"Jiang Che, don't you think you are too shameless?!"
Noticing Jiang Che's unscrupulous gaze, Liu Qiyue's entire body trembled uncontrollably. She could accept the first two conditions, but how had she agreed to the third? This man was not only robbing her of money but also demanding something far more audacious!
"Ma'am, don't be so quick to refuse. Take your time to think it over," Jiang Che said with a light smile, leisurely sipping his tea. He wasn't in a hurry—after all, good things take time. If Liu Qiyue gave in too easily, it would be strange.
"You can keep dreaming. I will never agree to this request." Liu Qiyue sneered, her eyes filled with defiance.
This man looked dignified on the surface, but his thoughts were utterly vile. Even though she had no real feelings for Lin Tiannan, she was still his wife in name. How dare Jiang Che make such a shameless demand? Who did he take her for?
"Let me remind you, Ma'am, Lin Fan will be returning to China soon," Jiang Che said, glancing at her.
"What do you mean?" Liu Qiyue frowned, not quite grasping his point.
What did Lin Fan's return have to do with anything? She had already gained control over the Lin family's power. Even if Lin Fan came back, he wouldn't be able to meet Lin Tiannan easily.
"In the eight years since Lin Fan disappeared, he was taken in as a disciple by a worldly master. He has mastered both martial arts and medical skills."
"When he returns, his first move will be to cure Lin Tiannan, and then he'll expose the truth of what happened eight years ago."
"Aren't you afraid?" Jiang Che asked lightly.
According to the original plot, Lin Fan would return, heal Lin Tiannan's terminal illness with an elixir from his master, and slowly restore his father's health. Then, he would publicly reveal the truth of what had happened all those years ago. Once Lin Tiannan regained power, Liu Qiyue would quickly lose her current status and authority.
Liu Qiyue took a step back, her eyes filled with wariness. Her heart pounded.
"How do you know all this?"
Not only did Jiang Che know about Lin Fan, but he also knew about what had happened eight years ago? Who exactly was this man?
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that I can help you fulfill your unfulfilled ambition, Madam."
"Do you really want to sit back and watch as Lin Fan and his father reclaim the Lin family?"
Jiang Che lit a cigarette and spoke slowly.
He was confident that she wouldn't refuse him. Controlling the Lin family and avenging her lost loved ones had become her life's obsession. Now that she was so close to success, she couldn't just give up. She could have ignored Lin Fan's return if she hadn't known about it, but now that she did, how could she stand by and do nothing?
"Why should I trust you?"
Although tempted, Liu Qiyue remained wary of Jiang Che. This man had threatened her from the start—he was clearly no saint. Who knew what his real intentions were?
"Do you really have any other choice, Madam?" Jiang Che stubbed out his cigarette, amusement flickering in his eyes.
He had made his stance clear. If she agreed to his three conditions, he would help her. If she refused, he could simply hand over the incriminating audio to Lin Tiannan. Of course, this was just a bluff—Jiang Che had no intention of doing that. He wanted Lin Tiannan dead as soon as possible.
Liu Qiyue hesitated.
Jiang Che was right. She had no alternative. If she rejected his offer and he handed the audio over to Lin Tiannan, her carefully built empire would collapse overnight. She didn't care about her own downfall—she was prepared to drag the entire Lin family down with her if necessary.
But Lin Fan's sudden return made things far more complicated.
Her plan had worked so smoothly for years because Lin Fan had been exiled. If he came back to Jiangbei City and returned to the Lin family, the old-timers would surely rally behind him.
The Lin family's belief in bloodline was deeply rooted.
No matter how much power she wielded now, she was still an outsider. They would never truly trust her.
Jiang Che glanced at his watch.
"Take your time, Madam. As long as you give me an answer before ten o'clock," he said with a smirk.
Liu Qiyue's hesitation was the most entertaining part. Watching her struggle between pride and necessity gave him a special sense of satisfaction.
Then, as if he had all the time in the world, Jiang Che got up and strolled into the bathroom for a shower.
