"Lin Xuan, that ungrateful son again!" Jiang Shuqin trembled with rage.
"That Lin Xuan! He’s been opposing Starlight Group all along, and he still is!"
She regretted it deeply.
Back then, she shouldn’t have been soft-hearted—just abandoning him in the wilderness. She should have killed him outright!
"What should we do now, Wan'er?" Jiang Shuqin asked frantically.
Was the Lin family truly doomed?
Because the Lins were wealthy, people outside treated her with respect. But if Starlight Group went bankrupt, those same people wouldn’t even spare her a glance.
And the Jiang family!
Her so-called "dear father" and "dear brother" would surely kick her while she was down!
Lin Qingwan sighed. "Mom, we can only take things one step at a time now."
"Jiang Shuqin, if you hadn’t given birth to such a disgraceful son, would our company be in this state?" Lin Chang said darkly.
"My son?" Jiang Shuqin gritted her teeth. "Was I the only one involved in making him? Lin Chang, he’s your blood too!"
Lin Qingwan rubbed her temples.
"Mom, Dad, stop arguing. We need to think of a way to deal with this." Seeing Lin Chang and Jiang Shuqin on the verge of another fight, she quickly intervened.
As she spoke, a deep sense of helplessness washed over her.
A solution?
What solution could there possibly be?
Her father had personally admitted to the media that Starlight Group plagiarized Skyline Games. The matter was already set in stone.
And the company’s other games had been ruined by Little Xuan.
The gaming division had no chance of recovery.
Without the entertainment and gaming sectors, how long could Starlight Group last?
Suddenly, Lin Chang’s eyes lit up with an idea.
"Wife, there’s still one way to save the company from bankruptcy." He grabbed Jiang Shuqin’s shoulders, excitement flashing across his face.
"What way?" she asked, frowning.
Lin Chang: "Your father. Your father is the chairman of Jiang Corporation. If he steps in, he’ll definitely help us through this crisis."
"No!" Jiang Shuqin shoved his hands away, her expression grim.
"I swore I’d never return to the Jiang family. I’ve completely cut ties with them. I won’t go begging to them!"
If she went back now, they’d mock her mercilessly!
She had her pride.
She would never ask the Jiangs for anything!
"Wife, we’re out of options. Asking the Jiangs for help is our only way out!"
Jiang Corporation ranked among the top ten companies in the country, with military-political connections, vast networks, and immense wealth.
If the Jiangs intervened, Starlight Group would surely survive this crisis!
"I will never bow my head and apologize to them."
Jiang Shuqin was unyielding.
Since they had disowned her, she would never have anything to do with the Jiang family again.
How could she possibly go begging to them now?
"Wife," Lin Chang took a deep breath, trying to coax her, "I know you and the Jiangs had a falling out, but this is an emergency."
"Just this once. Once they help us, we’ll never ask them for anything again."
"Not even once."
Jiang Shuqin’s reply was firm.
"So you’re really refusing?" Lin Chang’s face darkened.
"Absolutely."
SLAP!
Unable to contain his fury, Lin Chang struck Jiang Shuqin hard across the face.
"Mom!" Lin Qingwan rushed to support her.
"Jiang Shuqin, all you do every day is play mahjong, go shopping, and pamper yourself. For decades, you’ve lived off me, enjoying a life of luxury without lifting a finger."
"And now, when I ask you to do one thing, you refuse? Jiang Shuqin, have you no shame?"
Lin Chang glared at her with burning eyes.
"I lived off you?" Jiang Shuqin roared, her eyes red. "If I hadn’t repeatedly taken money from the Jiang family to fund your ventures, would you even be where you are today?"
"And if not for you, I’d still be the Jiang family’s beloved daughter! I wouldn’t have to endure this humiliation!"
Clutching her stinging cheek, Jiang Shuqin was overwhelmed with bitterness.
Back when she was with the Jiangs, her father and brother had doted on her endlessly.
But after marrying Lin Chang, she’d even had to watch her spending.
She once thought Lin Chang truly loved her, that she was happy.
But the truth?
Lin Chang had kept a mistress!
