C9 Helping Him out

"Why, Grandfather?" Lin Zhixi inquired of Lin Yuandong. With a cold laugh, Lin Yuandong replied, "You're unaware, aren't you? This bastard assaulted Young Master Yang."

"Do you know who Young Master Yang is? He's the heir to Yang's Group. In the entire Cloud Sea, there are few who dare cross the Yang family. Our family has had numerous collaborations with Yang's Group, and now they've severed all ties with us."

"For the sake of the company, Qin Tian must make amends to Young Master Yang. I command you to kneel and, starting from here, kowtow every three steps all the way to Yang's Group to offer your apology to Young Master Yang."

"If you fail to earn Young Master Yang's forgiveness, I will break your legs right in front of him. And Zhixi, once this ordeal is over, you are to divorce this bastard and marry Young Master Yang. If not, you can no longer consider me your grandfather."

Lin Yuandong looked down upon them, while Lin Zhixi stood there, dumbfounded.

She had been reprimanded by her grandfather countless times growing up, but Lin Zhixi always believed it was out of love.

However, Lin Yuandong's recent declaration left Lin Zhixi feeling as though she had plummeted into an icy abyss. He demanded not only that Qin Tian grovel to Yang Sen at Yang's Group but also that she divorce Qin Tian and marry that wastrel.

When weighed against personal gain, familial bonds had become utterly worthless.

"Grandpa, I refuse to divorce Qin Tian, nor will I force him to apologize to Yang Sen. If you truly disown me, then so be it. I can always step down as CEO," she declared.

At that moment, Lin Zhixi's heart was heavy with sorrow, her faith in the Lin family utterly shattered.

"Thinking of just walking away?" Lin Yi sneered before addressing Lin Yuandong, "Dad, during Lin Zhixi's tenure as CEO, she caused the company to incur a loss of a hundred million yuan."

"With her now having antagonized Young Master Yang, it's only adding insult to injury for the Lin family. I fear the company may not survive this."

Lin Yi's remarks caused everyone in the conference room to furrow their brows. Lin Yuandong shot Lin Zhixi a fierce glare and demanded to know how to proceed.

"My view is that Lin Zhixi is free to leave if she wishes, but she must surrender all her shares, including those of 'Ol' Three.' Moreover, she must pay the company three hundred million in damages. That's the only way we can weather this storm. Otherwise, we'll have no choice but to send her to prison."

Lin Yi's gaze bore into Lin Zhixi with malicious intent, and she trembled with rage. Pointing at Lin Yi, she retorted, "Uncle, are you pretending not to know why the company is hemorrhaging money? It's because your darling son conducted a secret transaction and got swindled out of a hundred million yuan!"

"And another thing, my dad and I paid for our shares in the company, so what gives you the right to demand that we relinquish them? I can't believe there's someone as brazen as you in this world."

Now that the gloves were off, Lin Zhixi held nothing back.

Previously, she had restrained herself from taking action against Lin Fei out of respect for family ties.

But since her father's mishap, Lin Zhixi had a clear view of her relatives' true motives. To them, profit was king, even if it meant sacrificing her and her father.

"Lin Zhixi, you need to present evidence. When exactly did I get scammed? You signed off on every company expenditure," Lin Yi challenged.

"You claim I was duped out of a hundred million, but for all we know, you could be the one conspiring with outsiders to embezzle company funds."

"Grandpa, Lin Zhixi has unjustly accused me, and you can't stand by and do nothing. You have to take my side."

Lin Fei, her younger brother, showed no ounce of respect for Lin Zhixi. He feigned innocence, his expression enough to make one's skin crawl.

"Indeed, Xiao Fei is correct. As the CEO, you're the one making the decisions for the company, so the responsibility falls on you," Lin Yuandong concurred.

"Lin Zhixi, you must comply with your uncle's demands, or I will have no other option but to report you to the authorities and have you arrested."

Lin Yuandong found Lin Fei's argument convincing, suspecting Lin Zhixi of foul play.

With an icy stare, Lin Yuandong looked at Lin Zhixi, who attempted to defend herself, only to be interrupted by Qin Tian.

"They've already expelled you and your father from the Lin family. No amount of talking will change that. Relatives like that are better off left behind."

"I had intended to bring a stroke of good fortune to the Lin family, but it seems they'll miss out on it now."

Surveying Lin Yuandong and his cohort, Qin Tian's face remained impassive.

"And who are you to offer us good fortune? Do you think you're the wealthiest man in the sea of clouds?"

"Qin Tian, you injured my hand, and I haven't forgotten that debt. And now you dare to strut around on Lin family turf? Do you really think you're up to it?"

Upon hearing Qin Tian's words, Lin Fei stood up, glaring at him with eyes seething with resentment.

"Exactly. Take a good look at yourself, trying to act like some rich tycoon."

"You aimed to climb the social ladder through our Lin family, but now Lin Zhixi, you're nothing but a stray dog. Haha, that's what you get."

Lin Yi echoed his son's sentiments, but Qin Tian paid them no heed. Instead, he turned to Lin Zhixi and asked, "Do you want to break free from them?"

Even though the marriage between Qin Tian and Lin Zhixi was merely a transaction, she was now his wife in name.

Qin Tian couldn't stand idly by while his wife was subjected to such mistreatment.

"I do."

Lin Zhixi's gaze met Qin Tian's, her eyes brimming with resolve. Qin Tian offered a faint smile and said, "In that case, I'll handle the rest. How much are your and your father's shares worth?"

"Roughly forty million."

Lin Zhixi didn't grasp why Qin Tian was inquiring, but she responded nonetheless.

With a nod, Qin Tian turned his attention back to Lin Yuandong and the others.

"Zhixi has suffered a loss of one hundred million, and her and her father's shares are worth forty million. This means I just need to give you another sixty million, and from that point on, she will have no further ties with the Lin family."

Qin Tian spoke calmly, but Lin Fei scoffed, "Qin Tian, are you deaf? My father and grandfather just said that Lin Zhixi needs to come up with three hundred million to settle things. Did you not hear that?"

"And you, just a leech clinging to the Lin family's prestige, do you really think you can come up with sixty million?"

"Judging by your outfit, you're decked out in nothing but cheap knockoffs. It would be impressive if you even had six thousand, let alone sixty million."

Having finished his statement, Lin Fei let out a scornful laugh, mirrored by the members of the Lin family and the company's senior executives.

"Shut your mouth, or I won't hesitate to break your other arm. And if you don't want that, then I'll just keep my sixty million. Think you can extort my wife? You'll need to check with me first."

"Hand over your company's account number. I can make the transfer right now."