C38 Lin Chen You Are Going too Far!!

Vice-chairman Liu was mulling over the idea that if Lin Chen agreed, he would whisk him away to marry his granddaughter without delay.

Starting tomorrow, no, even as of tonight, they could begin trying for children.

Once a child arrived, Lin Chen would be firmly in his grasp as a son-in-law.

However, his thoughts were abruptly disrupted by Lee Chen, leaving Vice-chairman Liu quite displeased.

"I wouldn't dare overlook the Lee family."

"But overlooking you? That, I can do with confidence!"

Vice-chairman Liu glanced at Lee Chen and spoke with a dismissive tone.

He then reached into his pocket, pulled out a piece of calligraphy, and handed it to Lin Chen.

"Listen here, I've got a wife and kid already. Your granddaughter doesn't interest me in the slightest."

"So don't think you can sway me with some tattered calligraphy!"

Lin Chen was on guard the moment he saw Vice-chairman Liu produce the calligraphy.

His refusal to become the Liu family's son-in-law left Liu Wu and the calligraphy shop owner utterly astounded.

Here was the Vice-chairman of the three major commerce chambers, and Lin Chen was turning down the chance to marry into their ranks?

Anyone else might have ditched their family in a heartbeat to join the Liu clan!

After all, Vice-chairman Liu's granddaughter was one of the renowned beauties of A City, and the Liu family's wealth was legendary.

Meanwhile, Su Qingyin looked on with respect as Lin Chen boldly acknowledged his family.

This was the mark of a true man: one who isn't swayed by power or greed, who stands by his responsibilities.

"You have a wife and child?"

Vice-chairman Liu paused, a touch of disappointment in his voice.

"What a shame. I had hoped we could become one family."

"Well then, consider this painting a loan for the time being."

A loan?

Lin Chen's brow creased slightly as he instinctively activated his Magical Third Eye to examine the painting.

Upon recognizing the content, a jolt went through him.

The painting Vice-chairman Liu had presented was the very original he had once possessed!

Just by opening this painting, it would instantly confirm that the art shop owner's piece is a counterfeit!

"The old man knew about my wager with Lee Chen. He was willing to risk Lee Chen's wrath just to ensure my victory."

"Could it be... he's recognized who I am?"

Lin Chen cast a doubtful glance at Vice-chairman Liu.

In this world, there's no love without a reason. If Vice-chairman Liu hadn't realized my true identity, why would he offer his granddaughter's hand and lend me the painting?

"Old man, I'm grateful for your favor."

Lin Chen accepted the painting with a composed expression.

Regardless of whether Vice-chairman Liu had identified him or not, Lin Chen saw no reason to refuse the painting.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent!"

Vice-chairman Liu exclaimed with fervor.

Even if Lin Chen couldn't become his granddaughter's husband, forming a close bond with him was certainly a stroke of luck for the Liu family!

Lin Chen remained indifferent to Vice-chairman Liu's enthusiasm.

He turned his attention to Lee Chen and the art shop owner. "You wanted proof, didn't you?"

"This painting is the proof!"

As Vice-chairman Liu's painting was spread out on the table, the art shop owner's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor in utter despair.

His face was a portrait of hopelessness.

As the art shop owner, he could unmistakably tell that this painting was an authentic work by Master Kunlun!

Lee Chen, observing the art shop owner's reaction, didn't need to think twice to understand what had transpired.

"Boss Zhang, any comments on the painting from your shop now?"

Vice-chairman Liu's eyes glinted with a steely chill.

The art shop owner had the audacity to exploit Master Kunlun's name for profit within his jurisdiction, an act Vice-chairman Liu found inexcusable.

"Vice-chairman Liu, last month, I inadvertently witnessed a painting by Master Kunlun fetch tens of millions at an auction."

"Blinded by greed, I had a forgery made."

"I beg for your mercy, Vice-chairman Liu. I swear, I'll never commit such a heinous act again."

The art shop owner trembled with fear, his body betraying him.

Yet, in this moment of desperation, he scrambled to Vice-chairman Liu's feet, pleading and bowing incessantly.

For him, preserving his leg was paramount; all else was negotiable.

"It's not uncommon for forgeries to crop up in the world of calligraphy and antiques."

"But exploiting Master Kunlun's reputation for profit is where you crossed the line!"

"Liu Wu, enforce the rules of Antique Street."

"Then bind him publicly as a warning to others."

