! I get it, my Xiaowan wants to spend some alone time with me, Su Lin said with a smile. After dinner, Su Lin drove Lin Xiaowan home. As the car reached the entrance of the Zhongjiang Family Compound, Lin Xiaowan prepared to get out, but Su Lin quickly grabbed her. Xiaowan, are you just going to leave like that? Lin Xiaowan turned, What else? Su Lin hinted, Cough cough Hasnt someone forgotten their changed status? He pointed at her and then at his cheek. Instantly understanding his implication, Lin Xiaowan silently smiled and hooked her finger. Su Lin joyfully leaned in close. Lin Xiaowan playfully pinched Su Lins nose, Hahaha, got you! Su Lin, with a mischievous smile, then firmly held Lin Xiaowan and kissed her. Mmm Upstairs, Lin Guoqiang was about to open a window for ventilation and happened to see Su Lins Mercedes at the gate. He noticed the car lights flickering and then going out, with no sign of Lin Xiaowan getting out of the car. He became instantly suspicious. Could those two be doing something in the car? The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became. Wife, wife~!! Wang Xiaoqian emerged from the bathroom, her face covered in cucumber slices. What is it? Cant you see Im doing my beauty routine? Lin Guoqiang said, I saw that kid Su Lins car. Wang Xiaoqian, nonchalantly, You see Su Lin dropping off our daughter every day, dont you? Its different this time. Usually, Xiaowan gets out of the car immediately, but today the lights were off for quite a while, and Xiaowan hasnt gotten out. Do you think they could be dating? Wang Xiaoqian, slightly irritated, Here you go again. How many times have you asked Xiaowan? A hundred? She has told you every time they are not dating. Dont you know your own daughter? If she started dating Su Lin, she wouldnt hide it from you. Why are you being so paranoid? Lin Guoqiangs face reddened; indeed, he had frequently asked Lin Xiaowan this question, and she had grown impatient with him. I havent asked recently, have I? Maybe Xiaowan is just talking with Su Lin, or perhaps they are simply chatting. Listen, Lin, dont you dare ask her about it. If you upset her and she actually starts dating Su Lin, then not even ten bulls will be able to pull her back. Lin Guoqiang chuckled awkwardly; stubbornness was a family trait. Both Wang Xiaoqian and Lin Xiaowan were similarly headstrong. Fine, go watch your news. Dont disturb me; I still have to finish my beauty routine. Lin Guoqiang sighed, shaking his head who would have thought that a strong woman like Wang Xiaoqian would be like this at home? No matter how strong a woman is, she still loves beauty. Alright, I wont ask, but this Su Lin, always hanging around our daughter He drives your daughter home every day for free. You should be thanking him. Me? Thank him? Lin Guoqiang shook his head, Impossible! Chapter 88: A Trip to Donghai Together Chapter 88: A Trip to Donghai Together Shortly after Lin Guoqiang turned away, Lin Xiaowan opened the car door and stepped out. She straightened her clothes that Su Lin had ruffled. Su Lin, if you mess up my clothes again, youre in big trouble, she warned him. Su Lin grinned awkwardly, Xiaowan, I didnt do it on purpose. Hmph! Stop explaining, I dont want to hear it. Su Lin admired the beautiful Lin Xiaowan in front of him, thinking that if Lin Guoqiang suddenly appeared and saw this scene, he would either be furious or give Su Lin a good beating. After all, Lin Guoqiang was incredibly protective of his daughter. Noticing that the lights were on in Lin Xiaowans house, Su Lin remarked, Xiaowan, it seems like your house lights are on. Eh! They really are. I should go now, or my dad will freak out if he sees us, she replied. Su Lin chuckled, I find your dads protective nature kind of cute. Thats because you havent seen him angry. When hes mad, no one dares to breathe around him, she replied. Su Lin nodded, understanding the gravity of a mayors anger and presence. Su Lin, Im going inside now. Su Lin waved, Go ahead, remember to think of me. I will, she replied, smiling. After watching Lin Xiaowan enter her building, Su Lin drove away. Lin Xiaowan felt nervous as she opened the door to her home. Xiaowan, youre back. Have you had dinner? Wang Xiaoqian asked as soon as Lin Xiaowan entered. Lin Guoqiang grumbled, Its so late, she must have had dinner, and probably with that Su Lin kid. Lin Xiaowan grinned at her father, Dad, I would like to have dinner at home, but there needs to be dinner to eat. Lin Guoqiang was momentarily speechless. Xiaowan, I got home at six today. But youre rarely home early. I hardly ever see you. Lin Guoqiang sighed, knowing his job didnt allow him to spend much time at home. Lin Xiaowan was surprised that her father didnt interrogate her more. She was prepared to admit to dating Su Lin if asked, thinking there was no harm in revealing it sooner or later. But Lin Guoqiang didnt pursue the matter. Wang Xiaolian also sighed, knowing the challenges of their family. Lin Xiaowan was fortunate yet unfortunate to be born into such a family. Su Lin gently held Lin Xiaowans hand, Are you serious about going to Donghai with me? Your parents might argue with you about this. Lin Xiaowan shook her head, They wont argue with me. Like you said, my dad hasnt been involved in my life for eighteen years. Now, he cant dictate my life, and I wont allow it. If you hadnt appeared in my life, maybe I would have followed my dads plan. But now that youre here, everything is different. Su Lin sighed inwardly. Lin Xiaowan had been the director of the Donghai City Investment Office in the original story, so without any interference, she would indeed have followed a career in government, as planned by her father. But with Su Lins influence, she was likely to choose a path in business. When a woman loves, she loves deeply, he thought. [Lin Xiaowan: 17 years old, 168 cm, 48 kg, current affection level (99).]. Su Lin was surprised to see her affection level had reached 99, almost at full. It had been a while since he last checked, and he didnt expect it to be this high now. Gently squeezing her hand, Su Lin asked, Wont you regret it, Xiaowan? University is a crucial part of our lives. Going to Donghai with me will change everything. Lin Xiaowan earnestly replied, I wont. Id regret it if I didnt go with you. Is Xiaoyu going to Donghai University? Su Lin nodded, She wants to study business administration there, to manage Yulin later. That suits Xiaoyus character, Lin Xiaowan remarked. What about you? What do you want to study? Me? My dad wanted me to study history, but now I want to learn about business, and I also want to self-study computer science. You once said that the future belongs to computers. Su Lin was surprised, Did I say that? Lin Xiaowan nodded, You did, not long after we first met. You still remember that? Su Lin was taken aback. Yes, I remember all the things youve said. Su Lin smiled playfully, Tell me honestly, did you start liking me back then? Lin Xiaowan shook her head, How could that be? At that time, I just thought you were full of yourself. I decided it was better not to bother with someone so arrogant. Hehe~! Then Im lucky. Otherwise, I wouldve missed out on such a great girlfriend. He, thats mainly your own doing. If you hadnt impressed me time and again, I wouldnt have given my affection so easily. There you go, getting all proud after a few compliments. Chapter 89: The Unlucky Physique Chapter 89: The Unlucky Physique While bantering with Lin Xiaowan until the bell rang, Su Lin returned to his seat. Pretending to read a book, he actually summoned the system, planning to use his lottery chances. System, I still have some lottery draws left, right? [Yes, Host~!]. Su Lin decided, Alright, Ill use them now. With the upcoming move to Donghai, its better to amass more strength considering the challenges there. Lets draw! Use all three chances. [Wow~! A legendary draw! Congratulations, Host, youve obtained the skill Firearms Mastery.]. [Ding~! Congratulations, Host, youve received a recoilless Desert Eagle pistol, Yan Shuangying version.]. [Ding~! Sorry, you didnt draw anything this time!]. Damn, isnt this supposed to be a lucky chest? What kind of stuff are you giving me? Su Lin complained. [Host, the payout rate of this system is 70%, with a 99.9% success rate. Its unexpected even for the system that you didnt draw anything.]. Su Lin, somewhat speechless, asked, So youre saying I have an unlucky constitution? [Theoretically, yes, Host!]. Fine, enough. Wait, I think I still have an epic chest to draw. [Yes, Host]. Whats in the epic chest? Su Lin curiously asked. [The Epic Chest is an upgraded version of the Lucky Chest, containing a wide variety of items like martial arts techniques, treasures, divine pills, black technology, blueprints, etc. The lowest grade is blueprints, and the highest is divine martial arts techniques.] Wow, there are martial arts techniques? Su Lins interest piqued. In this ever-evolving world, one never knew when a martial arts master might appear. Even though Su Lin knew Eight Extreme Fist, the protagonist could be stronger. If he drew a technique from the systems premium quality, it would be a huge advantage. Are these techniques the ones Im familiar with? [Yes, Host!]. Lets draw then. I refuse to believe Im really that unlucky. Draw~!! Su Lin watched as a more luxurious chest than the Lucky Chest appeared in his mind, emitting a rainbow light. [Ding~! Congratulations, Host, youve received a full set of blueprints for the Kidney 4 IPhone. (Including lithography technology, etc.)]. System, blueprints are the worst draw? [Yes, Host, and among blueprints, smartphone blueprints are the lowest.]. Damn it System, youre tricking me, doing this on purpose. [The system cannot interfere with its operation, only assist the Host in using it.]. Damn it There go the Muscle Changing Classic, Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms, Great Desolate Imprisoning Heavenly Finger, Burning Scripture, Seven Forms of the Evil God Hehua Zi Zai Su Lin was furious. Looking at the Kidney 4 IPhone blueprints in the system space, he felt an inexplicable disdain. An epic chest, a once-in-a-lifetime draw for defeating a protagonist, and it gave me this. [Host, dont underestimate the Epic Chest. This smartphone blueprint includes all relevant technologies. With it, you can build a phone.]. With the systems high win rate, he just needed to defeat a few more protagonists for more draws. It couldnt always be blueprints. With Lin Xiaowans love, what more could he want? As for the future, it could wait. He believed the system wouldnt let him down. Xiaowan Hmm? What is it, Su Lin? Su Lin, sniffing her, said, You smell so good today. What perfume did you use? Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes, I never use perfume, you know that. Hehe, but you smell extra nice today. Tell me, did you use perfume? How could I? Do I need perfume with my natural beauty? Lin Xiaowan said proudly, looking down at Su Lin. Really? I dont believe it. I need to check Lin Xiaowan, glancing at him, said, No way, its almost dinner time. Xiaoyu might come at any moment. Weve been in the same room for so long, she might misunderstand. Go keep her company and talk to her. I have work to do. Really, Xiaowan? Im your boyfriend, and youre pushing me towards another woman? Su Lin feigned disbelief. Humph, we agreed, remember? Listen to me. Alright, Ill go see Xiaoyu, Su Lin agreed reluctantly. Hehe, thats right. Good boy. Mua~!! Su Lin touched his kissed cheek, smiling. She really was adorably silly. (TL: Kidney 4 IPhone is like a chinese Internet joke or slang term linking the purchase of expensive smartphones, like certain iPhone models, to selling ones kidney, due to their high price. Like a form of humorous exaggeration to comment on the cost of the phones.). Chapter 90: Xiaoyu’s Far-reaching Vision Chapter 90: Xiaoyu¡¯s Far-reaching Vision Why did you come here, Su Lin? Xiaoyu asked, surprised yet happy to see Su Lin. She knew about Su Lin and Lin Xiaowans relationship, but Lin Xiaowan still thought Xiaoyu was unaware. Su Lin wrapped his arm around Xiaoyus waist, Of course, to see my Xiaoyu. Hehe, did Xiaowan send you away? Xiaoyu asked, half-joking. How could she send me away? Su Lin responded. Xiaoyu nodded knowingly, With your little antics, Xiaowan surely must have chased you out. After saying this, Xiaoyu playfully slapped Su Lins hand. Er What antics? Hows the companys finances? Su Lin asked, sitting in Xiaoyus chair and pulling her to sit with him. Well! The supermarkets daily turnover has crossed a million, nearing two million on the busiest day. I calculated that our monthly profit is at least twenty million, Xiaoyu explained, admiringly looking at Su Lin. Hehe, twenty million a month, over a billion a year, just from one supermarket. Its unbelievable, Su Lin remarked. Xiaoyu agreed, If I wasnt directly involved, I wouldnt believe a supermarket could make a billion in a year. Su Lin thought its no wonder retail industries loved opening supermarkets due to the huge profits. Daxia Bank called, suggesting we store our funds with them, Xiaoyu reported. Did you agree? Su Lin asked. Of course not, Im just the finance manager, youre the big boss, Xiaoyu said, poking Su Lin playfully. Youre the bosss wife; what do you think we should do? Su Lin asked, raising his eyebrow. I think we should wait before agreeing. When the company expands in Donghai, Linhai, Modu, and Sucheng, well need a lot of money. We could negotiate a partnership with them beforehand and get an interest-free loan to ease the pressure, Xiaoyu suggested. You once said well burn millions daily in a price war with other companies, so our current earnings wont be enough. Su Lin ruffled Xiaoyus hair, impressed, Youre amazing, Xiaoyu, thinking so far ahead. Hehe, youre the visionary. I just expanded on your ideas. And you said a successful company should owe money to the bank. Su Lin nodded, Exactly. With our current revenue and cash flow, any bank would welcome us, so lets keep them waiting and get a larger interest-free loan later. Yeah, Zhongjiang is also offering enterprise support funds this year, worth millions. We could apply for that too, Xiaoyu added. Chen Yang set it for the 10th of every month. Lets go shopping with our first salary right after the college entrance exam, on the 10th next month. How about that? Sounds great! Where shall we go, Donghai? The nearest city to Zhongjiang was Donghai, large and lively. Lets not go to Donghai. Since were already planning to move there, how about Suzhou or Modu? Its just a few hours drive, Lin Xiaowan suggested. Su Lin smiled, No rush, we still have time before the college entrance exams. We can decide later. Mm-hmm~!! The three of them headed downstairs together, with Su Lin thinking about the protagonist in Donghai still waiting for him. Since Lin Tian was set on bringing him down, Su Lin knew he couldnt deal with him as simply as he did with Ye Feng. If Lin Yourong survives, he will surely be a strong backing for Lin Tian. So, its better to let the accident happen. Su Lin knew from the information he had gathered that Lin Tian quickly ran out to make a phone call after an exam. He felt there was a chance to make a move there. Preventing Lin Yourong from receiving the call wasnt feasible, as it would alter his schedule and cause a butterfly effect. So, it would be easier to ensure Lin Tian couldnt make the call. If the call failed, Lin Yourongs death would be certain, and it would seem like an accident. Without Lin Yourongs support and Zhao Yanyans help in business, Lin Tians strength would be greatly reduced, making it easier to deal with him. Su Lin Su Lin Ah! What is it, Xiaowan? You seemed lost in thought. What were you thinking about? Oh, just something on my mind. Xiaowan, did you need something? Lin Xiaowan glared at Su Lin, her big, Cardelan eyes stirring something in his heart. I was just discussing with Xiaoyu about choosing majors for university. I wanted to know your opinion. Su Lin shrugged, My opinion is to fully support whatever you two want to do. Ill unconditionally support any decision you both make. Lin Xiaowan: I should have known better than to ask. Its pointless. Hehe. Chapter 91: Graduation Season, Time for Confessions! Chapter 91: Graduation Season, Time for Confessions! Classmates, the college entrance examination is tomorrow. I wont say much more. Everyone, remember to bring your admission ticket, pens, and rulers. These items are essential and cannot be forgotten; otherwise, you wont have time to buy them at the exam center, said the teacher. Our exam will be held at Zhongjiang No. 2 High School, which fortunately is not far from our Jiangning District. Those who live nearby can go ahead and scout the location. When youre taking the exam, first complete the questions you know how to do. After finishing the whole paper, then return to the questions you skipped. These exam techniques are often discussed, but some students still dont listen. Students with good grades, remember to stay humble and perform steadily, okay? After finishing, Wang Yi looked towards Su Lins seat, only to find that Su Lin had moved next to Lin Xiaowan, and Yan Huan was sitting in his place. Wang Yis face darkened. Su Lin was becoming increasingly braze But, Su Lin had good grades. There were many complaints about Su Lin, but, sorry, good grades mean you can do what you want. As long as Lin Xiaowan doesnt explicitly object, the teachers are happy to see the top two students in a relationship. It might even become a beautiful story. Wang Yi might seem strict, but thats mainly towards students with poor grades. He tends to be more lenient with students like Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan. Xiaowan, tomorrow is the college entrance exam. Time flies so fast. Lin Xiaowan nodded, Yes, its here before we knew it. After the exams, we can go have fun, maybe visit Sushi or Modu, suggested Su Lin casually. Hmm? Su Lin, youre not planning something bad, are you? Lin Xiaowan looked at him suspiciously. She knew Su Lins nature very well opportunistic. Cough cough My birthday is on the 16th, Xiaowan. What gift will you give me? Su Lin asked with a twinkle in his eye. Xia Shiyu had already promised to give herself to him as a birthday gift. What could be a better gift than that? He was looking forward to it. Lin Xiaowan calculated the dates, Your birthday is so soon, why didnt you tell me earlier? Did you want to know earlier so you could prepare a gift? Su Lin asked with a smile. Lin Xiaowan stamped her foot, a bit annoyed, The exams end on the 10th, and your birthday is just a few days after. How can I have time to prepare a gift? Su Lin smiled slightly, No worries, arent you the best gift? Lin Xiaowans face flushed, then she looked at Su Lin angrily, Su Lin, have you been planning this all along? Cough cough, no, of course not. Am I that kind of person? Lin Xiaowan stared at him and slowly nodded, Yes~!! If you say so, Xiaowan, then wouldnt I disappoint you if I didnt do so? Su Lin said cheerfully. Su Lin, looking at Lin Xiaowan, says, Xiaowan, imagine if I hugged and kissed you right now. Would their hearts shatter? Dont Su Lin, you cant do that. What, am I not presentable? Su Lin asks with a smile. Lin Xiaowan shakes her head: Its not that, Xia Yu is still here, and you promised me. Ah! I forgot. Su Lin scratches his head. Hmph, I dont think you ever took it to heart. How could that be? If I didnt care, when we were at the company Dont say it, stop. Lin Xiaowan tries to cover Su Lins mouth, but seeing their classmates around, she just stares at him. Su Lin shrugs: Okay, okay, I wont say it. Class monitor, say something. With so many confessions, wont you respond? Su Lin pats Lin Xiaowans thigh: They want you to respond. Class monitor, so many people like you, say a few words. Lin Xiaowan rolls her eyes at Su Lin and then stands up. Looking at her expectant classmates, she says, Thank you all for your affections. Im happy to have spent these three years with you and treasure this time. Class monitor, youre so close to Su Lin. Are you two dating? a nosy classmate suddenly asks. Lin Xiaowans face stiffens, then she looks at Su Lin. Su Lin signals that its okay for her to say anything. Su Lin knows Lin Xiaowan is worried about what he might think, but he wouldnt really mind. Hehe, Su Lin is indeed someone to entrust ones life to, but we are still too young, Lin Xiaowan ambiguously replies. What kind of answer is that? Everyone looks at each other, wondering whether they are dating or not. They want to keep asking, but Lin Xiaowan sits down, refusing to say more. Are they actually dating? Feng Yifei asks his buddies. I cant tell, but those three are always together. Su Lin cant be dating two at the same time, right? Exactly, I think Su Lin is dating Xia Shiyu too. She brings him lunch every day. Just because she brings lunch doesnt mean theyre dating. I buy water for Xiao Rou every day; is she my girlfriend then? Shut it, you bootlicker. Can you compare to Su Lin? I still think Su Lin is dating the Class monitor. Look how close they are all the time As the students talk, they start feeling despondent. Su Lin, monopolizing the affection of the two most admired girls in school, leaves them envious. Their own crushes dont even glance their way. Chapter 92: The College Entrance Exam, A War Between Two Old Fathers! Chapter 92: The College Entrance Exam, A War Between Two Old Fathers! Between Two Old Fathers! The entire senior class of Jiangning No.1 High School quickly became frenzied. Students who tore up their books, sang songs, and made confessions, left the juniors in complete bewilderment. During this time, Principal Wang Yi didnt suppress their actions. The reason was simple: these students had been repressed for too long. Suppressing them now would seem inconsiderate, so the school chose to turn a blind eye. After school, upon returning home, Su Lin found the lights in the villa were on. He saw a Rolls-Royce Phantom parked in the courtyard. Without a doubt, it must be Su Zhenguo returning home. Strange, why did this Old Su come back at this time? Entering the villa, Su Lin saw Su Zhenguo sitting on the sofa watching TV. Su Zhenguo looked quite like Su Lin, but was about ten centimeters shorter. Despite being in his forties and bearing the marks of time, he still carried an air of mature charm that was hard to resist. If Su Lin hadnt read novels, he would have suspected Su Zhenguo of keeping a mistress. Such a waste of good looks. Unfortunately, Su Zhenguo was a man of deep emotions, devoting all his energy to his career. Dad! Why are you back? Su Zhenguo smiled, You have your college entrance exam tomorrow, of course, I have to come and see. I cant miss it. Su Lin looked at him skeptically, Really? I dont believe it. You little rascal, would your father lie to you? Su Zhenguo seemed surprised as he looked at Su Lin. His reason for coming back was simple. The construction site was starting, and there were some unresolved issues with the Agricultural Bureau. The construction had temporarily stopped. Since Su Lin was about to take his exams, he hurried back. Lie or not, you must have your reasons for coming back. I dont care to ask. Hehe, Xiao Lin, youve really grown up. Before, they rarely communicated, especially Su Lin, who hardly spoke to him and locked himself in his room after school. To his surprise, after some time, Su Lin was willing to joke with him, as if the previous barriers had instantly vanished. He seemed like a changed person, much more mature. Hows school? Su Lin grabbed a soda from the table and gulped down two mouthfuls, Just so-so, Im first in the whole school, no suspense. Heh! I heard you started a company in Zhongjiang? Su Zhenguo raised an eyebrow. Seeing Su Lin still had no intention of asking for money, Su Zhenguo shook his head. In his view, to run a chain of supermarkets, one must seize the market as quickly as possible. The supermarket wasnt like his construction company, which could expand out of the province quickly and aggressively. All these expansions required money. If Su Lin needed it, two billion would be enough to cover Jiangnan, and it wouldnt take long to expand beyond the province. Unfortunately, Su Lin didnt want it. In Su Zhenguos eyes, Su Lin had already done exceptionally well, especially for a high school senior. Little did he know, Su Lin didnt care much about the future of the supermarket. He had all the designs for the IPhone, a company worth tens of trillions. In his past life, Apple achieved a market value of tens of trillions by selling phones. So compared to that, the development speed of the supermarket wasnt that important. Su Lin planned to hand over the company to Chenyang after college and let Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu step out, one to make phones and the other to work in the internet industry. And he would be the man behind them! The next day, Su Zhenguo personally drove Su Lin to the examination venue in a Rolls-Royce. Interestingly, when parking, Su Zhenguo happened to meet Linn Guoqiang, who was also bringing Lin Xiaowan for the exam. Seeing Su Zhenguo, Lin Guoqiang snorted coldly and ignored him. Su Zhenguo, knowing Lin Guoqiang was a complete daughter-slave and considering that Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan were close and might even become family, just laughed it off. Su Lin, dont mind my dad. Hes just like that, Lin Xiaowan said, noticing Lin Guoqiang talking with Su Zhenguo. Su Lin nodded, I didnt expect your dad to bring you to the exam today. Your dad is also here, isnt he? Even if my dad doesnt pay much attention to me, he still comes home often. Heh, my dads work is even more demanding, so I understand. Understand it or not, he left you alone in that cold villa. Arent you angry? Angry? Why should I be? Xiaowan, you dont understand. Although I live in a cold villa, having you and Xiaoyu, I am content. Thinking of how many people in the world cant even fill their stomachs, Su Lin felt he was already too fortunate. Many would envy his life. Alright, its about time. Lets go in. Okay~!! As Lin Xiaowan and Su Lin entered the school, intimately close to each other, Lin Guoqiang couldnt help but express his displeasure to Su Zhenguo, You should control your son. Hes only eighteen and not focusing on his studies, always around my daughter. Su Zhenguo shrugged, Hes grown up, hard to control. Plus, hes the top first student in school. Why think about studying all the time? That would turn him into a fool. Linn Guoqiang: Hmph, dont expect to get any land from me in next years allocation, Lin Guoqiang said petulantly. Su Zhenguo replied indifferently, If you dont want to develop Zhongjiang, dont give it to me. I dont mind. Anyway, my focus wont be in Zhongjiang anymore. Chapter 93: Turning in the Exam Early, Making Witty Remarks! Chapter 93: Turning in the Exam Early, Making Witty Remarks! Just as they got out of the car, Xia Shiyu saw Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan heading to the exam hall. She hurriedly called out, Su Lin, Xiaowan, why are you going in already? Wait for me~! Saying so, Xia Shiyu rushed towards Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan, completely oblivious to Lin Guoqiang and Su Zhenguo standing nearby. Su Zhenguo, this is the son youve raised? Clinging to my Xiaowan isnt enough, hes even ambiguous with other girls. Humph! Such a philanderer with a chaotic private life is not someone our Xiaowan would like, Lin Guoqiang said angrily. Hehe~! Mayor Lin, as far as I know, our Su Lin and your Xiaowan are quite close friends. As for who likes whom, who knows? Maybe in the future, we could even become in-laws, Su Zhenguo replied cheerfully. Whether it was Xia Shiyu or Lin Xiaowan, both had great looks, which Su Zhenguo was quite satisfied with. Who to choose was not his concern; it should be up to Su Lin. Who wants to become in-laws with you? Dream on, Lin Guoqiang retorted and left abruptly. Watching Lin Guoqiang drive away, Su Zhenguo chuckled, Unexpected, but interesting. Elsewhere, Xia Shiyu caught up with Lin Xiaowan and Su Lin, Su Lin, Xiaowan, didnt you hear me calling? We heard, Xiaoyu. You heard but still didnt wait for me~!! Cough, cough, Xiaoyu, its not that Xiaowan and I didnt want to wait. Its just that the atmosphere back there was a bit intimidating. I felt if we didnt leave then, Xiaowans dad might have eaten me alive, Su Lin said helplessly. Ah~! Xiaowans dad came too? Not only that, Su Lins dad also came. Did you see him in white clothes when you came in, Xiaoyu? Xia Shiyu shook her head, I was in a hurry chasing you guys, didnt notice. Su Lin chuckled, Just an old man, nothing much to see. Lets go to the exam hall. Xiaoyu, Xiaowan, our exam rooms are different, so we might not meet later. Shall we leave separately and meet outside the school? Lin Xiaowan hesitated a bit before saying, Lets go back home first. My dad said hed pick me up. If he doesnt come, his driver will. Then lets head home. Xiaoyu, do you need a ride with me? Xia Shiyu thought for a moment and then shook her head, No, Id feel nervous in the car if its not you driving. Su Lin nodded, Honestly, none of the questions piqued my interest, so I finished them quickly. Since you found the exam easy, you must have done very well, right? Su Lin shook his head seriously, I cant be 100% sure about scoring full marks in Chinese, but I am confident I scored above 140. The surrounding parents were astonished. Scoring above 140 in Chinese was extremely challenging, as they all knew from their own school days. 140? Thats an excellent score! Su Lin seriously shook his head again, 140 is actually the worst score I expect to get. The reporter was momentarily stunned by Su Lins confidence, So, you are implying that your scores in other subjects are even better? Despite her internal criticisms, the reporter maintained her smile. She thought this interview would make for great evening news, especially if Su Lin failed to live up to his claims. She continued to probe, From what you say, it seems youre confident about your results. Surely, getting into Qingmu or Didu University wont be a problem, right? Su Lin shook his head, Sorry, I am not planning to go to either of those universities. Not going to Qingmu or Didu? Why not? Su Lin shrugged, They are too far away. The smog in Didu is severe, and I dont like it! But the main reason is well, never mind I need to go home for lunch. Miss Reporter, is there anything else you want to ask? If not, Ill be leaving. Before the reporter could respond, Su Lin left. The reporter, frustrated, stomped her foot. Whats the most important reason hes not saying? Which school is this kid from? Hes so arrogant, not even considering Qingmu or Didu. He has good grades and can choose any university in the country. What does it matter if he doesnt go to Qingmu or Didu? Yes, but I still want to know what the most important reason is? I guess the most important reason might be that his scores arent good enough. The crowd of parents burst into laughter at this suggestion. The reporter turned to her cameraman, Make sure this part gets added in. The cameraman nodded silently. Chapter 94: Lin Tian’s Rebirth, Su Lin’s Calculations, The Conflict Begins! Chapter 94: Lin Tian¡¯s Rebirth, Su Lin¡¯s Calculations, The Conflict Begins! In the following two days, Su Lin became a celebrity at Jiangning No. 2 High School. There was no helping it every time there was an exam, he was the first to leave. The female reporter interviewed him each time, and Su Lins witty responses became more audacious with each encounter. He finally understood why the big shots in his previous life enjoyed making bold statements it was truly exhilarating. On the last day of the Integrated Science exam, as Su Lin was submitting his paper early, Lin Tian, who was at a school in Donghai, was reborn. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Lin Tian gradually adjusted to his surroundings. He picked up the exam paper on his desk and read: 2002 National Integrated Science Exam Paper I. He rubbed his head, pondering the situation: Wasnt I supposed to be celebrating the IPO with my employees? How come I am suddenly back in the exam hall, and even during my high school years? Dreaming? Or is it rebirth? Lin Tian quickly realized he had been reborn, as everything around him felt incredibly real, and his eyes still ached from rubbing them too hard. I cant believe I, Lin Tian, have a chance to live again. Just as he was contemplating, Lin Tian suddenly remembered that today was the day his father died in a car accident in his previous life. His father, Lin Yourong, was coming from the Agricultural Bureau to pick him up and got rear-ended by a dump truck, crushing the car and killing him instantly. In his previous life, Lin Tian was too young and naive to understand the intricacies behind the incident. But now, with years of business experience, he knew that accidents in this world were rarely coincidental often, they were orchestrated. He vaguely recalled that shortly after his fathers death, Sus Constructions projects smoothly resumed. Lin Tian couldnt believe this was a mere coincidence. What to do, how can I prevent my dad from getting hit? Lin Tian forced himself to stay calm, thanks to his years of experience in high-pressure business environments. My dad must already be on his way to the school. Its too late to warn him in advance; I have to stop him midway. But how? Lin Tian glanced at his completed exam paper. Although he was a total playboy in his past life, his academic performance was still decent he barely qualified for Donghai University but chose Donghai Finance University instead, taking a different path from his white moonlight, Zhao Yanyan. Deciding to submit his paper early, Lin Tian thought of calling his father to either not come or take a different route this was the only way to save his life. He immediately handed in his paper. The invigilator, noticing Lin Tian, thought he was giving up on the exam and allowed him to leave.Thi/s chapter is updated by Lin Tian sprinted through the streets, his memory of his old neighborhood from over two decades ago blurry. By the time he managed to call his father, Lin Yourong, the line was dead, the phone ringing unanswered. After several attempts, still no answer. Lin Tian knew if his father hadnt been in an accident, he would have picked up, even while driving. The persistent dead tone indicated something terrible had happened. How Why did this still happen? Why couldnt it have been just a few minutes earlier, even one minute? Lin Tian lamented. Suddenly, he realized, Wait one minute. Carefully recalling the events since leaving the school the sudden appearance of a thief among the parents, the occupied telephone booths Lin Tian sensed something was amiss. This is wrong. Theres definitely a problem here. My fathers death wasnt an accident; it was a conspiracy! Rushing back to the telephone booth, Lin Tian realized he had been ensnared in a calculated scheme. Meanwhile, Su Lin checked his watch, Times up. Sorry, Lin Tian. Since were destined to be enemies, let your fathers death be inevitable. He had already planned how to manipulate Lin Tian. Delaying Lin Tian by just a few minutes ensured the accident. In the original story, Lin Tians call made Lin Yourong stop the car just in time to avoid the truck. Su Lins interference altered the outcome drastically. Theres no crime here, just exploiting a loophole. But the end is just, Su Lin rationalized, preparing for Lin Tian to eventually trace the incident back to Sus Group and subsequently to Su Zhen Guo. With this thought, any discomfort Su Lin felt vanished. No grudges, only positions. You can only blame yourself for being the protagonist. On the other side, Lin Tian, having deduced the deliberate nature of his fathers death, vowed vengeance. Whoever you are, Ill find you and make you pay! Accustomed to the cutthroat business world, Lin Tians second chance at life seemed to have been crushed by this cruel twist of fate. The news of Lin Yourongs fatal accident was bound to reach his family soon. Chapter 95: Golden Eyes Chapter 95: Golden Eyes[Ding~! The protagonist has been reborn, initiating a destined confrontation. As the female lead Xia Shiyu¡¯s affection for the host has reached maximum, she automatically joins the villain camp. If the host dies, Xia Shiyu will also die~!]. ¡°Xiaoyu became a villain, what about Xiaowan?¡± [The female lead Lin Xiaowan¡¯s affection has not reached maximum, so she cannot join the villain camp. Host, please note, once joining the villain camp, it cannot be changed again. If the host dies, the female lead will also die.]. ¡°Wow... that¡¯s harsh, isn¡¯t it? Xiaowan is already at 99, she could reach full affection at any moment. If I lose to Lin Tian, will they both die with me?¡± [Host, to be precise, it¡¯s the protaganist who will end up killing them.]. ¡°Got it.¡± [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for preemptively planning against Zhao Yanyan, suppressing the protaganist Lin Tian, causing him to lose an important aide, reducing his protagonist¡¯s luck by 10%. Host receives one draw from the Emperor¡¯s treasure box.]. [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for preemptively planning against Lin Yourong, suppressing the male lead Lin Tian, causing him to lose an important background, reducing his protagonist¡¯s luck by 20%. Host receives two draws from the Emperors treasure box.]. ¡°This has already reduced three layers. Seems like this protaganist is easy to deal with,¡± Su Lin thought cheerfully. [Host, it¡¯s necessary to remind you that although the protaganist luck has been reduced by three layers from the start, his weaknesses have also disappeared. To suppress the him, you must confront him head-on, and his high luck value may lead to unexpected events.]. Su Lin: ¡°...¡± ¡°System, how much luck needs to be reduced before I can directly kill a protagonist?¡± [In theory, the current world is still governed by law, so the system does not recommend the host to kill. You can use methods similar to Lin Yourong¡¯s death to eliminate him, which can be used at any time without backlash.]. Su Lin nodded: ¡°That means using natural phenomena to cause accidental death. Like, he steps out, and suddenly a banana peel falls off a passing car, he slips, and hits his head against a wall.¡± [Yes, Host!]. Su Lin understood the system¡¯s intention. ¡°But with such high luck value, how could such natural phenomena happen to him? Seems like the first task is to reduce his luck.¡± [Host, high luck doesn¡¯t mean accidents won¡¯t happen. Remember, man can conquer nature! Otherwise, why would this system exist?]. Su Lin nodded, already scheming in his mind. Lin Tian was planning to open a supermarket; he¡¯d see how it goes. With a management genius, two business prodigies, his own enhancements, and several million in funds, if he couldn¡¯t beat Lin Tian, then he really would have wasted his time. ¡°System, let¡¯s draw! Wait, let me wash my hands first.¡± After thoroughly washing his hands, Su Lin was ready. [Wow~! Legendary gold, congratulations to the host for drawing the superpower ¡®Golden Eyes¡¯ (can predict stock market fluctuations, jade in stone, antiques, paintings, etc.).]. [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for drawing a box of ultra-thin durex.]. [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for drawing a box of kidney-strengthening pills.]. Darn!! Su Lin was taken aback by these rewards, questioning whether it was implying something about his kidney health. ¡°Forget it, these rewards don¡¯t seem very useful. But at least I finally got something worthwhile this time.¡± Golden Eyes was indeed a great asset. Su Lin blinked, looking around his room. Other than clearer vision, there seemed to be no special effect. [Zhongyang Shares, June 10th, will surge 7 points, buying up to 10 million will not cause any change.]. [Liutong Steel Materials, June 10th, will rise 4 points, buying up to 50 million will not cause any change.]. ¡°Your mother just fainted from the shock. Pinch her philtrum, it should help,¡± the doctor advised. Lin Tian nodded and pinched Ning Yunying¡¯s philtrum. ¡°Xiao Tian, your dad... he¡¯s really gone?¡± Lin Tian nodded, ¡°Dad¡¯s gone, Mom, don¡¯t worry, I will avenge Dad.¡± ¡°Avenge?¡± Ning Yunying looked at Lin Tian in confusion. ¡°I suspect that Dad was murdered, not an accident,¡± Lin Tian said calmly. ¡°Murdered? That¡¯s impossible, your dad was a man of integrity, never involved with bad people. Why would anyone want to murder him?¡± Ning Yunying said in disbelief. To this, Lin Tian just scoffed and said, ¡°Dad was too upright, and that¡¯s why he blocked someone¡¯s way. Blocking someone¡¯s way led to his murder.¡± ¡°Do you have any evidence for what you¡¯re saying, Xiao Tian?¡± ¡°If I had evidence, I would have already called the police to arrest someone,¡± Lin Tian shook his head. Ning Yunying nodded, somewhat skeptically. She noticed that Lin Tian seemed different but didn¡¯t think much of it, attributing it to Lin Yourong¡¯s death and his coming of age. Looking at Ning Yunying¡¯s haggard appearance, Lin Tian felt a deep anger in his heart. He was determined to find the person responsible and make them pay dearly. In his previous life, Ning Yunying passed away from depression before he even graduated from university. In this life, he didn¡¯t want to witness the same scene again. ¡°No matter who you are, you must die, you must die!!!¡± Chapter 96: Salary Day, Excited Lin Xiaowan Chapter 96: Salary Day, Excited Lin Xiaowan Unbeknownst to Su Lin, he had become an internet and TV sensation over the past few days. Jiangnan TV, as the provincial station in Jiangnan, enjoyed high viewership. Especially with Su Lin¡¯s flamboyant remarks, like claiming a score of 140 in Chinese was just average and that he could easily achieve full marks, he became a topic of online banter. Some netizens teased him for being thoughtless, while others believed he must have the confidence to back up his words. Unfortunately, the era of smartphones had not yet arrived; otherwise, Su Lin¡¯s words would have certainly gone viral. In a few years, once smartphones become widespread, Su Lin¡¯s words would be often brought up online. By then, he would become an idol for the younger generation. The first day of summer vacation was a joyous day for Su Lin, Lin Xiaowan, and their friends ¨C it was payday. Especially for Lin Xiaowan, who was very excited. It was her first salary, a significant milestone. When Xia Shiyu brought out the pay slips, Lin Xiaowan rushed up excitedly, ¡°Xiaoyu Xiaoyu, how much is my salary? Let me see!¡± Xia Shiyu, slightly bumped by Lin Xiaowan, felt a bit overwhelmed. She suddenly realized Lin Xiaowan¡¯s chest seemed to have grown bigger, and comparing it to her own, she felt a bit dejected. Fortunately, Su Lin didn¡¯t mind her size. Lin Xiaowan grabbed the salary slip and exclaimed, ¡°Wow! So much. Over fifty thousand! Xiaoyu, are you sure this is right? Why is it so much?¡± Xia Shiyu smiled, ¡°Xiaowan, your salary is accurate, calculated strictly according to what Su Lin said. I also got a lot. If you don¡¯t want it, I¡¯ll take it~~.¡± She then looked at Su Lin with a slightly plaintive expression. Su Lin, a bit speechless, said, ¡°You¡¯re not happy with the high salary? As part of the management, it¡¯s normal to have a higher salary. And remember, this is for more than two months, not just one. You should ask Zhang Yong how much he got this month. He earns more than me.¡± ¡°Zhang Yong is different. He gets a performance bonus. Besides, the company is yours, why do you care about this?¡± Lin Xiaowan said cheerily. ¡°That¡¯s right, the company is yours. If you want, millions can be transferred to your account in an instant,¡± Su Lin waved his hand, ¡°That won¡¯t work, we need that money for expansion, buying land costs over ten million.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, when will my salary be credited?¡± Lin Xiaowan asked. ¡°If nothing goes wrong, it should be in your account now,¡± Xia Shiyu replied. ¡°Wow! I¡¯m going to buy clothes, pants, dolls, lots of things! Xiaoyu, come shopping with me this afternoon.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t, I still owe Su Lin a lot of money,¡± Xia Shiyu said. ¡°Ah, I always thought Zhongjiang was big, but around mealtime, it feels too small. It¡¯s hard to find a place to eat.¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve already tried all the well-known restaurants in Zhongjiang. But it¡¯ll be okay in a few days. Su Lin, I¡¯ve already spoken to my dad, and we¡¯re going to Donghai together in a few days,¡± Lin Xiaowan said with a smile. ¡°Together? Is your dad okay with letting you go?¡± Su Lin asked in surprise. ¡°He has no choice. My dad is busy with work now. He¡¯s going to the countryside for research soon, and he¡¯ll be gone for ten days to half a month, maybe even longer.¡± ¡°My mom is also going on a business trip, so I told them I¡¯m going to Donghai for fun, and they agreed,¡± Lin Xiaowan replied. ¡°Oh! Then it¡¯s settled, we¡¯ll go together.¡± Lin Xiaowan was happy at the thought of enjoying some alone time with Su Lin. Turning to Xia Shiyu, she asked, ¡°Xiaoyu, are you going to join us?¡± Xia Shiyu shook her head, ¡°I won¡¯t go for now. Xiaowan, you and Su Lin go ahead. Su Lin has left me in charge here, and my dad also needs someone to look after him. I can¡¯t leave.¡± Hearing this, Xia Shiyu looked a bit downcast. The thought of not seeing Su Lin for a while saddened her. Lin Xiaowan patted Xia Shiyu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xiaoyu. I¡¯ll keep an eye on this rascal. Once we¡¯re done with the branch opening in Donghai, we¡¯ll come back for you, okay?¡± Xia Shiyu nodded with a smile, ¡°Okay.¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°Xiaoyu, don¡¯t be so downcast. I won¡¯t be going to Donghai until after my birthday, so we still have several days. I¡¯ll spend these days with you and Xiaowan. Whatever you want to do, we¡¯ll do.¡± ¡°Right, right!¡± Lin Xiaowan agreed. ¡°Su Lin, Su Lin, let¡¯s eat here. I haven¡¯t had cold pot rabbit in a long time.¡± ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re paying today, so you decide. Xiaoyu and I will just bring our mouths and stomachs.¡± ¡°Heh, then you two better eat a lot.¡± Chapter 97: Birthday Celebration, Su Lin’s Extraordinary Treatment! Chapter 97: Birthday Celebration, Su Lin¡¯s Extraordinary Treatment! In the following days, Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan spent time accompanying Xia Shiyu to various tourist spots in Zhongjiang. Despite being just a county-level city, Zhongjiang had plenty of interesting places to visit. After all, it was situated in the Yangtze River Delta region and was quite well-developed. While Su Lin, Lin Xiaowan, and Xia Shiyu were thoroughly enjoying themselves, Lin Tian was busy investigating the true cause behind Lin Yourong¡¯s traffic accident. When the police informed him that it was just a traffic accident, he was utterly incredulous: ¡°Impossible, absolutely impossible. My father was definitely murdered, it was murder!!¡± Zhao Tiande, looking at Lin Tian¡¯s grief-stricken face, felt somewhat helpless. Lin Yourong was his good friend, and his death in a car accident also pained him. However, the fact remained that Lin Yourong died in a traffic accident. ¡°Xiao Tian, I personally followed up on this case. The suspicions you raised, I had the officers investigate them. They are all baseless. The driver¡¯s relative indeed works for Su¡¯s Construction, but they were not on good terms.¡± ¡°Moreover, recent information about that employee shows that he had no contact with the driver, so the lead you provided is useless. The driver was determined by forensic examination to have had an accident due to drowsy driving.¡± Lin Tian looked at Zhao Tiande and shook his head in disbelief: ¡°Uncle Zhao~! This is a premeditated murder, and the mastermind is the boss of Su¡¯s Construction.¡± ¡°Xiao Tian, I¡¯ve met Su Zhenguo a few times. He is a pure businessman with a fortune of billions. Do you think he would commit such a self-destructive act?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why we have this flawless accident now, Uncle Zhao. I don¡¯t believe that my dad just pressed their site¡¯s neck and then had an accident.¡± Zhao Tiande was somewhat speechless: ¡°Xiao Tian, your father was not an ordinary person. When he had an accident, the bureau started investigating immediately.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hiding anything from you. The family of the driver, even their dining and restroom details were thoroughly checked; there¡¯s no possibility of any foul play.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been an old friend of your dad for many years. Do you think I would lie to you about such a matter?¡± ¡°As for Su Zhenguo, he indeed was our prime suspect. But he had no motive for the crime. Although your father was pressuring him, the construction site¡¯s paperwork was already signed, and he could have started work without any issues. So, there was no motive for him to commit the crime.¡± ¡°Moreover, we investigated him. These past few days, he was in Zhongjiang accompanying his son for college entrance exams, not dealing with affairs in Donghai. So, Xiao Tian, this matter is undoubtedly an accident.¡± Lin Tian fell silent. He knew about the close relationship between Zhao Tiande and Lin Yourong. If Lin Yourong was indeed murdered, Zhao Tiande would not stand idly by; he would have definitely tried to find out the truth. Now that he said so, it was certain that his father had an accident. But, was all this really just an accident? Lin Tian could distinctly feel as if an invisible hand was manipulating him, helplessly watching his father¡¯s demise. That feeling was unmistakable. With his many years of experience in the business world, he knew there was definitely something wrong with this case. It seemed he would have to investigate on his own. Zhao Tiande discerned Lin Tian¡¯s thoughts and shook his head: ¡°Xiao Tian, you don¡¯t need to think about investigating this yourself. Come with me to the station later, to my office. I¡¯ll show you the case file. Remember, you can only look at it; you cannot copy or take it away. Understand?¡± Lin Tian nodded. He knew that Zhao Tiande was already bending the rules to help him. ¡°Uncle Zhao, I know what to do.¡± ¡°Hmm~! You, this child, have finally grown up at such a time. It¡¯s really tough on your mother.¡± Lin Xiaowan shook her head and ultimately did not ask Su Lin to move, but instead began to massage his head while holding it. Seeing this, Xia Shiyu reluctantly placed the fruit on the nearby coffee table. ¡°Su Lin, how do you plan to spend your birthday today? Will your dad come back?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll just spend it, the three of us. My dad? He¡¯s busy at the construction site right now, he doesn¡¯t have time to worry about me,¡± Su Lin said indifferently. ¡°Just the three of us?¡± ¡°Of course, what else? Should we throw a party? You know you two are all I have.¡± Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin, her thoughts conflicted. She remembered Su Lin¡¯s words from before. In fact, she didn¡¯t just not want to refuse him; she was somewhat looking forward to it. It was only the reserve of a young girl that made her hesitate to agree. And coincidentally, last night Lin Guoqiang had gone to the countryside for research, and Wang Xiaoqian was also out of town on a business trip. Lin Xiaowan thought to herself: ¡°Could it be that even fate thinks I should agree to him?¡± Sitting there, Lin Xiaowan was troubled and distracted. ¡°Su Lin, you could invite Chen Yang and his sister too. I haven¡¯t seen Xiao Lin in a long time,¡± Xia Shiyu suggested. Hearing this, Su Lin frowned: ¡°Why invite Chen Yang? He has a lot going on at home, and his sister has her middle school exams in a few days. Do you think she should be going out now?¡± ¡°Right, how could I forget? Xiao Lin has her exams soon. Chen Yang is probably tutoring her now, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s just the three of us then. We¡¯ll have dinner, drink some wine, and then eat cake. Isn¡¯t that nice?¡± Su Lin said cheerfully. ¡°Drink wine? Can I drink, Su Lin?¡± Xia Shiyu asked excitedly. Actually, Xia Shiyu liked to drink, but Su Lin had always restricted her, which made her somewhat excited at the prospect of having the restriction lifted. ¡°You can only have a little, and it has to be diluted with a beverage,¡± Su Lin said with a smile. ¡°Okay, okay. Xiaowan, do you drink?¡± Lin Xiaowan came back to her senses and shook her head: ¡°Me? I should be fine.¡± She wasn¡¯t sure about her tolerance. She had drunk with her grandfather in the capital but never got drunk, so she wasn¡¯t clear if her tolerance was good or bad. Su Lin knew well that Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu were two extremes. If Xia Shiyu would be knocked out by one cup, Lin Xiaowan would be the type who could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. Alcohol had no effect on her. Su Lin shifted his head slightly and looked at Xia Shiyu. Their eyes met, and Xia Shiyu¡¯s gaze dodged a little. She thought that if she got drunk tonight, she would just let Su Lin do as he wished. Seeing Xia Shiyu like this, Su Lin laughed. This girl was really timid and extremely repressed. Perhaps only when drunk would she release that bit of innocence.Visit for the latest updates Chapter 98: VIP5 Chapter 98: VIP5 This chapter is missing , we are fix soon ! UpTodated novels at novelhall.com Chapter 98: My Parents Aren’t Home Tonight At the Donghai City Police Station, Lin Tian carefully examined the dossier regarding his father¡¯s death. The file was detailed, including witness testimonies, physical evidence, and more. He didn¡¯t miss a single detail, scrutinizing each page thoroughly. The conclusion he reached was consistent with the official judgment: Lin Yourong died in an accident. On one hand, there was the evidence in front of him; on the other, his own judgment. Lin Tian trusted his judgment more. As a businessman, he knew that it was possible to commit a murder without leaving any trace behind. He had done similar things in his previous life. With enough money, anything was possible. ¡°Xiao Tian, you¡¯ve seen the dossier. Do you now believe that your dad really died in an accident?¡± Lin Tian, who had perfected the art of maintaining his composure, nodded without revealing his emotions: ¡°Uncle Zhao, I was overthinking things.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to understand. Your dad was just buried a few days ago. You should focus on getting ready for school. I¡¯ll ask Yanyan to spend more time with you, have a good talk.¡± Lin Tian gave a bitter smile. He knew how much Zhao Yanyan disliked him; it was already good if she didn¡¯t scold him. Wait a minute!! A sudden idea for uncovering the murderer came to Lin Tian. He could use business tactics to investigate this matter: ¡°Su¡¯s Construction Group, Su Zhenguo, how should I deal with him? This needs a well-thought-out plan.¡±Yoouur favorite novels at novelhall.com ¡°Uncle Zhao, I should go now. My mom is alone at home, and I¡¯m worried about her.¡± Zhao Tiande nodded: ¡°Alright, Xiao Tian, go ahead. I¡¯ll call you if there¡¯s anything.¡± ¡°Thank you, Uncle Zhao.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. You know the relationship between your dad and me.¡± Lin Tian nodded and left without further delay. He needed to devise a foolproof plan to investigate his father¡¯s death. If he acted rashly, he might end up in danger himself. In the evening, at Su Lin¡¯s villa. ¡°Cheers~!!¡± ¡°Cheers, happy birthday Su Lin, may you be happy for a lifetime.¡± Su Lin, looking at the two women, said with a light smile: ¡°If it¡¯s like this for a lifetime, then I will definitely be happy forever.¡± ¡°Xiaoyu, you¡¯ve mixed a lot of juice with your drink. How does it feel? Do you feel tipsy?¡± Su Lin asked with a smile. Xia Shiyu shook her head: ¡°With the juice mixed in, it doesn¡¯t have that kind of effect. It¡¯s sweet and sour and quite tasty.¡± After a sip of the fruity wine, a faint blush appeared on Xia Shiyu¡¯s face, turning her cheeks rosy. However, her eyes were still clear, showing she wasn¡¯t lying about not being drunk. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine...¡± Before Xia Shiyu could finish speaking, she stumbled and nearly fell, but Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan quickly caught her. ¡°Su Lin, what should we do now?¡± Lin Xiaowan asked with a bit of a headache. ¡°Just take Xiaoyu to the guest room to rest. She probably won¡¯t wake up until tomorrow morning,¡± Su Lin suggested calmly. Lin Xiaowan glanced doubtfully at Xia Shiyu, who had only drunk a bit of fruit wine mixed with juice. Was the aftereffect really that strong? Without thinking too much, she and Su Lin helped Xia Shiyu to the guest room and settled her in. After finally getting Xia Shiyu settled, Lin Xiaowan returned to the living room where Su Lin handed her a can of cola. ¡°Phew, Xiaoyu looks so thin, but she¡¯s actually quite heavy.¡± Su Lin laughed: ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re not strong enough, you can¡¯t blame Xiaoyu for being heavy.¡± ¡°This girl, getting drunk so early. We were even planning to go sing karaoke, and now that¡¯s not happening.¡± Su Lin glanced at the clock: ¡°It¡¯s already nine, too late for karaoke. It¡¯ll be midnight by the time we¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Yeah, well, you¡¯re the birthday boy, so it¡¯s your call,¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded in agreement. Hearing this, Su Lin leaned closer to Lin Xiaowan: ¡°Xiaowan, so you really mean I get to decide?¡± ¡°Uh...¡± Lin Xiaowan saw the flickering flame in Su Lin¡¯s eyes: ¡°Su... Su Lin...¡± ¡°What¡¯s up, Xiaowan?¡± ¡°I... I... My parents aren¡¯t home tonight.¡± As soon as she said it, Lin Xiaowan wished she could slap herself. She couldn¡¯t believe she had said those words. A smile crept onto Su Lin¡¯s lips. Her words were indeed thought-provoking. He leaned in again, their faces so close that each could clearly see the other¡¯s fair skin. ¡°Xiaowan, then... would you like to stay over tonight?¡± ¡°I...¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lin Xiaowan suddenly hugged Su Lin tightly, burying her head in his chest: ¡°Let¡¯s not talk anymore, please.¡± Taken aback, Su Lin then scooped Lin Xiaowan up in a princess carry: ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t talk.¡± ¡°Where... where are we going?¡± ¡°Upstairs, to sleep!!!¡± ¡°...¡± Chapter 99: The Drunken Act Exposed, Xiaowan Grinds Her Teeth Chapter 99: The Drunken Act Exposed, Xiaowan Grinds Her Teeth[Ding~! Xia Shiyus favorability towards the host has reached its maximum. As the protagonist Ye Feng has completely become an ordinary person, there are no rewards.]. [Ding~! Female lead Lin Xiaowans favorability towards the host has reached its maximum. Lin Xiaowan automatically enters the villain camp. If the host dies, the female lead Lin Xiaowan will also die!]. Observing the sleeping Lin Xiaowan, Su Lin inwardly noted, As expected. Lin Xiaowans favorability had been stuck at 99, and despite his many attempts, it had never reached 100. Su Lin had speculated that only by taking this step would it reach the full value. And indeed, it turned out to be the case. Lin Xiaowans personality unexpectedly allowed for the existence of another woman besides herself. This might be due to her deep love or perhaps Xia Shiyus influence. If Su Lin had only been in contact with Lin Xiaowan and not Xia Shiyu from the beginning, things would definitely not have been this smooth. Su Lin felt somewhat relieved that he had approached the situation with this mindset from the start; otherwise, things would have been difficult now. Umm~!! Water~! I want to drink water. Do you want to drink water, Xiaowan? Su Lin whispered in Lin Xiaowans ear. Hearing Su Lins voice, Lin Xiaowan instinctively opened her eyes, memories flooding back. She quickly pulled up the blanket: Su Su Lin, what time is it now? Its almost one oclock, Su Lin replied with a light laugh. One oclock, how did time pass so quickly~! Lin Xiaowan exclaimed in surprise, then glared at Su Lin. You bad guy, you and Xiaoyu ganged up to bully me. Lin Xiaowan spat at Su Lin in annoyance. Su Lin handed her a water cup prepared earlier by the bed, puzzled: Me and Xiaoyu bullying you? How could that be? Lin Xiaowan, who was drinking water, suddenly paused and then ground her teeth: I was careless, it was Xiaoyu. Xiaoyu? What about her? Lin Xiaowan fell into her memories: I was wondering why Xiaoyu was so heavy; it turns out she wasnt drunk at all, she was pretending. Lin Xiaowan, being intelligent and quick-witted, initially did not suspect Xia Shiyu would pull such a stunt, so she hadnt realized it. But now, she understood that only a pretending-to-be-drunk Xia Shiyu would have such a stiff body, making it difficult to turn her over in bed. But why did she pretend to be drunk? Lin Xiaowan didnt know why Xia Shiyu pretended, but Su Lin did. He had noticed it right away but chose not to expose it. Su Lin guessed Xia Shiyus thoughts. Having agreed to Su Lin and with Lin Xiaowan also there, she couldnt directly say she would stay over, so she used the pretense of being drunk to fulfill her promise. Ah! Xiaowan, what did you say? I didnt hear you clearly! Su Lin heard her quite well but wanted to confirm. Lin Xiaowan ground her teeth: Go to Xiaoyu and punish her severely, got it? Uh Acting drunk, shes so hateful. Su Lin, I have just this one request. Will you satisfy me? Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin with pleading eyes. Su Lin was overjoyed inside. Such a request he couldnt refuse. So, Su Lin wholeheartedly agreed to Lin Xiaowans request, knowing well of his unique physique. Xia Shiyu had it coming. Thats how Su Lin ended up at Xia Shiyus door. Su Lin sat at the edge of Xia Shiyus bed, pinching her cheek: Someone was pretending to be drunk, and Xiaowan had to take care of her~!! Ah! Xiaowan found out. Xia Shiyu covered her face, too embarrassed to look at Su Lin. Su Lin nodded with a smile: Yes, Xiaowan initially felt something was off, but she never imagined you would pretend to be drunk. She figured it out later, and now shes really angry, asking me to properly punish you. How are you going to punish me? Xia Shiyu glanced cautiously at Su Lin. Hehe youll find out soon. A night of celebration. Su Lins birthday finally came to a fulfilling end. The next morning, when Su Lin woke up, both Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan were still asleep. He didnt disturb them, going downstairs alone to prepare breakfast. Last nights dinner was a collaborative effort between Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu, with Su Lin enjoying the day like an emperor, especially with Xia Shiyu treating him with extreme care, as if he were disabled. She was used to taking care of her father and had unique insights into caregiving. Feeling refreshed and comfortable! Su Lin thought cheerfully in the kitchen. His legendary culinary skills would come into play again. He guessed the girls would need a good rest today, so he decided to make some porridge, planning to feed them later. That was Su Lins plan for the morning! Chapter 100: Bullied to Tears! Chapter 100: Bullied to Tears! When Su Lin brought porridge to the upstairs bedroom, Lin Xiaowan was already dressed. It was a warm June day, and if it weren¡¯t for the air conditioning, they wouldn¡¯t even need a blanket. Su Lin saw Lin Xiaowan lying on the bed, her eyes following him as they spun around several times. He was certain that numerous thoughts were flashing through her mind. She looked at Su Lin with a serious expression and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s that liar Xia Shiyu? Why isn¡¯t she here?¡± ¡°Cough cough... She¡¯s still resting,¡± Su Lin replied with an awkward smile. ¡°Resting? Did you punish her last night?¡± Su Lin nodded: ¡°Of course, I avenged you properly.¡± ¡°Hahaha~! Su Lin, you really have a thick skin, turning this into avenging me.¡± Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin with disdain, but her smile betrayed her good mood.Nne?w n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com Su Lin walked over and placed the porridge on the bedside table: ¡°If I didn¡¯t have thick skin, how could I have won your hearts? Men need to be a bit shameless.¡± ¡°Nonsense!!!¡± ¡°This porridge smells so good. Where did you buy it from?¡± Lin Xiaowan deeply inhaled the aroma, almost intoxicated by it. Su Lin replied: ¡°Buy it? I personally cooked this to nourish your body, especially you, Xiaowan. You¡¯re too weak.¡± Lin Xiaowan was stunned: ¡°Go to hell~!~!¡± ¡°Ouch...¡± Just as she attempted to kick Su Lin, she realized moving her body was uncomfortable and could only glare at him furiously. ¡°Look at you. When we first met, you were so aloof. Now, you want to hit me at every turn. Ah~! Love really does end in domestic violence,¡± Su Lin said with a pained expression. ¡°Who... who¡¯s committing domestic violence? I don¡¯t hit hard, you know that. I¡¯m not strong,¡± Lin Xiaowan retorted. ¡°Mmm, I know, I know. Eat your porridge now, and remember to exercise regularly in the future.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t, and what can you do about it?¡± Lin Xiaowan said defiantly while eating her porridge. Su Lin knew this was her way of expressing insecurity, a common issue for women transitioning into a new phase of their relationship, especially when their boyfriend has more than one girlfriend. ¡°Eat now, we¡¯ll talk about exercising later.¡± ¡°Mmm~!!¡± Lin Xiaowan sat up and began to eat her porridge in small sips. Su Lin watched her peacefully beautiful face, feeling a warmth rekindling in his heart. He cursed inwardly. This was typical of men, especially young ones; it was really maddening. ¡°Su Lin, I want to bully Xiaoyu later. Will you help me?¡± ¡°Me? Plot something bad? How could I...¡± Lin Xiaowan muttered without looking at Xia Shiyu. If she looked at her, she¡¯d remember how Su Lin bullied her last night and want to get back at Xia Shiyu. Without Xia Shiyu¡¯s cooperation, any plan she had was meaningless, having no effect whatsoever. Su Lin liked that Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu maintained their personalities. He had worried they would become too compliant once their favorability maxed out, which would be boring. But now, even with full favorability, they still had their own resolve and wouldn¡¯t blindly agree to everything, though they would compromise if Su Lin insisted. ¡°Alright, what time is it? Are you two hungry?¡± Lin Xiaowan touched her stomach: ¡°I didn¡¯t feel it until you mentioned it, but now I do feel a bit hungry.¡± Su Lin chuckled at the little foodie: ¡°Xiaowan, you always say this. Just speak up if you¡¯re hungry; I won¡¯t let you starve.¡± Lin Xiaowan blushed: ¡°Where did that come from? I really did just start feeling hungry. Xiaoyu, do you feel the same?¡± Feeling guilty, Xia Shiyu nodded: ¡°I feel the same, Su Lin. I¡¯m hungry too.¡± ¡°See, it¡¯s not just me. Xiaoyu feels the same way.¡± Su Lin smiled: ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go out and grab something to eat.¡± Lin Xiaowan stayed put on the sofa. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Xiaowan? Are you not comfortable?¡± ¡°Hmm, Su Lin, I want to eat something you cooked.¡± Lin Xiaowan looked expectantly at Su Lin. The porridge he made that morning was so delicious that she couldn¡¯t get enough of it. ¡°Uh... alright, I¡¯ll cook again. What would you like to eat?¡± ¡°I want something sweet, like sweet and sour pork loin, Dongpo pork...¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll cook them for you, but you two have to help me,¡± Su Lin said with a mischievous smile. ¡°Ah~!!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, I wanted to learn cooking anyway.¡± Su Lin was incredulous: ¡°Xiaowan, you really don¡¯t have a talent for cooking. Focus on your studies instead of wasting energy.¡± ¡°No, both you and Xiaoyu can cook so well, I¡¯m sure I can do it too,¡± Lin Xiaowan said confidently. Su Lin wondered where her confidence came from. Was it from not distinguishing between MSG and salt or from not being able to name the vegetables? ¡°Okay, then you try your best, and Xiaoyu and I will wait to feast on your cooking!!¡± Chapter 101: None of the Three Students Are Easy to Deal With Chapter 101: None of the Three Students Are Easy to Deal With The lunch, which almost turned into dinner, was particularly long due to the presence of two charming girls. Su Lin, being naturally distracted, engaged in playful banter with Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu. It was almost three o''clock by the time they finished their meal. At the dining table, Lin Xiaowan patted her slightly bulging stomach and said, ¡°I''m so full, Su Lin, what if I can''t enjoy anyone else''s cooking but yours in the future?¡± Su Lin chuckled and replied, ¡°That''s simple. Just go hungry for two days. Once you''re hungry enough, you''ll eat anything.¡± ¡°Pfft~!! I thought you were going to say you''d cook for Xiaowan every day,¡± teased Xia Shiyu, covering her mouth with her hand to suppress her laughter. Lin Xiaowan pouted, showing her dissatisfaction with Su Lin''s response. Su Lin laughed and said, ¡°Cook every day? Obviously, that''s not possible. I can cook occasionally. If Xiaowan really becomes picky, I''ll just hire chefs from all over the country to cook for her.¡± Lin Xiaowan''s face lit up with a smile at his words. ¡°That sounds more like it. Hehe, but I was just saying. I like all kinds of delicious food.¡± Su Lin affectionately ruffled her hair. ¡°To be precise, you like sweets, right? But you should eat less of them. Too many sweets can lead to diabetes.¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded in agreement. ¡°Don''t worry, I know my limits.¡± Xia Shiyu observed the interaction between Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan. Thinking about their upcoming trip to Donghai while she had to stay behind for the store openings, her mood dampened. ¡°What''s wrong, Xiaoyu? Your expression changed all of a sudden.¡± Xia Shiyu forced a smile and asked, ¡°Su Lin, when are you and Xiaowan leaving for Donghai?¡± ¡°The day after tomorrow,¡± Su Lin said. ¡°Xiaowan isn''t feeling well, so we decided to rest for another day. It¡¯s also a good opportunity to check our exam results.¡± ¡°You don''t need to worry about your results. You both will surely do well.¡± Su Lin nodded. ¡°I¡¯m not worried about that. My concern is the admissions offices from various universities. They can be quite persistent and intrusive, and I don¡¯t want them to disturb our lives.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine going to Donghai. But Xiaoyu, you might have to deal with them more often here.¡± Xia Shiyu replied with a smile, ¡°My grades aren¡¯t the best, so they won¡¯t waste much time on me. If they do bother me, I¡¯ll just hide in the company. It¡¯s perfect timing since Chen Yang mentioned that we could open this month.¡± Su Lin agreed, ¡°Anyway, we¡¯re not going to Tsinghua or Peking University, no matter what they say.¡± ¡°Hehe, we¡¯re going to Donghai University, I know,¡± Lin Xiaowan added with a giggle. She then looked at Su Lin, puzzled. ¡°Why are you so against Tsinghua and Peking University? They are the top two universities in the country, attended by the best students from each province. They won¡¯t miss one student.¡± Su Lin smiled lightly. ¡°I can¡¯t help it. Their students tend to study abroad, and I need stability for my upcoming ventures. Do you understand?¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded, grasping his point. ¡°It¡¯s a national issue that can¡¯t be changed easily.¡± Su Lin remained calm. ¡°I guessed it would be this result. Why be surprised? As for you, Xiaowan, you¡¯re complacent with just a few points. Learn from me, the art of staying unflustered and keeping a straight face.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about staying unflustered, but you are quite ¡®colorful¡¯,¡± Lin Xiaowan said, her face turning red as she thought of Su Lin¡¯s various naughty ideas. ¡°Xiaowan, are you thinking of something unhealthy? Why is your face so red?¡± Su Lin teased. ¡°You¡¯re the unhealthy one. Your thoughts are the most unhealthy!¡± As they bantered, Su Lin¡¯s phone rang. It was from Wang Yi, their teacher. ¡°Wang Teacher~! Why aren¡¯t you sleeping at this hour?¡± Su Lin said, looking at the dim morning light outside. ¡°Sleep? How can I sleep when you¡¯re so carefree? I haven¡¯t slept all night,¡± Wang Yi replied gruffly. ¡°Uh... Teacher Wang, I suggest exercising more if you have insomnia.¡± ¡°Exercise my foot! Hurry up and come to school. The principal and the headteacher are here. We need to discuss your university and major choices. Bring Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan too. I know you can contact them.¡± Su Lin quickly said, ¡°Teacher Wang, haven¡¯t we already filled out our preferences? We¡¯re all going to Donghai University.¡± ¡°You¡¯re driving me crazy! With your scores, you should be aiming for Tsinghua or Peking, not Donghai University.¡± ¡°Teacher Wang, didn¡¯t you graduate from Dongfang University? Are you looking down on Donghai University?¡± Su Lin raised an eyebrow. ¡°I don¡¯t want to argue with you. Even if you don¡¯t choose Tsinghua or Peking, you should at least consider Renmin or Caijing University, not Donghai University. We have to change this. I can¡¯t believe none of my top three students chose Tsinghua or Peking. Did you guys plan this to upset me?¡± Su Lin thought to himself that indeed they had planned it, but not to upset Wang Yi; they were just close friends. ¡°Teacher Wang, I won¡¯t be coming to school. I have a lot to do before heading to Donghai tomorrow. As for the university, I like Donghai University and won¡¯t change my mind. You can stop persuading me. You can try talking to Xiaowan and Xiaoyu.¡± Wang Yi sighed, ¡°If only I could contact them... Wait, Su Lin, you...¡± ¡°Teacher, I have to hang up now. Bye!!¡± Su Lin ended the call and turned to Lin Xiaowan, ¡°Let¡¯s turn off our phones, or we¡¯ll be annoyed by calls all day.¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded and switched off her phone. ¡°That¡¯s better. Peace at last!¡± ¡°So early, Xiaowan, do you want to get up?¡± Lin Xiaowan shook her head. ¡°Now that we know our scores, I¡¯d rather lie down for a bit.¡± ¡°Then... let¡¯s sleep a little longer.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey, Su Lin, what are you doing? I said I¡¯d lie down alone!¡± Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Chapter 102: First Arrival in Donghai, Encounter with the Leg Maniac! While Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan were sleeping soundly under their blankets, Wang Yi was bustling around the school in a state of near panic. He had painstakingly nurtured three students for Qingbei, yet all three had chosen to go to Donghai University instead. Wang Yi, being an experienced teacher, quickly realized that the trio must have conspired this together. Moreover, there were rumors circulating about Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan dating, which he understood to a certain extent. However, understanding aside, he still didn¡¯t want them to go to Donghai University. Why not head to the capital instead, he thought. Unfortunately, Su Lin hadn¡¯t provided him with an answer to this question. With a wry smile, Wang Yi said to the representatives from Qingbei¡¯s admissions offices, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, but that¡¯s the situation. My students are quite stubborn and won¡¯t listen to any persuasion.¡± One of the representatives asked, ¡°Mr. Wang, didn¡¯t you inform Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan about our offer?¡± Wang Yi sighed again, ¡°It¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to tell them. They just hung up before I could even start explaining. It¡¯s no use; they¡¯re quite peculiar, each more than the other.¡± The representatives then inquired if he could contact their families, as they were willing to negotiate directly with them. Wang Yi agreed, hoping that the parents might persuade them to reconsider. However, when the admissions officers reached out to Lin Guoqiang and Su Zhenguo, the mayor and a corporate head respectively, they were met with a direct and straightforward response: ¡°We¡¯ll listen to our children on this.¡± The matter was out of their hands. Soon enough, the news spread online, bringing Su Lin back into the spotlight. His interview from a few days ago was also dug up. Netizens finally realized that Su Lin wasn¡¯t just boasting; he was genuinely exceptional. As Jiangnan Province¡¯s top science student, his achievements were undeniable. People began to view Su Lin¡¯s previous flamboyant statements in a new light; after all, he had the achievements to back up his confidence. That morning, in Donghai! Zhao Yanyan looked back at Lin Tian with impatience. Previously, Lin Tian, although a dissolute rich kid, would disappear the moment she showed disapproval. But things were different now. Since the death of Lin Yourong, Lin Tian had become more persistent, bothering her every day, and his manner of speaking had evolved from simple confessions to more sophisticated dialogues. Lin Tian had no choice. He wanted Zhao Yanyan to join his group, but his image in her eyes was too negative. Therefore, he had to adopt a different approach. Given his persistent image, he decided to deceive her first and then win her over. After meticulously recalling his memories and confirming his doubts, Lin Tian became even more suspicious. ¡°Has the butterfly effect of my rebirth become so significant?¡± ¡°No matter what, the overall direction won¡¯t change. I¡¯ll stick to the plan. Su Zhenguo, you killed my father, so I¡¯ll start by taking some interest from your son.¡± Thinking of Su Lin, Lin Tian could only sigh at his luck. With a father like Su Zhenguo, Su Lin took over the Su Corporation at the age of fifty and soared to the pinnacle of his life. In his memory, Su Lin had been pursuing a female CEO named Xia Shiyu, but she didn¡¯t seem too interested in him. Rumors about their relationship would surface from time to time. ¡°What is Su Lin doing at this moment?¡± Lin Tian felt a headache coming on. He didn¡¯t know what Su Lin was up to and how to deal with him. He thought he should find some helpers to establish himself in this timeline. Meanwhile, Zhao Yanyan, relieved that Lin Tian hadn¡¯t followed her, walked briskly to the meeting point she had arranged with Lin Xiaowan. Standing at the rendezvous, Zhao Yanyan¡¯s mind was filled with thoughts of Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan. Her trip to Zhongjiang had left a deep impression on her, especially Su Lin, a wealthy, handsome, courteous, and profound man. She could sense Lin Xiaowan¡¯s admiration for Su Lin in every conversation they had. A man who could garner such admiration from a girl like Lin Xiaowan must be extraordinary. Simultaneously, she felt an inexplicable flutter in her heart towards Su Lin, but considering his relationship with Lin Xiaowan, she suppressed these feelings. ¡°Zhao Yanyan, he¡¯s Xiaowan¡¯s man. Are you going to compete with her for a man? You¡¯re not that desperate. There are so many outstanding people in the world; don¡¯t make a mistake.¡± With these thoughts, Zhao Yanyan¡¯s resolve strengthened. Finally, around ten o¡¯clock, Zhao Yanyan picked up her friend. Seeing the familiar Mercedes-Benz stop in front of her, she smiled. Su Lin rolled down the window. ¡°Yanyan, this place is really hard to find.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you haven¡¯t been to Donghai much. You¡¯ll find it easier the more you visit,¡± Zhao Yanyan replied with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s just stating the obvious. Get in!¡± Zhao Yanyan nodded, opened the car door, and got in. Chapter 103: Only One Room Chapter 103: Only One Room Zhao Yanyan settled into the car, letting out a sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s so comfortable in the car with the air conditioning on. It¡¯s really cool.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wearing such short pants, and you¡¯re still hot?¡± Lin Xiaowan commented, even reaching out to touch Zhao Yanyan¡¯s long legs. ¡°Heh! You stand out there for half an hour and see if it¡¯s hot. Xiaowan, you should heat up more easily than me, given your constitution.¡± After saying that, Zhao Yanyan carefully examined Lin Xiaowan. Feeling a bit self-conscious under her gaze, Lin Xiaowan asked, ¡°Yanyan, what are you looking at?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking at your skin. Xiaowan, your complexion is so rosy and healthy lately. Have you been eating well? Your skin looks radiant and beautiful,¡± Zhao Yanyan said as she pinched Lin Xiaowan¡¯s cheek. Lin Xiaowan swatted Zhao Yanyan¡¯s hand away. ¡°Isn¡¯t my skin always this good?¡± ¡°Uh... I can¡¯t argue with that,¡± Zhao Yanyan admitted awkwardly. Su Lin, observing the scene, shook his head. ¡°Alright, stop chatting for now and give me directions. Yanyan, didn¡¯t you say the supermarket is under renovation? How¡¯s the progress?¡± Zhao Yanyan became a bit embarrassed. Recently, she had been constantly bothered by Lin Tian and had avoided going to the supermarket to prevent him from knowing where she worked. As a result, she wasn¡¯t sure about the supermarket¡¯s progress. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Any problem?¡± Su Lin asked, surprised. Zhao Yanyan shook her head. ¡°No... It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve been a bit preoccupied with family matters recently and haven¡¯t been able to check on the supermarket.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll only know the exact situation when we get there,¡± Su Lin said, nodding. The car fell silent for a moment. Zhao Yanyan wished she could drag Lin Tian out and give him a good scolding for making the situation so awkward. If it weren¡¯t for him, she wouldn¡¯t be in this predicament. ¡°That¡¯s okay, Su Lin. I really had something to do. It wasn¡¯t...¡± Su Lin interrupted, ¡°No need to explain. Everyone has their things to deal with. Besides, you wouldn¡¯t know much about construction work anyway. As long as they follow the blueprints, there shouldn¡¯t be any problem.¡± ¡°Yanyan, don¡¯t be nervous. Su Lin is right. As long as everything is done according to the plan, there won¡¯t be any issues,¡± Lin Xiaowan reassured. ¡°Okay,¡± Zhao Yanyan replied, feeling relieved that Su Lin wasn¡¯t taking the matter too seriously. ¡°How much longer until it¡¯s completed? Can we open this month?¡± Su Lin gave a thumbs-up. ¡°This location is really good, Yanyan. How did you manage to secure it?¡± ¡°How else? They begged me to buy it. The owner of this building was also a businessman, but he got hooked on stocks and lost everything. Ended up in debt, so it was a bargain for us,¡± Zhao Yanyan explained. Su Lin realized, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that in Zhongjiang they begged us to buy, and here too. Xiaowan, Yanyan, you two are really lucky.¡± ¡°Heh heh! It¡¯s not just luck, you need some skills too,¡± Lin Xiaowan boasted. ¡°Exactly, Su Lin, you make it sound too simple,¡± Zhao Yanyan added. Su Lin, feeling slightly overwhelmed, thought he might need to assert himself more or else Lin Xiaowan might start taking the lead. Clearing his throat, Su Lin asked, ¡°What about our accommodation, Yanyan? Did you arrange it?¡± Zhao Yanyan nodded. ¡°Of course, I did. But I arranged only one apartment with just one bed.¡± Su Lin smiled subtly, thinking to himself that she was considerate. ¡°That¡¯s fine, one bed it is.¡± Lin Xiaowan, blushing, pretended to be an ostrich. She had been staying with Su Lin for the past few days, almost like an old married couple, sharing a bed every night. ¡°Ah! But what about Xiaowan?¡± ¡°I... I can go to my relatives¡¯ place. Yes, I¡¯ll go there,¡± Lin Xiaowan suddenly remembered that she was supposed to visit relatives in Donghai. She felt as if Su Lin had led her astray. ¡°Oh, going to your relatives? That¡¯s good too,¡± Zhao Yanyan said, not suspecting anything else. Su Lin sighed internally at their youthfulness. If it were twenty years later, everyone would have easily guessed his intentions. ¡°Su Lin, Xiaowan, shall we go in and take a look?¡± Su Lin nodded. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go in and check the progress.¡± Satisfied with the location in Donghai, Su Lin thought Zhao Yanyan¡¯s business sense wasn¡¯t bad, probably not far behind Lin Xiaowan¡¯s. As for Xia Shiyu, she might be a bit behind. Xia Shiyu, without any formal business education, had built a fortune worth billions. Now, studying business management in Donghai, who knows how big of a business tycoon she would become in the future. Chapter 104: Suspicious Chapter 104: Suspicious Under Zhao Yanyan¡¯s guidance, Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan visited the Donghai branch. Su Lin noted the workers diligently completing their tasks despite Zhao Yanyan¡¯s absence for several days, and the decor was just as he had designed. Zhao Yanyan and Lin Xiaowan chatted away, occasionally glancing at Su Lin, clearly discussing his past with Lin Xiaowan. Lin Xiaowan happily shared about Su Lin with Zhao Yanyan. They chatted cheerfully, while Su Lin occasionally admired the striking features of both women. Zhao Yanyan, in her ultra-short shorts, showcased her long, fair legs, and Lin Xiaowan, in a pleated miniskirt and white shirt with her long black hair neatly tied back, exuded a pure, charming academic style. Leaving the supermarket, Su Lin suggested, ¡°Xiaowan, Yanyan, it¡¯s about time for lunch, shall we go?¡± Both Zhao Yanyan and Lin Xiaowan readily agreed. Su Lin playfully suggested, ¡°Yanyan, as our host, you should treat us to some local specialties for lunch.¡± Zhao Yanyan nodded, ¡°Sure, Donghai¡¯s specialties are a bit sweet. Do you like sweet food, Su Lin?¡± Su Lin replied, ¡°I¡¯m okay with it, but Xiaowan really likes sweet things.¡± Zhao Yanyan chuckled, ¡°I know. How about we have Longjing Shrimp, West Lake Vinegar Fish...¡± Lin Xiaowan plaintively said, ¡°Wow, Yanyan, don¡¯t just list them, you¡¯re making me hungry!¡± Zhao Yanyan affectionately ruffled Lin Xiaowan¡¯s hair. Su Lin, finding Zhao Yanyan¡¯s behavior somewhat suspicious, discreetly pulled Lin Xiaowan closer and asked with a hint of doubt, ¡°Xiaowan, is your friend¡¯s sexual orientation normal?¡± Lin Xiaowan laughed, ¡°What type of question is that Su Lin! Of course, Yanyan¡¯s orientation is normal. Why do you ask?¡± Su Lin grumbled, ¡°She¡¯s been clinging to you for over an hour now. A few minutes would¡¯ve been fine, but this is too much.¡± Lin Xiaowan glanced at Zhao Yanyan and then kissed Su Lin on the cheek, saying, ¡°Alright, Su Lin, Yanyan is just catching up with me about her recent life. I¡¯ll make it up to you tonight.¡± Su Lin, seizing the opportunity, said, ¡°You promised, no backing out now.¡± Su Lin gave her a thumbs-up, ¡°Twelve, huh? That¡¯s impressive. So you must have started from the first grade in primary school.¡± Lin Xiaowan couldn¡¯t help but laugh and waved her hand, ¡°Su Lin, don¡¯t mind her. She was 1.7 meters tall in the first year of middle school and stood out in class. Not a single boy liked her, she never even received a love letter.¡± Su Lin sympathetically said, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that nobody liked Yanyan with such a great figure. It¡¯s just not right.¡± Zhao Yanyan lamented, ¡°The boys in middle school were too short for me, they were too embarrassed to talk to me. In high school, some liked me, but they were all cowards.¡± ¡°So you admit that those twelve boyfriends were just a boast,¡± Lin Xiaowan teased with a smile. Zhao Yanyan retorted, ¡°You two are really something. Su Lin, let me tell you, when Xiaowan was little and came to my house to play...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say it, shut up, shut up!¡± Lin Xiaowan quickly covered Zhao Yanyan¡¯s mouth. The two playfully scuffled together. The sight of two goddesses play-fighting was very eye-catching, and Su Lin enjoyed watching them. He noticed several boys looking over, but there was no show-off or face-slapping like in the novels. Suddenly, Su Lin remembered that he was the villain. ¡°Oh, right, I forgot I¡¯m not supposed to be the one showing off and slapping faces.¡± Amidst the fun, Xia Shiyu called to check on Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan. Su Lin assured her they were fine and shared some events from their journey. Zhao Yanyan watched Su Lin, puzzled. Although inexperienced in love, she was perceptive. Su Lin¡¯s smile didn¡¯t seem like one shared with family or friends, more like an intimate chat with a lover. But his girlfriend was right beside him, so who else would he be chatting with so warmly? If it was Lin Xiaowan, wasn¡¯t she enough? Zhao Yanyan glanced at Lin Xiaowan, who showed no change in her expression. Then she remembered Xia Shiyu, the delicate girl she saw at the supermarket, who was always around but barely interacted with her. Could it be her? She quickly dismissed the thought. Lin Xiaowan, being so proud, would never share a man with another woman. Concluding that Lin Xiaowan must have won the race of love, Zhao Yanyan grew more convinced of her assumptions, seeing Lin Xiaowan¡¯s unflinching face.Fo?llo?w new stories at novelhall.com Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Chapter 105: Antique Shopping After lunch, Lin Xiaowan suggested that Zhao Yanyan show them around Donghai.Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only ¡°Sigh, although Donghai City is large, there really aren¡¯t many places for fun, especially places suitable for you two,¡± Zhao Yanyan said somewhat helplessly. For ordinary people, going to internet cafes, playing billiards, or visiting the library would suffice, but these options clearly didn¡¯t suit Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan. Su Lin casually said, ¡°No worries, just strolling around nearby is fine. Yanyan, is there any interesting place here you can take us to?¡± ¡°An interesting place?¡± Zhao Yanyan pondered. After a while, she shook her head and said, ¡°Not really, but in the north district, there¡¯s an Antique Street.¡± ¡°Many people from out of town visit there, some even find hidden treasures. Last year, a collector from the capital found a Qianlong snuff bottle and made several hundred thousand from it.¡± Su Lin¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. With his ¡®golden eye¡¯, he had been wanting to try his luck. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Antique Street then. I¡¯m quite interested in antiques,¡± he said with a smile. Lin Xiaowan, holding Su Lin¡¯s arm, looked at him suspiciously. ¡°Su Lin, since when have you been interested in antiques?¡± ¡°Just now!¡± Su Lin replied. Lin Xiaowan was skeptical. ¡°You¡¯re not thinking about finding a bargain there, are you?¡± Su Lin replied with a smile, ¡°Xiaowan, you really can read my mind. I did think about that.¡± Zhao Yanyan, overhearing their conversation, warned Su Lin, ¡°Don¡¯t have such thoughts. Almost all antiques there are fake. Many people have been scammed in Donghai¡¯s Antique Street.¡± Su Lin smiled lightly and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not stupid; I just want to take a look.¡± Zhao Yanyan nodded, while Lin Xiaowan suspected Su Lin¡¯s real intentions. She knew Su Lin too well; he never did things without meaning. ¡°You¡¯re serious, aren¡¯t you? I trust you,¡± she said, looking into his eyes earnestly. ¡°Indeed, a bit excessive. How could Zhao Kuangyin use something from the Ming Dynasty?¡± Zhao Yanyan chuckled. ¡°Antique Street is like this. They¡¯ll say anything as long as you believe them. These guys have no bottom line. As long as there¡¯s a buyer, they dare to claim anything.¡± ¡°Heh, that¡¯s the fun of bargain hunting, isn¡¯t it? How else would you find hidden treasures?¡± ¡°Kid, looking for a bargain? Come to my stall, just unearthed. Look at this, a jar from the Song Huizong era,¡± another seller said, winking mysteriously at Su Lin. Su Lin, examining the jars: ¡°Are these family heirlooms or grave-robbed?¡± ¡°Heh, kid, you¡¯re knowledgeable. These are family heirlooms, jars from the Song Huizong era. Want to take a closer look?¡± Su Lin focused on a jar, his brain suddenly filling with information: high imitation! ¡°Uncle, I can¡¯t afford such a good jar. Better keep it as a family heirloom. I really can¡¯t afford it,¡± Su Lin said, preparing to leave. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t rush off. I haven¡¯t even mentioned the price yet. How do you know you can¡¯t afford it?¡± Su Lin, shaking his head: ¡°Uncle, I really can¡¯t afford it. I only have a few tens of yuan on me.¡± ¡°Ah, well, no fate with my family heirloom then.¡± As they were talking, a system notification sounded in Su Lin¡¯s mind: [Ding! Congratulations, host, for accidentally entering the protagonist¡¯s first pot of gold location. Prevent Lin Tian from obtaining his first pot of gold, reduce his luck by 10%, and receive a chance to draw from the Emperor¡¯s Treasure Lucky Box.]. Hmm? Su Lin¡¯s eyes gleamed. Lin Tian was here? He was surprised to encounter him in this manner, as the street was crowded he could not really spot Lin Tian. Thinking Su Lin was hesitating, the seller continued, ¡°Young man, this ancestral...¡± Su Lin snapped back to reality, waving him off: ¡°Xiaowan, Yanyan, let¡¯s go ahead and look around.¡± Eager to find Lin Tian, Su Lin hurried them forward. Despite Lin Tian¡¯s foreknowledge, Su Lin had an advantage with his own system aid. Chapter 106: Using the Leg Freak as a Tool Chapter 106: Using the Leg Freak as a Tool Su Lin, Lin Xiaowan, and Zhao Yanyan came to a stall where Su Lin picked up two vases that were obviously mass-produced and asked, ¡°These vases are quite nice. Xiaowan, I''m thinking of buying two to put on the wall cabinet at home. What do you think?¡± Lin Xiaowan looked at the vases in Su Lin''s hands and said, ¡°These are obviously fake, Su Lin. Are you sure you want to buy them?¡± Su Lin nodded and asked the stout seller, ¡°How much for one of these?¡± The seller, thinking Su Lin was an ignorant rich kid, smiled and said, ¡°Young man, you have a good eye. These are top-quality blue and white porcelain, just arrived today. If you like them, I''ll give you a discount. How about it?¡± Su Lin casually asked, ¡°How much for one?¡± Just name your price.¡± The seller, assuming Su Lin was straightforward, replied, ¡°Since you''re a straightforward guy, I won''t beat around the bush. Fifty thousand for one, but for two, I can do eighty thousand. What do you think?¡± Su Lin immediately put down the vases and turned to leave. ¡°Hey, hey, hey... young man, don''t rush off. At least make a counteroffer.¡± ¡°Eighty thousand? How can I make a counteroffer on that? You might as well be robbing me.¡± ¡°In this business, bargaining is part of the process. Name your price, and if it''s reasonable, I''ll make a deal with you today.¡± Su Lin gestured an eight with his hand. ¡°Eight thousand?¡± ¡°No, no, no, eighty!!!¡± ¡°Eighty? Deal.¡± Su Lin slapped his forehead, ¡°Rash decision, damn it!¡± Lin Xiaowan and Zhao Yanyan burst into laughter. ¡°Su Lin, even you make mistakes,¡± Lin Xiaowan laughed. Watching the two women laughing so heartily, Su Lin cheerfully paid: ¡°Eighty it is.¡± If it makes my girlfriend this happy, it¡¯s money well spent.¡± The seller was delighted to actually get paid and handed Su Lin the change. Su Lin handed the vases to Lin Xiaowan: ¡°Xiaowan, hold these.¡± Lin Xiaowan, holding a vase in each hand, asked puzzledly, ¡°Su Lin, what¡¯s this about? Why spend eighty on two useless vases? They¡¯re even hard to use for drinking water.¡± ¡°Heh, they have their uses,¡± Su Lin said mysteriously. As they walked on, Zhao Yanyan frowned and said, ¡°Why is Lin Tian also at the antique market?¡± Su Lin immediately perked up and followed Zhao Yanyan¡¯s gaze towards Lin Tian.Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only The shrewd seller looked at Su Lin and then at Lin Xiaowan, made his calculations, and stretched out three fingers, ¡°Three thousand! Young man, my goods here are all genuine, top quality. Three thousand for this and you won¡¯t regret it.¡± Su Lin nodded and without a second thought, took out his wallet and handed over the money, ¡°Here, three thousand.¡± ¡°Done! Young man, this Yuan blue-and-white vase is yours now.¡± Holding the vase, Su Lin smiled satisfactorily, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re a straightforward person. I¡¯ll come and patronize your shop often in the future.¡± ¡°That would be great.¡± After purchasing the Yuan blue-and-white vase, Su Lin said to Lin Xiaowan, ¡°Let¡¯s wait for Yanyan at the entrance.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we waiting here?¡± Lin Xiaowan asked, puzzled. ¡°No, they¡¯re dealing with emotional stuff. It¡¯s not dignified for us to hang around. Let¡¯s just wait for her outside.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go then.¡± Lin Xiaowan carried a vase in each hand, looking quite uncomfortable. Once they reached a trash bin, Su Lin suggested, ¡°If it¡¯s uncomfortable, just throw them away.¡± ¡°Ah! But we paid for these,¡± Lin Xiaowan said, surprised. ¡°Heh, I originally wanted to use them as decorations at home, but it¡¯s a long walk back. I can¡¯t let you carry them all the way,¡± Su Lin said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay. If you want them, I can carry them back. It¡¯s not tiring.¡± ¡°No need, I can¡¯t bear to see you like this. Let¡¯s just break them and throw them in the bin, so no one else can use them to scam people.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Xiaowan gently tapped the two vases together, shattering them, ¡°So fragile, feels like they¡¯re made of plastic.¡± ¡°They are just fakes, like everything else on this street.¡± ¡°Su Lin, aren¡¯t you going to smash the one in your hand?¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°No, this one doesn¡¯t get smashed.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s a real Yuan blue-and-white vase.¡± Lin Xiaowan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°Real? Really?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll teach you how to differentiate between real and fake when we get back.¡± ¡°Okay... okay!!!¡± Chapter 107: Lin Tian’s Realization, Su Lin’s Tactics Chapter 107: Lin Tian¡¯s Realization, Su Lin¡¯s Tactics ¡°Yanyan, I really did come here to shop, you say I¡¯m following you, but how could I? I don¡¯t even know where you are in Donghai. How could I follow you? I can buy something right now to show you, okay?¡± Lin Tian explained helplessly to Zhao Yanyan. Zhao Yanyan looked at Lin Tian doubtfully, wondering if he really was there to shop: ¡°Alright, what do you want to buy? I¡¯ll accompany you after notifying my friend.¡± She remembered Su Lin and Lin Xiawan, but when she looked up, they were gone. She saw a text from Lin Xiawan (actually written by Su Lin) saying they were waiting outside, and if she couldn¡¯t make it, they would head to the apartment. Zhao Yanyan decided to let Su Lin and Lin Xiawan go ahead while she dealt with Lin Tian. Lin Tian, seeing Zhao Yanyan texting, shook his head and approached a stall to buy the Yuan blue and white porcelain he had seen earlier, only to find it missing. ¡°Boss... where is that Yuan blue and white porcelain?¡± Lin Tian asked urgently. The shrewd stall owner recalled Lin Tian and responded, ¡°Young man, all of these are Yuan blue and white porcelains. Just pick any you like.¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about that one,¡± Lin Tian pointed to where the porcelain had been. ¡°Ah, that one? It¡¯s been sold,¡± the owner replied. He was secretly pleased, as he had sold the somewhat old-looking porcelain with a yellowing mouth to Su Lin for 3,000 yuan without haggling. He thought Su Lin was just a spendthrift young master. ¡°Sold... How much did you sell it for?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t disclose that, it¡¯s against the rules,¡± the owner said cautiously. ¡°My Yuan blue and white porcelain, you actually sold it...¡± ¡°Are you buying or not? If you want Yuan blue and white porcelain, this whole stall is full of them. Stop bothering me, it¡¯s bad for business,¡± the owner said dismissively. Lin Tian, realizing he missed his opportunity, felt his heart bleed. He knew many ways to get rich, but the first pot of gold from the Yuan blue and white porcelain was a tempting shortcut. ¡°Lin Tian, didn¡¯t you say you were going to buy something? Where is your purchase?¡± Zhao Yanyan looked at Lin Tian with an unfriendly expression, feeling she had been wronged. She thought Lin Tian really came to shop, but he returned empty-handed after a few words at a stall. Frustrated, Zhao Yanyan felt like Lin Tian had played her for a fool. Lin Tian, realizing if it weren¡¯t for her, he would have been able to buy the Yuan blue and white porcelain. ¡°No more words? Not going to explain?¡± she demanded. [Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully intercepting the protagonist¡¯s first pot of gold. Lin Tian¡¯s luck has been reduced by one-tenth. The host has received one chance to draw from the Emperor¡¯s Treasure Box.]. ¡°But I¡¯ve already told them I¡¯m in Donghai.¡± ¡°Then say that work in Donghai requires your attention. Your dad already knows you¡¯re working at Yulin Company and managing the supermarket with me. Use that as an excuse, they won¡¯t have much to say.¡± Su Lin chuckled. Lin Xiawan rolled her eyes at him: ¡°Every time there¡¯s something like this, your mind always works the fastest.¡± ¡°Hehe, Xiawan, I just don¡¯t want to be separated from you.¡± As he spoke, Su Lin sat on the bed, hugging Lin Xiawan¡¯s thighs. ¡°Umm~!! What if they don¡¯t let me go out later?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, father-in-law will let you out.¡± ¡°Do you have a way?¡± Su Lin nodded: ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s agree, just for tonight, and tomorrow... tomorrow I really need to go to my aunt¡¯s,¡± Lin Xiawan tried to convince Su Lin. Su Lin chuckled: ¡°If you¡¯re already staying over, why go to your aunt¡¯s? Isn¡¯t my bed warm enough?¡± ¡°Warm? It¡¯s so hot, it¡¯s practically boiling.¡± ¡°Hehe...¡± With a swift pull, Lin Xiawan found herself sitting on his lap: ¡°Xiaowan... I¡¯m a bit tired, help me with a massage?¡± ¡°Okay... you go lie down on the bed.¡± ¡°OK.¡± In the time it took Lin Xiaowan to wash her hands, Su Lin was already lying shirtless on the bed. ¡°Su Lin, could you be any faster at changing clothes?¡± ¡°Hehe, you know my real talent isn¡¯t changing clothes,¡± Su Lin said with a laugh. ¡°Hmph... that¡¯s not a talent, it¡¯s a bad habit!!!¡± Chapter 108 Chapter 108: Little Vixen Zhao Yanyan or Lin Xiaowan? The next day, Zhao Yanyan stepped out and finally didn¡¯t see Lin Tian¡¯s figure. She let out a sigh of relief. She was really fed up with Lin Tian¡¯s antics, as he had completely lost all credibility with her. ¡°Whether it¡¯s for a day or three, I can finally have some peace. I hope he never bothers me again.¡± With that thought, Zhao Yanyan headed towards the bus stop outside the complex, planning to find Su Lin: ¡°Going this early, I wonder if Su Lin is up. With Xiaowan visiting relatives, it¡¯ll just be Su Lin and me...¡± Thinking of Lin Xiaowan and Su Lin, Zhao Yanyan felt envious. Although she hadn¡¯t interacted much with Su Lin, she was impressed by this handsome man. Unfortunately, Su Lin was already with Lin Xiaowan, leaving no hope for her. ¡°Zhao Yanyan, he¡¯s already taken, and by your close friend. Stop thinking about it, or you¡¯ll be no different from those bad women in TV dramas.¡± Gathering her emotions, Zhao Yanyan arrived at the apartment she had booked for Su Lin. She headed to Su Lin¡¯s door and checked the time ¨C it was already past nine: ¡°At this time, Su Lin should be up. He doesn¡¯t seem like the type to sleep in.¡± With that, she knocked on the door lightly. Inside, Lin Xiaowan, fresh from her shower, heard the knock and asked, ¡°Who is it~!!¡± Zhao Yanyan didn¡¯t recognize the hoarse voice, and wondered why a woman was answering in Su Lin¡¯s apartment. She stepped back to check the room number: ¡°This is 601. Why is a woman answering?¡± Muttering to herself, a surge of anger rose within her. Su Lin¡¯s girlfriend was Lin Xiaowan, but that voice definitely wasn¡¯t hers. Lin Xiaowan¡¯s voice was melodious like a lark, but the voice inside was hoarse. Zhao Yanyan concluded that Su Lin must have brought another woman home. Furious, she decided to catch them in the act and expose Su Lin¡¯s true nature to protect Lin Xiaowan. Deep down, she felt a pang of jealousy ¨C Su Lin was the first man who had ever made her heart flutter, but here he was, betraying Lin Xiaowan. ¡°Who is it so early in the morning?¡± Lin Xiaowan peeked through the peephole but saw nothing. With Su Lin there, she felt safe. Opening the door, she stood face-to-face with Zhao Yanyan. Zhao Yanyan couldn¡¯t believe it was Lin Xiaowan inside, wrapped in a towel with a few hickies visible on her neck. The scene made it obvious what had transpired, even without witnessing it firsthand. Zhao Yanyan, taken aback, stammered, ¡°Xi... Xiaowan, what are you doing here?¡± Lin Xiaowan, feeling shy and unsure how to respond, struggled to find the words. ¡°I...¡± ¡°Yuck! What¡¯s this smell? It¡¯s so stinky. Xiaowan, don¡¯t you ventilate the room?¡± Zhao Yanyan commented, pinching her nose. Lin Xiaowan had previously thought of Zhao Yanyan as an experienced theorist, but now realized Zhao Yanyan was just as clueless and bashful. ¡°You haven¡¯t answered me yet,¡± Zhao Yanyan insisted, stomping her foot in frustration. Lin Xiaowan glanced at Su Lin, who was still by the window, seemingly uninterested in their conversation. She nodded slightly, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what happened.¡± ¡°Xiaowan, how did it feel?¡± Zhao Yanyan asked curiously, her gaze drifting back to Su Lin, who she had clearly observed earlier. ¡°Yanyan, are you really interested in Su Lin¡¯s abs? Want to touch them?¡± Lin Xiaowan teased, smiling. ¡°Ah! Can I... Xiaowan, can I really?¡± Zhao Yanyan asked excitedly. ¡°You... Yanyan, you¡¯re really a hopeless case. It¡¯s just muscles, what¡¯s so special about them?¡± Lin Xiaowan didn¡¯t understand the fuss. But she had forgotten how she herself couldn¡¯t resist touching Su Lin¡¯s abs when she first discovered them. She was no better than Zhao Yanyan back then. ¡°Cough, cough... I can¡¯t compare with you, Xiaowan. You¡¯re the real enthusiast here. I mean, who else would open the door like that? And what happened to your voice? Why is it so hoarse?¡± ¡°Uh... I caught a cold yesterday, it should be back to normal by noon,¡± Lin Xiaowan said, avoiding eye contact. Zhao Yanyan instinctively felt something was off about this explanation, as Lin Xiaowan looked like she was lying. But seeing Lin Xiaowan¡¯s reluctance to elaborate, Zhao Yanyan didn¡¯t press further. ¡°Alright, then make sure to cover up well. Su Lin won¡¯t steal the blankets, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible, Su Lin would never do that.¡± Every morning, Lin Xiaowan found herself cuddling Su Lin, her hands tightly wrapped around him. There was no way she¡¯d miss out on the blankets. ¡°Alright... It¡¯s different being nourished by love, huh? No wonder they say your skin gets better. How come your skin is so nice?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t tell you. I¡¯ll leave you here for a bit, I need to freshen up.¡± After saying this, Lin Xiaowan headed straight for the bathroom, leaving Zhao Yanyan somewhat uneasy as she glanced at Su Lin, her eyes darting occasionally. Su Lin speechless by her actions, ¡®Why sneak peeks like a thief? Just look if you want to.¡¯ Chapter 109: Don’t Think That My Pampering Allows You to Do as You Please Chapter 109: Don¡¯t Think That My Pampering Allows You to Do as You Please Zhao Yanyan met Su Lin¡¯s gaze and subconsciously looked to the side, her eyes dodging and flickering. Su Lin, as someone who had been through similar experiences, understood this kind of look all too well. However, worried that he might be falling for one of life¡¯s three major delusions, Su Lin cast a probing spell on Zhao Yanyan. [Zhao Yanyan: 18 years old, 175cm, 52kg, current fondness level (66 and rising).]. Secretly harboring feelings? How thrilling! To say Su Lin, as an Isp, had no interest in Zhao Yanyan¡¯s legs would definitely be a lie. He had been prepared ever since he realized he was the villain. Encountering various types of beauties ¨C the tsundere heiresses, little witches, cute big-breasted girls, and so on. Therefore, Su Lin was very particular about his choice in women, adhering to the principle of quality over quantity. He definitely wouldn¡¯t want someone with character flaws. And Zhao Yanyan was someone Su Lin genuinely liked ¨C her enthusiastic and generous personality, her stunning figure, and most importantly, those long legs that even international leg models couldn¡¯t match were what Su Lin liked the most. ¡°Yanyan, you sit first, I need to wash up too. I didn¡¯t expect you to come over so early today,¡± Su Lin cheerfully said. Zhao Yanyan wanted to say it wasn¡¯t early anymore, it was already past nine, almost ten. But since Su Lin was the boss, she walked over to a chair and sat down, a bit embarrassed, ¡°Su Lin, I didn¡¯t expect Xiaowan to be with you, so I rented a single apartment. ¡°If you had told me earlier, I definitely wouldn¡¯t have rented such a small one. Now it feels a bit cramped for three people. Should I go down to the front desk and ask for a bigger room?¡± Su Lin shook his head: ¡°No need, I¡¯ve already had someone look at houses near Donghai University. As soon as we find a suitable one, we will buy it immediately. Plus, this place is quite nice. Xiaowan and I don¡¯t feel cramped living here.¡± Zhao Yanyan pouted. When Lin Xiaowan said these words, she would still feel shy, but Su Lin was different, looking completely unbothered. However, thinking of their couple relationship, she felt she was overthinking and worrying unnecessarily. ¡°Alright, if you¡¯re comfortable here, that¡¯s good.¡± ¡°Mm~!!¡± As they were talking, Lin Xiaowan came out of the bathroom, still wrapped in a bath towel, looking incredibly delicate and beautiful. Especially her skin tone, fair with a hint of blush, made her look like a polished red apple, tempting enough to take a bite. ¡°Su Lin, I¡¯m done. Your turn,¡± she said. Su Lin nodded and then entered the bathroom. ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s all your own doing. Now it¡¯s too late to be hungry.¡± ¡°By the way, Su Lin, you said this Blue and white porcelain is real, but I¡¯m still a bit worried. Why don¡¯t we go get it appraised?¡± Su Lin then noticed Zhao Yanyan carefully examining the vase. ¡°Heh~! Xiaowan, do you not trust my appraisal skills?¡± Lin Xiaowan shook her head, ¡°I trust your skills, but it¡¯s not enough if only I believe it.¡± Su Lin caught a glimpse of understanding in Zhao Yanyan¡¯s eyes. She must be suspecting it¡¯s a fake. Having had limited interaction with him, Zhao Yanyan would naturally be more objective in her assessment. He thought for a moment and said, ¡°Alright, we don¡¯t have much else to do in Donghai anyway, so let¡¯s visit Cangbaozhai this afternoon for an appraisal. Although an expert¡¯s certificate isn¡¯t very useful, it helps avoid many unnecessary issues.¡± ¡°Mm-hmm~!!¡± Zhao Yanyan, seeing Su Lin¡¯s relaxed and easy-going manner, asked curiously, ¡°Su Lin, can you tell us why you¡¯re sure it¡¯s genuine? What¡¯s your basis?¡± Su Lin raised an eyebrow, ¡°Yanyan, I can tell you, but are you sure you¡¯ll understand?¡± ¡°Uh... I probably... won¡¯t understand, but I can still listen, right?¡± Zhao Yanyan chuckled nervously. Su Lin shrugged, ¡°They at Cangbaozhai will explain to you how to identify it. They¡¯re the professionals.¡± ¡°Okay then.¡± Zhao Yanyan was somewhat disappointed not to get the answer she wanted, but she realized that asking Su Lin such a question might have been a bit much considering they weren¡¯t close. This knowledge might be Su Lin¡¯s unique skill, and by telling her, she could start finding bargains herself, essentially stealing someone else¡¯s livelihood. Zhao Yanyan silently chastised herself for her lack of thoughtfulness. Su Lin, unaware of the extent of a woman¡¯s inner thoughts, touched his stomach and then said, ¡°Xiaowan, since we¡¯re skipping breakfast, let¡¯s go for lunch. I¡¯m really hungry.¡± ¡°Hmph... remember this in the future, don¡¯t think that my pampering you means you can do as you please,¡± Lin Xiaowan said with a tsundere attitude. Su Lin laughed heartily, ¡°Xiaowan, I¡¯ll remember, definitely will remember!¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Let¡¯s go, it¡¯s time for lunch.¡± Chapter 110 Chapter 110: Are Today¡¯s Young People All This Bold? After lunch, Su Lin drove to the Cangbaozhai~!! Cangbaozhai was located in the Nangate High-Tech Development Zone of Donghai, but its architecture was strikingly different from that of the development zone. While the development zone was filled with high-rise office buildings and residential apartments, the Cangbaozhai was a classic, antique-style mansion typical of the Jiangnan region. The building was a classic Qing Dynasty attic-style structure with five floors. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the owner of Cangbaozhai is quite formidable, with branches all over the country, even in the Imperial Capital and Xiangjiang.¡± ¡°Oh? Is the owner of Cangbaozhai from Donghai or the Imperial Capital?¡± Su Lin curiously asked. In the world of novels, such mysterious and powerful places usually have some connection with the protagonist. Su Lin¡¯s brain worked rapidly, such an impressive background couldn¡¯t be simple. ¡°He¡¯s from Donghai, but he should be in the Imperial Capital now. His surname is Qin, but I don¡¯t know his first name. My dad should know,¡± Zhao Yanyan replied. ¡°Oh? That¡¯s mysterious, quite interesting.¡± ¡°They have a rule here for authenticating items.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rule?¡± ¡°If an item is appraised as a fake, they will destroy it on the spot. However, they compensate for it at the purchase price. For example, if you bought the Yuan Qinghua for three thousand, and they identify it as fake, they¡¯ll smash it and then reimburse you the three thousand,¡± Zhao Yanyan explained. ¡°Oh? I¡¯m familiar with this tactic. Hasn¡¯t anyone tried to scam them? Like buying a fake at a high price deliberately and then getting it appraised to trick them out of their money?¡± ¡°Hehe, there certainly were such people in the early days, but they¡¯ve all disappeared. Su Lin, you know what I mean,¡± Zhao Yanyan said with a smile. Su Lin nodded. With such a background, if someone scammed them, it would be embarrassing, so there would definitely be repercussions. ¡°Yanyan, you know quite a lot. I didn¡¯t expect Donghai to have such a formidable place,¡± Lin Xiaowan said, though her expression didn¡¯t change much. Su Lin knew Lin Xiaowan¡¯s background was connected with the Imperial Capital; her grandparents and an incumbent official were from there. Otherwise, Lin Guoqiang wouldn¡¯t have become the mayor at such a young age. ¡°Hehe, these are well-known facts in Donghai. I mentioned it just to prepare you in case it gets smashed,¡± Zhao Yanyan said, looking at Su Lin. Su Lin chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t get smashed.¡± ¡°Yanyan, you didn¡¯t see Lin Tian today, did you?¡± ¡°You dare to say?¡± ¡°Once the money is in place and my task is done, I¡¯ll tell you right away,¡± Lin Tian said coolly. ¡°Okay~! One million, right? I¡¯ll give you two million. Tell me the names of the two people you want to look into, and I¡¯ll have an answer for you tonight,¡± Luo Sihai said, regaining his composure. Although he had invested a lot in that Beihai plot, getting caught in the trap, he didn¡¯t mind. He just wanted to know who was behind it and why they set up such a large scheme. As for trusting Lin Tian, he didn¡¯t have many doubts, because Lin Tian was right about one thing ¨C as long as he was in Donghai, he couldn¡¯t escape his sight. Especially since he was here for money. Watching Lin Tian¡¯s indifferent demeanor, Luo Sihai felt a bit regretful. This was a truly exceptional person. If he worked for him, Luo Sihai was confident his business would reach new heights. He never doubted his judgment of people. ¡°Alright~! The two people I want to look into are Su Zhenguo, the boss of Su¡¯s Construction Group, and his son, Su Lin.¡± ¡°Hmm~!¡± Luo Sihai¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at Lin Tian, trying to read something from his expression, but in the end, he saw nothing. Is this really a twenty-year-old kid? Luo Sihai felt Lin Tian was quite extraordinary. His own son was in his twenties too, but compared to Lin Tian, he seemed like an infant. ¡°Su Zhenguo, Su Lin? Do you have a grudge against them?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not something you need to worry about, Boss Luo,¡± Lin Tian said lightly. He was more interested in having Luo Sihai help investigate his father¡¯s death, but he knew he hadn¡¯t shown enough value yet. So, he needed to take it step by step, first impress Luo Sihai, then reveal his worth. Bringing up the Beihai Development Zone matter was crucial. How could a twenty-year-old have such information? There must be someone behind him. This would surely lead Luo Sihai to investigate Lin Tian, and in the process, find out about his father¡¯s death. By then, even if Luo Sihai realized he was being used, he wouldn¡¯t say anything, as by that time, Lin Tian would have become a much sought-after figure. ¡°Okay, Su Zhenguo, Su Lin, right? Honestly, I¡¯m quite curious about this Su Zhenguo myself. Go back and wait for my message, I¡¯ll definitely have an answer for you by tomorrow evening.¡± ¡°Then I thank you in advance, Boss Luo. And I suppose you¡¯ll know my identity when you go back, so remember to bring the money.¡± ¡°Smart kid, rest assured, as soon as I verify your information, the money will be delivered immediately.¡± ¡°Hehe, then you better hurry up and confirm it. I won¡¯t keep you from making your fortune any longer.¡± Watching the direction Lin Tian left in, Luo Sihai took out his phone and made a call, instructing someone to follow Lin Tian and investigate his identity. He squinted his eyes, ¡°If it¡¯s true, who could be behind such a huge scheme? Spending billions on land just to trap my capital, what do they want to achieve?¡± ¡°And where did this Lin Tian come from? Interesting, it seems Donghai is about to get lively.¡± Chapter 111: Its Real, Zhao Yanyans Shock Chapter 111: It''s Real, Zhao Yanyan''s Shock To Su Lin''s surprise, upon entering Cangbaozhai, there was no system prompt, meaning neither a female lead nor a protagonist was present to trigger any plotline. They were led by an attendant to the third floor. ¡°Mr. Su, Miss Lin, Miss Zhao, the third floor is dedicated to porcelain appraisal. Please wait a moment; the expert will be here shortly.¡± ¡°Okay, we''ll wait here.¡± The attendant nodded and then left. Su Lin casually observed the surroundings, impressed. The items displayed in the cabinets were all authentic, and although they were not blue-and-white or imperial porcelains, they were genuine official kiln products. Each of these could sell for tens to hundreds of thousands. The wall alone was probably worth millions. These were just the items on display; what about the hidden treasures? Su Lin had always known that antique dealing was lucrative but had not realized it was this profitable. After a few minutes, a white-bearded old man emerged, carrying a small box and a barely-there smile. ¡°Who among you is here for the antique appraisal?¡± Su Lin took the blue and white porcelain from Lin Xiaowan''s hand, ¡°I want it appraised for certification.¡± ¡°Heh! Getting a certificate from our Treasure Trove Pavilion isn''t easy. The treasure must not only be genuine, but its provenance must also be legitimate.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course.¡± The old man''s gaze finally landed on the blue and white porcelain in Su Lin''s hand, and his brows quickly furrowed, ¡°Young man, you want this appraised?¡± Su Lin casually handed it over, ¡°Yes, this one.¡± Zhao Yanyan expressed her concern to Lin Xiaowan, ¡°I feel something off about the old man''s expression. Could it be that Su Lin''s piece is actually a fake?¡± Given the strict rules here, if Su Lin¡¯s blue and white porcelain was fake and got smashed downstairs, it would be quite a spectacle. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but let¡¯s see. I trust Su Lin,¡± Lin Xiaowan replied with a smile. Zhao Yanyan nodded and joined Lin Xiaowan to get a closer look. The old man turned to Su Lin, frowning, ¡°You¡¯re just holding this blue and white porcelain like that?¡± Su Lin shrugged, ¡°How else?¡± ¡°This is outrageous! Such blue and white porcelain must be stored in a professional box to prevent oxidation, and hands should not touch it directly. But, explaining this to you is pointless~.¡± After venting, the old man opened his box, took out a magnifying glass, and white gloves. He put on the gloves and carefully examined the blue and white porcelain. ¡°Beautiful, truly beautiful.¡± ¡°Two hundred million~!! I offer two hundred million.¡± Su Lin held the blue and white porcelain in one hand and turned to Lin Xiaowan, ¡°Xiaowan, we should leave.¡± Lin Xiaowan and Zhao Yanyan, still stunned, took a moment to react to Su Lin¡¯s words. ¡°Ah~! Okay...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. This vase is genuine, right?¡± Su Lin raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yeah, Su Lin, how did you know?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. Come to my room tonight, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Su Lin chuckled. Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes at him, having fallen for it once, she wouldn¡¯t again. As Su Lin was about to leave, the old man stopped him, handed him a business card, and said to contact him anytime if he decided to sell. Su Lin accepted the card with a smile, feeling that the Cangbaozhai was too mysterious and might be a frequent point of contact in the future, so it was good to build a rapport. Only after leaving the did Zhao Yanyan suddenly exclaim, ¡°Two hundred million, two hundred million!!!¡± ¡°What¡¯s with her?¡± Su Lin asked, puzzled. ¡°Uh... probably just processing it now,¡± Lin Xiaowan answered. As if confirming Lin Xiaowan¡¯s words, Zhao Yanyan grabbed her, exclaiming, ¡°Xiaowan, two hundred million! It¡¯s... it¡¯s... real and so valuable.¡± Lin Xiaowan laughed, ¡°Now you believe me, right? Su Lin wouldn¡¯t say it¡¯s real without reason. I don¡¯t know his basis, but it doesn¡¯t stop me from believing in him.¡± ¡°Amazing, bought for three thousand and could sell for two hundred million. Su Lin, with such keen eyesight, why even bother running a supermarket? Just treasure hunting would do.¡± Su Lin responded, somewhat speechless, ¡°Zhao Yanyan, what are you talking about? Do you think finding bargains is like picking cabbages, available everywhere? Opportunities like this come maybe once in several years, or even decades. I just got lucky.¡± Lucky? Zhao Yanyan didn¡¯t think it was just luck. Su Lin¡¯s firm belief that it was genuine showed his discernment, a sign of his strength. Why did it end up with Su Lin, discovered among countless fakes? Zhao Yanyan tried to calm her emotions, stealing glances at Su Lin, who was casually chatting with Lin Xiaowan. Holding an item worth two hundred million and not batting an eyelid, such composure was indeed rare. Chapter 112 Chapter 112: Again, One Hand Leading Another! Watching Su Lin casually holding the blue and white porcelain, sometimes even swinging it around, Zhao Yanyan was extremely nervous, afraid that Su Lin might accidentally drop it. The shock Su Lin brought her today was simply too immense. She glanced at Lin Xiaowan, who blindly trusted Su Lin and turned out to be right. What did this signify? With this thought, Zhao Yanyan felt a tinge of melancholy again. ¡°Su Lin, where are we heading next?¡± she asked. Su Lin thought for a moment, ¡°Let¡¯s go check out Donghai University. We¡¯re planning to study there, so it¡¯s good to get familiar with the environment.¡± ¡°You and Su Lin are going to study at Donghai University?¡± Zhao Yanyan asked in surprise. Lin Xiaowan nodded, ¡°Yanyan, didn¡¯t I tell you before? The Yulin headquarters are moving to Donghai, so we¡¯ll definitely be studying here.¡± ¡°But your grades are more than enough for Tsinghua or Peking University.¡± ¡°Do I have to go to Tsinghua or Peking just because my grades qualify?¡± Su Lin said indifferently. ¡°Yanyan, your thinking is too narrow. Sure, Tsinghua and Peking are impressive, but what about other 985 and 211 universities? Many of them have top-tier programs. When choosing a university, you should first select the major and then the school. By the way, where are you going?¡± (TL: 985 and 211 are just list of university in China. You all can search it up on google too much information about it I cant explain here.) Zhao Yanyan smiled, ¡°I¡¯m also going to Donghai University.¡± ¡°Ah~! After all that, you¡¯re also going to Donghai University,¡± Su Lin laughed. ¡°But it¡¯s good. We¡¯ll be schoolmates.¡± ¡°Yeah, hehe...¡± Su Lin looked at Zhao Yanyan and Lin Xiaowan, confident that once school started, these two would definitely become notable figures at Donghai University. And there¡¯s also Xia Shiyu. Although she might not have Lin Xiaowan¡¯s figure or Zhao Yanyan¡¯s long legs, she has the sweet, pure desire look that makes people want to protect or tease her. ¡°Let¡¯s go, off to Donghai University.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s head out!¡± ... ¡°Familiar? Now that you mention it, I think he does too.¡± Unaware that his interview had already gone viral online, Su Lin was oblivious to the fact that university students, unlike high school seniors preparing for exams, were regularly online and likely aware of his deeds. ¡°Su Lin, are all these university students this idle? They¡¯ve been staring at us for over ten minutes,¡± Lin Xiaowan said, somewhat disappointed. Su Lin replied with a smile, ¡°Donghai University is one of the top comprehensive universities in the country. They¡¯re just curious about us. I bet they¡¯re usually hard at work studying. But today, the allure of you and Yanyan has stirred their hearts.¡± ¡°Heh, in the end, they¡¯re just lecherous, just like you.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey Xiaowan, say what you want about them, but why drag me into it? I¡¯m not like them,¡± Su Lin said proudly. ¡°It¡¯s the same in your bones,¡± Lin Xiaowan retorted, implying that Su Lin¡¯s mind was filled with all sorts of messy thoughts, especially in certain areas where he was exceptionally talented. The trio didn¡¯t realize the stir their appearance at Donghai University was causing. Soon, word of their presence spread across the campus. Many people came to see the beautiful girls and the handsome guy ¨C both men and women. When it comes to attraction, both genders are similar; they are creatures that appreciate beauty. Su Lin, standing tall at 1.85 meters, with a handsome and slightly mischievous smile, epitomized ¡®rogue charm.¡¯ Many girls who preferred the quiet and reserved type found him irresistible, and some even began to inquire about his information. Unfortunately, they were soon disappointed to find no one knew them. Su Lin sensed something was off as people gathered around. He quickly took the girls¡¯ hands and led them away, ¡°Yanyan, Xiaowan, there are too many people here. Let¡¯s leave.¡± Lin Xiaowan ran alongside Su Lin, instinctively covering her chest to prevent the boys from seeing any embarrassing bounce as she ran. Meanwhile, Zhao Yanyan was experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. Su Lin was holding her hand. Although she had held hands with classmates as a child, after a sudden growth spurt in junior high, she became aware of the differences between boys and girls. Since then, she hadn¡¯t allowed a boy to even touch her, let alone hold her hand. Running while being led by Su Lin, her heart was racing, especially since she harbored a sliver of hope for Su Lin ¨C what if he and Lin Xiaowan broke up? The usually bold and enthusiastic Zhao Yanyan blushed at this moment. The students of Donghai University watched as Su Lin, holding a girl in each hand, entered a small grove within the campus. ¡°Damn... isn¡¯t this unfair? One hand holding each, and both girls are so beautiful.¡± ¡°In terms of beauty, only our ¡®Goddess Qin¡¯ at Donghai can compare.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so envious. Those legs on that girl are so long. I¡¯ve always been a leg man.¡± ¡°I used to think I liked flat chests, but from today onwards, I¡¯m all for big breasts. I will always stand with justice!!!¡± Chapter 113: The Most Audacious One is You Chapter 113: The Most Audacious One is You As the trio walked into the garden of Donghai University, the surroundings became much quieter, and they no longer attracted crowds of onlookers. Su Lin was relieved; had they been at some other college, he reckoned people would have already asked for his social media handles. ¡°These university girls haven¡¯t seen men before or what? So annoying, constantly staring at Su Lin,¡± Lin Xiaowan complained with a pout. ¡°Uh... Xiaowan, it seems like more guys are looking at you,¡± Su Lin remarked, amused. ¡°Hmph! Those guys are the same. I¡¯m beginning to regret choosing Donghai University,¡± Lin Xiaowan voiced, aware of Su Lin¡¯s allure. His presence was bound to attract a swarm of girls, like Zhao Yanyan, who Lin Xiaowan noticed had an unusual look in her eyes when gazing at Su Lin. Lin Xiaowan turned to Zhao Yanyan and noticed that her hand was holding Su Lin¡¯s, which frustrated her. Choosing such an outstanding man had its downsides. ¡°Don¡¯t worry so much about it, Xiaowan. They¡¯re just looking, and that¡¯s it. You¡¯re so beautiful that it would be the same at any university.¡± ¡°The difference is that students at top universities like Tsinghua or Peking might say they want to watch the sunrise with you, while those at other colleges might be more direct about their intentions,¡± Su Lin tried to console her. Zhao Yanyan chuckled, ¡°Su Lin, you¡¯re terrible. What would you say, then?¡± Su Lin thought for a moment, ¡°Me? I¡¯d probably say, ¡®Don¡¯t bother, there are too many girls who like me, I can¡¯t keep up with all of them.¡¯¡± Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaowan clenched her fists in irritation. Su Lin¡¯s words made sense, and Zhao Yanyan was the perfect example. ¡°Ouch! Xiaowan, why did you kick me? That hurts, you know?¡± Su Lin winced. ¡°Stop it. I¡¯m wearing canvas shoes, and your bones are as hard as iron. How could my kick hurt you?¡± Lin Xiaowan retorted disdainfully, knowing all too well about Su Lin¡¯s extraordinary physical resilience. As Su Lin was about to say something, Zhao Yanyan tugged at his hand, and he cleared his throat, ¡°Ahem, we were just running, didn¡¯t notice...¡± Su Zhenguo: Male, 42 years old, 175cm tall, 68kg, from Jiangning, Zhongjiang. Chairman of Su¡¯s Construction Group... Lin Yourong¡¯s death certificate: Male, 44 years old... Died in a car accident at 3:22 PM on June 10, 2002. The accident was ruled as accidental!! ¡°How could it be an accident? Impossible, how could it be an accident?¡± Lin Tian was stunned by the autopsy report. Luo Sihai had extensive connections in Donghai, which was why Lin Tian approached him. He believed that nothing was flawless and that any action would leave traces. Yet now, he was doubting himself. On one hand, his instincts told him it was a premeditated murder, not an accident. On the other hand, both the police and Luo Sihai concluded it was an accident. ¡°Can such coincidences really exist in the world?¡± Lin Tian shook his head, ¡°No, eliminate all impossibilities, and whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. My instincts might be wrong, but can all these coincidences still be coincidental?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something off about Su Zhenguo and this Su Lin. I don¡¯t remember him running a chain of supermarkets in my past life, and now even Yanyan is working there.