At her words, a hush fell over the room.
Fiancé?
'Did we hear that right?'
Chen Peng was in disbelief. "Fiancé? Miss Chu, you… you must have the wrong person!"
"I'm his fiancée. How could I possibly be mistaken?"
Chu Yan was imperious, her delicate chin held high, not even bothering to glance at Chen Peng.
Her disregard made Chen Peng seethe with rage.
'Damn it!'
'He'd originally thought Chu Yan was here to back up the Han Family. Who would have thought she was that bastard's fiancée!'
'And my compliments from just now make me look like a total clown!'
'My dream of winning the beauty over is completely shattered!'
Chen Peng's expression darkened. "Miss Chu, don't blame me for not warning you. This kid is ruthless and kills without batting an eye. Are you sure you want to get involved with him?"
Beside him, Chen Li nodded in agreement. "That's right, Miss Chu! You can't let him bewitch you. If he ever lays a hand on you, it'll be too late!"
Only then did Chu Yan lazily turn back to look at the siblings, Chen Peng and Chen Li, her beautiful face icy cold.
"Who the hell do you think you are, to lecture me?"
"I'll give you ten seconds. Disappear from my sight immediately. Otherwise, don't blame me for what happens next."
Chen Peng's expression grew even uglier.
Although only Chu Yan stood before them, the entire Chu Family stood behind her.
Their Chen Family could not afford to provoke such a behemoth right now.
Helpless, Chen Peng could only swallow his anger. He said grudgingly, "Miss Chu, since you insist on protecting him, then there's nothing more for us to say."
"We just hope you can keep your eyes open and not be deceived."
"Chen Li, let's go!"
"Pah! Pretty boy!"
After spitting viciously, Chen Li huffed and followed Chen Peng away.
'What's so great about the Chu Family!'
'The day Chu Yan gets tired of Xiao Ye, I'll personally skin that brat alive!'
The members of the Chen Family got into their cars one by one and left in disgrace.
Soon, they had all driven away from the Lin Family estate.
Seeing this, the heavy weight on Lin Chuyue's heart finally lifted slightly.
Then, her serene gaze fell upon Chu Yan's arm linked with Xiao Ye's, and she pressed her red lips together tightly.
'That damned bastard!'
'He clearly has a fiancée, yet he still... with me, time and time again...'
'He's a total scumbag!'
Lin Chuyue cursed him inwardly and turned to walk toward the living room.
Xiao Ye was about to follow her but was pulled back by Chu Yan. "Hey, don't you dare burn the bridge after crossing it!"
"I helped you out in a big way today. Don't you think you should thank me?"
"I could have handled it myself even if you hadn't come."
Xiao Ye retorted bluntly, shrugging off her hand. "Is that what you call helping? You caused such a scene, and now I'm completely misunderstood."
However, the thought of Lin Chuyue's jealous little expression made his mood improve considerably.
Chu Yan noticed the hint of a smile in Xiao Ye's eyes and said, a little sourly, "I was just trying to make the Chen Family back off. If I didn't give you that identity, do you think they would have left so quickly?"
"I don't care. The point is, I helped you, so you have to return the favor and help me."
"As payment, I'll take care of the Chen and Han Families for you and make sure they never dare to bother the Lin Family again. How about it?"
Xiao Ye was about to wave his hand and refuse, but then he remembered that Lin Chuyue didn't like him getting violent.
'In that case, I'll just let Chu Yan be the bad guy.'
"Alright, spit it out. What do you want my help with?"
"It's simple. Help me win the position of Patriarch!"
Chu Yan's red lips curved into a dazzling smile. "My grandfather's health is deteriorating by the day. He no longer has the strength to lead the Chu Family."
"Among the three branches of the Chu Family, my two uncles have the most support, simply because they're men."
"But no matter how outstanding my achievements are, there are always some hidebound old-timers who believe a woman isn't fit to be Patriarch."
"As you know, in these kinds of family struggles, you either win spectacularly or die miserably."
