Chapter 43: Xiao Ye Sold Her?
If he could expose Xiao Ye's identity, Huo Wenhao would have torn this guy's mouth to shreds!
'That clueless son of a bitch! He'll be a broke loser for the rest of his life!'
The Bai Family members were stunned, not expecting Huo Wenhao to be targeting them.
"Young Master Huo… you…"
"Get lost! If you don't, I'll have the Bai Family wiped from the map in Jiangcheng!"
Hearing this, how could the Bai Family dare say another word? They scrambled away in disgrace, all their previous aggression gone.
Once he was sure they were all gone, Huo Wenhao shot a discreet glance at Xiao Ye.
Seeing no reaction from him, he simply turned to Lin Chuyue and said, "Miss Lin, if you need any help at all, please don't hesitate to ask."
After speaking, he clasped his hands in a respectful gesture toward Xiao Ye, then hurriedly left with his men, feeling delighted inside.
'My timing was perfect!'
'Even though Xiao Ye didn't say anything, he'll definitely remember this favor!'
Lin Chuyue stared blankly at Huo Wenhao's retreating figure, completely bewildered.
'She barely knew Huo Wenhao. Why did he help her? And why was he so polite?'
Before she could figure it out, Lin Aoshan woke up.
Hearing the sound, Lin Chuyue rushed back into the room. "Grandfather, I'm so glad you're all right."
"Haha, I knew it. The old master is a good man favored by heaven; he was bound to pull through."
Lin Yinghao walked in with his men, a smile on his face.
When Lin Aoshan was critically ill, Lin Yinghao had claimed to be searching for a Divine Doctor, but in reality, he had just found a corner to slack off in.
'A Divine Doctor? What for?'
'Once the old man kicked the bucket, the vast family fortune would naturally fall into his hands.'
'As for Lin Chuyue, she was just a woman. A few tricks were all it would take to drive her away.'
'He had even bribed the lawyer in charge of Lin Aoshan's will.'
Though he said this, Lin Yinghao was seething with hatred inside.
'The old bastard actually pulled through again!'
Suppressing his resentment, Lin Yinghao looked at Lin Chuyue. "I heard Young Master Huo was just here and helped drive away the troublemaking Bai Family?"
"We have no connection with the Huo Family. In fact, Young Master Huo used to favor the Chen Family. Why would he come and help you?"
Lin Chuyue couldn't even be bothered to look at him.
'He runs faster than anyone when there's trouble, then jumps out to make his presence known when everything's fine. It's beyond infuriating!'
She tucked in the corner of Lin Aoshan's blanket and walked out of the room. "I don't know. If you have something to say, say it outside."
"You don't know? Why would Young Master Huo help you for no reason?"
"I know! Young Master Huo must have taken a liking to her pretty face!"
"Chuyue, the Lin Family is still in a precarious position. If you could get together with Young Master Huo, all our problems would be solved!"
The other Lin Family members who had followed along all started talking at once.
Lin Chuyue's face turned pale with fury. "Shut up! I will never sell myself!"
With that, she glanced at Xiao Ye. "Come with me."
The two of them went to the study.
Lin Chuyue sat in silence, sighing soundlessly.
'She didn't understand how the Lin Family had become like this.'
'Those elders who were once so kind and gentle to her had all become loathsome, as if they had transformed into different people.'
"So power really does change a person…"
Xiao Ye comforted her, "Don't worry. You're under my protection. No one can force you to do anything."
Lin Chuyue shot him a glare. "Don't talk nonsense. Starting today, you're staying in the Lin Family estate. Don't even think about going out and causing trouble for me."
"The Lin Family is chaotic enough as it is. Just give me a break and stay out of trouble."
Meanwhile, in the living room.
Lin Yinghao exchanged glances with the other Lin Family members. "That Lin Chuyue is so self-righteous. She doesn't give us the time of day!"
"Exactly! The Lin Family is in such dire straits, yet she refuses to sacrifice herself, bringing one disaster after another upon us."
"I bet that Young Master Huo is infatuated with her, but she's just playing hard to get. She doesn't know how good she has it!"
"We have to find a way to get rid of this jinx and save the entire Lin Family!"
Lin Yinghao's eyes narrowed. "In that case, don't blame me for what I'm about to do."