¡± Unbeknownst to Lin Tian, if Luo Sihai had investigated a bit later, he would have discovered the Yuan Qinghua, a detail that would have been truly chilling. Unfortunately, Luo Sihai acted too quickly and missed out on this significant piece of information. ¡°The more traceless it is, the deeper the waters are. Since I can¡¯t reach Su Zhenguo now, I¡¯ll start by taking some ¡®interest¡¯ from Su Lin. Running a supermarket? Ha, business is my forte¡± ¡°How should I deal with you, Su Lin? And Zhao Yanyan, such a ¡®good friend,¡¯ working for my enemy and unwilling to help me. I must make good use of this information.¡± Lin Tian, particularly intense in his approach, especially after his rebirth, had long lost the longing for women he had in his first love. Everyone, including himself, was a tool in his eyes. Zhao Yanyan was an excellent pawn. He felt that using her could catch Su Lin off guard and then join forces with Luo Sihai to strike at Su Zhenguo. ¡°No matter whether you were involved or not, you will all pay for my father¡¯s death.¡± Chapter 114: Father-in-law is Coming to Donghai to Fetch You Chapter 114: Father-in-law is Coming to Donghai to Fetch You Over the next few days, Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan visited almost every snack street and attraction in Donghai, leaving their footprints everywhere. Zhao Yanyan, meanwhile, was busy overseeing the renovation of the supermarket, having had her fill of ¡®watching the lovebirds¡¯. Focused on her career, she decided not to actively pursue Su Lin. However, Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan¡¯s blissful days were about to end as early one morning, Lin Xiaowan received a phone call. ¡°Who¡¯s calling so early, Xiaowan, didn¡¯t you switch off your phone?¡± Su Lin sleepily opened his eyes and gently nudged Lin Xiaowan. ¡°Stop it, hubby~! Let me sleep a bit more, I¡¯m so tired,¡± Lin Xiaowan protested, hitting Su Lin. ¡°Heh! Okay, I¡¯ll check who¡¯s calling.¡± Seeing the caller ID, Su Lin¡¯s expression changed, and he whispered to Lin Xiaowan, ¡°Honey, it¡¯s your dad.¡± Lin Xiaowan¡¯s sleepiness vanished as she opened her eyes, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Your dad. Here~!!¡± Lin Xiaowan gestured for Su Lin to be quiet and answered the call.Ge?t latest novel chapters on nov(e)lbj/n(.)c/om ¡°Lin Xiaowan~!~!¡± Lin Guoqiang¡¯s booming voice came from the phone, startling her, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°How can you ask what¡¯s wrong? I sent you to Donghai to visit your aunt. Where is she?¡± ¡°Uh... Dad, I didn¡¯t go to Auntie¡¯s place,¡± Lin Xiaowan honestly replied. ¡°Then where are you now? You¡¯ve been in Donghai for a week, staying out for so long. Are you still my daughter?¡± Lin Guoqiang sounded frustrated. He didn¡¯t realize that Lin Xiaowan had grown beyond his control and was no longer obedient. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m at the Donghai branch of Quan Le Gou, busy with work these days,¡± Lin Xiaowan answered. ¡°Quan Le Qou has expanded to Donghai?¡± Lin Guoqiang was surprised. ¡°Yeah, Dad, you might not know, but this month we opened six branches in Zhongjiang and one in Donghai.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t Su Lin know the phrase ¡®steady and sure¡¯? Opening seven stores at once, isn¡¯t he afraid of overextending? And you¡¯re just following him in this recklessness,¡± Lin Guoqiang said angrily. ¡°Uh... Su Lin has his plans, Dad. You¡¯re just too conservative,¡± Lin Xiaowan argued. ¡°Do I need you to teach me? Su Lin is walking on a tightrope. One mistake could cost him everything. But he has his father to back him up, so I guess there¡¯s no need to worry.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for you for a week.¡± Then she clung to Su Lin: ¡°Su Lin, let¡¯s not go anywhere today.¡± Su Lin understood immediately and pulled the blanket over them. ... The next morning, Su Lin drove Lin Xiaowan back to Zhongjiang, which moved her. However, her mood soured upon learning Su Lin was planning to bring Xia Shiyu to Donghai for a few days. ¡°Su Lin... you...¡± ¡°Xiaowan, it¡¯s not my fault. Remember what you and Xia Shiyu agreed on? We can¡¯t favor one over the other. I can¡¯t just take you to Donghai and not her,¡± Su Lin said with a wry smile. Lin Xiaowan remembered her promise to Xia Shiyu before they went to Donghai and sighed, ¡°You had this planned all along, didn¡¯t you? Sending me back today wasn¡¯t the main reason; you mainly wanted to pick up Xiaoyu.¡± Su Lin protested: ¡°Xiaowan, you¡¯re misunderstanding me. I didn¡¯t think like that. It just occurred to me while picking you up to keep my promise...¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course, Xiaowan, why don¡¯t you stay and come to Donghai with me?¡± Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes: ¡°You just talk nonsense. Don¡¯t you think I don¡¯t understand?¡± ¡°Cough... cough...¡± Seeing Su Lin¡¯s embarrassed face, Lin Xiaowan laughed. His cautious attitude was a sign of caring for her. As for bringing Xia Shiyu, they were good friends, and she didn¡¯t mind that much. Lin Xiaowan had seen enough in the Imperial Capital to know that many powerful men had more than one woman. In this world, outstanding men always attracted many women. ¡°Su Lin~!!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°You must promise to think of me every day. Don¡¯t forget about me because of Xiaoyu,¡± Lin Xiaowan said somewhat plaintively. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, how could I forget my wife?¡± ¡°And stop staring at Yanyan¡¯s legs. So what if they¡¯re a bit longer than mine? Are they really that attractive?¡± ¡°Cough, Xiaowan¡¯s legs are naturally the most beautiful.¡± ¡°Hmph!! You do know how to talk.¡± She murmured under her breath as a smile broke out of her face. ¡°You just know how to make me happy.¡± Chapter 115: Transforming into a Time Management Master Chapter 115: Transforming into a Time Management Master Su Lin drove Lin Xiaowan to her family¡¯s residence, where they were met by Lin Guoqiang waiting at the gate. Su Lin commented with a wry expression, ¡°Your dad is really going all out to keep an eye on me, waiting right at the gate. Seems like he was really ready to come to Donghai if I hadn¡¯t brought you back by noon.¡± Lin Xiaowan, seeing her father, was somewhat amused and exasperated, ¡°Su Lin, don¡¯t hold it against my dad, that¡¯s just how he is. Actually, he¡¯s a good person.¡± ¡°Naive girl, of course he¡¯s good to you, he¡¯s your dad.¡± ¡°Hehe~! But you¡¯re my boyfriend, and eventually, he¡¯ll be your dad too, so he¡¯ll definitely be good to you,¡± Lin Xiaowan said with a smile. ¡°Ai~! I don¡¯t know how long he¡¯s going to keep you grounded this time. Xiaowan, remember to come find me when you have time, I¡¯ll miss you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely find a way to come out. My dad hardly has time to keep an eye on me,¡± Lin Xiaowan reassured, patting her chest confidently. ¡°Hey, you two should get out of the car now~!!¡± Lin Guoqiang¡¯s voice rang out. Su Lin, feeling somewhat helpless, commented, ¡°This old man really can¡¯t let go, even hurrying us along.¡± ¡°Pfft~! Don¡¯t talk about my dad like that.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I won¡¯t say it.¡± Su Lin leaned in and kissed Lin Xiaowan¡¯s forehead. Although she wanted to resist, considering her upcoming conversation with her father, she let Su Lin kiss her. Lin Guoqiang, witnessing the kiss, was furious and stormed over to bang on the car door. Su Lin, having already let go of Lin Xiaowan, rolled down the window, ¡°Uncle Lin, I¡¯ve brought Xiaowan back.¡± ¡°Go away, go away! I don¡¯t want to see you, go away~!!!¡± Watching Lin Guoqiang¡¯s infuriated reaction, Su Lin smiled, then signaled Lin Xiaowan to get out. She stepped out of the car and took her father¡¯s arm, ¡°Dad, why did you come back so early?¡± ¡°Hmph~! It¡¯s all because your aunt called me, worried since she hadn¡¯t seen you. I was so angry.¡± ¡°Hehe, Dad~! I¡¯m not a kid anymore, and with Su Lin around, I¡¯m safe,¡± Lin Xiaowan cooed. ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s precisely because that kid is around that I feel it¡¯s dangerous.¡± Thinking about their actions in the car, Lin Guoqiang¡¯s blood pressure rose again, ¡°Su Lin...¡± Su Lin waved, ¡°Uncle Lin, I¡¯m leaving now, goodbye!!¡± He knew trying to stop this was futile. Without Su Lin, there would be others. And with Lin Xiaowan and Su Lin together, he could still keep an eye on them, especially since Su Zhenguo had a decent relationship with him. Thinking about Su Zhenguo gave Lin Guoqiang a headache; the man was making more and more noise in Donghai. Lin Xiaowan, watching Lin Guoqiang¡¯s furrowed brow, knew he was likely thinking about work again, so she remained silent, just quietly accompanying him. Su Lin, after leaving the courtyard, immediately called Xia Shiyu. He felt he was gradually becoming a master of time management: ¡°Never thought I¡¯d become like Master Luo one day, but luckily I won¡¯t crash and burn.¡± Those who had been time management masters in their previous lives seldom avoided mishaps. Unlike them, Su Lin could see the affection levels. ¡°Hello, Su Lin, are you back?¡± Hearing Xia Shiyu¡¯s slightly excited voice, Su Lin smiled: ¡°Xiaoyu, how did you know I¡¯m back?¡± ¡°If you weren¡¯t back, you¡¯d be having lunch with Xiaowan now, not calling me.¡± Listening to Xia Shiyu¡¯s gentle voice, Su Lin relaxed: ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re so clever. Are you at the company or at home?¡± ¡°I¡¯m at the company right now, about to have lunch.¡± Su Lin sounded a bit upset: ¡°You¡¯re having lunch at the company? Are you eating boxed meals again?¡± ¡°I... um, yes... Su Lin, I¡¯ve been really busy lately, with six supermarkets opening, there¡¯s a lot to handle,¡± Xia Shiyu explained softly. ¡°No matter how busy you are, haven¡¯t I told you to prioritize meals and never eat boxed meals? They¡¯re unhealthy,¡± Su Lin said, both angry and worried. Xia Shiyu was working too hard, and he couldn¡¯t convince her otherwise. ¡°I know, Su Lin. I promise I won¡¯t eat boxed meals next time.¡± ¡°Hehe, you always admit your fault and then repeat it. Do you think I don¡¯t know?¡± Su Lin sighed, ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll rent another floor in the company and set up a canteen so everyone can eat there.¡± ¡°Ah! Su Lin, you don¡¯t have to do this.¡± ¡°Why not? It¡¯s not just for you, but for the whole company. Hand this task to Yangzi and have him sort it out within this month,¡± Su Lin said decisively. ¡°Alright~!!¡± ¡°Okay... wait for me at the company. Don¡¯t eat the boxed lunch. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± Chapter 116: Serious Bluffing Chapter 116: Serious Bluffing Su Lin drove to the company and found Xia Shiyu already waiting for him at the glass turnstile. As soon as she saw his car, a bright smile spread across her face, and she jogged over to him. Su Lin stood still, opened his arms for a big hug, and twirled Xia Shiyu around, ¡°Xiaoyu, it¡¯s only been a few days, and you¡¯ve already learned to throw yourself into my arms. Not bad, you¡¯re making progress.¡± ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m just really happy,¡± Xia Shiyu sweetly whispered in Su Lin¡¯s ear. ¡°Heh! Hungry? Let¡¯s go eat.¡± Su Lin was about to take Xia Shiyu to the car when she suggested, ¡°Su Lin, why don¡¯t we invite Chen Yang as well? He¡¯s also at the company.¡± Su Lin waved his hand dismissively, ¡°No need. We¡¯re a couple having a meal; why would we invite him? To watch us display affection? Besides, we¡¯re heading to Donghai after dinner.¡± ¡°Ah! Going to Donghai right after dinner? What are we going to do there?¡± Xia Shiyu asked, looking for an answer from Su Lin.Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only Su Lin ruffled her hair, ¡°I was overseeing things there with Xiaowan, but now that she¡¯s back, I need your help.¡± Su Lin didn¡¯t say he was taking Xia Shiyu there for fun. If he had mentioned it was for a trip, she would likely have expressed reluctance to go, especially with six store openings imminent. If not for something more important, she wouldn¡¯t have left. Sure enough, hearing that Donghai needed her help, Xia Shiyu became serious, ¡°Su Lin, does that mean there are more troublesome matters in Donghai?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°In a way, yes.¡± Thinking about Lin Tian, Su Lin felt somewhat helpless. The information from the system was too scant, leaving him feeling reactive rather than proactive. He couldn¡¯t predict what move his opponent might make next. ¡°That... then what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s head out now,¡± Xia Shiyu urged. Su Lin shook his head, ¡°Though it¡¯s urgent, we still need to eat. Remember, Xiaoyu, you have a punishment to face tonight~~.¡± ¡°Punishment?¡± ¡°Yep, for not eating properly, you¡¯ll face the family discipline tonight,¡± Su Lin said seriously. Xia Shiyu was stunned by Su Lin¡¯s demeanor. ¡°Family discipline...¡± ¡°Cough cough, you¡¯ll find out tonight. Let¡¯s go eat first.¡± After dining at a nearby restaurant, Su Lin drove quickly towards Donghai. On the way, he called Li Hongyang, ¡°Brother Yang, are you in Donghai?¡± Xia Shiyu affirmed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely help you. No one can defeat us.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such confidence from you, Xiaoyu.¡± She replied, ¡°I have confidence in you. If it¡¯s a fair game, I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll lose. I¡¯m just worried about the villain¡¯s extreme measures.¡± ¡°Xiaoyu, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s normal to have competitors.¡± ¡°But Su Lin, if it were an ordinary competitor, you wouldn¡¯t even bother. This one must be tough.¡± Reflecting, Su Lin thought of Lin Tian, a business tycoon reborn with all the tricks of the trade up his sleeve. ¡°Xiaoyu, what¡¯s our competitor¡¯s name?¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°The person on the surface might not be the real player, but it¡¯s fine as long as we know it¡¯s him.¡± Meanwhile, Lin Tian arrived at the Sihai Corporation office. ¡°Can I call you Xiaotian?¡± Lin Tian nodded, ¡°Sure, Uncle Luo. You¡¯re my elder.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve met your father a few times before. He even invited me over for tea once due to a development issue.¡± Lin Tian remained calm, smiling and waiting for Luo Sihai to continue. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about your father¡¯s incident. You should grieve properly.¡± Lin Tian smiled faintly without saying anything. In his heart, Lin Yourong had been dead for over twenty years. Luo Sihai, surprised by Lin Tian¡¯s lack of reaction, considered him quite a talent. ¡°Xiaotian, have you thought about working for me? I¡¯m serious about my offer. Any position in the group, except for the chairman, is yours for the choosing.¡± Lin Tian shook his head, ¡°Uncle Luo, you should know what I¡¯m aiming for. Let¡¯s not discuss this.¡± ¡°Ah... Su Zhenguo is not to be underestimated. He¡¯s planning Donghai¡¯s first commercial plaza, investing thirty billion in the initial phase alone.¡± ¡°The total project, including surrounding facilities, is no less than two hundred billion. He¡¯s even made a name for himself in the province. Competing with him might be difficult...¡± Lin Tian chuckled, ¡°Uncle, I know my own capabilities. I can¡¯t compete with Su Zhenguo, but I think I can take a shot at Su Lin.¡± Luo Sihai was momentarily stunned, then his interest piqued. Su Lin¡¯s supermarket was renowned throughout Donghai and Zhongjiang, prompting Su Zhenguo to develop a commercial plaza. Luo contemplated joining the fray, as it all spelled money. Chapter 117 Chapter 117: Long Leg Knocks on the Door Again, This Time It¡¯s Xia Shiyu Luo Sihai couldn¡¯t fathom why Lin Tian was going up against Su Lin, but knowing Lin Tian¡¯s awareness of the crucial secret of the underground river and his knowledge of the setup, Luo Sihai believed Lin Tian was far from simple, definitely not just any twenty-year-old. Similarly, Su Lin was equally outstanding. The same age as Lin Tian, he had managed to charm the mayor¡¯s daughter into working as his manager, as well as the daughter of the police chief of Donghai City. Either of these women could wield significant influence in Donghai. Su Lin had pulled both into his orbit. Looking at his own rise to success, Su Lin was no less impressive than Lin Tian. ¡°Interesting, very interesting. So, Lin Tian, how do you plan to compete with Su Lin?¡± Lin Tian, sensing the crucial moment in their conversation that could determine his ability to contend with Su Lin, spoke candidly: ¡°Uncle Luo, I came today to ask you for the arcade on Tai¡¯an Avenue. I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s been closed for a while. I want to take it over and open a supermarket.¡± Luo Sihai immediately grasped Lin Tian¡¯s plan upon hearing this. His arcade was directly opposite Su Lin¡¯s supermarket, and having two supermarkets within 200 meters of each other would be quite the showdown. ¡°Is that all?¡± Luo Sihai asked, surprised. Lin Tian chuckled, ¡°Of course not. The main point is, I want a part of your resources, those suppliers. I¡¯d like to go through you.¡± Understanding Lin Tian¡¯s intent, Luo Sihai saw that he was being asked to vouch for him. After all, why would suppliers trust an eighteen-year-old fresh graduate? ¡°Uncle, I don¡¯t need you to take action yourself. I just need to wave your flag, and I can handle the rest.¡± Luo Sihai admired Lin Tian more for this; it completely disassociated him from any potential trouble. If Lin Tian got into trouble later, Luo Sihai could simply deny any involvement. ¡°Alright, I agree. It¡¯ll be interesting to see who wins between you and Su Lin. He has significant advantages in capital, talent, and management. As for me, there¡¯s not much I can do to help. You can use the supermarket for free for a year. What you make of it is up to you.¡± Lin Tian was delighted with this unexpected boon. The money he saved in rent could fund many other ventures. ... Meanwhile, Su Lin brought Xia Shiyu to Donghai. Upon arriving at the apartment, Xia Shiyu was eager to check on the branch¡¯s financial status, but Su Lin firmly refused. Xia Shiyu shook her head, biting her lip, ¡°No, that¡¯s not possible!¡± ¡°Okay, okay. Xiaoyu, why don¡¯t you go take a shower? It¡¯s so hot today, you must be sweating.¡± ¡°Yeah, I definitely need to shower. I¡¯ve sweated a lot today; it¡¯s really hot.¡± And so, Xia Shiyu¡¯s first day in Donghai ended up being quite uneventful in the apartment. The next morning, Zhao Yanyan once again arrived at the apartment¡¯s door. She had just found out from Lin Xiaowan that she had returned to Zhongjiang the day before. Then, she ¡®accidentally¡¯ learned from Lin Tian that a supermarket was going to open right across from theirs. With the two supermarkets less than two hundred meters apart, it was clear that a showdown was imminent, throwing Zhao Yanyan¡¯s plans into disarray. She felt lost and uncertain about how to respond. Even with her capabilities, Zhao Yanyan was just a high school graduate without any special advantages. Her first thought was to consult Su Lin. After witnessing his capabilities, Zhao Yanyan, though not blindly trusting like Lin Xiaowan, still believed Su Lin could handle the situation. Hence, she showed up at the apartment early in the morning. Standing at the door, she took a deep breath, ¡°It¡¯s just meeting the boss. Zhao Yanyan, show some spirit. Don¡¯t look around, don¡¯t think wildly, don¡¯t act rashly.¡± She found Su Lin¡¯s allure too powerful; previously, the trio¡¯s interactions hadn¡¯t been an issue, but now the prospect of being alone with him made her nervous. Eventually calming her racing heart, she knocked on the door. Waking from her doze in Su Lin¡¯s arms to the sound of knocking, Xia Shiyu was puzzled, ¡°Who could it be this early?¡± Without much thought, Su Lin said, ¡°It¡¯s Zhao Yanyan. She always knocks like that. Xiaoyu, go open the door.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Xia Shiyu slipped on a short-sleeved shirt and a skirt, got out of bed, and walked to the door to open it. ¡°Su...¡± Seeing Xia Shiyu, Zhao Yanyan was left speechless. ¡°You, you, you...¡± Xia Shiyu, somewhat confused, looked at Zhao Yanyan, ¡°Zhao Manager?¡± ¡°I, I, I...¡± Chapter 118: Found Out Chapter 118: Found Out Zhao Yanyan recognized Xia Shiyu from their previous encounter in Zhongjiang, where they had shared a meal. She had thought Xia Shiyu was a shy and beautiful girl, noticing how little she spoke, especially around Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan. Zhao Yanyan had suspected something between Xia Shiyu and Su Lin, but after learning about Lin Xiaowan and Su Lin¡¯s official relationship, she dismissed the idea, considering Lin Xiaowan¡¯s character wouldn¡¯t allow for another woman in Su Lin¡¯s life. However, seeing Xia Shiyu at Su Lin¡¯s apartment with kiss marks on her neck was a shock, and Zhao Yanyan struggled to speak coherently.Fo?ll0w current novE?ls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m) After gathering herself, Zhao Yanyan finally managed to ask, ¡°I... I¡¯ve seen you before. You¡¯re Xia Shiyu, right?¡± Xia Shiyu smiled warmly and nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me. Are you here to see Su Lin?¡± Zhao Yanyan hesitated, then nodded, ¡°Yes, I have some business with him.¡± Zhao Yanyan felt a mix of anger and anticipation. She was upset that Su Lin seemed to be playing behind Lin Xiaowan¡¯s back, especially since he had just taken Lin Xiaowan back to Zhongjiang and then brought Xia Shiyu to Donghai. She secretly hoped Lin Xiaowan knew about this, which would give her a reason to become more involved with Su Lin. Seeing Xia Shiyu¡¯s innocent smile, Zhao Yanyan couldn¡¯t see her as a typical ¡®other woman¡¯. She also felt sympathetic towards Xia Shiyu, knowing some of her story from Lin Xiaowan. Quietly, Zhao Yanyan asked, ¡°What¡¯s your relationship with Su Lin?¡± Xia Shiyu blushed and admitted, ¡°He¡¯s my boyfriend.¡± ¡°And Lin Xiaowan?¡± Xia Shiyu hesitated before awkwardly admitting, ¡°She¡¯s also his girlfriend.¡± Zhao Yanyan was taken aback and curiously asked, ¡°Do you both know about each other?¡± Before Xia Shiyu could respond, Su Lin interrupted, cautioning Xia Shiyu not to be misled by Zhao Yanyan¡¯s prying. ¡°My turn for what?¡± Zhao Yanyan asked, puzzled. ¡°I showed you my abs, isn¡¯t it your turn to show me your legs?¡± Su Lin shamelessly suggested. ¡°I...¡± Zhao Yanyan suddenly felt an intense gaze fixed on her legs. ¡°I...¡± Seeing that Zhao Yanyan was at a loss, Xia Shiyu stepped forward, hugging Su Lin¡¯s arm and said to Zhao Yanyan, ¡°Yanyan, don¡¯t mind him. He¡¯s just like this, he¡¯s just trying to tease you.¡± ¡°Teasing me?¡± ¡°Yeah, Su Lin sometimes has this kind of wicked humor, especially when it comes to things like this. Don¡¯t pay him any attention, he doesn¡¯t have any bad intentions,¡± Xia Shiyu earnestly explained, trying to salvage Su Lin¡¯s dropped dignity. Su Lin, unable to help but laugh, rubbed Xia Shiyu¡¯s head: ¡°Xiaoyu, you¡¯re really naively adorable, haha. Who says I have no bad intentions? I really did want to enjoy her legs.¡± Xia Shiyu shook her head, ¡°Su Lin, you just love to joke like this, what if you scared Yanyan?¡± Su Lin shook his head; it was better not to dwell on this. In Xiaoyu¡¯s eyes, he was a paragon of virtue, never wrong, always right. Even when he was wrong, she believed he was right. It wasn¡¯t about blind love or lack of boundaries, but trust. She trusted Su Lin! Zhao Yanyan also couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Su Lin was already juggling two relationships, and Xia Shiyu still thought of him as a great guy without bad intentions. If only she knew how flirtatious her man was! ¡°Yanyan, why don¡¯t you wait downstairs for us? In twenty minutes, Xiaoyu and I will come down,¡± Su Lin said. Zhao Yanyan gave Su Lin a strange look and then nodded her head. Although she liked Su Lin and was ready to take the initiative, it was clear that now was not the right time. Chapter 119: The Rapid Progress of Xiao Shiyu Chapter 119: The Rapid Progress of Xiao Shiyu Xiao Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan, both naturally beautiful, didn¡¯t need much time for makeup. In less than twenty minutes, they came downstairs together. Zhao Yanyan, sitting in the rest area sipping tea, hurried over to Su Lin as soon as she saw him. As they walked, Su Lin said, ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s the matter that brought you here in such a hurry?¡± Zhao Yanyan was somewhat surprised at how quickly Su Lin had grasped the situation. ¡°Yesterday, I accidentally learned some news. Right across from our supermarket, a new one is about to open, no smaller in scale than ours.¡± Zhao Yanyan finished speaking and watched Su Lin¡¯s reaction, but his expression remained unchanged, not even a hint of disturbance. She was puzzled. Why didn¡¯t Su Lin show any reaction to this blatant challenge? Su Lin had already guessed that the person who ¡®accidentally¡¯ leaked the information to Zhao Yanyan must be Lin Tian. Although he wasn¡¯t sure how Lin Tian managed to accidentally reveal it to Zhao Yanyan, he was certain that Lin Tian was the source. This guy really overestimates himself. Relying on his more than twenty years of business experience, he looked down on Su Lin and others. In his view, Su Lin was just a lucky second-generation rich kid, perhaps somewhat capable, but compare to him? He was a genuine business elite. ¡°A supermarket, opening right opposite us? They¡¯re clearly challenging us,¡± Xiao Shiyu said with furrowed brows and a hint of anger. ¡°Exactly, Su Lin, how should we respond?¡± Zhao Yanyan asked. Instead of answering immediately, Su Lin turned to Xiao Shiyu, ¡°Xiao Shiyu, how do you think we should handle this situation?¡± Xiao Shiyu thought deeply. Su Lin didn¡¯t interrupt her thoughts, but motioned with his hand, and the three of them got into the car. It was only after they left the Qingnian apartment complex that Xiao Shiyu spoke, ¡°Su Lin, we can use the resources we have to set up barriers.¡± ¡°Tell me more about your specific plan.¡± ¡°Most of our dealers are wholesalers. They don¡¯t just dominate the channels in Zhongjiang but also have a considerable presence in Donghai. We can negotiate with them to make them choose ¨C either supply us or supply the enemy.¡±Re?Ad lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only According to the setting, she was now the villain¡¯s female lead. In the world of novels, male villains might not last long, but the female villains always do... ¡°Xiao Shiyu, how did you come up with so many ideas? I was quite at a loss when I first heard the news,¡± Zhao Yanyan asked admiringly. Xiao Shiyu chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Su Lin¡¯s teachings. He taught me a lot. Most of these are things he mentioned before, I just remembered them.¡± Su Lin wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead. Xiao Shiyu had a good memory, but he didn¡¯t always speak seriously; most of their conversations were lighthearted. Hopefully, she hadn¡¯t remembered everything. When they arrived at the supermarket, they indeed saw the building opposite being renovated. ¡°Lin Tian is really quick, he has already started his move.¡± ¡°Their action is so fast. There was no news, and they¡¯ve already begun renovations today.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Indeed, it looks like they want to shorten the renovation period. Yanyan, pay attention to this later. If they also renovate at night, call the police station and complain about them disturbing the peace.¡± ¡°Ah! But we also did our renovations at night.¡± ¡°Hehe, but we didn¡¯t disturb the peace, did we? They, on the other hand, are renovating next to a hotel. Isn¡¯t that disturbing the peace?¡± Su Lin said with a light laugh. ¡°This is a legitimate use of the rules. In business, you¡¯ll encounter many such situations.¡± Yanyan quickly nodded, ¡°I understand. I just didn¡¯t expect you to think of such a method.¡± ¡°As long as it can strike at the enemy, any method that is reasonable and legal can be used.¡± ¡°Got it! I¡¯ll keep an eye on it.¡± Su Lin chuckled softly. Knowing Lin Tian¡¯s character, he would definitely rush the renovation to beat time, hence, night work would be inevitable. Repeated complaints would delay their schedule. Looking at the store being dismantled, Su Lin thought, ¡°It¡¯s good that I eliminated his father in advance, otherwise Lin Tian could have used his background to his advantage.¡± Chapter 120: Touching Legs Chapter 120: Touching Legs Just as Su Lin and his two companions were preparing to enter the supermarket, he detected a keen gaze coming from diagonally across. Su Lin immediately turned to face the window on the third floor across the street. Although the window was closed, Su Lin knew Lin Tian was surely standing there watching him. Lin Tian hadn¡¯t expected Su Lin to have such strong perception, able to sense someone watching him from half a street away. Lin Tian didn¡¯t avert his gaze but continued to watch Su Lin, realizing he had encountered a formidable opponent. Su Lin didn¡¯t seem like a typical rich second generation who only knew about racing and flirting; instead, he seemed like a cunning old fox. ¡°Is this guy also reborn? Unlikely. If rebirth were so easy, the world would be in chaos. Besides, if Su Lin were reborn, he wouldn¡¯t forget about wanting to kill my father and me.¡±Ge?t latest novel chapters on nov(e)lbj/n(.)c/om ¡°This guy was a notable figure in his previous life. I heard he was already the top guy in school during junior high. It¡¯s clear those past rumors weren¡¯t exaggerated.¡± ¡°Hmph, the more mysterious you are, Su Lin, the more I believe you¡¯re behind my father¡¯s death.¡± Unaware of Lin Tian¡¯s thoughts, Su Lin, along with Xia Shiyu and Zhao Yanyan, entered the supermarket. The supermarket was almost fully decorated, with only some minor touch-ups remaining. ¡°The renovation looks great, Yanyan. You¡¯re about to manage a supermarket, any thoughts?¡± Su Lin asked. Zhao Yanyan, filled with a sense of achievement, instinctively puffed out her chest upon hearing Su Lin¡¯s praise. Although she had a strong talent in business, she was still a bit behind Xia Shiyu. Su Lin glanced at her and then looked away. It wasn¡¯t that she was unattractive, but compared to her legs, nothing else was as eye-catching. ¡°Yanyan, can I check the financial situation here?¡± Xia Shiyu asked. She was a typical workaholic, especially eager to know the supermarket¡¯s status. Zhao Yanyan nodded and led Su Lin and Xia Shiyu to the finance office. ¡°Yanyan, you didn¡¯t have to bring me here.¡± Zhao Yanyan laughed, ¡°It¡¯s just a few steps away, so I took the opportunity to give Su Lin a tour.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. Su Lin, Yanyan, you go ahead, I¡¯ll check the financials and report back to you later.¡± Su Lin, somewhat helplessly, said, ¡°Xiaoyu, you just arrived yesterday. Can¡¯t you rest for a few days?¡± ¡°Hehe, checking the finances isn¡¯t tiring. Su Lin, you go have a look around, I¡¯ll be quick.¡± Seeing Su Lin¡¯s smile freeze, Zhao Yanyan suggested, ¡°How about visiting my office next door?¡± Su Lin hesitated, then nodded. Following Zhao Yanyan to her office, Su Lin found it quite plain, with only a desk, chair, water dispenser, and cupboard. Zhao Yanyan placed the water cup in his hand and walked towards her desk. Su Lin chuckled and didn¡¯t continue the topic. Zhao Yanyan might seem bold, but deep down, she was quite conservative ¨C a classic case of a ¡®bold online, shy offline¡¯ personality. If Su Lin had really made a move just now, Zhao Yanyan would have avoided him for at least a week or even given him a sudden kick. ¡°Su Lin, you already have Xiaowan and Xiaoyu. Aren¡¯t you satisfied? Why do you still bother me?¡± Zhao Yanyan asked seriously, her heart in turmoil, wanting to be with Su Lin but unable to cross that barrier. ¡°When have I ever bothered you? Your words are strange,¡± he responded. ¡°Hmph, your gaze didn¡¯t look like one for just a friend. You even wanted to touch my leg.¡± Su Lin exclaimed, ¡°Just now, someone was flaunting her legs in front of me. A man¡¯s nature is to be attracted to beauty, and not taking a free opportunity isn¡¯t manly.¡± ¡°Hmph, you men always think with your lower half.¡± ¡°Heh! If that were true, you would have been sitting on my lap by now, and I would have already made my move,¡± Su Lin said indifferently. ¡°You¡¯re quite straightforward, not hiding your inner thoughts at all.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Right, there¡¯s nothing to hide. I can¡¯t pretend to be something I¡¯m not. Yanyan, I must remind you, don¡¯t talk to me like that again next time.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I might really make a move, and if you¡¯re unwilling, it would make us both unhappy.¡± ¡°What if I am willing?¡± ¡°Then, of course, we¡¯ll both be happy,¡± Su Lin said with a smile. ¡°Hehe... Xiaoyu is in the next room.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the issue? When we were in Zhongjiang, Xiaoyu slept in the room next to mine, while Xiaowan and I shared a bed.¡± ¡°Alright, you win!!!¡± Zhao Yanyan felt utterly defeated by Su Lin. She couldn¡¯t fathom what kind of magic he used to make Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan so indulgent towards him. Though she understood somewhat, considering Su Lin¡¯s excellence, she still couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. Chapter 121: So Busy Playing That You Forgot About the Opening? Chapter 121: So Busy Playing That You Forgot About the Opening? Su Lin didn¡¯t dwell much on the little incident with Zhao Yanyan. Since she was already in his company, he didn¡¯t think she could escape his influence. After dealing with company matters, Su Lin went to enjoy himself in Donghai with Xia Shiyu. Zhao Yanyan, stuck working overtime in the company, couldn¡¯t help but pout every time she thought of Xia Shiyu and Su Lin having fun at various places, while she was confined to the office. After all, Su Lin was the boss, and Xia Shiyu was the boss¡¯s wife, whereas she was just an employee. One day, Su Lin received a report from Li Hongyang¡¯s subordinate about all of Lin Tian¡¯s recent activities. He couldn¡¯t help but smile when he saw Lin Tian getting along well with Luo Sihai, the chairman of Sihai Group, and even striking a deal. ¡°This is the kind of treatment a protagonist deserves. Lin Tian knows all sorts of secrets from the past twenty years, and on top of that, he¡¯s a business magnate himself.¡± ¡°Plus, with his protagonist halo, wouldn¡¯t Luo Sihai be eager to please him? I¡¯m all too familiar with these tropes,¡± Su Lin mused. ¡°Sihai Group¡¯s Luo Sihai, he¡¯s going to be one of my opponents, huh?¡± Su Lin murmured. Although he hadn¡¯t been in Donghai for long, he had heard about Sihai Group numerous times. Sihai Hotel, Sihai Chain Internet Cafe?s, Sihai Bars ¨C Sihai Group¡¯s presence was everywhere in Donghai, rivaling even the Su¡¯s Construction and Industrial Group. Luo Sihai, the chairman of the company, was known to be ruthless. Rumor had it that he had committed murder during his rise to power. The police investigated but found nothing conclusive, and Luo Sihai, with his daring and aggressive tactics, had firmly established his foothold in Donghai. With Lin Tian getting close to Luo Sihai, Su Lin anticipated future confrontations with Luo. ¡°Looks like I need to prepare some extra funds. Maybe I¡¯ll make some money in the stock market soon. I¡¯ll play fair in business, but if Lin Tian pulls any dirty tricks, I can only apologize in advance.¡± Su Lin hadn¡¯t had much chance to use his Eight Extreme Fist skills and was curious about his own strength. Now, with Lin Tian and Luo Sihai joining forces, he felt that an opportunity to use his skills might arise soon. Su Lin and Xia Shiyu went to the securities trading office to open an account, preparing for his first foray into stock trading. ¡°Are you really planning to trade stocks?¡± Xia Shiyu asked skeptically.Ge?t latest novel chapters on nov(e)lbj/n(.)c/om Su Lin nodded, ¡°It¡¯s quite boring staying at home all summer. I¡¯ll trade stocks to earn some pocket money.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve heard that trading stocks is like gambling. Nine out of ten people lose,¡± Xia Shiyu said worriedly. Su Lin laughed, ¡°Xiaoyu, don¡¯t you trust my abilities?¡± Shaking her head, Xia Shiyu replied, ¡°Although I don¡¯t know much about stocks, I¡¯m aware that it¡¯s not just about skills. The stock market is unpredictable. I heard that many people in Xiangjiang committed suicide after losing in the stock market last year.¡± ¡°That¡¯s settled then.¡± After hanging up, Xia Shiyu giggled from the side. ¡°What are you laughing at, Xiaoyu?¡± ¡°Hehe, I heard everything you and Yanyan said. Su Lin, you even forgot the opening day?¡± Xia Shiyu looked at him with amusement. ¡°Cough cough... I didn¡¯t forget, I just thought it wasn¡¯t necessary to bother about it, you know?¡± ¡°Ah! Is there anything more important than the supermarket¡¯s opening?¡± Xia Shiyu asked, somewhat bewildered. Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s spending time with our Xiaoyu, of course.¡± ¡°Su Lin...¡± ¡°Xiaoyu, let¡¯s not go home just yet. Let¡¯s head to a shopping mall.¡± ¡°Ah! Su Lin, do you need to buy something?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Tomorrow is the grand opening. We can¡¯t go dressed like this.¡± Xia Shiyu looked at Su Lin, dressed in shorts, a t-shirt, and flip-flops, then at herself in a skirt and t-shirt, agreeing that they indeed didn¡¯t look like company executives. ¡°Oh! You¡¯re right. We don¡¯t look like company bosses at all.¡± ¡°Hehe... let¡¯s go then, we¡¯ll buy some clothes.¡± ¡°Okay!!¡± Su Lin and Xia Shiyu headed to the nearest mall. Chapter 122 Chapter 122: Your Daughter-in-law! Early in the morning, Tai¡¯an Avenue¡¯s bustling district started to come alive. First, the district leaders arrived at the opening site of Quanlegou. Then Luo Sihai appeared with a group of people, and finally, Su Zhenguo and his entourage arrived. To everyone¡¯s surprise, the Qin family, known as the first family of Donghai, also brought flower baskets. Sitting in a Maybach, Luo Sihai, with great interest, said to Lin Tian, ¡°Xiaotian, your competitor is no ordinary person. The district leaders are here for the opening of his first store, and even Su Zhenguo himself has come to support. Look, the Qin family is here too. Tsk, tsk...¡± Hearing this, Lin Tian¡¯s eyes showed no emotion, and he even felt like laughing. ¡°Uncle Luo, don¡¯t be too happy so soon. Isn¡¯t it strange that the Qin family is sending flower baskets? Could it be they have ties with Su Lin?¡± Luo Sihai frowned. ¡°Xiaotian, are you suggesting that Su Zhenguo and the Qin family are in cahoots?¡± Lin Tian shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure, but you know that piece of land you have is still vacant, with billions tied up in it. I can tell you for sure that the Qin family is behind this. As for the role Su Zhenguo plays in this, I have no idea.¡± Luo Sihai fell into deep thought. Although his Sihai Group was strong in Donghai, it was still slightly inferior to Su Zhenguo. Su Zhenguo, with his Su Construction and Industrial Group, had already expanded beyond Zhongjiang, Linhai, and Donghai to other cities. In contrast, his Sihai Group was still confined to Donghai. On the surface, the two seemed equally matched, but in terms of influence, Luo Sihai was still behind Su Zhenguo. ¡°By the way, Uncle Luo, I have confirmed news from my uncles that in a week, Zhonghai will officially open its subway lines. Three lines will start, totaling over a hundred kilometers in length,¡± Lin Tian added.T/his chapter is updated by Luo Sihai¡¯s pupils contracted at these words. He understood everything in an instant ¨C why the Qin family had set him up, why so many people were involved ¨C everything. The economy in this world was more open, and subway lines could be contracted out. If handled well, one could even become a shareholder. Constructing a subway line would cost at least ten billion, and the profits were self-evident. Luo Sihai stared intently at Lin Tian. ¡°Such important news, why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? Why?¡± Lin Tian put on a helpless expression. ¡°Uncle, I only found out today myself, and I¡¯m already lucky to know this. Do you think I could have known any earlier?¡± Luo Sihai looked at Lin Tian, not believing a word. He remembered clearly how Lin Tian had approached him, like a mystery. Lin Tian¡¯s sources were unknown, but his information was always accurate. ¡°Uncle, even if you knew earlier, what could you have done? Even if you hadn¡¯t tied up funds in that land, that piece of meat isn¡¯t something you could chew,¡± Lin Tian quietly reminded him. Luo Sihai sneered. He might not be able to swallow a subway line alone, but he could collaborate with others. It was then that Su Zhenguo noticed Xia Shiyu, who, though beautiful, seemed too gentle and weak to be a capable woman. He preferred Lin Xiaowan for Su Lin, both for her family background and her personal abilities, which would greatly aid Su Lin¡¯s career. ¡°This is...¡± ¡°Your daughter-in-law,¡± Su Lin said simply. Xia Shiyu, covering her face, shyly greeted, ¡°Hello, Uncle.¡± ¡°Oh! Now I remember, she¡¯s the girl from the charity donation. She¡¯s quite pretty.¡± Blushing, Xia Shiyu nodded, ¡°Yes, Uncle, it¡¯s me.¡± Su Zhenguo nodded and then pulled Su Lin aside while Xia Shiyu was still shy. ¡°Su Lin, what¡¯s going on? She¡¯s your girlfriend? What about the girl from the Lin family? You know Lin Guoqiang will do anything for his daughter.¡± ¡°Cough cough, don¡¯t worry, Dad. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°Hmm, you sly boy, suddenly I have two daughters-in-law,¡± Su Zhenguo said with a laugh. Although Xia Shiyu didn¡¯t seem like someone who could handle big responsibilities, it was clear she was a capable housekeeper, freeing Su Lin from household worries. Thinking of how he had devoted himself to his career over the years without time for enjoyment, Su Zhenguo suddenly felt like he had wasted his life. But his contemplation was short-lived as Qin¡¯s family butler descended from a car, followed by six people, each carrying a flower basket. ¡°Mr. Su, I am Qin Gong, the chief butler of the Qin family. We came specially to congratulate you,¡± the butler greeted Su Lin. Su Lin was startled; he was just opening a supermarket, yet the Qin family was also joining in. Looking at the old man¡¯s smiling face, Su Lin suppressed his doubts and nodded, ¡°Thank you for your kindness.¡± ¡°Hmm! Master Qin Delin asked me to send his regards and said if you¡¯re free, you should visit the Qin family¡¯s estate. Oh, and bring your blue and white porcelain with you.¡± Su Lin was speechless. It was the same person he had met at Cangzhaibai, the porcelain master. Unexpectedly, he was one of the Qin family elders. Su Lin nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll surely visit when I have the chance.¡± Chapter 123 Chapter 123: The Female Protagonist of a Light Novel, Qin Jiuyue After the employees arranged the flower baskets, Qin Gong took out an invitation from his pocket and handed it to Su Zhenguo: ¡°Mr. Su, in a week, our family head will host a birthday banquet for Xiaoyue at the Sihai Hotel. We will also discuss the ownership of several subway lines in Donghai City. Please honor us with your presence.¡± ¡°May I ask who this Xiaoyue is?¡± ¡°Oh, she¡¯s our family head¡¯s legitimate daughter, Qin Jiuyue. She turns twenty this year, and the old master adores her. That¡¯s why this birthday banquet is being held with such grandeur.¡± Hearing Qin Gong¡¯s explanation, Su Zhenguo nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve heard a bit about the Qin family¡¯s daughter. They say she¡¯s quite outstanding.¡± Qin Gong modestly responded, ¡°Not at all. Although our Miss is intelligent, she still falls short compared to your son.¡± After finishing, Qin Gong exclaimed in admiration, ¡°Mr. Su, your son¡¯s achievements have already been relayed to me by Master Qin. Honestly, if it weren¡¯t from him directly, I wouldn¡¯t believe you possess such insight.¡± Su Lin humbly replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a lucky blind cat finding a dead mouse.¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s more than just luck,¡± Qin Gong said. Su Lin didn¡¯t continue further but changed the subject, ¡°Butler Qin, today is the grand opening of my Quan Le Gou in Donghai. Everyone who comes is a guest. Why don¡¯t you stay for lunch before heading back?¡± Qin Gong shook his head, ¡°I must decline. There are many things I need to attend to at home. I won¡¯t disturb your grand opening.¡±Th.e? most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m With that, Qin Gong signaled, and his entourage got into the car and left. At this moment, the system¡¯s voice echoed in Su Lin¡¯s mind again. [Ding! A light novel female lead was detected. Would the host like to receive information? Note: After receiving, the host will inevitably stand in opposition to the protagonist.]. Hearing the system¡¯s voice, Su Lin was a bit shocked. The light novel¡¯s female lead must be Qin Jiuyue. Light novels differ greatly from rebirth stories, where the latter emphasize a law-governed society with logical character development. In light novels, characters often experience significant downgrading in intelligence. The protagonist instantly becomes the best upon arrival, making others look foolish. [Ding! Transferring information...].[Ding! Transfer complete. Would you like to review?].[Note: This content has been modified to fit the current world.].[Host, your comprehension seems poor. Since you¡¯ve received the information, the villain is automatically changed as you, and this content is modified by the system around you.].[Host, as the system has stated before, any rewards are possible; it¡¯s just that the host¡¯s luck is not good. To put it plainly, you have an ¡®unlucky¡¯ constitution.].. Su Zhenguo, seeing Su Lin standing still, nudged him: ¡°Come on, snap out of it. They¡¯ve already left.¡± Su Lin returned from his conversation with the system and looked at Su Zhenguo in surprise. ¡°Dad, aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± ¡°Why should I leave? I haven¡¯t had lunch yet,¡± Su Zhenguo replied grumpily. Su Lin was speechless: ¡°Your company is so busy, maybe you should go back. I need to keep an eye on the opening here; I don¡¯t have time to take you out for lunch.¡± ¡°Heh, playing favorites, huh? Am I now less than an outsider to you?¡± Su Lin earnestly said, ¡°What I just said was polite talk. Do I need to be polite with you? Can¡¯t you see how busy the supermarket is? Can I really leave?¡± Su Zhenguo looked at the supermarket entrance, where a steady stream of people was entering and leaving, each carrying something. He roughly estimated that there were hundreds of people per hour. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Once you¡¯re done here, come to my company or villa.¡± Su Lin asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Of course, this birthday banquet hosted by the Qin family isn¡¯t just a simple celebration. It also involves the outsourcing of subway lines. Since you have connections with their third master, maybe you can network a bit.¡± Su Lin replied disdainfully, ¡°Network? No, thanks. I¡¯m too stubborn to bow and scrape.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious, you little rascal!¡± ¡°So am I. If you really want to do something big, I¡¯ll give you something that¡¯ll ensure the entire Donghai¡¯s rich and powerful come to you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t joke. The entire Donghai¡¯s elite bowing to me? Donghai is the capital city of Jiangnan Province, not some ordinary county city.¡± ¡°This place is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. What do you have that could make all the elites of Donghai fawn over me?¡± Su Lin smiled lightly, ¡°4G communication technology. Is that enough?¡± Chapter 124 Chapter 124: Su Lin, Why Do You Bully Me! In the office, Su Lin was thinking about dealing with Lin Tian soon. If both protagonists started targeting him, it would be quite troublesome. ¡°What are you thinking about so intently, Su Lin?¡± Xia Shiyu¡¯s voice interrupted his thoughts. Su Lin looked up at her, ¡°Nothing much. I was just wondering why our competitors didn¡¯t try to sabotage us today, given the perfect opportunity.¡± ¡°Would they really do that? Isn¡¯t it just fair business competition? Why would they resort to sabotage?¡± Xia Shiyu asked. Su Lin shook his head silently. With Lin Tian not making a move yet, discussing this seemed pointless. But Su Lin knew Lin Tian would seize any opportunity to undermine him. The question was, why did Lin Tian miss today¡¯s opportunity? ¡°Xiaoyu, has my dad left?¡± Xia Shiyu nodded, ¡°Yeah, he just left. But he seemed a bit unsteady on his feet when he walked. Is he sick?¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°He¡¯s not sick; he¡¯s just shocked.¡± ¡°Shocked? What could possibly shock him? He¡¯s the wealthiest man in Zhongjiang,¡± Xia Shiyu said with a laugh. Su Lin chuckled but didn¡¯t reveal that it was the mention of 4G communication technology that had stunned Su Zhenguo. When Su Zhenguo heard Su Lin mention 4G technology, he was utterly dumbfounded. Although he wasn¡¯t involved in the mobile phone or telecommunications industry, he knew the entire country was still using 3G networks. If Su Lin really introduced 4G technology at this time, not just the elites of Donghai but those from the whole country and even the world would flock to him. Su Zhenguo wanted to dismiss it as a joke, but when he saw the seriousness in Su Lin¡¯s eyes, he knew his son wasn¡¯t kidding. Su Zhenguo wondered where Su Lin had gotten such advanced technology: ¡°If this is handled well, he¡¯ll be the world¡¯s richest man. If not, he¡¯ll be swallowed up without a trace.¡± Su Lin had carefully considered before deciding to give the mobile communication technology to Su Zhenguo. In a world dominated by light novels, he wouldn¡¯t have much time for business, instead spending more time idly and looking for opportunities to ambush the protagonist. In the novel shown by the system, Xiao Chen descended the mountain to fulfill an arranged marriage. [Ding! Congratulations to the host on winning a skill fusion opportunity.].[Yes, host. Existing skills can be fused to form a new, upgraded version.].[Ding! Fusion successful. Congratulations to the host on obtaining the advanced version of Golden Eyes Appraisal.].[Xia Shiyu: 18 years old, height 163cm, weight 44kg, 34B. Affection level: 100MAX.].[Skills: Intermediate management, Intermediate English.].[Current health value: 100].[Purity: 90.].[Current state of mind: Worried, anxious, self-blaming.]. Nodding, Xia Shiyu responded, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I do have some minor concerns, but it¡¯s nothing too serious. It¡¯s like having a mosquito around you that you can¡¯t quite swat,¡± Su Lin explained. Xia Shiyu laughed at his analogy. ¡°Your comparison is quite funny, Su Lin.¡± ¡°Xiaoyu, once we deal with that company across from us, let¡¯s pull out of the supermarket business and focus on something more important,¡± Su Lin said seriously. Startled, Xia Shiyu tensed up. ¡°Su Lin, if we¡¯re not running supermarkets, what will we do?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make smartphones,¡± Su Lin stated succinctly. ¡°Smartphones?¡± ¡°Yes, smart ones,¡± Su Lin elaborated. ¡°But we don¡¯t know anything about that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we don¡¯t need to understand it ourselves. We¡¯ll find people who do,¡± Su Lin reassured her. Xia Shiyu, though not very knowledgeable about the industry, understood that making smartphones wasn¡¯t a simple task. ¡°This can¡¯t be done in a day or two, right?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. You¡¯ll find out it¡¯s simpler than you think.¡± ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll do whatever you ask, Su Lin. I trust you,¡± Xia Shiyu said loyally. ¡°But if I asked you to commit a crime, you would?¡± Su Lin asked, somewhat exasperated. After a moment¡¯s thought, Xia Shiyu replied, ¡°If it were really necessary, I would.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Su Lin was now the curious one. ¡°Because if I didn¡¯t, you would, and then you¡¯d end up getting arrested. I¡¯d rather take the fall myself than let you get caught.¡± With a slap, Su Lin reprimanded her. ¡°That kind of thinking is dangerous. I need to correct that.¡± ¡°Ow... Su Lin, you just said you wouldn¡¯t bully me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Xia Shiyu whimpered. Chapter 125 Chapter 125: Su Lin Makes a Move, Undermining the Foundation! As Lin Tian watched the thriving business at Quan Le Gou, he couldn¡¯t remain calm. Looking at his own supermarket, which was still being renovated, he angrily said to the contractor, ¡°How are you rushing the construction schedule? You guaranteed me it would be done in half a month, but it¡¯s been several days now and you haven¡¯t even finished dismantling. How do you work?¡± The contractor replied with a face full of grievances, ¡°We had agreed on the conditions earlier. To finish in half a month, we needed to work in shifts day and night, but now we can¡¯t work at night, what can we do?¡± Lin Tian asked suspiciously, ¡°Can¡¯t work at night? Why?¡± The contractor secretly despised Lin Tian, thinking he barely cared about the progress since he had given them the blueprints and rarely appeared in the arcade. Now, seeing others making money, he started to get jealous. ¡°It¡¯s because working at night disturbs the residents. We¡¯ve been reported,¡± said a construction worker with a mocking tone. Lin Tian was furious inside. As a second-generation rich kid, he was proud and had never been looked down upon by a construction worker. However, realizing he still needed them, he decided to deal with this later, thinking about how companies in 2002 often withheld payments from construction workers. ¡°Reported? By whom?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± the contractor shook his head. ¡°It was fine at first, but these days, we¡¯re reported daily. The police come and order us to stop, so we can only work during the day. Even finishing in a month would be good under these circumstances.¡± for new novels ¡°One month? The opportunity would be gone by then. What are you good for if you can¡¯t handle this?¡± Lin Tian scolded. ¡°We¡¯re helpless too. The police practically comes every day, and we¡¯re just workers,¡± they replied. ¡°You think this is child¡¯s play?¡± The contractor didn¡¯t continue. He felt that Lin Tian, a typical rich second generation, was ignorant of the common people¡¯s struggles. Lin Tian¡¯s attention, however, was caught by the mention of the police. He knew that Zhao Yanyan¡¯s father was the chief of the police station. If she called to complain about disturbances, this area could become a major focus of surveillance. ¡°Zhao Yanyan, I didn¡¯t expect you to do this for Su Lin. Hmph, if you want to play dirty then don¡¯t blame me for being unrighteous.¡± Feeling the need to respond to Su Lin¡¯s business tactics, Lin Tian decided to play dirty too. He took out his phone and called Luo Sihai, ¡°Hello, Uncle Luo, I need a few men, preferably those who...¡± Su Lin, sitting in his office, didn¡¯t mind the dirt on these people and smiled, ¡°Please, take a seat everyone. Did my people discuss the compensation with you?¡± Liu Da nodded, ¡°They did.¡± ¡°Is there anything lacking?¡± ¡°No, nothing. Everything¡¯s fine.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Liu Da, since you¡¯ve already told me the situation, I have one request. Spread the word among all the construction workers in Donghai about how Lin Tian treated you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need renovations for the next few days, so your main job is this. The wages will still be paid. Is that okay?¡± Liu Da immediately agreed upon hearing this great offer. Su Lin nodded, pleased with the effect he aimed for. The construction workers, although at the bottom of the social ladder, were a tightly-knit group. Spreading the word about Lin Tian¡¯s attitude to other workers would mean his supermarket¡¯s opening would be further delayed, as he would struggle to find workers. Lin Tian watched Liu Da and his group go to Su Lin and then come out of the supermarket contentedly. His expression darkened again. As an experienced businessman, he immediately saw through Su Lin¡¯s strategy. Though simple, it was effective at this moment. By poaching his workers and having the police patrol unnecessarily, Su Lin made the opening of his supermarket an increasingly distant dream. ¡°Su Lin, you really know how to play,¡± Lin Tian muttered. ¡°I underestimated you before, but not anymore.¡± Before, Lin Tian thought of Su Lin as just a smart student who hadn¡¯t even entered college. But now, Su Lin had caused him a great headache by just spending a bit more money and using a little influence. Although Lin Tian was conceited, he could still reflect on himself. If he couldn¡¯t realize that he had underestimated Su Lin, then he would be a fool. ¡°Heh, this move is indeed powerful, but I don¡¯t like putting all my eggs in one basket. Compared to the supermarket, I still prefer contracting subway lines. Once I get this line, how can you play with me?¡± Chapter 126: Lin Tian Strikes, Endless Cunning Tricks! Chapter 126: Lin Tian Strikes, Endless Cunning Tricks! After arranging everything with Liu Da and others, Su Lin called Zhao Yanyan over. Surprised at her mature look, different from her usual youthful style, Su Lin commented, ¡°Yanyan, you look much more mature in this outfit.¡± ¡°Oh, do you think so? I chose it specially. How do you feel about it?¡± Zhao Yanyan twirled in front of Su Lin. Su Lin nodded, ¡°Very good, your legs look long.¡± ¡°You only think my legs are long, nothing else?¡± Zhao Yanyan said amusedly. ¡°No, no, no, besides long legs, Yanyan is also beautiful. It¡¯s just a pity that your chest is a bit small,¡± Su Lin said with a look of regret. ¡°Okay, enough of that, tell me why you called me here.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°What else? Just a reminder that something unexpected might happen at our supermarket tomorrow. Be prepared.¡± ¡°What kind of unexpected situation?¡± Zhao Yanyan asked nervously. Su Lin shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Ah! If you don¡¯t know, then why do you say something big will happen?¡± ¡°Ah! The reason is simple. I poached their renovation team.¡± ¡°What? You poached their renovation team?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Could I lie to you about this? Yes, I really did. With the supermarket continuing to expand, it¡¯s not practical to look for renovation teams everywhere, so I decided to poach theirs.¡± ¡°But we could have used the previous team for renovations. Why poach theirs?¡± ¡°The reason is simple: to strike at a competitor. See, now it will take him at least a few days to find a new team. And with no night work, such a large supermarket can¡¯t be renovated in a month, so they¡¯ll definitely suffer a loss this time.¡± Zhao Yanyan sighed, ¡°No wonder you told me to be careful tomorrow. If I were in his place, I would be angry and seek revenge too.¡± ¡°Heh! That¡¯s a business competition for you. Wait and see tomorrow. You¡¯ll have to react accordingly. Make sure the security and surveillance are in top shape.¡± Zhao Yanyan nodded, ¡°The surveillance cameras we use in the supermarket are the most advanced ultra-clear ones available, so there won¡¯t be any blurriness.¡± ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it then. You go ahead with your work.¡± ... Indeed, Su Lin¡¯s prediction was spot on. The next morning, Lin Tian¡¯s retaliation began. First, there were arguments in the supermarket, followed by a fight over eggs involving elderly people. Lin Tian¡¯s tactics were unending, and despite Zhao Yanyan¡¯s preparations, she was still overwhelmed by the situation. In the surveillance room, Su Lin and Xia Shiyu watched two older women fighting. When Zhao Yanyan tried to intervene, one of the women pulled her, causing her to fall to the ground. Although they were paid to create a scene, they dared not mess with these guards. If they were beaten like that, they would lose all respect in Donghai. Zhao Yanyan seized the opportunity to break up the fight. The old ladies exchanged glances, both understanding it was time to leave. They had received their payment and acted their part; it was time to go. So, they quickly paid for their items and left. Xia Shiyu, relieved to see them go, finally relaxed. But Su Lin¡¯s brows were still furrowed. He didn¡¯t believe that a business tycoon like Lin Tian would let things end so simply. As expected, it wasn¡¯t long before several thieves with sly looks entered the supermarket. They swiftly stole seven or eight wallets and even slashed some bags. Su Lin ordered their capture and notified the victims for consolation. Zhao Yanyan was frantically busy all morning until the crowd thinned. She then came to the surveillance room, ¡°Su Lin, have those people been sent to the police station?¡± She was extremely angry. The morning had been filled with seemingly trivial but reputation-damaging incidents. She was utterly frustrated. Su Lin nodded, ¡°They¡¯ve been sent. Luckily, our surveillance covers everything, so we don¡¯t have to worry about evidence.¡± ¡°Hmph! I¡¯m going to call my dad right away and find out who¡¯s behind this. If I find out, they¡¯ll regret it.¡± Su Lin raised an eyebrow, ¡°Really? You might know the person behind it.¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean, Su Lin? I feel like there¡¯s more to your words. Do you know who it is?¡± Zhao Yanyan looked at Su Lin, surprised. Su Lin nodded, ¡°If nothing goes wrong, it should be Lin Tian.¡± ¡°Lin Tian? How is that possible? He¡¯s just a high school graduate. How could he do such a thing?¡± Zhao Yanyan, despite her dislike for Lin Tian, still thought him incapable of such lowly acts, considering his recent graduation. ¡°Yanyan, aren¡¯t you also the manager of a supermarket at just eighteen? Soon, you¡¯ll be the district manager of Donghai.¡± ¡°But I...¡± ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®but¡¯. Trust me, you won¡¯t be able to find out who¡¯s really behind this, but it¡¯s easy to check the owner of the opposing supermarket. Ask your dad to investigate; it¡¯s definitely Lin Tian.¡± Su Lin spoke with certainty. ¡°Huuh!! Su... Su Lin, are you serious?¡± Su Lin nodded solemnly. Hearing this, Zhao Yanyan¡¯s face fell. She felt that if this was true, then Lin Tian must be targeting Su Lin out of spite for her rejection, as Lin Tian liked her. But instead of using fair business tactics, he chose such a disgraceful method. Su Lin cautioned, ¡°Yanyan, today is just the beginning. Trust me, this afternoon might be even busier.¡± ¡°It¡¯s best if you ask your dad to send a few people over. I won¡¯t be here to help you this afternoon; you¡¯ll have to handle everything yourself.¡± ¡°Ah! Where will you be this afternoon?¡± ¡°Me?... Of course, what comes around goes around. I¡¯m going to help the workers demand their wages.¡± Chapter 127: Fight Breaks Out! Chapter 127: Fight Breaks Out![Ding~! Due to the host¡¯s undermining strategy, the protagonist¡¯s business development is forced to stagnate. Lin Tian¡¯s protagonist¡¯s luck is reduced by 20%, and the host gets two chances to draw from the Emperor¡¯s Treasure Chest.]. After leaving the office, Zhao Yanyan hesitated for a long while but ultimately decided not to call Zhao Tiande. She felt that as the manager of this store, it was her responsibility to handle the situation. Calling her father might be helpful, but it wouldn¡¯t aid in her own growth. Su Lin, looking serious, exited Zhao Yanyan¡¯s office, ready to help the workers demand their wages. He had a plan in mind, which was to make Lin Tian ¡®accidentally die.¡¯ Lin Tian¡¯s luck wasn¡¯t high, and Su Lin believed there might be a chance to eliminate him. ¡°Su Lin, are you going to help those workers demand their wages?¡± Hearing Xia Shiyu¡¯s voice, Su Lin stopped, ¡°Yes, I promised them I would help.¡± ¡°But we don¡¯t know who we¡¯re dealing with. What if they are dangerous people?¡± Su Lin, placing his hands on Xia Shiyu¡¯s shoulders, reassured her with a smile, ¡°Dangerous people? Maybe, but you stay here at the supermarket. I¡¯ll be back soon, okay?¡± Xia Shiyu expressed her concern, ¡°I want to go with you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible. As you said, if there are indeed bad people, I might be able to escape alone, but what if you¡¯re there? Should I leave you behind? Stay here; I¡¯ll be fine with all these workers with me.¡± Xia Shiyu, understanding she couldn¡¯t really assist Su Lin, reluctantly agreed, ¡°Okay, but come back soon.¡± ¡°Heh! Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be back quickly.¡± Downstairs, Liu Da and a group of workers were already waiting, looking doubtful, ¡°Can this young guy really help us get our wages?¡± ¡°He looks too tender to do anything; I doubt it.¡± ¡°I doubt it too, Brother Da, how could you believe he could help us?¡± Liu Da replied with a wry smile, ¡°I thought Su Boss would send someone to help us. I didn¡¯t expect him to go personally.¡± ¡°We better watch out, if something happens to the boss, we won¡¯t be able to stay in Donghai.¡± All the workers nodded in agreement. Demanding wages was common, but if Su Lin got hurt, they would struggle to find work in Donghai. ¡°We¡¯ve come today to settle the wages from the past few days,¡± Su Lin declared. Lin Tian¡¯s face darkened as he coldly responded, ¡°I¡¯ve already said, if you leave, you get nothing. You made your choice, so there¡¯s no money for you today.¡± After speaking, Lin Tian signaled the gangsters. They understood his gesture and turned their attention to Su Lin. Su Lin, sensing the tension, realized that Lin Tian was planning a counter-attack. ¡°Let¡¯s see how this plays out,¡± he thought. Liu Da, still hoping for a peaceful resolution, said, ¡°Mr. Lin, our wages for four days amount to over nine thousand yuan. We won¡¯t leave without it.¡± Lin Tian scoffed, ¡°I already said no. Scarface, I have things to handle. Show them out.¡± A scarred man stepped forward, sneering at Su Lin, ¡°I hate pretty boys. Scram while I¡¯m in a good mood, or I¡¯ll scar your face.¡± Su Lin responded with a slight smile, ¡°Try scarring my face and see if Luo Sihai dares to do the same.¡± Scarface, puzzled, eyed Su Lin. These old thugs from Donghai City had a knack for sizing people up. Scarface became anxious, looking towards Lin Tian for guidance. Lin Tian signaled with two fingers. Understanding the signal, Scarface¡¯s expression turned fierce. Thinking, ¡°What do I have to fear with money on my side? He¡¯s just another rich kid.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. You asked for this,¡± Scarface growled, picking up a chair to smash at Su Lin. Before Su Lin could react, the chair was caught by a black hand. Then, to his surprise, a group of workers charged forward. He hadn¡¯t expected these laborers to be so fierce, diving straight into the fray. ¡°Damn, you dare to rebel?¡± ¡°Ah! Damn it...¡± The workers, strong from their laborious jobs, overwhelmed Scarface and the others with their sheer physical strength. A slap on the face left them dazed and buzzing. Liu Da pushed through to Lin Tian, ¡°Mr. Lin, I¡¯m asking you one last time: are you going to pay or not?¡± Chapter 128: Disruption, The Hidden Hand! Chapter 128: Disruption, The Hidden Hand! ¡°Brother Da, why waste words on this kind of person?¡± Before Lin Tian could react, he felt a heavy blow on the back of his head, nearly causing a concussion, followed by a sharp pain in his chest and a couple of hits to his face. Su Lin, seeing the workers swiftly handling Lin Tian and his men, wanted to join in but couldn''t even squeeze through. He had hoped to ''accidentally'' kill Lin Tian in the chaos, but now, he couldn''t get close enough. Scarface, who was previously acting tough, was now unconscious. The workers looked at each other, confused. ¡°Who used excessive force?¡± ¡°Not me, I barely used any strength, afraid of injuring him.¡± ¡°Me neither, I just lightly hit his chest.¡± Su almost Lin laughed. The burliest worker''s punch had sent Scarface spreading, gasping for air and bile. ¡°I saw you hit him in the temple, Xiao Liu. Did you kill him?¡± ¡°No, I didn''t hit hard, he just passed out.¡± In just a few minutes, Lin Tian''s gangsters were subdued. Lin Tian, ??supported by two men, was bleeding from the nose, looking utterly pitiful. ¡°We''re sorry, Boss Su, we didn''t expect it to end like this. We won''t involve you; this was all our doing.¡± ¡°Boss Su, Lin Tian is a real scoundrel. Don''t worry, we beat him up, and it has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°Boss Su, you should leave now. The police might come, and it will be hard to explain.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, hurry up and leave. We don¡¯t need those few thousand yuan anymore, but I had to beat him up today.¡± Lin Tian never expected that a scenario of workers beating up their boss, common in his previous life, would happen to him. He was dazed and desolate, never having been this miserable even after his father¡¯s death in his previous life. He hadn¡¯t imagined his second chance at life would come to this. Su Lin said, ¡°The deed is done. Don¡¯t worry, he won¡¯t call the police. You guys go outside, I want to talk to Mr. Lin.¡± The workers looked at Liu Da, who hesitated but then nodded, ¡°Boss Su, we¡¯ll be outside. Just call us if you need anything.¡± The pats he gave Lin Tian were calculated, using the internal force of Extreme Eight Fist, a genuine Chinese martial art. By delivering these hidden strikes, he intended to shatter Lin Tian¡¯s heart meridians in a few days. ¡°Boss Su, did you get the money?¡± the workers asked. Su Lin nodded, ¡°Exactly the right amount. You don¡¯t need to worry about the police; work for me with peace of mind.¡± ¡°Really? Is it all resolved?¡± Su Lin nodded again. Just then, he saw a large group of people coming up the stairs, led by Lou Sihai, followed by dozens of police officers and subordinates. Lou Sihai, seeing Su Lin, immediately showed a friendly smile, ¡°Mr. Su, what brings you to my humble arcade?¡± Su Lin disliked such interactions, finding them fake and tiresome. He coldly asked, ¡°Do we know each other?¡± Lou Sihai¡¯s face froze, and his subordinates looked furious but remained silent, respecting their boss¡¯s authority. ¡°My name is Lou Sihai, the owner of this arcade,¡± Luo introduced himself. ¡°Oh? I just came to collect my workers¡¯ wages. Now that I have the money, I¡¯m ready to leave.¡± Lou Sihai glanced at the unconscious thugs on the ground, realizing they were the ones he had hired to help Lin Tian. He wanted to cause trouble for Su Lin but reconsidered upon seeing the eager workers behind him. Although he had the numerical advantage, Luo was past the age of physical confrontations, and his company had long since ¡®gone legitimate.¡¯ Seeing Lou Sihai¡¯s changing expressions, Su Lin gestured to leave and took the lead, with Liu Da and the workers following. The subordinates involuntarily made way, watching Su Lin leave. ¡°Should we stop them, Si Ye? Teach him a lesson?¡± ¡°Si Ye, that kid¡¯s too arrogant. Should we throw him into the sea?¡± Lou Sihai slapped one of his subordinates on the back of the head, ¡°Throw into the sea? Have you forgotten we¡¯ve gone legitimate? We¡¯re a proper company now.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and check on Lin Tian. He¡¯s my cash cow; I can¡¯t afford any trouble with him.¡± (TL: In Chinese triad societies or in the context of organized crime, ¡°Si Ye¡± can be a title for a person who holds a position of authority or respect within the organization. It¡¯s a way of addressing a senior or influential member, possibly the one who oversees a specific area or function.) Chapter 129 Chapter 129: Return to Zhongjiang, Lin Xiaowan¡¯s Accidental Collision! As soon as Luo Si Hai entered the office, he saw Lin Tian, who was continuously wiping his nosebleed. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He hadn¡¯t expected Su Lin to be so ruthless as to leave Lin Tian in such a state. ¡°Si Ye, should we stop those people?¡± asked one of Luo¡¯s men. Luo shook his head. He couldn¡¯t possibly start a war with Su Zhenguo over Lin Tian. After all, Lin Tian was just a business partner, whereas Su Lin was Su Zhenguo¡¯s son. ¡°Why are you standing around? Take Xiao Tian to the hospital!¡± Luo ordered. Lin Tian, still wiping his nosebleed, shook his head, ¡°No need, Uncle Luo. It¡¯s just a superficial injury. A few days of rest and I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°But Xiao Tian, your injuries seem serious.¡± Lin Tian shook his head again, ¡°I¡¯ll be fine after some rest.¡±Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com ¡°And the subway line contract?¡± Lin Tian paused, then said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Uncle Luo. I have my interests involved. I¡¯ll definitely help you finalize it.¡± ¡°Alright, then. Rest well, Xiao Tian.¡± Lin Tian nodded, his eyes flickering. He decided not to ask Luo Sihai for help in dealing with Su Lin. While Luo might assist in sabotaging a business competitor, he wouldn¡¯t risk offending Su Zhenguo by harming Su Lin. Therefore, Lin Tian could only return home. He had sensed Su Lin¡¯s intent to kill him but was unsure of his method. Staying out now would be risky; he could be killed at any moment. His plan was to lay low at home until securing the subway line contract, which would then make Luo Sihai more inclined to remove Su Lin, a shared competitor with Su Zhenguo. Elsewhere, Xia Shiyu felt relieved to see Su Lin return safely with Liu Da and the others. Su Lin, wrapping his arm around Xia Shiyu¡¯s back, whispered, ¡°Xiaoyu, things in Donghai are almost wrapped up. I¡¯ll take you back tomorrow.¡± ¡°Yeah, I miss Xiaowan too. She calls me every day saying she¡¯s bored to death.¡± ¡°Is that so? Then we¡¯ll go and have some fun with her when we get back. She always asks about you when she calls me,¡± Su Lin chuckled. Xia Shiyu shook her head, ¡°She always asks about you too, wondering where you are and what you¡¯re doing. She cares about you the most.¡± Su Lin thought about the protagonist Xiao Chen who was about to appear in Donghai. Xiao Chen was not just a medical expert but also possessed martial skills. He would eventually inherit the divine medical skills of Hua Tuo, including the Taiyi Magic Needles, capable of both healing and cultivating immortality. So, Su Lin didn¡¯t want Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu to get involved, fearing they might get hurt. Having been in this world for so long, Su Lin had integrated well. He genuinely liked Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan, though he wasn¡¯t able to be entirely faithful to them. ¡°Xiaoyu, when we get back, you and Xiaowan should go get your driver¡¯s licenses. You both should learn to drive,¡± Su Lin suggested. Xia Shiyu, tilting her head, asked, ¡°Why do we need to drive? We don¡¯t use cars.¡± ¡°Who said you don¡¯t neee to drive? You¡¯ll be busy in Zhongjiang. Plus, your house isn¡¯t close to the company. You can¡¯t rely on public transport every day. And Xiaowan too. Learn to drive, and I¡¯ll buy you both cars,¡± Su Lin said with a smile. ¡°A car! Won¡¯t that be expensive?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not paying for it, so why worry? The company has plenty of money. Providing cars is a necessary step for a mature company. Don¡¯t worry about it; we¡¯re definitely buying the cars,¡± Su Lin stated matter-of-factly. Realizing Su Lin was determined, Xia Shiyu softly said, ¡°Can we buy something affordable?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not your concern.¡± As they drove into Zhongjiang¡¯s city center and approached the company¡¯s entrance, Su Lin spotted Lin Xiaowan in a white dress, waiting at the office building¡¯s entrance. ¡°Did you tell Xiaowan we were coming back?¡± Xia Shiyu, spotting Lin Xiaowan, sheepishly nodded, ¡°She called me last night asking if we were coming back. I accidentally told her we¡¯d be back today.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have told her. She must have been waiting for a while.¡± As Lin Xiaowan saw Su Lin¡¯s car, she smiled radiantly, stunning Su Lin to the point where he almost collided with another car. ¡°Yikes!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my driving skills are so good, I wouldn¡¯t hit anything even if it¡¯s just ten centimeters away,¡± Su Lin boasted. ¡°Ah, you scared me!¡± ¡°Stop being scared, let¡¯s get out of the car.¡± As soon as Su Lin opened the door, he was suddenly embraced by Lin Xiaowan in a happy collision. ¡°Su Lin, you¡¯re finally back!!!¡± Chapter 130 Chapter 130: Su Lin, You Really Deserve a Beating! Lin Xiaowan clung to Su Lin like an octopus, her legs wrapped tightly around his. Su Lin didn¡¯t expect that just a few days apart would make Lin Xiaowan miss him so much. He rubbed her head, ¡°Xiaowan, I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Mm, I was so bored without you here. There wasn¡¯t much to do at the office,¡± Lin Xiaowan complained in Su Lin¡¯s ear. ¡°Did you miss me?¡± Lin Xiaowan hit Su Lin lightly on the chest, ¡°That¡¯s a rhetorical question.¡± ¡°Heh! But you didn¡¯t say it on the phone.¡± ¡°Would saying it have brought you back sooner? You must have been busy with the new branch in Donghai,¡± Lin Xiaowan said understandingly. Su Lin smiled, ¡°I could have come back last night, and you could have seen me sooner.¡± ¡°Seeing you now is not too late.¡± After their affectionate exchange, Su Lin gently patted Lin Xiaowan¡¯s back, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s not stay here in the sun. Let¡¯s go upstairs.¡± Lin Xiaowan blushed and nodded, releasing Su Lin. She then noticed Xia Shiyu beside her, ¡°Xiaoyu, sorry, I got too excited just now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I understand. I felt the same when I saw Su Lin,¡± Xia Shiyu replied. Lin Xiaowan looked at Xia Shiyu admiringly, ¡°Xiaoyu, you look even prettier than before. Your skin is so radiant. Su Lin must have taken good care of you.¡± ¡°Heh, he wouldn¡¯t dare neglect me.¡± Su Lin nodded, pleased to see the two women getting along like sisters. Once upstairs at the company, they were greeted by Chen Yang, looking serious in a suit. ¡°Yangzi, you¡¯re here.¡± Chen Yang nodded solemnly, ¡°Heard you were back, so I came to check in.¡± Su Lin clapped him on the shoulder, ¡°Now that you¡¯re a manager, why have you lost your casual demeanor?¡± Chen Yang sighed, ¡°I¡¯m constantly disciplining people. I can¡¯t be all smiles with them anymore. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve become like this.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so strict. As long as the sales are good and there are no issues at the supermarkets, there¡¯s no need for harshness.¡± Chen Yang bitterly smiled, ¡°Boss, managing all aspects of seven supermarkets, I can¡¯t oversee everything. I have to be strict with the store managers.¡± Su Lin assured her, ¡°That¡¯s not possible. You know Xiaoyu¡¯s character; she wouldn¡¯t even want to listen.¡± ¡°But... but this is the office.¡± Lin Xiaowan bit her lip, looking at her shoes, too shy to meet Su Lin¡¯s gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s a rest room. Chen Yang thoughtfully prepared it after I mentioned it,¡± Su Lin said with a smile. ¡°Ah, so you planned for this to happen today.¡± Lin Xiaowan pinched Su Lin¡¯s waist. ¡°Ouch! Xiaowan, although I have muscles, you shouldn¡¯t pinch so hard. Don¡¯t you know that muscles hurt more when pinched?¡± ¡°I... I really hurt you? Let me see.¡± Su Lin quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her onto his lap, ¡°Let¡¯s take care of business first.¡± ¡°Uuuu...¡± They didn¡¯t emerge from the office until the evening. By then, Yu Lin Company had many employees who wouldn¡¯t have recognized their boss without his photo on the wall. Seeing Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan come out looking sweet and intimate, many hearts were broken among the male staff. They worked there not only for the good salary but also because of Manager Lin¡¯s beauty. Now, it turned out she was taken. Previously, Su Lin hadn¡¯t been so bold when Xia Shiyu was also present, but now it was just Lin Xiaowan, so he was more daring. ¡°Su Lin, what are they doing? And your walk, can you not be so flamboyant? It makes me want to hit you.¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what they were saying?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t hear from this far. What did they say?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°They are envious and jealous, wondering how I managed to win you over, and many guys are daydreaming about you. Tsk, tsk...¡± ¡°You have such good hearing to catch that from this distance.¡± Su Lin, with a straight face, said, ¡°Xiaowan, you need to focus on what matters.¡± ¡°I am focusing on what matters. I wish my ears were as good as yours.¡± ¡°Okay, you win.¡± Su Lin realized Lin Xiaowan was playing dumb, but he still wore a smug smile and walked with an air of arrogance. He thought to himself, amused, ¡°If they knew Xia Shiyu was also mine, I wonder what their expressions would be.¡± Even after the pair left, the employees continued to gossip about Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan. Su Lin didn¡¯t care about their opinions. In this world, it wasn¡¯t uncommon for wealthy men to have multiple partners. He had only two, which was quite modest. Chapter 131: Father-Daughter Heart-to-Heart, Yanyan, Do You Like Su Lin? Chapter 131: Father-Daughter Heart-to-Heart, Yanyan, Do You Like Su Lin? While Su Lin was out dining with Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu, a simple family meeting was happening at Zhao Yanyan¡¯s home in Donghai City. Zhao Tiande was looking at his daughter with a sense of nostalgia, realizing she had grown up so much that she was almost as tall as him even in flat shoes. ¡°Yanyan, how¡¯s work going at the supermarket?¡± Zhao Tiande asked. Surprised by her father¡¯s sudden interest in her work, Zhao Yanyan put down her chopsticks and replied, ¡°It¡¯s going well. Why do you ask, Dad?¡± ¡°Do you know your boss almost got into a fight with Luo Sihai?¡± Zhao Tiande casually mentioned. ¡°A fight? How¡¯s that possible?¡± Zhao Yanyan stood up, shocked. Seeing her reaction, Zhao Tiande felt somewhat reassured. He had been both surprised and angry when he first heard about the incident, as Luo Sihai had dared to target his daughter¡¯s workplace. After investigating, he realized the situation was quite complicated. His nephew Lin Tian was also involved, along with Luo Sihai, Su Lin, and Su Zhenguo. With the railway line about to open, the whole situation in Donghai seemed entangled in a strange vortex, with his daughter on the periphery. Originally, his first instinct was to ask Zhao Yanyan to quit her job and focus on dance, but seeing how satisfied she had been recently, he decided to bring up the matter subtly.UppTodated from no?/v/e/lb(i)n.c(o)/m ¡°Dad, what exactly happened in that ¡®fight¡¯?¡± ¡°It was Su Lin who led a group of workers to demand their wages. Guess who the owner of the supermarket under renovation opposite yours is?¡± ¡°Is it Lin Tian?¡± Zhao Yanyan asked uncertainly. Zhao Tiande nodded, ¡°Yes, he believes his father¡¯s death is related to Su Zhenguo, so he¡¯s trying to get back at Su Lin.¡± ¡°Wow... I had no idea all this was happening,¡± Zhao Yanyan was stunned. ¡°Do you think Su Lin will be in danger? Dad, can¡¯t you help him?¡± she asked pleadingly. Zhao Tiande internally cursed his luck, seeing his daughter¡¯s heart had clearly flown to Su Lin. ¡°Aren¡¯t you concerned that Su Lin might actually be problematic?¡± ¡°What problems could he have? I¡¯ve been with him almost every day recently. I know everything about him. How could he be a problem?¡± ¡°But what about the way they fought?¡± Zhao Tiande sighed, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you should leave Su Lin sooner rather than later. Make a clean break. Maybe you should quit your job.¡± ¡°No, I won¡¯t! Liking him is one thing, and work is another,¡± Zhao Yanyan said firmly. Zhao Tiande scoffed internally, knowing too well his daughter¡¯s nature. If she wasn¡¯t truly fond of Su Lin, she would have already resigned. He contemplated whether to forcibly end Zhao Yanyan¡¯s relationship with Su Lin but realized it would damage their father-daughter bond. Seeing Zhao Yanyan¡¯s determination, Zhao Tiande felt a headache coming on. Dealing with family matters seemed more challenging than handling complex cases. Zhao Yanyan noticed her father¡¯s dilemma and quickly said, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m an adult now, and I can handle this. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Zhao Tiande massaged his temples, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s your call. But remember, if things go south, don¡¯t come crying to me.¡± ¡°How could I? Do I look like someone who cries easily?¡± Zhao Yanyan retorted with feigned arrogance. Meanwhile, Su Lin was unaware of the family meeting between Zhao Yanyan and her father. He was busy driving Lin Xiaowan home. Lin Xiaowan, covering her flushed face, expressed her worries, ¡°Su Lin, do you think my parents will notice anything? My face is still so red.¡± Su Lin glanced at her and reassured, ¡°It¡¯s not very noticeable. Just say you¡¯re feeling hot.¡± ¡°Really? Will that work?¡± Lin Xiaowan asked skeptically. Su Lin nodded confidently, ¡°Trust me, just say you¡¯re hot. It¡¯s like when you¡¯re flushed after running.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you driving, I would have smacked you right now,¡± Lin Xiaowan said half-jokingly. ¡°Ahem, we¡¯re here,¡± Su Lin quickly announced as they arrived. Zhao Yanyan laughed at Su Lin¡¯s demeanor, ¡°You¡¯re so fierce when you¡¯re bullying others but now playing it safe?¡± ¡°A man needs to know when to be tough and when to back down,¡± Su Lin replied with a smile. ¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t argue with you. Arguing with you would only make me more frustrated!¡± Lin Xiaowan exclaimed. Chapter 132 Chapter 132: Zhao Yanyan on the Offensive In the days since returning to Zhongjiang, Su Lin enjoyed some of the most comfortable times. With Xia Shiyu finally agreeing to move into his villa, Su Lin lived like an emperor, spending his days affectionately with Lin Xiaowan at the company and his evenings with Xia Shiyu. However, this blissful period was short-lived as the birthday of Qin Jiuyue, the heiress of the Qin family, finally arrived. Su Lin, without bringing anyone along, drove from Zhongjiang to Donghai for the birthday banquet. Upon arriving in Donghai, his first stop was the Quan Le Gou supermarket branch. Zhao Yanyan was both surprised and delighted to see him. After her heart-to-heart with her father, Zhao Yanyan had come to terms with her feelings, finding herself constantly thinking about Su Lin. Seeing Zhao Yanyan staring at him, Su Lin asked, ¡°Yanyan, what¡¯s wrong? Aren¡¯t you happy to see me?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. Why are you alone today? Where are Xiaowan and Xiaoyu?¡± Zhao Yanyan managed to collect her thoughts and asked. Su Lin casually replied, ¡°It¡¯s not appropriate to bring them to someone else¡¯s birthday party, so I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Oh? Really?¡± Zhao Yanyan couldn¡¯t hide her happiness, seeing a chance to be alone with Su Lin. Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true. I heard Qin¡¯s family also invited Xiaowan¡¯s family, but since her dad couldn¡¯t come, they didn¡¯t attend.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity, I was thinking of shopping for clothes with Xiaowan,¡± Zhao Yanyan feigned disappointment. ¡°Shopping for clothes? Are you also attending the little princess¡¯s birthday banquet?¡± Su Lin curiously asked. ¡°Of course, the Qin family is well-known in Donghai. My dad, being the police chief, is definitely on the guest list,¡± Zhao Yanyan proudly said. Su Lin acknowledged her point, considering Zhao Tiande¡¯s status in the provincial capital city of Donghai. Observing Su Lin¡¯s casual attire, Zhao Yanyan was concerned, ¡°You¡¯re not planning to go to the banquet dressed like that, are you?¡± Su Lin, in shorts and a t-shirt, chuckled, ¡°We¡¯re not the stars of the evening, so why dress so formally?¡± Zhao Yanyan insisted, ¡°We must show respect to the Qin family. Why don¡¯t you accompany me to buy clothes?¡± Moved by her earnestness, Su Lin agreed, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± [Zhao Yanyan: 18 years old, 175cm tall, 55kg, 36B.].[Favorability: 92 and rising.].[Skills: Junior management, basic English, master-level dance.].[Health: 100.].[Purity: 100.].[Current mindset: Nervous, hesitant, on the verge of speaking.]. Surprised at her high favorability rating, Su Lin wondered what he had done to make it soar. After agreeing to go shopping with her, Su Lin noticed her favorability increase again. ¡°What are you thinking, Yanyan? Why is your favorability rising so strangely?¡± Su Lin thought, perplexed by her behavior. ¡°Heh! I¡¯ve been good at maintaining balance since I was a kid. Keeping things fair isn¡¯t a problem for me at all,¡± Su Lin replied confidently. ¡°Look at you, so full of yourself,¡± Zhao Yanyan teased. The salesperson then interjected, ¡°Have you decided to purchase this dress, sir and madam?¡± Su Lin nodded affirmatively, ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll take it.¡± But Zhao Yanyan shook her head, ¡°No, we won¡¯t.¡± Confused, Su Lin asked, ¡°Why not? Isn¡¯t the dress beautiful?¡± Zhao Yanyan continued shaking her head. ¡°Then you don¡¯t like it?¡± he asked. She shook her head again. ¡°What¡¯s the reason then?¡± Su Lin inquired. ¡°This dress is too expensive, over fifty thousand. Even if you sold me, I wouldn¡¯t fetch that much. Let¡¯s not buy it,¡± Zhao Yanyan said, somewhat regretfully. She came from a typical high-official family, and they didn¡¯t have the wealth of Lin Xiaowan¡¯s mother. Therefore, she usually chose cheaper and attractive clothes. She had never bought anything over four digits before and was shocked by the price tag of this dress. Su Lin softly assured her, ¡°Money is not an issue. Consider it a gift from me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s still not acceptable. I can¡¯t accept such an expensive gift,¡± Zhao Yanyan insisted, biting her lip. Su Lin looked at her earnestly, ¡°Yanyan, are you rejecting my gesture?¡± Hesitating, she said, ¡°I...¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re hesitant, it means you don¡¯t want to refuse. So, I¡¯ll buy it,¡± Su Lin said and handed his bank card to the salesperson, giving Zhao Yanyan no chance to change her mind. ¡°Su Lin, it¡¯s over fifty thousand! You¡¯re just going to buy it like that?¡± Zhao Yanyan looked at him as if he were being wastefully extravagant. ¡°Joy cannot be bought with money. If you like this dress, I¡¯ll buy it for you. It¡¯ll make both you and me happy,¡± Su Lin said lightly. After he spoke, he felt a gentle peck on his cheek, like a dragonfly skimming the water. Chapter 133: Pay You Back Chapter 133: Pay You Back Su Lin never expected Zhao Yanyan to suddenly act like that. Zhao Yanyan herself was surprised by her own actions, but she quickly composed herself, thinking that since she had already done it, there was no need to feel shy. She liked Su Lin anyway, didn''t she? Touching his cheek where Zhao Yanyan had kissed him, Su Lin smirked, ¡°Yanyan, you can''t escape after such a sneak attack. Remember what I said before.¡± Zhao Yanyan instinctively covered her fair long legs and said, ¡°Su Lin, don''t mess around, we''re in a store.¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°Do I seem like that sort of person? I haven¡¯t even bought my clothes yet.¡± Zhao Yanyan realized he was right; Su Lin hadn''t chosen his outfit yet. The salesperson then asked, ¡°Sir, your bill is settled. Would the lady like to wear this dress now or should we pack it?¡± Zhao Yanyan quickly replied, ¡°Please pack it. It''s still early; I won''t wear this dress out now.¡± The salesperson nodded and escorted Zhao Yanyan to the changing room. Su Lin watched as Zhao Yanyan hurriedly followed the salesperson, looking like she was escaping. He laughed quietly to himself. Since Zhao Yanyan had taken the initiative, he felt he should respond accordingly. He had been eyeing her long legs for a while now. After a few minutes, Zhao Yanyan returned, dressed in her work outfit. Su Lin commented, ¡°Yanyan, your work uniform is really ugly. You should wear your previous clothes.¡± Zhao Yanyan explained, ¡°You think I don¡¯t want to? But every time I talk to those people, they¡¯re distracted, just like you, always staring at my legs. I had to switch to long pants, and you have no idea how hot it gets.¡± Imagining the intense sun in Donghai, Su Lin laughed out loud. ¡°Alright, enough laughing. Let¡¯s pick out clothes for you,¡± Zhao Yanyan said. Su Lin shrugged, ¡°Choosing clothes for me is simple, as long as they fit.¡± Zhao Yanyan agreed, ¡°Your physique makes any clothing look good. It¡¯s like you¡¯re a natural clothes hanger. I, on the other hand, can¡¯t wear half the clothes here.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t say you can¡¯t wear them, it¡¯s just too short and uncomfortable,¡± Su Lin understood Zhao Yanyan¡¯s dilemma, although he couldn¡¯t empathize. ¡°Right, having clothes to wear is good enough,¡± Zhao Yanyan said, moving on. They headed to the men¡¯s clothing section, where the choices were simpler. Various suits were available, mostly differing in color but similar in style. Zhao Yanyan picked up a white jacket and held it up to Su Lin, who disapproved, ¡°Such a thick jacket? You want to bake me?¡± Zhao Yanyan laughed, ¡°You¡¯re lucky; at least there¡¯s air conditioning in the hotel. In winter, we girls still have to wear these kinds of dresses, even with exposed shoulders and backs. That¡¯s truly cold.¡± ¡°Hold still, let me see if it fits,¡± she said. Su Lin extended his hand, ¡°Whether it fits or not, I¡¯ll know once I put it on. Hurry, help me change.¡± ¡°Oh my, you think you¡¯re an emperor now?¡± Zhao Yanyan said with a huff. Zhao Yanyan¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as Su Lin leaned in, ¡°Su Lin... Mmm...¡± ... Meanwhile, at a natural reserve hill on the border between Donghai and Linhai, a young man around twenty years old was standing in front of a collection of pots and jars. ¡°All I do is boil medicine every day. When can I finally leave the mountain? Sigh, it¡¯s been three years since I last left the mountain, and I have no idea what the world below is like now.¡± ¡°Ah well, better keep boiling the medicine, or the old man will blow his top again.¡± As he was speaking, a stone suddenly shot out from the thatched hut, aiming straight for Xiao Chen¡¯s face. Xiao Chen sensed the danger and quickly stepped back twice. ¡°Master, you¡¯re really not holding back with that throw. If that hit my head, I¡¯d be a goner.¡± ¡°Hmph, you¡¯ve learned medical skills and martial arts from me for ten years. If you can¡¯t even dodge a small stone, you might as well be dead,¡± Wang Yannian said, holding a smoking pipe in one hand and a yellowed envelope in the other, as he approached Xiao Chen. ¡°Master, when can I finally leave the mountain? You originally said it would be three years, and it¡¯s already been that long,¡± Xiao Chen grumbled somewhat discontentedly. Of course, it was just a grumble. His Eight Trigram Palm had reached the level of a grandmaster, but in front of Wang Yannian, he was like a child, getting fancily beaten up. So, even though he had various complaints in his heart, he dared not voice them out loud. ¡°Thinking of getting beaten up again, are you? Or are you cursing me in your heart again?¡± ¡°How could that be? Master, am I that kind of person?¡± ¡°Heh! I knew exactly what kind of person you were when I picked you up. I saw right through you,¡± Wang Yannian said indifferently. ¡°Uh... alright, Master, you¡¯re great.¡± ¡°Humph humph, you want to leave the mountain?¡± Xiao Chen nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve not seen the outside world for three years.¡± ¡°The outside world is dangerous, you know?¡± ¡°Master, you¡¯ve said before, there aren¡¯t many people in Xia country I need to avoid, and with your support, what do I have to fear?¡± Xiao Chen said confidently. Wang Yannian sighed deeply, ¡°I¡¯m just afraid that once you leave the mountain, you¡¯ll encounter those few people you can¡¯t provoke.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not foolish. If I know I can¡¯t beat someone, I definitely won¡¯t make enemies with them,¡± Xiao Chen declared confidently. He could already sense that Wang Yannian was about to let him leave the mountain, and his heart was filled with excitement. The beautiful life was about to begin. The beauties of Donghai, the bustling city, he would soon see it all. ¡°Alas! Your heart is already not here; it has flown somewhere else long ago.¡± ¡°Well then...¡± Chapter 134: Black Silk, Forever Divine! Chapter 134: Black Silk, Forever Divine! Wang Yannian handed the yellowed envelope to Xiao Chen: ¡°Xiao Chen, many years ago, I saved the life of the Li family''s patriarch, Li Weifeng.¡± ¡°Later, Li Weifeng and I found we shared similar interests and became good friends. We agreed on an arranged child betrothal.¡± ¡°Originally, this betrothal should have been fulfilled by my son, but as you know, I, Wang Yannian, have been alone for many years with no children. So, this marriage obligation falls on your shoulders.¡± Xiao Chen was immediately overwhelmed: ¡°Master, you actually arranged a child betrothal for me? Are you serious?¡± Wang Yannian chuckled: ¡°Xiao Chen, don''t worry. As far as I know, the Li family is incredibly wealthy, one of the four major families in Donghai City. Being their son-in-law, you''ll live comfortably. Just don''t forget to honor your master.¡± ¡°Moreover, I heard that the Li family''s daughter is very beautiful, standing tall and graceful. Consider yourself lucky to get a ready-made wife.¡± Xiao Chen waved his hand: ¡°No way, I refuse. I''d rather die than go. Master, usually girls in such arranged marriages are unsightly. I won''t subject myself to that. If you want to get married, go ahead. I definitely won''t go, no matter what you say.¡± Wang Yannian smiled and said: ¡°Not going? That''s fine. I''ve lived on this mountain for ten years; another ten or twenty years won''t matter. Xiao Chen, if you don''t want to go, just stay on the mountain with me.¡± ¡°Master, you promised I could leave the mountain after three years. Why are you going back on your word now?¡± ¡°Xiao Chen, when have I ever gone back on my word? As I said, you can leave the mountain, but you must fulfill the agreement and marry the Li family''s daughter. If you don''t want to, you can stay on the mountain. You can leave when you can defeat me.¡± Xiao Chen grimaced, knowing how formidable Wang Yannian was. Even in winter, wearing only a shirt, Wang Yannian never felt cold, making Xiao Chen suspect he was more than just a martial arts grandmaster, perhaps even a legendary immortal. Having trained under Wang Yannian for so long, every time he made a breakthrough, he would be effortlessly defeated by Wang Yannian. So, agreeing to Wang Yannian''s terms seemed more realistic than staying on the mountain. ¡°Master, I accept your conditions. I will go down the mountain and get married.¡± ¡°Good, Xiao Chen. This is very important. I rarely make promises, but once I do, I keep them. If you deceive me and don''t follow through after descending the mountain, you know my temperament.¡± Wang Yannian said solemnly. Xiao Chen shivered: ¡°Master, what if the girl refuses to marry me?¡± ¡°That''s not our concern. If she refuses, we can''t force her.¡± Having achieved the desired outcome, Xiao Chen nodded in satisfaction. He planned to make the Li family''s daughter refuse the marriage. Wang Yannian could see through Xiao Chen''s intentions but didn''t expose him. If Xiao Chen insisted on breaking off the engagement, Wang Yannian would agree. It all depends on fate. [Ding~! The protaganist Xiao Chen has descended the mountain. The ''Divine Doctor Descends to the Flower City'' plot officially begins! Host, please prepare yourself mentally.]. Zhao Yanyan glared at Su Lin discontentedly: ¡°Hmph, it really was an accident.¡± Then she sighed: ¡°Ah, my life is ruined in your hands, Su Lin. You must treat me well, you know?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely treat you well.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t ask for much, just treat me like you do Xiaowan.¡± Zhao Yanyan said dreamily, holding Su Lin¡¯s arm. ¡°Like Xiaowan? Yanyan, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to handle it, you know. Xiaowan had to rest for several days to recover.¡± Su Lin chuckled. ¡°Stop, I haven¡¯t said I¡¯ll give myself to you yet. We¡¯re just dating, you know?¡± Zhao Yanyan emphasized. ¡°I know, I know, just dating.¡± ¡°Mmm...¡± Reluctantly, Su Lin withdrew his arm and then glanced at Zhao Yanyan¡¯s legs: ¡°Yanyan, such beautiful legs, it¡¯d be a pity not to wear black silk.¡± ¡°Black silk?¡± Zhao Yanyan looked puzzled at Su Lin. Su Lin sighed, thinking how simple the men of this time were, not to appreciate such a wonderful thing as black silk. ¡°It¡¯s black stockings,¡± Su Lin clarified. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with black stockings?¡± Zhao Yanyan asked, puzzled. Su Lin shook his head: ¡°Of course, there¡¯s nothing wrong. I mean, remember to buy a couple of pairs when you¡¯re free.¡± ¡°To buy for what...hmm? Su Lin, you¡¯re quite lecherous.¡± Zhao Yanyan spat at Su Lin. She had already figured out Su Lin¡¯s vulgar taste. ¡°Cough cough, black silk is forever divine, don¡¯t you know? No man dislikes it. Such great legs, you have to try it; otherwise, it¡¯s such a waste.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to buy that,¡± Zhao Yanyan turned her head away. Seeing her reaction, Su Lin chuckled, started the car, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, back to the company.¡± Chapter 135 Chapter 135: The Protagonist¡¯s Divine Skill, Taiyi Acupuncture! Thanks to Lin Tian¡¯s mediation, Luo Sihai finally met Li Zihan, the eldest son of the Li family in Donghai, at the last moment. Seeing Li Zihan, Luo Sihai¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise. It was well known that Li Ziyu of the Li family was unparalleled in intelligence and known as one of the beauties of Donghai. However, Li Zihan seemed somewhat obscure in comparison. It was known that the Li family had such a son, and that was about it. Various scandals like street racing, fighting, womanizing, and other typical rich second generation behaviors were all associated with him. It was unexpected to see him today. Li Zihan, tall and not particularly handsome but dressed in brand-name clothes and exuding a playboy aura, sat on the sofa with his legs crossed and asked Luo Sihai, ¡°Surprised to see me, Sihai?¡± Luo Sihai nodded, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s unexpected. Normally, scions like you wouldn¡¯t deal with people like us.¡± Li Zihan agreed, ¡°True, but that¡¯s relative. I believe my family business has had quite a few dealings with you, Sihai.¡± Luo Sihai sighed, ¡°Everyone says the Li family has a clever daughter, but the eldest son is also not to be underestimated.¡± Li Zihan sneered, ¡°That woman just has good luck. Father prefers daughters over sons. He has always pampered her, so as the eldest son, I naturally remained obscure.¡± Luo Sihai, realizing this was a family drama, changed the subject, ¡°Young Master Li, competing with the Qin family is no small matter. Can you represent your family?¡± Li Zihan chuckled, ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t represent the Li family, but my presence at the banquet is representation enough, isn¡¯t it?¡± Luo Sihai praised, ¡°Great courage, Young Master Li.¡± Li Zihan continued, ¡°The family didn¡¯t fight for the subway line project because of what Li Ziyu said. How foolish! Donghai is so big, and ten subway lines can¡¯t cover it all.¡± ¡°There are hundreds of billions in this project, and they just let it go. They have become too complacent and lost their courage over the years.¡± ¡°Great! I, Luo Sihai, promise you this. As long as the money is in place, you don¡¯t need to worry about anything else.¡± Su Lin quickly waved his hand, ¡°Forget it. I haven¡¯t even seen what she looks like. Your Qin family doesn¡¯t even allow a photo to be posted online. She must be a dinosaur, very ugly, too embarrassed to be seen, hence the exaggerated praise.¡± ¡°You, kid... Others would be excited for days hearing this news, but you look down on our Xiaoyue. If it weren¡¯t for your blue and white porcelain, I wouldn¡¯t bother with you,¡± Qin Delin retorted. Su Lin sarcastically replied, ¡°Yeah, I really hope you ignore me so I can leave.¡± ¡°No, wait a minute,¡± Qin Delin insisted. Su Lin stood there, skeptical, as Qin Delin got up and fetched a delicate box from the room. ¡°You want me to authenticate this for you?¡± Su Lin asked, surprised. Qin Delin nodded, ¡°I unexpectedly acquired a jade porcelain, entirely made of jade, genuine old pit kind. But this jade porcelain is a bit strange; it¡¯s hard to determine its era. Can you help me authenticate it?¡± Hesitating briefly, Su Lin then agreed, ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t invite me over just for your granddaughter¡¯s birthday.¡± Sighing, Qin Delin explained, ¡°I¡¯ve had this jade porcelain for many years and consulted countless experts. They all say it¡¯s an old piece and valuable, but not a treasure. But I always feel it¡¯s a genuine treasure.¡± Hearing this, Su Lin became interested, knowing a person like Qin Delin wouldn¡¯t randomly consider something a treasure. Su Lin put on the white gloves handed to him by Qin Delin, who also donned a pair, before slowly opening the box. As soon as the box was opened, Su Lin couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the jade porcelain inside. [Ancient Jade Porcelain: A product of the Great Tang era, containing a martial arts jade pendant at its base.].[Ding~! Congratulations, host, for discovering the third needle of Taiyi Divine Needle ¨C Yangyan Needle! (The Yangyan Needle, a fire attribute, is a domineering acupuncture technique. Do not use it lightly on patients, or the consequences will be unimaginable.)]. Hearing the system¡¯s voice, Su Lin was stunned. This was the martial arts technique that allowed the protagonist, Xiao Chen, to enter the world of cultivation. The Taiyi Divine Needle was an extremely powerful acupuncture technique that could save or kill people and even cultivate immortality. Later, when Xiao Chen was seriously injured, he would heal himself with a couple of needles, then leap around killing enemies above his level. The Yangyan Needle, an aggressive needle, was particularly domineering. If a patient had poor physical constitution, one needle could instantly kill. It was also very efficient for killing enemies, turning them to ash with a single needle, leaving no trace ¨C extremely convenient. Su Lin never expected to find this third needle in Qin Delin¡¯s possession so early. It was like finding a needle in a haystack. Chapter 136 Chapter 136: Cunning and Sneaky, Doesn¡¯t Look Like a Good Person! Su Lin remembered that Xiao Chen had bought this jade porcelain at a charity auction, meaning eventually this Old Man Qin Delin would put this jade porcelain up for auction. It definitely wasn¡¯t because he was out of money, so what could be the reason? Probably, he didn¡¯t know the use of this jade porcelain and decided to auction it off to avoid any hassle.Th.e? most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m After Su Lin looked at the jade porcelain, Qin Delin stared at him intently, trying to discern something from Su Lin¡¯s expression. Unfortunately, there wasn¡¯t much reaction on Su Lin¡¯s face. Holding the jade porcelain, he carefully observed it. ¡°Old Man, this jade porcelain has exquisite craftsmanship, it doesn¡¯t seem to be from the Ming or Qing dynasty.¡± ¡°Hmm? You mean it¡¯s older, possibly from the Yuan or Song dynasty?¡± Qin Delin asked excitedly. Su Lin shook his head. ¡°I think this jade porcelain is most likely from the Republic of China period. The mouth of this porcelain used to have a fragrance, right?¡± Qin Delin nodded, ¡°Indeed, it had a very unique fragrance that refreshed the mind and cleared the senses. Sadly, it¡¯s been opened too many times, so the scent has faded and can¡¯t be smelled anymore. Can you smell it?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°My nose is more sensitive than most. As you know, to appreciate antiques, one needs either a good nose or good eyes, otherwise, there¡¯s no fun in it.¡± Qin Delin agreed. His eyesight was excellent; he could make a rough judgment on an object even from a hundred meters away, and he rarely made mistakes in such assessments. ¡°So you¡¯re saying this is a medicine bottle from the Republic of China period?¡± Su Lin nodded again, ¡°Not just any medicine bottle, but one specifically made for wealthy families, similar to snuff bottles in function.¡± Qin Delin nodded, ¡°Indeed, during the late Qing and early Republic of China period, wealthy families loved such mind-refreshing objects. But most played with snuff bottles. This jade porcelain is quite large for that purpose.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why only affluent families could afford such things. Just this bottle alone is worth a hundred million.¡± Qin Delin appeared somewhat disheartened. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to be like this.¡± Su Lin reassured him, ¡°Old Man, don¡¯t be too disappointed. This jade porcelain is a great item, and it¡¯s such a large piece made of jade. My words are just a guess. You might want to get other experts to take a look; they might have different opinions.¡± Qin Delin shook his head; other experts had similar opinions, all suggesting it was from the late Qing or Republic of China period. Qin Delin burst into laughter, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll personally come to collect it. Wait for me at home.¡± Holding the jade porcelain, Su Lin left the room grudgingly, ¡°I¡¯m off then. I might as well see what your granddaughter Xiaoyue looks like.¡± No sooner had Su Lin left than a sprightly young girl emerged from the inner room. She ran up to Qin Delin and hugged his neck, ¡°Grandpa, that Su Lin is up to no good.¡± ¡°Oh? Xiaoyue, did you notice something?¡± ¡°Mmm! He definitely saw something special in that jade porcelain, or else he wouldn¡¯t have put on such an act,¡± Qin Jiuyue grumbled, revealing two cute little fangs. ¡°Xiaoyue, you think I didn¡¯t realize he saw something special? Su Lin is still a bit naive in his ways. At first, when he didn¡¯t show any reaction, I didn¡¯t suspect anything. But the moment he wanted to buy the jade porcelain, I knew something was up,¡± Qin Delin said with a chuckle. ¡°Then why did you still exchange it with him? That jade porcelain might be worth more than his blue and white porcelain,¡± Qin Jiuyue expressed her dissatisfaction. ¡°Xiaoyue, of course, I know the jade porcelain might be valuable, but what of it? After all, it¡¯s still a piece of jade, and its historical value is certain. At most, it¡¯s a Ming dynasty artifact.¡± ¡°But that blue and white porcelain is a true masterpiece. The craftsmanship, the patterns, the burning mouth... it¡¯s simply breathtaking. Even if it¡¯s worth ten billion, I¡¯d gladly pay for it.¡± ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re hopeless, forever obsessed with porcelain.¡± ¡°Ah, your grandpa has spent a lifetime studying porcelain. There¡¯s no saving me now. Xiaoyue, what do you think of Su Lin?¡± After pondering for a moment, Qin Jiuyue said, ¡°He¡¯s cunning and sneaky, doesn¡¯t seem like a good person.¡± ¡°Hahaha... Your assessment is quite accurate. This guy¡¯s actions in Donghai clearly show he¡¯s cunning. But he¡¯s talented. Su Zhenguo himself is a tiger, and it¡¯s true what they say: ¡®Like father, like son.¡¯ Make sure you interact more with him. It¡¯ll be beneficial for you in the future.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not. The Qin family won¡¯t collapse without me. With such a huge family business, it¡¯s not going to go bankrupt.¡± ¡°Ah... I¡¯m just worried about you... Family strife often comes with conflict, Xiaoyue...¡± ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s my birthday today, I¡¯m twenty years old. Can we not talk about this?¡± ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s not. Go get ready and head downstairs. Hundreds of people are waiting for you.¡± Chapter 137: Gift Chapter 137: Gift As soon as Su Lin left the room, he placed the jade porcelain into his system space. Even if Qin Delin changed his mind now, he wouldn''t return it. Even if the entire Qin family came after him, he wouldn''t give it back. After all, this was the protagonist''s trump card ¨C what could be more exhilarating than snatching it first? Snatching opportunities, snatching girls, the thrill was unparalleled! [Ding~! Host has preemptively acquired the third needle of Taiyi Divine Needle, altering the storyline, suppressing the male lead, preventing him from assembling all the needles of Taiyi Divine Needle. The male lead Xiao Chen''s fortune is reduced by 5%, and the host is rewarded with one epic level treasure box draw.]. ¡°Snatching a cultivation technique and getting an epic level treasure box draw, it''s almost like dealing with a reborn protagonist, terrifying indeed!!!¡± ¡°System, can I freely alter the storyline? Like, gathering all seven needles of Taiyi Divine Needle right now?¡± [Host, altering the storyline is possible, but only the current stage of the storyline can be changed.]. ¡°Got it~!!¡± ¡°Then, can I just kill Xiao Chen right now?¡± [Host, if you use force, the likely outcome will be mutual destruction, followed by the host being severely injured by a mysterious expert, or even facing a life-threatening situation.]. ¡°Damn... Aren''t reborn protagonists supposed to be easily squashed? Why not in a light novel?¡± [Host, the protagonist of a xiaobai novel is protected by fortune, far beyond what a reborn protagonist can compare.]. ¡°Alright, when can I finish him off?¡± [If the host collects all seven needles of Taiyi Divine Needle or conquers all the female leads, you may then make a move against the protaganist.]. ¡°All the female leads? You''re practically asking for my life!!¡± Having just finished his complaint, Su Lin heard various exclamations from the hall. He entered through a side door and saw a girl in a princess dress, adorned with a diamond crown, walking out from the back door. Her arrival captured everyone''s attention. Many second-generation rich children, both male and female, flocked to her. The girl, Qin Jiuyue, greeted them with a smile, poised and dignified. This was Qin Jiuyue, with a delicate and playful face, large eyes that seemed to speak, and a crescent moon-like smile that was extremely pleasant. Su Lin finally understood why Qin Jiuyue was the cherished princess of the Qin family. Any pampering request she made would certainly be hard to refuse. ¡°Long time no see, Xiaoyue. You''ve become even more beautiful.¡± ¡°Really? ¡°I think so too,¡± Qin Jiuyue replied cheerfully. ¡°Where''s my birthday present?¡± ¡°It''s already prepared. This is specially bought for you from England...¡± Su Lin just glanced at the group of sweet-rich second-generation kids and shook his head, not wanting to watch any longer. They seemed to be competing over who had brought the more expensive gift, as if that demonstrated their sincerity. Qin Jiuyue, though smiling, maintained a polite and reserved demeanor, never dropping her princess-like aura. Su Lin knew that Qin Jiuyue was the type who loved to play and be wild. Therefore, none of these gifts caught her eye. To be accurate, she wasn''t interested in anyone present. Being overly protected by the Qin family, she had always suppressed her emotions, which only began to show gradually after meeting Xiao Chen. ¡°What do you think, isn¡¯t the Qin family princess beautiful?¡± Upon hearing a familiar voice, Su Lin turned around and saw Zhao Yanyan in a light blue long dress. He nodded, ¡°Indeed, she''s quite pretty.¡± Su Lin, now realizing the situation, faced the adorable and yet somehow authoritative presence of Qin Jiuyue, the cherished daughter of the Qin family. However, the woman was now looking at him with a playful and charming smile, compelling Su Lin to admit that this girl truly deserved to be the main female lead. ¡°Su Lin, you didn¡¯t really come unprepared, did you?¡± Su Lin was in a tight spot. Typically, for gatherings like these, invitations sent directly to one¡¯s home meant that the family would prepare the gift. If the invitation was personal, then a personal gift was expected. Su Lin had always thought that the invitation was from Qin Delin, not realizing it was from Qin Jiuyue. He noticed the curious glances from the people around, focusing on their trio. Suddenly, Su Lin burst into laughter. ¡°How could I possibly come unprepared? But I have left my gift in the rest area; I need to fetch it.¡± ¡°Oh? Then you better go get it quickly; I¡¯ll wait for you right here,¡± Qin Jiuyue raised an eyebrow, fully aware that Su Lin had come empty-handed and even tricked her grandfather out of a jade vase. Thinking of how Su Lin deceived her grandfather and still had the nerve to act so smug, Qin Jiuyue was grinding her teeth in annoyance. Qin Delin adored her the most. She was determined to embarrass Su Lin today; she wouldn¡¯t feel satisfied otherwise. ¡°Uh... since you¡¯re waiting, okay then, just give me two minutes. Yanyan, please keep her company for a while. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± ¡°Ah... okay~!~!!¡± Zhao Yanyan was also somewhat bewildered, not knowing when Su Lin had become acquainted with the young lady of the Qin family. But this wasn¡¯t the right moment to ask, so she agreed to stay. ¡°Hmph... let¡¯s see how you come up with a gift now,¡± Qin Jiuyue huffed in anticipation. Zhao Yanyan was again baffled by Qin Jiuyue¡¯s tone, sensing that the latter seemed displeased with Su Lin. Two minutes later, Su Lin returned, holding a delicate box ¨C the same box Qin Delin had used for the jade porcelain. Qin Jiuyue recognized it immediately, having seen it not long ago. She was surprised, thinking Su Lin intended to give her the jade porcelain as a birthday gift. That would indeed be a lavish present; the porcelain alone was worth a billion yuan just as a jade piece, let alone its antique value. ¡°Coming in a hurry, I didn¡¯t prepare anything special. This is just a small token of my esteem.¡± Su Lin handed the box to Qin Jiuyue. ¡°This... is really for me?¡± Su Lin nodded with a smile. Inside the box wasn¡¯t the jade porcelain but a lifelike imitation snake. Since this young lady enjoyed playing pranks, Su Lin decided to give her a suitable gift for her antics. ¡°Ah~! Then I¡¯ll accept it, thank you, Su Lin.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome. We¡¯re all good friends, aren¡¯t we? I should also thank you for the invitation,¡± Su Lin said deliberately, word by word. ¡°Hehe...!¡± Chapter 138: The Naive Xiaoyue, The Death of Lin Tian! Chapter 138: The Naive Xiaoyue, The Death of Lin Tian![Qin Jiuyue: 20 years old, height 165cm, weight 45kg, 35C.]. [Favorability 40¡ý decreasing.]. [Skills: Advanced management, advanced English, advanced piano, advanced violin, advanced French, advanced Go, intermediate swordsmanship, intermediate...]. [Current health value: 100]. [Purity: 100.]. [Current mindset: Surprised, happy, angry!]. Su Lin really wanted to ask Qin Jiuyue how she managed to simultaneously experience surprise, happiness, and anger, as these emotions seemed quite contradictory. At this moment, Qin Jiuyue was almost exploding with anger. She initially thought Su Lin had returned the jade porcelain she believed he took from her grandfather. She was secretly happy about it and had even slightly changed her opinion of Su Lin. However, she was shocked to find that the box he gave her was empty. She could clearly tell that the box in her hand was weightless. She knew exactly how heavy her grandfather''s box was, and Su Lin had taken the jade porcelain, leaving her with just an empty box. This was the first time she had encountered such a situation in all her years. Qin Jiuyue was extremely angry, but since it was her birthday, she couldn''t openly show her anger. At this moment, Lin Tian, ??who was watching the scene from a distance, suddenly said, ¡°They''ve all opened their gifts. Why not open this one and take a look?¡± It was inappropriate for Lin Tian to comment in such a scenario, but the majority of the attention was already focused on the exquisite gift box given by Su Lin. The attendees were mostly young people; the older ones were discussing business matters. For them, such gatherings were more about integrating resources and forging alliances. Therefore, no elders intervened, leaving only a group of young people surrounding Qin Jiuyue. ¡°Yeah, Xiaoyue, we also want to know what''s inside the box.¡± ¡°Right, right, open it and see.¡± Qin Jiuyue looked at Su Lin and asked, ¡°Can I open it?¡± Su Lin was somewhat surprised that Qin Jiuyue even sought his opinion. Hesitating for a moment, he said, ¡°You can open it, but you should be mentally prepared.¡± My gift is quite special.¡± ¡°What''s so special about it? Is it like ''The Emperor''s New Clothes''?¡±Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com Qin Jiuyue, eager to potentially embarrass Su Lin, hurriedly opened the package. Many young onlookers watched eagerly. They all wanted to know what gift Su Lin had given, whether it was expensive, and if it might outshine their own gifts. As soon as Qin Jiuyue opened the box, a realistic-looking toy snake crawled up her hand, its body cold and able to flick its tongue, just like a real snake. ¡°Ah! It¡¯s a snake!¡± ¡°Damn, that''s awesome, it''s a snake.¡± ¡°Su Lin''s got guts to gift this. He''s done for.¡± ¡°Gifting this for a birthday? Has he lost his mind? I thought at the least it would be a diamond necklace.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk... If you''re stingy, just say so. Who gifts a toy snake?¡± At this moment, they had already realized that the snake in Qin Jiuyue''s hand was fake, but it was made very realistically, with fine craftsmanship, almost indistinguishable from a real snake. Su Lin completely ignored the whispers around him. He knew Qin Jiuyue''s character very well ¨C although she appeared gentle and charming, she was quite wild at heart. Qin Deshu nodded, ¡°Indeed, your presence here makes whether it was your dad''s idea irrelevant.¡± He then raised an eyebrow, ¡°You want a railway line?¡± Li Ziyan shook his head, ¡°I don''t want it.¡± He wasn¡¯t foolish enough to openly ask for the railway line from Qin Deshu. Doing so would result in a chain reaction of complications, potentially costing his family significantly. Therefore, he had brought Lin Tian along. Lin Tian then spoke up, ¡°Mr. Qin, I heard that you¡¯re outsourcing the railway line contracts. Since it¡¯s a matter of contracting, it should go to the highest bidder, right? You wouldn¡¯t turn down money, would you?¡± Qin Deshu nodded, ¡°There are three railway lines, divided into six sections, with construction to start simultaneously on both ends. Which one do you want, young friend?¡± As everyone¡¯s gaze turned to him, Lin Tian¡¯s confidence surged. Despite achieving a net worth of tens of billions in his past life and even going public, he had never had such direct interaction with top-tier figures like Li Ziyan. He never imagined he¡¯d have such an opportunity today. Seeing Lin Tian¡¯s newfound confidence, Qin Deshu was surprised yet somewhat relieved. If Lin Tian hadn¡¯t possessed some level of capability, Li Ziyan wouldn¡¯t have brought him along. ¡°Mr. Qin, everyone here is a big player, each capable of developing an entire line on their own. However, I recall Mr. Su has already bought six plots of land this year. Mr. Su, do you still have the funds for a new project?¡± Lin Tian challenged Su Zhengou. Su Zhengou, aware of Lin Tian¡¯s and Su Lin¡¯s rivalry, wasn¡¯t surprised by the confrontation. He smiled wryly, ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t really want to come to this resource allocation meeting. But Mr. Qin invited me, and I couldn¡¯t refuse.¡± ¡°You might not know this, but Mr. Su is the only developer among us six who doesn¡¯t need to show proof of funds or even provide capital.¡± ¡°What? How is that possible? Are you saying he¡¯s just given tens of billions for free? What makes him so special?¡± Su Zhengou remained silent, knowing that battling with someone like Lin Tian was a no-win situation. He turned to Qin Deshu, ¡°Mr. Qin, I apologize for the children¡¯s squabbles reaching this far.¡± Qin Deshu shook his head, ¡°No need to apologize, Mr. Su. Our Qin family might rely on you for a living in the future.¡± ¡°Mr. Qin, you flatter me.¡± Li Ziyan, seeing Lin Tian¡¯s confusion, realized his words no longer held sway. He turned to Qin Deshu, ¡°Grandpa Qin, what¡¯s going on here? Why would you give away tens of billions for free?¡± Qin Deshu chuckled, ¡°Ziyan, I can tell you¡¯re a talented young man. Unfortunately, sometimes when you play with pigs for too long, you become one. Today, since you¡¯ve called me ¡®Grandpa Qin¡¯, I¡¯ll let you in on a secret.¡± ¡°Mr. Su¡¯s research institute has developed a complete 4G communication technology. The official documents will be issued soon, and Donghai City will be the first 4G pilot city.¡± Li Ziyan¡¯s mind was blown. Although he didn¡¯t fully understand the significance of 4G technology, the fact that Qin Deshu placed such importance on it meant it was no trivial matter. His exclusion from this key information indicated he had been ousted from the core circle of his family. Lin Tian was equally shocked. Having lived through the 4G and even 5G eras, he knew how groundbreaking this technology was. Just as he was about to question Su Zhengou about possessing 4G technology, he suddenly felt a sharp spasm in his internal organs. He collapsed, coughing up blood and bits of flesh. Within half a minute, Lin Tian¡¯s pupils lost focus, and he lay motionless on the floor. Chapter 139: Good Physique Chapter 139: Good Physique At the gathering of the magnates, no one expected Lin Tian to suddenly die so mysteriously right before their eyes. Qin Deshu was visibly shaking with rage, ¡°Li Ziyan, did you bring this person? Are you trying to frame our Qin family?¡± ¡°No, Grandpa Qin, I truly never intended anything like that,¡± Li Ziyan hurriedly explained. He did not understand the critical implication of the situation ¨C the Qin and Li families were adversaries. If Qin Deshu found an excuse to act against him, it would spell disaster. Li Ziyan regretted his decision to bring Lin Tian. The man''s death at the Sihai Hotel, under his responsibility, was a matter that couldn''t easily be dismissed. ¡°Grandpa Qin...¡± ¡°Don''t. We are not that close. Call your family to take care of this,¡± Qin Deshu said coldly. Qin Deshu instructed a waiter to summon Zhao Tiande, the Police Chief, who was also present at the hotel. ¡°This matter should only be known to us here. It¡¯s my granddaughter¡¯s birthday banquet, and I don¡¯t want the news of bloodshed to spread.¡± The other magnates readily agreed, seeing it as an opportunity to gain a favor from the Qin family. Li Ziyan watched helplessly, his heart bleeding. He had already been ousted from the core circle of his family, and his presence at the Qin''s banquet had already sent a bad signal. Now, with Lin Tian''s death, the situation had escalated beyond his control. Qin Deshu seemed determined to make a big issue out of this incident, likely aiming for some gain. Li Ziyan felt like he was the center of a storm, baffled by the sudden turn of events. Su Zhengou pondered over Lin Tian''s abrupt death. The only enemy Lin Tian had was Su Lin, his son. He hoped Su Lin wasn''t involved in this. [Ding! Congratulations, Host, on your first kill, successfully eliminating protagonist Lin Tian and earning one epic chest lottery draw.]. [Ding! Successful elimination of a protagonist, system rating in progress.]. [Ding! Rating complete, system evaluation: S.]. [Ding! For eliminating a protagonist, you have gained the Villain''s Aura. (Villain''s Aura extends within a ten-meter radius, preventing all characters from being affected by the protagonist''s intelligence reduction.)]. Hearing the system''s rewards, Su Lin realized Lin Tian''s death was final. He looked around, noticing that it seemed like nothing had happened, indicating Lin Tian''s death was being kept under wraps, known only to a few. Su Lin hadn''t expected inadvertent actions to provide Qin Deshu with a pretext to achieve his goals. The Li family would undoubtedly suffer silently this time. Li Ziyan''s presence and the death of his companion would compel the Li family to offer a resolution. Unaware of these machinations, Su Lin now donned the Villain''s Aura, observing the people around him. ¡°Pity that the main protagonist, Xiao Chen, is not here. Otherwise, some interesting things might have happened,¡± Su Lin said, feeling a bit regretful. ¡°Su Lin, my dad just said he won''t be going back tonight and asked me to go back with you,¡± Zhao Yanyan said. Su Lin looked puzzled, ¡°Your dad isn''t going back? What is he doing at the hotel?¡± Zhao Yanyan shook her head, ¡°I don''t know. From what he said, it seems like a tricky case suddenly came up, and he''s going to deal with it now.¡± ¡°Ah! Has he already left?¡± He only saw her profile and her snow-white neck. As for her height, she seemed to be a bit taller than Lin Xiaowan but shorter than Zhao Yanyan. Why was she at tonight¡¯s banquet? Su Lin, pulling Zhao Yanyan with him, subtly moved closer to Qin Jiuyue. ¡°Sister Jiuyue, that just now was Li Ziyu from the Li family, right? Why is she here?¡± Qin Jiuyue shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not sure either. The bodyguards didn¡¯t stop her, so maybe she has some business?¡± Seeing Qin Jiuyue also uncertain, everyone became intrigued. ¡°Does she always seem so cold and emotionless? Are you close with her, Sister Jiuyue?¡± Qin Jiuyue shook her head again, ¡°You all know Li Ziyu¡¯s icy temperament. Our families have been competitors for years, so it¡¯s strange for us to have a good relationship.¡± ¡°Ah... I heard she¡¯s already betrothed. I wonder which young master it is.¡± ¡°I guess it¡¯s probably someone from the imperial capital. There are only a few families in Donghai that can match the Li family, but unfortunately, the males in those families are somewhat lacking. It¡¯s a case of strong women and weak men.¡± ¡°Ah, we have so many beauties in Donghai, but not many handsome men.¡± ¡°What about Su Lin? Isn¡¯t he handsome? You haven¡¯t experienced men; I can tell just by looking, Su Lin has a great physique.¡± ¡°Really? How can you tell?¡± While Su Lin and Zhao Yanyan were listening, they suddenly heard themselves mentioned. Su Lin glanced awkwardly at Zhao Yanyan, only to see her gazing at his stomach, almost drooling. ¡°Yanyan?¡± ¡°Ah! Su Lin, that woman is so impressive. How could she tell you have a good physique?¡± Zhao Yanyan said and then touched Su Lin¡¯s stomach, feeling his firm abs, almost reluctant to withdraw her hand. ¡°Yanyan, you are playing with fire. Not planning to go home tonight?¡± ¡°Su Lin, stop, stop... I just couldn¡¯t help it, really,¡± Zhao Yanyan giggled. ¡°Hmph, no need to explain. I¡¯ve long realized you¡¯re just craving my body,¡± Su Lin said with a smile. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the same!