Humble and Submissive

Lin Chang’s pupils abruptly constricted.

Lin Xuan!

Wan’er’s guess was right! It really was Lin Xuan!

How… how is this possible?

How could Lin Xuan have such capabilities?

Lin Qingwan pressed her lips together.

If he was Xiao Xuan, then Xiao Xuan must know—she had been fully involved in the theft of their company’s game.

“Xiao Xuan, about the game… I’m sorry. I didn’t want to do it. I was just doing it for the company.” Lin Qingwan’s face was filled with guilt.

Because of this, she hadn’t been able to sleep well for days. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Lin Xuan’s disappointed face.

In her dreams, he would say, “Didn’t you say you felt guilty? Then why did you still betray me?”

No, she didn’t want to treat Xiao Xuan like this. But she had no choice.

Starlight Group was declining step by step.

She just wanted to help her parents, afraid that if something happened to Starlight Group, they wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Besides, Xiao Xuan had already built Skyveil Group into such a powerhouse—losing one game division wouldn’t hurt him.

“Enough, enough,” Lin Xuan said impatiently. “Lin Qingwan, spare me the fake remorse. Honestly, it’s disgusting.”

Lin Qingwan looked at him, wounded.

Lin Xuan’s face was full of mockery. “Lin Qingwan, you always talk about guilt and making it up to me, but when it comes to stabbing me in the back, you never hold back.”

Lin Qingwan parted her lips, wanting to defend herself, but she realized Xiao Xuan was right. Even after learning about the injustices he suffered in the Lin family, she had still done many things to betray him.

By now, Lin Chang had snapped out of his daze.

His face darkened as he said, “Lin Xuan, you’ve been playing me?”

“That’s right,” Lin Xuan shrugged, admitting it outright. “I wanted to toy with you, to watch you grovel and beg for my help. I have to say, it felt pretty good.”

Lin Chang clenched his fists, his voice low and tense. “When did you find out about us bribing Shi Peiran?”

“Oh, I knew from the very beginning,” Lin Xuan said, shrugging again. “I was the one who told Shi Peiran to take your bribe.”

Lin Chang gritted his teeth.

So it was like this!

From the start, Lin Xuan had set a trap, waiting for them to fall into it.

“Lin Chang, those who dig pits for others will fall into them themselves. When you stole my game, you should’ve thought about the consequences,” Lin Xuan said, raising an eyebrow.

Lin Chang took a deep breath, suppressing the fury in his heart.

Right now, Lin Xuan held all the power—Starlight Group was at his mercy.

He couldn’t afford to burn bridges completely.

“Xuan’er,” Lin Chang said, softening his tone. “This time, your father was wrong. Can you give me another chance?”

“If you’re willing, I’ll hand Starlight Group over to you once I retire. If you don’t trust me, we can sign a contract.”

“If you have any other demands, just name them.”

Lin Xuan let out a derisive laugh. “Chairman Lin, you don’t actually think Starlight Group is some kind of prize, do you?”

Lin Chang’s fists tightened.

How dare Lin Xuan still speak to him like this!

“In the entertainment industry, Skyveil Group is already the leader. Even your so-called pride—your gaming division—has been crushed by us. Starlight Group is nothing but a sinking ship now. I have zero interest in taking it over.” Lin Xuan calmly sipped his wine.

“Besides, what does the Lin family even have left to offer me? Money? I have more than enough. Family bonds? Sorry, but your family’s ‘affection’ is worthless to me.”

Ever since his rebirth, his goal had never been to inherit the Lin family or truly become part of it.

No—he wanted the Lin family to experience the same poverty and misery he had endured.

He longed to see them suffer, to live in despair.

Seeing the icy indifference in Lin Xuan’s eyes, Lin Chang finally understood.

Lin Xuan would never return to the Lin family.

No matter how much he begged, it was hopeless.

Since that was the case, there was no need to keep up pretenses. Lin Chang’s expression turned thunderous as he hissed, “Lin Xuan, don’t get too cocky!”

“Starlight Group hasn’t lost yet! The public is still on our side, condemning you for plagiarism!”

Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow.

He controlled the largest short-video platform in the country, with hundreds of millions of users. All it took was pushing the right content, and public opinion would shift effortlessly.

As for Weibo and other platforms—one word from him, and they’d obediently push his narrative to the top of trending. Unless, of course, they wanted their systems to experience a little… “unexpected maintenance.”

“And one more thing,” Lin Chang said darkly. “Our company has other businesses besides entertainment and gaming. Did you really think a decades-old empire like Starlight Group would collapse so easily?”

“Hmm,” Lin Xuan nodded. “Wasn’t your entertainment division also built over decades? And yet, I brought it down in just a year.”

Lin Chang’s face turned livid, veins bulging from his clenched fists.

Lin Xuan watched his reaction with amusement, smirking as he said, “So, Chairman Lin, I’d advise you not to be so confident.”

Everything else—he could destroy with a snap of his fingers.

Soon. Very soon.

He had let Starlight Group linger for over a year. It was time to end this.

“Chairman Lin, in five days, Starlight Group will be bankrupt. Since we were once father and son, I’ll give you some advice—prepare yourself mentally.”

“Lin Xuan, you—you—!” Lin Chang pointed at him, his hand trembling with rage.

Lin Xuan chuckled and turned to leave the private room.

Lin Qingwan chased after him, blocking his path. “Xiao Xuan.”

Her face was filled with remorse. “Even if you think I’m hypocritical, I still want to say… I’m sorry.”

“If you ever need my help in the future, just tell me. Whatever I can do, I will.”

“Miss Lin, my boyfriend is under my protection. If he needs help, I’ll be the one to provide it. No need for your concern.”

A voice came from behind Lin Qingwan—Su Hua’s.

Lin Qingwan turned and saw the stunningly beautiful Su Hua.

Whenever she appeared, every other woman paled in comparison.

“Holy hell, she’s unreal,” a man nearby muttered, staring at Su Hua in awe. “If I could have a girlfriend like that, I’d gladly trade years off my life.”