She’d sent that woman to prison, only for him to replace her with others—women coming and going without end.
His past kindness had all been an act.
Hah!
She had married such a man!
She regretted it—deeply regretted it. She never should have married Lin Chang. But she refused to admit defeat to the Jiangs.
Besides, she hadn’t lost completely, had she?
She still had Li'er and her three obedient daughters.
Li'er was talented—he’d surely achieve great things. Wan'er owned a skincare company, and Yan'er was a famous celebrity.
Her children were all outstanding.
Thinking of this, Jiang Shuqin’s resentment eased slightly.
"Lin Chang," she sneered coldly, "if you don’t want this marriage anymore, then let’s end it."
Lin Chang did want out.
But he couldn’t agree—not when he might still need his children to support him later.
He couldn’t leave a bad impression on them.
"Unreasonable." With a dismissive wave, he stormed off to the bedroom.
Once he was gone, Lin Li approached.
"Mom, are you okay?"
"I’m fine." Jiang Shuqin shook her head.
She no longer cared about Lin Chang. No matter how he treated her, it didn’t affect her anymore.
She only hated her past self for being blind.
"Li'er." She smiled warmly. "Thank goodness I have you."
A son like Li'er was a blessing she must have earned over lifetimes.
Lin Li fell into thought.
From now on, he had to be cautious. Before the family recognition banquet, Lin Chang must not learn of his ties to the Jiang family.
Otherwise, Lin Chang would force him to beg the Jiangs for help.
If he did, his standing with the Jiangs would plummet.
But if he refused, Lin Chang’s attitude toward him would sour.
Though the Lin family was declining, a starved camel was still bigger than a horse. And Lin Chang still had considerable savings.
He couldn’t afford to break ties with him yet.
Besides guarding against the Lin family, his biggest concern was Lin Xuan.
He absolutely could not let Lin Xuan appear at his recognition banquet!
So tired… I still haven’t recovered.
Dear readers, how about some little gifts? Heart.
Thanks to "Meeting You Is Enough" and other lovely readers for the gifts!
Uu.
to panic—he has a system. As long as an investment target dies, he can claim a reward. And since he is immortal, the one thing he has plenty of is time. ... Countless years later. “Immortal Emperor of Longevity? I invested in him.” “Supreme Celestial Venerable? I invested in him.” “Undying Empress? I invested in her.” “...” “Heh. Once they’ve all died, even the Heavenly Dao will have to kneel and call me Dad.”
uld barely embark on the path to immortality. Just as he was on the verge of death, his golden finger awakened. No matter whether it was poison, drained blood and vital energy, diminished lifespan, or any other physical debuff caused by paying a price—once midnight passed, everything would be refreshed. From then on, whenever someone asked what kind of person Chu Ran was, the answer was simple: Forbidden arts that other cultivators dared not learn? Chu Ran would learn them. Prices that even demonic cultivators dared not pay? Chu Ran would pay them. Lifespan that even righteous cultivators dared not burn? Chu Ran would burn it. All the blood essence in his body? Take it. Want both his hands and feet? He would cut them off and send them to you. You say he’s finished? He wasn’t built to sit idle. You think he’s gone mad? No—he was simply waiting for midnight. From that day onward, Chu Ran would respect neither Heaven nor Earth, bow to neither gods nor ghosts. He had only one wish: For midnight to arrive a little sooner.
【Prologue: The Beginning of It All – Use holy water to heal the saintess tainted by demonic energy, then converse with her.】 Shen Nian stared at his older sister sipping yogurt, lost in thought. So you’re telling me my sister is the saintess, and yogurt is the holy water? 【Main Quest 1: Brave Youth, Become an Adventurer! Reward: Rookie Adventurer Title.】 【Side Quest 1: Find the Adorable Kitty! Reward: 1000 Gold Coins.】 Shen Nian: "Wait, I’m a high school senior here—did some guy who got isekai’d accidentally bind his system to me?" Hold on, completing quests gives gold rewards? Titles even boost stats? Is this for real? (A lighthearted, absurd campus comedy—not a revenge power fantasy.)
his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…