¡± Zhao Yanyan retorted playfully. Chapter 140: The Evil Leggings Chapter 140: The Evil Leggings Upstairs, Li Ziyu had grasped the situation. She looked at Qin Denshu sitting in the main seat and the pale-faced Li Zihan, and asked lightly, ¡°President Qin, how do you plan to handle today''s incident?¡± Qin Denshu smiled and said, ¡°What can I do? Since this has happened, let''s first hear what the police have to say about it. Ziyu, please have a seat. The preliminary results will be out soon, and you can listen in as well.¡± Li Ziyu, realizing that the matter couldn''t be resolved easily, nodded and took a seat. Li Zihan express, ¡°Sister, believe me, I really don''t know what happened.¡± Li Ziyu coldly asked, ¡°Then why did you come to tonight''s banquet when I told you not to?¡± ¡°I...¡± Li Zihan started to explain but was cut off. ¡°Enough, no need to explain. Let''s wait for the results,¡± Li Ziyu said, rubbing her temples. Although Li Zihan wasn''t in the core circle of the Li family, he was still their eldest son and represented the Li family wherever he went. Li Ziyu considered the situation, suspecting a trap set for her brother. Minutes later, Zhao Tiande, accompanied by a forensic expert, entered. He didn''t say much to Li Ziyu but gestured to the forensic expert, ¡°This is our most authoritative forensic expert. The death of Lin Tian is complicated. Let him explain the details.¡± The expert pushed up his glasses and explained, ¡°Strictly speaking, Lin Tian has been dead for several days. His internal organs were destroyed by external force, which strangely didn''t manifest immediately. It was suppressed for several days before finally erupting.¡± Qin Denshu''s eyes flashed, ¡°Do you mean a martial artist was involved?¡± The expert nodded, ¡°Not just any martial artist. Judging by the time of death and the handprint on his back, it''s been at least five days. I suspect it''s the work of a master-level martial artist. Strictly speaking, he should have died five days ago.¡± Everyone gasped. Master-level martial artists in Donghai were rare and usually wouldn''t act against young people. Li Ziyu remained composed as Qin Denshu turned to her, ¡°Ziyu, as far as I know, the Li family has several masters in Donghai. You can''t say this has nothing to do with your family.¡± Li Ziyu spoke up, ¡°President Qin, name your terms.¡± Qin Denshu smiled, ¡°My terms are simple. For the 4G trial, the Li family should not participate. If you agree, I''ll pretend this incident never happened.¡± ¡°That''s impossible!¡± Li Ziyu objected immediately. Li Ziyu, realizing the severity of the situation, finally sighed, ¡°President Qin, apart from this, name any other condition.¡± Li Zihan''s eyes lit up with a trace of hope, ¡°Sister, are we still investigating this?¡± ¡°Of course, we must. The sudden appearance of a master-level martial artist in Donghai, unknown to all of us, is not a simple matter,¡± Li Ziyu asserted. Meanwhile, Su Lin was unaware of the events unfolding upstairs. He and Zhao Yanyan were with Qin Jiuyue, cutting the cake. He knew behind Qin Jiuyue''s obedient facade lay a wild heart. ¡°Su Lin, shall we leave after finishing the cake?¡± Zhao Yanyan asked. Su Lin nodded, ¡°Yes, the adults are mostly gone.¡± We should leave soon too. I''ll drive you home.¡± ¡°Mhm~! Shall we say goodbye to Qin Jiuyue?¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°Let''s not.¡± There are so many people around her, and we¡¯re not that close anyway.¡± As they left the hotel and returned to the car, Zhao Yanyan sat in the passenger seat. Her long dress slide down, revealing her fair legs. She tried to pull her dress up several times, but it kept sliding down. Eventually, seeing Su Lin''s gaze, she said awkwardly, ¡°The slit in this dress is too high.¡± ¡°If you can''t cover it, don''t bother. I won''t do anything to you. No need to guard against me like I''m a wolf.¡± Zhao Yanyan hurriedly clarified, ¡°Su Lin, I didn''t mean that. It¡¯s just that the slit is too high, and even my leggings are showing.¡± ¡°Hmph, cursed leggings, present in every world,¡± Su Lin muttered. ¡°Ha-ha! They''re to prevent wardrobe malfunctions. Do you think I would wear such a long dress without leggings?¡± ¡°That makes sense. Without leggings, your outfit would be too convenient.¡± ¡°Go away, start the car. I need to get home.¡± Seeing Zhao Yanyan''s announced yet adorable reaction, Su Lin leaned in to kiss her chin. ¡°Su Lin, you''re attacking me again.¡± Chapter 141: Su Lin Thinking About Snatching Opportunities Again! Chapter 141: Su Lin Thinking About Snatching Opportunities Again! ¡°Ding-dong~!!¡± ¡°Su Lin, phone, phone! There''s a call." Su Lin, somewhat annoyed at being disturbed at a crucial moment, answers the phone gruffly, ¡°Hello~!!¡± ¡°Su Lin, Su Lin, has the banquet ended?¡± Hearing Lin Xiaowan''s voice, Su Lin becomes more alert, ¡°Xiaowan, why are you calling so late?¡± ¡°What''s wrong? Just now, you sounded a bit impatient. Is something the matter?¡± Lin Xiaowan asks with concern. Su Lin, glancing at Zhao Yanyan''s smiling face beside him, says, ¡°Nothing... Have you not gone to bed yet, Xiaowan?¡± ¡°Mm-hmm, I haven''t seen you all day, I missed you so much.¡± Imagining Lin Xiaowan lying in bed, Su Lin responds with a laugh, ¡°I missed you too. Just wait a few more days for me, once I¡¯m done here, I¡¯ll come back.¡± ¡°Eh~! Didn''t you say you''d come back after the banquet? Why the sudden change?¡± Xiaowan sounds puzzled. Su Lin explains with a wry smile, ¡°It''s because of the third elder of the Qin family. We exchanged treasures. I''ve already taken mine, but I have to wait for him to come to my house to collect his.¡± ¡°The blue and white vase? You just exchanged it like that? What exactly did you get in return?¡± Xiaowan curiously inquires. ¡°I''ll tell you when I get back. I''m driving right now, Xiaowan, let''s talk later.¡± ¡°Okay~! Drive safely.¡± After hanging up, Zhao Yanyan asks, ¡°Why didn''t you tell Xiaowan about us?¡± Su Lin shrugs, ¡°That''s something you should tell her, not me.¡± ¡°I''m not going to say it, but with Xiaowan''s intelligence, she''ll probably figure it out in a few days,¡± Zhao Yanyan analyzes. Su Lin nods, ¡°Right, Xiaowan is smart enough to guess. But no worries, the worst she¡¯ll do is pinch me a few times or bite me.¡± ¡°I don''t know what kind of spell you cast on that girl to make her like this,¡± Zhao Yanyan chuckles. ¡°Well, it''s true he died suddenly, but clearly, there''s more to it. Qin and Li families won''t just let it go, and recently, the only one who had issues with Lin Tian was you.¡± Su Lin says casually, ¡°It''s fine, I have nothing to hide, I''m not afraid of investigating them.¡± ¡°That''s good, then.¡± After ending the call with Su Zhenguo, Su Lin quickly summons the system. ¡°System, I still have two chances for the Emperor''s Treasure Box lottery and two for the Epic Treasure Box, right?¡± [Yes, Host, do you wish to draw the lottery now?] The system responds. Rubbing his face, Su Lin declares, ¡°Draw! Let''s start with the Emperor''s lottery, then the Epic.¡± [Wow~! A legendary gold reward, congratulations Host for obtaining the skill of Mastering Tea Ceremony.]. [Ding~! Congratulations Host, you''ve drawn a Decoy Dummy.]. [Wow~! Congratulations Host for obtaining the Thieves'' Sect technique, Traceless Snow Steps.] [Wow~! Congratulations Host for obtaining the Thieves'' Sect technique, Empty-Handed Miracle.] With these four announcements, Su Lin''s mind fills with various information. First about the tea ceremony, including smelling, brewing, and tasting tea. This skill is rare nowadays, generally only practiced by scholarly elders or powerful leaders who enjoy this tradition. The Decoy Dummy, an almost identical replica of Su Lin, is quickly stored by him in the system space. Such an item could be useful someday. Lastly, Su Lin starts assimilating the information about the Thieves'' Sect techniques. The Traceless Snow Steps, a set of ethereal light-body skills, allows one to walk on walls and leave no trace in the snow. It''s a must-have skill for any adventurer in the martial world, especially for stealth and escape. The Empty-Handed Miracle, however, seems a bit of a mixed bag. It allows him to take anything unnoticed. The skill is quite overpowered with a hundred percent success rate. Su Lin muses about using it on Lin Xiaowan or Xia Shiyu ¨C would he even need to undress them? A few successful uses of Empty-Handed Miracle, and they would be unclothed. ¡°Damn, if the master of the Thieves'' Sect knew my first thoughts upon acquiring this technique, he might go mad.¡± But Su Lin soon realizes that the Empty-Handed Miracle cannot be used carelessly. He attempts it in the air and feels a significant drain on his vital energies, just like the Taiyi Divine Needles, requiring a substantial expenditure of energy. ¡°Finally not a bust, this time it was quite a good haul.¡± Thinking of the Taiyi Divine Needles, Su Lin retrieved the ancient jade from the system space. Without hesitation, he crushes the jade, revealing a small but luminous piece of ancient jade, slightly larger than a one-yuan coin, emitting a greenish glow. Pressing the jade against his forehead, Su Lin crushes it, and knowledge about the third needle of Taiyi Divine Needles ¨C its application, techniques, and inner methods ¨C floods his mind. ¡°The Taiyi Divine Needles are truly terrifying.¡± After collecting his thoughts, Su Lin drives back to his apartment, then steps out. He decides not to use his car this time, as it might attract unwanted attention, especially with Lin Tian¡¯s recent death stirring up the city. With no one around, Su Lin starts practicing the Traceless Snow Steps. Tonight, Qin Delin is supposed to discuss an arranged marriage with Qin Jiuyue, and she is likely to leave in anger, potentially meeting the protagonist, Xiao Chen. This meeting is what sparks Qin Jiuyue¡¯s initial interest in Xiao Chen. Unconcerned with the family power struggles, Su Lin is set on intercepting the meeting between Xiao Chen and Qin Jiuyue, keen on altering their destined encounter. Chapter 142: Intercepted Chapter 142: Intercepted As Qin Jiuyue sat to the left of Qin Delin, she faced the discussion about her arranged marriage with visible distress. ¡°Grandfather, I''m only twenty years old. Why are we talking about arranged marriages already?¡± she protested. Qin Delin responded unswayed by her youthful charm, ¡°Jiuyue, I''m not asking you to get married right now. I just want you to be prepared. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, families will approach us with marriage proposals.¡±Re?a? latest cha/p/ters on ¡°Previously, I could use your age as an excuse, but going forward, I might not be as convincing. Do you understand?¡± Jiuyue shook her head, clearly upset, ¡°I don''t understand. I¡¯m just a third-year college student.¡± ¡°Student? In ancient times, at your age, you would have been a mother of several children. Jiuyue, trust me, I won''t harm you.¡± ¡°About this marriage alliance, you don''t need to worry too much. If the other party''s status is not suitable or they don''t treat you well, just let me know. I''ll ensure they regret it.¡± Even with her mental preparation, Jiuyue felt a wave of sorrow hearing this. In a family like the Qin''s, she had no say in her marriage. She knew this since she was sensible. Her options were limited: either accept the family''s arrangement, find someone of equal status, or like Li Ziyu, take over the family business and become a powerful woman, at the cost of possibly remaining unmarried for life. She hadn''t expected this day to come so soon. After the talk, Jiuyue left to go downstairs to the parking garage and got into her Porsche Turbo. Instead of heading to the Qin family estate, she drove aimlessly. Meanwhile, Su Lin, using the ¡°Traceless Snow Steps¡± skill, was relishing the thrill of ancient light body techniques. He arrived at Renmin Square but didn''t find Jiuyue and Xiao Chen, so he continued his search. At the square, Su Lin noticed a young man in simple attire. It was Xiao Chen, the story''s main protagonist, accompanied by Jiuyue. Observing their interaction, Su Lin realized this was the crucial moment where Jiuyue''s affection for Xiao Chen began, despite her current annoyance with his persistent flirting. ¡°Beautiful lady, why frown in such a wonderful world on a beautiful day like this?¡± Xiao Chen said. ¡°It must be fate that brought us together in this sea of ??people.¡± Jiuyue, slightly irritated, replied, ¡°Do you know you''re annoying? Can you please be quiet?¡± ¡°If you want me to be quiet, just tell me your name,¡± Xiao Chen persisted. Jiuyue chuckled, ¡°If I tell you my name, you might run away from me.¡± This was where Su Lin planned to intervene, intending to change the course of their interaction and the story itself. Her smile was adorable, revealing two tiny fangs, making her look especially ending. Xiao Chen, who had rarely encountered such beauty, found himself instantly smitten. He felt as if it was destiny that brought them together, and this girl was meant to be his future wife, making him dismiss any thoughts of Li Ziyu. Xiao Chen was enraged, feeling mocked by Su Lin''s laughter. ¡°You...dare to tell me your name?¡± Su Lin flicked his hair and struck a pose, ¡°Ever heard of the Li family of Donghai? Li Ziyen! If you have the guts, come to the Li family and face me. See if I don''t beat the crap out of you.¡± Su Lin wasn''t really trying to divert trouble elsewhere but to build a closer relationship with Qin Jiuyue. He knew she liked the bad-boy, cunning type. After saying this, Su Lin took Qin Jiuyue''s hand, ¡°Let''s go, Xiaoyue. Don''t waste time on such a Ruffian.¡± Watching them leave, Xiao Chen was furious: ¡°Li Ziyu, you''re seeking death!¡± He stomped on the ground, causing it to crack. ¡°I wasn''t planning to go to the Li family, but now that you''re Li Ziyu, I wonder what your face will look like when you see me, your little uncle.¡± Xiao Chen''s mood improved at the thought of Su Lin''s surprise upon seeing him at the Li family. He was confident that eventually, Qin Jiuyue would learn his name. Meanwhile, Su Lin, after walking some distance with Qin Jiuyue, let go of her hand. She didn''t fuss over him holding her hand but squinted at him, revealing her tiny fangs, ¡°So, you introduced yourself that way to shift trouble onto others, huh? Su Lin, I really wasn''t wrong about you. You''re full of mischief.¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°As far as I know, this Li Ziyu is trying to undercut my dad''s business unscrupulously. It¡¯s only fair that I give him a taste of his own medicine.¡± ¡°And you, Xiaoyue, don¡¯t think you can fool everyone. If I hadn¡¯t shown up, you were going to play tricks on that guy, weren¡¯t you?¡± Qin Jiuyue wrinkled her nose, ¡°Hmph! That Xiao Chen was annoyingly persistent. It serves him right to get a lesson.¡± ¡°Oh? But it seemed like you were getting along well with him just now.¡± ¡°You must have seen wrong,¡± Qin Jiuyue retorted lightly. ¡°You already knew his name and yet claim it wasn¡¯t a friendly conversation?¡± Su Lin teased. ¡°That¡¯s because he introduced himself right off the bat, with a disgusting smile. He thought he looked dashing with that smile, which was just nauseating.¡± Su Lin burst into laughter, ¡°Is it that kind of gaze that looks lecherous but pretends to be virtuous and upright?¡± ¡°Exactly! That kind of gaze. Disgusting!!!¡± Chapter 143: Giving Qin Jiuyue an Unforgettable Night Chapter 143: Giving Qin Jiuyue an Unforgettable Night As Xiao Chen left the scene after Su Lin and Qin Jiuyue departed, he was filled with anger. The fact that the beautiful woman was taken away by Su Lin had irked him greatly. Just having descended the mountain, he faced such an ordeal, which made him, the heir of the Ghost Doctor, feel extremely disgruntled. While wandering the streets, Xiao Chen unexpectedly found himself in a desolate alley. Confident in his martial arts skills, he bravely ventured forward. Shortly after entering the alley, Xiao Chen noticed a middle-aged man and a woman in black, her face veiled, standing opposite each other in a standoff. The woman''s veil was stained with blood, and there was a blood mark on her chest. The man, on the other hand, Seemed quite at ease. Xiao Chen barely glanced at the veiled woman before deciding to intervene. Despite not being able to see her face, her devilish figure alone was enough to dispel his earlier frustration. ¡°Blood Rose, you can''t escape today. Surrender,¡± the man said. The woman, known as Blood Rose, responded with a cold snort and brandished a dagger, ready to defend herself. The middle-aged man attacked, aiming to finish Blood Rose off, but Xiao Chen shouted and intervened. He managed to whisk Blood Rose away, landing several meters back with her in his arms. The middle-aged man, taken back by Xiao Chen''s intervention, asked, ¡°Who are you to interfere in the matters of the Assassin Guild?¡± ¡°I am your father,¡± Xiao Chen replied arrogantly. Xiao Chen had never experienced such a situation in his twenty-two years. Everyone seemed to underestimate him and question his identity. But as the heir of the Ghost Doctor, his status was no less than anyone else''s. After repelling the man with a single palm strike, Xiao Chen turned to Blood Rose, who had fainted. He immediately removed her veil, revealing a beautiful and resilient face. ¡°Indeed, a beauty,¡± Xiao Chen thought, pleased with his discovery. Meanwhile, Su Lin and Qin Jiuyue were leisurely strolling around Renmin Square, unaware of the events in the alley. Su Lin broke the silence, ¡°Jiuyue, it''s your birthday today. ¡°Aren¡¯t you happy?¡± Qin Jiuyue glanced at Su Lin and asked, ¡°Su Lin, can you tell I''m unhappy?¡± ¡°It''s written all over your face,¡± Su Lin replied nonchalantly. After a moment of silence, Qin Jiuyue inquired, ¡°Su Lin, do you think my status is a blessing or a curse?¡± ¡°Of course, it''s a blessing. How could it not be? You were born with a silver spoon, far better off than ordinary people.¡± ¡°But I... I have everything but no freedom. Ordinary people may seem to have nothing, yet they live carefree and unburdened. Sometimes I envy them.¡± Su Lin nodded affirmatively, ¡°Of course it''s true. But you have to promise me, after I¡¯ve shown you, you must keep it a secret and not tell anyone.¡± ¡°All this secret, I promise, okay?¡± Pleased with her response, Su Lin smiled, ¡°Alright, since you''ve agreed, I''ll take you for a ride. Just to be clear, this is my first time doing this for someone else, so there might be some unexpected occurrences. You can''t betray me later.¡± Patting her chest, Qin Jiuyue assured, ¡°Don''t worry, you can trust my integrity.¡± Qin Jiuyue, not suspecting any ill intentions from Su Lin, followed along without worry. Her bold and adventurous nature, combined with her curiosity, made her eager to find out what kind of thrilling experience Su Lin was going to provide. Su Lin wore a smile, confident that this night would be unforgettable for Qin Jiuyue. They drove to a riverside in the suburbs, where only the chirping of frogs and cicadas and the bright moonlight could be heard. After getting out of the car, Qin Jiuyue looked around and questioned, ¡°There''s nothing here. How are you going to give me a roller coaster ride?¡± With a gentle smile, Su Lin responded, ¡°Just hold on tight to me. I won''t be responsible if you fall.¡± Before she could finish her question, Su Lin had already swept her off her feet and soared into the sky. Qin Jiuyue screamed in shock and excitement as they flew. Su Lin tapped the water surface with his foot, propelling them up several meters into the air. ¡°Stop screaming, do you want to alert everyone around?¡± Su Lin gently scolded. Hearing his voice, Qin Jiuyue tightened her grip around Su Lin¡¯s waist and slowly opened her eyes. She saw their shadows, cast by the moonlight, leaping high and falling back down. They flew over a tree and soared dozens of meters away. ¡°How¡¯s this for a thrill? Better than a roller coaster, right?¡± Overwhelmed, Qin Jiuyue replied, ¡°It¡¯s exhilarating... Su Lin, slow down, I can barely keep my eyes open.¡± In response, Su Lin swiftly ascended a small hill several hundred meters high. ¡°Now, try opening your eyes,¡± Su Lin said with a light chuckle. Qin Jiuyue opened her eyes and found themselves standing on the fresh branches of a tree, steady and secure. She looked around with awe and longing. Compared to this, roller coasters, bars, and street racing seemed utterly mundane. What could be more thrilling than flying freely through the air?DiiSco?ver new stories on Chapter 144: Traceless Snow Steps Chapter 144: Traceless Snow Steps Su Lin gently set Qin Jiuyue down on a large rock under the moonlight, where they could see the cityscape of Donghai in the distance.Ne/w novel chapters are p/u/blished on ¡°Wow, what a beautiful moonlight,¡± Qin Jiuyue exclaimed in awe. Su Lin, being a perfect gentleman, let go of her to allow her a better view of the moon. ¡°Still troubled now?¡± he asked softly. Qin Jiuyue shook her head and then looked at Su Lin, ¡°Su Lin, was that qinggong or wushu you used to fly with me just now?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°It¡¯s both wushu and qinggong.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve seen wushu before, and although practitioners can jump over ten meters high, they usually leave a crater on the ground. You¡¯re different.¡± ¡°You¡¯re elegant and effortless, barely needing any force to fly off,¡± Qin Jiuyue curiously remarked, her eyes fixed on Su Lin. She was amazed by the experience and felt like a heroine from a martial arts film. ¡°In fact, it¡¯s achievable in wushu, but the practitioners you¡¯ve seen haven¡¯t mastered it fully. To my knowledge, at the Earth Immortal level, one can walk in the air without needing any support,¡± Su Lin explained. ¡°Wow, walking in the air!¡± Qin Jiuyue¡¯s eyes lit up with longing, then she looked at Su Lin with an intense gaze, ¡°Su Lin...¡± Su Lin, wary, asked, ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± ¡°Hehe, I want to become your disciple. Can you teach me that qinggong?¡± Qin Jiuyue asked earnestly. Su Lin waved his hand dismissively, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I won¡¯t teach it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to refuse. Whatever conditions you have, as long as I can meet them,¡± Qin Jiuyue promised earnestly. Su Lin shook his head, ¡°Qin Jiuyue, you must know the rules of wushu. One cannot casually take disciples or impart martial arts skills. If I hadn¡¯t seen you in such distress, I wouldn¡¯t have taken you flying. Don¡¯t push your luck.¡± Qin Jiuyue realized the brevity of her acquaintance with Su Lin. She blushed, recalling how she had embraced him and the feel of his hand on her. Now that she had calmed down, she understood the boldness of her actions. Feeling a bit forlorn, she began, ¡°Right, such skills can¡¯t be passed on casually. I¡¯m sorry, Su Lin, for what I said earlier...¡± ¡°No need to apologize. Everyone acts impulsively sometimes. I did too, by taking you for a roller coaster ride. Did you find it thrilling?¡± Her face flushed, Qin Jiuyue grinned, ¡°Thrilling, very thrilling.¡± ¡°Do you like it?¡± ¡°Do you want to experience the thrill of racing?¡± Su Lin asked mischievously. ¡°You can race?¡± Su Lin casually replied, ¡°Just at the level of an international racer.¡± ¡°Monster! How did you achieve this level of skill with just a small business owner as your father? Just speaking of wushu, how did you reach such a level with a few billion?¡± Qin Jiuyue knew that practicing wushu required expensive medicinal baths and dietary supplements. Hence, large families could only afford to maintain a few martial arts experts. ¡°How old are you to be such a martial arts expert? How much money did you have to spend?¡± ¡°Ah, Jiuyue, I must admit there are gaps between people. Like me, learning wushu is as simple as eating and drinking, so I don¡¯t need any medicinal baths or dietary supplements.¡± ¡°Uh... okay.¡± Qin Jiuyue looked at Su Lin¡¯s profile and sighed, wondering whether it was fortunate or unfortunate to meet someone like him. She knew Su Lin had a girlfriend, that tall and beautiful girl from today. Compared to her, she felt a bit inferior. Yet, within just a few hours of meeting Su Lin, she felt an inexplicable attraction to him. If Su Lin knew Qin Jiuyue¡¯s thoughts, he would be surprised; after all, he was the villain. The car stopped a hundred meters away from the Qin family mansion. Su Lin decided not to drive in. Qin Jiuyue looked at Su Lin worriedly, ¡°If I drive away, what will you do?¡± Su Lin laughed heartily, ¡°You forgot, I can fly!!!¡± ¡°Oh right, how could I forget that.¡± Qin Jiuyue felt silly for asking such a question, her face turning red, unable to look at Su Lin. She realized she wasn¡¯t as sharp-witted in front of him as she usually was. ¡°Alright, go on then.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Qin Jiuyue started the car. She instinctively looked back, but Su Lin was already gone. ¡°Ah... he just flew away, showing off his qinggongs.¡± (TL: Wushu : This is a more general term for Chinese martial arts and includes various styles and techniques. Qinggong : Specifically refers to the lightness skill. It¡¯s a highly romanticized skill often depicted as almost magical in nature.) Chapter 145: Early Morning Arrival Chapter 145: Early Morning Arrival Qin Jiuyue had just returned home when she noticed Qin Gong standing at the doorway, looking around with caution. ¡°Uncle Qin, were you waiting for me this late at night?¡± she asked, feeling somewhat moved. Qin Gong, who always treated her like a little princess, was slightly surprised to see her and chuckled, ¡°Xiaoyue, you¡¯re back. The whole family has been anxiously waiting for you.¡± Jiuyue jokingly mentioned the heavy traffic and her struggle with driving alone. Qin Gong advised her to bring family drivers and bodyguards next time, especially at night in Donghai, saying, ¡°Next time, you should bring our family¡¯s drivers and bodyguards with you. Donghai is not safe at night.¡± After their conversation, Jiuyue suddenly thought about Su Lin and their recent adventure. Connecting Qin Gong¡¯s behavior to Su Lin¡¯s presence, she realized that her family probably didn¡¯t know about Su Lin. She speculated that it was Su Lin¡¯s use of qinggong that attracted their attention, given the presence of martial arts masters in her family who could sense such energies. Inside the mansion, Qin Gong reported to an elder, Qin Lao, ¡°Qin Lao, I¡¯ve checked around and found no one.¡± Qin Lao responded, ¡°Well, it¡¯s normal not to find anyone if it was a grandmaster. Unless we were prepared, it¡¯s nearly impossible to detect them.¡± Qin Gong then expressed his anger about their family¡¯s authority being challenged, ¡°The Qin family has been quiet for many years. Now someone dares to prowl around our doorstep, thinking the Qin family is defenseless.¡± The elder, Qin Lao, laughed and said, ¡°There are always people who defy the odds. The aura was unfamiliar, but I could tell the person was young, probably a reckless youth.¡± ¡°We should set up surveillance in a two-kilometer radius without any blind spots. Next time they come, we must capture their face.¡± Qin Gong assured, ¡°Qin Lao, rest assured, I have already arranged for this.¡± In another part of the mansion, Qin Delin was talking sternly to his son, Qin Mu, ¡°Your elder brother didn¡¯t come home tonight, and yet you had someone come over? We exposed our presence and alarmed the enemy prematurely, do you understand?¡± Qin Mu, confused, replied, ¡°Dad, I didn¡¯t do anything. I just called Master Wang, and he¡¯s still at the hotel with my uncle. Why would I call him over to our house at this time?¡± Puzzled, Qin Deyu questioned, ¡°Then who was the grandmaster outside just now?¡± Qin Mu shrugged, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Qin Delin frowned, ¡°Hmm, could all these be coincidences? Especially when we were about to move against the eldest?¡± He then turned to Qin Mu and asked, ¡°Do you think all of this is just a coincidence?¡± Qin Mu shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Slap!¡± There was a sudden, sharp sound. Qin Mu was slapped and sent flying. ¡°Not knowing, not knowing, what else do you know besides womanizing? You¡¯re almost forty and still, when asked, you know nothing. How did I end up with such a useless son?¡± Su Lin was somewhat surprised: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect cultivation could really make one forget about time. I thought only a few minutes had passed, but it turned out to be the whole night.¡± He got up to open the door and saw Qin Delin¡¯s smiling face. ¡°Old Man Qin, why are you here so early?¡± Qin Deshu smiled and said, ¡°Of course, to collect my treasure. If I wasn¡¯t worried about disturbing your rest, I would have come last night.¡± ¡°Uh... you really are obsessed with antiques,¡± Su Lin exclaimed. ¡°That¡¯s not obsession, you don¡¯t understand,¡± Qin Delin retorted. As they spoke, a delicate face peeked out: ¡°Hi~! Su Lin, we meet again.¡± Seeing Su Lin, Qin Jiuyue almost broke character with her years of practiced acting, but fortunately, Qin Delin was already preoccupied with the blue and white porcelain, otherwise he would have noticed something. Su Lin forced a smile and nodded: ¡°Hi~! Xiaoyue, I didn¡¯t expect you to come too.¡± ¡°Hehe, I was bored at home, so I followed my grandpa out for fun.¡± Su Lin nodded: ¡°Come in.¡± The two followed Su Lin into the room, where Qin Delin immediately noticed the blue and white porcelain vase on the balcony, with two roses inserted in it, looking exceptionally beautiful. Qin Delin, with a pained expression, walked over, pulled out the roses, threw them on the ground, and stomped on them: ¡°My blue and white porcelain vase, is this how you treat it?¡± ¡°My blue and white porcelain, you used it for flowers, Su Lin, you heavens-damned...¡± Su Lin looked innocent: ¡°Old man, didn¡¯t I tell you before? I got it for putting flowers.¡± ¡°You... you you you...¡± Qin Delin waved his hand dismissively: ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s no use talking to a blockhead like you.¡± Su Lin smiled lightly: ¡°There¡¯s still some water in it, Elder, you should pour it out.¡± ¡°Ah... If I knew you would treat it like this, I should have tried harder to get it that day.¡± Qin Delin was heartbroken, seeing Su Lin treat such a Chinese treasure so casually. Su Lin looked at Qin Jiuyue: ¡°Is he always like this?¡± Qin Jiuyue, covering her face and giggling, said: ¡°My grandpa is always like this when he encounters treasures.¡± ¡°Go ahead and laugh, isn¡¯t it uncomfortable holding it in?¡± ¡°Hehe... I¡¯m used to it, and my grandpa is here,¡± she said, sneaking a glance at Qin Delin. Fortunately, his attention hadn¡¯t shifted. Chapter 146: Even the Three-Dimensional World Knows Chapter 146: Even the Three-Dimensional World Knows Su Lin was surprised by the reactions of Qin Jiuyue and Qin Delin; neither of them showed any signs of sadness on their faces, but rather seemed quite happy. Su Lin felt there must be something missing. Logically in the original plot, the news should have already spread that Qin Deshu had suffered a stroke and couldn''t manage the family, and Qin Delin should have taken over. But the reactions of Qin Jiuyue and Qin Delin suggested that everything was normal. Su Lin pulled Qin Jiuyue aside and asked quietly, ¡°Xiaoyue, did anything happen after I left last night?¡± Qin Jiuyue glanced at Qin Delin, then whispered, ¡°Su Lin, you''re too bold. Not long after you flew away last night, the butler came out. There are martial arts masters in the family, and they can sense your aura the moment you move.¡± ¡°I heard that today the butler has arranged for surveillance to be installed all around, covering a two-kilometer radius without any blind spots.¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°Xiaoyue, aren''t you a bit like the arm that bends outwards, telling me all this?¡± ¡°I''m worried about your safety. Be more careful in the future and don''t fly around randomly.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°I''ll keep that in mind.¡± In this constantly evolving world, who knows when a Danjin Grandmaster or a terrestrial immortal might appear? Su Lin felt it was better to keep a low profile. Seeing Su Lin agree, Qin Jiuyue was satisfied. She wanted to say more, but by then, Qin Delin had already packed the blue and white porcelain in a box. With satisfaction, Qin Delin said to Qin Jiuyue, ¡°Xiaoyue, let''s go back.¡± Qin Jiuyue didn''t want to leave and said somewhat dejectedly, ¡°Grandpa, are we going back so early?¡± ¡°What else? It''s just after eight now, and Su Lin probably hasn''t had breakfast yet. We shouldn''t disturb him,¡± Qin Deshu said indifferently. ¡°But... I rarely get to come out, I don''t want to go back so early,¡± Qin Jiuyue pouted, looking pitifully at Qin Delin. ¡°What do you want to do then, Xiaoyue?¡± She looked at Qin Delin, ¡°Grandpa, I haven''t had breakfast either. How about I go have breakfast with Su Lin, then play around here, and meet you at Cangbaozhai before noon? What do you think?¡± Hearing this, Qin Delin sighed, ¡°What, you can''t have fun with this old man?¡± ¡°Hehe, Grandpa, you know I''m not interested in vases and jars. Just let me go and have some fun.¡± Unable to resist Qin Jiuyue''s persistence, Qin Delin finally said, ¡°Alright, alright... but remember, you must be at Cangzhaobai before twelve, or I won''t cover for you with your big brother~.¡± ¡°Mhm, don''t worry, Grandpa, I''ll be on time.¡± Qin Delin nodded and then left with the box. Su Lin was a bit surprised, ¡°He just left like that?¡± ¡°What else? Did you want to keep him for breakfast? He already had breakfast before coming out.¡± ¡°Uh... I didn''t mean that. I meant, he just left you here?¡± ¡°Blood Rose, an assassin group? Seems like I need to call my master and inquire.¡± Xiao Chen was no fool. While he wanted to win over Blood Rose, he needed to understand the background of the assassin group. If it was average, he would have no choice but to eliminate them. ... ¡°Su Lin, where are you going?¡± ¡°Su Lin, you can fly, so why do you still drive every day?¡± ¡°Su Lin...¡± In the car, Su Lin looked at Qin Jiuyue with a headache, ¡°Can you be quiet for a while? I''m going to work.¡± ¡°You? Work?¡± ¡°Don''t be ridiculous, what else would I be doing?¡± Su Lin replied, somewhat exasperated. He hadn''t expected Qin Jiuyue to be so talkative once they got familiar. But considering she was lonelier than Lin Xiaowan, having no friends from childhood, he understood. ¡°Are you going to your supermarket?¡± Su Lin, surprised, ¡°Looks like you''ve done your homework, investigating me?¡± ¡°Not really, I just asked the butler about you,¡± Qin Jiuyue said, blushing slightly. She had demanded information about Su Lin from Butler Qin the previous night. The file mentioned his good relations with three women, one of whom she had met, Zhao Yanyan, with long legs. The other two were reported in Zhongjiang. When she saw this information, Qin Jiuyue felt anxious, worrying Su Lin would ignore her, so she insisted on coming with Qin Delin to see him. ¡°Don''t worry, big families investigate people all the time. I''m not afraid of them probing.¡± ¡°Hehe, you must also know about me then.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°I know too well.¡± Even the three dimensions.¡± ¡°Oh? Really? ¡°I¡¯m not even clear about that myself,¡± Qin Jiuyue said, smiling. But Su Lin just chuckled, ¡°Truer than pearls.¡± [Qin Jiuyue: 20 years old, 165 cm tall, 45 kg, 35C.]. [Affection rating: 63 and rising.]. [Skills: Advanced Management, Advanced English, Advanced Piano, Advanced Violin, Advanced French, Advanced Go, Intermediate Swordsmanship, Intermediate...]. [Current Health: 100]. [Purity: 100]. [Current Mood: Excited]. ¡°Alright, we''re here. Xiaoyue, are you sure you want to come in with me? You know the company has a lot of work, and I might not have time to entertain you.¡± Qin Jiuyue nodded, ¡°I''ll come with you.¡± If I get bored, I''ll go find other friends to play with. Don''t worry, I won''t disturb your work.¡± Su Lin nodded and sent a message to Zhao Yanyan, then he and Qin Jiuyue went upstairs together. Chapter 147: Su Lin, Aren’t You Being Too Bullying? Chapter 147: Su Lin, Aren¡¯t You Being Too Bullying? Upon reaching the office floor, Qin Jiuyue immediately noticed Zhao Yanyan with her long legs. Zhao Yanyan was also surprised to see Qin Jiuyue, despite having received a message from Su Lin. ¡°Qin... Miss Qin, why are you here?¡± Zhao Yanyan asked, looking surprised. Qin Jiuyue, puzzled, looked at Su Lin, not expecting Zhao Yanyan¡¯s reaction. Not only Qin Jiuyue but also Su Lin hadn¡¯t anticipated this. He asked, ¡°Yanyan, why so excited? Is it strange for her to be here?¡± ¡°I...¡± Zhao Yanyan gave Su Lin a look, then stuttered, ¡°Qin...¡± ¡°Just call me Xiaoyue. I¡¯m twenty this year, you must be older than me,¡± Qin Jiuyue politely smiled. ¡°Uh... then I should call you Sister Xiaoyue,¡± Zhao Yanyan said awkwardly. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I just turned eighteen two months ago,¡± Zhao Yanyan confessed with some embarrassment. Hearing this, Qin Jiuyue¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment. She narrowed her eyes and pointed at Su Lin, ¡°And him?¡± ¡°Su Lin, he¡¯s also eighteen. We¡¯re classmates, first-year college students,¡± Zhao Yanyan explained. Su Lin facepalmed. Qin Jiuyue¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She turned to Su Lin, ¡°So it turns out you¡¯re two years younger than me. Here I was, calling you with such respect, almost addressed you as ¡®brother¡¯. You¡¯re too bullying, Su Lin!¡± Su Lin shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s just a two-year difference. Besides, you might be twenty, but you¡¯re not that mature. I¡¯m eighteen, but I am mature. Calling you Xiaoyue is fair.¡± ¡°No way, you can¡¯t call me Xiaoyue.¡± ¡°So, what should I call you?¡± ¡°Call me... Sister Xiaoyue. Su Lin, you¡¯re really playful, pretending to be so mature. Turns out you¡¯re only eighteen.¡± Su Lin coughed, ¡°Well, Yanyan and I have some business to discuss. Xiaoyue... sister, maybe you could wait in the lounge?¡± Qin Jiuyue, grinding her teeth, could see that Su Lin was deliberately changing the subject. She thought he was too cunning, calling her by a nickname all this time. ¡°Su Lin, you just wait, hmph.¡± Qin Jiuyue glared at Su Lin and then headed towards the lounge, visibly upset yet looking adorable. Su Lin was unfazed as he noticed Qin Jiuyue¡¯s affection for him was increasing, not decreasing. This indicated that she was only feeling slightly embarrassed in front of Zhao Yanyan, not genuinely angry. Once Qin Jiuyue was in the lounge, Zhao Yanyan pulled Su Lin into the office, ¡°Su Lin, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb. Why is Qin Jiuyue here, and how do you know her?¡± Su Lin, hugging Zhao Yanyan¡¯s waist, chuckled, ¡°Jealous?¡± ¡°Jealous? Even if I were, it¡¯s not my turn yet. Let¡¯s see how you explain this to Xiaowan and Xiaoyu.¡± ¡°Hehe, do I need to explain myself to anyone?¡± Zhao Yanyan shook her head as Su Lin left. She couldn¡¯t fathom why she had fallen for him. ¡°Su Lin, you¡¯re back so soon? Aren¡¯t you going to deal with work?¡± Su Lin, smiling at Qin Jiuyue, replied, ¡°You¡¯re a special guest today. Naturally, accompanying the guest is important. Besides, the company is on the right track. I usually don¡¯t interfere too much unless there¡¯s a problem.¡± ¡°Wow, running your company seems so relaxed. I never see my grandpa the whole day; he¡¯s always on calls, with appointments scheduled for months ahead.¡± ¡°Your grandpa¡¯s company is big, mine is small.¡± Qin Jiuyue frowned slightly, then pouted, ¡°Don¡¯t pretend I don¡¯t understand. Grandpa said your chain of supermarkets is very promising. If it goes national, it will be huge.¡± ¡°There are so many powerful families nationwide, do you think they would let me expand my supermarkets all over the country?¡± Qin Jiuyue thought for a moment and nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right, I was oversimplifying it.¡± Su Lin picked up his keys and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± asked Qin Jiuyue. ¡°Of course, to find a place to have fun. We can¡¯t have you sitting in the company lounge all morning. Your grandpa would find that hilarious.¡± ¡°Where will we go then?¡± Qin Jiuyue asked, a bit excited. Su Lin shook his head, ¡°There aren¡¯t many exciting places in the city, mostly just eateries. Nothing thrilling.¡± ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s just pick a place then, as long as it¡¯s not boring.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Just as Su Lin agreed to Qin Jiuyue¡¯s request, his phone rang. He checked the phone and saw an unknown number from Donghai. Su Lin frowned. An unknown call from Donghai at this time wasn¡¯t usually good news. ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Hello, Young master Su, I¡¯m Luo Sihai.¡± Su Lin waved his hand, signaling Qin Jiuyue to go downstairs first. Qin Jiuyue, understanding that Su Lin had important business to discuss, nodded obediently and walked towards the elevator. Su Lin, hearing Luo Sihai¡¯s somewhat respectful voice, was surprised, ¡°Luo Siye what can I do for you?¡± ¡°Luo Siye is too grand for me. If you don¡¯t mind, just call me Old Luo.¡± Su Lin instantly became alert, ¡°Siye, you don¡¯t call unless there¡¯s a reason. What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Since Young master Su is straightforward, I¡¯ll get to the point.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°I wonder if Young master Su is short of manpower. I, Luo, am willing to serve!¡± Chapter 148: A Pledge of Allegiance Chapter 148: A Pledge of Allegiance Ads by BidGear Su Lin spent the morning playing games in an arcade with Qin Jiuyue, surprised at how much she enjoyed it. It was evident that she had been cooped up too long. He wondered what she was like at school, remembering her guise as the obedient girl, and chuckled at the thought of her revealing her true nature. After dropping Qin Jiuyue off at Cangzhaobai, Su Lin went to meet Luo Sihai at Sihai Hotel. Luo Sihai treated Su Lin with high regard, personally greeting him downstairs. ¡°Sorry, Young master Su, I really couldn''t get away, or else I would have visited you in person,¡± Luo Sihai sincerely apologized. Su Lin observed Luo Sihai, who seemed to have aged a decade overnight. He had lost the arrogant demeanor he had the day before. Su Lin already knew from Su Zhenguo about the events that had transpired in the meeting room last night. He had a new understanding of Luo Sihai ¨C a man who could adapt to changes quickly. Yesterday, he was the respected President Luo, and today, he was humbling himself to offer his services. Throughout their walk, Luo Sihai kept talking, while Su Lin listened silently, used to such flattery. In the upstairs office, Luo Sihai hurriedly pulled out a chair for Su Lin. Sitting down, Su Lin smiled at Luo Sihai, ¡°Siye, I recall we weren''t friends before.¡± Luo Sihai nodded, ¡°Indeed, there were some misunderstandings with Young master Su before.¡± ¡°Misunderstandings? I¡¯m not so sure about that.¡± Not dwelling on this topic, Su Lin asked, ¡°Why choose to pledge allegiance to me? There are many families and bosses in Donghai.¡± ¡°Although I have some assets, I don''t think President Luo needs to work for me. You must understand the difference between cooperation and allegiance.¡± Luo Sihai wasn''t mentioned much in the book, only known as a cunning figure. If not for the unexpected death of Lin Tian, ??he would have mutually benefited with Lin Tian and become a tycoon. But now, with Lin Tian gone, without finding a new backer, Luo Sihai would soon be devoured by Donghai''s families, especially the Qin and Li families. Previously unaffiliated with these families, his forced connection with Lin Tian and the latter''s subsequent death had created a storm. Luo Sihai must be in trouble, and a serious one at that. Luo Sihai appeared conflicted. He had intended to cooperate with Su Lin, but considering Su Zhenguo''s current popularity in Donghai, with both the Qin and Li families extending olive branches, he felt he lacked the standing to partner with Su Lin. Therefore, he chose to pledge loyalty and work for Su Lin. Su Lin nodded, ¡°Exactly.¡± I''m putting you in a position with no way out. If found out, death is certain. The Li family has martial arts masters.¡± Luo Sihai hissed in shock. The mention of a martial arts master left Luo Sihai paralyzed in his chair. At his level, he had encountered some martial artists practicing qinggong martial arts, but masters were rare and formidable, capable of incredible feats like sending a car flying with a single punch. Su Lin knew he couldn''t just intimidate Luo Sihai. He demonstrated his own strength by pressing a finger on the marble table, which immediately cracked and crumbled into a pile of gray powder. ¡°Qinggong martial arts masters are not that big of a deal, Old Luo. You''re not scared, are you?¡± Luo Sihai stared in shock at the pulverized stone caused by Su Lin''s touch, utterly stunned. ¡°A qinggong martial arts grandmaster... An eighteen-year-old grandmaster!!!¡± After a half-minute of silence, Luo Sihai stood up and bowed deeply to Su Lin, ¡°Boss, from today onwards, I''m your dog. I''ll do whatever you ask.¡± Before meeting Su Lin, Luo Sihai''s plan was to rely on Su Zhenguo''s influence to stay unshakable. But now, his intentions had completely changed. An eighteen-year-old martial arts grandmaster was a formidable ally. Su Lin chuckled, ¡°Old Luo, I really admire your decisiveness and your lack of principles.¡± Aren¡¯t you afraid I might lose?¡± ¡°Following a martial arts grandmaster is worth it, even if we lose. Besides, you''re only eighteen, so young and full of possibilities,¡± Luo Sihai said with shining eyes. Who would have thought that Su Lin, a harmless-looking eighteen-year-old, was a grandmaster of qinggong martial arts? The difference between a master and a grandmaster might be just one word, but it signified an entirely different level of capability. ¡°With Su Lin protecting me, I can live freely and unbothered, even by Li Ziyu herself.¡± ¡°Good! By tonight, I want to hear that Li Ziyen is dead.¡± ¡°No problem, I can do it right now.¡± Jokingly, Luo Sihai thought, with Su Lin, a qinggong martial arts grandmaster, who could he fear? He believed Su Lin needed manpower and would definitely use him. By killing Li Ziyen, he would be irreversibly tied to Su Lin¡¯s boat, becoming a sharp weapon in Su Lin¡¯s hand, ready to strike whoever Su Lin targets. Chapter 149 Chapter 149: Blood Rose, Xiao Chen¡¯s Unforgiving Nature! In a show of loyalty, Luo Sihai invited Su Lin to witness him taking down Li Ziyen. With nothing better to do, Su Lin gladly accepted. He had been planning to recruit followers but had been cautious due to the system¡¯s warning about finding non-existing characters. Luo Sihai¡¯s voluntary allegiance was an unexpected surprise. [Luo Sihai: 40 years old, 177 cm tall, 75 kg][Loyalty 62 ¨C trustworthy and rising.].[Skills: Advanced management, advanced Sanda, intermediate driving, intermediate handgun, beginner golf.].[Current health: 80].[Current mindset: Reverent]. Su Lin was surprised to see Luo Sihai¡¯s loyalty rating indicating trustworthiness. This indicated Luo had firmly decided to follow him. Coming from the underworld, such a person would not easily pledge loyalty to someone, but once they did, they wouldn¡¯t have second thoughts, a trait Su Lin appreciated. Having a follower like Luo in Donghai would make things much easier. Sitting in Luo¡¯s Maybach with Luo Sihai himself driving, Su Lin listened as Luo explained, ¡°My men just reported that Li Ziyen is currently at one of my underground casinos in the Nanshan area, gambling.¡± ¡°It seems that the woman from the Li family took away his last voting rights last night. Now he can only receive dividends from the Li family without any decision-making power.¡± Su Lin commented, ¡°That¡¯s typical of large families ¨C survival of the fittest. Such families are large and powerful. Every generation has many contenders.¡± ¡°They nurture potential successors, supporting the most promising one. Those who lose the power struggle often lose their right to make decisions.¡± ¡°These families have continued their legacy generation after generation in this way.¡± Luo Sihai sighed, ¡°No wonder these big families thrive. It¡¯s all so calculated.¡± ¡°Exactly, the struggles within these families are often brutal. What Li Ziyu did was just self-preservation. If she lost, she¡¯d have to surrender all her power and even be traded by the family like an object,¡± Su Lin said casually. ¡°How do you know all this?¡± Luo Sihai asked curiously. Su Lin, a rich second-generation kid, seemed to understand the intricate dynamics of these powerful families, which surprised Luo. Su Lin just smiled, not answering. ¡°Old Luo, how has your underground casino been operating in Donghai for so long without issues?¡± Luo Sihai honestly replied, ¡°Big families usually don¡¯t get involved in this kind of business. As long as it doesn¡¯t infringe on their interests, they won¡¯t act against us.¡± Blood Rose, a silver-ranked assassin of the group, sought to leave the organization, leading to her being pursued and eventually seeking refuge in Donghai, where Xiao Chen saved her. She promised to do three tasks for him, and Xiao Chen cleverly convinced her to join his side. In the original story, she was a significant female character who carried out numerous killings for Xiao Chen, especially those involving ordinary families... Su Lin had no particular feelings towards her, a principled assassin unfortunately swayed by Xiao Chen. If she was Blood Rose, then her storyline was happening ahead of schedule. Had Xiao Chen already saved her? Su Lin had a question in his mind, but after sorting out his thoughts, his approach became simpler. Almost all the current plots were under his control, and he wasn¡¯t worried about any unexpected developments. Luo Sihai led Su Lin to the casino¡¯s surveillance room. ¡°You can see all pedestrian and vehicle movements within a kilometer radius of the casino here. This monitor faces the casino. Boss, please look.¡± Su Lin looked at the screen divided into sixteen sections, each showing a gambling table, with side screens displaying VIP rooms and other areas. ¡°Old Luo, your surveillance doesn¡¯t cover every angle!¡± Su Lin observed. Luo Sihai awkwardly explained, ¡°Boss, with the current surveillance technology, it¡¯s difficult to have no blind spots, unless we use the latest high-tech equipment from America.¡± Su Lin nodded and shifted his gaze to the cleaning lady pushing the cart. Blood Rose was seen pushing her cart to a restroom, placing a ¡°Cleaning in Progress¡± sign on the floor before entering with the cart. About three minutes later, she appeared in the underground casino¡¯s restroom. Now, she had shed her cleaner¡¯s attire and was wearing a sexy, semi-transparent silk blouse and a provocative black knee-length skirt. With light makeup and slightly upturned red lips, she looked incredibly alluring. Indeed, it was Blood Rose! Su Lin revealed an amused expression. Following Su Lin¡¯s gaze, Luo Sihai saw Blood Rose too. He inwardly sighed at her beauty, realizing she could drive any man crazy. ¡°If you like her, boss, I can arrange for her to come up,¡± Luo Sihai offered eagerly. Su Lin glanced at him, ¡°Improve the casino¡¯s surveillance to cover all angles without blind spots. Order the equipment now.¡± ¡°Huh?? Right away, boss!!¡± Satisfied with Luo Sihai¡¯s prompt execution of his order, Su Lin was pleased. Luo had risen to his current position for a reason, clearly showing his ability to read situations. Su Lin continued to watch Blood Rose. She had already taken a seat next to Li Ziyen, holding some chips and casting seductive glances at him. ¡°Tsks tsk... I think I get the picture now. Xiao Chen, oh Xiao Chen, you really do pay back for every grievance. You moved so quickly to set this up.¡± Chapter 150: Li Ziyen – Death! Chapter 150: Li Ziyen ¨C Death! Su Lin didn''t expect Xiao Chen to have saved Blood Rose so soon and use her to seek revenge. It was indeed the style of a protagonist. However, Su Lin already had a complete plan in his mind. He intended to set a trap for Xiao Chen, the kind that would leave him speechless. After Luo Sihai finished his phone call and returned, he asked, ¡°Boss, that Li family kid is still gambling. Do you want me to take action now?¡± Su Lin waved his hand, ¡°No rush, just watch for now.¡± ¡°Watch?¡± Su Lin nodded, not elaborating. Luo Sihai might not understand Su Lin''s plan, but he had already adjusted his attitude to follow Su Lin''s lead without question. Blood Rose quickly caught Li Ziyen''s attention ¨C her allure was irresistible, drawing the eyes of everyone at the table. Li Ziyen, trying to act like a gentleman, asked her, ¡°Beautiful lady, are you alone?¡± Having been abandoned by his family, Li Ziyen was ready to live a carefree life, relying on Li Ziyu for his expenses. Blood Rose smiled slightly, ¡°What else?¡± It¡¯s not like I can suddenly become two people.¡± She then changed her posture, resting her chin in her hand, glancing at him. Li Ziyen prided himself on being experienced with women, but even he felt overwhelmed by Blood Rose. He flirted, ¡°You''re quite interesting, miss.¡± Confident due to his ''relationship'' with Luo Sihai, Li Ziyen boldly grabbed Blood Rose''s hand, mistaking her for one of the women arranged by Luo to accompany gamblers. Blood Rose forcefully withdrew her hand, coquettishly saying, ¡°Sir, I don''t even know your name yet, and you''re already getting handsy?¡± Li Ziyen replied, ¡°My name? Just a down-and-out rich second-generation, not worth mentioning.¡± Blood Rose insisted, ¡°But that''s basic courtesy in making friends.¡± Blood Rose had easily confirmed Li Ziyen''s identity, as the men of these families often appeared in various news stories. ¡°Alright, since you''re so curious, I''ll tell you. I''m Li Ziyen of the Li family.¡± Blood Rose probed, ¡°Li family''s young master, indeed a rich second-generation. But why the ''down-and-out'' part?¡± Li Ziyen was smitten by Blood Rose''s every gesture and didn''t feel any anger. Unaware of Blood Rose''s murderous intent, Li Ziyen was completely under her charm. Blood Rose wanted to kill him right there but remembered Xiao Chen wanted him alive, so she restrained herself. ¡°So what if I''m the young master? I''m just another second-generation waiting to inherit. By the way, now that I''ve told you my name, shouldn''t you tell me yours?¡± Initially, Li Ziyu refused, but upon hearing Luo Sihai had pledged allegiance to Su Lin, she hesitated and then agreed to his request. In Li''s Group headquarters, Li Ziyu hung up the phone, frowning, ¡°Why would Luo Sihai choose Su Lin over Su Zhenguo?¡± She was surprised at how quickly the world had changed overnight. Su Lin, an unexpected player, had suddenly entered the game. She had heard of Su Lin before, especially during the opening of Quan Le Gou Donghai branch when Qin Gong personally sent him a flower basket. When news of Su Lin''s involvement in the opening of that Donghai branch was reported to Li Ziyu, she didn''t pay much attention, focusing more on the sudden emergence of 4G communication technology and Su Zhenguo''s rise to prominence. She only knew of Su Lin as the owner of Quan Le Gou and the son of Su Zhenguo. However, now hearing that Luo Sihai had pledged allegiance to Su Lin, she began to take the name Su Lin seriously for the first time, realizing that he might be more than meets the eye. ¡°Xiaomei, prepare the car for me. I need to go out in five minutes, and arrange some bodyguards,¡± Li Ziyu instructed her assistant. ¡°Okay, General Manager!¡± After hanging up the phone, Li Ziyu began to analyze Su Lin''s intentions. It was one thing for Su Lin to ask her to deliver money, but another to discuss additional business. What could Su Lin possibly want to discuss, given that Su Zhenguo was handling the 4G communication pilot project? Her mind raced, piecing together recent events. Meanwhile, Li Ziyen had left the casino with Blood Rose. He proudly showed off his Ferrari to her, expecting her to be impressed like other women, either screaming in excitement or fawning over him. He was mistaken. Blood Rose merely glanced at the car and said, ¡°I''ve driven this model before.¡± Surprised, Li Ziyen doubted her, ¡°You''re sure you can handle a sports car like this?¡± Blood Rose nodded confidently, ¡°Of course.¡± Don''t believe me? Let me show you.¡± ¡°Great, I¡¯d love to see your driving skills,¡± Li Ziyen said, pleased. He thought the Ferrari was alluring and fun to drive, but also high-maintenance. As Li Ziyen gallantly opened the car door, Blood Rose¡¯s murderous intent surged. Once he got into the car, she would make her move. Just as Li Ziyen settled into the car, a flash of silver light zipped by. He clutched his neck, eyes wide with shock, staring at Blood Rose. Blood Rose spoke coldly, ¡°Your mistake was touching what you shouldn¡¯t have.¡± Li Ziyen could only gasp in horror. Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Minutes later, Luo Sihai got the news, Blood Rose left with a bag from the Ferrari. ¡°Boss, just got news, the woman left, seems like she took something from Li Ziyen¡¯s car.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Keep watching that woman, and inform me when Li Ziyu arrives.¡± ¡°Yes, Boss!!¡± Ten minutes later, Li Ziyu arrived at the hotel with an assistant, and Luo Sihai went down to greet her. Seeing Luo Sihai warmly welcoming Li Ziyu, many people¡¯s gazes flickered, it seemed like Luo Sihai thought of a way out of his predicament. ¡°President Li...¡± Li Ziyu glanced at Luo Sihai, then indifferently said, ¡°Where¡¯s Su Lin?¡± ¡°The boss is in the upstairs lounge.¡± Li Ziyu was surprised at Luo Sihai, she thought he was just bluffing, but now it seemed he was determined to side with Su Lin. Su Lin was just Su Zhenguo¡¯s son after all, Li Ziyu was curious, what made Su Lin so special to deserve Luo Sihai¡¯s allegiance. ¡°Take me to him then.¡± ¡°Sure~!!¡± Luo Sihai took Li Ziyu to the lounge: ¡°Boss, President Li is here.¡± Su Lin and Li Ziyu looked at each other. Su Lin observed Li Ziyu¡¯s snow-white swan neck, indeed, this woman¡¯s neck was truly beautiful, unlike other women who stood out for their long legs, slim waist, or large busts, Li Ziyu was uniquely different, her swan neck always attracted the most attention. Seeing Li Ziyu¡¯s figure, not inferior to Lin Xiaowan¡¯s, today she wore glasses and a white super-wave suit, appearing knowledgeable and charming, stable and atmospheric. To Li Ziyu, Su Lin¡¯s first impression was handsome! Besides being handsome, he seemed like any ordinary person. She indifferently said, ¡°Su Shao, your gaze is quite impolite.¡± Su Lin was surprised, ¡°Is it? My gaze is quite good, just simply admiring.¡± Su Lin was puzzled, why could Xiao Chen simply admire, and his own simple admiration was not allowed. Women, you are too double-standard. Thinking of this woman as Xiao Chen¡¯s fiance?e, Su Lin suddenly felt excited for some reason. ¡°Su Lin, let¡¯s get to business.¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°My apologies, there really isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I can trade with you, but I want to set three rules.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Okay, tell me.¡± ¡°That jade pendant, you can¡¯t lose it. In the future, I still want to trade it back with you.¡± Li Ziyu said seriously. Su Lin hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee that, and once something is in my hands, it¡¯s absolutely impossible to trade it back.¡± ¡°How about this, we set three rules. If we trade again in the future, this jade pendant must be the traded item. Since you think that something once in your hands won¡¯t go out, why not try?¡± Su Lin said, ¡°Provocation? That doesn¡¯t work on me. But I can agree to your request.¡± Li Ziyu didn¡¯t expect Su Lin to change his stance, she took off the jade pendant from around her neck and handed it to Su Lin. Su Lin received it, feeling the coolness emanating from the pendant, ¡°Indeed warm in winter and cool in summer, it¡¯s a rare treasure.¡± Li Ziyu¡¯s face slightly reddened for a moment, she looked at Su Lin, ¡°Now can you tell me who the murderer is?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course! The murderer is the silver-ranked assassin Blood Rose, who is currently on the run from an assassin organization, and the person who instructed her is your cheap fiance?, Xiao Chen.¡± ¡°How is that possible!!!¡± This time, Li Ziyu completely lost her composure, her face full of disbelief. Although her engagement to Xiao Chen wasn¡¯t a secret in Donghua, those people didn¡¯t know the protagonist was named Xiao Chen, and Su Lin directly mentioned Xiao Chen¡¯s name, how could she not be shocked. More shockingly, the person who ordered her brother¡¯s murder was her own fiance?, isn¡¯t this too fantastical? And Su Lin, where did he get this information from, what¡¯s his source, and why is he so mysterious? In an instant, Li Ziyu felt her brain wasn¡¯t working fast enough. Su Lin sat there quietly watching her, it had to be said that Li Ziyu was stunningly beautiful. She was like a snow lotus from heaven, just one glance could instill a sense of awe, both beautiful and mysterious. ¡°I can tell you the rough location of that assassin now.¡± Li Ziyu looked deeply at Su Lin, ¡°Name your terms.¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°This one¡¯s on the house, free! There¡¯s one more thing I haven¡¯t told you, after you¡¯ve dealt with this matter, if you¡¯re interested, you can come find me, and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s why Xiao Chen would order someone to kill your brother, don¡¯t you want to know? Once I catch Xiao Chen, I will naturally know the answer.¡± Su Lin made a gesture of invitation. Li Ziyu looked deeply at Su Lin again, then left without any delay. Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Li Ziyu knew the matter behind this was not as simple as it seemed. Particularly concerning Xiao Chen, why he targeted Li Ziyen surely had its reasons, likely involving Su Lin. But what of it now? The problem is Li Ziyen is dead, and the one who acted is her fiance?, to whom she is betrothed. The willingness to act is no longer important. The important thing is he killed his own brother. For this reason alone, if she doesn¡¯t resolve it quickly, she will soon be ousted from the core circle, no matter how outstanding she is. There¡¯s an unwritten rule in big families about fighting for power and profit; at least, you cannot openly kill your own kin. Otherwise, how can everyone continue playing this game? Xiao Chen having someone kill Li Ziyen was committing a taboo. As for Su Lin, whatever his purpose, it will gradually reveal itself. Li Ziyu is not in a hurry. Exiting the resting room, she immediately picked up the phone to call home, asking for quick arrangements. Meanwhile, Su Lin was eagerly anticipating Xiao Chen¡¯s performance today: ¡°Now that Xiao Chen, both the assassin group and the Li family will trouble you. You¡¯re about to lose both your assassin wife and your legitimate wife, tsk tsk... I almost feel bad for bullying you further.¡± When Luo Sihai returned to the resting room, he saw the check on the table. ¡°Boss, did you get the money?¡± Su Lin nodded: ¡°Every penny retrieved, and with this money, you can properly manage your company now.¡± ¡°The money you retrieved, I shouldn¡¯t take it.¡± Luo Sihai knew if not for Su Lin, his own life would be in jeopardy, so he didn¡¯t rush to grab the check. Su Lin laughed: ¡°No need, the money was yours to begin with. Just handle the task I assigned to you. By the way, did you tell Li Ziyu about that woman¡¯s location?¡± Luo Sihai nodded: ¡°Told her already, and she rushed off in a hurry.¡± ¡°Heh, to trick such a beautiful woman, am I not too unscrupulous?¡± After saying this, Su Lin looked towards Luo Sihai: ¡°The fire isn¡¯t big enough yet. Go and fan the flames, spread the news that Li Ziyen died in his car, done by the assassin group¡¯s defected Silver-ranked assassin, Blood Rose, under the orders of Li Ziyu¡¯s fiance?, Xiao Chen.¡± This statement contained a lot of information, leaving Luo Sihai somewhat overwhelmed: ¡°Boss, is... is this true?¡± Su Lin nodded: ¡°Of course, that woman just now, she is Blood Rose.¡± ¡°But how could it be like this?¡± ¡°There¡¯s already Xiaowan and Xiaoyu at home, and there¡¯s me here. The Qin family has a little princess who is also ambiguously involved with him, is this really okay for me? Maybe I should buy a box to try?¡± Thinking of this, Zhao Yanyan¡¯s face turned red. Although she didn¡¯t know how Su Lin would react to seeing her in stockings, she was sure he would do something bad. But she was also somewhat looking forward to it. ¡°President Zhao, is there any problem with these stockings?¡± Zhao Yanyan shook her head; ¡°No problem, I¡¯m just not sure about the quality of these stockings. I¡¯ll take a pair back to try on. If the quality is bad, we¡¯ll remove them from the shelves.¡± ¡°President Zhao will try them personally?¡± The assistant nearby was somewhat stunned. Zhao Yanyan nodded; ¡°Yes, I must try them personally. We can¡¯t let products with quality issues enter the market. Xiao Zhao, go pay for this box of stockings.¡± ¡°Alright~!!¡± Watching the assistant leave, Zhao Yanyan, with a blushing face, looked around to make sure no one was watching before taking the box to her office. Thinking back on the excuses she made to avoid embarrassment, Zhao Yanyan felt a bit flushed; she had never made such pretentious statements before. ¡°Su Lin, it¡¯s all your fault. Why do you have such strange hobbies?¡± Zhao Yanyan ran to the office and threw the stockings on the desk, now regretting her words and bringing the box to the office. The words were out; to wear them or not? However, before she could decide, the office door opened. The only person who could enter her office without knocking was Su Lin. After delegating the follow-up tasks to Luo Sihai, Su Lin came back alone. Just as he was about to speak to Zhao Yanyan, he noticed the box of black silk on her desk. Su Lin quickly picked up the box; ¡°Yanyan, you are indeed my good Yanyan, finally seeing it through, huh.¡± ¡°Ah~!! Su Lin, when did you come in?¡± Zhao Yanyan was startled to see Su Lin and the box of stockings in his hand. Su Lin chuckled; ¡°Just now, I was about to knock, but as soon as my hand touched the door, it opened automatically, so I walked in.¡± He waved the box in his hand at Zhao Yanyan; ¡°Yanyan, heh heh~! You bought these black silk stockings especially for me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Zhao Yanyan, embarrassed, retorted; ¡°For you, yes, for you. Go ahead and wear them. There¡¯s a rest room here. Hurry up and change. I really want to see what a big man looks like in black silk.¡± Su Lin walked up to Zhao Yanyan, placed the box in her arms; ¡°Of course, it¡¯s more suitable for you to wear these.¡± ¡°No... I won¡¯t wear them!!¡± Zhao Yanyan turned her face away, looking out the window. Su Lin chuckled, whispered a few words in her ear. Zhao Yanyan¡¯s breathing relaxed, but she still looked out the window, ignoring Su Lin, knowing that it was not a good time to speak, as negotiating conditions wouldn¡¯t go well then. Su Lin narrowed his eyes; this level of favorability wasn¡¯t enough, but that made it more interesting, didn¡¯t it? Chapter 153 Chapter 153 On the outskirts of Donghai City, Blood Rose ultimately failed to evade the pursuit of several martial arts masters. They surrounded her completely. Blood Rose drew her dagger and coldly eyed the people in front of her. ¡°Still trying to resist, seeking death!¡± One of the pursuers directly made a move towards Blood Rose. However, it was then that Blood Rose realized they were not from the assassin group, because people from the assassin group would not capture but directly kill. This gave her a glimmer of hope. Despite their strong abilities, their killing techniques were not as good as hers. In their confrontation, Blood Rose immediately let go and, holding the dagger in one hand, directly aimed for the opponent¡¯s face. The Li family¡¯s thug, feeling the breath of death, instantly broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly retracted his arm and retreated on the spot, ducking down. The dagger left a bloody line on his forehead. If he hadn¡¯t dodged quickly, the dagger would have slit his throat. ¡°A professional assassin, everyone be careful! The young miss said dead or alive doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Suddenly, everyone became more cautious. Blood Rose¡¯s heart sank; she hadn¡¯t expected them to dodge her first attack. These people, although lacking some in killing skills, did not lack actual combat experience; they were hardened by bloodshed. ¡°No need for words, just kill her.¡± ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s go together.¡± Blood Rose was in complete despair. Once they knew she was a professional assassin, their attitude completely changed, becoming cautious and striking hard without mercy. Minutes later, Blood Rose¡¯s internal organs were shattered, and she wasn¡¯t going to live much longer. The bag tied to her waist also fell, and a human head rolled out from the bag. The people saw that it was indeed Li Ziyen¡¯s head. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s the young master. Sigh~! Donghai is about to change.¡± ¡° Who did it, so ruthless.¡± ¡°Kill her, and take the body back to report.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± [Ding~! Host calmly orchestrated the plot, leading to Blood Rose¡¯s untimely death, changing a large portion of the story, reducing the protagonist Xiao Chen¡¯s luck by five percent. Host receives a chance for an epic treasure chest draw.]. Su Lin, who was waiting for Zhao Yanyan to change into stockings, suddenly heard the system¡¯s voice. He checked the time on his watch; it hadn¡¯t been two hours since he told Li Ziyu. ¡°So, the matter is settled already. Not bad, Li Ziyu, can your marriage with Xiao Chen still continue now?¡± Su Lin knew that the marriage between Li Ziyu and Xiao Chen wasn¡¯t something they could decide on their own. However, with this incident, surely Xiao Chen¡¯s marriage would be questioned. Thinking that Blood Rose died just like that, Su Lin felt somewhat regretful. Although this woman appeared cold, once moved, she was the type to rush towards the flame, even at the cost of her own life to help her loved one. In the original story, this woman, as the first female lead, had a lot of screen time, and in the end, even cultivated to immortality with Xiao Chen. Who would have thought that because of his interference, she would die within days of appearing? Before Su Lin could think further, the rest room door opened. With a ¡°creak,¡± Su Lin saw Zhao Yanyan appearing at the door, wearing black stockings and a short skirt. Her legs, already thin and long, looked even more slender in black stockings. Despite her height, it didn¡¯t seem inappropriate but very harmonious instead. Truly a leg goddess. Su Lin sighed; Lin Xiaowan was right, Zhao Yanyan was indeed a complete leg goddess. Zhao Yanyan, seeing Su Lin staring at her without moving, felt both proud and shy.Although Su Lin is surrounded by women, all of them beautiful, none have such impressive long legs as hers. Zhao Yanyan walked up to Su Lin and lifted her leg, ¡°How is it, does it look good?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Beautiful, very beautiful.¡± ¡°But why do I feel that these stockings are uncomfortable?¡± Zhao Yanyan tugged at the stockings, which seemed too tight to pull up. Su Lin said indifferently, ¡°Find a place to sleep. What else can you do at this time of night? Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°But Xiao Chen has escaped.¡± ¡°Relax, he won¡¯t come after you. He¡¯s unfamiliar with Donghai and is only thinking about escaping. Even if he considers looking into it, by the time he has a chance, he¡¯ll know I¡¯m the one dealing with him. So, there¡¯s no need for further investigation. Get my point?¡± Understanding Su Lin¡¯s words, Luo Sihai nodded, ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Rest well, tomorrow¡¯s show will be even more exciting.¡± Now, the Qin family is just trying to capture Xiao Chen. If they fail, they will definitely confront the Li family, suspecting Xiao Chen is causing trouble. The Li family won¡¯t give up on finding Xiao Chen, and neither will the assassin group. Su Lin knew none of these people would really harm Xiao Chen; the protagonist still had a long way to go, having only lost a layer of luck. ¡°Hmm~! Su Lin, who are you talking to?¡± ¡°A friend.¡± Su Lin hung up and sat next to Zhao Yanyan, ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°Uncomfortable all over,¡± Zhao Yanyan glanced at Su Lin. ¡°Uh... okay, then let¡¯s continue to rest.¡± ¡°The stockings are ruined, you¡¯re not thinking of doing anything bad, are you?¡± Zhao Yanyan looked at Su Lin warily. Su Lin earnestly replied, ¡°What kind of person do you take me for? Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t bother you now. Let¡¯s wait until you¡¯re better.¡± Zhao Yanyan sighed deeply, ¡°I finally understand why Xiaowan could accept Xiaoyu.¡± ¡°Hehe...¡± The next morning, Su Lin got up early. He bought breakfast for Zhao Yanyan, and just as they finished eating, Xiao Zhao came to work. Su Lin had already gone to check on the situation with Luo Sihai. Xiao Zhao, standing at the door of the manager¡¯s office, was surprised to see Zhao Yanyan already there, ¡°President Zhao, you¡¯re so early today?¡± ¡°President Zhao, your complexion looks so radiant today. Is there some good news?¡± Zhao Yanyan¡¯s face reddened, then shook her head, ¡°No... it¡¯s just that sales have been good recently. Su Lin even complimented our side for selling well.¡± ¡°Oh? The boss was here? How come I didn¡¯t see him?¡± Zhao Yanyan gritted her teeth, ¡°He wasn¡¯t here, he told me over the phone yesterday.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Zhao Yanyan nodded. Just then, the assistant noticed the pieces of stockings in the trash can; ¡°President Zhao, these stockings?¡± Zhao Yanyan calmly replied, ¡°I¡¯ve already tried them, the quality is very poor. Let the manufacturer know if they continue to cut corners, we¡¯ll switch to a different manufacturer.¡± ¡°Ah, you¡¯ve already tried them?¡± ¡°Yes, do as I said.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve noted it.¡± Chapter 154 Chapter 154 After the assistant left, Zhao Yanyan covered her face, unable to bear looking at the shredded stockings in the trash can. ¡°This guy went out early in the morning, who knows which vixen he¡¯s gone to see.¡± Then she chuckled to herself, ¡°Speaking of which, I guess I¡¯m a vixen too, haha!!¡± Meanwhile, Su Lin, while driving, was thinking about the jade pendant Li Ziyu had given him. This pendant was no ordinary item; it contained the second needle of the Taiyi Divine Needle, the Ice Soul Needle. Besides defense, the Ice Soul Needle could also detoxify, making it one of the extremely powerful needle techniques. Su Lin wasn¡¯t in a rush to use the jade pendant, even though Li Ziyu couldn¡¯t complain even if he did. Upon arriving at Sihai Group, Luo Sihai hurriedly greeted him, ¡°Ah, you¡¯re finally here. That woman has been waiting for you for a long time.¡± Su Lin raised an eyebrow; the woman seeking him at this time could only be Li Ziyu. ¡°She came early?¡± ¡°Yes, she has been waiting for an hour,¡± Luo Sihai said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Su Lin was puzzled. Li Ziyu¡¯s approach might be swift and decisive, but what could scare Luo Sihai like this? Not until Su Lin entered the rest room did he understand. Li Ziyu hadn¡¯t come alone today; two middle-aged men accompanied her. One had calloused hands and bulging temples, indicating mastery in external martial arts to the level of a martial arts master. The other looked scholarly but had a sharp gaze, clearly no pushover. Su Lin sat down in front of Li Ziyu, smiling, ¡°President Li, are you trying to intimidate me today? Hostile approach?¡± Li Ziyu signaled the two men, who then glanced at Su Lin before stepping out. Only after they left did Li Ziyu turn to Su Lin, ¡°Su Lin, you don¡¯t seem surprised to see me.¡± She had come prepared this time, determined not to be easily manipulated by Su Lin like before. Su Lin nodded, ¡°You have too many doubts in your mind, so you came to verify them with me.¡± ¡°Actually, even if you didn¡¯t come, I would¡¯ve told you about your brother Li Ziyan¡¯s death. It could really be said that he died because of me. A few days ago, Xiaoyue and I went out, and we ran into your fiance? who tried to flirt, so a quarrel ensued. He dared me to leave my name.¡± ¡°So you gave him my brother¡¯s name instead?¡± ¡°Exactly. I have to say, President Li, your fiance? really has a temper, ready to kill over anything, even his own brother-in-law, which I didn¡¯t expect,¡± Su Lin said with a look of regret. Li Ziyu only half believed Su Lin¡¯s words; she knew her brother¡¯s death was directly caused by Su Lin, who had anticipated Xiao Chen¡¯s reaction. What was the source of Su Lin¡¯s animosity towards Xiao Chen? Li Ziyu thought even if she asked, Su Lin wouldn¡¯t tell her. ¡°After your explanation, many doubts are cleared. My brother¡¯s death has had a great impact on me.¡± Su Lin shrugged, ¡°That has nothing to do with me.¡± Li Ziyu pondered what would happen if she ordered the two martial arts masters to attack Su Lin and, seeing his calm demeanor, wondered, if Xiao Chen, a martial arts master, could be so fearlessly attacked by Su Lin, could Su Lin be just an ordinary person? If Su Lin was also a martial arts master, then the two she brought were meaningless. Su Lin could capture her in no time, potentially drawing in Su Zhenguo as well. The Qin family could seize this opportunity to intervene, complicating matters further. ¡°President Su, I don¡¯t care about your feud with Xiao Chen, nor do I want to know,¡± Li Ziyu said, looking at Su Lin with a complex expression. But Li Ziyu didn¡¯t want the marriage. She didn¡¯t want to marry so soon, especially not to Xiao Chen. Thinking about seeing Xiao Chen last night, she felt marrying someone like him would mean a lifetime of misery. But would her family listen to her? Clearly, no one would care about her opinion. Seeing Li Ziyu looking as if her spirit was drained, Su Lin smiled: ¡°Do you feel like your spirit is being hollowed out, a mountain pressing down on you, making it hard to breathe?¡± Li Ziyu looked at Su Lin and pursed her lips without speaking. Su Lin again said: ¡°You¡¯re not without options. Right now, you have a potential collaborator in front of you.¡± Li Ziyu looked at Su Lin, surprised: ¡°You... what¡¯s your grievance with Xiao Chen?¡± Su Lin shook his head: ¡°I have no personal grievance with him; it¡¯s just a matter of different stances. In this world, only one of us can exist, either him or me.¡± ¡°Why do you think I would agree?¡± Su Lin lightly laughed: ¡°Simple reason. You don¡¯t want to be a bargaining chip in a marriage, living a life devoid of emotions, always icy cold, not daring to show even a hint of warmth or sincerity to anyone.¡± ¡°To go to such lengths shows that if there¡¯s even a sliver of a chance, you would grasp it.¡± Li Ziyu remained silent: ¡°My mother was also married into the family through an arranged marriage. She came from a second-tier family in the capital, complementary to the Li family. So, my grandfather and her family hit it off instantly, and the marriage was arranged on the spot.¡± ¡°My mother was a lady of high society, while my father was a typical playboy. After marriage, my mother did all the housework while my father kept other women outside.¡± ¡°Did you know, in this household, except for me being born to my mother, the other children were brought in from outside by my father. And he even forcibly claimed they were born to my mother...¡± ¡°A few years ago, she couldn¡¯t bear it anymore and passed away.¡± ¡°So, you don¡¯t want to end up in an arranged marriage, being used?¡± Li Ziyu nodded: ¡°Su Lin, you¡¯re right. Even if there¡¯s a slightest chance, I will seize it. Even if it means flying into the flame, I¡¯ll try. Xiao Chen flirting with Qin Jiumei as soon as he arrived in Donghai shows his character, and I refuse to live the life my mother did, confined to a villa all year round.¡± The determination in Li Ziyu¡¯s eyes, ready to risk her life to avoid the arranged marriage, made Su Lin admit that this version of Li Ziyu was more attractive and lethal than ever before. Su Lin sighed: ¡°This is the real you, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Su Lin, I can collaborate with you!¡± ¡°But he¡¯s your fiance?!¡± ¡°No, Xiao Chen is just a stranger to me. He shouldn¡¯t have come to Donghai. Since he¡¯s here, he¡¯s in my way. You¡¯re right, Su Lin. Our stances are different; we¡¯re destined not to coexist.¡± Su Lin gave a thumbs-up. With such resolve, Su Lin admitted he didn¡¯t possess such a level of determination. Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Chapter 155 [Ding! The host has significantly altered the plot, severely damaging the protagonist Xiao Chen''s fate, reducing his luck by ten percent. The host''s martial arts mastery has advanced a great realm. Simply think to upgrade, and after the upgrade, the host''s cultivation ¨C martial arts grandmaster. (Corresponding to the martial arts cultivation of Qi Strength)]. [After the cultivation upgrade, the host''s martial arts and martial path are compatible.]. Becoming a grandmaster of martial arts is already legendary. Such existences may be found in the great families of Donghai, but they are definitely rare. Su Lin didn''t expect that reaching an agreement with Li Ziyu would bring such a surprise. He thought of Qin Jiuyue, the original first female lead. Why wasn''t there a significant plot change with her? In the end, Su Lin figured it just hadn''t triggered the conditions yet. He wasn''t in a hurry. Now, having two needles of the Taiyi Divine Needle, he wondered if Xiao Chen had received the first needle from Wang Yannian. Logically, if Xiao Chen sought Wang Yannian''s help at this time, Wang Yannian should have provided it. ¡°Su Lin, can you now tell me where Xiao Chen is?¡± Su Lin shook his head: ¡°Honestly, I really don''t know where Xiao Chen is now, but I can tell you that he will definitely go to the Li family, and he will do so openly, probably within these few days.¡± ¡°How is that possible? My Li family is currently pursuing him; how would he dare?¡± Su Lind chuckled lightly: ¡°If he hasn''t made contact with Wang Yannian, naturally he wouldn''t dare to go. But if he has contacted his master, then Wang Yannian will surely communicate with your grandfather, and then he will have no worries about going to your house openly.¡± ¡°What should I do then? My grandfather will definitely make me marry him.¡± ¡°Not... Your grandfather will indeed want you to marry Xiao Chen, but definitely not now. You currently control a large amount of the Li family''s wealth and power.¡± ¡°So, I guess your grandfather will gradually make you hand over your power, create opportunities for you to interact with Xiao Chen, and then have you marry Xiao Chen once the power transfer is almost complete.¡± Hearing Su Lin''s analysis, Li Ziyu felt it was very possible. She said bitterly, ¡°I didn''t expect my grandfather to scheme against me too.¡± ¡°Heh, you''re tough to deal with; who else would he scheme against? If you were a bit simpler and had fewer thoughts, he wouldn''t bother with you,¡± Su Lin laughed. Li Ziyu gave Su Lin a look. Though he seemed to be complimenting her, she found it unsettling. Caught off by that look, Su Lin inwardly exclaimed, ¡°Demoness.¡± Li Ziyu, dressed in a domineering fashion and usually cold, now had a gaze too lethal for Su Lin to ignore. Fortunately, Su Lin was no new; the charming demeanors of Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu had already forged his resolve, granting him some resistance. ¡°Kid, just a few days down the mountain and you''ve already run into trouble?¡± Despite the unpleasant tone, Xiao Chen knew this was Wang Yannian''s way of showing care. Xiao Chen hummed an acknowledgment before saying, ¡°Master, I feel I''ve fallen into a huge conspiracy. Today, I was surrounded by three grandmasters.¡± ¡°Hmm? Who¡¯s bold enough to take you on, isn¡¯t Donghai the Li family¡¯s territory? Go to the Li family, they¡¯ll naturally protect you.¡± Xiao Chen chuckled bitterly, ¡°Master, the ones who ambushed me were from the Li family. If not for the tough training you put me through over the years, developing my escape tactics, I would have been done for today.¡± ¡°What is Li Weifeng playing at, daring to touch my disciple? Xiao Chen, tell me everything from the beginning.¡± Xiao Chen didn¡¯t dare to omit any details as he recounted the events to Wang Yannian, though he concealed his flirting with Qin Jiuyue. Wang Yannian frowned after listening, ¡°This matter is indeed complicated. The main issue now is you need to quickly find the young man who reported his name; otherwise, things will become even more complex.¡± ¡°But Master, I dare not go to Donghai now. They¡¯re searching for me everywhere. If they find me, it¡¯ll be an all-out attack.¡± ¡°Then take a cab directly to the Li family¡¯s manor and explain everything to Li Weifeng. I believe he¡¯ll take the matter seriously once he knows the full story.¡± ¡°Also, give me your address. I¡¯ll send you something. While martial arts grandmasters are powerful, these big families have more than just martial arts grandmasters. Kid, let me tell you, don¡¯t bother me with every little trouble in the future. Since you¡¯ve left the mountain, solve your own problems.¡± ¡°Master, this is clearly your issue. I¡¯ve just descended the mountain; I refuse to believe I¡¯ve offended them.¡± ¡°Humph, ever heard of ¡®the sins of the father are to be borne by the son¡¯? Since you¡¯ve inherited my mantle, you must carry my burdens. You can stir up as much trouble as you want in Donghai, just don¡¯t wipe out those big families.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got your back. But remember, Xiao Chen, you can¡¯t solve everything with force. You can¡¯t kill all the people in Donghai; you need to use your brain.¡± ¡°I understand, Master!¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Chapter 156 After finishing the call, Xiao Chen felt much more relaxed. He knew Wang Yannian well, acknowledging him as an incredibly formidable person, with his martial prowess being a question mark, so whatever he was sending was definitely not something trivial. ¡°I wonder what Master will send. It must be significant if he¡¯s making a special delivery for it.¡± Thinking this, Xiao Chen was already looking forward to it. ¡°No matter who you are, if you''ve offended me, Xiao Chen, you are undoubtedly doomed.¡± The image of Su Lin''s handsome face appeared in Xiao Chen''s mind, with a surge of murderous intent rising in his heart. Su Lin must die. Unaware that he was on Xiao Chen''s hit list, Su Lin had just had his strength elevated to a significantly higher realm by the system. ¡°Energy projection, is this the hallmark of a grandmaster?¡± Su Lin felt as though he had an endless supply of energy. Just a moment ago, he waved casually at the table in front of him, and the force directly sent a teacup flying, embedding it firmly into the wall. He couldn''t imagine what would happen if he were to unleash his full power with such a strike. ¡°No wonder they say grandmasters don''t need any fancy techniques. Ordinary moves could severely injure an opponent, just the energy projection alone is so fierce, who could withstand it? A direct palm strike might even be lethal.¡± Just then, Luo Sihai hurriedly knocked on the door: ¡°President Su, Miss Qin of the Qin family is here to see you, she''s in the lounge.¡± ¡°What does Qin Jiuyue want with me?¡± Responding, Su Lin picked the teacup off the wall: ¡°Such a nice aluminum teacup, and now it''s ruined.¡± Shaking his head, Su Lin opened the door and walked out. Just reaching the lounge, Qin Jiuyue stood up from her chair and ran towards Su Lin: ¡°Su Lin, are you okay? Are you injured?¡± Su Lin let Qin Jiuyue fuss over him, wondering if she was taking advantage of him if not for the concern written all over her face. ¡°Sister Jiuyue, I''m fine. What''s got you rushing over to Sihai Group? Just to check on me?¡± Qin Jiuyue responded: ¡°It''s all because of that Li Ziyu. I heard she came looking for trouble with you, even bringing two martial artists. I was so worried I had to come see you.¡± ¡°Er... she came to discuss cooperation with me. How could she possibly harm me?¡± Su Lin said, amused. ¡°Don''t try to fool me. Do you think I''m a fool? Just yesterday, Luo Sihai pledged allegiance to you, and then Li Ziyan died. Today, she brought two grandmasters with her. Clearly, she''s up to no good,¡± Qin Jiuyue said with a skeptical look. Touched by her words, Su Lin replied: ¡°Really, there''s nothing wrong. Li Ziyu and I are indeed discussing cooperation.¡± Qin Jiuyue, brimming with pride, said, ¡°You''re underestimating me. Although I may not be strong in combat, being a mascot doesn''t mean I''m easy to bully. Considering this matter started because of me, watch me go and stir things up with my grandfather.¡± Thinking of Qin Jiuyue''s mischievous traits, Su Lin couldn''t even imagine how she would spin the story, but given Qin Dushu''s intelligence, he would surely make a big deal out of this. After all, the Qin family wouldn''t want to see the heir of the Ghost Doctor marrying into the Li family. Brilliant, indeed. Su Lin gave her a thumbs up, ¡°I forgot you had this tactic.¡± Brilliant.¡± ¡°Hehe, this is my talent. Watch me go to my grandfather and complain. With Xiao Chen being Li Ziyu''s fiance?, my grandfather will surely stand up for me.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course, the beloved Qin family''s Xiaoyue attracts all the love and care. The scandal of being harassed will make people laugh.¡± Qin Jiuyue playfully hit Su Lin''s arm, ¡°Harassed? He tried to kidnap me! Abduction!!!¡± ¡°Thankfully, you were there, Su Lin, to thwart his scheme and prevent him from succeeding.¡± Su Lin patted his head, ¡°Right, right, abduction!¡± Qin Jiuyue¡¯s concocted story of abduction was full of holes; any martial arts grandmaster could easily kidnap her without trouble. However, Su Lin believed that Qin Dushu would take it seriously and wouldn¡¯t doubt it for a second. Looking at Qin Jiuyue, Su Lin realized her cunning wasn¡¯t inferior to Li Ziyu¡¯s. ¡°Mhm, make sure you remember that. If anyone confronts you, just stick to that story. After all, you¡¯re a martial arts grandmaster and the son of Su Zhenguo; no one¡¯s going to mess with you.¡± Su Lin couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Sister Jiuyue, you¡¯ve got it all figured out.¡± ¡°Hmph, just listen to your Sister Jiuyue. I wouldn¡¯t steer you wrong.¡± Then, somewhat shyly, she asked, ¡°Su Lin, are you free this afternoon?¡± Thinking of Zhao Yanyan, who he had put through a lot yesterday, he felt it was only right to stay by her side and take care of her in the afternoon. So, he replied, ¡°I might not be free in the afternoon. Is there something you need, Sister Jiuyue?¡± Disappointed, Qin Jiuyue shook her head, ¡°No, I just wanted you to take me out for some fun, but it¡¯s a pity you¡¯re busy.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°I might be busy in the afternoon, but I¡¯m free all morning until lunch.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s wonderful.¡± Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Chapter 157 After spending a short time with Qin Jiuyue, Su Lin escorted her back to the Treasure Pavilion. Qin Jiuyue, upon returning, promptly inquired about Qin Deshu''s whereabouts and, learning he was at home, hurried back to report to him. Everyone was puzzled about who could have provoked Miss Qin, but they knew someone was in for trouble given her departure in a huff. Back at Quan Le Gou Company, Su Lin found Zhao Yanyan trying to nap in the boss''s chair, clearly exhausted from the night before. Despite hardly sleeping half the night and feeling sore and sleep-deprived, she attempted to rest. Approaching to carry her to the rest room for better rest, Zhao Yanyan abruptly woke up and viewed him suspiciously, ¡°What are you trying to do in broad daylight? The assistants might come looking for me any moment.¡± Su Lin gently pinched Zhao Yanyan''s cheek, explaining, ¡°You''re this exhausted yet not resting. I¡¯m taking you to the rest room to rest for a bit.¡± ¡°Really? You¡¯re not planning to do something naughty, are you?¡± Zhao Yanyan eyed him skeptically. ¡°Honestly, I am tempted, but the situation doesn''t allow it,¡± Su Lin earnestly admitted. Zhao Yanyan, smiling suggestively, suggested, ¡°Hehe... You could call Xiaowan and Xiaoyu here.¡± Despite Zhao Yanyan''s provocation, Su Lin remained unswayed but cautioned her, ¡°The more you provoke me now, the harsher it will be later.¡± Don''t say I didn''t warn you; begging for mercy won''t work.¡± ¡°You... What''s with your insatiable body? How can you be so perverted!¡± Zhao Yanyan complained, turning her head away. Chuckling, Su Lin carried Zhao Yanyan to the rest room and laid her down, ¡°Rest well. You hardly slept last night and have work to deal with today. I didn''t consider your needs enough. Don''t worry about outside matters; I''ll handle them.¡± Seeing Su Lin''s gentler side, Zhao Yanyan smiled sweetly, ¡°Su Lin, I didn''t expect you to have such a tender side. It''s surprising.¡± Su Lin, pinching Zhao Yanyan''s nose, responded, ¡°I have my moments of gentleness.¡± After making sure Zhao Yanyan was comfortable, Su Lin left the room to let her rest properly, noticing her evident exhaustion and dark circles under her eyes. ¡°Manager Zhao...¡± Su Lin gestured for quiet to the approaching assistant, indicating Zhao Yanyan was resting in the rest room. The assistant glared at Su Lin before complaining, ¡°Manager Zhao should have been allowed to rest earlier. You don''t realize how long she''s been overworking.¡± Feeling guilty, Su Lin realized that indeed, Zhao Yanyan had been working relentlessly, especially since their recent trip to Donghai. He then asked the assistant what was the matter. The assistant, slightly irritated, remarked, ¡°Do you even care about work?¡± Xia Shiyu added, ¡°Yes, Chen Yang, Su Lin had settled this matter long ago. We''re definitely going to be based in Donghai long-term, so we should start planning now.¡± Chen Yang sighed, realizing Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan had already decided, leaving no room for discussion. ¡°But we haven''t received any instructions from Donghai. ¡°We don¡¯t even know where we¡¯d stay if we moved now,¡± Chen Yang expressed his concern. Lin Xiaowan smiled, ¡°That''s why Xia Shiyu and I are going on a business trip to Donghai to choose a location for the headquarters.¡± ¡°Are both of you going?¡± ¡°Of course. What else?¡± ¡°But there''s so much to do here at the company.¡± Lin Xiaowan stated firmly, ¡°Chen Yang, Xia Shiyu and I will eventually leave the company. By then, marketing, HR, finance, and everything else will be under your management. You should start getting used to it now.¡± Chen Yang smiled bitterly. Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu were highly competent; things were effortless with them in charge. But without them, he¡¯d face significant challenges, especially with the entire company¡¯s operations under his management. ¡°So, when are you leaving?¡± ¡°Tomorrow,¡± Lin Xiaowan cheerfully replied. ¡°Tomorrow? Did your father agree to you going to Donghai?¡± Chen Yang was incredulous at the haste. Lin Xiaowan said, ¡°My father has been informed. He knows about my relationship with Su Lin. At most, he¡¯d verbally object and then insist I stay with my aunt.¡± ¡°And what about your father, Xia Shiyu?¡± Xia Shiyu smiled, ¡°I¡¯m not bothering him with this.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this too sudden?¡± ¡°Please bear with it, Yangzi. Su Lin said even if the company grew tenfold, you could manage it. He trusts you, and we trust him.¡± ¡°I feel the same as Xiaowan.¡± Chen Yang: ¡°...¡± Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Chapter 158 At the Qin family estate, Qin Jiuyue tearfully protests with Qin Deshu, ¡°Grandpa, this time you must avenge me, or you''ll never see your granddaughter again.¡± Qin Deshu smiled kindly, ¡°Who has upset our Xiaoyue this time?¡± ¡°It''s not just upsetting, someone tried to kidnap me,¡± Qin Jiuyue said, deliberately looking frightened and hesitant, glancing at Qin Deshu several times before bowing her head, appearing too scared to speak. Her acting could rival that of a movie star, convincing Qin Deshu without question. Seeing his beloved granddaughter so aggrieved made him furious. ¡°Tell me, what exactly happened? Who dared to kidnap our Qin family¡¯s Xiaoyue?¡± ¡°It was... it was...¡± ¡°Who was it? Speak up.¡± ¡°It was, Li families Li Ziyu''s fiance?, that Xiao Chen!¡± Qin Jiuyue then exaggerated the story of how Xiao Chen approached her that night, intending to kidnap her. ¡°Grandpa, Xiao Chen is a martial arts master and also the successor to the Ghost Doctor. I didn''t know he was Li Ziyu''s fiance? before. Thinking that Su Lin had driven him away, I didn''t dare to tell you. It was only after seeing the portrait Li Ziyu made that I realized that man was Xiao Chen, her fiance?.¡± Her story was full of holes, but as Su Lin predicted, Qin Deshu didn''t question any of the details. Instead, he looked seriously at Qin Jiuyue, ¡°How do you know he''s the successor to the Ghost Doctor Wang Yannian?¡± ¡°This... this was told to me by Su Lin.¡± Qin Jiuyue eventually brought up Su Lin, believing he would have prepared himself for this since he agreed to let her complain to her grandfather. ¡°Su Lin, that Su Zhenguo''s son? When did you meet him?¡± Qin Jiuyue nodded, ¡°On my birthday.¡± Su Lin exchanged a Yuan Dynasty Blue and White Porcelain for Grandpa San''s treasured porcelain. Then I teased him, making him bring me a gift, and he gave me a toy snake. That''s how we met.¡± Qin Deshu believed every word, having never been lied to by Qin Jiuyue before. ¡°So you went out that night?¡± ¡°It''s because Grandpa forced me into an arranged marriage.¡± Qin Deshu sighed, ¡°Xiaoyue, there are things I don''t wish to do, but great families have their unavoidable circumstances. You don''t understand now, but it''ll be too late when you do.¡± ¡°Um! Then, Grandpa, you¡¯re just going to let that Xiao Chen bully me like this?¡± Qin Jiuyue asked angrily. If a grandmaster engaged him, allowing Xiao Chen to focus on escaping, he might slip away again. ¡°So, does the Li family have a grandmaster?¡± Su Lin asked, noting Li Ziyu''s quickened breathing. The Li family did have a grandmaster, her grandfather''s twin brother, a martial fanatic. But such a person was beyond her reach. ¡°You might be overcautious. Nine masters can''t handle Xiao Chen?¡± Li Ziyu challenged. Su Lin replied, ¡°It''s always best to exert full effort, especially against a skilled escapist like Xiao Chen. He might not fight us directly, but escaping is another matter.¡± Su Lin, now a grandmaster, wasn''t worried about Xiao Chen escaping him, thanks to his superior lightness skill. Li Ziyu, pondering Xiao Chen''s escape from three masters, considered whether he could escape from more. Li Ziyu suggested, ¡°Should I bring snipers?¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°You underestimate a master''s speed. Your snipers won''t catch them, let alone shoot.¡± ¡°What do we do then?¡± ¡°Bring two grandmasters, ideally skilled in both internal and external martial arts and quick. They''d be the key in a real fight.¡± Li Ziyu was taken back by Su Lin''s casual suggestion of finding two grandmasters as if they were common. ¡°Su Lin, what''s our success rate without grandmasters?¡± ¡°Counting me, fifty percent.¡± ¡°And without?¡± ¡°None.¡± Shocked, Li Ziyu almost laughed, ¡°So confident.¡± If that''s the case, you might as well go alone. You have the same success rate anyway.¡± Su Lin didn''t expect her to react like this, ¡°If you find a grandmaster, let me know, and I''ll join. Otherwise, I need rest. Staying up ages you. Let''s leave it at that. I''ll wait for your news.¡± Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Chapter 159 In a small town in the suburbs, Xiao Chen had been waiting for a long time and finally received the item delivered by Wang Yannian. Looking at the old man with all-white hair in front of him, Xiao Chen instinctively felt a sense of crisis. He knew this was the oppressive feeling caused by the achievement in national arts. Xiao Chen immediately put away his cautious thoughts and said respectfully, ¡°This uncle?¡± ¡°Uncle? I''m about the same age as your master. Calling me uncle seems to make me younger,¡± the old man said with a laugh. Xiao Chen also smiled upon hearing this. The old guy seemed easy to talk to. ¡°Hehe, not at all. The master walks silently, with a ruddy complexion, clearly showing the achievement in national arts and is in great health. Calling you uncle is not too much.¡± ¡°Ha! Still a slick talker,¡± the elder, Zhong Xincheng, said as he handed the item to Xiao Chen, adding, ¡°This is something your master asked me to bring to you. Take it.¡± Xiao Chen took the bag with a slightly bitter expression; ¡°Just this woven bag was sent, what good things can it have?¡± Zhong Xincheng laughed and scolded, ¡°You really don''t appreciate kindness. Would Wang Yannian send anything ordinary? If I could beat that old guy, I would have robbed his treasure long ago.¡± Xiao Chen, holding the bag, looked at the old man in front of him with a wary face. ¡°No need to hide it. The things you use, I wouldn¡¯t even glance at.¡± Xiao Chen felt much more relaxed upon hearing this, but thinking about how people from the Donghai were searching everywhere for him, he worriedly said, ¡°Uncle, you''re not going to just give me the stuff and leave, right?¡± Zhong Xincheng, seeing Xiao Chen''s fearful look, laughed and said, ¡°I thought you were fearless, even daring to kill the eldest son of the Li family.¡± ¡°Don''t worry. I will accompany you until you meet Li Weifeng, that old kid. This is what I agreed with Wang Yannian. But let''s make it clear, you can''t cause trouble anymore, otherwise, even I can''t protect you.¡± ¡°And don''t call me uncle anymore, just call me Elder Zhong!¡± ¡°Alright, Elder Zhong. You don''t know my current situation. I feel like everyone in Donghai wants to kill me, and I don¡¯t even know what I did wrong for them to treat me this way.¡± Zhong Xincheng sighed, ¡°You say you were engaged to the eldest daughter of the Li family, and then you killed your big brother-in-law. What were you thinking?¡± ¡°I... I was framed by someone.¡± He was set up by Su Lin, but fundamentally, it was because Xiao Chen couldn''t stand being wronged and killed indiscriminately. However, Zhong Xincheng and Wang Yannian didn''t know about these things, so Xiao Chen could say whatever he wanted. ¡°People are more sinister than those on your bald mountain, you know?¡± ¡°Understood!¡± ¡°Alright, go rest. I''ll accompany you to the Li family tomorrow.¡± After saying that, Zhong Xincheng disappeared in front of Xiao Chen. Holding the woven bag, Xiao Chen headed towards the inn, eager to find out what exactly Wang Yannian had brought him. Upon opening the bag, there were only three items inside: a notebook, a jade pendant, and a bottle of pills. Opening the notebook, Xiao Chen was instantly captivated. It recorded Wang Yannian''s cultivation experiences over the years, including notes about the jade pendant. He suspected that the jade pendant was an ancient martial artifact but had never understood how to use it. Therefore, he handed it to Xiao Chen for research. Xiao Chen delved into studying the jade pendant, unaware that danger was approaching. On the national highway from Donghai to the suburbs, Su Lin and Li Ziyu were sitting in a car. This time, there were eight people in total: Su Lin, Li Ziyu, five martial arts masters, and an old man. As Su Lin was about to get off the car, he sensed a powerful presence on a rooftop not far away. Su Lin instantly looked over and saw an elderly man with white hair standing on the rooftop, looking towards their three cars. ¡°Xiao Chen, hurry up and leave. We have guests.¡± Xiao Chen, who was playing with the jade pendant, immediately got angry upon hearing someone was coming for him again. With a slight force, the jade pendant in his hand shattered, then Xiao Chen quickly felt a chill in his palm, and hundreds of golden characters appeared in the room. These characters gradually arranged into short phrases, striking directly at Xiao Chen¡¯s temple. ¡°Xiao Chen...¡± ¡°Xiao Chen...¡± Zhong Xincheng, not hearing any response, cursed Xiao Chen for being a lousy teammate. He sensed Su Lin¡¯s Grandmaster aura. At this moment, even his own safety was in question, yet Xiao Chen was hiding in the room. Didn¡¯t he know that every second he delayed, the longer Zhong had to hold off? He couldn¡¯t think any longer about it. He leaped down from the building and headed straight for Su Lin. The few masters who had just gotten off the car felt the powerful presence and changed color simultaneously: ¡°A Grandmaster!!¡± Su Lin said coldly, ¡°Ignore him. This person is mine to deal with. You go kill Xiao Chen.¡± After speaking, Su Lin lightly tapped his foot and flew past like a bullet, his movements elegant and graceful, leaving Li Ziyu in the car stunned. ¡°Bang!¡± Su Lin and Zhong Xincheng clashed palms and retreated simultaneously. Su Lin just slightly shifted his stance and landed on a tree. Zhong Xincheng, however, retreated seven or eight steps, each step leaving a foot imprint several centimeters deep. ¡°Energy projection, late-stage Grandmaster, damn it! Energy projection, such a young Grandmaster, Wang Yannian, you trickster.¡± Despite expecting this, seeing Zhong Xincheng, Su Lin still wore a serious face. ¡°Young man, reaching Grandmaster at such a young age, who is your master?¡± Su Lin sneered, ¡°Trying to find out? If you¡¯re scared, just step aside. I¡¯ll go kill Xiao Chen and then come back to tell you who my master is.¡± Saying that, Su Lin¡¯s figure flashed towards Xiao Chen. At this moment, he was truly intent on killing. Even at the expense of Li Ziyu, if he could completely kill Xiao Chen, Su Lin felt it would be worth it. His nature was such that if he decided to make a move, it would be thunderous. Zhong Xincheng¡¯s face changed drastically. He could genuinely feel Su Lin¡¯s relentless killing intent. If Su Lin encountered Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen would undoubtedly die. Zhong Xincheng quickly kicked three pebbles towards Su Lin. Feeling the force, Su Lin dodged. Zhong Xincheng was already close by: ¡°With this old man here today, you can¡¯t touch Xiao Chen.¡± ¡°Then you can die.¡± Su Lin, aiming for a quick resolution, revealed silver needles in his hand, starting with the Taiyi Divine Needle¡¯s Yang Flame Needle. ¡°Th-This... Why do I feel the breath of death?¡± Zhong Xincheng internally cursed at the monstrosity, thinking it was just a simple escort mission. He hadn¡¯t expected to have to fight for his life so soon. Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Chapter 160 Soon, Zhong Xincheng had no mind to care about Xiao Chen. He saw Su Lin''s injured silver needle, carrying a bizarre flame, shooting towards his face. The sharp sound of breaking the air left Zhong Xincheng with no time to react, forcing him to rely on his body''s instinctive reaction to barely dodge. He could feel the sting of the flame grazing the tip of his nose, followed by an explosion. The tree behind him burst open, igniting in flames. Zhong Xincheng, both shocked and enraged, touched his nose tip, even smelling the aroma of cooked flesh. What kind of martial art was this? Then a word popped into Zhong Xincheng''s mind¨CAncient Martial Arts!! Su Lin was surprised that Zhong Xincheng dodged his Yang Flame Needle. But the second needle followed closely after carrying the same bizarre flame. This time, Zhong Xincheng did not underestimate it at all. Su Lin, looking at the silver needle in his hand adorned with flames, sighed in relief that this world did not have Jin Dada, or else he would have become the real-life version of the Invincible East. However, he was pleased that his silver needles were not like those of the Invincible East; they were like bullets, with tremendous destructive power. Seeing Su Lin''s second needle shooting towards him, Zhong Xincheng was not as lucky this time. The silver needle pierced through his shoulder and exploded. A large bloody hole appeared in Zhong Xincheng''s shoulder. Su Lin sighed, the Taiyi Divine Needle against martial artists was like a father hitting his son, not on the same level at all. Looking at the half-dead Zhong Xincheng, Su Lin turned and flew towards Xiao Chen''s room. At this time, Xiao Chen was entangled in a fight with several martial arts masters brought by Li Ziyu. Seeing Zhong Xincheng being blown apart, his face turned green, and he quickly attempted to escape. ¡°Thinking of running~! Let''s see where you can escape this time.¡± Several masters went after him. However, Su Lin hadn''t flown far before he had to stop again. A middle-aged man appeared before him, with white at the temples but looking much younger than Zhong Xincheng. His aura was dense, with bulging temples, indicating he was a Grandmaster who had trained both internally and externally. ¡°Young friend, since the man is already injured like this, how about we stop here?¡± Su Lin sighed, knowing things wouldn''t be so simple. The law of the protagonist not dying truly did not deceive me. Su Lin coldly snorted, about to make a move, but the opponent didn''t engage him directly. Instead, he threw a handful of powder. Su Lin covered his nose and mouth, swinging his hand to disperse the powder with several palm strikes. The middle-aged man, holding Zhong Xincheng, flew away, not slower than Su Lin at all. ¡°Damn...no martial arts ethics.¡± Su Lin didn''t expect a Grandmaster who had trained both internally and externally to not face him directly and instead flee with someone. Were all Grandmasters so shameless? Su Lin wanted to pursue but saw a laser dot scanning Li Ziyu''s car from the opposite hillside, looking for targets. Li Ziyu, completely unaware she was being targeted, was stunned, her mouth forming an ''o'' shape. She didn''t expect Su Lin to be so fierce, blowing up a Grandmaster in less than three moves. Su Lin sighed internally, realizing Xiao Chen''s formidable luck truly wasn''t easy to kill. He darted towards the sniper on the opposite hillside and shot a Yang Flame Needle. Then, he returned to Li Ziyu''s side, casually looking at her, ¡°Why open your mouth so wide? Hungry and want to eat?¡± Hearing Su Lin''s voice, Li Ziyu snapped back to reality, slightly embarrassed, she brushed her hair, ¡°Su Lin, those two were Grandmasters, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You... did you make them flee?¡± ¡°If you didn''t see wrong, yes.¡± ¡°Then you are...¡± ¡°I''m just an ordinary Grandmaster.¡± Su Lin said lightly. Li Ziyu covered her mouth, still somewhat disbelieving. Su Lin thought for a moment: ¡°Drop me off at Quan Le Guo, you¡¯ll pass by there anyway.¡± ¡°You live at a supermarket? You might as well let me arrange a place for you to stay.¡± ¡°You arrange? Forget it, you better think about how to face your grandfather. That old man I fought is certainly dead, and his identity probably isn¡¯t simple.¡± ¡°What does it have to do with me? It wasn¡¯t me who killed him. Xiao Chen killed my brother; it was only right for me to act against him. What¡¯s there to face?¡± Meanwhile, the middle-aged man, carrying Xiao Chen and Zhong Xincheng, ran wildly for several miles before stopping on a small hill. Xiao Chen was injured all over, his clothes torn and ragged, looking pitiful. Yet, he didn¡¯t have time to worry about his injuries. The first thing he did was rush to Zhong Xincheng¡¯s side: ¡°Elder Zhong, Elder Zhong.¡± Seeing Zhong Xincheng unconscious and unable to speak, Xiao Chen hurried to check his injuries. A fist-sized hole was blasted through Zhong Xincheng¡¯s shoulder, the surrounding flesh completely charred and the burnt area was spreading rapidly. ¡°No need to check anymore. Elder Zhong¡¯s shoulder is completely necrotic, and his internal organs have also been severely damaged. What you need to do now is wake him up and ask for his last words.¡± Xiao Chen, tearfully shaking his head: ¡°No... that¡¯s impossible. Elder Zhong is a Grandmaster; how can he die?¡± The middle-aged man sighed: ¡°The opponent is a young Grandmaster. His silver needles were imbued with scorching Qi, plus the air shot. The generated heat was too great, directly burning Elder Zhong¡¯s flesh away.¡± ¡°Who is that person? Who is he?¡± The middle-aged man shook his head: ¡°I don¡¯t know him, nor do I know when such a person appeared in Donghai. But kid, if you don¡¯t wake Elder Zhong up soon, he won¡¯t even have a chance to say his last words.¡± Xiao Chen then began administering acupuncture, inserting more than a dozen needles into Zhong Xincheng, who gradually woke up. ¡°I... cough cough...¡± ¡°Elder Zhong, do you have any last words, or any unfulfilled wishes? Tell me.¡± Zhong Xincheng tried to speak, but blood flowed out when he opened his mouth. ¡°Do you have any last words?¡± ¡°I... take care... of my granddaughter...¡± ¡°Elder Zhong, what did you say? What was that...¡± The middle-aged man, witnessing Zhong Xincheng¡¯s tragic death, shook his head: ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°The young man is well-versed in both internal and external training and has also practiced ancient martial arts, a rare Grandmaster of this era. Kid, although I promised your master to save your life, I didn¡¯t promise to avenge you.¡± ¡°Now you have two choices: one, I take you to meet Li Weifeng; two, I send you back to your master. What¡¯s your choice?¡± Xiao Chen sat silently on the ground for a while before speaking hoarsely: ¡°If I go to the Li family does it mean that I will difinitely die?¡± ¡°Basically, there¡¯s no chance of survival.¡± ¡°Send me to meet Li Weifeng.¡± ¡°Ah... Why bother?¡± Xiao Chen managed a smile: ¡°I¡¯m a bit stubborn. Sometimes, even knowing there¡¯s danger, I still want to do it.¡± ¡°That young man may be formidable, but I¡¯m not weak either.¡± In the inn just now, Xiao Chen had obtained the inheritance of the first needle of Taiyi Divine Needle. He was confident that once he mastered the first needle of Taiyi Divine Needle, Su Lin would not be his match, and he would surely get his revenge. ¡°This uncle, do you know that person¡¯s name?¡± The middle-aged man looked at Xiao Chen surprisingly, then smiled: ¡°His name is Su Lin, the son of Su Zhenguo. I don¡¯t know much else. Good luck, maybe you can really do it~!!¡± Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Xiao Chen was worthy of being the main character. In just a few minutes, he had already sorted out his grief. He knew that Zhong Xincheng was already dead, so there was no point in being sad. He stood up and looked at the incomparably powerful middle-aged man. ¡°Uncle, I still don¡¯t know your name.¡± The middle-aged man chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m just a teacher at Donghai University. I¡¯ve been entrusted with this task, so you don¡¯t need to know my name.¡± When Xiao Chen was on the mountain, he heard Wang Yannian say that there were many hidden experts in the world. Perhaps this person in front of him was one of them. ¡°You don¡¯t need to care about who I am. Instead, you need to pay attention to this Mr. Zhong. He¡¯s already dead, and he only has one granddaughter. His granddaughter is a second-year student at my university. I don¡¯t think I need to say anything else. You know what to do, right?¡± Xiao Chen nodded. Zhong Xincheng died to protect him, so no matter what, he had to take care of his granddaughter. ... The car stopped in front of Quan Le Guo. Su Lin didn¡¯t rush to get out of the car. Instead, he looked at Li Ziyu and said, ¡°There should be a big show waiting for you tonight. Do you need me to help you?¡± Su Lin was a Martial Grandmaster. Although he was only at the early stage, other Martial Grandmasters couldn¡¯t last more than a few moves in front of him. So saying that he would help Li Ziyu was not empty words. He only needed to release his aura and sit there, and no one would dare to do anything to Li Ziyu. Li Ziyu shook her head. ¡°No matter what, it¡¯s still a family matter. It would be inconvenient to trouble you. Besides, you¡¯ve already helped me enough. Today, you even saved my life. I don¡¯t know how to repay you.¡± Su Lin laughed. ¡°Saving you was just a matter of convenience. I have a tender heart for the fairer sex. I can¡¯t bear to see such a beautiful girl like you die like this.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Li Ziyu glanced at Su Lin. She was willing to bet that tonight, Su Lin definitely wanted to give up on her and kill Xiao Chen. Although she didn¡¯t know what kind of grudge they had, Su Lin¡¯s desire to kill Xiao Chen was not fake at all. As for why he didn¡¯t chase after Xiao Chen, Li Ziyu felt that it was because of other reasons. ¡°Of course, you¡¯ve investigated me quite well. I¡¯m sure you have some understanding of my character.¡± Li Ziyu looked at Su Lin. ¡°So you want me and your other girlfriends to stay by your side without any status?¡± ¡°Cough cough cough ... If it¡¯s possible, of course I wouldn¡¯t mind having a peerless beauty by my side.¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t care about what other people think of you. Are you thick-skinned or fearless? But I think it¡¯s the latter. You have the confidence to ignore the rules. Su Lin, if only I were as strong as you.¡± Su Lin laughed. ¡°One day, you¡¯ll be as strong as I am.¡± ¡°But that day is too long...¡± ¡°Alright, since you don¡¯t need my help, I¡¯ll go to sleep first. If there¡¯s a chance, we¡¯ll meet again.¡± Su Lin waved his hand. Li Ziyu nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s meet again if we have the chance.¡± ¡°How did your brother die? Was it Su Lin who framed Xiao Chen?¡± Li Ziyu didn¡¯t think that Li Weifeng would think this way. She was completely stunned. She had to admit that Li Weifeng¡¯s brain really turned very quickly. Seeing that Li Ziyu didn¡¯t explain, he said, ¡°Nothing to say? If you¡¯re dissatisfied with the marriage I arranged, you can tell the family. But you actually colluded with outsiders to kill your own brother, and then make a move on your fiance?. Ziyu, I didn¡¯t think that your thoughts were so deep.¡± Li Ziyu laughed at herself and said, ¡°Grandpa, I also didn¡¯t think that my thoughts were so deep.¡± ¡°Humph, from today onwards, you don¡¯t have to worry about the company anymore. The position of general manager will be handed over to your second brother.¡± ¡°You give up your position. Tomorrow when Xiao Chen comes to the family, you have to properly apologize to him. Do you understand?¡± Li Weifeng said with a face full of anger. Li Ziyu¡¯s expression was indescribable. Although she was only the general manager of the company, she was the only one who really took care of the company. People like Li Wenfeng were only the chairman in name. Li Ziyu looked at Li Wenfeng with a gentle smile on her face. Letting her second brother take over the company, she believed that a lot of interesting things would happen in the Li Group. Li Ziyu¡¯s second brother, Li Ziqi, was a typical person who had high standards but low ability. He liked to pretend to be someone who had nothing. He didn¡¯t have any other skills, but he was good at bragging and flattering. Before, every time Li Ziyu started a big project, Li Ziqi would always start bragging about what would happen if he was the one who did it. Li Ziyu was very clear about this person¡¯s ability. He was a typical person who couldn¡¯t be helped. If such a person became the general manager of the company, then it would be a nightmare for the Li Group. No wonder Li Weifeng always thought about marriage to consolidate the Li family¡¯s position. In Li Ziyu¡¯s view, status was only real if you earned it yourself. What was given by others would never be yours. ¡°What, you can¡¯t accept it?¡± Li Ziyu shook her head: ¡°If you want me to hand over my power, I can give it to anyone. But an apology, impossible. Grandpa, if you really want me to apologize, then maybe I will do something irreparable to Xiao Chen. After all, Ziyan is my brother!!!¡± ¡°You...¡± Li Ziyu¡¯s eyes were filled with tears. She stubbornly looked at Li Weifeng. She could hand over her power, but an apology was absolutely out of the question. This was her bottom line. ¡°Humph... then you can shut yourself at home and reflect on your mistakes. When you think it through, then you can come out.¡± Li Ziyu faintly smiled, then got up and left. Seeing Li Ziyu directly leave like this, Li Weifeng was furious. He didn¡¯t expect that Li Ziyu would dare to talk to him like this. Unfortunately, she was still engaged. He couldn¡¯t casually deal with her because Xiao Chen was coming to the Li family tomorrow. This made Li Weifeng feel very sullen. Li Ziyu returned to her room and took out her phone to arrange the company¡¯s matters. She made more than ten phone calls in a row before stopping: ¡°Handing over power is fine. Li Ziqi, let¡¯s see if you have the ability to take over such a big company.¡± She knew that in the end, Li Weifeng would definitely come to her and ask her to be the general manager again. At that time, it wouldn¡¯t be so easy for him to hand over power. This move of retreating in order to advance, Li Ziyu was already very familiar with it. Li Weifeng didn¡¯t realize that Li Ziyu had already unknowingly dug a very big hole for him. Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Chapter 162 [Ding~! Due to the death of the male supporting character Zhong Xincheng, the Zhong family''s side story automatically disappears. The female supporting character, Zhong Shuhui, makes an early appearance. The protagonist Xiao Chen''s luck is reduced by five percent. The host receives one epic lottery draw.]. Lying in bed preparing to sleep, Su Lin then realized who the white-haired old man he had killed was. ¡°I didn''t expect that old man to be Zhong Xincheng. How did he appear so many chapters early and get killed by me? Zhong Shuhui making an early appearance is troublesome. This woman is not easy to deal with.¡± Zhong Shuhui, a sophomore at Donghai University, was already involved in research with her advisor at just nineteen years old. With a high IQ and a logical approach to things, she rarely acted on emotion. She was also a martial arts master, specializing in Chen-style Tai Chi and was the president of Donghai University''s martial arts club. Although not very popular at Donghai University, her beauty was unquestionable. Thinking about this female supporting character appearing, Su Lin wasn''t too perturbed. If Xiao Chen uses her to seek revenge on him, Su Lin wouldn''t hold back. Su Lin was unaware that the events of tonight were equivalent to an earthquake in Donghai City. Families such as the Qin, Li, and Huang families all received the news that a great battle had occurred in the suburbs of Donghai City, involving a Grandmaster. Qin Deshu was shocked upon receiving the news, as he had sent people to profit from the chaos, only to witness several Grandmasters in action instead. ¡°That Su Lin, so young and already a Grandmaster. No wonder Su Zhenguo has been so successful over the years. But who did he learn his martial arts from?¡± Qin Delin shook his head: ¡°Big brother, why do you need to dig so deep into it? If he''s a Grandmaster, let him be.¡± Qin Deshu retorted, ¡°If you were willing to take over the family business, I wouldn''t need to worry so much. Su Lin is too mysterious, and he''s getting close to our Xiaoyue. How can I not be concerned?¡± Qin Delin laughed: ¡°You''re overthinking. Su Lin is only eighteen and already a Grandmaster. What could he possibly want?¡± ¡°Want what? Maybe he''s after Xiaoyue herself?¡± Qin Deshu''s words hung in the air. Indeed, with Su Lin being a Grandmaster and coming from a wealthy family backed by 4G communication technology, destined to be one of Xia Country''s top tycoons, he wouldn''t be after their family''s wealth. That left only one possibility. Qin Jiuyue was naturally beautiful and carried an air of nobility, universally praised by those who met her. Su Lin liking Qin Jiuyue seemed not at all surprising. ¡°If that''s the case, it wouldn''t hurt to match them. The Su family only has Su Zhenguo and Su Lin, and their future assets could very well become part of the Qin family.¡± Qin Delin slapped his forehead: ¡°Big brother, can you not be so mercenary, focusing only on the money? What matters is Su Lin himself. As far as I know, Su Lin has a girlfriend, one of whom is from the Lin family in the capital, not any less significant than our family.¡± ¡°The Lin family from the capital? When did Su Lin get involved with the Lin family?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten about that person from Zhongjiang?¡± Hearing this, Qin Deshu fell silent. The Lin family from the capital was a very low-profile family, rarely mentioned. Someone like Lin Guoqiang would be considered a significant figure in Jiangnan Province, yet he chose to focus solely on his business. ¡°Should we just let this opportunity slip by? A Grandmaster at eighteen? If he breaks through to become an immortal by forty, he could protect the Qin family for two hundred years.¡± Qin Delin laughed: ¡°What''s the big deal? Have you ever seen a scion of a prominent family with only one wife?¡± ¡°Hehe... Right, just a girlfriend, nothing''s set in stone yet. Old Three, call Xiaoyue later; I have something to instruct her.¡± Qin Delin waved his hand: ¡°Come on, what instructions?¡± Wouldn''t it be better to let Xiaoyue develop her own relationships? What era are we living in? Ever heard of free love?¡± ¡°Look at you, Old Three, now lecturing me.¡± [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for drawing a Tesla new energy vehicle blueprint.]. [Ding~! An exquisite item is born, congratulations to the host for drawing the complete version of the Jade Maiden''s Heart Sutra (Ancient Tomb Sect martial art, teachable to females)] The most important thing was that Su Lin wouldn''t have to worry about the safety of the women around him anymore. Thinking about Zhao Yanyan''s 99% affection, Su Lin thought it might not be a bad idea to teach her as well since she was practically his, and at 99%, they were already bound by life and death. Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu could definitely be taught as well. As for Qin Jiuyue and Li Ziyu, they definitely couldn''t for now. After realizing all this, Su Lin looked towards Zhao Yanyan. Feeling Su Lin''s gaze, Zhao Yanyan looked up with a wary face, ¡°Are you bored now and want to do something? I warn you, Su Lin, I''m working.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough... Okay, work first, we''ll talk after lunch.¡± Zhao Yanyan looked at Su Lin suspiciously, was he really up to something? She didn''t know that something life-changing was waiting for her. Su Lin was contemplating how to explain the origins of these techniques, or whether to not mention it at all and just let Zhao Yanyan and Lin Xiaowan practice them. The world was still evolving, and stronger individuals might appear at any time, so arming the women around him was urgent. Before, Su Lin had nothing to offer, so he could only wait. But now, with the techniques and the ability to teach them, he felt he couldn''t wait any longer. After lunch, Su Lin pulled Zhao Yanyan towards the break room.nZhao Yanyan looked around shyly, relieved that no one noticed them. ¡°Su Lin, you really are bull-headed! In broad daylight, I think you¡¯re just too energetic. We should call Xiaowan and Shiyu.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I have serious matters.¡± ¡°Hmph, I know what your ¡®serious matters¡¯ are.¡± In the break room, Zhao Yanyan began unbuttoning with a sultry glance at Su Lin. Meanwhile, outside of Quan Le Guo, a taxi pulled up. Lin Xiaowan paid the driver and pulled Xia Shiyu out of the car, ¡°Hehe, we¡¯re going to give Yanyan a big surprise.¡± ¡°Xixi~! Yanyan will be so happy to see us.¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded in agreement, ¡°Speaking of which, Su Lin has been busy in Donghai for days, not sure what he¡¯s been up to. We need to ask him later.¡± ¡°Uh-huh~!!¡± They headed straight to the office upstairs upon entering the supermarket. ¡°Oh? President Lin, President Xia, what brings you here?¡± Recognizing the assistant as Zhao Yanyan¡¯s, Lin Xiaowan smiled, ¡°We¡¯re planning to relocate our headquarters, here to scout the location. Where¡¯s Yanyan?¡± ¡°She¡¯s in the break room. Do you want me to take you there?¡± ¡°No need, Xiaoyu and I know the way. We¡¯ll go by ourselves.¡± ¡°Okay then, I won¡¯t announce your arrival. Go ahead.¡± Xia Shiyu and Zhao Yanyan nodded and then headed upstairs. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 As they neared Zhao Yanyan¡¯s office, Lin Xiaowan made a silence gesture to Xia Shiyu, and they tiptoed towards Zhao Yanyan¡¯s office. Just reaching the doorway, they faintly heard Zhao Yanyan¡¯s slightly impatient voice from inside. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you? I¡¯ve unbuttoned, and you¡¯re buttoning them up again. You weren¡¯t this gentlemanly before.¡± Lin Xiaowan¡¯s eyes lit up at hearing this, and she whispered excitedly to Xia Shiyu, ¡°Something¡¯s up with Yanyan, let¡¯s go in and check.¡± With eyes sparkling with excitement, Lin Xiaowan was eager to discover who had managed to ¡®conquer¡¯ Zhao Yanyan, so she quietly slipped into the office with Xia Shiyu. At that moment, Su Lin was holding Zhao Yanyan¡¯s hand to stop her from undressing further, chuckling, ¡°Yanyan, I really do have something serious to talk about, why the rush?¡± ¡°What do you mean why the rush? It¡¯s you who¡¯s in a hurry, isn¡¯t it? Right after lunch, you dragged me here to the break room. Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking,¡± Zhao Yanyan said, casting a disdainful look at Su Lin. ¡°That voice sounds so familiar~!~!¡± Suddenly, Lin Xiaowan¡¯s expression changed, ¡°Wait, that¡¯s Su Lin¡¯s voice.¡± Then Lin Xiaowan, pulling Xia Shiyu along, entered the room. All four of them froze in place. Su Lin had sensed someone entering the office but thought it was Zhao Yanyan¡¯s assistant, so he didn¡¯t mind it, not expecting Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu to appear. At this moment, his hand was still on Zhao Yanyan¡¯s, which was placed on the button of her denim shorts, making the scene appear suggestive. Zhao Yanyan was the first to react, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into due to the embarrassment of the situation. ¡°Xiaowan I...¡± Lin Xiaowan waved her off, ¡°Yanyan, no need to explain, Xia Shiyu and I heard everything outside.¡± ¡°When did you two start?¡± Zhao Yanyan, with a complex expression, said, ¡°Just two days ago.¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded and then turned to Su Lin, ¡°And you, why haven¡¯t you returned to Zhongjiang, always saying you have serious matters to attend to? So, this was your ¡®serious matter.¡¯¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough... Xiaowan, have you had lunch?¡± Su Lin awkwardly changed the subject, his actions revealing that Lin Xiaowan had already suspected something. Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes at Su Lin, ¡°Don¡¯t you even have an explanation?¡± Su Lin spread his hands, ¡°What¡¯s there to explain? It¡¯s exactly as you see. Did you eat lunch?¡± ¡°We had lunch before coming here and took a taxi directly,¡± Xia Shiyu chimed in. Su Lin nodded, ¡°Alright then, since you¡¯ve eaten, it¡¯s good you¡¯re here. Xia Shiyu, close the door.¡± Xia Shiyu nodded, ¡°Ok~!!¡± Lin Xiaowan¡¯s expression changed, ¡°Xia Shiyu, don¡¯t close it.¡± ¡°Click~!!