MY WIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL CEO

Chapter 441 - Chapter 450

Chapter 441 - I Haven't Done Anything Before

 

When he came to the headquarters of Yu Lei, Yang Chen noticed that all the parking lots were no longer vacant, filled to the brim in fact.

Since Yu Lei was in a tough situation, most employees willingly came to work during the weekend, whether they could contribute or not.

The employment benefits given by Yu Lei were much better than that offered outside, and a lot of the people working there had their own agenda to meet. No one was going to lose their cash cow.

Yang Chen suddenly realized that by doing what he did, he didn't just help his wife Lin Ruoxi, but indirectly helped the employees under Yu Lei and their families as well. Unknowingly, he had contributed to the salvation of countless people.

Unfortunately, Yang Chen was well-aware that heaven and hell didn't exist in this world, otherwise he would be able to at least save himself for a few levels in hell.

Lin Ruoxi's car wasn't parked at her usual spot reserved for her. Yang Chen guessed that she had gone to Athena Team's base. That place was the core of this mission after all. As long as they could win the battle at the American Nasdaq stock market, not only would their survival be guaranteed, they stand to make a large amount of money in the process.

Walking into the building, Yang Chen passed by a lot of nervous-looking white-collar workers. Each of them looked serious and tired, but no one dared to relax at such a moment.

Lin Ruoxi didn't make the announcement that she'd managed to obtain enough funds. She wanted to gain an unexpected victory. But unfortunately for these workers, who thought the company was still on the edge of its collapse, had to suffer.

Yang Chen used the elevator and came to the floor where the finance department was located. It was incredibly quiet, and almost everyone was inside their office working. He walked down the expansive hallway, feeling a little lonely.

However, when Yang Chen took his first turn, he heard a familiar voice coming from the emergency exit near a staircase.

"Vice President Li, please don't do this... What if someone passes by..."

"What's there to fear? Everyone's busy now. Look at how exhausted you are, you even got thinner..."

"Mmh... Vice President Li... it's not good that we're doing this..."

"Yue'er, don't you like me?"

"No... Ah...."

Yang Chen stood outside the door and didn't know what he was supposed to feel. Li Minghe, the newly appointed vice president of Yu Lei, had something to do with the masculine, airport-like Wu Yue, Lin Ruoxi's assistant. But Li Minghe had a strange taste indeed. Why would he fall for Wu Yue, out of all people, who had nothing to offer?

[TL note: It is common to describe flat women as airports in China because of the nature of a runway.]

However, secretly listening in on other people's love making session wasn't right. Yang Chen wasn't interested toward stuff like this, thus he continued walking to Mo Qianni's office.

After Yang Chen left s, Wu Yue whose face had reddened walked out from the emergency exit with her messy hair and shirt. She looked left and right before complaining to Li Minghe, "It's all because of you. It was so risky. Why do I feel like I heard someone passing by just now?"

"What's there to be afraid about? I want everyone in the company to know," Li Minghe said excitedly.

Wu Yue felt her vision blur. If he really wanted everyone in the company to know, why would he still look for such a place to make love at?

On the other hand, Yang Chen leisurely walked past the finance department and asked a female employee, "Is Department Head Mo in her office?"

The worker looked at Yang Chen in caution. Pushing her sunglasses, she asked, "Do you have an appointment? Which department are you from?"

Before Yang Chen answered, a male employee walked by. He was one of the people who had attended the evening karaoke party with Yang Chen and Mo Qianni.

"What's wrong with you? He is Director Yang from the new subsidiary company. Why would he ever need to explain to you out of all people why he needs to meet a department head?" he asked. He was a rather clever guy, as he could tell that there was something between Yang Chen and Mo Qianni.

Yang Chen gave him the look of approval, and caused the fellow to feel excited as he thought he had the chance to get promoted. Hurriedly, he said, "Director Yang, Department Head is inside her office, but she doesn't seem to be in a good mood ever since the occurrence. Please be careful."

Yang Chen didn't know that Mo Qianni applied this much pressure to her subordinates. He couldn't help but find it funny that she behaved this way in the company. However, when he thought of how Mo Qianni frightened him when he first entered the company, everything started to make sense.

Walking to the office of the department head, Yang Chen knocked the door a couple times, but received no response. He felt rather weird about it. Since there was no one around, he opened the door and walked inside.

Upon walking into the office, Yang Chen saw a woman with an excellent figure who had her high heels removed lying in a slanted position on the real-leather sofa. A thin blanket covered her body, while her hair covered half of her delicate face.

Mo Qianni seemed to be in deep sleep, and wasn't awakened after Yang Chen entered the room. She breathed uniformly, but her brows were furrowed together, as if she was still in deep worry.

Yang Chen locked the door from inside the room before slowly walking toward the sofa. He then sat beside Mo Qianni's feet as he looked at the tired woman who was resting.

Since Yu Lei was attacked at night and Mo Qianni was the earliest to get the news, she started gathering the executives, organizing meetings, raising funds, making contacts, delegating tasks, etc. She had been busy since yesterday night, and even attended a bidding this morning for negotiations. When she returned to the company in the afternoon, she didn't even have time to sit and have a drink much less a meal. It was no wonder that she was as burnt out as she was.

If Yang Chen was right, she only planned to sleep for a short while before making preparations for her work at night. However, she overslept and even failed to notice someone had entered her office.

Yang Chen couldn't help but rub Mo Qianni's firm and fair calves while sympathy filled his eyes.

It was usually said that men who were hard at work were most attractive, but who said that it wasn't the case for women as well?

Mo Qianni appeared to have felt that something was touching her. She woke up from her dream and blurrily opened her eyes while pouting her mouth and rubbing her eyes.

Her alluring expression made Yang Chen feel the jealousy he would have felt, had this been another person.

Seeing that the man was Yang Chen, Mo Qianni suppressed her initial intention to scream. She blushed when she realized she had overslept. Softly, she asked, "Why are you here? You didn't tell me you were coming."

"I knocked but you didn't answer," Yang Chen said.

"Let go." Mo Qianni rolled her eyes.

"What?"

"Stop acting like your hands are not here." Mo Qianni pouted her mouth.

It wasn't known when Yang Chen had started holding Mo Qianni's feet together. He enjoyed rubbing the bottom of her meaty feet.

"We've been together for a long time now, I'm massaging my Little Qianqian," Yang Chen said as he chuckled.

Softly, Mo Qianni stammered, "I... I haven't taken a shower for more than a day already... They... they smell..."

"No they don't." Yang Chen lifted her feet before sniffing them. Grinning, he said, "They still smell really good."

Mo Qianni's face instantly flushed while she nervously turned to look at the door. Should the man really do something reckless, what if I'm seen by someone else? she thought.

"Don't worry." Yang Chen patted Mo Qianni's foot. "I locked the door when I came in."

"You... I'm starting to worry for you. Is this possibly the legendary foot fetish?" Mo Qianni complained before forcefully withdrawing her feet as she refused to let Yang Chen touch them.

Yang Chen closed his mouth pouting like a kid as feeling dissatisfied. "When one loves a house, even the bird living in it has to be loved as well. Since I like you, of course I have to like your feet as well."

"Nonsense," Mo Qianni murmured, but felt delighted at his owrds. She knew that Yang Chen was trying to cheer her up.

She suddenly recalled something while a light whirled in her elegant eyes. She acted really lazy like she just woke up. Softly, she murmured, "Hubby... I want you to help me put on my shoes..."

"Eh?" Yang Chen doubted her hearing. Doesn't this mean she's allowing me to touch her feet? he thought.

"I want you to put on my shoes for me..." Mo Qianni pouted before saying, "Rose told me that Ruoxi saw you putting on shoes for her. I don't want Ruoxi to see this, but I want you to put on my shoes for me... Humph! Are you biased? I want what Rose had."

Yang Chen didn't understand what wearing shoes for someone could possibly represent. However, he only came over today because he wanted to cheer her up. Thus, he decided to obey her.

However, when Yang Chen lifted one of Mo Qianni's high heels and slowly slipped it onto her foot, he suddenly felt something strange...

He realized that it was no different than the bridegroom putting on a ring for the bride during a wedding. Yang Chen suddenly realized he was like using his own hands to tightly tie her up.

She was telling him that... she belonged to him.

Yang Chen raised his head to look at Mo Qianni, while she was also staring at him. Their gazes met, before both of them started smiling in a foolish manner.

After her high heels were put on, Mo Qianni gracefully stood up and simply pinned her hair up using a hairpin before kissing Yang Chen on his cheek as an encouragement.

"Are you trying to drive away me?" Yang Chen felt rather regretful. It was so romantic a moment ago, and he thought Mo Qianni would thoughtfully play some 'office games' with him.

Mo Qianni was aware of why he came. Smiling, she said, "I still have a lot of things to deal with. You may look for your other lover Mingyu. I'm glad enough that you thought of me, I don't ask for much."

You don't ask for much, but I have my own needs! Yang Chen thought.

However, Liu Mingyu had talked about bringing him to meet her parents one day, and he hadn't asked her about the situation yet. Coincidentally, he could go over today and at the same time try to get some on the side.

He was currently a man with a wife and four lovers. Except An Xin, he had a very low chance to get comfortable with his women.

Before Yang Chen walked out of the office, there was a knock at the door.

Nervousness filled Mo Qianni's eyes. The door was locked after all, while she was in the office with Yang Chen alone. That situation alone was wrong no matter how one looked at it.

Yang Chen helplessly went to open the door. The person who came wasn't anyone else, but his closest female colleague Zhao Hongyan.

Dressed in a white office wear, Zhao Hongyan's figure seemed to have improved a lot. After she divorced her husband, she started looking a lot healthier. Evidently, not having to suffer at the hands of her husband was a huge factor in her appearance.

Seeing that Yang Chen was the one who opened the door, shock surfaced in Zhao Hongyan's pair of beautiful eyes. Soon, she seemed to have thought of something, before giving Yang Chen an annoyed look and walking into the office while blushing.

"Madam Mo, Madam Liu said she needs you to sign on these documents. She also said she might not be able to attend the afternoon meeting. She had to take care of the partnership with Huayun Trade, so I came here to inform you," Zhao Hongyan said as she passed a stack of documents to Mo Qianni.

Smiling, Mo Qianni received the documents and didn't look awkward at all. But she still glanced at Yang Chen teasingly. She knew that his plans have been foiled now that Liu Mingyu was unavailable.

"Alright. I'm really sorry to make you all work during a holiday."

"It's fine. This is a challange we all have to face together," Zhao Hongyan said with a smile.

"We will succeed," Mo Qianni said confidently.

After talking for a short while, Zhao Hongyan hurriedly left the office. Mo Qianni looked like she was wondering something. She then looked at Yang Chen who was standing by the door while spinning the pen in her hand. Confidently, she said, "Have you done something to Hongyan?"

Yang Chen was shocked. Except reaching into the center of her thighs, I haven't done anything before! he thought.

"Why do you say so? Do I look like that kind of person?!" Yang Chen asked in a righteous manner.

"Then why does she like you?" Mo Qianni asked out of curiosity.

"Eh?" Yang Chen smiled stiffly. "Little Qianqian, you shall not make up stories. Although she has just divorced a while ago, I'm not the kind of person who would take advantage of the situation."

"Say what you must. I can tell that she's interested in you," Mo Qianni said as she was unwilling to explain to Yang Chen. She then waved her hand to let Yang Chen leave since she wanted to start working.

Bitterness filled Yang Chen's lips. He felt that he was the lover outside a marriage instead. He had always been kicked out this way.

However, at the same time, a doubt surfaced in his mind. He thought of the gaze he received from Zhao Hongyan earlier together with the different events which had taken place in the past. He couldn't help but think if this former colleague of his really liked him.

Chapter 442 - Changing for Tens of Centuries

 

Yang Chen wasn't able to get a clear answer to these questions, so he decided to put them aside for now.

Since Liu Mingyu wasn't in at the moment, Yang Chen didn't have a reason to continue staying in the headquarters of Yu Lei International. Knowing that Christen had arrived, and the Star of Yu Lei was launching soon, Yang Chen doubted that Christen had informed Zhao Teng and Wang Jie of her arrival in China. To prevent the overly straightforward woman from causing more chaos, Yang Chen felt the need to get her into the working mood as soon as possible.

