Hearing the hotel manager’s words, Chen Lin was utterly dumbfounded. “You’re scamming me! It’s just some broken wood.”
“Sir, this is all top-grade old sandalwood, plus the labor costs. We didn’t overcharge you!” the hotel manager stated flatly.
Chen Lin gnashed his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. He felt immense humiliation.
He was very wealthy, but all that money was in his organization’s accounts. There was no way he could transfer it out instantly. He only had a few ten thousand in pocket money on him.
Helplessly, Chen Lin looked at the grim-faced Fan Ning’er.
Fan Ning’er felt as miserable as if she’d swallowed shit.
What the hell? I didn’t call you here! You came on your own, and you wrecked their stuff.
You acted cool and then expected to just leave, feeling great? But I still have to clean up your mess?
She now truly regretted her brain fritz, blindly following Chen Lin off the stage.
But then she saw Chen Lin’s embarrassed look, and her heart ached too. He was still her first love, the man she’d been longing for day and night just ten minutes ago.
Gritting her teeth, she said, “I will pay for his damages. I’ll transfer the money to your account when I get back!”
Bai Jinghong pretended to be carefree. “I lifted my heart to the bright moon, but the moon shone on the ditch. The falling flower yearns to follow the flowing stream, but your heart is set, so I shall rest!”
“From now on, we part ways, each seeking their own happiness. This farce should end here.”
“I declare that I, Bai Jinghong, am calling off my engagement to Fan Ning’er. Let me bear the name of the fickle man.”
Saying this, he looked at the crowd. “Everyone, you’ve had your fill of jokes for today!”
“I, Bai, invite you all to my family’s Hibiscus Club. All free for the whole day!”
“Awesome! Young Master Bai rules!”
As he left, Bai Jinghong glanced at Chen Lin. The latter’s fists were clenched so tight his knuckles cracked, his eyes filled with killing intent.
In less than ten minutes, the dream lover he had yearned for all these years, the wife destined for him by the script, had become second-hand goods? A woman someone else had annulled an engagement with?
As for Fan Ning’er, seeing Bai Jinghong’s resolute gaze, she felt a strange, inexplicable pain in her heart.
Especially when she saw Bai Jinghong toss his expensive suit jacket onto the ground and step on the corsage with the word “Groom” on it, she felt like she could barely breathe.
Leaving the wedding hall and getting into the car.
Bai Jinghong rubbed his forehead.
The System’s voice suddenly sounded.
[Ding! Host has successfully slapped the protagonist’s face, causing him to feel humiliation. Reward: Copy Ring x1.]
[The Copy Ring can copy any talent the Host comes into contact with. Distributing reward!]
Visible to the naked eye, a strange ring appeared on Bai Jinghong’s left index finger.
“A Copy Ring? Now THAT’S what a proper System does.”
“Any System that doesn’t just randomly try to eliminate its host is a good system. Otherwise, it can piss off.”
If he wore this Copy Ring to find some martial arts masters and copy their abilities, wouldn’t he be able to handle Chen Lin then?
This plot point had been narrowly avoided. He had finally managed to muddle through.
This gave him time to develop. Then, protagonists and the like were all just weaklings.
So what if he’s a War God? A powerful dragon can’t crush a local snake. This was his territory after all.
Just as he was about to go and relax, a phone call came in.
It was from Bai Jinghong’s old man.
The moment he answered, the other party’s voice was dripping with sarcasm:
“My good son, you’re so amazing. You’re so noble. You got married, and I, as your father, didn’t even know? Care to explain?”
Bai Jinghong had expected this, so he simply grinned sheepishly. “Dad, when you reach my age, you’ll understand!”
The other end was clearly stunned, then immediately erupted into curses: “This is absolutely ‘ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous’! Get back home, immediately!”
With that, the other party slammed the phone down hard.
Hearing the sound of the phone being smashed on the other end, Bai Jinghong gave a wry smile.
“Forget it. Can’t be bothered with annoying stuff. What’s the point of being a rich young master if I don’t indulge in luxury and debauchery?”
“Drive. To Hibiscus Club.”