¡± Xia Shiyu had already shut the door completely. Lin Xiaowan glared at Xia Shiyu, ¡°Why did you do that so quickly? Su Lin just said it, and you closed it. Do you know what he¡¯s planning?¡± [Ding~! Heroine Zhao Yanyan¡¯s affection for the host has reached a full value of 100!!] Disappointed by the middle-aged man¡¯s firm stance, Xiao Chen could only nod and say, ¡°Then, uncle, goodbye.¡± ¡°Goodbye~!!¡± After the middle-aged man left, Xiao Chen reluctantly looked towards the Li family¡¯s gates. He was reluctant to come to the Li family, especially after the humiliating experience the night before. If not for the middle-aged man¡¯s intervention, Xiao Chen would have been dead. Only because he trusted Wang Yannian did he not flee from the Li family at the first opportunity. Taking a deep breath, Xiao Chen stepped into the Li family estate. Immediately upon entering, a servant came to lead him to see Li Weifeng. Xiao Chen was not in the mood to admire the grandeur of the estate and silently followed the servant until he met Li Weifeng, which eased his tension significantly. Li Weifeng looked at Xiao Chen and nodded approvingly. Despite being only twenty-two and carrying scars, his robust physique and spirited eyes indicated intelligence. ¡°You¡¯re Xiao Chen?¡± Xiao Chen nodded, ¡°Grandpa Li, I am Xiao Chen!¡± Li Weifeng sighed and said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about the conflict between you and Li Ziyu. Li Ziyen is dead, and Li Ziyu has sought revenge. How about we let bygones be bygones?¡± Xiao Chen looked incredulously at Li Weifeng, that was his own grandson, Li Ziyen. Are large families so easygoing nowadays? ¡°What, Xiao Chen, is there something unsatisfactory?¡± Xiao Chen shook his head, ¡°No, no, I think letting bygones be bygones is good, Grandpa Li. I have no objections, just not sure what Li Ziyu thinks.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already spoken to her. She won¡¯t trouble you anymore. My granddaughter has been proud since she was young, Xiao Chen, you¡¯ll have to prove yourself, or you won¡¯t be able to hold her down.¡± Xiao Chen confidently patted his chest, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandpa Li.¡± Afterward, Xiao Chen placed the token given by Wang Yannian on a nearby table, ¡°Grandpa Li, I came here on my master¡¯s orders. He told me about a betrothal and asked me to complete the marriage.¡± Li Weifeng didn¡¯t mind Xiao Chen¡¯s informality, considering it youthful vigor, though he would have thought differently had it been someone else. ¡°I¡¯ve always remembered the marriage alliance. However, since Li Ziyu is Li Li Ziyen¡¯s sister, it might be difficult on her end...¡± After saying this, Li Weifeng smiled kindly at Xiao Chen and then told an elder, ¡°Bring Li Ziyu here.¡± ¡°Alright, sir!!!¡± In a few minutes, Li Ziyu entered wearing a long home dress, capturing Xiao Chen¡¯s attention immediately. Although Li Ziyu had attempted to kill him twice, Xiao Chen had never seen her face-to-face and was unaware of her appearance. Seeing Li Ziyu¡¯s noble beauty left Xiao Chen astonished, and he silently vowed to marry no one but her. Li Ziyu caught Xiao Chen¡¯s pig-like gaze and instinctively showed a hint of disgust, ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m still reflecting on my actions. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll go back.¡± ¡°Stay...¡± Li Ziyu continued walking, ignoring Li Weifeng¡¯s roar, and headed to her room. She came out just to give Li Weifeng some peace of mind, buying herself some buffer time. ¡°Xiao Chen... Li Ziyu has a bit of a temper. Explain to her the misunderstanding between you and Li Yan.¡± Xiao Chen nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandpa Li, I¡¯ll definitely clarify things with Li Yu.¡± Seeing Xiao Chen call Li Ziyu by her nickname, Li Weifeng nodded in satisfaction. It seemed the marriage discussion could continue, just as he wanted. Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Su Lin spent the afternoon helping the three women sense Qi and practice meditation. It was undeniable that, being the main characters, they learned everything Su Lin taught them remarkably fast, almost as if they were cheating. Lin Xiaowan was the first to sense the inner breath, followed closely by Zhao Yanyan and Xia Shiyu, who felt it almost simultaneously. Initially, the three were not particularly keen on cultivation. But when Su Lin told them that reaching the level of a Grandmaster could extend their lifespan by over two hundred years and maintain their youth, they couldn¡¯t resist. Especially Lin Xiaowan and Zhao Yanyan, who wished they could become Grandmasters immediately. ¡°Su Lin... How long will it take us to become Grandmasters if we practice like this?¡± ¡°Yeah, can we become Grandmasters before we¡¯re thirty?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t thirty be too late? Our skin would have started to sag, and we¡¯d have crow¡¯s feet by then,¡± Lin Xiaowan said, somewhat dissatisfied. ¡°Then let¡¯s aim for twenty-five. We¡¯re only eighteen now, so seven years until twenty-five should be enough, right?¡± ¡°I think that should be feasible.¡± Listening to their conversation, Su Lin was speechless. Becoming a Grandmaster seemed as easy as picking cabbages to them. Grandmasters were rare, and female Grandmasters were even rarer. Somehow, these women thought cultivation was an easy task, but considering their exceptional talents, Su Lin felt it wasn¡¯t entirely impossible. Su Lin chuckled, ¡°As long as you practice diligently and follow my guidance, becoming a Grandmaster is definitely within reach.¡± ¡°The Jade Maiden¡¯s Sutra is a cultivation method meant for both men and women to practice together. Xiaowan, Xia Shiyu, Yanyan, once you¡¯ve reached a certain level, you¡¯ll need my assistance. Remember to come to me then.¡± Xia Shiyu and Zhao Yanyan nodded in agreement, while Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin suspiciously. She knew a bit more than Xia Shiyu and Zhao Yanyan and wondered if this was some sort of dual cultivation technique. However, thinking that Su Lin wouldn¡¯t choose a flawed technique for them, Lin Xiaowan felt more at ease. Su Lin continued, ¡°The Jade Maiden¡¯s Sutra isn¡¯t just an internal cultivation technique; it also includes swordsmanship. Xiaowan, buy a villa in Donghai with a large yard, preferably a standalone house, you get what I mean?¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded, ¡°Such villas must be scarce in Donghai, especially in the city area. They¡¯re probably all sold out.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s a bit far from the city center. The key is tranquility, suitable for cultivation. We can¡¯t always stay in an apartment. It was fine when there were just two of us, but now there are three or four, it¡¯s too cramped.¡± ¡°If necessary, I¡¯ll ask my dad. He definitely has properties, but they¡¯re still under construction. We probably can¡¯t wait that long.¡± Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin, ¡°Then let¡¯s just buy one. It¡¯s not appropriate to live in the one my uncle offered, especially if he visits and finds us there. How awkward would that be?¡± Xia Shiyu and Zhao Yanyan nodded in agreement. Su Lin turned to Zhao Yanyan, ¡°Yanyan, you¡¯re the trickiest. You¡¯re home every day, and both your parents are there. You probably won¡¯t have much time.¡± Zhao Yanyan laughed, ¡°It¡¯s fine. My dad is busy all day and rarely home. As for my mom, she has her own things to deal with. I can also say I have to work overtime at the company. They don¡¯t really check on me much anymore.¡± Zhao Yanyan¡¯s business talent has been activated, and under her management, Quanle Shopping has been flourishing, with a new branch opening in Donghai soon. In a sense, she really didn¡¯t need to be managed anymore. So, Zhao Tiande hardly asked about her anymore, mainly because he felt it unnecessary. ¡°Hehe, then it¡¯s settled. Xiaowan, let¡¯s go house hunting tomorrow. Money is no issue; get it from Xia Shiyu.¡± ¡°Alright~!!¡± While they were chatting, the assistant¡¯s phone call came through. ¡°Hehe, Su Lin, will you come next week?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Definitely, how could I not show face when the old master has specially sent you with an invitation? Tell him I¡¯ll definitely be on time...¡± ¡°Great, he¡¯ll be very happy to hear that.¡± After delivering the message, Qin Juiyue started chatting with Su Lin, ¡°Did you know, Xiao Chen went to the Li family today.¡± Su Lin raised an eyebrow, ¡°Oh? He dared to go to the Li family?¡± ¡°Yes, I heard not only did he go, but he was also warmly received by the old master of the Li family. Your partner has been grounded and even had to give up her position as General Manager.¡± Qin Juiyue looked somewhat gleeful as she told Su Lin. People in Donghai City always compared her to Li Ziyu, but Qin Juiyue disliked such comparisons. Especially because of Su Lin, she didn¡¯t have a good impression of Li Ziyu and couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit happy upon hearing Li Ziyu had been grounded. ¡°Oh? Ziyu has been grounded, didn¡¯t she compromise?¡± ¡°It¡¯s said she had a big fight with Old Master Li, and in the end, it seems Old Master Li won. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have given up the position of General Manager.¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°Little Moon, don¡¯t underestimate Ziyu. She does everything methodically and systematically. I think the Li Corporation is basically under Li Ziyu¡¯s control now. The person who takes over won¡¯t be able to handle it.¡± ¡°Are you saying, that woman deliberately stepped down, then secretly sabotaged things, forcing Old Master Li to invite her back?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Exactly, from what I know about her, that¡¯s something she would do. Believe it or not, Li family¡¯s stock is going to fluctuate significantly in a few days.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s really the case, should I warn Old Master Li? Hehe!!¡± Seeing the mischievous smile on Qin Juiyue¡¯s face, Su Lin tapped her head, ¡°Don¡¯t stir up trouble. I still have cooperation with her.¡± ¡°Cut it out! I understand your dealings better than anyone. I just choose not to meddle. Believe it or not, if I get involved, I won¡¯t be any less formidable than that woman.¡± Su Lin truly believed that. Although Qin Juiyue was a mascot at home, it didn¡¯t mean she lacked ability. ¡°Believed, believed. Of course, I believe. But you can¡¯t mess with this matter, got it?¡± Qin Juiyue pouted, ¡°You¡¯re only eighteen, why do you act so much older than me? I¡¯m not unreasonable. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t cause trouble.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, I¡¯ll take you home.¡± ¡°Just like that, you want to send me away. By the way, where¡¯s your long-legged manager? I didn¡¯t see her on my way up.¡± Su Lin thought, ¡®The long-legged manager is currently eavesdropping.¡¯ ¡°She¡¯s busy with her stuff. Were you looking for her?¡± Qin Juiyue shook her head, ¡°No... I was just asking. Well, I¡¯ll head back now, see you at Treasure Pavilion next week.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Alright, see you.¡± Qin Juiyue came and left quickly, but the news she brought was very important to Su Lin. He hadn¡¯t expected Li Ziyu to be grounded; he thought she would pretend to agree with Li Weifeng¡¯s requests, slowly get in touch with Xiao Chen, and gradually turn the tables. He didn¡¯t expect her to confront Li Weifeng directly. It seems Li Ziyu must have a significant amount of leverage; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t dare to act this way. Su Lin felt it necessary to meet with Li Ziyu and find a way to change the head of the Li family sooner. This way, with Li Ziyu having the final say in the Li family, he could better deal with Xiao Chen. Chapter 165 Chapter 165 After Qin Jiuyue left, Lin Xiaowan, Zhao Yanyan, and Xia Shiyu came out of the rest room. Lin Xiaowan, smiling brightly, clung to Su Lin¡¯s arm and asked, ¡°Su Lin, who is that woman from the Li family?¡± ¡°Could it be Li Ziyu from the Li family?¡± guessed Zhao Yanyan. ¡°Li Ziyu? The female CEO of the Li Corporation? I often see her on TV.¡± Faced with their questions, Su Lin had to admit, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s her. We¡¯re collaborating.¡± ¡°What kind of collaboration? Can you talk about it?¡± With a grin, Su Lin teased, ¡°Xiaowan, do you really want to know?¡± Seeing Su Lin¡¯s meaningful gaze, Lin Xiaowan felt uneasy, ¡°Su Lin, is it dangerous?¡± ¡°No danger,¡± Su Lin reassured her while patting her head, ¡°but there is a bit of a risk.¡± ¡°Oh? Can you share more?¡± Their interest piqued, the three women eagerly awaited Su Lin¡¯s explanation. Su Lin had no choice but to explain, ¡°Li Ziyu wants to take control of the Li family.¡± ¡°Control the Li family?¡± ¡°That¡¯s...¡± Su Lin shared the story of Li Ziyu¡¯s arranged marriage and her mother¡¯s plight, leaving the three women both moved and sympathetic. ¡°I never imagined such a favored daughter of heaven like Li Ziyu would have such a tragic background.¡± ¡°Yeah, her father is really inhumane to treat her mother that way.¡± ¡°Poor Miss Li, no wonder she never seems to smile on TV.¡± Sighing, Su Lin added, ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m collaborating with her. Xiaoyu, Yanyan, Xiaowan, this is a top-secret matter. You must keep it confidential for me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t tell anyone.¡± ¡°Neither will I.¡± ¡°I would rather die than reveal it.¡± Su Lin trusted their promises, knowing their affection for him was genuine. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have shared such sensitive information. ¡°Su Lin, you must help her.¡± ¡°Rest assured, I will. After all, we are partners,¡± Su Lin said, comforting Lin Xiaowan. Feeling reassured, Su Lin was glad to have diverted their attention away from his vendetta with Xiao Chen, sparing them unnecessary worry. ¡°Mr. Song, how come you...¡± Xiao Chen, somewhat excited, said, ¡°Uncle, have you decided to help me fight Su Lin?¡± Mr. Song shook his head, ¡°No... I just came to pay my respects to Master Zhong. Miss Zhong Shuhui, I didn¡¯t expect to meet you under such circumstances. I offer my condolences.¡± Zhong Shuhui shook her head. She asked Mr. Song, ¡°Was my grandfather really killed by that person named Su Lin?¡± Mr. Song nodded, ¡°Yes, he¡¯s very powerful. At that time, I didn¡¯t even have the courage to confront him directly. I could only run away with your grandfather¡¯s body and Xiao Chen. There were others helping us too; otherwise, we couldn¡¯t have escaped.¡± ¡°Mr. Song, I didn¡¯t expect you to be a grandmaster. You never showed it at school.¡± Mr. Song smiled, ¡°The greatest concealment is in the busiest streets. If it weren¡¯t for my father owing a favor to the Ghost Doctor, I wouldn¡¯t have rescued Xiao Chen.¡± Zhong Shuhui gave a bitter smile, ¡°My grandfather also acted out of obligation. If it weren¡¯t for owing a favor, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have interfered.¡± Mr. Song nodded, ¡°Yes, it was all to repay a favor. I just didn¡¯t expect him to sacrifice his life. Miss Zhong Shuhui, I must remind you, unless you break through to the level of a Human Immortal, it¡¯s best not to seek revenge on Su Lin, as it would be certain death.¡± Zhong Shuhui nodded. She was smart and knew how to judge the situation. With even Zhong Xinchen dead, it would be futile for her to act. ¡°But I won¡¯t let my grandfather die in vain,¡± Zhong Shuhui stated calmly. Mr. Song sighed, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you die so young.¡± Xiao Chen said, ¡°Mr. Song, who said we would definitely die? So what if that Su Lin knows ancient martial arts, I¡¯m not without skills either. I believe if we plan properly, Su Lin is doomed.¡± Mr. Song shook his head as if to speak, then his expression darkened. He sighed, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have come. I didn¡¯t expect to encounter this again.¡± ¡°Encounter what?¡± Mr. Song shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve done in Donghai, but why are so many people after your life?¡± Just as he finished speaking, an elderly figure appeared at the door. Despite appearing frail as if he might die at any moment, Mr. Song knew how formidable this person was. Behind the old man were two middle-aged men, a grandmaster and two masters, all of whom were powerful freelancers without any affiliation. Mr. Song was sure these three were not part of the group from last night because their murderous aura was even stronger. ¡°Are you Song Zhigang, the second young master of the Song family from Jingzhou? I didn¡¯t expect you to hide in Donghai after failing to compete for power with your brother.¡± Being directly identified, Song Zhigang¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you could find even this.¡± ¡°Heh... Since you¡¯ve chosen to hide in the city, why get involved in this mess?¡± Song Zhigang bitterly smiled, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for my father owing a favor, I wouldn¡¯t have intervened.¡± ¡°We¡¯re only after Xiao Chen. If you leave now, we won¡¯t harm you.¡± Song Zhigang sighed, ¡°I promised an old friend to protect this kid.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing more to discuss. Attack!¡± The morgue wasn¡¯t large, but it was spacious enough for six people to move freely. At that moment, the morgue was devoid of others, as Qin Dushu had arranged everything, so they all attacked with lethal force. Chapter 166: Night Meeting with Li Ziyu Chapter 166: Night Meeting with Li Ziyu As Xiao Chen and the Qin family''s people started to fight, Su Lin sped all the way directly towards the Li family''s manor. Standing at the entrance of the Li family manor, Su Lin hesitated slightly. This manor was really too large, much bigger than the so-called villas. ¡°The Li family is just a first-rate family in Donghai, so how big must the estates of the major families in Jingzhou, Modu, and the Imperial Capital be? Wouldn''t they occupy several hills?¡± When Su Lin previously visited the Qin family, he only saw the main gate and didn''t notice how large it was inside. Now at the entrance of the Li family, he had no idea in which room Li Ziyu was. After thinking for a moment, Su Lin released a hint of a Grandmaster''s aura. He knew if those people from that day were in the Li family, they would definitely come out to meet him. Sure enough, a minute later, Su Lin saw the old man in the late stage of the Master level. He noticed a flicker of apprehension in the old man''s eyes, but thinking about the possibly complicated relationship between Su Lin and Li Ziyu, his wariness eased a lot. ¡°Su... Su... Su...¡± Li Wendao was somewhat troubled. Normally, calling Su Lin by his name wouldn''t be an issue since Su Lin was such an influential figure, but Su Lin was a Grandmaster. It felt inappropriate to just call him by his name. Other Grandmasters were simply addressed with their surname followed by ''old,'' but Su Lin was only eighteen. It couldn''t be ¡°Old Su.¡± Seeing the old man''s conflicted expression, Su Lin sighed and said, ¡°Just call me Su Lin.¡± Hearing this, Li Wendao breathed a sigh of relief and asked, ¡°Are you here to see the young miss?¡± Su Lin nodded. ¡°I heard she was confined, and no one answered her phone or messages. I was a bit worried, so I came to check on her. There are too many rooms in the Li family''s estate. Do you know which one Li Ziyu is in?¡± Li Wendao hesitated, unsure if he should tell Su Lin. Seeing his hesitation, Su Lin smiled and asked, ¡°How should I address you?¡± ¡°Li Wendao, just call me by my name.¡± ¡°Li Wendao, if you''re unwilling to tell me which room Ziyu is in, I''ll have to search one by one. If it causes a disturbance, it''ll be troublesome. The Li family''s Grandmaster probably isn''t in the manor right now.¡± ¡°Do you think those good-for-nothings can stop me? It''s better to just tell me directly. I''ll go have a chat with Ziyu and then leave. I won¡¯t involve myself in other affairs of the Li family.¡± Hearing Su Lin''s words, Li Wendao felt more at ease. He knew Su Lin''s words were just a verbal assurance, essentially meaningless, but it gave him some peace of mind. Otherwise, Su Lin could truly ignore them and search on his own, causing a real mess. He was aware that Su Lin could defeat a Grandmaster in a few moves. ¡°The young miss is on the third floor of the inner courtyard, the last room. That''s the family''s confinement room. She''s there now.¡± Su Lin nodded. ¡°Alright, I''ll go find her. Keep an eye out for me~~.¡± Li Wendao''s expression turned strained. In the middle of the night, Su Lin came for a secret meeting with their family''s young miss, and he was asked to keep watch. What was this situation? Without waiting for Li Wendao to reply, Su Lin lightly tapped his foot and flew to the rooftop, then disappeared in a blink. Li Wendao''s pupils shrank. This was definitely ancient martial arts. National arts could achieve this too, but like a fired cannonball, it would leave a crater at the origin. Hearing Su Lin¡¯s words, Li Ziyu felt a jolt in her heart and then fell silent. ¡°You¡¯ve thought about the possibility of what I said, right? If he really intends to arrange a marriage alliance with someone else other than you, then he will definitely make a move against you.¡± ¡°From the moment you chose to resist, you were already on a path with no other options.¡± Su Lin¡¯s words were harsh but realistic, and Li Ziyu knew he was right. ¡°Do we really have to go that far?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Before you showed your strength, there was room for negotiation. Now, your grandfather will not negotiate with you. You can only move forward.¡± Li Ziyu looked at Su Lin helplessly, then hugged his arm and leaned on him, ¡°If it comes to that, I won¡¯t be happy, Su Lin. Please don¡¯t intervene unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary, okay?¡± Su Lin, following her gaze to her flawless neck and thin dress, reined in his wandering thoughts and nodded, ¡°Okay! I won¡¯t intervene unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary.¡± ¡°Su Lin... Thank you.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Why thank me? When you take control of the family, you¡¯ll have to repay me. Xiao Chen might bring more major families into the fray; you¡¯ll have to stand in front for me.¡± ¡°Sure! We¡¯ll take him down together.¡± Hearing Li Ziyu¡¯s emotionless words, Su Lin laughed, ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s take him down together.¡± After a while, Su Lin heard some commotion downstairs. Li Wendao arrived, leaping up the stairs and said anxiously, ¡°Su Lin, you should leave quickly. The family head has suddenly returned with two Grandmasters.¡± ¡°Two Grandmasters? Were they out fighting?¡± Su Lin was surprised. ¡°It¡¯s unclear, but it¡¯s definitely not safe to stay in the Li family¡¯s manor any longer.¡± Su Lin nodded, bid farewell to Li Ziyu, and then effortlessly flew away. Watching Su Lin¡¯s skillful departure, Li Wendao envied him. After Su Lin disappeared, Li Ziyu turned to Li Wendao and asked, ¡°What exactly happened?¡± ¡°Xiao Chen and some unidentified individuals started fighting in the morgue. The family head has gone to rescue them, and they¡¯re heading back now.¡± Li Ziyu frowned, ¡°Fighting again, truly a harbinger of trouble. Wherever he goes, trouble follows.¡± ¡°Do you know which faction those people belonged to?¡± Li Wendao shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. They are all ruthless independents wanted by the authorities.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s behind this? What¡¯s going on with Xiao Chen? Why does Su Lin want him dead, and why are assassins and the Qin family also after him? What did he do?¡± Li Wendao was clueless, thinking, ¡°If you don¡¯t know, how would I? We martial artists spend our days thinking about cultivation and breakthroughs, not these matters.¡± Realizing she was speaking to the wrong person, Li Ziyu let him go. Chapter 167 Chapter 167: The Odd Sleeping Posture Returning to the apartment, Su Lin witnessed a rather enticing scene. Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu were sleeping in each other¡¯s arms. Lin Xiaowan¡¯s sleeping posture was always erratic, and Xia Shiyu wasn¡¯t much better. They had traveled from Zhongjiang to here today, and they hadn¡¯t rested much along the way. Now, Su Lin didn¡¯t want to wake them up, so he took a shower and lay down in the space available on the bed. The next morning, Lin Xiaowan was the first to wake up. She instinctively wrinkled her nose, feeling like she was holding onto something incredible. Then she opened her eyes and saw herself holding Su Lin¡¯s leg, with her head resting on his foot. Lin Xiaowan frowned, sensing a smell lingering in her nostrils. She pushed Su Lin¡¯s foot away disdainfully and tried to sit up, only to find two fair legs resting on her stomach. She then remembered that she had slept with Xia Shiyu last night, not knowing when Su Lin had returned and even slept on the bed. Seeing Su Lin¡¯s orderly sleeping posture, Lin Xiaowan knew it must have been her and Xia Shiyu moving around that resulted in the current situation. But why was she the one being pressed down? She pushed Xia Shiyu¡¯s legs away causing her to wake up. Xia Shiyu woke up groggily and rubbed her blurry eyes, ¡°Xiaowan... why are you on my bed?¡± Lin Xiaowan gave Xia Shiyu a look and then rubbed her head, ¡°Think about it.¡± ¡°Ah~~! Oh, I remember now. Didn¡¯t we say we¡¯d meditate together? How did we fall asleep?¡± Xia Shiyu rubbed her eyes, her vision gradually clearing. ¡°You¡¯re asking me? How am I supposed to know?¡± Lin Xiaowan recalled last night¡¯s events. Both were new to martial arts and were very curious. They had agreed to practice together, but Xia Shiyu started yawning, looking sleepy. Initially energetic, Lin Xiaowan also yawned upon seeing Xia Shiyu do so, and then they both fell asleep. Indeed, sleepiness is contagious. ¡°Su... When did Su Lin come back?¡± Lin Xiaowan shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it must have been after midnight; otherwise, he would have definitely woken us up. Xiaoyu, let¡¯s go check out some villas today. It would be best to buy one that¡¯s ready to move into.¡± Xia Shiyu nodded, ¡°Okay~!¡± She knew Lin Xiaowan disliked such situations. She could let loose when with Su Lin, but she couldn¡¯t stand having another woman nearby, even if it was her best friend. The two quietly got out of bed, careful not to make too much noise and wake Su Lin. Little did they know, Su Lin was already awake. He pretended to be asleep, fearing Lin Xiaowan would feel embarrassed. Otherwise, with her character, she would definitely hold it against him, making him sleep on the floor. While Lin Xiaowan¡¯s affection was maxed out, it didn¡¯t mean she lost her own will. Apart from life-and-death situations or significant moral dilemmas, she wouldn¡¯t follow Su Lin¡¯s ideas and had her own thoughts. This was what Su Lin liked most about her. Affection could be maxed out, but a person should not lose their individuality; that¡¯s what made things interesting. As the protagonist, Xiao Chen quickly made progress with the first needle of the Taiyi Divine Needles, probably because he already had the foundation of the Ghost Gate Thirteen Needles. In just a few days, he had achieved minor success. Meanwhile, the Li Corporation started to falter without Li Ziyu¡¯s leadership, gradually becoming unstable. Li Ziqi wanted to make an impact as the new head, but unfortunately, despite his efforts over three days, he failed to ignite any fires. When he dismissed people, they weren¡¯t afraid of him and left as they pleased. Thus, a minister left, followed by his subordinates who also stopped working. Regardless of what benefits Li Ziqi promised, these people remained unmoved. Inside the general manager¡¯s office, Li Ziqi was furiously throwing things around, ¡°A bunch of bastards, what did that dead woman give you to make you so loyal!?¡± However, his impotent rage wasn¡¯t over yet. Many other company leaders came to cancel contracts and demand payments, turning the general manager¡¯s office of Li Corporation into a marketplace. And finally, Su Lin made his move on Li Corporation¡¯s stocks in the stock market. He had previously invested over ten million in the stock market, only occasionally operating it when he had time. Now, his account had over ten billion in cash. Originally, ten billion wouldn¡¯t be enough to shake the Li Corporation, but Su Lin laughed hysterically at the sight of Li Corporation¡¯s stock price fluctuations. There was no 10% protection mechanism in this world¡¯s stock market; stocks could plummet or soar freely, and leverage trading was allowed in a completely open and free market. Su Lin discovered that Li Corporation¡¯s stock would start plummeting that afternoon, dropping more than forty points. The drop would continue the next day, totaling over eighty points. ¡°Ziyu, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll like this gift I¡¯ve prepared for you.¡± With a sneer, Su Lin picked up the phone to contact a financing institution in Donghai. Su Lin requested twenty times leverage financing. Normally, such a large request wouldn¡¯t be easily approved, but Su Lin¡¯s account was too impressive. Since he opened his account, his stock trading had been well-known, always appearing on the leaderboards. Profitably flipping his initial ten million more than a hundred times over. So, Su Lin¡¯s financing request was quickly approved. Su Lin didn¡¯t know that his over one hundred billion could have almost turned Li Corporation into Su Corporation. After the funds were in place, Su Lin called Luo Sihai, ¡°Release the news. In two hours, I want one in three people in the country to know that Li Corporation has changed its manager to a no-name, good-for-nothing rich second-generation.¡± Luo Sihai laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, boss. I¡¯ve already arranged everything on my side. We¡¯ve notified Goose Field, Pig Field, and various media companies, just waiting for your command.¡± ¡°Hehe, we can start tonight~!!¡± ¡°Alright, boss.¡± With Su Lin¡¯s command, financial channels, newspapers, and websites nationwide broke the news that Li Corporation had a new general manager, Li Ziqi, an unheard-of person. Then, when people started digging into Li Ziqi¡¯s background, they found he was a rich second-generation known only for partying and racing, utterly incompetent. Su Lin¡¯s over one hundred billion funds entered the stock market to short Li Corporation, a move too significant to go unnoticed. Suddenly, Li Corporation was in the spotlight, with more and more people shorting its stocks. Su Lin watched the profit on his account keep rising and sighed, ¡°No wonder they say stock trading is thrilling. Making billions in profits in minutes is indeed exciting. At this rate, engaging in real business is indeed too slow.¡± ¡°Li family must be quite lively now! Tsk tsk.¡± Chapter 168 Chapter 168: Li Ziyu¡¯s Resolution, Su Lin Moves to a New Home! Li Weifeng did not expect the Li family¡¯s crisis to arrive so swiftly and fiercely. At this moment, he was glaring at Li Ziqi in anger, ¡°Tell me, how did you assure me before I handed the company over to you?¡± Li Ziqi knelt on the ground, shivering. He hadn¡¯t expected the Li Corporation to encounter so many problems in just a few days. Although Li Ziqi lacked competence, he was adept at shifting blame. He whispered, ¡°Grandfather, these are all traps set by that woman Li Ziyu for me. There¡¯s nothing I could do. No one in the company listens to me, from department managers to janitors. I can¡¯t order them around at all.¡± ¡°And those partners, they came saying they had cooperated with Li Ziyu. Now that Li Ziyu is no longer the general manager, they want to terminate their contracts.¡± ¡°Grandfather, don¡¯t you find these events too strange? In just a few days, I can¡¯t control the employees, and today, someone is short selling our Li Corporation¡¯s stocks with a massive amount of capital.¡± Li Weifeng¡¯s anger gradually subsided. After pondering for a while with his eyes closed, he opened them and said, ¡°Go call Ziyu here. I have some words to speak with her.¡± Li Ziqi looked dejected, knowing his days as the general manager were numbered. He hadn¡¯t expected Li Ziyu to have so many moves up her sleeve, not making a move until it was thunderous, leaving him no time to catch his breath. Li Ziqi left the inner courtyard to summon Li Ziyu. Li Ziyu appeared indifferent. She was unaware of Su Lin short selling the stock market, so she was surprised that Li Ziqi, the useless one, couldn¡¯t hold on for long. Looking at his usually obedient granddaughter, Li Weifeng felt sentimental. He didn¡¯t know when Li Ziyu had become so strong-willed and unstoppable, to the point where he now had to be wary of her. ¡°Ziyu, must you go to this extent?¡± Li Ziyu looked up, somewhat puzzled at Li Weifeng, ¡°Grandfather, what are you talking about? What extent?¡± Li Weifeng snorted coldly, ¡°At this point, you¡¯re still playing dumb with me? Do you think the company can¡¯t operate without you?¡± Li Ziyu shook her head, ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯ve never thought that way. The company can operate without anyone, let alone me.¡± Li Weifeng slammed the table and roared, ¡°Then why are you pulling these tricks behind the scenes? Making employees disobedient, causing partners to make trouble at the company, and getting people to short sell the company¡¯s stocks, huh?¡± Li Ziyu was taken aback, ¡°Grandfather, is that what¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve realized that the one in the Li family who is most like me is you. Even at this time, you¡¯re still playing dumb with me,¡± Li Weifeng said furiously. However, Li Ziyu genuinely looked confused at this moment. She had only instructed the company¡¯s staff not to cooperate with Li Ziqi, giving him some trouble, but she knew nothing about partners terminating contracts or short selling Li Corporation¡¯s stocks. Yet, Li Ziyu quickly realized these were actions others might not be capable of, but that didn¡¯t mean Su Lin couldn¡¯t do them. This was likely his doing. It could help her and also benefit him¡ªa win-win situation. Li Ziyu felt warmth in her heart. She had been confined for so long, with no one visiting her except for Su Lin, who came to see her and take her side. On Su Lin¡¯s side, he wasn¡¯t constantly monitoring the stock market. He left that to professional traders and was currently driving with Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan to their new home. ¡°Su Lin, we really got lucky this time. The villa is only two kilometers from Donghai University and about seven or eight kilometers from Quan Le Guo. How about that? Isn¡¯t the location great?¡± Lin Xiaowan said, seeking praise. Su Lin smiled, ¡°The location is indeed great, not too far or too close to Donghai University, just right. I thought we would have to buy in the suburbs. I didn¡¯t expect to find a villa in the city.¡± ¡°Hehe, Xiaoyu and I searched for several days before finding it. That villa was somewhat secluded, so it had been on the market for a while. But it was exactly what we wanted, so we fell in love with it as soon as we saw it.¡± Xia Shiyu nodded, ¡°Su Lin, there¡¯s a bamboo forest there. It¡¯s not easy to be discovered while practicing martial arts, and it¡¯s quite convenient.¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°That really sounds like a good place.¡± A few minutes later, they arrived at the Dongjiang Villa Area, and Su Lin¡¯s car drove all the way to a rather secluded villa surrounded by decorative bamboo, a serene location. Su Lin liked the special location at first sight. ¡°How about it? Isn¡¯t it beautiful? There¡¯s also a yard inside, about 100 square meters, which I think is definitely enough for practicing swordsmanship,¡± Lin Xiaowan introduced. Su Lin¡¯s car stopped in front of the villa, with the address plate reading ¡°Dongjiang Villa Area, Block 087.¡± The three got out of the car. ¡°This is the only fully furnished house in the Dongjiang Villa Area, mainly because it was hard to sell. Xiaoyu and I just added some furniture and got rid of some things we didn¡¯t like, so it¡¯s ready to move into.¡± Su Lin gave a thumbs up, ¡°Finding such a convenient place in three days, Xiaowan, Xiaoyu, you did a great job.¡± ¡°Hehe, we just got lucky.¡± ¡°Ha-ha, let¡¯s unload the things and then go in to pick rooms.¡± ¡°Okay~!¡± After cultivating internal energy, Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu were no longer fragile ladies. They easily carried suitcases weighing tens of kilograms. Lin Xiaowan unlocked the door, ¡°This is our new home in Donghai.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Nice, this is our new home.¡± Hearing the implication in Su Lin¡¯s words, Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes at him and pulled Xia Shiyu, ¡°Xiaoyu, let¡¯s pick rooms first and leave the one we don¡¯t like for Su Lin.¡± Xia Shiyu laughed and nodded, though they had already chosen their rooms when they viewed the house. They were just putting on a show for Su Lin. Su Lin didn¡¯t mind and followed the two women through the yard into the villa. The interior of the villa was duplex-style, spanning three floors. The first floor contained the dining room, living room, kitchen, garage, etc. The second floor had bedrooms, and the third floor featured multifunctional rooms such as a KTV, study, and bathroom. Su Lin was very satisfied with the villa. Chapter 169 Chapter 169: The Power Struggle, Su Lin Steps In, Leadership Change in the Li Family! Li Weifeng soon realized he had been overly optimistic. In a single day, the market value of Li Corporation evaporated by over a hundred billion, and the next day saw another drop of forty percent. Through this short-selling move, Su Lin directly earned over a hundred billion. With this battle, Su Lin became renowned, leaving others far behind on the leaderboard. Seeing the long string of numbers associated with Su Lin on the leaderboard left countless retail investors and newbies astonished. They realized their efforts in stock trading paled in comparison to Su Lin¡¯s achievements. Within two days, through leverage trading, he made over a hundred billion. Su Lin¡¯s short-selling ignited the enthusiasm of individual investors, who began to short-sell Li Corporation¡¯s stocks en masse, leading to a precipitous decline in the company¡¯s stock value. Monitoring the stock market, Su Lin contemplated what would happen if it was officially announced tomorrow that Li Ziyu would resume her position as the general manager. To his surprise, if Li Ziyu were to return, Li Corporation¡¯s stock price could potentially soar by 180%, reaching new heights. Li Ziyu had secured numerous high-quality projects for Li Corporation, which had not been officially announced yet. Her return would bring this news, causing the stock price to skyrocket. ¡°This must be quite a spectacle in the Li household.¡± As Su Lin speculated, the international management team from Hunter was parting ways with Li Weifeng. ¡°Mr. Li! The fluctuations in Li Corporation¡¯s stocks are too severe. Our headquarters must reassess the rating. I¡¯m sorry, we just arrived today, and we have to leave tonight,¡± Hunter said with an apologetic face. Hearing this, Li Weifeng exploded, trembling as he asked, ¡°What do you mean by reassess the rating?¡± ¡°Previously, we rated Li Corporation as an A-grade quality enterprise. However, after arriving in Donghai today, we realized our assessment was too one-sided.¡± ¡°Mr. Li, we hope you overcome the current difficulties before seeking our professional management team¡¯s help in managing your enterprise.¡± Li Weifeng doubted he could overcome the current difficulties, let alone a manager. ¡°Mr. Hunter, if you think the commission is not enough, we can negotiate further.¡± Hunter shook his head, ¡°Mr. Li, this has nothing to do with the commission. Your corporation lost over a hundred billion in market value in just two days. I cannot manage such a company in good conscience.¡± ¡°We have a contract, and if there are issues during our management, we would have to bear part of the responsibility. I¡¯m sorry, but we can¡¯t take on this responsibility.¡± After saying this, Hunter left without giving Li Weifeng any further consideration, taking his team with him. Li Weifeng could only watch as Hunter and his team departed. ¡°Damn it!¡± Li Weifeng cursed, throwing the tea set on the table to the ground. He never expected the professional management team he hired to bail on him. ¡°Now what do we do?¡± Li Weifeng frowned, ¡°What can we do? The company lost over a hundred billion in two days. If this continues, we¡¯ll be bankrupt by tomorrow.¡± ¡°Get Ziyu here from the confinement immediately. Tell her I have something important.¡± ¡°Sir, you just had a big fight with the young lady yesterday. She won¡¯t be willing to return. And after yesterday¡¯s incident, she might...¡± Li Weifeng massaged his forehead, ¡°If there was any suitable candidate, I wouldn¡¯t ask for Ziyu. You know my sons better than anyone; none of them are capable.¡± ¡°If they had shown a bit of competence, I wouldn¡¯t be obsessed with alliances. Who doesn¡¯t want to stand tall? Besides Ziyu, there¡¯s no one capable in the next generation.¡± ¡°The only capable one is not on the same page as me, sigh...¡± ¡°It¡¯s not up to you now. Butler...¡± Li Weifeng¡¯s call for the butler was met with silence. He looked towards the side door, only to see a tall, handsome young man approaching. Su Lin walked up to Li Ziyu, wrapped his arm around her waist, and gently pulled her into his embrace. Su Lin addressed Li Weifeng, ¡°Your butler won¡¯t be coming. He¡¯ll probably wake up in a few hours.¡± ¡°Who are you? Where¡¯s Li Wenyuan... He¡¯s in charge of security for the courtyard. Why is a stranger walking in unnoticed when we spend so much money on security? He¡¯s fired.¡± Su Lin snapped his fingers, ¡°Old man, you must be aware that many of your warriors are Ziyu¡¯s people, right? Unfortunately, today¡¯s duty officer, Li Wenyuan, is one of them, so I walked in quite openly.¡± ¡°You... Who are you, and what do you want with the Li family?¡± Su Lin glanced at Li Ziyu and smiled lightly, ¡°I am Ziyu¡¯s man. How you treat my woman dictates my purpose here.¡± ¡°You... You two... Is that true?¡± Li Ziyu¡¯s cheeks flushed red, and she nodded shyly under Li Weifeng¡¯s gaze. ¡°Boy, no matter who you are, leave the Li family now, and I¡¯ll let bygones be bygones. Otherwise, offending the Li family and the ghost doctor, even if you¡¯re a scion from the imperial capital, you¡¯re doomed.¡± ¡°Doomed? Did you know I just leaked a bit of my aura, and Xiao Chen fled, abandoning everyone? If you don¡¯t believe me, try calling him. Honestly, he doesn¡¯t dare to face me directly now.¡± Su Lin was full of pride, feeling a bit like a villain for once. ¡°Impossible... That¡¯s impossible. Xiao Chen is the ghost doctor¡¯s disciple. How could he possibly run?¡± Su Lin stated flatly, ¡°Nothing is impossible. That¡¯s the reality. Old man, if I hadn¡¯t come today, it would have been fine, but since I¡¯m here, we need to clear things up with Ziyu, or else my trip would have been in vain.¡± Feeling a hint of murderous intent from Su Lin, Li Weifeng exclaimed, ¡°You intend to kill me?¡± ¡°Your death would solve the conflicts within the Li family. Sacrificing one for the sake of the whole family isn¡¯t that good?¡± Su Lin said with a light laugh. ¡°But... I¡¯m Ziyu¡¯s grandfather.¡± Su Lin turned to Li Ziyu, ¡°Ziyu, it¡¯s your call now. To kill or to spare?¡± Li Ziyu looked at Li Weifeng for a long while before sighing, ¡°Su Lin, I can¡¯t bring myself to harm my grandfather. He¡¯s still my grandfather after all.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°I understand. I have a method involving gold needles that can render him a fool or paralyze him with a stroke for the next half month, after which he¡¯ll return to normal. What do you think?¡± This time, Li Ziyu didn¡¯t refuse and nodded, ¡°That¡¯s a good solution. Half a month is enough for me to take over the Li family completely.¡± ¡°Hehe. Alright~!!¡± ¡°No... No, Ziyu, I¡¯m your grandfather... You can¡¯t do this to me. I¡¯m Li Weifeng... The head of the Li family, how can you treat me like this?¡± With a flick of his wrist, Su Lin sent several silver needles flying, and Li Weifeng immediately quieted down. Su Lin sighed, ¡°Ziyu, you¡¯re still too soft.¡± Li Ziyu nodded, ¡°Indeed, I am. But this outcome is already quite good, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Not bad!¡± Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Watching Li Weifeng¡¯s eyes widen and looking at her like a fool, Li Ziyu experienced a mix of emotions. ¡°Su Lin, will my grandfather really recover in half a month?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Definitely. The decision is yours; whenever you want him to recover, I can make it happen. However, someone should take good care of him during this time. Given his age, lying down for half a month could lead to osteoporosis.¡± Li Ziyu nodded. Now that Li Weifeng posed no threat to her, her hostility towards him diminished. She would still fulfill her duties as a granddaughter. ¡°Ziyu, the rest is up to you. Without your grandfather, I believe no one in the Li family can match you. By the way, where¡¯s your father? I haven¡¯t seen him. Will his involvement affect you?¡± Li Ziyu chuckled self-deprecatingly, ¡°My dad is enjoying himself in Yangcheng right now. Even if you begged him to take care of family affairs, he wouldn¡¯t bother. So, there¡¯s no need to worry about him.¡± ¡°Yangcheng? Why did he go so far?¡± ¡°Because he has to work here in Donghai. He¡¯s over forty and still not serious about life. Grandfather was so frustrated seeing him every day that he told him to leave, and he really did.¡± ¡°There¡¯s such a story? Your Li family really has all sorts of characters.¡± Li Ziyu smiled, ¡°My dad is actually the one who sees through it all. He knows that under grandfather¡¯s management, being too capable isn¡¯t good, as it invites jealousy, and being incapable isn¡¯t good either, as it invites disdain. So, he chose to leave.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°The playboy isn¡¯t a fool. Anyone who has been around your grandfather for a long time should be able to see his character.¡± ¡°Yeah, he just values power too much.¡± Su Lin asked lightly, ¡°What¡¯s your plan moving forward?¡± Li Ziyu¡¯s lips curved into a smile, her beautiful face tinged with a frosty determination, ¡°Of course, to take complete control of the family. Whether it¡¯s the warriors, relatives, or the company, I need to have everything firmly in my grasp. Su Lin, thank you for buying me half a month.¡± Su Lin laughed heartily, ¡°Why thank me? We¡¯re partners.¡± Li Ziyu blinked, ¡°Just now, someone claimed I was his woman.¡± Su Lin looked at Li Ziyu¡¯s graceful neck and flawless face, smiling, ¡°Ziyu, if you¡¯re willing, I certainly won¡¯t refuse. After all, who would reject a beautiful and domineering female CEO?¡± ¡°What about those girlfriends at your home?¡± Li Ziyu raised an eyebrow. ¡°Of course, I want them all.¡± Li Ziyu rolled her eyes at Su Lin, then said, ¡°Su Lin, I might be busy soon. Why don¡¯t you go to the family¡¯s break room and have fun? When I¡¯m done with the family affairs, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal.¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°Never mind, you have enough on your plate. Are you going to the Qin family¡¯s auction on Monday?¡± Li Ziyu nodded, ¡°I will.¡± ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll leave first.¡± After saying that, Su Lin disappeared from the inner courtyard. Li Ziyu gazed after Su Lin¡¯s departing figure, yearning for the ability to traverse rooftops and walls without taking the ordinary path. Unfortunately, she was just an ordinary person, accurately speaking, someone without even a cultivation method. As for martial arts, she decided to pass. martial arts cultivation could turn one into a muscular Barbie doll. Although she wasn¡¯t vain, she was quite satisfied with her appearance and saw no need for change. Zhong Shuhui, hearing this, showed no fear; ¡°Indeed, you killed my only relative, so I¡¯ll kill your loved one. A tooth for a tooth.¡± Su Lin nodded in agreement and then regretfully said; ¡°Pity... you can¡¯t kill Yanyan. And now you¡¯re in danger yourself.¡± Zhong Shuhui chuckled; ¡°I came here not planning to return alive. Kill me or do as you please, make your move.¡± To kill or not, Su Lin quickly made his decision. No matter how beautiful the woman in front of him was, no matter how perfect her persona, as long as she targeted his woman, that was intolerable. Otherwise, in the future, any supporting female character could come to kill his woman just because they¡¯re pretty and should be let go? Su Lin couldn¡¯t do that. The danger must be nipped in the bud. Su Lin was about to end Zhong Shuhui with his palm when a voice called out from afar; ¡°Mr. Su, please spare her.¡± Su Lin sensed the Grandmaster aura from the person but had no intention of sparing her. The force of his palm strike went directly towards Zhong Shuhui¡¯s face. ¡°Bang~!!¡± ¡°Pfft~!!¡± A middle-aged man, along with a young man and woman, stood in front of Zhong Shuhui, taking Su Lin¡¯s palm strike. Blood spurted out. ¡°Liu Team...Liu Team, how are you?¡± ¡°Liu Team, are you alright?¡± Both the man and woman stared at Su Lin determinedly, ready to fight Su Lin to the death if he made another move. However, Su Lin did not continue his deadly assault but stopped. From their voices, it was not hard to deduce they were officials, likely from a special department managing martial artists. Although Su Lin was not afraid of the official forces, there was no need to oppose them outright, making himself a target for everyone. ¡°Who are you?¡± Su Line inquired. Liu Changyuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said to Su Lin; ¡°Liu Changyuan, the head of the 751 Bureau¡¯s Donghai City office.¡± ¡°Director Liu, you want to protect her?¡± Su Lin looked at Zhong Shuhui and asked indifferently. Liu Changyuan nodded: ¡°Mr. Su, Miss Zhong Shuhui has been selected by the national research institute to participate in a significant research project, so I can¡¯t let her die here under any circumstances.¡± ¡°Is it that project researching ancient martial arts?¡± Liu Changyuan¡¯s pupils shrank. This was a top-secret, known to him only after signing various confidentiality agreements despite his high rank. And yet, Su Lin had mentioned it outright! Liu Changyuan smiled wryly; ¡°Since you¡¯re aware of the project above, Mr. Su, you surely understand its importance. Miss Zhong cannot be killed.¡± ¡°But she¡¯s coveting my and my woman¡¯s lives, Director Liu. I can¡¯t always live in fear with my woman, right?¡± ¡°Haha... Mr. Su, you must be joking. With your strength comparable to a Human Immortal, even a hundred Zhong Shuhuis wouldn¡¯t be enough. It¡¯s still uncertain who¡¯s living in fear.¡± Su Lin shook his head and seriously said; ¡°I¡¯m not joking with you. As you said, but, I can¡¯t just let you take Zhong Shuhui away without any conditions, right?¡± Liu Changyuan fell silent at once. Chapter 171: This is Extortion Chapter 171: This is Extortion Zhong Shuhui watched Liu Changyuan''s silence, and the motivation that had ignited within her suddenly quieted down again. She knew that at this moment, her life and death hunger on Su Lin''s thoughts. If Su Lin wanted her to live, she could live; if he wanted her dead, she could only die. Su Lin was capable of slaying a Grandmaster. Although Liu Changyuan was also a Grandmaster, he was somewhat inferior compared to her grandfather, not to mention the other two Grandmasters, who were even weaker. Zhong Shuhui closed her eyes, awaiting the final verdict. ¡°Mr. Su, once the project starts, Zhong Shuhui will devote herself entirely to the research and won''t have time to seek revenge against you,¡± Liu Changyuan whispered timely. Su Lin shook his head, ¡°Director Liu, there''s no need for such empty promises. How about this? I cripple her martial arts but spare her life, how about that?¡± Liu Changyuan gave a bitter smile, ¡°Making her a cripple is worse than killing her outright. Su...¡± ¡°If that''s also unacceptable, then you''ll need to pay a price for her life. As long as you can name the right price, I¡¯m willing to spare her.¡± Su Lin stated indifferently. After a moment of contemplation, Liu Changyuan said, ¡°Our official department can stay out of your conflict with the Ghost Doctor Xiao Chen.¡± Su Lin scoffed, ¡°That conflict is none of your business to begin with.¡± Offer something real.¡± ¡°Mr. Su, please specify what you need,¡± Liu Changyuan said, feeling more helpless than he ever had in his life. If Su Lin were some young master from a major family, Liu might be able to negotiate, but Su Lin had suddenly emerged from a business family. Liu had just started paying attention to Su Lin''s information recently; otherwise, he wouldn''t be so passive. Su Lin chuckled, ¡°I want three thousand-year-old ginsengs, three thousand-year-old polygonum multiflorum, and one bottle of thousand-year stalactite marrow.¡± Liu Changyuan''s face showed pain, knowing well what those items were for. If he didn''t have them, it would be one thing, but the fact was, Liu Changyuan had exactly what Su Lin asked for, in the exact quantities. Looking at Su Lin, Liu Changyuan asked, ¡°Mr. Su, you haven''t been monitoring me, have you?¡± Su Lin shook his head and didn''t dwell further, knowing Liu Changyuan had those items for his disciples'' breakthroughs; ¡°From your expression, it seems you have them.¡± ¡°Yes... but...¡± Su Lin shrugged, ¡°I''ve made my request. You either agree, or I cripple her, your choice.¡± After looking at the two people beside him, Liu Changyuan finally gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I''ll give them to you!¡± Su Lin immediately put on a sunny smile, ¡°Good, good, Director Liu is indeed a straightforward person.¡± At this moment, Liu Changyuan felt as if his heart was bleeding. He hadn''t expected Su Lin to precisely demand what he had. ¡°Mr. Su, I don''t have those items on me right now. Do you see...?¡± Su Lin interrupted, ¡°Just have someone deliver them to Quan Le Guo later, and you can take Zhong Shuhui away.¡± After saying this, Su Lin winked at Zhong Shuhui, ¡°Feel free to come and attempt assassination, preferably several times a day.¡± Seeing Su Lin''s earnest expression, Liu Changyuan''s eyebrows twitched. Just once this, Su Lin had almost scammed all his possessions away. If there were a next time, he wouldn''t be able to protect Zhong Shuhui anymore. Zhong Shuhui, infuriated by Su Lin''s demeanor, realized she couldn''t beat him in a fight or outsmart him with words. The saddest thing in the world is having your grandfather''s killer right in front of you, and you can''t even seek revenge. Su Lin waved his hand, ¡°Take her away. I''m waiting for your good news~~.¡± ¡°Alright~!!¡± Liu Changyuan gave a large gesture, ¡°Let''s go.¡± Zhao Yanyan¡¯s legs turned soft upon hearing that, ¡°No, no, I have a meeting in the afternoon. The branch store opening is imminent; it needs my management.¡± ¡°These matters should be delegated to others. Your focus should be on cultivation,¡± Su Lin said earnestly. ¡°Got it, got it. I¡¯ve been meditating and gathering qi every day at home. Su Lin, I can now shatter stones with a single palm. Am I not amazing?¡± Hearing Zhao Yanyan¡¯s words, Su Lin was somewhat shocked. Indeed, the treatment of the female lead is different; even cultivation seems to have no bottlenecks, progressing rapidly. But compared to him, a cheat, she still fell short. ¡°Amazing, amazing. Yanyan, can you not go back tonight?¡± Zhao Yanyan paused, then said, ¡°Not go back? What do you want to do? I declare in advance that I definitely will not agree to go to your villa tonight.¡± Su Lin smiled lightly, ¡°It¡¯s not what you¡¯re thinking, I¡¯ve obtained some herbs for cultivation. Tonight, come to my place for a medicinal bath, got it?¡± Although Zhao Yanyan had never experienced a medicinal bath, she had heard of it. She looked at Su Lin, ¡°Medicinal baths are not something ordinary people can afford, very expensive.¡± ¡°Heh, spending a bit of money for you guys is nothing. Don¡¯t you know the money I have now is too much? I don¡¯t even know where to spend it.¡± Indeed, he had a lot of money now, having earned over ten billion from shorting Li¡¯s stocks and then going long. Today, with Li Ziyu¡¯s strong return and officially becoming the new head of the Li family, Li¡¯s stocks soared again. Another hundred billion in revenue. It can be said that no large company has more liquid funds than Su Lin. ¡°That¡¯s settled then, tonight come back to the villa with me. I¡¯ll prepare a medicinal bath for the three of you, aiming for a breakthrough to become innate martial artists. This way, you¡¯ll have the ability to protect yourselves in the future,¡± Su Lin sighed. After the incident with Zhong Shuhui today, he was genuinely anxious. The three women had not yet developed their combat capabilities. If they were bullied, he would be devastated. Zhao Yanyan hugged Su Lin¡¯s neck and asked softly, ¡°Su Lin... Did something happen?¡± ¡°Hm? Yanyan, why would you think that?¡± Su Lin asked, caressing Zhao Yanyan¡¯s hair. Zhao Yanyan smiled, ¡°I¡¯m not stupid. You¡¯ve been busy lately, not at home or at the company, always out handling matters and unwilling to talk about it.¡± ¡°This morning, I felt like someone was watching me, intending to make a move against me, but when I went to check, I saw nothing.¡± ¡°Su Lin, not just me, Xiaowan and Xiaoyu must have noticed too. But since you didn¡¯t want to say, we didn¡¯t ask. However, if there¡¯s really danger, we¡¯ll definitely fight alongside you. What exactly happened? Can you tell us?¡± Su Lin sighed at how clever and considerate Zhao Yanyan, Lin Xiaowan, and Xia Shiyu were. They had noticed his odd behavior long ago, but to avoid distracting him, they didn¡¯t ask until Zhao Yanyan felt like she was being watched today. Su Lin kissed Zhao Yanyan¡¯s forehead, ¡°Tonight, after the medicinal bath, I¡¯ll tell you what happened. It¡¯s good for you to be mentally prepared.¡± Zhao Yanyan was surprised, ¡°Prepared for what?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know then.¡± After that, Su Lin continued to kiss Zhao Yanyan. ¡°Su Lin, it¡¯s not even noon yet. Don¡¯t mess around.¡± Su Lin carried Zhao Yanyan towards the break room, ¡°What do you mean by messing around? I never mess around, okay? The sour smell on you is too strong; let me cure you.¡± Chapter 172 Chapter 172: Dark Cuisine, Medicinal Bath! Liu Changyuan had no intention of reneging on his promise, nor did he dare to. Once back at the office, he immediately had all the items Su Lin requested sent over. In the evening, Zhao Yanyan arrived at the villa in Su Lin¡¯s car. Thanks to a heads-up, Xia Shiyu had also prepared dinner for Zhao Yanyan. Upon entering, a fragrant aroma greeted them. Sniffing the air, Zhao Yanyan said in delight, ¡°Who¡¯s cooking? It smells delicious.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Besides Xiaoyu, who else could make such delicious dishes? So, it must be Xiaoyu cooking.¡± ¡°Who says it¡¯s just Xiaoyu? I¡¯m here too,¡± Lin Xiaowan emerged, apron-clad and holding a spatula. ¡°Xiaowan, your ears are too sharp. Su Lin and I were just talking at the door, and you heard us,¡± Zhao Yanyan said, surprised. Lin Xiaowan giggled, ¡°My ears have always been sharp, and after practicing the technique Su Lin gave us, my senses have improved even more. So I heard everything you said at the door.¡± Su Lin gave her a thumbs-up, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you had this skill.¡± Lin Xiaowan, brandishing her spatula: ¡°Half of today¡¯s dishes were made by me. Su Lin, prepare to be conquered by my culinary skills.¡± Seeing Lin Xiaowan¡¯s confidence, Su Lin shuddered. He knew all too well about Lin Xiaowan¡¯s cooking skills, which were notoriously bad, creating what could only be described as dark cuisine, even under his supervision. Even with Xia Shiyu overseeing, Su Lin doubted the outcome would be much better. Lin Xiaowan looked at Zhao Yanyan, ¡°Yanyan, make sure you eat a lot of my cooking.¡± Unaware of the potency of Lin Xiaowan¡¯s cooking, Zhao Yanyan, enticed by the aroma, nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xiaowan. I¡¯ll eat a lot.¡± Satisfied with Zhao Yanyan¡¯s promise, Lin Xiaowan smiled, ¡°With your words, Yanyan, I¡¯m content. You truly are a good sister.¡± Su Lin looked sympathetically at Zhao Yanyan, who was blissfully unaware of what awaited her. Minutes later, Xia Shiyu came out with the dishes, ¡°Yanyan, you¡¯re here.¡± Zhao Yanyan nodded, ¡°Xiaoyu, you really look like a perfect wife and mother. No wonder Su Lin likes you.¡± Xia Shiyu smiled, ¡°Not at all. My cooking isn¡¯t as good as Su Lin¡¯s. If he cooked more often, you wouldn¡¯t want to leave after tasting his dishes.¡± Zhao Yanyan was skeptical, ¡°Is that an exaggeration? I can¡¯t imagine Su Lin cooking.¡± Lin Xiaowan laughed, ¡°Xiaoyu isn¡¯t exaggerating at all. Su Lin¡¯s cooking is indeed delicious. You¡¯ll get to try it sometime.¡± Zhao Yanyan looked at Su Lin, ¡°Su Lin... I want to taste your cooking too.¡± Su Lin playfully responded, ¡°Yanyan, unless it¡¯s a special occasion, don¡¯t ask me to cook. It¡¯s such a hassle.¡± ¡°Hubby~! I want to eat it,¡± Zhao Yanyan cooed, clinging to Su Lin¡¯s arm. ¡°Cough, cough, cough... Tomorrow, I¡¯ll cook for you in the morning,¡± Su Lin said, defeated. Lin Xiaowan remained skeptical, wondering if Su Lin had ulterior motives. But seeing his focused gaze, she felt reassured that he wouldn¡¯t do anything inappropriate. ¡°Alright, but you better not mess around or get handsy.¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°Relax, you¡¯re already mine. If I really wanted to, I wouldn¡¯t wait till now.¡± Lin Xiaowan thought about it and decided not to fret over it. She was shocked to see Su Lin effortlessly turning ginseng into powder with his hands, which then dissolved into the water, followed by the Polygonum multiflorum, stalactite marrow, and others, all mixed into the bathtub. Once the medicinal herbs were sufficiently combined, Su Lin turned to Lin Xiaowan, ¡°Undress and get into the tub.¡± ¡°Okay, okay.¡± She undressed somewhat shyly and quickly slipped into the bathtub. ¡°Su Lin, you promised not to do anything funny.¡± Su Lin spread his hands, ¡°It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t seen it before. Don¡¯t get distracted, try to circulate your qi.¡± Lin Xiaowan then started to practice, but soon felt intense soreness all over her body. Initially, she could bear it, but within minutes, it became unbearable, and she tried to stand up. Without a word, Su Lin placed a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Ah... Su Lin, it hurts so much. What kind of medicinal bath is this? It¡¯s so painful.¡± Su Lin softly instructed, ¡°Xiaowan, don¡¯t get distracted. Use your technique to absorb the medicinal properties.¡± ¡°Ugh... but it really hurts.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be over soon.¡± Knowing the value of the medicinal bath, Lin Xiaowan endured, following Su Lin¡¯s instructions to absorb the medicinal essence. After an unknown amount of time, sweat dripped down Lin Xiaowan¡¯s face, her skin becoming firmer and more elastic. Seeing Lin Xiaowan calming down, Su Lin wiped off the water from his body and moved to Xia Shiyu¡¯s room. Soon, Xia Shiyu also began her medicinal bath with Su Lin¡¯s help, showing much greater resilience than Lin Xiaowan. Despite the pain during the absorption process, she didn¡¯t utter a single complaint until she was able to circulate her qi in a full cycle. Only then did Su Lin go to Zhao Yanyan. Zhao Yanyan also underwent the medicinal bath under Su Lin¡¯s procedure. By the time everything was done, it was late at night. Su Lin went to Lin Xiaowan¡¯s room, finding her already awake, ready to get up since the medicinal power in the bath had waned. But as she was about to stand, she saw Su Lin enter. ¡°Su Lin, why are you here?¡± ¡°Xiaoyu and Yanyan are still absorbing the medicinal properties, so I came to check on you.¡± Lin Xiaowan noticed something odd in Su Lin¡¯s gaze and said, ¡°They need you more right now to keep watch.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Being there might disrupt their cultivation. Xiaowan, you¡¯ve finished absorbing. Why haven¡¯t you come out yet?¡± Lin Xiaowan glared at him, ¡°How can I come out with you standing there?¡± ¡°Heh... so my presence stops you? Well, you¡¯ve been sitting in the medicinal bath for so long, your body must be numb. Let me help you.¡± Lin Xiaowan paled, ¡°No... no need. I can manage on my own.¡± ¡°Xiaowan, you always try to act tough. When will you break this little habit of yours?¡± Saying that, Su Lin reached out his hand towards Lin Xiaowan... Chapter 173 Chapter 173: Mischievous Lin Xiaowan ¡°Good morning~!¡± Early in the morning, Su Lin got up early and prepared a table full of breakfast. After all, he had promised Zhao Yanyan last night to make breakfast for her. Although Su Lin didn¡¯t like cooking, he felt obligated to fulfill his promise once he had made it. After placing the last dish on the table, he shouted upstairs, ¡°Everyone, wake up and come eat. No more sleeping.¡± Two minutes later, Lin Xiaowan¡¯s room door opened: ¡°What are you yelling for? We¡¯ve been up for a while, okay?¡± Su Lin raised an eyebrow: ¡°Oh~! Your constitution has improved, so you no longer need to laze in bed? It seems the medicinal baths I prepared for you are quite effective.¡± Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes at Su Lin: ¡°I think I finally understand the ultimate purpose of those medicinal baths you¡¯ve been preparing for us.¡± ¡°What purpose, Xiaowan?¡± Xia Shiyu asked. Seeing that Xia Shiyu and Zhao Yanyan had also come out, Lin Xiaowan glanced at the hickeys on their bodies and rolled her eyes at Su Lin again. This guy must have slipped away again after she fell asleep. ¡°Just ask Su Lin.¡± Su Lin waved his hand dismissively: ¡°Don¡¯t listen to Xiaowan¡¯s nonsense. Hurry up and come down for breakfast.¡± ¡°Ooo, we¡¯ll be right there.¡± The three of them went back to their rooms to wash up and then came downstairs. Zhao Yanyan was unimpressed: ¡°Su Lin, what kind of toothbrush are you selling? It¡¯s so fragile. I just tried to brush my teeth, and it snapped in half.¡± ¡°Hey, my toothbrush is broken too, and my cup shattered as well. Xiaoyu, where did you buy these? Don¡¯t try to save money for Su Lin next time, okay? Buy better ones,¡± Lin Xiaowan told Xia Shiyu. Xia Shiyu was also puzzled, as her situation was similar to that of Lin Xiaowan and Zhao Yanyan. Su Lin addressed the three: ¡°It¡¯s not that Xiaoyu bought poor quality items; it¡¯s that you are not yet able to perfectly control your strength.¡± ¡°You absorbed too much from the medicinal bath yesterday, leading to an abundance of strength without perfect control. That¡¯s why you ended up exerting too much force and breaking the cups.¡± Zhao Yanyan was taken aback: ¡°Then what do we do?¡± ¡°Yeah, we don¡¯t know how to control it. What if we accidentally break something?¡± As she spoke, Lin Xiaowan glanced downwards at Su Lin, considering what might happen if... Su Lin, feeling embarrassed: ¡°Xiaowan, where are you looking? With your little strength, even if I don¡¯t use internal strength you won¡¯t be able to break through my body a bit.¡± He realized that Lin Xiaowan was becoming bolder and her thoughts stranger. ¡°Oh~! I see,¡± Lin Xiaowan sounded disappointed, realizing that Su Lin had guessed her thoughts, dampening her spirits. Ignoring Lin Xiaowan¡¯s antics, Su Lin turned to the three women: ¡°If you want to control your strength, go out and spar later. You three can practice together.¡± ¡°Ah~! Sparring? Won¡¯t we hurt each other?¡± Su Lin shook his head: ¡°Your conditions are similar, so you won¡¯t injure each other. Just practice without worry. Later, I¡¯ll teach you a set of basic martial arts techniques.¡± ¡°Wow~! Can we finally learn some techniques? Su Lin, will I be able to fly now?¡± At this moment, Su Lin ultimately couldn¡¯t utter any lies and sighed, ¡°Xiaowan, let¡¯s not talk about this, okay?¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I was just teasing you. Who lets you always tease us?¡± Su Lin laughed awkwardly, then noticed Xia Shiyu and Zhao Yanyan snickering. Just great! When did these three unite against him? ¡°How about we all go together? I¡¯ve always been curious to meet Li Ziyu and Qin Jiuyue,¡± Lin Xiaowan suggested. Her mention stirred some interest in Zhao Yanyan and Xia Shiyu, but Xia Shiyu hesitated at the thought of such affluent gatherings as she disliked such events. Knowing Xia Shiyu¡¯s concerns, Lin Xiaowan assured, ¡°Su Lin got us VIP seats, no one will see us. Xiaoyu, don¡¯t you want to see them?¡± Xia Shiyu turned to Zhao Yanyan, ¡°Do you want to go?¡± ¡°If the three of us sisters go, I¡¯d be happy to. Hmph, Li Ziyu is a legend in Donghai, and I¡¯m very curious about her.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go too.¡± The three women then looked at Su Lin together. Su Lin felt overwhelmed, sensing a charged atmosphere. Although both Qin Jiuyue and Li Ziyu had a favorable impression of him, he didn¡¯t want to witness the girls in a verbal spar; it¡¯s tiring and requires careful speech to avoid hurting their pride. ¡°Let¡¯s set this straight: you must behave, no causing trouble, or I¡¯d rather go alone than take you with me.¡± Lin Xiaowan promised, patting her 36D chest, ¡°Rest assured, Su Lin. We¡¯ve always been well-behaved; when have we ever embarrassed you?¡± ¡°Exactly, I¡¯ve attended such auctions before, and Xiaowan has been invited even more frequently in the capital.¡± Su Lin sighed internally, ¡°Fine, then we¡¯ll all go together. After you finish practicing, let¡¯s go shopping for clothes and head to Treasure Pavilion in the afternoon.¡± The three women were excited, especially Zhao Yanyan, who grew up in Donghai and had heard many stories about Li Ziyu. Li Ziyu was like the protagonist in women¡¯s fiction, outstanding from a young age, taking over the family business at eighteen, and then recently succeeding in taking control of the Li family to become the next family head. This news had spread across Shaxia. Female family heads aren¡¯t unheard of in Shaxia, but Li Ziyu¡¯s journey was rare. Every successful woman is a legend, admired by countless others. Thus, Zhao Yanyan, who followed the path of a strong woman, couldn¡¯t help but admire Li Ziyu. Su Lin was surprised to find his women interested in Li Ziyu. Thinking of Li Ziyu, Su Lin had to admit she was indeed always radiating intelligence. ¡°Just a day¡¯s time to settle the Li family and take over the company¡¯s affairs,¡± he thought. Su Lin put down his chopsticks, ¡°I made breakfast, so washing the dishes is your job.¡± Xia Shiyu rolled up her sleeves to start, but Zhao Yanyan stopped her, ¡°Let me do it. This breakfast was made by Su Lin for me; it wouldn¡¯t be right for Xiaoyu to clean up.¡± Xia Shiyu stepped back, allowing Zhao Yanyan to proceed. Su Lin, seeing the harmonious scene among the three women, nodded in satisfaction. Though he couldn¡¯t enjoy being with all of them at once, such harmony pleased him much more than constant bickering. ¡°Xiaowan, Xiaoyu, let¡¯s head outside...¡± Chapter 174 Chapter 174: Auction At Treasure Pavilion, Qin Jiuyue arrived right after lunch. Ever since Qin Deshu became aware of Su Lin¡¯s capabilities, he had become increasingly indulgent towards Qin Jiuyue, even intentionally trying to bring her and Su Lin together. However, knowing that Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu were in Donghai, Qin Jiuyue had yet to take action because she knew that seeking out Su Lin would inevitably lead to encountering Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan, and she wasn¡¯t sure how to interact with them. Thus, she could only wait at home for the auction to arrive. In the afternoon, guests started arriving at Treasure Pavilion, and Qin Jiuyue¡¯s gaze was constantly fixed on the entrance, waiting for Su Lin¡¯s Mercedes to appear. Instead of Su Lin¡¯s Mercedes, she first saw Li Ziyu¡¯s convoy arriving. Having overcome numerous obstacles to become the new head of the Li family, Li Ziyu¡¯s appearance caused quite a stir among the crowd. Her beauty and capability, along with the persona of a high-cold beauty who was also a family head, made many fantasize about her. Such personas were rare, and men loved the challenge of conquering seemingly unattainable women. Only Qin Jiuyue knew that Li Ziyu was also one of her rivals, as Su Lin and Li Ziyu had a business relationship. From conversations she overheard, Qin Jiuyue knew that Li Ziyu¡¯s swift control over the family business was largely thanks to Su Lin¡¯s indispensable contributions, although the specifics of Su Lin¡¯s role were unclear to the public. ¡°What¡¯s so great about her?¡± Qin Jiuyue muttered to herself, feeling somewhat deflated at the thought of being just a university student relying on her family¡¯s allowance. Li Ziyu handed her invitation to the staff and then entered the venue, noticing Qin Jiuyue standing to the side. ¡°Little sister Jiuyue, long time no see,¡± Li Ziyu greeted. She knew of the complex relationship between Su Lin and Qin Jiuyue, so she was considerably warmer towards her. Qin Jiuyue was surprised. The Qin and Li families were competitors, yet Li Ziyu was greeting her so kindly? ¡°Sister Ziyu, I saw you at my birthday party,¡± she responded. ¡°Oh? I¡¯m sorry, Jiuyue. I was busy that day and forgot to prepare a birthday gift for you,¡± Li Ziyu sincerely apologized, her status as the head of her family making this acknowledgment significant. Qin Jiuyue felt there was an underlying tone, as if Li Ziyu was suggesting she was too insignificant to notice. Qin Jiuyue played dumb, ¡°No worries, I received a very interesting gift. Would you like to see it?¡± Li Ziyu shook her head, showing no interest. ¡°Ah, it was a birthday gift from Su Lin. Really interesting,¡± Qin Jiuyue added, aiming to provoke Li Ziyu. Li Ziyu quickly caught on to Qin Jiuyue¡¯s implication. ¡°A toy from Su Lin? Such gifts are normal for girls like you.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t receive anything... He just saved me twice. I don¡¯t know how I¡¯ll ever repay him,¡± Li Ziyu lamented, pretending to be troubled about repaying Su Lin. Qin Jiuyue was infuriated but maintained her composure, a master at controlling her emotions. ¡°Oh? I know about your partnership with Su Lin; he told me. When I visited Sihai Group, he shared it with me,¡± Qin Jiuyue said, flaunting a charming smile. The two continued their veiled verbal sparring, all revolving around Su Lin. Fortunately, their esteemed statuses prevented onlookers from eavesdropping, or it would have been a scene to behold. Just as Qin Jiuyue and Li Ziyu were about to escalate their rivalry, Su Lin arrived fashionably late, accompanied by three incredibly beautiful women, each with their own charm, causing a sensation. Lin Xiaowan stood out dramatically from her usual girl-next-door image. Dressed in a black long dress with her hair neatly done, leaving a few strands loose, she exuded confidence and grace, captivating many onlookers. ¡°Whose daughter is this? Such a strong presence, definitely not from a minor family.¡± ¡°No clue. We¡¯ve never seen her in Donghai before. Someone this stunning would have been recognized.¡± ¡°Her poise alone is a lesson for many high-born ladies.¡± Su Lin was also seeing Lin Xiaowan in this new light for the first time, finding her fascinating and planning an exciting role-play for the evening. ¡°Heh... don¡¯t worry, I have my ways.¡± ¡°Mm, I¡¯ll try to find a chance.¡± The four entered Treasure Pavilion together. Just a few steps in, Su Lin spotted Qin Jiuyue and Li Ziyu. The two seemed to be arguing but stopped upon seeing him. Qin Jiuyue changed her demeanor to that of a good girl and waved at him. Li Ziyu also ceased the argument to glance at Su Lin and then looked away, embarrassed by their previous conversation, especially since Su Lin, with his keen hearing, must have overheard. Su Lin first looked at Lin Xiaowan, who seemed amused by the situation, whispering, ¡°Those two are Qin Jiuyue and Li Ziyu, right?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°I heard them arguing. Su Lin, they were fighting over you. As the man in question, pursued by Donghai¡¯s most beautiful flowers, how do you feel?¡± Su Lin playfully smacked Lin Xiaowan¡¯s buttocks, ¡°Still joking at a time like this.¡± He then approached Qin Jiuyue and Li Ziyu with a smile, ¡°Ziyu, Jiuyue, I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡± Li Ziyu glanced at Su Lin and then commented, ¡°You call me Ziyu, but you call her Jiuyue sister?¡± Su Lin: ¡°...¡± At this moment, Qin Jiuyue was smiling foolishly, pleased by Su Lin¡¯s form of address that inadvertently placed her above Li Ziyu, which made her very happy. ¡°Wow... Li Ziyu.¡± Li Ziyu hadn¡¯t fully reacted when she saw Zhao Yanyan approaching. Standing tall in her high heels, she towered over Li Ziyu, greeting her warmly despite Li Ziyu¡¯s confusion. Su Lin explained, ¡°This is Zhao Yanyan, your ardent fan, always looking up to you as her goal.¡± ¡°Oh? Really?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, Su Lin is absolutely right. Ever since I heard your story, I¡¯ve found you incredibly impressive...¡± Li Ziyu found Zhao Yanyan¡¯s enthusiasm a bit overwhelming. In truth, this was Zhao Yanyan¡¯s genuine personality, which she had to suppress while managing the store, hence the stiff persona. Now, she could finally drop the act in front of Li Ziyu. The two quickly started chatting, leaving Su Lin feeling somewhat redundant. He turned to Lin Xiaowan, hoping for some comfort, only to find her already engaged in conversation with Qin Jiuyue. ¡°Your name is Qin Jiuyue, right? It¡¯s an interesting name. I heard you were born in September, so your grandfather named you after the month?¡± ¡°Yes, my grandfather is terrible at naming. He went through the family records and checked my horoscope but still couldn¡¯t decide on a name, so he just went with Jiuyue,¡± Qin Jiuyue shared. Su Lin then turned to Xia Shiyu, who also seemed lost. Seeing Su Lin¡¯s predicament, Xia Shiyu couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Heh heh... Su Lin, you were worried they might fight, but it seems your concerns were unfounded.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Seems so!¡± Chapter 175 Chapter 175: Your Fiance?e, Quite the Catch! Su Lin was amazed at how quickly women could form friendships when suddenly he felt a killing intent directed at him. Recognizing this familiar aura as true qi that only manifests after the Taiyi Divine Needles technique has reached a minor achievement, Su Lin turned towards the entrance to see Xiao Chen and a young man around twenty-five or twenty-six years old walking in together. Observing the young man, Su Lin narrowed his eyes. Donghai had more than just the Li and Qin families; there were many other families, and this young man was likely from one of them. During the original auction event in the story, Su Lin obtained the third Taiyi Divine Needle, but now that he already had the second and third needles, he wondered if today¡¯s auction would still offer something of value. Unsure, he had decided to attend, fully aware of the protagonist¡¯s halo¡¯s terrifying effect. Unexpectedly, before the auction even began, Xiao Chen had somehow connected with another family, inviting further complications. No... it seemed more like Xiao Chen had been approached. Seeing how warmly Qin Gong was treating the young man, Su Lin guessed his status was not low. He knew well enough that old timers like Qin Gong were adept at gauging people¡¯s worth. As Su Lin pondered this, he noticed the young man smirking mockingly at him after exchanging a few words with Xiao Chen. ¡°Xiao Chen, is that Su Lin who made you look so wretched?¡± Song Juncheng asked mockingly. Xiao Chen glared at Su Lin before nodding, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s him. Ever since I arrived in Donghai, he¡¯s been targeting me, setting up numerous traps, making me end up in such a sorry state today.¡± Song Juncheng laughed, ¡°Just the son of a nouveau riche. I don¡¯t believe he¡¯s the grandmaster you claim he is. He must have used some secret method to forcibly increase his realm. There are hardly any 18-year-old grandmasters even in the imperial capital.¡± Xiao Chen responded with a bitter smile, ¡°Brother Cheng, I¡¯m telling the truth. Old Master Zhong died by his hand. You must not underestimate him.¡± Song Juncheng nodded, ¡°I came out this time partly to find my worthless uncle and also to help you deal with your troubles in Donghai. Xiao Chen, you are the heir to the Ghost Doctor; you can¡¯t tarnish that reputation.¡± Xiao Chen knew he couldn¡¯t afford to lose face, especially since he was aware of how strong Su Lin had become with the minor achievement of the Taiyi Divine Needles. He remembered the burn mark on Zhong Xincheng¡¯s shoulder, which was seared through. Thus, he warned Song Juncheng about Su Lin¡¯s strength, not realizing that the more he cautioned, the less Song Juncheng believed him. In his heart, Song Juncheng dismissed Xiao Chen¡¯s claims, finding the idea of an 18-year-old grandmaster from a nouveau riche family in Zhongjiang absurd. Without the resources to back him, even if Su Lin had started training from a young age, he couldn¡¯t become a grandmaster by 40. Song Juncheng understood Xiao Chen¡¯s caution as simply a way to exaggerate Su Lin¡¯s strength after being unable to defeat him, a tactic he himself had employed. ¡°Xiao Chen, you really know where my uncle is, right? My dad said we must bring him back this time.¡± Xiao Chen replied, ¡°Although I don¡¯t know exactly where Uncle Song is, I have an idea of his whereabouts. We can go find him together later.¡± Song Juncheng nodded, then glanced at the women talking behind Su Lin, his eyes flashing with admiration, ¡°Xiao Chen, putting aside everything else, Donghai really is a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery. Look at those beauties.¡± Xiao Chen also noticed the women behind Su Lin, explaining, ¡°The one on the left is my fiance?e, Li Ziyu, but she¡¯s now bewitched by Su Lin, seeing me as an enemy. The woman across from her is Zhao Yanyan, the general manager of Su Lin¡¯s Quan Le Guo Supermarket, and next to her is Qin Jiuyue, the little princess of the Qin family.¡± Su Lin laughed again, ¡°Why not give it a try? To tell you the truth, the day you fled, Ziyu and I made substantial progress. I must say, she¡¯s quite the catch, very supple.¡± After saying this, Su Lin appeared to savor the memory. Xiao Chen looked towards Li Ziyu, who wasn¡¯t even looking at him but was quietly talking to Zhao Yanyan. ¡°Impossible.¡± Su Lin shrugged, ¡°Believe it or not, that¡¯s the truth.¡± ¡°Su Lin... You dare ignore me like this, you¡¯re asking for death.¡± Only then did Su Lin turn to the seemingly insignificant Song Juncheng, saying helplessly, ¡°A pawn like you, got a say here? Get lost.¡± Then, Su Lin walked over to Li Ziyu and Zhao Yanyan, taking each by the hand and said to the group, ¡°The air here¡¯s polluted. Let¡¯s talk in a private room.¡± ¡°Sure, Grandpa has prepared a private room just for you. Let me take you there,¡± Qin Jiuyue said, also giving Xiao Chen a disdainful look, ¡°What¡¯s with Grandpa, sending invites to anyone? I¡¯ll have to ask him later; even the undesirables are getting in.¡± Song Juncheng turned pale with anger. Being ignored by Su Lin was one thing, but now even Qin Jiuyue was looking down on him. If it weren¡¯t for being in the Qin household, he¡¯d have lashed out. Xiao Chen, watching Su Lin¡¯s hand on Li Ziyu¡¯s waist and her somewhat indulgent look towards Su Lin, was boiling inside. Lies could be spun, but the eyes don¡¯t lie. Never would he have imagined Su Lin had already won over Li Ziyu, cursing her in his heart. The group of six entered the elevator, and Su Lin removed his hand from Li Ziyu¡¯s waist, ¡°Ziyu, about earlier...¡± Li Ziyu shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Su Lin, no need to explain.¡± Hearing this, the girls, especially Lin Xiaowan and Zhao Yanyan, who had sharp ears, looked at Su Lin. They had heard Su Lin and Xiao Chen¡¯s conversation clearly, and Qin Jiuyue had briefed them on the start of their feud. Now, Lin Xiaowan and the others finally met Su Lin¡¯s arch-enemy. While they weren¡¯t worried about Su Lin, they marveled at his fortune in love. ¡°So that¡¯s Xiao Chen.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°That¡¯s him.¡± Lin Xiaowan frowned, ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but seeing Xiao Chen gives me a feeling of disgust, like a natural enmity and dislike. Just can¡¯t stand him.¡± Zhao Yanyan nodded in agreement, ¡°I feel the same. Seeing him just makes me uncomfortable, wanting to hit him.¡± Xia Shiyu also agreed, ¡°I feel that way too.¡± Su Lin joked, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because of me that you all love and hate together.¡± Unable to think of a reason, the three women eventually agreed with Su Lin¡¯s explanation. Chapter 176 Chapter 176: Stole Xiao Chen¡¯s Amulet As Xiao Chen and his group¡¯s elevator door closed, Song Juncheng gritted his teeth, ¡°We¡¯re going up too.¡± Xiao Chen nodded in agreement, having gained entry to the event thanks to Song Juncheng, he naturally decided to stick with him. ¡°Xiao Chen, give me a detailed run-down on this Su Lin,¡± Song Juncheng commanded. Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen didn¡¯t dismiss Song Juncheng outright anymore. Though Song appeared arrogant, he became cautious when it mattered. Considering Song Juncheng¡¯s father was the head of the Song family, one of the most prestigious families in Jingzhou City, Xiao Chen had no illusions about Song¡¯s competence. Initially, Xiao Chen underestimated Su Lin, thinking no significant figure could come from Zhongjiang City. However, his caution rose when he saw the stunning beauties surrounding Su Lin, all of whom seemed captivated by him. A man¡¯s strength can often be gauged by the caliber of women around him; beautiful and talented women indicate a man of substance. The two men took another elevator. Exiting the elevator, Su Lin encountered Qin Deshu and Su Zhenguo chatting happily. Qin Deshu was surprised to see Su Lin accompanied by so many beautiful women, especially Li Ziyu among them, and Lin Xiaowan, whose distinguished air hinted at an extraordinary background. ¡°Grandpa...¡± ¡°Dad~!¡± Qin Deshu nodded in acknowledgment, ¡°Xiaoyue, make sure you take good care of your friends.¡± Qin Jiuyue cheerfully agreed. Su Zhenguo, however, was less amused, giving Su Lin a stern look. Despite their infrequent meetings, he was deeply concerned for his only son and was well aware of most matters concerning Su Lin, especially the women around him. ¡°Now that the auction is over, don¡¯t leave right away; I need to talk to you,¡± Su Lin told his father. Su Zhenguo was momentarily taken aback before chiding him with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re even making plans for your old man now, huh? I¡¯ll wait for you in the tea house downstairs.¡± Su Lin nodded, deciding to entrust the Tesla and smartphone blueprints to Su Zhenguo for further development. With the women in his life beginning their cultivation journey, their attention couldn¡¯t be solely focused on work, making Su Zhen Guo the ideal person to handle these projects. ¡°Dad, you discuss your matters; we¡¯ll head to the private room.¡± Su Zhen Guo nodded and then proceeded to another private room with Qin Deshu. Su Lin noticed they were headed to VIP room 1. The advancements in 4G technology had already elevated Su Zhenguo¡¯s status significantly; he wondered what would happen once Tesla and Apple¡¯s technologies were introduced. As they entered the room, Xiao Chen and Song Juncheng emerged from a nearby elevator. Spotting Su Lin and his companions, Song Juncheng, wanting to get back at Su Lin for ignoring him earlier, approached Lin Xiaowan with a gentlemanly smile. Before he could speak, Lin Xiaowan clung to Su Lin¡¯s arm and complained, ¡°Su Lin, it smells bad here, let¡¯s go~~.¡± Song Juncheng¡¯s smile froze, and with a cold snort, he continued forward, with Xiao Chen hurriedly following. Seeing her reaction, Su Lin nodded, ¡°Then off you go.¡± Qin Jiuyue, not pleased with being treated like a child, huffed and then left the room. A few minutes later, Qin Jiuyue returned, somewhat anxious, ¡°Su...Su Lin, I found out who that guy is.¡± Su Lin handed her a glass of water, ¡°What¡¯s the rush? The sky isn¡¯t falling. Take your time.¡± After taking a few sips, Qin Jiuyue began, ¡°That arrogant guy is from the Song family of Jingzhou, the family¡¯s young master named Song Juncheng. He came to Donghai looking for someone. As for Xiao Chen, it seems the Song family owes his master a favor, so they¡¯re protecting him.¡± ¡°The Song family of Jingzhou? The one led by Song Zhiming?¡± Su Lin asked curiously. Qin Jiuyue was surprised, ¡°How did you know?¡± Su Lin shrugged, ¡°The Song family of Jingzhou is quite famous, isn¡¯t it? Is there a problem with me knowing?¡± ¡°Not many people know about Song Zhiming,¡± Li Ziyu commented. By now, Su Lin had figured out who the middle-aged man who rescued Zhong Xincheng was. Song Zhigang, the second elder of the Song family, was once a man of great talent but lost in a power struggle to Song Zhiming. In the original story, Xiao Chen first met Song Zhigang and then helped him fight the Song family, eventually helping Song Zhigang rise to power. Now, this guy had somehow connected with Song Zhiming. Didn¡¯t he know Song Zhigang had just saved him? How could he betray him so quickly? ¡°Ziyu, do you remember the middle-aged man who took Xiao Chen away from me?¡± Su Lin asked. Li Ziyu nodded, ¡°I remember... Does he have something to do with the Song family?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°He¡¯s Song Zhigang, Song Zhiming¡¯s brother, and Song Juncheng¡¯s uncle.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s him.¡± Li Ziyu had heard about the Song family¡¯s power struggle, which had been intense and involved many families from the south. Ultimately, the elder brother, Song Zhiming, won the family leader¡¯s position with superior tactics. ¡°Is he here looking for Song Zhigang?¡± Li Ziyu quickly connected the dots. Su Lin confirmed, ¡°Exactly, and it¡¯s likely with ill intent. Given Song Zhiming¡¯s ruthless nature, he¡¯s probably aiming to eliminate Song Zhigang.¡± Li Ziyu wasn¡¯t surprised by this kind of intra-family power struggle for the throne; she had almost killed Li Weifeng herself. ¡°Xiao Chen really is despicable, selling out the man who saved his life,¡± Li Ziyu said disdainfully. She began to feel fortunate for not marrying Xiao Chen. Living with such a villain would have made her life miserable. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Sister Ziyu? I¡¯m totally lost,¡± said Xia Shiyu. Li Ziyu looked at Su Lin, unsure whether to share these details with Xia Shiyu and Zhao Yanyan, who were relatively naive about these matters. Su Lin simply stated, ¡°They¡¯ll have to face these things sooner or later. Go ahead and tell them, Ziyu.¡± So, Li Ziyu began to recount her cooperation with Su Lin in detail, leaving the women, especially Zhao Yanyan and Xia Shiyu, in stunned silence. They had not expected Su Lin¡¯s life in Donghai to be so tumultuous and intriguing. Meanwhile, Lin Xiaowan was lost in thought. Chapter 177 Chapter 177: Using the Dragon Pearl as a Night Pearl? Hearing that Su Lin had actually killed someone, Zhao Yanyan and Xia Shiyu both covered their mouths in disbelief, especially Xia Shiyu. As a high school graduate about to enter college, even though she had started learning martial arts, she inherently believed that students should focus on their studies. Little did she know the society Su Lin was involved in was so perilous. Lin Xiaowan apologized, ¡°Su Lin, I¡¯m sorry. I thought you were enjoying your time in Donghai, not realizing so much had happened.¡± Su Lin smiled and ruffled Lin Xiaowan¡¯s hair, ¡°Why apologize? It¡¯s all Xiao Chen¡¯s fault for being so arrogant. Without him, things wouldn¡¯t have escalated to this point.¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded, ¡°Su Lin, if you¡¯re ever in a bind, let me know. I can help.¡± Su Lin smiled, knowing Lin Xiaowan came from a powerful background, but he didn¡¯t want her family from the imperial capital to get involved. As for Xiao Chen, he was confident he could handle him alone. He had simply not acted yet because the timing hadn¡¯t felt right. ¡°Xiaowan, don¡¯t worry, I can handle this little issue myself.¡± ¡°Okay~!!¡± As they were speaking, Qin Gong, dressed in traditional attire, came onto the auction stage to start the auction. ¡°It¡¯s starting, it¡¯s starting.¡± ¡°Su Lin, I can get the auction list. Do you want to take a look?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course, Xiaoyue, you should have told me this to me earlier.¡± Qin Jiuyue chuckled, ¡°These are all confidential, you know. But I can get it for us to see. Wait here for me.¡± As Qin Jiuyue hurried out, Zhao Yanyan remarked, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Qin Jiuyue to be so lively, unlike the rumors.¡± Li Ziyu responded, ¡°That¡¯s because Su Lin is here. She acts differently when he¡¯s not around. I¡¯m curious, what exactly happened between you and Jiuyue, Su Lin? She¡¯s really clingy with you.¡± When Li Ziyu asked this question, the girls all turned their attention to Su Lin, waiting for his explanation. Su Lin scratched his head, ¡°What could it be? Probably because I¡¯m too handsome.¡± Li Ziyu looked unconvinced. Seeing her reaction, Su Lin just smiled and didn¡¯t continue. He certainly couldn¡¯t say they went out for a late-night roller coaster ride, especially the kind without safety protections. Lin Xiaowan would be the first to scold him for that. ¡°Our first auction item is the Heart of Brilliance, the treasure of Zhou¡¯s Jewelry Store. This necklace, adorned with three hundred and sixty-five diamonds and one pink diamond, is the best gift for wives, girlfriends, and lovers. The starting bid is 300 million yuan, with each bid increasing by at least 5 million yuan. Let the bidding begin.¡± As Qin Gong spoke, bids started flying. Everyone present knew the true value of the pink diamond alone far exceeded 300 million yuan. Whether intending to buy or not, bidding was the first step. Su Lin asked the girls, ¡°Do any of you want it?¡± ¡°You¡¯d bid for us? The starting bid is 300 million yuan. Do you have that much money?¡± Zhao Yanyan was skeptical.¡± ¡°Yanyan, you might not know, but Su Lin made over 30 billion yuan by shorting and then going long on Li¡¯s stocks. A necklace is nothing to him; he¡¯s got plenty of money,¡± Li Ziyu said with a smile. Zhao Yanyan¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°30 billion? Not 30 million?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s 30 billion. If only I had invested more, I could have made even more,¡± Su Lin replied. [Failed Dragon Transformation Dragon Pill: Enhances vision, strengthens internal energy, can be used in medicine, and boosts vitality.]. In a nearby private room, Song Juncheng disdainfully said, ¡°Thought he had any real strength. He didn¡¯t dare to go above 500 million. How dare he flirt with top-quality beauties with such meager ability? It¡¯s ridiculous.¡± ¡°Bro, that necklace is really nice. It¡¯ll make a great gift for your sister-in-law. She¡¯d be thrilled.¡± Song Juncheng awkwardly smiled, ¡°What sister-in-law? I¡¯m still single.¡± ¡°You must have a girlfriend, though.¡± Scratching his head, Song Juncheng said, ¡°I have quite a few girlfriends, but gifting them such an expensive necklace is a waste. They don¡¯t deserve it.¡± Xiao Chen was speechless, ¡°Then why did you bid for the necklace? For yourself?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a man; why would I wear a necklace? I just found Su Lin annoying. He probably wanted to buy the necklace for one of those women. Now that I¡¯ve bought it, he can¡¯t gift it. I wonder how he feels about that?¡± Xiao Chen felt somewhat helpless, realizing that Su Lin¡¯s words had merit. Song Juncheng seemed almost pathological, spending 500 million on a useless necklace just to spite Su Lin. Xiao Chen could tell that Su Lin genuinely didn¡¯t care about Song Juncheng, who was still smugly enjoying his imagined victory. ¡°Probably... quite upset.¡± ¡°Ha, not just probably, definitely!¡± If Song Juncheng could see Su Lin now, enjoying massages from Xia Shiyu and being fed by Lin Xiaowan, he wouldn¡¯t utter such foolishness. ¡°Is Song Juncheng an idiot? Spending over 500 million on a useless necklace? I heard that necklace has been in the Zhou¡¯s Jewelry Store for years, unsold due to its exorbitant price.¡± Li Ziyu nodded, ¡°Right. The necklace sounds fancy with its hundreds of diamonds, but they¡¯re practically worthless. The only valuable part is the pink diamond. But with 500 million, not many would buy such a useless pink diamond.¡± Su Lin joked, ¡°Some people just have more money than sense.¡± ¡°Pfft! Weren¡¯t you also about to bid? Does that make you one of those with more money than sense?¡± Su Lin, holding Zhao Yanyan¡¯s hand, said with a laugh, ¡°It¡¯s different when it¡¯s for you. No matter the cost, I wouldn¡¯t find it expensive.¡± Touched, Zhao Yanyan stuffed a peeled longan into Su Lin¡¯s mouth, ¡°You sure know how to talk.¡± ¡°Ha! I¡¯m serious. If it weren¡¯t for your objection, I would¡¯ve bid up to 50 billion,¡± Su Lin declared earnestly. Zhao Yanyan sighed and then rested her head on Su Lin¡¯s lap, saying softly, ¡°You really are the best at fooling women. We all willingly let ourselves be fooled by you.¡± ¡°What fooling? I¡¯m just sincerely exchanging my heart for yours.¡± Lin Xiaowan poked Su Lin¡¯s cheek, ¡°It¡¯s not just your heart; you¡¯re quite the flirt too.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°If I weren¡¯t such a flirt, which of you could withstand my charm?¡± ¡°Go away!¡± ¡°No more massages for you. Do it yourself.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t feed you anymore.¡± ¡°Su Lin, there are outsiders here. Be mindful of what you say.¡± Chapter 178 Chapter 178 After much effort to appease the ladies, Su Lin decided it was best not to boast anymore. Boasting feels good momentarily, but appeasing someone isn¡¯t something a few words can resolve. Especially when there¡¯s more than one woman present. ¡°The next item on display is a complete set of pear wood furniture, with a history of two hundred years...¡± Su Lin looked at the set of pear wood furniture before him, uninterested. The girls beside him seemed to have no interest either, chattering away. Su Lin wondered where they found so many topics to talk about, especially since they had only met for the first time today. They completely ignored him. Su Lin sprawled on the sofa: ¡°Well, today has turned into a fan meet-up and a social tea party.¡± Shiyu noticed Su Lin¡¯s boredom and asked him, ¡°Are you feeling bored?¡± Su Lin shook his head and handed a booklet to Shiyu: ¡°Not really, Xiao Yu, see anything you like?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in these antiques and diamond jewelry.¡± Shiyu returned the booklet to Su Lin. ¡°Eh... Why is everyone so keen on saving me money, making it impossible for me to spend even if I wanted to?¡± Su Lin couldn¡¯t help but complain. ¡°Hehe, isn¡¯t it good that we¡¯re saving you money? It¡¯s better than spending it recklessly.¡± ¡°True~!¡± Thump, thump, thump! ¡°Miss, the night pearl you requested has been delivered. Would you like it brought in?¡± Qin Jiuyue was startled, then looked towards Su Lin, who nodded. ¡°Bring it in.¡± ¡°Right away, Miss.¡± A server pushed open the door, entering with a tray, which he placed on a side table before leaving the room. [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for successfully intercepting Xiao Chen¡¯s opportunity, preventing him from becoming a grandmaster. Xiao Chen¡¯s luck is reduced by ten percent, and the host gains two epic lottery chances.]. Unexpectedly, this dragon inner pill could allow one to directly ascend from the late stage master to the grandmaster level. This is equivalent to jumping two levels. The efficacy of this medicine is extraordinary. Su Lin didn¡¯t plan to use it himself because his strength could be enhanced through the system, but for Zhao Yanyan, Lin Xiaowan, and others, it was different. Although they were exceptionally talented, their current strength was still too low. This was Su Lin¡¯s biggest concern. Therefore, he decided to give the inner pill to the three ladies. However, they needed to wait a few days before using it. They had just taken a medicinal bath recently, and their realm was not stable; it wasn¡¯t the right time to enhance their cultivation. ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure myself, but I think they do exist. Otherwise, why would the ancients be able to draw them so vividly, with eyes, mouths, noses, and the whole body?¡± ¡°But, haven¡¯t the books already explained that these are just figments of people¡¯s imagination?¡± Su Lin smiled; ¡°Imagination? It can¡¯t be that everyone¡¯s imagination is the same, right?¡± Qin Jiuyue quickly accepted Su Lin¡¯s explanation, curious, she opened the box and carefully examined the Jiao Dragon Pill. ¡°Don¡¯t...¡± Before Su Lin could finish his sentence, Qin Jiuyue was already sniffing the Jiao Pill close to her nose. Su Lin slapped his thigh. This was a big deal. Jiao Dragon, as long as it has the character ¡®dragon¡¯ in its name, it would possess some dragon attributes to some extent. Not to mention a dragon-transforming Jiao Dragon Pill. This inner pill has an aphrodisiac effect, and it¡¯s very strong. Su Lin quickly snatched the inner pill back and covered the box. Qin Jiuyue looked at Su Lin, puzzled; ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Su Lin, is there a problem with this inner pill?¡± Su Lin opened his mouth, not knowing what to say. He couldn¡¯t just tell her the effect of the Jiao Dragon Pill was similar to that of an aphrodisiac. ¡°No... No problem... I just thought, considering it¡¯s a Jiao Dragon pill, I was worried something might happen to you,¡± Su Lin chuckled. He just hoped that Qin Jiuyue hadn¡¯t been poisoned by the pill; otherwise, it would really be a troublesome situation today. However, Su Lin¡¯s last bit of luck soon dissipated. Not long after, Qin Jiuyue¡¯s gaze became dazed. Her delicate little face turned red, and her little ears also blushed. She leaned on Su Lin as if she had no bones in her body, her breath as sweet as an orchid, saying, ¡°Su Lin, why do I feel my face is so hot, and I¡¯m a bit dizzy, why can¡¯t I see you clearly?¡± Su Lin slapped his forehead, then holding Qin Jiuyue, he said to the ladies, ¡°You continue watching the auction. If there¡¯s anything you want, just bid. Something seems off with Xiaoyue, I¡¯ll take her to have a look.¡± ¡°Su Lin, do you need help?¡± ¡°Su Lin, what¡¯s wrong with Sister Xiao Yue?¡± Su Lin shook his head: ¡°I can¡¯t explain in a word or two, just keep watching, I¡¯ll take Xiaoyue and leave first.¡± After saying that, Su Lin carried Qin Jiuyue and rushed out of the private room, heading towards the rooftop. Reaching the rooftop, Su Lin looked around, thankfully, the Treasure Pavilion was built in an antique style, with everything constructed according to ancient Ming and Qing architectural styles. Feeling Qin Jiuyue¡¯s mood getting increasingly abnormal, Su Lin carried her and flew directly towards the villa. Chapter 179 Chapter 179: To detoxify, and you still call Su Lin? You should start calling him husband now! As soon as Su Lin released his aura, Xiao Chen and Song Juncheng felt it. ¡°This aura, who is it? So formidable,¡± Song Juncheng wiped the cold sweat from his face, somewhat horrified. Su Lin¡¯s aura burst forth too quickly and without any concealment, probably felt by many masters and grandmasters in the entire building. ¡°This is Su Lin¡¯s aura. Do you still doubt he is a grandmaster?¡± Xiao Chen said indifferently. He was now in the late stages of being a master and had also practiced ancient martial arts, but the more he did, the more he realized how big the gap between him and Su Lin was. If they really fought, he could only run; otherwise, he would definitely be killed. He was just a bit puzzled as to why Su Lin hadn¡¯t made a move against him. Su Lin could have easily killed him. What Xiao Chen didn¡¯t know was that his protagonist¡¯s aura was somewhat troublesome, so Su Lin decided to cut it down before making a move. ¡°Is this really Su Lin¡¯s aura? Are you sure you¡¯re not mistaken?¡± Xiao Chen gave a bitter smile, ¡°I almost died at his hands. How could I be mistaken about this?¡± Hearing this, Song Juncheng¡¯s brows furrowed. He wasn¡¯t foolish. Su Lin was only eighteen, a grandmaster at eighteen; where else could you find someone like that, without significant backing? He originally thought Xiao Chen was exaggerating, but now it seemed the situation was not that simple. The most important thing was Song Zhiming had told him to protect Xiao Chen at all costs. What does ¡®at all costs¡¯ mean? It means even if he dies, Xiao Chen cannot. Song Juncheng started to feel a headache coming on. This was a fight between immortals. He made a decision secretly to call Song Zhiming later and inform him about the situation. Nobody would have expected both Xiao Chen and Su Lin to appear in Donghai at the same time. ¡°If he really is a grandmaster, then we need to be more cautious in our actions from now on.¡± Xiao Chen nodded, that¡¯s exactly the effect he wanted; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have wasted so much effort. Meanwhile, in Su Lin¡¯s private room, the ladies were somewhat worriedly looking at the door. ¡°Sister Ziyu, what¡¯s wrong with Sister Xiaoyue? Why did Su Lin run out carrying her? Was there really a problem with that inner pill?¡± Zhao Yanyan asked worriedly. Li Ziyu shook her head, ¡°Yanyan, you¡¯ve hit the nail on the head with that question. I only learned about this inner pill today myself. How would I know what it does? But seeing Xiaoyue¡¯s condition and Su Lin¡¯s reaction, there seems to be a significant problem.¡± ¡°Sister Xiaoyue won¡¯t die, right?¡± Lin Xiaowan said, ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be the case. From Su Lin¡¯s reaction, he seems to have a way to handle it.¡± ¡°Right, Yanyan, don¡¯t overthink it. Anything in Su Lin¡¯s hands can be resolved,¡± Shiyu said blindly. Yanyan sighed, ¡°Xiaoyu, when Xiaowan said you were Su Lin¡¯s little fangirl, I didn¡¯t believe it. Now, I do. You¡¯re not just a little fangirl; using Su Lin¡¯s words, you¡¯re his diehard fan, believing everything he says. If one day Su Lin tells you he¡¯s an immortal, would you believe that too?¡± After thinking for a bit, Shiyu nodded, ¡°If Su Lin really said that to me, I would believe him because he wouldn¡¯t joke about such things with me.¡± Su Lin¡¯s departure caused more than just Xiao Chen and Song Juncheng to react. Qin Dushu knew immediately when Su Lin disappeared with Qin Jiuyue, and they disappeared so quickly. When they reached the rooftop, they only saw a little black shadow of Su Lin. They were already a kilometer away. At that time, they had no idea who Su Lin was, so they had to check the surveillance and then found out Su Lin had taken Qin Jiuyue away. Su Lin wiped the sweat from Qin Jiuyue¡¯s forehead. He felt he should tell Lin Xiaowan and the others about what happened between him and Qin Jiuyue. Although it happened unexpectedly, Su Lin has always been a sincere person. Lin Xiaowan and Zhao Yanyan would probably be upset and punch him a few times, Shiyu could be ignored, but it¡¯s better than keeping it a secret. What worried him now wasn¡¯t Lin Xiaowan and the other ladies, but Qin Jiuyue¡¯s grandfather, Qin Deshu. That old man must know he took Qin Jiuyue out, and not returning for such a long time, he might cause trouble. And since he¡¯s Qin Jiuyue¡¯s grandfather, who has always treated her like a princess, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to fight back. ¡°Ah... it should be a happy event, why do I feel a bit depressed?¡± After speaking, Su Lin looked at Qin Jiuyue again, noticing her eyelashes flutter, but her eyes remained closed. As someone who had been through similar situations, Su Lin knew she was pretending to be asleep. He didn¡¯t expect Qin Jiuyue to be so cute, clearly awake, yet pretending to sleep with him. But thinking about it, it actually made sense. It would indeed be awkward to face each other now. Su Lin tried to get up quietly, but pulling the blanket also pulled Qin Jiuyue. ¡°Sss~!!!¡± Qin Jiuyue drew a sharp breath and then opened her eyes. Hearing Qin Jiuyue¡¯s gasp, Su Lin couldn¡¯t get off the bed. He had no choice but to say, ¡°Xiaoyue, you¡¯re awake?¡± Qin Jiuyue blinked her eyelashes and then pulled the blanket to cover half of her face. ¡°Heh~!! Xiaoyue, you¡¯re shy now?¡± Hearing Su Lin¡¯s laughter, Qin Jiuyue opened her eyes and grumbled, ¡°Hmph, I wasn¡¯t asleep, just suddenly passed out.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha......¡± ¡°Su Lin, you¡¯re not allowed to laugh,¡± Qin Jiuyue glared at Su Lin angrily. Su Lin grinned, ¡°Xiaoyue, you should start calling me husband now.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s your wife... pfft... who¡¯s my husband? We¡¯re not even married yet. I wouldn¡¯t marry you!¡± Qin Jiuyue said fiercely. ¡°Hehe... Xiaowan and the others will be back soon, are you sure you want to keep covering your face?¡± Su Lin asked cheerfully. Qin Jiuyue, in a panic, kicked, ¡°Why did you call them back... ouch, it hurts.¡± Su Lin immediately asked with concern, ¡°Xiaoyue, is your foot okay?¡± Qin Jiuyue mumbled a few words, then turned her head away, refusing to look at Su Lin. She was feeling mixed emotions. Although she liked Su Lin, she didn¡¯t expect to give herself to him in such a confused manner. She had imagined hundreds of romantic scenarios, but not like today. This made Qin Jiuyue very upset. And now that Su Lin had also called Lin Xiaowan and the others back, she was even more depressed. How was she supposed to face Lin Xiaowan and Zhao Yanyan? Su Lin knew Qin Jiuyue needed some time to process some things. Seeing her affection level soar to 99, he knew she was just temporarily unable to adapt. So, he wisely chose not to speak. At this moment, saying anything would be wrong, so keeping silent was the best choice~!!! Chapter 180 Chapter 180: The Truth Session, Impulsive Punishments! Jiuyue thought Su Lin would start a conversation with her, but instead, he just sat beside her, staring straight at her without uttering a word. Finally, she couldn¡¯t help but turn around and face him; ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Su Lin spread his hands: ¡°What do you want me to say?¡± ¡°You... Hmph... Do you not want to take responsibility?¡± Jiuyue widened her eyes. ¡°When did I ever not take responsibility? Didn¡¯t I just ask you to call me husband?¡± Su Lin looked wronged, not knowing what Jiuyue really wanted, and could only blankly stare at her. Jiuyue pulled Su Lin¡¯s arm, making him lie down, then whispered, ¡°You taught Xiaowan and Xiaoyu cultivation, right? I... I¡¯m yours now, why didn¡¯t you mention teaching me?¡± Su Lin slapped his forehead; ¡°Xiaoyue, you didn¡¯t do this on purpose today, did you?¡± Jiuyue¡¯s face showed annoyance as she twisted the soft flesh around Su Lin¡¯s waist; ¡°Who did it on purpose? Who did it on purpose? I wasn¡¯t even thinking about learning martial arts, Su Lin, don¡¯t falsely accuse people.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha~! Alright, alright, I¡¯m not accusing you. So, you really want to learn?¡± Jiuyue leaned against Su Lin and said, ¡°Su Lin, if I¡¯m not capable, grandfather will surely send me off for a political marriage. I understand all that business stuff, but I don¡¯t want to do business. ¡°I want to learn martial arts, to leap over walls and roofs, just like you. If I also become a master or grandmaster, then grandfather won¡¯t be able to keep me confined.¡± Su Lin rubbed Jiuyue¡¯s head, feeling a bit sorry for her. Although Jiuyue was pampered by Qin Deshu and Qin Delin from a young age, she also lost her freedom. She lived under their arrangements all her life, so Jiuyue craved freedom very much. That¡¯s why she was very interested in Su Lin¡¯s martial arts. ¡°As for whether I did it on purpose, of course, I did. If I, Jiuyue, didn¡¯t care for you, would I let you bully me?¡± Jiuyue¡¯s face blushed after saying this. Normally, it should be her bullying Su Lin. Thinking this, she buried her face again. Su Lin said with a laugh, ¡°Xiaoyue, to tell the truth, I¡¯ve already prepared your cultivation method. I just didn¡¯t have a reason to give it to you until now.¡± Saying this, Su Lin took out the jade pendant Li Ziyu had left with him, which contained the second needle technique of the Taiyi Divine Needles. This technique was very suitable for Jiuyue, which is why he hadn¡¯t used it until now. ¡°Really? Su Lin, you¡¯re not lying to me?¡± Su Lin nodded: ¡°Still calling me Su Lin?¡± ¡°Husband~! You¡¯re not lying to me, right?¡± Hearing Jiuyue¡¯s sweet voice, Su Lin felt his heart warm up again. He quickly suppressed his heart¡¯s turmoil, nodding, ¡°Of course, why would I lie to you?¡± ¡°However, you can¡¯t start practicing this technique right now. Rest today, and I¡¯ll give it to you tomorrow.¡± Jiuyue nodded: ¡°Okay~!¡± She wanted to hug Su Lin to express her happiness, but suddenly realized she wasn¡¯t wearing clothes and hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯ll get dressed first.¡± Su Lin nodded: ¡°Do I need to look away?¡± Jiuyue gave a bright smile and then shook her head. Su Lin watched as she took the clothes and hid under the blankets to dress. ¡°Xiaoyue, do you always dress like this?¡± Su Lin asked in astonishment. He started treating this world as a mere side quest, himself as a passerby, but now, deeply immersed, he couldn¡¯t extricate himself, especially towards his women; they were not just NPCs, but real, flesh-and-blood people. He could no longer act as freely as before, collecting girls and starting a harem. ¡°The thing is, Xiaoyue was poisoned by Jiao poison, that is, the poison from that Jiao Dan earlier. This poison is very potent to someone like Xiaoyue, who hasn¡¯t practiced cultivation. It has a very strong aphrodisiac effect...¡± With Su Lin¡¯s explanation, they found out the woman upstairs was Jiuyue. Lin Xiaowan and the others finally understood why Su Lin ran so fast and why he hurriedly called them back. ¡°That¡¯s the whole story. However, I admit, even without this incident, it would have ended up the same way, just would have taken a bit longer.¡± Lin Xiaowan said, ¡°Although it¡¯s understandable, I still need to punish you. Otherwise, if you bring home a woman every day, do we have to accept one every day?¡± Zhao Yanyan and Shiyu nodded. ¡°See, even Xiaoyu agrees, it¡¯s the general consensus.¡± Su Lin touched his nose, wondering what Lin Xiaowan was going to say. ¡°We¡¯ve discussed it before, if you... if you like another woman in the future, you have to pass our approval first. Otherwise, you can never bring her home, and we won¡¯t acknowledge her.¡± Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin, waiting for his response. Su Lin nodded, ¡°No problem, I can completely accept that.¡± It seems they had discussed it already, and Su Lin was very supportive of it. He wasn¡¯t someone who fell for every other girl. In the novel ¡°Miracle Doctor¡¯s Adventures in the City,¡± there were no less than fifty female characters, many with good temperaments, backgrounds, and abilities, but Su Lin wasn¡¯t moved by them. ¡°Then comes the punishment.¡± Lin Xiaowan¡¯s eyes twirled, then she said, ¡°Punish you to cook for three days... no... a week. If it¡¯s too long, you wouldn¡¯t like it, a week should be okay.¡± After Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin somewhat eagerly, it didn¡¯t seem like a punishment but more like she hoped Su Lin would agree. ¡°Okay, no problem!!¡± Zhao Yanyan then said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll add another week, Su Lin, is that okay?¡± Su Lin regretfully said, ¡°I should have never told you guys I can cook.¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s your fault for exposing it, who told you to cook so deliciously.¡± Lin Xiaowan said cheerfully. ¡°Fine, that¡¯s not a problem either.¡± The three turned to Shiyu, who pinched her clothes, then said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll punish him to wash the dishes, Su Lin can cook and wash the dishes.¡± ¡°This... can we change it to something else, even washing clothes is okay.¡± Su Lin said with a headache. Men can cook, but washing dishes was a line. Lin Xiaowan, seeing Shiyu about to relent, held her firmly and said, ¡°No, this is it, Su Lin, just say if you agree or not.¡± ¡°Agreed, agreed, is that okay?¡± Su Lin said somewhat indulgently. Shiyu¡¯s personality was more gentle, and Lin Xiaowan was slightly more assertive, but not excessively so, which was something Su Lin quite liked. It¡¯s just washing dishes, could he not do it? If not, he could always get back at them in the evening. Lin Xiaowan saw Su Lin¡¯s gleaming eyes and shrank a bit guiltily. That look didn¡¯t seem like he was planning anything good. Chapter 181 Chapter 181 Upstairs, Jiuyue listened to Su Lin, Xiaoyu, and Xiaowan laughing and chatting downstairs, feeling somewhat envious. She wished she could join their laughter and conversations, but Jiuyue knew it wouldn¡¯t be possible anytime soon. Just as she was about to speak, Su Lin¡¯s phone rang beside her. Jiuyue picked up the phone and saw it was a call from Su Zhenguo, which startled her, but she felt too embarrassed to call Su Lin up to answer it. ¡°Su Lin, your phone is ringing.¡± Hearing Xiaowan¡¯s reminder, Su Lin smiled, ¡°The phone is upstairs, I¡¯ll go up and get it. Is Xiaoyue in your room?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°She needs to rest now, so please don¡¯t disturb her. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Saying so, he went upstairs. ¡°Xiaoyue, no need to pretend to be asleep anymore?¡± Jiuyue, not noticing Su Lin¡¯s arrival at the doorway, looked annoyed, ¡°Who¡¯s pretending to be asleep? It¡¯s your dad¡¯s call, hurry up and answer it.¡± Su Lin nodded and took the call. ¡°Kid, where are you?¡± ¡°Dad, I¡¯m at home. What¡¯s up?¡± Hearing Su Lin¡¯s response, Su Zhenguo¡¯s breathing became heavier. He had arranged to meet Su Lin at a teahouse downstairs and had been waiting for an hour without seeing Su Lin, which prompted him to call. Unbeknownst to Su Lin, he had completely forgotten about his arrangement with Su Zhenguo and felt somewhat embarrassed, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m sorry, there was a bit of an accident, so I came back early.¡± ¡°Hmph, you still have the nerve to say that. I¡¯ve been sitting in this teahouse for an hour. You think ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡¯ is enough to dismiss me? Do you know how busy I am?¡± Jiuyue, sitting nearby, covered her mouth to hide her laughter, enjoying the sight of Su Lin being scolded. Su Lin glanced at her, and Jiuyue returned a playful grimace, her bright little fangs gleaming adorably. Su Lin smiled helplessly, ¡°It was really an accident. How about tomorrow? I¡¯ll bring the things over to you. Will you be at the company tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yeah, I will be. What kind of good stuff are you planning to bring me this time?¡± ¡°Definitely something very good. By the way, dad, where is your company in Donghai?¡± Su Zhenguo looked exasperated, ¡°You little rascal, you don¡¯t even know where our family company is?¡± ¡°Uh... shouldn¡¯t that be your fault?¡± Su Zhenguo fell silent. Su Lin was right; he had indeed been too neglectful of Su Lin. Previously, he was too busy to spend much time with Su Lin, and now Su Lin had grown up and didn¡¯t need him to worry anymore. But fortunately, their relationship had improved quite a bit, especially Su Lin¡¯s attitude towards him, which had gotten much better. ¡°Alright, send me the address later, and I¡¯ll stop by tomorrow.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll have my assistant send it to you right away.¡± [Host, Jiuyue¡¯s affection level has not yet reached the full value of one hundred. Keep up the effort.].[Host, trust that the system¡¯s algorithms are the most accurate in the universe. There are no mistakes.].[Ding~! Congratulations, Host, for drawing twenty years of pure internal energy, available for immediate use.].[Ding~! A rare treasure emerges, congratulations, Host, on obtaining the skill ¨C Vajra Indestructible Technique.]. Jiuyue looked at Su Lin oddly, ¡°My grandfather asked if I was with you. I said yes, and he agreed. But...¡± ¡°But what?¡± Su Lin was curious. ¡°He said you should come over to our house tomorrow.¡± ¡°To your house, that manor?¡± Jiuyue nodded, ¡°Yes, there.¡± ¡°Strange, what does your grandfather want with me going to your house?¡± ¡°Su Lin, are you really clueless or pretending? Now that Xiaoyue¡¯s grandfather has allowed her to stay over, it means he¡¯s acknowledged your relationship with Xiaoyue. Inviting you over is obviously to formally meet you and give you a warning,¡± Xiaowan explained. Su Lin had an epiphany, ¡°So that¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Hmph, sometimes you¡¯re too clever, and other times you¡¯re as dense as a block of wood. I wonder if your intelligence is just an act,¡± Xiaowan teased. Su Lin laughed, ¡°I just didn¡¯t think about it that way. Xiaoyue¡¯s grandfather is no ordinary person, so I was naturally a bit worried.¡± ¡°Hehe... thinking too much made you dumb.¡± Ignoring Xiaowan, Su Lin pondered for a moment, then said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll accompany you to your house tomorrow. What if he tries to break us up?¡± Jiuyue scoffed at Su Lin, ¡°I¡¯m already yours, what can be done? Of course, I¡¯ll follow you, but that is if you have the ability that you can take me away with you.¡± Su Lin confidently replied, ¡°That¡¯s definitely not a problem. If I decide to take you away, nobody can keep you.¡± ¡°Xixi...¡± Jiuyue gave Su Lin a thumbs up. Seeing Su Lin¡¯s heroic posture, Xiaowan joked, ¡°Enough with the heroics, go wash the dishes.¡± Su Lin looked at the dishes on the table and immediately worried, ¡°Wife...¡± ¡°Calling me wife won¡¯t help, this is your punishment, and you¡¯ve agreed to it,¡± Xiaowan stated plainly. Jiuyue, somewhat confused, looked at Xiaowan, ¡°Xiaowan, what punishment? Why are you punishing Su Lin? What did he do wrong?¡± ¡°That...¡± Xiaowan and Xiaoyu looked at each other, unsure of what to say. Su Lin stood up, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to chat. I¡¯ll go wash the dishes.¡± Thinking to himself, a grandmaster in charge of billions, the heir of the Su Corporation, was resigned to washing dishes, Su Lin felt a chill. Especially since Xiaowan and Xiaoyu, out of shyness, wouldn¡¯t let him hire any cleaning staff. ¡°Ah... being a man is hard.¡± Hearing Su Lin¡¯s sigh, Xiaowan and Xiaoyu covered their mouths to stifle their laughter. After he entered the kitchen, the two explained to Jiuyue why Su Lin was being punished. Jiuyue laughed along, declaring the punishment well-deserved! Chapter 182 Chapter 182: Repaying Kindness with Enmity, Su Lin to the Rescue! At the entrance of Donghai University, two Volvos stopped. Xiao Chen and Song Juncheng got out of the cars, accompanied by two middle-aged men in their forties. Dressed in Tang suits, they appeared energetic and their gaze sharp, clearly not to be trifled with. Through recent interactions, Xiao Chen learned that these two were guest masters at the Song family, both masters of the national martial arts and grandmasters at that. Moreover, they were younger than Zhong Xincheng, at the peak of their vitality. Xiao Chen was willing to follow Song Juncheng because these two grandmasters gave him a sense of security. Having practiced the Taiyi Divine Needles, he knew that Su Lin¡¯s needle techniques, despite their dominance, couldn¡¯t be used frequently. Such powerful techniques greatly drained the user¡¯s energy; a late-stage master like him would be depleted after just one use, and he speculated that even a grandmaster like Su Lin couldn¡¯t exceed three needles without becoming exhausted. Thus, Xiao Chen believed he had found Su Lin¡¯s weakness. His visit to Donghai University with Song Juncheng was to look for Song Zhigang. Knowing that Song Zhigang taught at Donghai University but unsure of his exact location, they could only try their luck. Despite being the summer break, the university wasn¡¯t closed, with many students and teachers still residing on campus. The arrival of Xiao Chen and his party didn¡¯t cause much of a stir. Looking at the university, Song Juncheng mused, ¡°Uncle really knows how to enjoy life, choosing such a place to teach. I should find a teaching position at a school when I¡¯m free.¡± The two men behind him shared a knowing smile, catching Song Juncheng¡¯s sarcastic tone. Xiao Chen, missing Song Juncheng¡¯s sarcasm, agreed, ¡°Donghai University is indeed a great place, ¡®hidden in plain sight.¡¯ Uncle made a good choice staying here.¡± Song Juncheng cast a somber glance at the school¡¯s gate and silently proceeded forward. He didn¡¯t tell Xiao Chen that their visit wasn¡¯t to find a relative but to eliminate Song Zhigang. This mission was personally given by his father, Song Zhiming, who had sent two powerful grandmasters to ensure success. Xiao Chen thought they were on a familial visit and eagerly latched on to Song Juncheng, unaware of the underlying motives despite noticing some inconsistencies during their interactions. ¡°Cheng, shall we ask where the teacher¡¯s staff building is and then search room by room?¡± suggested Song Juncheng, resigned to their only option. After some inquiries, they headed straight for the teacher¡¯s staff building. Song Juncheng signaled the two men behind him, who prepared for action, ready to strike Song Zhigang with a deadly blow upon sighting. Arriving at the building, Song Juncheng looked back at the two men, who shook their heads, indicating they hadn¡¯t sensed Song Zhigang. Turning to Xiao Chen, Song Juncheng said, ¡°Xiao Chen, release your aura, let my uncle sense you.¡± Xiao Chen then unleashed his aura. Inside, Song Zhigang, who was organizing teaching materials, immediately sensed Xiao Chen¡¯s presence. Having severed ties with Xiao Chen, he was puzzled by his visit. As Song Zhigang opened the door, he was ambushed by two powerful auras. With fists and palm strikes, the attackers, well-coordinated, aimed at him from both sides. Caught off guard, Song Zhigang managed a hasty defense but took a solid hit to his back. Spitting blood, Song Zhigang ignored his injury, dashed to the balcony, and fled. Xiao Chen was stunned by the swift and dramatic turn of events, which left Song Zhigang severely injured within seconds. Facing Song Juncheng, Xiao Chen asked, ¡°Cheng, what¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Song Juncheng¡¯s demeanor darkened as he scoffed, ¡°After hiding for twenty years, we finally found him. Xiao Chen, thanks for your help. Without you, who knows when we would¡¯ve found my uncle.¡± ¡°But... why attack Uncle Song?¡± Song Juncheng patted Xiao Chen¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Xiao Chen, there are things you don¡¯t understand, but it¡¯s okay. Just know I won¡¯t harm you.¡± Liu Changyuan patted Liu Xiaoe¡¯s head; ¡°Xiaoe, don¡¯t speak recklessly.¡± The battle resumed fiercely, with Song Zhigang nearing his end, his movements becoming erratic and occasionally being hit consecutively, his blood spraying like it cost him nothing. Su Lin swiftly intervened, standing among them. With a casual double palm strike, the Song family¡¯s guests were taken aback by the strength of such a young late-stage grandmaster. Retreating several meters, they stared at Su Lin, fixated. Su Lin ignored their gazes, turning to Song Zhigang and coolly proposed, ¡°I¡¯m in need of a fighter. Are you interested? If so, I can save your life today.¡± Coughing up blood, Song Zhigang bitterly laughed, ¡°Look at me, do you think I can still be your fighter?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Even if you were dead, I could make use of you. You just need to agree or disagree.¡± ¡°I...¡± ¡°Su Lin, are you disregarding my Song family by protecting him?¡± Song Juncheng angrily demanded. ¡°Be quiet.¡± With a palm strike, Su Lin silenced the interruption. ¡°Be careful, young master!¡± Song Juncheng braced for defense, confident he could block the strike, but upon contact, he realized his mistake. Blown away, he crashed into a wall, unconscious. Su Lin turned to Song Zhigang, ¡°Now that we¡¯re not interrupted, what¡¯s your decision?¡± Bitterly smiling, Song Zhigang said, ¡°You picking me isn¡¯t a great choice. The Song family won¡¯t let me off.¡± Su Lin calmly responded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. My patience is limited.¡± ¡°Master Su, I¡¯ll be your fighter, but you must promise me one thing: let me take Song Zhiming¡¯s life.¡± Su Lin agreed, ¡°No problem.¡± ¡°From today on, my life is yours,¡± Song Zhigang declared. Su Lin nodded, satisfied. He chose Song Zhigang as his follower for a simple reason: Song Zhigang was a man of gratitude, like Chen Yang, who would wholeheartedly assist once committed. In the original story, Xiao Chen thrived in Jingzhou thanks to Song Zhigang¡¯s support. Moreover, Song Zhigang¡¯s talent was exceptional. Without any resources, he cultivated to become a grandmaster in his forties, mastering both internal and external skills. Such talent was more terrifying than many grandmasters. Chapter 183 Chapter 183: Su Lin¡¯s Real Purpose, Su Zhenguo¡¯s Warning! Liu Changyuan, utterly shocked, exclaimed, ¡°How did Su Lin cultivate? In just a few days, he jumped from the early stage of a grandmaster to the late stage. At this rate, won¡¯t he become the youngest land immortal in the country?¡± ¡°Are you sure, Dad? Su Lin has reached the late stage of a grandmaster?¡± Liu Xiaoe asked incredulously. Liu Changyuan nodded: ¡°Yes, your father is a grandmaster after all. I wouldn¡¯t sense it wrong. If Su Lin wasn¡¯t only eighteen years old, I¡¯d suspect him of being some old monster.¡± Looking at Su Lin with some concern, Liu Changyuan realized he had made an enemy out of someone with a limitless future, all for an old friend. The thought of offending a grandmaster with such potential made Liu Changyuan feel uneasy. Seeing Song Juncheng being flung away, the two grandmasters from the Song family rushed to check on his condition. One of them checked Song Juncheng¡¯s breathing and rasped, ¡°His breath is weak. He could die at any moment without immediate treatment.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get the young master treated first.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± As they prepared to leave with Song Juncheng, Su Lin intervened: ¡°Did I say you could leave?¡± Then, casually tossing a Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill to Song Zhigang, he added, ¡°This can save your life.¡± Song Zhigang sniffed the pill and was instantly shocked by its potency. Without hesitation, he swallowed it. Only then did Su Lin turn to the Song family grandmasters: ¡°You think you can come and go as you please?¡± The grandmasters were taken aback, realizing Su Lin wasn¡¯t going to let them off easily. Facing him, their chances of winning were slim. After exchanging glances, they attempted to flee in different directions. But Su Lin wasn¡¯t about to let them escape so easily. With a flick of his fingers, two silver needles appeared in his hand, which he launched as Sunflame Needles. The grandmasters stumbled mid-air and coughed up blood before fleeing again, this time faster and more decisively. The grandmaster carrying Song Juncheng even dropped him and ran. ¡°Are we just letting them go?