Volume One, Chapter 28: What sort of man is Wang Chengzu? Surely you know that better than anyone, Young Master Lin?

At that moment, Huo Yanchuan came downstairs, still bleary-eyed from sleep. A heavy stench of alcohol quickly permeated the entire living room. Huo Qingjun, already in a foul mood, grew even more irritable and hurled his phone directly at Huo Yanchuan.

Huo Yanchuan was rubbing his eyes and only felt something strike him. Thinking it was a hallucination from his hangover, he was caught off guard when a sharp pain flared in his forehead. He reached up to touch it, only to find his hand covered in blood.

Bewildered by the sudden assault, Huo Yanchuan grew angry and roared, "Dad, what are you doing?!"

Throwing a phone at him first thing in the morning! What if he were disfigured or left with a scar?

Huo Qingjun had felt a flicker of guilt upon seeing the wound, but Huo Yanchuan’s tone instantly extinguished it.

"What am I doing? I want to kill you! How dare you strike Tang Ruan in front of your Uncle Tang? Do you think you're untouchable?"

Huo Yanchuan was completely silenced. He whispered in defense, "I never intended to hit Tang Ruan."

"Your Uncle Tang saw it with his own eyes; how dare you argue!" Did he take him for a senile old fool?

"Dad, I’m not arguing, listen to me explai—"

"Enough nonsense! The most important thing right now is to repair our relationship with the Tang family!"

"Repair our relationship with the Tang family?" Huo Yanchuan curled his thin lips. "Dad, look at our status versus theirs. Is it really worth debasing ourselves?" It should be the Tang family begging the Huo family!

Huo Qingjun slapped him across the face. "And who do you think is to blame for this?" If not for Huo Yanchuan’s reckless behavior, which had drawn severe public backlash online, would the Huo family have been affected? Would they be in such a disadvantageous position? If news of a fallout with the Tang Corporation were to spread, the Huo family would be under attack from all sides. Even if they managed to survive, their status would surely be compromised.

After eating, Huo Yanchuan tidied himself up and followed Huo Qingjun out. No sooner had they reached the entrance than a crowd swarmed them, thrusting cameras and microphones into their faces.

"Mr. Huo, what is your take on Young Master Huo’s drunk driving spree late last night?"

"Young Master Huo, you knew drunk driving is illegal, so what were you thinking?"

"Young Master Huo, why did you get into a shouting match with a civilian while driving drunk? Was it because of Miss Lu?"

The video of Huo Yanchuan’s drunk driving had gone viral because of a confrontation with a civilian. He had tried to overtake a car, but when the other driver blocked his path, the alcohol fueled his rage. He rolled down his window and began cursing at the other driver. The man, realizing Huo was drunk, immediately started recording. After the outburst, Huo drove off, still shouting insults. The aggrieved civilian posted the video online.

"Mr. Huo, your own son has broken the law. Will you cover for him?"

"Mr. Huo, Young Master Huo—"

Their plans to go out were ruined, and the two were forced to retreat back into the Huo estate.

***

Huo Qingjun had never felt so humiliated. He was so angry he wanted to kick Huo Yanchuan to death, but upon seeing the wound on his forehead, he settled for a scathing glare instead. After all, this was the son he had placed high hopes in since childhood; he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

"You! When will you ever learn to be steady?" He sighed and headed upstairs. It seemed they wouldn't be leaving the house today.

***

Tang Corporation
Tang Ruan’s Office

"Knock, knock—"
"Come in."

Xiao Lian walked in, her gaze flickering toward the corner of the office with a hint of discomfort. An extra desk had been placed there, where Lin Jie was focused on reviewing documents. While she was away from the Lin family, Lin Jie had stayed at the Tang Corporation to act as Tang Ruan’s assistant. With no other space available, a desk had been set up in Tang Ruan’s office as a temporary workstation.

"Is something the matter?"

