Chapter 65: You're Truly Incorrigible
The news spread through Jiangcheng as if it had grown wings.
In just one afternoon, it had already made the rounds through all the upper echelons of society.
Han Jing even paid out of her own pocket to have the Jiangcheng media embellish the story, all with the goal of leaving Xiao Ye completely isolated and without support!
The Lin Residence.
When Lin Chuyue got the news, she was so furious that she threw open the door to the guest room. "Xiao Ye!"
Xiao Ye had just gotten out of the shower. Wrapped in nothing but a bath towel, his lean, toned chest was on full display.
He raised an eyebrow. "Well now, wifey. Are you here to join me in the shower?"
The tips of Lin Chuyue's ears instantly flushed red. She spun around. "Shameless! Who would want to do that with you!"
"You bastard, did you go and throw your weight around in front of the City Lord today?"
Xiao Ye wrapped his arms around her from behind. "No, I just went to give him a warning. Don't worry. You told me not to get physical, and I absolutely did not hit him."
Lin Chuyue forcefully shrugged him off. "Stop being so handsy! And hurry up and get dressed!"
She didn't dare turn back around until Xiao Ye was dressed. Even then, her cheeks were still faintly flushed. "What gives you the right to warn the City Lord?!"
"The news is everywhere now! The City Lord is coming after you! You're just impossible—do you do anything besides cause trouble?"
"You're so impulsive and reckless, you never think about the consequences! Sooner or later, you're going to be the death of the Lin Family!"
"I'm warning you. Starting today, you are forbidden from taking a single step out of this house!"
"Otherwise, get the hell out of the Lin residence and never show your face here again!"
With that, Lin Chuyue slammed the door and stormed off.
Back in her own room, she collapsed onto the sofa, feeling utterly drained.
'But the damage is done. I have to face what's coming.'
Lin Chuyue let out a long sigh. She grabbed the documents she had prepared and drove straight to the City Lord's Mansion.
'Regarding the tax issue, she would argue her case logically and explain the situation clearly to City Lord Yin in person.'
'While she was there, she would see if she could apologize on Xiao Ye's behalf and try to smooth things over.'
---
City Lord's Mansion.
When she heard Lin Chuyue had arrived, a vicious look twisted Han Jing's features. "Is she by herself?"
Her subordinate nodded. "Yes."
"Send her up."
After speaking, Han Jing raised her arm and draped it around the City Lord's neck.
"Darling, let me tell you something about this Lin Chuyue. She acts all high and mighty, but she's really just a filthy slut who'll sleep with anyone!"
"God knows how many men she's been with. She's probably riddled with STDs."
The City Lord gave her a squeeze. "Don't worry. Right now, you're the only one I like."
The sound of footsteps grew closer.
Lin Chuyue stood at the office door and knocked. "City Lord, I'm the director of the Lin Group. I've come to discuss the tax issue."
CREAK.
The door swung open.
The moment Lin Chuyue stepped inside, she froze.
"Han Jing?"
"Surprised? I'm still alive. And I'm living a much better life than you are."
Han Jing glared at Lin Chuyue, her eyes filled with venom. "Lin Chuyue, you and your boy toy, Xiao Ye, destroyed a dozen members of the Han Family. Are you able to sleep at night?"
"This is a blood debt, and I will collect it from you both, piece by piece, with interest!"
Lin Chuyue straightened her spine. "Han Jing, your family's death had nothing to do with Xiao Ye or me. They committed countless evil deeds and reaped what they sowed."
"SLAP!"
Han Jing raised her hand and slapped Lin Chuyue hard across the face.
She had put all her strength into it, and her own palm throbbed with a fiery sting.
But inside, she felt an incredible sense of satisfaction!
"Bitch!"
Han Jing grabbed a fistful of Lin Chuyue's hair and dragged her into the office. "If it wasn't for you, my family wouldn't have been wiped out!"
"You bitch, you brought this curse upon my entire family! I swear, I will annihilate every last member of your Lin Family!"
"And as for that lover boy of yours, Xiao Ye, I won't let him off the hook either!"
Lin Chuyue shoved Han Jing away. "You're insane!"
"Han Jing, people know right from wrong. I'm not going to argue with you over such foolishness."
"I'm here to see the City Lord."
"Pah!"
