C11 What Exactly Is Your Relationship

"This news just hit the front page of Global Investment's official website! Look, there's even a photo of Director Wang and Lin Yuyan signing the contract!"

"It's a 500 million dollar investment! The Lin Family is saved!" The room buzzed with excitement, the direct descendants nearly vibrating with anticipation.

"Are you kidding? Once Lin Yuyan becomes the Patriarch, all her assets will naturally fold into the family group," another shot back.

All of the direct family members present were so excited that their eyes were gleaming.

"Impossible!" Li Feiyang shouted, his face twisted in rage. "The CEO of Global Investment is my uncle, Loong Wentian. I'll expose your scheme right now!"

He hastily dialed the number,

only to find his uncle's phone switched off.

Frantic, he dialed his father's number multiple times before finally connecting.

"Son, Qingcheng International is bankrupt. It's all over!"

Li Feiyang's father's voice came through, choked with sobs, like a pig being led to slaughter.

Plop!

Li Feiyang collapsed onto the floor, his face drained of color.

At this moment.

The room went silent, everyone holding their breath, their expressions taut with tension.

Qingcheng International, Chuyang!

In terms of both financial resources and social standing, the Lin Family was significantly outclassed, teetering on the edge of first-rate family status.

What no one knew was that all of these considerations were merely thoughts circulating in Mu Chen's mind.

"Sir, if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now," Wang Xue said, having completed her task.

She stood briefly before Mu Chen,

who simply nodded in response, allowing her to leave.

"What exactly is your relationship with Director Wang?"

Lin Yuyan turned to Mu Chen with a puzzled frown as she watched Wang Xue exit.

The esteemed general manager of Global Investment doesn't just come to assst the Lin Family for no reason.

"Maybe it's because I'm irresistibly handsome?"

Mu Chen sheepishly touched the back of his head,

"Bah!"

Lin Yuyan couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Your ego seems to be inflating by the minute."

"Let's not kid ourselves," she said, crossing her arms, "It's most likely because of Murong Feng."

Lin Yuyan couldn't think of any other leverage that Mu Chen could have over Wang Xue,

except for his connections with the powerful Murong family.

"If you say so!"

Mu Chen shrugged nonchalantly. Now wasn't the time to reveal any truths to Lin Yuyan.

Just then, the crowd in the meeting room surged towards her.

"Yuyan, I've watched you grow up, even held you as a baby! I'm counting on your kindness for the future," one family member exclaimed.

"Exactly, Yuyan, I've always said you're the most talented person in our corporation. You're destined to be a leader," another added.

"This rescue operation wouldn't have been possible without you. You've saved the corporation," a third chimed in.

By now, everyone understood that Lin Yuyan's influence, backed by a 500-million-dollar investment, made her the inevitable next Patriarch of the Lin Family.

Her face flushed from all the praise, joy swelling in her heart.

Taking advantage of the momentum, Mu Chen turned to the Matriarch. "Grandma, my wife has invested 500 million, won the bet, and saved the Lin Family Group. Is there something significant you'd like to announce?"

He quickly reminded her while the iron was still hot.

"This …"

The Matriarch hesitated, visibly torn.

She'd initially planned to use this crisis to promote Lin Loong as her successor. But now, with Lin Yuyan pulling in such a substantial investment, things had changed.

"Mu Chen, so eager? Trying to snatch away my family's inheritance?"

Lin Loong sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Lin Loong's biting words were aimed not only at Mu Chen but also for the Matriarch to hear.

He knew that what she detested most was the prospect of the Lin Family fortune falling into outsider hands.

Indeed!

At his words, the Matriarch felt a cold shiver run down her spine.

'I almost jeopardized the entire Lin Family Industry,'

she thought to herself, gripping her cane tightly.

Lin Yuyan may be remarkable, but she was still a woman.

Who knew if she would yield the inheritance to her husband, essentially an outsider?

"Yuyan, do you have any reservations about contributing the 500 million to the corporation?"

Finally, the Matriarch spoke.

"Not at all, Grandma. I'm a part of the Lin Family, and this is my duty."

Lin Yuyan replied without hesitation.

Her eyes shone as she looked at the Matriarch, eagerly anticipating her next words.

"Very well," the Matriarch said, her face unreadable. "On behalf of the Lin Family, I thank you. Starting today, your lineage will receive strong support and access to our resources."

The Matriarch's words sealed it.

Thank you, Grandma. Is there anything else?"

Lin Yuyan asked tentatively, sensing there might be more to come.

"Certainly, there is. We'll reconvene to discuss how best to allocate the funds."

The Matriarch announced, conveniently sidestepping any mention of the earlier wager.

She swiftly called for another meeting, where everyone cast odd glances at Lin Yuyan but remained silent.

Throughout the meeting, Lin Yuyan felt increasingly sidelined.

While she had been preoccupied with thoughts about her succession, it seemed the Matriarch had decided to treat her as if she were invisible.

"Why?"

As the meeting concluded, her eyes reddened, her lips tightly pursed to the point of almost breaking.

"Grandma, have you forgotten about the bet? You and everyone here were witnesses."

Mu Chen finally spoke up.

"Humph! What standing do you have to interfere in the affairs of my Lin Family?" The Matriarch retorted, her eyes narrowing as she turned to Mu Chen. "I've said from the start that the successor to the Lin Family will be chosen based on merit!"

"However..."

The Matriarch's icy stare sent a clear message.