Chapter 0181

Chen Xiao's confidence in Lin Ran wasn't blind—he genuinely believed Lin Ran had the capability. After all, Lin Ran was the one who had brought the Lin family to its current state.

Moreover, his own daughter had passed away without ever seeing the truth, so he now hoped Lin Ran would tear off the Lin family's veil of hypocrisy on this very stage. He was even beginning to look forward to it.

Principal Tang glanced at his old friend and quietly sighed in relief.

Lin Jian continued shouting into the microphone.

"Everyone, you may not know who I am. My name is Lin Jian—the younger brother of that so-called 'upstanding young entrepreneur' Lin Ran you all praise."

"And what I want to say is, Lin Ran is no outstanding entrepreneur. He’s just a scumbag who leeches off his family, acts as a sugar baby for rich women, and even flirts with his own cousin!"

With that one sentence, Lin Jian thrust Lin Ran into the center of controversy.

"Damn, what a bombshell."

"I could stomach the first two accusations, but his cousin? What the hell?"

"Don’t listen to Lin Jian’s nonsense! Senior Lin Ran would never be that kind of person!"

"Appearances can be deceiving."

"Wait, why am I kind of excited about this?"

The crowd’s gossip-hungry eyes gleamed uncontrollably, instantly forming a united front.

Lin Ran narrowed his eyes.

"So you’re trying to challenge me? Do you even have what it takes to go up against me, Lin Ran?"

Lin Jian’s gaze burned with hatred.

"Brother, do you dare confront me directly?"

Lin Ran was inwardly delighted.

He had been planning to arrange a little "show" for Lin Jian today, but this fool had walked right into it on his own.

"Fine, keep spewing nonsense. I’m listening."

Lin Jian was also thrilled—he hadn’t expected Lin Ran to actually take the bait.

He had assumed Lin Ran would make excuses and leave, allowing him to control the narrative and turn lies into "truth." But now, Lin Ran was engaging him directly—and on a live broadcast, no less. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Brother, do you dare admit you squandered the family’s money?"

Lin Ran nodded. "I took it. So what?"

The audience erupted in shock.

Lin Ran continued, "But it wasn’t me taking from your family—it was you taking from mine. The Suran Group was founded by my mother, and the shares were left to me. Your mother was just a mistress who clawed her way up. For years, you’ve been living off my shares. Want me to show you the proof?"

"You—dare call yourself my blood brother? Spare me!"

Lin Ran’s counterattack was lethal. Lin Jian’s eyes blazed with fury, while Liu Yuemei nearly collapsed under the weight of the crowd’s piercing stares.

They knew this scandal would be exposed—or perhaps it was never a secret to begin with.

They had braced themselves for public scorn.

To bring Lin Ran down, sacrifices had to be made.

Lin Jian retorted, "Even if I’m the son of a mistress, I’m still your brother. Shouldn’t you, as the elder brother, take care of me?"

Liu Yuemei added tearfully, "Xiao Ran, I may not be your birth mother, but I’ve never mistreated you all these years."

Lin Ran rubbed his face in exasperation. He could barely stand listening to this.

"Are you out of your damn minds? You lived lavishly off my shares while giving me just 300 yuan a month—not even enough for tuition, let alone clothes. And you call that 'not mistreating' me?"

"Take care of my brother? If you were really my brother, maybe I would. But are you? Ask your mother—are you even my brother?"

Lin Jian froze. Liu Yuemei paled and scrambled to defend herself.

"Xiao Ran, I know you hate me, but you can’t slander me like this!"

Lin Ran cut her off sharply.

"Did you lose your damn mind from all those clients? What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"

Liu Yuemei’s eyes widened in shock, rooted to the spot.

Meanwhile, Lin Tianba, watching the live stream, frowned in confusion. He couldn’t quite grasp Lin Ran’s implication.

Lin Ran pressed Liu Yuemei, "Answer me! Did you mistreat me, suppress me, abuse me—yes or no?"

"ANSWER ME!"

Liu Yuemei trembled violently, and Lin Jian quickly steadied her.

"It’s true… What you said is true. I wronged you, but—"

Lin Ran cut him off. "No 'buts,' you little bastard. Keep digging your grave."

Lin Tianba roared at the screen, "How dare you speak to your mother and brother like that!"

But no one could hear him.

Lin Jian stared at Liu Yuemei in disbelief. Why had his mother suddenly turned against him?

The crowd buzzed with reactions.

"At first, I thought Lin Ran’s words were too harsh. Now? Not harsh enough."

"Something feels off about Lin Ran’s phrasing…"

"What’s wrong with being a mistress? She just wanted to give Lin Ran a family. What’s her crime?"

"Who let this idiot in? Get them out."

Lin Jian snapped back to reality and shot Liu Yuemei a venomous glare.

"Fine. Even if my mother wronged you, answer this—did you or did you not seduce our cousin?"

Lin Ran immediately pointed at Lin Jian. "Kid, you’re digging your own grave. That’s slander. I’ll sue you for defamation!"

Lin Jian sneered, "Of course you’d deny it. Fine, let Liu Ruxue speak for herself."

Like a dramatic TV protagonist, he clapped his hands. Liu Ruxue stepped forward from somewhere in the crowd. Lin Ran narrowed his eyes.

So they came prepared to gang up on him?

"Ruxue, tell everyone—did Lin Ran lead you on?"

Liu Ruxue cast a shy glance at Lin Ran. Today, she would do something romantic—publicly stand up for him, make him see how much she loved him, and prove she was the one who truly cared.

"No, it was me who liked Lin Ran. He never led me on."

Lin Jian turned to the crowd triumphantly. "See? Lin Ran is Liu Ruxue’s— Wait, Ruxue, what did you say?"

Liu Ruxue shot him a disgusted look. "I said Lin Ran never led me on. Besides, we’re not even blood-related cousins. Why are you so worked up?"

Lin Jian was dumbfounded. Why was Liu Ruxue siding with Lin Ran?

Hadn’t she always obeyed him?

Lin Ran whispered to Wang Bao, "Brother Wang, teach them a lesson."

Wang Bao understood instantly and slipped away.

"Ruxue, don’t be afraid of Lin Ran’s threats. Speak the truth—I’ll protect you!"

Lin Jian kept pleading, sensing the situation slipping out of control.

Liu Ruxue scoffed, "Are you deaf or just stupid? When did I say I was threatened? When did I ever claim Lin Ran seduced me?"

"The truth is, I’ve always liked Lin Ran. He just never knew. Lin Ran, we’re not related by blood… Will you be my boyfriend? I won’t be like those other women who just want your money. I only want to cherish you."