Xiao Lian nodded, glancing discreetly at Lin Jie. Tang Ruan stood up, left the office, and entered an empty conference room next door. Xiao Lian followed closely behind.

"Speak."

"Director Tang, Young Master Lin is here. He wants to see you."

Tang Ruan’s expression soured. "I won't see him."

"Young Master Lin says he is here to take Miss Lin back for an arranged marriage." Xiao Lian, unaware of the underlying events, assumed Lin Jie had simply had a falling out with her family and was hiding at Tang Ruan’s place.

"Arranged marriage?" Tang Ruan’s eyes sharpened. "To whom?"

"I heard it’s Young Master Wang from the Wang family in Jiangcheng."

The Wang family of Jiangcheng. There was only one person who went by "Young Master Wang": Wang Chengzu.

Tang Ruan clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails dug into her palms. Xiao Lian noticed and exclaimed, "Director Tang, your hand!"

"I'm fine." Tang Ruan unclenched her hand, her voice icy. "Tell him to wait for me in the second-floor reception room."

The Tang Corporation received many visitors daily. Those with potential or whom they deemed suitable were welcomed into various departmental meeting rooms. Those they had no interest in, but couldn't dismiss too bluntly, were relegated to the second-floor reception room.

Xiao Lian settled the visitor in a second-floor room and messaged Tang Ruan. Not long after, Tang Ruan arrived. She saw Lin Wen inside. Compared to before, he looked much more weary.

It made sense; a man like Wang Chengzu would never swallow the humiliation of having his prey slip through his fingers. He couldn't touch the Tang Corporation, so he chose to squeeze the soft target—the Lin family. Although she hadn't paid close attention, the news of the Lin family’s precarious situation was known throughout the industry. The current Lin family was in an even worse state than before.

Seeing Lin Wen and the Lin family suffering made Tang Ruan feel a sense of grim satisfaction. She wore a mocking smile as she pushed open the door and stepped in.

Seeing her, Lin Wen stood up instinctively and smiled, calling her as he always had: "Ruan Ruan."

Tang Ruan didn't say a word, casting a cold glance at him. "Young Master Lin, let’s not be so familiar." The moment he decided to sacrifice Lin Jie to Wang Chengzu for the sake of the Lin family, he had ceased to be the "Brother Wen" she once knew. He did not deserve to call her Ruan Ruan.

"Ruan—Miss Tang, Xiao Jie is my sister. I didn't want to..."

Tang Ruan raised her eyes slightly. "But you did it anyway."

Lin Wen choked on his words.

"The Lin family hasn't reached the end of their rope, and you aren't out of options. You’re doing this simply because you want a shortcut." Tang Ruan ruthlessly pierced through his facade. After all, sacrificing one sister was enough to gain the help of the Wang family and pull the Lin family through their crisis.

Lin Wen kept his head down, his hands clenched tightly at his sides. Tang Ruan was right; he was looking for a shortcut. But he was doing it to save the Lin family! He had spent this entire time begging for help, enduring cold stares and hitting dead ends everywhere he turned. He had no other choice.

If he could sacrifice so much for the family, why couldn't Lin Jie? She was a daughter of the Lin family; they had raised her in luxury—wasn't it time she gave something back?

Lin Wen suddenly tightened his fists. "Xiao Jie is a daughter of the Lin family. The family raised her all these years; it is time she did something for us!" Wang Chengzu had promised that if Lin Jie married him, he would let bygones be bygones and continue to support the Lin family. In fact, he promised even greater support than before. Besides, Wang Chengzu was fond of Lin Jie. She wouldn't be mistreated. If she could marry someone who liked her while helping her family, what was there to complain about?

Tang Ruan was beyond disappointed in Lin Wen. In her memories, he had been a gentle, considerate, and warm older brother. But now...

Tang Ruan narrowed her eyes. "Young Master Lin, are you really unaware of what kind of person Wang Chengzu is?"