Thus, Yang Chen made a call to Zhao Teng, and asked if he was in the company with Wang Jie.

These two hard-working subordinates of his didn't let him down. They were both busy in their respective office's. Even when Yu Lei International was facing a difficulty, and the subsidiary company Yu Lei Entertainment couldn't be of help to that situation, they were still doing whatever they could given the limitations.

"Christen has arrived in Zhonghai. Are you guys aware of that?" Yang Chen asked.

Zhao Teng couldn't hold himself back from shouting. Surprised, he asked, "Director, are you... for real?"

"Why would I lie to you?" Yang Chen scolded in his mind, The crazy woman is taking her own sweet time on this matter as expected. "I'll go to the office now and make some confirmations for the upcoming Star of Yu Lei. We'll start immediately after Yu Lei goes through this disaster."

"Director, it's indeed better that way... but... Director, will we really make it this time?" Zhao Teng found it unlikely for Yu Lei to win this time.

Annoyed, Yang Chen said, "What are you talking about? How is that even a question? Is it possible that you want to see us collapse?"

"No, no, no..." Zhao Teng said hurriedly. "Then I'll ask Wang Jie for a discussion immediately. Director, where is... Miss Christen now?"

How the heck would I know? Yang Chen thought. "She'll naturally appear when the time comes. I'll come over now."

Ten minutes after ending the call, Yang Chen came to his office, while Zhao Teng and Wang Jie were excitedly having a discussion. Even when the company was in danger, they still couldn't calm themselves down for Christen's arrival.

"Director, you're here," Wang Jie said smilingly. "I'm discussing with Vice President Zhao if we should announce Miss Christen's arrival. Can we meet with Miss Christen to make arrangements regarding the promotion site?"

Yang Chen was glad to do so of course. He'd be contented as long as Christen wouldn't sway back and forth around him. Thus, he turned on his desktop computer without hesitation before logging into a software and dialing Christen's number.

Since he didn't usually have need of a phone before, most of the communication methods Yang Chen used required a computer.

Christen's phone supported video calls. After the call was connected, the screen showed a yacht sailing on the ocean.

Christen wore a huge pair of sunglasses and a wide cloche. She was leisurely sipping on a beverage which by Yang Chen's guess was either green tea or coffee.

There was no one at all around her. Evidently, she had booked the entire yacht.

Although a majority of her face was covered by her hat and sunglasses, Zhao Teng and Wang Jie still managed to recognize this much anticipated superstar, thus causing their eyes to shine.

"I remember inviting you to China to work. Where in the world have you gone to again?" Yang Chen spoke in Portuguese so that Zhao Teng and Wang Jie wouldn't understand.

Expectedly, they both looked at Yang Chen and felt confused. They were wondering why their director started speaking in another language.

Christen appeared to have also be fluent in different languages much like Yang Chen. Using Portuguese as well, she answered, "My dear Yang, don't you feel discourteous speaking to your friend this way? Can't you let me have some fun in China for a few days before using my reputation? I had missed you a lot before coming here."

"Have fun? Is there anything in the world you haven't played before? Also, I don't know if you miss me or not, but what I do know is that you've caused me a lot of trouble upon your arrival. Since you can never control your own mouth, I'm now not in good terms with my wife." Yang Chen expressed her anger to Christen. He admitted that doing so would make him feel more comfortable.

Christen, however, didn't take him seriously at all. Giggling, she asked, "Really? You know that I've tried to change this habit of mine for tens of centuries, but I seem to have no luck with it."

"Damn it. I don't care how many centuries you took. In short, there are problems you have caused and now have to fix! My subordinates want to talk to you about the schedule for some promotions and other activities. Bring your damn team over here now. As it is, I have enough problems to deal with. Can't you lend me a hand for a bit?" Yang Chen said gloomily.

Christen pouted her lips. "Alright then. But ask your people to wait until tomorrow morning. My team is still on a plane now. They'll reach here tonight and will rest for a night."

After the conversation ended, Yang Chen ended the video call. He then swapped to Mandarin to briefly inform the two about what Christen had said, and asked them to make preparations.

Although both of them were curious about why Yang Chen had spoken in a foreign language, they didn't dare to ask much. It was a personal matter after all. They just had to know that everything was under control.

After dealing with the troublesome fellow Christen, Yang Chen had a look at the time. It was almost 4 o'clock in the afternoon now. It was right around the time Hui Lin would leave for home. Thus, he headed to the recording studio on the fourth floor planning to fetch her home.

Unexpectedly, upon reaching the recording studio, an unexpected silhouette had walked out.

Dressed in a luxury dress, a middle-aged woman who had her hair tied up in a bun while wearing a scarf on her neck appeared. It rare for Abbess Yun Miao to be dressed in something other than her martial arts robe.

Being an impressive cultivator, Abbess Yun Miao's appearance didn't reveal her true age. Currently, she was dressed in a manner no different than a wealthy woman.

"What is it? Surprised are we?" Abbess Yun Miao asked calmly.

Yang Chen waved his hand. "Nope, I'm just surprised that Abbess has such a stylish martial arts robe."

"Humph. Kid, watch your mouth. My husband isn't here anymore. Being the wife of the Lin clan's master, I'll naturally be controlling the situation all over again without my robe. You don't need to pick on my appearance." Abbess Yun Miao was naturally referring to Lin Zhiguo who had been brought away. She didn't feel much sorrow, as she had already faced much more difficult circumstances. She could endure far beyond what one could imagine.

She's only doing this because she's still deeply in love with Lin Zhiguo. Otherwise there was no way she would have done this, and allow it to fall on its own, Yang Chen sighed in his heart.

Since she cares about him this much, why did she have to treat Lin Zhiguo so coldly back then?

Coldly, Abbess Yun Miao said, "I came here today to talk to my treasured granddaughter. You need not over think. Since we're here, I'll remind you about what you have promised Yellow Flame Iron Brigade. Keep that in mind."

Yang Chen was confused. "What is it?"

"You forgot, what's the usual," Abbess Yun Miao said in dissatisfaction. "You promised to help us train a new bunch of elites."

Yang Chen slapped his forehead. Smiling, he said, "That is what I promised to your husband. Now that he's not here anymore, there's no more obligation is there?"

"Why don't you? Although I admit I don't like you very much, I can't deny that you're our best instructor. I won't give up on this opportunity," Abbess Yun Miao said. "The newly appointed general will meet you somewhere in the middle of the month. At that time, the batch of new recruits will be brought to our secret training base in Zhonghai. I hope you can fulfill your promise. Yellow Flame Iron Brigade has suffered much losses over the years. We need a sufficiently large amount of fresh blood."

"With the something Hongmeng here, there's no need to exaggerate," Yang Chen said with a smile as he waved his hand.

"If we need the seniors from Hongmeng to take care of everything, how is the younger generation in this country going to continuously improve? Death is inevitable. But as long as there are survivors, we won't be considered to have lost," Abbess Yun Miao said solemnly.

Yang Chen was merely joking. He was one to fulfil his promises.

After Abbess Yun Miao left, Yang Chen walked into the recording studio. He realized Hui Lin wasn't practicing this time, but was sitting absent-mindedly instead.

When Hui Lin saw Yang Chen, she ran over and asked, "Brother Yang, Wang Ma called me to be careful just now. She mentioned there was a surprise attack earlier. What's the situation now?"

Yang Chen smiled and answered, "Why don't you go home and have a look if you're worried? With your abilities, there's no need to fear those people."

"I wanted to go back just now, but Grandma came over." When Hui Lin mentioned Yun Miao, she looked rather perplexed. "Grandma asked me not to worry. Nothing will happen with you here. I think I feel that we'll be fine when we're with Brother Yang."

"Then why were you daydreaming? What else did she tell you?" Yang Chen was curious about why Yun Miao suddenly came over. Did she come to force Hui Lin to do that something with me? he thought. He had experienced first hand the old nun's matchmaking ability.

Hui Lin pouted her mouth. "Grandma said singing and other stuff... are useless. She asked me to return to Beijing to learn management and slowly inherit the Lin clan..."

Yang Chen didn't expect this to be the case. After thinking for a bit, he asked, "What do you think of it then?"

"I... I feel that I'm not suited to be the master of the Lin clan." Wronged, Hui Lin lowered her head before saying softly, "I told Grandma that Elder Sister is actually more suitable to be the leader, but Grandma got really mad... She said I was incompetent and childish..."

Yang Chen smiled bitterly. Hui Lin had the intention to let Lin Ruoxi manage the Lin clan. However, it was impossible for Lin Ruoxi to agree to this.

"Then what do you want to do?" Yang Chen asked.

Hui Lin appeared to be struggling. "I told Grandma I really want to take part in this competition. If... if I lose, I will return. Otherwise I will continue to sing."

Yang Chen didn't expect Hui Lin to be this resolute for her dreams of becoming a singer. He patted her head and said, "If you don't want to be the clan master, even if you lose, your grandma won't do anything, trust me. I'll stop her for you in the worst case."

Hui Lin paled. "Brother Yang, you... you want to whack my grandma?"

"Stupid Kid." Yang Chen didn't know whether to cry or laugh. "If your grandma doesn't whack me, why would I whack her? Also, what can she do to me?"

Hui Lin finally felt relieved. Soon, she realized that Yang Chen had patted her head. Blushing, she complained, "Brother Yang, you shouldn't touch me this like anymore..."

As soon as she finished speaking, a rough and perverted voice echoed from the outside. "Haha, Brother-In-Law, is this your lover as well? Which part of her did you touch?"

Yang Chen and Hui Lin turned their heads around, only to discover Tang Jue walking over like a gangster. He wore a pair of reflective sunglasses and a low-collared shirt, revealing a huge chunk of his chest hair.

Yang Chen felt a major headache. Why on earth has he come?!

Chapter 443 - Candyman and Big Mouth

 

Not unlike being electrocuted, Hui Lin hurriedly dashed aside when she saw the man who had suddenly entered. She frowned her brows when she felt the guy looked rather familiar.

Tang Jue walked toward Yang Chen as he chuckled. Carefully glancing at Hui Lin, he felt impressed and spoke with a softer voice, "Brother-In-Law, don't worry. I definitely won't tell Elder Sister about this. It's normal for men to have a few wives and lovers. Ignore me for a bit, a few of my people have multiple women as their lovers."

"I don't really care if you tell your elder sister or not, but you shouldn't make things up." Yang Chen felt that he was destined to suffer today. Christen had come to his house to make a huge mess, and now the big mouth Tang Jue suddenly appeared.

"Hehe, I promise I won't." Tang Jue still failed to understand what Yang Chen meant. Slapping his own chest, he said, "Men have to be loyal to their brothers. I'm one of the 'Beijing King Trio', why can't I keep such a small promise? In this world, there are no men who are faithful, only the ones who are incapable. Am I right, Brother-In-Law?"

Looking at the foolishly grinning Tang Jue, Yang Chen really couldn't understand why the intelligent Tang Wan had this poor sap for a brother.

Regarding the 'Beijing King Trio' he mentioned, Yang Chen was more astonished. Is China in such desperate times that such a fellow can be titled 'king' nowadays?

"Ah, I know who you are now!" Hui Lin said suddenly while her face had reddened. "You are the 'Candyman' Tang Jue!"

Tang Jue's expression turned terrible. He seriously examined Hui Lin from top to bottom, but still failed to identify her.

"You don't know me for sure, but I've seen you once before." Hui Lin seemed to have thought of something funny. She walked to Yang Chen's side and said, "Brother Yang, why do you know him, and why is he calling you 'Brother-In-Law'? Isn't his elder sister Miss Tang Wan?"

Yang Chen felt rather guilty when he noticed the teasing look in Hui Lin's eyes. Even a person this naive was sure that his relationship with Tang Wan was intimate.

"Ahem, ahem." Yang Chen didn't plan to talk about Tang Wan. Thus, he put on an act to ask, "What does 'Candyman' mean?"

Tang Jue looked rather worried. He winked at Hui Lin to signal her. A signal to ask her to keep her mouth shut.

However, why would Hui Lin listen to him? She opened her mouth and revealed, "That's because although this fellow is the seemingly powerful young master of the Tang clan, all he does is cause trouble outside. Whenever he faces someone stronger than him, he'll call for help and immediately break down, just like a small figure made of candy which would melt with a little bit of heat applied to it. Coincidentally, his surname is Tang, so everyone eventually started calling him Candyman."

