Lin Chang clenched his fists tightly.
So it was him after all!
He had made Lin Chang live in fear and even cost him billions!
"Chairman Lin, I’ve caused such huge losses for your company. You’re not blaming me, are you?" Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow and asked.
Lin Chang suppressed the darkness in his eyes and pretended not to care. "Why would I blame you? You’re just an employee. You acted on your boss’s orders—it’s not your fault."
"Chairman Lin is quite understanding," Lin Xuan chuckled.
He didn’t deny Lin Chang’s words. It was true that he had acted on the boss’s orders—except, he was the boss.
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow. "I know you might doubt my identity, wondering if I’m the one who planted the virus. I’ll prove it to you."
Lin Xuan pulled out his laptop.
His fingers flew across the keyboard at a dizzying speed.
"I’ve already hacked into Haichen Entertainment’s system."
Lin Chang’s eyes widened at the words "Haichen Entertainment."
Before Tianmu Group emerged, Haichen Entertainment had been the second-largest entertainment company after Starlight Group. Their cybersecurity was top-notch—Lin Chang had once hired someone to attack their system, but it failed.
Yet this man in front of him had breached it so effortlessly.
So he really was that man.
The employee who had taken his ten million hadn’t lied to him.
"Chairman Lin, you shouldn’t have any doubts about my identity now, right?" Lin Xuan asked with a smirk.
Lin Chang nodded. "Mr. Lin, I believe you."
Lin Xuan’s lips curled.
All he had done was change Starlight Group’s name to Haichen Entertainment.
He wondered if Lin Chang would drop dead from anger when he returned to his company and realized the hacked system wasn’t Haichen Entertainment’s—but Starlight Group’s.
"Dad, I need to talk to you," Lin Qingwan whispered into Lin Chang’s ear.
"What is it?" Lin Chang frowned.
"Let’s step outside."
She then turned to Lin Xuan. "Mr. Lin, my father and I have something to discuss. We’ll be back shortly."
"Go ahead," Lin Xuan nodded.
Once Lin Qingwan and Lin Chang left, Lin Xuan removed his mask and took a sip of wine.
Playing the Lin family like fools was quite entertaining.
A mischievous smile tugged at his lips.
Outside the private room—
"Wan’er, why did you bring me out here?" Lin Chang asked. "What’s so urgent that you had to drag me out?"
Lin Qingwan glanced around, making sure Lin Xuan hadn’t followed, then voiced her suspicion. "Dad, didn’t you notice? That man’s eyes, his voice—they’re so much like Xuan’s."
"Lin Xuan?" Lin Chang’s first reaction was disbelief. "That good-for-nothing? How could he possibly have such advanced hacking skills?"
"Dad, don’t you remember the National College Computer Team Competition? Lin Xuan solved a major technical challenge."
"Wan’er, don’t overthink it. Knowing computers and being a hacker are two completely different things." Lin Chang had never wanted to acknowledge Lin Xuan’s talents.
Otherwise, it would make him—the one who had kicked Lin Xuan out of the family—look like a fool.
"Are you sure it’s not him?" Lin Qingwan murmured, frowning.
"Let’s go back inside before he gets impatient," Lin Chang said.
"Alright."
When they returned, Lin Xuan had already put his mask back on.
"Chairman Lin," Lin Xuan said, "I’m guessing you invited me here today to ask me to remove the virus, right?"
"Yes."
Lin Chang took a deep breath. "Our company is being crushed by Lin Xuan’s underhanded tactics. We can’t recover."
"Hold on—" Lin Xuan cut him off before he could continue.
"You stole Tianmu Group’s game. You’re the ones who acted despicably, yet you’re calling my boss underhanded?" Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Chairman Lin, you really are as shameless as they say."
Lin Chang suppressed his anger again.
"Mr. Lin, you might not know this, but I’m Lin Xuan’s father. If not for me, he wouldn’t even exist. I raised him for years—I have every right to treat him however I see fit. Ever since he founded Tianmu Group, he’s been targeting Starlight Group at every turn."
"If he won’t show me respect, then I won’t show him any mercy. Stealing business technology is common in our industry. It’s all about who’s more capable."
Lin Xuan scoffed and shook his head.
Even now, Lin Chang still believed he was justified in stealing King’s Glory.
He must have brainwashed himself into thinking he’d done nothing wrong.
"Name your price," Lin Chang said bluntly. "What will it take for you to remove the virus?"
Lin Xuan smirked. "That depends on what you’re offering."
Lin Chang took another deep breath. "Thirty million. The moment the virus is gone, the money will be transferred to your account."
Lin Xuan lifted his eyelids slightly and laughed mockingly. "Chairman Lin, are you trying to pay me in pennies?"
Lin Chang gritted his teeth. "Fifty million."
Lin Xuan remained unmoved.
Lin Chang raised the offer again. "A hundred million."
This time, Lin Xuan didn’t even blink.
Lin Chang’s expression darkened.
This man’s appetite was enormous. But if Starlight Group was to survive, he had no choice.
He had to sweeten the deal.
"On top of the hundred million," Lin Chang said, "once King’s Glory is restored, I’ll give you 5% of its annual net profits. Of course, you’ll also be responsible for maintaining its security moving forward."
"You know King’s Glory will be a massive hit once it’s fixed. The annual profits could reach billions. You’d earn hundreds of millions every year without lifting a finger. It’s a foolproof deal."
Lin Chang crossed his arms.
Such an offer was irresistible. There was no way this man wouldn’t be tempted.
"Not bad," Lin Xuan nodded. "That is a tempting offer."
Lin Chang smirked inwardly.
As expected—enough money could buy anyone.
Lin Xuan let out a derisive laugh. "Too bad I’m not interested."
"What the hell do you want, then?" Lin Chang demanded, his voice low.
"Chairman Lin, save your breath. Even if you handed Starlight Group over to me, I wouldn’t help you."
"Because—"
Lin Xuan removed his mask.
"—I am Lin Xuan. The one who’s determined to ruin your company."
The author is currently at a music festival in Foshan.
Thanks to Chengbei Buxiaoxue, Xinyue Yuan’s Yu Xiurong, Little Panda, Baked Cold Noodle Puff, and other lovely readers for your gifts!
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