“Yes, Young Master!” The driver responded, then asked, “Young Master, that trouble-maker earlier, do you need me to investigate his identity?”
“No need!” Bai Jinghong shook his head.
He knew Chen Lin all too well.
The coddled biological son of the damn author!
Summing him up in a few words:
Hidden Dragon Returns, handsome and dashing. Ancient Martial Arts Master, domineering and peerless. Astonishing Luck, charm without limit. Vanguard in the winds of romance, Zhao Zilong among the peonies. All beauties love him, other men are just trash!
…
As time passed, every word and deed of that top-tier rich young master spread through all the upper-class families of Dragon Sea.
Good news never leaves home, but bad news travels a thousand miles. This was true for Bai Jinghong, and it was just as true for the Fan family!
All sorts of versions emerged and circulated: “Fan Ning’er’s private life was questionable, dumped by Young Master Bai!”
“Love for a short while, let go for a lifetime. Young Master Bai tearfully let her go for her happiness. He’s the ultimate good man.”
“A nobody crashes Young Master Bai’s wedding. Takes what he can and runs.”
“…”
While Bai Jinghong continued to party and dance at the Hibiscus Club, loudly declaring he could take on ten at once…
The Fan Corporation’s stock price plummeted like a waterfall!
At this moment, inside the Fan Family Villa, the core members of the Fan family were gathered.
And they discussed only one topic: Bai Jinghong!
Naturally, Fan Ning’er was also present.
Behind her, acting like her “bodyguard,” stood Chen Lin.
He stood proudly, his eyes full of contempt for the Fan family.
Such a small matter, and they panicked like this. Truly pathetic.
The discussions grew increasingly intense.
“You unfilial daughter! What exactly is so bad about Young Master Bai that you have to act like this?” Her father, Fan Xiangming, was beside himself with rage.
“Cousin, I think you should just apologize to Young Master Bai. All these years, Young Master Bai has done so much for you.” “He handled your affairs, paved your path. Without him, our Fan family wouldn’t have risen so quickly!”
Fan Hao’s face was full of helplessness. He couldn’t understand what crap his cousin’s brain was filled with.
Clearly about to achieve a perfect union, yet she had to entangle herself with that idiotic Soldier Ruffian.
The Fan Family’s Eldest Uncle also nodded. “Yes, Ning’er. We cannot be ungrateful. If not for Young Master Bai back then, the Fan Corporation wouldn’t have survived until now!”
“He’s simply a wonderful match. Why must you do this?”
Although the Fan family members were arrogant, they were not stupid.
They knew that at a time like this, they could only persuade. Persuade Fan Ning’er to back down, to go and admit her mistake to Bai Jinghong.
If they forced her too hard and she decided she’d rather die than comply, then there would truly be no room left for anything.
The current situation was entirely “the same hands that made the Fan family could break it.”
Discussions buzzed everywhere. Everyone’s gaze shifted to Fan Ning’er, who sat with her head bowed, silent.
At this moment, Fan Ning’er’s heart was also unbearably distressed.
Fan Ning’er was exceedingly smart. How could she not see that they were speaking softly to persuade her?
But the annulment was Bai Jinghong’s doing, not hers!
She was very innocent too, okay?
As the saying goes, what’s lost is always the best.
Now, recalling Bai Jinghong, he didn’t seem quite as unbearable as she had imagined.
From the past to the present, she had only ever found Bai Jinghong extremely annoying. Plus, with her heart belonging to another and still thinking of Chen Lin, she had naturally felt nothing.
But now, this situation made her understand something.
That something was: the Fan Corporation had risen rapidly and secured endless contracts solely because of Bai Jinghong.
Without him, the current Fan family was the real Fan family.
Seeing the Fan family members singing different tunes—some playing good cop, some bad cop—Chen Lin felt displeased and spoke up:
“Everyone, I don’t really have the right to interfere in your family’s affairs!”
“But, forcing a woman to give up her lifelong happiness for the sake of the family’s future seems a bit inappropriate to me, don’t you think?”
“Moreover, she is my woman. Did any of you even ask for my opinion?”
Chen Lin stepped forward, his posture like a sovereign surveying his kingdom, blocking in front of Fan Ning’er.
