“People change. It’s good that you’ve seen through it now—it’ll save you from being deceived later,” Qin Ge said with a smile as he patted Lin Xiaojin’s fragrant shoulder, comforting her.
How could he not understand Chen Yuan’s nature?
They called him a Child of Destiny, but at heart, Chen Yuan was nothing more than a lust-driven hound!
The moment he came down the mountain, he started drooling over the long legs and black stockings of women at the train station.
Now that he’d seen Jiang Yingxue, the number one beauty of Yunhai City, how could he not be moved?
Though the original plot had shifted slightly, flirting with her was inevitable.
Qin Ge had deliberately brought Lin Xiaojin to witness Chen Yuan’s ‘true colors,’ shattering her preconceived notions.
One should never underestimate the power of first impressions. They heavily influence a person’s judgment and thoughts.
It’s like a classic TV show—no matter how well a remake is done, it can never surpass the first version in people’s hearts.
Each generation has its own legends, and differing initial impressions naturally create a generational gap.
In the end, it all boils down to the influence of preconceived notions.
But now, Chen Yuan’s image in Lin Xiaojin’s mind was in tatters and no longer posed a threat to him.
“The drama’s over—time for the real show,” Qin Ge said as he pulled Lin Xiaojin out of the corner.
Just as they stepped out, they bumped into Jiang Yingxue.
Qin Ge acted as if he didn’t see her at all and walked right past, sitting down with Lin Xiaojin at a nearby table.
Lin Xiaojin’s heart was pounding wildly. As they passed Jiang Yingxue, she felt like she was sneaking around behind the back of the ‘main woman.’
She leaned closer and whispered into Qin Ge’s ear, “CEO Qin, aren’t we risking a misunderstanding from CEO Jiang? Won’t it affect your relationship?”
Qin Ge chuckled, “Let her misunderstand if she wants. If she’s angry, that’s her problem. I’ve already broken up with her.”
“And you don’t have to assume I’m that important to her. Don’t overestimate me.”
He was drawing a clear line between himself and Jiang Yingxue—and at the same time, breaking down the barrier between himself and Lin Xiaojin.
Usually, men should prove themselves and elevate their worth to earn admiration.
But with the somewhat insecure Lin Xiaojin, he needed to lower himself instead.
As the banquet officially began, Mu Family servants brought out an array of exquisite dishes.
The main stars of the engagement banquet—the eldest Mu daughter Mu Xinyi and Chen Kai, son of the Chen Family from Magic city—walked onstage with the Mu Family Patriarch to deliver their speech.
With a broad smile, the Mu Family Patriarch announced loudly, “To all guests from business and government sectors, thank you for attending my daughter’s engagement banquet. I, Mu, am deeply honored.”
“Now, let me formally introduce a few distinguished guests from Magic city.”
He looked toward one of the front tables, extending his hand to gesture toward a young man. With a solemn expression, he said, “This is Wang Changfeng, eldest son of the Wang Family in Magic city.”
“Seated beside him is Huang Kaiyuan, second son of the Huang Family from Magic city.”
“…”
Ordinary guests weren’t worthy of such a grand introduction from the richest man in Yunhai City.
Even the Mu Family Patriarch found it incredible that these prominent sons of Magic city’s elite had come.
He was giving the Magic city families proper respect—and at the same time, offering the banquet guests a valuable opportunity to build connections. New chapters come out on g.com first.
Sure enough, the moment the introductions were made, the entire hall buzzed with restless excitement.
Families from Magic city!
Even the Mu Family had to bow slightly before them.
For the guests, getting acquainted with them meant gaining access to an extraordinary network.
Even Jiang Yingxue, who had been struggling internally with sour emotions from watching Qin Ge and Lin Xiaojin together, temporarily shifted focus toward the prospect of securing investments.
Lin Xiaojin, in utter disbelief, mumbled, “Those bootlickers… they’re actually bigshots from Magic city?”
At that moment, the Patriarch Mu had just introduced the very people who had been following behind Qin Ge earlier—the ones who had been showering him with flattery!
She turned to Qin Ge in confusion. “CEO Qin, why do I get the feeling they’re all trying to butter you up?”
“Maybe I’m just a nice guy,” Qin Ge said jokingly.
But in his heart, he sighed.
A self-made tycoon like the Patriarch Mu was truly a cunning man.
With just a few words, he flattered the Magic city families while making all the local elites indebted to him for the opportunity to connect.
Like a certain adult film director—he played both sides for maximum gain.
All the benefits were swept up by the Mu Family Patriarch alone!
Just as he continued his social maneuvering, chaos suddenly erupted.
The lights inside the villa went out in an instant.
Screams followed immediately after.
In less than thirty seconds, the scene descended into chaos.
Even Lin Xiaojin instinctively threw herself into Qin Ge’s arms in fear.
Click!
The lights came back on, illuminating the villa once again.
Everyone stood frozen, confused and uneasy.
Jiang Yingxue had already rushed toward the table where Qin Ge sat.
The moment the lights went out, her instincts drove her to run straight to Qin Ge’s side.
Something in her subconscious told her—that being near Qin Ge was the safest place.
But now, what she saw was Qin Ge holding Lin Xiaojin tightly in his arms.
A strange bitterness welled up inside her chest—something she had never felt before.
“Miss Mu!”
“Miss Mu is hurt!”
As soon as someone noticed Mu Xinyi lying in a pool of blood onstage, all eyes turned in that direction.
They saw the elegant and graceful Mu Xinyi, still dressed in her red ceremonial gown, collapsed on the stage—barely clinging to life.
His gaze swept to a suspicious figure on the second floor, and he roared at the villa’s bodyguards, “Catch him!”
“Don’t let him escape!”
“I want him alive—or dead, bring me the body!”
Thud thud thud!
Dozens of bodyguards charged toward the second floor.
Among them stood out one young man—Chen Yuan, the Child of Destiny!
Leaping three meters high, as if possessing qinggong, he launched himself at the suspect on the second floor.
The chase began.
The assailant smashed through a corridor window and fled, with Chen Yuan right on his heels.
“Doctor!”
“Take Xinyi down for treatment!”
The Patriarch Mu gave calm and precise orders.
As Yunhai City’s richest man, he didn’t need an ambulance. The Mu Family had a private medical team on standby—more advanced than most hospitals.
Under his arrangements, the banquet quickly regained composure.
People resumed eating and drinking, as though nothing had happened.
Qin Ge had known about this long-planned assassination all along. He looked down at the blushing Lin Xiaojin in his arms and said with a teasing smile, “Wanna guess who the killer is?”
Lin Xiaojin bit her lip, her chin resting on Qin Ge’s chest, and pleaded pitifully, “CEO Qin, can you let go of me first?”
Qin Ge was holding her too tightly—her soft chest was getting squished!
Qin Ge slowly loosened his grip and teased, “Oops, forgot. I was scared stiff.”
Lin Xiaojin huffed in her heart.
You? Scared?
You were grinning the whole time.
All that was missing was a slice of watermelon in your hand!
“Could it be a business rival of the Mu Family, taking advantage of the occasion to strike?” she asked tentatively, sighing, “Business warfare is terrifying.”
Qin Ge shook his head.
Lin Xiaojin tilted her head, thinking for a while. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. “Could it be a vengeful ex-boyfriend Miss Mu dumped, taking revenge while everyone’s distracted?”
Qin Ge shook his head again. “Wrong again. No more riddles. I’m going to poke around and gossip later.”
With that, his gaze swept over the Magic city heirs, Jiang Yingxue, and Lin Xiaojin.
Without another word, he slipped away—leaving the scene to simmer and ferment on its own.