[TL note: Candy (糖) and Tang (唐) are pronounced exactly the same way: táng]

Tang Jue immediately turned embarrassed. He let out an embarrassed smile but didn't dare to express his anger. He wasn't a complete fool. He knew that Hui Lin mustn't be an ordinary person, not to mention he didn't dare to piss Yang Chen off.

"Also," Hui Lin said happily. Giggling, she said, "The two most gifted people of the new generation are called 'Beijing King Duo', the 'King Trio' was made up by Tang Jue as he wants to forcefully include himself in the list. Except himself, no one refers to him in that way."

Tang Jue couldn't hold himself back anymore now that his secrets were all exposed. " Beautiful lady, we have nothing against each other. Please let this humble one go..."

"Humph." Hui Lin turned her head away. It was a way of saying that she promised to not talk about his 'achievements' anymore.

Yang Chen knew a thing or two about Tang Jue, so he wasn't too surprised. He asked, "Why are you here? I don't remember inviting you over."

Tang Jue stopped smiling and looked incredibly serious. "Brother-In-Law, there's something I need to verify with you."

Yang Chen was rather curious. He didn't seem to have anything to do with Tang Jue in the past.

"Actually, I'm asking on behalf of my elder sister and the Tang clan," Tang Jue said before waving behind.

A guy who looked like Tang Jue's assistant walked over and passed him a newspaper before going back to his original position behind.

Tang Jue opened the newspaper and delivered it to Yang Chen. Softly, he asked, "Brother-In-Law... you're not the one who did this, are you?"

Yang Chen briefly read through the title in the huge article, and was instantly shocked.

The title of the was 'Annihilation of the Qi clan!'

The Qi clan was where Qi Kai, Liu Mingyu's ex-boyfriend, also the one who had had two bad interactions with Yang Chen before, was from.

Being a clan attached to the Tang clan, the Qi clan wasn't very large nor was it small. It was still however, a rather influential clan in the south.

However, later that night a day before yesterday, all the higher-ranked members were wiped out! The criminals used heavy firearms and knives to kill. Their style was quick and neat. The police instantly identified that this case was done by experts.

Moreover, this murder crime was obviously on a motive to take revenge. Thus, the police had been tightly monitoring the few clans which were related to the Qi clan.

However, such an occurrence would damage the society's peace in the country. Thus, the police had tried their best to minimize the media coverage, which was the reason it wasn't reported in the TV or radio stations. It was only published on a small-scale newspaper company.

"Your sister thinks i'm the one behind all this?" Yang Chen asked.

Tang Jue smiled as he was in a difficult situation. "Elder Sister is too embarrassed to ask you personally, but... I guess you could say that. But, Brother-In-Law, my sister isn't angry or something. She's just worried that if it is, she can help by defending you. This can't be considered an insignificant manner after all."

Yang Chen replied, "Firstly, I'm not the one who did it. I too have no idea why Qi Kai's clan was obliterated. Judging by his cocky behavior, I don't think his family could have done any better though. It's not surprising for them to have enemies. Secondly, even if I'm really the culprit, tell your sister that she doesn't need to involve herself with situations like this."

"Brother-In-Law, calm down. It really isn't what my sister meant," Tang Jue said hurriedly with a smile.

In fact, Yang Chen was unhappy that Tang Wan wasn't talking to him personally. She was worried about him, but was afraid of being blamed, so she asked Tang Jue to come over instead.

"Don't worry. Instead of worrying if I'm angry or not, ask your sister to focus her efforts on finding out who the real killer is. This matter is a slap in the face for the Tang clan, isn't it?" Yang Chen asked.

Tang Jue clapped his hand furiously. "I know right! God damn this is ridiculous. They have gone way overboard, even the seven-to-eight-year-olds weren't spared. Every single clan member had died. Qi Kai was the most unfortunate one. I heard that his body was chopped into a few pieces! Brother-In-Law, who do you think can be this cruel? This is no different from a horror movie!"

Yang Chen shrugged his shoulders. "How should I know? Since they dared to have gone against them , the culprit either doesn't plan to live anymore or they're fearless. No matter what, Qi Kai died for nothing, and your Tang clan better start getting busy."

Tang Jue furrowed his brows further as he fell into contemplation after listening to Yang Chen's analysis. He even couldn't be bothered to say goodbye when Yang Chen brought Hui Lin out of the recording studio.

After half an hour, Yang Chen arrived at home with Hui Lin. Surprisingly, there was a white BMW Z4 parked outside the house, which had given Yang Chen a premonition. He didn't think Lin Ruoxi had this car in the garage. They had a guest.

Hui Lin's face was filled with guilt after she witnessed the mess in the courtyard and the collapsed wall. "I'm really stupid. At such a critical moment, I should've stayed at home to protect Aunt Guo, Wang Ma and the others."

"How is it different for me? I almost had to live the rest of my life in regret." Yang Chen smiled bitterly before saying, "What we need to do is to learn from our mistakes, instead of pulling a long face."

Hui Lin nodded before forcing a smile and walking into the house.

Although certain parts of the house were destroyed, the house was for the most part, the same.

Yang Chen entered the living hall and heard a cheerful chatter from the dining hall. Doesn't this voice belong to Christen?!

How did this woman end up at my house after wandering around?!

Hui Lin looked at the dining hall curiously and saw Guo Xuehua, Wang Ma, and Zhenxiu talking to a blonde lady in Mandarin. Hui Lin cried out of astonishment before quickly covering her mouth. Her cheeks reddened while her eyes were basically shining!

"Oh God, am I dreaming?"

Yang Chen gloomily looked at the fangirl Hui Lin. "Hui Lin, are you a fan of her's as well?"

Hui Lin squeezed the corners of her shirt in shyness. "Back then... when I was still at Emei Mountain... I was already listening to her songs. I had a lot of her CD's under my bed. I really admire her voice."

Yang Chen had heard of Hui Lin's past of learning music. Abbess Yun Miao would never support her to listen to pop music after all, but Yang Chen didn't expect this girl to even learn foreign songs.

"Eh, my dear Yang, you're back? You even brought a beautiful little girl?" Christen said as she looked surprised, as if she hadn't noticed Yang Chen's emergence.

She's indeed an Oscar-winning actress based on her acting skills, Yang Chen praised in his mind. "Why are you here again?"

"To earn my meal," Christen said in a natural manner. "I flew across half the globe for you. Aren't you going to treat me nicely? You're such a petty guy. Why didn't you tell me about anything? I just found out that you have found your mother. Aunt Guo seemed to be really interested in your past unrestrained behavior, so she and I had a lovely chat."

Yang Chen had noticed something strange in Guo Xuehua's gaze upon walking over. It was just different from before.

Yang Chen whispered to Christen, "What in the world did you say?!"

Christen widened her sapphire-blue eyes in an innocent manner. Waving her hand, she said, "I didn't say much, actually. I just briefly talked about three years ago when you came to my villa in America, and had an uncovering assembly with more than twenty supermodels. Aunt was really paying close attention to my story earlier!"

Christen spoke in Mandarin, so Hui Lin who was previously astonished quickly understood the key words like 'more than twenty supermodels' and 'uncovering assembly'. She couldn't help but cover her mouth so that she wouldn't scream.

Yang Chen had the urge to bang her head against the wall because it was the first time he noticed even Hui Lin seemed to be using her shy gaze to tell him how unbearable it was to look at his past, let alone Guo Xuehua, Wang Ma, and Zhenxiu.

At last, the corners of Yang Chen's lips twitched as he suppressed his anger. Looking incredibly serious, he explained, "Actually... there were only nineteen of them, not twenty..."

Chapter 444 - Late-night Talk and Mercy

 

Christen painted a picture of Yang Chen who was a student studying overseas. This was actually logical. After all, Yang Chen had a graduate certificate from Harvard that even he had forgotten how he managed to obtain.

The family had dinner together, but this time an international superstar somehow joined them. Moreover, this superstar would occasionally spit out 'astonishing' statements. Only Yang Chen himself understood how torturing it was to have endured this meall.

Hui Lin couldn't hide her admiration toward her idol, but was too shy to open her mouth. Thus, she relied on Yang Chen's help to take a few pictures with Christen together. When Christen found out that Hui Lin was taking part in the competition, she joked about offering some help on the judgement. However, the naive Hui Lin got anxious as a result, but was too embarrassed to deny her idol's offer, causing everyone to laugh at her adorable behavior.

It was almost 9 o'clock at night and Lin Ruoxi hadn't returned yet, while it was time for Christen to leave as well, since her team had arrived in China. The announcement and promotion of the opening of Star of Yu Lei would start officially tomorrow.

Yang Chen took it upon himself to walk Christen out. None of them talked while walking on the quiet and peaceful pathway.

In the night, the street lights shone upon Christen's delicate and fair-skinned face which was as perfect as porcelain ware. Anyone would find it heart-warming and attractive, but Yang Chen wasn't in the mood to admire this incredibly rare treasure.

"Who's Judy to you?" Yang Chen asked after wondering for a while.

Christen, however, looked confused. She tried her best to think but asked, "Who's Judy?"

"Don't act ignorant in front of me. That woman had your protective talisman. Or are you telling me there are gods who can grant protective talismans all over the streets?" Yang Chen asked as he frowned.

Christen finally understood what he was talking about. She chuckled and said, "Oh, so you're talking about her. I didn't know she was called Judy in Blue Storm. Her real name is Yuna. She's a stubborn but beautiful girl."

"I killed her," Yang Chen said straightforwardly. "That's because she tried to kill me twice, and I wasn't in the mood to be merciful the second time round."

Christen opened her mouth slightly while helplessness was displayed on her face, but she didn't get mad. "You don't need to care about it too much. Although she was a bit related to me, I actually consider us to have nothing to do with each other.

"In my past life, around 590 years ago, I was the young lady of the Anderson clan in the United Kingdom. At that time, my husband was Little Yuna's... the girl you call Judy's ancestor of whichever generation. This means Judy was my great-granddaughter of however many generations there are.

"There was once when a power-user association tried to abduct me, and Blue Storm sent a few people to protect me. I felt a sense of familiarity when I found out her clan. I didn't expect one of my descendents to join Blue Storm. Being the great-great-great-great-grandmother, I gave her a protective talisman out of concern..."

Christen then sighed before saying, "Unfortunately that kid was disobedient. It seems that one who is destined to die must die."

Yang Chen felt that his lips had stiffened. "Don't give out protective talismans so easily. Don't you find it silly to give one to such a distant descendent?"

"If she didn't bump into the few of us undying ones... erm... except you, was the gift going to make any difference at all?" Christen said in an indifferent manner. However, she failed to hide the dejection on her face. She sighed, "Oh my. I feel terrible every time I think of how little of us undying ones are left."

"Don't drink. And don't go insane," Yang Chen said, worried.

Christen giggled. "Are you so afraid of me going berserk?"

"You've caused me enough troubles. I'm now no different than a monster in the eyes of my family."

"But you are one," Christen said in dissatisfaction.

"That was in the past! I would blush now for just peeping on a girl's panties!" Yang Chen yelled a lie righteously.

Christen rolled her eyes. None of her expressions had any effects on Yang Chen. "Alright then. But you have to answer me a question and you have to give me a serious answer."

Yang Chen nodded. "Ask away."

In fact, Yang Chen knew that Christen had something to tell him. Otherwise she wouldn't have come to his house just to 'earn her meal' and mess around. His guess turned out to be right.

Christen appear more serious and strict. "A while ago, the crazy Ares came to America to ask if I had touched your God's Stone. I had to fight him before he believed that I had not touched the stone. Tell me honestly. Did you really lose your God's Stone? You didn't use any barrier magic, did you?"

Yang Chen smiled bitterly. "Although Ares is a war freak, he isn't a fool. Do you think I can trick him so easily? Since I dared to keep God's Stone with me, I naturally had nothing to hide. I really lost it this time."

Christen looked serious. "This is really weird. The one who has managed to steal God's Stone away without any traces detectable by you and Ares must at the very least be on par with us. That person might even be stronger than the few of us."

Yang Chen suddenly thought of something. "Is it possible that there's someone of your race remaining on Earth whom the eleven of you aren't aware of?"