The corner of his mouth hooked into a smirk, which grew wider and wider, making him feel—so damn cool.
Everyone was attacking Fan Ning’er together. Only by stepping forward to defend her now could he make Fan Ning’er see clearly that he, Chen Lin, was the only one truly thinking of her.
Chen Lin could already picture the look of affection and gratitude in Fan Ning’er’s eyes when she looked at him.
When this was all over, he’d drop the line: “For you, what’s fighting against the world?”
Wouldn’t that just move her to death? Heh heh!
Who knew…
“Slap!”
A shoe flew directly at Chen Lin’s head, hitting him while he was still lost in his fantasy.
“Our family’s business, does it need an outsider like you to chatter about? Who taught you such manners?”
“If not for you stirring up trouble, how would we be facing this predicament? Get lost!”
The one who threw the shoe was Fan Hao, his face full of fury.
“You… do you realize the consequences of this?”
Chen Lin was somewhat angered. A fierce glint erupted in his eyes. He looked at Fan Hao as if looking at a dead man.
“Consequences? Consequences my ass! Do you think just because you dated my cousin long ago, you’re part of the Fan family now?”
“Your mouth says you’re not qualified to interfere, but you still stick your damn beak in. Get lost now, before I have someone drag you out!”
Fan Hao’s temper had flared up. What the hell time was it, and this guy was still here with his crooked mouth, chattering nonsense? He really wanted to beat him to death.
“Ning’er, just now, for your sake, we didn’t say much to him. Now, you should tell him to leave!”
The other elders were also starting to get angry.
They were trying to convince Fan Ning’er, and this idiot jumped out to muddy the waters again.
They had to realize: right now, any word could change Fan Ning’er’s mind.
Chen Lin was full of confidence. He was sure Fan Ning’er would absolutely be on his side.
He was the only one present who was considering her feelings!
But… no!
Fan Ning’er’s delicate brows furrowed. She glanced at Chen Lin. “Chen Lin, please go outside for a moment.”
Chen Lin was dumbstruck.
But he quickly figured it out.
Makes sense. He was hiding his true strength. Right now, they had no idea that solving these problems was just a matter of words for him.
If they knew he was Hades of the Western Hell Organization, they’d have to respect him with utter reverence.
He walked out of the villa slowly. Before leaving, he turned his head and swept his gaze over everyone.
Then, he pulled out his phone and dialed an overseas number.
Soon, a respectful voice came through the phone.
“Hades, what are your orders!”
“Fierce Ghost!” Chen Lin said slowly. “Look into something. If the Dragon Sea Fan Corporation is to return to normal operations, how much capital is needed?”
Chen Lin was the head of the Hell Organization, and Fierce Ghost was one of his subordinates.
“Understood, Hades. One moment!”
About two minutes later, the other party replied: “Reporting to Hades, one billion will suffice.”
“Good. Transfer one billion from the Hell Organization funds into my account!”
“Hades, should I discuss this with the Death God first? If that side asks about it…”
“Shut up! I am Hades! The Death God is on the same level as me, his authority does not exceed mine. Are you taking orders from him instead of me?”
“I wouldn’t dare!”
“Within one day, I want to receive one billion!”
With that, Chen Lin hung up the phone.
Meanwhile, the discussion inside the villa grew more and more heated.
Chen Lin lit a cigarette, held at the corner of his mouth with its Nike-swoosh-like tilt:
“Fan family, you will eventually learn. I, Chen Lin, am the ideal son-in-law for you!”
“Only by letting me marry Fan Ning’er can your Fan family have a chance to become the number one family in Dragon Sea, and even all of Huaxia!”
As he spoke, Chen Lin’s mind couldn’t help but drift back to his fantasy: the scene of him single-handedly pulling the Fan Corporation out of its predicament!
Imagining Fan Ning’er looking at him with eyes full of love.
The Fan family bowing to him respectfully.
Then, he’d deliver the line: “Ning’er, I don’t blame them for their previous rudeness.”
“I’d rather the world wrong me than me wrong the world!”
Such magnanimity!
Wouldn’t that move her to death?
Maybe he could even have her that very night.
