C9 These People Are All Idiots

"There's no point in waiting any longer. We're just wasting time here!"

"If Lin Yuyan pulls this off, I'll live-stream myself eating dirt," one member of the family jeered.

"Lin Loong, you've been too generous giving her a chance. A failure is always a failure!"

Another chimed in, trying to curry favor with Lin Loong.

"Enough."

"Let's not waste any more time. Lin Loong, go ahead and share your progress."

The Matriarch said, eyes still closed, her voice tinged with impatience.

She had never held out any hope for Lin Yuyan in the first place. The sole reason she had agreed to the bet was to provide Lin Loong with a legitimate pathway to her succession.

"Of course, Grandmother,"

Lin Loong could barely contain his excitement. He knew he had the game in the bag.

"Everyone, take a look. This is the contract that Young Master Li personally delivered to me this morning. Qingcheng International has already signed and sealed it."

"We're talking about a loan of 100 million dollars!"

Lin Loong took out a contract from his briefcase and respectfully handed it over to the Matriarch. The room erupted in cheers and adulation.

"100 million? Lin Loong is unstoppable!"

"Lin Loong is a true gem! He's saved the Lin Family Group!"

"I mean, seriously, what was Lin Yuyan even thinking? How could she ever compete with Lin Loong?"

The sentiment was unanimous; everyone was overjoyed.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!

The Matriarch's eyes twinkled as she looked at the contract, saying the word 'excellent' three times in rapid succession.

The Lin Family Group had a lifeline, and it was all thanks to Lin Loong.

"Everyone has seen Lin Loong's contributions. Therefore, I declare that the next successor of the Lin Family Group will be—"

The matriarch scanned the room, her voice full of authority.

"This is it, this is it!"

Lin Loong clenched his fists, his body vibrating with barely-contained excitement.

"Hold on just a minute!"

A voice rang out from the doorway. It was Mu Chen.

"What right do you have to be here?"

Lin Loong fumed, steam practically billowing from his nostrils. He was just a heartbeat away from having his succession confirmed.

"Am I not qualified? Lin Loong, don't forget about the bet between us,"

"And announcing the results before I even get here? Aren't you getting ahead of yourself?"

Lin Yuyan followed Mu Chen into the room, challenging Lin Loong directly.

She was sure she would win this wager.

"Ah, look who it is—the shrinking violet. I thought you would stay in your shell for the rest of your life, never daring to face me."

Lin Loong sneered.

He was utterly confident that Lin Yuyan couldn't have possibly secured an investment from Global Investment in just half an hour.

"What if I told you I've already secured an investment?"

Lin Yuyan flashed Lin Loong a sly grin.

She couldn't wait to see the look on Lin Loong's face when he heard the news.

"Impossible!"

Lin Loong blurted out, rejecting the very notion.

"Only half an hour at Global Investment, and you think you've secured an investment?"

"What, did you see a ghost or something?" Lin Loong scoffed.

"Yuyan quit joking around! I've already secured a loan of 100 million, contract and all!" he boasted, relishing his momentary upper hand.

"What's the point of your 50 million compared to my 100 million?" "You're just embarrassing yourself," added another family member, eager to win Lin Loong's favor.

"Better kneel and apologize to Lin Loong now. Maybe he'll find you some menial job in the company," another voice said.

The room was a chorus of mockery aimed at Lin Yuyan, each trying to outdo the other in currying favor with Lin Loong.

"Hold on. Lin Loong, didn't you say yesterday that if my wife secures 50 million, she wins the bet? Why are you backtracking now?" Mu Chen stepped in, no longer able to contain himself.

"Besides, isn't it easy to verify whether my wife got the investment? You're all acting like you're too scared even to check!"

Mu Chen's words struck a chord, making the room go silent.

"You!"

"What right do you have to speak, you worthless fool?"

Lin Loong sensed something was off; Mu Chen and Lin Yuyan were too calm.

Could something unexpected have happened?

"Grandma, please take a look!"

Lin Yuyan said, passing a contract toward the Matriarch.

Everything would become apparent as soon as she looked at it.

"Yuyan, are you really pulling in at least fifty million yuan in capital?!"

The Matriarch held the contract but looked up to meet Lin Yuyan's eyes before opening it.

"Yes!" "Grandmother!"

Lin Yuyan nodded, her eyes sparkling excitedly.

'Once Grandma sees not 50 million but 500 million! She'll have to reevaluate her opinion of me,' Lin Yuyan thought eagerly.

"Oh!"

The Matriarch murmured, her eyes unreadable. She set the contract aside without opening it.

He touched the walking stick with both hands.

"Yuyan, you've done well. From now on, the family will treat you with special regard."

"But also, be content with what you have."

Her tone was flat, yet carried a subtle warning.

"Grandmother …"

Lin Yuyan felt her heart sink.

She couldn't believe that her grandmother would ignore a 500 million investment without even a glance.

This was a five hundred million investment!

'Is that it? All my effort for just that one, hollow sentence?'

She thought, her spirits plummeting.

Why?

"Lin Yuyan, you still don't get it," Lin Loong jeered.

"Can your measly 50 million investment save the Lin family? It pales in comparison to my 100 million. I'm the firstborn grandson; what makes you think you can compete with me for the succession?"

Lin Loong looked down at the two of them and said in a low voice.

"Honey, I think we should leave. It seems everyone here has lost their minds. They can't tell the difference between 500 million and 50 million."

"Why don't we take our 500 million and start a small venture of our own? Let's set a modest goal—say, earn a quick 100 million?"

Mu Chen looked incredulously at Lin Loong, then at the Matriarch.

Holding the tear-filled Lin Yuyan with one hand, Mu Chen reached across the table with his other hand to snatch back their contract.

"Wait!"

The matriarch suddenly dropped her walking stick and seized Mu Chen's wrist. Her eyes ignited with a newfound intensity.

"You … "What did you say?" She demanded.

"500 million!"