"Why do you ask so?" Christen asked, surprised. "How is it possible? Even your predecessor couldn't stand the endless cycle of loneliness and reincarnation anymore and ended his own life. What makes you think that there might be someone from our race who is hiding from us?"

Yang Chen sighed before explaining the Holy Grail's incident which had taken place after the Liu clan's banquet. He mentioned that someone used space methods to snatch the Holy Grail in addition to absorbing the energy within. Christen immediately held a terrible expression after listening to him.

"If it is indeed what you have described, I don't know the reason as well." Christen furrowed her brows tightly. "I'll find time to talk to the few other awakened old fellows about this. For now, it's good enough that the God's Stone isn't in the crazy Ares's hands. But it is possible that someone else is trying to use the God's Stone for something equally as terrifying."

"Do you feel that the other fellows would be interested in investigating into this? They have long lost their life purpose," Yang Chen said with a smile.

Sorrow surfaced on Christen's face. "Yeah... Even the end of the world is meaningless to some of them, let alone a single God's Stone..."

"Since we can't find that person, all we can do is wait for his emergence. No matter what, I'll stop anyone trying to do something unacceptable with the God's Stone. I am the one who lost it after all," Yang Chen said seriously.

Christen forced a smile, but the worry between her brows didn't reduce.

If the conversation between Yang Chen and Christen was heard by someone else, they may feel that two of these lunatics were talking nonsense late at night.

In this night, a lot of people were paying close attention to the challenge faced by the mother of the Chinese fashion industry Yu Lei International in the American Nasdaq stock exchange.

The war had attracted much attention once the stock market had opened. Most people actually more or less knew what would happen next. When Yu Lei was engaged in a war when they were at their lowest, it could be said that it was incredibly unlikely for them to survive.

A few people even heard from the employees from the entertainment company that the headquarters failed to obtain funds from the banks. As a result, countless people started selling their shares at crazily low prices to minimize their losses.

However, in the morning in China, a lot of people who were ready to witness Yu Lei International collapse were dumbstruck when it struck with a counter attack!

The seemingly weak and helpless Yu Lei International behaved just like a spendthrift as they fought their opponents crazily. The countless cash was just like flowing water as it splashed in front of everyone.

Wasn't Yu Lei supposed to sell clothes? Why did they look like they were printing bank notes?! This question had surfaced in too many people's minds.

At the same time, at the base resort, Lin Ruoxi silently walked up the platform to look at the stock index shown on the screen. Having stayed awake all night, she finally revealed a smile on her face.

The members of Athena Team were fired up. To them, days like these were the ones that they truly worked. They were faced with only difficulties like this. However, once they started working everything else was secondary to them, like sleeping and eating.

They wouldn't ask their boss Lin Ruoxi where she had gotten so much funds from. All they wanted was repeatedly expand and expand using the resources in their hands!

Seeing that the end result was destined, Lin Ruoxi didn't stay there any longer. She wanted to return to the headquarters to deal with a lot more stuff.

Once the financial war ended, not only did Yu Lei's funds not decrease, it even multiplied itself by several times. Hence, the development blueprint of the company's blueprint had to be restructured.

When Lin Ruoxi walked out of the resort, all of the employees gazed upon her passionately as they worshipped her. An army would always need an indestructible spirit. Similarly, in the hearts of the employees working for Yu Lei International, their CEO had always given them emotional support and brought them victory!

Lin Ruoxi, however, didn't feel like she was anything special...

Grandma, I didn't disappoint you at last. I didn't allow Yu Lei to collapse... Although it was mostly because of that man. But... it is also because you're helping me in heaven, isn't it? she thought.

The thinking and yearning had given Lin Ruoxi a lot more thoughts.

The one who was similarly paying attention to this battle was Ning Guodong who was in a high-class condominium in Zhonghai. He was sipping on his red wine in his pyjamas.

Seeing that Yu Lei slowly regained their advantage on the screen as they obliterated each of their opponents as domineering as a tiger which had gone down the mountains, Ning Guodong clenched his fist holding the wine glass as he shivered unstoppably.

Slowly, Ning Guodong turned his head to a tightly sealed file holder.

At this moment, an assistant dressed in a suit walked in from the living hall hurriedly. Bowing, he said, "Chief, you wanted me to contact Lord Mao, but I'm afraid that that would no longer be an option."

"Eh?" Ning Guodong frowned.

"Lord Mao... Lord Mao... he..." the assistant stammered. "I just got the news that Lord Mao was killed on-the-spot by a government worker this morning as a result of committing certain crimes. It is said that that government worker is being investigated, while the crime committed by the few Singaporean and Malaysian businessmen is most likely set."

Ning Guodong squinted as he waved his hand to signal his assistant to leave.

He then looked at the file holder again as he smiled coldly. "Lord Mao, oh, Lord Mao. No wonder you gave something so important to me although you had nothing to do with me. It seems like... you're still ahead of the game."

He stretched his arm out to take the file holder. Brutality filled his eyes while he smiled wickedly. He then murmured, "Fine. It doesn't matter if I have been used by you. I have run out of patience anyway."

Chapter 445 - Falling Dust

 

The next morning, every publisher in the city was reporting the great victory Yu Lei International had obtained the night before which took place in America.

Following this financial battle, Yu Lei International somehow managed to survive, shocking all the other companies in the same industry. They realized they had failed to analyze the situation correctly, thus causing their previous estimations to be inaccurate.

On the other hand, being the CEO, Lin Ruoxi's identity was repeatedly reported and hyped. Very quickly, the number of hits she had on multiple search engines directly exceeded the hottest superstar Christen and the American singer 'Gaga'.

The youngest beauty CEO, the iceberg goddess, the symbol of wealth, the golden leader, the dream girl of bachelors all around the world... Different kinds of fancy titles were quickly spread all around the world.

[TL note: Golden bachelors: single, wealthy, and unmarried men.]

Since Lin Ruoxi seldom attended public events, there weren't many pictures of her. As a result, the amount of attention and admiration that was directed towards her, skyrocketed.

To make the situation more exaggerated, a few fanclubs were even set up in Lin Ruoxi's name by the citizens, however, they could have chosen better names. One of them was called 'Washing Powder'. That was because when her name 'xi' was pronounced slowly, it would sound like 'xi yi' (washing powder), while the greatest advantage of washing powder was that it's uncountable.

Of course, Lin Ruoxi wouldn't care about these nonsense, so she wasn't affected very much.

The person who was suffering most was Yang Chen. After Christen exposed his secrets, he became a 'perverted devil' to the ladies at home, including Guo Xuehua who was his mother. Although she had held much guilt for Yang Chen, she couldn't endure a young man living in such a messed up manner.

After the news was reported, as Yang Chen had hidden this major difficulty faced by Yu Lei from his family, everyone blamed him for not thinking about how his actions may affect Ruoxi.

Yang Chen couldn't just say he had forked out 50 billion for his wife. Even if he was truly generous and was totally qualified to 'the most extravagant husband in the world', none of these gave rise to a valid reason. He had indeed let Lin Ruoxi face everything herself, while he went to flirt with other lovers.

Feeling a heartache for her daughter-like figure, Wang Ma made a lunchbox consisting of delicately made snacks in addition to a bowl of ginseng chicken soup for Yang Chen to deliver to her in her office.

As Lin Ruoxi was busy dealing with the aftermath, she hadn't the chance to return home the night before.

Yang Chen wouldn't decline to do this favor, he had no reason to. Although, he was rather dissatisfied at the situation. Why is this woman always working this hard? Can't she take a short break before dealing with other things? It's not like there's no one she can use in the company. It's rare nowadays to see someone with this much passion for work, he thought.

When Yang Chen was driving to the company as he felt a little distressed, quite a few unexpected guests came to the CEO office of Yu Lei International early in the morning...

"Boss Lin, Chief Ning Guodong hopes to see you," informed Wu Yue via a phone call made from her secretary office. She had stayed there for the entire night as well.

Lin Ruoxi who was dealing with a few final factory rectification documents, frowned. Other than exhaustion and seriousness, helplessness and annoyance could also be found on her face. At the same time, she felt a little perplexed...

Ning Guodong? she thought. Whenever she thought of this man who had an unstoppable persistence to cling on to her, she would think of the man standing beside her mother in the picture which she had seen a few days ago...

Shaking her head, she tried her best to let these matters slide for now. Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself down before saying, "Let him in."

After half a minute, Ning Guodong pushed open the office door. He was dressed in an ironed suit, while he held a faint smile on his face as usual.

It was this exact smile which had disgusted Lin Ruoxi from the start. She didn't know why the smile of her shameless man was much more pleasant than this handsome smile.

Was it because of the person, or was it because of her heart?

"Ruoxi, it must've been tough for you. Believe me when I say this but I have been worried for your well being all this time. Judging by the situation, my worries were unfounded," Ning Guodong said as he slowly sat on the leather sofa directly opposite Lin Ruoxi.

Lin Ruoxi stood up and came to her office table. Crossing her arms, she stared at Ning Guodong coldly as she said, "Chief Ning, just give up. Know that I will never accept you."

Ning Guodong wasn't irritated at all. He continued smiling generously. "Can't we leave those matters for later? Don't you think that you should serve me a cup of coffee or tea being the hostess?"

If the fellow in front of her wasn't the son of the premier and a government official, Lin Ruoxi felt that she'd call the guards over to pull him out, or just deny his entry to Yu Lei's building right from the start.

"Wu Yue, make a cup of coffee," Lin Ruoxi said after pressing the button on the phone placed on her office table.

Wu Yue proved once again her efficiency. She delivered a cup of hot coffee over within three minutes and placed it in front of Ning Guodong without being informed to do so.

When she noticed the stiff atmosphere between Ning Guodong and Lin Ruoxi, Wu Yue frowned a little before immediately backing out.

Evidently, Wu Yue couldn't understand why the CEO looked at Chief Ning like her enemy.

"If there's nothing else you need, Chief Ning can make his way out after having this cup of coffee," Lin Ruoxi said in an indifferent manner.

Ning Guodong took a sip of the coffee and looked like he found it too hot when he placed the cup down. Smiling, he said, "Ruoxi, am I that unworthy of entering your vision?"

"Chief Ning." Lin Ruoxi bit her lips before saying, "If you haven't already noticed, I am swamped with work. There are a lot of things that I need to deal with. I don't even have time to go home. There's no need for me to waste my energy on meaningless conversations.

"You should've listened to what Yang Chen called me at the parking area back then. That's right, we're a legally married couple. In other words, I won't get into a relationship with you. I'm already married. Now with that in mind, stop harrassing me.

"Actually, based on your Ning clan's authority, investigating on my marital status is a piece of cake. You should know that doing so makes it difficult for me."

The smile on Ning Guodong's face slowly dispersed, while bitterness filled the corners of his lips. "You're indeed as cruel of a woman as they say."

As he spoke, he took the folder he brought with him and fidgeted with it. He continued saying, "You're right. I have indeed checked if you and the fellow called Yang Chen are married or not. The result was really disappointing to say the least. I really can't believe that you're willing to marry such a low-class and vulgar man, but not willing to consider me at all.

"Of course, I know I got to know you abit too late. It has been three or four months since the first time I saw you. But it isn't that much shorter than you and Yang Chen, is it?

"I don't believe you're the kind of woman who would recklessly get married so quickly. There must be another reason in your marriage..."

Lin Ruoxi held the same expression on the outside, but she felt discomfort in her heart. The feeling of having one's heart poked with a needle was terrible.

Brutality surfaced in Ning Guodong's eyes. "I don't mind that you've been married before. I also don't mind if you're able to like me now or later. I even don't mind your hatred for me now.

"Being the inheritor of the Ning clan, as long as there's a woman I want, I don't want to claim a hundred percent, but at least seventy to eighty percent of the young ladies from major clans won't reject me, but I've never truly fallen for a girl before.

"You're the first one who had utterly given me the desire to own you... I won't allow myself to fail."

When Ning Guodong spoke this straightforwardly, Lin Ruoxi panicked a little, but she knew she couldn't avoid this. As a result, she remained her cold face as and said, "Chief Ning, feelings can't be forced. Are you looking for someone that hates you to stand by your side?"