Han Jing spat viciously. "Lin Chuyue, cut the crap. Who the hell do you think you are?!"
"Let me tell you, I belong to the City Lord now. Whatever I want, I get."
"Destroying your Lin Family would be as easy as flipping my hand."
"Otherwise, why do you think your Lin Family is the only one being forced to pay this tax?!"
It all clicked for Lin Chuyue. 'No wonder the new City Lord has been targeting only the Lin Family since he took office.'
"Han Jing, those who try to harm others end up harming themselves. Stop this madness before it's too late."
"Bullshit! Who the fuck are you to stand there and preach to me! What gives you the right to lecture me?!"
"Lin Chuyue, that high-and-mighty act of yours makes me sick!"
"You came here to beg the City Lord to spare the Lin Family, didn't you? Well, let me tell you something: begging him is useless. You have to beg *me*!"
With that, Han Jing pointed to the floor at her feet. "Kneel! Kowtow to me! Kowtow for every single member of the Han Family who died!"
"Then, lick my shoes clean and say 'I am a bitch' three times. Do that, and I'll *consider* giving the Lin Family a chance to survive!"
Lin Chuyue looked as if she'd just heard a joke. She couldn't even be bothered to respond to Han Jing.
Instead, she turned to City Lord Yin and asked in a heavy voice, "City Lord Yin, is this what you want as well?"
"The Lin Family has contributed a great deal to Jiangcheng over the years. Are you really going to target us just for Han Jing's sake?"
Han Jing, perched arrogantly in City Lord Yin's lap, cooed, "Darling, tell her."
City Lord Yin wrapped his arm around her slim waist. "President Lin, 'targeting' is such an ugly word. I merely want to help the Lin Group change its name."
"Once it's under my name, it can still contribute to Jiangcheng, can't it?"
Lin Chuyue ground her teeth, shocked that the newly appointed City Lord could be so utterly shameless!
"City Lord, what you're doing is abusing your authority for personal gain! You're using your power to bully and oppress!"
"Yes, I am. And what of it? What can you possibly do to me?"
City Lord Yin sneered. "President Lin, it's best to know your place. You wouldn't want to suddenly... disappear one day, would you?"
Han Jing laughed with even more arrogance. "You clueless idiot. How dare you question the City Lord? What gives you the right!"
"Lin Chuyue, I'm giving you one last chance. Kneel!"
"In your dreams!"
Lin Chuyue refused to yield. "I will never kneel!"
"Then you can just wait for the Lin Family to be destroyed! If you can't come up with 450 million within three days, not a single one of you will escape!"
Han Jing laughed triumphantly. "When that time comes, I'll personally send over a few top-quality coffins to see the Lin Family to their graves."
Lin Chuyue said no more and turned to leave.
'Since City Lord Yin and Han Jing were in cahoots, it was pointless to waste her breath.'
'Besides, the grudge between her and the Han Family was far more complicated than just one person's life.'
'Even if she did kneel, Han Jing wouldn't let her go.'
'In fact, she'd only humiliate her even more viciously!'
'The members of the Lin Family could be destitute, they could live in squalor, but they could never lose their backbone!'
Han Jing stared coldly at her retreating figure. "Lin Chuyue, sooner or later, you *will* come begging to me!"
---
The Lin Residence.
Xiao Ye was eating some fruit. When he saw Lin Chuyue walk in, he was about to call out "wifey," but his expression darkened the moment he saw the red, swollen mark on her face.
Lin Chuyue turned to head for the study.
"Wait." Xiao Ye stood up and grabbed her arm. His voice was impossibly cold. "Who hit you?"
"Let me go! Xiao Ye, I'm so stressed out right now, can you just leave me alone?!"
"No. Tell me who hit you!"
"And what good would that do?" Lin Chuyue's eyes welled with tears, a sense of grievance rising in her heart.
She had always been decisive and formidable, never one to show her softer side.
But with one trouble after another, she was truly, utterly exhausted in both body and mind.
"Do you know something, Xiao Ye? Ever since you showed up, everything has become a complete mess!"
"Because of you, the Han Family and I are now mortal enemies!"
"Because of you, the Lin Family is being pushed into a corner with nowhere left to turn!"
"And I warned you about all of this! I told you not to go looking for trouble, but you didn't listen at all!"
"So just get out! Get out right now! I never want to see you again!"