Chapter 74: Slander
Xiao Ye simply laughed off Lin Chuyue's demanding and domineering attitude.
'Women... their specialty is making a fuss over nothing.'
'But she's my wife, so of course I'm the one who has to spoil her!'
He played along, nodding. "Yes, my Queen. Your humble servant obeys."
His one sentence was enough to make Lin Chuyue's face flush red. She stormed away, huffing, "Such a smooth-talker!"
Xiao Ye chuckled as he watched her go upstairs, calling out considerately, "Watch your step on the stairs. Don't fall."
Lin Chuyue stumbled, gritted her teeth, and cursed Xiao Ye under her breath before hurrying up the stairs.
Lin Aoshan witnessed the entire exchange, a gratified smile spreading across his face.
'This is just the kind of flirtatious banter young couples have!'
'Looks like wedding bells will be ringing for the Lin Family soon!'
From that day forward, Lin Chuyue wasted no time and threw herself completely into her work.
In just half a month, she had led the Lin Family back to its former glory, and even elevated it to new heights.
The Lin Family was now the undisputed number one preeminent family in Jiangcheng.
In the president's office.
Her secretary took out the latest itinerary. "President Lin, you are to arrive in the Provincial City at ten tomorrow morning. There is a reception at two in the afternoon."
"I've already contacted a boutique. They're preparing the latest style of gown for you, and it will be delivered to the hotel."
"Then, at nine o'clock the following morning, you're signing a contract at Jianmin Industries."
Lin Chuyue nodded. "Okay, got it."
She packed her things, returned to the Lin Family home, and prepared to leave early the next morning.
The drive from Jiangcheng to the Provincial City was about three hours, so it wasn't particularly far.
Lin Chuyue went upstairs to his room, thoughtfully bringing Lin Aoshan a cup of warm tea. "Grandpa, I'm going to the Provincial City tomorrow."
"If any problems come up, call me immediately. If you're not feeling well, call Divine Doctor Kong."
Lin Aoshan looked much more frail than before. As he took the tea, he asked, "Are you going by yourself tomorrow?"
"Yes."
Ever since Liu Dan's betrayal, Lin Chuyue hadn't trusted any of her secretaries.
She had resolved that for future business trips, if she could go alone, she absolutely would.
Lin Aoshan immediately realized this was a perfect opportunity for the young couple to grow closer.
He took a sip of tea, then set the cup aside, feigning weakness. "Chuyue, you should go with Xiaoye."
"I don't..."
Before the words of refusal could leave her lips, Lin Aoshan clutched his chest. "This old body of mine... If anything else goes wrong, I'm afraid I won't make it."
"All I've ever wanted in this life, Grandpa's only wish, is for you to be safe and sound."
"If you don't go with Xiaoye, I won't be able to rest easy. And if I worry too much..."
Lin Chuyue cut him off with a sigh of resignation. "Fine, Grandpa. I promise, I'll go with him."
A smile immediately spread across Lin Aoshan's face. "Excellent. Now you two go and sort out the details. I'm not feeling well, so I'm going to bed early."
Lin Chuyue walked out of the room, and upon seeing Xiao Ye watching TV, she couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Xiao Ye, get packed. You're going to the Provincial City with me tomorrow."
Xiao Ye raised an eyebrow. He was about to call her "Wife," but then he remembered the rules he and Lin Chuyue had agreed upon. The word changed on his lips. "Alright, wifey."
"Who... Who are you calling wifey!"
Lin Chuyue glared, but she couldn't stop a faint blush from coloring her cheeks.
"You're absolutely forbidden from using words like that!"
"Otherwise, you'll be breaking the rules we agreed on!"
Seeing her cute, angry expression, Xiao Ye couldn't help but smile. 'She's so adorable.'
「Early the next morning.」
Xiao Ye and Lin Chuyue set off early, carrying only light luggage.
Provincial City.
Huating Hotel.
17th Floor.
Lin Chuyue pointed to the room across the hall. "Starting today, you're staying in this room. You are not to come out. Do you hear me?"
Xiao Ye nodded with a resigned sigh. "As you command, my Queen."
Lin Chuyue slammed the door shut with a BANG. Soon after, someone from a luxury boutique arrived at the hotel and delivered a magnificent gown.