"I don't mind!" Ning Guodong stood up while blaze appeared in his eyes. "I don't care if you like me or not. I don't care if you hate or even detest me. How many of the married couples from major clans get together because of true love anyway? Men and women secretly looking for lovers outside is nothing surprising.

"But you don't have to worry. I'm not such a person, I just need you in my life. I don't need many women to play with in my life, I just want a woman whom my heart has moved for..."

Lin Ruoxi finally shrank away a little when she witnessed Ning Guodong's mindless gaze. She was a young lady after all, not to mention she was almost entirely inexperienced interacting with men.

"Chief Ning... you... how can you do this? Even if you're from the Ning clan and you're the son of Premier Ning, how can you possibly force someone to divorce before marrying you?!" Lin Ruoxi's heart was filled with rage. She was already tired to begin with. Currently, her face had severely reddened.

"You're right. Even if I'm from the Ning clan and my father is the premier, I still can't touch you at my will," Ning Guodong said coldly. "You're the CEO of a multinational company. Everyone's looking at you like you're some kind of deity right now. Why would such a highly praised woman be abducted by me and locked up to become my personal canary..."

Ning Guodong's words made Lin Ruoxi feel a chill up her spine. The beast of a man held his intense gaze. His aggressive and evil had given her a strong premonition.

"But..." Ning Guodong laughed while shrugging his shoulders. "But... if a highly praised goddess turns into falling dust... to the point where she's not even considered an ordinary girl due to her disdainful, filthy life... what makes you think anyone would be concerned for her well being anymore? At that time, the only one who will take you in might just be me who's this tolerant and likes you with all my heart..."

Anxiety filled Lin Ruoxi's elegant eyes. She forced herself to act calm as she said, "Although I don't know what you're talking about, I believe you're just wasting your time and effort."

"Really?" Ning Guodong snorted in disdain before throwing the folder to Lin Ruoxi's office table. "Perhaps you wouldn't think so after looking at this.""

Lin Ruoxi turned her head to look at the folder as she hesitated before picking it up. She then look out a few photostated documents placed within.

Lin Ruoxi immediately got stunned when she saw the file. Soon, her hands involuntarily started shivering. She had always acted calm and cool, but she currently appeared so pale and helpless.

In her mind, the pictures which had given rise to painful memories surfaced. At the same time, she flipped open the folder before reading the information inside...

It only took her around ten seconds for her tears to drip on the folder. She seemed incredibly pale while her lips quivered. Her fingers had stiffened quickly, causing the folder and files in her hands to fall on the ground...

Chapter 446 - Suffocating

 

Holding a box of cakes in one hand and a Thermos flask of nourishing chicken soup in another, Yang Chen walked into the building of Yu Lei International in his slippers. If it wasn't because the guards recognized him, there was no doubt that he would have been chased from the premises long ago.

Most employees in Yu Lei were celebrating. Elation could be found on everyone's faces. They were discussing where they wanted to go at night.

No one that was qualified to work in the headquarters was stupid. After this incredibly difficult challenge, not only did Yu Lei gain stability, their future developments were also projected to improve significantly.

They were not unlike a bunch of soldiers who were relishing in their victory together after a war. The environment in the company was harmonious, looking simple yet wonderful.

Yang Chen's mood was affected by these employees as well. As he walked to the CEO's office on the top floor, he started humming songs leisurely, without rhythm and lyrics.

However, when he reached the office, Wu Yue suddenly appeared while she held the same poker face. She smiled coldly as she glanced at the stuff Yang Chen was carrying. "Boss Lin is meeting an important client. Come again later if you want to please her."

Yang Chen wasn't annoyed. He looked at Wu Yue from top to bottom before gazing upon her flat chests. Shaking his head, he smiled as she said, "Hey Airport, why hasn't your figure changed at all even after getting yourself into a relationship?"

Wu Yue blushed. "Mind your own business. I won't allow you to delay Boss Lin's discussion."

"Aren't you bored of guarding the door all day? You should return to your office, or look for your little lover... What is he called again? Xiao Ming? Xiao Li?"

"It's Vice President Li Minghe!" Wu Yue frowned in anger. "He's in a higher position than you are, so you better watch your mouth!"

"Alright, alright. You found a great hubby. Your hubby is really impressive." Yang Chen showed approval on his face.

Upon hearing the term 'hubby', Wu Yue's face instantly flushed. She panicked and placed her hands at an awkward position, turning her head away in silence as she refused to step aside.

Yang Chen found it interesting. Lin Ruoxi's assistant was actually quite like Lin Ruoxi herself, or was it because she had seen Lin Ruoxi's good example and followed in suit.

She held a strict expression on her cold face. Unfortunately, her figure and appearance were only average. However, her heartbeat quickened while her face blushed when Yang Chen exposed her secret. Reading her mind was like reading an open book.

"Eh, Vice President Li!" Yang Chen called after turning around.

Wu Yue instantly turned her head to face the direction of the walkway, only to find no one there.

At the same time, Yang Chen gave Wu Yue a slight push to move her away before opening the office door.

"Ah!"

When Wu Yue recovered awareness, it was already too late.

She wanted to stop him, but Yang Chen had stepped into the office. At the same time, he gave her a broad grin before closing the door!

Wu Yue stomped on the ground furiously outside the office. But she soon thought of something which made her chuckle foolishly.

Upon entering the office, Yang Chen saw Ning Guodong. He thought Wu Yue was lying about Lin Ruoxi having a visitor, but there he was, a visitor.

Yang Chen tooka glance at Lin Ruoxi.

Lin Ruoxi looked rather sluggish, while both her eyes seemed empty. It could be seen that her eyes were watery while she held a few pieces of paper. There were even some papers scattered on the ground.

Lin Ruoxi didn't even look when Yang Chen entered the room, as if she had seen the devil.

Ning Guodong frowned in annoyance when he saw Yang Chen. He smiled coldly but remained silent as well.

Yang Chen quickly noticed the papers Lin Ruoxi was holding were the problem. He had an incredible eyesight, so he only had to walk slightly closer to properly look at the papers on the ground.

When he found out the general information on the paper, Yang Chen said calmly. "Wang Ma asked me to deliver some chicken soup and snacks over. She's afraid that you'd starve yourself for work. Please eat a little."

After he finished speaking, he squatted down and picked up the papers from the floor. At the same time, he took the ones Lin Ruoxi was holding away. She remained quiet and motionless.

Yang Chen sighed in his heart. He walked to Ning Guodong and threw the stack of papers to him. In a dull manner, he said, "Take them back."

Ning Guodong snorted in contempt. "What is it? Do you think they're fake?"

"Whether or not it's real, you shouldn't have brought them here." Fury filled Yang Chen's eyes. But he was aware that he couldn't crush this death-courting man's skull just because he wanted to.

Ning Guodong stood up and placed his hands behind his back. He slowly walked behind Yang Chen as he sighed, "Zeng Mao was indeed a cunning fox. He must've realized that he would lose, so he handed his trump card to me. Even if he did fail, as long as this is in my hands, it'll be delivered to Lin Ruoxi sooner or later.

"To be honest, I'm aware that Zeng Mao was merely leveraging my background and intentions. But I must admit he had succeeded, even though I don't like to be used. I still couldn't resist the temptation these documents brought."

At this moment, Lin Ruoxi finally raised her head to look at Ning Guodong in silence while desolation and sorrow filled her eyes unexpectedly.

Ning Guodong didn't understand what her gaze meant. He just thought Lin Ruoxi was refusing to face the truth. Elated, he smiled and said, "Don't think for a second that the records are fake. Ruoxi oh Ruoxi, I've sent someone to investigate the hospital Lin Kun had used when he was alive. His doctor escaped to another country for whatever reason. It looks like Zeng Mao had paid him a huge sum for him to run away. If this record is fake, why would he have escaped?

As Ning Guodong spoke, the smile on his face slowly dispersed. Staring at Lin Ruoxi coldly, "Why would a sterile man give birth to a child... Ruoxi, don't blame me for being merciless, but I have to say...

"You are actually a shameful child given birth after your mother cheated on Lin Kun! You might be Li Ruoxi, Wang Ruoxi, Zhou Ruoxi... or even Yang Ruoxi similar to this man. But... your surname is definitely not Lin!

"You entered Yu Lei International with the identity of the Lin clan's inheritor. What do you think the outside world would think if they found out the truth?

"Haha. Fear would start to seep into the people thinking that you intentionally hidden your identity to secure your assets. You might've removed your grandma from the picture after finding this out... so that you could inherit this position in the company at such a young age.

"Oh yeah, if I recall correctly, your father who got cheated on Lin Kun died recently right? I believe he entered a mental hospital before that, don't you not see everything wrong with your non-biological father going crazy and dying?"

Every sentence Ning Guodong spoke caused more suffering to Lin Ruoxi. At last, she fell into despair and collapsed to the ground as she felt depleted of her energy. Her face paled severely while her body shivered.

Ning Guodong seemed like he had witnessed what he wanted. To him, the moment Lin Ruoxi collapsed mentally was the moment she would surrender herself.

However, at this moment, a steel-like arm reached over from the side to clasp Ning Guodong's neck!

Ning Guodong suddenly felt that he was suffocating. His mouth was half-opened but he couldn't speak a word. He swung his feet violently as he looked at the man with a terrified expression.

No expressions could be seen on Yang Chen's face, but his eyes had been filled with ferocity.

There wasn't the slightest suffering in Yang Chen's heart.

The medical record was what Doctor Bao had shown him when Lin Kun died. Back then, he thought he only needed to threaten his life to keep it a secret. Killing him wasn't the best choice as he was in the hospital. Moreover, Doctor Bao only showed him a photostated copy instead of the legitimate record.

Nothing was absolute in this world. Unexpectedly, someone thought of using Lin Ruoxi's birth to attack her, and even managed to get this record. Doctor Bao failed to resist the temptation of money. He chose to move abroad to hide from Yang Chen.

Yang Chen felt that his heart was almost torn apart when he glanced at Lin Ruoxi who appeared to have lost her soul.

It was exactly the infuriating and insane man in front of Yang Chen who had made an initially wonderful morning this gloomy and dead!

Yang Chen stared into Ning Guodong's eyes as he had the urge to crush his neck. Yang Chen wanted him dead before consoling Lin Ruoxi, but...

Yang Chen knew that he couldn't just kill him like that.

It wasn't because he was a government official or a member of the Ning clan. It was because he was Ning Guangyao's son...

Ning Guodong's face had turned into the color of a pig liver. He tried to kick Yang Chen or grab him with his arms, but Yang Chen's body didn't move the slightest bit, as if it was made of metal.

At last, when Ning Guodong was almost choked to death and his vision almost turned black, Yang Chen finally let him go.

Ning Guodong fell on the ground as he panted and gazed upon the man looking down on him figuratively and literally.

"You... you'll pay for your actions..." Ning Guodong said furiously.

Yang Chen ignored him and walked toward Lin Ruoxi before squatting down. Gently, he said, "Don't sit on the ground anymore. If there isn't anything else you need to do, come home with me and rest."

Lin Ruoxi didn't do anything. She was just staring in front absentmindedly.

Yang Chen remained silent. Stretching his arms out, he held Lin Ruoxi up from the ground.

Lin Ruoxi finally elicited some reactions, but she ignored Yang Chen as she turned around and walked out the office alone.

Yang Chen knew that saying anything was useless now. All he could do was be by her side and wait for her to calm down.

After Lin Ruoxi and Yang Chen walked out of the office, a wicked smile surfaced on Ning Guodong's face. He murmured, "Yes, go now. You'll come back to me sooner or later and grovel at the likes of me... Also, Yang Chen, you'll soon find out that you've provoked someone you really wished you didn't have..."

Chapter 447 - No Wonder

 

Having walked out of the office, Lin Ruoxi was still emotionless, but her footsteps, heavy in their movement, said otherwise, causing her to lose her usual sharp aura in the company.

Employees passed by Lin Ruoxi and Yang Chen occasionally. Having been pressured in the past, they didn't dare to raise their heads, but only greeted her in a simple manner before leaving as quick as possible, so they didn't manage to notice anything abnormal.

Yang Chen walked behind her, knowing that there was nothing he could say. He just followed her all the way to the carpark and came to the place where Lin Ruoxi had parked her car.

Lin Ruoxi reached into her shirt pocket for a while, and seemed to notice that she had touched the wrong pocket. She then reached out to another pocket on her shirt to take out her Bentley key.