Vice-chairman Liu showed no mercy to the gallery owner.

"Understood!"

Upon his master's command, Liu Wu hauled the gallery owner away.

Lin Chen watched, rubbing his hands eagerly, his gaze on Lee Chen intense with anticipation.

The shop owner's fate paled in comparison to the staggering hundred-million bet with Lee Chen that truly captured his interest.

"You... all of you!"

Lee Chen's face blanched under the scrutiny of Lin Chen and Vice-chairman Liu.

He was acutely aware that without Vice-chairman Liu's interference, he wouldn't be in this dire predicament.

"Young Master Lee, the gallery owner has confessed to the forgery."

"Isn't it time you settled our wager?"

Lin Chen asked with a slight smile.

"I... I only have fifty million!"

Lee Chen clenched his jaw, his voice tinged with frustration.

He was tempted to welsh on the bet, but he knew the consequences.

Doing so would shatter the persona he had cultivated in Qingyin's eyes in an instant.

Besides, neither Lin Chen nor Vice-chairman Liu would let him off the hook so easily.

"Only fifty million?"

"You've got to be joking!"

"Why place a bet if you can't pay up?"

Lin Chen's irritation flared upon realizing Lee Chen wasn't bluffing.

The bet was supposed to be a hundred million, and now half was missing. It felt like a slap in the face.

"Boss, maybe we should have him sign an IOU?"

"Someone from such a prominent family wouldn't default on a debt, right?"

Qian Duoduo chimed in.

Not default on a debt?

Lin Chen thought that was wishful thinking.

In the capital, the Lee family's stronghold, they might pay up if Lin Chen presented an IOU, but they'd surely seek retribution.

Even Lee Chen knew that a strong dragon can't crush a local serpent, and Lin Chen was well aware of it too.

"Young Master Lee, since you're a bit short on cash, I won't make this difficult for you," Lin Chen said, his tone casual. "Just hand over anything of value you have on you, and do me a small favor, and we'll call it even."

Lee Chen, wary of being duped, asked, "What exactly do you want me to do?"

"Come on, you're from a prestigious family. Why so timid?" Lin Chen chided with a roll of his eyes. "Do you really think I'd harm you in broad daylight? I'm a man of integrity."

He continued with a hint of contempt, "It's simple. I want to gamble on stones, but I don't want to waste my energy hauling those heavy rocks. So, you'll have to go and buy them for me."

Originally, Lin Chen had planned to use Su Qingyin's name for his stone-gambling venture. But now that Lee Chen owed him a whopping five hundred million, he saw an opportunity to play a little trick—to let off some steam.

"I'll do it!" Lee Chen agreed quickly, relieved by the simplicity of the task.

After transferring the five hundred million to Lin Chen, he was about to head to the stone-gambling shop when Lin Chen stopped him. "You're forgetting something, Young Master Lee. You need to leave behind anything valuable you're carrying."

Lin Chen eyed him up and down. "Your phone, clothes, wallet, shoes—they all seem quite nice..."

Moments later, stripped down to his underpants, Lee Chen became the butt of the joke. Vice-chairman Liu, Liu Wu, and Qian Duoduo all burst into laughter. Even Su Qingyin couldn't help but giggle behind her hand.

"Those underpants..." Lin Chen said, pausing as the laughter echoed around them.

"Don't push it!" Lee Chen snapped, his face flushed with anger and fists clenched tight. He was ready to fight to the death if Lin Chen dared to take his last shred of dignity.

"Why so worked up, Young Master Lee?" Lin Chen asked, feigning innocence. "I was just thinking... those underpants look a tad too snug on you."

With a sigh, Lin Chen gave Lee Chen a look of mock sympathy, as the others continued to chuckle at the scene.

Lee Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as this guy didn't swipe his last pair of boxers, he could handle the rest.

Hold on, what's this about his underwear being way too small?

And why was this guy sighing and giving him those pitying looks? What was he getting at?

"Lin Chen, I swear to your grandma!"

After a three-second freeze, Lee Chen exploded with rage.

This jerk was insinuating he was lacking down there—outrageous!

"Young Master Lee, I graciously left you with underwear, and this is the thanks I get?"

"Well, if that's how it is, then your underwear can just..."

Lin Chen didn't get to finish before panic flashed in Lee Chen's eyes.

He knew exactly what Lin Chen was implying. If he ended up without his underwear, how could he ever show his face again?