"Chairman Su, this is an internal matter of the Lin family of Changhe. It's hardly appropriate for you to interfere, don't you think?"
Lin Tiancheng had never imagined that he would one day find himself on equal footing with a boy who was once dirt poor.
But reality had a way of humbling even the proudest. That once-poor boy was now worth billions, fully deserving of standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
"Is that so? And what if I do so as Yixue's boyfriend?" Su Ming retorted, his arm snaking around Lin Yixue's waist.
"How dare you!"
Lin Tianhao, who had been silent until now, slammed his hand on the table and rose to his feet, his face a mask of fury as he glared at Su Ming.
"Su Ming, don't think that just because you've made a name for yourself, you can look down on the Lin family. No matter who you are, you have no right to meddle in today's affairs!"
Su Ming's expression darkened, but he didn't respond. Instead, he turned to Lin Yixue, his voice softening. "Yixue, I told you I'd stand by you through everything. Let me take you away today, okay?"
Lin Yixue's quiet sobs filled the room, and after a long pause, she nodded firmly.
"Alright, let's go."
Without a second glance at Lin Tianhao or Lin Tiancheng, Su Ming wrapped his arm around Lin Yixue and made for the door.
"Su Ming, have you no respect for the law?" Lin Tiancheng bellowed.
"Stop right there!"
Lin Tianhao's voice thundered through the room.
*Ding! Choice triggered!*
"Option 1: Take Lin Yixue away. Reward: Wan Hua's stock will continue to plummet today."
"Option 2: Stay and persuade Lin Tianhao. Reward: 20% shares of Changhe."
"Hahaha... Who dares to stop me from leaving today?" Su Ming laughed, his eyes gleaming with disdain as he silently chose option one.
"Such arrogance! Take him down!" Lin Tiancheng barked, and with a wave of his hand, two burly bodyguards stormed in, their eyes locked menacingly on Su Ming.
"Yixue, wait for me."
Su Ming's voice was calm as he glanced at the two bodyguards.
In a flash, Su Ming moved. The moment he released Lin Yixue, he was already in front of one of the bodyguards.
The bodyguard's face paled as he tried to dodge, but it was too late.
Su Ming struck like lightning, his hand clamping down on the bodyguard's wrist with a vice-like grip.
"Ahhh!"
The bodyguard's scream echoed through the room as his arm went limp, dislocated in an instant.
The other bodyguard lunged at Su Ming from the side, but Su Ming didn't even bother to look.
"Iron Mountain Strike!"
With a surge of internal energy, Su Ming's foot lashed out.
*Boom!*
The bodyguard was sent flying, crashing into the work area several meters away.
Gasps filled the room as chaos erupted.
*Boom!*
Su Ming's next kick sent the disarmed bodyguard flying out of the office and into the hallway.
Lin Tianhao and Lin Tiancheng were dumbstruck.
*What the hell? Are they even human? These were their top-tier, high-paid bodyguards. There were probably no better in Jiangzhou, yet they were so easily subdued?*
Meanwhile, Su Ming, as if he had just swatted a fly, wrapped his arm around Lin Yixue and walked out.
"Su Ming!"
Lin Tianhao, suppressing his shock, shouted, "Su Ming, if you truly love Yixue, why can't you give her a bright future?"
Su Ming stopped, almost laughing. He understood now why Lin Tianhao and Lin Tiancheng had come to the Changhe headquarters.
It was all about Wan Jing, wasn't it?
Seeing Su Ming stop, Lin Tiancheng added, "Su Ming, do you know that if Yixue goes to the capital with Young Master Wan, she will have endless wealth and enter the upper echelons of society in one step?"
"Su Ming, if you truly love Yixue, you should give her a dream-like future, not take her away!"
Lin Tianhao continued.
"Yixue, is the future they're talking about what you want?" Su Ming ignored them and asked Lin Yixue softly.
Lin Yixue shook her head.
Raising his head, Su Ming's gaze turned icy. "Lin Tianhao, honestly, you are the most shameless person I've ever met!"
"You...!" Lin Tianhao was taken aback and immediately enraged.
Before he could speak, Su Ming continued, "Lin Tianhao, for your own selfish desires, you would actually give away your own daughter. Do you even consider yourself a human being?"
Su Ming's words left no room for mercy.
"Nonsense! Yixue's best choice is to go with Young Master Wan!" Lin Tianhao fumed. "I admit, you've achieved something, but your vision is too narrow. Do you know what the capital is? We work our whole lives to get there!"
"Yixue has a chance now. If she agrees, she can enter the capital and join Wan Hua. Do you know how rare this opportunity is?"
"Tsk!" Su Ming sneered. "Lin Tianhao, you overestimate the capital and Wan Hua, don't you?"
"Hmm?" Lin Tianhao and Lin Tiancheng were both taken aback.
At that moment, Su Ming said calmly, "Don't you know that Wan Hua's assets have already shrunk?"
"What... what do you mean?" Lin Tianhao was stunned, a terrifying thought rising in his mind.
Lin Tiancheng's pupils also contracted sharply.
"Nothing special. Yixue, let's go. This heartless place is not worth staying in."
Lin Yixue nodded slightly, and the two walked out slowly.
Lin Tianhao, recovering from his shock, shouted without thinking, "Lin Yixue, if you dare to leave today, I, Lin Tianhao, will sever all ties with you!"
Lin Yixue's body trembled, her heart turning cold. She stopped, turned slowly, and looked directly into Lin Tianhao's angry eyes.
"Yixue, come back. Listen to your uncle. Your father is doing this for your own good," Lin Tiancheng urged, alarmed.
But Lin Yixue ignored him, looking at Lin Tianhao. "Lin Tianhao, I never thought you would go to such lengths for your own selfish desires."
"Have you not seen my efforts over the years? Can't Changhe make it to the capital on its own?"
"I used to respect you, your courage and determination. But now, I despise you. For a shortcut, you would give me away to someone else. Fine, from now on, I, Lin Yixue, have nothing to do with you!"
With that, Lin Yixue's strength seemed to drain away, and she nearly collapsed. Su Ming quickly supported her, glaring coldly at Lin Tianhao.
"Lin Tianhao, you are truly a great father, to go to such lengths."
"Heh, one day, I will make you realize how foolish you are today!"
"One day, she will be beyond your reach!"
With those words, Su Ming carried Lin Yixue and left Changhe, leaving behind the place of sorrow.