Chapter 162: This Is All for Your Own Good
Lin Chuyue took several deep breaths to suppress her rage.
"President Lin, have you seen the news...?"
Her assistant said in a low voice, "The Lin Clan's stock has already been affected. It's starting to fluctuate."
"I know." Lin Chuyue stood up and grabbed her trench coat. "I have to step out. If anything comes up, call me."
With that, she strode out of the president's office and headed straight for the elevator.
The secretarial staff and other employees craned their necks to watch until Lin Chuyue was in the elevator before starting to whisper among themselves.
"Everyone used to say that Xiao Ye wasn't good enough for President Lin, but who knew he'd turn out to be the young master of a great family."
"I heard it's a major family from the Imperial City, countless times bigger than the Lin Clan. No wonder he's marrying into another family."
"The Lin Family might be the top family in Jiangcheng, but in the Imperial City, they don't even compare. If I were Xiao Ye, I'd trade up too."
"The Lin Family has been utterly humiliated this time!"
Hearing the whispers around her, the assistant barked, "What are you all doing? It's work hours, not time for gossip!"
Everyone immediately got back to work and fell silent.
Lin Chuyue got into her car and drove straight to the Lin Family estate.
The moment she walked in, she saw Lin Aoshan sitting on the sofa.
Her heart was full of grievances with nowhere to vent them. The thought of Xiao Ye's actions made her eyes redden. "Grandpa!"
"You've seen it, haven't you? What did I tell you before? Xiao Ye is no good!"
"Now that he's part of some great family, he's turning around and marrying someone else. What does that make our Lin Family?!"
"I want to call off the engagement! We have to! Otherwise, the Lin Family's reputation will be completely ruined!"
Lin Aoshan felt a headache coming on. He hadn't felt good after seeing the news either.
Fortunately, however, Xiao Ye had called him to explain the truth of the matter.
Lin Aoshan comforted her, "Chuyue, Xiao Ye has things he must do. This was a measure of last resort."
"Don't worry. He's already promised me personally that he absolutely will not actually marry into the Wang Family."
"You're the only one he cares for. Once his business is settled, he'll immediately clear things up."
But Lin Chuyue didn't believe a word of Xiao Ye's bullshit.
"Grandpa, it doesn't matter what Xiao Ye clarifies later. The problem right now is that the Lin Family has already suffered a huge blow because of him."
"Announcing the cancellation of the engagement now is undoubtedly the best thing for the Lin Family!"
The gentleness on Lin Aoshan's face vanished, replaced by resolve. "Calling off the engagement is impossible. Don't say another word."
"Unless Xiao Ye tells me to my face that he wants to cancel it, our Lin Family will absolutely not be the one to initiate the cancellation!"
"Don't forget, our Lin Family's fortune was built on the Golden Saber, and this engagement was set many years ago."
"Xiao Ye has the right to cancel it, but the Lin Family does not!"
Lin Chuyue stomped her foot in frustration. "Grandpa, you're being so stubborn!"
"Just you watch! This engagement between Xiao Ye and the Wang Family is definitely real!"
"That's a great, established family from the Imperial City, not some small-town family from Jiangcheng!"
With that, she stormed upstairs and slammed her bedroom door.
Lin Chuyue buried herself under the covers. 'Am I angry because Xiao Ye is getting engaged, or because the Lin Family is losing face...?' she wondered.
She spent a day trying to compose herself.
Lin Chuyue returned to the company.
The moment she walked in, she felt strange looks on her.
From company employees to the cleaning staff, everyone was staring.
When Lin Chuyue turned her head, they immediately looked away.
The second she stepped into the elevator, the discussions erupted.
"President Lin has really been humiliated this time!"
"I saw on the news that she was dumped by Xiao Ye!"
"The number one beauty of Jiangcheng, dumped by some country bumpkin. Her reputation is completely ruined!"
Lin Chuyue forced herself to remain calm and pretended not to notice anything, leaving with her assistant to sign a contract.
Sitting across from her was President Li from the Provincial City. His eyes lit up at the sight of her beauty. "President Lin, long time no see."
"I heard about what happened in the news. It's not your fault. For a great beauty like you, it's that Xiao Ye who has no taste!"
"Let me introduce you to someone. He's also from the Imperial City, and he's even more powerful than the Xiao Family. He won't marry you, but he can be your backer."
Lin Chuyue's expression changed slightly as she placed the contract on the table.
"I appreciate the sentiment, President Li. If there are no issues, please go ahead and sign."
President Li made no move to pick up the pen. "My friend has nothing but money and status."
"As long as you're with him, you'll have capital. You can use that as a springboard to develop your business and maybe even get one up on that Xiao Ye!"
The smile vanished completely from Lin Chuyue's face. "President Li, this is my personal business. If you want to cooperate, then sign."
President Li snorted. "Lin Chuyue, I'm doing this for your own good!"
He had been trying to curry favor with that friend in the Imperial City for a long time, but the man wouldn't give him the time of day.
Lin Chuyue was so beautiful. If he could present her as a gift, he might be able to use the opportunity to build a connection.
At this thought, President Li softened his tone. "Lin Chuyue, this is a rare opportunity!"
Lin Chuyue was already fuming. She snapped the file shut. "Since President Li has no intention of cooperating, then forget it."
With that, she stood up and started to leave.
President Li's face darkened completely. "Lin Chuyue, you're being utterly shameless!"
"If you weren't decent-looking, do you think I would have wasted my breath on you?"
"Serves you right that no one wants you!"
Lin Chuyue quickened her pace, but she could still hear the curses being hurled at her from behind.
She hurried out of the building and got into her car, only then did the world seem to quiet down a little.
Lin Chuyue took out her phone and stared at Xiao Ye's number, but in the end, she didn't call.
'Grandpa won't agree, so there's no point in me saying anything!'
「Imperial City.」
Xiao Wenbin smilingly handed an invitation to Xiao Ye. "This is from Qiaoqiao. You two will be engaged soon."
"You should attend the banquet together to let everyone know, and Qiaoqiao can also introduce you to some people."
"As the future Patriarch of the Xiao Family, you must slowly get used to these things."
Xiao Wenbin couldn't stop talking about him being the future Patriarch; he was clearly just dangling an empty promise.
An ordinary person would have probably fallen for it.
Xiao Ye looked at him with an unreadable smile, saying nothing.
Xiao Wenbin's heart skipped a beat. He felt as if the other man's deep eyes had seen through everything.
"Fine, I understand."
Xiao Ye's voice broke the silence, and Xiao Wenbin snapped back to his senses, cursing inwardly, 'How did I let a young man intimidate me?!'
"I'll have someone arrange for a suit to be prepared for you right away."
Xiao Wenbin glanced at the Daoist Robe he was wearing with disgust. "Don't wear things like this in the future."
"You are the young master of the Xiao Family now. When you're out, your every move represents the honor of the Xiao Family!"