The sharp edge of the card pressed against Lin Xiangwan’s collarbone.
Jiang Shijing’s gaze darkened slightly, yet he still wore a roguish smile.
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze. Lin Xiangwan turned her head to look at him.
The man so close at hand had laughter in his eyes, speaking of the past without the slightest hesitation without a trace of the hurt or unwillingness one might expect from a man whose fiancée had run off.
At that moment, Lin Xiangwan understood. Three years ago, she had been the only one who fell into that illusory love.
To Jiang Shijing, she had merely been a replaceable candidate for a future wife. So what if she ran away? He could always find another.
“I don’t just take anyone’s money.”
Her expression indifferent, Lin Xiangwan broke free from his hold around her waist and walked toward the Fanxing building.
Jiang Shijing watched her graceful figure. The smile faded from his face, turbulence flickering in his eyes.
At the top floor of Fanxing, in the conference room.
The grand inauguration ceremony was nearing its end.
Lin Xijun, dressed in a sharp suit and leather shoes, sat at the head of the table, receiving congratulations from all sides.
Mr. and Mrs. Lin wore gratified smiles as they watched their son in high spirits.
The scene was perfectly lively when suddenly, with a loud bang, the doors were forcefully pushed open.
Everyone instinctively turned their heads. The moment they saw who it was, they froze.
The smiles vanished from Mr. and Mrs. Lin’s faces. Lin Xijun shot to his feet, looking as though he had seen a ghost.
“It’s you you you actually dare to come back?”
Under countless gazes, Lin Xiangwan’s expression remained cool and detached.
Her beautiful eyes swept over the father and stepmother she hadn’t seen in three years, then settled on Lin Xijun’s increasingly ugly expression.
“You didn’t even inform me about the appointment of the new company president. Are you planning to ignore me, a shareholder with twenty percent of the shares?”
Xiang Keqing’s eyes turned cold for a moment, then she quickly stepped forward with a smile, grabbing Lin Xiangwan’s hand.
“Wanwan, you ran away from your wedding and disappeared for three years, refusing to contact your father. Everyone thought you wouldn’t show up again, so that’s why… sigh.”
She let out a helpless sigh. “It was our oversight. We forgot to send you an email notification. I’m very happy you’re back. Your father and brother have missed you very much.”
“Is that so?”
Lin Xiangwan let out a mocking laugh and pulled her hand away in disgust. “Aunt Xiang, you don’t miss me you’re afraid I’ve come back to compete for the president’s position, aren’t you?”
Lin Mu’s face darkened as he glared at her gloomily.
“I knew it! You came back to the country for this! Because you ran away from your wedding, our Fanxing almost got destroyed by the Jiang family back then! It’s no exaggeration to say that without your brother protecting the company, there wouldn’t be a Fanxing today!
You nearly ruined the company, and you still have the nerve to fight for the position?”
Lin Xiangwan cast him a casual glance, the corner of her lips curling faintly without much emotion.
“The Jiang and Lin families have been close for generations. Even after I ran away, Old Madam Jiang stated at the press conference the very next day that she wouldn’t pursue the matter. Who in the Jiang family would dare make a move against Fanxing?”
She slightly raised her chin. “And if the Jiang family truly wanted to target Fanxing, Lin Xijun wouldn’t have the ability to stop them.”
“You so you really did come to seize the position! Back then, you ran off and disgraced the Lin family. You’re not fit to be the company president at all. Get out right now, or don’t blame me for laying hands on you!”
Lin Mu instantly flew into a rage, his eyes filled with wariness and disgust.
Beside him, Xiang Keqing tugged at his arm and gently tried to soothe him. “Forget it. She’s still young. Don’t argue with her.”
Lin Xijun clenched his fists and sneered coldly. “Three years ago when she ran from her wedding, Mother, that’s exactly how you persuaded Father. Now she’s back causing trouble this isn’t just childish ignorance anymore, is it?”
Xiang Keqing immediately shot him a sharp look. “Xijun, what are you saying!”
The mother and son played good cop and bad cop, angering Lin Mu until his face turned livid.
He shook off Xiang Keqing’s hand and pointed at Lin Xiangwan. “Don’t let me see you again. You’re not qualified to sit in that president’s seat!”
Lin Xiangwan met his ruthless gaze head-on.
Three years ago, when her grandfather was on his deathbed, she and Lin Mu had both stayed by his side.
In his final moments, her grandfather said the company would be passed to her. Yet before he was even buried, Lin Mu announced that he himself would take the president’s seat, while the vice president position would go to Lin Xijun.
At the time, she had been heartbroken over her grandfather’s passing and wholly devoted to Jiang Shijing, unwilling to fight her own biological father over control of the company.
Until she broke with Jiang Shijing and ran home only to overhear Lin Mu personally admit he had cheated long ago. He even said that if not for coveting the dowry brought by her mother’s family, he would never have waited ten years before marrying Xiang Keqing.
Under that double blow, she had angrily gone abroad.
After lying low for so long, the time had finally come to take everything back.
If a father could be heartless, then she would not be blamed for being ruthless.
“I’m not qualified?” Lin Xiangwan sneered, staring straight at Lin Mu. “Then is the illegitimate son you had through your affair qualified to be the rightful heir of the Lin Group?”
Xiang Keqing’s face turned pale. She bit her lip hard and gripped Lin Xijun, signaling him not to move.
The room fell into complete silence. The shareholders and executives looked at Lin Xiangwan as if she were insane.
She must be crazy.
How could she expose such a matter in public? Wasn’t that slapping her own father in the face?
Several shareholders grew increasingly dissatisfied, feeling more certain that keeping Lin Xiangwan out of the company had been the right decision.
At that moment, a crisp slap suddenly rang out.
Smack!
With one strike, Lin Mu slapped Lin Xiangwan hard enough to make her stagger several steps.
“Unfilial daughter! How did I, Lin Mu, give birth to such a thing? Get out get out right now!”
Her face burned with pain. Her eyes were like a stagnant pool of water, a chill emerging on her usually delicate and charming features.
“I should be the president of Fanxing. If anyone should get out, it’s you take your wife and your illegitimate son and get out, as far as you can!”