¡± Liu Xiaoe muttered softly. Liu Changyuan sighed, ¡°Master Su didn¡¯t let them go; he¡¯s sending them to deliver a message. They¡¯re barely alive now. Once they reach the Song family and exhale their last breath, they¡¯ll die.¡± ¡°Ah! Isn¡¯t he afraid of the Song family seeking revenge in Donghai?¡± Liu Xiaoe exclaimed. Liu Changyuan glanced at Song Zhigang, who was healing: ¡°He¡¯s probably counting on it. The descendant of the miracle doctor has provoked someone formidable. With Su Lin¡¯s growth rate, even the miracle doctor himself might meet his end. Xiaoe, we better not get involved in such conflicts in Donghai in the future.¡± ¡°Ah! But Dad, you¡¯re the director of the Donghai office. If you don¡¯t manage, won¡¯t Donghai become chaotic?¡± Su Lin then took off into the sky towards the headquarters of the Su Corporation where Su Zhenguo was. Watching Su Lin¡¯s graceful departure, Song Zhigang was dumbfounded, murmuring, ¡°Can a national martial arts grandmaster fly like that? Is this what a grandmaster is?¡± His worldview crumbled, realizing Su Lin hadn¡¯t leveraged any force to take off. It dawned on him, ¡°This is ancient martial arts!¡± A chill ran down his spine as he thought back to the day he saved Xiao Chen. If Su Lin had pursued him in that manner, could he have escaped? After some thought, he shook his head. If Su Lin had chased him like that, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have escaped and would have risked his life. Upon reaching the Su Corporation¡¯s headquarters, Su Zhenguo personally came down to greet him and told the security to remember Su Lin¡¯s face, as he was the young master of the Su family. In the elevator, Su Lin joked, ¡°Dad, you¡¯re moving fast, transitioning from a real estate company to a diversified conglomerate.¡± Su Zhenguo smiled, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the information you provided. It was so detailed that any PhD could turn it into a product based on your data. Son, where did you get this?¡± Su Lin smiled mysteriously, ¡°That¡¯s a secret, but feel free to use it. With the higher-ups looking out for you and even Old Master Qin wanting to be related, you must be happy, right?¡± Su Zhenguo nodded, ¡°Indeed. You know too little. Now it¡¯s not just the Qin family; I¡¯ve had calls from at least two hundred families nationwide seeking cooperation, including top and second-tier families, even the Liu family from the capital.¡± Su Lin gave a thumbs up, ¡°Impressive, the Su family is on the rise.¡± Su Zhenguo agreed, ¡°With this development, the Su family will soon become a new powerhouse, if only we had more people.¡± Su Lin confidently assured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I guarantee the Su family will flourish within twenty years.¡± Hearing this, Su Zhenguo joked, ¡°I¡¯ve heard you have quite a few girlfriends. Son, I don¡¯t mind you having more, but should you consider their status? The Lin and Qin daughters, and even that Zhao girl, what are you planning?¡± Su Lin touched his nose, smiling, ¡°Ordinary women don¡¯t catch my eye.¡± ¡°You¡¯re picky now? Let me tell you to take it easy. Old Master Qin even asked me what your intentions are towards his granddaughter.¡± Su Lin felt overwhelmed, ¡°Old Master Qin invited me to visit the Qin family today.¡± ¡°Hehe... now you see the trouble. I won¡¯t get involved in your romantic debts; you¡¯ll have to handle it yourself. As for your conflict with the miracle doctor¡¯s heir, go all out. I¡¯ve asked around, and the higher-ups said they won¡¯t intervene in the young people¡¯s fight.¡± Su Lin was surprised, ¡°You asked about that?¡± ¡°Of course. Otherwise, why do you think things have escalated in Donghai and no one from above has stepped in? If it weren¡¯t for the technology you provided as a backup, they would have intervened by now.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Alright, if technology talks, I¡¯ll give you more.¡± Handing over a prepared USB drive to Su Zhenguo, Su Lin said, ¡°This contains new energy vehicle technology and 4G smart phone technology.¡± Su Zhenguo was left speechless. Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Upon seeing Su Lin preparing to leave, Su Zhenguo spoke up, ¡°We father and son rarely get to see each other, why not stay for a meal before leaving?¡± Su Lin gestured dismissively, ¡°Maybe when you buy a large courtyard house like the Qin or Li families, we can talk. I¡¯m pretty busy now. This afternoon, I have to accompany Xiaoyue to see her grandfather. I¡¯m already stressed.¡± ¡°Ha, you sort out the trouble you¡¯ve stirred up yourself. If you really can¡¯t handle it, then come to me. Although the enemy is strong, your dad isn¡¯t just for show.¡± Su Lin looked at Su Zhenguo surprisingly, observing his confident demeanor. Seeing his confidence, Su Lin casually asked, ¡°Dad, do you practice ancient martial arts?¡± Su Zhenguo shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t, but others do.¡± Su Lin nodded in realization and then suggested, ¡°Since you have access to ancient martial arts, why not also take some time to learn? With the two items I gave you, I think someone might be willing to make an exchange.¡± Su Zhenguo declined, ¡°I¡¯m already old, it¡¯s not for me.¡± ¡°Dad, grandmasters can live up to two hundred years. You can¡¯t just die without having enjoyed your wealth.¡± ¡°You little rascal~!!¡± No sooner had Su Zhenguo finished scolding, Su Lin had already left the office. Holding the USB drive, Su Zhenguo contemplated Su Lin¡¯s words. He had heard about the longevity of grandmasters but never had it confirmed. Now, with Su Lin¡¯s mention, he felt somewhat tempted. If he truly could live for two hundred years, why not cultivate? It¡¯s much better than dying without having enjoyed his fortune. Unaware his words had influenced Su Zhenguo, Su Lin simply didn¡¯t want his only blood relative to die too soon. After leaving the Su Corporation, Su Lin went straight back to the villa. Seeing Su Lin¡¯s return, Xiaoyue, who was watching TV, looked up at him, ¡°Back already?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Back. What have you been up to?¡± ¡°Just watching TV. Where have you been all morning?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Just took care of some things.¡± ¡°Mm~!!¡± ¡°Where are Xiaowan and Xiaoyu? I haven¡¯t seen them,¡± Su Lin inquired, scanning the empty villa. ¡°Xiaowan said she and Xiaoyu were going to the company today. Didn¡¯t you know your company moved?¡± Xiaoyue queried. Su Lin shook his head, ¡°I haven¡¯t been involved in company affairs for a while. Xiaowan and Xiaoyu really shouldn¡¯t have gone. I¡¯ve already told them to let others manage company matters.¡± Xiaoyue looked a bit disheartened, ¡°Maybe they¡¯re just bored staying at home all the time. Su Lin, do you wish for Xiaowan and Xiaoyu to stay at home forever?¡± After pondering for a moment, Su Lin shook his head, ¡°Of course not. On the contrary, I hope each of you has your own career and things you want to do. Life would be more interesting that way. But I also hope you can spend more time on cultivation to become stronger, as my future enemies are very powerful.¡± Then, Su Lin took out a prepared jade amulet and handed it to Xiaoyue, ¡°You¡¯ve rested enough and can start cultivating officially. Take this jade amulet, crush it when you¡¯re alone, and then you¡¯ll be able to learn ancient martial arts.¡± Xiaoyue, holding the amulet excitedly and somewhat incredulously, asked, ¡°Crushing this jade amulet allows me to cultivate?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°My cultivation is Yang Flame, and this Ice Soul technique suits your physique best. I¡¯ve kept it specifically for you.¡± [Ding! Congratulations, the host¡¯s first main heroine, Xiaoyue, has reached full affection for the host. Xiao Chen¡¯s fate has been reduced by 10%, and the host has gained two epic lottery draws.]. ¡°It¡¯s because you deliberately annoy me. If you didn¡¯t, would I get so worked up?¡± Xiaoyue gave Su Lin a look. Su Lin tossed the hair dryer aside, ¡°Is it just about drying the hair? What¡¯s the need for a hair dryer, watch this.¡± Then, Su Lin held Xiaoyue¡¯s head with both hands, his internal energy surged, and a warm air came from his palms, moving back and forth over Xiaoyue¡¯s hair a couple of times, drying it completely. Xiaoyue¡¯s face was full of disbelief, ¡°Is this... is this Yang Flame? It¡¯s so powerful, the internal energy even carries warmth.¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°You can do it too. Don¡¯t forget you learned Ice Soul, this technique at my level can freeze a small pond with one palm.¡± ¡°That powerful?!¡± ¡°Of course. The technique Xiaoyu and Xiaowan learned don¡¯t have as high a level as your technique.¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you teach them?¡± Xiaoyue inquired. Su Lin sighed, ¡°That technique doesn¡¯t suit them, mainly because of an incompatible physique. Otherwise, you think I wouldn¡¯t want to teach them?¡± ¡°Oh...¡± ¡°Alright, your hair is dry now, we should head out.¡± Xiaoyue held Su Lin¡¯s arm, ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Su Lin drove Xiaoyue towards the Qin family¡¯s residence. During the drive, Xiaoyue kept talking to Su Lin about some aspects of the Qin family, especially about Qin Deshu¡¯s temperament and preferences, all of which she shared with Su Lin. Su Lin listened and smiled slightly. As for Qin Deshu¡¯s temperament, he knew more than Xiaoyue did. He was an elder bound by family responsibilities. If Qin Deshu hadn¡¯t taken over the family business so early and just did what he liked, maybe he could have gone farther. He spent his entire life calculating for the family, though, of course, his love for his children was real too. It was just that most of the time, it was a helpless choice. Half an hour later, they arrived at the Qin family mansion. Looking at the magnificent gate in front of him, Su Lin exclaimed, ¡°I didn¡¯t look closely last time. Today I realized that your Qin family¡¯s home is no smaller than the Li family¡¯s, and even more luxuriously decorated. This door is made of rosewood, right?¡± Xiaoyue replied indifferently, ¡°Well, we are the number one family in Donghai after all. We can¡¯t let the second place outshine us.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Makes sense.¡± Just then, Qin Gong came out from the inner yard. Seeing Su Lin and Xiaoyue, he smiled like an old eunuch, ¡°Xiaoyue, Su Lin, you guys finally came. The master asked me to check several times.¡± Su Lin apologized, ¡°That¡¯s my fault. I went to my dad¡¯s place for a bit and was delayed.¡± Qin Gong shook his head, ¡°No harm done. Today is a family banquet, being a few minutes late doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Alright, then we¡¯ll trouble you to show us the way.¡± Xiaoyue, holding Su Lin¡¯s arm, said, ¡°Qin steward has other things to do. I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Seeing Su Lin being led away by Xiaoyue, Qin Gong smiled wryly. Indeed, girls are outgoing. Xiaoyue and Su Lin have known each other for how long, and their relationship is already so close. But he didn¡¯t mind; he had seen such situations before and had long been accustomed to it. Xiaoyue led Su Lin into the inner hall of the inner courtyard. Su Lin saw an old man sitting quietly at a table, with no one else around him. It really was a family banquet, not a single extra person. Xiaoyue, running slightly while pulling Su Lin, shouted, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ve brought Su Lin.¡± Chapter 185 Chapter 185: Su Lin, when do you plan to marry Xiaoyue? Qin Deshu opened his eyes only after hearing Qin Jiuyue¡¯s voice. Qin Jiuyue, pulling Su Lin, stood in front of him. Qin Deshu sized up Su Lin: ¡°You¡¯re here, have a seat.¡± Su Lin and Qin Jiuyue sat down. Qin Deshu glanced at Su Lin, then seriously said, ¡°Su Lin, when do you plan to marry Xiaoyue?¡± ¡°Uh...¡± This question from Qin Deshu left Su Lin stunned on the spot. He had anticipated countless things Qin Deshu might say, but not this. Unprepared, Su Lin was left speechless, unable to utter a word. Qin Jiuyue glared at Qin Deshu, ¡°Grandpa, what are you talking about? Su Lin and I aren¡¯t at that stage yet. He¡¯s only eighteen, okay? Not even of legal age to marry.¡± Qin Deshu coughed, and somewhat helpless. The elbow bends outward, a classic case of favoring outsiders. Doesn¡¯t she know he¡¯s helping her? ¡°Xiaoyue, you...¡± ¡°Grandpa, can we handle things between me and Su Lin ourselves?¡± Qin Jiuyue pleaded. Qin Deshu turned to Su Lin, ¡°Brat, you¡¯re clear about your mess. I won¡¯t say more, but one thing, the marriage must be with my Xiaoyue. If you agree, I¡¯ll accept you as my grandson-in-law. If not, I¡¯ll find Xiaoyue a new match tomorrow. What do you choose?¡± Su Lin gave a wry smile, ¡°Grandpa, do I have a choice?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s your grandpa?¡± ¡°You said to marry Xiaoyue, right? Then, I¡¯ll just call you Old Master.¡± Qin Deshu hurriedly stopped him, ¡°No... Nevermind just call me Grandpa. Having a grandmaster as a grandson, I¡¯m quite pleased.¡± Su Lin turned to Qin Jiuyue, ¡°Has he always been like this?¡± Qin Jiuyue shook her head, ¡°He¡¯s like this in private, never like this usually.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I thought, what a good family head!¡± ¡°What are you whispering about? Xiaoyue, didn¡¯t I teach you manners?¡± Qin Deshu glared at Qin Jiuyue. Qin Jiuyue stuck out her tongue, then turned to Su Lin, ¡°It was Su Lin who wanted to talk to me.¡± Su Lin felt somewhat helpless, thinking Qin Deshu would lecture him, but Qin Deshu just dropped it. ¡°So it is~!!¡± Qin Deshu had always been puzzled why Su Lin was flipping between the Li and Qin families. He thought Su Lin wanted to be the central air-conditioner. Now, it seems this guy has bigger schemes. (TL: A metaphor that originated in China to describe a guy or girl who is too kind to everyone to the point people start falling in love with them.) Qin Deshu glanced at Su Lin, ¡°Since ancient times, heroes have emerged from the youth. No wonder the Ghost Doctor¡¯s successor runs upon seeing you. With your wisdom, it¡¯s understandable he lost to you. But Su Lin, you should have heard the saying about not killing the snake only to be bitten by it.¡± ¡°Although Xiao Chen isn¡¯t much, his backer, Wang Yannian, is a mountain. If he takes action, even the Qin and Li families combined might not be able to help you.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°I have a mountain above me too, Grandpa, have you forgotten about my dad?¡± Qin Deshu frowned, ¡°Your dad¡¯s tech company is impressive, but Wang Yannian¡¯s network is extremely complicated. There are many in the capital who owe him favors. If it really comes down to it, your dad might not be able to protect you.¡± Su Lin confidently said, ¡°There¡¯s no absolute in these matters, maybe the benefits will be big enough then.¡± Qin Deshu heard the implication in Su Lin¡¯s words; Su Zhen Guo might have more than just one technology. If he has other technologies, not inferior to 4G communication tech, then faced with ancient favors versus immediate benefits, these major families would choose the latter. Such is reality. If Wang Yannian really tries to use his favors, he might end up backfired. Qin Deshu sighed, ¡°I have to admit, I¡¯ve underestimated you before, Su Lin. Among the young generation in Donghai, you stand out. Handing Xiaoyue over to you, I feel relieved.¡± Su Lin bashfully smiled, ¡°I¡¯m not as great as Grandpa describes.¡± ¡°Heh, just a moment ago, you weren¡¯t modest at all, and now you are.¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve talked enough. Are you hungry? Let¡¯s have lunch. I¡¯ve asked them to serve hot dishes.¡± Su Lin nodded. He knew he had passed Qin Deshu¡¯s test, but it didn¡¯t mean he could walk sideways in the Qin family. There was still Qin Erye to worry about, a real old fox. Su Lin felt if he was to ally with Qin Deshu against the Song family in Jingzhou, this old fox should be dealt with or resolved first; otherwise, he might cause them trouble. Soon, several servants brought in steaming hot dishes. Su Lin no longer had time to think about Qin Erye¡¯s matters, knowing they would meet eventually, so he wasn¡¯t in a hurry. ¡°Eat, this is a chef I specially invited from Ludong~!¡± Su Lin laughed heartily, ¡°Then I must taste it carefully. Ludong cuisine is considered the best among the eight major cuisines.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to know about these.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Just a little, just a little.¡± Chapter 186 Chapter 186: The Second Branch with Ill Intentions After the meal, Qin Deshu left. He was a busy man, and the fact that he took the time to have a meal with Su Lin and Qin Jiuyue was already quite special. Qin Jiuyue took Su Lin for a stroll around the Qin residence. Su Lin realized that the Qin family¡¯s home was not ordinary; it had not only a front and back yard but also separate courtyards. The courtyard on the left belonged to Qin Delin, and the one on the right was Qin Desen¡¯s. ¡°The division of the house is quite reasonable. If there was one more child, would you have to build another separate courtyard?¡± Qin Jiuyue gave Su Lin a look, ¡°Even my great-grandfather is not spared from your teasing, Su Lin, is that polite?¡± ¡°Eh... Hehe~! I was just saying. I¡¯ve met your grandfather and your third granduncle, but I¡¯ve never seen this second granduncle.¡± Qin Jiuyue stopped and sighed towards a separate courtyard gate, ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the second granduncle; I rarely see him, and he seldom leaves his courtyard.¡± Su Lin looked at the gate and smiled, ¡°Then let¡¯s not go there, let¡¯s check out other places.¡± ¡°Okay~!¡± They had only walked a few steps when they saw a young man in his late twenties approaching from one side. He looked at Qin Jiuyue with a smile, ¡°Xiaoyue, is this your boyfriend visiting the family? Won¡¯t you introduce him to your uncle?¡± Qin Jiuyue felt that this man, Qin Mu, had ill intentions with his smiling eyes, but since it was her first time bringing Su Lin to the Qin family, she naturally wanted Su Lin to meet more relatives. So, she pulled Su Lin along, ¡°Su Lin, this is my uncle.¡± Su Lin nodded but did not greet him. Qin Mu¡¯s expression remained unchanged, ¡°Su Lin? I¡¯ve heard that the rising star of Donghai, Su Zhenguo¡¯s son, is named Su Lin, is that you?¡± Su Lin nodded again without engaging in conversation with Qin Mu. Qin Mu and Qin Desen were two tragic figures, spending their lives plotting to overthrow Qin Deshu to ascend themselves, yet they failed until their deaths. Su Lin knew what this guy was up to ¨C probing and then going back to report to Qin Desen, scheming on how to seize power. To Su Lin, there was nothing much to talk about with such a person who spent his life struggling for one thing without succeeding. Good at neither being a decent person nor a thorough villain. In a way, both he and Qin Desen were tragic figures. ¡°Your boyfriend doesn¡¯t seem to talk much, does he, Xiaoyue?¡± Before Qin Jiuyue could speak to ease the awkwardness, Su Lin said, ¡°Uncle, you misunderstand, I was just a bit nervous upon seeing the uncle and didn¡¯t know what to say.¡± ¡°Oh? Then, young man Su, you need to interact more with people. Our Qin family is a large clan, with most of our people out and about. If you are still like this during the New Year, it might cause misunderstandings~~.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Thank you for the advice, uncle.¡± Seeing Su Lin¡¯s polite demeanor, Qin Mu was quite pleased with his own sermon, ¡°Alright, then I won¡¯t disturb you two lovebirds anymore.¡± Watching Qin Mu leave, Qin Jiuyue turned to Su Lin, ¡°What happened just now?¡± ¡°Hehe, I stumbled upon it a few times,¡± Qin Jiuyue said, squinting her eyes. Su Lin knew from her smile that it wasn¡¯t a stumble but pure curiosity, so she made it seem like a stumble. She is the Qin family¡¯s little princess, and those people certainly wouldn¡¯t do anything to her. They would probably even play along with her act. Su Lin affectionately ruffled Qin Jiuyue¡¯s hair, ¡°Xiaowan, Xiaoyu, none of them are as cheeky as you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not being cheeky. How am I being cheeky?¡± Su Lin shrugged, ¡°You know what I mean.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, don¡¯t know, don¡¯t kno... mmm mmm...¡± Being silenced by Su Lin, Qin Jiuyue looked towards the door, worried someone might come and disturb them, so she kept pushing Su Lin. Su Lin let go of Qin Jiuyue and laughed, ¡° Xiaoyue you afraid?¡± ¡°When I cultivate later, my physique will improve. Then see who will be afraid of whom then hmph....¡± ¡°Cough cough cough...¡± Su Lin stayed in the Qin family until the evening before leaving. Qin Jiuyue wanted Su Lin to stay for dinner, but he didn¡¯t agree. He remembered the punishment Lin Xiaowan had for him. If he went back after dinner, all three wives would be hungry. So he had no choice but to refuse. ¡°Su Lin, we¡¯re back.¡± ¡°Su Lin...¡± Hearing the voices of the three women, Su Lin came out from the kitchen, ¡°Yo, you¡¯re all here?¡± Zhao Yanyan smiled with narrowed eyes, ¡°Were you not expecting me to come too?¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°No, on the contrary, I anticipated it, so I even prepared your portion.¡± ¡°Eh~! How did you know Yanyan would come?¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy, Yanyan, you and you are both little foodies. Now that you know I cook well, you¡¯ll definitely come over to mooch every day.¡± Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan in her business attire, somewhat dazzled, ¡°Xiaowan, when did you buy this OL outfit? I¡¯ve never seen you wear it before.¡± ¡°Hehe, I bought it in Zhongjiang. How does it look? Good?¡± Su Lin nodded earnestly, ¡°It looks good. Don¡¯t change out of this outfit.¡± Lin Xiaowan was initially taken aback, then rolled her eyes at Su Lin, ¡°Enough with you. We just got off work.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I said for the evening.¡± ¡°Everyone, come to the kitchen to get your meals ready for dinner.¡± ¡°Okay~! Time to eat.¡± Watching Lin Xiaowan instantly forget about changing clothes, Su Lin was very pleased. Chapter 187 Chapter 187: Planning, Worried Li Ziyu In Jingzhou, at the Song family estate! Song Zhiming was both shocked and furious as he looked at the two guests in front of him. He had not expected that someone in Donghai would dare to attack a member of the Song family, and not only that, but they had also not held back, killing his son and seriously injuring the two guests. ¡°How are the Wu brothers doing, Doctor Liu?¡± The doctor shook his head, ¡°The outlook isn¡¯t good. The needle in their chests is very strange, containing a large amount of scorching internal energy that¡¯s held back from releasing.¡± ¡°If the needles are even slightly moved, they will undoubtedly die. If not, they are still doomed, just that they might live a bit longer. Clearly, the assailant left them alive to send a message back.¡± Hearing this, Song Zhiming smashed a mahogany table with a palm, outraged, ¡°How dare they~!¡± ¡°Doctor Liu, are you saying there¡¯s no cure?¡± Doctor Liu nodded, ¡°Even a thousand-year-old ginseng combined with ancient methods would be powerless now.¡± ¡°Can you wake them up then? I need to know what exactly happened in Donghai.¡± Doctor Liu nodded, ¡°That¡¯s easy, but you¡¯ll need to ask quickly after they wake up. They could die at any moment.¡± Song Zhiming nodded in acknowledgment. Sending his own son to Donghai to handle his own brother was a very secretive matter. He couldn¡¯t understand why, after his son died, the two guests were also dying, and the assailant boldly allowed these two guests to return with the message. What exactly happened in Donghai was something Song Zhiming urgently wanted to know. Following Doctor Liu¡¯s treatment, one of the guests opened his eyes. ¡°Master~!!¡± Song Zhiming adopted a more gentle demeanor and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t move, Wu Sheng, quickly tell me what happened in Donghai. Why did you two end up like this, and why did Jun Cheng die there?¡± ¡°Master, the successor to the Ghost Doctor took us to find Song Zhigang. We successfully found and attacked him first, severely injuring him, cough cough... then... cough cough cough...¡± Listening to Wu Sheng¡¯s intermittent explanations, Song Zhiming finally understood what had happened in Donghai. The issue wasn¡¯t with Song Zhigang but with Su Lin, Xiao Chen¡¯s adversary. It turned out that Su Lin was a late-stage grandmaster and had also cultivated ancient martial arts. ¡°Master, if you seek revenge for the eldest young master, you must be cautious of that Su Lin. He¡¯s very unusual, an eighteen-year-old grandmaster is unheard of... cough cough cough... urgh~!¡± Watching Wu Sheng take his last breath, Song Zhiming waved his hand, ¡°Take him away and bury him.¡± Two bodyguards dressed in black dragged Wu Sheng¡¯s body away. Song Zhiming then ordered, ¡°Wake the other one too; I need to verify the information.¡± Hearing this, Doctor Liu¡¯s hand trembled. This was the true face of Song Zhiming. If he weren¡¯t still useful, he knew he¡¯d be the first to die. After the second guest woke up and his story matched the first, Song Zhiming fell silent. He sighed deeply, ¡°A miscalculation, indeed. I never thought we¡¯d be exploited by a young man.¡± ¡°What do you mean, master?¡± ¡°You...¡± Li Ziyu¡¯s words stuck in her throat. With what Su Lin had done, there was no turning back. Given Song Zhiming¡¯s personality, he would definitely act against Su Lin; it was just a matter of time. And Song Zhiming, a complete old fox, would surely investigate Su Lin¡¯s background thoroughly before making a move. Li Ziyu panicked, ¡°What do we do now? Su Lin, you are powerful, but one person against the entirety of Jingzhou, I really...¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°Who said I¡¯m fighting them alone? Don¡¯t we have you, and isn¡¯t there the Qin family? Old Master Qin has already spoken to me; he will lend his full support. Now, coming to you is to bring you into the fold.¡± Li Ziyu froze, then hit Su Lin hard a few times, ¡°You had everything prepared but didn¡¯t say, were you trying to make fun of me?¡± Su Lin raised his hands, letting Li Ziyu hit him while laughing, ¡°Not at all. I was just starting to tell you, and you went on and on. Ziyu, I didn¡¯t expect you to be so talkative.¡± Li Ziyu glared at Su Lin, ¡°I¡¯m only like this because I care about you.¡± After pondering rapidly, she finally sighed, ¡°Even if the Li and Qin families join forces, they might not be able to deal with the Song family. Song Zhiming has been renowned for twenty years, and he¡¯s different from grandfather; the struggles within the Song family are even more brutal.¡± ¡°I know all this, but since he is Xiao Chen¡¯s new backer, I must deal with him.¡± ¡°Do you have any specific plan?¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°Not yet, but I guess Song Zhiming is already seeking Xiao Chen to investigate me. To ensure a fatal blow, Xiao Chen will definitely tell them everything about us and might even mention the alliance between the Li and Qin families.¡± ¡°Ziyu, you worry too much. Old Master Qin has thought this through more than we have. With him involved, there must be some assurance. Don¡¯t forget, the Qin family has connections in the capital too. After so many years, he wouldn¡¯t have developed the Qin family so well without some capabilities.¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t just rely on others.¡± Su Lin looked at Li Ziyu with a light smile, ¡°So, you mean we are in this together, right?¡± Li Ziyu rolled her eyes at Su Lin, not wanting to deal with him. She thought Su Lin was a bit too self-assured. Despite his impressive power, capable of killing a grandmaster in seconds, the depth of a great family was beyond his imagination, especially since Jingzhou is one of the top cities in the country, second only to the capital, Modu, Yangcheng, and Shenzhen. ¡°Su Lin, wait for me to make arrangements when I get back. Don¡¯t be careless.¡± ¡°Alright~!¡± As soon as Su Lin replied, Li Ziyu¡¯s assistant hurriedly called her to inform her about the news conference held by Su Zhenguo. Li Ziyu gave Su Lin a puzzled look before turning on the TV. Su Lin, a bit puzzled himself, quietly waited on the side. Then he saw Su Zhenguo speaking eloquently on the TV. Hearing the content of Su Zhen Guo¡¯s speech, Li Ziyu was startled, ¡°Su Lin, your dad is entering the new energy vehicle and 4G mobile phone markets~!!¡± ¡°Uh... Didn¡¯t you know? By rights, my dad started the hype yesterday.¡± Li Ziyu looked at him strangely, ¡°I thought it was just a rumor, completely unbelievable. I didn¡¯t expect it to be confirmed so quickly with a news conference. Your dad is incredible.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just average, not as amazing as you say,¡± Su Lin said modestly. Li Ziyu: ¡°...¡± Chapter 188 Chapter 188: The Store was Sealed! As a chairman, Li Ziyu¡¯s response was very swift. She quickly saw the huge business opportunity in new energy vehicles and 4G smartphones. She turned to look at Su Lin, ¡°Are these things as mature as the 4G communication technology and ready to be directly utilized?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Ziyu, do you think I would know about such confidential matters?¡± Li Ziyu nodded, ¡°I think you do, and you would tell me.¡± ¡°Uh... okay, the technology is mature and ready for use.¡± Li Ziyu looked at Su Lin with complex eyes, ¡°So it¡¯s true. All those technologies were brought out by you, weren¡¯t they?¡± Su Lin didn¡¯t deny it but asked, ¡°Why would you think so?¡± ¡°Intuition~! My intuition tells me that your dad couldn¡¯t have come up with those technologies. In fact, many people have doubted the source of his technologies for a while, but despite thorough investigations into Su Corporation, nothing was found.¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°So you think it was me who brought them out.¡± Li Ziyu nodded, ¡°You¡¯re too mysterious. With your powerful martial skills, brilliant mind, and so many women falling for you, almost impossible things happen around you, so it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if these technologies came from you.¡± Li Ziyu then seemed to have no intention of continuing, which Su Lin found peculiar, ¡°Why stop?¡± Li Ziyu glanced at Su Lin, ¡°Some things are better left unsaid. Su Lin, we didn¡¯t get a share of the communication technology, but for new energy and smartphones, can we, the Li Corporation, collaborate?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course, why not?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know, most of Su Corporation¡¯s communication technologies are in collaboration with the Qin family.¡± ¡°Cough cough, relationships weren¡¯t that good at that time, you know,¡± Su Lin gave Li Ziyu a meaningful look. Seeing this, Li Ziyu couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Sometimes you¡¯re like a child, sometimes you¡¯re mature like an adult. I really can¡¯t tell which side of you is the real you.¡± Su Lin said, ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®side¡¯; all of that combined is me.¡± ¡°Ziyu, I¡¯ve accomplished what I came for, so I won¡¯t bother you anymore. Later, you can call my dad, he will agree to cooperate with your side.¡± ¡°Okay~!¡± Li Ziyu didn¡¯t mind that this opportunity was given by Su Lin, which made Su Lin quite happy. Sometimes, the more polite someone is with you, the more distant your relationship feels. Like now, his relationship with Li Ziyu felt almost unspoken, but unlike Zhao Yanyan and Qin Jiuyue, she wasn¡¯t as easy to leap over that hurdle. Leaving Li Corporation, Su Lin saw Luo Sihai¡¯s car waiting outside. The sun was already scorching, but Luo Sihai didn¡¯t mind. Seeing Su Lin, his eyes lit up, and he hurried over, ¡°Boss~!!¡± Su Lin approached her. Xia Shiyu, sensing Su Lin¡¯s presence, turned around with a bit of surprise, ¡°Su Lin, how did you find the company?¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s my company. Is it strange for me to be here?¡± Xia Shiyu shook her head, ¡°You didn¡¯t even know the company¡¯s address. How did you find it?¡± ¡°Hehe, I guessed it.¡± Hearing Su Lin¡¯s explanation, Xia Shiyu laughed. ¡°Why are you watering plants at the entrance? Where is everyone? Where are Xiaowan and Yanyan?¡± Su Lin looked around the office curiously. Xia Shiyu hesitated for a moment before explaining, ¡°We received news this morning from Jingzhou that several of our new stores there were sealed, and several nearby cities were also affected. Right now, Xiaowan and Yanyan are in a meeting discussing what to do.¡± Su Lin was somewhat surprised, ¡°They acted so quickly?¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®quick¡¯?¡± ¡°Nothing. Why are you watering plants here if there¡¯s a meeting going on?¡± Su Lin was puzzled. ¡°Uh... Xiaowan, Yanyan, and I have already discussed it. This situation must be someone¡¯s doing, so the meeting will likely not yield any results. But we can¡¯t just not have a meeting, so Xiaowan and Yanyan are hosting it, and I¡¯m here watering plants,¡± Xia Shiyu explained. Su Lin then understood why Xia Shiyu wasn¡¯t attending. Essentially, the meeting was just a formality. Perhaps a few people would be sent to Jingzhou to gather information, but that would be the end of it. After all, it¡¯s not easy to resolve the issue when the local snakeheads are involved. Even if it were the officials from there, they must have been compromised. Approaching them would likely result in being shut out. Su Lin smiled, ¡°Xiayu, your ability to remain calm is improving. To have the serenity to water plants at this time...¡± Xia Shiyu sweetly smiled, ¡°I learned it from you. To remain calm in the face of major events, that¡¯s what you taught me.¡± ¡°Hehe... In that regard, you¡¯ve indeed learned from the best,¡± Su Lin praised. Although Xia Shiyu might seem soft, her ability to strategize in business had significantly improved. Su Lin knew this was due to her innate business acumen being developed. ¡°Do you already have a solution?¡± Xia Shiyu nodded, ¡°I have a few immature ideas, but the prerequisite is still to find out who¡¯s behind this, so we can only wait for more information.¡± Su Lin waved his hand, ¡°No need to wait for more information. Tell Yanyan and Xiaowan to postpone the meeting. Just say I have a way to solve the sealing issue there, and ask them to come here first.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Xia Shiyu put down the watering can and headed towards the conference room. What Su Lin liked most about Xia Shiyu was her unwavering trust in him. Even when he took unconventional actions in business, she might be puzzled internally but would only ask Su Lin about it quietly at night. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Song Zhiming to act so quickly, having all my supermarkets in Jingzhou sealed.¡± Su Lin thought it was normal, considering he had killed Song Zhiming¡¯s eldest son. Not venting would have made Song Zhiming furious. Chapter 189 Chapter 189: Lin Xiaowan¡¯s Little Thoughts! Hearing that Su Lin had come to the company, Zhao Yanyan and Lin Xiaowan were both surprised because none of the three had told Su Lin the company¡¯s address, and they wondered how he had found his way there. Sure enough, they saw Su Lin at the entrance when they came from the meeting room. ¡°Su Lin, how did you find your way here? We haven¡¯t even told you the address yet.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Just because I can¡¯t find it doesn¡¯t mean others can¡¯t.¡± Lin Xiaowan realized, ¡°The company has just relocated, and we haven¡¯t really decorated it yet, so our offices aren¡¯t set up nicely, especially yours, which doesn¡¯t exist at all.¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°The number of times I come to the company can be counted on one hand. It doesn¡¯t matter whether I have an office or not. Your offices are my office.¡± The three women simultaneously thought of some not-so-healthy scenarios and coughed in unison. Su Lin looked puzzled, not understanding why they suddenly blushed. ¡°Xiaowan, what¡¯s wrong? Too happy to see me?¡± ¡°Happy my foot. We see you at home every day. Su Lin, did you tell Xiaoyu you have a solution to our stores being targeted?¡± Lin Xiaowan asked with some concern. They were all in a bad mood after hearing the troubling news early in the morning. Now that they saw Su Lin, they were somewhat anxious, so Lin Xiaowan went straight to the point. Su Lin nodded, ¡°It¡¯s not good to discuss this at the entrance. Let¡¯s go inside.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to my office. It¡¯s cleaner,¡± Xia Shiyu suggested. As the financial manager of Rainforest Company, her office was one of the first to be furnished. Arriving at Xia Shiyu¡¯s office, Su Lin found it quite plain except for a few potted plants, a desk, and a filing cabinet. ¡°Xiaoyu¡¯s office is too plain. We should buy some decorative items to spruce it up a bit. Anyone who didn¡¯t know better would think our company is about to go bankrupt.¡± Xia Shiyu smiled shyly, ¡°I don¡¯t like those superficial things. Besides, this is a finance office; it doesn¡¯t need to look too fancy.¡± Su Lin firmly said, ¡°That¡¯s unacceptable. Xiaowan, help Xiaoyu decorate it later.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ve already told Xiaoyu several times, but she just doesn¡¯t listen and insists on keeping it this way. Hehe, now she¡¯ll definitely listen.¡± Lin Xiaowan said with a teasing tone. Xia Shiyu¡¯s face turned red, and she couldn¡¯t bring herself to look at her. Su Lin shook his head and got to the point, ¡°The one moving against our Quan Le Gou in Jingzhou is the Song family, so there¡¯s no need to send someone to gather information. It wouldn¡¯t yield anything.¡± ¡°The Song family? Why would they?¡± ¡°The Song family doesn¡¯t have retail businesses, right? Why would they seal our stores?¡± ¡°The Song family? Not the number one family in Jingzhou, right?¡± ¡°What kind of prize do you want then...¡± Lin Xiaowan asked with a glance. Su Lin leaned closer to Lin Xiaowan¡¯s ear and whispered what he wanted. Understanding Su Lin¡¯s implication, Lin Xiaowan immediately stepped on his foot, ¡°No way, that¡¯s impossible. With the Song family potentially retaliating at any moment, how can you still think about such unhealthy things?¡± ¡°Cough cough... Given the uncertain future, shouldn¡¯t we enjoy the moment?¡± Bang! Su Lin¡¯s other foot was also stepped on. Although Lin Xiaowan didn¡¯t use her internal strength, the force of her high-heeled shoe was still formidable. ¡°Ouch! Xiaowan, are you trying to kill your husband?¡± ¡°Sometimes, I¡¯m genuinely upset, Su Lin. I¡¯m really struggling right now.¡± Su Lin wrapped his arm around Lin Xiaowan¡¯s shoulder, ¡°If you really want your family to help, then make the call. But let¡¯s make it clear, there can¡¯t be any cost involved, not even a few words of reprimand from my father-in-law.¡± Lin Xiaowan narrowed her eyes, ¡°So, you finally agreed to let someone help you. If I hadn¡¯t gotten angry, who knows how long your male chauvinism would have lasted.¡± Su Lin protested, ¡°What male chauvinism? I¡¯ve never thought that way. It¡¯s just that some minor issues don¡¯t necessitate parental intervention. And Xiaowan, what I¡¯m most worried about is your family making you pay a price, like an arranged marriage or moving back to the capital.¡± Lin Xiaowan finally understood Su Lin¡¯s true concerns, chuckling, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. In our family, my great-grandmother has the final say, and she dotes on me the most. Plus, grandfather loves me dearly. Not to mention mobilizing help, even calling everyone in the family over wouldn¡¯t be an issue.¡± ¡°Cough cough... Let¡¯s not, they might not help when they arrive, and they might even beat me up.¡± ¡°Hehe, scared now? You weren¡¯t afraid when you approached me initially.¡± ¡°Scared? Hardly. Those are the people you¡¯re closest to; I¡¯m just worried it would put you in a difficult position,¡± Su Lin said affectionately. Lin Xiaowan pondered the possible reactions of her family to Su Lin¡¯s presence. Her great-grandmother might be okay, but her grandfather would definitely give Su Lin a hard time for being too fickle in love. While it¡¯s common for people from large families to have multiple wives or girlfriends, they wouldn¡¯t be happy if it happened within their own family, especially someone from a seemingly nouveau riche background like Su Lin. ¡°Rest assured, I won¡¯t alarm grandfather or great-grandmother,¡± Lin Xiaowan reassured while holding Su Lin¡¯s arm. Su Lin raised an eyebrow, ¡°Then who will you call for help?¡± ¡°Secret~!!¡± ¡°Alright, your expression alone has me looking forward to it.¡± Su Lin knew Lin Xiaowan came from a powerful background, so whoever she called for help wouldn¡¯t be ordinary. Su Lin wasn¡¯t necessarily worried about not being able to handle the Song family¡¯s people; he just wanted an insurance policy against Xiao Chen. This time, Su Lin was determined to resolve the situation with the Song family and Xiao Chen once and for all. Chapter 190 Chapter 190: The Female Protagonist Jiang Ruoxi of the Villain Story Under the deliberate exposure by Xiao Chen, the Song family quickly found him and brought him to Jingzhou City. This was Xiao Chen¡¯s first encounter with Song Zhiming. With a smile on his lips and greying temples, Song Zhiming presented himself as a scholarly figure. Judging solely by his appearance, it was hard to associate him with a formidable figure. Yet, in just two decades, he had elevated the Song family to be the foremost family in Jingzhou, ensuring that only the Song family¡¯s voice was heard throughout the city. This was a stark reminder not to judge a book by its cover. Now, despite having lost his own son, Song Zhiming could still muster a smile, which made Xiao Chen believe that this man was even more dangerous than Su Lin. ¡°Xiao Chen, I¡¯m glad you could come. I¡¯ve been waiting for your arrival in Jingzhou and have made arrangements. Have you eaten yet? Let¡¯s talk over dinner.¡± Xiao Chen nodded a bit stiffly and followed Song Zhiming to the dining room. The Song family¡¯s residence was a testament to modern luxury, adorned with valuable paintings and handmade carpets. However, Xiao Chen wasn¡¯t in the mood to admire these luxuries; he was preoccupied with what Song Zhiming might ask him and how he should respond. Surprisingly, Song Zhiming only engaged in small talk, inquiring about Xiao Chen¡¯s master, Wang Yannian, among other things. After dinner, Song Zhiming led Xiao Chen to the family¡¯s inner shrine, where Song Juncheng¡¯s body was laid out. Approaching the body, Song Zhiming lifted a corner of the shroud, ¡°Xiao Chen, you must know why I¡¯ve called you here today, right?¡± Xiao Chen nodded, expressing his apologies, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Uncle Song. I asked Cheng to come with me, but he didn¡¯t listen.¡± Song Zhiming waved off the apology, ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize. Cheng was spoiled by our family since childhood. I had sent him to Donghai hoping to toughen him up, not anticipating it would cost him his life.¡± After revealing a flash of sharpness in his eyes, Song Zhiming¡¯s resolve hardened. Su Lin must die, but so must Xiao Chen for abandoning Song Juncheng. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t act immediately. With Wang Yannian yet to make a move, Song Zhiming wouldn¡¯t risk offending him. No one could withstand the wrath of a ¡®human immortal,¡¯ not even a house full of grandmasters. ¡°Uncle Song, my condolences.¡± ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m mourning? Cheng¡¯s death means I must seek vengeance to allow him to rest in peace. Xiao Chen, I¡¯ve decided. Before Cheng¡¯s seventh day death anniversary, I want Su Lin¡¯s head delivered here. You¡¯ll help your uncle, won¡¯t you?¡± Xiao Chen felt uneasy, almost as if Song Zhiming was speaking about him when mentioning Cheng, perhaps due to a misunderstanding, but it was deeply unsettling. ¡°Uncle Song, Su Lin is a grandmaster in ancient martial arts, not just any grandmaster, but one who practices ancient arts.¡± ¡°Ancient martial arts grandmaster, that explains why the Wu brothers couldn¡¯t escape.¡± ¡°Continue.¡± ¡°Not only is Su Lin a grandmaster in ancient martial arts, but he¡¯s also a grandmaster in regular martial arts. He possesses a unique needle technique...¡± Su Lin left and drove towards the Li Corporation. At the Li Corporation¡¯s CEO¡¯s office, Li Ziyu was hosting a visitor from Modu. ¡°Jiang Ruoxi, you¡¯re not managing your business in Modu, what brings you to Donghai?¡± The woman in front of her was Li Ziyu¡¯s college roommate and best friend. Jiang Ruoxi looked troubled, ¡°Ziyu, you have no idea what my life in the capital is like. I came to Donghai on my own initiative, and I have some good news for you ¨C I¡¯ll be staying in Donghai for the long term.¡± ¡°Why will you be in Donghai for the long term?¡± Li Ziyu asked, puzzled. Jiang Ruoxi smiled, ¡°What else could it be? I don¡¯t believe you haven¡¯t heard about the new energy vehicles and smart phones.¡± Li Ziyu was surprised, then asked, ¡°Is your Jiang family from Modu also planning to get involved and take a slice of the pie?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a normal business cooperation. Our Jiang family has always been a leader in the electronics and manufacturing industries. Isn¡¯t it logical for us to cooperate with Su Zhenguo?¡± Jiang Ruoxi responded. Li Ziyu nodded, ¡°True, but you didn¡¯t need to come for that. Your family¡¯s business is so extensive, wouldn¡¯t it have been enough to send a few managers?¡± ¡°Hehe, nothing escapes your eyes. Of course, there¡¯s a second reason I came to Donghai ¨C to avoid someone.¡± ¡°Is it that Xiao Feiyu? If it were me facing such a good man, I would have married him a long time ago.¡± Jiang Ruoxi sighed, ¡°I know Xiao Feiyu¡¯s feelings for me, but I just don¡¯t like him. There¡¯s no spark. I told him in college I wasn¡¯t interested, but he keeps pursuing me. Just a few days ago, my great-grandfather agreed to an arranged marriage with the Xiao family, and it¡¯s driving me crazy.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Xiao Feiyu? He¡¯s the top bachelor in Modu, deeply in love with you, never messing around, tall, handsome... What kind of man do you like?¡± Jiang Ruoxi thought for a moment, ¡°I like mysterious, powerful, and domineering men.¡± Li Ziyu thought of Su Lin, who indeed met all of Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s criteria, but unfortunately, he was a ¡°sea king¡± (playboy). ¡°Enough about Xiao Feiyu, Ziyu, it¡¯s my first time in Donghai, you have to treat me to a feast.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a given. I¡¯ll take you out for dinner tonight to welcome you!¡± ¡°Great!¡± Meanwhile, as Su Lin was driving, he suddenly heard the system¡¯s voice. [Ding! Detected the heroine of a villain¡¯s story. Would you like to receive information? Upon receiving, you will inevitably oppose the protagonist.]. ¡°Villain protagonist? Isn¡¯t that me?¡± [Note, there can be multiple villains in the world, including those holding the protagonist¡¯s script, like you. However, with this system, a second villain protagonist is not allowed in this world.]. ¡°Ha... System, you¡¯re quite domineering, but I like it.¡± ¡°Accept!¡± [Ding! Transferring information from ¡°The Super Rich and Handsome Villain¡±...].[Ding! Transfer complete. Would you like to read it?]. Chapter 191 Chapter 191 ¡°Browse it!¡± As before, Su Lin quickly flipped through a novel in his mind. The novel ¡°The Super Rich and Handsome Villain¡± tells the story of a soul from a parallel world who transposes into Modu¡¯s top bachelor, Xiao Feiyu, activates the high-rich-handsome villain system, slaps his fiance?e Jiang Ruoxi in the face, kills the protagonist Xiao Chen, then breezes through life collecting girls and reaching the pinnacle of existence. The story¡¯s protagonist is Xiao Chen, whom Su Lin is currently set on dealing with. In the original story, Xiao Feiyu was Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s dedicated follower, orbiting her every day. However, six years passed, not only did he fail to move Jiang Ruoxi, he made her dislike him even more. Xiao Feiyu¡¯s status is there for all to see in Modu, and Jiang Ruoxi can¡¯t openly do much against him, so she chooses to flee to Donghai for refuge. Knowing Jiang Ruoxi has come to Donghai, Xiao Feiyu will follow at the first opportunity. In a few days, he will awaken his system. Thinking of this, Su Lin grows concerned, ¡°System, that Xiao Feiyu has a system too, will you be able to compete with his system?¡± [Rest assured, host. Xiao Feiyu¡¯s high-rich-handsome villain system is flawed; it needs continuous counterattacks and face-slaps to sustain itself, unlike our system which has no flaws and doesn¡¯t need such actions for sustenance.].[Moreover, when Xiao Feiyu¡¯s protagonist¡¯s aura is reduced to a certain level, our system can devour his system. Of course, if the host acts recklessly early on, leading to his own demise, that¡¯s a different story.]. Su Lin knows his opposition with Xiao Feiyu is inevitable, so there¡¯s no way he¡¯ll just sit back and do nothing. ¡°Can I find him and take him out now before his system awakens?¡± Su Lin asks ruthlessly. [You can take action at any time, but it¡¯s highly likely it won¡¯t succeed right now. Moreover, it would attract retaliation from Xiao Family in Modu and Jiang Family.]. ¡°Alright, looks like I need to reduce his villainous luck first.¡± [Good thinking.]. Upon reviewing, Su Lin finds dealing with Xiao Feiyu should be quite straightforward since the rewards his system gives him are quite trashy. His newbie package includes some fighting skills like a suit thug. Playing suit thug in front of him would definitely get one slapped to death by Su Lin. Therefore, Xiao Feiyu is quite weak early on. As long as Su Lin doesn¡¯t kill him but prevents him from slapping faces or interrupting his acts of impressing girls, it should be fine. He¡¯s quite familiar with this set of actions. Originally, Xiao Feiyu should have been opposing Xiao Chen, but obviously, Xiao Chen doesn¡¯t have the time now. And due to Su Lin¡¯s presence, the reality in Donghai has become a mess. So, Su Lin realizes he can¡¯t control the plot, but the general storyline shouldn¡¯t be a problem. ¡°I wonder when Jiang Ruoxi will come to Donghai. Since she¡¯s Li Ziyu¡¯s college classmate, she will definitely look her up if she comes.¡± ¡°Wait, if the system has already detected the female protagonist, that means Jiang Ruoxi is currently at Li Corporation.¡± Realizing this, Su Lin immediately speeds up towards the Li Corporation. Arriving at Li Corporation¡¯s doorstep in just a few minutes, Su Lin notices a Porsche and a Ferrari parked outside. Beside the Ferrari, a tall and handsome young man about the same height as himself is standing, holding a large bouquet of roses, occasionally checking his watch and looking towards the Li Corporation¡¯s entrance. Upon a closer look, it¡¯s indeed Xiao Feiyu. [Xiao Feiyu: 24 years old, Height: 185cm, Weight: 65kg, Favorability: None.].[Skills: Intermediate piano, intermediate golf, intermediate driving, basic management skills...].[Current Health: 80][Current Mental State: Anxious, hopeful.]. Li Ziyu hurriedly covered Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s mouth, ¡°Shh~! He¡¯s coming up. What if someone hears? Ruoxi, we can¡¯t talk nonsense like this. It¡¯s easy to cause misunderstandings.¡± Jiang Ruoxi still had a mischievous smile looking at Li Ziyu. The more nervous Li Ziyu was, the more important Su Lin was to her. Jiang Ruoxi knew her friend too well. She was now very curious about what Su Lin looked like to make a stone-cold girl like Li Ziyu have a change of heart. ¡°The more nervous you are, the more curious I am about who this Su Lin really is.¡± Li Ziyu somewhat helplessly said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you looking to cooperate with the Su Corporation? Su Lin is the young master of the Su Corporation. It¡¯s easy to talk about cooperation with him.¡± ¡°What, it¡¯s like that? The young master of the Su Corporation, no wonder the name Su Lin sounded familiar.¡± When the Jiang family showed her the information on Su Zhenguo, she saw his son was Su Lin, but she didn¡¯t pay much attention because she was there to seek cooperation with Su Zhen Guo, not Su Lin. She didn¡¯t expect to run into the young master of the Su Corporation upon her arrival in Donghai. As they were talking, the private elevator made a sound, the doors opened, and Su Lin walked out from the elevator. Su Lin immediately noticed Jiang Ruoxi sitting opposite Li Ziyu, wearing white short shorts paired with a white crop top T-shirt. Her brown curly hair, fair and delicate skin, and big eyes looked at him curiously. This woman didn¡¯t have any outstanding features, not Lin Xiaowan¡¯s tall stature, not Li Ziyu¡¯s fair swan neck, not Zhao Yanyan¡¯s long legs, and she wasn¡¯t the epitome of pure desire, but every part of her was perfectly beautiful in a very harmonious way. Like Liu Tianxian from his previous life, her features individually seemed ordinary, but combined, they formed the image of a goddess in people¡¯s hearts. (TL: Liu Tianxian aka Liu Yiu Yifie, she¡¯s a Chinese actress, singer, and model. She¡¯s quite cute tbh lol.) Su Lin acted surprised and then explained, ¡°I heard from the doorman you had a visitor, thinking you were in the reception room, so I came straight to the office. Did I disturb you?¡± Before Li Ziyu could speak, Jiang Ruoxi was the first to say, ¡°Of course not, handsome guy. You must be Ziyu¡¯s boyfriend, right? I¡¯m her university classmate, Jiang Ruoxi.¡± Su Lin looked at Jiang Ruoxi with very clear eyes, openly shaking hands with him. Su Lin also extended his hand in a gentlemanly manner and shook her hand, saying, ¡°So you¡¯re Ziyu¡¯s classmate. But you guessed wrong; Ziyu and I aren¡¯t a couple.¡± Jiang Ruoxi had a good first impression of Su Lin, a tall and handsome sunny boy with a confident and flamboyant temperament. She approved of Li Ziyu¡¯s taste but was curious about Su Lin¡¯s inner qualities. ¡°Not a couple? That¡¯s really a pity. Ziyu has been single for over twenty years; how we hope a male god would come to rescue her.¡± Li Ziyu slapped Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°Stop talking about me; you¡¯re also single, aren¡¯t you? You finally had someone who liked you, and yet you didn¡¯t fancy him. I really don¡¯t know what kind of man you¡¯re looking for as a boyfriend.¡± Jiang Ruoxi turned to Su Lin, then blinked, ¡°I think he¡¯s not bad.¡± ¡°Go to hell~!!¡± Li Ziyu gave Jiang Ruoxi a look. Chapter 192 Chapter 192: Deciding to meet Zhao Tiande in advance, should I call him father-in-law or not? To Su Lin¡¯s surprise, Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s personality wasn¡¯t as aloof as described in the book; on the contrary, she was somewhat easygoing. Su Lin knew this was because of his good relationship with Li Ziyu, leading Jiang Ruoxi to be more open and friendly towards him as well. After chatting for a while, the harmony in Li Ziyu¡¯s office was disrupted by a phone call from the security guard. ¡°Director Li, there¡¯s a rich second-generation named Xiao Feiyu at the door insisting on seeing his fiance?e, who is your guest. We were able to stop him initially, but he somehow called some experts who have overpowered our guards, and now he¡¯s taking the private elevator up here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Director Li, for our negligence.¡± Li Ziyu responded calmly, ¡°It¡¯s okay, don¡¯t worry about those people. Just focus on your job.¡± ¡°Thank you, Director Li.¡± After hanging up the phone, Li Ziyu turned to Jiang Ruoxi, ¡°Your nemesis has arrived. Should Su Lin and I step aside to give you some space?¡± Jiang Ruoxi was instantly overwhelmed, ¡°What, he followed me to Donghai, and even to your company?¡± ¡°Indeed, he even beat up my security guards. Remember to have him compensate for that, and make it a hefty sum.¡± Jiang Ruoxi frowned, ¡°This is outrageous. He¡¯s like a mouse in front of me but bullies men and women outside. A man like that will never be liked by me, Jiang Ruoxi, in this lifetime.¡± Su Lin suggested, ¡°If you really don¡¯t like this guy, just call the police. His men assaulted people. Although he can¡¯t be sentenced for it, detention for a few days is still possible.¡± Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Right, Su Lin, you¡¯re so smart. How did you come up with such a devious idea?¡± ¡°Are you praising me or mocking me?¡± Jiang Rouxi giggled and said, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m praising you.¡± After saying that, Jiang Ruoxi took out her phone to call the police. Su Lin shook his head again at the sight. Xiao Feiyu, so devoted to Jiang Ruoxi, ended up in police detention. However, it was his choice, and Su Lin couldn¡¯t sympathize with him, after all, a ¡®dog-licker¡¯ doesn¡¯t deserve sympathy. ¡°Hello... hello, I¡¯m Jiang Ruoxi. Here¡¯s the situation...¡± Jiang Ruoxi spoke rapidly to save time, then hung up. Meanwhile, the elevator doors opened. Xiao Feiyu, accompanied by two bodyguards, walked out from the elevator. Upon their appearance, Su Lin sensed the strong aura of trained expertise from them. Indeed, the more powerful the family, the younger the grandmasters they keep around. Xiao Tianyu revealed a smile upon seeing Jiang Ruoxi, ¡°Ruoxi, you¡¯re indeed here. Why didn¡¯t you tell me you were coming to Donghai? It made me so anxious I had no cars available, so I had no choice to fly over by private jet.¡± Jiang Ruoxi showed no kindness, ¡°What does my trip to Donghai have to do with you? Do I have to report my whereabouts to you?¡± Hearing Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s annoyed tone, Xiao Feiyu hurriedly explained, ¡°Ruoxi, that¡¯s not what I meant, I meant...¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to explain. I¡¯m asking you, what gives you the right to assault people?¡± Just as he was about to act, Su Lin swiftly appeared by Li Ziyu¡¯s side, grabbing Xiao Quan¡¯s hand, ¡°This is Donghai, not Modu. Make another move, and you¡¯ll enter with hands but leave without them.¡± Su Lin¡¯s words were quite fierce. Xiao Quan¡¯s face turned pale. When he first came in, he thought Su Lin was just a playboy and didn¡¯t take him seriously. Only now, as Su Lin made his move, did he realize how big the gap between him and Su Lin was. He was a true grandmaster, trained in iron skin, but his wrist felt clamped by pliers, unable to break free despite all his strength. Seeing Xiao Quan¡¯s face turn red, Xiao Feiyu¡¯s expression changed, ¡°Kid, you dare to make a move~!!¡± With that, he reached for Su Lin¡¯s shoulder. If caught, Su Lin¡¯s shoulder would be ruined. Unfortunately for him, Su Lin caught Xiao Feiyu¡¯s wrist instead, twisting their arms, causing both men to spin in the air and then kneel on the ground. Both were shocked because they hadn¡¯t seen how Su Lin moved, and then they were controlled. ¡°What, the Xiao family thinks they can come to Donghai and throw their weight around? Move again, and I¡¯ll crush Xiao Feiyu¡¯s throat.¡± ¡°No... we wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°Xiao Feiyu, you¡¯re oblivious.¡± Seeing their softened stance, Su Lin¡¯s expression eased a bit, ¡°Being a dog isn¡¯t bad, biting for your owner isn¡¯t wrong either, but you¡¯ve got to be discerning. Am I right?¡± The two bodyguards nodded in agreement. Su Lin looked at Xiao Feiyu, whose complexion was extremely ugly by now, but he was powerless. Although a sycophant to Jiang Ruoxi, he wasn¡¯t really foolish. With the two bodyguards subdued by Su Lin in a move, he knew the strength difference. Meanwhile, all unnoticed, Jiang Ruoxi was admiring Su Lin. She found Su Lin¡¯s actions just now very domineering; he subdued the men effortlessly and looked incredibly cool doing so. But she was merely admiring, not so moved as to be interested in Su Lin from just one meeting. ¡°Ding~!!¡± ¡°Police, who called for us?¡± Upon seeing, Su Lin realized that a police chief had arrived directly. He looked towards Jiang Ruoxi; surely, she must have mentioned her family when she called the police. Jiang Ruoxi spoke lightly, ¡°Uncle Zhao, I¡¯m the one who called the police. Here¡¯s what happened...¡± The surname Zhao, and he¡¯s a chief, Su Lin felt a headache coming on. The middle-aged man in front of him was Zhao Tiande, Zhao Yanyan¡¯s father. Su Lin wondered, should he address him as father-in-law or not? He now wished he could slap himself twice. Why did he have to give Jiang Ruoxi any ideas? Now, he had met Zhao Tiande earlier than expected, and in such a manner. Although Zhao Tiande had not met Su Lin in person before, he had seen photos of Su Lin. At this moment, seeing Su Lin holding two bodyguards, he recognized Su Lin instantly. He was somewhat surprised to see Su Lin controlling two bodyguards, kneeling in front of the office desk. It seemed there had been quite a confrontation before they entered. After listening to Jiang Ruoxi, Zhao Tiande approached Su Lin, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect we would meet in such a way.¡± Su Lin gave a bitter smile, ¡°Uncle, I also didn¡¯t expect our meeting would be under these circumstances.¡± ¡°Humph! Now that we¡¯ve met, let¡¯s have a proper talk. Come with me to the station.¡± Hearing this, Su Lin had no choice but to release the two bodyguards, then looked at Li Ziyu with some annoyance. Li Ziyu winked at him, her expression seemingly amused, as if watching a drama unfold. Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Inside the police car, Su Lin and Zhao Tiande were both silent. After a while, Zhao Tiande spoke as if talking to himself, ¡°Yanyan has been obedient since she was young. Her mother made her learn to dance for ten years. You don¡¯t know how many tears she shed and how much effort she put in to achieve what she has today. Yet, you lured her into starting a supermarket with just a few words.¡± Hearing Zhao Tiande¡¯s reproach, Su Lin felt uncomfortable inside. Was Yanyan going into business a bad thing? It¡¯s surely better than practicing dance every day: ¡°Uncle, are you suggesting that letting Yanyan go into business was wrong?¡± ¡°Do you think what you did was right?¡± Zhao Tiande felt like slapping Su Lin. Although he had never met Su Lin, he knew quite a bit about Su Lin¡¯s romantic exploits and had warned Yanyan many times. However, Yanyan was stubborn and completely ignored his warnings. Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course, I did the right thing. Yanyan has been learning dance for ten years, but did you ever ask her if she actually likes dancing or wants to dance every day?¡± Zhao Tiande was taken aback by the question. It was Yanyan¡¯s mother¡¯s idea to learn dancing, and Yanyan was only a few years old at the time. How could they have asked her such questions? ¡°I...¡± Su Lin shrugged, ¡°You never asked, but I did. I asked Yanyan whether she wants to do business or continue dancing. She told me she didn¡¯t want to learn dancing.¡± ¡°No matter how good she becomes, even if she¡¯s the best in the country, what then? If some high-ranking official wants to watch, they¡¯ll just have her perform, right?¡± ¡°Business is different. She can demonstrate her value and find meaning in life.¡± Zhao Tiande was silent for a moment, then sighed, ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right about this.¡± Su Lin was surprised that Zhao Tiande admitted he was wrong so quickly. However, he soon felt awkward. ¡°Then, can you explain your numerous romantic affairs? Even I, a bureau chief, have heard about them, and there are many versions,¡± Zhao Tiande asked Su Lin pointedly. Su Lin felt embarrassed, ¡°Uncle, I¡¯ve only been in Donghai for a short time and know very few people. How could there be rumors about me? You must have heard about someone else.¡± Zhao Tiande looked at Su Lin intently, and Su Lin maintained a calm expression. Finally, Zhao Tiande sighed, ¡°Take good care of Yanyan. Donghai will not be peaceful in the coming years.¡± Su Lin nodded solemnly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, uncle. I will protect Yanyan.¡± ¡°Hmm, as for your romantic tales, I¡¯ll leave that to you young people to sort out. Just one thing ¨C don¡¯t let Yanyan be wronged.¡± Su Lin quickly assured him. He didn¡¯t understand why Zhao Tiande wasn¡¯t giving him a hard time. Seeing Zhao Tiande¡¯s serious demeanor, it seemed he might know something, hence his grave tone. Upon arriving at the police station, they recorded their statements, and, as expected, Xiao Feiyu was detained. ¡°Alright.¡± Since Su Lin didn¡¯t drive here, he had to take Li Ziyu¡¯s car. In the car, Li Ziyu spoke softly, ¡°Su Lin, thank you for earlier.¡± Su Lin knew what Li Ziyu was referring to and said lightly, ¡°Xiao Feiyu was really being unreasonable. Jiang Ruoxi kissed you, and he got jealous. He even wanted his bodyguard to wipe your face. That¡¯s just not treating you like a person, so of course, I couldn¡¯t stand by.¡± Li Ziyu started the car and glanced at Su Lin, ¡°Do you realize that by doing this, you might have offended the Xiao family of Modu? They are a bigger family than the Song family, and Modu is one of the busiest cities in the country. The Xiao family, in a way, could be considered a world-class family.¡± Su Lin chuckled, unconcerned, ¡°Ziyu, do you think I care about that?¡± Li Ziyu spoke seriously, ¡°It¡¯s not about whether you care or not, but that you have to face this matter. You might have completely offended the Xiao family because of your actions, and they might take their anger out on you. You¡¯re just one person, even with your father, you can¡¯t compete with the Xiao family.¡± Su Lin looked at Li Ziyu with a smile, ¡°Then Ziyu, would you help me?¡± Li Ziyu didn¡¯t hesitate to nod, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Your word is enough for me. As for Xiao Feiyu and the Xiao family, let them come. Once in Donghai, even dragons have to coil, and tigers have to lie down.¡± Hearing Su Lin¡¯s confident words, Li Ziyu was influenced by his tone and nodded, ¡°If the Xiao family really retaliates, I won¡¯t stand by and watch.¡± Su Lin laughed lightly, ¡°Ziyu, don¡¯t be so pessimistic. If they retaliate against everyone, the whole country would be empty.¡± Li Ziyu shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not being pessimistic, but prudent. You don¡¯t understand these big families. They value their family¡¯s honor above all else.¡± ¡°You making Xiao Fei and Xiao Quan kneel publicly was a slap in their face, and instigating Ruoxi to send Xiao Feiyu to the station, I¡¯m worried this won¡¯t end well.¡± Seeing Li Ziyu¡¯s serious face, Su Lin didn¡¯t continue to joke around. He couldn¡¯t possibly say he intentionally stood against the Xiao family. Since he and Xiao Feiyu were destined to be enemies, it was better to set their stances from the beginning, making it clear who stood where. This would make it easier for him to maneuver. ¡°Ziyu, this is the second time I¡¯ve seen you with such a serious expression. The first time was when you talked about resisting your grandfather.¡± Li Ziyu paused, realizing that Su Lin was becoming increasingly important to her. However, thinking of Su Lin¡¯s girlfriends, she suppressed her feelings for him deep down. She could have feelings, but she must stay rational; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have reached where she is today. ¡°Su Lin, let¡¯s not talk about this anymore.¡± ¡°Alright~!!¡± Chapter 194 Chapter 194 When Su Lin and Li Ziyu arrived at the Qin family¡¯s residence, Song Zhiming in Jingzhou had thoroughly gathered all the information about Su Lin. Holding a thick stack of documents, his gaze was dark and unreadable. With the information provided by Xiao Chen, he had to admit that Su Lin was mysterious and powerful. However, Song Zhiming didn¡¯t care; having weathered ups and downs in Jingzhou for decades, he had seen too many geniuses fall and too many mysterious figures meet their end at his hands. Though this was a cross-provincial operation, he wasn¡¯t the least bit worried about losing, for he had always won. ¡°Notify everyone, we leave for Donghai tomorrow~!!¡± His confidant, Song Chunsheng, was somewhat shocked, ¡°Master, are you going personally?¡± Song Zhiming nodded, ¡°I will go personally. This time, I¡¯m not just seeking revenge for Xiao Cheng, but I also want to find my second brother and settle things once and for all. That thorn has been in my throat for twenty years; I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll be able to remove it.¡± Song Chunsheng realized that Song Zhiming¡¯s main goal was the brother he had been missing for twenty years. Avenging Song Juncheng was just an excuse. He knew better than to voice these thoughts. One could guess the master¡¯s intentions, but to speak them out loud was forbidden. After all, if you¡¯re too smart and see through people¡¯s intentions, why would they keep you around? ¡°Master, who will you bring on this trip?¡± Song Zhiming was silent for a moment before speaking, ¡°Apart from those who absolutely need to stay, bring all the grandmasters. Call those two old fellows out of seclusion too. Also, ask a few other families for some people.¡± ¡°How many people do you think are appropriate, Master?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go with ten, plus those two old fellows to make thirty grandmasters, along with two ancient martial arts grandmasters. Bring all the martial arts masters too. Even if Donghai is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, we will level it,¡± Song Zhiming said disdainfully. Song Chunsheng nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange it right away.¡± ¡°Good, we must leave tomorrow morning and aim to arrive in Donghai before dawn.¡± ¡°Understood, Master.¡± After Song Chunsheng left, Song Zhiming nodded in satisfaction. Looking at Song Juncheng¡¯s corpse, he waved his hand, and the lid of the Xuanbing coffin automatically closed over Song Juncheng¡¯s ice coffin. His precise control of internal energy revealed him to be an ancient martial arts grandmaster of a high caliber, already at the peak of great completion. This was Song Zhiming¡¯s biggest secret, unknown to anyone but himself. He had always only trusted in his own strength, knowing that true power comes from oneself, not from the external support of family retainers. ¡°My dear brother, this time I will personally come to Donghai to bring you home.¡± The next day, Su Lin got up early, changed into a set of loose clothes, and stood waiting for news by the window. Like Song Zhiming, Su Lin had also thoroughly researched Song Zhiming, especially his true strength and character. This was a man who would retaliate for any slight, so Su Lin knew he would make arrangements immediately. While Su Lin was lost in thought, his phone in the bag rang. ¡°Xiaowan, stay home and wait for me. Don¡¯t worry, a bunch of nobodies from the Song family can¡¯t do anything to me.¡± Lin Xiaowan gritted her teeth, then said, ¡°I won¡¯t go, but you have to take Aunt Su with you.¡± ¡°Aunt Su?¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded and then got up, walked to the window, and knocked on the glass three times. Su Lin felt a strong aura approaching fast, flying directly into the room. Su Lin saw a woman in her thirties, looking youthful, standing before him with an ancient longsword on her back. ¡°Aunt Su, I¡¯m entrusting Su Lin¡¯s safety to you.¡± He Suxin looked at Su Lin with dissatisfaction, ¡°Wanwan, you made me travel all the way from the capital to Donghai just to play bodyguard for your little boyfriend?¡± Lin Xiaowan hugged He Suxin¡¯s arm and shook it, ¡°Aunt Su, please help me. You¡¯re the best.¡± ¡°What will you do if I leave?¡± ¡°I can take Yuyu and the others to the Qin or Li family. We¡¯ll take care of ourselves. We won¡¯t be in any trouble,¡± Lin Xiaowan said quickly. He Suxin sighed, ¡°I can help you this time, but remember, Wanwan, women of the Lin family can never settle for being secondary or marrying a loser.¡± ¡°Aunt Su, Su Lin is not a loser; he¡¯s very powerful, a grandmaster,¡± Lin Xiaowan reminded discontentedly. ¡°Oh? A grandmaster?¡± He Suxin sized up Su Lin, then slightly released her aura. Su Lin remained unmoved. Seeing this, He Suxin seemed to accept Lin Xiaowan¡¯s words, ¡°Being a grandmaster is nothing special. There are plenty of 18-year-old grandmasters in the capital. Wanwan, what¡¯s so good about this Su Lin that you¡¯re so concerned about him?¡± Lin Xiaowan¡¯s face lit up with happiness, ¡°I can¡¯t exactly say why Su Lin is good, but I just like him.¡± ¡°Ah, from ancient times, love has always been the greatest torment. Wanwan, you¡¯ve never asked anything of me before, so I¡¯ll agree to your request this time. But let¡¯s make it clear, this is a one-time exception.¡± Lin Xiaowan excitedly hugged He Suxin¡¯s neck, ¡°Aunt Su, you¡¯re the best.¡± He Suxin patted Lin Xiaowan¡¯s back affectionately, ¡°You¡¯re already so grown up, yet you¡¯re still so lively.¡± ¡°Hehe~!!¡± ¡°Su Lin, what do you say?¡± Lin Xiaowan turned to ask Su Lin. Seeing Lin Xiaowan like this, Su Lin couldn¡¯t bear to refuse her goodwill anymore, knowing she would follow him anyway if he did. Su Lin sighed, ¡°Since you¡¯re so worried about me, Xiaowan, I certainly can¡¯t let down your kindness. But let¡¯s make a deal; until I come back, you must stay at the Qin family¡¯s house and go nowhere else.¡± ¡°Uh-huh, we¡¯ll definitely behave,¡± Lin Xiaowan said, her eyes curving into crescents, clearly delighted that Su Lin had agreed to her arrangement. Chapter 195 Chapter 195 After discussing with Lin Xiaowan, Su Lin woke up Xia Shiyu as well. Upon hearing from Lin Xiaowan that Su Lin was planning to confront the Song family, Xia Shiyu was stunned and then insisted on joining Su Lin, only to be decisively rejected by him. If it were just a dozen or twenty people, Su Lin wouldn¡¯t mind having Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu accompany him, but the information he received indicated the presence of over a hundred people. Su Lin didn¡¯t know exactly how many grandmasters and masters were among these hundred people, so he could only ask the two women to wait for news at home. With over a hundred opponents, he wouldn¡¯t be able to ensure their safety in every aspect. The thought of them getting hurt was unimaginable to Su Lin. After breakfast, Su Lin drove to Zhao Yanyan¡¯s house to pick her up. Together, they headed to the Qin family¡¯s estate, where Qin Juyue was already waiting for them at the entrance. The mood among the women was somewhat somber, given the uncertain outcome of Su Lin¡¯s departure. ¡°Su Lin, we¡¯ll wait for your return.¡± ¡°Su Lin, if you die, I¡¯ll make sure the Song family joins you in the grave,¡± Lin Xiaowan stated flatly. ¡°Waiting for you to come home~!!¡± ¡°Su Lin, you haven¡¯t taken me flying with lightness skill again yet. You¡¯re not allowed to get hurt.¡± Feeling the sincere concern of his close female friends, Su Lin smiled and nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine. You¡¯re all just too pessimistic.¡± Thinking about the future of this world, Su Lin actually wished to show them the harshness of society, but their strengths were too limited. Shaking his head, ¡°Go inside, I¡¯ll leave once you¡¯re in.¡± Lin Xiaowan shook her head, ¡°You go first, then we¡¯ll go in.¡± Not liking the atmosphere, which felt like a farewell before a dire battle, Su Lin shook his head and lightly tapped his foot on the ground, leaping away. In a few flashes, he disappeared from their sight. Once Su Lin had left, Lin Xiaowan said, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside.¡± ¡°Yeah, Xiaowan, Su Lin will be alright, won¡¯t he?¡± Zhao Yanyan asked, feeling uneasy. Although they were aware that a significant event might happen, they didn¡¯t expect it to occur so suddenly, leaving Lin Xiaowan, Xia Shiyu, and Zhao Yanyan unprepared mentally. Lin Xiaowan assured, ¡°Su Lin has never been at a disadvantage; he¡¯ll definitely be fine.¡± At this moment, Su Lin was leaping through the air with He Suxin. He Suxin was astonished; being an ancient martial arts grandmaster who started training from a young age and had numerous precious resources at her disposal, it took her until her forties to reach the peak of grandmaster level. Yet, Su Lin was already a late-stage grandmaster at eighteen. There¡¯s a significant difference between the early and late stages of a grandmaster. While the young generation in the capital entering the grandmaster level wasn¡¯t uncommon, that was due to the early use of medicinal herbs and treasures, which made early progress faster but later stages much harder. Yet, Su Lin had achieved such high levels at only eighteen. He Suxin also noticed that Su Lin practiced an exceptional lightness skill, unseen and potent. Despite her extensive knowledge, she had never seen it before. Now, fully exerting her lightness skill, she could barely keep up with Su Lin, who seemed to be moving effortlessly. Su Lin felt troubled, ¡°Old Master, it¡¯s not up to me to calm things down. I can only do so if others are willing to do the same.¡± Seeing Su Lin¡¯s reluctance, Qin Deshu grew a bit angry, ¡°Do you realize that Donghai is like a powder keg right now, with countless eyes on it? I bet there are hundreds of eyes watching us from all over the country.¡± ¡°All because of your father stirring things up by announcing two major events without consulting us. Now, Donghai won¡¯t be able to find peace for years.¡± ¡°Old Master, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t expect things to develop like this.¡± Qin Deshu shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not entirely your father¡¯s fault. Although this storm is vast, the potential gains are substantial. If handled well, Donghai could become the next Modu.¡± Li Ziyu sighed, ¡°Grandfather Qin, you¡¯re oversimplifying. To my knowledge, families from Modu, Yangcheng, Shancheng, and even the capital are all eyeing Donghai, ready to make their move. It¡¯s complicated.¡± ¡°Hehe, we are the established powers here; we¡¯re not afraid of newcomers. Ziyu, you must manage the Li family well, especially your grandfather. You can¡¯t afford any mistakes.¡± Li Ziyu understood Qin Deshu¡¯s intention; he wanted her to take charge of the Li family to avoid internal strife. If Li Weifeng were in charge, he¡¯d likely cooperate with those outsiders, causing chaos in Donghai. What neither of them knew was that the future of Donghai would revolve around Su Lin. On the private jet, Song Zhiming quietly read a newspaper. Song Chunsheng stood half a meter behind him. Xiao Chen was having breakfast, also planning his strategy. He was only one opportunity away from becoming a grandmaster, and he saw this final battle as an excellent chance. With so many from the Song family present, Xiao Chen unusually didn¡¯t think of running; he wanted a fair fight with Su Lin. ¡°Su Lin, after today, our grudges will be completely settled.¡± ¡°Chunsheng, how much longer until we arrive in Donghai?¡± ¡°Master, we¡¯ve entered Donghai City¡¯s airspace. We should be at the airport in about ten minutes.¡± Hearing this, Song Zhiming put down his newspaper, ¡°Inform everyone to be ready for any emergency.¡± ¡°Do you mean Donghai has prepared for us?¡± Song Zhiming nodded, ¡°They¡¯re not fools; they¡¯ve surely made arrangements. It¡¯s possible they¡¯re already waiting for us at the airport.¡± Realizing the likelihood of Song Zhiming¡¯s words, Song Chunsheng quickly relayed the message. Meanwhile, the entire Beihai small airport was under the control of the Li and Qin families. Su Lin, already at the control tower, spotted the approaching private jet, ¡°Ziyu, Old Master, you can enjoy the show from here. We¡¯ll go down to meet them.¡± ¡°Okay~!!¡± ¡°Su Lin, be careful.¡± Su Lin looked at Li Ziyu, then nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine. If anything happens, it¡¯ll be to those from the Song family. Today, they won¡¯t return. This will surely hurt Song Zhiming; I¡¯m hitting them where it hurts most.¡± Li Ziyu smiled without saying anything, feeling more relaxed seeing Su Lin so at ease. However, she wasn¡¯t yet ready to banter with Su Lin about such matters. Su Lin leaped out from the third-floor window, followed by dozens of masters and grandmasters from the Qin and Li families. He casually walked towards where the plane was landing. (Thanks for Anmates¡¯s support) Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Liu Xiaoe expressed her frustration from a small hill about two kilometers outside Beihai Airport, ¡°Dad, how could you help them clear the area? With such a large-scale conflict, we can¡¯t just stand by and do nothing.¡± Liu Changyuan gave a bitter smile. His daughter had always had a strong sense of justice, which he couldn¡¯t say was bad, but it was a bit naive. He was glad he had always been by her side; otherwise, Liu Xiaoe might not even know how she died. ¡°Xiaoe, do you think the higher-ups aren¡¯t aware of the situation? I¡¯ve reported it many times. The message from above was simple: let them solve their own issues. As for helping them clear the area, do you want them to fight with a crowd of civilians watching?¡± Liu Changyuan¡¯s rhetorical question made Liu Xiaoe speechless. Without their intervention, the airport would have been crowded with people. If a fight broke out, who would care about the bystanders? A stray attack could easily result in deaths. Liu Xiaoe quietly said, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m sorry, I was too idealistic. But...with so many people, I saw many famous grandmasters. With such a fight, will the higher-ups really not intervene?¡± Liu Changyuan sighed, ¡°The temptation of what the Su family has brought out this time is too great; it could enhance Xia Country¡¯s international status.¡± ¡°However, the Song family has deep roots, hence the current situation. Everyone¡¯s turning a blind eye, letting them handle it. Xiaoe, you¡¯re still young. Having a heart of justice isn¡¯t bad, but don¡¯t do anything beyond your capabilities, understand?¡± Liu Xiaoe nodded, though she still seemed unconvinced. If they could abuse their power like this, what was the point of the law? What Liu Xiaoe didn¡¯t realize was that in this world, in Xia Country, the law really only restrained ordinary people. How could it possibly constrain grandmasters or those even more powerful? Although there was Bureau 751, a powerful agency, Xia Country was too large. With Bureau 751¡¯s talented personnel spread thin across the country, even a provincial capital like Donghai only had one Liu Changyuan. As the plane¡¯s roar passed overhead, they were about to land at Beihai Airport. ¡°Master, we¡¯ve arrived at Beihai Airport.¡± Song Zhiming opened the window cover and immediately spotted Su Lin standing at the forefront. He squinted his eyes, somewhat amused, ¡°It¡¯s been years since the Song family flexed its muscles. I didn¡¯t expect someone to underestimate us so much that they¡¯d come to welcome us in such a grand manner.¡± Song Chunsheng also found it somewhat amusing, ¡°They know nothing about our family¡¯s strength. They think forming some alliance can contend with us, not realizing it¡¯s like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.¡± Song Zhiming laughed, ¡°We can¡¯t underestimate the Qin and Li families of Donghai, though. With such a large group of about seventy or eighty people, let¡¯s go down and meet them.¡± Then he looked at Xiao Chen, ¡°Xiao Chen, you¡¯re not planning to run away this time, are you?¡± Although Song Zhiming was smiling, Xiao Chen felt that smile hid many secrets. The kind gaze seemed like it could turn into an abyss that would swallow him at any moment. Xiao Chen braced himself, ¡°Uncle Song, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll avenge my brother this time no matter what.¡± Song Zhiming nodded in satisfaction, ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. My family hasn¡¯t protected you in vain~~.¡± Song Zhiming, unaware that opposing the protagonist could lead to ruin, raised his hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go and meet these Donghai warriors.¡± With that, Xiao Chen made way for Song Zhiming, who was the first to walk towards the exit, followed by Song Chunsheng and then Xiao Chen. Xiao Chen felt confident with so many people around, giving him strong support. As they stepped out of the cabin, they saw Su Lin and his group. Song Zhiming, appearing nonchalant, slowly descended the stairs. Su Lin, seeing this, smiled slightly. They were laughing now, but who knew what would happen later? Soon, over a hundred people disembarked the plane, with Song Zhiming directly approaching Su Lin, stopping about twenty meters in front of him. He looked at Su Lin in his usual refined manner, ¡°Are you Su Lin?¡± The palms, fists, and legs of seven or eight grandmasters struck Su Lin, producing different sounds, but Su Lin¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, and he didn¡¯t seem to feel any pain. He patted his chest, ¡°Continue, I can take it.¡± The grandmasters were dumbfounded. Su Lin was unharmed, but their hands ached from the impact. ¡°How is this possible? I don¡¯t believe it, I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Xiao Chen took out a gold needle, over half a foot long, and shot it towards Su Lin. Su Lin didn¡¯t even look at the gold needle. With a leap, he rushed to Xiao Chen and threw a punch. ¡°Puh~!¡± Xiao Chen was sent flying twenty meters, coughing blood mid-air. Throughout the ordeal, Song Zhiming, who stood with two ancient warriors, finally showed a change in expression, ¡°Old Blood, have you seen a technique that turns the whole body golden?¡± Old Blood shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s strange, unheard and unseen.¡± The other ancient warrior with a large saber also shook his head. ¡°This Su Lin is truly peculiar. You two try him.¡± They complied and joined the fray. Song Zhiming approached Xiao Chen, lying on the ground. Xiao Chen, struck by Su Lin¡¯s punch, felt as though his stomach exploded, his organs severely damaged. Fortunately, his rigorous training with Wang Yannian on the mountain saved him from being killed by a single punch from Su Lin. Seeing Song Zhiming approaching, he thought he would receive treatment and extended his hand, ¡°Uncle Song.¡± Song Zhiming smiled elegantly and took out a small porcelain bottle, ¡°Xiao Chen, don¡¯t speak. You¡¯re gravely injured. Let me give you medicine.¡± Sensing a killing intent from Song Zhiming¡¯s demeanor, Xiao Chen quickly mustered his last bit of strength and fled in the opposite direction of the battle. Song Zhiming mockingly laughed, ¡°Xiao Chen, didn¡¯t we agree not to run? Why are you running away?¡± Xiao Chen didn¡¯t care about Song Zhiming¡¯s words. He knew Song Zhiming wouldn¡¯t pursue him, and with Su Lin occupied, it was the perfect chance to escape. He decided to return to the mountains and not come down until he reached the peak of grandmaster. Using a secret technique, Xiao Chen swiftly fled, only slowing down once he was outside the airport perimeter, coughing blood along the roadside. Suddenly, a cold wind blew, and Xiao Chen, rubbing his eyes irritated by the sand, saw a figure. Song Zhigang looked at Xiao Chen and said indifferently, ¡°Xiao Chen, I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time.¡± ¡°Uncle Song~! Why are you here?¡± Song Zhigang smiled, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m here to send you on your way.¡± Without giving Xiao Chen a chance to react, Song Zhigang struck Xiao Chen¡¯s chest with a palm. Xiao Chen was sent flying again, this time without any strength left to protect himself. Song Zhigang landed beside him, shaking his head, ¡°So young, yet so reckless. This is not how a disciple of the Ghost Doctor should behave.¡± After that, darkness enveloped Xiao Chen as he lost consciousness. Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Witnessing Xiao Chen¡¯s demise by his hand, Song Zhigang felt a sense of absurdity yet had to admit this was reality. He should have remained an outsider to Xiao Chen and Su Lin¡¯s conflict. Yet, driven by a sense of obligation, he intervened and even saved Xiao Chen, only for Xiao Chen to lead the Song family into a trap aimed at killing him. Song Zhigang felt no guilt; even if Wang Yannian sought retribution, he wouldn¡¯t be afraid. Carrying Xiao Chen¡¯s body, Song Zhigang vanished from the scene. Meanwhile, Su Lin, engaged in battle, heard the system¡¯s notification in his mind. [Ding! The main character Xiao Chen is dead. Congratulations to the host for winning and receiving three epic treasure box draws.].[Ding! Successfully eliminated a main character, system evaluation in progress.].[Ding! Evaluation completed, system rating: S.].[Ding! Host eliminated the main character, awarded one opportunity to advance a minor realm. Simply wish to upgrade.].[Ding! Host successfully eliminated the main character Xiao Chen, automatically completing the first needle of Taiyi Divine Needles ¨C Departure Gold Needle.]. Su Lin, entangled in combat, was delighted upon hearing the system¡¯s voice. He had been easily handling these opponents, feigning struggle to lure Song Zhiming into action. Su Lin¡¯s goal was clear: eliminate Xiao Chen, ensure Song Zhigang¡¯s return and control over the Song family, and avoid wiping out the Song family¡¯s grandmasters unnecessarily. Thus, he deliberately appeared to be struggling, waiting for Song Zhiming to make a move. Seeing Su Lin battling against seven or eight opponents, narrowly avoiding serious injury while his own side suffered due to Su Lin¡¯s tactics, Song Zhiming realized he needed to intervene as the battle turned increasingly dire. Without hesitation, Song Zhiming shouted and joined the fray, his grandmaster¡¯s aura enveloping the battleground. The surrounding grandmasters were astounded, having not expected the typically gentle Song Zhiming to be a peak grandmaster, on the verge of becoming a celestial. Su Lin saw his chance: ¡°Good timing!¡± Activating the Vajra Indestructible Technique to its limit, Su Lin endured another round of attacks from seven grandmasters, revealing his silver needles. ¡°Master, be careful!¡± Su Lin¡¯s power surged to a grandmaster¡¯s peak, and his silver needle burst Song Chunsheng¡¯s head, then aimed at Song Zhiming. Song Zhiming moved aside slightly, the needle grazing his cheek. ¡°Zzz~!¡± He felt the searing needle mark his face with a burning wound. Enraged, Song Zhiming vowed, ¡°You¡¯re seeking death!¡± ¡°Old Blood, you two, coordinate with me. Let¡¯s take him down together.¡± Wiping the blood from his mouth, Song Zhiming grimly said, ¡°What kind of technique is that? Why is it so domineering?¡± Su Lin smiled lightly and turned to leave ignoring him. Song Zhiming, stunned, watched Su Lin walk away then resignedly said to Song Zhigang, ¡°Xiaogang, I¡¯ve lost.¡± Song Zhigang, with a complex expression, asked, ¡°Any last words?¡± After pondering, Song Zhiming shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ve done too many evil deeds. Bury me with Xiaocheng.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Song Zhigang, looking at the dying Song Zhiming, shook his head. The man had committed countless atrocities and brought this end upon himself. He turned to the Song family¡¯s guests, ¡°Does anyone else wish to continue this fight?¡± With two Grandmasters at the Great Perfection level on Su Lin¡¯s side, both ancient warriors, how could they fight? Su Lin was terrifying enough, and with the addition of a sword-wielding ally, whose strength seemed to indicate she could take on five or six alone without issue, fighting seemed futile. Song Zhigang nodded, ¡°Since no one wishes to continue, let¡¯s discuss what comes next.¡± Su Lin didn¡¯t concern himself with how Song Zhigang would handle the Song family affairs. He was keen on returning to the Qin family to see his girlfriends. He Suxin, appearing beside Su Lin at some point, observed him with a complex expression, ¡°You¡¯re truly a monster. I¡¯ve never heard or seen someone enhance their realm in battle like you. You¡¯re the first.¡± Su Lin shrugged, ¡°If you knew more about me, you¡¯d find that enhancing my realm in battle is pretty normal, just like eating and drinking.¡± He Suxin sighed, ¡°Others need at least a year or three to consolidate their realm after advancement. But not you. After advancing, you don¡¯t need to consolidate your realm, and you¡¯re much stronger than others at your level. I¡¯m curious, what technique do you practice?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Since you ask I practice the Vajra Indestructible Technique.¡± ¡°The Vajra Indestructible Technique? That name is very fitting. I take back my earlier words. Wanwan choosing you as her boyfriend does her credit.¡± Su Lin smiled lightly, clearly not interested in delving deeper into the topic. At this point, He Suxin had fully accepted Su Lin. Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Chapter 198 At this moment, Qin Deshu and Li Ziyu were at a loss for words to describe what they had witnessed today. Especially Qin Deshu, who knew more and had a deeper understanding of the formidable Song family, never expected Su Lin to actually succeed in taking down Song Zhiming and paving the way for Song Zhigang''s rise. Although Song Zhigang hasn''t officially taken over yet, Qin Deshu knew it was almost a certainty. ¡°After this matter is settled, the promise I made to Wanwan is also completely fulfilled,¡± Su Lin heard from He Suxin. Surprised, Su Lin asked, ¡°Aunt Su, are you leaving?¡± Although Xiao Chen is dead, he still has a master.¡± Su Lin didn''t want He Suxin to leave so soon. After all, this woman could step into the realm of Human Immortal at any time, representing a formidable force. If Wang Yannian caused trouble for him, he could fight back with her help, and perhaps even take him down directly with her assistance. He Suxin smiled at Su Lin, saying, ¡°Are you planning to keep me as your long-term bodyguard?¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough, how could I think that, Aunt Su? I just have a small favor to ask of you.¡± ¡°Considering Wanwan''s face, I can listen, but whether I''ll help is another matter.¡± Knowing He Suxin was willing to listen was half the battle for Su Lin, who happily explained, ¡°Although Song Zhiming has been dealt with, the Song family hasn''t been completely settled. I want you to stay in Jingzhou for a few days until Song Zhigang fully takes over the Song family.¡± ¡°Of course, I wouldn''t let Aunt Su work for nothing. I have here a copy of Wang Yannian''s cultivation insights. This is something money can¡¯t buy, and with Aunt Su¡¯s own experiences, perhaps a breakthrough can be found.¡± Hearing this, He Suxin''s eyes lit up. Every cultivator shares the same flaw of constantly seeking to enhance their power. Although it''s unclear what level of power Wang Yannian had, he must be stronger than her, considering his fame when she was still cultivating. If these were truly his cultivation insights, they might indeed be helpful. ¡°Where did you get these insights?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Aunt Su, have you forgotten? His disciple, Xiao Chen, died by my hand.¡± He Suxin shook her head, ¡°Having offended him, he will surely seek revenge.¡± Su Lin laughed, not concerned about Wang Yannian at all, thinking he was still searching for ways to concoct the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill. By the time he learns of Xiao Chen''s death, Su Lin would be capable of defeating him easily. ¡°So, Aunt Su, will you help me or not?¡± He Suxin grabbed the insights, ¡°Of course, I''ll help. These insights can''t be bought with money.¡± After saying this, He Suxin handed Su Lin a card, ¡°Call this number if you need anything.¡± I''ll be in Jingzhou for a while.¡± With He Suxin''s support, Song Zhigang would surely take over the Song family much faster. The Song family, despite appearing to have suffered great losses, had not been fundamentally weakened. The ones who died were merely Song Zhiming''s loyalists. The real, old ones who knew the Song family''s secrets very well were still there. The Song family had been developing for many years, and now only Song Zhigang''s branch remained. While the outside world may not understand the intricacies, there were speculations. He Suxin was someone who acted on her decisions. After reaching an agreement with Su Lin and taking the insights, she flew towards Song Zhigang.No?v(el)B\\jnn Seeing this, Su Lin headed towards the control tower. ¡°Grandpa, Ziyu, the matter has been satisfactorily resolved.¡± As soon as Su Lin got out of the car, Qin Deshu spoke, ¡°Your several girlfriends are still waiting for you in the other courtyard, Su Lin, go and reassure them, then come to the inner courtyard.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Okay~!!¡± He couldn¡¯t help but sigh, realizing that after today¡¯s events, Qin Deshu seemed to be less critical of his romantic affairs. Su Lin had to marvel at this; it was a world where strength was respected. As long as you have strength, no one would criticize you for having several girlfriends. Now, even if he went to the Lin family in the capital, the Lin family would treat him courteously, and nobody would dare to throw him out. Li Ziyu also got out of the car and said to Su Lin, ¡°Arranging several girlfriends in one of room, Su Lin, only you could do such a thing.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough... Ziyu, actually, I wanted you to stay here today as well,¡± Su Lin said somewhat awkwardly. His words were tantamount to directly stating his intentions. Li Ziyu¡¯s fondness for him was incredibly high, but she just wouldn¡¯t give Su Lin a chance, which made him a bit frustrated but also felt normal. If he only had one or two girlfriends, Li Ziyu would definitely agree to be his girlfriend. But now that he already had several girlfriends, Li Ziyu had to force herself to be rational and not hastily agree to Su Lin, in case Su Lin found more in the future. When would it end? So, she endured her feelings for Su Lin and kept her rationality. Thinking this, Li Ziyu gave Su Lin a resentful look; this guy was really troublesome. ¡°Then, thank you for your kindness.¡± Su Lin scratched his head, not understanding what Li Ziyu meant, but she didn¡¯t give him a chance to speak further, leaving him with a view of her back as she headed towards the Qin family¡¯s back yard to confront the old fox, Qin Deshu. Su Lin shook his head and walked towards the courtyard where Lin Xiaowan and the others were. Seeing Su Lin enter, Lin Xiaowan exclaimed and rushed to embrace him, ¡°Su Lin, you¡¯re back.¡± Su Lin patted her back, ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Wuu~! Su Lin, no matter what happens in the future, you have to take me with you. I can¡¯t bear the agony of waiting for news like this ever again.¡± Su Lin touched Lin Xiaowan¡¯s head, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll definitely take you with me next time.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Lin Xiaowan wiped her tears and then gave Su Lin a punch, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault; we were worried to death.¡± Xia Shiyu and Zhao Yanyan also came over, and Su Lin embraced Xia Shiyu, ¡°Xiaoyu, I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Su Lin, don¡¯t do such dangerous things in the future. We were all crying anxiously, but there was nothing we could do.¡± ¡°Exactly, you really are trouble, making us worry all the time.¡± Seeing their genuine expressions, Su Lin felt, this life was truly worth it. Chapter 199: I traveled through time, and youre telling me the protagonist is dead? Chapter 199: I traveled through time, and you''re telling me the protagonist is dead? After discussing with Qin Deshu and Li Ziyu, Su Lin took Lin Xiaowan, Xia Shiyu, and Zhao Yanyan to the company, leaving the rest to Su Zhenguo. Now that he finally had a break, of course, he needed to rest properly. ¡°Su Lin, I forgot to ask back at the Qin''s, where''s Aunt Su? Why didn''t she come back with you? She didn¡¯t run into trouble, did she?¡± Lin Xiaowan asked worriedly. Su Lin smiled and reassured, ¡°Don''t worry, she''s so formidable, how could anything happen to her? She''s just gone to Jingzhou on my request.¡± ¡°What did you send her to Jingzhou for?¡± Su Lin sighed, ¡°It''s for the sake of your cultivation resources. Even though I have money now, it''s hard to get those resources. So, I sent Song Zhigang to take over the Song family. Once he''s in charge, he''ll send resources over periodically, and you won''t have to worry about cultivation anymore.¡± Xia Shiyu was moved, ¡°Su Lin, I didn''t expect you to think so far ahead. We never considered this.¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°Donghai will become increasingly chaotic. I must find a way to strengthen you all, to at least have the power to protect yourselves.¡± ¡°Aunt Su is probably on a plane now; she''ll be in Jingzhou for a while. Once Song Zhigang has fully stabilized his position, she will probably leave,¡± Su Lin explained. Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin, ¡°You don''t need to be so thoughtful for us. We have our ways to get cultivation resources.¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°You getting them means asking your families, right? From the capital to Donghai is far and troublesome. It''s easier if I handle it, and this way, we can also solve the issues in Handong Province. I think it''s a good plan.¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded, understanding Su Lin''s intentions. Besides not being able to give them a complete relationship, Su Lin wanted to give them the best in other aspects. ¡°Now, at least we don''t have to worry about your safety.¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°That''s not necessarily true. Xiao Chen has a master who hasn¡¯t shown up yet, the famous Ghost Doctor.¡± ¡°He has a master who hasn¡¯t come yet?¡± Lin Xiaowan''s spirits fell, a bit disheartened. ¡°Don''t worry so much,¡± Su Lin smiled. ¡°Wang Yannian is now obsessed with the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill. He might not only avoid conflict with me but even come to seek my advice.¡± Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin''s smile, feeling he had something else he hadn''t told them. But since Su Lin didn''t say, there must be a reason, so she didn''t press further. Zhao Yanyan spoke, ¡°Anyway, now that Xiao Chen and the Song family''s troubles are finally resolved, we can rest easy. This is indeed something to be happy about.¡± ¡°Right, so let''s head to the company first, and tonight, we''ll have a big meal at the Four Seasons Hotel.¡± ¡°Wow~! Su Lin, are you treating?¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°Of course not, it''s Ziyu who''s treating.¡± She gained a lot today, so she insisted on treating us at the Four Seasons Hotel.¡± [Ding~! Detecting the host''s strong dissatisfaction and unwillingness, the Tall-Rich-Handsome Villain System has been bound!!!]. [Ding~!! Newbie gift pack has been delivered.]. [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the skill ¨C Wing Chun!]. [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the skill Suit Thug. (Wearing a suit doubles combat effectiveness.)]. [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for obtaining cash ¨C one billion.]. [Ding~! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Lamborghini Veneno.]. [The system aims to cultivate the host into a tall-rich-handsome villain. As the name suggests, the host only needs to conquer the heroine, or slap the protagonist''s face, snatch the protagonist''s opportunities to gain villain points. Villain points can be used to purchase skills in the system shop...]. Xiao Feiyu browsed the system shop in his spare time, his eyes dazzled by the variety of skills, cultivation methods, elixirs, and treasures. ¡°System, why are the cultivation methods and treasures all greyed out?¡± [The host needs to unlock them to gain the rights to purchase cultivation methods and treasures, and unlocking requires villain points.]. Xiao Feiyu nodded, ¡°Got it, so just keep slapping the protagonist''s face, conquering heroines, or snatching the protagonist''s chances, right? Having read novels and having a system, this is going to be easy.¡± At this moment, Xiao Feiyu was completely inflated. He felt he was the protagonist of this world, destined to defeat Xiao Chen and take all of Xiao Chen''s women. As for Jiang Ruoxi, she''s the soul of this book, the woman neither the protagonist Xiao Chen nor he had conquered. Conquering such a woman would be more interesting. Xiao Feiyu thought his predecessor failed because he was too low, a rich second-generation living as a lapdog, but he was different; he was a transmigrator. He didn''t need to be a lapdog to still take Jiang Ruoxi into his harem. ¡°According to the plot, I''ll meet Xiao Chen in three days, then get slapped in the face by his show-off?¡± ¡°Heh~!!¡± ¡°Xiao Quan, come in.¡± Xiao Quan, hearing Xiao Feiyu call him, finally relaxed a lot. He had been with Xiao Feiyu for many years, knowing that as long as it didn''t involve Jiang Ruoxi, Xiao Feiyu was a normal person. But whenever Jiang Ruoxi was involved, Xiao Feiyu would turn into a mad dog. Xiao Quan entered the office, stopped in front of Xiao Feiyu, hesitated, then said, ¡°Young Master Xiao, we just received news. Today, that Su Lin, with people from the Qin and Li families, eliminated Song Zhiming of the Song family, and even Ghost Doctor''s disciple Xiao Chen was killed by his partner Song Zhigang.¡± ¡°If you ask me, Su Lin¡¯s background must be extraordinary. Perhaps we need to rethink our approach.¡± Xiao Feiyu was stunned, then widened his eyes, ¡°Xiao Chen is dead, are you sure?¡± He was dumbfounded. Xiao Chen was the protagonist of this novel, his sworn enemy, who eventually rallied several major families to ruin the Xiao family. His beloved Jiang Ruoxi was indifferent to his pleas. Although the predecessor really asked for it, they had grown up together, if not childhood sweethearts, then at least childhood friends. And Jiang Ruoxi just watched as his family was destroyed. Now, having just transmigrated, he hadn¡¯t even confronted Xiao Chen yet, and Xiao Chen was already dead. How was he supposed to be the villain, how to slap Xiao Chen¡¯s face, how to conquer the heroines, how to gain villain points? Xiao Feiyu suddenly felt lost and directionless. ¡°I¡¯ve transmigrated, become a villain, but you¡¯re telling me the protagonist is dead?¡± Xiao Quan nodded, ¡°It¡¯s confirmed, Xiao Chen is indeed dead. Young Master, did you know him?¡± Xiao Feiyu shook his head, slumped back into his chair, his eyes unfocused, the whole person dazed. Chapter 200: Xiao Feiyu Wants to Pursue Li Ziyu! Chapter 200: Xiao Feiyu Wants to Pursue Li Ziyu! Seeing Xiao Feiyu suddenly looking as if he had lost his soul, Xiao Quan thought Xiao Feiyu was saddened because Su Lin was too powerful to provoke at the moment. So, he comforted him, ¡°Young Master, even though Su Lin is powerful, it doesn''t mean our Xiao family is afraid of him. If you really want to vent, I can notify the family head to send over two elders.¡± Hearing Xiao Quan''s words, Xiao Feiyu suddenly perked up and angrily retorted, ¡°What''s the use if the person is already gone?¡± ¡°Person? Gone? What person is gone?¡± Xiao Quan was confused, looking at Xiao Feiyu. Isn''t Su Lin still fine? Why is Xiao Feiyu speaking so strangely today? Xiao Feiyu stood up and looked at Xiao Quan, ¡°Hurry and find out for sure if that Xiao Chen is really dead or not.¡± It would be best to see his body in person. It must be genuine, do you understand? Now go!¡± Not understanding why Xiao Feiyu was acting mad, Xiao Quan could only nod and then leave the office to investigate whether Xiao Chen was really dead or not. After Xiao Quan left, Xiao Feiyu summoned the system again. ¡°System, Xiao Chen is dead, the protagonist is dead, how am I supposed to play now?¡± [Can a protagonist who gets killed still be called a protagonist?]. ¡°What do you mean? Are you saying Xiao Chen isn¡¯t the protagonist, then who is?¡± Xiao Feiyu asked with wide eyes.[You need to discover that on your own.]. ¡°Damn it! You can''t die from just saying it, can you? This is the world of a novel, how can the novel¡¯s protagonist be dead, system, say something?¡± [...]. As the system went silent, Xiao Feiyu fell into deep thought. He didn''t know why the system remained silent, but he had a feeling that Xiao Chen was indeed dead. Then, who is the real protagonist? The first person that came to Xiao Feiyu''s mind was Su Lin. The young man who chatted and laughed with Li Ziyu and Jiang Ruoxi and knew the police station''s chief. ¡°No way, I have to ask Xiao Quan to check on Su Lin''s information.¡± Meanwhile, Su Lin had no idea Xiao Feiyu was already paying attention to him, and even if he knew, he wouldn''t care. Right now, even if Xiao Feiyu was a martial arts master, he could crush him. His foundation was too weak, not even as impressive as Xiao Chen when he first started. Although he had a system, Su Lin wasn''t worried. He just needed to prevent this guy from slapping faces, showing off, and flirting with girls. Among those he knew, only Jiang Ruoxi and Li Ziyu''s favorability wasn''t at full value yet. But for Xiao Feiyu, winning over these two would be quite challenging. ¡°Su Lin, we''ve already arranged the company''s affairs. We''ll be staying at home for the next few days.¡± Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan, puzzled, ¡°Stay at home? Why stay at home? Didn¡¯t you say before that staying at home was very boring?¡± Xiao Feiyu indifferently responded, ¡°Xiao Quan, just drive, and don¡¯t ask what you shouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I...¡± Seeing Xiao Quan¡¯s depressed face, Xiao Feiyu, remembering he had been following him for many years, then said, ¡°That Jiang Ruoxi doesn¡¯t give me face, is it wrong to chase another woman?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not. With your reputation as the top prince of Modu, matching with a talented lady from the capital isn¡¯t too much.¡± Xiao Feiyu snorted coldly, ¡°Xiao Quan, stop joking around. I know my reputation, the top lapdog of Modu.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough...¡± ¡°Cough cough cough...¡± Seeing the two bodyguards trying to hold back their laughter, Xiao Feiyu felt somewhat helpless. Indeed, his predecessor had done too many absurd things, turning him into a joke in Modu. The family couldn¡¯t stand it, seeing Xiao Feiyu, the major young master of the Xiao family, being laughed at. So, they took the initiative to arrange a marriage with the Jiang family, paying a huge price to maintain the Xiao family¡¯s reputation. ¡°I say, Jiang Ruoxi is indeed beautiful, but Li Ziyu isn¡¯t bad either, and she¡¯s the head of the Li family. Pursuing her wouldn¡¯t disgrace my status.¡± Xiao Quan reminded him, ¡°Young Master, we¡¯ve already investigated. Li Ziyu¡¯s relationship with that Su Lin is also unclear. There are rumors that Li Ziyu¡¯s successful ascension to the head of the family was largely due to Su Lin. Going after her definitely won¡¯t work.¡± Xiao Feiyu laughed, ¡°Who said I¡¯m going to pursue her right now? We need to investigate the situation first. It¡¯s better to see with your own eyes than hear a thousand times from others, understand?¡± Seeing Xiao Feiyu actually serious, the two were surprised. Was he no longer pursuing Jiang Ruoxi? Or did he feel that Jiang Ruoxi was already secured, allowing him to reveal his true nature? But Xiao Feiyu didn¡¯t show any special expressions, leaving them unable to figure out what he was really thinking. At this time, Xiao Feiyu also knew that directly pursuing Li Ziyu wouldn¡¯t work, but he learned of an event happening tonight. Li Ziyu was hosting not only Su Lin but also his girlfriends. Such an occasion was more conducive for observing their relationships. Meanwhile, Xiao Feiyu was filled with envy and jealousy towards Su Lin. At eighteen, the women by his side were all top-notch, with statuses, except for Xia Shiyu, being quite significant. Yet he, the top prince of Modu, was still a dog-licker. Truly, comparing people can infuriate one to death. Moreover, his fiance?e Jiang Ruoxi had hit it off with Su Lin at their first meeting. As a veteran reader, he knew too well how terrifying a person like Su Lin could be. So, to prevent his own corner from being dug, he had to dig into Su Lin¡¯s first. So, he was set on this course of action~!! Chapter 201: Chapter 201: Chapter 201 Xiao Feiyu sneaked in! When Su Lin and the others arrived at the private room, they found that Li Ziyu hadn''t arrived yet, which surprised everyone. ¡°Su Lin, why hasn''t Sister Ziyu arrived yet? Didn¡¯t she say she had arrived?¡± ¡°Yeah, you better check what''s going on.¡± Su Lin nodded and took out his phone to call Li Ziyu. The call was quickly connected, and Su Lin directly said, ¡°Ziyu, weren''t you treating us tonight? Where are you?¡± Li Ziyu''s somewhat helpless voice came through the phone: ¡°Su Lin, I''m with Ruoxi, she came to me saying she wanted to apologize to you, so we ended up together. We''ll be there soon.¡± ¡°Oh! Okay, we''ll wait for you.¡± After hanging up, Su Lin turned to the ladies and said, ¡°There was a bit of an unexpected situation on Ziyu''s end, but she will be here soon.¡± ¡°Alright! Then let''s not serve the dishes yet, let''s wait for them.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Seven or eight minutes later, Li Ziyu arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel with Jiang Ruoxi. As soon as the two got off the car, they saw a person they really didn''t want to encounter. ¡°Hi~ Ruoxi, what a coincidence.¡± Seeing Xiao Feiyu''s seemingly surprised expression, Li Ziyu couldn''t help but almost laugh. There''s no such coincidence in the world; it must be Xiao Feiyu intentionally waiting for Jiang Ruoxi here. Jiang Ruoxi frowned, ¡°Why are you haunting me, following me around every day?¡± Xiao Feiyu replied with a light laugh, ¡°This Four Seasons Hotel is Li family''s property, a place for people to eat and stay. What''s the problem with me arranging my stay here and eating here? Ruoxi, don''t think too much, I didn''t intentionally come to run into you.¡± Xiao Feiyu looked sincere, but Jiang Ruoxi didn''t believe a word. She had seen too many of such tricks, so she was very familiar with Xiao Feiyu''s routines. But Xiao Feiyu was now observing Li Ziyu''s expression, seeing the cool-faced Li Ziyu struggling to hold back her laughter, which amused him. Seeing this, Xiao Feiyu felt that he made a good first impression on Li Ziyu, which reassured him somewhat. ¡°Why not get out of the way then? We still need to go up for dinner.¡± Hearing this, Xiao Feiyu acted surprised, ¡°Dinner? Great, I''m here for dinner too. How about together?¡± When Jiang Ruoxi saw Zhao Yanyan and Lin Xiaowan, she was stunned by their beauty. Zhao Yanyan was truly a ¡°leg genius,¡± with long, white legs that were very eye-catching. Although Lin Xiaowan didn''t have Zhao Yanyan''s long legs, her 36D was very dazzling, making Jiang Ruoxi, who was very confident in her figure, feel somewhat inferior. She extended her hand and greeted with a smile, ¡°Hello, it''s nice to meet you. Sorry for the intrusion.¡± ¡°No, no, Jiang sister, you''re so beautiful.¡± ¡°Hehe Xiaowan, you''re the beautiful one, and your figure is so good.¡± Lin Xiaowan frowned, ¡°I wish my figure wasn''t so good.¡± ¡°Haha...¡± While the ladies were having a good time, the men were a bit awkward. Su Lin and Xiao Feiyu had met before, recognized each other, and had some grievances. Now, they glanced at each other. Xiao Feiyu had confirmed that Su Lin was indeed the real protagonist. And Su Lin also confirmed that the person in front of him was not the original Xiao Feiyu but the transmigrated Xiao Feiyu. Because he wasn¡¯t looking at Jiang Ruoxi with undivided attention but glanced at the three women, each look more amazed than the last. Clearly, Xiao Feiyu was also a ¡°legitimate pervert,¡± stunned by the beauty of the three women. At this moment, Xiao Feiyu was indeed stunned, and at the same time, he felt envy, jealousy, and hatred towards Su Lin. This guy is a beast, finding girlfriends one prettier than the other. Compared to them, although Jiang Ruoxi is beautiful, she doesn¡¯t have any special features. Even compared to Xia Shiyu, she doesn¡¯t have that purity. After the women got to know each other, Xiao Feiyu was about to join them when he was tapped on the back of the head, ¡°Xiao Feiyu, what are you dazing at? Remember what you promised me? Hurry up and apologize to Su Lin.¡± Xiao Feiyu looked at Jiang Ruoxi with some dissatisfaction. This woman dared to hit him. He would remember this grudge. Xiao Feiyu said to Su Lin indifferently, ¡°I apologize for my rash behavior before.¡± Su Lin waved it off, ¡°It¡¯s fine, just make sure your dogs are more well-behaved next time.¡± Xiao Feiyu felt humiliated, but there was nothing he could do. This was his best chance to observe Su Lin and his girls. If he missed today, it would be hard to find another chance. Only by figuring out the relationship between Su Lin and them could he devise a plan! Su Lin was somewhat looking forward to seeing how this guy would show off and get slapped in the face in front of him. Chapter 202: Get Lost chapter 202: get lost li ziyu sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat off. she felt a bit embarrassed, but since jiang ruoxi insisted on apologizing, she couldn''t refuse. so, she had to stiffly suggest, ¡°now that everyone is here, shall we start the meal?¡± su lin nodded, ¡°sure~!!¡± after sitting down, su lin felt someone bump his arm and looked puzzledly at lin xiaowan, ¡°what''s wrong, xiaowan?¡±no?v(el)b\\jnn lin xiaowan glanced at jiang ruoxi then asked, ¡°isn''t she ziyu''s classmate? how do you know her? you two seem quite familiar. she¡¯s not going to be another sister, is she?¡± xia shiyu and zhao yanyan, both sharp listeners, could hear them despite the low voices. hearing lin xiaowan''s words, they both seemed to find it amusing, sneakily watching su lin and lin xiaowan. ¡°cough cough... xiaowan, you''ve really wronged me this time. i''ve only just met her yesterday. then, there was a bit of a conflict with xiao feiyu, and she came to apologize today,¡± su lin explained. lin xiaowan believed su lin''s explanation because even if he truly had another girlfriend, she would just sulk for a bit and then get over it. su lin had no reason to lie. ¡°oh? the jiang family of mo city is not a small clan, and jiang ruoxi is so beautiful. didn¡¯t you feel a little bit tempted?¡± lin xiaowan asked su lin with a tempting smile. su lin responded, ¡°you know me; i''ve seen plenty of beautiful women, and i don''t choose a girlfriend based solely on looks.¡± ¡°hehe, i''m afraid she meets all your criteria,¡± lin xiaowan said slyly. su lin smiled bitterly, ¡°anyway, there''s nothing between us now. as for the future, who knows. besides, she already has a fiance?.¡± lin xiaowan glanced at xiao feiyu, who was secretly observing li ziyu, and frowned, ¡°why is xiao feiyu always staring at sister ziyu?¡± su lin raised an eyebrow, ¡°not sure, he must be up to something.¡± ¡°tsk tsk... he''s eyeing your women,¡± lin xiaowan joked. su lin playfully pinched lin xiaowan''s thigh. ¡°enough with the jokes.¡± ziyu is so beautiful, isn¡¯t it normal for people to take a second look?¡± lin xiaowan glared at su lin, thinking he was far too bold, daring to make such moves at this time. although their voices were low, their constant whispering was somewhat intolerable for li ziyu, ¡°hey xiaowan, there are others here, can you two tone it down?¡± instead of toning it down, su lin began to serve food onto lin xiaowan''s plate, ¡°xiaowan, you''ve lost weight recently, eat more.¡± lin xiaowan mimicked him and served su lin, ¡°su lin, you eat too.¡± then she winked at li ziyu, ¡°sister ziyu, are we disturbing your meal?¡± su lin laughed and also served xia shiyu and zhao yanyan. li ziyu commented, ¡°su lin, you really do treat everyone equally, not missing a beat.¡± ¡°cough cough... i want to ask, are all three of you really su lin''s girlfriends?¡± jiang ruoxi asked curiously. feeling snubbed, xiao feiyu was angry but couldn¡¯t explode; otherwise, it would ruin his image beyond repair. jiang ruoxi frowned, ¡°xiao feiyu, after dinner, you should catch a plane back to modu. i¡¯ve said it before, i have business in donghai. as for the engagement, i¡¯ll find a way to have grandfather call it off, so stop fantasizing.¡± xiao feiyu¡¯s anger surged again. feeling this was a good opportunity, he said, ¡°ruoxi, to be honest, after chasing you for so many years, i¡¯m tired and want to give up. since you¡¯ve said this today, let me make a statement too; from today onwards, i won¡¯t pester you anymore.¡± the room fell silent as xiao feiyu finished speaking. su lin watched xiao feiyu¡¯s performance with interest, knowing that the xiao feiyu before him was no longer the same person. he wasn¡¯t uninterested in jiang ruoxi; he just changed his approach. jiang ruoxi wasn¡¯t too pleased but wary, ¡°xiao feiyu, what tricks are you trying to pull now? you¡¯ve been acting like you¡¯re in a play every day, aren¡¯t you tired?¡± ¡°ruoxi, i¡¯m serious.¡± jiang ruoxi laughed out of anger, ¡°fine! since you said you won¡¯t pester me, then leave now. can you get lost?¡± ¡°i...¡± before he could finish, jiang ruoxi¡¯s scornful look made his pride explode. he stood up angrily, ¡°what¡¯s with that look, jiang ruoxi? do you really think you¡¯re the only woman in the world? you think i can¡¯t live without you?¡± ¡°you want me to leave just like that? on what grounds? where does that leave my dignity? rest assured, i won¡¯t leave; i¡¯ll stay in donghai.¡± ¡°xiao feiyu, is this how you amuse yourself? are you even a man?¡± ¡°do you want to know if i¡¯m a man? there are private rooms upstairs. want to feel it for yourself?¡± xiao feiyu asked with a sneer. at this moment, the other girls frowned in displeasure. su lin stood up, ¡°i thought the first young master of modu was something special. to think, after two encounters, both were disappointing. xiao feiyu, right? this private room doesn¡¯t welcome you; please leave.¡± xiao feiyu retorted fearlessly, ¡°what right does a mere nouveau riche¡¯s son have to order me?¡± ¡°what about me?¡± li ziyu said calmly from her seat. she had a somewhat favorable impression of xiao feiyu before, given their four years of college memories and xiao feiyu¡¯s image as a lovesick man, so she didn¡¯t have a bad feeling about him. but he shouldn¡¯t have spoken to su lin that way. although li ziyu wasn¡¯t with su lin, her heart was full of him; she just couldn¡¯t accept that su lin had multiple girlfriends. ¡°li ziyu, don¡¯t forget, your li family and my xiao family...¡± ¡°out.¡± ¡°you¡¯ll regret this.¡± ¡°get out!!!¡± Chapter 203: Su Lin, can you handle it? chapter 203: su lin, can you handle it? in the end, xiao feiyu left the private room on his own. he sensed li ziyu''s displeasure and the danger from su lin. su lin''s gaze was fixed on him, giving him a strong premonition that if he reacted abnormally, su lin would make a move against him. even though this feeling was inexplicably baseless, he trusted his instincts. after leaving the private room, xiao feiyu heard laughter coming from inside. clearly, he was the one disrupting the atmosphere among the group. xiao feiyu muttered, ¡°what''s so great about that? i just transmigrated a few days late, letting you take the lead temporarily.¡± muttering to himself, xiao feiyu went downstairs. xiao quan saw xiao feiyu coming down and hurriedly went up to greet him, ¡°young master, didn''t you say you were going to have a meal? why did you come down so soon?¡± xiao feiyu glared at xiao quan, annoyed. after so many years by his side, why did he have to bring up the most awkward topic? he lacked tact. ¡°what else could it be? ¡°the food at the four seasons hotel isn¡¯t to my taste, of course, i have to find another place,¡± xiao feiyu snapped. ¡°eh? young master, weren''t you driven out?¡± xiao quan asked in surprise. ¡°bang!¡± xiao feiyu smacked the back of xiao quan''s head. ¡°young master, why did you hit me?¡± ¡°xiao quan, you might as well go back to your aristocratic family, i''ll have my dad arrange for someone else to come,¡± xiao feiyu said indifferently. with someone like xiao quan around, it''s no wonder his predecessor was so unintelligent. surrounded by such brute force, simple-minded people, he was nearly ruined. xiao quan felt somewhat depressed. he wasn''t brainless; it''s just that xiao feiyu''s thinking was simpler before, so he talked that way. but it seemed ineffective today. it looked like xiao feiyu really had changed. at this moment, xiao feiyu was considering which target to choose. after tonight''s events, he realized that although li ziyu seemed easy to get along with, she was actually the most indifferent one, easily dismissing the first young master of modu without any consideration for face. he was a bit distressed to find that li ziyu was so protective of su lin. ¡°su lin is really lucky. i need to adjust my targets. who says having a system guarantees soaring to the heavens? why do i feel like i¡¯m starting in hell?¡± xiao feiyu was somewhat depressed as he got into the car. on the other side, without xiao feiyu, the atmosphere in the private room finally relaxed a lot. su lin stopped showing off his affection with the girls and just listened to gossip them and share interesting stories. ¡°i didn''t expect xiao feiyu to be so perverted. he kept looking at me and yanyan when he came in,¡± lin xiaowan said somewhat angrily. zhao yanyan nodded, ¡°true, his gaze was subtle, but i felt it too.¡± this guy is much creepier than su lin.¡± su lin immediately protested, ¡°why drag me into this? how am i creepy? yanyan, you better clarify today, or you''re in for a punishment tonight.¡± ¡°ziyu, is there anything planned after this meal? if not, we might head home.¡± li ziyu thought for a moment, ¡°i don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything else. su lin, do you want to do anything else?¡± su lin shook his head, ¡°not really. xiaowan, what about you?¡± lin xiaowan and the other girls looked at each other, then all shook their heads, not wanting to waste too much time and preferring to go back to cultivate. ¡°alright, then we¡¯ll leave after the meal.¡± li ziyu nodded, ¡°i¡¯ll see you out.¡± ¡°thank you, sister ziyu.¡± ¡°...¡± li ziyu accompanied su lin and the others to the elevator before turning back. ¡°ziyu, those girls are beautiful and well-spoken, not from ordinary families, right? you only gave me a rough idea earlier; can you tell me more? i¡¯d like to get to know them better.¡± li ziyu said seriously, ¡°ruoxi, i don¡¯t mind you getting to know them; they are good girls. but remember one thing, never get involved in their relationship with su lin.¡± ¡°hehe, ziyu, are you afraid i¡¯ll steal your man?¡± jiang ruoxi asked teasingly. li ziyu shook her head, ¡°su lin is there, not belonging to anyone. what¡¯s there to steal? i just wanted to remind you, it¡¯s already chaotic enough on su lin¡¯s side.¡± jiang ruoxi patted li ziyu¡¯s shoulder, ¡°don¡¯t worry. even though su lin almost meets all my criteria, he¡¯s already taken, and i¡¯m not interested.¡± seeing this, li ziyu nodded, ¡°that¡¯s good.¡± ¡°hehe, don¡¯t worry, how could i compete with my best sister for a man? men can go to hell; i¡¯m not interested.¡± ¡°hehe, ruoxi, you better not say that, be careful or you might end up eating your words.¡± ¡°eat my words? impossible, okay? when have you ever seen me, jiang ruoxi, get proved wrong?¡± li ziyu shook her head, remembering a time when she was just like jiang ruoxi, thinking no man was worth her time. but everything changed when su lin appeared. not only did he catch her eye, but he also captured her heart. the only thing left was for him to be part of her life. if su lin really wanted it, would she refuse? li ziyu was startled, finding herself surprisingly open to the idea of not rejecting su lin. Chapter 204: Lin Guoqiang parachutes into Donghai chapter 204: lin guoqiang parachutes into donghai when they got home, before they even had a chance to settle in, lin xiaowan''s phone rank. ¡°who''s calling you at this hour?¡± lin xiaowan shook her head, ¡°maybe it''s a supplier from before.¡± she had already delegated most of the company''s affairs to chen yang, rarely managing the suppliers herself anymore. glancing at her phone, her expression changed dramatically, ¡°su lin, it''s my dad calling.¡± ¡°uh... father-in-law is calling.¡± su lin gestured for silence to xia shiyu, indicating for lin xiaowan to take the call. ¡°hello, dad, have you had dinner? what¡¯s the matter, calling me so late?¡± lin xiaowan asked directly. hearing lin xiaowan''s question, lin guoqiang immediately got angry, ¡°what, can''t i call you if there''s nothing important?¡± ¡°dad, that''s not what i meant.¡± ¡°where''s su lin? let that young man talk to me.¡± lin xiaowan looked towards su lin, who hurriedly gestured that he wasn''t there. ¡°su lin has gone to rest. dad, what do you want to say?¡± ¡°hmph, don''t think i don''t know. su lin must be right beside you. put him on speaker; i want him to listen as well.¡± though lin xiaowan was somewhat biased against her own family, lin guoqiang couldn''t deny his daughter, nor could he deny his feelings of irritation towards su lin, whom his daughter adored. there was nothing he could do about it. realizing lin guoqiang must have something important to say, lin xiaowan put the phone on speaker, ¡°dad, i''m on speaker now. what''s it about?¡± ¡°a few days ago, i received a notification to become the mayor of donghai. tomorrow, have su lin call his dad, and let''s have a meal together, our two families.¡± ¡°you received the notification a few days ago and you''re assuming office tomorrow? that''s so sudden,¡± lin xiaowan exclaimed in surprise. lin guoqiang, unable to contain his anger, retorted, ¡°well, you might want to ask your boyfriend what he''s been up to. throwing out three big issues at once, do you think donghai can remain calm? without someone capable of managing the scene, it would have been turned upside down in days.¡± ¡°dad, su lin has been with me recently; he hasn''t done anything.¡± at this point, su lin also spoke up, ¡°uncle lin, please don''t slander me. i really haven''t done anything.¡± ¡°are you finally willing to show up? couldn''t hold it in anymore?¡± nodding, su lin took out his phone to call su zhenguo. su zhenguo wasn''t as surprised as su lin when he heard the news. he had learned from other channels about lin guoqiang coming to donghai as the mayor. moving from zhongjiang to donghai seemed like a lateral move, but it was actually a promotion. donghai is the capital of jiangnan province, while zhongjiang is only a county-level city. lin guoqiang¡¯s move could be seen as a significant leap. in this world controlled by aristocratic families, it¡¯s not always about how long one has served; such jumps in position are not uncommon. ¡°tomorrow at 6 pm, right? i¡¯ll arrange the time.¡± ¡°that¡¯s settled, then. i¡¯ll go reply now.¡± ¡°alright, just remember to be polite. i¡¯ve heard from brother lin many times how you often irritate him. after all, he is your future father-in-law. give him some respect when necessary,¡± su zhenguo advised. su lin couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly. when had he ever irritated lin guoqiang? it was mostly lin guoqiang getting angry at him, if anything. ¡°alright, i got it.¡± ¡°i¡¯ve got a meeting to attend, so i¡¯ll leave it at that.¡± hanging up, su lin checked the time and said in disbelief, ¡°it¡¯s almost 10 pm and still having meetings.¡± lin xiaowan laughed, ¡°did you think everyone is like you? being a boss and living more comfortably than anyone else, hardly needing to handle anything.¡± su lin replied, ¡°isn¡¯t chen yang managing everything well? with his oversight, operations in handong province are advancing rapidly. the company does fine with or without me.¡± thinking of xia shiyu¡¯s father still in zhongjiang, su lin turned to xia shiyu, ¡°xiaoyu, how about we also bring your dad over? donghai offers much better conditions than zhongjiang. it would be nice to have someone looking after him.