Alone in the room, Liu Qiyue stood by the window, gazing down at Jiangbei City's dazzling nightscape. The neon lights flickered across the skyline, painting a picture of wealth and luxury.
Do I really have to compromise?
If she had a choice, she would never agree to Jiang Che's outrageous demand. But things had spiraled beyond her expectations.
Jiang Che had learned about Lin Fan's return before she had. He clearly had powerful connections. If he truly had the means to help her eliminate Lin Fan, then maybe...
But she still couldn't accept it.
After all these years of planning, she was on the brink of success. How had Lin Fan managed to return at this exact moment?
"God, are you playing a joke on me?"
She laughed bitterly.
Her life had been filled with hardship.
As a child, she had lost her entire family. After graduating from university and returning to China, she had been forced to marry into the Lin family, all for the sake of revenge. She had spent eight painstaking years working toward this moment.
And now, Lin Fan had come back to ruin everything.
Jiang Che emerged from the bathroom, walking over to stand beside her. Together, they looked out at the glittering city below.
"So, have you made your decision?"
Liu Qiyue let out a self-deprecating smile.
"Do I even have the right to refuse?"
Jiang Che had obviously calculated everything. He knew about her deep-seated obsession for revenge, and he was using it to his advantage.
"Of course, I would never force you," Jiang Che replied with a serious expression.
"Even if I agree to your terms, I need time to prepare the share transfer agreement," Liu Qiyue said, trying to stall.
"No need. I already have it ready," Jiang Che smirked, pulling a contract from his briefcase.
Liu Qiyue's heart sank.
So this was all planned from the start.
The contract had been prepared in advance—he had just been waiting for her to take the bait.
After reviewing the terms, she picked up a pen and signed it.
She had no other choice.
Jiang Che smiled in satisfaction and tucked the contract back into his briefcase.
"A wise decision, Madam. One day, you'll thank me for this."
Liu Qiyue remained silent for a long moment before finally asking, "Can I hear your plan now?"
She needed to know if he was serious about helping her.
"Of course," Jiang Che replied, settling onto the sofa.
"Since we're now partners, I'll help you take full control of the Lin Group. Then, we eliminate Lin Tiannan. By the time Lin Fan returns, his father will already be dead, and there will be no proof left to clear his name."
Liu Qiyue frowned.
"How do you plan to help me gain full control?"
She had spent years working toward that goal and had yet to achieve it. How could an outsider like Jiang Che succeed where she hadn't?
Jiang Che smirked.
"I have my ways."
He had the greatest advantage of all—knowledge of the future. He was aware of all the hidden secrets of the Lin Group's shareholders. Once he gathered the necessary evidence, taking them down would be effortless.
Liu Qiyue narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing him. "What is your background?"
She understood the implications of his words, but what puzzled her was how Jiang Che had access to such sensitive information. Without a strong background, it would be impossible for him to obtain these details.
Jiang Che smirked and shook his head. "No comment."
He couldn't possibly reveal the truth—that he had a system helping him. That would be exposing his greatest secret.
Liu Qiyue huffed coldly, dissatisfied with his lack of response. "Fine," she muttered.
Jiang Che glanced at his watch. "It's getting late," he noted. "What are you still thinking about?"
Liu Qiyue sighed. "I'm already thirty years old. Why do you keep clinging to me?" she asked, slightly exasperated. She was eight years older than Jiang Che and couldn't understand his fascination with her.
Jiang Che's gaze lingered on her figure, a knowing smirk on his lips. "It seems Madam underestimates her own charm."
Liu Qiyue's elegant yet voluptuous figure was still highly attractive. And more than that—she was the wife of Lin Tiannan, the head of the Lin family. The forbidden nature of their relationship only added to the thrill.
Taking a deep breath, Liu Qiyue made a decision. "I'm going to take a shower first," she said, walking away.
When she returned from the bathroom, Jiang Che requested that she put on that black silk dress again...
Ding!
