C98 Zhao Xue'er's Provocation

"Big Brother Lin, I can see that this young lady doesn't seem to have any ill will," Zhang Xiaoyu said, casting a sympathetic glance at Zhao Xue'er before addressing Lin Chen with a hint of timidity.

"No ill will?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow.

"Xiaoyu, you can't judge a book by its cover," he cautioned.

"Considering what she and her father have done to Ann's Group, not taking her out was already an act of mercy on my part," Lin Chen said with a cold laugh.

Zhang Xiaoyu bit her lip, choosing not to continue the conversation.

Nearby, Zhao Xue'er, the eldest daughter of the Zhao family, had tears streaming down her face, looking every bit the victim. This prompted several men in the hall to stand up in her defense.

"Miss Zhao, has someone been giving you trouble?"

"Who on earth would dare to mess with Miss Zhao, one of A City's four great beauties?" they clamored indignantly.

"Miss Zhao, just point them out. I guarantee I'll give them a beating they won't forget!"

The men, seeing Zhao Xue'er's distressed expression, were visibly angered. Such a beautiful woman deserved to be cherished, not mistreated. The thought of her being bullied was intolerable.

"I'm alright," Zhao Xue'er insisted, biting her lip and dabbing away her tears, though her voice wavered.

She was a strong woman, not one to easily admit having been mistreated by Lin Chen. Besides, with Lin Chen's formidable reputation, any intervention by these men would be futile.

"Miss Zhao, if you trust me, you can confide in me," said Lee Chen, emerging from the crowd with a look of earnest concern.

Since being duped by Lin Chen on antique street, Su Qingyin had given him the cold shoulder. But after laying eyes on Zhao Xue'er's stunning beauty, Lee Chen had a change of heart. Why fixate on one when there were other opportunities?

"Young Master Lee, are you really able to help me?" Zhao Xue'er asked, a flicker of distaste hidden behind her questioning gaze.

She had encountered all sorts of men over the years and could spot a phony like Lee Chen a mile away.

In fact, when it came to choosing between Lee Chen and Lin Chen, she found herself leaning towards Lin Chen, the unabashed scoundrel. At least he didn't bother to hide his true colors when it came to mistreating her.

Lee Chen, on the other hand, presented himself as a paragon of virtue, yet his eyes betrayed a deep-seated desire.

Nevertheless, given Lee Chen's prestigious background, Zhao Xue'er couldn't deny that his support in settling scores could help her reclaim her lost pride.

"I am the esteemed eldest son of the Lee family from the capital."

"To bully Miss Zhao is to indirectly bully me, Lee Chen!"

His words were laced with arrogance.

"Young Master Lee, perhaps it's best to let it go."

"The man is formidable. If you were to get hurt, I couldn't shoulder the blame."

Zhao Xue'er put on a pitiful face and spoke with hesitation to Lee Chen.

"Miss Zhao, you're underestimating me, Lee Chen, and the might of the Lee family."

"In this modest A City, who would dare to harm me?"

Lee Chen said with a slight smile.

The other men in the room, upon hearing Lee Chen's declaration, felt a twinge of regret.

They aspired to outshine Lee Chen and win the favor of the fair lady, but considering Lee Chen's influential status, they knew they had to step back.

"Thank you for your generous offer, Young Master Lee."

"In truth, that fellow didn't really bully me; he merely slapped me."

Zhao Xue'er hung her head and sniffled, subtly gesturing towards Lin Chen in the corner.

Lee Chen's heart ignited with a fiery rage at her words.

The nerve!

Zhao Xue'er was the woman he had set his sights on. Who in the world had the audacity to slap his woman?

With this thought, Lee Chen and all the onlookers turned their gaze towards Lin Chen.

There he sat, nonchalantly in the corner, with a captivating girl standing behind him, massaging his shoulders. She was every bit as beautiful and well-proportioned as Zhao Xue'er.

But that wasn't the focal point. The real issue was Lin Chen's serene expression!

