C4 Why Did You Harm Me!

"Don't worry, Yuyan. If you can secure an investment from Murong Feng, the Lin family will make it worth your while,"

the Matriarch added, sensing Yuyan's hesitation.

"Me?" Lin Yuyan's eyes widened in disbelief.

That was about hundreds of millions and she didn't even know the guy!

Her eyes darted to Mu Chen, hoping for some glimmer of a plan.

To her dismay, he seemed to be nodding off.

"And here I was, foolishly holding out hope for him," she thought, bitterness flooding her heart.

"Grandmother, the truth is, I don't know Murong Feng. It was Mu Chen who brought him."

Yuyan finally confessed, the weight of her family's expectations too heavy to bear in silence.

The room went icy.

The Matriarch's warm smile evaporated, replaced by a stony glare.

'Yuyan, I never thought you'd be so callous, so unwilling to step up for your own family," she said, her voice low and cold.

"Oh, come on, Yuyan. You're telling us Mu Chen knows Murong Feng? Why not go all the way and claim that Mu Chen is the richest man on Earth and Murong Feng his mere lackey?"

Lin Loong chuckled mockingly.

Today was the day he would seal Yuyan's fate,

ousting her from any future contention for the family's leadership.

He leaned in, his voice sharp as a knife. "So, Yuyan, tell us. Is this your way of getting back at the family and Grandmother for years of feeling overlooked and undervalued?"

Each word was designed to wound,

and the room held its breath.

"No...It's not like that... " Yuyan stammered,

Her face paled.

The thought of losing her grandmother's trust—and, with it, any chance of her family's rise within the clan—filled her with dread.

Seizing the moment, Lin Loong turned to the Matriarch. "Grandmother, desperate times call for bold measures. How about this: whoever can secure at least a hundred million in investment within a week becomes the next head of the Lin family. What do you say?"

The Matriarch pondered the proposal.

She glanced from Lin Loong's self-assured face to Yuyan's anxious one.

Her eyes finally rested on Lin Loong. After all, he had connections with Li Feiyang of Qingcheng International. Sooner or later, the family's leadership would transition to him.

Why not use this high-stakes moment to settle the matter of succession? It seemed the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

"Very well," she said.

"It's settled."

"Thank you, Grandma!"

Lin Loong couldn't hide his delight. He spun to face Yuyan, his voice dripping with condescension.

"Yuyan, how about a wager? To keep it fair, you only need fifty million to claim the successor's seat. But if you fail, your entire lineage must leave the Lin family. For good."

"You!"

Yuyan clenched her fists, her eyes aflame with anger.

The stakes were sky-high; a wrong move could doom her entire bloodline.

What should she do?

The stakes were sky-high; a wrong move could doom her entire bloodline.

But the lure of the successor's role was tantalizing. With it, she and her family would finally gain respect within the clan.

"What's the matter, Yuyan? Don't have the courage?"

Lin Loong taunted, sensing her hesitation.

Just then, Mu Chen lazily opened his eyes.

"Trust me, babe. I'm all in," he drawled.

He couldn't care less about who became the Lin family's successor,

but if it made his wife happy, why not?

Lin Yuyan felt her heart stir.

Lin Yuyan felt an irresistible pull towards the role of family successor.

When Mu Chen spoke, his words resonated with her like never before.

Maybe it was the splash he and Murong Feng had made earlier,

leaving her thinking that his every utterance was laced with a kind of enchanting magic.

It was like a sign urging her to accept this high-stakes gamble.

"Alright, I'll take that bet," She declared, standing up decisively.

"Excellent! This wager has witnesses—Grandma and everyone here. So don't even think about backing out later."

Lin Loong smirked, barely containing his glee.

"Trust me, I have more class than to act like you," Lin Yuyan retorted.

She was in this game to win,

come hell or high water.

"Grandma, I'm not feeling well. I need to step out," she said, making a hasty exit.

Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, and she needed breathing space.

Mu Chen followed her, casting one last look at the room.

"A nobody and a castoff! I can't wait to see you two kicked out of the Lin family for good."

Lin Loong muttered under his breath.

Inside the car.

"Mu Chen, spill it. How do you know Murong Feng?"

Lin Yuyan's eyes darted nervously as she posed her question.

If you and Murong Feng were actually close, we might have had a shot at turning this whole investment fiasco around, she thought.

"Oh! Murong Feng is my classmate's dad. We bumped into each other at the door, so he helped me get inside the ancestral hall."

Mu Chen shrugged, crafting a casual lie on the spot.

He hesitated, carefully weighing his words. He didn't want to reveal his true identity just yet, fearful it might overwhelm Lin Yuyan all at once.

"Are you kidding me?"

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"So, do you know any bankers or financial bigwigs who can help us?"

She pressed on, not willing to leave any stone unturned,

"To be honest, I don't know anyone like that."

Mu Chen shook his head, finally dropping the facade.

Mu Chen had only recently taken on the role of Palace Chief of the Dragon Gate. Regarding financial connections in Chuyang, he was virtually a blank slate—no contacts to speak of.

Screech!

The car screeched to a halt as Lin Yuyan slammed on the brakes. She whipped her head around to glare at him.

"Mu Chen, why did you lead me on?

Where did you get the audacity to make me agree to this wager? Do you realize that if we lose, we could be exiled from the city?"