"Congratulations to the host for successfully manipulating the plot character Liu Qiyue."
"This mission has been rated as SSS. Rewards are being issued."
"Congratulations! The host has obtained the mid-tier sword technique 'Grass and Wood Sword Art'."
"Congratulations! The host has earned 10,000 plot points."
"Congratulations! The host has acquired the Ten Thousand Year Profound Stone × 1."
The next day, at noon.
When Jiang Che woke up, Liu Qiyue was already gone.
He stretched, feeling invigorated. After breaking through to the Grandmaster realm, he could go three consecutive days without sleep and still be fine. Last night had been quite an eventful one with Liu Qiyue.
Sitting up, he scanned the room, but Liu Qiyue was nowhere to be seen.
"System, open the status panel," he commanded.
A translucent interface appeared before him.
Host: Jiang Che
Identity: Chairman of Jiang Group
Cultivation Level: Mid-stage Grandmaster
Plot Points: 12,000
Cultivation Techniques: "Dao Heart and Demon Planting Technique," "Walking God Step," "Sky Poison Sutra," "Grass and Wood Sword Art"
Items: Ten Thousand-Year Iceberg Snow Lotus, Human Cub Hiccup Bag ×10, Da Huan Dan ×1, Ten Thousand Year Profound Stone ×1
Jiang Che's eyes landed on the Ten Thousand Year Profound Stone, a large boulder about one meter in length. He frowned in confusion.
"System, what is the purpose of this stone?"
"The Ten Thousand Year Profound Stone is a rare and extraordinary mineral that has been formed over tens of thousands of years in the extreme northern cold regions. It can be used to forge powerful weapons."
Jiang Che raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"
"That's it."
Jiang Che scoffed. He had expected something more exciting. Still, even if it was just a material for crafting weapons, it could come in handy.
Shrugging, he got dressed. He had made a promise to Liu Qiyue—he would help her seize control of the Lin Group, and he had no intention of going back on his word. More importantly, doing so would benefit him as well.
Once he took control of the Lin Group, he could use its vast sales network to distribute his company's beauty pills, which would skyrocket his profits. With nationwide expansion, it wouldn't be long before he surpassed Su Batian and became the wealthiest man in Jiangbei.
Meanwhile, Liu Qiyue returned to the Lin Family Manor from the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It was already noon—time to administer Lin Tiannan's medicine.
She entered his room just as he was drinking his medicinal soup. Lin Tiannan, ever observant, immediately noticed her pale complexion.
"Qiyue, you look unwell. Are you feeling sick?" he asked with concern.
Lin Tiannan assumed that her exhaustion was due to her worrying about his health and working tirelessly at the company. His heart ached with guilt.
Liu Qiyue shook her head. "No, I'm fine," she replied, though her voice was uneasy.
After last night, she was utterly drained. If she looked good right now, that would be nothing short of a miracle.
Lin Tiannan sighed. "You should take better care of yourself. Don't overwork and exhaust yourself."
Liu Qiyue nodded absentmindedly before quickly leaving the room.
As she walked down the hall, she felt an overwhelming sense of disgust. The image of Lin Tiannan's frail, sickly face repulsed her. All she could think about was Jiang Che.
Soon after, Lin Tiannan drifted into a deep sleep.
Liu Qiyue wandered aimlessly through the Lin family estate, lost in thought.
"Hello, Madam."
"Good afternoon, Madam."
Servants greeted her politely as she passed, but she ignored them, her mind elsewhere. Eventually, she stopped in front of her car.
Her female driver stepped out of the Maybach and bowed respectfully. "Madam, shall we head to the company now?"
Liu Qiyue snapped out of her daze.
"Yes. Take me to the company," she said, taking a deep breath and pushing away her chaotic thoughts. She slid into the back seat.
Now that things had happened the way they had, there was no point in regretting anything. Instead of dwelling on it, she needed to focus on seizing complete control of the company before Lin Fan returned.
The Maybach pulled out of the estate and disappeared into the city streets.