¡± xia shiyu shook her head, ¡°i¡¯ve already asked my dad, and he doesn¡¯t want to come. after his kidney transplant, he occasionally experiences rejection symptoms. he thinks zhongjiang is pretty good and will visit us in donghai when he has the time.¡± ¡°hey, he doesn¡¯t think coming over would burden us, does he?¡± su lin knew xia shiyu¡¯s father was a very prideful man, not wanting to trouble others. ¡°he¡¯s really doing well in zhongjiang. i send my salary back every month. right now, my dad and aunt wang are enjoying their time together, so let¡¯s not disturb them.¡± su lin nodded, ¡°let them know they¡¯re welcome to come to donghai anytime they want.¡± ¡°mm-hmm~!!¡± Chapter 205: Inhuman? chapter 205: inhuman? feiyu entertainment! xiao feiyu was annoyed looking at xiao quan in front of him: ¡°didn''t i tell you to go back to modu? why are you still here?¡± xiao quan said hesitantly, ¡°young master, the old master sent me to ensure your safety.¡± after saying this, xiao quan fell silent, his meaning clear: i''m sent by your dad, you don''t have the authority to send me back. xiao feiyu became even more frustrated upon hearing this: ¡°so, you''re saying you want to defy my wishes?¡± xiao quan replied calmly, ¡°young master, donghai is currently turbulent with many masters around. if i go back to modu and someone attacks you, you could be in danger.¡± xiao feiyu shivered, remembering the way su lin looked at him earlier, a sensation of being on the verge of death. it was a strange feeling, completely illogical, but he felt that if he had confronted su lin head-on, su lin really might have attacked. xiao feiyu waved his hand: ¡°fine, then stay for now, stay a few more days. also, let me know, i want to take over the work here in donghai.¡± xiao quan responded, ¡°young master, i''m afraid that''s not possible.¡± ¡°what, i can''t take over my own family''s business?¡± xiao feiyu was sincerely angry by xiao quan, and if it weren''t for his disability to beat him, he would have lashed out. xiao quan nodded, ¡°the head of the family has sent a message that they will be coming to donghai tomorrow to discuss cooperation with the su corporation, and the chairman of the su corporation is that su lin''s father.¡± ¡°what, my parents are coming? when?¡± xiao feiyu stood up, somewhat agitated. ¡°you were upstairs having dinner when we received the message.¡± ¡°then why didn''t you tell me earlier?¡± xiao quan replied somewhat speechlessly, ¡°because you didn''t let me speak.¡± ¡°i...¡± xiao feiyu patted his head: ¡°never mind, i won''t hold it against you. what else do you have to say?¡± ¡°the young generations of the liu and zheng families from the imperial capital have already arrived in donghai, and the ma family from yangcheng as well, but their exact locations are still unclear.¡± ¡°they are likely here to expose their children to society. as for su zhenguo''s side, there''s still no news, and all guests are being refused. they seem to be waiting.¡± xiao feiyu looked at xiao quan somewhat surprised. this guy, you say he''s simple, yet he gets things done; you say he''s cunning, yet not quite, xiao feiyu would have thought xiao quan was playing him. ¡°the liu, zheng, and ma families are all major families. why are they also joining in? donghai is about to turn upside down.¡± ¡°but thinking about it, it''s normal. su lin is the protagonist; wherever he is, it''s bound to be the center of the whirlpool. when are my parents arriving tomorrow?¡± xiao quan looked surprised: ¡°young master, you''re planning to pick them up?¡± ¡°nonsense, wouldn''t it be improper if i didn''t pick up my parents?¡± xiao feiyu looked at xiao quan with disdain. xiao quan remained silent; he remembered xiao feiyu never picked up his parents before, no matter where they were. he always did what he liked, causing trouble if he didn''t get his way. yet, his parents doted on him, leading to his current character. it''s just unclear when xiao feiyu changed, albeit a bit awkwardly, but he was indeed making progress. ¡°the plane arrives a little after 2 pm tomorrow, expecting to reach donghai around 5 pm.¡± su lin hesitated for a moment then said, ¡°i¡¯ll try my best. you know yanyan, she wouldn¡¯t normally resort to physical actions, just kicking xiao feiyu shouldn¡¯t be a big deal.¡± ¡°mm-hmm.¡± after speaking, su lin didn¡¯t bother with a car, and directly took to the air, flying towards quan le guo. seven or eight minutes later, su lin met up with zhao yanyan. at that moment, zhao yanyan was somewhat excitedly looking at su lin, ¡°su lin, did you know? i just used my lightness skill to shake off a grandmaster.¡± su lin ruffled zhao yanyan¡¯s hair, ¡°you already told me on the phone, what¡¯s there to be excited about?¡± ¡°a grandmaster, eh? they couldn¡¯t catch up with me.¡± ¡°tell me what happened. how did xiao feiyu come to find you, and how did the conflict arise?¡± ¡°the thing is, i was at home cultivating today when suddenly my assistant called me saying a big client from modu wanted to collaborate with us, coming from a prestigious family.¡± ¡°i thought, with so many outsiders in donghai recently, there might be a genuine opportunity for collaboration, so i went. who knew that when i got to the supermarket, it turned out to be xiao feiyu.¡± ¡°he was okay at first but suddenly started talking about you, badmouthing you. the more i listened, the more upset i got, and we ended up arguing. then he said you were a big playboy who would eventually find many wives and forget about me, leaving me in the dust. i got so angry i kicked him.¡± su lin gave her a thumbs up, ¡°well kicked, what an idiot. did he really think i wouldn¡¯t get mad?¡± ¡°hehe, it¡¯s just that the place i kicked might have been a bit off,¡± zhao yanyan said somewhat sheepishly. ¡°where did you kick him?¡± zhao yanyan glanced down towards su lin¡¯s lower body and hesitated, ¡°just... there...¡± ¡°that¡¯s enough; i get it. was it heavy?¡± su lin curiously asked. zhao yanyan thought for a moment, ¡°i¡¯m not sure, but i was wearing leather shoes, so it probably was quite heavy.¡± they both laughed silently, and from zhao yanyan¡¯s radiant eyes, su lin knew that kick was definitely delivered with anger and was by no means light. ¡°su lin, with that kick, is it possible he... might not be capable of you know...?¡± su lin laughed, ¡°he should be fine; he¡¯s like a cockroach.¡± ¡°a cockroach?¡± ¡°yeah, a cockroach that can¡¯t be killed. no worries, let¡¯s head to the supermarket first. i need to get xiao feiyu to explain himself. otherwise, today¡¯s incident can¡¯t be settled.¡± ¡°but i kicked him, and you still want an explanation from him?¡± zhao yanyan, finding amusement in the situation, chuckled. su lin nodded, ¡°him speaking ill of me, and you kicking him is justified. but isn¡¯t it abnormal that he spoke ill of me in the first place? doesn¡¯t he owe me an explanation?¡± ¡°hehehe... he does.¡± ¡°let¡¯s go then. we¡¯ll get that explanation.¡± enhance your reading experience by removing ads: remove ads now Chapter 206: Handsome and Domineering! chapter 206: handsome and domineering! in the general manager''s office of quan le guo donghai branch no. 1, xiao feiyu was holding his lower body, his face swollen red like a liver, features twisted, veins popping, enduring immense pain. he hadn''t expected zhao yanyan to act so quickly, nor for her strike to be so powerful that he couldn''t bear it. it surprised him that zhao yanyan, who looked so delicate with her long legs, could be so violent. minutes later, xiao quan and another returned. bearing the pain, xiao feiyu asked, ¡°where''s zhao yanyan? why have only the two of you come back?¡±no?v(el)b\\jnn xiao quan explained, ¡°zhao yanyan is a master of ancient martial arts and can perform lightness skills. we couldn''t keep up with her and were worried about your safety, so we came back first.¡± ¡°useless, both of you. can''t even catch a woman. how are you supposed to protect me?¡± xiao feiyu barked. xiao quan and the other remained silent. although they were grandmasters, their skills couldn''t compare to zhao yanyan''s speed. they had indeed failed to protect xiao feiyu and let zhao yanyan kick him right under their watch. ¡°master, maybe you should visit a hospital first.¡± xiao feiyu looked at xiao quan as if he were an idiot, ¡°do you want the whole country to know i was kicked by a woman? to become a national joke?¡± ¡°master, your antics are already numerous; one more wouldn''t make a difference.¡± ¡°xiao quan, get out. i don''t care how you do it, but bring zhao yanyan back to me immediately. i want to settle this with her myself.¡± just as xiao quan was about to leave, he sensed two strong presences approaching the office. one of them, incredibly formidable, he had felt before ¨C it was su lin. su lin''s prowess still vividly haunted him. he hadn''t expected zhao yanyan to summon him so quickly. his face paled as he warned, ¡°master, we must leave quickly...¡± ¡°leave? and where to go?¡± su lin and zhao yanyan entered the room through the window. su lin, looking at xiao feiyu curled up, said indifferently, ¡°xiao feiyu, don''t you think you owe me an explanation?¡± xiao feiyu, surprised, looked up at su lin, ¡°explanation? what''s the explanation? can''t you see i''m the victim here?¡± su lin nodded, ¡°i know you''re a victim.¡± but i also know you spoke ill of me. yanyan got angry and acted impulsively. what, can¡¯t you own up to your actions?¡± after speaking, su lin released his grandmaster-level aura, directed at xiao feiyu on the ground. xiao feiyu had never felt so humiliated. despite being a loser before transmigrating, at least no one bothered him. after transmigrating and acquiring a system, plus being the top young master of modu and handsome, he couldn''t understand how he ended up in this state. ¡°hmph... i was simply stating facts.¡± the two shared a laugh, and su lin casually closed the lounge door behind them. meanwhile, xiao feiyu, carried by xiao quan into the car, only relaxed a few hundred meters away, confident that su lin wasn''t pursuing them. ¡°master, i''ve already warned you how strong su lin is. why won''t you listen? we can''t beat him and can''t protect you,¡± xiao quan spoke earnestly. xiao feiyu scoffed, ¡°you two are grandmasters and don''t even have the courage to fight in front of people. useless.¡± ¡°master, it''s not that we''re useless. it''s just that su lin is too monstrous. his presence is too overwhelming. there are rumors he''s at the pinnacle of grandmasters, and i believe they''re not wrong.¡± xiao feiyu nodded in agreement, ¡°indeed very strong. just his aura made us unable to move.¡± ¡°hmph, it won¡¯t be long before i¡¯m as strong as him.¡± xiao quan wanted to critique xiao feiyu¡¯s delusional confidence but held back, knowing it would only hurt his feelings. ¡°master, in the future, it¡¯s best not to provoke su lin¡¯s women. otherwise, we really won¡¯t be able to protect you.¡± xiao feiyu nodded, then assigned a new task, ¡°xiao fei, find ghost doctor¡¯s whereabouts for me. tell him his disciple was killed by su lin, and i¡¯m inviting him to come out of hiding.¡± ¡°inviting ghost doctor out of hiding? is that possible?¡± xiao quan doubted. xiao feiyu chuckled, ¡°if ghost doctor is unwilling to come out, tell him i know how to concoct the seven revolutions resurrection pill. if he¡¯s willing to work for me, i even have the method to concoct the nine revolutions resurrection pill.¡± ¡°nine revolutions resurrection pill? what¡¯s that, a medicinal pill?¡± xiao quan curiously asked. xiao feiyu gave him a glance and said, ¡°that¡¯s not for you to worry about. xiao fei, did you hear what i said?¡± xiao fei silently nodded. ¡°then hurry up and get moving. i think many people should know ghost doctor¡¯s address. it shouldn¡¯t be a secret and easy to find.¡± xiao feiyu knew that later on, ghost doctor would come out of hiding to help xiao chen deal with the big families in the imperial capital for the seven revolutions resurrection pill. now, although he couldn¡¯t go to the imperial capital for the pill formula, he had the system. once su lin was taken care of, wouldn¡¯t he have the formula? wang yannian was a true human immortal, while su lin was only at the pinnacle of grandmasters. he couldn¡¯t believe that with wang yannian on his side, su lin would still be a problem. he was determined to return today¡¯s humiliation a hundredfold. Chapter 207: The Father-in-laws Roar Chapter 207: The Father-in-law''s Roar ¡°Su Lin, has the issue with Yanyan been resolved yet? It''s getting late; why aren''t you back?¡± ¡°Yawn~~! It''s settled, I''ll be back soon.¡± Lin Xiaowan, hearing Su Lin''s clearly sleepy voice, got angry, ¡°Su Lin, were you sleeping?¡± Su Lin opened his eyes wide and instantly became alert, ¡°How could that be?¡± Xiaowan, wait for me, I''ll be home in ten minutes.¡± ¡°You''re just fooling me; I heard your yawn,¡± Lin Xiaowan said disdainfully. Su Lin chuckled, not bothering to explain. Glancing at Zhao Yanyan, who was deeply asleep beside him, he shook his head, got dressed, and headed home. Several minutes later, Su Lin saw Lin Xiaowan at the villa, engrossed in a Taiwanese romance drama, with her legs crossed and holding melon seeds, completely captivated by the plot on TV. Su Lin hadn''t expected Lin Xiaowan to be interested in such romance dramas. Indeed, no woman could resist the charm of romance series. ¡°Xiaowan, I''m back.¡± Seeing Su Lin, Lin Xiaowan was initially happy but then frowned, ¡°If I hadn''t called, would you have even known to come back?¡± Su Lin hurriedly responded, ¡°How could that be? Things were a bit complicated. Xiao Feiyu kicked got by Yanyan.¡± ¡°Kicked by Yanyan? Why did she kick him?¡± Lin Xiaowan''s attention was successfully diverted by Su Lin, to his relief. He explained, ¡°It was like this...¡± After hearing Su Lin''s explanation, Lin Xiaowan muttered angrily, ¡°Serves him right. Yanyan did well. I wish I was there; I would definitely have kicked him too. He wasn''t just speaking ill of you; he was cursing Yanyan.¡± ¡°Curse Yanyan? How so?¡± Su Lin asked, curious. Clearly, Lin Xiaowan and Su Lin had different interpretations. Lin Xiaowan explained, ¡°He knew Yanyan is with you, as well as me, Xiaoyu, and Xiaoyue. By saying that, he meant you would abandon Yanyan in the future, leaving her old and alone. Isn¡¯t that a curse?¡± ¡°Ah... I see. I thought he was just speaking ill of me,¡± Su Lin said, enlightened. No wonder Zhao Yanyan was so angry she went straight for a kick. Lin Xiaowan laughed, ¡°Well, he''s been punished now. If I see him next time, I''ll hit him too.¡± Lin Xiaowan cheekily replied, ¡°With you around, would he dare to fight back?¡± Lin Guoqiang nodded, ¡°That''s true. I doubt the kid would dare.¡± Turning to Su Lin, Lin Guoqiang then said, ¡°Young man, don''t you know how to greet your elders? Didn¡¯t your father teach you to respect the elderly?¡± Su Lin, unbothered by Lin Guoqiang¡¯s somewhat overbearing words, simply smiled, ¡°Uncle~! I didn¡¯t want to interrupt your father-daughter reunion, how can you say I¡¯m being rude?¡± ¡°Hmph~! You think a few sweet words will let you off the hook? Now that you¡¯re in Donghai and no one¡¯s supervising you, you think you can just do whatever you want? What do you take my daughter for?¡± Lin Guoqiang demanded, visibly annoyed. Su Lin was speechless, knowing all too well the difficulty of dealing with these fathers-in-law. While it¡¯s common for men in the major families of this world to have multiple partners, Su Lin¡¯s situation was different; his partners were not ordinary women. Seeing Su Lin at a loss for words, Lin Guoqiang pressed on, ¡°You were so talkative over the phone. How come you¡¯re mute in person?¡± ¡°Cough cough, Uncle~! Earlier, you accused me of lacking respect for my elders. If you berate me, how can I talk back?¡± Su Lin replied with a forced smile. Lin Guoqiang retorted, ¡°As if you¡¯re ever short of retorts. You¡¯re as slick as they come.¡± ¡°Dad~!!! It¡¯s almost 6 o¡¯clock, Su Lin¡¯s dad is already at the Four Seasons Hotel. Let¡¯s not keep him waiting, shall we get going?¡± Seeing Lin Xiaowan stepping in to defuse the situation, Lin Guoqiang glared at her, ¡°You! Oh you, if Su Lin ever bullies you, don¡¯t come crying to me.¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare to bully me. I¡¯m a martial artist now, quite formidable,¡± Lin Xiaowan boasted. Lin Guoqiang shook his head, ¡°Stepping into the world of martial artists means stepping into the realm of life and death. You can¡¯t be reckless from now on.¡± The Lin family has cultivators, and quite a few at that. The reason they didn¡¯t want Lin Xiaowan to practice ancient martial arts was simple: they didn¡¯t want her to be exposed to such dangers. Once involved, even the sons and daughters of great families could easily be killed. Life and death become uncontrollable. If Su Lin knew Lin Guoqiang¡¯s thoughts, he¡¯d scoff. In a world governed by martial strength, only personal power truly mattered. All external forces could be used against you. Only by being strong yourself could you be fearless against any schemes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dad, Su Lin will protect me well.¡± Lin Guoqiang nodded, knowing Su Lin¡¯s true capabilities, so he was somewhat reassured. In all of Xia, as long as Su Lin didn¡¯t court death, he wouldn¡¯t die. Not only was he powerful, but he also had a strong background. The authorities also backed them. ¡°Alright, standing here in the sun is quite uncomfortable. Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s meet Su Zhenguo. Su Lin, you drive.¡± Su Lin, with a resigned expression, opened the car door. Chapter 208: Su Zhenguo had everything arranged Chapter 208: Su Zhenguo had everything arranged On the road, Su Lin, while driving, asked, ¡°Uncle Lin, is it appropriate for someone of your status to dine at the Four Seasons Hotel?¡± ¡°There''s nothing inappropriate about it, kid. Don''t overthink it. Dining anywhere with someone like your dad is always fine,¡± Lin Guoqiang responded casually. Su Lin nodded upon hearing this. Su Zhenguo was indeed a hot commodity domestically, and dining at the Four Seasons was not considered over the top anymore. A few minutes later, Su Lin arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel. ¡°It''s a pity that Xiaowan''s mother couldn''t come,¡± Lin Guoqiang sighed, then he opened the car door and got out. Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan followed him. The three went up to the reserved private room where Su Zhenguo was already sitting. Upon seeing Su Zhenguo, Lin Guoqiang burst into laughter, ¡°Su Zhenguo, bet you didn''t expect this. I''ve become the mayor of Donghai!¡± Su Zhenguo, seeing Lin Guoqiang laughing so heartily, was not amused, ¡°So, you like dealing with this hot potato?¡± Lin Guoqiang shook his head, ¡°What''s a hot potato to others is not to me. And old Su, didn''t you say I couldn''t manage you anymore? Well, now I''m here in Donghai.¡± Su Zhenguo retorted with a sneer, ¡°What are you so happy about? You''re here in Donghai just to assist me with my work. Do you think you can still arrange things any way you want like before, with holding lands whenever you like?¡± ¡°Let''s not talk about me. I''m setting up a car manufacturing plant, a power center, and two electronics factories. You''ll have to allocate substantial land for these, and not just a little. With all the major families coming in, Donghai isn''t that big; I''d like to see how you manage.¡± Su Zhenguo''s words were like a cold shower on Lin Guoqiang. The factories alone were enough to develop a new industrial zone, not to mention the influx of so many major families, truly a headache for him. ¡°Alright, sit down, let''s not make the kids laugh at us.¡± Lin Guoqiang grunted and sat down with Lin Xiaowan opposite of Su Lin, quite a distance away. Su Lin was speechless; the two elders could just duel it out without taking out their frustrations on the kids. But he kept quiet, seeing how troubled Lin Guoqiang was at the moment; it wasn''t wise to provoke him further. Once seated, the arguing ceased. Su Zhenguo personally poured Lin Guoqiang a glass of wine, and the atmosphere finally eased. Lin Guoqiang took a sip and then looked at Su Zhenguo, ¡°I heard you''ve been refusing visitors recently?¡± Su Zhenguo nodded, ¡°Yes, too many people have been coming, and I plan to wait until they all show their hands before selecting a few for partnerships.¡± Lin Guoqiang nodded understandingly, ¡°I''m just afraid others won''t give you time to wait.¡± ¡°Yes, today the Liu family from the capital came to see me, but I had them wait outside,¡± Su Zhenguo said flatly. Lin Guoqiang gave a thumbs up, ¡°The Liu family has always been assertive. I wouldn¡¯t have expected them to be turned away at your door.¡± ¡°Ah, you think I don''t want to meet them? Normally, I''d be thrilled to collaborate with such a family, but not now. I need to be very careful, otherwise, I wouldn''t even know how I might die. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m about to be sucked into a big vortex that will reshuffle the nation¡¯s elite families,¡± Su Zhenguo admitted, feeling somewhat troubled. Lin Guoqiang nodded, ¡°With what you''ve brought out, it''s enough to reshuffle our country several times.¡± Such impulsiveness isn¡¯t like you.¡± Su Zhenguo glared at Su Lin, ¡°It''s all because this precious son of mine has posed a difficult problem.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°No need for that now, since Song Zhigang has been providing us with cultivation resources, Xiaowan and the others are progressing rapidly in their training.¡± Lin Guoqiang was surprised, ¡°Indeed, they''ve become masters so quickly, Su Lin, you''re not teaching them some evil techniques, are you?¡± Su Lin looked annoyed, ¡°How could that be possible?¡± ¡°That''s strange then, I''ve never seen anyone achieve master status so quickly from scratch before. Got any special tricks?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course, but Uncle, you''ll have to trade something for that information.¡± ¡°You cheeky boy, now you''re bargaining with me?¡± ¡°Nothing comes without cost, right?¡± Su Lin said with a grin. Lin Guoqiang couldn''t help but laugh; Su Lin had indeed inherited Su Zhenguo''s genes, always looking for profit. ¡°Let it be, I came to Donghai to oversee the big picture. Old Su, can you share your thoughts now?¡± Su Zhenguo laughed, ¡°What thoughts? Let''s start with a banquet. We definitely need to announce our strategic partnership with the Qin and Li families, and as for choosing which families to collaborate with, we''ll see how they bid.¡± ¡°When?¡± ¡°Next week, here at the Four Seasons Hotel. By then, everything should be well arranged in Donghai, right?¡± Lin Guoqiang nodded, ¡°Now all parties are positioning themselves in Donghai, not just the major families. The 751 Office and I are also coordinating. A week is plenty.¡± ¡°We shouldn''t have to worry about any mishaps then.¡± ¡°Right, keep me updated on any ideas you have so I can arrange to support you, just like you said, I''m here in Donghai entirely to support you,¡± Lin Guoqiang said with a smile. Hearing this, Su Zhenguo also smiled. With Lin Guoqiang''s step in Donghai completed, his next move would certainly be back to the capital, and by that time, Su Lin would also go to the capital. Whether he liked it or not, from the moment Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan were together, the two families began to have close ties. Su Zhenguo was bound to be labeled with the Lin family¡¯s mark. But he didn¡¯t care about these things; as long as he could make money, fulfill his revenge, and strengthen the Su family, who he partnered with didn¡¯t matter. Su Lin thought about the implications of Su Zhenguo and Lin Guoqiang¡¯s conversation, and the changes his upcoming promotion would bring to his status. Once the Su family banquet begins, he would definitely attend as the vice president. Then, the real battle with these noble scions would begin. Chapter 209: Xiao Feiyu gets a slap from Lin Xiaowan, showing her assertive side! Chapter 209: Xiao Feiyu gets a slap from Lin Xiaowan, showing her assertive side! While Su Lin was happily dining, in a nearby private room, Xiao Feiyu and Jiang Ruoxi were entertaining their parents who had come from Modu. After everyone was seated, Xiao Feiyu straightforwardly said, ¡°Dad, I''ve made up my mind. I want to cancel my engagement with Jiang Ruoxi.¡± Xiao Boyuan was surprised and looked at Xiao Feiyu, ¡°Cancel the engagement? Wasn''t marrying Ruoxi always your dream? After all the effort Grandpa took to speak with the Jiang family, why suddenly cancel?¡± After Xiao Boyuan spoke, he looked inquisitively at Jiang Ruoxi, who sat there silently. She was surprised that Xiao Feiyu was really canceling their engagement, but she was relieved too. Now she wouldn''t have to carry the label of being ''Xiao Feiyu''s woman.'' She felt fortunate about this trip to Donghai because people like Su Lin, Li Ziyu, and Lin Xiaowan didn''t treat her as just ''Xiao Feiyu''s woman,'' and their interactions were quite normal. Now that Xiao Feiyu wanted to cancel the engagement, she wouldn''t have to worry anymore about it in Donghai, which made her truly happy. ¡°Ruoxi, why does Feiyu suddenly want to cancel the engagement?¡± Jiang Ruoxi looked at Xiao Boyuan and then shook her head, ¡°Uncle Xiao, I''m not sure either. But I honestly don''t like Feiyu. I''m actually happy he''s canceling the engagement. It''s better to remain friends if we can''t be spouses.¡± [Ding~! The female lead, Jiang Ruoxi, has had a change of heart towards you, gaining 1000 villain points.]. Hearing the system''s voice, Xiao Feiyu inwardly thought it was as expected. To deal with a woman like Jiang Ruoxi, he couldn''t use his usual sycophantic ways but had to take a reverse approach. Now, let her attitude towards him change first, then slowly conquer her heart. If he kept up his sycophantic approach, he knew he would never win over Jiang Ruoxi. Seeing that Jiang Ruoxi wasn''t giving much away, Xiao Boyuan turned to Xiao Feiyu, serious, ¡°Are you serious, Feiyu? You should know our families have started collaborating, and if you abandon this alliance through marriage, you might not get another chance.¡± Gao Xiuwen also added, ¡°Yes, Feiyu, your father, your grandfather, and I all had high hopes for your marriage to Ruoxi. It¡¯s not easy to find someone like her in Modu, especially someone from a family that matches ours in status.¡± Xiao Feiyu responded, ¡°Mom, I''m serious. A man shouldn''t worry about finding a wife. Ruoxi is great, but that doesn''t mean I should force her to be with me. She doesn''t want this arranged marriage, and she won''t be happy with me in the future. It¡¯s better to let go early and allow her to find the life she wants.¡± [Ding~! The female lead, Jiang Ruoxi, has had a change of heart towards you, gaining 500 villain points.]. Jiang Ruoxi looked at Xiao Feiyu appreciatively; she had never found him more agreeable than at that moment. Xiao Boyuan and Gao Xiuwen exchanged glances, understanding each other''s thoughts. ¡°We can''t decide on this matter for you,¡± Gao Xiuwen smiled sweetly, ¡°I just came to see you, and in a few days, I''ll go back and tell your great-grandfather to let him make the final decision . How about that?¡± Her idea was simple: the engagement couldn''t be so easily called off, so they might as well let the young people continue to interact while they bought some time. Xiao Feiyu was known for being impulsive, and who knows, he might change his mind about calling off the engagement after a while. As for Jiang Ruoxi, they didn''t really take her feelings into consideration. Family alliances are often like this; typically, the woman is not in agreement, but as life goes on after marriage, things usually work out fine. The head of the family does well, and the lady of the house doesn''t fare much worse. ¡°Smack!¡± Lin Xiaowan gave Xiao Feiyu a resounding slap. Disgusted, she wiped her hand on Su Lin¡¯s clothes. Su Lin, frowning, said, ¡°Xiaowan, what do you mean by wiping your hand on my clothes?¡± ¡°I find it dirty,¡± Lin Xiaowan said with distaste. It was only then that Xiao Feiyu realized he had been slapped. He became furious and was about to retaliate. ¡°Xiao Feiyu! What are you doing?¡± Hearing Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s voice, Xiao Feiyu turned with red eyes, ¡°Jiang Ruoxi, don¡¯t interfere today. I¡¯m going to¡ª¡± Su Lin pulled Lin Xiaowan behind him, ¡°Xiao Feiyu, I really want to see what you¡¯re going to do today. Wanna make a move?¡± Xiao Feiyu was indeed afraid of Su Lin, knowing his own strength was far less, but his parents were just next door, and he had just improved his relationship with Jiang Ruoxi. If he backed down now, today¡¯s efforts would be wasted. ¡°Lin Xiaowan, what right do you have to hit me?¡± ¡°I have every right to hit you, don¡¯t you know why? You claim to like Ruoxi, yet today you brought people to harass Yanyan, badmouthed Su Lin, and had your bodyguards grab Yanyan. If my dad hadn¡¯t come to Donghai, Su Lin would have dealt with you, you... Hmph.¡± Jiang Ruoxi looked at Xiao Feiyu in surprise, ¡°Is what Xiaowan said true?¡± ¡°Of course not...¡± ¡°Before you lie, think carefully. Our supermarket is fully covered by surveillance,¡± Lin Xiaowan said coolly. Hearing this, Xiao Feiyu fell silent. He indeed had gone to see Zhao Yanyan, badmouthed Su Lin, and had his bodyguards attempt to capture Zhao Yanyan. ¡°But... she hit me first. Ruoxi, listen to me¡ª¡± Jiang Ruoxi waved her hand, ¡°Xiao Feiyu, you don¡¯t need to explain to me. We have nothing to do with each other now. Aunt Gao already said she¡¯d talk to your grandfather about canceling the engagement, so these matters don¡¯t concern me anymore. You can chase whoever you want. But I must remind you, this isn¡¯t Modu; this is Donghai.¡± ¡°Su Lin... he¡¯s killed people before.¡± Chapter 210 Chapter 210: Jiang Ruoxi Feels Like Going to a Bar [Ding~! The female lead, Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s attitude towards you has changed to indifferent. To prevent the host from farming goodwill points, no more villain points will be awarded after recovery.]. Seeing Jiang Ruoxi in front of him, Xiao Feiyu knew all his efforts had been in vain. Just when he had finally managed to change Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s attitude towards him a bit, an encounter with Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan turned everything sour, resulting in the current situation. Xiao Feiyu was truly frustrated and couldn¡¯t take action against Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan, as he was not their match. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve already ordered the dishes. You should go back inside; your parents are waiting for you.¡± Xiao Feiyu turned to Jiang Ruoxi and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming in with me?¡± Jiang Ruoxi shook her head. ¡°I¡¯d rather not go in. Since Aunt Gao hasn¡¯t sent any message yet, please don¡¯t contact me anymore.¡± Seeing this, Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan tactfully left. Jiang Ruoxi called out from behind, ¡°Su Lin, Xiaowan, wait for me. I¡¯ll come with you.¡± ¡°Sure, Ruoxi~!!¡± Xiao Feiyu watched helplessly as Jiang Ruoxi left with Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan. He suddenly felt that canceling the engagement might not have been the right decision. However, thinking he would eventually have the last laugh, he reassured himself about his choice. ¡°Su Lin, Xiaowan, why are you eating here again today?¡± Su Lin replied, ¡°Because this place belongs to the Li family, so Xiaowan and I don¡¯t have to pay for our meals here.¡± ¡°Heh~ Really?¡± Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes at Su Lin and clarified, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him; we¡¯re here because my dad is visiting, and we¡¯re hosting him here.¡± ¡°Oh, I see. But why did you come out? Aren¡¯t you supposed to stay with your dad?¡± ¡°My dad is still discussing business, so we came out first. Ruoxi, do you want to come with us?¡± Lin Xiaowan invited warmly. Jiang Ruoxi shook her head, feeling rather low. If there had been any redeeming quality left in Xiao Feiyu¡¯s eyes before, it was his deep devotion. However, after today¡¯s events, she realized even that devotion was just a facade, which crumbled the moment he saw Zhao Yanyan and Lin Xiaowan. The real reason why he wanted to call off their engagement became apparent¡ªhe was infatuated with someone else. Jiang didn¡¯t care about his change of heart; what she found despicable was his behavior, liking Su Lin¡¯s girlfriend and speaking ill of him. Such actions could only come from Xiao Feiyu. Now that she saw Xiao Feiyu¡¯s true colors, Jiang felt somewhat relieved. It was just a little sad; after all, she had known him since childhood, and only today did she truly see his true nature. ¡°Ruoxi, what are you thinking about? We¡¯re talking to you.¡± Embarrassed, She snapped back to reality. ¡°Sorry, Xiaowan, my mind was elsewhere.¡± ¡°Oh, no worries. I was just letting you know that Su Lin and I are heading back first.¡± Jiang nodded. ¡°Okay~!!¡± Watching Lin Xiaowan and Su Lin leave together, she felt a bit envious. Su Lin, despite being a bit of a playboy, was very different from Xiao Feiyu. He never hid his feelings and didn¡¯t treat his multiple girlfriends unfairly; instead, he felt he owed them and compensated them in various ways. That¡¯s why Lin Xiaowan and the other girls felt so happy with him. Remembering her good friend Li Ziyu also saw Su Lin in a special light, Jiang couldn¡¯t help but remark how charismatic men always seemed to attract a circle of outstanding women around them. Sometimes, even if he wasn¡¯t flirtatious, the women around him could make him appear so. ¡°Su Lin¡¯s guy? He has people working for him?¡± Jiang Ruoxi was curious. Li Ziyu nodded, ¡°There¡¯s quite a story there. Want to hear it?¡± ¡°Yes, absolutely. You know I¡¯m all ears for this kind of stuff,¡± Jiang Ruoxi said, eager to know more. Li Ziyu shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s a bit complicated. It starts with the rivalry between Su Lin and Xiao Chen, the heir to the Ghost Doctor. That itself is a whole saga.¡± ¡°Wow, I really want to hear this. Tell me everything,¡± Jiang Ruoxi urged, excited. As they talked, Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s Ferrari attracted a lot of attention as they parked. Many turned their heads towards the flashy car. Meanwhile, in the manager¡¯s office of Four Seas Bar: ¡°Manager Yu, a Ferrari just pulled up at the entrance.¡± ¡°A Ferrari? Since when did you start getting excited about Ferraris? We see them all the time here.¡± ¡°Cough... But this one has a Modu license plate.¡± ¡°A Modu plate?¡± Yu Chao¡¯s eyes narrowed suddenly. Luo Sihai had warned him that many people from significant families would be visiting Donghai and to keep an eye out for luxury cars from out of town, as their occupants might be important guests needing extra security. Luo Sihai had risen in Donghai not just through brute force but also with his wits; otherwise, he¡¯d have been long gone. Yu Chao trusted Luo¡¯s advice implicitly. He had been noticing a lot of luxury cars lately, mostly business types like Bentleys and Rolls-Royces, the types of cars that clearly said something about their occupants. Young people favored supercars, and today seemed to be the day when a second-generation rich kid decided to visit. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s definitely a Modu plate. You told us to watch out for those specifically.¡± Yu Chao nodded, ¡°Okay, go back to your duties. Just keep things smooth, no disturbances, got it?¡± ¡°Understood, Manager.¡± ¡°Mm~!!¡± As the security staff member left, Yu Chao got up and paced the office before deciding to call Luo Sihai. ¡°Boss Luo... About that out-of-town plate you mentioned to keep an eye on...¡± Before Yu Chao could finish, the security staff member rushed back in, ¡°Manager, the people from the car are... it¡¯s...¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Yu Chao frowned, annoyed by the guard¡¯s lack of composure. ¡°It¡¯s the current head of the Li family, Li Ziyu¡ªthe one you showed us pictures of.¡± Luo Sihai, overhearing this from the phone, perked up immediately, ¡°It¡¯s her? Xiao Chao, make sure she¡¯s well taken care of, I¡¯ll be right over.¡± ¡°What, Boss, you¡¯re coming over yourself?¡± ¡°Yes, just make sure she¡¯s comfortable. Don¡¯t worry about the rest; I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± ¡°Got it, Boss.¡± After hanging up, Yu Chao was left stunned. This was the power of Donghai¡¯s top family; just a casual visit to a bar warranted the chairman¡¯s personal appearance? Chapter 211 Chapter 211: Mysterious Disturbance ¡°This is a bar, huh? There are so many people,¡± Jiang Ruoxi observed curiously as she looked around the bar. During their university days, both she and Li Ziyu were student leaders who often heard about people going to bars, but they never went themselves due to strict family teachings. After graduation, as they took over their family businesses, they had even less time to visit bars. The heavy metal music was so loud that it pained their ears. ¡°First time for the two beauties here? Would you like to start with some drinks?¡± a server approached them. Li Ziyu nodded, ¡°Do you have a quieter private room?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, private rooms need to be booked in advance, we only have a small booth available, would that work for you?¡± Li Ziyu and Jiang Ruoxi followed the server¡¯s gaze and saw a small booth in a corner. It was compact but would be sufficient for them to drink. Li Ziyu looked at Jiang Ruoxi. Jiang nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s take the booth. How do you charge here?¡± ¡°The booth is available with a minimum charge of 1888 after an initial fee of 888.¡± Jiang nodded, finding the price reasonable, ¡°We¡¯ll take the booth then.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Jiang quickly swiped her card, and then she and Li Ziyu headed to the booth where the server soon brought them their drinks and a fruit platter. Once seated, both felt slightly uncomfortable; the clientele here was very different from the usual crowds they mingled with. Normally, people glanced at them discretely, but in the bar, stares were unabashed, filled with noise and sinister smiles. Anyone who had frequented bars could tell that Li Ziyu and Jiang Ruoxi were newcomers, easy targets for deceit, and already some were plotting their approach. Just then, several luxury cars pulled up outside the Four Seas Bar. Handsome men and beautiful women stepped out, their cars bearing license plates from Yangcheng, the Capital, and Modu. One of them approached Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s car and remarked, ¡°So this is Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s car. Didn¡¯t expect to see her at a bar, interesting.¡± ¡°Are you sure this is Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s car, Wang? We¡¯ve all heard of her prominence in Modu, known as a leader among the younger generation. Wasn¡¯t it said that she never frequents bars?¡± Wang Tao replied, ¡°How could I mistake her? It¡¯s a shame, that beast Xiao Feiyu has his eyes on her, and there are rumors of an arranged marriage between the Xiao and Jiang families, though I don¡¯t know if they¡¯re true.¡± ¡°And you, Ma Junjie, I heard you¡¯re engaged yet here you are flirting around, aren¡¯t you afraid your fiance?e will drag you back to Yangcheng?¡± Ma Junjie scoffed, ¡°Afraid? She¡¯s not worthy. If it works, it works; if not, too bad.¡± The Ma family dominated in Yangcheng, and Ma Junjie was used to being defiant. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be here if it weren¡¯t for the news that Jiang Ruoxi was spotted. I wouldn¡¯t bother coming to such a place otherwise.¡± ¡°Poor Xiao Feiyu,¡± another laughed, ¡°Modu¡¯s most romantically devoted man.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go see for ourselves. Jiang Ruoxi, a star of Modu, has been in Donghai for a few days and is already hitting the bars. It seems those stories about her might just be fabrications, she¡¯s not all that great,¡± Ma Junjie said cheerfully. As they spoke, a Lamborghini rolled up, its bright lights and rumbling engine stopping everyone in their tracks. ¡°That car looks like Xiao Feiyu¡¯s,¡± Wang Tao noted. A loud voice bellowed, and Yu Chao, along with several security guards, approached, parting the crowd as they moved. The noise in the bar subdued, and many turned curiously towards the disturbance. Yu Chao hadn¡¯t expected things to escalate so quickly. Just the time it took to smoke a cigarette, and Jiang Ruoxi and Li Ziyu had already encountered trouble. Luo Sihai had explicitly instructed him to ensure their safety. Now, he berated himself for his negligence. Seeing the manager approach, Xiao Feiyu quickly said, ¡°I¡¯ve handled the troublemakers. It¡¯s all good now.¡± ¡°Who says so?¡± Jiang Rouxi pointed at Xiao Feiyu, ¡°They started the trouble.¡± ¡°Damn...¡± ¡°Shit!¡± ¡°Ruoxi, you¡ª¡± Wang Tao and Ma Junjie were stunned, suddenly implicated as troublemakers. But they were no easy marks and didn¡¯t take Jiang Rouxi¡¯s accusation seriously. Even if they really caused trouble, as long as they weren¡¯t wielding machine guns, a little misbehavior wouldn¡¯t matter much in Donghai. ¡°Manager, please get rid of these pests. They¡¯re ruining our drink,¡± Jiang Rouxi said indifferently. Hearing this, Xiao Feiyu¡¯s expression turned fierce. He was no one¡¯s fool, and helping out had apparently backfired. Yu Chao, knowing these men were from prestigious families, suggested diplomatically, ¡°Gentlemen, perhaps you¡¯d like to relocate? We have many other booths available, just pick one, and I can arrange it for you.¡± ¡°Arrange? No, I don¡¯t need that. I want an apology from this girl,¡± Ma Junjie demanded, his eyes lingering on the striking Li Ziyu. Jiang was stunning enough, but the ethereal beauty of Li Ziyu was even more captivating. Ma Junjie, who loved the thrill of conquering haughty women, was instantly smitten. Asking him to leave now was like asking for his life. Yu Chao¡¯s face darkened. This was Donghai, not Yangcheng or the Capital. Luo Sihai¡¯s orders were clear: protect Li Ziyu and Jiang Ruoxi at all costs. He¡¯d already failed once; failing again could mean severe consequences from Luo Sihai. ¡°Unwilling? I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯re not welcome at Four Seas Bar.¡± ¡°Not welcome, that¡¯s interesting, really interesting...¡± Ma Junjie, quick-tempered, grabbed a bottle and swung at a nearby security guard. Unfortunately, he lacked any real martial arts training, and the guard easily dodged. Seeing this, Yu Chao waved his hand, and several guards rushed forward. Xiao Feiyu felt this fight was utterly absurd, but that was the reality¡ªfights could start over nothing. His only regret was not wearing a suit. Even so, his Wing Chun skills were formidable, though outnumbered, he quickly took some hits. Seeing the situation, Yu Chao urgently addressed Li Ziyu, ¡°Miss Li, the boss will be here soon. Could you and your friend please wait in my office?¡± ¡°Why hide? They wouldn¡¯t dare do anything to us,¡± Li Ziyu responded coolly. ¡°This...¡± Chapter 212: Blackened, strength tripled! Chapter 212: Blackened, strength tripled! A brawl soon erupted in the bar, and unfortunately, several young masters had not brought their bodyguards, so they gradually found themselves at a disadvantage. Especially Xiao Feiyu, who resisted most fiercely, thus receiving the most attention and injuries. As for Ma Junjie, he was subdued at first sight and was tightly controlled by the internal security. He did not resist; although arrogant, he knew that being so at this time was akin to seeking death. He had several girlfriends and a beautiful fiance?e, what a pity it would be to die here without cause. Wang Tao quickly noticed that Ma Junjie had been subdued, and taking the opportunity, he too fell to the ground and was restrained by an internal security officer. The remaining internal security then all turned to beat up Xiao Feiyu. At this moment, Su Lin and Luo Sihai finally arrived, fashionably late. ¡°Boss, I''m really sorry for calling you out so late.¡± Su Lin waved his hand; ¡°It''s about Ziyu, how can you say sorry for that, thanks is more like it. I''ll start working at Su''s company tomorrow, remember to look for me at the company if there''s a good collaboration.¡± ¡°Sure, I''ll definitely come,¡± Luo Sihai said with a smile. As soon as the two got out of the car, they saw a line of luxury cars, with license plates from Modu and Yangcheng, most notably Xiao Feiyu''s Lamborghini. As for Xiao Quan, he was either not around Xiao Feiyu or off doing his own things. ¡°What''s this, Yu Chao didn''t come out to greet me?¡± Su Lin said with a laugh; ¡°No need to be so harsh, maybe something came up, let''s go inside and see.¡± ¡°Okay~!!¡± Upon entering the bar, they witnessed a drama unfolding. At this time, the bar had been mostly cleared out, leaving some staff, marketing, and atmosphere team, etc. Su Lin''s arrival did not catch their attention. They were all watching Xiao Feiyu practicing Wing Chun. One against six, and although he was often beaten up, Xiao Feiyu''s demeanor indeed stood out, looking quite handsome. Many young women from the atmosphere team were dazzled, almost wishing they could cheer loudly. Seeing this, Su Lin casually picked up an empty bottle from a booth and threw it. With a swoosh, Xiao Feiyu''s expression changed. He wanted to dodge, but with six bodyguards around him, he simply couldn''t. ¡°Bang~!!¡± The bottle smashed into Xiao Feiyu''s forehead, instantly giving him a concussion. ¡°Who is causing trouble here?¡± Luo Sihai stepped forward to ask. Yu Chao, seeing Luo Sihai, suddenly felt overwhelmed. He approached Luo Sihai and whispered, ¡°Boss, it''s my fault, I didn''t take good care of Miss Li and her friend.¡± Luo Sihai asked sternly, ¡°Yu Chao, what exactly happened here?¡± Yu Chao wiped his sweat and explained, ¡°Boss, I have already investigated. These few ruffians are regulars at the bar, they had a few drinks and then made inappropriate remarks to Miss Li, then...¡± Yu Chao''s explanation was straightforward, not exaggerated, nor did he claim that the ruffians were arranged by Xiao Feiyu. Xiao Feiyu, holding his forehead, didn''t care about their conversation and was staring intently at Su Lin. Su Lin strolled over and then walked past him towards Li Ziyu and Jiang Ruoxi; ¡°How did you two end up playing in a bar, and ended up like this?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Correct, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s leave today¡¯s matter as it is, since you wanted to watch the show, you should pay the price. If you¡¯re not satisfied, you can come to Su Corporation to find me, I¡¯m always ready.¡± Looking at Su Lin¡¯s faint smile, Ma Junjie was very annoyed, but he knew the purpose of his trip to Donghai was to facilitate a partnership between the Ma family and Su Corporation. If he offended the young master of the Su family, how could they discuss business in the future? Thus, Ma Junjie swallowed his dissatisfaction and said with a smile, ¡°How could that be? It should be us who shouldn¡¯t have, if we had declared our identity and stance earlier, we wouldn¡¯t have suffered this unjust disaster.¡± Su Lin smiled; Ma Junjie was quite sensible. He looked at Wang Tao; ¡°Young Master Wang, what about you?¡± Wang Tao gave a bitter smile, then said, ¡°I just came to watch the excitement.¡± ¡°Do you plan to pursue this matter?¡± ¡°Since it¡¯s just a misunderstanding, what¡¯s there to pursue?¡± Wang Tao said with a smile. His heart was bleeding, though. Ma Junjie could afford to swallow his pride because he hadn¡¯t suffered much, striking preemptively and immediately backing down when it missed. But Wang Tao was worse off; he had really taken quite a beating. However, since Ma Junjie had backed down, he certainly wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to hold a grudge. Finally, Su Lin turned to Xiao Feiyu; ¡°Modu¡¯s number one young master, Xiao Feiyu, how many times has it been?¡± Xiao Feiyu glanced at Su Lin, blood dripping down from his forehead over his eyes, looking somewhat terrifying, but he didn¡¯t care at all. He soon bowed his head, not saying a word. Su Lin knew Xiao Feiyu must be speechless now, he looked at Jiang Ruoxi; ¡°Ruoxi, how do you think we should handle this?¡± Jiang Ruoxi gratefully looked at Su Lin, she now knew she had misunderstood Xiao Feiyu, so she still felt a bit guilty. Su Lin giving her the chance to decide was giving her an opportunity. ¡°Su Lin, let¡¯s just forget it, it was all a misunderstanding.¡± Su Lin smiled; ¡°Ruoxi, you¡¯re the involved party, so we¡¯ll do as you say.¡± Jiang Ruoxi smiled and nodded, then looked at Xiao Feiyu and said lightly; ¡°Xiao Feiyu, I''ve made myself very clear about our issues, and I don''t want to talk about it anymore, please stop bothering me in the future.¡± ¡°Tonight''s misunderstanding was my fault, but your presence in the bar already explained everything.¡± Seeing Xiao Feiyu remain silent, Jiang Ruoxi shook her head; ¡°Su Lin, let them go.¡± Su Lin nodded; ¡°Okay.¡± [Ding~! Xiao Feiyu''s psyche has developed a crack, and if this continues, he might become extremely blackened, tripling his main character aura if successful.]. ¡°Damn...¡± [TL: Blackening is term used for becoming a villain or with dark personality.]. Chapter 213 Chapter 213:The flag is flying high Su Lin did not expect Xiao Feiyu¡¯s mentality to be so fragile,having his spirit unsettled within just a few days of arriving in Donghai. But then again,he thought it was normal;the current Xiao Feiyu wasn¡¯t the same person who had endured repeated setbacks before¡ªhe was a nobody from a parallel world.Logically,having crossed over to become a wealthy second-generation,he should be enjoying life surrounded by beauties,but none of this was his reality. His days in Donghai had been exceedingly frustrating,not just getting slapped in the face by Su Lin,but also constantly ridiculed by Jiang Ruoxi,and bullied by Li Ziyu,Zhao Yanyan,and Lin Xiaowan in turns.Being bullied and unable to retaliate,it was normal for his psyche to break under such oppression. Su Lin waved his hand dismissively;¡°Alright,you guys can go now.¡± Ma Junjie and Wang Tao,feeling like they had been granted a reprieve,quickly left,and Xiao Feiyu,after giving Su Lin a serious look,followed suit. Su Lin turned to Li Ziyu and Jiang Ruoxi;¡°This isn¡¯t a good place to talk,let¡¯s find somewhere else to sit.¡± Li Ziyu looked at Jiang Ruoxi,who nodded;¡°Thank you,Su Lin.¡± Su Lin waved his hand;¡°No need to thank me.I came rushing over because I heard Ziyu was here and I was worried about her safety.¡± Li Ziyu didn¡¯t say anything,her lips curling up slightly,her eyes filled with deep affection as she gazed at Su Lin. Unable to withstand such a gaze,Su Lin quickly said;¡°Let¡¯s go,we¡¯ll leave this place to Luo Sihai.¡± Li Ziyu nodded,and then followed Su Lin with Jiang Ruoxi. As Ma Junjie and Wang Tao left the bar,the women behind them were still in shock,not expecting that their fun spectating would turn them into the spectacle. Even Ma Junjie had to swallow his pride today.He scoffed,then looking back at Xiao Feiyu with a dark tone,said;¡°Really bad luck.¡± Wang Tao also nodded;¡°Suffered for nothing.¡± ¡°Next time we go out,we¡¯d better keep our eyes peeled,¡±Ma Junjie hinted ominously. In Donghai,he dared not touch Su Lin because the Ma family currently needed the Su family,but Xiao Feiyu was different.He saw that there was a clear conflict between Xiao Feiyu and Su Lin,especially over Jiang Ruoxi. It seemed to Ma Junjie that the woman Xiao Feiyu liked had fallen for another man,which he found particularly amusing.He looked at Xiao Feiyu with a mocking face. Xiao Feiyu glanced at Ma Junjie,then looked away and got into his car to leave. ¡°Just like that?Modu¡¯s top young master can¡¯t even win over a woman.¡±Ma Junjie shook his head,then signaled to a few women to get into his car. Seeing this,Wang Tao turned and got into his own McLaren. Su Lin,Jiang Ruoxi,and Li Ziyu found a quiet lounge.Su Lin,looking at Jiang Ruoxi,said softly;¡°If you want to drink and unwind in the future,you can come here.It¡¯s not as chaotic as a bar.¡± Jiang Ruoxi nodded. ¡°Ziyu,what suddenly made you want to go to the bar tonight?¡±Su Lin asked curiously. Su Lin nodded with a pained expression;¡°His company is only well-established in real estate.Everything else,like research institutes and factories,was bought,it¡¯s quite a mess.Just thinking about going there as deputy manager gives me a headache.¡± ¡°Heh,I think your dad did the right thing.It¡¯s good for you to work at the company instead of causing trouble everywhere.¡± Su Lin cried injustice;¡°Causing trouble?Ziyu,you¡¯re really wronging me here.When have I caused trouble?I¡¯ve been cleaning up after you more often than not.¡± ¡°Bang~!¡± Li Ziyu gently kicked Su Lin;¡°How can you speak like that?When have I ever made you...?¡± ¡°Ha ha ha,Ziyu,even you get embarrassed,¡±Jiang Ruoxi laughed heartily without caring about her image. Su Lin also laughed;Li Ziyu¡¯s cheeks were tinged with a flush under the lights,making her incredibly beautiful.It was a pity Jiang Ruoxi was there;otherwise,Su Lin would have made a move. Su Lin glanced at Jiang Ruoxi,who,though beautiful,was somewhat careless about her image.That¡¯s probably a woman¡¯s confidence,she was extremely confident in her looks,so she didn¡¯t worry about her image crumbling. The trio chatted a bit more before heading home.Su Lin wanted to escort Li Ziyu and Jiang Ruoxi,but seeing that Li¡¯s family had arrived,he gave up the idea. ¡°Ziyu,this Su Lin is really good.Are you planning to continue like this?¡± Li Ziyu looked out the window and murmured;¡°If not like this,then what?Join them?You don¡¯t know how complicated the backgrounds of Su Lin¡¯s other girlfriends are.¡± ¡°The most important thing isn¡¯t that,it¡¯s that Su Lin and they have a foundation of feelings,it¡¯s not just because they¡¯re beautiful that he brings them into his room.What if they fight later?¡± Jiang Ruoxi responded;¡°Then you¡¯re just going to give up?You should know that a woman¡¯s happiness needs to be fought for,especially someone as popular as Su Lin.If one of them wins him over and marries him,I¡¯d like to see how you¡¯d cry then.¡± Li Ziyu shook her head;¡°Ruoxi,you don¡¯t understand Su Lin.He would never give up others for one.Take Lin Xiaowan,for instance.Su Lin obviously likes her the most,but as far as I know,Lin Xiaowan has never mentioned this sort of thing,not a word.¡± Jiang Ruoxi sighed;¡°Xiaowan is also a very clever girl.Ziyu,you have a rival.¡± Li Ziyu shook her head and said earnestly to Jiang Ruoxi;¡°Ruoxi,actually,what I¡¯m most worried about is you.¡± ¡°Me?What are you worried about me for?¡±Jiang Ruoxi asked puzzled. Li Ziyu sighed;¡°Su Lin¡¯s charm is really great.I¡¯m afraid that if you stay with us too long,you¡¯ll also be drawn to him like a moth to a flame.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible...I won¡¯t share a man with other women,¡±Jiang Ruoxi stated categorically. Li Ziyu smiled at this. Jiang Ruoxi was still very confident,which was just like her initially,wasn¡¯t it?Who would have thought that before meeting Su Lin,Li Ziyu wouldn¡¯t have considered any man worthy?But after meeting Su Lin,she felt her boundaries were slowly disintegrating. ¡°Ah...just listen to me..¡± ¡°Heh,don¡¯t worry.Although Su Lin is outstanding,he¡¯s not the only outstanding second-generation in Xia country.My Jiang family¡¯s status,even a union with a top-tier family from the capital wouldn¡¯t be a problem,¡±Jiang Ruoxi said confidently. Seeing this,Li Ziyu said no more,her warning was given,what Jiang Ruoxi chose to do was not her concern anymore. Chapter 214: :Taking Office!The Dire State of the Su Corporation! Chapter 214: :Taking Office!The Dire State of the Su Corporation! Chapter 214:Taking Office!The Dire State of the Su Corporation! ¡°Su Lin,Su Lin~!Get up,it''s already nine o''clock.Why are you still sleeping?¡± ¡°Su Lin,hurry up and get up,we have to go to the company today.¡± The voices of Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan from outside the door woke Su Lin from his sleep: ¡°Come in, the door isn''t locked.¡± Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan entered the room, both neatly dressed. Su Lin''s eyes lit up when he saw Lin Xiaowan in her business attire; ¡°Xiaowan, you look really good in that outfit.¡± ¡°What time do you think it is? Stop looking at the outfit and get up, it''s already nine o''clock, don''t forget you have to be at Su Corporation as the deputy director today.¡± Xia Shiyu was more direct,handing Su Lin a pair from the nightstand: ¡°Su Lin,it''s your first day at work.This is your dad''s company,not like being at Rainforest.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Alright, I''ll get up now. Xiaowan, it''s your fault I slept so late; you locked me out.¡± ¡°Blaming me?¡±Lin Xiaowan widened her eyes. Su Lin nodded; ¡°Of course.¡± After he spoke, he quickly put on a T-shirt and pants. Seeing Su Lin dressed so casually,Xia Shiyu felt it was inappropriate,so she said,¡°Su Lin,isn''t that outfit a bit too casual?¡± Su Lin slapped his thigh: ¡°Nothing inappropriate about it, I think it''s quite good. Xiaoyu, is breakfast ready? After eating, we''ll head to the company.¡± ¡°Are you still in the mood for breakfast?¡± ¡°Of course, it''s just going to work. There really isn''t much to do, actually. These next few days will probably just be about understanding the company''s structure and operation mode. You two are worrying too much, the company won''t stop without me.¡± ¡°You always have an excuse, I can''t win with you, let Xiaowan talk to you.¡± Lin Xiaowan shook her head: ¡°Su Lin is hopeless, I can''t talk sense into him.¡± ¡°But really, Su Lin, you''re taking us too, what will Xiaoyu and I do?¡± Su Lin blurted out;¡°Obviously,you''ll be my assistants.Xiaoyu will be the assistant,Xiaowan the secretary,when there''s work the secretary does it,and when there''s no work...Ah~!!Xiaowan,why are you twisting my arm?¡± Lin Xiaowan''s eyes flashed dangerously: ¡°Do you think you''re still at your own company, where you can do whatever you want? Every day your mind is filled with unhealthy thoughts, I really want to crack open your head and see what''s inside.¡± Su Lin chuckled; ¡°What else could it be? Of course, it''s all about you guys.¡± ¡°I''m going downstairs first, you hurry up.¡± Seeing Lin Xiaowan storming off downstairs, Xia Shiyu quickly said; ¡°I''m going down too, Su Lin, you better hurry up.¡± Su Lin saw the two women go downstairs,smiled,and turned to enter the bathroom. Ten minutes later, Su Lin finally drove with Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu towards the Su Corporation building. ¡°If you dawdle any more we arrive by lunch time,¡±Lin Xiaowan remarked as she checked the time. ¡°It''s not even half-past nine, is it that late?¡± Su Lin retorted. Su Lin laughed;¡°Hongyang,don¡¯t underestimate my two girlfriends,underestimating them would be a mistake.¡± Li Hongyang raised an eyebrow;¡°Oh?Looks like they are capable...¡± Su Lin knew by Li Hongyang¡¯s expression that he didn¡¯t take it to heart,but that was fine,as most of the work would eventually be done by Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu,and he would soon see how capable they were in business. Su Lin also foresaw a future where Li Hongyang would be overwhelmed by them. ¡°So,what¡¯s the situation with my dad,he wouldn¡¯t have dragged me into the company if there wasn¡¯t some trouble,right?¡±Su Lin inquired with concern. Li Hongyang sighed,then explained;¡°The company is in a complex situation right now.The three technologies Su Senior has released are revolutionary enough to change the tech landscape,so as you understand,many corporate spies have infiltrated,or some people have simply been bribed.¡± Su Lin sighed;¡°Such things are unavoidable.¡± ¡°Yes,Su Senior now doesn¡¯t dare trust people,and the company needs to expand,so he had no choice but to call you in.Others might be spies,but you definitely are not.¡± Listening to Li Hongyang¡¯s explanation,Su Lin understood why Su Zhenguo was so eager to have him join the company. Simply put,the Su Corporation had grown too quickly,and there were no suitable candidates for management.Even if there were,they couldn¡¯t be trusted,so they had to pull him in. ¡°I¡¯d say Su Senior has been quite patient not calling you until now.¡± ¡°Really,is there a lead already?¡±Su Lin asked coldly. Li Hongyang squinted,nodding;¡°We¡¯ve found quite a few already,but many more are hidden in the shadows.¡± ¡°Heh,that¡¯s really interesting.Help me get my two girlfriends set up with their jobs first,I¡¯ll go up and talk with my dad,¡±Su Lin said with a smile. Su Lin¡¯s eyes could discern loyalty¡ªwho was a spy and who was not¡ªit was crystal clear to him.Su Zhenguo was foolish not to have called him in sooner.But thinking that Su Zhenguo was unaware of his abilities,Su Lin found it understandable. Li Hongyang looked bored;¡°Are you serious about letting them handle things?¡± ¡°Nonsense,truer than pearls,don¡¯t underestimate Xiaoyu and Xiaowan,even if you handed the company over to them,they could handle it,¡±Su Lin stated confidently. ¡°Don¡¯t...Su Lin,don¡¯t exaggerate with me,I know my own weight,¡±Lin Xiaowan hurriedly interjected. Xia Shiyu also anxiously said;¡°I...I don¡¯t have that much capability,Su Lin,don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± With both women reacting like this,Su Lin felt a bit helpless;they didn¡¯t realize their own strength. ¡°Ding~!!¡± ¡°We¡¯re here,Su Lin,I¡¯ll take you to see your office.¡± ¡°Alright.¡±Su Lin clapped once,then said;¡°I said you two can do it,you can do it,no modesty allowed.¡± Lin Xiaowan wasn¡¯t buying Su Lin¡¯s talk and glared at him.Xia Shiyu bit her lip,wanting to say something but ultimately yielded under Su Lin¡¯s authority. Li Hongyang shook his head seeing Su Lin¡¯s behavior,the epitome of a spoiled rich second generation.If the company¡¯s people thought of Su Lin as a no-good rich second generation,they were definitely going to suffer a big loss. He was somewhat looking forward to seeing what kind of sparks Su Lin would ignite at the company. Chapter 215 Chapter 215: Once Again Underestimated ¡°This is your office; this area is for work, and there is a rest room over here. I heard you like to nap at noon, so we specifically set up a rest room for you here. There are two more rooms: one for your assistant and one for your secretary. The rooms are a bit small, but they are fully equipped.¡±@@@@ Li Hongyang looked at Su Lin and winked, and Su Lin immediately understood what he meant. Being able to work as Su Zhenguo¡¯s assistant indeed means being capable enough to know his preferences well. Su Lin responded with a meaningful smile. Only Lin Xiaowan, standing by their side, pondered over their interaction. She had a feeling that Li Hongyang had deliberately done this; otherwise, why would there be a rest room that seemed just like a bedroom inside an office? She suspected that this was arranged by Su Lin in advance, prompting her to pinch Su Lin teasingly. Su Lin kept his smile unchanged, looking puzzled at Lin Xiaowan. Seeing Su Lin still pretending to be oblivious, Lin Xiaowan felt even more annoyed. ¡°Vice President Su, how do you like the office? Are you satisfied?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course I¡¯m satisfied. The office setup you¡¯ve done could never be poor.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Su Lin then asked with a smile, ¡°Hongyang, tell me about my job responsibilities so I can let Xiaowan and Xiaoyu know what to watch out for.¡± ¡°The boss wants you to start with the mobile division. Our company¡¯s first mobile phone is expected to launch on August 31st, with mass production and release in October. So your tasks are quite urgent right now.¡± ¡°However, the good news is, we can buy any research institutes we want domestically; the company is not short on money,¡± Li Hongyang said cheerfully. ¡°Launching on August 31st? You¡¯re not joking, right?¡± Su Lin was stunned. Although they had complete blueprints, creating a finished product in such a short time seemed nearly impossible. Li Hongyang seriously explained, ¡°No joke at all. According to Mr. Su, even the blueprints are ready, and many components are already manufactured, only the chips and the system are a bit tricky. Do you think the launch is far once those are sorted?¡± Su Lin thought for a moment and felt it made sense. Companies like Apple took years because they developed everything from scratch, whereas Su Lin¡¯s blueprints were ready-made; they just needed to be replicated. ¡°Now that you mention it, it does seem straightforward,¡± Su Lin chuckled. Li Hongyang shook his head, ¡°That¡¯s not certain, the system is a big issue, and so are the chips. We have collaborations abroad for the chips since our own photolithography machines will take time, so we have to wait.¡± ¡°But I asked a few days ago, and the chip part should be on schedule; the main issue now is the system.¡± Su Lin responded, ¡°Leave the system to me.¡± ¡°You? Are you sure you can handle it?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Su Lin had mastered various computer technologies, and his skills were arguably a generation ahead. Although it might be troublesome, with his superior intellect, it shouldn¡¯t be a big problem. At most, it would mean resting for a couple of days, leaving Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu to mind the empty office. Li Hongyang looked intently at Su Lin, seeing he was not joking, he said, ¡°If you can handle the system, that would be best. Otherwise, collaborating with national institutions or major families, they would ask for high prices.¡± ¡°With such a vast market, it¡¯s normal for interested parties to be restless. I¡¯m being pressured from above, or else I¡¯d have been devoured by now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here to help you, I can root out those spies.¡± Su Zhenguo glanced at Su Lin, ¡°You can¡¯t be joking about this.¡± Su Lin earnestly replied, ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking? Don¡¯t worry, I have my ways. Don¡¯t forget who gave you those materials.¡± Hearing this, Su Zhenguo fell silent. To this day, he didn¡¯t know where Su Lin got those materials, but as long as they were genuine, that was enough. Su Lin was his son, so he couldn¡¯t be deceiving him. It seemed Su Lin might have some mysterious backing, but since his son wouldn¡¯t say, he didn¡¯t press further, ¡°You rooting out these spies won¡¯t cause you any trouble, right?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Definitely not. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have come to help.¡± ¡°You little rascal~!! How long will it take?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Not long, I¡¯ll just sit in on the meeting this afternoon and give you the results by evening.¡± ¡°Alright~! I¡¯d like to see how you manage to find all these spies.¡± Su Lin chuckled and then continued, ¡°If it¡¯s really hard to find suitable people for the upper levels, Xiaowan and Xiaoyu are excellent, let them manage.¡± ¡°Xiaowan and Xiaoyu? Your two little girlfriends?¡± Su Zhenguo chuckled. Su Lin nodded, ¡°Yes, them. Don¡¯t underestimate them; they contributed sixty percent to the success of Quanle Purchasing.¡± ¡°Oh? What about you and that Chen Yang?¡± ¡°Me? I probably contributed ten percent, and Yangzi about thirty.¡± Su Zhenguo paused, then nodded, ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll give them a chance when appropriate.¡± Afterwards, Su Zhenguo took a finely crafted box from his drawer and handed it to Su Lin, ¡°This contains a ginseng that¡¯s three thousand years old, which you practitioners might need. I got it especially for you.¡± Su Lin was surprised, ¡°And you? I see your energy seems stronger than before, have you also started practicing martial arts?¡± Su Zhenguo waved his hand, ¡°Just Tai Chi for health, not really martial arts. This item will be more useful in your hands. Once I really start practicing, won¡¯t it be easy to get such things?¡± Su Lin thought about it and realized Su Zhenguo was right; with his future status, such items would indeed be plentiful, so he accepted the box without further objection. These items were not very useful to him, but they would be for the three ladies at home. ¡°Alright, go on then, I¡¯ll have Hongyang show you around the company later.¡± ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± As Su Lin walked out of the office, Su Zhenguo watched his back, opened his mouth to speak, but ultimately didn¡¯t ask about the people behind Su Lin. He sighed deeply, ¡°After all, he¡¯s my own son. What¡¯s the use of knowing too much about these things, if not just to add to my worries?¡± Chapter 216 Chapter 216: The Ghost Doctor Emerges Returning to the office, Su Lin saw that Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu were already organizing the documents. Because Li Hongyang had brought over an overwhelming amount of materials all at once, the two needed to sort them out, prioritizing the important ones and setting aside the less crucial ones for later. Li Hongyang, seeing Su Lin¡¯s return, gave him a thumbs-up: ¡°An expert shows their prowess right away; your girlfriends are truly remarkable.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t their first day on the job, I would have thought they had been with the company for years.¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to underestimate them? How do you like the taste of instant karma?¡± ¡°Ah~! It¡¯s true what they say, real talents often go unnoticed. Even though your girlfriends have never dealt with mobile operations, they¡¯re sorting through everything with such keen business acumen. I skimmed over their work, and it¡¯s flawless, really astonishing.¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°Now you understand why I was so impressed. Haha, where did all your earlier arrogance go? Hongyang, I wasn¡¯t bragging when I said Xiaowan and Xiaoyu have the skills to be company CEOs.¡± Li Hongyang laughed at Su Lin¡¯s words. He might have humored him if it were just a real estate firm, but now they were dealing with a conglomerate incorporating new energy, real estate, AI, electronic components, and more. Even as capable as Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu might be, it was impossible for them to handle such a behemoth. ¡°Xiaoyu, Xiaowan, stop sorting for now. Let Hongyang show us around the company first. Get to know the place, no rush on the business stuff.¡± Xia Shiyu put down her documents and nodded, ¡°Su Lin, these documents are a mess. It¡¯s hard to imagine how they were operating before.¡± Li Hongyang gave a wry smile, ¡°Everyone¡¯s been rushing to meet deadlines, and many are new hires. It¡¯s already an achievement to be at this stage.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Hongyang is right. It hasn¡¯t been long since my dad decided to venture into these technologies. To have achieved this much is already impressive.¡± ¡°Enough with the flattery, let¡¯s go on a tour around the company.¡± The trio followed Li Hongyang out of the office to explore the company. As they descended the stairs, Su Lin felt as if he had entered a market due to the chaos, ¡°Is it always this messy here?¡± Li Hongyang, a bit embarrassed, replied, ¡°It wasn¡¯t like this before, but currently, departments are integrating, and there are many newcomers, so it¡¯s a bit disordered.¡± ¡°Ah~! All of our company¡¯s staff are new too, why isn¡¯t it this chaotic?¡± Xia Shiyu questioned profoundly. Lin Xiaowan laughed, ¡°That¡¯s all thanks to Chen Yang; I have to admit, he¡¯s brilliant at management. Su Lin, you really found a treasure. He¡¯s so devoted that he stayed at the company for a while.¡± Su Lin grinned, ¡°Is Yangzi in Donghai? We should invite him for dinner.¡± ¡°He went to Jingzhou, probably won¡¯t be back for a while.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°That guy¡¯s a workaholic. Xiaowan, Xiaoyu, if you know any suitable girls, maybe introduce one to him. It¡¯s unnatural for someone so young not to be dating.¡± Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes at Su Lin, ¡°Not everyone is like you, always thinking about dating. Chen Yang has business ambitions, you know.¡± ¡°Eh... he has ambitions, but remember I plan to give him shares in Quan Le Guo.¡± Su Lin said nonchalantly. ¡°Assist?¡± Wang Yannian waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Go back, I will not leave my seclusion.¡± ¡°Ghost Doctor, this time the young master also asked me to bring a message¡ªhis enemy is Su Lin, the very person who killed your disciple.¡± Wang Yannian waved his hand again, ¡°While I¡¯m in a good mood, leave quickly, or else I might use you for my alchemical experiments.¡± Seeing Wang Yannian remain unmoved, Xiao Fei cursed inwardly. Wasn¡¯t it said that Wang Yannian cared greatly for his disciple Xiao Chen? Why did it seem otherwise now? Thinking this, Xiao Fei tried one last gambit, ¡°The young master said if you would assist him, he could tell you the method to refine the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill.¡± After saying this, Xiao Fei prepared to leave, doubting that this medicinal pill could sway Wang Yannian. To his surprise, at the mention of the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill, a flicker of interest passed through Wang Yannian¡¯s eyes. In a blink, he stepped forward, appearing right in front of Xiao Fei with an intimidating aura. ¡°?¡± ¡°You said, your young master can tell me how to refine the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill?¡± Wang Yannian asked sternly. Xiao Fei nodded, ¡°That¡¯s what he said. If you refuse to help, he told me to relay this message to you.¡± Wang Yannian fell silent, then softly commanded, ¡°Lead the way.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°Lead the way. Take me to your master,¡± Wang Yannian stated flatly. His typically unflappable demeanor had finally shown cracks. He had been researching the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill for decades and had only grasped the barest basics. This was also why he chose to seclude himself in this place. Now that someone was offering to teach him the pill refinement method, even if he didn¡¯t quite believe it, Wang Yannian had to try. This would also be a good opportunity to help Xiao Fei and possibly avenge his disciple. ¡°Ah... alright, I¡¯ll lead the way right away.¡± Wang Yannian nodded, then gestured for Xiao Fei to proceed. Xiao Fei wiped the sweat from his forehead, then walked ahead. ¡°Got a phone?¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± ¡°Give it to me. I need to make a few calls.¡± ¡°Ah, okay.¡± Xiao Fei could never have imagined that the least likely phrase to convince Wang Yannian would actually work. And now, Wang Yannian seemed approachable, almost as if the fierce demeanor he had shown earlier wasn¡¯t his. Xiao Fei wasn¡¯t sure whether getting Wang Yannian out of seclusion was good or bad, but he knew that with him on their side, Xiao Fei could indeed walk horizontally in Donghai. Wang Yannian glanced back at the small hill he had lived on for ten years, his eyes devoid of any attachment, his gaze unfathomably deep. Chapter 217: Hurry and Take Your Wife Away Chapter 217: Hurry and Take Your Wife Away In the afternoon meeting, Su Zhenguo formally introduced Su Lin to the company''s senior executives. Many were surprised by Su Lin''s sudden arrival and were somewhat dismissive because Su Zhenguo introduced Su Lin''s age¡ªhe was only eighteen, just graduated from high school, about to enter university. Given that Su Zhenguo had appointed him, even though most of them were business spies with strong professional skills¡ªotherwise, they wouldn''t dare to be spies¡ªthey still found it hard to believe when they heard that Su Lin was appointed as the deputy general of the company. A deputy general, a position that could decide many things, was being handed over to an eighteen-year-old. Though the company was short-staffed, this seemed too reckless, and many spies thought Su Zhenguo must have lost his mind to make such a decision. However, Su Lin simply smiled, greeted everyone, and then calmly said, ¡°Please continue with your meeting, I''ll just sit here and listen.¡± Many looked at Su Lin, sitting in the corner with Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu on either side, and disregarded him completely. This confirmed their belief in the stark difference between upstart wealth and noble family heritage. If this were a scion from a great family gaining experience, he wouldn''t be accompanied by two young women. Only an upstart group like the Su family would assign two beautiful girls to Su Lin. Li Hongyang, seeing Su Lin finish speaking, resumed, ¡°Alright, let''s continue the meeting. Currently, all departments, especially marketing and R&D...¡± ¡°Su Lin, these people already think of you as a clueless rich second generation,¡± Lin Xiaowan said to Su Lin with a smile. ¡°Heh, I don''t even believe myself when I say I''m something special,¡± Su Lin replied optimistically. ¡°That''s true, you''re just a playboy right now, and Xiaoyu and I are also being looked down upon because of that,¡± Lin Xiaowan said nonchalantly. Xia Shiyu laughed along, ¡°I was prepared for this before coming here, hehe.¡± Su Lin smiled and started assessing the loyalty of the people present, jotting down names. He didn''t need to know where these spies came from; knowing they were spies was enough. Thus, Su Lin''s method was relatively simple. After an hour-long meeting, Su Lin handed a lengthy list to Su Zhenguo. Su Zhenguo, taking the list, was astonished, ¡°This many? Two-thirds of the senior management are on this list, including many from the real estate division. Son, are you sure all these people are spies?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course, I wouldn''t joke about this. They are definitely spies, just from various powers. We can''t afford to go to war with so many major forces, so it''s better not to dig too deeply. If they truly harbor ill intentions, they''ll eventually expose themselves.¡± ¡°You''re right, son. If this list is accurate, then after today, they''ll all be blinded and deafened, bound to make a move.¡± ¡°After today? Dad, are you planning to clean the house all at once?¡± Su Zhenguo sighed, ¡°I know it''s not the best time, but if we don''t clean up, it could hinder the company''s growth...¡± Su Lin interacted, ¡°The company''s growth won''t be much affected. I suggest you fire some and keep others. If you clean the house all at once, wouldn¡¯t our intelligence capabilities become too intimidating?¡± Su Lin laughed upon seeing it. It was evident from the cold needles that Qin Jiuyue had used her Ice Soul Needles on him; otherwise, it wouldn''t be like this. ¡°Qin Gong, did you do something wrong? Otherwise, why would Xiaoyue treat you this way?¡± Qin Gong looked aggrieved, ¡°What could I possibly do wrong? You don''t know how bone-chillingly cold these needles are. Xiaoyue has somehow acquired this ancient martial art and spends all day at home practicing.¡± ¡°She not only practices but also looks for people to spar and practice moves with. The young mistress''s talent for cultivation is astonishing. At first, I could spar with her a bit, but within a couple of days, she was chasing me around, beating me up. Now I stand no chance at all.¡± ¡°And then you ended up like this?¡± Qin Gong nodded, ¡°Everyone in the house has been through this with Xiaoyue.¡± There''s not a person without a dozen or so needle holes. The worst part is, there¡¯s no way to remove the chill from Xiaoyue¡¯s cold needles.¡± Su Lin chuckled lightly and then passed his warm Yang Flame Needle energy over Qin Gong''s arm, instantly evaporating the cold. Qin Gong felt as though he had just had a sauna. ¡°Wah! Son-in-law, you''re full of surprises.¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°Xiaoyue''s technique is one I gave her.¡± Hers is of the ice attribute, mine is of the fire attribute, they nourish and counteract each other, so I can save you.¡± ¡°Ah! You gave Xiaoyue that technique? No wonder it''s so dominant. Ordinary people wouldn''t dare to share something like that.¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°In the future, you should avoid sparring with Xiaoyue. Her technique, once mastered, can kill a master in seconds. She''s probably close to mastering it now.¡± ¡°Eh... are you kidding me?¡± Qin Gong shivered. Su Lin waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Take me to see the old man. He¡¯s in such a hurry to call me, I wonder what it¡¯s about.¡± ¡°Sure, this way, son-in-law.¡± Watching Qin Gong smile so happily, Su Lin wondered what he was so pleased about. Soon, Su Lin met Qin Deshu in the inner courtyard. Seeing Su Lin and Qin Gong in similar states, Qin Deshu hesitated, then slapped his thigh, ¡°My grandson-in-law, you finally came.¡± Su Lin, feeling awkward, responded, ¡°Old Man, please don''t start like that. Whatever it is, let''s talk it over slowly, okay?¡± Qin Deshu looked at Su Lin earnestly, ¡°Son-in-law, you''re definitely going to marry my Xiaoyue, right?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course, I''ve already assured you of that, and I won''t go back on my word.¡± Qin Deshu nodded, then suddenly said sternly, ¡°Then take your wife away quickly.¡± Chapter 218: Taking Qin Jiuyue Back to the Villa Chapter 218: Taking Qin Jiuyue Back to the Villa Su Lin looked at Qin Deshu in confusion. ¡°Old man, what''s going on?¡± Qin Deshu waved his hand dismissively, ¡°I''m handing my granddaughter over to you, go ahead and take her.¡± After saying this, Qin Deshu shivered and shook himself. Su Lin turned to Qin Gong for an explanation. ¡°What''s going on?¡± Qin Gong laughed, ¡°What else? He got used as a pincushion.¡± ¡°Eh...so Qin Jiuyue is that fierce, even jabbing her own grandfather?¡± Qin Gong nodded, ¡°Ah... that girl is really something else lately.¡± The old master was just a victim of stray needles.¡± Su Lin was curious, ¡°Where did he get jabbed that he''s reacting like this?¡± Qin Gong gestured sneakily towards Qin Deshu''s behind, and Su Lin instantly understood. No wonder when he came in, Qin Deshu was standing there; Su Lin had wondered why he wasn''t sitting down. It turns out he had been jabbed with needles, making it uncomfortable to sit. ¡°Old man...¡± Qin Deshu cut off Su Lin''s chance to speak, ¡°Go on, take Xiaoyue away, and it''s enough if she comes back to visit on weekends.¡± Still puzzled, Su Lin nodded and headed towards Qin Jiuyue''s room. He had intended to help remove the chill from Qin Deshu but since he wasn''t given the chance to speak, it might be best to let him enjoy it a bit longer. ¡°Why did you let Su Lin go?¡± Qin Deshu asked in confusion. ¡°What did I do wrong?¡± Qin Deshu replied. Qin Gong slapped his thigh, ¡°He can remove the chill, your behind...¡± ¡°What? He can remove the chill? Qin Gong, hurry up and call Su Lin back!¡± Qin Gong felt a bit embarrassed, then nodded and hurried after Su Lin. Su Lin made his way to Qin Jiuyue''s separate courtyard and found that the previously lush garden was now bare, cleared to make space for her needle practice targets. ¡°Jiuyue, are you in there?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Yes, just pack your things and come with me to the villa.¡± Qin Jiuyue replied, ¡°That can''t be right. We aren''t married yet, Grandpa wouldn''t let me leave home.¡± ¡°It was he who insisted I take you. Believe me, if you leave with me now, he''d probably set off fireworks to celebrate,¡± Su Lin stated confidently. Qin Jiuyue frowned and then sighed, ¡°I was just joking with them.¡± Was that really necessary?¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°Your kind of joke isn''t simple, you know.¡± When Qin Gong showed me his arm earlier, I was shocked. You know you shouldn''t use your chilling power so carelessly, right?¡± Qin Jiuyue nodded slightly, ¡°I know.¡± Grandpa almost passed out when he got hit by one of the needles.¡± ¡°Hehe... Su Lin, if I come back to the villa with you, does that mean I can practice every day?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°And can I learn your lightness skill?¡± Qin Jiuyue''s eyes shone with eagerness. Su Lin replied, ¡°You''ll need to improve your internal energy first.¡± ¡°When will that be?¡± ¡°Not too long. You just need to reach the master level.¡± Hearing this, Qin Jiuyue sighed; she was only just at the beginner level, not even at intermediate yet. Reaching master level seemed like a distant dream. ¡°Let''s go...¡± ¡°I haven''t packed my things yet.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just leaving is fine. Someone will pack your things for you.¡± Knowing Qin Deshu¡¯s urgency, Su Lin was confident that if he took Qin Jiuyue away, her grandfather would likely have someone send her belongings after them. Despite not knowing exactly what she had done over the past few days to instill such fear, Su Lin could guess from her personality. As they left the inner courtyard, the absence of people showed just how intimidating Qin Jiuyue had become. As they stepped out of the courtyard, many who had been hiding sighed in relief... the plague was finally gone. Chapter 219: New Member Chapter 219: New Member As soon as Su Lin and Qin Jiuyue left, Qin Gong arrived relatively. He paced back and forth at the entrance of Qin Jiuyue''s courtyard, hesitant to enter for fear that she would challenge him to another sparring session. ¡°Qin Gong, what are you doing standing at the entrance of Xiaoyue''s courtyard?¡± someone asked. Qin Gong awkwardly smiled and replied, ¡°I came to call the young master and Xiaoyue to the inner courtyard.¡± ¡°They''ve already left.¡± ¡°Left?¡± ¡°Yes, why do you think we dared to come out?¡± Qin Gong looked at the corridor filled with a few older faces smiling wryly, realizing that everyone was in the same boat, having been thrashed by Qin Jiuyue one by one. Suddenly, it dawned on him, and he slapped his forehead, ¡°Oh no, they''re gone already. What about the old master?¡± Unaware of Qin Gong''s request for him, Su Lin was driving Qin Jiuyue straight to his villa. Upon arrival, he showed her around, ¡°This is my room, and the ones next door belong to Xiaowan and Xiaoyu. The rest are vacant, so feel free to choose, Xiaoyue Sister.¡± Still unable to grasp the reality of her grandfather letting Su Lin take her away, Qin Jiuyue asked, ¡°My grandfather really let you take me away?¡± ¡°What else? If he hadn¡¯t asked me to take you, do you think we could leave without anyone stopping us?¡± Su Lin chuckled. He could sense the strong presences in the inner courtyard, all of whom dared not show themselves, which indicated how much they feared Qin Jiuyue. ¡°That''s true, but...ugh, Grandpa didn''t even say goodbye, how annoying.¡± ¡°Isn''t it because he was scared by your needles? Now everyone in the Qin family is afraid of you. Just choose a room quickly.¡± Qin Jiuyue looked around, ¡°Since the rooms on either side are taken, there aren''t many choices left. I''ll take this one then.¡± ¡°Alright, I''ll call Qin Gong later to have your things sent over.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± Qin Jiuyue seemed somewhat sulky, clearly not yet over the fact that her grandfather had Su Lin take her away. But Su Lin understood her feelings; he would feel the same if he were in her position. An hour later, Qin Gong personally brought Qin Jiuyue''s belongings over. ¡°Qin Gong, why did you come yourself?¡± Su Lin was surprised to see him. ¡°What could I do? You left so quickly I couldn''t catch up,¡± Qin Gong said with a grimace. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± ¡°Su Lin, you''re already home?¡± Xiaowan asked as she saw Su Lin sitting on the couch. ¡°Any issues at work?¡± Xiaowan shook her head, ¡°There''s too much going on at work to add more.¡± ¡°Have you eaten? I made dinner...¡± Licking her lips but feeling deflated, Xiaowan added, ¡°I already ate at the office. What got into you to cook today?¡± Su Lin grinned, ¡°Because we have a new member joining us today.¡± ¡°New member?¡± Both Xiaowan and Xiaoyu looked puzzled. ¡°Yeah, Xiaoyue, come down for dinner.¡± ¡°Oh, coming, coming.¡± At Su Lin''s call, the bedroom door next to Xiaowan opened, and Qin Jiuyue appeared, yawning and tousled, looking quite dazed. Xiaowan and Xiaoyu stared at Qin Jiuyue, who also looked back at them. ¡°Ah... Xiaowan, Xiaoyu, when did you get back?¡± After shooting Su Lin a glare, Qin Jiuyue turned and went back inside her room. Su Lin turned, shrugged, and said, ¡°Our new member is her.¡± Xiaowan''s eyes widened, then she asked, ¡°Su Lin, how did you manage to bring Sister Xiaoyue here? Did her family agree?¡± Everyone knew Qin Jiuyue was the favored legitimate daughter of the Qin family, who was doted on immensely. It was unlikely her family would let her leave so easily. Su Lin chuckled, holding back his laughter, ¡°It¡¯s a long story. How about we have some late-night snacks while I tell it?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll just eat a little,¡± Xiaowan said, touching her slim belly. ¡°I... I think I¡¯ll pass. I ate too much at dinner,¡± Xiaoyu felt she had gained weight recently. As they were about to discuss further, Qin Jiuyue descended the stairs, ready to join the unexpected family gathering. Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Chapter 220 While the three of them were chatting, Qin Jiuyue finally finished organizing her things and came down from upstairs. She glared at Su Lin; if it wasn''t for him, she wouldn''t have made such a scene. She was sure that Lin Xiaowan and the others had seen her in a disheveled state just a while ago. Then, she greeted the two women with a smile, ¡°Xiaowan, Xiaoyu, please take good care of me in the coming days.¡± ¡°Sister Xiaoyue, welcome, welcome! It¡¯s great to have you move in, but did your family agree?¡± Lin Xiaowan asked with some confusion. Hearing this, Qin Jiuyue''s face stiffened a bit, then she replied, ¡°It was them who let Su Lin take me away.¡± ¡°What, really?¡± Xia Shiyu was astonished, her eyes filled with disbelief. ¡°Heh! There¡¯s a story there, Xiaowan, Xiaoyu...¡± ¡°Don''t you dare say it, Su Lin, you better not,¡± Qin Jiuyue suddenly didn''t care about her image and covered Su Lin''s mouth firmly, then turned to Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu with a forced smile, ¡°It''s just some personal reasons, personal reasons.¡± Lin Xiaowan''s eyes darted around, clearly sensing there was more to the story, something that was making Qin Jiuyue uncomfortable; otherwise, she wouldn''t have reacted so strongly. Lin Xiaowan was quite curious about what could cause such a reaction in Qin Jiuyue. She knew that asking Su Lin and Qin Jiuyue directly would not yield any answers, but she could always ask later at bedtime. ¡°Sister Xiaoyue, since it''s personal, we won''t pry,¡± Xia Shiyu chimed in to ease the situation. ¡°Right, right, let''s not pry,¡± echoed Lin Xiaowan. Seeing this, Qin Jiuyue gave Su Lin a warning look before letting him go, ¡°Alright, let''s eat, I''m really hungry.¡± ¡°Sure, sure, let''s eat.¡± Qin Jiuyue''s arrival didn''t cause much disruption at the villa. Besides an extra pair of chopsticks at the dinner table and another room being occupied at night, nothing much changed. In fact, Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu had known she would come eventually; they just hadn''t expected it to be so soon. After dinner, Xia Shiyu took the initiative to wash the dishes while Qin Jiuyue hurried upstairs. ¡°What''s Sister Xiaoyue doing up there?¡± ¡°What else could she be doing? Practicing, of course. She is a cultivation maniac. ¡°All she thinks about is leaping across rooftops and being a hero,¡± Su Lin said with a light laugh. ¡°Ah, compared to her, Xiaoyu and I are so lazy.¡± ¡°Not at all, you two are just busier than her. She spends all day eating and sleeping without a care in the world, while you have to worry about work. Naturally, you don''t have as much time to practice,¡± Su Lin reassured her. Lin Xiaowan pouted, knowing that Su Lin was just comforting her, but that was enough for her. ¡°By the way, Su Lin, I''ve asked Aunt Su to return to Donghai tomorrow.¡± ¡°Return to Donghai? Why?¡± Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes, ¡°Don''t you know? Xiao Chen''s master, Wang Yannian, has come down from the mountains.¡± ¡°Wang Yannian has come down from the mountains?¡± Su Lin was a bit surprised.@@@@ Trusting Lin Xiaowan''s integrity, but using Qin Jiuyue''s story to entertain her seemed a bit too playboy-ish. Seeing Su Lin''s hesitation, Lin Xiaowan whispered in his ear, ¡°If you tell me, tonight I''ll xxx...¡± Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan, his face breaking into a mischievous smile, ¡°Really?¡± Blushing, Lin Xiaowan nodded, ¡°I''ve never broken my word before, but just this once, no exceptions.¡± Su Lin joyfully agreed, ¡°Just this once, just this once.¡± ¡°Humph, behave.¡± The two exchanged glances and laughed together. Su Lin laughed thinking about fulfilling a long-held wish, while Lin Xiaowan laughed in anticipation of finally satisfying her curiosity. ¡°Su Lin, Xiaowan, what are you laughing about?¡± Su Lin shrugged, ¡°Nothing much, Xiaoyu, wanna watch some TV?¡± Xiaoyu shook her head, ¡°I''d rather not, I don''t really like the dramas Xiaowan watches.¡± Xiaowan retorted, ¡°Those dramas are touching, you just haven''t watched enough. If you watch more, you''re sure to get hooked.¡± Xiaoyu shook her head again, ¡°I just can''t get into them, they''re either about cancer, car accidents, or amnesia. I don¡¯t understand how you never tire of them, Xiaowan.¡± Xiaowan giggled, ¡°It''s just a way to pass the time.¡± ¡°What do you do if you don''t watch TV, Xiaoyu?¡± ¡°I practice, or I go over the materials I''ve read today in my mind and plan for tomorrow,¡± Xiaoyu said with a smile. Xiaowan sighed, ¡°You work too hard, Xiaoyu.¡± You need to rest properly.¡± Su Lin nodded in agreement, ¡°Xiaowan''s right.¡± Don''t keep yourself so wounded up all the time. You''re only human; even machines need to rest and get oiled occasionally.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, I do rest, Su Lin, you make me blush saying that.¡± Su Lin knew Xiaoyu probably hadn¡¯t taken in a word; she had always been like this, despite his numerous reminders. Watching Xiaoyu go upstairs, and seeing Xiaowan suddenly find her soap opera dull, she handed the remote to Su Lin, ¡°It¡¯s not interesting anymore, I¡¯m heading up too.¡± ¡°Really? Why¡¯d you suddenly find it boring?¡± Su Lin asked, puzzled. ¡°Just... don¡¯t feel like watching anymore.¡± ¡°Alright, might as well go to bed early then.¡± With that, the quiet night settled around them, each retreating to their thoughts and the privacy of their rooms. Chapter 221 Chapter 221: Attempt to Persuade Wang Yannian At the highway intersection in Donghai City, a black-plated military vehicle quietly parked by the roadside. Inside, a man in his fifties with a square face stared profoundly at the passing cars. His demeanor was imposing, easily making one assume he could be a business magnate, leader, or high-ranking military officer. This man was none other than Bai Qikun, the head of Bureau 751. Bai Qikun had been basking in the sun in the capital just last night, but a phone call had brought him overnight to Donghai, and early in the morning, he arrived at the highway intersection. His presence here was not out of boredom but to meet the renowned doctor, Wang Yannian. By this time, Xiao Fei¡¯s vehicle had been pinpointed by satellite. Wang Yannian¡¯s movements had been no secret since he descended from the mountains.@@@@ A few minutes later, an Audi A6 pulled up at the highway intersection. Bai Qikun, inside the vehicle, finally stirred. He did not rush to approach Wang Yannian but instead slightly released a bit of his aura. Wang Yannian in the Audi quickly detected this aura and identified its owner. ¡°Bai Qikun, you arrived quite fast,¡± Wang Yannian instructed Xiao Fei next to him, ¡°Pull over after the toll booth.¡± Xiao Fei, momentarily stunned, then nodded in agreement. He dared not defy Wang Yannian, who, though seemingly on the verge of death, was a veritable living Human Immortal, not to be trifled with. Xiao Fei obediently pulled the car over to the side of the road. Wang Yannian opened the car door; ¡°No need to wait for me, go ahead, I¡¯ll catch up soon.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± Before Xiao Fei could respond, Wang Yannian had already vanished. Bai Qikun watched Wang Yannian approach him. His face was devoid of joy or sorrow, betraying no emotion until Wang Yannian reached his car, at which point he opened the door. Wang Yannian entered the vehicle; ¡°Have you been waiting long?¡± Bai Qikun shook his head: ¡°Things are different now. Your every move is monitored by satellites, so there¡¯s no need for me to arrive early.¡± ¡°Satellites?¡± Wang Yannian nodded; ¡°No wonder I always felt something watching over me, so it was the satellites. I didn¡¯t realize they are now so powerful to lock onto a person.¡± Bai Qikun nodded; ¡°Yes, technology is advancing, and so are humans.¡± Wang Yannian scoffed: ¡°Advancement? You mean so-called science? Not following the paths our ancestors found and instead obsessing over science, it¡¯s putting the cart before the horse.¡± To this, Bai Qikun could only agree: ¡°You have a point, but science has its uses. Look at this satellite surveillance; you can¡¯t hack it.¡± Wang Yannian smiled faintly; ¡°I know a way to break it.¡± ¡°Then have you stepped on it?¡± Wang Yannian nodded, understanding the gravity of science as Bai Qikun described, despite his usual indifference to it. After a moment, Wang Yannian still shook his head; ¡°Your condition is simple, but I still can¡¯t agree.¡± ¡°Wang Yannian, are you serious?¡± Wang Yannian nodded; ¡°I¡¯ve said it, the young Xiao offered me an irresistible condition, so to some extent I might end up being his enforcer.¡± Bai Qikun inhaled sharply, as if seeing a ghost. The idea of a human immortal becoming an enforcer for a family¡¯s young master was almost inconceivable. If someone had told him this ten minutes earlier, Bai Qikun would have never believed that Wang Yannian would stoop to this level. Yet, after understanding the gravity of the situation, Wang Yannian had still made such a decision. It showed how compelling Xiao Feiyu¡¯s offer must have been. Wang Yannian continued coolly, ¡°Instead of talking to me, you might be better off negotiating with that young Xiao. If you can keep him in check, I won¡¯t need to take any drastic actions.¡± Bai Qikun gave a wry smile, ¡°It¡¯s not that simple, Old Wang. Listen to me, just go back. We¡¯ve known each other for so many years, old friends as we are, I genuinely don¡¯t want to come to blows with you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made my decision, and no one can change it.¡± Bai Qikun fell silent for a moment, then opened the car door, ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing more to say. Your decisions are yours, and my stances are mine. Whether we meet as foes or friends next time depends entirely on your choice.¡± Wang Yannian nodded, not saying much more, and got out of the car. Watching Wang Yannian leave, Bai Qikun took out a satellite phone and dialed a number to the capital, ¡°It failed, send everyone from the capital here. If Donghai spirals out of control, the flames might reach the capital.¡± ¡°Understood, Director Bai, I¡¯ll arrange for people to head over immediately.¡± Bai Qikun hung up, frowning deeply in thought. What could the condition possibly be that made Wang Yannian unable to refuse? And what exactly was the situation with Su Lin? The Su father and son had suddenly appeared; the elder came with a load of cutting-edge technology, and the younger, only eighteen years old, was already at the pinnacle of grandmaster level¡ªwho would believe that? And there was Xiao Feiyu, recognized in Modu as a sycophant, whose personality seemed to have drastically changed upon arriving in Donghai. Bai Qikun felt as though all these events had exploded in convergence overnight. He didn¡¯t believe this explosion of events was a coincidence but couldn¡¯t fathom any leads on the matter. In the end, he could only take things one step at a time. After a while, Bai Qikun opened his eyes, ¡°First, let¡¯s go meet Su Lin.¡± (Thanks for Anmates¡¯s support!!!) Chapter 222 Chapter 222: Bai Qikun¡¯s Visit and the Shock Brought by Su Lin In the office, Su Lin was tapping on the keyboard and humming a tune. If it weren¡¯t for the system development project he took on, he could have been leisurely sipping coffee. But not wanting to be too bored at the company, he had taken on the task. In the next room, Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan, nominally Su Lin¡¯s assistants and secretaries, were busy handling documents, though in reality, Su Lin had offloaded all his work onto them. ¡°Just a system, so simple,¡± Su Lin muttered, ¡°Half done in two hours.¡± As he spoke, Su Lin felt an extremely powerful aura appearing on the rooftop of the Su Corporation building. Su Lin narrowed his eyes; ¡°Wang Yannian? He¡¯s arrived so soon?¡± Su Lin opened the window and disappeared from the office. In a moment, Su Lin reached the rooftop of the Su Corporation building.@@@@ There stood a square-faced man in formal attire on the rooftop, his mere presence exuding endless authority. One¡¯s temperament might be disguised, and gazes could be imitated, but the aura was immutable. Su Lin observed him thoughtfully; this man didn¡¯t look like Wang Yannian at all. The Wang Yannian in the novels dressed plainly, looking like an ordinary elderly farmer, which didn¡¯t match the demeanor of the man before him. Stepping forward with a smile, Su Lin greeted, ¡°Excuse me, sir, did you bring me here because you needed something?¡± Bai Qikun turned around, studying Su Lin for a few seconds before speaking, ¡°Su Lin?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Bai Qikun also nodded, ¡°You¡¯ve caused quite a stir in Jiangnan recently.¡± ¡°Are you here to reprimand me?¡± ¡°No... just a reminder.¡± At this, Su Lin¡¯s expression softened, ¡°How may I address you, sir?¡± ¡°Bai Qikun.¡± Su Lin¡¯s eyes flickered at the mention of the name, Bai Qikun, one of the two greats from the capital known in the original story. These guy and the other guy had dominated the capital for forty years until Xiao Chen¡¯s arrival, which gradually changed the dynamics. It was unexpected that this man would come to Donghai, and so early. ¡°You¡¯ve heard of me?¡± Bai Qikun looked thoughtful. Not many knew of him, but those who did held very high social statuses, like Qin Deshu and Song Zhiming. How could Su Lin, an eighteen-year-old rich second generation, know him? It seemed that Su Lin was as mysterious as the reports suggested. ¡°I¡¯ve heard, you¡¯re a big shot from Bureau 751, I didn¡¯t expect you to come to Donghai,¡± Su Lin sighed. Bai Qikun rarely smiled, but he did now, ¡°You and your father have stirred up Donghai enough to bring out all sorts of characters, how could we not come?¡± ¡°What do you mean ¡®you and your father have stirred up the waters¡¯? My father has always been diligently managing the company, and I was forced into this. You should have checked my background,¡± Su Lin protested. Bai Qikun didn¡¯t pick up on Su Lin¡¯s retort but continued, ¡°I¡¯ve met Wang Yannian.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°I know he came down from the mountain and that he would come for me. You aren¡¯t suggesting I let him beat me without fighting back, are you?¡± ¡°Correct, and I can also tell you, what Wang Yannian is so obsessed with is because it can cure all diseases, I mean real diseases, like leukemia, liver cancer, lung cancer, all curable.¡± ¡°It can also heal internal injuries, even if one is beaten half to death, as long as there is a breath left, a few days after taking it, one can revive on the spot.¡± Hearing this, Bai Qikun¡¯s breathing quickened. Being such a person, in a way, he could be considered a stabilizing pin and was no longer easily moved by material things, but what Su Lin described was truly shocking. Bai Qikun suddenly thought of something, ¡°Song Zhigang? Did Song Zhigang take that thing? What exactly is it?¡± Having an Human Immortal like him turn into what he was now was unprecedented, Su Lin sighed; ¡°It¡¯s a type of pill, called the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill.¡± ¡°As the name implies, even if one has turned seven times at the ghost gate, it can pull them back. Wang Yannian came down because Xiao Feiyu promised him he could tell him how to make the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill.¡± ¡°Sss...¡± Su Lin pretended to reach into his pocket, then pulled out a pill from his system space and tossed it to Bai Qikun, ¡°This is it.¡± Bai Qikun picked up the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill and sniffed it. Instantly, he felt as if his blood was leaping, as if he had grown several years younger. His expression drastically changed, ¡°You keep such a pill in your pocket?¡± Su Lin naturally replied, ¡°It¡¯s for saving my life, if not in my pocket, then where?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a waste, the medicinal power will dissipate, it should be stored in a jade vial.¡± Su Lin shrugged, ¡°I¡¯d like to store it in a jade vial too, but I don¡¯t have the means.¡± Bai Qikun stared at Su Lin seriously, ¡°Do you have the method to make this pill?¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t, Xiao Feiyu doesn¡¯t either, but Wang Yannian couldn¡¯t resist its temptation, do you understand what I mean?¡± Bai Qikun nodded; he too couldn¡¯t resist the temptation, he had almost wanted to strip Su Lin and take all the pills. ¡°No wonder Old Wang disregarded everything to come down from the mountain, such a pill is indeed enough to drive anyone mad, including me.¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°He¡¯s doomed not to fulfill his wish. This thing can¡¯t be produced by martial artists, otherwise, why would it have remained undiscovered after so many years of research?¡± Bai Qikun nodded, ¡°If even the ghost doctor couldn¡¯t produce it after so many years, it indicates the pill is truly special. Tell me your conditions, Su Lin.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°What conditions could I have? Just look after a few of my girlfriends and my father for me, and as for Xiao Feiyu and Wang Yannian, just don¡¯t interfere.¡± ¡°That simple?¡± Bai Qikun was somewhat dumbfounded. Su Lin nodded, ¡°Just that simple.¡± ¡°Alright, I can agree to that.¡± ¡°Then I thank you in advance, Mr. Bai.¡± Bai Qikun nodded, his face pained as he placed the pill in his pocket. He only had one pill, rather than consuming it himself, he preferred to take it for research, perhaps to discover a method of production. Su Lin saw through Bai Qikun¡¯s thoughts and shook his head; such things were not so easily replicated. Chapter 223 Chapter 223: The Li Family Siblings Having reached an agreement with Bai Qikun, Su Lin felt much more at ease. He wasn¡¯t worried about himself, but about the girls around him. Xiao Feiyu was a villain, and there was a possibility he could turn even worse, so Su Lin had to prepare in advance. Who knew whether he was a principled villain or one without any bottom line? Su Lin thought it likely that Xiao Feiyu viewed the world as just a scenario, considering himself an outsider, which meant he would act without any reservations. Before leaving, Bai Qikun curiously asked, ¡°You¡¯ve made arrangements for everyone around you, aren¡¯t you afraid they¡¯ll only come after you? Can you handle it?¡± Su Lin smiled lightly; ¡°Xiao Feiyu won¡¯t do anything to me.¡± He knew that in Xiao Feiyu¡¯s eyes, he was the protagonist. Xiao Feiyu still needed to exploit him, so why would he seriously harm him? If it weren¡¯t for Wang Yannian¡¯s serious threat, he could handle it alone. Xiao Feiyu would soon realize that bringing a bodyguard wouldn¡¯t make any real difference. Bai Qikun wasn¡¯t sure where Su Lin¡¯s confidence came from, but seeing Su Lin¡¯s demeanor, he knew he wouldn¡¯t tell him, so he just nodded. Su Lin quietly watched as Bai Qikun departed. Only after Bai Qikun had disappeared did Su Lin take the elevator downstairs. Unbeknownst to him, during his meeting with Bai Qikun, two uninvited guests had arrived at the Su Corporation Building. As Su Lin¡¯s assistant, Lin Xiaowan faced two young people with a somewhat serious expression. The man, about twenty-five years old from the Li family in the capital, was one of the top figures among the capital¡¯s second generation, known as ¡°Prince Li¡± of the capital, Li Bowen. Sitting next to him was his younger sister, Li Shiwen. Lin Xiaowan knew both of them, having occasionally met at gatherings during New Year visits to the capital. Li Bowen was momentarily dazzled by Lin Xiaowan¡¯s appearance, indeed, women change dramatically after the age of eighteen. The Lin Xiaowan in his memory was still a tomboy, but the Lin Xiaowan before him now was graceful and poised, with a stunning figure that was hard to ignore. ¡°Xiaowan, I didn¡¯t expect you to have become so beautiful after a few years,¡± he remarked. Lin Xiaowan gave Li Bowen a cool glance and said, ¡°Are you here to talk business, or to reminisce? If it¡¯s business, you¡¯re welcome, but if it¡¯s reminiscing, I¡¯m sorry, we aren¡¯t close.¡± Li Shiwen playfully hit Li Bowen and said, ¡°Don¡¯t mind him spouting nonsense, Xiaowan. We¡¯re actually here to talk business, and also to check on you.¡± Lin Xiaowan had a good impression of Li Shiwen and smiled, ¡°Shiwen, I didn¡¯t expect you to come to Donghai.¡± Lin Xiaowan saw Su Lin standing at the door, his expression somewhat grim: ¡°Su Lin, when did you arrive?¡± ¡°When this young master from the Li family started daydreaming,¡± Su Lin said coolly. ¡°So, you¡¯re Su Lin?¡± Li Bowen sized up Su Lin. Besides being somewhat handsome, he didn¡¯t see anything special about him. Considering Su Lin was a martial artist at the grandmaster peak, Li Bowen was somewhat skeptical. However, the information brought by the family couldn¡¯t be false, so his gaze towards Su Lin became slightly more reserved. Although he was also a grandmaster, he was far from reaching the peak. Su Lin nodded, ¡°Li Bowen, we can discuss collaboration, but let¡¯s not talk about partnership or starting a company together.¡± ¡°Why? Our Li family came with sincerity. Not just in Xia country, but in America, Ying country, and others, we have outlets. Deep cooperation is mutually beneficial,¡± Li Bowen looked puzzled at Su Lin. In his view, offering such large concessions was already giving the Su family enough face. He didn¡¯t understand why Su Lin would be so unappreciative. Su Lin chuckled, ¡°The reason you think the Su family is getting a bargain is because you don¡¯t understand just how big the smartphone market is. So I¡¯m not blaming you. In two days, we¡¯re hosting a banquet at the Four Seasons Hotel. Many major families will be there, and we can talk about cooperation then.¡± Su Lin didn¡¯t argue with Li Bowen about who was getting the better deal. Although Li Bowen was a major figure in the capital, he didn¡¯t understand the prospects for smartphones, perhaps because the experts¡¯ assessments they relied on were useless. Li Bowen¡¯s expression turned unsightly. As the heir of the Li family, being outright rejected by Su Lin, and in such a dismissive manner, was very displeasing. But since Su Lin might become a business partner of the Li family, he refrained from making a scene. Seeing Li Bowen¡¯s thoughts, Li Shiwen, not wanting to leave under such tense circumstances yet not wanting to offend Su Lin, turned to Lin Xiaowan with a smile, ¡°Xiaowan, it¡¯s not easy for me to come to Donghai, won¡¯t you show me around?¡± ¡°Shiwen, I¡¯d love to take you around, but as you can see, the company is extremely busy right now, and I can¡¯t get away. Next time, I promise to take you around.¡± Li Shiwen smiled and nodded, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Lin Xiaowan happily agreed. With Li Shiwen¡¯s intervention, Li Bowen¡¯s awkwardness was somewhat alleviated. He adjusted his demeanor, regained his composure, and said to Su Lin, ¡°Then we¡¯ll see you at the banquet!¡± Su Lin nodded, watching the two leave. Chapter 224 Chapter 224: Foresight? The Marriott Villa Area is a high-end villa community in Donghai owned by the Su Corporation. Initially, there were concerns about whether the villas would sell, but now it¡¯s clear those worries were unnecessary; not only have the villas sold, but they¡¯ve sold extremely well. Many prominent families from across the country have decided to buy property in Donghai instead of staying in hotels, making Marriott Villa Area their top choice. At this point, numerous families have already moved in, including the Xiao family who purchased Villa Number One. In the villa, Xiao Feiyu nervously faced Wang Yannian and respectfully said, ¡°Mr. Wang, I apologize for the inconvenience of asking you to come all the way down here.¡± Wang Yannian¡¯s face remained expressionless as he asked, ¡°How did you know that I was researching the formula for the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill?¡± After posing the question, Wang locked his gaze onto Xiao Feiyu, his eyes piercing, as if he could discern whether Xiao was lying. One reason he descended from the mountain was Xiao Feiyu¡¯s offer, which he couldn¡¯t refuse. Another was that the knowledge of the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill was exclusive to him, unknown even to Xiao Chen, his disciple of ten years. How Xiao Feiyu knew about it was indeed a thought-provoking question. He did not believe he had inadvertently revealed it in his sleep, suggesting that Xiao Feiyu had learned of it through some other means, the nature of which Wang Yannian could not guess. Anticipating Wang¡¯s questions, Xiao had prepared his response. He said calmly, ¡°Mr. Wang, you must be curious?¡± Wang Yannian nodded, ¡°You know you can¡¯t lie in front of me. If you¡¯ve brought me here and want my help, you need to let me understand more about you.¡± Xiao sighed, ¡°Mr. Wang, have you heard of ¡®foresight¡¯?¡± ¡°Foresight?¡± Wang was taken aback. At his age, not much could shake him, but Xiao¡¯s statement was hard for him to accept. Xiao nodded, ¡°When I came to Donghai, it seemed I awoke something that allowed me to see fragments of the future. At first, I thought it was false, but after arriving here, I realized that some fragments matched what I had seen.¡± Although Xiao Feiyu was fabricating the story, his performance, bolstered by a system that allowed him to purchase acting skills with villain points, made his semi-truthful words somewhat credible to Wang Yannian. The most important point was that apart from foresight, Wang could think of no other explanation. ¡°Did you see the method to concoct the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill?¡± Wang asked eagerly. Xiao appeared surprised, ¡°Mr. Wang, do you believe me so quickly?¡± Xiao Feiyu smiled, ¡°Mr. Wang, can we cooperate now?¡± ¡°Of course. What do you want to do with Su Lin? Should I take action against him now, or should I capture him?¡± Xiao shook his head, ¡°I still need to exploit him; why would I capture him now?¡± ¡°Exploit?¡± ¡°Mmm! I want to play a slow game with Su Lin, starting with his women. Mr. Wang, would you mind accompanying me to the supermarket this afternoon?¡± This issue with Zhao Yanyan, where he was kicked, still galled him¡ªthe pain and humiliation were unforgettable. Now that he had a chance, he was determined to deeply humiliate her. Humiliate Zhao Yanyan, humiliate Su Lin... Wang nodded, ¡°How you handle it is your business. I won¡¯t show myself openly, but if you¡¯re in danger, I will appear.¡± Xiao laughed, ¡°With Mr. Wang covertly protecting me, that¡¯s enough. Honestly, I can¡¯t exactly go around announcing our partnership now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just like your father, overly cautious.¡± ¡°Mr. Wang, you know my father?¡± Xiao was surprised. Wang nodded, ¡°I know him. Back then, he was much like you, fighting over women until he was restrained by marriage.¡± Xiao Feiyu, surprised, knew his father didn¡¯t at all resemble a flirtatious playboy now. ¡°Xiao Feiyu, can you describe what the Jiao Dragon Pill looks like? I¡¯ll have someone help look for it. Maybe we can find it.¡± Xiao Feiyu readily agreed, knowing Wang would verify some information. He wasn¡¯t concerned because everything he said was true. Including the foresight¡ªhaving read the story in advance, what¡¯s the difference between that and foresight? Once Wang Yannian, the tool, was on board, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for him to get off, especially now that Xiao Feiyu had enough leverage with the pill formula. [Ding! Congratulations, host, on reaching an agreement with the side character Wang Yannian, slightly altering the storyline, earning 1000 villain points.]. ¡°Spent 500 points on an acting skill, now earned 1000 villain points. This deal was worth it.¡± Chapter 225 Chapter 225: Aunt Su Returns Xiao Feiyu had made up his mind to go after Zhao Yanyan once Wang Yannian confirmed the information. The kick he received from Zhao Yanyan previously had left a deeply painful memory; even now, the mere thought of it caused him a throbbing pain, as if it dredged up the darkest clouds from the depths of his heart. That¡¯s why he harbored such intense hatred towards Zhao Yanyan. Now, with Wang Yannian¡¯s support, he planned to regain his lost face in front of Su Lin. After all, he was the villain¡ªwhat could be more thrilling than tormenting the protagonist¡¯s woman right in front of him? Excited by this thought, Xiao began to embrace his role as the ultimate villain. If Su Lin knew his thoughts, he would likely deliver a swift kick and loudly declare that being a villain doesn¡¯t equate to being scum. Outside the headquarters of Su Corporation, Lin Xiaowan and Su Lin stood quietly at the entrance. Soon, an Alphard turned towards them from the intersection, its side marked with a prominent ¡°Song¡± character, signaling the arrival of He Suxin. ¡°Su Lin, it¡¯s Aunt Su,¡± Lin Xiaowan remarked. Su Lin nodded: ¡°I see her.¡± The car stopped in front of the building, and He Suxin stepped out, still clad in her plain white attire with a long sword on her back, her face devoid of makeup, showing no emotion until she saw Lin Xiaowan, where a smile then appeared. ¡°Aunt Su, you¡¯re finally back.¡± With a gentle smile, He Suxin embraced the rushing Lin Xiaowan, ¡°You¡¯re all grown up, yet still so impulsive.¡± ¡°Hehe... Aunt Su, what are you holding?¡± He Suxin handed Lin Xiaowan a package, ¡°Song Zhigang asked me to bring these cultivation resources for you. These are some aged herbs Su Lin requested specifically for your training.¡± ¡°Ooh~!!¡± Lin Xiaowan took the bag eager to look inside, but He Suxin stopped her, ¡°These items can¡¯t be exposed to light; they¡¯ll lose their potency.¡± Su Lin took the box with a chuckle, ¡°I¡¯ll hold onto it.¡± ¡°Alright...¡± Lin Xiaowan handed the box to Su Lin and then pulled He Suxin aside to catch up. Taking the opportunity when no one was paying attention, Su Lin stashed the box into his system space, then stood quietly at the door waiting. After about seven or eight minutes, Lin Xiaowan returned with He Suxin, ¡°Su Lin, let¡¯s take Aunt Su out for a meal. She¡¯s been traveling for a long time and hasn¡¯t eaten yet.¡± ¡°Sure, to the cafeteria or a restaurant?¡± Su Lin said, ¡°Soon, Aunt Su. I have a feeling it might even happen today.¡± ¡°Today? Wang Yannian isn¡¯t the type to sit still, but he wouldn¡¯t confront us on his first day here; he¡¯s probably catching up with some old friend right now,¡± He Suxin expressed her disbelief. ¡°It¡¯s not just about Wang Yannian; Xiao Feiyu is different.¡± ¡°Xiao Feiyu?¡± He Suxin pondered for a moment, then nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of him in Jingzhou. Not sure if it¡¯s an act or his true nature.¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely an act. Aunt Su, you didn¡¯t see it. That day Xiao Feiyu and Jiang Ruoxi joined us for a meal, and he kept staring at me and Yanyan,¡± Lin Xiaowan frowned. ¡°Oh? Then his devoted lover persona is fake.¡± ¡°Absolutely, his character is not up to par, certainly not as good as Su Lin.¡± ¡°At least Su Lin isn¡¯t that sleazy. Xiao Feiyu really is sleazy, not sure why he¡¯s rumored to be so devoted.¡± ¡°So, with Wang Yannian¡¯s help, Xiao will surely get overconfident. I bet Xiao Feiyu is either coming after me or after Yanyan with Wang Yannian,¡± Su Lin speculated. ¡°What? Shouldn¡¯t we go save Yanyan?¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°Not just yet, they won¡¯t move that quickly.¡± He then looked at He Suxin, ¡°Aunt Su, if something really happens, you¡¯d join me, right?¡± He Suxin, amused, replied, ¡°You¡¯re scared now? What¡¯s wrong, worried you can¡¯t handle it alone?¡± ¡°Not scared, just being cautious.¡± Su Lin didn¡¯t mention that he had Bai Qikun also send people to protect those close to him. They should be arriving soon, and after lunch, they would likely be in place. By then, Bai Qikun should have received the reinforcements from Beijing¡ªa team from Bureau 751, potentially including his daughter. If his daughter also showed up, that would mean another potential heroine entering the story later. Plus Lin Shiwen, that would make two. Su Lin hadn¡¯t yet figured out what to do with Jiang Ruoxi and Li Ziyu, and now more female characters were popping up. ¡°Su Lin, what are you thinking about?¡± ¡°Nothing much. Xiaowan, you and Aunt Su go ahead and order. I¡¯ll make a quick call to Xiaoyu, tell her not to wait for us.¡± Chapter 226: An Angry Zhao Yanyan Chapter 226: An Angry Zhao Yanyan Since Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu went with Su Lin to Su Corporation, the responsibility for managing Rainforest Company had fallen on Zhao Yanyan. At this moment, in the office, Zhao Yanyan was joined by Qin Jiuyue, who sat beside her scrutinizing some of the company documents and contracts without reservation. ¡°Xiaoyue, didn''t you ever deal with these kinds of things at home?¡± Qin Jiuyue shook her head; ¡°I used to look over some contracts and documents of the Treasure Pavilion when I was bored.¡± ¡°Then you should be able to understand this. Why the frown?¡± Zhao Yanyan asked curiously. ¡°I just think the profit margins between locations are too disparate. Look at Linhai and Zhongjiang, both are the same level of city, but Zhongjiang''s turnover is double that of Linhai, and the profit nearly triple. Don''t you find that strange?¡± Qin Jiuyue passed the financial statements to Zhao Yanyan, her brow furrowed in deep thought. Zhao Yanyan took the statements but instead of examining them, explained, ¡°That''s because Zhongjiang is Su Lin''s hometown. There, he faces no competition, so he can freely set lower prices, and with no competitors for the supermarket, he can dictate prices as he sees fit.¡± ¡°In Linhai, when Quan Le Guo moved in, there were already several local supermarkets, and though they were only small players, they still created competitive pressure, hence the lower profits.¡± Qin Jiuyue nodded in realization, slapping her forehead, ¡°So that''s how it is.¡± How did I not think of that?¡± ¡°Heh! It''s normal to miss these details on your first look, Xiaoyue. The first time I visited Su Lin''s supermarket in Zhongjiang, I was shocked. The daily turnover was in the millions,¡± Zhao Yanyan reminisced about her first encounter with Su Lin, chuckling at the memory. She had been captivated by his looks from the first meeting. ¡°A supermarket earning millions a day, and now with so many more, its turnover must be astronomical.¡± Zhao Yanyan laughed, ¡°Surprising, right? Running supermarkets can be incredibly profitable.¡± ¡°Indeed, I always thought our family''s antique business was lucrative, but it turns out Su Lin is the real silent wealth accumulator.¡± ¡°Well, that''s incomparable. Just think about how many Treasure Pavilions there are across the country. Each auction brings in a significant commission.¡± As they were chatting, Zhao Yanyan''s phone rank. It was her assistant calling. She picked up and immediately, the assistant spoke anxiously, ¡°Manager Zhao, that unwelcome person has come again.¡± ¡°Unwelcome person? What unwelcome person?¡± ¡°That Mr. Xiao. He specifically asked for you by name. I didn¡¯t dare say you were not at the supermarket, so I told him you had gone out to eat,¡± the assistant explained. Hearing this, Zhao Yanyan silently praised her assistant for the good save. Xiao Feiyu was clearly coming to cause trouble, and if he had barged into the company directly, they would have been completely passive. Now, they had time to prepare. ¡°Did he come alone?¡± ¡°No, he brought two bodyguards with him, looking very aggressive, and he said he''d wait in the office.¡± ¡°He told me to call you back, but he said it was fine to wait. Something felt off when I heard that, so I told him you were out eating and would be back soon. Manager Zhao, what should I do now?¡± Listening to her clearly distressed assistant, Zhao Yanyan quickly reassured, ¡°Don''t panic, just carry on with your work, I''m on my way.¡± ¡°Okay! But hurry, I can''t hold him off for long.¡± ¡°Alright...¡± After hanging up, Zhao Yanyan''s face darkened with anger, ¡°The audacity to come again.¡± ¡°What happened, Yanyan? What''s going on?¡± Qin Jiuyue inquired. Zhao Yanyan replied, ¡°It''s a long story, Xiaoyue, let''s talk on the car ride. I need to call Su Lin.¡± Seeing Zhao Yanyan in such a state, Qin Jiuyue nodded quietly. Just as Su Lin, He Suxin, and Lin Xiaowan finished their lunch, Zhao Yanyan''s call came through. ¡°Hello, Yanyan, what''s up?¡± ¡°Su Lin, that Xiao Feiyu is causing trouble again. This time I want to teach him a lesson.¡± Hearing the emotional tone in Zhao Yanyan''s voice, Su Lin also felt a surge of anger. Although he had anticipated that Xiao Feiyu would act soon, he hadn''t expected him to be so impatient. ¡°It looks like he needs a harsh lesson to stop him from coming back every day. How else can we get on with our lives?¡± ¡°Did Xiao Feiyu go to the company?¡± ¡°He didn''t. He thought I was still at the supermarket, so he went there instead. My assistant just called to tell me Xiao Feiyu is waiting for me there now.¡± ¡°Okay, leave the company for now, and I''ll head over immediately.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± After hanging up, Su Lin said to Lin Xiaowan, ¡°As expected, Xiao Feiyu couldn''t wait. He''s looking to get even with Yanyan, I need to go over there now.¡± ¡°Is Wang Yannian also there?¡± ¡°He didn''t mention him, but they''re probably together. Otherwise, Xiao wouldn''t be so bold, waiting there like that. He''s clearly relying on having backup.¡± Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin, ¡°I''ll come with Aunt Su.¡± ¡°This...¡± ¡°Yanyan isn''t just your girlfriend; she''s also my close friend. Why shouldn''t I care about her?¡± Su Lin gave a wry smile, ¡°With you putting it that way, how can I say no? Okay, you can come, but let''s agree, no rash actions. Follow Aunt Su''s lead, okay?¡± ¡°Don''t worry, I''m not foolish enough to act recklessly.¡± Su Lin nodded to He Suxin, ¡°Aunt Su, I''ll need you to watch over Xiaowan and Yanyan while I handle Wang Yannian.¡± He Suxin complained, ¡°You really dare to ask.¡± Do you want me to protect your other women?¡± ¡°Cough cough... Well, she''s Xiaowan''s sister too.¡± ¡°Hmph...¡± He Suxin''s cold huff indicated her reluctant agreement, which eased Su Lin''s mind. He could hold off Wang Yannian, but who knew if Xiao Feiyu brought other bodyguards. While those two guards were useless against him, they were a threat to Lin Xiaowan and Zhao Yanyan, who could only rely on their agility to escape. With everything arranged, Su Lin drove to meet Zhao Yanyan. Minutes later, they regrouped. Su Lin was surprised to see Qin Jiuyue, ¡°Xiaoyue, you''re here too?¡± Qin Jiuyue responded, ¡°I was bored at home alone, so I came to hang out with Yanyan. I didn''t expect this mess, so I came along. I¡¯m going to give that Xiao Feiyu a taste of my Ice Soul Needle.¡± Qin Jiuyue looked adorable in her anger, her small fangs peeking out, but Su Lin wasn''t in the mood to appreciate it, nodding, ¡°Aim right for his ding-ding.¡± ¡°Ouch! Xiaowan, why pinch me?¡± ¡°All women here and you''re talking so crudely,¡± Lin Xiaowan glared at Su Lin. Su Lin glanced around; the women showed no reaction, though He Suxin seemed a bit embarrassed. He thought, ¡°Could she still be a...?¡± He Suxin was wholly devoted to her cultivation, perhaps still a virgin. However, Su Lin had no interest in her, being either too old or too plain. His standards for women were high; beauty was a basic requirement. ¡°Cough cough... Sorry, Aunt Su, got a bit carried away.¡± He Suxin urged, ¡°Let''s hurry to the supermarket; they''re all waiting.¡± ¡°Alright, everyone in the car, we''re heading there now.¡± With Zhao Yanyan and Qin Jiuyue joining, the car ride became lively. He Suxin, not one for much talk, sat quietly, prompting Su Lin to consider whether to help her with her personal issues. But soon, he shelved these thoughts, as he had plenty of his own issues to deal with at the moment. Minutes later, the car pulled up in front of Quan Le Guo''s Donghai branch. Su Lin asked the women to stay in the car while he looked towards the tea cafe across the street. It was the same spot, but the people were different. Last time it was Zhong Shuhui, this time an elderly man dressed like a rural folk, which Su Lin knew must be Wang Yannian. That spot was the best vantage point, offering a view of both the Quan Le Guo lounge and Zhao Yanyan''s office. ¡°He''s definitely here.¡± With a slight smile, Su Lin walked towards the cafe. Chapter 227 Chapter 227: The Last Eunuch of the Great Xia? Inside the car, He Suxin looked towards Lin Xiaowan and chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him, let¡¯s go up.¡± ¡°But...¡± He Suxin reassured lightly, ¡°Relax, with me here, those few can¡¯t do anything.¡± Encouraged by He Suxin¡¯s calm and dominant demeanor, Lin Xiaowan turned to Zhao Yanyan, ¡°Yanyan, shall we go up?¡± After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Yanyan nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s go up. With Aunt Su here, we¡¯ll be safe. I have to deal with Xiao Feiyu today. Otherwise, he¡¯ll think I¡¯m easy to bully and will keep bothering me whenever he pleases.¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded in agreement, ¡°I support your decision.¡± Thus, the group exited the car and entered the supermarket. Su Lin knew the women had entered the supermarket and smiled, feeling no worry at all. With He Suxin there, Xiao Feiyu¡¯s bodyguards wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything effective. Su Lin went upstairs, and Wang Yannian seemed to notice his arrival, looking at Su Lin with some surprise. Although he had known Su Lin was very young, seeing him in person still felt unbelievable. The young Su Lin, around twenty, had a very youthful face and a confident smile. His stride was steady, showing no signs of nervousness, which indicated that Su Lin was calm inside. What surprised Wang Yannian the most was the sense of danger he felt from Su Lin. It was a premonition he always trusted. ¡°Ghost Doctor Wang Yannian~!¡± Wang Yannian, hearing Su Lin¡¯s unceremonious greeting, wasn¡¯t much upset. He looked at Su Lin and said, ¡°It¡¯s hard to imagine that at your age, you¡¯ve reached such a level. When I was your age, I was still following behind my master, learning about herbs.¡± Su Lin sat down and laughed, ¡°You should be here to seek revenge. Aren¡¯t you going to make a move?¡± Wang Yannian shook his head, ¡°I never attack a person where ordinary people are present; it only causes collateral damage.¡± Su Lin glanced around, noticing many people enjoying their afternoon tea, ¡°Then I¡¯m relieved. I was really afraid you¡¯d suddenly attack me and catch me off guard.