「Night fell.」
The entire Lin Family gathered to discuss their next steps.
Lin Yinghao casually placed a glass of water in front of Lin Chuyue.
"Chuyue, the old master isn't well."
"You're in charge of the Lin Group now, but with so many of us here, surely we can't all sit around doing nothing, right?"
"I suggest that everyone return to their original positions. It would also help ease some of the pressure on you, don't you think?"
Lin Chuyue sneered. "You were the ones who saw the Lin Family was in trouble and ran for the hills, abandoning even the general manager's position."
"Now you want to come back? Too late!"
"If you still want to work for the Lin Family, then show some real sincerity!"
After speaking, she felt a little thirsty and subconsciously picked up the glass of water and took a sip.
Seeing this, Lin Yinghao cleared his throat. "You're right. You should get some rest. The future of the Lin Family depends on you. We'll be going now."
The Lin Family members dispersed just like that, leaving Lin Chuyue feeling puzzled.
'They didn't try to make things difficult for her? The sun must be rising in the west!'
She didn't say anything more and quickly returned to her room.
「11 PM.」
Several shadowy figures opened Lin Chuyue's door, hoisted the person lying on the bed, and bundled her into a car, which then sped away from the Lin Family estate.
「A dozen or so minutes later.」
「Emperor First Hotel.」
BANG BANG BANG!
A knock came from the door.
One of the subordinates opened the door.
Outside, Lin Yinghao gave a sly grin. "Uh… I'm here to deliver something to Young Master Huo."
The subordinate glanced at the long, tightly wrapped bundle. "What's this?"
Lin Yinghao pulled back a corner of the wrapping, revealing Lin Chuyue's face. "The person Young Master Huo fancies."
The subordinate remembered what Huo Wenhao had said to Lin Chuyue that afternoon and assumed the young master had truly taken a liking to her. He nodded. "Put her in the bedroom inside."
"Of course, of course."
After carrying Lin Chuyue inside, Lin Yinghao and his men quickly took their leave, afraid of interrupting Huo Wenhao's "good time."
Before long, Huo Wenhao returned to his room, fresh from a night of indulgence at a bar.
He drunkenly switched on the lights, and when he saw the person on his bed, the alcohol's effects vanished instantly!
'H-How is Lin Chuyue on his bed?!'
'This is going to be the death of me!'
Huo Wenhao's face went white with terror. An image of Xiao Ye's face flashed in his mind, and he trembled so hard he could barely stand.
He frantically called his subordinate over. "W-What is going on?"
"The Lin Family brought her earlier, Young Master. They said she was the woman you had your eye on, so I let them bring her in…"
SLAP!
Huo Wenhao slapped him hard across the face. "You useless fool! Are you trying to get me killed?!"
'If Xiao Ye were to misunderstand, then he—no, the entire Huo Family—would be doomed!'
'Daring to touch Xiao Ye's woman? Not even nine lives would be enough to save him!'
The subordinate was completely dumbfounded, unable to understand what was wrong with Huo Wenhao or why he looked so terrified.
With trembling hands, Huo Wenhao took out his phone and dialed Xiao Ye's number. "Mr. Xiao, you have to come quick! Lin Chuyue is here with me!"
"It has nothing to do with me! I swear I didn't even touch her! If I'm lying, may every last member of the Huo Family die a horrible death!"
Xiao Ye arrived quickly and first went to check on Lin Chuyue.
She had been drugged. Fortunately, it was just a drug that induced unconsciousness. He estimated the effects would wear off in about five minutes.
Huo Wenhao looked at Xiao Ye, on the verge of tears. "I really didn't touch her, Master Xiao! The Lin Family brought her here on their own initiative!"
"Those animals! They're clearly trying to get me killed!"
"All right, stop wailing. I know it wasn't you," Xiao Ye said, waving his hand in annoyance.
Huo Wenhao finally breathed a sigh of relief. "I have a card prepared. When Miss Lin wakes up, you can give it to her as compensation. How does that sound?"
Xiao Ye casually took the bank card.
Lying on the bed, Lin Chuyue slowly opened her eyes, just in time to witness this scene.
Her eyes widened in astonishment.
'This was clearly a hotel.'
'Xiao Ye… had he sold her?!'