Chapter 44: Will Never Marry a Scumbag
Lin Chuyue's body felt sore and weak. She glared hatefully at Xiao Ye.
She recalled what Huo Wenhao had just said. 'Compensation?'
'Does that mean... they're using me to compensate someone?'
'Is that why they tied me up in a hotel and even drugged me?!'
'Damn it!'
'That scoundrel Xiao Ye! To think he'd send me to Huo Wenhao's bed for his own gain!'
'He's worse than an animal!'
'It seems all those times he saved me before were just part of a scam!'
Just as Xiao Ye finished speaking, he felt a sharp gaze on his back.
He turned to look at Lin Chuyue. "You're awake. Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
Lin Chuyue glared at him fiercely and shouted, "Stay right there! Don't come any closer!"
"Xiao Ye, you bastard! I was wrong about you!"
Faced with this sudden torrent of curses, Xiao Ye was utterly confused. "What?"
"Shut up! I will never forgive you!"
The corners of Lin Chuyue's eyes reddened as she glared at Xiao Ye. "If you take one more step, I'll die right here in front of you!"
"Ahem."
Huo Wenhao coughed lightly and stepped in to play the peacemaker with a smile. "Miss Lin, you've misunderstood."
"He wasn't the one who sent you here. It was people from your Lin Family. And I haven't touched you at all, from start to finish!"
"As soon as I saw you, I immediately notified Master Xiao... Xiao Ye, to come get you. That bank card just now was compensation for you."
"After all, you suffered this undeserved disaster because of me. I have no desire to get a bad reputation for taking things by force."
He was a young master of the Huo Family, after all. No matter what, he wouldn't force himself on a woman.
Lin Chuyue felt her strength gradually returning. She slowly sat up and carefully checked herself over.
Thankfully, her clothes were intact, and her body didn't have that particular soreness.
'Could it be... I really misunderstood?'
Xiao Ye stood by, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "No wonder you were cursing me out so fiercely. You didn't really think I sold you, did you?"
Lin Chuyue felt a little embarrassed and lowered her head slightly. "It was me. I misunderstood you."
"It's fine. I'm the bigger person; I won't hold it against you."
Xiao Ye gently patted the top of Lin Chuyue's head. "You, when are you ever going to trust me a little more?"
Huo Wenhao didn't want to interrupt their moment. "Well, it's getting late. You two should head back."
"Right. I'm going back right now to settle the score with those bastards!"
Lin Chuyue was seething with uncontrollable anger.
'I won't let a single one of those bastards who plotted against me get away with this!'
Xiao Ye nodded in agreement and quickly brought Lin Chuyue back to the old Lin Family residence.
Lin Yinghao was sprawled on the sofa, fantasizing about the glory of taking over the Lin Family, when he saw Lin Chuyue burst in.
He couldn't help but frown. "Why are you back?"
"Was Young Master Huo not satisfied? Or was he... too quick!"
His shameless words sent a chill through Lin Chuyue's heart.
She stared at Lin Yinghao with a stern face. "You were the ones who sent me there?"
"That's right. That Young Master Huo likes you. We were creating an opportunity for you. Don't be ungrateful."
Lin Chuyue instantly exploded. "So without even asking, you drugged me and packaged me up like a piece of merchandise to be sent away?"
"I'm a person! Not some cheap object!"
Only then did Lin Yinghao realize something was wrong. His expression turned ugly. "Don't tell me... nothing happened between you and Young Master Huo?"
"That's right. You're very disappointed, aren't you?" Lin Chuyue sneered contemptuously.
Hearing this, the expressions of the other Lin Family members in the room changed.
"Lin Chuyue, you're so useless! An opportunity was handed to you, and you couldn't even grasp it!"
"You didn't offend Young Master Huo, did you? Don't drag us down with you!"
"If you'd gotten in with Young Master Huo, the Lin Family could have soared to new heights! But you didn't cherish the chance. You're a traitor to the Lin Family!"
The shameless accusations made Lin Chuyue's pretty face tighten with anger.