¡± Su Lin snapped his fingers, ¡°Waiter~!!¡± ¡°What would you like to order, sir?¡± ¡°Just two cups of clear tea.¡± ¡°Right away, sir.¡± The waiter glanced at Wang Yannian, surprised to see how long he had been sitting there. ¡°Ghost Doctor really doesn¡¯t plan to act? If you don¡¯t make a move, Xiao Feiyu over there might not be safe. His two useless bodyguards can¡¯t stop Aunt Su,¡± Su Lin chuckled lightly. ¡°He Suxin, I thought she had the potential to become a Human Immortal when I saw her years ago. It seems I was right, she¡¯s quite formidable.¡± Su Lin, unsure of Wang Yannian¡¯s thoughts, nodded along, ¡°Aunt Su is indeed impressive.¡± Soon, the tea arrived, and just as Su Lin was about to drink, He Suxin¡¯s aura burst out from across the room. The grandmaster-level presences were instantly extinguished. Though Su Lin couldn¡¯t see inside the lounge, he could anticipate what was happening. He didn¡¯t know when, but he had a silver needle in his hand, his gaze fixed on Wang Yannian, ready to act if he made any sudden moves. Inside the lounge, as soon as Zhao Yanyan and Lin Xiaowan appeared, Xiao Feiyu, without any extra words, directed his bodyguards, ¡°Take them down.¡± The bodyguards immediately moved to grab Zhao Yanyan and Lin Xiaowan. He Suxin stepped forward quickly, her sword flashing, and Xiao Quan and Xiao Feiyu retreated in panic. Both were visibly shaken as they looked at He Suxin. Just a moment slower, and they would have lost their hands. Unfortunately, before they could speak, He Suxin¡¯s sword swept towards them again. Her swift and urgent sword cut through the air. The lounge was not small, but to someone like He Suxin, the few meters seemed nonexistent. ¡°Young master, quickly... Ah...¡± ¡°Ah...¡± Before they could finish speaking, He Suxin cut their wrist tendons, and blood spurted out. ¡°Young master, run, this woman is incredibly powerful, a peak grandmaster.¡± ¡°Hisss...¡± Before Xiao Feiyu could react, two ice-cold silver needles shot towards him. Qin Jiuyue had been eager to test her own strength, always holding back when practicing at home. Now, with Xiao Feiyu causing trouble, she saw an opportunity and was the first to act. Though Lin Xiaowan and Zhao Yanyan were somewhat unaccustomed to the scene, they watched intently, knowing they had chosen this path of cultivation and would inevitably face such situations. They couldn¡¯t always live under Su Lin¡¯s protection, so both women didn¡¯t shy away. ¡°This is Taiyi Divine... Ah...¡± Xiao Feiyu clutched his groin, letting out a heart-wrenching scream. The scream was so agonizing that even Wang Yannian and Su Lin in the cafe? across the street were moved by it. The intense pain from two ice-powered silver needles piercing his groin made Xiao Feiyu¡¯s eyes fill with blood, his expression verging on madness. ¡°I will kill you.¡± Despair in his heart, Xiao Feiyu guessed that those two needles meant he might become the last eunuch of the Great Xia. How could he bear such humiliation? ¡°I must kill you.¡± He Suxin scoffed, ¡°You really think I wouldn¡¯t kill someone? Xiao Family from Modu, huh.¡± With murderous intent, He Suxin raised her sword to end Xiao Feiyu. ¡°Snap~!!¡± A droplet of water broke through the air from outside, hitting He Suxin¡¯s sword. She spun her sword to stabilize herself, then looked outside in surprise. A middle-aged man floated in from the window. Describing him as floating was apt because his arrival was as gentle as a leaf falling without roots. Dressed in traditional attire, his demeanor was distinguished. He Suxin recognized him, and her expression turned slightly sour. ¡°Suxin, how about we stop here?¡± ¡°Li Kunlun, you¡¯re in Donghai too. Has the Li Family come as well?¡± He Suxin eyed the man warily. Li Kunlun nodded, ¡°I came with the eldest young master and the young mistress.¡± ¡°Are you stopping me?¡± Li Kunlun nodded again, ¡°He¡¯s already been punished. I was entrusted by the elder before coming here. The Ghost Doctor owed the elder a favor, and he had a message for me; I couldn¡¯t refuse.¡± ¡°And Wang Yannian? Why doesn¡¯t he show himself? When did he become someone who skulks in the shadows?¡± ¡°Heh... He¡¯s currently clashing wits with that young man. I must admit, that Su Lin is quite formidable. A grandmaster contending with a Human Immortal, holding his own, I am not his match.¡± ¡°Kill... kill her... Elder, please kill her for me.¡± Xiao Feiyu pointed at Qin Jiuyue, his eyes wild with fury. Li Kunlun shook his head, ¡°If I kill her, you¡¯ll have to die. Do you want to die?¡± At that moment, Xiao Feiyu hesitated, regaining a trace of rationality. [Ding! A reminder for the host, if the host dies, the system will automatically unbind.]. Hearing the system¡¯s voice, Xiao Feiyu sobered up completely. He looked resentfully at Qin Jiuyue, who was less than seven meters away, but he was powerless to seek revenge. Compared to Lin Xiaowan and Zhao Yanyan¡¯s tension, Qin Jiuyue was the most relaxed among them. She looked at Xiao Feiyu¡¯s ferocious gaze and felt not fear but disappointment. She had thought that even if Xiao Feiyu wasn¡¯t a grandmaster, he was at least a master, but he couldn¡¯t even block a single needle. ¡°Suxin, shall I take him away?¡± He Suxin sheathed her sword, ¡°Next time, I won¡¯t be lenient.¡± Li Kunlun nodded, his gaze lingering on Qin Jiuyue for a moment, memorizing her features to warn Li Boben and Li Shiwen to stay away from this woman. She was too fierce, easily crippling a man. Too terrifying. Chapter 228 Chapter 228: It Was Just Two Needles Warning, Warning: The protagonist Xiao Feiyu is experiencing severe psychological fractures. If this continues, he may become extremely darkened, with his protagonist aura tripling. The host must handle this with caution~!! Watching Xiao Feiyu being led away by Lin Kunlun, Su Lin¡¯s face showed no surprise. Although he didn¡¯t know who the man escorting Xiao Feiyu was, it was likely someone summoned by the Ghost Doctor because so far, Xiao Feiyu¡¯s luck hadn¡¯t diminished; instead, only his mentality had shattered, progressively darkening. Su Lin wasn¡¯t sure exactly what Lin Xiaowan and the others had done to Xiao Feiyu, but it was clear they had done something unforgettable to cause such a significant fracture. Su Lin and Wang Yannian stood quietly on the rooftop, watching the scene unfold. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re not surprised?¡± Wang Yannian remarked. Su Lin nodded at Wang Yannian: ¡°I understand your character to some extent; you¡¯re cautious.¡± Wang Yannian smiled slightly, ¡°You and I are alike, it¡¯s a pity I didn¡¯t meet you sooner, or I would have been tempted to take you as my disciple.¡± Su Lin laughed heartily, ¡°You¡¯re a Human Immortal who hasn¡¯t managed to break through; how could you be my master?¡± ¡°Fair point. The silver needles you used just now, those are the legendary Taiyi Divine Needles, right?¡± Hearing Wang Yannian¡¯s sudden question, Su Lin nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°No wonder.¡± After saying this, Wang Yannian took a big step away, his presence gradually fading into the distance. Su Lin didn¡¯t pursue him. True to his reputation as a renowned Ghost Doctor for so many years, even their brief skirmish revealed that Human Immortals were indeed not so easy to handle. Their fight was pointless and would only give Wang Yannian a chance to attack his loved ones, which would really put Su Lin at a disadvantage. Shaking his head, Su Lin went downstairs into the supermarket. Entering the lounge, he saw blood stains on the floor and walls, but the girls seemed unharmed. He Suxin sat in the main seat, frowning, silent. Seeing Su Lin enter, everyone reacted. ¡°Su Lin, are you hurt?¡± Su Lin shook his head and looked at the women, ¡°I¡¯m fine, what about you?¡± ¡°We¡¯re okay; it¡¯s Xiao Feiyu and his bodyguards who got hurt.¡± Hearing Zhao Yanyan¡¯s words, Su Lin nodded and turned to He Suxin, ¡°Aunt Su, do you know the middle-aged man just now?¡± He Suxin nodded, ¡°He¡¯s Li Kunlun from the Li family in the capital. He¡¯s of the same realm as me. Since there were several children around, I couldn¡¯t act rashly, so I let them go.¡± Su Lin quickly said, ¡°Aunt Su, I didn¡¯t mean to question your actions.¡± ¡°Uh-huh, I understand. Be careful with that Li Kunlun. Although he¡¯s of the same realm as me, he¡¯s backed by a mysterious and extremely protective sect. The Li family¡¯s prominence in the capital owes much to this secretive sect.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°I just sparred briefly with Wang Yannian; he stopped after a couple of moves. He¡¯s a strange one, hard to read.¡± He Suxin smiled oddly, ¡°He¡¯s decades older than your father, did you expect to read his mind easily? But be careful, Wang Yannian bringing Li Kunlun out may very well be the Li family¡¯s doing. They could be targeting you and your father.¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°Aunt Su, I¡¯ll keep that in mind. If the Li family wants to cooperate, I welcome them. But if they¡¯re here to pick the fruits of my labor, I won¡¯t just sit by.¡± He Suxin trusted Su Lin¡¯s words, curious when he might break through next. A Su Lin who has transcended to become a Human Immortal would be far more formidable, and then Wang Yannian and the others wouldn¡¯t be a concern, so Su Lin¡¯s words weren¡¯t an exaggeration. ¡°Since this matter is settled, let¡¯s head back. Xiao Feiyu won¡¯t bother you for a while.¡± Curious, Su Lin asked, ¡°What exactly happened to him? He seemed to have passed out when they carried him out.¡± The women shared mischievous smiles, all glancing at Qin Jiuyue. Qin Jiuyue stuck out her tongue, then said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t much; I just gave him two needles.¡± ¡°Just two needles?¡± Recalling Qin Jiuyue¡¯s Ice Soul needles, those could freeze or even kill a normal person if applied with full force. Xiao Feiyu, though not ordinary, surely suffered greatly from those two needles. Zhao Yanyan pulled Su Lin aside and quietly explained where Qin Jiuyue had placed the needles. Realizing the implications, Su Lin instinctively felt a chill in his own groin and then warily regarded Qin Jiuyue. Qin Jiuyue blinked innocently, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? I won¡¯t use the needles on you.¡± ¡°Cough, cough... Xiaoyue, try to use those needles less in the future.¡± Qin Jiuyue nodded, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize they were so powerful. Hehe.¡± He Suxin was curious, ¡°Miss Qin¡¯s needle technique is unheard of, so powerful and shocking. I was quite startled when she used it.¡± Su Lin explained, ¡°It¡¯s a technique I acquired by chance, not belonging to any school or sect.¡± ¡°Aww, Su Lin, you gave Sister Xiaoyue such a powerful technique, but ours are much weaker,¡± Lin Xiaowan pouted unhappily at Su Lin. ¡°Cough, Xiaowan, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to give you something better, but I just don¡¯t have anything suitable right now. The one I gave her was because it matched her constitution.¡± ¡°Constitution? Does that relate to techniques?¡± ¡°Of course...¡± After Su Lin explained, Lin Xiaowan finally understood the importance of constitution, looking at Su Lin, ¡°Then, how is my constitution?¡± Su Lin gave a thumbs-up, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s excellent. You reached master level in just a few months of cultivation. Besides Xiaoyue, all of you are surpassing countless martial arts masters with only sporadic training. Aren¡¯t you content?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say I wasn¡¯t content, I was just asking.¡± He Suxin watched Lin Xiaowan and Su Lin¡¯s playful banter, very pleased. She patted Lin Xiaowan¡¯s head, ¡°Xiaowan, Su Lin is right. Your constitution is indeed great, but unfortunately, you are limited physically and cannot practice some light and fast attack techniques. You are destined to focus on mental cultivation and internal strength.¡± ¡°Why not? I also want to be graceful like an immortal,¡± Lin Xiaowan said discontentedly. He Suxin opened her mouth to explain, then hesitated, looking a bit embarrassed at Su Lin. Su Lin immediately understood He Suxin¡¯s implication. He looked ahead and chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯ve been too well-fed since you were young.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha...¡± ¡°Ha ha ha...¡± ¡°...¡± Seeing everyone laughing and their gazes directed at her, Lin Xiaowan quickly realized why she couldn¡¯t practice light and fast attack techniques. She bashfully punched Su Lin several times, ¡°Shut up, don¡¯t say any more.¡± ¡°Cough, cough... you asked for it,¡± Su Lin said, feigning injury. Chapter 229: Discussing Marriage Matters? Chapter 229: Discussing Marriage Matters? In the Xiao family, Xiao Boyuan and Gao Xiuwen rushed back upon hearing that Xiao Feiyu had been seriously injured. Wang Yannian, after treating Xiao Feiyu, came out of the room. The parents immediately approached him, with Xiao Boyuan anxiously asking, ¡°Old Wang, how is my son? Is he...¡± Wang Yannian sighed and shook his head, ¡°I''ve given him painkillers and treated his injuries, so they shouldn''t worsen. However, it will be very difficult for him to fully recover. If not treated properly, he may never be able to function as a normal man again.¡± "What do you mean by not being able to function as a normal man? Can you clarify, Old Wang?" Gao Xiuwen asked nervously. Wang Yannian explained reluctantly, ¡°He may be impotent and unable to have children.¡± Gao Xiuwen''s vision darkened, and she fainted. Xiao Boyuan quickly caught her, ¡°Xiuwen, Xiuwen...¡± After she woke up, Gao Xiuwen looked at Wang Yannian in shock, ¡°Old Wang, is there really no way to cure my son?¡± Wang Yannian shook his head: ¡°Theoretically, there is still a chance.¡± ¡°Theoretically?¡± Wang Yannian nodded, ¡°Special ointments, special techniques could treat him.¡± As they were talking, Xiao Feiyu walked out of the room, looking as healthy as ever. "Feiyu... why are you out? You should be resting in bed." ¡°How do you feel?¡± Xiao Feiyu addressed his parents calmly, ¡°Dad, Mom, I''m fine now. You don''t have to worry about me.¡± "Fine? How is that possible?" Both Xiao Boyuan and Gao Xiuwen were astonished, making Xiao Feiyu feel a bit embarrassed. Nevertheless, he nodded, ¡°Really, I''m fine. Please don''t ask anymore.¡± His parents looked at him suspiciously. They had rushed over upon hearing of his severe injuries and even Wang Yannian had said it was difficult to treat. Yet now, Xiao Feiyu seemed perfectly healthy, which didn''t make any sense to them. At this moment, Xiao Feiyu''s eyes were full of hatred. To treat himself, he had spent the last of his 2,000 points villain on a medicinal pill, hence his quick recovery. Now, he was completely out of villain points. Xiao Feiyu knew how hard it was to acquire villain points, but the excruciating pain had left him no choice. Once Wang Yannian had left, he used the pill. Wang Yannian too was puzzled by Xiao Feiyu''s sudden recovery. No ordinary save could have healed him; it must have been a medicinal pill or something even more miraculous. After ensuring Xiao Feiyu was truly unharmed, Xiao Boyuan relaxed a bit. ¡°Feiyu, everyone said your injuries were severe. How did you recover so quickly?¡± Xiao Feiyu replied with a confident yet aggrieved look, ¡°It was just some minor internal injury, the injuries weren''t that severe, right, Old Wang?¡± Wang Yannian didn''t respond. Admitting this would mean discrediting his own medical assessment. Thinking Wang Yannian was just sparing his feelings, Xiao Boyuan chuckled, ¡°Let''s not dwell too much on this. Isn''t it great that our son is fine?¡± Gao Xiuwen quickly agreed, ¡°Exactly.¡± The awkward atmosphere persisted until Xiao Boyuan had to step in, ¡°Feiyu, tell us what really happened. Xiao Quan and Xiao Fei both had their tendons cut, and even with Old Wang here, they couldn''t protect you. How did you get rescued by someone from the Li family?¡± Xiao Feiyu knew he had to come clean about his conflict with Su Lin today, and he realized he couldn''t handle Su Lin alone. Only by involving the entire Xiao family could he stand a chance, so he began to explain, ¡°Dad, it all started on my first day in Donghai, when I went to see Ruoxi...¡± As Xiao Feiyu narrated, Xiao Boyuan understood the supposed course of events. According to Xiao Feiyu, Su Lin was a playboy who had tried to expose Su Lin after seeing through his intentions with Jiang Ruoxi, leading to misunderstandings and enmity... Xiao Boyuan and Gao Xiuwen, as his parents, were not likely to delve deeply into the matter. Just a broad understanding was enough for them to form a judgment. What parents would think of their own child as the villain? Furthermore, Xiao Feiyu had been known as ¡°the most affectionate man in Modu,¡± pursuing Jiang Ruoxi for many years and even making financial sacrifices for her. Thus, his actions seemed entirely plausible. Gao Xiuwen suddenly realized, "So that''s it. My son, are you saying you want to break off the engagement because Jiang Ruoxi wouldn''t listen to you, breaking your heart?" Xiao Feiyu looked resolute yet aggrieved, ¡°Mom... I...¡± ¡°That''s enough; I understand now.¡± Xiao Feiyu''s performance convinced not only his parents but even Wang Yannian felt sorry for him... Wang Yannian patted Xiao Feiyu''s shoulder, ¡°Let the past go. I''ll introduce someone from the Li family to you, how about that?¡± ¡°The Li family from the capital?¡± Gao Xiuwen asked excitedly. Wang Yannian nodded, "Yes, that Li family. If not for Li Kunlun''s help today, Feiyu would have come back as a corpse." ¡°Hmph! We will avenge this,¡± Gao Xiuwen said through gritted teeth. Xiao Boyuan was not as quick to react emotionally. He looked at Wang Yannian, ¡°Old Wang, are you really willing to help matchmake?¡± Wang Yannian smiled, ¡°I''ve had a few interactions with the head of the Li family and owe him some small favors. If Feiyu is willing, I can put in a good word.¡± ¡°That would be wonderful,¡± Xiao Boyuan said, pumping his fist with excitement. Xiao Feiyu thought of the descriptions of the Li family''s daughter in the books; she was depicted as a beautiful woman with a good temperament. Although it might be a few years too early for her to develop the refined demeanor described, she would definitely be beautiful. Thinking this, Xiao Feiyu felt less attached to Jiang Ruoxi. The dog that licks, let it rest! Isn''t a son-in-law of the Li family in the capital city enticing? He looked at Wang Yannian and smiled, ¡°Thank you in advance, Old Wang.¡± ¡°There''s no need for thanks yet; nothing is set in stone,¡± Wang Yannian responded. Xiao Feiyu was not discouraged but said, ¡°Whether it happens or not depends on your efforts, Old Wang. I believe there''s a reason I recovered so quickly.¡± Wang Yannian paused, then understood. If he wanted to know how Xiao Feiyu recovered so quickly, he would need to secure the marriage with the Li family first. As a physician, Wang Yannian was naturally curious about Xiao Feiyu''s recovery, suspecting it might be linked to something as potent as the Reviving Pill. Thinking this, Wang Yannian became eager to arrange the marriage, ¡°Then I''ll make a trip right now to talk it over.¡± ¡°Hold on, Old Wang,¡± Xiao Boyuan stopped him. Wang Yannian turned back, puzzled. Xiao Boyuan explained with a wry smile, ¡°Feiyu''s engagement with Jiang''s daughter hasn''t been dissolved yet. It wouldn''t be proper to proceed without sorting that out first.¡± Wang Yannian laughed, realizing the oversight, ¡°Then you should hurry up and handle that. We need to act quickly.¡± Xiao Boyuan gave Wang Yannian a puzzled look, unsure why he was so eager to help his son. But if Wang Yannian was willing, why bother with the reasons? Chapter 230 Chapter 230: The White Lady Although Xiao Boyuan was pleased that Wang Yannian was willing to make introductions for his son, he hadn¡¯t forgotten the treatment Xiao Feiyu and his men received from Su Lin. Xiao Boyuan said to Xiao Feiyu, ¡°Later, you come with me to the study, we need to discuss this Su Lin thoroughly.¡± ¡°Also, let the family know to send some real experts over.¡± Xiao Feiyu nodded excitedly. Although he had Wang Yannian¡¯s support, today made him realize his own people were too few and too weak. Su Lin alone kept Wang Yannian busy, and He Suxin alone had wiped out his men. This time was lucky because Wang Yannian was prepared. What if next time Su Lin is more prepared? As a transmigrator who hadn¡¯t yet fully enjoyed life, he was not ready to die. Gao Xiuwen was dialing her phone while Xiao Boyuan tried to persuade Wang Yannian to stay at the Xiao family home. However, Wang Yannian declined, not wanting to appear as a retainer for the Xiao family, which would quickly become known across the major families of Xia, bringing him unnecessary headaches. Meanwhile, Su Lin¡¯s villa had two special visitors. Su Lin hadn¡¯t expected Bai Qikun to visit so soon, and he brought an exceptional lady with him. Unsurprisingly, this enchanting woman was likely Bai Qikun¡¯s only daughter, Bai Lengshan. Known as a legendary figure in the capital, Bai Lengshan, at 28, a Grandmaster nearing perfection, had rejected the advances of the third son of the Liu family, choosing to remain gloriously independent. The woman before him was tall, her black hair elegantly pinned up in a bun secured with a sharply pointed fine awl that emitted a faint smell of blood, clearly having been used to take many lives. Tsk... Really a cruel person. [Bai Lengshan]. Age: 28 years old Height: 169 cm, Weight: 52 kg, Bust: 35C. Favorability: 10 Skills: Fist Heart Method, Ba Duan Jin, Joint Techniques, Black Dragon Eighteen Hands, Deadly Eighteen Strikes, Military Decapitation Fist, etc... Current Health Value:** 100 Purity: 100 Current Mental State: Calm Skills included various deadly martial arts, all clearly meant for killing. Noticing her favorability, Su Lin couldn¡¯t help but feel amused; none of the women he knew started off with such a low favorability. Bai Qikun introduced them, unaware that Su Lin had already assessed Bai Lengshan thoroughly. ¡°Su Lin, this is my daughter, Bai Lengshan. I plan to have her take charge of your personal security. What do you think?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Having Bai¡¯s daughter personally on guard is certainly reassuring. Besides, Donghai isn¡¯t that large; even if something happens, as long as you can hold on for a minute, I can be there.¡± Bai Lengshan gave Su Lin a cold look, ¡°Are you saying my strength is too low?¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°Not at all, it¡¯s just that the people who trouble me are quite formidable. You can hold them off, but overcoming them might require more strength.¡± Bai Lengshan responded without expression, ¡°Formidable?¡± ¡°At present, the Xiao family from Modu, the ghost doctor Wang Yannian, and possibly the Liu family from the capital. What do you think?¡± Bai Lengshan frowned. If Su Lin¡¯s words were true, that indeed would be a powerful lineup. Together, they could easily destroy any top-tier family in Xia. Bai Qikun laughed, ¡°See, I told you to practice less of those killing techniques and more internal cultivation. Now you see you¡¯re not strong enough.¡± Bai Lengshan stared blankly at Su Lin, ¡°I heard you just fought with Wang Yannian and came out unscathed, clearly you¡¯re on par with a Human Immortal.¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not a Human Immortal.¡± ¡°But today you fought Wang Yannian and managed to walk away untouched; clearly, even if you¡¯re not an Human Immortal, your combat strength is nearly equal,¡± Bai Lengshan insisted calmly. ¡°I just came from the supermarket and you already know this; impressive intelligence network.¡± Bai Qikun smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve brought over a hundred people with me, spread across Donghai. As long as your family stays within Donghai, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems.¡± Su Lin nodded in approval, ¡°Thank you for your efforts, Mr. Bai.¡± Bai Qikun waved it off, ¡°It¡¯s an order from above. They¡¯re very interested in both you and your father, especially you, Su Lin.¡± ¡°Me? I¡¯m just an ordinary person.¡± Bai Qikun shook his head, ¡°You¡¯re anything but ordinary. I hear from Liu Changyuan that you know about the ancient martial arts project?¡± Su Lin¡¯s pupils contracted, ¡°Is there progress with that project?¡± Bai Qikun shook his head, ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Then...¡± ¡°We¡¯d like to invite you to join.¡± Su Lin fell silent for a while before speaking, ¡°You know, as a practitioner yourself, that ancient martial arts defy common sense and science. Their research won¡¯t yield anything. Joining them is pointless.¡± Bai Qikun sighed, ¡°I know it¡¯s pointless, but with the Liu family¡¯s increasing arrogance, I worry about the collateral damage to ordinary people. The martial artists from the Liu family treat human life as nothing. Light injuries involve broken limbs; severe ones, death. This can¡¯t continue.¡± ¡°So, your invitation means what exactly? To stand against the Liu family?¡± Bai Qikun smiled, ¡°I have a feeling that sooner or later, you¡¯ll clash head-on with them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a student; how could I possibly...¡± Bai Qikun interrupted, ¡°Come on, look at everything you¡¯ve done. Do any of those things seem like the actions of a mere student? By the way, next semester, Bai Lengshan will be your class advisor.¡± ¡°What? She as my class advisor? In college?¡± Bai Qikun nodded, ¡°Indeed, she¡¯s both academically and martially proficient.¡± ¡°Alright then...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hold off on joining that project for now. Let¡¯s see how things go in Donghai first.¡± Although Su Lin wasn¡¯t afraid of the Liu family, he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to confront them without cause. If it came to that, he¡¯d deal with it then. Joining now would only bring trouble. Plus, being part of that would limit his actions, which was far less appealing than his current freedom. With the Su family backing him, as long as he didn¡¯t commit any atrocities, he¡¯d be protected. Why not enjoy that? Understanding Su Lin¡¯s concerns, Bai Qikun nodded, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll put that on hold for now. I¡¯m always ready to hear from you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s reassuring to have a fallback.¡± Bai Qikun knew Su Lin was just making light of the situation, and shook his head, ¡°If Wang Yannian and his ilk show up again, I¡¯ll be there too. But don¡¯t expect me to help you kill anyone.¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°I can handle that myself.¡± As Bai Qikun and Bai Lengshan were leaving, a Ferrari sped up and stopped at the gate of Su Lin¡¯s villa. Jiang Ruoxi emerged from the car, looking anxious. Chapter 231 Chapter 231 Seeing Jiang Ruoxi get out of the car, Bai Qikun turned to look at Su Lin and then shook his head: ¡°This Su Lin, his romantic luck is really flourishing.¡± Hearing this, Bai Lengshan looked at Bai Qikun: ¡°Dad, you never gossip about this.¡± ¡°Yes, I never gossip about these things, but this Su Lin is indeed bizarre. Get to know him more and you¡¯ll understand why I¡¯m so curious about him.¡± After saying that, he seriously added, ¡°It¡¯s fine to understand him, just don¡¯t harbor any unnecessary thoughts towards Su Lin.¡± Bai Lengshan widened her eyes: ¡°Dad, what are you talking about? I¡¯ve said I will never marry in this lifetime, not even considering the third young master of the Liu family, let alone a Su Lin.¡± Bai Qikun shook his head: ¡°It¡¯s precisely because it¡¯s Su Lin that I have to remind you. I¡¯ve seen his information. Virtually every woman who has interacted with him ends up liking him. Imagine how strong his personal charm must be, to make the daughters of the Lin family, the Jiang family, and even the Li and Qin families take an interest in him.¡± Startled by his words, Bai Lengshan then shook her head: ¡°That¡¯s because they are of similar age. I¡¯m much older than Su Lin, we won¡¯t have any situations.¡± Hearing this, Bai Qikun sighed: ¡°Actually, I still hope you meet a man in Donghai whom you can entrust your life to. You¡¯re already twenty-eight; if you don¡¯t get married soon, you¡¯ll become an old maid.¡± Bai Lengshan lightly said, ¡°A person like me, whose hands are stained with blood, how could I possibly engage in delicate matters? Dad, please don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Bai Qikun shook his head. Bai Lengshan¡¯s choice to remain unmarried, ultimately, he was the chief culprit. If he had not allowed Bai Lengshan to cultivate, perhaps her life would have been different. ¡°Su Lin, Su Lin~!!¡± In the living room, Su Lin looked surprised when he saw Jiang Ruoxi rushing in: ¡°Ruoxi, what brings you here?¡± Jiang Ruoxi approached Su Lin and looked him up and down: ¡°I heard you had another conflict with Xiao Feiyu, are you alright?¡± Su Lin smiled: ¡°Ruoxi, Xiao Feiyu is your fiance?. You¡¯re not worrying about him but instead asking if I¡¯m okay, aren¡¯t you afraid he¡¯ll be jealous?¡± ¡°Jealous? Impossible. After everything that¡¯s happened in Donghai, I¡¯ve seen through Xiao Feiyu completely. He¡¯s a hypocrite.¡± ¡°Heh...¡± ¡°I heard you fought him again?¡± Su Lin nodded: ¡°Yes, but I wasn¡¯t fighting Xiao Feiyu, but the Ghost Doctor Wang Yannian.¡± ¡°Ghost Doctor? How did you end up fighting him?¡± Jiang Ruoxi asked, puzzled. She was less informed and didn¡¯t know that Wang Yannian had already teamed up with Xiao Feiyu. Su Lin smiled: ¡°What else could be the reason? He¡¯s now teamed up with Xiao Feiyu. But this Wang Yannian, despite being an old and well-known figure, I thought he¡¯d be seventy or eighty with declining vitality.¡± ¡°Turns out he¡¯s a Human Immortal, actually having two hundred years to live, still in the prime of his life. Misjudgment there, we ended up in a draw.¡± ¡°You¡¯re typically taking advantage of the situation yet acting innocent. Wang Yannian is a renowned senior, and he¡¯s a rank above you, yet you managed a draw with him, which proves you¡¯re even more impressive.¡± ¡°In some sense, that¡¯s true, but unfortunately, I¡¯m still a bit lacking.¡± Jiang Ruoxi consoled: ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on it. Once you become a Human Immortal, you¡¯ll definitely beat him.¡± ¡°Heh~! Thank you, Ruoxi.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, we¡¯re friends, after all.¡± ¡°Rightly said, we¡¯re friends.¡± ¡°Right, Su Lin, apart from checking on you, there¡¯s something else I need to tell you.¡± Seeing Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s serious expression, Su Lin also turned solemn: ¡°Ruoxi, what is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about me, it¡¯s about Ziyu. I heard her grandfather has woken up.¡± Jiang Ruoxi had only started her sentence when Su Lin immediately understood; he knew that Li Weifeng¡¯s awakening might spell trouble for Li Ziyu. But as long as he had even a slight hint of news, he should know not to act rashly. Hearing this, Su Lin frowned: ¡°Is Ziyu at the company or at home?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not at the company, she should be at home.¡± Su Lin nodded: ¡°Ruoxi, I¡¯m a bit worried about Ziyu¡¯s situation, I might need to visit the Li family estate.¡± Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s gaze softened considerably seeing how eager Su Lin was to see Li Ziyu, indicating that Li Ziyu held a significant place in Su Lin¡¯s heart. This made her sincerely wish Su Lin and Li Ziyu well. ¡°Alright, then you should go. Don¡¯t worry about me, I¡¯ll drive home.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± At that moment, at the Li family estate, the needle Su Lin had placed in Li Weifeng was finally lifted, and he had originally intended to feign illness for a while. Unfortunately, Li Ziyu, who had great faith in Su Lin¡¯s capabilities, confirmed that he was fine as soon as the appointed time arrived, giving him no chance to prepare a turnaround. Li Ziyu looked at Li Weifeng with a faint expression: ¡°Grandfather, you shouldn¡¯t have contacted your old subordinates so soon. I¡¯ve sent them away; now everything in the estate cannot escape my watch.¡± Hearing this, Li Weifeng praised her with admiration: ¡°Ziyu, I really didn¡¯t misjudge you. Among the Li family, you are the most like me.¡± Li Ziyu shook her head: ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m not as ruthless as you. If you don¡¯t cross my bottom line, I wouldn¡¯t treat you this way.¡± Li Weifeng laughed heartily: ¡°Hahaha... Ruthless? What do you know, being ruthless is necessary to achieve great things. Being sentimental only makes you vulnerable; a ruthless person has no weaknesses, whereas having feelings makes your whole body a weakness, making it easy for enemies to target you.¡± ¡°In this world, not provoking others doesn¡¯t mean you can live peacefully. If you don¡¯t provoke others, they will come to attack you. I thought the same as you before I graduated from university, but now, reality forces us to become ruthless.¡± Li Ziyu¡¯s expression remained unchanged: ¡°Grandfather, if a person loses their emotions, they are no different from a beast; I don¡¯t want to become an emotionless, desire-driven machine.¡± Li Weifeng smiled: ¡°Then I will force you to become a ruthless person.¡± Li Ziyu didn¡¯t respond, just felt that the Li Weifeng before her had gone mad, and she didn¡¯t want to deal with him anymore, letting him enjoy his old age here. As Li Ziyu turned around, she heard Li Weifeng loudly say: ¡°Ziyu, don¡¯t you want to know the truth about your mother¡¯s death?¡± Li Ziyu¡¯s body trembled, but she didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°Actually, your father didn¡¯t stop loving your mother; on the contrary, he was deeply attached to her, so he was especially good to her initially. But in my eyes, this was a display of weakness and incompetence. I wanted him to achieve something great, but he only wanted to stay with your mother.¡± ¡°So I arranged for a group of women to approach him, seducing him, drugging him, and so on, using every trick in the book until their deep love was broken by my minor manipulations.¡± ¡°Stop talking, stop talking.¡± ¡°I told all these things completely to your father, thinking he would transform, but he turned out to be useless, choosing to run away instead.¡± ¡°Stop talking, grandfather, you¡¯re lying to me, right, you¡¯re lying...¡± Li Weifeng looked at Li Ziyu, no longer calm and composed, but rather pleased with himself, as only a ruthless person can lead the family to glory. Li Ziyu met all the criteria required of a family head, but she was too sentimental. ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you, your father, he...¡± ¡°Stop talking, stop...¡± Just as Li Ziyu was on the verge of collapsing, she blacked out and fainted. Su Lin caught Li Ziyu in his arms and looked at Li Weifeng calmly: ¡°Are you pushing her so hard just to make her kill you by her own hands?¡± Li Weifeng¡¯s pupils shrank at the sight of Su Lin, then regained his composure: ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have come.¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯t come, Ziyu would have been completely ruined by you.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not ruining her, but awakening all her potential. With Ziyu¡¯s capabilities, the Li family could enter the capital in ten years.¡± Su Lin shook his head: ¡°You¡¯ve completely gone mad.¡± Su Lin pressed on Li Ziyu¡¯s acupuncture point, and she gradually woke up. Li Ziyu looked at Su Lin, slowly regaining her senses, then feeling a mix of fear and relief: ¡°Su Lin, you came.¡± Su Lin nodded: ¡°I came, Ziyu, you should have told me earlier that this old man had woken up.¡± Li Ziyu glanced at Li Weifeng, then looked at Su Lin lightly: ¡°Su Lin, what do you think should be done?¡± ¡°Let him lie in bed for a lifetime,¡± Su Lin said lightly. ¡°But I want him to die.¡± ¡°Then let him die,¡± Su Lin smiled. ¡°You... don¡¯t you think I¡¯m terrible?¡± Li Ziyu looked at Su Lin and asked. Su Lin tenderly stroked Li Ziyu¡¯s hair and said softly, ¡°Ziyu, even if you are in the abyss, I will accompany you.¡± [Ding~! Female lead Li Ziyu¡¯s affection for the host has reached 100 full points.]. ¡°Su Lin, you pulled me back from the brink of a cliff.¡± Su Lin released Li Ziyu, saying, ¡°Ziyu, wait outside for me, I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± Li Ziyu smiled sweetly, her charm undeniable for a moment before she walked out of the room. Su Lin turned to Li Weifeng and said lightly, ¡°Your so-called ruthlessness that can lead the family to glory is wrong.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Su Lin confidently said, ¡°Absolute power can also lead the family to the pinnacle, while retaining humanity.¡± After touching Li Weifeng¡¯s forehead gently, Su Lin sighed. Leaving the room, Li Ziyu stood at the doorway looking at Su Lin: ¡°You didn¡¯t kill him.¡± ¡°I finally pulled you back; I didn¡¯t want to push you down again. I¡¯ve destroyed his memory center. Isn¡¯t your dad in Yangcheng? Send him there to retire.¡± Li Ziyu nodded: ¡°The difference between humans and beasts is that humans have emotions. Su Lin, I don¡¯t want to be a woman driven only by desires. Thank you.¡± Su Lin smiled: ¡°Thank me? Ziyu, how do you plan to thank me?¡± Li Ziyu pulled Su Lin by his collar, wrapped her arms around his face, and then kissed him. ¡°Can I thank you with the rest of my life?¡± ¡°Of course~!!!¡± Chapter 232 Chapter 232: Is Lin Xiaowan moving out? Su Lin hadn¡¯t expected Li Ziyu to open her heart to him because of this incident. He was genuinely grateful to Li Weifeng; if it hadn¡¯t been for his aggressive tactics trying to turn Li Ziyu completely dark, she might not have let her guard down, and it wouldn¡¯t have been so easy for Su Lin to make her open up. It¡¯s important to understand that Li Ziyu is not like other women, especially knowing he has a girlfriend, she, being proud by nature, would always suppress her feelings and not act impulsively, even though her heart favored Su Lin. Who could have known Li Weifeng would play this card? Feeling the warmth of the beautiful woman in his arms, Su Lin chuckled, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to see him?¡± Li Ziyu hugged Su Lin tightly and replied, ¡°No, I¡¯ll have someone send him away later.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After a long while, Li Ziyu finally let go of Su Lin. She looked at him, puzzled, and asked, ¡°How did you get here?¡± Su Lin pinched Li Ziyu¡¯s cute face and smiled, ¡°Of course, I felt that you needed me, so I came.¡± Li Ziyu just looked at him silently. ¡°Cough cough... actually, Ruoxi told me that you¡¯ve been swamped with family affairs these days, so I thought you might need my help,¡± Su Lin explained. Li Ziyu¡¯s tone suddenly carried a hint of emotion, ¡°You¡¯ve been in contact with Ruoxi quite frequently recently, huh?¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°Not really, it¡¯s just that Xiao Feiyu was causing trouble again. Ruoxi felt she had dragged me into it, so she wanted to apologize.¡± Seeing Su Lin¡¯s nervous look, Li Ziyu suddenly burst out laughing, ¡°You, don¡¯t be so nervous. Since I¡¯ve made my choice, I won¡¯t regret it. As for Ruoxi, if she likes you and you don¡¯t dislike her, it¡¯s not entirely impossible.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough... Ziyu, your change of attitude is quite drastic,¡± Su Lin said somewhat awkwardly, touching his nose. ¡°Hehe, just kidding with you, I really don¡¯t want to meddle in your private affairs.¡± Su Lin noticed that Li Ziyu¡¯s emotions had become more varied now; she seemed to have let her guard down completely around him, showing a sweet and playful side that reminded Su Lin of a youthful girl. Su Lin touched Li Ziyu¡¯s head and said, ¡°Ziyu, these years must have been very tiring for you.¡± ¡°Not tiring, but I had to grow up early due to my parents¡¯ neglect.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, people often confuse me with Xiaoyue. Actually, I envy her. We both come from similar backgrounds; she is the Qin family¡¯s princess, treasured and pampered by everyone, while I had to be strong and independent.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you have me now.¡± ¡°Mmm~!!¡± Li Ziyu led Su Lin to her room in the Li family estate. Her room wasn¡¯t as antique and elegant as Qin Jiuyue¡¯s; aside from a dressing table and a wardrobe, there was only a bed, making the room seem empty and simple. ¡°This is my room. What do you think? Disappointed? There¡¯s nothing here,¡± Li Ziyu said with a teasing smile. Su Lin scratched his head, ¡°Disappointed? I¡¯m not disappointed at all.¡± ¡°You say one thing but mean another. I noticed your eyes were looking around for something. After several looks around and finding nothing, you just looked at me.¡± ¡°Ziyu, your observation skills are too strong, try not to be so observant from now on.¡± ¡°Hehe...¡± Li Ziyu wrapped her arms around Su Lin¡¯s neck and fell back, ¡°I¡¯m a bit tired and want to rest. Will you stay with me?¡± Su Lin looked at Li Ziyu, wanting to say it was almost time for dinner. Before Su Lin could speak, Li Ziyu had already pulled the blanket over them. While he was asleep he was awakened by a call from Lin Xiaowan. When Su Lin left the Li household, it had already turned completely dark. Thinking of Li Ziyu, Su Lin couldn¡¯t help but admire her for being a woman who dared to love and hate. When he got home, the girls were already having dinner. Seeing Su Lin return, Lin Xiaowan instinctively asked, ¡°Su Lin, where have you been? Why are you back so late?¡± ¡°I was at Ziyu¡¯s place,¡± Su Lin replied. Su Lin was always open about his affairs and saw no need to hide them, so he spoke frankly. ¡°Did something happen to Sister Ziyu?¡± Lin Xiaowan asked anxiously. There had been an incident with Xiao Feiyu causing trouble earlier that day, and she was worried that Li Ziyu might also have been affected. Su Lin shook his head, ¡°No... just a little incident.¡± ¡°Su Lin, you¡¯ve been acting strange today. Haven¡¯t had dinner yet?¡± ¡°Uh... not yet.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s eat together.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Su Lin moved to sit down, and Lin Xiaowan sniffed, suddenly giving Su Lin a strange look. ¡°Why are you staring at me like that?¡± Su Lin whispered. Although he spoke softly, Xia Shiyu and Qin Jiuyue¡¯s ears were very sharp, and they also looked at Su Lin. Su Lin was indeed acting strangely today. Lin Xiaowan glanced at Su Lin then said, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t called you, you probably would have stayed the night there.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat, eat.¡± ¡°Hmph, I saw the scratch marks on you, no need to hide them,¡± Lin Xiaowan said with a glare. Su Lin quickly looked down at his chest, indeed finding several red marks from Li Ziyu¡¯s scratches. He awkwardly chuckled, ¡°Actually, about that...¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, no need to explain. We¡¯ve already accepted what¡¯s going on between you and Sister Ziyu; it was just a matter of time. Don¡¯t come to me tonight.¡± ¡°Nor to me.¡± Xia Shiyu was slightly more tactful as she said to Su Lin, ¡°You should rest well tonight.¡± ¡°Uh... okay.¡± Su Lin smiled helplessly but agreed with their approach. ¡°Su Lin, when are you going to bring Sister Ziyu over to the villa?¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°No need to bring her over; Ziyu still has to manage the huge Li family. What¡¯s she going to do here?¡± ¡°Uh~! Makes sense, I was just thinking one day our house would turn into a kingdom of daughters.¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°How could that be? I¡¯m not that kind of person.¡± Lin Xiaowan smiled faintly, then added, ¡°But Su Lin, I have to remind you, I¡¯m moving out when school starts.¡± ¡°Huh? Why?¡± Su Lin asked, puzzled. Goodness, Lin Xiaowan moving out? How could that be? He was sure it wasn¡¯t an issue of feelings, so it must be something to do with her family. Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin, ¡°My dad¡¯s job here is about to start officially, and they¡¯ve assigned housing for families. Dad said he wouldn¡¯t bother me before school starts, but I have to move back once it does.¡± ¡°Is there... no room for negotiation?¡± Su Lin asked uncomfortably. ¡°What do you think?¡± Lin Xiaowan gave Su Lin a look. ¡°Cough cough... well, at the dinner party tomorrow night, I¡¯ll try to persuade father-in-law.¡± Lin Xiaowan watched Su Lin as if watching a drama, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to your performance tomorrow night. I bet my dad is going to beat you up.¡± ¡°Heh! He¡¯s going to beat me up?¡± ¡°What, are you going to fight my dad?¡± Lin Xiaowan asked, a bit angry. ¡°How could that be? Don¡¯t worry, father-in-law won¡¯t beat me up. He¡¯s already accepted me, why would he do that?¡± ¡°Anyway, you won¡¯t be able to convince him. I have to go back by the end of this month; he said he would come to pick me up himself.¡± Su Lin: ¡°...¡± If you asked who Su Lin¡¯s favorite among the women was, it was undoubtedly Lin Xiaowan. Even though Lin Xiaowan occasionally got a bit temperamental, Su Lin¡¯s affection for her hadn¡¯t diminished at all. Because he thought that was what made Lin Xiaowan the cutest. Now suddenly hearing that she wanted to move out, how could that be? Su Lin said lightly, ¡°I¡¯ll definitely persuade your dad.¡± His tone was gentle yet certain. Lin Xiaowan, no longer displaying her little haughty attitude, nodded, ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave you either. Hang in there!!!¡± Her feelings for Su Lin were also very deep. How could she willingly just move back? Chapter 233: The Xiao Familys Calculated Moves Chapter 233: The Xiao Family''s Calculated Moves A quiet night passed, and in the morning, Su Lin was awakened by Lin Xiaowan and Qin Jiuyue. Today was the day of Su Zhenguo''s banquet, and major families from all over the country who wanted a piece of the action had arrived. Even some second-tier families, knowing they had little chance, still sent representatives. They understood they might not get the prime opportunities but could still pick up some scraps. Especially since these families had various connections with the major families, they could manage to get subcontracts from these larger families. As a result, the prices at high-end hotels in Donghai had risen significantly. Despite the price hike, no one complained; in fact, they felt the prices were too low to reflect their status. ¡°Is everyone except Xiaoyu going back?¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded: ¡°It''s okay, Su Lin, we''ll see each other this afternoon. I''m just going back to attend the banquet with my dad.¡± Qin Jiuyue also nodded, ¡°Yes, Su Lin, I''m going back too. Grandfather said that I should accompany him to the banquet this afternoon.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Alright, then I''ll drive you home.¡± After agreeing, Su Lin drove them home. At the Xiao family home, Xiao Boyuan looked at Xiao Feiyu and said lightly, ¡°Feiyu, are you planning to go to the Su family''s banquet this afternoon?¡± Xiao Feiyu''s face showed his resentment, ¡°Go, why not?¡± Xiao Boyuan was pleased, ¡°You can go, but you must avoid any conflict with Su Lin, understand?¡± ¡°Dad, I''m not stupid. Today, all these major families are going to Su''s to talk business. If I cause a scene, I''m just giving them an opportunity.¡± Seeing that Xiao Feiyu understood this, Xiao Boyuan sighed, ¡°Xiaoyu, you have finally grown up. I was worried you wouldn''t think of these things, but you''ve given me a pleasant surprise.¡± It wasn''t that Xiao Boyuan was being overly cautious, but Xiao Feiyu''s past actions were indeed foolish, his obsession with Jiang Ruoxi often making a fool of himself. Today''s banquet was crucial, and if he acted foolishly, it would be a national embarrassment. That''s why Xiao Boyuan had to ask. Now seeing Xiao Feiyu finally maturing, he smiled with relief. Xiao Feiyu, seeing his father''s smile, thought to himself that he really was born into a perfect family; it was just his own foolishness that had turned him into a joke in Modu, and eventually, a national joke, costing him his life. "Dad, I''m now worried that the Su family will become even stronger after this banquet. Will it be too late for us to make a move then?" Xiao Boyuan laughed, ¡°You''re still not thinking broadly enough. Think about it, with so many people going tonight, how many can actually get a share of the benefits?¡± ¡°Also, as far as I know, the Qin and Li families have already taken the lion''s share. The Qin and Li families may be fine in Donghai, but they don''t cut it on a national level.¡± ¡°Do you think there will be dissatisfaction?¡± Xiao Feiyu immediately said, ¡°The Liu family from the capital and the Ma family from Yangcheng are always domineering; they definitely won''t sit by and let them distribute things this way.¡± Xiao Boyuan nodded, ¡°Right, with those two families taking the lead, plus our Xiao family from Modu, and the Wang family, Su Zhenguo hehe... Su Lin, after today, I''d like to see how you''ll play with me!¡± After dropping off Qin Jiuyue, Su Lin didn''t rush home but instead went to the Li family estate. He made his way familiar to Ziyu''s room. By this time, Li Ziyu had already had breakfast. She wasn''t going to the company today because she had to attend Su Zhenguo''s banquet in the afternoon. At that moment, she was looking at the guest list for the banquet with a frown. Li Ziyu was smart; she knew just by looking at the list that these people were not easy to handle, especially those representing major cities. No matter what, they would not be satisfied. Li Ziyu rubbed her temples, wondering what Su Zhenguo was thinking, why he insisted on organizing such a banquet. Su Lin flew in through the window. Li Ziyu was initially happy to see Su Lin but then frowned, ¡°Su Lin, have you gotten used to coming in through the window, not knowing how to use the front door?¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°Coming through the window is more convenient.¡± ¡°You talk as if you''re here to steal someone,¡± Li Ziyu retorted with a glare. After a night''s rest, Li Ziyu''s tired face had regained its rosiness, her eyes sparkled as if they could speak, making her look radiant. Su Lin marveled, ¡°This girl really is trouble. If she attends the banquet tonight, who knows how many young masters will be dazzled by her.¡± He joked, ¡°Am I not here to steal someone? To steal a peerless beauty.¡± Li Ziyu kicked Su Lin lightly, ¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡± ¡°Hehe... Ziyu, what are you looking at? I heard you sighing from afar,¡± Su Lin asked curiously. ¡°You think everyone has ears as sharp as yours?¡± Li Ziyu replied, handing over the list she was holding, ¡°This is the guest list for the banquet. What is your dad thinking, bringing them all to Donghai? It''d be better to have a tender than a banquet...¡± Su Lind chuckled, ¡°A tender? Without the tacit approval of these families, do you think a tender that passes can be started?¡± Li Ziyu immediately understood Su Lin''s point. With such large profits involved, even if a tender were passed, other families would still create obstacles. But distributing resources at a banquet was different; it was essentially everyone having a meal together and then dividing the spoils. ¡°These families have huge appetites; aren''t you worried about your dad?¡± Su Lin gently wrapped his arms around Li Ziyu, his hands caressing her belly, ¡°Worried? I''m not worried at all. In fact, I''m more worried for these big families. Rest assured, my dad never comes out on the losing end.¡± Though Li Ziyu was full of doubts, seeing Su Lin so calm and relaxed her considerably. ¡°With you saying that, I guess I won''t worry unnecessarily.¡± ¡°That''s right, isn''t it?¡± Su Lin then softly asked, ¡°Ziyu, you''re not feeling unwell today, are you?¡± Li Ziyu looked at Su Lin nervously, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Uh... I''m just asking if you''re feeling uncomfortable,¡± Su Lin said, spreading his hands. Seeing that Su Lin didn''t seem to be lying, Li Ziyu finally spoke, ¡°I''m fine.¡± ¡°That''s good, that''s good.¡± Seeing that Su Lin really didn''t make any inappropriate moves, Li Ziyu felt she had overthought. Su Lin still had other girls at home; even he couldn''t handle that much. Thinking this, Li Ziyu''s cheeks couldn''t help but flush, and she pushed Su Lin, ¡°You need to make a grand appearance this afternoon. Don''t you think you should be getting back? You''re a deputy general manager now, aren''t you tired of playing every day?¡± Su Lin: ¡°????¡± He was puzzled as Li Ziyu pushed him out of the room. Downstairs, several maids saw Su Lin suddenly coming out of Li Ziyu''s room, and a big question mark appeared over their heads. They had been here all along and had never seen Su Lin. When had he arrived? Chapter 234 Chapter 234: The Banquet Begins After returning home and having lunch, Su Lin took Xia Shiyu to the Four Seasons Hotel. In the car, Xia Shiyu, wearing a light yellow knee-length dress, seemed a bit uncomfortable. She was not tall and rather slender, which made her look even more delicate in the dress. Her small face was tight with tension, and Su Lin could immediately tell she was very nervous. Su Lin joked, ¡°Xiaoyu, you don¡¯t usually get this nervous doing business, why be nervous about just having a meal?¡± ¡°I... I... I¡¯m just worried about talking to Uncle later; I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Su Lin reassured her, ¡°My dad won¡¯t have much time to talk, you¡¯ve been at the company for a few days now, have you seen him around much?¡± Hearing this, Xia Shiyu felt considerably more relaxed; ¡°You¡¯re right, Su Lin. He must be too busy to talk to me today.¡± Su Lin shook his head; Xia Shiyu always got extremely nervous whenever she met Su Zhenguo. ¡°We¡¯re here, let¡¯s go up first.¡± ¡°Okay~!!¡± As they got out of the car and entered, they immediately saw Li Hongyang and Su Zhenguo talking. Su Zhenguo looked up at Su Lin and Xia Shiyu. Xia Shiyu whispered, ¡°Su Lin, didn¡¯t you say Uncle would be too busy to have time?¡± Su Lin spread his hands, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect we would run into them just as we came up. The banquet won¡¯t start for a while, why don¡¯t you go have some snacks first and come back when it starts?¡± After hearing this, Xia Shiyu glanced at Su Lin and then said, ¡°They¡¯ve seen us already, what would it look like if I walked away now?¡± ¡°Heh... I called you early in the morning, why are you only coming now?¡± Su Lin replied, ¡°I got delayed dropping off Xiaowan and Xiaoyue at home, so we just decided to come after eating.¡± Su Zhenguo nodded and then said, ¡°You¡¯re the deputy general manager; don¡¯t run off once you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± Seeing this, Su Zhenguo nodded satisfactorily. He then turned to Xia Shiyu with a gentle and friendly face, ¡°Is this Xiaoyu? How have you been feeling at the company, any issues adjusting?¡± Xia Shiyu, flattered, responded, ¡°No... there¡¯s nothing I haven¡¯t been able to adapt to, everyone at the company is nice, and they treat me well.¡± ¡°And how about your work? Any difficulties?¡± Xia Shiyu shook her head, ¡°No, my job is quite easy, especially with Xiaowan there; it¡¯s not tiring.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good,¡± Su Zhenguo smiled. ¡°Su Lin is quite lazy; keep an eye on him for me. Don¡¯t always indulge him. If there are any problems, you can tell me, and I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Xia Shiyu sweetly smiled, ¡°Uncle, Su Lin treats me very well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± After speaking, Su Zhenguo glared at Su Lin, ¡°Treat her well, otherwise, I won¡¯t let you off. You rascal!!!¡± Su Lin was unconcerned by Su Zhenguo¡¯s warning, casually saying, ¡°You should worry more about your company, Xiaoyu is well taken care of by me, she couldn¡¯t be happier. If you don¡¯t handle today well, don¡¯t come to me for help if someone causes you trouble later.¡± Su Zhenguo scoffed, ¡°Ask for your help? When have I ever needed your help?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because you have some martial prowess you can navigate society, you still have a lot to learn.¡± Su Lin merely smirked, paying no heed to Su Zhenguo¡¯s words. His philosophy had always been that only absolute strength could face any challenge without fear. ¡°Alright, alright, I still need to check the venue one more time, I won¡¯t chat with you anymore, if there¡¯s something, come find me in the conference room.¡± Su Lin nodded; he was familiar with the venue as it hosted many large business meetings and banquets in Donghai. After they left, Xia Shiyu turned to Su Lin and said, ¡°Su Lin, Uncle is really nice, why do you always have to argue with him?¡± Su Lin responded speechlessly, ¡°Xiaoyu, my dad is nice to you because you¡¯re my girlfriend and he has always held love in high regard, believing in ¡®a lifetime for two¡¯. He thinks I owe you, so he cares about you.¡± ¡°You see how he treats me; he¡¯s just short of pointing at my nose and scolding me.¡± ¡°Heh heh, I think Uncle values you a lot; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t entrust such an important department to you.¡± Su Lin wanted to say, ¡°Silly girl, all those are assets I brought in, calling me back now is just wanting me to work for him.¡± But he didn¡¯t say it; knowing Xia Shiyu¡¯s curious nature, she would keep asking, and it would never end. ¡°Speaking of which, this is Ziyu¡¯s property, she didn¡¯t even come to check it out...¡± ¡°Sister Ziyu was just...¡± Su Lin covered Xia Shiyu¡¯s mouth; ¡°What are you saying, keep your mouth shut there are so many people here.¡± Xia Shiyu stuck out her tongue, realizing she had misspoken, and sheepishly said, ¡°Heh heh... sorry.¡± ¡°From now on, such matters should only be discussed at home, don¡¯t just say anything outside.¡± ¡°Mm mm, I¡¯ll remember, Su Lin.¡± Seeing this, Su Lin nodded satisfactorily. They didn¡¯t stay long at the venue as they found it boring and soon found a room to rest for a while. Returning to the venue, Su Lin saw that many people were already chatting inside. Most of these people were from out of town and had checked into the Four Seasons Hotel directly. They were originally here for the banquet and had come down early in the afternoon, bored. Listening to their accents from different places, Su Lin analyzed quietly. ¡°Old Liu, I didn¡¯t expect you to come too, I remember your family is in the seafood business, why are you attending the banquet?¡± ¡°Ah~! I came to look for sales channels, you don¡¯t know how the seafood industry has tripled this year, most seafood has dropped in price, still can¡¯t sell, many people came from inland this time, just right to probe them for new sales channels. Old Li, you¡¯re in leather, why did you come too?¡± ¡°Heh heh... I heard that this time Su¡¯s is really going big, planning a dust-free workshop, and want to see if there¡¯s a chance to get antistatic wristbands, leather, etc.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ve got to make a big score this time.¡± ¡°Heh, I¡¯m just following behind the Ma family, taking sip of soup.¡± ¡°Heh heh...¡± ¡°...¡± Listening to these people¡¯s conversations, Su Lin frowned. This Yangcheng Ma family, he still remembered that arrogant Ma Junjie, who showed up with four girls, each taller than the last. Typical internet celebrity faces, he didn¡¯t know what kind of aesthetics this guy had, actually liking cone-shaped faces. To know that there wasn¡¯t even a term for internet celebrity faces in this era, perhaps that¡¯s why he liked internet celebrity faces. Just as he was thinking about all sorts of messy things, Su Lin heard Xia Shiyu¡¯s slightly surprised voice, ¡°Su Lin, Sister Ziyu is here.¡± Chapter 235 Chapter 235: The Baffled Matchmaker Li Ziyu did not come alone; she was accompanied by numerous people, all tasked with ensuring the security of the banquet. Although conflicts are rare at such gatherings, as the heads of families usually bring their own entourage, these bodyguards and attendants typically do not enter the banquet hall itself but stay in a separate rest area. Seeing Li Ziyu¡¯s convoy pull up downstairs, Xia Shiyu wanted to go down to meet her but was stopped by Su Lin, ¡°Xiaoyu, what are you doing? There are several cars behind her, and she has a lot of official business to attend to. We shouldn¡¯t bother her right now.¡± As expected, Xia Shiyu saw a bodyguard get out to open the door for Li Ziyu, and cars stopped one after another as a group of people disembarked and entered in succession. ¡°Su Lin, they all look so fierce, have they killed many people?¡± Xia Shiyu asked. Su Lin laughed, ¡°What, are you scared?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not scared at all. Sister Ziyu¡¯s people are our people. What do I have to be afraid of?¡± Xia Shiyu replied. Su Lin nodded, ¡°Well said. You should try to get closer to Ziyu in the future.¡± Xia Shiyu nodded in agreement. As the time to enter the venue approached, more cars started arriving at the entrance of the Four Seasons Hotel. People from all over the country were there, and some acquaintances exchanged greetings at the entrance. ¡°Xiaoyu, what are you staring at the entrance for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m waiting for Xiaowan, Yanyan, and Sister Xiaoyue. I wonder when they¡¯ll arrive.¡± Su Lin patted her head, ¡°The entry has started; they should be here soon.¡± ¡°Mm-hm~!!¡± As more people entered, the heavyweight guests finally began to arrive. Two luxurious fleets of cars slowly stopped at the entrance, and Su Lin recognized Wang Tao from the Shanghai Wang family and Jiang Ruoxi. Today, Jiang Ruoxi ditched her usual youthful and fiery attire for a black spaghetti strap dress that left her pale collarbones and perfect right-angle shoulders bare, attracting several lingering glances, even from some older men who discreetly sized her up. Of course, Su Lin was no exception. Jiang Ruoxi, arm in arm with a man in his forties who had an imposing presence, walked with a commanding stride. It was clear without guessing that he was her father. Rumor had it he had served in the military, and it showed. The air of a military man is instantly recognizable, and although her father had been in business for many years, his innate demeanor had not faded. Jiang Ruoxi frowned upon seeing Wang Tao, then entered the hotel with Jiang Fengyi. The Shanghai Wang family seemed somewhat displeased, but they could do nothing. After all, the other was a top-tier family, and the Wang family was still somewhat lacking. They could only watch helplessly as Jiang Ruoxi and her entourage walked in. ¡°Dad~! I¡¯ll be on my own after going upstairs.¡± Jiang Fengyi laughed, ¡°Go ahead, you young people should mingle. Now that your engagement is canceled, this banquet is a good chance to see if there¡¯s a suitable match.¡± Jiang Ruoxi protested playfully, ¡°Dad, what are you talking about? I¡¯m not thinking of marrying yet.¡± ¡°You¡¯re already twenty-four, soon to be twenty-five. Do you think you can keep delaying?¡± Jiang Fengyi sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you managed to get the Xiao family to propose the dissolution of the marriage. What about next time?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to find someone you like now than to have the elders set you up with someone you don¡¯t like later.¡± Seeing Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s mood wasn¡¯t great, Jiang Fengyi patted her shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s unavoidable, being born into such a family, you need to be prepared.¡± ¡°Go on, find your friends.¡± Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s spirits were not lifted by this conversation, but then she looked up and saw Su Lin and Xia Shiyu standing in the corridor. Seeing Su Lin¡¯s handsome profile and his gentle smile, Jiang Ruoxi envied Xia Shiyu. She had seen that doting and tender smile directed at his women many times. ¡°No wonder Ziyu was attracted to Su Lin. If such a man isn¡¯t fickle, he¡¯d be flawless.¡± Paused by her thoughts, Jiang Fengyi noticed something and raised an eyebrow, ¡°Do you know him?¡± Jiang Ruoxi replied, ¡°Dad, doesn¡¯t he look familiar? You just looked at his picture before coming here.¡± Then Jiang Fengyi took a closer look at Su Lin, ¡°It¡¯s him, Su Jianguo¡¯s son. This kid is something else. I heard you knew him; aren¡¯t you going to greet him ?¡± ¡°I was going to, but after what you said, I¡¯m not in the mood anymore.¡± ¡°Heh~! If you won¡¯t go, someone else will.¡± Jiang Ruoxi glanced at Wang Tao coming out of the elevator, pursing her lips, ¡°If he goes to greet him, it won¡¯t end well.¡± No sooner had she spoken than she saw Wang Tao actively address Su Lin, ¡°Brother Su Lin...¡± Su Lin and Xia Shiyu turned away from the entrance, and Su Lin recognized the young man in front of him as Wang Tao, whom he had clashed with in a bar before, and raised an eyebrow, ¡°Brother Wang?¡± Wang Tao instantly switched to a broad smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Brother Su Lin to remember me. I am indeed fortunate.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Why are you alone? Where¡¯s Ma Junjie? Didn¡¯t he come with you?¡± Wang Tao forced a laugh, inwardly cursing Su Lin for deliberately bringing up Ma Junjie to embarrass him again. The Wang family had plans for the Su family, so he maintained a smiling face, ¡°I met Ma Junjie by chance and we¡¯re not very close.¡± ¡°Oh, not close, huh...¡± Wang Tao nodded. Su Lin looked at him with a puzzled face, ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Uh... no, sorry to disturb you,¡± Wang Tao said, looking somewhat embarrassed. Su Lin chuckled, ¡°No worries...¡± ¡°Su Lin~!!¡± Su Lin looked at Jiang Ruoxi, ¡°Ruoxi, how long have you been here? I didn¡¯t see you.¡± Jiang Ruoxi rolled her eyes at him, ¡°I¡¯ve been standing here for a while, and you say you didn¡¯t see me.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Ruoxi, that¡¯s your fault. You saw me, why keep standing there without saying hello?¡± ¡°Heh~! With that smooth talk, no wonder Ziyu can¡¯t stop thinking about you. Too bad Xia Shiyu has a strong sense of pride, or you¡¯d have won another beauty,¡± Jiang Ruoxi teased. Su Lin laughed. He had already won his beauty, and he should thank Jiang Ruoxi for that. Without her information, he might have forgotten about Li Weifeng¡¯s issue. If he hadn¡¯t awakened Li Ziyu in time, she would have completely turned. Though there¡¯s a charm in being dark, Su Lin still didn¡¯t want Li Ziyu to end up like that. ¡°About Ziyu, I have you to thank,¡± Su Lin said. ¡°Thank me?¡± Jiang Ruoxi looked at Su Lin, puzzled, not understanding his meaning. Su Lin winked at her, ¡°You know?¡± ¡°I know... know what?¡± Seeing Su Lin and Jiang Ruoxi chatting so happily, Jiang Fengyi was amused. If the Jiang family could extend their business to Jiangnan province, they could advance further. Well executed, they might even stand alongside the Xiao family. ¡°Standing here, we¡¯ve become a spectacle. Let¡¯s find a place to sit down and talk.¡± ¡°Sure~!¡± Jiang Ruoxi agreed happily. As the three prepared to leave, Su Lin noticed Wang Tao was still there, somewhat surprised, ¡°Brother Wang, you¡¯re still here?¡± Wang Tao: ¡°????¡± Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Caught by the Short Hairs, Lin Guoqiang The three found a window-side spot and started chatting. Soon, Qin Jiuyue and Zhao Yanyan arrived. Qin Deshu had no particular reaction to the women around Su Lin, but Zhao Tiande coldly snorted and glared at Su Lin upon seeing the bevy of beauties around him. Zhao Yanyan tugged at his arm to prevent him from making a scene. Su Lin felt awkward; he dreaded these kinds of situations where no father would be pleased. Zhao Tiande¡¯s restraint from not striking him was already quite magnanimous, expecting him to show a pleasant face was too much to ask. Unfortunately, Su Lin often had to attend these messy gatherings in Donghai, always running into these individuals, as those qualified to attend were often the same people. ¡°Yanyan, your dad looks really fierce, like he¡¯s about to eat someone,¡± Jiang Ruoxi said teasingly. Although she appeared scared, her expression was more about finding humor in Su Lin¡¯s discomfort. Su Lin didn¡¯t mind what Jiang Ruoxi thought. Having reached this stage, he had naturally developed a thick skin. Besides, in this world, unlike Earth, it wasn¡¯t necessary to be monogamous. Any man of significant ability and social status usually had several women. Su Lin considered this one of the better traits of this world. ¡°My dad¡¯s usually very calm; he¡¯s just acting that way towards Su Lin, don¡¯t mind him.¡± ¡°Heh~!! Su Lin, aren¡¯t you afraid of Yanyan¡¯s dad getting physical?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°He won¡¯t.¡± ¡°That confident?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Aside from being a bit of a flirt, it¡¯s hard to find someone with my credentials in Donghai.¡± ¡°Look at you being so full of yourself.¡± ¡°Su Lin, Xiaoyu, Yanyan~!!¡± ¡°Xiaowan~!!¡± Seeing Lin Xiaowan walking arm in arm with Lin Guoqiang, Su Lin¡¯s scalp tingled. Among all the potential fathers-in-law, Lin Guoqiang disliked him the most, even more than Zhao Tiande. As expected, Lin Guoqiang looked angry when he saw the women around Su Lin, pointing at him and demanding, ¡°Kid, come with me.¡± ¡°Dad~!!¡± Seeing Lin Xiaowan¡¯s anxious expression made Lin Guoqiang even more infuriated. The typical case of a daughter siding outwardly, she hadn¡¯t even married out yet, but she was already confronting him daily for Su Lin. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was his biological daughter, he might have been driven to violence. ¡°What are you worried about? I¡¯m not going to eat your boyfriend. Come here, kid.¡± Su Lin shrugged and told the ladies, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, carry on with your chat.¡± He winked at Lin Xiaowan reassuringly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded and took Su Lin¡¯s place. Su Lin followed Lin Guoqiang to a secluded corner. ¡°Is my daughter not good enough?¡± Lin Guoqiang questioned. Su Lin shook his head, ¡°Xiaowan is great, really great.¡± ¡°Then why do you need so many? What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°Cough cough... Uncle Lin...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me uncle.¡± ¡°Father?¡± Su Lin tried tentatively. Lin Guoqiang deflated, ¡°You¡¯re just like your father, both utterly shameless.¡± Su Lin responded with a smile, not offended, ¡°Would I have been able to find such a great girlfriend if I cared about face?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get smart with me. I¡¯m asking how many more do you intend to find? Without boundaries like this, I¡¯ll have to send my daughter abroad.¡± Lin Guoqiang¡¯s previous anger was gone, replaced by a calm demeanor which Su Lin found more frightening. He was serious about his plans. Su Lin earnestly responded, ¡°I definitely have boundaries, uncle. You¡¯ve investigated me, so you must know a bit about me. The women around me are all with me because we¡¯ve been through a lot together.¡± Lin Guoqiang huffed. Su Lin¡¯s affairs were well-known among the major families and Su Lin helped Lin Guoqiang in his career significantly. But these weren¡¯t reasons for him to accept Lin Xiaowan being with Su Lin. His real reason was simply that his daughter liked him. ¡°Be careful, you¡¯re in the spotlight now, watched by many. I still let Xiaowan date you because you show a shred of decency. If I find out you¡¯ve completely lost your boundaries, you won¡¯t see her again in this lifetime.¡± ¡°Uncle, can I discuss another matter?¡± Su Lin asked cautiously. Lin Guoqiang eyed him warily; he had a deep impression of Su Lin, a cunning man, who never seemed so humble without a reason. ¡°What¡¯s the nonsense now?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Uncle, I heard you want Xiaowan to move back home. Given the enemies I¡¯ve made in Donghai, I¡¯m really not comfortable with her staying in the staff housing.¡± ¡°Not comfortable? She¡¯s safest by my side. What has she experienced by your side? You even brought He Suxin to Donghai without my knowledge. Do you think I don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°Suxin? What¡¯s her relation to Xiaowan exactly? She never tells me.¡± ¡°You... you you you, why are you asking this, don¡¯t ask what you shouldn¡¯t.¡± Su Lin looked suspiciously at Lin Guoqiang, then gasped, ¡°Could it be...¡± ¡°What could it be? Don¡¯t guess wildly,¡± Lin Guoqiang hit him on the head, looking somewhat flustered. At this point, Su Lin felt like a spectator eager for drama. His previous guesses were now seemingly confirmed by Lin Guoqiang¡¯s reactions. Old man¡¯s impressive~!!! Su Lin¡¯s mind was ablaze with thoughts, imagining a soap opera scenario involving Lin Guoqiang, Lin Xiaowan¡¯s mother, and He Suxin. But considering He Suxin¡¯s single status and her aloof demeanor, it didn¡¯t fit the soap opera narrative. Out of respect, Su Lin decided it was better not to speculate further. Lin Guoqiang noticed Su Lin¡¯s thoughts and knocked on his head again, frowning, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°Cough cough... nothing, nothing,¡± Su Lin grinned. ¡°Uncle, about letting Xiaowan stay with me, what do you think?¡± Su Lin asked again. Lin Guoqiang shook his head, ¡°No way, that absolutely cannot happen. Xiaowan is truly safe only when she¡¯s with me. No one dares touch her at my side, but with you, she could be targeted at any moment.¡± ¡°So, no room for negotiation?¡± Lin Guoqiang nodded, ¡°No negotiation on this matter. I can yield on other things, but I must ensure Xiaowan¡¯s safety.¡± ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll have a good chat with Auntie. Auntie doesn¡¯t know Suxin is in Donghai yet, right? I guess they must know each other...¡± ¡°What are you trying to do? Don¡¯t mess around, you hear?¡± Lin Guoqiang said, visibly upset. Su Lin shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m just not great at keeping things to myself, always blabbering, a bad habit since I was little.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve agreed about Xiaowan, now scram... disappear from my sight.¡± ¡°Alright, uncle, goodbye.¡± Chapter 237 Chapter 237: Disdained by Liu Shiwen, Xiao Feiyu Seeing Su Lin walk away contentedly, Lin Guoqiang was left fuming, his beard bristling. He found that every conversation with Su Lin left him infuriated and yet without any real leverage over him. This time, Su Lin had caught him by the short hairs, promising more trouble in the future. ¡°How did Xiaowan end up with such a boyfriend? Really, it¡¯s such a headache, such a headache. Hmph! I can¡¯t handle the young one, but can¡¯t I deal with the old one?¡± Lin Guoqiang grumbled as he entered the venue, looking for an opportunity to take a good jab at Su Zhenguo. As for pushing things too far, like strangling business deals, he wouldn¡¯t go that far; at most, he¡¯d make a few jokes. Although the two often clashed when they met, they actually had a fairly good relationship. Back at his seat, Lin Xiaowan scooted over to make room for Su Lin. Grinning, Su Lin asked, ¡°Xiaowan, guess how my chat with your dad went?¡± Knowing Su Lin all too well and recognizing his mischievous smile, Lin Xiaowan guessed that he must have gotten her father to agree. Although she was a bit surprised, she also found it typical of Su Lin, who often managed to turn the impossible into possible. ¡°I bet my dad agreed, but he must be reluctant. It wasn¡¯t through a trade of interests, so it must have been a threat.¡± Concerned, she added, ¡°He didn¡¯t get involved in corruption, did he?¡± Su Lin squeezed her hand reassuringly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Your family is already so wealthy, why would he need to be corrupt?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true... It would take billions to tempt my dad. So, how did you manage it?¡± Lin Xiaowan asked curiously. Smiling, Su Lin responded, ¡°That¡¯s... something I can¡¯t say...¡± Seeing Su Lin¡¯s mysterious demeanor, Lin Xiaowan didn¡¯t bite, ¡°Never mind then. It¡¯s probably nothing good. I¡¯d rather know less about the gossip involving my dad.¡± ¡°Xiaowan, Su Lin, what are you whispering about? Su Lin¡¯s practically eating your ear. I know you two are close, but remember, there are others here,¡± Jiang Ruoxi teased as she observed them. Su Lin chuckled and responded, ¡°Ruoxi, you¡¯re Ziyu¡¯s close friend, hardly an outsider.¡± ¡°Tsk,¡± Jiang Ruoxi playfully rolled her eyes at Su Lin, whose comment might be taken suggestively. Su Lin then realized what he said was a little ambiguous which made people think. Fortunately, everyone present was intimate with him and didn¡¯t take his words amiss. Indeed, the women just giggled at Su Lin¡¯s slight embarrassment, not minding at all. Jiang Ruoxi, seeing their reactions, inwardly applauded Su Lin¡¯s charisma. So many remarkable women saw him in a different light, and even she found his charm undeniable. Like Ziyu, however, she couldn¡¯t accept his polyamorous lifestyle, or she might have fallen for him too. However, Su Lin knew she wouldn¡¯t mind his current thoughts. Even Ziyu, always so principled and rational, had ultimately surrendered to her emotions. The group had just settled down when they heard a commotion from the hallway. Several young people emerged from around the elevator corner. Leading the group was a handsome man and a stunning woman, Liu Bowen and Liu Shiwen, siblings from the Liu family. Following them were Ma Junjie from Ma family and Xiao Feiyu. At that moment, Xiao Feiyu was talking quietly with Liu Bowen, receiving neither a warm response nor enthusiastic engagement. Curious, Su Lin remarked, ¡°When did Xiao Feiyu get together with the Liu siblings?¡± Jiang Ruoxi answered indifferently, ¡°Su Lin, didn¡¯t you know?¡± ¡°Know what?¡± ¡°Xiao Feiyu canceled his engagement to me and immediately had the ghost doctor arrange a marriage proposal with Liu Shiwen.¡± ¡°Once the Liu siblings learned of it, they were furious, especially Liu Bowen, who smashed a cup. But the ghost doctor had helped their family, so they couldn¡¯t just snub him. The Liu family¡¯s response was noncommittal, and Xiao Feiyu is now trying to ingratiate himself.¡± After Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s explanation, everyone understood the situation, though they were somewhat surprised. ¡°Ruoxi, your engagement with Xiao Feiyu was canceled? When did that happen?¡± Jiang Ruoxi laughed, ¡°Just these past few days. Don¡¯t look at me like that; I¡¯m actually very happy about it. You have no idea how long Xiao Feiyu has been bothering me. I had no feelings for him, and it was extremely annoying. Now, finally, no one is pestering me.¡± ¡°But Xiao Feiyu is so disgusting, was all his affection just an act?¡± Zhao Yanyan wondered. ¡°Do you even have to ask? Of course, it was. Just look at him now.¡± Jiang Ruoxi chuckled, ¡°Whether it was real or not, I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m just glad to be rid of a nuisance. It¡¯s just a pity for Miss Liu; it looks like she¡¯s going to be bothered by him now.¡± Everyone looked towards Liu Shiwen, who was speaking irritably to Xiao Feiyu. ¡°I don¡¯t like you, Xiao Feiyu. Although my father didn¡¯t reject the marriage proposal outright, I will convince him.¡± Liu Shiwen frowned, not expecting to suddenly be dealing with the most infatuated man in Shanghai. Xiao Feiyu¡¯s antics were often joked about in their circle; his deep affection for Jiang Ruoxi and the foolish things he had done for her were well known. At the time, Liu Shiwen had envied such devotion, thinking it wouldn¡¯t be bad to be with such a well-matched suitor who would go to such lengths. However, when she learned that Xiao Feiyu had canceled his engagement to Jiang Ruoxi and immediately had someone propose to her, she was disgusted. She felt as though she was just picking up Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s leftovers. When Xiao Feiyu tried to get close to her, she felt utterly repulsed by his contrived gentlemanly demeanor, which seemed so forced compared to his genuine pursuit of Jiang Ruoxi. ¡°Miss Liu, you don¡¯t need to be so defensive. We¡¯re just getting to know each other.¡± Liu Shiwen replied coolly, ¡°Mr. Xiao, we¡¯ve already met. I would like some peace now. Could you please not follow me?¡± Unfazed, Xiao Feiyu looked towards the main hall, ¡°We¡¯re all here for the banquet, where else am I supposed to go?¡± Liu Shiwen was even more repulsed by his response, seeing right through his lack of sincerity. After being rejected, Xiao Feiyu didn¡¯t even bother to pretend, showing his impatience plainly. Liu Shiwen was determined to convince her parents not to arrange a marriage with the Xiao family. Liu Bowen interjected quietly, ¡°Xiao Feiyu, if you can get my parents to agree to the marriage, even if my sister is unwilling, she will have to accept.¡± His words made it clear. Convincing their parents was enough; Liu Shiwen¡¯s feelings were secondary. Xiao Feiyu sneered, about to speak, when he saw Qin Jiuyue looking at him with disdain. A twinge of pain shot through him¡ªit was the DNA of annoyance kicking in! [TL: Lol maf*ka got PTSD getting hit in his ding ding.]. Chapter 238 Chapter 238: The Showdown Begins, Su Lin Watches! Upon seeing Qin Jiuyue, Xiao Feiyu instinctively crossed his legs, then glared at her with hatred. He could never forget the excruciating pain of the two Ice Soul needles she had administered, a bone-chilling agony he never wanted to experience again. Qin Jiuyue, noticing Xiao Feiyu¡¯s hateful gaze, smiled and flicked two silver needles in her hand, causing Xiao Feiyu to shudder. She chuckled again and tucked the needles away. Meanwhile, Li Bowen, Liu Shiwen, and Ma Junjie noticed Su Lin and his group. It was hard to miss them; the man was handsome, the women beautiful, and they were seated right at the first table by the entrance. Li Bowen was particularly struck by Zhao Yanyan¡¯s long, attractive legs, despite his extensive experience with women. Even he couldn¡¯t help but be captivated by her pale, shapely legs. However, Li Bowen quickly composed himself. He and Ma Junjie exchanged a glance, understanding each other¡¯s intentions, and walked towards Su Lin¡¯s group. ¡°Su Shao, we meet again.¡± ¡°Su Shao, fancy seeing you here.¡± [TL: Shao is just used for formality in China like young master.]. As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face, and seeing Ma Junjie and Li Bowen approaching with smiles, Su Lin was not about to turn them away. ¡°Just chatting away to pass the time. I didn¡¯t expect such esteemed young masters to arrive so early.¡± ¡°Early birds get the worms, we¡¯re just trying our luck,¡± Li Bowen responded with a laugh. ¡°Shiwen, you always say you find it boring following me, why don¡¯t you chat with them for a bit?¡± Liu Shiwen looked intrigued as she glanced at Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu, then at Su Lin, ¡°May I?¡± Su Lin stood up with a smile, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not some overbearing CEO who forbids you from making friends.¡± ¡°Hehe... Xiaowan, you see me but don¡¯t say hi.¡± Liu Shiwen blushed as she sat down; she had just taken the seat that Su Lin had vacated. The warmth of the leather chair was still palpable, slightly hot to the touch. ¡°Su Shao, shall we find a place to talk?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Ma Junjie, why aren¡¯t you with your girlfriends today?¡± Ma Junjie shook his head, ¡°They¡¯re not suitable for this kind of event.¡± Ma Junjie envied the background and personalities of Su Lin¡¯s companions. Unlike his, who were mostly attracted by money, offering little beyond their good looks and willingness. But Su Lin¡¯s girlfriends were beautiful, shapely, and each had unique qualities, not to mention their respectable family backgrounds. Each could easily attend this banquet on their own merit. In contrast, his companions would not be appropriate for such high-profile events. ¡°Su Shao, I must say I¡¯m both envious and jealous of you. Look at your girlfriends, like plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, each has her charm. They¡¯re distinctive yet obedient and well-mannered. I¡¯m no match for you there.¡± Li Bowen nodded in agreement, ¡°Indeed, I could learn a thing or two from Su Lin on this front.¡± Su Lin humbly replied, ¡°Treating women doesn¡¯t require splashing cash or much effort. The key is attraction; let them see your merits and admire them enough to fall for you and become inseparable. That¡¯s how you keep a woman interested.¡± Li Bowen agreed, ¡°Such great wisdom.¡± Whenever men discuss women, they quickly build rapport. Both Li Bowen and Ma Junjie, despite their high status, did not feel any inferiority in chatting with Su Lin. Aside from anything else, Su Lin¡¯s martial prowess alone earned their respect, and while they referred to each other as friends, it was largely because Su Lin was not someone they could subdue as a subordinate. But as the trio were getting engrossed in their discussion, Xiao Feiyu felt left out. He was already wary of Su Lin¡¯s strength, and seeing them chat so amicably made him uneasy. He couldn¡¯t just interrupt them. His status as Modu¡¯s top young master might sound impressive, but it paled in comparison to Ma Junjie and Li Bowen. Although Ma Junjie, like him, was a prominent young master in Yangcheng, the Ma family dominated there, unlike Modu, where the Xiao family was just one among many top-tier families. [TL: By the way Modu sometimes used to refer to Shanghai. It¡¯s derived from the Chinese name for Shanghai, which is ÉϺ£ (Sha?ngha?i), and ¡°Modu¡± is a phonetic adaptation of an old name for the city.]. ¡°Xiao Feiyu, why so quiet? I heard there was some friction between you and Su Shao, is that true?¡± Ma Junjie¡¯s words put Xiao Feiyu on the spot. His grudge against Su Lin was no small matter, a vendetta for the ages. Ma Junjie¡¯s tone was that of someone ready to enjoy a good show, his eyes flitting between Su Lin and Xiao Feiyu. Xiao Feiyu replied calmly, ¡°Indeed, there are some grievances. Ma Junjie, I hear you¡¯re looking to take over Su¡¯s mobile business? But I also heard that Su has outsourced most of that to Li¡¯s Group.¡± Despite the Xiao family¡¯s lesser dominance compared to the Ma family, Xiao Feiyu wasn¡¯t one to be easily cowed. Ma Junjie¡¯s attempt to make light of his situation was not going to go unchallenged. Li Bowen watched with interest as Xiao Feiyu and Ma Junjie spoke. He had always seen Xiao Feiyu as somewhat contrived due to his efforts to woo his sister, but now he respected him for showing some backbone, just a bit too obsequious with his sister. Ma Junjie¡¯s expression turned sour as Xiao Feiyu¡¯s pointed remark hit home. Everyone in Donghai with a bit of influence knew about Su¡¯s outsourcing to Li¡¯s, but knowing didn¡¯t mean there were no opportunities left to exploit. ¡°Xiao Feiyu, you¡¯re quite something!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always been quite something, no need for you to remind me.¡± Su Lin watched the two with a smile, seemingly detached from the dispute. Ma Junjie had started this for a bit of fun, and now he got what he deserved. Whatever the future held with these men, Su Lin knew that tonight, this place was his domain, and none would cross him without consequence. Being ousted here would be a spectacle; within a day, every major family in the nation would know. So, even if Xiao Feiyu loathed Su Lin, he wouldn¡¯t dare openly oppose him here, knowing any disgrace could become another topic of gossip for the Xiao family. But giving Ma Junjie a hard time carried no such risks. ¡°Today is a good day; why so tense?¡± Su Lin interjected. ¡°Just smile, no need for conflict.¡± Li Bowen¡¯s timely comments eased the tension. Ma Junjie scoffed, ¡°Li Bowen, your sister is quite the beauty, make sure no frogs are trying to eat swan meat.¡± Xiao Feiyu, unfazed, retorted, ¡°At least someone desires it, unlike certain frogs that can only settle for ugly ducks and seem quite happy about it.¡± Pleased that the conversation had cooled, though still sharp, Li Bowen appreciated that both gave him face. He turned to Su Lin, ¡°Su Lin, the banquet is about to start. I¡¯ll leave you to it; I have some things to discuss with Uncle Li.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Feel free, Li Bowen.¡± Watching Li Bowen leave, Su Lin was surprised at his restraint today, far from the arrogance of their first meeting. What changed? Curious but unwilling to pry, Su Lin decided it was a positive development regardless. He looked at Xiao Feiyu and Ma Junjie, chuckling, ¡°You two continue, don¡¯t mind me.¡± Chapter 239 Chapter 239: Su Lin¡¯s Crisis Both men snorted coldly before Ma Junjie spoke to Su Lin, ¡°Su Shao, sorry but I need to discuss some matters too, I won¡¯t interrupt your reunion.¡± Ma Junjie emphasized the word ¡°reunion,¡± clearly aware of the grievances between Su Lin and Xiao Feiyu. After giving Xiao Feiyu a cold look and a smirk, he turned and left without waiting for Su Lin¡¯s response. Now alone with Su Lin, Xiao Feiyu dropped his pretense. Without provoking Su Lin further, he walked away without looking back. Su Lin watched the retreating Xiao Feiyu and remarked, ¡°This guy has really grown up.¡± Unlike Xiao Chen, who never learned from his mistakes, Xiao Feiyu was always adapting his behavior and progressing. Su Lin had seen through his intentions several times, possibly because he had been too cautious and well-prepared, always managing to come out on top. This restraint was why Xiao Feiyu had stopped provoking Su Lin directly today. Knowing that the event was hosted by the Su family, albeit on Li family premises, Xiao Feiyu was aware of Su Lin¡¯s strong ties with Li Ziyu. Li Ziyu¡¯s success in taking control of the Li family was undoubtedly linked to Su Lin, which explained Xiao Feiyu¡¯s silence; any disruption could lead to his disadvantage, even if Wang Yannian had brought experts from his family to support him. Shaking his head, Su Lin thought to himself that Xiao Feiyu was becoming increasingly withdrawn, possibly heading towards a complete breakdown. As Su Lin was about to return to the ladies, a familiar figure approached him. Song Zhigang, looking sharp in a suit, greeted him warmly. ¡°Young master Su~!!¡± Su Lin, nearly failing to recognize him, laughed and said, ¡°Old Song, it hasn¡¯t been that long since I last saw you, but you look much younger and more spirited.¡± Song Zhigang replied modestly, ¡°Since returning to my family, I¡¯ve been eating and drinking well, which has improved my complexion.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great to hear. Old Song, why didn¡¯t you let me know in advance that you were coming?¡± With a serious expression, Song Zhigang explained, ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning to come initially. Mr. Su has already made the Song family¡¯s position very clear. But I received some information, so I decided to come personally.¡± ¡°Oh? What information brought you here in person?¡± Song Zhigang said, ¡°I heard that Wang Yannian flew to Beijing and visited the Liu family, who received him.¡± ¡°Yes, I know about that; he went there to propose a marriage for Xiao Feiyu.¡± Song Zhigang continued seriously, ¡°Wang Yannian did more than propose marriage. When he returned to Donghai, he brought several people with him, including Zhao Changlin.¡± ¡°Imperial Capital¡¯s Zhao Changlin?¡± Su Lin asked, surprised. Song Zhigang nodded, ¡°He¡¯s a real martial fanatic. Every notable figure in the capital has been challenged by him, and he has never lost.¡± ¡°Zhao Changlin is affiliated with the Liu family?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not surprising,¡± Song Zhigang explained. ¡°Zhao Changlin and Bai Qikun are known as the ¡®Twin Dragons of the Capital.¡¯ This time, coming to Donghai with Wang Yannian, he¡¯s definitely here for you.¡± Su Lin nodded gravely, ¡°Are there others? Did you manage to identify anyone else?¡± Song Zhigang shook his head with a wry smile, ¡°No, these people are too secretive, likely from some hidden sects. They collaborate with these major families to gather cultivation resources. I¡¯ve heard that the current head of the Liu family¡¯s wife is from one of these mysterious sects.¡± ¡°They¡¯re hardly hidden if they¡¯re out seeking alliances with families. But these guys must be strong. What is Wang Yannian up to, bringing so many heavy hitters? If it¡¯s to target me, why bring such an overkill?¡± ¡°Exactly, I can¡¯t figure it out either. If it were just about you, the Liu family probably wouldn¡¯t have bothered, but now they¡¯ve really brought out a significant number. It¡¯s perplexing.¡± ¡°Old Song, once you¡¯re back, try to dig a little deeper. If you can¡¯t find anything, it¡¯s okay; just keep a record of this. It seems these people aren¡¯t here just for me.¡± ¡°Right, I know what to do.¡± After Song Zhigang left, Su Lin furrowed his brows in thought. Wang Yannian wouldn¡¯t summon such heavyweights just to deal with him; what then was his purpose? And where were these people now, that he hadn¡¯t received any news of their movements? ¡°It looks like this isn¡¯t straightforward. I might need to discuss this with Old Master Qin and Ziyu,¡± Su Lin concluded gravely. Just as he was about to leave, another figure approached him. Bai Qikun addressed him, ¡°The banquet has started; why aren¡¯t you with your father?¡± Su Lin looked at Bai Qikun and the accompanying Bai Lengshan: ¡°Old Bai, you¡¯ve come too. This isn¡¯t usually your kind of event.¡± Bai Qikun chuckled, ¡°Who says I don¡¯t attend such events? I go to such banquets almost every month in Beijing.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Are you here to see my father?¡± Shaking his head, Bai Qikun replied, ¡°Not your father, I came for you.¡± ¡°For me? What¡¯s the matter?¡± With a grave expression, Bai Qikun disclosed, ¡°Wang Yannian has brought three Human Immortals from Beijing to Donghai for you. Did you know about this?¡± Scratching his head, Su Lin responded, ¡°I just heard a bit about it, but not much.¡± ¡°Surprising you have sources in Beijing. Not bad,¡± Bai Qikun teased. A bit exasperated, Su Lin replied, ¡°Old Bai, can you just get to the point without keeping me on tenterhooks?¡± Sighing, Bai Qikun admitted, ¡°These people are here for you.¡± ¡°For me? How is that possible? I¡¯m just a peak grandmaster. Why would they send three Human Immortals for me?¡± ¡°Exactly, they are here for you, specifically for your pills.¡± Su Lin fell silent, realizing it was all because of the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill. He had handed over the pill he had from Xiao Chen, a pill within the realm of cultivation with potent effects. Therefore, Wang Yannian probably didn¡¯t tell those old men it was his pill but claimed it was Su Lin¡¯s, prompting them to come from Beijing. Or perhaps, when questioned by them, Wang Yannian saw an opportunity to use them as a means to strike at him. With Wang Yannian¡¯s cunning, he could have concocted this plan in an instant. Rubbing his temples, Su Lin muttered, ¡°Doesn¡¯t this put me in danger?¡± The allure of the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill was immense; these old men likely had chronic injuries and could potentially live decades longer with the pill. Human nature was unpredictable; even if Su Lin gave them all his pills, they would greedily demand more and eventually resort to force. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Wang Yannian acted against me yet after returning to Donghai several days ago?¡± This was what Su Lin couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Now you know, Su Lin, you must take this seriously, or Donghai might face a major upheaval. I need stability, understand?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°I understand, Old Bai.¡± ¡°Good, you¡¯re smart and should know how to handle this.¡± After Bai Qikun left, as he said, he wasn¡¯t here to enjoy the banquet but to relay a message to Su Lin. Chapter 240 Chapter 240: The Double Standard of Women Su Lin, pushing aside his worries, returned to where the women were. He overheard Jiang Ruoxi and Liu Shiwen discussing Xiao Feiyu and decided to eavesdrop by leaning casually against a nearby pillar. Jiang Ruoxi exclaimed with wide eyes, ¡°Shiwen, you mean your arranged marriage partner is Xiao Feiyu? Are you sure?¡± Liu Shiwen sighed, ¡°I knew you¡¯d ask, but yes, it¡¯s true. I don¡¯t know what got into that quack doctor Wang Yannian, insisting on arranging this match for Xiao Feiyu.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve heard bits about Xiao Feiyu¡¯s affection for Ruoxi here in the capital too, but meeting him today, he¡¯s nothing like the rumors suggest. Ruoxi, are the stories from Modu not accurate?¡± Jiang Ruoxi sighed softly, ¡°Honestly, I only saw Xiao Feiyu¡¯s true colors recently. In Modu, he still put on an act, but here in Donghai, he¡¯s let himself go. The first time he saw Ziyu, his eyes wandered obviously.¡± ¡°And when I brought him to apologize to Su Lin, he started pestering Yanyan relentlessly afterward.¡± Liu Shiwen gasped, ¡°Really? That¡¯s not what I found in my research.¡± Lin Xiaowan laughed, ¡°Whatever you read must be outdated. We¡¯ve had to deal with Xiao Feiyu bothering Yanyan quite a few times.¡± ¡°Indeed, I even gave him two needles once.¡± At Qin Jiuyue¡¯s words, Lin Xiaowan and Zhao Yanyan couldn¡¯t help but laugh, remembering the decidedly uncomfortable spots where Qin Jiuyue had placed those needles. ¡°You really need to keep your eyes open to avoid falling for such a man,¡± Lin Xiaowan advised Liu Shiwen, who nodded in agreement before curiously looking at Lin Xiaowan and saying, ¡°Xiaowan, Xiao Feiyu may be a scumbag, but how come I hear that all of you are with Su Lin? Doesn¡¯t that make him a scumbag too, seeing as he has so many girlfriends?¡± Her question was logically sound; Xiao Feiyu was undeniably dubious in character. Lin Xiaowan, Zhao Yanyan, and Qin Jiuyue fell into thought. After a moment, Lin Xiaowan responded, ¡°There¡¯s a fundamental difference between Su Lin and Xiao Feiyu. Su Lin doesn¡¯t hide behind pretenses. He doesn¡¯t feign depth or bother people unnecessarily, nor does he cross personal boundaries.¡± ¡°Even though he¡¯s a flirt, at least he¡¯s genuine. And really, which man isn¡¯t? As for matters of the heart, they can be impulsive and irrational.¡± Hearing Lin Xiaowan¡¯s somewhat biased rationale, Su Lin smiled to himself, touched by her fondness for him. Zhao Yanyan added shyly, ¡°At first, I was drawn by his looks, then his physique, and only afterward by his talents.¡± ¡°Exactly, Yanyan, you¡¯re such a sucker for good looks, just as Su Lin said. You¡¯re all about appearances,¡± joked Lin Xiaowan. Zhao Yanyan retorted, ¡°Isn¡¯t that normal? You wouldn¡¯t want to wake up to an ugly face every morning. And just because someone is attractive doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯ve won my heart.¡± ¡°What about you, Jiuyue?¡± they turned to Qin Jiuyue. She replied, ¡°You all know my story with Su Lin; I don¡¯t think I need to repeat it.¡± Her friends laughed. ¡°Jiuyue is blushing!¡± As she reminisced about flying through the sky with Su Lin, although she could now fly on her own, she still cherished that night as a precious memory. Liu Shiwen, listening to their stories, began to understand why these women were drawn to Su Lin. ¡°When you talk about Su Lin, your eyes sparkle. It¡¯s clear you all love him. I envy your romance.¡± Jiang Ruoxi nodded in agreement, ¡°Either it¡¯s passionate or sweet. When will I have a romance like that?¡± ¡°Ruoxi, you might not get the chance, your parents are probably arranging your marriage at this banquet,¡± teased Lin Xiaowan. Both Jiang Ruoxi and Liu Shiwen deflated at that. ¡°Why is it that, coming from similar backgrounds, you get to have a sweet romance, and I have to wait for an arranged marriage without even knowing if my future husband will be tall or short, fat or skinny?¡± Ruoxi complained. ¡°At least you can fantasize about your future husband. Me? I¡¯m stuck with an effeminate man who likes to play the deep, sensitive type. It¡¯s too hard,¡± Liu Shiwen lamented, referring to Xiao Feiyu¡¯s somewhat feminine appearance and mannerisms. Su Lin, feeling the mood dampen among the group, decided it was time to reveal his presence. ¡°What¡¯s so fun here that you¡¯re all laughing about?¡± he approached with a smile. ¡°Only you here? Where are the others?¡± Lin Xiaowan eyed him meaningfully, suspecting he had been eavesdropping. His timing was just too coincidental, and they knew he could have easily overheard them without being detected. Su Lin shrugged, ¡°They went off to talk business. I¡¯m just a vice president and don¡¯t really have important responsibilities, so it¡¯s normal for them not to include me.¡± ¡°No important responsibilities? Aren¡¯t we handling the mobile business?¡± Lin Xiaowan frowned. Su Lin signaled her with his eyes, ¡°Xiaowan, why bring that up? Luckily it¡¯s just us here. If others heard, they¡¯d definitely come asking me about it.¡± Lin Xiaowan stuck out her tongue, ¡°They¡¯ll find out soon enough anyway.¡± ¡°Ah, and there¡¯s me and Shiwen here too. What if we accidentally spill the beans later?¡± Su Lin grinned, ¡°Xiaowan just said it will be public soon anyway.¡± Jiang Ruoxi chuckled, ¡°I don¡¯t care, just make sure our family¡¯s share is secure.¡± Su Lin: ¡°...¡± ¡°Su Lin, what are you hiding here for? Your dad is looking for you. Come on,¡± Li Hongyang approached, looking anxious. Su Lin got up, ¡°What¡¯s the rush, Hongyang?¡± ¡°What else could it be? The banquet¡¯s started, the vice president is nowhere to be seen, and it¡¯s embarrassing. I¡¯m giving you a minute to greet everyone and then you¡¯re coming with me.¡± Su Lin shrugged, ¡°No need for a minute, let¡¯s go now.¡± Chapter 241 Chapter 241 As Su Lin was led away by Li Hongyang, Lin Xiaowan and the other girls didn¡¯t feel like continuing their conversation at that spot. ¡°Su Lin has gone over; shall we go and have a look too?¡± Lin Xiaowan suggested proactively. The girls all looked towards Jiang Ruoxi and Liu Shiwen, considering they were outsiders among them. They decided to go together if everyone agreed. Liu Shiwen smiled and said, ¡°I might as well go over and see how my brother is getting on with his discussions.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go together,¡± Jiang Ruoxi suggested. All the girls agreed happily. As such, a group of dazzling young women attracted considerable attention as they walked across the venue. However, everyone present knew that those who could attend this gathering were either very wealthy or powerful, so no one approached them with unwarranted advances. At another part of the venue, Su Zhenguo was having a conversation with Ma Junjie about potential collaborations. Ma Junjie was trying to impress upon Su Zhenguo the advantages of his family¡¯s extensive network in the fields of sales channels, transportation, and hardware processing, particularly emphasizing their dominant position in the Pearl River Delta region. Listening to Ma Junjie, Su Zhenguo sighed and responded, ¡°Young Master Ma, all you¡¯ve said is true, but unfortunately, I have already committed the mobile business to the Li Corporation. If you wish to secure these projects, you¡¯re welcome to negotiate directly with Xiao Yu. I believe she would be quite willing to collaborate with your family.¡± Ma Junjie¡¯s face twitched with annoyance as he felt Su Zhenguo was treating him dismissively, something he considered an affront given his status. He managed to restrain himself, however, realizing that creating a scene would be counterproductive. ¡°Mr. Su, the difference between having intermediaries and not can significantly affect the profit margins. I would still prefer to deal directly with you.¡± Su Zhenguo shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡± Ma Junjie wanted to continue, but Su Zhenguo caught sight of Su Lin and Li Hongyang approaching. He quickly used the opportunity to direct Ma Junjie towards his son. ¡°There¡¯s my son, Su Lin. You¡¯ve met him before, I believe. He¡¯s managing our mobile ventures now, so you might want to discuss it with him.¡± After handing over the conversation, Su Zhenguo signaled to Li Hongyang, and they moved off to speak with other businessmen. Meanwhile, Su Lin, somewhat bewildered, found himself confronted by Ma Junjie. ¡°Is it true what your father said?¡± Ma Junjie asked, blocking Su Lin¡¯s path. Su Lin felt overwhelmed. ¡°Young Master Ma, I¡¯m just a figurehead, a mascot really. You believe my father was serious?¡± Ma Junjie couldn¡¯t contain his frustration any longer: ¡°Damn... You guys have been playing me for a fool.¡± Su Lin responded with a perplexed look, ¡°Young Master Ma, you are well aware of our partnership with the Li Corporation. It really isn¡¯t worth your time to pursue this any further. Why bother?¡± ¡°Are you directing me to Li Corporation? They¡¯d be too timid to take it on,¡± Ma Junjie retorted sharply. Su Lin shrugged, ¡°Then, good luck!¡± With that, Su Lin walked away, eager to avoid further entanglement with the irate Ma Junjie, who watched Su Lin¡¯s departure with a mix of anger and calculation. Suddenly, the venue erupted with noise as Li Ziyu made a striking entrance. Dressed elegantly, her stunning appearance momentarily distracted Ma Junjie. ¡°What kind of place is Donghai? How come there are so many beauties here, unlike the plain women back in Yangcheng... Damn...¡± Ma Junjie¡¯s thoughts were interrupted as more people surrounded Li Ziyu. Although they were all civilized enough not to crowd her too closely, Li Ziyu found the attention somewhat bothersome. These people were unwilling to disperse for a long time. Just when Li Ziyu was feeling somewhat annoyed, Su Zhenguo and Lin Guoqiang walked up to the stage together. A server brought over two microphones. The crowd quieted down upon seeing Lin Guoqiang and Su Zhenguo. Su Zhenguo spoke into the microphone: ¡°Thank you all for traveling from various cities to Donghai to discuss participation in the first banquet hosted by our Su Corporation. I know everyone here is very busy, usually requiring appointments scheduled months in advance, so I¡¯ll get straight to the point.¡± ¡°Our Su Corporation¡¯s mobile and telecommunications businesses have already secured partnerships with the Li and Qin families. Now, the only sector left without a partner is the new energy vehicles.¡± ¡°New energy vehicles represent a new field, and we at Su Corporation are not sure we can be the best. However, we have already made significant breakthroughs in various energy sectors, holding numerous technologies.¡± ¡°Some of these technologies have led to strategic cooperation with the government, and we will soon jointly establish a military enterprise.¡± As soon as Su Zhenguo finished speaking, there was an uproar from the audience. While it¡¯s common for major families and the military to cooperate, and subcontracted military enterprises are numerous, Su Zhenguo was talking about technological breakthroughs, which implied cutting-edge weapons. The crowd¡¯s view of Su Zhenguo changed. This meant that Su Corporation was truly backed by the nation; who would dare to move against Su Zhenguo now, facing the might of the national machinery? ¡°No wonder Su Corporation is so confident; it turns out they have reached strategic cooperation with the government.¡± ¡°I heard that Lin¡¯s daughter and Su Zhenguo¡¯s son are lovers, and Lin Guoqiang was transferred to be the mayor here because of his good relationship with Su Zhenguo. I think this cooperation certainly involved Lin Guoqiang pulling some strings.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case; with technology like that, who wouldn¡¯t want to collaborate?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but with the Ma and Liu families also present, now that the strategic cooperation has been announced, they wouldn¡¯t dare to make a rash move, hehe.¡± ¡°What are you laughing at? Even if they can¡¯t make rash moves, they can still clinch cooperation deals with their money, can you?¡± ¡°...¡± After Su Zhenguo¡¯s long spiel, he handed the microphone to Lin Guoqiang. Lin Guoqiang cleared his throat and then said: ¡°The cooperation in new energy vehicles is the first major corporate collaboration I¡¯ve been involved in since coming to Donghai City, covering inter-provincial and even international scopes. Our requirements here are transparency, fairness, and equity! The cooperation will proceed through a bidding process...¡± Lin Guoqiang¡¯s words extinguished the schemes of those who had other ideas. By entrusting the bidding to Lin Guoqiang, it seemed like a simple handover between two who would soon be family. But it suddenly moved the matter from a private enterprise to government oversight. And with Lin Guoqiang directly in charge, how could they manipulate it? Liu Bowen watched Su Zhenguo smiling on the stage and cursed under his breath, ¡°Two old foxes~!!¡± ¡°Brother... what are you talking about?¡± Seeing that Liu Shiwen had unknowingly approached him, Liu Bowen sighed, ¡°Things are moving in the worst direction we imagined, this time we might really bleed heavily.¡± ¡°Hehe, brother, didn¡¯t you say it would be easy to win this time?¡± Liu Shiwen¡¯s eyes curved in amusement. Liu Bowen shook his head, ¡°This Su Zhenguo really is a cunning old fox, not missing a single detail. From now on in Donghai, Su Zhenguo can play however he wants. The Liu family, no matter how big, is still just the Liu family of Xia country~!!!¡± Chapter 242 Chapter 242: Breaking Through Just like Liu Bowen, Ma Junjie was also stunned on the spot. He had initially planned to use some tactics to make Su Zhenguo comply. But now with the news from Su Zhenguo, he had to think twice about making a move, especially since Su Zhenguo was now closely allied with Lin Guoqiang. He wouldn¡¯t dare to strike against Su Zhenguo. ¡°It seems I can only find a breakthrough with Li Ziyu now. Such a beautiful woman, it would be nice to have a marriage alliance with her, too bad, she¡¯s with Su Lin.¡± Although Li Ziyu and Su Lin¡¯s relationship hadn¡¯t been officially exposed, everyone was no fool. Su Zhenguo had handed over such a lucrative business to the Li family; was this purely business cooperation? Even dogs wouldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Since I can¡¯t break through from Su Zhenguo, I¡¯ll have to make Li Ziyu back out of the cooperation myself.¡± Ma Junjie¡¯s eyes darkened as he quickly thought of several pressure tactics, but he knew these wouldn¡¯t be enough. And he had already received news that Li Ziyu¡¯s biological father, Li Tiancheng, was currently in Yangcheng. ¡°I heard that this Li Tiancheng is quite the playboy, tsk tsk~!! Quite interesting.¡± Ma Junjie¡¯s lips curled up slightly, already figuring out how to manipulate Li Ziyu. At the same time, Xiao Feiyu also heard the joint declaration from Lin Guoqiang and Su Zhenguo. Although their Xiao family had given up on this money-making opportunity, it didn¡¯t mean Xiao Feiyu was willing to return without any success. His conflict with Su Lin was irreconcilable, and unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t get any villain points from Su Lin¡¯s girlfriends, so he had to obtain them from the female supporting characters. But now, Liu Shiwen, one of these supporting characters, wasn¡¯t giving him the time of day either. Xiao Feiyu felt he had been too hasty with Liu Shiwen. It would have been better if he had made contact first and then let Wang Yannian bring up the marriage alliance. ¡°A miscalculation, indeed. Now I can only slowly mend the relationship with Liu Shiwen.¡± ¡°Fortunately, I still know some of Liu Shiwen¡¯s preferences, which I can use to my advantage. Su Lin is really incomprehensible, completely different from the usual protagonist¡¯s pattern, really headache-inducing.¡± Xiao Feiyu rubbed his temples, having become thoroughly wary of Su Lin after being put down repeatedly. Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn¡¯t confront Su Lin directly. However, Xiao Feiyu didn¡¯t know that while he intended to keep a low profile and avoid trouble, others would seek him out. He was about to leave when he was stopped by a voice. ¡°Xiao Feiyu?¡± Xiao Feiyu looked at the slightly older, somewhat cynical young man with some confusion, ¡°I¡¯m Xiao Feiyu, and you are?¡± ¡°The Qin family, Qin Mu~!!¡± Hearing the words ¡°Qin family,¡± Xiao Feiyu almost exploded; now, hearing someone with the surname Qin made him want to commit murder on the spot. Seeing the fleeting anger in Xiao Feiyu, Qin Mu didn¡¯t care at all, still wearing a light smile, ¡°My father is Qin Desen, the second branch of the Qin family~!¡± Hearing this, Xiao Feiyu¡¯s eyes narrowed; ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Qin Mu glanced around and said, ¡°It¡¯s not convenient to talk here.¡± Xiao Feiyu smiled faintly; ¡°Then let¡¯s find a convenient place to talk.¡± Qin Mu also smiled, knowing Xiao Feiyu would take the bait, as Xiao Feiyu now hated Su Lin and Qin Jiuyue deeply. Despite Qin Desen seeming very relaxed usually, as if he were above worldly affairs, he was always paying attention to the Qin family¡¯s matters, especially Qin Jiuyue; they had specifically sent someone to inquire about it. This inquiry turned out to be shocking, as Xiao Feiyu had been injured by Qin Jiuyue. Although the information was a bit vague, they concluded that Xiao Feiyu was a good breakthrough. As long as they cooperated with Xiao Feiyu to bring down Su Lin and the alliance of Qin Deshu and Li Ziyu, he could successfully take over as the head of the Qin family. Qin Desen had been dormant for too long and was not willing to remain so anymore. He was not content to die before having a few days as the family head. Thus, he had Qin Mu find an opportunity to chat with Xiao Feiyu at the banquet. The two hit it off immediately, like dry tinder meeting a flame. ¡°There¡¯s a tea room on the 12th floor, don¡¯t miss it.¡± ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t miss it~!!¡± Qin Mu left immediately after his words took effect, disappearing into the crowd. Although Qin Deshu probably couldn¡¯t spare the attention for him now, he still acted cautiously. Xiao Feiyu watched Qin Mu¡¯s departing figure and took out his phone: ¡°It¡¯s me, check on the Qin family¡¯s relationships immediately, especially the three brothers of Qin Deshu, be thorough~!!¡± ¡°Alright, young master.¡± He obviously couldn¡¯t trust Qin Mu¡¯s words so quickly, but as long as there was a chance, he had to try it. Otherwise, Su Lin would only grow stronger, and he would eventually feel utterly spiritless even just by looking at him. Soon, his family sent the information about the three Qin brothers to Xiao Feiyu¡¯s phone. Xiao Feiyu, looking at the information on his phone, had an epiphany; ¡°So that¡¯s it, the eldest and the second are both outstanding, the third supports the eldest and then steps back, the second harbors dissatisfaction, just another drama of a wealthy family vying for power.¡± Large families don¡¯t fear their children being outstanding, what they fear is all their children being outstanding without one being exceptionally prominent, which would be very troublesome. Outstanding individuals are often proud, and no one concedes to another; Qin Delin supported Qin Deshu and then devoted all his energy to antiques, even though he loved antiques, Xiao Feiyu could guess that another part of the reason was to give Qin Deshu peace of mind; he would feel secure only if he studied antiques every day. As for Qin Desen, he went even further by displaying an attitude of disengagement from worldly affairs, managing nothing and even refusing visitors, effectively retiring. ¡°No matter what drama, I need to meet this Qin Desen.¡± Having figured all this out, Xiao Feiyu returned to the hall. Most people at the banquet were family heads, and many did not recognize Xiao Feiyu, so he found an opening to slip away again, this time in a different direction. What Xiao Feiyu didn¡¯t know was that Su Lin had noticed his sneaky departure. ¡°This Xiao Feiyu is up to no good, definitely plotting something. These people need constant vigilance; a moment¡¯s inattention can give them an opportunity.¡± He knew that Xiao Feiyu was still weak, but he wouldn¡¯t underestimate him because Xiao Feiyu was now with Wang Yannian, and Wang Yannian had brought several strong men to Donghai. The banquet continued, but Su Lin was no longer interested in staying. He planned to find Li Ziyu and check the hotel¡¯s surveillance. He wanted to see who Xiao Feiyu was sneaking off to meet~!! Su Lin approached Li Ziyu, and immediately felt overwhelmed as Li Ziyu was surrounded by a circle of noblewomen. Perhaps those male tycoons were too embarrassed to approach Li Ziyu, because she was too young, or perhaps they had tried but Li Ziyu hadn¡¯t given them a chance, so they changed tactics, sending a bunch of noblewomen to her side. The intonation of these noblewomen¡¯s speech greatly annoyed Li Ziyu, and yet each of them had significant connections; she didn¡¯t want to offend them all, so she could only chat with them. Seeing this, Su Lin thought for a moment, then moved closer; ¡°Ziyu, my dad is looking for you.¡± These words were like heavenly music to Li Ziyu¡¯s ears, and she quickly asked, ¡°President Su is looking for me? Where?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡± After speaking, Su Lin directly grabbed Li Ziyu¡¯s wrist and headed out through the crowd. The noblewomen watched helplessly as Li Ziyu was pulled away by Su Lin, dumbstruck and unable to speak. Chapter 243 Chapter 243: Is There Trouble Brewing in the Backyard? Su Lin led Li Ziyu through the crowd and out towards the hall¡¯s exit. Along the way, Li Ziyu, finally stepping out of the hall, voiced her confusion, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it your dad who was looking for me? Why did you bring me out here? Where is he?¡± Su Lin pinched Li Ziyu¡¯s cheek playfully and replied, ¡°Aren¡¯t you usually quite sharp? What¡¯s with the slow reaction today? My dad¡¯s busy right now; he¡¯s not looking to meet anyone. I saw those women crowding around you, you seemed overwhelmed, so I thought I¡¯d help you out.¡± Realizing the situation, Li Ziyu looked around to ensure no one overheard them before laughing, ¡°Su Lin, aren¡¯t you being a bit too bold? If they found out, that would be quite troublesome.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°If you don¡¯t mention it, there won¡¯t be any trouble.¡± ¡°It depends on how you behave now,¡± Li Ziyu said with a teasing smile. Su Lin took a step forward, ¡°Behave? How about I show you some behavior right now, especially since this is your territory.¡± ¡°You¡¯re impossible... You always dare to mess around,¡± Li Ziyu chided. Su Lin shrugged, ¡°I help you out, and yet I still need to prove my behavior before you decide whether or not to tell others. Talk about being wronged, now you¡¯re even blaming me.¡± Hearing this, Li Ziyu chuckled softly. ¡°Heh... now that you mention it, I am in the wrong.¡± Su Lin gestured dismissively, ¡°Enough about apologies for now. Where¡¯s the surveillance room in your hotel? Take me there.¡± ¡°Surveillance? What do you need to check the surveillance for? Has someone caused trouble today?¡± Li Ziyu asked seriously, knowing that if someone really caused trouble at the Four Seasons Hotel, she would not tolerate it. Su Lin nodded, ¡°It¡¯s complicated to explain in just a few words; let¡¯s go check the surveillance first.¡± Seeing Su Lin¡¯s serious demeanor, Li Ziyu also became more decisive, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go now.¡± Li Ziyu led Su Lin to the surveillance room on the second floor. Besides two security guards, there were also two grandmasters intently monitoring the screens. Upon seeing Li Ziyu and Su Lin enter, both stood up. Li Ziyu glanced at them and inquired softly, ¡°Thank you for your hard work. Has there been anything unusual?¡± Both guards shook their heads, ¡°Miss, why have you come in person?¡± Li Ziyu¡¯s expression darkened slightly, ¡°Someone¡¯s been making small moves under my watch. Ah Hu, pull up the surveillance footage.¡± ¡°Right away, miss.¡± Li Ziyu turned to Su Lin, ¡°Tell me, which area¡¯s footage do you want to check?¡± Su Lin stepped forward, pointing to one of the screens, ¡°Pull up the footage from here, and rewind it back twenty minutes.¡± ¡°Alright~!¡± The staff rewound the screen back twenty minutes. Su Lin immediately noticed Qin Mu, who appeared to be acting sneakily. Since Qin Mu and Qin Desen seldom appeared publicly, Li Ziyu did not recognize him. She leaned in and asked, ¡°Who is this person?¡± ¡°Just watch,¡± Su Lin said calmly. As they watched Qin Mu move, Li Ziyu saw Xiao Feiyu and her expression immediately became serious. Su Lin then explained, ¡°This is Qin Mu, son of Qin Desen from the Qin family¡¯s second branch. He doesn¡¯t often appear publicly, so not many in Donghai know him, but he¡¯s no simple character, especially his father, Qin Desen, who is always plotting to seize power.¡± Li Ziyu had an epiphany, ¡°I see, he approached Xiao Feiyu to form an alliance!¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Exactly, I suspect he¡¯s just a messenger. Qin Desen must have come here as well.¡± ¡°The Qin family¡¯s invitation would have certainly been delivered, but since Qin Desen rarely shows his face, nobody recognized him when he came to the Four Seasons Hotel, so no one noticed him. That old fox has finally made his move.¡± Li Ziyu was somewhat surprised, ¡°Did you already know he would stir up trouble?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course, this guy is no fool, and he¡¯s extremely cautious. He always withdraws his hand at the first sign of trouble. This risky move must be because he saw the Qin family forming an alliance with our Su family and knew we would grow bigger and stronger, so he couldn¡¯t sit still anymore.¡± Li Ziyu laughed, ¡°It¡¯s good that he couldn¡¯t sit still. There¡¯s an old saying that you can¡¯t guard against a thief forever. Now that he has shown himself, we can deal with him once and for all.¡± Although the Li and Qin families had previously been competitors, now with Su Lin¡¯s arrival in Donghai and his ability to reconcile the two families single-handedly, Li Ziyu harbored no schadenfreude regarding the Qin family¡¯s predicaments. On the contrary, because of Qin Jiuyue, she took the matters more to heart. ¡®Since these people are targeting the Qin family, Su Lin definitely wouldn¡¯t stand idly by. If Su Lin decides to take action, I certainly won¡¯t just stand by and watch,¡¯ Li Ziyu reasoned. Su Lin smiled, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I was thinking. Qin Desen has been playing the fool, and he surely doesn¡¯t want to play it for a lifetime; otherwise, he would really become a fool. I¡¯m sure the old man Qin is aware of the second branch¡¯s intentions. Let¡¯s keep following the video to see where he goes.¡± ¡°Alright, sir~!¡± Following the camera tracking Qin Mu, Su Lin asked, ¡°What¡¯s on the twelfth floor?¡± ¡°Just some rooms for having tea and chats.¡± ¡°Having tea and chats, sounds like a good place,¡± Su Lin commented lightly. Then, they saw Qin Mu exit the elevator and enter a tea room. Su Lin and Li Ziyu could see an elderly man sitting by the window, enjoying the view outside. Qin Mu and Qin Desen spoke softly, with Qin Desen showing a satisfied smile on his face. Before long, Xiao Feiyu sneaked into the elevator. Seeing this, Su Lin remarked sarcastically, ¡°He¡¯s supposed to be a son of a major family, yet he gives off such a sleazy vibe, looking just like a thief.¡± Li Ziyu couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, as Xiao Feiyu¡¯s actions were indeed amusing. She laughed, ¡°You know, I also thought he looked a bit like a thief.¡± After laughing, she turned to Su Lin, ¡°Now that it¡¯s almost certain, and it matches your guess, what do you plan to do?¡± Su Lin shrugged, ¡°This kind of internal cleanup isn¡¯t something you or I can handle¡ªit has to be Qin Deshu.¡± Li Ziyu pondered, ¡°But old Mr. Qin is currently receiving guests.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°This is a matter of internal strife, and the old man can definitely tell what¡¯s more important. I¡¯ll call him.¡± Li Ziyu initially wanted to dissuade Su Lin, suggesting he call Qin Jiuyue to inform her grandfather, but then she thought that Su Lin must have already established some understanding with the old master Qin; perhaps they even acknowledged him privately as a future grandson-in-law. Thus, she let Su Lin make the call to Qin Deshu. The phone was quickly connected, and Su Lin could hear the bustling noise from the event, especially around Qin Deshu, as people continuously spoke to him. ¡°Old master Qin, there¡¯s trouble in your backyard, please come to the second floor.¡± ¡°Trouble in the backyard?¡± Qin Deshu was momentarily puzzled. ¡°Yes, I saw Qin Mu,¡± Su Lin said calmly. Qin Deshu paused, then quickly responded, ¡°I¡¯ll be right there~!!¡± ¡°Alright...¡± After hanging up, Su Lin gave Li Ziyu a knowing look, ¡°Now we don¡¯t have to worry anymore.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Chapter 244 Chapter 244: Controlled Before the Cooperation Even Started Xiao Feiyu had no idea that his and Qin Mu¡¯s little maneuvers were clearly observed by Su Lin and Li Ziyu. He stepped out of the elevator, about to ask a waiter for Qin Mu and Qin Desen¡¯s location when he saw Qin Mu half emerge from a seat by the window. The private rooms here weren¡¯t fully enclosed, designed instead to provide a semi-private space for conversations without interruptions, divided into smaller sections by partitions. Xiao Feiyu steadied his mind and then walked over. He was somewhat surprised when he saw Qin Desen; he had met Qin Deshu before, whose temples were graying, showing his age since he was over sixty and had not practiced martial arts, so it was normal for him to appear old. However, Qin Desen, only two years younger than Qin Deshu, had jet-black hair, bright eyes, and a ruddy complexion, making him look not in his sixties but more like a man in his forties. Qin Desen did not seem displeased by Xiao Feiyu¡¯s scrutiny. Having restrained himself for many years, he was adept at controlling his emotions. He took a sip of his tea and said lightly, ¡°Young master Xiao, are you surprised to see me looking so young?¡± Xiao Feiyu nodded, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Second Master Qin to look so youthful.¡± ¡°Heh, perhaps I have a way of preserving my youth,¡± Qin Desen replied. Xiao Feiyu gave Qin Desen another look, suspecting that he might be practicing some ancient martial art, as his vitality didn¡¯t seem merely the result of good care. However, these were concerns for Qin Deshu to worry about. Xiao Feiyu also took a sip of tea, then played with the small teacup, saying, ¡°Second Master Qin didn¡¯t invite me here just to have tea, did he?¡± Qin Desen nodded, ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°I heard recently that you have been dealing with Su Lin?¡± Qin Desen inquired. Xiao Feiyu nodded, ¡°Indeed, Su Lin and I have some grievances.¡± ¡°Are you aware of how many forces Su Lin is currently involved with? Although you are the top young master of Modu, this is Donghai. A dragon crossing the river does not necessarily overcome the local snakes,¡± Qin Desen stated lightly. Xiao Feiyu nodded but said nothing. He couldn¡¯t appear too eager at this moment because Qin Mu approaching him indicated that Qin Desen was getting impatient. This allowed Xiao Feiyu a small leverage to negotiate more terms. If he proceeded to discuss cooperation following Qin Desen¡¯s lead, it would reveal his eagerness, allowing Qin Desen instead to manipulate him. Negotiation rhythms are like this, without clear rules, but once you fall into the opponent¡¯s rhythm, you¡¯re led by the nose. Seeing Xiao Feiyu not taking the bait, Qin Desen¡¯s expression turned a bit grim. These heirs of great families were indeed not easy to manipulate. He glanced at Qin Mu, who quickly chimed in, ¡°Young master Xiao, many hands make light work.¡± Xiao Feiyu was caught off guard; he hadn¡¯t continued the conversation, yet Qin Mu just blurted it out. Now he had to state his position, cursing internally at their shamelessness. He smiled and said, ¡°You are right, many hands make light work. Second Master Qin, since you¡¯ve invited me here, you must have some thoughts. I¡¯m all ears.¡± Although Qin Desen hadn¡¯t fully controlled the tempo of the conversation, he wasn¡¯t disappointed. Xiao Feiyu was genuinely the top young master of Modu; if he could be easily manipulated, then the cooperation wouldn¡¯t be worth it. Qin Desen began, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t have any specific thoughts, just that we should share what we have and act in unison.¡± ¡°I agree with sharing and acting in unison, but does Second Master Qin understand Su Lin¡¯s strength?¡± Qin Desen nodded, ¡°Peak Grandmaster. However, I believe that, despite his strength, Young master Xiao should have methods to handle him.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been patient for so many years, your resources can¡¯t all be useless,¡± Xiao Feiyu remarked. Qin Desen chuckled lightly, ¡°That¡¯s true, but I only have one chance, so I can¡¯t use them casually. If young master Xiao has a foolproof method, I won¡¯t be stingy.¡± Hearing this, Xiao Feiyu almost cursed out Qin Desen¡¯s ancestors. He disliked dealing with these old schemers the most; these old men and women had too much time on their hands to think, a luxury he couldn¡¯t afford. But Qin Desen was indeed the most suitable partner for him at the moment. Keeping his composure, Xiao Feiyu stated, ¡°I need to continue gathering specific information about Su Lin, his capabilities, social relationships, and more. Can Second Master Qin provide me with a comprehensive report?¡± Xiao Feiyu felt that his main disadvantage against Su Lin was acting without sufficient information. The novels he had read only covered Xiao Chen; Su Lin wasn¡¯t even mentioned, hence his continuous setbacks in this world. Although Qin Desen wasn¡¯t particularly close to Su Lin, he would likely have an easier time gathering information than Xiao Feiyu himself. After a few seconds of contemplation, Qin Desen said, ¡°No problem, I can give you a complete report within three days.¡± Xiao Feiyu nodded, his gaze sharp with intense hatred. Qin Desen was slightly taken aback; his investigation had been superficial, so he wasn¡¯t fully aware of the exact nature of the conflict between Su Lin and Xiao Feiyu. It was clear now that Xiao Feiyu had been at a disadvantage. Remembering his encounters with Su Lin at the Qin residence, where Su Lin was always cheerful and seemingly unthreatening, Qin Desen realized he might have prejudged him. Meanwhile, back in the surveillance room, Qin Deshu and Li Ziyu looked at Su Lin in astonishment. Su Lin touched his cheek, puzzled, ¡°Why are you two staring at me like that?¡± Li Ziyu remarked softly, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had this skill, Su Lin. You can read lips? When did you learn it?¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°Does that need to be learned? As long as you can see their lips, you can tell what they¡¯re saying. It¡¯s a pity though, only a corner has surveillance, couldn¡¯t see what Second Master Qin said.¡± Qin Deshu scoffed, ¡°Hmph! Does that even matter? From the translation you provided, I can guess what he said. This younger brother of mine really is disgraceful. At his age, still up to these little tricks. If he wanted the position of family head, he could just say it, and I¡¯d pass it to him.¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°Maybe he thinks the position you¡¯re offering is not worth his dignity; he¡¯d rather seize it himself.¡± Qin Deshu sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve served the Qin family diligently for decades, not to claim complete devotion but I¡¯ve done my utmost. To think that in the end, my own brother would treat me this way.