Jiang Manting noticed Jiang Yutong hadn’t moved for a while and reminded her, "Yutong?"
"Sorry," Jiang Yutong finally spoke up. "I don’t shake hands with just any man."
Her tone made it clear she disliked Lin Li.
Lin Li clenched his fist slightly before withdrawing his hand, feigning indifference. "Since Miss Jiang doesn’t like handshakes, that’s fine. I understand."
Jiang Manting asked, "May I ask why you’ve come to see us, Mr. Lin?"
"I heard from my mother about Grandpa Jiang’s condition," Lin Li replied, his voice lowering slightly. "Mom is still resistant toward the Jiang family. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t persuade her to visit him."
"By the way, how is Grandpa Jiang doing now?" he added.
Jiang Manting sighed. "Not well. Same as yesterday—he keeps calling for your mother."
Lin Li frowned, his face filling with concern. "If this continues, could his condition worsen?"
"I don’t know," Jiang Manting shook her head.
After a moment of thought, Lin Li suggested, "Ms. Jiang, how about this? I’ll go stay with Grandpa Jiang. I can tell him everything that happened to Mom after she left the Jiang family. Maybe it’ll help his recovery."
Jiang Manting’s eyes lit up.
That might actually work.
"Well…" She was about to agree when Jiang Yutong pulled her aside. "Elder sister, I have a bad feeling about Lin Li showing up now. It seems like he’s trying to latch onto our family."
Jiang Manting frowned deeply.
Jiang Yutong continued, "Don’t dismiss this, sis. He has a history of this kind of thing—scamming his way into wealthy families. He even faked a marriage once."
She then pulled out her phone and showed Jiang Manting the evidence.
Jiang Manting’s expression turned shocked.
She had heard office gossip about this before but dismissed it as mere rumors.
She never imagined the subject was Lin Li.
"Elder sister," Jiang Yutong urged, "let’s just ignore him."
"No," Jiang Manting pinched the bridge of her nose. "Grandpa’s condition is serious. If Jiang Shuqin refuses to see him, her son might be the only one who can help. I want to try."
Jiang Yutong bit her lip.
True.
There weren’t any better options.
Fine. She’d keep a close eye on Lin Li. If he tried anything against the Jiang family, she wouldn’t let him succeed.
Jiang Manting and Jiang Yutong returned to the meeting room.
Jiang Yutong’s attitude remained cold.
Jiang Manting, however, smiled warmly. "Since Jiang Shuqin is your mother, that makes you my cousin, right?"
"Cousin, here’s my business card. Give me your contact details too, so I can reach you if needed."
"Sure." Lin Li took the card and immediately called her number.
He saved Jiang Manting’s contact based on the caller ID.
"Cousin, I still have work to attend to, so you can head back for now," Jiang Manting said with a polite smile.
As soon as Lin Li left, Jiang Manting summoned her secretary.
"Investigate Lin Li," she ordered expressionlessly.
"Yes." The secretary complied immediately.
Previously, Su Hua, fearing the Jiang family might reclaim Lin Xuan, had instructed Jiang Qing to conceal Lin Xuan’s true identity.
Online records identifying Lin Xuan as Jiang Shuqin and Lin Chang’s biological son had been erased.
Additionally, the Lin family’s servants dared not casually reveal that Lin Li was actually adopted.
Thus, the secretary’s investigation concluded that Lin Li was indeed Jiang Shuqin’s biological son.
The report also included details about Lin Li’s infidelity and marriage scams, all of which were handed to Jiang Manting.
Jiang Manting wasn’t interested in those.
She only cared about his identity.
Confirming he was Jiang Shuqin’s son, she called Lin Li.
"Cousin," she said warmly, "if you’re free, you’re welcome to visit the Jiang family anytime."
"Great, I’ll come tomorrow." Lin Li’s heart swelled with excitement.
So what if he was just an adopted son?
In the Lin household, he had made Jiang Shuqin abandon her own flesh and blood to dote on him endlessly.
Now, he’d win over the Jiang family too!
Their power and wealth would surely be useful to him.
The thought made Lin Li smirk.
Once he secured the Jiang family’s backing, he’d crush Lin Xuan under his heel!
The next day, Lin Li arrived at the Jiang residence.
He sat by Grandpa Jiang’s bedside, recounting Jiang Shuqin’s past.
"Grandpa," Lin Li said gently, "please get better soon. Mom just has some misunderstandings, but I’m sure she’ll come to appreciate your love for her in time."
Jiang Manting entered with a fruit platter, her gaze worried as she looked at Grandpa Jiang.
"Cousin, have some fruit," she said, placing the tray on the side table.
"Thank you, elder cousin."
After expressing his gratitude, Lin Li turned back to Grandpa Jiang, his brow furrowed with concern. "Grandpa still isn’t responding much, but don’t worry, elder cousin. I’ll do everything I can to help him recover."
"Mm." Jiang Manting nodded. "Thank you, cousin."
"It’s no trouble at all. This is my duty," Lin Li replied. "Mom hasn’t seen Grandpa in over twenty years. As her son, I should fulfill some filial piety on her behalf."
Jiang Manting frowned.
Lin Li didn’t seem like the person described in the investigation. Was he putting on an act, or was the report mistaken?
Jiang Yutong, however, sneered inwardly.
What a performance!
From the moment she met Lin Li, she had sensed he was no good.
She wanted nothing to do with this so-called cousin.
Sigh.
If only Lin Xuan were her real cousin—she’d be overjoyed.
That same night, the Golden Dragon Gang also sprang into action.
Most of their members mobilized, clashing with Night Rose over a shipment of arms.
Gunfire erupted—bang! bang! bang!—as flames lit up the ocean.
"We won! We actually beat Night Rose!"
The Golden Dragon Gang members cheered in exhilaration.
"This is incredible," one of the gang’s top subordinates exclaimed. "Second Boss, Night Rose has never lost before. Yet this time, we came out on top!"
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!
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.
agon king storylines. At the start, I obtained the "Ultimate Lackey System" - the more I act as a lackey, the stronger I become. What else could I do? I chose to become the personal henchman of the ultimate villain, Su Muwan. I provoke all sorts of chosen ones, snatch away their opportunities, and commit every evil deed imaginable. You ask who's behind me? Hmph! You're not worthy of knowing my lady's name! ...... ....... I am Su Muwan, the eldest daughter of the Su family. Since childhood, I've possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts, which led to my arrogant and domineering personality in my past life. I was even foolish enough to repeatedly challenge those favored by heaven, ultimately resulting in a tragic death. In this life, I must behave and absolutely cannot walk the same path again!! However... SLAP!! "So you're the Dragon King, huh?!" When I saw my little lackey swagger over and viciously slap the Dragon King who was hiding his identity, I felt my heart sink. Su Muwan's suspended heart finally died as she watched Qin Luo, her utterly loyal lackey, standing before her. She fainted on the spot from shock. Heaven is determined to destroy me!! (Pure love 1v1, light-hearted, no angst, single female lead, villain, reincarnation, lackey)