She didn't want to disturb Lin Aoshan, who was resting upstairs, so she angrily pointed at the door. "Get out! All of you, get out!"
"If you don't, don't blame me for what happens next! You'll never set foot through the Lin Family's doors again!"
"Hmph! You offended Young Master Huo. You think we'd want to stay?"
Lin Yinghao's eyes widened. "Let me tell you, Lin Chuyue, if you drag us down, none of us will let you off!"
With that, he gestured, and the other Lin Family members followed him out without hesitation.
Lin Chuyue collapsed weakly onto the sofa, her expression desolate.
This was the true face of her so-called family. It was utterly heart-wrenching.
Just then, Lin Aoshan's weak voice called from upstairs, "Chuyue?"
"Grandpa."
Lin Chuyue rubbed her reddened eyes. "I'm coming up now! Xiao Ye, you can rest for a bit."
She quickly went up to the second-floor room.
Lin Aoshan grabbed her hand and gave a weak smile. "Chuyue, I don't think I have much time left."
Lin Chuyue quickly cut him off. "Grandpa, don't say that! You'll live a long and healthy life and always be with me!"
"I'll definitely find someone to cure your illness. Don't you dare think otherwise."
Lin Aoshan knew his own body; he had already given up the struggle.
The only thing he couldn't rest easy about was this granddaughter of his, who appeared tough on the outside but was soft on the inside.
"Chuyue, I need you to promise me one thing. From now on, no matter what happens, you must trust Xiao Ye!"
"He will never harm you, and he can protect you for the rest of your life."
"Go, call Xiao Ye here. Don't make your grandpa angry."
Although reluctant, Lin Chuyue still went to get Xiao Ye.
As they went upstairs, she warned him in a low voice, "In a minute, no matter what my grandpa says, just agree to it."
"But don't take it seriously. Just think of it as humoring an old man."
Xiao Ye gave a slight shrug, noncommittal, and followed Lin Chuyue into the second-floor bedroom.
Standing side by side, they looked like a perfect couple.
Lin Aoshan took Lin Chuyue's hand again. "Chuyue, I demand that you promise me you will marry Xiao Ye!"
"Grandpa, I don't want to get married in this lifetime, much less marry someone I don't like."
Lin Chuyue tried to make her position as clear as possible.
"This isn't the time for you to be willful!" Anger surfaced on Lin Aoshan's face. "Chuyue, I have never asked you to do anything, but this one thing, you must promise me!"
"Otherwise... otherwise... otherwise, I'll die right now!"
"Grandpa, you... how could you threaten me with that!"
Lin Chuyue was shocked, but she didn't dare make Lin Aoshan angry, so she could only nod. "Fine, I promise."
Only then did a smile appear on Lin Aoshan's face. "Chuyue, you will understand my good intentions one day."
"Xiao Ye, I'll be entrusting this girl to your care from now on. Could you please step out for a moment? I want to say a few more words to her."
"Alright, old man. You don't need to be so pessimistic. With me around, even King Yama wouldn't dare invite you over as a guest."
"As long as you listen to me and rest well, with my treatment, living for another decade or so will be a piece of cake."
Just as Xiao Ye was speaking, his phone suddenly rang.
The call was from Chu Yan, and her tone was anxious.
"Xiao Ye, can you come out for a second? I'm right at the gate of the Lin Family residence."
'What is she doing here at a time like this?'
Puzzled, Xiao Ye walked outside.
In the distance, he saw Chu Yan standing in front of her luxury car, pacing back and forth anxiously.
When she saw Xiao Ye, she immediately hurried over, her tone growing even more frantic. "My younger brother... he's suddenly disappeared! We don't know if he's alive or dead!"
"In the entire Chu Family, he's the relative I cherish the most!"
"Those people see me as a thorn in their side, that's why they went after him!"
"I have to go back immediately, find him, and crush those scumbags who are pulling the strings from behind the scenes!"
Xiao Ye listened patiently until she finished, his expression unchanged. "So, what's your purpose in coming to find me?"