At one in the afternoon, Lin Chuyue, now exquisitely dressed, departed for the reception.
This was no ordinary party. Everyone in attendance was from a prominent and influential family, hailing from the Provincial City and its surrounding areas.
As currently the only major family in Jiangcheng, the Lin Family naturally had the right to be there.
The moment Lin Chuyue entered the venue, her stunning beauty immediately drew everyone's gaze.
"Who is that? Since when did the Provincial City have a woman that beautiful?"
"I know who she is. That's Lin Chuyue of Jiangcheng's Lin Family. They call her the number one beauty of Jiangcheng, and she certainly lives up to the title."
Not far away, a cold, sinister gaze was locked onto Lin Chuyue.
Chen Li let out a cold laugh. Carrying her wine glass, she walked into the crowd and called out in a loud voice, "Well now, I was wondering who that was. Turns out it's Lin Chuyue from the Lin Family."
"Most of you probably don't know her, do you? Allow me to make an introduction."
Her voice was very loud, clear enough for everyone in the venue to hear.
As the Chen Family was one of the "Four Tigers" of the Provincial City, they commanded absolute authority at a gathering like this.
As all eyes watched, Chen Li closed in on Lin Chuyue step by step, a vicious sneer plastered on her face. Her gaze was like that of a venomous snake, sending a chill down the spine.
"Lin Chuyue? Hah! She's nothing but a filthy whore who slept her way to the top!"
The moment she said it, the entire room was stunned.
"What's going on? Looks like the Lin Family has offended the Chen Family."
"Looking that slutty, of course she's got a few men."
"The Lin Family was nothing before this. I heard they were on the verge of collapse. The only way they could have turned things around so suddenly is if she sold her body."
Hearing the whispers all around, Lin Chuyue's face grew pale, but she met Chen Li's gaze without a shred of fear, her coolly beautiful expression making it impossible for people to look away.
"Miss Chen, is this what the Chen Family calls a proper upbringing?"
"I, Lin Chuyue, have never relied on men to get where I am. I demand you apologize for your words!"
As if she'd heard the world's funniest joke, Chen Li threw her head back and roared with laughter. "A whore demanding a monument to her chastity! You truly have no shame!"
"Fine! In that case, I'll just let everyone here know exactly what you've done!"
"At first, your Lin Family couldn't even save its own skin! Then, who knows where you found some stinking, kung-fu fighting Daoist, but he not only killed the entire Han Clan, but also countless experts from my Chen Family!"
"That lowlife is always calling you 'wife.' Dare you say you have nothing to do with him?"
Lin Chuyue was momentarily speechless. She had, in fact, shared some intimate moments with Xiao Ye...
But that was only under the influence of a drug; it absolutely wasn't consensual.
Besides, she was a victim, too.
Seeing her silence, Chen Li sneered and continued her tirade, "And then Young Master Huo gave you all of the Han Family's assets."
"Young Master Huo is no sucker. If you didn't give him something in return, why would he just hand them over to you?"
"Exactly! Why the Lin Family? Wouldn't the Ye or Bai families have been better choices?"
A woman walked over, chiming in with support. She was from a family subservient to the Chens and naturally wouldn't pass up such a perfect chance to curry favor.
She raised her wine glass as if she were an insider sharing a secret. "Lin Chuyue was born with the face of a vixen. It'd be a waste not to use it to bewitch men, wouldn't it?"
"As far as I know, Young Master Huo isn't the only one. Plenty of men have fallen at her feet. For all we know, she might have already caught some filthy disease by now!"
"Oh, and I heard she didn't even spare the Yuan Family from Shanghai. She supposedly slept with one of them the very first day they met."
"What a pity. The young master of the Yuan Family obviously wasn't impressed. He left the very next day, much less took any responsibility!"
Mocking laughter erupted from the crowd, and a tide of malice surged toward Lin Chuyue.
She felt as if she'd been plunged into an icy abyss. Her body swayed for a moment, but she quickly stood firm.
'This was no time to panic. She couldn't show any fear.'
'Her honor and the Lin Family's reputation had to be protected!'
Lin Chuyue took a deep breath, her expression hardening with resolve. Her voice rang out, firm and clear, "I will absolutely not admit to things I have never done!"
"For this baseless slander, I will be notifying my lawyers. And they will be suing you!"