Nearly everyone attending the business gala was a prominent figure in A City.

Many had been guests at Old Master Sun's birthday celebration.

So, it was no surprise that they were well-acquainted with Lin Chen.

"He... is that Lin Chen?"

"Wow, it really is him!"

"Good thing I didn't foolishly step in to defend Zhao Xue'er earlier. Otherwise, I'd have angered that kid and wouldn't even know what hit me."

"Seriously, who else but him would have the guts to openly harass Miss Zhao of the Zhao family in A City? It's the kind of act that would infuriate anyone."

"Sure, the guy's tough, but Lee Chen is the scion of the capital's Lee family."

"Between you and me, it's anyone's guess who'll come out on top in their showdown today."

"Who'll win? Isn't that just nonsense?"

"Lin Chen may be formidable, managing to overpower the Sun family on his own, but they're small fry compared to the Lee family."

"Old Wang, you're speaking the truth. Looks like this Lin Chen is about to hit some serious bad luck!"

The crowd at the scene was abuzz with conversation.

Zhao Xue'er paused, taken aback by their words.

She had been home, tending to her father and grandfather, completely out of the loop about the Sun family's situation.

Now, learning that Lin Chen had single-handedly bested the Sun family, a wave of astonishment surged within her.

Lee Chen and his backing, the Lee family, were formidable, but their influence was confined to the capital, not A City!

The Sun family, bolstered by Sun Xiangguo, was a force on par with her own Zhao family!

Yet even such a formidable clan had been subdued by Lin Chen. That fact alone spoke volumes of his fearsome nature!

In that moment, she began to regret sending Lee Chen after Lin Chen.

Whether or not Lee Chen could put Lin Chen in his place, she knew that Lin Chen, with his vindictive streak, would not let her off the hook easily.

"Go for it, Young Master Lee! We're behind you!"

"Exactly! He had the audacity to mess with Miss Zhao, one of A City's top beauties. He deserves a thrashing."

"Absolutely, Young Master Lee. If you manage to take this guy down, Miss Zhao is bound to see you in a whole new light. Who knows, she might even reward you with her favor."

In the midst of the chaos, some troublemakers were shouting at the top of their lungs.

At that moment, Lee Chen's eyes were fixed on Lin Chen's face, a mix of rage and fear in his gaze. He was furious because this jerk had framed him on antique street, resulting in a particularly brutal beating. But what scared him was Lin Chen's masterful manipulation, which still haunted him.

"Young Master Lee, are you looking to stand up for this madwoman?" Lin Chen asked, his head tilted up and a sly smile playing on his lips. Yet, as his eyes passed over Zhao Xue'er, they were icy with disdain. He had already spared Zhao Xue'er once, and now she had the audacity to sic Lee Chen on him. Did she really think he was a pushover?

"I..." Lee Chen began, his complexion turning a sickly shade of green. He was inclined to take Zhao Xue'er's side, but Lin Chen's strategic mind was a force to be reckoned with. If Lin Chen revealed his ability to cheat at stone gambling in public, Lee Chen knew he'd become a target for many.

"Let me give you a friendly piece of advice," Lin Chen said, recalling the time he had outsmarted Lee Chen. "Zhao Xue'er is more than you can handle."

If Lee Chen chose to ignore the warning, any resulting trouble would be none of Lin Chen's concern. Zhao Xue'er had initially regretted involving Lee Chen with Lin Chen, but Lin Chen's taunt reignited her fury.

Without a second thought, she turned to Lee Chen and blurted out, "Young Master Lee, it just occurred to me that I'm free tomorrow evening." "It would be perfect if we could have a date."

Lee Chen's breath hitched at the suggestion. A date could be the turning point in his relationship with Zhao Xue'er!

After a brief pause, he looked up and declared icily, "Lin Chen, as the heir of the Lee family, I command you to come here and apologize to Xue'er in person." "Otherwise, I, Lee Chen, won't hesitate to settle both new and old debts with you!"

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