¡± Su Lin and Li Ziyu didn¡¯t respond, as they were not privy to the events surrounding Qin Deshu¡¯s rise to power and thus refrained from commenting. ¡°Ah... my brother shouldn¡¯t be conspiring with outsiders against me,¡± Qin Deshu sighed again. Hearing this, Su Lin asked lightly, ¡°Old Master Qin, what do you plan to do?¡± After a moment of silence, Qin Deshu looked at Su Lin and said, ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet, let me handle this little matter.¡± Su Lin and Li Ziyu both nodded, understanding. Li Ziyu would be busy after today and preferred not to get involved in Qin Deshu¡¯s family matters. Su Lin, too, was preoccupied with dealing with Wang Yannian and Xiao Feiyu, and also chose not to involve himself. Seeing that neither Su Lin nor Li Ziyu wanted to interfere, Qin Deshu felt reassured. He patted Su Lin on the shoulder, ¡°Bring Xiaoyue over for dinner this weekend, haven¡¯t seen her for a few days, I miss her.¡± ¡°Alright...¡± Chapter 245 Chapter 245: Luck of the King After dinner, Su Lin decided to head home early, skipping the remaining dance arrangements. Watching a group of fifty-year-old men and wealthy women dance was somewhat eye-watering for him, and he felt it was better to head home. Back at the villa, Qin Jiuyue threw herself onto the sofa and let out a long sigh of relief. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s so tiring to pretend to be a lady.¡± Xia Shiyu sat next to her and commented, ¡°But, Sister Jiuyue, you are a lady. Why do you say you¡¯re pretending?¡± Hearing this, Qin Jiuyue laughed, ¡°Shiyu, you should speak up more often. I didn¡¯t know you were so eloquent.¡± ¡°Hehe... not really, I¡¯m just stating the obvious.¡± Qin Jiuyue was pleased as if she had eaten honey. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I want to hear, the truth.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll try to talk more in the future.¡± Xia Shiyu didn¡¯t quite understand Qin Jiuyue¡¯s thinking but agreed nonetheless. Observing this, Su Lin shook his head and said, ¡°Xiaoyu, don¡¯t let Xiaoyue fool you. Her ladylike behavior is all an act. What you see now, her without any facade, that¡¯s the real her.¡± Xia Shiyu laughed and replied, ¡°Su Lin, how can you say that about Sister Xiaoyue? Don¡¯t you think she looked very ladylike today?¡± Su Lin shook his head and chose not to argue with Xia Shiyu, but Qin Jiuyue, on the other hand, was not willing to let it go. She glared at Su Lin with a warning look, ¡°Su Lin, Xiaoyu and I were looking for you everywhere, where did you go?¡± ¡°You were looking for me?¡± ¡°Of course, we searched the entire venue several times and didn¡¯t even catch a glimpse of you. Tell me, where were you really? I also found out that Li Ziyu was missing from the scene at that time, and I heard someone took her away... hehe...¡± Qin Jiuyue gave Su Lin a mischievous grin, as if she had caught him in the act. Su Lin scratched his head, ¡°Yes, I was indeed with Ziyu for a bit, but, Xiaoyue, could you perhaps think a bit more innocently?¡± ¡°Innocently? Really, Su Lin? It¡¯s you who acts like a wolf behind closed doors,¡± Qin Jiuyue retorted with a huff. Su Lin shrugged, ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice that your grandfather was also missing from the scene during that time?¡± Qin Jiuyue laughed awkwardly, ¡°Grandpa was with you guys?¡± She had been so focused on finding Su Lin that she hadn¡¯t even thought about her grandfather, who had also been there. Since moving out of the Qin household, Qin Jiuyue had really let loose, no longer needing to maintain a demure facade. If initially being sent away by Qin Deshu had made her sad and reluctant, now even if Su Lin sent her back, she wouldn¡¯t want to return. With Su Lin, she didn¡¯t have to adhere to all those tedious rules; she could say and do whatever she wanted without worrying about others¡¯ opinions¡ªit was utterly liberating. Knowing her thoughts, Su Lin nodded, ¡°Your grandfather said to bring you home this weekend.¡± ¡°Ah! Go back there?¡± Qin Jiuyue¡¯s face was a mix of panic as she shook her head, ¡°No, I won¡¯t go back. Su Lin, you¡¯re not thinking of sending me back, are you?¡± My Seeing Qin Jiuyue¡¯s strong reaction, Su Lin was somewhat taken aback, then moved forward to embrace her, ¡°Who said anything about sending you away?¡± ¡°Then what you said earlier...¡± ¡°I said your grandfather wants me to bring you home for dinner. It¡¯s just a meal, and we¡¯ll come back afterward,¡± Su Lin explained. Qin Jiuyue finally understood the meaning of Su Lin¡¯s words and felt a rush of warmth to her face; she buried her face in Su Lin¡¯s chest and punched him lightly, ¡°Su Lin, why didn¡¯t you make yourself clear? You made me look like a fool.¡± Su Lin responded with a touch of exasperation, ¡°I was very clear. It¡¯s you who misunderstood.¡± ¡°No... it¡¯s because you weren¡¯t clear.¡± Su Lin scooped Qin Jiuyue up in his arms and started walking upstairs, ¡°Whether I was clear or not is indeed something we need to discuss thoroughly. Sister Jiuyue, let¡¯s go to the room and talk it over.¡± ¡°Su Lin, what are you doing? Xiaoyue, save me...¡± Xia Shiyu, seeing Qin Jiuyue being carried upstairs by Su Lin, didn¡¯t attempt to help but instead giggled on the couch. She had learned her lesson; intervening might just get herself dragged into their antics. ¡°Xiaoyue, you¡¯re really not helping,¡± Qin Jiuyue called out. Xia Shiyu just silently laughed. Later that night, Qin Jiuyue had already fallen deeply asleep, while Su Lin lay awake in bed, feeling the pressure from the people Wang Yannian had brought from the capital. He disliked this feeling. ¡°System, I still have three chances for the lottery draw, right?¡± [Yes, host. You have three chances left for the epic treasure box draw.]. Su Lin pondered, ¡°I was planning to save these for later, but it seems I must use them now. If Wang Yannian makes a move, I might really be in trouble.¡± Currently holding the first three needles of the Taiyi Divine Needles, Su Lin felt confident in a direct confrontation with Wang Yannian. What worried him were the underhanded tactics; though he had Bai Qikun¡¯s support, Su Lin preferred to rely on himself rather than others. Better to enhance one¡¯s own strength than hope for others¡¯ help, as the saying goes, ¡®one must be strong themselves when striking the iron.¡¯ ¡°System, start the lottery draw!¡± [Ding! A rare treasure emerges. Congratulations, host, for obtaining the Six-Wing Saber Technique (which can be enhanced to Eight Wings).].[Ding! Congratulations, host, for gaining fifty years of cultivation.].[Ding! A rare treasure emerges. Congratulations, host, for obtaining the Eight Trigrams Array.]. Hearing the system¡¯s announcements, Su Lin finally smiled, relieved. His current cultivation was at the peak of Grandmaster, just a whisker away from ascending to the realm of Human Immortal. The fifty years of pure cultivation were equivalent to a hundred years of hard training by people like Wang Yannian. This would surely bring a qualitative change if applied. Moreover, he now had the Six-Wing Saber Technique. Reviewing the introduction of the Six-Wing Saber Technique, which indeed resembled the moves from the puppet show he had seen, Su Lin felt even more confident. Although the character from the show wasn¡¯t highly ranked, bringing such a technique to his current world would be like a dimension-reducing strike. Had Qin Jiuyue not been asleep beside him, Su Lin would have been tempted to start meditating and integrating the Six-Wing Saber Technique immediately. However, seeing Qin Jiuyue sleeping peacefully, he decided against practicing on the spot and instead pulled up the blanket to sleep. ¡°Now I can finally have a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± [TL: Idk what show it is tbh my bad.]. Chapter 246 Chapter 246: The Shock Brought by Su Lin In the morning, when Xia Shiyu was dropped off at the Su Corporation building by Su Lin, Lin Xiaowan and her father, Lin Guoqiang, were already there. ¡°Xiaowan, I saw your dad¡¯s car downstairs just now. Did he drop you off?¡± asked Xia Shiyu. Lin Xiaowan nodded, ¡°He¡¯s currently discussing business with your dad. They probably didn¡¯t finish talking yesterday.¡± ¡°What time did you go home yesterday?¡± Lin Xiaowan gave Su Lin a look and replied, ¡°And you bother to ask? You guys left so early.¡± ¡°Cough, cough... Well, you came with your dad, I couldn¡¯t just take you with me.¡± After saying this, Su Lin wrapped his arm around Lin Xiaowan¡¯s slim waist and asked, ¡°Going home today?¡± Surprised by the question, Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin and then nodded, ¡°Yes, I am. I don¡¯t know what you said to my dad, but he told me to stay well at your place.¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk... just as I thought.¡± Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan, who certainly didn¡¯t know about the affair between Lin Guoqiang and He Suxin; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be so close to He Suxin. Both Lin Guoqiang and He Suxin are tight-lipped, so prying into their story seemed impossible. Out of a sense of humanity, Su Lin decided not to disclose this matter. He smiled and said, ¡°Well, as long as he agreed, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± Lin Xiaowan looked at Su Lin suspiciously, ¡°You two have secrets.¡± ¡°Cough, cough... What secrets could your dad and I possibly have after meeting just a few times?¡± Su Lin expressed confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but my instincts tell me you two are keeping secrets. Su Lin, you¡¯d better tell me early; otherwise, if I find out, you¡¯re dead,¡± Lin Xiaowan warned, making a twisting gesture with her hand. Su Lin was indeed startled; Lin Xiaowan¡¯s skill at twisting arms seemed to be getting sharper by the day. ¡°Alright, Xiaowan, what could I possibly hide from you? Haven¡¯t I told you about all my girlfriends?¡± ¡°You still have the nerve to bring that up...¡± ¡°Okay, go do your coding. I need to get to work.¡± Seeing Lin Xiaowan¡¯s angry look, Su Lin found it very amusing. He¡¯s not the typical clueless man who would pester Lin Xiaowan unnecessarily. He had serious matters to attend to. So, Su Lin nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll head back to my office. Xiaowan, make sure no one disturbs me.¡± ¡°Are you going to cultivate?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve had some insights recently that I need to consolidate.¡± Lin Xiaowan¡¯s gaze brightened even more. She thought she, Xia Shiyu, and Qin Jiuyue were monstrous enough, but Su Lin was the real freak of nature. The same age as her, and already at the pinnacle of Grandmaster. If he breaks through, then isn¡¯t that... Such a young Human Immortal was simply inhuman. Having gotten involved in cultivation, Lin Xiaowan realized how difficult it was. Some people spend their whole lives stuck at the threshold of becoming a Grandmaster and end up just becoming fighters or high-level bodyguards. But for Su Lin, breaking through seemed as easy as eating or drinking: ¡°This is just too outrageous.¡± Lin Xiaowan murmured, which Su Lin heard clearly. He turned around and asked, ¡°Who are you calling outrageous? My ears work very well, you know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s you, you...¡± Lin Xiaowan gritted her teeth, her eyes watery. Looking at her, Su Lin was tempted. In the end, he managed to control his impulses and went back to his office alone. ¡°This damned youthful body. Xiaowan, really, why do you look at me like that? Don¡¯t you know it could lead to crime?¡± Seeing Su Lin beat a hasty retreat, Lin Xiaowan couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. Then shaking her head, she remarked, ¡°Serves you right.¡± After laughing quietly for a bit, she finally started working. Su Lin, once he calmed down, summoned the system. ¡°System, I want to claim my reward.¡± [Reward has been issued~~!!]. Su Lin felt a clarity wash over his mind, and then knowledge about the Six-Wing Saber Technique and the Eight Trigrams Array filled his thoughts. The Six-Wing Saber Technique, renowned for its speed, truly lives up to the saying, ¡°In the world of martial arts, speed is unbeatable.¡± Now, Su Lin felt that if he used the Six-Wing Saber Technique unexpectedly, people like Wang Yannian and Bai Qikun might very well fall into his trap, likely resulting in severe injuries. However, what truly delighted him was not this but the memories regarding the Eight Trigram Array. The Eight Trigram Diagram is not just a simple formation but includes offensive, defensive, and trapping techniques all in one. Most importantly, this formation is effective even against Human Immortals. ¡°Damn... if it¡¯s well executed, couldn¡¯t it kill a Human Immortal?¡± Thinking about drawing someone into the Eight Trigram Diagram and then attacking them using the diagram¡ªwho could withstand that? The idea of preparing in advance to ensnare Wang Yannian and his group was extremely thrilling. Su Lin didn¡¯t have time to think further as the pure internal energy from the system brought him into a unique state. He felt his dantian filled with surging internal energy, then the qi began to rapidly transform, slowly forming true essence. ¡°So this is what it¡¯s like to transition from the peak of Grandmaster to a Human Immortal.¡± He felt that his dantian no longer contained inner energy but was instead filled with liquid-like true essence, which flowed throughout his body with his blood, widening Su Lin¡¯s meridians. ¡°Ah~! This tingling sensation, damn...¡± After a bout of soreness, Su Lin underwent another significant change. His already handsome and robust features became even more resolute, and although he looked like he had slimmed down, only Su Lin knew that he hadn¡¯t lost weight but had actually gained. It was just that the density of his muscles had increased, and now even if he was shot at point-blank, the bullet wouldn¡¯t be able to penetrate his skin layer. ¡°Good thing the muscles still look normal, otherwise Xiaowan and the others would kill me. Cough cough... I¡¯m getting sidetracked.¡± Su Lin didn¡¯t know that his breakthrough to a Human Immortal had caused an earthquake throughout the entire Donghai. In a villa next to the Xiao family¡¯s, Wang Yannian and a few elderly men behind him immediately stood up. ¡°This aura... Someone has become a Land Immortal, there is such a person in Donghai, such a powerful presence. Brother Wang, your breakthrough didn¡¯t have such a strong aura, did it?¡± Wang Yannian nodded and said to Zhao Changlin, ¡°Breaking through to a Land Immortal involves the liquefaction of true essence. A person¡¯s limit and the capacity of their dantian are closely related; the size to which the dantian can expand sets a person¡¯s limit. This person just broke through and already has such a strong aura, how did he do it, is half his belly a dantian?¡± Zhao Changlin gave a bitter smile, ¡°It¡¯s indeed a bit strange, a normal breakthrough doesn¡¯t have such a strong aura.¡± ¡°The most terrifying thing is that this aura is still climbing steadily, as if it has no limit. Who could this person be?¡± Wang Yannian gave a wry smile and then said, ¡°I think I might know who it is.¡± ¡°Who?¡± All three looked at Wang Yannian. Wang Yannian sighed lightly and uttered the name he least wanted to say, ¡°This person should be that little guy from the Su family, Su Lin.¡± Chapter 247 Chapter 247: He Suxin¡¯s Concerns Looking towards the direction of the Su Corporation building, Wang Yannian¡¯s weathered face showed a rare expression of worry. He had not expected Su Lin to make another breakthrough so soon. Human Immortal ¨C a status that took him, a prodigy himself, several decades to achieve, and here was Su Lin, barely eighteen, not even nineteen yet. It was then that he had to admit that there truly are geniuses in this world, whose growth defies all logic. ¡°It¡¯s been such a short time, and he¡¯s reached Human Immortal? That can¡¯t be possible,¡± Zhao Changlin said in shock. Zhao Changlin, known as one of the ¡®Twin Heroes of the Capital¡¯ along with Bai Qikun, was a significant figure in the capital. Yet, it was only upon arriving in Donghai that he felt his worldview was being upended. If it weren¡¯t for seeing it with his own eyes, he would never believe that an eighteen-year-old could be a Human Immortal. ¡°I also find it hard to believe,¡± said Liu Bingsheng from the Liu family, another real Human Immortal but considerably younger than Wang Yannian and Zhao Changlin. ¡°I¡¯ve read in some of our family¡¯s documents, the youngest recorded Human Immortal was 32 years old, and that was over a hundred years ago. Eighteen is impossible; cultivation requires long-term accumulation.¡± Zhao Changlin and another Human Immortal present nodded in agreement with Liu Bingsheng¡¯s statement. Wang Yannian just gave a bitter smile, offering no explanations. He knew that no matter what he said, it wouldn¡¯t make a difference. Such things, unless witnessed firsthand, are hard to believe, even for him. Yet, he knew it to be true because he had sparred with Su Lin and felt his power. To fight to a draw with him at the Grandmaster pinnacle, even posing a threat to his life, Su Lin was the only one in all of Xia country capable of such a feat. And only such a person could have such an overwhelming aura when breaking through. However, these words, if spoken, would not be believed by Zhao Changlin and the others; it might even seem to them that Wang was scared after staying in the mountains too long. He estimated internally whether the four of them could handle Su Lin and did not come to a definitive conclusion. Su Lin was just too unpredictable. The last time he faced him, Su Lin hadn¡¯t even used his best techniques. Zhao Changlin sighed, ¡°Even if it isn¡¯t Su Lin, someone of this caliber appearing in Donghai without contacting us is likely not a friend but a foe.¡± Zhao¡¯s words brought silence back into the room. Indeed, if it were an old acquaintance, they would have been informed about his visit to Donghai, but there had been no such communication. ¡°I heard this Su Lin is at the peak of Grandmaster. Where does his technique come from? There are rumors that his master is very mysterious, an old sage over a hundred years old. Could it be him?¡± Liu Bingsheng shared his speculation. ¡°That¡¯s unlikely, isn¡¯t it? Su Lin is already at the peak of Grandmaster. A disciple at the same level as the master?¡± ¡°What¡¯s so strange about that? If the disciple is talented, it¡¯s not impossible to be on the same level as the master,¡± Liu Bingsheng replied nonchalantly. ¡°That does make some sense. But we don¡¯t know what sect it is. How does it compare to our Wangyue Sect?¡± ¡°It must be another hidden sect like ours, possessing a vast array of cultivation techniques and cutting-edge technology. That Su Zhenguo coming up with so much technological innovation is also very strange.¡± ... As they chatted more and more seriously, even imagining Su Lin¡¯s sect and mysterious master, Wang Yannian felt increasingly irritated by the conversation. He interrupted, ¡°You keep talking; I¡¯ll go check on something next door at the Xiao family.¡± After leaving, Wang Yannian departed the room. ¡°What¡¯s Old Wang thinking, insisting on collaborating with the Xiao family¡¯s youngster? There¡¯s something odd about this.¡± Zhao Changlin replied indifferently, ¡°Everyone knows there must be something fishy, but do you think he¡¯d tell you? Alright, let¡¯s speak less of this. As long as it doesn¡¯t affect what we need to do, let him play however he wants.¡± ¡°Old Zhao¡¯s right, as long as it doesn¡¯t impact our plans, it¡¯s fine.¡± At the Su Corporation. The aura from Su Lin¡¯s breakthrough didn¡¯t catch the attention of ordinary people, but Lin Xiaowan and Xia Shiyu definitely felt it. While working, Lin Xiaowan immediately put down her tasks and left her small office to go to Su Lin¡¯s. Just as she entered, Xia Shiyu also came in, and they exchanged a look. Lin Xiaowan rubbed her temples and said, ¡°This guy really has a knack for keeping us on edge, even his cultivation isn¡¯t quiet.¡± Xia Shiyu smiled, ¡°Su Lin said our talents were monstrous, but his talent is the most monstrous of all.¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded in agreement, ¡°Such a strong aura might attract others. If someone targets him because of it, it would be bad.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xiaowan, I¡¯m here,¡± said a voice. Turning around in surprise, Lin Xiaowan exclaimed, ¡°Aunt Su, what are you doing here?¡± He Suxin, looking at her with a smile, responded, ¡°I felt Su Lin¡¯s breakthrough aura. That guy really is bold, just breaking through right here in the office. Su Lin is your little sweetheart; of course, I had to come and see.¡± Touched by this, Lin Xiaowan hugged He Suxin tightly, ¡°Aunt Su~!!!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re not a child anymore, don¡¯t be so childish,¡± He Suxin said, patting Lin Xiaowan¡¯s back gently. Yet her gaze was fixed on the door; she, like Wang Yannian, had been stunned when she first sensed Su Lin¡¯s breakthrough. Now in her forties, though still looking young, she knew she was no longer youthful. Her acquaintance with Su Lin wasn¡¯t long, nor did they meet often, but she had witnessed his rapid rise in power. It seemed as though he faced no bottlenecks, advancing swiftly without hindrance. An anomaly among anomalies. At the rate of Su Lin¡¯s advancement, what heights could he reach by the time he was forty? He Suxin couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine. ¡°Xiaowan, the boyfriend you found is truly a rare gem in this world. Looking forward, I¡¯m not worried about anything else; it¡¯s just that Su Lin¡¯s romantic entanglements you¡¯ll need to keep a close eye on.¡± He Suxin spoke earnestly. Lin Xiaowan blushed, ¡°Aunt Su, what are you talking about?¡± He Suxin knew Lin Xiaowan was shy around her but felt it was necessary to speak up now. ¡°You know what I mean. Su Lin is so young and already a Human Immortal. Soon enough, young women from major families will start flocking to him. These families¡¯ daughters are very realistic and goal-oriented. Your boyfriend is a bit weak when it comes to women.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s just the current few, I wouldn¡¯t say anything. But if one troublesome woman gets involved, your days will no longer be comfortable.¡± Lin Xiaowan laughed lightly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll just have Su Lin dump her.¡± He Suxin shook her head indulgently, ¡°Oh you~!!!¡± Lin Xiaowan said proudly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Su Lin might be a flirt, but I still trust his taste.¡± ¡°I feel like you¡¯re complimenting yourself there,¡± He Suxin teased. ¡°Well, that¡¯s true...¡± Lin Xiaowan admitted with a grin. Chapter 248 Chapter 248: Superficial Harmony In the rest area, Su Lin opened his eyes, feeling a significant change in his senses once again. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he could sense three women anxiously talking outside the door. ¡°Aunt Su is here too? Well, after what just happened, it¡¯s only normal she¡¯d come.¡± Despite He Suxin¡¯s usual cool demeanor, Su Lin knew she was warm on the inside and cared deeply about Lin Xiaowan. By extension, she was also quite attentive to him. To ease the women¡¯s worries, Su Lin got up, left the bed, and opened the door. ¡°Aunt Su, Xiaowan, Xiaoyu, what are you doing here?¡± Lin Xiaowan shot Su Lin a glance, ¡°What do you think? You caused such a disturbance, of course we¡¯re worried.¡± He Suxin nodded, ¡°Just now, at least dozens of auras approached Su Corp. Thankfully, I released my aura and deterred them.¡± ¡°What? That happened? Aunt Su, why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Lin Xiaowan exclaimed in shock. He Suxin looked at Lin Xiaowan, still at the mid-stage of a master level, and shook her head, ¡°What use would telling you be? Could you have fought them off?¡± ¡°I...¡± Su Lin patted Lin Xiaowan¡¯s head, laughing, ¡°I told you to practice diligently. Feeling foolish now, huh?¡± Lin Xiaowan grumbled, ¡°I have been practicing diligently! It¡¯s just that I started later, so naturally my progress is slower than yours.¡± He Suxin agreed, ¡°Xiaowan makes a good point. Su Lin, you are a freak of nature. Don¡¯t compare yourself to him. I can guarantee there¡¯s no second Su Lin in the entire Xia country. Just focus on your cultivation.¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind, Aunt Su.¡± Seeing this, Su Lin smiled. Lin Xiaowan indeed had become much more diligent in her practice, although her progress was slower due to many distractions. He Suxin then said to Su Lin, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve broken through to Human Immortal, I¡¯m more relieved. Latest news is that Wang Yannian has brought several Human Immortals from the capital to Donghai, all old monsters well-known for many years.¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°Aunt Su, your news is outdated. I already knew about it yesterday.¡± Somewhat surprised, He Suxin then nodded, ¡°You have more sources. Knowing ahead of time is normal. I guess they aren¡¯t specifically here for you, but don¡¯t be too careless. Wang Yannian surely won¡¯t just let things go; he might even set a trap for you.¡± Su Lin assured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Aunt Su. Even before my breakthrough, I could hold my own against them. Now that I¡¯ve become stronger, there¡¯s no way my power has decreased.¡± He Suxin sighed, ¡°It¡¯s a pity, at your level of matters, I can no longer intervene.¡± Su Lin grinned, ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true.¡± He Suxin had accumulated enough and, with the manual Su Lin gave her, her aura had become even more subdued, almost as if she were mortal. Su Lin knew she was at a point similar to his own before his breakthrough, where a breakthrough could happen at any moment. This step had baffled countless people, not knowing what to do next due to their lack of knowledge. But Su Lin was different. He could feel his body¡¯s changes completely because the system¡¯s input allowed him a third-person perspective to see the entire transformation. With him as a guide, perhaps he could help He Suxin breakthrough as well. Curious, He Suxin looked at Su Lin, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®not necessarily¡¯?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Aunt Su, you haven¡¯t broken through not because you don¡¯t want to, but because you haven¡¯t found the way, right?¡± He Suxin nodded, ¡°Exactly. It feels like our cultivation methods are incorrect, like there¡¯s no path forward.¡± Su Lin explained, ¡°Such a leap to the heavens surely has its secrets. Over time, fewer people know how to break through. That¡¯s why Human Immortals are becoming increasingly rare.¡± He Suxin¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Su Lin, do you have a way?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Aunt Su, want to give it a try?¡± For a cultivator like He Suxin, especially someone of her status, not trying to break through would be unthinkable. Now, with a newly-made Human Immortal ready to guide her, how could she miss this opportunity? Su Lin turned to Lin Xiaowan and Xiaoyu, ¡°Xiaowan, Xiaoyu, you go ahead with your tasks. I¡¯m going to help Aunt Su here. Who knows, maybe today we¡¯ll see two Human Immortals break through!¡± Both women, understanding the situation, nodded, ¡°Aunt Su, Su Lin, be careful.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything will be fine,¡± Su Lin said confidently, seeing the trust in He Suxin¡¯s eyes. Once the two left the office, Su Lin said to He Suxin, ¡°Aunt Su, go sit on the bed and try to consolidate the Qi in your dantian.¡± ¡°Consolidate?¡± ¡°Yes, turn it into true essence. Basically, liquefy the Qi,¡± Su Lin instructed. Shocked, He Suxin couldn¡¯t believe the process was that straightforward, ¡°That explains why countless people get stuck without progress.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°That¡¯s just the first step, Aunt Su, you try first.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± Without hesitation, He Suxin sat cross-legged on the bed, her posture open to the heavens, and began to consolidate all the Qi in her body. This process was excruciating, requiring precise control over her Qi, or else she is at risk of severe injury, what is known as deviating in cultivation. Su Lin sat beside her, knowing He Suxin¡¯s journey was different from his own instantaneous system-fed breakthrough. She would need more time, and he wasn¡¯t in any rush. After all, he had nothing else pressing at the moment. As Su Lin protected He Suxin during her breakthrough attempt, news of his own breakthrough reached Xiao Feiyu at the Xiao family through Wang Yannian. Xiao Feiyu stood abruptly, ¡°Old Wang, you¡¯re not joking, are you? Su Lin reached Human Immortal?¡± Even though Wang Yannian knew Xiao Feiyu would find it hard to accept, he nodded, ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe, but having clashed with Su Lin, I¡¯m very familiar with his aura. That intense aura could only be his.¡± ¡°Moreover, his breakthrough was bizarre, seeming to face no bottlenecks at all, and was completed in mere moments. He¡¯s likely solidified his cultivation by now.¡± Xiao Feiyu¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Is this what being the protagonist is like? No bottlenecks, just direct breakthroughs?¡± ¡°What protagonist?¡± Wang Yannian was confused. Shaking his head, Xiao Feiyu decided not to delve into that topic and asked, ¡°Then how much confidence do you have in facing him?¡± ¡°One on one, running away is the only option,¡± Wang Yannian stated plainly. Although saying this might boost someone else¡¯s morale at his expense, Wang Yannian understood the gap between him and Su Lin. He hadn¡¯t expected Su Lin to break through so swiftly, causing him a bit of confusion now. Xiao Feiyu then focused on immediate concerns, ¡°Old Wang, I hope you can prioritize the matter of my marriage with Miss Liu. If it can be settled sooner, I can disclose all the medicinal ingredients to you in advance.¡± Wang Yannian¡¯s expression remained impassive, his eyes deepening. Xiao Feiyu obviously knew more, and he was using this information to leverage Wang Yannian, especially since he feared Su Lin might kill him. Unfortunately, Wang Yannian had no choice in the matter. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make another trip to the Liu family shortly and try to persuade Lin Bowen.¡± Xiao Feiyu bowed slightly, ¡°Thank you, Old Wang.¡± Wang Yannian nodded, his feelings toward Xiao Feiyu cooling compared to before. Xiao Feiyu, however, didn¡¯t mind; as long as he could survive, he believed he could eventually surpass Su Lin, even if Su Lin was the so-called protagonist. Chapter 249 Chapter 249: Ma Junjie Pays a Visit Xiao Feiyu knew that his words had likely soured his previously amicable relationship with Wang Yannian, but he didn¡¯t care. Achieving his goals was all that mattered, and everyone else was merely a tool to him, true to his role as the villain. As the two of them fell into an awkward silence, a servant entered the living room and announced, ¡°Young Master Xiao, a young man claiming to be Ma Junjie is here to see you.¡± Xiao Feiyu frowned upon hearing this. ¡°Ma Junjie? What does he want?¡± The servant shook his head. ¡°He didn¡¯t say. He just mentioned he needed to speak with you.¡± ¡°Do you need me to step out?¡± Wang Yannian asked indifferently. Xiao Feiyu thought for a moment and nodded. ¡°Please go ahead with your matters, Elder Wang.¡± Although it was well-known in Donghai¡¯s elite circles that Xiao Feiyu and Wang Yannian were collaborators, he didn¡¯t want Wang Yannian to get involved in his dealings with Ma Junjie. As for why he considered it a collaboration? The two had a confrontation at a banquet, and Ma Junjie seeking him out could only mean a potential partnership. After Wang Yannian left, Xiao Feiyu instructed the servant, ¡°Let him come in.¡± ¡°Very well, Young Master.¡± It wasn¡¯t long before Ma Junjie appeared in the living room. He wore a smile as if visiting an old friend, showing none of the aggression he had displayed at the banquet. Xiao Feiyu couldn¡¯t help but acknowledge that not everyone in this world was a fool. Take Ma Junjie, for example, who had been adapting his approach in Donghai from overtly aggressive to now more subdued and strategic. Some might call it slippery, others would say he was just emotionally intelligent. Still, Xiao Feiyu wondered what Ma Junjie wanted with him. While somewhat expectant, he didn¡¯t let it show. After all, Ma Junjie¡¯s approach gave Xiao the upper hand. ¡°Ma Junjie, what brings such a busy person like yourself here today?¡± Ma Junjie responded with a smile, ¡°There¡¯s a saying in the business world: ¡®There are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.¡¯ You¡¯ve heard this before, haven¡¯t you?¡± Xiao Feiyu nodded and raised an eyebrow, ¡°So, you¡¯ve come to talk business today?¡± Ma Junjie wasn¡¯t surprised by Xiao¡¯s attitude. He smiled and said, ¡°Your issues with Su Lin are well-known around Donghai. The whole world is watching and laughing at you now.¡± ¡°So, you mean to say you have a way to help me regain face?¡± Ma nodded. ¡°Do you know Li Ziyu?¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware. She¡¯s Su Lin¡¯s lover, right? Though they haven¡¯t officially acknowledged their relationship, it¡¯s obvious to everyone. She just secured the agency rights for Su¡¯s family business, making quite a splash. You¡¯re not suggesting I take action against her, are you?¡± Xiao Feiyu said with a half-smile. Li Ziyu was a hot commodity now, sought after by many for collaboration. Targeting her would be suicidal. Ma shook his head, ¡°You might not be aware, but Li Ziyu¡¯s father, Li Tiancheng, and her grandfather, Li Weifeng, are both in Yangcheng.¡± ¡°That so...¡± Xiao Feiyu was momentarily taken aback, then quickly caught on, looking at Ma with a mix of surprise and appreciation, ¡°Ma Junjie, you¡¯re playing with fire here. Aren¡¯t you afraid it will burn you?¡± ¡°In other places, perhaps I¡¯d be cautious. But, unfortunately for them, this is happening in Yangcheng. Do you think I¡¯m known as the top young master of Yangcheng for nothing?¡± Xiao Feiyu fell silent, his mind racing. Ma Junjie¡¯s intentions were becoming clear: he wasn¡¯t yet over Li Ziyu¡¯s mobile venture. All he needed to do was control her father and grandfather to get a slice of the pie. But what would Xiao Feiyu gain from this? What did Ma Junjie expect from him? Xiao Feiyu didn¡¯t have time to ponder further. With Ma Junjie right there, his intentions would surely be revealed soon. Regaining his composure, Xiao Feiyu spoke again, ¡°Ma Junjie, you¡¯re not thinking that just Li Ziyu¡¯s father and grandfather are enough to handle Su Lin, are you?¡± Ma Junjie chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s where you come in. I hear the Ghost Doctor is working for you now?¡± Xiao Feiyu corrected him without changing his expression, ¡°Wang Yannian is not working for me; we are partners. Our current relationship is purely collaborative.¡± ¡°Partnership? It looks like you have something he wants. Someone of his caliber wouldn¡¯t be interested in trivial things.¡± At that moment, Ma Junjie finally looked at Xiao Feiyu in a new light, perhaps reconsidering his earlier impression. Who knew if he¡¯s lovestruck persona was just an act? If so, then Xiao Feiyu might have even bigger plans. Ma Junjie suddenly felt a chill, realizing his brashness in seeking collaboration might have been premature. ¡°Ma Junjie, let¡¯s cut the trivial talk and get down to how we can work together,¡± Xiao finally said, bringing the conversation back to business. Ma Junjie gathered his thoughts and replied, ¡°My plan is simple. I want collaboration, you want Su Lin dead. I can use Li Tiancheng and Li Weifeng to pressure Li Ziyu. Su Lin won¡¯t just stand by when that happens you can take care of him then...¡± Xiao Feiyu snorted at the suggestion, ¡°You take the benefits, and I get left holding the bag in a showdown with Su Lin? You make it sound so simple.¡± Ma Junjie shook his head, smiling, ¡°Of course not, your interests wouldn¡¯t be overlooked.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re paying top dollar for medicinal herbs that aid cultivation, apparently due to some difficulties you¡¯re experiencing. It¡¯s no secret that Yangcheng, and by extension, our Greater Bay Area, which includes connections to Harbour City, has abundant resources in this regard.¡± Xiao Feiyu nodded, then said flatly, ¡°Not enough.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just one part of the deal. Securing the mobile project could mean sharing the market with the Xiao family.¡± ¡°And if Su Lin is taken out of the picture, you think we can still secure that project?¡± ¡°We can,¡± Ma Junjie declared confidently. ¡°On what basis?¡± Xiao inquired curiously. ¡°Simple. The contract is no longer in the Xiao family¡¯s hands; it¡¯s with Li Ziyu. You get my drift?¡± Xiao Feiyu nodded, ¡°But Li Ziyu isn¡¯t one to be easily threatened. You must be aware of how she seized power.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve done my homework. The Li family is ultimately a family business. If Li Ziyu ignores us, we can create a situation she can¡¯t ignore. While she¡¯s ousted many of Li Weifeng¡¯s people, many remain untouched. These people still harbor some loyalty to the old boss. To quell any dissent, Li Ziyu will have to step in.¡± Xiao Feiyu sighed, ¡°Everyone says you only cares about cars and women. I didn¡¯t expect such a meticulous plan.¡± Ma Junjie replied nonchalantly, ¡°Being born into this kind of family, if I were truly a wastrel, that would be the real tragedy. Isn¡¯t it the same for you, Xiao Feiyu?¡± Startled, Xiao then reflected that his own intellect and the rumors about him didn¡¯t really align. ¡°Still not enough,¡± he said, looking at Ma Junjie. The more comprehensive Ma Junjie¡¯s plan, the more it showed how crucial this was to him. Therefore, he was probing Ma Junjie¡¯s limits step by step. Ma¡¯s expression showed a trace of irritation, but after a moment¡¯s pause, he added, ¡°I can help expedite your marriage arrangements with the Liu family, though it¡¯s still subject to fate.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Chapter 250 Chapter 250 Hearing Xiao agree so quickly, Ma Junjie was taken aback.He looked at Xiao somewhat disdainfully, thinking how desperately Xiao wanted this marriage. To Ma Junjie, a woman was hardly worth such trouble, especially given the plentiful beauties in all of Xia Country. Yet Xiao Feiyu had just shown that he had no bottom line when it came to this alliance. ¡°Xiao Geiyu, you¡¯re the scion of the Modu¡¯s Xiao family. Is a woman really worth this much to you? Even though the Liu family is flourishing, allying with them means living at their mercy. Is that what you really want?¡± Ma Junjie couldn¡¯t help but voice his curiosity. Xiao Feiyu just laughed, ¡°Ma Junjie, that¡¯s none of your business. There¡¯s no need to dig so deep.¡± Ma Junjie nodded, guessing Xiao wouldn¡¯t elaborate. But Xiao Feiyu¡¯s desperate clinging to the Liu family seemed disgraceful to him. All the great families were driven by interests; marriages were meaningless without profit. Xiao Feiyu harbored his thoughts. His interest in Liu Shiyin was purely possessive, devoid of any real affection. Why the insistence on marrying Liu Shiyin? Simple. Liu Shiyin was a heroine in his eyes. With Jiang Ruoxi out of reach and no chance of getting close to Su Lin¡¯s girlfriends, Liu Shiyin was the most accessible heroine known to him at this stage. Of course, he had to secure Liu Shiwen to gain villain points and enhance his own power. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss the details now.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Back at the Su Corporation building, after a long period of consolidation, He Suxin finally managed to condense her first drop of true essence. Her aura, though not as strong as Su Lin¡¯s, was formidable. In the resting room, her hair moved as if blown by an invisible fan. Surprised, Su Lin commented, ¡°I didn¡¯t experience anything like this during my breakthrough. It feels like there¡¯s a fan blowing. Could it be an issue with the system¡¯s infusion?¡± This was the first time Su Lin had observed someone else¡¯s breakthrough and he was curious, as his own experience seemed quite different. He Suxin suddenly opened her eyes, looking at Su Lin with excitement, ¡°Xiaolin, I did it.¡± ¡°Aunt Su, that¡¯s just the first step. Don¡¯t get too excited yet, continue to consolidate,¡± Su Lin reminded her. ¡°Alright...¡± He Suxin¡¯s breakthrough sent ripples across Donghai again. Unlike Su Lin¡¯s swift breakthrough, hers was distinct, and those attuned to such changes felt it. Just returning to his villa, Wang Yannian was about to sip some tea when he sensed the breakthrough energy. Setting his cup down, he stood, ¡°This aura seems familiar.¡± ¡°No need to guess, that¡¯s He Suxin breaking through,¡± Zhao Changlin called out as he came downstairs, followed by two immortal beings from the Liu family. Wang Yannian closed his eyes to feel the energy, then opened them, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s her. Only in her early forties, and she¡¯s broken through. It¡¯s truly a case of the new surpassing the old.¡± ¡°Ain¡¯t that the truth. Here I am, part of the capital¡¯s twin heroes, feeling like a joke,¡± Zhao Changlin said with a bitter laugh. He had only broken through in his fifties, with the aid of medicinal herbs, whereas He Suxin had achieved it at forty without any such assistance, and her aura was remarkable. ¡°Older and older...¡± someone sighed. ¡°Yes, I never thought I¡¯d see the day when new talents like eighteen-year-old Su Lin and forty-year-old He Suxin would emerge. It¡¯s a miraculous era indeed.¡± ¡°Alas, both are neither friend nor foe.¡± As they conversed, Wang Yannian felt a mix of emotions. Despite considering himself supremely talented, he had to admit that Su Lin and He Suxin possessed even greater talents. ¡°Old Wang, we¡¯ve really put ourselves on the line by coming to Donghai with you this time. Are you sure we can get the medicine to clear our hidden injuries?¡± Zhao Changlin asked, somewhat anxious. For people like Zhao, only enhancements to their cultivation level, methods, or magical treasures could pique their interest. Wang Yannian had offered them something they couldn¡¯t refuse¡ªa cure for hidden injuries. Many of them, including Zhao Changlin and Liu Bingsheng, had fought countless battles throughout their lives, leaving them with various chronic injuries that no ordinary medicine could heal. Only a special elixir could help. And Wang Yannian had claimed to have the recipe, just lacking the ingredients. Given the Ghost Doctor¡¯s reputation, they trusted his claims. Indeed, Wang Yannian had convinced them to help gather ingredients for the Seven Revolution Resurrection Elixir. As for the elixir to purge hidden injuries, he didn¡¯t have it, but Xiao Feiyu did. Previously, Xiao Feiyu had given him a small amount to show sincerity, which Wang Yannian used to lure these people to work for him. Seeing Zhao¡¯s lingering doubts, Wang Yannian chuckled, ¡°Old Zhao, would I lie to you?¡± Zhao Changlin nodded. He and Wang Yannian had a good private relationship, and Wang Yannian, being advanced in years, was unlikely to deceive him. But ever since arriving in Donghai, Wang¡¯s actions had been puzzling, hence Zhao¡¯s voiced concerns. ¡°Ah, I always feel odd when I come out with you. It¡¯s like being a step away from heaven or hell,¡± Zhao remarked, feeling uneasy. Liu Bingsheng added, ¡°That¡¯s normal. Our sect records mention that at a certain level of cultivation, one develops an inexplicable ability to sense the alignment of the heavens, which becomes more pronounced with higher cultivation levels.¡± ¡°We knew there were risks in agreeing to come with Old Wang. These feelings are quite normal.¡± Zhao nodded, ¡°Indeed, such ventures always carry both rewards and risks.¡± However, Wang Yannian, listening to their conversation, was lost in his own anxious thoughts. With Su Lin and now He Suxin, plus Bai Qikun from Bureau 751, his numerical advantage was less clear. Furthermore, Su Lin¡¯s combat abilities were off the conventional charts. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see the day when I, Wang Yannian, would overthink things.¡± Shaking his head, Wang lamented how his growing power seemed inversely proportional to his courage. Facing a young opponent like Su Lin, he found himself hesitating. Perhaps what he really feared was Su Lin¡¯s youth. Chapter 251 Chapter 251: Testing Outside the Su Corporation building. Liu Kunlun, Jiang Yixian, and Ma Zhong were stopped by Bai Qikun. Bai Qikun looked at the few men and said lightly, ¡°Gentlemen, please return.¡± Unmoved, Liu Kunlun stepped forward and spoke, ¡°Director Bai, today two grandmasters have broken through, both emanating from the Su Corporation building. We merely wish to visit the newly ascended Human Immortal, could you grant us this convenience?¡± ¡°May I ask, Director Bai, which two venerables have broken through upstairs?¡± ¡°Yes, these two auras are too unfamiliar. With two new Human Immortals appearing in Donghai all at once, our families must clarify the situation, otherwise it could cause unnecessary panic.¡± Bai Qikun chuckled and said, ¡°Liu Kunlun, do you think I¡¯m not aware of what you are scheming? It¡¯s too late to ally with them now; they are national figures.¡± Hearing this, the three men¡¯s expressions turned sour. If, as Bai Qikun said, both individuals were affiliated with the state, then there would be at least three government-backed authorities in Donghai. For these major families, any small maneuvers would be suicidal. Jiang Yixian felt inclined to retreat, as with Bai Qikun barring the way, not even three grandmaster pinnacles could reach the Su Corporation building. However, Liu Kunlun and Ma Zhong had different thoughts. Liu Kunlun had been stuck at grandmaster pinnacle for a while and was unable to break through. Now, with two experienced individuals before him, even if he couldn¡¯t ally with them, getting even a slight hint from them would be extremely valuable. So, despite Bai Qikun driving him away, he was reluctant to leave. After all, Bai Qikun would definitely not kill him; if he died, the Liu family wouldn¡¯t let Bai Qikun off, and that was his confidence. Ma Zhong, driven by his business nature, was unwilling to leave as well. ¡°Director Bai, rest assured we¡¯ll just visit and leave, we won¡¯t cause any disturbance,¡± Liu Kunlun pledged earnestly. Bai Qikun remained unmoved and responded sternly to Liu Kunlun, ¡°Does the arrival of two family elders make you think you can disregard me, the director?¡± Liu Kunlun was taken aback, ¡°How did you know our family elders had come?¡± Bai Qikun scoffed, ¡°Although the Liu family is powerful, you¡¯ve all thrown your energies into martial cultivation, neglecting intelligence and business to a degree. Otherwise, your young master wouldn¡¯t have come from the capital trying to scrape some benefits.¡± Hearing this, Liu Kunlun¡¯s face turned grim, the first time in many years someone had directly pointed out their weaknesses, especially weaknesses that couldn¡¯t be argued against. The Liu family might be strong, but that didn¡¯t mean other families were weak. The Lin family, where Lin Xiaowan was from, was an extremely low-profile major family. Even if the Liu family sometimes acted unbridled, they would still have to curb their arrogance in front of the Lin family. ¡°These two elders from your family are likely here for personal gains, not for the family¡¯s benefit. So Liu Kunlun, if you want to stay alive and return to the capital, it¡¯s best to keep a low profile now.¡± ¡°Director Bai, we just want to visit, is there a need for such an attitude?¡± Bai Qikun shook his head, ¡°We both know whether you¡¯re just visiting or have other ideas. And Mr. Ma, look at your age; it¡¯s best you return to Yangcheng to retire. Your young master has been overly active lately. Here in Donghai, be careful he might come with his life but leave without it.¡± ¡°Director Bai, are you threatening the Ma family?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m just reminding you. As a family of merchants, avoid crooked paths,¡± Bai Qikun said sternly. He had received news that Li Tiancheng and Li Weifeng had been secretly confined by the Ma family. He wasn¡¯t foolish and could guess Ma Junjie¡¯s intentions, but he felt Ma Junjie was unlikely to succeed. After all, the Ma family, having risen through commerce, severely lacked in martial prowess. If they confronted Su Lin, Ma Junjie would undoubtedly suffer a major loss. Knowing Su Lin¡¯s reputation, Bai Qikun was aware that Su Lin was someone who didn¡¯t hesitate to act ruthlessly. The previous two who crossed him had already met their end under the earth. ¡°Hmph... I, Ma Zhong, on behalf of the Ma family, thank Director Bai for your warning.¡± Bai Qikun no longer regarded the three before him but turned to look towards the Su Corporation building. He knew He Suxin had completely broken through and had now truly become a Human Immortal. Bai Qikun then said to the three, ¡°You can now visit as you please, by any means necessary.¡± With that, Bai Qikun¡¯s figure flashed, and he left by air, stepping through the sky. The three grandmasters watched enviously; although they could also fly with the aid of objects, they couldn¡¯t fly unaided like Bai Qikun. The gap was more than just a little. Feeling the dissipation of the aura, the three knew He Suxin had completely finished her breakthrough. At this point, they were somewhat intimidated. Previously, Liu Kunlun had dared to go only because He Suxin was in the midst of her breakthrough, a time when it would have been easy to overpower her. But now, going there was tantamount to seeking death. Liu Kunlun was not one to drag things out. He snorted coldly and turned to leave. Ma Zhong hesitated and glanced at Jiang Yixian, ¡°A person from the Jiang family?¡± Jiang Yixian nodded, ¡°Correct.¡± Ma Zhong nodded as a greeting, ¡°Are you still going up?¡± Jiang Yixian laughed bitterly, ¡°Now that both auras have calmed down, who would dare go up? These old monsters are notoriously temperamental; I¡¯d like to live a few more years.¡± Ma Zhong sighed, ¡°Sometimes taking that step could lead to heaven, but the fear of stepping holds us back, we¡¯re just too old.¡± Jiang Yixian, much younger than Ma Zhong, also chuckled. No one dared to provoke the wrath of a Human Immortal, not even a first-rate family. If they didn¡¯t confront you head-on but instead assassinated members of your family, what then? Paying a high price for a group assassination was ultimately a damaging affair. Thus, Liu Kunlun didn¡¯t dare go up, nor did Ma Zhong. Watching Ma Zhong leave, Jiang Yixian murmured, ¡°I heard that little Miss Ruoxi has a good relationship with the young master of the Su family. Maybe she could cozy up to him? Even if she could just get a few pointers, it would benefit her for life.¡± ¡°No, I must get Ruoxi to help me cozy up. What if it succeeds?¡± Cultivation is like sailing against the current; not advancing means retreating. He had been stuck at this point for many years. If Su Lin wanted Jiang Ruoxi to be his concubine in exchange for advice, Jiang Yixian would send her to Su Lin¡¯s bed without hesitation. Hesitating for even a second would be disrespectful to a Human Immortal... That was their most genuine thought! With a clear goal in mind, Jiang Yixian didn¡¯t want to wait any longer and swiftly flew towards the Jiang family¡¯s temporary residence in Donghai. Chapter 252 Chapter 252: Jiang Yixian¡¯s Scheming ¡°Aunt Su, how do you feel now?¡± He Suxin introspectively felt the changes in her body and then said, ¡°This breakthrough indeed brought significant changes. The most direct feeling is that my senses have sharpened considerably, and my vitality has become more vigorous.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°That¡¯s right, Aunt Su, you are now a true powerhouse.¡± He Suxin smiled, ¡°I approached this with a mindset of just giving it a try, never expecting it to actually succeed. Su Lin, I owe you a huge favor this time.¡± Su Lin waved his hand, ¡°It¡¯s not much about me. You have a solid foundation, Aunt Su. I just gave you a little push.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how you should say it. Without your help, even ten more years wouldn¡¯t have led to a breakthrough. Nowadays, everyone is so secretive about their methods of breaking through, only you are willing to share,¡± He Suxin sighed. Her strength wasn¡¯t the only thing that had improved; even her mindset had undergone significant changes. Su Lin nodded and sighed, ¡°That¡¯s the nature of people. Everyone is afraid of being surpassed, especially by someone younger with better talent. Most old timers are upset about it.¡± ¡°Hehe... if those old monsters knew what you just said, they might challenge you to a fight.¡± Su Lin confidently said, ¡°Fight? I¡¯m not afraid at all, in fact, I¡¯m eager to try.¡± Having just broken through, Su Lin was eager to test his strength, feeling unprecedentedly powerful, yet without a benchmark. ¡°With your trouble-making nature, there will be plenty of fights for you in the future. I¡¯ve sensed a few familiar auras; I¡¯ll go send them off now.¡± ¡°Alright, Aunt Su, go ahead.¡± He Suxin nodded, picked up her long sword, pushed open the window, and flew out. Su Lin shook his head and chuckled, ¡°It seems those with power really don¡¯t follow the usual paths. I like climbing out of windows too.¡± After leaving the office, Xia Shiyu and Lin Xiaowan quickly gathered around. ¡°Su Lin, how is Aunt Su?¡± ¡°She has successfully broken through and is now going to test her strength,¡± Su Lin replied. ¡°Test her strength?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°With such a commotion, and with so many people in Donghai, do you think they wouldn¡¯t have noticed?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve arranged for others to protect her. See, none of them has appeared before us, right?¡± Su Lin smiled. ¡°Others? Who are they?¡± Lin Xiaowan asked curiously. ¡°That will take some time to explain,¡± Su Lin said, pretending to be mysterious. ¡°Ugh... then keep it short.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be kept short. How about this? I¡¯ll explain it in detail tonight?¡± Su Lin raised his eyebrows playfully. The current Lin Xiaowan was even more stunning, like a magnificent peony, exuding an aura of grandeur and luxury. Su Lin thought she was naturally charismatic. If she had been raised in ancient times, she could have easily dominated as an empress. ¡°Don¡¯t... Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re planning.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do. I¡¯ve already unilaterally decided.¡± Su Lin clapped his hands. Lin Xiaowan rolled her eyes at Su Lin, ¡°I¡¯m going to process some documents. The deadline is approaching fast. Is your system finished? Don¡¯t drag us down later.¡± Su Lin laughed heartily, ¡°Me, drag you down? What are you thinking? The system was completed a long time ago.¡± ¡°Completed? How is that possible?¡± Lin Xiaowan covered her mouth in disbelief. ¡°Why not? Don¡¯t forget, your husband is a genius,¡± Su Lin bragged. However, this time Lin Xiaowan didn¡¯t argue with Su Lin. If his talent in cultivation was genius-level, she could accept that. But he hadn¡¯t formally studied system programming; he just started coding on his own and completed what would normally require a whole studio by himself. The key point was, she often saw Su Lin so idle, coming to work as if he were on vacation. ¡°How did you do it?¡± Lin Xiaowan asked in astonishment. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®how¡¯?¡± ¡°You know what I¡¯m asking.¡± ¡°So, are we still on for a candlelight chat tonight?¡± Su Lin asked with a sly grin. Seeing Su Lin like this, Lin Xiaowan huffed, ¡°I don¡¯t want to know anymore.¡± With that, she walked out of the office. Su Lin found it amusing; the girl was even throwing a tantrum. So, he followed Lin Xiaowan to her office. At the Jiang family¡¯s temporary residence in Donghai... Jiang Yixian burst through the gates like a whirlwind, causing Jiang Fengyi and Jiang Ruoxi to come out from the villa. ¡°Yixian, what¡¯s going on? Weren¡¯t you just gathering information? Why the rush?¡± Jiang Fengyi asked, puzzled. Jiang Ruoxi also added, ¡°Uncle, is there a dog chasing you? You¡¯re running so fast.¡± Jiang Yixian ignored their questions and instead turned to Jiang Ruoxi with some excitement, ¡°Ruoxi, aren¡¯t you quite close to that young man from the Su family?¡± ¡°I do know Su Lin, and we get along okay. What¡¯s up, Uncle, did you cross Su Lin?¡± Jiang Ruoxi asked, shocked. She was no longer the newbie in Donghai and was somewhat aware of Su Lin¡¯s deeds. If Jiang Yixian had crossed Su Lin, the outcome could indeed be dicey. Although their levels were the same, Su Lin had his supporters, and the Jiang family might not necessarily assist Jiang Yixian. Jiang Yixian shook his head, ¡°Today two peak grandmaster broke through, I¡¯ve investigated thoroughly. The aura came from the Su Corporation building, and mostly ordinary people occupy the Su building, only Su Lin and his girlfriend practice ancient martial arts.¡± ¡°Both auras were extremely unfamiliar, so I suspect they might be Su Lin¡¯s elders breaking through at the Su building.¡± Jiang Fengyi first frowned deeply, then quickly relaxed, ¡°Yixian, are you suggesting that people from Su Lin¡¯s sect were involved?¡± Jiang Yixian nodded, ¡°Both auras were unfamiliar, and I¡¯m certain I¡¯ve never encountered them before. I consider myself well-traveled in the capital, but today¡¯s auras were shockingly powerful, especially the first one; simply terrifying.¡± ¡°For such individuals to choose to break through at this time, and in the Su building, it¡¯s hard not to think it relates back to Su Lin¡¯s mysterious sect. Remember, his sect hasn¡¯t been revealed yet, it¡¯s very secretive.¡± Jiang Fengyi furrowed his brow, ¡°Choosing this moment to break through, do you think it was intentional or coincidental?¡± Jiang Yixian shook his head, ¡°I doubt it¡¯s coincidental. The Su family has long been targeted by major families, but because these clans are disunited, and because Su Zhenguo is very adept at his dealings, tying the Su family¡¯s business with national interests, otherwise they would have been wiped clean by now.¡± ¡°Su Lin revealing a bit of strength now is likely meant as a warning.¡± Jiang Fengyi nodded, ¡°Indeed, that aligns with what I was thinking.¡± At this, Jiang Ruoxi couldn¡¯t help but interject, ¡°Uncle, we were asking why you rushed back, and here you are going off on a tangent.¡± Jiang Yixian chuckled wryly, ¡°Ruoxi, you¡¯re still as impatient as ever, even at your age. I rushed back because I need a favor from you.¡± Jiang Ruoxi looked puzzled, ¡°A favor? What can I possibly help you with?¡± Although Jiang Ruoxi had trained, she was nowhere near Jiang Yixian¡¯s level; she couldn¡¯t be of any help, and even less so in other areas. That¡¯s why she was so baffled. Jiang Yixian smiled, ¡°I¡¯d like you to get closer to Su Lin, help me get an introduction to those elders, maybe they can clear up some doubts I have.¡± Jiang Ruoxi was then left speechless... Chapter 253 Chapter 253: Naive Jiang Ruoxi ¡°Ask me to cozy up to someone? Impossible, absolutely impossible! Uncle, you might as well give up on that idea; I¡¯m definitely not going to cozy up to anyone for you,¡± Jiang Ruoxi said resolutely. Jiang Yixian had guessed that Jiang Ruoxi would refuse, so when he heard her refusal, he wasn¡¯t disappointed but continued, ¡°Ruoxi, I am your real uncle, you know. Do you know how many years I¡¯ve been stuck at this Grandmaster level?¡± ¡°I was a young talent, a master at twenty, a grandmaster before thirty. Now at just forty-four, I¡¯m at the peak of Grandmaster, but do you know how many years I¡¯ve been stuck at this peak?¡± Jiang Yixian choked up a bit, ¡°Ten years, it¡¯s been a full ten years. Do you know how I¡¯ve spent these ten years? I...¡± Listening to Jiang Yixian, Jiang Ruoxi felt uneasy because he truly loved her. The Jiang family in Modu is one of the few families where members don¡¯t turn against each other over power struggles. Jiang Yixian and Jiang Fengyi have a good relationship; one manages the family while the other focuses on martial arts! Thus, Jiang Ruoxi and Jiang Yixian¡¯s relationship is very good. But now, the resignation and frustration that Jiang Yixian showed deeply affected her. Jiang Fengyi also sighed lightly, ¡°Xiaoxi, if you really can help, please help your uncle. These years have not been easy for him.¡± ¡°Dad, I¡¯m really not close with Su Lin, and it¡¯s not something that can be resolved by just saying a few words. This is like granting a second life, how could it be so simple?¡± Jiang Ruoxi said somewhat frustratedly. ¡°Just give it a try, even if it fails, it¡¯s better than doing nothing.¡± ¡°Yes, Xiaoxi, your uncle is really counting on you. If your uncle could make this breakthrough, he would support whatever you want to do in the family from now on,¡± Jiang Yixian said earnestly. Hearing this, Jiang Ruoxi was moved. If Jiang Yixian really made the breakthrough, with his protection in the future, she could truly do whatever she wanted. As for an arranged marriage? As long as she disagreed, no one would dare force her into one. Jiang Ruoxi looked at Jiang Yixian and asked, ¡°Uncle, are you serious?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m serious. Would your uncle lie to you?¡± Jiang Yixian patted his chest. ¡°Okay, then you promise me, you¡¯ll support any decision I make in the future, even if Grandpa or Dad asks me to do something and I disagree, you have to support me.¡± ¡°I... I definitely will support you.¡± ¡°Uncle, you hesitated.¡± Jiang Ruoxi said through gritted teeth. ¡°I... I need to think about it, okay? Xiaoxi, don¡¯t worry, as long as I make the breakthrough, I promise I¡¯ll keep my word.¡± ¡°...¡± In the end, Jiang Ruoxi forced Jiang Yixian to sign a guarantee before she left the house with some trepidation. As soon as she stepped out of the villa, she didn¡¯t know what to do. To say her relationship with Su Lin was not very good was an understatement. She was beautiful, but there were many beautiful women around Su Lin, why would he help her? Thinking this, Jiang Ruoxi suddenly felt a headache, but remembering the conditions Jiang Yixian had promised, freedom! This might be her only chance to gain true freedom. With this thought, Jiang Ruoxi firmed her resolve. ¡°Su Lin, is there any cooperation with the Jiang family?¡± Seeing Lin Xiaowan walking in from the door, Su Lin looked puzzled, ¡°Cooperation? What cooperation? Our phones haven¡¯t even officially launched, how could there be any cooperation?¡± Lin Xiaowan responded, ¡°I was wondering about that. Jiang Ruoxi from the Jiang family is here, she¡¯s downstairs right now, saying she wants to talk about cooperation.¡± ¡°Uh... that¡¯s odd, why didn¡¯t she go to Ziyu since they are close, why come to me?¡± Su Lin wondered. Lin Xiaowan smiled, ¡°Maybe she thinks you¡¯re handsome.¡± ¡°Xiaowan, don¡¯t even say it, that¡¯s actually possible, Ruoxi has complimented me on being handsome many times.¡± Hearing this, Lin Xiaowan pursed her lips, feeling a premonition that Jiang Ruoxi might just be throwing herself into the situation. It wouldn¡¯t be long before she had another ¡®sister¡¯. Although this feeling was somewhat strange, Lin Xiaowan was sure her intuition was not wrong, hence her slightly emotional tone while speaking with Su Lin. ¡°Should I let her come up then?¡± Su Lin thought for a moment, ¡°The talk of cooperation is probably nonsense, but she must have something she needs help with if she¡¯s come all this way, let her come up, take her to the lounge.¡± ¡°The lounge, that one?¡± Lin Xiaowan raised an eyebrow. Hearing this, Su Lin looked at Lin Xiaowan and said, ¡°Xiaowan, I have a meeting soon, please tidy up this lounge for me. I¡¯ll come back to rest later, and don¡¯t you run off.¡± ¡°I...¡± Lin Xiaowan was stunned, Su Lin was up to his usual mischief in broad daylight, leaving her feeling like she wanted to cry but had no tears. Why did she have to stir up Su Lin? Now she¡¯s put herself in a difficult spot. ¡°Go on then~!¡± Su Lin waved his hand dismissively as Lin Xiaowan left with a gloomy face. ¡°You think I can¡¯t handle you, huh? Heh~!¡± Ten minutes later, Su Lin saw Jiang Ruoxi in the lounge. Jiang Ruoxi felt someone enter and immediately became nervous, as if there were bugs crawling all over her, making her uncomfortable and fidgety in her seat. Su Lin quickly noticed Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s strange behavior; she was twisting and turning in her seat. Was she trying to seduce him, or was she allergic to something? Su Lin observed her and it didn¡¯t seem like an allergy, more like she had something to say but was holding back, making him feel sympathetic for her. ¡°Ruoxi, what brings you here?¡± While speaking, Su Lin walked over and sat opposite Jiang Ruoxi. Seeing Su Lin¡¯s handsome face, Jiang Ruoxi found herself unable to speak about asking Su Lin to help facilitate Jiang Yixian¡¯s breakthrough. ¡°I... I...¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You said you wanted to discuss a partnership, why the hesitation? Ruoxi, this isn¡¯t like you,¡± Su Lin chuckled lightly. Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s usual demeanor was enthusiastic and bold, and her fashion was quite avant-garde; so this shyness was uncharacteristic of her. ¡°I... I just came to ask if there was any business cooperation available,¡± Jiang Ruoxi said in a measured tone. Su Lin felt that the Jiang Ruoxi before him was very different from usual, but also endearingly awkward. He knew she must have something important to discuss but seemed embarrassed about it, probably because it was a difficult issue to address, especially given their acquaintance wasn¡¯t that close. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t want to say it. As for the partnership, of course, there is, but I must warn you, Ruoxi, you¡¯re poaching Ziyu¡¯s business. Be careful, she might come storming over here if she finds out,¡± Su Lin joked. ¡°Uh... oh right, how could I forget that?¡± Jiang Ruoxi realized suddenly. Shaking his head, Su Lin wondered how many faces this woman had, as she suddenly seemed so scatterbrained. ¡°But no worries, Ziyu won¡¯t mind. Just leaking a little bit through the cracks will do,¡± Jiang Ruoxi said with a smile. Though she hadn¡¯t spoken outright, Jiang Ruoxi now felt much more relaxed without having to bring it up again, and her conversation with Su Lin was less tense. ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll have Xiaoyu talk to you.¡± ¡°Ah! Speak with Xiaoyu?¡± ¡°Of course, she¡¯s more familiar with these matters; I don¡¯t get involved.¡± After saying this, Su Lin stood up, called Xia Shitu in, spoke a few words of caution to her, and then returned to his office. He hadn¡¯t forgotten that Lin Xiaowan was still in the lounge! Chapter 254 Chapter 254: Li Ziyu¡¯s Speculations Seeing Su Lin really leave, Jiang Ruoxi was dumbfounded; she couldn¡¯t believe Su Lin would leave just like that, without uttering a single unnecessary word. Although she knew it was rash of her to approach him like this, being left hanging made her feel especially embarrassed. She couldn¡¯t even find a way to trouble Su Lin, because it was her own doing that caused this situation. ¡®Jiang Ruoxi, Jiang Ruoxi, you really are the number one fool. How could you do something so foolish?¡¯ Xia Shiyu didn¡¯t know what Jiang Ruoxi was thinking at the time; she pulled out a notebook and sat across from Jiang Ruoxi, asking, ¡°Ruoxi, in which areas do you want to cooperate with us?¡± ¡°Uh... um, sorry, Xiaoyu, I didn¡¯t catch that,¡± Jiang Ruoxi said, blushing. She felt like she wanted to die. It felt like she hadn¡¯t checked the calendar before leaving home today, with all kinds of embarrassing mishaps occurring. Fortunately, Su Lin wasn¡¯t there, otherwise she would have been even more embarrassed. In the lounge, Lin Xiaowan was restless when suddenly the door opened, and she said somewhat panic-stricken, ¡°Su... Su Lin, you¡¯re back already?¡± Su Lin smiled and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? I was just coming over.¡± ¡°How come so quickly? What about Jiang Ruoxi, weren¡¯t you discussing business with her?¡± Lin Xiaowan felt her mind wasn¡¯t working properly. Logically, discussing a partnership would take at least a few hours or at least several tens of minutes to an hour, yet Su Lin had returned in just a few minutes. Was it really that urgent? ¡°A small cooperation, I don¡¯t care much about it, let Xiaoyu handle her to avoid your wild thoughts.¡± ¡°Me... when did I start having wild thoughts?¡± Lin Xiaowan stubbornly said. Although she had come to terms with her feelings for Su Lin, his quick return still made her feel somewhat sour. Therefore, she spoke with emotion to Su Lin, not expecting him to be quite understanding, which warmed Lin Xiaowan¡¯s heart. Su Lin stepped forward, stretched lazily, and lifted Lin Xiaowan in his arms: ¡°Whether you had wild thoughts, you know best, let¡¯s go...¡± At Li Corporation, Li Ziyu had just sent off a family representative from Shancheng and returned to her office, barely warm in her seat when her assistant rushed in, knocking on the door. ¡°President Li... President Li...¡± Li Ziyu was displeased; why was the assistant so flustered? This wasn¡¯t her usual demeanor. ¡°Xiaodan, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I... just received a call from Yangcheng. The former chairman and your father have been abducted by strangers.¡± Li Ziyu frowned upon hearing this. Although she wasn¡¯t very attached to Li Tiancheng and Li Weifeng, the timing of their abduction definitely made things interesting. ¡°Huh? Been abducted? Tell me more.¡± With the assistant¡¯s explanation, Li Ziyu understood that this was no accident but a premeditated kidnapping. The reason for the kidnapping was clear: it was to coerce her into compliance. Comply with what? Most likely it concerned a business deal related to mobile operations. Li Ziyu rubbed her temples, ¡°Xiaodan, did they report this to the police in Yangcheng?¡± The assistant nodded, ¡°They called the police immediately, but so far there¡¯s no lead.¡± Li Ziyu sighed; ¡°No surprise there, considering the significance of this act, they wouldn¡¯t dare if they feared investigation. You should know that in this world, masters and grandmasters come and go without a trace. While ordinary crimes can be investigated, tracking crimes committed by these martial artists is incredibly difficult.¡± ¡°Who could it be? The Xiao family or the Ma family? Or both might be involved.¡± Intuition told Li Ziyu that this was not a simple kidnapping. It was likely not just targeting her but Su Lin as well. She knew all too well how many people Su Lin had offended over the years. If it was simply a matter of cooperation, as long as the price was right, she wouldn¡¯t refuse, so these people must have had more complex intentions, likely targeting the Su Corporation behind her. ¡°President Li, what should we do now?¡± Li Ziyu waved her hand, ¡°Go on, I need to think. This isn¡¯t a simple matter; they¡¯ll probably call me soon.¡± ¡°Alright, President Li~!!¡± After the assistant left, Li Ziyu¡¯s first instinct was to call Su Lin, but she quickly decided against it. ¡°The Ma family dominates in Yangcheng; they couldn¡¯t possibly be unaware of such a major kidnapping. And since the police in Yangcheng are clueless, there¡¯s only one possibility : the Ma family is complicit, or even involved.In that case, it must be Ma Junjie.¡± Li Ziyu knew that Ma Junjie¡¯s visit to Donghai was for Su Lin¡¯s mobile business, but that business had already been transferred to her... Ma Junjie wouldn¡¯t want to return empty-handed, hence the risky move. Having realized the key issue, Li Ziyu was not in a hurry to find Su Lin. Because she believed Ma Junjie would definitely come to her. ¡°What is Su Lin up to? He doesn¡¯t even visit me. No, he¡¯s not free anymore; he¡¯s the deputy head of the company now. Li Ziyu, when did you start having such childish thoughts?¡± Li Ziyu slapped her forehead, then picked up the documents on her desk to read again. Ma Junjie, coming out of Xiao Feiyu¡¯s home, wore a satisfied smile. His trip to the Xiao family had been fruitful; at least he came to understand Xiao Feiyu anew, and the two also reached a cooperation. With the help of people like the ghost doctor Wang Yannian, he wasn¡¯t afraid that Su Lin would make a move against him in Donghai. Just back home, Ma Junjie saw Ma Zhong returning with a grim face. ¡°Uncle Zhong~! Where have you been?¡± Ma Junjie asked with a smile. Ma Zhong did not answer immediately but asked, ¡°Xiaojie, I heard you¡¯re going to move against the Su family?¡± Ma Junjie nodded, ¡°Not exactly moving against them, but you know the family¡¯s situation. We must secure the Su family¡¯s mobile business, or else our Ma family will face the danger of overcapacity, too many factories, and too many employees.¡± ¡°Is there no other way?¡± Ma Zhong asked with a grim face. Ma Junjie was puzzled, ¡°Uncle Zhong, you never consider things this way; what happened?¡± Ma Zhong sighed, then told Ma Junjie about the incident that had just occurred outside the Su Corporation. He continued, ¡°The Su Corporation has at least two Human Immortals. Although our Ma family has some too, getting them to act is almost impossible.¡± Ma Junjie laughed, ¡°Uncle Zhong, do you think I¡¯m a fool? How could I move against the Su family alone?¡± ¡°Hm? Who did you join with?¡± ¡°The Xiao family, and the ghost doctor Wang Yannian~!!¡± Ma Junjie said lightly. Hearing this, Ma Zhong frowned but soon relaxed, ¡°If they really are involved, this can be done, but it¡¯s still risky. It would be best to get the Liu family on board.¡± He had just met with Liu Kunlun today and received a very important piece of information: several old monsters from the Liu family had come to Donghai. If the Liu family could get involved, then this matter would almost certainly be secure. Chapter 255 Chapter 255: Li Ziyu Unaffected by Tricks Ma Junjie¡¯s thoughts were directly opposed to those of Ma Zhong. He spoke up, ¡°Uncle Zhong, I think we should not involve the Liu family in this matter.¡± Ma Zhong was surprised that Ma Junjie would disagree with him and asked with a smile, ¡°Xiaojie, what are your thoughts?¡± Ma Junjie calmly replied, ¡°The Liu family cannot be involved for a simple reason: we don¡¯t have enough profit to share. We¡¯ve already conceded a part of the profits in our cooperation with the Xiao family. If we bring the Liu family into this, we will inevitably have to give up even more profits, which does not align with our expectations.¡± ¡°The second reason is that the Liu family has always been greedy and ruthless. If they demand a larger share after the matter is settled, whether we give it to them or not could become a problem.¡± ¡°The third reason is that Xiao Feiyu is currently discussing a marriage alliance with the Liu family. Regardless of whether it¡¯s likely to happen or not, we can¡¯t afford the risk. If they band together and kick us out in the future, Uncle Zhong, do you think we can compete with the Liu family?¡± Ma Zhong pondered for a moment, then expressed his admiration, ¡°Xiaojie, you really have grown up, thinking more comprehensively than your uncle.¡± Ma Junjie modestly said, ¡°You¡¯re joking, Uncle. You just don¡¯t have enough information, which is why you didn¡¯t consider all aspects.¡± ¡°Well, as far as I know, those old folks from the Liu family were invited out by Wang Yannian, so they don¡¯t represent the Liu family, which means this deal might really be feasible,¡± Ma Zhong said somewhat expectantly. ¡°Uncle~! Should I confront Li Ziyu tomorrow and make her comply?¡± Thinking of Li Ziyu¡¯s charming face, Ma Junjie felt a thrill. Mainly, it was Li Ziyu¡¯s demeanor that was truly captivating. Naturally beautiful and as cool as a lotus, Ma Junjie considered himself experienced with women, yet those women only had their ¡®surgical beauty¡¯, which was nothing compared to Li Ziyu. He sighed deeply, ¡°It¡¯s a pity, being on opposite sides, and she¡¯s with Su Lin. Otherwise, I could have offered her a chance for a marriage alliance.¡± ¡°Marriage alliance, Xiaojie, have you thought this through? Do you want a marriage alliance?¡± Ma Junjie quickly shook his head, ¡°A marriage alliance is out of the question, Uncle. I just mentioned it casually, why did you take it seriously?¡± Ma Zhong said sternly, ¡°Nonsense, your uncle may be old, but I¡¯m still sharp. You clearly mentioned a marriage alliance just now.¡± Ma Junjie: ¡°Alright, Uncle, you win. I¡¯m off to have fun with my darlings, no more arguing with you.¡± Ma Zhong replied irritably, ¡°Take it easy, my young master, you¡¯ll end up killed by a woman someday!¡± ¡°I¡¯d be happy to...¡± Ma Junjie¡¯s voice came from outside. ... ¡°Finally off work, Su Lin, what are we eating tonight?¡± Su Lin stretched his wrists and yawned, ¡°Today, I and Aunt Su made a breakthrough, so we must celebrate. How about we splurge at the Four Seasons Hotel? I¡¯ll call Yanyan and Xiaoyue to join us.¡± ¡°Going out to eat is not as good as cooking at home for us,¡± Lin Xiaowan pouted. Although the food at Four Seasons Hotel was decent, it was nowhere near Su Lin¡¯s cooking. Recently, Su Lin had occasionally cooked for them, and their tastes had become quite refined. Xia Shiyu nodded with a smile, ¡°Yeah, cooking at home is better.¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°Let¡¯s not have me cook this time; there are too many people, and I¡¯d have to prepare too many dishes.¡± Lin Xiaowan put her hands on her hips, irritated, ¡°Are you saying we eat a lot? Su Lin, I and Xiaoyu combined don¡¯t eat as much as you.¡± Xia Shiyu giggled, ¡°Su Lin¡¯s appetite matches three of us.¡± Su Lin responded, ¡°I work hard all day and night, okay? I need to replenish my energy~!¡± He Suxi¡¯s heart disagreed more and more, quickly interrupting, ¡°Enough, enough. Keep your flirting for when you¡¯re at home alone, but there are still others here. Have you forgotten about this old one?¡± Lin Xiaowan quickly hugged He Suxi¡¯s arm and coaxed, ¡°Aunt Su isn¡¯t old at all. You still look as young as a twenty-year-old.¡± He Suxi gave Lin Xiaowan a sideways look, ¡°As young as a young lady, you really dare say it.¡± ¡°Hehe... I¡¯m just telling the truth .¡± Su Lin waved his hand, ¡°That settles it, we¡¯re going to Four Seasons Hotel. I¡¯ll text Ziyu now, and we can start eating soon.¡± The women nodded together. Although Lin Xiaowan wanted to eat food cooked by Su Lin, his point was valid: if there were too many people, he really couldn¡¯t manage alone. If they helped in the kitchen, it would undoubtedly neglect He Suxi, so eating out was indeed the best choice. On her side, Li Ziyu received Su Lin¡¯s message and quickly called the Four Seasons Hotel to arrange a private room. She swiftly finished her work and prepared to join Su Lin and the others for dinner. Just as she was about to leave, her assistant came to report that Jiang Ruoxi had arrived. Jiang Ruoxi stood at the door of Li Ziyu¡¯s office, her heart in turmoil. After leaving the Su Corporation building, she almost slapped herself. But she knew she couldn¡¯t speak directly in front of Su Lin, so she came to try her luck with Li Ziyu, hoping for success. After all, managing her own marriage in such a prominent family was too important, and she didn¡¯t want to give up. Li Ziyu was momentarily stunned, ¡°Ruoxi, what is she doing here at this time? Let her in.¡± ¡°Okay, President Li...¡± Two minutes later, a nervous Jiang Ruoxi entered Li Ziyu¡¯s office. ¡°Ziyu...¡± Hearing Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s coquettish tone, Li Ziyu quickly held up her finger, ¡°Stop! Don¡¯t talk to me in that tone, be normal.¡± Jiang Ruoxi rubbed her face and then sat down in front of Li Ziyu, ¡°Ziyu, promise me, you have to help me this time.¡± Li Ziyu looked at Jiang Ruoxi warily. She knew this woman too well. If it wasn¡¯t something difficult, she would have spoken directly and asked for Li Ziyu¡¯s help. Now, acting out of character by asking her to agree before explaining, it must be a challenging situation. Li Ziyu sat up straight, then said to Jiang Ruoxi, ¡°Ruoxi, first tell me what it is, I¡¯ll see if I can do it. If I can, I don¡¯t mind agreeing.¡± ¡°Ziyu, this is about my lifelong matter, about whether I can control my own marriage, you must help me.¡± ¡°Start with the matter...¡± Li Ziyu remained unmoved. Seeing this, Jiang Ruoxi knew she couldn¡¯t get a prior commitment from Li Ziyu and reluctantly said, ¡°Well... here¡¯s what happened...¡± As Jiang Ruoxi narrated the events, Li Ziyu finally understood why Jiang Ruoxi had come to her. Her brows furrowed. Jiang Ruoxi and her uncle thought it was Su Lin¡¯s master or someone similar who was making a breakthrough, but based on Li Ziyu¡¯s understanding of Su Lin, the person likely to be breaking through was Su Lin himself. Although she was now cultivating and knew the difficulties of cultivation, Su Lin was always one to break the norms. The more she interacted with him, the more she felt Su Lin¡¯s extraordinary nature. Thus, the person wasn¡¯t likely to be Su Lin¡¯s so-called master, but Su Lin himself! Chapter 256 Chapter 256: The Troublesome Jiang Ruoxi Li Ziyu¡¯s brows relaxed when she realized that if it really was Su Lin himself who had made a breakthrough, then she could just talk to him, and he would help if he wanted to. If not, that was fine too. Seeing Li Ziyu deep in thought and not immediately refusing gave Jiang Ruoxi a glimmer of hope. ¡°Ziyu... please help me. It¡¯s really difficult for me. I heard that my family is looking for another arranged marriage for me.¡± Li Ziyu also detested arranged marriages, so she could empathize with Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s troubles. If Jiang Ruoxi had no other opportunity, it would be one thing, but her uncle had just given her a chance, and she was determined to seize it. ¡°Ruoxi, I can mention this to him, but if Su Lin disagrees, then you¡¯ll need to think of another solution.¡± Jiang Ruoxi excitedly got up, ran over to Li Ziyu, and hugged her head, ¡°Ziyu, I love you so much, wuu...¡± Li Ziyu was momentarily enveloped in darkness as Jiang Ruoxi buried her head in her chest. Li Ziyu, somewhat amused, pushed Jiang Ruoxi gently away. ¡°Ruoxi, that tactic won¡¯t work on me, I¡¯m a woman. You might want to save it for Su Lin,¡± Li Ziyu joked. ¡°Eh... Ziyu, what did you just say?¡± Jiang Ruoxi asked, shocked. Li Ziyu realized her slip of the tongue. Why did she bring Su Lin into this? Perhaps it was because of his track record? Thinking of Su Lin¡¯s quirks brought a blush to Li Ziyu¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that. Su Lin invited me to dinner, and you should come with me.¡± ¡°Ah! I¡¯m going too?¡± Jiang Ruoxi hesitated, looking at Li Ziyu. She had just left the Su Corporation building, and now she was going to dinner with Li Ziyu. She felt it wasn¡¯t quite right, mainly because her previous conversation with Su Lin had been embarrassingly foolish. Thinking back, she felt as silly as a pig. Meeting Su Lin again would be so awkward, although he probably wouldn¡¯t mind. Jiang Ruoxi really felt she was unlucky. Why had she acted like that? Now, she truly regretted not going to Li Ziyu right away. If she had, all her problems would have been solved instantly. ¡°Yes, you should definitely come. How else am I supposed to discuss these things with Su Lin? There¡¯s no time like the present, and Su Lin is easy to talk to,¡± Li Ziyu assured her with a smile. She knew Su Lin well. To Jiang Ruoxi and others, some things might seem impossibly difficult, but to Su Lin, they might not matter, especially issues related to cultivation. When the Song family delivered cultivation resources, Su Lin had given them all to his friends, keeping none for himself. Every time Li Ziyu thought about it, she felt compelled to exclaim at his extraordinary nature. ¡°Okay... okay, I¡¯ll go with you. I hope I won¡¯t be intruding on your dinner,¡± Jiang Ruoxi said, still a bit nervous. ¡°You won¡¯t. Just chat normally with everyone there,¡± Li Ziyu reassured her. Nodding, Jiang Ruoxi followed Li Ziyu out of the office. ¡°Ziyu, won¡¯t it be awkward for you to eat with them? Isn¡¯t there a risk of it getting cold or arguments breaking out?¡± Jiang Ruoxi asked, curious. ¡°Argue? Why would we argue? They are all nice people, and I get along well with them,¡± Li Ziyu responded. Only Li Ziyu knew that the women around Su Lin were not ordinary; each had her own pride, and it was unlikely that they would argue. ¡°How is that possible?¡± Jiang Ruoxi was incredulous. She understood women¡¯s natures too well; deep down, everyone wanted a beautiful romance, and with Su Lin having several girlfriends, it seemed impossible for them to get along genuinely. In her view, even if they appeared harmonious, their feelings might not be very positive behind closed doors, as, in a sense, they were rivals. ¡°You don¡¯t know them well, so you might not understand. It¡¯s hard to explain these things clearly,¡± Li Ziyu chuckled. ¡°Oh...¡± Jiang Ruoxi nodded, somewhat comprehending. Li Ziyu sighed inwardly; she had been just as misunderstanding as Jiang Ruoxi once, but now she was one of Su Lin¡¯s girlfriends. The thought struck Li Ziyu unexpectedly. Could Jiang Ruoxi also end up...? Glancing at her friend beside her, she felt it wasn¡¯t impossible. Li Ziyu laughed to herself; since she started following Su Lin, she had pushed these thoughts aside. Even if Jiang Ruoxi became another girlfriend, as long as Su Lin liked her, it was up to him. And she trusted that Su Lin was not frivolous. Driving Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s Ferrari, they arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel ahead of Su Lin and the others. Although they had left earlier, the distance was farther, and it was the peak of rush hour. Li Ziyu scanned around and not seeing Su Lin¡¯s Mercedes, suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go up and wait for them.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Jiang Ruoxi nodded. Just a few minutes after they went upstairs, Su Lin¡¯s Mercedes turned into the driveway. Xia Shiyu immediately spotted the Ferrari parked at the entrance and pointed, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Ruoxi¡¯s car? What is she doing here? Is she also coming?¡± Su Lin shook his head, ¡°I think someone sent me a message; it might have been Ziyu. Xiaoyu, check my phone.¡± Xia Shiyu checked Su Lin¡¯s phone, ¡°It¡¯s a message from Sister Ziyu; she said Sister Ruoxi would also come.¡± ¡°Hmm, I guessed as much...¡± ¡°Su Lin, you guessed?¡± Xia Shiyu was surprised. Su Lin smiled, ¡°Ruoxi came to our company today unexpectedly, surely she had something to ask me but couldn¡¯t say it when she saw me, so she switched to wanting to collaborate. I guessed she would go to Ziyu for help, just didn¡¯t think she¡¯d be so urgent.¡± Lin Xiaowan laughed, ¡°It must be a tricky issue then, Su Lin, you can¡¯t just agree because she¡¯s pretty without asking any questions.¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°Xiaowan, you underestimate me. Am I the kind of guy who loses his way at the sight of a beautiful woman?¡± ¡°Yes...¡± the two women said in unison, then laughed together. Su Lin shook his head; these two were really getting too synchronized. Was his ultimate goal getting closer? Quickly suppressing his excitement, he instructed, ¡°Call Yanyan and Xiaoyue to see where they are.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll call them now.¡± Xia Shiyu dialed Zhao Yanyan, who picked up instantly. It was better to call Zhao Yanyan as Qin Jiuyue might be driving and unable to answer. ¡°Hello... Xiaoyu~!¡± ¡°Yanyan, where are you guys?¡± Xia Shiyu whispered. ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± ¡°Oh, we are already here. Hurry up, okay? Should we wait for you downstairs?¡± ¡°No need, no need. We¡¯ve been to the Four Seasons so many times, we are already familiar with the place.¡± ¡°Hehe... Alright.¡± Chapter 257 Chapter 257: The Big Misunderstanding Just as Su Lin and the others got out of the car, a Porsche entered the hotel from another entrance. The sound of its horn drew their attention. ¡°Is that Yanyan and the others? They arrived so quickly?¡± Lin Xiaowan chuckled, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have called them; they arrived just as we hung up.¡± As they spoke, Qin Jiuyue drove into the driveway. The women also spotted Su Lin and his group. The car stopped at the entrance, and the two women got out. Zhao Yanyan approached Xia Shiyu and exclaimed, ¡°Xiaoyu, I told you we¡¯d be quick, right? How fast was that?¡± Xia Shiyu nodded, ¡°I never said I doubted you.¡± After parking the car, Qin Jiuyue looked around and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the occasion today that we needed to celebrate?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°It¡¯s a big celebration, I¡¯ll tell you about it later.¡± Both Zhao Yanyan and Qin Jiuyue were curious. Su Lin had never used the phrase ¡°big celebration¡± before, making them wonder what could be so special. ¡°Let¡¯s go up, Ziyu and the others are waiting for us upstairs.¡± ¡°Okay~!¡± The group entered the Four Seasons Hotel, where the security and staff, who recognized them by now, greeted them warmly. They were particularly memorable, partly because they often visited with Li Ziyu, and partly because of their striking appearances. Xia Shiyu remarked, ¡°Ziyu really manages things well here, look at the staff¡¯s enthusiasm; our Rainforest company¡¯s employees aren¡¯t this passionate.¡± Zhao Yanyan laughed, ¡°Xiaoyu, I¡¯m surprised you still remember your company. I thought you had forgotten about your own people since joining Su Corporation.¡± Xia Shiyu blushed slightly, ¡°What are you talking about, Yanyan? I¡¯m still the general manager of Rainforest. How could I forget my own company?¡± ¡°Hehe... then you and Xiaowan should visit sometime. The company¡¯s staff think you¡¯ve been overshadowed by us.¡± Lin Xiaowan sighed, ¡°With so much going on at Su Corporation and Su Lin dumping everything on us, how do we have time to go back?¡± Su Lin coughed awkwardly, ¡°Elevator¡¯s here, let¡¯s go up, go up~!!¡± Zhao Yanyan rolled her eyes at him, ¡°All you do is laze around, dumping work on Xiaowan and Xiaoyu, and then you call it making the most of their abilities.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough... Yanyan, what are you talking about? How is that bullying? I write code too, you know,¡± Su Lin said, feigning innocence. ¡°Hmph.¡± A few minutes later, they arrived at the private room booked by Li Ziyu. Opening the door, they saw Li Ziyu and Jiang Ruoxi whispering to each other, with Jiang Ruoxi looking particularly ingratiating. Upon seeing the door open, both stood up. Li Ziyu spoke, ¡°The dishes are all prepared; should I ask them to start serving?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Of course, let¡¯s start. there aren¡¯t many of us who drinks; just eating and chatting will be fine.¡± ¡°Right, I think Su Lin¡¯s right. Let¡¯s eat and talk; it¡¯s rare for us all to be together.¡± ¡°Then good, I¡¯ll go tell them to start serving.¡± Su Lin noticed Jiang Ruoxi looking somewhat out of place and said with a smile, ¡°Ruoxi, why are you standing? Have a seat.¡± ¡°Ah! Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to interrupt your gathering.¡± Lin Xiaowan laughed, ¡°No worries, we¡¯re just eating and talking.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Ruoxi, don¡¯t overthink it.¡± By this point, Jiang Ruoxi was nearly in tears; how could she not overthink? She was aware of the relationships these women had with Su Lin. Unlike them, she wasn¡¯t Su Lin¡¯s girlfriend, which made the situation incredibly awkward. ¡°He Suxi, why don¡¯t you sit next to me?¡± He Su nodded in agreement, ¡°Okay~!!¡± It was then that Jiang Ruoxi noticed He Suxi wearing a men¡¯s-style robe, which did not look out of place on her. What drew Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s attention most was the long sword He Su carried on her back. He Suxi¡¯s ethereal quality, along with her air of being untouched by the mundane world, was truly unforgettable. Jiang Ruoxi thought to herself, ¡°She must be the ¡®Human Immortal¡¯ my uncle talked about.¡± Sensing something, He Suxi looked up at Jiang Ruoxi, who quickly lowered her head. Just one glance made Jiang Ruoxi feel as if He Suxi could see right through her, that penetrating gaze making her heart skip a beat. If He Suxi spoke to her now, Jiang Ruoxi felt she might be too nervous to respond. He Suxi smiled slightly, ¡°Are you the young lady from the Jiang family?¡± Jiang Ruoxi, taken aback by the direct address from a Human Immortal, nodded timidly, ¡°Yes, elder...¡± He Suxi smiled warmly, ¡°Xiaowan and Su Lin call me Aunt Su, you can call me that too.¡± Jiang Ruoxi was thrilled, ¡°Can I really?¡± People of He Suxi¡¯s stature typically dislike strangers trying to claim close relations, as it could lead to misuse of their name. Such grandmasters often had few direct disciples and guarded their reputations carefully, only recognizing true kin. This kind of familiarity was rare. Jiang Ruoxi looked at Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan, her guess seeming more certain. ¡°Of course,¡± He Suxi smiled. After she spoke, she glanced meaningfully at Su Lin, as did Li Ziyu and Lin Xiaowan. Su Lin, puzzled, touched his face, wondering why they looked at him when Aunt Su mentioned family ties. He mentally chuckled, realizing everyone probably thought Jiang Ruoxi was his next romantic conquest. In truth, Su Lin no longer needed to work on gaining anyone¡¯s favor. Despite Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s beauty and her protagonist status, Su Lin had become quite indifferent; the women already by his side were enough. He had explained this many times, but it seemed Lin Xiaowan and Li Ziyu never believed him. Resigned, Su Lin thought, ¡°Let them think what they want; it makes things easier.¡± Caught by Lin Xiaowan¡¯s gaze, Su Lin pointed to the dishes on the table, ¡°Why are you looking at me? I¡¯m not the food, eat.¡± Lin Xiaowan, with a mischievous glint in her eye, teased, ¡°That¡¯s what you get for flirting around.¡± Her voice was soft, but clear enough for everyone, including Jiang Ruoxi, who practiced martial arts, to hear. Jiang Ruoxi suddenly understood why He Suxi was so friendly; she blushed furiously, realizing He Suxi might consider her Su Lin¡¯s girlfriend, or potentially one. Thinking this, Jiang Ruoxi felt her cheeks burning. This was a big misunderstanding. Chapter 258 Chapter 258: Amidst Joyful Banter Jiang Ruoxi looked around and noticed that while the other girls maintained neutral expressions, there was a hint of amusement in their eyes. It was clear they all harbored similar thoughts. She wanted to clarify her relationship with Su Lin, but bringing it up out of the blue might seem suspicious and defensive. Moreover, she was asking He Su for a favor. If she cleared the misunderstanding and He Su took offense, what then? The thought alone overwhelmed Jiang Ruoxi. Meanwhile, Su Lin merely smiled faintly at Lin Xiaowan¡¯s comment and continued to eat heartily. The atmosphere was light and friendly, as if they were long-time friends. Seeing this, Su Lin felt immensely satisfied. This was his ultimate goal, to resolve the issues with Xiao Feiyu completely. ¡°Yanyan, how¡¯s the supermarket expansion going? Any difficulties?¡± Xia Shiyu inquired, showing concern for their chain supermarket. ¡°You finally take interest in the supermarket,¡± Zhao Yanyan replied with relief. ¡°We¡¯ve expanded throughout the three provinces of Jiangnan and are planning to move north and south. However, we¡¯re facing significant resistance.¡± ¡°The Ma family has already started setting up supermarkets in the south. Their speed is rapid, and they face no hurdles in the Pearl River Delta, their stronghold.¡± ¡°The three northern provinces are also a significant barrier. There are many powerful families, and the local customs are fierce. Hundreds of chain supermarkets are engaged in a price war there.¡± ¡°Just hearing about it shows how tough the situation in the north is,¡± Xia Shiyu commented. ¡°Our Quan Le Guo venturing into the north might be suppressed by their joint efforts.¡± Zhao Yanyan shook her head. ¡°They are all fighting individually, and many of these powerful families are at odds. I think if we play our cards right in the north, we might benefit from their chaos.¡± Su Lin nodded in agreement. ¡°Yanyan, your thoughts align with mine. With the north in disarray, now is the perfect time for us to enter. Otherwise, by the time they settle their differences, it might be too late for us.¡± ¡°The only issue is that we haven¡¯t found the right partners yet,¡± Zhao Yanyan frowned. ¡°This isn¡¯t something we can rush,¡± Xia Shiyu said with a smile. ¡°Wait until they are desperately fighting and need an external force to break the deadlock. Then, naturally, they will come to us. We just need to be ready.¡± Su Lin agreed. ¡°Xiaoyu¡¯s right. It¡¯s not wise to enter hastily. It¡¯s much easier to break a deadlock when it¡¯s already in place.¡± ¡°If only you guys were steering the ship,¡± Zhao Yanyan sighed. ¡°Chen Yang is good at management but struggles with market expansion. His capabilities can¡¯t compare to Xiaoyu or Xiaowan.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sell yourself short, Yanyan,¡± Su Lin reassured her. ¡°I think you¡¯re just as capable as Xiaowan and Xiaoyu.¡± As Lin Xiaowan served Su Lin some food, she teased, ¡°You always manage to treat everyone equally, Su Lin!¡± ¡°Cough, cough... Xiaowan, keep some dignity for me in front of everyone,¡± he chuckled. Lin Xiaowan glanced at Jiang Ruoxi, who was nervously stirring her food, and Li Ziyu, who seemed preoccupied with her thoughts. Gently nudging Su Lin, she prompted him to take notice. After Li Ziyu excused herself to the restroom, Su Lin found an opportunity to follow her. When she emerged, she found Su Lin washing his hands. ¡°Su Lin... you came out too.¡± ¡°I was waiting for you,¡± Su Lin said quietly. ¡°Waiting for me?¡± Su Lin nodded. ¡°Ziyu, you barely touched your food and looked worried. Tell me what¡¯s on your mind.¡± ¡°You¡¯re my girlfriend, not alone anymore. Whatever it is, you can tell me, and we¡¯ll figure it out together,¡± Su Lin said, cutting her off. Moved by his earnestness, Li Ziyu decided to confide in him, hoping for a more satisfactory resolution. She revealed that her father and grandfather had been kidnapped. ¡°When did this happen?¡± Su Lin frowned. ¡°I only received the news today.¡± ¡°Have you called the police?¡± Li Ziyu nodded, then added, ¡°I suspect it was orchestrated by Ma Junjie. He¡¯s always been lawless, acting without regard. Few know about my father and grandfather retiring in Yangcheng, which a typical family wouldn¡¯t discover. But if the Ma family is involved, it changes everything.¡± ¡°Yes, and considering no news has come from the police for so long, it¡¯s likely their doing. Their objective is probably the mobile business.¡± ¡°This is a significant profit for us,¡± Li Ziyu sighed. ¡°Just twenty years of operation in Donghai, and then the Li family could dominate the entire Southeast and Jiangnan regions. It¡¯s no wonder the Ma family is desperate.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also heard that many of the Ma family¡¯s factories in the Pearl River Delta have been shut down,¡± Su Lin added. Looking at Li Ziyu, he asked, ¡°You still have feelings for your father and grandfather, right? Do you want to save them?¡± Li Ziyu shook her head. ¡°I have no affection for them, but I can¡¯t let the Ma family bully us this way. Plus, having my father and grandfather under their control gives them the power to manipulate public opinion. It¡¯s a passive situation, so we need to rescue them.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡± ¡°We wait for Ma Junjie to come to us. He wouldn¡¯t have gone to all this trouble just to have a good time. He¡¯ll come to negotiate, but he¡¯s bold to do so knowing I¡¯m aligned with you, which means he must have something up his sleeve.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably Xiao Feiyu,¡± Su Lin chuckled. ¡°Xiao Feiyu?¡± Li Ziyu pondered, then nodded. ¡°That makes sense. Despite being Mo City¡¯s top young master, He isn¡¯t as strong as the Ma family, which is unparalleled in the region, and he¡¯s allied with the ghost doctor. That means they¡¯re at least formidable.¡± ¡°Formidable?¡± Su Lin scoffed. ¡°Ziyu, you really don¡¯t know your man.¡± Li Ziyu giggled, ¡°I know you¡¯re very strong. Extremely strong.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Su Lin grinned. ¡°That¡¯s something Ziyu has experienced firsthand.¡± ¡°Stop it,¡± Li Ziyu playfully punched him, then hurried back to the private room, her steps slightly flustered. Chapter 259 Chapter 259: Su Lin¡¯s Conditions Li Ziyu returned to the private room and saw Jiang Ruoxi looking at her with eager eyes, to which she shook her head slightly. Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s face fell, understanding that things weren¡¯t going to be easy. Her uncle, Jiang Yixian, had told her not to push too hard as these things can¡¯t be rushed. So, she was prepared for rejection. Li Ziyu could tell from Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s expression that she had misunderstood, probably thinking that Su Lin had rejected her request. In reality, Li Ziyu had just thought it took too long to discuss it there, so she planned to bring it up after dinner. She didn¡¯t explain this, seeing Jiang Rouxi¡¯s disheartened look. Soon after, Su Lin returned to the table. The dinner proceeded lively, and as it wrapped up, everyone prepared to leave. Li Ziyu pulled Su Lin aside. Observing Jiang Ruoxi nearby, everyone seemed puzzled. Lin Xiaowan was the first to realize that Jiang Ruoxi must have asked Su Lin for a favor and, too embarrassed to speak directly, approached Li Ziyu for help. Lin Xiaowan suggested, ¡°We¡¯ll wait for you downstairs.¡± Su Lin nodded, watching the others enter the elevator before turning to Li Ziyu and Jiang Ruoxi with a smile. ¡°Ruoxi came to see me today but didn¡¯t speak a word. Now, Ziyu, it¡¯s your turn to tell me, what¡¯s going on?¡± Li ZiYu nodded to Jiang Ruoxi then spoke; ¡°Su Lin things are like this, Ruoxi has a second uncle who is also a peak Grandmaster ......¡± After Li Ziyu finished speaking, she nodded to Jiang Ruoxi, who then stepped forward. ¡°Su Lin, if this request is too much, feel free to refuse. I didn¡¯t have high hopes; I just wanted to try since the opportunity was right there, even if there¡¯s only a one percent chance.¡± Su Lin, observing Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s resolute gaze, fell silent for a moment. Advancing to Human Immortal status isn¡¯t just about reaching the required level of cultivation; otherwise, major families would simply ¡°produce¡± such individuals en masse. He Suxi¡¯s breakthrough was possible only with his guidance. Considering Jiang Yixian might have been stuck at this bottleneck for a decade, Su Lin figured he could probably help. But why should he? He wasn¡¯t close to Jiang Ruoxi; they were barely acquaintances. ¡°Why would I help?¡± he pondered aloud. ¡°What would you offer me in return?¡± Jiang Ruoxi was at a loss for words. Her family in Modu was powerful and wealthy, but Su Lin lacked nothing. With influential in-laws and numerous women, Su Lin didn¡¯t need more wealth or power. Realizing she had nothing substantial to offer, Jiang Ruoxi said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have bothered you, Su Lin.¡± Su Lin dismissed the apology, ¡°You¡¯re Ziyu¡¯s friend, which makes you my friend too. It¡¯s no bother.¡± Jiang Ruoxi sighed, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just not meant to be...¡± Li Ziyu remained silent, not wanting to add any pressure. She was just there to help Jiang Ruoxi communicate her request. ¡°It¡¯s not that we can¡¯t negotiate.¡± ¡°What... what do you mean?¡± Jiang Ruoxi, gripping Su Lin¡¯s arm, asked excitedly. Su Lin nodded, ¡°We can certainly talk. Your uncle is only in his forties, a young and peak Grandmaster¡ªimpressive. It¡¯s best he comes to me directly, as the conditions I¡¯d require might be beyond your scope to agree to.¡± Jubilant, Jiang Ruoxi responded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll call him right away and have him talk to you!¡± Su Lin stopped her, suggesting, ¡°It¡¯s late. Go home first, discuss with your uncle, and have him come to Su Corporation tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Watching Jiang Ruoxi¡¯s elated departure, Li Ziyu felt pleased that her friend might finally control her own marital fate. Yet, she couldn¡¯t help but ask Su Lin, ¡°Is this matter too troublesome? You can refuse if it is.¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all, Ziyu. In fact, I should be thanking you.¡± ¡°Thank me for what?¡± With Jiang Ruoxi still present, Su Lin just smiled mysteriously, not elaborating that he was considering making Jiang Yixian an ally or a potential enforcer¡ªHuman Immortals were not easily found. ¡°Let¡¯s head downstairs; Xiaowan and the others are waiting,¡± Li Ziyu said cheerfully. ¡°Okay!¡± Su Lin shook his head as he watched Jiang Ruoxi nearly dancing with joy, a woman several years his senior yet appearing somewhat nai?ve. Once home, Jiang Yixian immediately approached her. ¡°My dear niece, how did it go?¡± Jiang Ruoxi teased, ¡°Uncle, guess.¡± ¡°Did it... work?¡± he asked excitedly. She shook her head , then paused as he slumped, ¡°So it didn¡¯t?¡± She shook her head again. Frustrated, he demanded, ¡°So, did it work or not?¡± ¡°Take it easy, Uncle. Su Lin said we could talk, but I can¡¯t make the decisions; it has to be with you.¡± Relieved, Jiang Yixian nodded, ¡°Good, good. As long as we can talk.¡± Then he frowned, pondering the implications. ¡°He wants to talk to me personally, not just for wealth or power... What does he want?¡± Realizing Su Lin might want him as an enforcer, Jiang Yixian sighed, facing the potential request to serve as a guest elder for possibly fifty to a hundred years. ¡°What will I do then?¡± Jiang Ruoxi, witnessing her uncle¡¯s change in demeanor, wondered aloud, ¡°Uncle, if Su Lin asks you to become his enforcer, would you agree?¡± Jiang Yixian was silent. If asked ten years ago, he would have refused proudly, but now, after ten years without progress, he wasn¡¯t so sure. ¡°I... don¡¯t know,¡± he admitted. Chapter 260 Chapter 260: Jiang Yixian¡¯s Shock Early the next morning, Jiang Yixian arrived at the Su Corporation building. Standing before the imposing entrance, he hesitated, his mind wrestling with itself. On one hand, he was desperate to break through the bottleneck he had been stuck at for a decade. On the other, he feared Su Lin might demand something excessive, like serving as a guest elder for decades. If it came to that, should he agree or refuse? Eventually, he stepped forward and entered the Su building. His pride was no longer as fierce as it once had been. After checking in at the front desk, he smoothly made his way to Su Lin¡¯s office. Upon seeing Su Lin, Jiang Yixian was momentarily taken aback. Su Lin, lounging lazily in his chair, exuded a dangerously potent aura. Jiang Yixian knew if he were to attack Su Lin, he would be killed instantly. This realization filled him with a sense of absurdity. Could there really be a Grandmaster this powerful? Could he be a Human Immortal? The thought made Jiang Yixian jump internally. When he looked at Su Lin again to confirm his suspicion, Su Lin spoke. ¡°You are Ruoxi¡¯s uncle?¡± Jiang Yixian nodded and sat down as Su Lin gestured towards a chair. The sense of absurdity grew stronger. Even though Su Lin was supposed to be of the same realm, or slightly stronger, there was no feeling of equality between them. ¡°Ruoxi mentioned your request yesterday. I can help you achieve a breakthrough,¡± Su Lin stated plainly. Jiang Yixian, controlling his excitement, replied, ¡°There must be a condition, right?¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s not for free. There are conditions.¡± ¡°Of course, you can state your conditions.¡± Su Lin held up three fingers, ¡°Three years. I can help you with your breakthrough, but you must serve me for three years.¡± Jiang Yixian¡¯s eyes widened. He had braced himself for a much larger demand and was taken aback by the modesty of the request. ¡°Three years, are you sure?¡± ¡°If you wish to serve for thirty years, I wouldn¡¯t object,¡± Su Lin quipped. ¡°Uh... three years it is then. Agreed,¡± Jiang Yixian quickly said, fearing Su Lin might change his mind. Su Lin chuckled, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled.¡± Su Lin didn¡¯t demand a high price because he saw limited use for a Human Immortal like Jiang Yixian after three years. By then, Su Lin might be operating at an even higher level. In three years, Su Lin anticipated he would gather all the Taiyi Divine Needles; then actually start cultivating. Martial art will no longer be his focus by then. He handed a notebook that He Suxi had returned to him to Jiang Yixian, ¡°Your cultivation is sufficient, but your mental state isn¡¯t. You won¡¯t break through immediately just by having this. Take this notebook, study it, and once you fully understand it, come see me. Then, your breakthrough should be no trouble.¡± Jiang Yixian skeptically began reading the notebook, but soon found himself deeply engrossed in the insights of Wang Yannian, a Human Immortal for decades. These were incredibly valuable experiences that seemed cryptic to the uninitiated but resonated deeply with Jiang Yixian. After Su Lin left the office, Lin Xiaowan asked him, ¡°How did it go with Ruoxi¡¯s uncle? You came out first.¡± ¡°Of course, we reached an agreement,¡± Su Lin replied. ¡°You¡¯re really going to help him break through? Could it harm you?¡± Lin Xiaowan asked, worried. She knew how challenging such breakthroughs could be. Su Lin pulled Lin Xiaowan close with a smile and reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s no harm to me. People like Jiang Yixian and Aunt Su, they¡¯ve already reached the necessary level of cultivation; they just lack the right mindset and haven¡¯t found the correct methods yet.¡± Lin Xiaowan nodded with an understanding look, ¡°As long as you¡¯re okay.¡± ¡°Mhm~!¡± After about twenty minutes of affectionate conversation with Lin Xiaowan, the room finally stirred. Jiang Yixian opened the door and stepped out. He looked at Su Lin with an apologetic expression, ¡°Sorry, I was so absorbed by the essentials in the notebook that I instinctively started to verify them.¡± Su Lin waved it off, ¡°Once you¡¯ve finished looking it over, come find me here in Su Corporation.¡± Jiang Yixian nodded, ¡°Alright.¡± He didn¡¯t leave immediately but instead looked slightly puzzled, ¡°Su Lin, you just gave me this notebook. Aren¡¯t you worried that I won¡¯t acknowledge our agreement once I break through?¡± Su Lin chuckled, ¡°No... you won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Uh... do you trust me that much?¡± Jiang Yixian was a bit surprised. He was somewhat moved inside, thinking that even after the three-year period, he would be willing to help Su Lin and his people as a way to repay their kindness, rather than letting such a great favor go unreciprocated. Just as Jiang Yixian was feeling touched, Su Lin suddenly exuded the aura of a Human Immortal with such confidence, ¡°I never worry about whether you¡¯ll keep your word; I only trust myself. If you fail to fulfill our agreement, I¡¯ll come looking for you.¡± Jiang Yixian was taken aback, then felt an overwhelming force hit him, making him feel as if he was about to kneel. Witnessing Su Lin¡¯s formidable presence, he couldn¡¯t help but recognize that Su Lin was indeed a Human Immortal. At eighteen years old! The thought echoed repeatedly in Jiang Yixian¡¯s mind, followed by a deep bitterness. Here he was at forty, still just a Grandmaster, while Su Lin was already a whole realm higher. ¡°How demoralizing,¡± he thought. ¡°I... you... are you a Human Immortal?¡± Su Lin, pulling back his aura, smiled lightly, ¡°Uncle Jiang, if I weren¡¯t, why would you come to me?¡± ¡°Uh...¡± Jiang Yixian, upon hearing Su Lin¡¯s affirmative response, was at a loss for words. Chapter 261 Chapter 261: It¡¯s too late to leave now! As the banquet ended, the heads of some families in Donghai City began to leave, with some staff members remaining in Donghai, like Ma Junjie and Xiao Feiyu, who had not yet achieved their goals. Inside a villa, Ma Zhong sat silently on the sofa after listening to all of Ma Junjie¡¯s arrangements. It took him a while before he stood up and said to Ma Junjie, ¡°Xiaojie, you must leave quickly.¡± ¡°Leave? Uncle Zhong, do you mean I should leave Donghai immediately?¡± Ma Junjie asked in surprise. Ma Zhong nodded. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, we are now under comprehensive surveillance.¡± Ma Junjie suddenly stood up. ¡°How is that possible?¡± Ma Zhong gave a bitter smile. ¡°Xiaojie, this is Donghai, their territory. The Qin and Li families have been entrenched here for many years, and you just had to kidnap two important members of the Li family. Do you think the Li family hasn¡¯t received the news?¡± Ma Junjie scoffed, ¡°So what if they have news? Li Ziyu is just a woman; what can she do to me?¡± ¡°Li Ziyu is indeed just a woman, but don¡¯t forget, there¡¯s also Su Lin.¡± ¡°What about Su Lin? What about a Human Immortal? I¡¯ve already found out that Wang Yannian, along with Zhao Changlin and two other old men, are here in this villa area,¡± Ma Junjie said nonchalantly. Ma Zhong sighed internally. Ma Junjie had been pampered since childhood, rarely facing any setbacks; it seemed he was now bound to suffer a big loss. While Wang Yannian indeed had several Human Immortals, they belonged to another party and were unrelated to them. As for Su Lin, Ma Zhong knew of at least two who had recently broken through, not to mention those who had achieved breakthroughs long ago. It was clear that Bai Qikun had sided with Su Lin, leaving them at a complete disadvantage. Although Ma Zhong was a peak Grandmaster, the gap between him and these Human Immortals was too great; he couldn¡¯t protect Ma Junjie if they decided to act. ¡°You must leave immediately, or it will be too late,¡± he urged loudly. ¡°Why would it be too late? Uncle Zhong, what¡¯s making you so anxious?¡± Seeing that Ma Junjie was not feeling the urgency, Ma Zhong explained patiently, ¡°Listen carefully to what I¡¯m about to say...¡± After hearing Ma Zhong¡¯s words, Ma Junjie¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Uncle Zhong, are you serious?¡± ¡°Could I be joking at a time like this? I suspect that Su Lin and his people are just waiting for you to make a move. The moment you threaten them with Li Ziyu¡¯s father, they¡¯ll act against you.¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t feel any surveillance.¡± ¡°Xiaojie, have you been practicing so hard you¡¯ve become foolish? This villa area is full of surveillance cameras, and the whole of Donghai is under Su Lin¡¯s watch. Anything we do can be tracked easily; do you still think it¡¯s the era of manual surveillance?¡± ¡°Also, Donghai is full of their informants. They don¡¯t need to monitor us deliberately; knowing that we haven¡¯t left Donghai is enough for them.¡± ¡°What are we waiting for? I¡¯m leaving now.¡± Seeing that Ma Junjie finally realized the gravity of the situation, Ma Zhong said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid it might already be too late to leave. They have several Human Immortals, and the people from Bureau 751 have also sided with them. They know our every move.¡± ¡°You should have told me earlier, so I could have made arrangements to get you out sooner.¡± ¡°I thought with Wang Yannian and the others here, I¡¯d be completely safe. I didn¡¯t expect Su Lin¡¯s people to be so powerful.¡± ¡°Indeed, who would have thought that a rich second generation could gather so many Human Immortals? Xiaojie, we¡¯re leaving now. We¡¯ll go out on foot, and you won¡¯t be taking your women. I¡¯ll use my Qinggong to get you to the airport.¡± Ma Junjie looked at Ma Zhong, ¡°What about you, Uncle Zhong?¡± Ma Zhong smiled slightly. ¡°Someone from the Ma family has to stay in Donghai to handle affairs, right? Although I¡¯m old, my skills aren¡¯t wasted yet. I can¡¯t fight them, but I can run.¡± ¡°Alright, no more dawdling. I¡¯ll take you now.¡± Suddenly, Ma Zhong paused, as if he thought of something. ¡°Leaving now will probably be noticed. Can you contact the Xiao family to help cover for us? With their help, we might succeed.¡± Ma Junjie¡¯s expression turned ugly. ¡°Xiao Feiyu is a typical opportunist. If I tell him I need to leave, he might ask for too much in return, and this might even drag the Liu family into this mess. Uncle, you should just take me.¡± ¡°Ah... it seems that¡¯s the best option for now.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time to lose, Uncle, let¡¯s leave now.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± Without even taking the time to pack, Ma Junjie was whisked away by Ma Zhong. As they left the villa, Bai Qikun from the Bureau 751¡¯s Donghai office received the news. In his office, Bai Qikun hung up the phone and shook his head. ¡°They¡¯ve only just realized it; it¡¯s already too late. It looks like Su Lin¡¯s plan to play a long game is ruined. We need to act now.¡± He took out his cell phone to call Su Lin. Twenty minutes later, as Ma Zhong was rushing Ma Junjie to the airport, he suddenly felt an overwhelming presence locking onto him. ¡°One step slow. Xiaojie, I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t escape now.¡± Ma Junjie also felt the pressure as they descended from the sky and looked towards a small break on the outskirts of the airport. A woman in plain clothes with a sword on her back was looking at them indifferently. Her gaze was mild, but the aura she emitted was ferocious. Facing such a presence, Ma Junjie and Ma Zhong had no will to resist, knowing resistance meant death. They didn¡¯t even dare to show a trace of hostility. Ma Zhong was particularly amazed by He Suxin¡¯s youth. She was at least twenty years younger than him but was a level higher in realm. The murderous aura surrounding her body was palpable even from a distance. Ma Junjie asked in fear, ¡°Uncle Zhong, are we going to die here?¡± ¡°I... don¡¯t know.¡± He Suxin rose into the air like floating catkins, moving closer to them in just a couple of steps. Looking down at Ma Junjie and Ma Zhong, she said indifferently, ¡°You two, come with me.¡± ¡°Sen... Senior... we...¡± Before Ma Zhong could muster the courage to finish, He Suxin, without any emotion, interrupted, ¡°If you don¡¯t come with me, you die.¡± Chapter 262 Chapter 262: Su Lin¡¯s Plans, Bai Qikun¡¯s Tests! Watching He Suxin standing above, Ma Junjie felt a soul-deep terror for the first time, the awful sensation of not being in control of his own life and death. But he was powerless, Ma Zhong, despite being a peak Grandmaster, was utterly insignificant in front of He Suxin. His current paralysis and the fear in his eyes said it all. Ma Junjie didn¡¯t want to die; he hadn¡¯t enjoyed life enough yet. Thus, he was the first to break, ¡°Senior, I will go with you.¡± Seeing how quickly Ma Junjie caved, He Suxin slightly nodded without much expression. If Ma Junjie complied, she wouldn¡¯t resort to violence, but if he tried to escape, he would indeed die. As for Li Tiancheng and Li Weifeng, she didn¡¯t care at all. He Suxin saw that both were behaving and nodded, ¡°Follow me, lag behind, and you die.¡± Both trembled and followed He Suxin as she flew towards the bustling district. Meanwhile, at the Xiao family, Xiao Feiyu also received the news of Ma Junjie¡¯s escape attempt. Inside the villa, Xiao Feiyu¡¯s face was gloomy as he fiercely smashed the cup in his hand, ¡°A good-for-nothing who only causes problems. What¡¯s the use of running away now?¡± Wang Yannian agreed with Xiao Feiyu¡¯s sentiment, nodding, ¡°Indeed, Ma Junjie is more trouble than he¡¯s worth. Are you going to continue your cooperation with him?¡± Xiao Feiyu bitterly said, ¡°Continue? How can we continue? No need to guess, Ma Junjie must have fallen into Su Lin¡¯s hands by now. We shouldn¡¯t meddle in his affairs; without absolute strength, we must not mess with Su Lin, or it¡¯s suicide.¡± ¡°Old Wang, how are the marriage talks with Liu Shiwen going?¡± Wang Yannian saw how quickly Xiao Feiyu was willing to abandon Ma Junjie and responded routinely, knowing Xiao Feiyu well over their long association. This man wasn¡¯t as brainless as the outside world thought, willing to do anything for Jiang Ruoxi. He¡¯s a thoroughly unprincipled schemer, having learned his lesson after suffering losses to Su Lin. Ma Junjie was incompetent, and Xiao Feiyu had no choice but to cut him loose, or else he was doomed. ¡°The Liu family has loosened up, but they still say that Liu Shiwen must agree personally. So, Xiao Yu, you¡¯ll have to personally visit.¡± Xiao Feiyu wasn¡¯t surprised by Wang Yannian¡¯s report. If Wang had been able to settle things, they would¡¯ve met the parents by now, not just Liu Bowen and Liu Shiwen. Thinking of Liu Shiwen¡¯s attitude towards him gave Xiao Feiyu a headache. She wasn¡¯t a fool and could see right through Xiao Feiyu¡¯s intentions to climb socially by dragging her family into his schemes, which she found utterly repulsive. Xiao Feiyu nodded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go myself.¡± He knew Liu Shiwen¡¯s nature well; a very kind-hearted girl who adored flowers, cats, and dogs. But she also had the pride and haughtiness typical of a family heiress, making her hard to approach. Nevertheless, for his survival, Xiao Feiyu felt a little scheming was acceptable. ¡°Old Wang, I¡¯m going to the pet market.¡± ¡°The pet market? What for?¡± Wang Yannian asked curiously. Xiao Feiyu smiled, ¡°Of course, to woo my future wife.¡± Wang Yannian looked at Xiao Feiyu, somewhat surprised by his lack of principles, and decided to get the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill recipe from him as soon as possible and then make his escape. ¡°Alright, go ahead. Are we really giving up on Ma Junjie?¡± Xiao Feiyu grimly said, ¡°Old Wang, by now Ma Junjie is definitely under Su Lin¡¯s control. Su Lin is prepared, they have several Human Immortals, and if we intervene, it might escalate to a decisive battle, which I¡¯m not confident about.¡± Wang Yannian was silent. He was well aware of Su Lin¡¯s strength; Su Lin¡¯s breakthrough into the realm of Human Immortals had exponentially increased his power, turning him into a complete anomaly. If it weren¡¯t for the Seven Revolutions Resurrection Pill, he really wouldn¡¯t want to oppose Su Lin. At the pet market, Xiao Feiyu picked up a very docile Chihuahua and a purebred Ragdoll cat, spending tens of thousands on them. Holding the adorable pets, he chuckled softly, ¡°To survive, I indeed can do anything.¡± Back at the Bureau 751¡¯s Donghai office, Su Lin and Bai Qikun were chatting in the office. Bai Qikun looked at Su Lin and said, ¡°To think you¡¯d keep them here, you really came up with that idea?¡± Su Lin laughed, ¡°Old Bai, don¡¯t forget what the 751 Bureau is for. You specialize in dealing with cultivators. Now that Ziyu¡¯s father and grandfather have been kidnapped by cultivators, isn¡¯t this something for the 751 Bureau to handle?¡± Bai Qikun was taken aback, then realized Su Lin was right, this indeed fell under their jurisdiction. ¡°It¡¯s actually supposed to be handled by the Yangcheng office, but I¡¯m the director and have the right to intervene.¡± Seeing Bai Qikun¡¯s reaction, Su Lin knew he had misconstrued and chuckled, ¡°Old Bai, you don¡¯t think I¡¯m planning to go to war with Ma Junjie, do you?¡± Bai Qikun sighed, ¡°I just thought with your personality you wouldn¡¯t let the officials get involved. Now you want me to step in and pressure Yangcheng to release them.¡± Having already allied with Su Lin, Bai Qikun subconsciously thought Su Lin would handle it himself. After hearing Su Lin, he was surprised to realize that delegating this to the 751 Bureau was the most appropriate. Su Lin nodded, ¡°Old Bai, I don¡¯t want to start a war with the Ma family yet. They might be a commercial family, but they are rich, and if they decided to hire bounty hunters, would I ever get any rest? So after much consideration, you handling this is most appropriate.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take care of it. Where are Ma Junjie and the others now?¡± Su Lin smiled, ¡°Aunt Su should be bringing them here by now.¡± Bai Qikun sighed lightly, ¡°I know He Suxin somewhat; I am quite surprised she managed a breakthrough at this time.¡± He then looked at Su Lin, ¡°Su Lin, tell me honestly, do you have a way to make a Grandmaster breakthrough?¡± Facing Bai Qikun¡¯s probing, Su Lin firmly denied, ¡°How could that be possible? If I had such ability, I would mass-produce Human Immortals and then start a massacre.¡± Bai Qikun frowned, ¡°A massacre, in a harmonious society.¡± ¡°Yes, yes... harmonious, a harmonious society.¡± Chapter 263 Chapter 263 : Leave professional matters to the professionals. After arriving in the bustling district, Ma Junjie, Ma Zhong, and He Suxin abandoned flying and walked the streets instead. Although He Suxin was merely walking, her pace was not slow. It seemed almost magical; she moved at a pace that seemed leisurely but was almost as fast as those riding bicycles. Ma Junjie, being a Grandmaster built up through medication, had been holding his breath to keep up with He Suxin and now that they were walking, he finally let it out, gasping for air. ¡°Huff, huff! Uncle Zhong, where is Senior taking us?¡± Ma Junjie asked weakly, both his body and mind suffering. He thought it might have been better for He Suxin to just kill him with a sword than to keep him in such suspense. Ma Zhong shook his head at Ma Junjie, signaling him not to talk. With a sigh, Ma Junjie continued following He Suxin. Minutes later, the three arrived at the entrance of the Bureau 751¡¯s office. Seeing the numbers ¡®751¡¯, Ma Junjie¡¯s complexion grew even grimmer: ¡°They are taking us to Bureau 751, to see the authorities.¡± If Su Lin had taken them to a private place, Ma Junjie might not have been so visibly upset because as long as Su Lin didn¡¯t kill him, it implied he had some plans for him, and his life would mostly be safe. However, handing them over to the authorities changed everything, especially since this was Donghai, not Yangcheng. In Yangcheng, going to the authorities with Su Lin was like coming home, but in Donghai, it meant it would be hard to get out. Ma Zhong, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t surprised by Su Lin¡¯s actions. Donghai was still a place full of mixed influences. Although many had left, it also attracted more opportunists¡ªsome looking for chances, others laying out their strategies early. Hence, Donghai was a hub of undercurrents. So at this time, every move someone like Su Lin made was monitored. Just one inappropriate act would be exploited by those looking to gain from the chaos, especially by those families who hadn¡¯t managed to secure any benefits this time. Thus, Su Lin needed to be extremely cautious now, and handing them over to the authorities was the best move. It could force the Ma family to release hostages and also punish Ma Junjie. If Su Lin wanted, he could even manipulate events to lead to Ma Junjie¡¯s demise inside the institution. ¡°Xiaojie, I guess we have to accept our fate this time. Fortunately, your Uncle Zhong is here. If they really handle this by the book, let¡¯s push the blame onto me,¡± Ma Zhong said with a resigned expression. Ma Junjie was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed. ¡°Uncle Zhong, thank you. I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± Hearing this, Ma Zhong felt a chill. Although he had voluntarily offered to take the blame, Ma Junjie had agreed too readily. Ma Junjie, the heir being groomed by the Ma family, had turned out to be such a character after so many years of nurturing. Compared to the young talents he had seen recently, Ma Junjie had no real merits aside from racing cars, playing with women, and stirring up trouble. As for dealing with Su Lin, he had been stubborn and did not consult with him in advance, only notifying him when the trouble was already at their doorstep. If they had discussed earlier, they wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this situation. Ma Zhong numbly nodded. He Suxin led Ma Junjie and Ma Zhong straight to the office where Su Lin and Bai Qikun were located. She said to Su Lin, ¡°I¡¯ve brought the people, the rest is up to you.¡± Su Lin stood up, ¡°Thank you, Aunt Su, for making this trip.¡± He Suxin smiled slightly, ¡°I was free anyway; running an errand for you is fine.¡± Bai Qikun looked at He Suxin and sighed, ¡°He Suxi girl, you¡¯ve become more ethereal over the years. You¡¯re nearly catching up to this old man in terms of level.¡± He Suxin glanced at Su Lin, then said, ¡°If Old Bai could set aside national affairs, his level would naturally progress rapidly.¡± Bai Qikun chuckled bitterly, ¡°Setting aside national affairs is easier said than done. With all the families big and small across the country, and the multitude of martial artists, incidents of martial artists causing injuries occur daily.¡± ¡°How could I possibly step away? Just now, Xiaolin aid there was an issue, and here I am, waiting since early morning.¡± Hearing this, Ma Zhong and Ma Junjie lowered their heads even further. Ma Junjie might not have felt it, but Ma Zhong truly felt the oppressive presence of the three individuals. What shocked him was that all three were Human Immortals. When had Human Immortals become as common as cabbages, appearing in groups? The small city of Donghai already had so many. Su Lin turned to Bai Qikun, ¡°Old Bai, I leave these two to you. As for Ziyu¡¯s grandfather and father, please help get them out.¡± Bai Qikun grinned, ¡°Getting them out is possible, but where will you put them afterward?¡± Su Lin thought for a moment, ¡°Zhongjiang, after all, that¡¯s my stronghold.¡± Ma Junjie suddenly looked towards Su Lin, ¡°Su Lin, you can kill or flay me, just don¡¯t hand me over to the authorities.¡± Su Lin didn¡¯t expect that at this time, Ma Junjie would still dare to negotiate under pressure. He laughed, ¡°Ma Junjie, you¡¯ve committed a crime, I called the police, which is perfectly reasonable. Your family has dominated the entire south; I think they¡¯ll find it quite easy to bail you out, though it might take a bit more effort.¡± Bai Qikun immediately laughed, ¡°Xiaolin, are you belittling my 751 Bureau? Even if he were the head of the Liu family, as long as the evidence is solid, I can still have him prosecuted.¡± Su Lin looked at Bai Qikun surprisingly; his serious demeanor didn¡¯t seem like he was bluffing. Su Lin felt a chill, thinking that after all, it was an official institution. If there were only Bai Qikun sitting in power, things would have been a mess long ago. But he hadn¡¯t heard of other big shots, and for a moment, he was a bit confused. Bai Qikun, seeing Su Lin¡¯s puzzled look, smiled and said, ¡°Leave it to me, and give me a week for the people you want.¡± Su Lin nodded, ¡°Old Bai, then I await your good news.¡± ¡°Heh, you sure know how to delegate, asking your Aunt Su to pick people up and me to rescue people. You just sit back and enjoy fishing,¡± Bai Qikun joked with a smile. Su Lin just smiled and didn¡¯t reply, but turned to He Suxin, ¡°Aunt Su, let¡¯s go, there¡¯s nothing for us here.¡± He Suxin nodded slightly, then followed Su Lin out. Watching He Suxin follow Su Lin out, Bai Qikun¡¯s gaze deepened, ¡°The He Suxi girl is truly an enigma, truly enigmatic. Indeed, there aren¡¯t many in all of Xia country who could reach her level at such a young age. It would be strange if she were easy to understand.¡±