However, Lin Ruoxi's hands were still slightly shivering, which showed the turmoil that was brewing in her heart.

She fumbled with the key for awhile before finally pressing on the door lock.

When Lin Ruoxi stretched her arm out to the door, Yang Chen couldn't bear to stand aside and watch any longer. He approached her and grabbed her hand.

Lin Ruoxi silently turned her head to look at Yang Chen, lifeless.

"Don't drive. Based on your current condition, driving is no different from courting death," Yang Chen said seriously.

Lin Ruoxi ignored him, and used her other arm to open the door.

"Can you hear me?! I'm speaking to you!"

Yang Chen moved Lin Ruoxi away from the car and held her shoulders with both his arms before forcefully shaking her soft body.

Lin Ruoxi was swayed so hard that her head moved back and forth, but she still hadn't made a sound, just like a soulless puppet being controlled.

Yang Chen felt gloomy, as he had noticed the lifelessness in her eyes!

All this pointed to the fact that she had no regard for her life any longer!

Having been extremely introverted in the past, Lin Ruoxi hadn't actually spoken her heart out before. Thus, no matter what suffering she was going through, she would silently keep it to herself. All she could do was suppress instead of express.

Currently, Lin Ruoxi was at the edge of collapse. She was repressed by her tough and even twisted mental barriers.

"I won't let you do anything foolish." Resolution flowed in Yang Chen's eyes.

Before Lin Ruoxi reached to her car again, Yang Chen struck her on her neck from behind to knock her out, causing her to fall into his arms.

Yang Chen made sure no one was around before he lifted Lin Ruoxi up and walked to his car before putting her on the back seat.

Lin Ruoxi appeared calm and peaceful, as if she was a sparkling, clear lake, looking extremely enticing and attractive. However, Yang Chen knew that it was an entire different story once she woke up.

Around a minute later, Yang Chen drove his car and headed home.

... ...

After Yang Chen brought Lin Ruoxi away for a short while, Ning Guodong's driver picked him up before driving him home.

Ning Guodong looked like he would explode at any moment, thus causing his assistant sitting beside the driver to be more cautious about his actions. There was no way he could afford to make mistakes now.

At this moment, Ning Guodong passed a folder to the front. "Pass this thing to every influential news media to publish. Make it as large as possible.

The assistant received the folder and took the document inside out. When he read a few key words, his face instantly turned pale.

"Young Master... Young Master... it can't be wise to publish this, can it? Yu Lei International is now a multinational corporate that our country pays attention to... It can be said that Lin Ruoxi is standing under the spotlight... This might... this..."

"Do you want to get fired?!" Ning Guodong yelled violently. "Fucking listen to me! Do whatever the fuck I tell you to! Can't you see i'm in a bad fucking mood? Do you think I'm brainless or you're a lot smarter?! Even without Lin Ruoxi, her position in Yu Lei will be replaced and the company will still continue its operations. I want Lin Ruoxi to face death in the worst possible way. I want her to regret thinking that she's a goddess above everyone else! She's nothing but a bastard given birth by a wild man and a bitch!

"She should consider it her blessing that I am still willing to play with her body! Now, she only deserves to kneel before me and lick my feet!"

The assistant exuded cold sweat on his forehead as he nodded anxiously.

"If you don't dare to do it..." Ning Guodong said really softly. "You should really just jump from this car right now."

The assistant would've kneeled in front of Ning Guodong if he wasn't in the car. Nervously, he stammered, "I—I'll do it! Young Master, calm down..."

Ning Guodong leaned on his seat and shut his eyes quietly. It could be seen from the corners of his lips that he was smiling coldly.

However, Ning Guodong didn't notice that his middle-aged driver was frowning his brows in contemplation...

... ...

Yang Chen reached home really quickly after speeding on the road. He carried Lin Ruoxi's body and entered the house.

Zhenxiu had classes to attend so she wasn't at home at the moment. However, Guo Xuehua and Wang Ma were watching the television. They were surprised to see Yang Chen rush inside like this.

"Young Master! What happened to Miss?!"

"Yang Chen, what happened to Ruoxi?"

Worried, they followed Yang Chen upstairs. He told them that Lin Ruoxi merely fainted, so they felt a little relieved, but regardless, they were still concerned as to why.

Yang Chen couldn't provide a comprehensive explanation in such a short time. He carried Lin Ruoxi into her room and placed her on her bed carefully.

Wang Ma removed her outercoat and heels in a caring manner before asking, "Young Master, please ease our worry. Quickly tell us why Miss had fainted?"

"I knocked her out," Yang Chen sighed.

This time, the two revealed astonishment on their faces as they gazed upon Yang Chen doubtfully.

Yang Chen remained quiet for a bit. When Lin Ruoxi was in this situation, there was no way that he could hide it from his family. Thus, he explained everything from going to the company to meeting Ning Guodong and seeing the medical report.

At last, Yang Chen noticed that they looked immensely unnatural.

Yang Chen quickly noticed that Wang Ma had been working in this house since the Old CEO's generation, so she naturally was aware about a lot of things, past and present! On the other hand, Guo Xuehua was a close friend of Lin Ruoxi's mother Xue Zijing. It could be seen that they used to be extraordinarily close from the photos in the album.

They've been aware of the truth all this time, haven't they?!

When he noticed the sorrow and agony in Wang Ma's eyes, he was sure that Wang Ma knew that Lin Ruoxi wasn't Lin Kun's daughter! It was possible for her to know who her real father was!

He then noticed the sympathetic look on Guo Xuehua's face. Although Yang Chen didn't understand the reason, he was sure that Guo Xuehua was privy to certain parts of this secret.

Yang Chen looked at the two seniors who were deep in contemplation, before gazing upon his unconscious wife, he couldn't help but feel a headache on the horizon...

He initially thought of how miserable his life was, but he didn't expect Lin Ruoxi's origin to be more ridiculous than his. There were even lots of interconnected secrets...

Was their meeting and their marriage both jokes played by the heavens?

"You guys... know something, don't you?" Yang Chen looked at Wang Ma and Guo Xuehua in an indifferent manner.

Wang Ma sighed deeply as she looked at Lin Ruoxi on the bed. Shaking her head, she said, "Young Master, you must've found out about it already. I'm indeed aware about this... but I thought... I would never have to reveal anything for the remainder of my life... That's right, Master Kun wasn't Miss's real father. Master Kun had been born with a condition which made him sterile."

Yang Chen knew that this was the case. Actually, in the beginning, Yang Chen was wondering why Lin Kun didn't have other children since he had spent basically all his money on women, and why wouldn't he give birth to another child if he hated Lin Ruoxi so much?

When Yang Chen thought about it, he realized that it wasn't because Lin Kun didn't want one, but he couldn't get one at all!

Lin Kun might not have loved to play with women so crazily, but he was trying to prove that he was a real man through these methods. However... all he could become was an ineffective half-eunuch!

This could very much explain why Lin Kun had such a failed marriage although Xue Zijing was his jade-like wife.

Lin Kun knew that it was impossible for him to get children, but Xue Zijing somehow managed to conceive a child, Lin Ruoxi. This was a huge slap on Lin Kun's face!

Yang Chen was confused about why the Old CEO, Lin Kun's mother, chose to raise Lin Ruoxi attentively instead of stopping her from being born, knowing that she was the child of her daughter-in-law and someone else. Moreover, she had even passed the empire she created to Lin Ruoxi in her early days instead of her own son Lin Kun!

At the same time, why didn't Lin Kun tell the truth? It it must have been him trying to protect his pride as a man. Was it because he didn't want to sacrifice his man's pride to tell others that he was incapable, or was there another reason?!

There were too many questions, causing Yang Chen to feel perplexed.

"Wang Ma..."

Suddenly, Lin Ruoxi opened her eyes on the bed. Her eyes were filled with tears. Slowly, Lin Ruoxi pushed herself up and sat on the bed, staring at Wang Ma with her glittering eyes.

"Wang Ma, why? Why only tell me now when it's too late? Do you know how cruel it is to keep something like that from me..."

"Miss... I..." Wang Ma was in a difficult position. She felt that there was no good reason she could give Lin Ruoxi. Thus, she stood there with her mouth half-open while she failed to speak a single word.

Lin Ruoxi smiled in a pitiful manner, as if she was a falling lily, appearing incredibly heartbroken.

"No wonder... that man had hated me since I was young. He had never been willing to hug me or treat me well. He had always found Mom so unpleasant, and looked for women outside while enjoying alcohol... No wonder he would never accept me as his daughter no matter what I did for him, how I treated him... No wonder he didn't mind beating me so mercilessly and scold me... He didn't even mind kidnapping and killing me..."

As LIn Ruoxi spoke, tears which looked like a broken string fell onto the bed sheet.

"I had been wondering why a father like him existed... No parents in the world would disregard the deaths of their children... So I had been wrong from the start. Since the beginning, I have never been his daughter. In his eyes, I was just a bastard given birth by his wife and another man... It was his shame of being sterile...

"He definitely had a reason to hate me. I had indeed snatched Yu Lei away which was supposed to belong to him. I even tortured him by staying in his vision for more than ten years after that...

"I should considered it a blessing that he had not tried to choke me to death when I was young...

"Am I right, Wang Ma?"

Lin Ruoxi raised her head. Her eyes looked like a lake while her face looked like the frost which formed in the lake. Her flower-like smile seemed like a flower in the mirror, or a moon in the water. Fragile and brittle, she would shatter should someone lay their hands on her.

Chapter 448 - I Don't Allow You to Insult Her This Way

 

Ning Guodong returned to his high-class residential area in Zhonghai.

He sat on his lounge chair and faced a television which hung on the wall. Usually, he would watch the noon news or the replay of the morning news around this time every day.

As Ning Guodong switched through the channels, he quickly got annoyed at all that was showing. Almost all of the TV stations were playing the financial war which had taken place yesterday, with Yu Lei International and Lin Ruoxi under the spotlight.

"Damn it!"

Ning Guodong couldn't hold in his anger anymore. He then threw the remote control toward the television!

Bam! A hole appeared in the television while the screen instantly shattered.

Ning Guodong was too lazy to clean up the mess. He stood up and walked toward the mini bar in the house in an impetuous manner. He poured a glass of vodka which he had imported from Russia before raising his head and gulping the alcohol in one go!

"Ah..." he exhaled while his eyes became watery.

The strong alcohol flowed through his throat not unlike a knife sliding across a surface, causing Ning Guodong to feel a little bit more comfortable.

At this moment, his doorbell rang.

Ning Guodong frowned. This place was a private property, which meant that only people privy to its location, like his family and staff, would be able to come. However, if either of them were to come, why wasn't he notified beforehand?

Ning Guodong had no reason to perceive it as a dangerous situation. Ignoring the fact that no one would dare to touch him, there were bodyguards standing around the house. He then slowly walked toward the door before opening it.

Unexpectedly, the person standing outside the door was Ning Guodong's father, Ning Guangyao!

"Father?" Ning Guodong called as he felt confused. As far as he knew, Ning Guangyao should have been on his way to Beijing to take part in the most critical moment of his election.

Why did he suddenly look for him here without saying anything beforehand?

Ning Guangyao looked at his son expressionlessly. "Won't you invite me in?"

"Oh... of course, of course." Ning Guodong felt that something was wrong, but still immediately invited his father in.

Ning Guangyao wasn't just his father. He was the master of the Ning clan and the premier of China, not to mention he was the only one whom Ning Guodong was afraid of since young...

Ning Guangyao had his people wait outside and walked into the room alone. Ning Guodong then shut the door after his father had entered.

The house had incredibly good security. So much so that it was even made soundproof.

Ning Guangyao walked to the living hall and frowned when he saw the broken television, but chose to remain silent, and instead looked at the decorations around.

Ning Guodong felt cold and anxious. He thought his that father would question on the broken television. It wasn't logical for his father to keep quiet. However, he had never been able to understand his father's intentions from the beginning anyway.

"How much did you spend on this house?" Ning Guangyao suddenly asked.

Ning Guodong was stunned. His expression turned terrible. At last, he clenched his teeth and said, "I didn't spend any. It's given by a real estate agency."

Ning Guangyao nodded his head as he didn't look surprised. "You've received quite a lot of gifts like this, haven't you?"

