The guests were all eating and watching the drama unfold with great interest.
They had never seen such explosive drama before.
The entanglement between the Lin and Shen families was likely to get even more interesting.
This trip had definitely been worth it!
Some who had hoped to deepen their cooperation with the Starlight Group began to reconsider their original plans.
It was clear that Lin Li had been set up.
In the upper echelons, keeping a mistress was not uncommon, but being exposed like this during a birthday party—that was a first for Lin Li.
Not even having basic precautions—clearly, Lin Li wasn't all that impressive.
Before Lin Li's scandal broke, the Lin family had all been intently watching the large screen, watching as Lin Li turned around and revealed his face.
They were all shocked, their eyes filled with disbelief.
It was indeed Li'er...
Li'er had gone to a hotel with another woman and was entangled with her despite having an fiancée.
How could Li'er do something like this...
The video on the screen hadn't stopped playing, and the two people in it were becoming increasingly unrestrained, making the scene unbearable to watch.
The guests continued to watch with relish.
At this moment, Lin Li's face was as pale as a ghost.
"Xiao Li, you..." Lin Qingyan looked at Lin Li in shock, "Is there some misunderstanding here?"
Lin Li's mind was buzzing loudly.
He had no idea how to respond.
He had planned to showcase his talents in front of everyone today, but instead, his relationship with Qin Ruoyao had been exposed.
The problem was that he was already engaged.
Jiang Shuqin staggered.
"This can't be, this can't be real!" Jiang Shuqin muttered to herself, "There must be a mistake! How could Li'er do something so disgraceful?"
Based on Li'er's character, he wouldn't do something like this.
"I know what's going on."
Jiang Shuqin's emotions became agitated as she pointed at Lin Xuan, "It must be you! Lin Xuan!"
"And you too!"
Jiang Shuqin pointed at both Lin Xuan and Qin Ruoyao, "You two, you must have used some trick to frame Li'er!"
Everyone directed their gaze toward Qin Ruoyao.
Lin Xuan sat with his legs crossed, casually holding his phone out to Luo Yuan to show him the spectacle while enjoying the drama unfold, looking quite at ease.
Jiang Shuqin stormed over, grabbing Qin Ruoyao by the collar. "Tell me! How did you frame Li'er? Out with it!"
"Auntie, I didn't frame Li's brother," Qin Ruoyao shook her head, her face pale.
Lin Li clenched his fists tightly.
This idiot! How dare she call him so intimately in front of so many people!
As Lin Li feared, the crowd began to murmur among themselves.
"This Qin Ruoyao calling Lin Li 'Li's brother' like that—you know, something's definitely not right. I bet they've been keeping this relationship going for quite a while."
"Jiang Shuqin's defense of Lin Li is such a joke. Honestly, Jiang Shuqin looks like a shrew, nothing like a dignified lady."
Jiang Shuqin sneered, "You didn't frame him? Then what's this video about?"
"I don't know, I really don't know anything," Qin Ruoyao shook her head, muttering to herself.
These videos had always been kept in her private album; she had no idea how they had been leaked.
She hadn't wanted to expose this—not for a moment.
"Auntie, I didn't want to harm Li's brother, please believe me," Qin Ruoyao clutched Jiang Shuqin's arm, crying piteously.
Little did she know, Jiang Shuqin detested this overly melodramatic act the most.
"Smack!" Jiang Shuqin slapped Qin Ruoyao hard across the face, "You still say you didn't frame him! This video alone is enough to ruin his reputation!"
Qin Ruoyao covered her face and cried.
"I really don't know anything," she murmured repeatedly as if in a daze.
Shen's Father walked onto the stage, his voice deep and resonant, "Lin Chang, don't you owe my daughter Qian Qian an explanation?"
Shen Qianqian bit her lip, feeling extremely wronged and humiliated.
She wanted to break off the engagement.
But she couldn't stand the fact that Lin Li had betrayed her before the wedding.
This was just humiliating her!
Lin Chang apologized profusely, "I believe Li'er would never do such a thing. This video might have been manipulated using face-swapping technology. I think it's best to investigate this thoroughly before drawing any conclusions."
An elderly man stepped forward.
"As it happens, I'm skilled in identifying face-swapping and photo manipulation. I can take a look," the old man said with a smile.
"Who's this guy?" someone asked, puzzled.
"You wouldn't know," another person chuckled, "That's Huang Tian, a big shot in computer technology. He's quite renowned in Yundu City. He's one of the most authoritative figures in the field of face-swapping technology in the country."
"Lin Chang trying to deny that this is Lin Li—looks like he's about to get his comeuppance."
"Let's just sit back and enjoy the show."
Upon seeing the old man step forward, Lin Chang's face turned grim.
He knew very well that the person in the video was Lin Li.
His earlier statement was just an attempt to gloss over the matter, but Huang Tian's intervention had thrown a wrench in the works. Huang Tian had originally intended to take Lin Li as a disciple.
Now, that might be off the table.
Lin Chang knew that this incident had to be handled carefully, and there was no way Huang Tian could be allowed to conduct an official verification.
Once it was confirmed that the person in the video was Lin Li, it would truly be impossible to salvage Lin Li's reputation.
Lin Chang announced apologetically, "I will investigate this matter privately. I apologize for interrupting everyone's enjoyment. Today's birthday celebration will come to an end now, and everyone can leave at their convenience."
"Wait."
Shen's Father's commanding voice rang out.
Lin Chang whispered, "Shen Bro, let's discuss this behind closed doors, shall we? I will definitely give you and Qian Qian a satisfactory explanation."
"No, we'll talk about it here!" Shen's Father retorted coldly, "How dare your son cheat on my daughter, making the Shen family and Qian Qian the laughingstock of everyone here? Today's matter will be settled right here in front of everyone!"
"Shen Bro, maybe there's some misunderstanding involved," Lin Chang pleaded softly.
The Shen family was doing very well, and the Lin family could not afford to fall out with them—the Starlight Group still needed Shen Mao's assistance for many matters.
"Misunderstanding? Heh, heh, Lin Chang, you really think I'm a fool, don't you?"
"Look at your son, he's clearly enjoying himself with this Qin Ruoyao—there's no reluctance at all." Shen's Father raged.
Qian Qian had always been his pride and joy. Before even getting married, Lin Li dared to fool around with another woman—what would he do once they were married?
He would never allow his daughter to suffer such humiliation!
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
't think I'm that capable, I'm just trying my best to stay alive. I've been kind all my life, never did anything bad, yet worldly suffering spared me not one bit. The human world is a nice place, but I won't come back in my next life. A kind young man, who wanted to just get by singing, but through repeated deceits and betrayals, has gone down an irredeemable path.
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
