Looking at the radiant Chu Yan, Lin Chuyue didn't hesitate, reaching out for a brief, symbolic handshake.
She wasn't interested in Xiao Ye, but she was thrilled to be a rival to Miss Chu the Elder.
'One day, I'll make the Lin Family rise to become a power no less than the Chu Family!'
That evening, Xiao Ye temporarily left the Lin Family with Chu Yan, heading for the prosperous South City.
Watching their departing figures, Lin Aoshan's heart was filled with anxiety.
"Chuyue, you can't be so stubborn anymore."
"Xiaoye is so outstanding, and that young miss from the Chu Family is clearly interested in him. If you don't act fast, someone else might snatch him away."
"When that happens, you'll have nowhere to turn, even if you regret it!"
"Who says I'll regret it?"
Lin Chuyue turned her head, her delicate brows furrowed. "Grandpa, you can't force matters of the heart. Please stop trying to set us up in the future."
She and Chu Yan were equals in beauty, but any smart person would know to choose Chu Yan, who came from a superior family background.
Lin Aoshan knew his granddaughter's personality and didn't press the issue. "Just think it over. Good men like Xiaoye are truly hard to find."
「Meanwhile, at the Chen Family residence in the Provincial City.」
Chen Li sat in the living room, her face dark enough to kill.
She had thought this time she could easily destroy the Lin Family and avenge her dead husband.
But she never expected Chu Yan to show up, forcing them to return in disgrace.
"No, Brother, I can't accept this! I absolutely cannot let that bastard Xiao Ye get away!"
"That's enough, Lili. With the Chu Family helping him, we shouldn't make any rash moves for now. We'll deal with him after some time has passed."
Chen Peng advised in a low voice, his own expression just as grim.
Just then, the Chen family's doorbell was suddenly rung.
The bodyguard on duty opened the door to see a woman with a striking presence and beautiful face standing there.
"Who are you?"
"I am Han Xue, the eldest miss of the Han Family from Jiangcheng."
The bodyguard sized her up and sneered. "Hah, the Han Family was wiped out. What 'eldest miss' is there to speak of?"
"Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You're just a pretty face trying to use the Han Family name to get into the Chen residence!"
"Let me tell you, dream on! Get the hell out of here, and if I see you again, I'll make sure you regret it!"
With that, the bodyguard slammed the door shut and turned away.
Han Xue gritted her teeth in anger and, steeling herself, kept pressing the doorbell.
Her entire family had been killed. Her only choice was to seek refuge with the Chen Family, which her uncle had married into, hoping her aunt, Chen Li, would take her in.
But she pressed it for a long time, and no one else came out.
Exasperated, Han Xue stomped her foot and got into her car, seething.
People are quick to forget you when you're gone. She no longer had anyone to rely on.
'But the grudge from my family's annihilation must be avenged!'
Han Xue sat in her car, wracking her brain. Suddenly, an idea struck her. She slammed on the accelerator and sped toward the biggest bar in the Provincial City.
「Inside K5 Bar.」
The lights were mesmerizing, the music deafening.
When Han Xue spotted her target, her eyes lit up.
It was Chen Mao, the Second Young Master of the Chen Family. He did nothing but eat, drink, and chase pleasure all day, but no matter how useless he was, he was still a member of the Chen Family.
Han Xue took off her jacket, revealing a tight-fitting dress. Her graceful figure immediately drew countless stares.
She walked step by step to Chen Mao's side, a seductive smile on her face. "Young Master Chen, long time no see."
Chen Mao's eyes lit up when he saw her. "Beautiful, I don't think I've ever seen you before."
"How could that be?" Han Xue took the opportunity to sit beside him, their bodies pressing close. "Young Master Chen, I'm Han Xue from the Han Family."
"I visited the Chen Family once with my second uncle, Han Jiancheng."
With that, Han Xue raised her glass and tilted her head back to down the drink.
A few drops of liquor trickled down her snow-white neck and into her deep cleavage.