Ning Guodong found it strange that his father didn't get mad. He said, "Not particularly.... Father, I'm not brainless. I am not one to meddle in things I have no business in."

"Really..." Ning Guangyao turned his head over while his eyes looked weird. "Enlighten me then. What are things that you are and are not allowed to meddle in?"

Ning Guodong was astonished. He didn't dare to look into his father's eyes at all. A shapeless pressure had unstoppably expanded inside his heart.

"I certainly won't harm the country, nor will I do anything that can damage the Ning clan's reputation," Ning Guodong said before clenching his teeth.

Ning Guangyao asked yet again, "Have your actions reflected on your words?"

"I..." Ning Guodong thought for a while. "Making mistakes is inevitable. But Father, I believe I haven't done anything major. You should be aware that I haven't received any complaints in my department before."

"Whether or not you've done great doesn't depend on someone else's words. Good or evil highly depends on the heart," Ning Guangyao said gloomily. "Initially, I had always prided myself in being a successful father. Although you're not particularly talented or bright, you were always my rational and obedient son. In this world, if one wants to lead, it is most important that they be led first.

"In the past, you used to be humbly under my lead. That was nothing to be embarrassed about. I actually favoured that quality. Other clans would get jealous that they lacked a grandson like you. But... Guodong, why...why choose now to refuse to listen to my command?"

Ning Guodong felt a chill up his spine. He forced a smile and said, "Father I don't know... what you're referring to. Is there a misunderstanding between us?"

"Misunderstanding?"

Ning Guangyao suddenly found the whole situation comical. He snorted coldly before asking, "How long are you planning on hiding it from me? How senseless have you become?!"

Ning Guodong was dumbstruck while he was deeply confused.

Ning Guangyao turned around, facing his back at his son. He sighed, "Has anyone given you permission to send something like that to all media channels in the country..."

Ning Guodong felt his legs shiver. He swallowed his saliva audibly as he failed to come up with an explanation.

"Silence is not the answer to your problems, let me assure you of that. Do you think doing so will uncover everything?" Ning Guangyao turned back and stared right into his son's eyes. "Guodong, in your heart, as the grandson of the Ning clan, is this shameless act how one is supposed to go after their other half?! To do harm! To destroy! To go after a married woman for the sake of revenge?!"

Ning Guodong forcefully raised his head as he thought of something. "Father! You're monitoring me?!" he yelled as he lost his voice.

Ning Guodong quickly realized he had never told his father about everything from meeting Zeng Mao and looking for Lin Ruoxi. The people around him wouldn't dare to report about him as well. The best possible explanation was that Ning Guangyao had sent someone to closely monitor him!

Suddenly, Ning Guodong noticed he knew nothing about his father. He didn't expect his optimistic and righteous father who was as transparent as glass to do something so shady. He even monitored his own son!

"So what if that's the case? If you really managed to succeed this time, do you still expect me to clean up your mess for you? Wipe your butt for you?!" Ning Guangyao was filled with the blaze of anger.

Ning Guodong started panting. Using a deep and hoarse voice, he asked, "Father... I've been wondering all this time, why... why do you care so much about that woman?! So what if she's the CEO of a multinational corporate?! She's nothing but a bastard given birth by a bitch and a wild man!"

"Shut up! I will not allow you to insult her in that way!" Ning Guangyao shouted furiously.

"Isn't this the case?!" Ning Guodong yelled back as if he had gone insane. "Father! I'm your biological son! Ever since I was a little boy, I've never dared to disobey your will! I would always ace every exam you threw at me! You wanted me to enter Peking University, so I worked hard for it! When you wanted me to enter a certain department, I spent much time and effort to obtain that position by my own merit! You raised my workload every year, and even constrained me for the number of times seeing the seniors in the clan! I have never complained about anything. I have never gotten mad! That's because I know you're planning to let me inherit everything in the clan!

"However, today, all I wanted to do was to look for a woman that I could spend the rest of my life with. Is this small request too much?! So what if Lin Ruoxi is married? So what if she's a CEO?! She didn't even have a wedding for her marriage. What's the difference with her being unmarried this way?! In this society, is snatching a woman from another man really that wrong?! In a society where having more than one lover is common practice, I, Ning Guodong, only asks for one woman. Is this really too much?!"

"Silence!!! I... Never in my life have I expected you to say such a thing. Kneel before me!" Ning Guodong yelled, enraged, while his body started trembling.

The corners of Ning Guodong's lips twitched, but he still kneeled down. Raising his head, he said loudly, "I can kneel, but this is because you're my father and you're the highest-ranked official in the Chinese government. It isn't because I'm at fault! I merely used means which reflected her identity in order to accomplish this!

"As long as the medical record is exposed, Lin Ruoxi would be seen as a bastard. Her inheritance of Yu Lei International would be denied! She and the dead slut had gotten everything through lies! The society will think she's shameless, and she has caused Lin Kun's and her grandmother's deaths to rob everything! At that moment, I will make her my woman and no one will be the wiser! Isn't that the truth?!"

Slap!

Ning Guangyao rushed over and directly slapped Ning Guodong on his face.

Ning Guangyao's eyes turned bloodshot. Using a deep voice, he warned, "Let this be known to you... even if you end up single for the rest of your life, Lin Ruoxi is the one person even your pinkie has no right to touch! Also, if you dare to call Lin Ruoxi a bastard, and insult her late mother, I will fucking shoot you by my hand and send you to death's door right here, right now!!!"

Ning Guodong had never heard his father swear before. Dumbstruck and stunned, he touched the side of his face which was slapped earlier, before his vision turned black...

Chapter 449 - True or False

 

Inside the old villa of the Lin clan, the atmosphere was thick with palpable pressure, causing the four people to look a little gloomy.

Yang Chen and Lin Ruoxi sat on a sofa, while Wang Ma and Guo Xuehua were seated opposite them. The tea on the table had already been cold for sometime, but no one wanted to reheat the water since they had the common consensus that it wasn't the right time to drink.

Following Wang Ma's narration, Yang Chen and Lin Ruoxi slowly understood some of the mysteries as they were unraveled before them.

Back then, being the lover of Lin Zhiguo, Old CEO gave birth to Lin Kun. To protect herself and her son Lin Kun from being oppressed by the wife Abbess Yun Miao, she spent most of her time and effort into growing Yu Lei International.

Of course, Lin Zhiguo had also assisted them wherever possible. He wouldn't leave his son Lin Kun to fend for himself.

However, Old CEO concealed the fact that Lin Kun had a disability. He was born without seminal vesicles. Although this had no effect on the usual relationship between a married couple, it only meant that a child was out of the question.

Old CEO wasn't foolish. She knew that if she wanted her own son to live safely and peacefully, and have the food and shelter he needed for the rest of his life, she certainly couldn't allow Yu Lei to collapse. She couldn't let Lin Zhiguo know that he had a 'crippled' son.

Major and wealthy clans were all afraid of having no descendents.

The Lin clan had very few children, so Lin Zhiguo highly valued this son of his although it was given birth to by a lover. If he knew that Lin Kun was a 'chicken which couldn't lay eggs', he would give Lin Kun much less care than Lin Kun needed.

Having been betrayed by Lin Zhiguo, Old CEO took advantage on the influence on the Lin clan to stabilize and develop Yu Lei International.

Due to Old CEO's resolute personality, she had kept her heart cold, and treated Lin Zhiguo good on some occasions and bad in others, leaving him hanging, causing him to feel sympathy for her and her son. Hence, Old CEO managed to expand Yu Lei and in turn, earn Yu Lei it's great name. Notwithstanding the fact that she wasn't kicked out by Abbess Yun Miao who had recently married Lin Zhiguo at that time.

As time passed and Lin Kun slowly grew up, he soon noticed the difference between him and other men. He knew that he wasn't considered a 'true man'. However, Old CEO told him strictly to keep it a secret.

In fact, even if Old CEO hadn't ordered him to do so, Lin Kun wasn't foolish enough to publicly announce his infertility.

Being obsessed with women, it was incredibly disgraceful that he couldn't have his own child. There was no way he was going to allow anyone to know about his condition!

Thus, his intention coincidentally fit Old CEO's objective. When Lin Kun was nearing the age of getting married, Old CEO managed to get Xue Zijing from Beijing to Zhonghai to become her daughter-in-law. At that time, Xue Zijing was alone in the country after the entire Xue clan left...

As she spoke, Wang Ma sighed deeply. "At that time, I had only just begun to work in this house. I only found out about all of these right before the death of Old CEO. However, she didn't tell me why she had picked Madam Xue to marry Young Master Kun. All I know is Madam Xue used to live a miserable life. She got boycotted by numerous people in Beijing. When Old CEO offered her help, she agreed to marry Young Master Kun.

"However, both of them were aware of the predicament the other was in. With no feelings between them, their marriage was merely for show. Although Young Master Kun slept in the same room with Madam Xue once in a while, they barely talked.

"Until one day... Madam suddenly got pregnant..."

... ...

The pregnancy of the madam from the Lin clan was something worth celebrating to a lot of people. Although Lin Kun was wild, once the Lin clan had a descendent, to the employees of Yu Lei International and a lot of other people, it meant that Yu Lei International had an inheritor, a successor to continue their legacy.

But only the people inside the house knew what it meant—Xue Zijing had an affair with another man!

... ...

"If I have to describe Madam, I would say... she was a strange woman," Wang Ma said while frowning her brows. "She appeared to be indifferent about everything. Even when she bore someone else's child, she still lived at home and went about her daily routine. She would do some reading, flower some plants, drink some tea, and sit by the balcony to enjoy the sunlight, as if everything was normal.

"At that time, I remember that Old Madam had been in a bad mood for a short while, but one day she chatted with Madam in her room for a long, long time. After that, Old CEO didn't seem to mind that Madam had someone else's child anymore. She even warned Young Master Kun to stay away from Madam and her child in front of me... Evidently, she wanted to protect Madam and the child within her.

"I believe Old Madam must've had an important discussion with Madam at that night. But... until now, what they talked about is beyond me. But whatever it was, it was the reason that Old Madam stopped opposing Madam from giving birth to the child."

Wang Ma turned her gaze to Lin Ruoxi who looked dreary. She sighed, "At that time... Miss was still inside Madam's stomach, but now you're already married. Miss... you have no idea how pleased I am at the events that have transpired in your life..."

Lin Ruoxi remained quiet, but it was obvious that her face was ice-cold.

"After that, Madam gave birth to Miss." Wang Ma continued narrating the story. "I still remember Old Madam's smile at that time. It was the time where Old Madam looked the happiest. She held Miss in her arms, without hesitation, she said, 'You'll be called Ruoxi in the future then', as if she had read that name aloud countless times, she spoke it with a sense of calmness and fluidity that had to come from practice.

"However, Young Master Kun seldom came home after that. He knew that Miss wasn't his child, but Old Madam had asked him to not do anything reckless. All he could do at that time was hide outside which had made me suffer in my heart. I know that Old Madam was actually trying to protect Young Master Kun, but their mother-and-son relationship soon became terrible."

Yang Chen didn't feel good as well when he listened to the story. He seemed to be able to understand why his late 'father-in-law' Lin Kun would behave that way.

Knowing that he was a half 'eunuch' since young, while he was born in a major clan, being surrounded by women, all he could do at the end of the day was live life as an actor.

Thus, Lin Kun had kept the secret in his heart all this time, afraid that others would find out one day. Anyone, even those with the strongest willpower, would face insanity from having to keep such a secret.

After that, his legal wife even started bearing someone else's child, while his mom insisted on protecting the woman and the child inside her. He was not even given a reason. Lin Kun was just asked to keep his mouth shut. Every last bit of his pride had been completely stepped on!

Lin Kun found it more absurd that Old CEO passed Yu Lei International to a young girl whom she had no relations with...

The series of negative events was more than enough to make Lin Kun behave the way he had. He wasn't humane anymore. He was now acting in an irrational state of mind.

... ...

Lin Ruoxi suddenly opened her mouth to ask, "Wang Ma... since Grandma had done so much just to let that person live a worry-free life, why did she still pass Yu Lei International to me... Didn't she know how much he would hate me this way..."

Wang Ma smiled bitterly. "Miss, do you think Young Master Kun... has the capabilities to manage the company well? Or rather... could he operate the family business at the very least to save it from it's collapse?"