"I've already survived several assassination attempts. To stay alive, my only choice is to win in the end."
"Once I've secured my position as Patriarch, I will immediately return the Golden Saber."
"I might even offer myself to you."
As she spoke, Chu Yan moved closer to Xiao Ye, pressing her body against him, her fragrance filling the air.
Xiao Ye immediately pulled away. "Hold on. Whether or not I can help you depends on whether my wife agrees."
After saying that, he turned and walked toward the living room, his steps hurried.
Chu Yan bit her lower lip lightly, a little displeased.
'I'm no worse than Lin Chuyue, yet Xiao Ye's gaze didn't linger on me for even a second!'
Meanwhile, in the living room, Lin Chuyue was sitting on the sofa with a sour expression.
Her slender, pale fingers viciously plucked a leaf from a potted plant on the nearby table.
'Scumbag!'
'He has a fiancée, but he's still entangled with me!'
When Xiao Ye walked in, he saw Lin Chuyue's pouting expression, and the smile on his face grew wider.
He sat down right next to Lin Chuyue. "Are you angry?"
Lin Chuyue shifted away in disgust. "Shouldn't you be comforting your fiancée? What are you doing here? Get lost!"
"Alright, don't be so petty. The Chu Family also has a claim on the Golden Saber, so I have a marriage contract with them, but that doesn't mean I have to marry her."
Xiao Ye explained patiently, "She's run into some trouble this time. I'll go away for a few days to help her solve it, and after that, I'll have nothing more to do with her."
Lin Chuyue's face was stern as she said coldly, "That's your business. It has nothing to do with me."
"Now go. Don't hang around in front of me."
"As for what the Lin Family owes you, I'll find a way to repay you in the future."
Helpless, Xiao Ye turned to Chu Yan and spread his hands. "See? My wife is unhappy. You'd better find someone else to help you."
Chu Yan's brows furrowed slightly. She walked over to Lin Chuyue. "Miss Lin, could I speak with you alone for a moment?"
Lin Chuyue wanted to refuse, but thinking of the Chu Family's power, she nodded reluctantly.
The two of them went out to the hallway.
Chu Yan got straight to the point. "I need Xiao Ye's help. He has to come with me."
"I can tell you don't like him. Perfect. Let's make a deal."
"I can give you the Chu Family's resources. From now on, neither the Chen Family nor the Han Family will dare to bother you again."
"Not only that, but with the Chu Family's support, the Lin Family will rise to become a first-tier prominent family."
"And what you have to do is simple: from this day forward, you can no longer have any contact with Xiao Ye."
Lin Chuyue met Chu Yan's domineering gaze and suddenly smiled.
"Miss Chu, the terms you're offering are so generous they're tempting."
"But I'm sorry, I can't agree."
"It's true that I don't like Xiao Ye, but he is a person, not my personal property. I have no right to use him for my own gain."
"He has helped the Lin Family many times. I can't be that shameless."
Chu Yan raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you want to refuse?"
"Miss Lin, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you miss it, you know better than I do what a difficult situation the Lin Family will be in."
"As long as you nod and agree to stop seeing Xiao Ye, a wide, open road to success will lie before the Lin Family."
"That's enough, Miss Chu. No matter how many times you ask, my answer will be the same."
"The Lin Family will solve its own problems. I, Lin Chuyue, may have limited abilities, but I cannot lose my moral integrity."
Lin Chuyue stood with her back ramrod straight.
She knew, of course, what she had just refused.
'But a bottom line is the kind of thing that, once you cross it, just keeps getting lower and lower.'
'If I can use Xiao Ye for profit today, then tomorrow I could use someone else, or even myself.'
'In that case, how would I be any different from the Han Family?'
"Very well. I hope you won't regret your decision."
Chu Yan's lips curved into a slight smile as she elegantly extended a hand to Lin Chuyue. "From this moment on, you are worthy of being my rival."
"Do you dare to make a big wager with me? I'll bet that with you out of the picture, Xiao Ye will become my man."
"First, you have to let him leave."
"He is mine for the taking."