Chen Mao stared, mesmerized. He pulled her waist in tightly. "Alright, tell me what you want. A beautiful woman always comes with a price."
"Young Master Chen," Han Xue cooed, snuggling into his embrace. "You must have heard about what happened to the Han Family. They were almost completely wiped out. My life is so bitter."
"That fiend, Xiao Ye, is ruthless. He's sworn that he won't spare the Chen Family, who are related to the Han Family by marriage."
"If you, Young Master Chen, could take him down, it would be like solving a huge problem for the Chen Family."
"And then, with your outstanding abilities, you would definitely become the most dazzling rising star of the Chen Family."
Chen Mao's eyes immediately lit up. He felt that what Han Xue said made a lot of sense.
Although he was a hedonist who loved wine and women, deep down, he also wanted to climb the ranks and become the respected Patriarch of the Chen Family.
He had resorted to many tricks behind the scenes for this, but unfortunately, he had never been given any real importance.
'This is a god-given opportunity to make a name for myself!'
'If I can take down Xiao Ye myself, it will be a huge bargaining chip for my ambitions!'
"He's just some nobody. How hard could it be to take him down?"
Chen Mao gave Han Xue a hard kiss, his hand brazenly slipping inside her collar. "We're practically relatives anyway. After this is done, let's make our family ties even closer."
"From now on, you belong to me."
Han Xue fell into Chen Mao's arms with feigned shyness, letting him do as he pleased.
'As long as I can avenge the Han Family, I'm willing to give myself to this idiot.'
'Xiao Ye, I'll make sure you die a horrible death!'
***
Meanwhile, Xiao Ye was sitting in Chu Yan's red sports car.
"So, once I help you get the Chu Family's seal, we're even on the favor I owe you? Eldest Miss Chu, you sure have some nerve."
Xiao Ye shook his head with a smile. "But more than that, I'm curious about what you and my wife talked about in private."
"Nothing much. Just a bet."
Chu Yan laughed. "But you, on the other hand, call her 'wife' so easily. Does Lin Chuyue even acknowledge it?"
"Xiao Ye, I believe I'm superior to Lin Chuyue in every way, whether it's looks or family background. Are you sure you won't reconsider and honor our engagement?"
"Hold it. Why don't you look in a mirror before you praise yourself? My wife's beauty is a different style from yours. I happen to like her stubborn, defiant spirit."
"As for family background, if I wanted to, I could easily elevate her above your entire Chu Family."
"You're the one asking for my help, so watch your attitude. Don't go shooting yourself in the foot."
Xiao Ye leaned back lazily against the rear seat and closed his eyes, pretending to doze off.
Rebuffed, Chu Yan was both annoyed and amused.
'This man is so sharp-tongued. He refuses to lose out on anything.'
For someone who had always been against marriage, she suddenly felt that the engagement arranged in her childhood wasn't so bad after all.
'Once I secure the position of Patriarch, I'll have to compete properly with Lin Chuyue!'
The sports car roared down the road like a meteor streaking across the sky.
「Three hours later, they drove into Jiangnan South City.」
The explosive roar of the engine made pedestrians turn their heads.
"That's the Eldest Miss Chu's car! She's back!"
「The Chu Family Estate.」
Chu Yan's two uncles quickly received the news.
They immediately gathered their men and stood guard at the main gate.
As the sound of the engine grew from a distant roar to a low hum, the red sports car slowly came to a stop.
Chu Yan got out of the car first, a mocking expression on her face. "Second Uncle, Third Uncle, you brought so many people to greet me. It seems you're very happy to have me back."
"Cut the crap! Chu Yan, we agreed to a duel of experts. Where's the person you invited?"
Chu Hongtu snorted coldly. "Don't tell me you came back alone. Have you willingly admitted defeat?"
Chu Hongxin, standing to the side, nodded in agreement. "I've said it before, women should just get married and have children. They're not suited to run a family!"
"Chu Yan, stop wasting our time! Hand over what you have and get the hell out of the Chu Family!"