Jiang Shuqin's heart inexplicably tightened.
Grandpa Jiang's affectionate gaze fell upon Lin Li.
"Lin Li!"
"Lin Li is my long-lost grandson, whom I’ve finally found after all these years. Today, I officially welcome him back into the Jiang Family! From now on, he is our rightful and recognized grandson."
Jiang Shuqin's pupils constricted.
The grandson the Jiang Family was acknowledging… was really her son, Li’er.
How could this be?
Butler Wang smirked as he glanced at Jiang Shuqin, thoroughly enjoying the way her face paled and flushed in rapid succession.
With a raised brow, he taunted, "Madam Lin, see for yourself. The one Old Master Jiang is recognizing is indeed Lin Li—your own flesh and blood."
"How does it feel to be betrayed by your own son? Not very pleasant, is it?"
"Shut your mouth!" Jiang Shuqin roared at Butler Wang.
"Very well, very well. I’ll shut up." Butler Wang mimed zipping his lips and leisurely strolled back to the sofa, settling down.
Now that Jiang Shuqin's little drama was over, it was time to watch Lin Li’s downfall unfold.
He picked up a handful of melon seeds and resumed snacking.
Jiang Shuqin remained rooted in place, her mind buzzing.
How could this be?
The Jiang Family was really acknowledging Li’er?
Li’er knew full well that she had been disowned by the Jiang Family, that she and her family had severed all ties. So why would he go crawling back to them?
He had always been the most obedient, the most considerate of her feelings among all her children in the Lin Family…
Yet now, the one she loved and trusted most had betrayed her.
Nearby, guests whispered among themselves about the Jiang Family’s disgraced daughter.
"If the rumors are true, then the Jiangs doted on their daughter, but she repaid them by turning her back on her own parents and the family business for some man. A daughter with no conscience—who’d want her?"
The words struck Jiang Shuqin like a slap.
"You don’t know anything! It wasn’t like that at all!" she snapped.
If they had truly loved her, they would have supported her marriage to Lin Chang unconditionally.
Instead, they had interfered at every turn.
And if her parents hadn’t thrown her out of the Jiang Family over money, she would still have their backing.
Lin Chang would never have dared to cheat on her.
She would have been happy—blissfully happy.
Instead, her company had collapsed, Lin Chang had betrayed her, and her daughters were rarely home.
The vast mansion was often empty, leaving her utterly alone.
The noblewoman she had yelled at sneered. "Why are you so worked up? I was talking about the Jiang Family’s daughter, not you. Unless… you’re that ungrateful daughter?"
"I—I’m not!" Jiang Shuqin nervously adjusted her mask, avoiding eye contact.
"Then what’s it to you? We’re just gossiping about the Jiangs. Mind your own business."
The two women turned away, resuming their hushed conversation.
Their words continued to drift over, each one making Jiang Shuqin’s expression twist further.
Yet she couldn’t lash out—not here.
Meanwhile, Grandpa Jiang beamed. "Li’er, come up here."
"Of course, Grandfather." Lin Li strode onto the stage, basking in the envious stares of the crowd.
Applause erupted from the guests.
"What luck Lin Li has—backed by the Jiang Family right after the Lin Family fell. Some people are just born under a lucky star."
The chorus of admiration filled Lin Li’s ears, and he couldn’t suppress a smug grin.
"Still, no matter what, Lin Li doesn’t hold a candle to Lin Xuan. Sure, Lin Li has the Jiangs, but that’s all he’s got. Lin Xuan built the Tianmu Group from scratch and has both the Su and Jiang Families behind him."
At that, Lin Li’s expression darkened.
But with so many eyes on him, he forced a stiff smile.
Grandpa Jiang continued, "From today onward, Li’er is part of the Jiang Family. We ask for your kindness and guidance. Should he ever offend anyone, please let us know—the Jiang Family will ensure proper amends are made."
His words were a clear declaration: Lin Li now had the Jiangs’ full protection.
Lin Li reveled in the crowd’s admiration.
From now on, he would be untouchable—a Jiang in name and status, revered wherever he went.
Seated at a round table, Lin Xuan watched the scene with an amused glint in his eyes.
Lin Li glanced his way.
Lin Xuan raised his glass in a silent toast, his smile unreadable.
That smile unsettled Lin Li.
What was Lin Xuan so pleased about?
That familiar unease crept in again—the nagging suspicion that Lin Xuan knew everything.
No.
He was overthinking it.
If Lin Xuan knew he was the real Jiang descendant, he would have exposed him already.
Instead, he just sat there, doing nothing…
Grandpa Jiang continued holding the microphone and declared, "Our Jiang Family upholds justice. If it's Lin Li's fault, we will accept the consequences. But we also protect our own. If we find out anyone has bullied my grandson, I, Jiang, will absolutely stand up for him."
His words served as a warning to everyone present.
At that moment, a bespectacled man raised his hand.
"Grandpa Jiang, may I ask who your daughter is?"
Butler Wang adjusted his glasses, looking thoroughly intrigued.
Here it comes—the moment everyone’s been waiting for! The drama is unfolding!
Lin Li clenched his fists.
He couldn’t let anyone find out that the old man’s daughter was Jiang Shuqin. If they did, his deception would be exposed.
Lin Li quickly cut in, "I’m sorry, but my mother had some complicated history with the Jiang Family. My grandfather isn’t ready to talk about her yet. Please don’t ask—it would only upset him."
Grandpa Jiang remained silent. The truth was, he really didn’t want to bring up Jiang Shuqin.
From childhood, Jiang Shuqin had been doted on by the family, cherished like a delicate treasure. They had never wronged her in any way.
Yet for the sake of a man, she turned her back on the Jiang Family—even severed ties with them.
As far as he was concerned, he no longer had a daughter named Jiang Shuqin.
If not for Lin Li’s sudden appearance, he would have preferred never mentioning her existence to anyone.
Unfazed by Lin Li’s explanation, the man pressed further, "Then, aside from Grandpa Jiang, do the two Jiang sisters know what the relationship is between Lin Li and Lin Xuan?"
Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you’re enjoying your day off!
Special thanks to Joyful Summer, I Love Min Yuxin, There’s a Cat in the Fog, Hibiscus Makeup→_→, and other sweethearts for the gifts!
Uu.
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.
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!
lities. One day, Qi Yuan was buying groceries when he unfortunately came face-to-face with a monster. Just when he thought he was going to die on the spot, he suddenly heard the monster's thoughts... "This aura, he's definitely not an ordinary master!" "So terrifying, so terrifying." "A fight with my back against the wall, I can't take it anymore." Qi Yuan: Ah, no one told me that my awakened ability isn't telepathy, but rather the stronger my enemies imagine me to be, the stronger I truly become. PS: Zhou Hai in the first chapter is not the protagonist.
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."
