Now that Starlight Group had gone bankrupt, her daughters still had money, and she had some savings left.
Life wasn’t as lavish as before, but it was still manageable.
The high-society socialites were ruthless—now that the Lin Family had fallen, they looked down on them completely.
Whenever Jiang Shuqin appeared among them, she was met with endless mockery.
Jiang Shuqin felt deeply wronged.
If she were still a daughter of the Jiang Family, if she hadn’t cut ties with them, those women would be fawning over her instead of treating her like she was invisible.
She longed to return to the Jiang Family, but she had her pride.
Since she had severed ties back then, she would never rely on them again.
Gradually, Jiang Shuqin stopped associating with those wealthy socialites altogether.
Instead, she became obsessed with a new pastime—keeping a young lover.
Without any restraint, she flaunted him in all sorts of public settings.
Soon enough, her infidelity was exposed to Lin Chang.
He slapped her, and Jiang Shuqin retaliated by clawing at his face.
The Lin household became a battleground—every time they crossed paths, they fought.
The Lin daughters barely came home anymore.
And when they did, they shut themselves in their rooms immediately.
Today, Jiang Shuqin and Lin Chang were at it again.
Pursing her lips, she couldn’t help but wonder—
How had their once-happy family turned into this?
Memories flashed through her mind.
It was all because of Lin Xuan!
If he hadn’t exposed Lin Chang’s affair with Wang Yajun, Lin Chang would still be playing the devoted husband instead of openly fooling around.
And if Lin Xuan hadn’t targeted Starlight Group, it wouldn’t have gone bankrupt.
She would still be a wealthy socialite, spending without a care.
But because of Lin Xuan, everything was gone.
Regret burned in Jiang Shuqin’s eyes.
She should’ve strangled him back then, not abandoned him in the wilderness.
After returning to his room, Lin Li tried on a suit—it fit perfectly.
Taking it off and putting on a mask, he left the Lin residence and called Lin Xuan.
"Lin Xuan."
A smug smile curled on Lin Li’s lips. "I need to talk to you."
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
"Meet me at Xianshi Mountain Resort tonight at seven. I have something to discuss."
Lin Xuan knew the place—scenic, expensive, a perfect getaway.
But…
He smirked. It was also remote. Perfect for an ambush.
Glancing at the calendar on the wall, he noted—
Tomorrow was the Jiang Family’s recognition banquet. Lin Li must be getting desperate, wanting him out of the picture.
This was clearly a trap.
Lin Li probably planned to watch from the shadows as he got beaten.
Lin Xuan replied coolly, "About what?"
"Just come. You’ll find out," Lin Li said mysteriously.
Lin Xuan scoffed. "If you’re going to be cryptic, I’m not interested. Goodbye."
"Wait!"
Panicking, Lin Li quickly added, "Don’t you want to know what’s been happening at home? How Mom, Dad, and our sisters really feel about you?"
"Come, and I’ll tell you everything."
With no other leverage, this was Lin Li’s only way to lure him out.
"Sorry, but I don’t care."
Lin Xuan hung up.
Lin Li clenched his phone.
Damn it!
Lin Xuan wasn’t biting.
Gritting his teeth, Lin Li called again. "Lin Xuan, I’ve aligned myself with a powerful family."
"Oh." Lin Xuan sounded indifferent.
He already knew—Lin Li meant the Jiang Family.
But claiming their support was premature.
Tomorrow, he’d make sure Lin Li fell from grace.
With the Jiang Family connection severed, Lin Li would scramble for another way to one-up him.
Women, powerful backers—once those failed, Lin Li would have only one path left.
Starting a business.
And Lin Xuan would let him—because that was how the Lin Family’s fortune would be squandered.
Lin Li pressed on, "Lin Xuan, let’s talk openly about the Lin Family. Meet me, and you’ll see who’s backing me."
Again, Lin Xuan refused. "Lin Li, give it up. I’m not coming."
"Aren’t you even curious who my ally is?"
"Not in the slightest." The call ended.
Lin Li’s fists shook.
Lin Xuan was playing hard to get!
If he didn’t leave the house, how could the hired men teach him a lesson?
Lin Xuan set his phone down, lounging on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other.
Rather than walking into someone else’s trap, he preferred setting his own.
No rush.
Beating people up was best done under the cover of night—more fun that way.
The sun was still high. Not the right time.
Today, he’d switch things up.
Picking up his phone, he dialed Cheng Da and Cheng Er. "I need you two to handle something."
"Boss, name it," Cheng Er said eagerly.
He loved working for the boss—his tasks were always entertaining.
Lin Xuan laid out his plan.
As they listened, Cheng Da and Cheng Er’s eyes gleamed. "Don’t worry, Boss. We’ll get everything ready and bring extra guys."
They’d scare the hell out of them!
"Good."
Soon, Cheng Da delivered the outfits.
Lin Xuan took one downstairs.
"Young Master Lin." Butler Wang greeted him respectfully, eyeing the clothes. "What’s this?"
Instead of answering, Lin Xuan asked, "Butler Wang, feel like watching some drama?"
Bored, Butler Wang perked up immediately.
Drama?
He loved it—especially when it involved Young Master Lin.
His schemes were always the juiciest.
"Yes! Absolutely!" Butler Wang nodded without hesitation.
"Then we’ll head out tonight."
If they dared target him, he’d make sure they regretted it.
A cold smirk curled on Lin Xuan’s lips.
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.
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.”
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…
't think I'm that capable, I'm just trying my best to stay alive. I've been kind all my life, never did anything bad, yet worldly suffering spared me not one bit. The human world is a nice place, but I won't come back in my next life. A kind young man, who wanted to just get by singing, but through repeated deceits and betrayals, has gone down an irredeemable path.