Lin Ruoxi remained silent. It was indeed difficult. Ignoring the fact that Lin Kun already had a twisted personality, his competence was far inferior to hers. Lin Kun had lived an extravagant life for the most part, and to which, he had failed to pick up any sort of business acumen at all.

"Miss, actually, I only managed to understand Old Madam's hard work after all this had taken place," Wang Ma sighed. "When Miss was still really young, Old Madam had started raising you as an inheritor. Old Madam treated you better than how a lot of other people treated their own grandchildren, even though you weren't her biological granddaughter. She had hoped that one day, you would come to love your family and accept a father like Young Master Kun. Old Madam had searched everywhere and managed to find Miss Mo Qianni. At that time, she was a girl from Sichuan Province. Old Madam saw her potential, and supported her education. She then allowed her to join the company before you had even set foot into that place, so that Miss Mo could be your assistant after you inherited the position... Everything had been planned by Old Madam from the start.

"Old Madam even used her relationship with Lin Zhiguo to let you get close to the Cai clan. All this was done in hopes that one day it may protect Miss and Yu Lei..."

"Wang Ma... are you saying Grandma had been using me... to protect her own son..." Lin Ruoxi asked while bitterness filled the corners of her lips.

Wang Ma shook her head. Sincerely, she said, "Miss, the blood relation could be faked, but could the love be faked as well? Miss, you had lived with Old Madam for more than twenty years. Even a fool could tell that her fondness for you was legitamate"

Lin Ruoxi's body shivered slightly. Raising her head, she looked at the oil painting of the kind-looking old woman as she murmured something.

Currently, Guo Xuehua who had remained silent to listen to Wang Ma's narration suddenly said, "Perhaps... I know the conversation between Zijing and Old CEO..."

Not only did Wang Ma get curious, even Yang Chen and the absent-minded Lin Ruoxi turned to look over there. Evidently, Guo Xuehua sounded like she indeed knew something.

Guo Xuehua looked like she was struggling a little. At last, she shook her head and sighed. "I initially felt it was inappropriate to say it. But Ruoxi is now my daughter-in-law, I feel that there's no reason for me to hide this anymore."

Guo Xuehua turned her gaze to Lin Ruoxi. "Ruoxi, I feel that the reason your grandma hoped for you to be born and even pushed for you to become CEO of Yu Lei, is not just because she could confuse General Lin Zhiguo into giving you guys more care as you were his granddaughter. The other reason could be... your biological father was more competent to take care of Yu Lei International, and protect you and Lin Kun..."

As Guo Xuehua spoke, the picture in the album which she had seen earlier suddenly flashed in Lin Ruoxi's mind. The man in the picture had almost given her a conclusion in that instant!

Lin Ruoxi paled while terror and astonished filled her eyes, causing her to panic.

Guo Xuehua noticed her reaction and asked, "Ruoxi... what happened?"

Yang Chen held Lin Ruoxi's shoulder, letting her shivering body lean on his body. He then turned to Guo Xuehua and said helplessly, "Mom, Ruoxi's biological father that you just mentioned, isn't Premier Ning, is he..."

This time, Guo Xuehua's expression was brilliant. She had her mouth half-opened while shock filled her eyes. The answer to that question didn't have to be said. Her expression had said enough.

Chapter 450 - It's Fake

 

No matter how one sees it, Old CEO had put in an absurd amount of effort to see this through. It would be impossible for most people to pull off these events with such precision.

Ignoring the fact that Lin Zhiguo had been kept in the dark from the beginning to end, having been the guardian of Lin Ruoxi and Lin Kun for more than two decades, he had tried his best to rectify his mistakes, but his efforts were in vain as Lin Ruoxi still refused to acknowledge him as her 'grandfather'.

Soon, it was revealed that even the absolute leader of the government Ning Guangyao was involved in this mess.

Lin Ruoxi had become the CEO of Yu Lei in her early twenties. Although she was exceptionally competent, had no one look out for her and provide assistance to her where necessary, she would've been harmed by those with malicious intentions.

Moreover, Lin Ruoxi wasn't a fan of socializing with others. She had always treated people coldly, and was born with a flawless appearance.

If no one had protected her, her chance of survival in this world would have been shaky at best.

It was these two years when Lin Ruoxi stabilized Yu Lei while she had gotten more mature that the help given had decreased.

Yang Chen found it weird as well. He had known and married Lin Ruoxi for less than a year, and during that time she had gotten herself into a whole mess of trouble. Was it possible that Lin Zhiguo stopped all of them before that? Although Lin Zhiguo was capable enough to secretly help her, it wasn't smart for him to intervene on the surface like the business world or politics. So it was all because there was a more domineering figure like Ning Guangyao providing support!

With his support, even if Yu Lei International refused to entertain government officials, and Lin Ruoxi completely avoided showing up to public events, no one would dare to displease Yu Lei! Furthermore, Mo Qianni was in charge of most of the public relations work, so there was no reason for them to hold any worries.

Guo Xuehua didn't think of much of it. She said, "Back then, I was in the same grade with Zijing in school. Premier Ning... was our senior in the graduate school, and also our lecturer's assistant. It was at that time that Zijing and I started knowing Premier Ning..."

As Guo Xuehua spoke, the hidden matters in the past finally got revealed...

Back then, when the three were still young, since Ning Guangyao was their lecturer and he bumped into the two ladies outside the school for a few times, they started to get to know each other better.

Ning Guangyao was undoubtedly the fairytale prince of countless ladies. His family background, education level, appearance, in addition to his highly praised character could easily gain him the hearts of a lot of ladies.

Guo Xuehua and Xue Zijing weren't exceptions. The two both looked stunning. Most people viewed them equally as beautiful.

Thus, the friendship between the two sister-like best friends had experienced minor changes as they started to develop feelings for the same man.

When Guo Xuehua said she used to like Ning Guangyao, she blushed a little. Evidently, she remembered the past like it was yesterday. As she felt that time had passed really quickly, she regretted for having fought with Xue Zijing for Ning Guangyao.

That was because Guo Xuehua only found out afterward that Ning Guangyao had liked Xue Zijing from the start. He merely treated Guo Xuehua as his sister.

Yang Chen recalled what had happened in the military camp of the Yang clan. When Ning Guangyao heard that Guo Xuehua was locked up, he was immediately enraged. It was exactly the same as what Guo Xuehua had described—the love that one brother would have for his sister.

However, life was not so simple. Matters between men and women were often filled with complications.

As Guo Xuehua slowly noticed that she was failing to win over Ning Guangyao, she stopped interacting with Xue Zijing out of anger. She initially thought Xue Zijing and Ning Guangyao would get married one day. However, she then heard that Ning Guangyao was going to marry the young lady from the Luo clan which happened to be prosperous at that time, Luo Cuishan.

After that, for whatever reason, most members of the Xue clan had left Beijing and gone to other countries, leaving Xue Zijing alone in the country with no one to rely on.

"Actually, I feel incredibly guilty when I mention Zijing. Since I was filled with resentment, I didn't offer her help. After a few years, I then heard that she had gotten married with some clan from the south, and after that, she became just another chapter in my life." Guo Xuehua looked at Lin Ruoxi apologetically. "Ruoxi, I've actually wanted to apologize to your mother one day. I was too irrational back then. I shouldn't have broken our friendship because of that. Unfortunately, it's all too late now."

"Then why do you think Ruoxi's father might be Premier Ning?" Yang Chen asked.

Lin Ruoxi looked at Guo Xuehua with a complicated gaze. She wanted to listen to the real reason.

Guo Xuehua sighed deeply. Closing her eyes, she said, "At that time, since I was mad... I accepted Pojun, and I married him after a few years. Of course, I slowly developed feelings for him after interacting for a long time. I didn't get married out of anger. I still remember when I followed Pojun to Zhonghai a few years after we got married, we bumped into Premier Ning to our surprise... I said to our surprise because he appeared to be avoiding us. If it wasn't for the fact that he couldn't avoid us on that day, he wouldn't have bothered to talk to us at all. I can't remember the situation clearly anymore, but if I calculate the time when Ruoxi was born... At that time... he should've gone to Zhonghai to look for Zijing..."

"When... when that happened, wasn't he already married?" Lin Ruoxi asked while her voice shivered slightly.

Guo Xuehua frowned. "Yeah, and his son Ning Guodong should've been born already."

"Then why did he do this... Does he not feel the shame in his heart?" Lin Ruoxi asked as if she was talking to herself.

Guo Xuehua remained quiet, while Wang Ma wiped her tears.

After a while, Guo Xuehua said helplessly, "Who knows? No one except them knows what all of these are about..."

Lin Ruoxi stood up from the sofa before walking toward the staircase expressionlessly.

"Miss, are you okay?" Wang Ma asked after standing up, worried.

Lin Ruoxi looked like she heard nothing. Her footsteps were rather weak, but she still managed to walk upstairs by holding onto the rail to support her weight.

At this moment, the phone inside the living hall rang.

Everyone looked over there. Wang Ma said, "I'll pick it up."

Lin Ruoxi thought it could be from her company since she might've missed a phone call. Being responsible, she stopped walking upstairs to see if the call was really hers.

Unexpectedly, Wang Ma was stunned immediately after picking up the call. After a while, she reluctantly looked at Lin Ruoxi and said, "Miss, it's a call for you."

Lin Ruoxi took a deep breath as she tried to energize herself. "Is it from the company?" She sounded exhausted.

"No..."

"Hmm?"

"It's... it's... from Premier Ning..." Wang Ma stammered.

When Lin Ruoxi received the phone, she almost dropped it on the carpet. Her eyes obviously revealed complexity and panic.

After a long time, Lin Ruoxi finally raised the phone. She tried her best to speak calmly. "Hi, Lin Ruoxi speaking."

Ning Guangyao didn't get angry even though he was kept waiting. Instead, he spoke warmly and gently, "I'm Ning Guangyao. I hope Boss Lin doesn't mind this sudden phone call."

It was rare for the premier to speak in such a manner. Even the presidents of other countries may not be privy to such warm treatment.

"Em," Lin Ruoxi answered.

Ning Guangyao didn't find the situation awkward. He smiled as he said, "So I heard that my son had gone over the line recently. I was informed about his actions. I promise to Boss Lin that I'll deal with this matter seriously. I certainly won't cause trouble to Boss Lin and your company."

"Deal with it?" Bitterness surfaced at the corners of Lin Ruoxi's lips. "How?"

Ning Guangyao sounded surprised that Lin Ruoxi was this calm. Solemnly, he said, "The medical record Boss Lin has seen is fake. Boss Lin does not need to worry about a thing. I have blocked off all the documents sent to media channels. Nothing against Boss Lin will be reported in the news. At the same time, I will make sure that my son doesn't harass Boss Lin in the future."

It's fake? It's fake?! It's fake?!?!

He said everything is fake?!

Lin Ruoxi had the urge to laugh. She even lost control on her behavior. "Since Premier Ning says it's fake, it must be a fake then. If there's nothing else, I'll end the call now."

As soon as she finished speaking, without giving Ning Guangyao a chance to reply, she immediately ended the call!

Since the house was really quiet, everyone could hear the conversation clearly.

Wang Ma and Guo Xuehua looked at the mournful Lin Ruoxi as they felt a heartache, but they had no clue how they could console her.

Yang Chen clenched his fists tightly. He felt terrible at the turn of events.

Lin Ruoxi's father Lin Kun turned out to be fake. Her effort and suffering in the past were all in vain. Her grandmother whom she had loved the most, was manipulating her. She had worked tirelessly just to avoid disappointing her grandmother, but now the whole situation seemed so comical. Furthermore, she was given birth by her mother through cheating in the marriage...

When everything felt so burdensome, her biological father... suddenly told her that everything was fake!

He didn't plan on acknowledging his own daughter!

Grief and fury couldn't be spotted in Lin Ruoxi's eyes. But the desolation felt like an isolated land sealed with ice thousands of miles away. She exuded an unbearable cold aura.

Yang Chen suddenly felt contempt for himself. So what if he could go against countless troops, missiles, and rockets? All he wanted was for his wife to stop showing this look of despair, but even he with all his abilities, cannot do such a task!

Suddenly, Lin Ruoxi felt that her vision blurred. When she closed her eyes, she fainted on the spot...