The So-called Master

Jiang Shuqin touched her belly and smiled, saying, "This little one just kicked me. So naughty."

At that moment, Lin Li received a phone call.

Seeing the caller's name, the corners of his lips curled up.

"Mom, I have something to take care of. I'll head back to my room now."

"Go ahead," Jiang Shuqin nodded.

Lin Li returned to his room, closed the door, and locked it.

Then he answered the call.

"Sir, I'm calling to confirm if we should proceed with the original plan tomorrow—to get rid of her child."

"Proceed as planned," Lin Li said before hanging up.

He sat on the bed, staring at his phone. After a long while, he suddenly burst into laughter.

"A child? Jiang Shuqin, you actually think a child can replace me?"

"The Lin family can only be inherited by me. No one else dares to take it!"

Lin Li's eyes were bloodshot.

He would gradually take control of the Lin family from the shadows.

That way, he wouldn’t have to please anyone anymore.

Nor would he have to live behind this fake mask!

Lin Li returned downstairs.

"Li'er, have you finished handling your matters?" Jiang Shuqin asked with a smile.

"Just a small thing," Lin Li replied. "Mom, how about we go to Lanshan Temple tomorrow to pray for blessings? To ensure my little brother is born safely."

Jiang Shuqin thought about what had happened twenty years ago and nodded.

"Alright, let's go. There's a monk there named Master Jingli who is quite spiritually powerful."

Lin Li thoughtfully accompanied Jiang Shuqin for a while, chatting with her, before returning to his room. He sent a message to Wang Yajun: "The plan is proceeding as scheduled. Mom, the temple is your responsibility now."

If he were to directly poison Jiang Shuqin, the police might get involved, and it could lead back to him.

He couldn’t take that risk.

To ensure everything went smoothly, he had been giving Jiang Shuqin medicine these past few days—medicine that weakened the fetus and would make it impossible for her to conceive again in the future.

All he needed now was the right moment, the moment to cause a miscarriage.

Jiang Shuqin was scheduled for a prenatal check-up in two days, so the child had to be eliminated tomorrow.

A cold glint flashed in Lin Li's eyes.

Originally, he had planned to have someone bump into Jiang Shuqin and make her fall. But now, he changed his mind. He wanted her to suffer, to make her understand the price of trying to replace him with her child.

In the study of the night garden.

Lin Xuan listened to Lin Li's phone conversation and saved the recording with satisfaction.

Then he manipulated his computer to retrieve the identity records of the man on the phone.

Lin Xuan was so engrossed in his task that he didn’t notice Su Hua had entered and was standing right behind him.

When Lin Xuan finished securing the records, the beautiful woman suddenly bent down and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Xuan, are you planning to give this evidence to Jiang Shuqin so she can guard against Lin Li and create a rift between them?"

"No, I won’t interfere," Lin Xuan replied.

"Then are you waiting for Jiang Shuqin to lose her child before exposing that Lin Li was behind it?"

Su Hua's tone sounded casual, but in truth, she cared deeply about Lin Xuan's answer. Just as she had hoped, Lin Xuan replied, "I don’t plan to tell the Lin family either. If I did, they might kick Lin Li out. What I want is for Lin Li to throw the Lin family into chaos."

Hearing this, Su Hua's eyes sparkled with a strange light.

Xuan's actions clearly showed he had no feelings left for the Lin family.

How wonderful.

Apart from Wang Dahe, the only person Xuan cared about was her.

Thinking of Wang Dahe—especially the image of him wrapping his arm around Lin Xuan's neck—Su Hua's eyes turned cold again.

She really wanted to drive him away from Xuan's side. But they had grown up together, and if Wang Dahe were to treat Xuan poorly, it would break his heart.

Wang Dahe, who was in the middle of playing a game, frowned.

Why did his arm feel so cold all of a sudden?

"I really like this side of you, Xuan," Su Hua said, her red lips curving into a smile.

The darker Xuan became, the happier she felt. This way, they were truly on the same path.

Hmm—

Should she corrupt Xuan even further?

If Lin Xuan knew what Su Hua was thinking, he would say there was no need—he was already corrupted.

Lin Xuan looked at Su Hua curiously. "Hua, what are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," Su Hua replied, resting her chin on Lin Xuan's shoulder. "I’m just thinking about how I’m going to devour you later."

Lin Xuan: "..."

This time, Lin Xuan was determined to reclaim his masculine dignity. He wrapped his arms around Su Hua's slender waist and pressed her down onto the bed.

"No, Hua, it’s me who’s going to devour you."

Hearing this, Su Hua's eyes brimmed with excitement. She wrapped her soft arms around Lin Xuan's neck and said, "Alright, let’s see how you’re going to devour me."

The next day.

Lin Li personally drove Jiang Shuqin to the temple.

Jiang Shuqin listened intently as the monk interpreted her fortune stick. Her brows furrowed tightly.

"Bad luck?"

"Yes," the monk nodded. "To put it simply, there is someone with ill intentions around you. This could pose a threat to the child in your womb."

The monk glanced thoughtfully at Lin Li.

He shook his head.

He could only say this much. The rest was up to her to figure out.

If she didn’t drive him away soon, it could lead to the downfall of her family.

Speaking of which, this family was quite foolish. Instead of cherishing the phoenix, they doted on someone with a wicked heart.

Hearing the monk's words, especially seeing the monk's penetrating gaze, Lin Li's heart skipped a beat.

"Thank you, Master," Lin Li said with a nod.

After expressing his gratitude, he quickly added, "Mom, let’s go."

"But I haven’t finished asking my questions," Jiang Shuqin frowned.

"Mom, it’s getting late. Didn’t you want to meet someone?"

"Ah, that’s right."

Jiang Shuqin nodded.

"Mom, while you were praying earlier, I took the liberty of finding out where Master Jingli resides," Lin Li said, supporting Jiang Shuqin as they walked.

"Good, good. Thank you for being so thoughtful," Jiang Shuqin smiled. Lin Li was truly considerate.

They arrived at Master Jingli's room.

Lin Li gave him a nod, and a faint glint passed through Master Jingli's eyes.

"Master Jingli," Jiang Shuqin spoke politely. "Earlier, I drew a fortune stick, and the monk said there is someone with ill intentions around me, which could affect my unborn child. Do you know who this person might be?"

Master Jingli closed his eyes, rotating his prayer beads and murmuring softly.

Ten minutes later, he opened his eyes, his brows deeply furrowed.

Jiang Shuqin asked anxiously, "Master Jingli, what is it?"

"I’ve just divined that after you sent him away from your home, the Lin family’s fortunes improved significantly. Did you later bring him back?" Master Jingli asked.