Chapter 29: Stop It, All of You
Lin Aoshan cleared his throat. "Young Master Ding, I'm terribly sorry, but we have too many family matters to deal with right now. Once everything is settled, I'll pay you a personal visit to express my gratitude."
He trusted Xiao Ye more than he trusted Ding Qi.
Besides, he had been at the helm of the Lin Family for many years. While he might not have been able to see through all deception, he was certainly an old fox.
This Ding Qi's act wasn't quite perfect. The look he inadvertently let slip revealed he was by no means a good person—the complete opposite of the image he projected.
What Lin Aoshan despised most wasn't the overt villainy of the Han Family, but this kind of treacherous scheming behind a smile. It was utterly chilling!
"Chuyue, this is a golden opportunity! If you miss it, you'll never get another one!"
Fearing Ding Qi might leave, Lin Yinghao hurriedly grabbed his hand. "Young Master Ding, we all understand how deeply you care for the Lin Family."
"Yes, Young Master Ding, please don't leave in a huff. We will all remember your kindness."
"Lin Chuyue, don't tell me you're just unwilling to spend the money? We have a stake in the Lin Family's assets too, you can't make this decision all by yourself!"
"To put it bluntly, if you hadn't refused to marry Han Fei back then, the Lin Family wouldn't be in this mess."
"We finally get a chance, and you're still playing high and mighty and refusing it. You clearly don't care if the Lin Family survives or not!"
"If you don't sign, you'll be failing the Lin Family and all of us!"
Lin Yinghao's wife, Zhang Yue, shrieked, "Lin Chuyue, you're a curse on this family! It's that vixen face of yours that brought all this trouble to the Lin Family, and you still have the nerve to refuse!"
"Agree right now, or this won't be over!"
"That's right! We're part of the Lin Family too! We want to sign, and you have no right to decide for us!"
SLAP!
The resounding slap instantly silenced the room.
Zhang Yue clutched her face in disbelief.
'I... I was just slapped?'
The one who had struck her was none other than Xiao Ye. "Watch your damn mouth! Say one more word about my wife, and I'll make you mute!"
"You dare hit me! I'll kill you!"
Zhang Yue lunged forward, clawing wildly, but before she could even get close, Xiao Ye sent her to the ground with a single kick.
"You dare hit my wife! I'll fucking kill you!"
With bloodshot eyes, Lin Yinghao charged forward, ready to fight Xiao Ye to the death.
Just as Xiao Ye was about to strike back, Lin Chuyue, at the end of her rope, yelled, "Both of you, stop it!"
Her head was pounding. The external pressures were already frustrating enough.
And now the Lin Family itself was in complete chaos, and on top of it all, Xiao Ye, an outsider, had to get involved.
"As if the Lin Family isn't chaotic enough already, right?"
Lin Chuyue was so furious her temples throbbed. "Xiao Ye, get out! The Lin Family's affairs don't need an outsider's interference, and you have no right to get physical!"
'I can't just stand by and watch this. Xiao Ye is too reckless. If I don't teach him a lesson now, he'll inevitably bring disaster upon himself one day!'
'I'm only doing this to make him understand that violence is never the solution!'
Xiao Ye let out a self-mocking laugh. "She was saying such vile things. I was just defending your honor. Was I wrong to do that?"
"I don't need you to defend my honor, and you have no right to make decisions for me! You just hit a member of my family!"
"Family?"
Xiao Ye couldn't believe how naive Lin Chuyue was. 'She still considers them family?'
'When disaster strikes, they scatter in every direction. They're worse than friends!'
"Alright, that's enough. Both of you, stop arguing."
Ding Qi stood up, forcing a wry smile. "If I'd known my visit would cause so much trouble, I wouldn't have come."
"I'll leave now. Chuyue, please don't fight on my account."
"As for this contract, sign it if you want to. If not, then forget about it."
With that, he turned and walked toward the door.
Lin Yinghao rushed after him and grabbed his arm. "Young Master Ding, don't go! Who said we're not signing?"
"Chuyue, if you claim we're your family, then sign the contract!"
"Are you just going to stand by and watch the Lin Family be destroyed? How will you face our ancestors? How will you face your grandfather after all he invested in you?"
Lin Chuyue knew she couldn't refuse out of selfishness. This truly was a chance for the Lin Family.
And it might be their last one.
"Fine. I agree. I'll sign the contract."
Gritting her teeth, Lin Chuyue nodded. She had to shoulder the responsibility for the Lin Family.
Seeing Lin Chuyue finally relent, the gloom on Ding Qi's face was instantly replaced by a smile. "Chuyue, I'm so glad you understand my feelings for you."
"I genuinely want to help the Lin Family overcome this crisis and ease your burden."
The other Lin Family members around them finally let out a collective sigh of relief.
The wealth they hoped to enjoy for the rest of their lives was finally secured!
"Young Master Ding is so magnanimous!"
"Chuyue, hurry and thank Young Master Ding! You refused him earlier, and he didn't even get angry. Now that's a true gentleman of talent!"
"Young Master Ding, any woman who marries you would be blessed for eight lifetimes!"
As they spoke, someone shot a scornful look at Xiao Ye. "Not like some people, who will be nothing more than country bumpkins from the sticks their entire lives!"
"A toad like him wants to marry Chuyue? In his dreams!"
"Chuyue, I can tell Young Master Ding is interested in you. Why don't you two just get together?"
"Chuyue, Young Master Ding is such a great catch. If you don't want him, I might just make a move myself!"
Ding Qi looked at Lin Chuyue, his gaze exceptionally earnest. "Chuyue, my feelings for you are genuine. I'm just glad you understand that."
Just then, an inopportune voice cut in again. "Chuyue, is this your family? The kind that wants you to marry a man who already has a wife and kids?"
Everyone whipped their heads around. Seeing that it was Xiao Ye who had spoken again, their faces instantly filled with disgust.
Ding Qi, however, froze, his expression slowly darkening.
'I've hidden the fact that I have a wife and kids extremely well. How could he possibly know?'
'Or... is this kid just making things up?'
'Whatever the reason, I can't let this guy keep talking!'
Ding Qi composed himself and shouted with righteous indignation, "Nonsense! Stop slandering me! I don't even have a girlfriend, let alone a wife!"
Filled with righteous indignation, the Lin Family members all glared at Xiao Ye.
"Exactly! If he really had a wife, why would he be pursuing Chuyue?"
"With Young Master Ding's status, his wife would surely come from a family far more powerful than the Lin Family. There's no way he'd abandon a wife like that for Chuyue."
"I think this kid is just green with envy. He's jealous of Young Master Ding, so he's spouting nonsense!"
By this point, Lin Chuyue was utterly disappointed with Xiao Ye. "Don't say another word. Is it fun to slander people?"
"You've done this time and time again. Not only does it fail to convince me, it just makes me look down on you!"
"Someone who can only achieve their goals by slandering others is despicable and shameless!"
Seeing that Lin Chuyue was on his side, Ding Qi grew even more confident. His eyes were as venomous as a viper's, but his expression was the picture of righteousness.
"Xiao Ye, out of respect for Chuyue, I have tolerated you time and time again. I never thought you would take my patience for weakness!"
"From now on, if you dare to spout any more nonsense, I will have the Ding Family's legal team sue you for slander!"