C65 Ann's Group Hid a Big Secret!

"Honey, if Ann's Group goes bankrupt, all you'll need to do is stay home and focus on bringing little An'an into the world, okay?"

"Leave the money-making to me. I can't promise the world, but I can certainly ensure that you and our daughter won't want for anything!"

On the drive home, noticing Ann Lan's spirits were low, Lin Chen tentatively broached the subject.

He might not be well-versed in the ways of the business world, but he recognized that Ann's Group was in shambles.

If he walked away, his two innovative products could easily make a fortune at any new company he started.

Above all, he didn't want Ann Lan's daily concerns about the company to impact their daughter's well-being.

"As a child, Grandpa drilled into me that Ann's Group is the cornerstone of the Ann family."

"As long as Ann's Group stands, the Ann family remains untouchable."

"I've dedicated myself to studying and managing the company with that goal in mind, hoping to nurture Ann's Group into a mighty tree."

"Sadly, I've fallen short and let Grandpa down."

Ann Lan understood that Lin Chen was trying to spare her from exhaustion.

Yet, her grandfather's admonitions were etched in her memory, a constant, unshakeable reminder.

She feared that if Ann's Group collapsed, the crisis her grandfather warned of would follow.

"Just a failing company, and all this talk about the Ann family's standing—it's nonsense."

"Frankly, I think your grandfather was just spinning tales to make you work harder, probably to line his pockets in his old age."

Lin Chen's frustration was evident as he spoke to Ann Lan, his words laced with resentment towards her grandfather.

If not for such misguided advice, why would his wife endure such hardship to salvage Ann's Group?

After a long pause, Ann Lan finally spoke up, "Unless I'm mistaken, my grandfather should be your mentor!"

Your mentor?

Lin Chen slammed on the brakes, stopping the car in the middle of the road.

His eyes widened in shock as he turned to Ann Lan, incredulous.

"Remember that letter you gave me once?"

"That was written by my grandfather. I'd recognize his handwriting anywhere."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have married you, let alone believe that the child I'm carrying is your own flesh and blood!"

Ann Lan noticed Lin Chen's look of astonishment and pressed on.

Having accepted this man deep in her heart, she felt no need to keep secrets about her grandfather from him.

Upon hearing Ann Lan's confession, Lin Chen wasted no time. He whipped out his phone and dialed the old man's number.

"Hey, kid, finally decided to give your old man a ring, huh?"

The old man's teasing voice crackled through the phone. Lin Chen shot back without a second thought.

"I'll send regards to your ancestors!"

In the back seat, Ann Lan's face flushed at Lin Chen's curse.

Wishing her grandfather's ancestors well was indirectly wishing her own twenty-first generation the same.

"Tsk tsk, looks like Lanlan has spilled the beans, huh?"

"Here's the deal, if you're unhappy with your wife and kid, feel free to walk out anytime. How's that sound?"

The old man proposed to Lin Chen in a calm, measured tone over the phone.

Walk out anytime?

I'd like to see you try!

With a child on the way, how could I possibly walk out?

"Old man, you better hope I don't lay eyes on you."

"Otherwise, I swear I'll beat you so bad even your mother won't recognize you!"

After Lin Chen's fierce threat, he handed the phone to Ann Lan.

He might not have understood the old man's years of absence, but he could see that Ann Lan was eager to talk to her grandfather, especially now.

Otherwise, given his nature, he'd never have made the call himself.

"Grandpa, it's Lanlan."

"Ann's Group..."

Ann Lan's voice quivered as she held the phone.

She had known her grandfather was alive ever since Lin Chen had shown her that letter, but now, speaking to him, she was overwhelmed with guilt considering the dire straits of Ann's Group.

"Ann's Group is facing bankruptcy?"

"I've been aware of that for a while. Why else do you think I sent Lin Chen down the mountain to help you at this crucial time?"

The old man's voice was gentle, his laughter warm as he spoke to Ann Lan.

"Lin Chen may have made a few hundred million, but that's a drop in the bucket compared to what Ann's Group needs."

"The board's all waiting for me to go back and declare bankruptcy," Ann Lan said, biting her red lips as she responded truthfully to her grandfather.

Lin Chen, seated at the wheel, pulled the car over to the side of the road, his impatience clear in his voice. "Listen, old man, are you made of sand or what?" he snapped. "My wife's pregnant. What's the point of hanging onto a failing company?"

"If it's money you need, I can send a couple hundred million your way later, can't I?"

As Lin Chen's words trailed off, the old man's tone took on a grave seriousness. "Kid, I might let other things slide," he said sternly, "but you have to take care of Ann's Group. This isn't just about the Ann family's survival."

"It's about your own origins too. You get what I'm saying?"

There was a brief pause before the old man scoffed, "What, rolling your eyes at me now? Never mind, I can't be bothered to argue with you."

"Lanlan, just remember what your granddad said. If Ann's Group runs into trouble, let Lin Chen handle it. After all, you're carrying his child; he won't dare disobey!"

With that, the old man ended the call. He knew Lin Chen too well; any more talk, and the young man would start cursing up a storm. And he couldn't have that, not in front of his granddaughter. Where would his dignity be then?

In the car, Ann Lan's cheeks flushed with a hint of red as she processed her grandfather's words, feeling a touch embarrassed. Even she had to admit that her grandfather's tactics were somewhat shameless. Wanting Lin Chen's help for the Ann family was one thing, but using their unborn child as leverage was quite another.

"Babe, in all your years with Ann's Group, have you ever noticed anything... off?" Lin Chen asked, his voice unexpectedly calm. Ann Lan braced herself for a tirade against her grandfather, but it never came. Though clearly annoyed, Lin Chen knew the old man well enough to understand that he wouldn't be so insistent over nothing.

"Anything off?" Ann Lan echoed, her mind racing. "Well, the Ann's Group building isn't huge, but over the years, I've been pretty much everywhere inside it."

"I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary," Ann Lan said, shaking her head truthfully.

Lin Chen gave a nod, restarted the car, and swiftly headed towards Ann's Group.

Pulling up to the entrance of Ann's Group, Lin Chen parked and engaged his Magical Third Eye, sweeping his gaze over the interior of the building.

"Seems like there's nothing unusual about the whole place."

"Is the old man just pulling my leg?" Lin Chen murmured under his breath.

Without thinking, the Magical Third Eye glanced downward. He hadn't expected to see much, but to his astonishment, something caught his eye that made him gasp in shock!