C12 The Finger Force Loosened

"Enough!" Xu Lin declared coolly.

After his words hung in the air, silence engulfed the room; no one dared utter a sound—it was eerily quiet.

Xu Lin strolled up to Yang Zhendong's mother, a smirk playing on his lips. "Did you just curse at me?"

Yang Zhendong's mother, with the demeanor of a fishwife, jabbed a finger at Xu Lin. "So what if I cursed you? My brother's here now. I'm telling you, he's going to grab you, you son of a—"

Her tirade was cut short by a crisp sound.

"Snap!"

Her fingers were now grotesquely bent at a ninety-degree angle.

"The last person who pointed at me like that is dead," Xu Lin stated, his voice devoid of emotion.

In the vastness of Crismond, it was common knowledge: better to cross Mr. Du than to point a finger at King Yama. Those who did found themselves either injured or maimed.

"I'm about to hit you in front of your own brother. Ask him if he dares to say a word," Xu Lin said with a slight smile.

"Brother, he broke my finger! Brother, you have to arrest him. I want him to suffer a fate worse than death!" the woman raged.

Xu Lin gave Yang Mingzhe an icy stare and spoke in a detached tone, "So you're all this bold now? Why don't you try arresting me?"

Yang Mingzhe was sweating bullets. Arrest him?

In all of Crismond, no one dared lay a hand on Mr. Xu unless they had a death wish. In this territory, Mr. Xu was untouchable, the sky itself.

Yang Mingzhe stammered out, "Mr. Xu, I... How could I possibly dare?"

"You call him Mr. Xu?"

Yang Zhendong's father's world went black, and he collapsed.

In Crismond, there was only one Mr. Xu. Even the city's top dogs wouldn't dare claim that title, for it was Xu Lin's alone. Who else would dare to use it?

"Mr. Xu?"

Chu Dongyun was equally stunned, well aware of the significance behind "Mr. Xu" and "King Yama"—they were the unspoken taboos of Crismond.

"Now that you've asked for your brother, I've brought him here. Isn't it time we had a serious discussion about our issues?" Xu Lin said with a smile to the fear-stricken Yang family, including Yang Zhendong.

They were painfully aware that they had stirred up serious trouble, the kind that could spell the end for the Yang family.

This time, even Yang Zhendong's mother was too scared to utter a word.

The mere mention of "Mr. Xu" had Yang Zhendong himself in tears, overwhelmed by the profound impact of those words.

Yang Zhendong's father, a man of some repute who had risen from a penniless thug to his current status, was filled with fear. Yet, he managed to speak up, "Mr. Xu... Mr. Xu, we were only kidding around. Please, don't take it to heart. I'll make sure to teach my wife and son a lesson when we get home."

"I assure you that Zhendong will never trouble Chu Lan again. I'm begging you, Mr. Xu, spare me this time!"

His legs shook uncontrollably as he spoke, for he was in the presence of Xu Lin...

With a slight smile, Xu Lin responded, "In that case, let's leave it be."

At these words, Yang Zhendong's father breathed a sigh of relief, though he couldn't help but notice that this Mr. Xu seemed different from the ruthless figure of the legends. Wasn't the infamous Mr. Xu known for his cold-blooded decisiveness?

But Xu Lin's next words sent a chill down his spine, "I've heard about your assistance to the Chu family, so I'll overlook the trouble you've caused me."

Xu Lin spoke calmly, then shifted gears, "However, the insult to the CEO of my company is not something I can simply dismiss."

This statement sent a ripple of shock through everyone present. Clearly, Xu Lin was not inclined to let the Yang family off the hook so easily.

Chu Lan knew she had a good rapport with Xu Lin, but she was clueless about the significance of 'Mr. Xu' and 'King Yama.'

Yang Zhendong's father collapsed to the ground, realizing the Yang family's fate was sealed, this time for good.

Chu Lan, puzzled, looked at Xu Lin and asked, "The big boss? Mr. Xu?"

She had no idea who Mr. Xu really was.

Xu Lin said with a smile, "Regardless of who I am elsewhere, in front of you, I'm always Xu Lin."

"Lian Lian, how do you know Xu Lin? And you're working at his company?"

Chu Lan's father asked, his face etched with confusion.

Indeed, it wasn't just him; everyone was baffled. How did Chu Lan come to know Mr. Xu? People at their level didn't even have the faintest clue who Mr. Xu was.

You see, Mr. Xu is the true power player in Crismond. The upper echelons, the seasoned members of high society, didn't know Xu Lin, yet Chu Lan did?

This left the crowd in a state of bewilderment.

"I'm just as surprised! Out of the blue, I was told the company had a new legal representative, and suddenly, I'm the president. But despite the increased responsibilities, my salary hasn't seen a bump. Xu Lin, don't you think it's time for a raise?" Chu Lan quipped with ease.

Her intelligence was evident; she clearly grasped the significance of the title 'Mr. Xu'. Since Xu Lin had taken the helm, the company's operations had been thriving. Top-tier actors and sought-after starlets were clamoring to get in, only to be turned away by Xu Lin.

He had made it clear from the start: fame didn't matter. The only way in was through an audition. Without talent, entry was virtually impossible.

Yet, hearing Xu Lin affirm that he would always be Xu Lin in her presence left Chu Lan somewhat taken aback. Did she hold such a significant place in Xu Lin's life? Or did he genuinely care for her that deeply?

As this thought crossed her mind, a blush crept onto Chu Lan's cheeks. For years, no man had stirred her heart.

After all, anything a man could do, Chu Lan could do—and often better, leading her to believe she didn't need a man in her life.

But just moments ago, Xu Lin's protective stance gave her a sense of security she hadn't known she was missing.

Chu Lan's hand found its way to Xu Lin's shoulder as she chuckled, "Xu Lin? I never would have guessed you'd be dubbed King Yama. Haha! That's hilarious!"

She then gave Xu Lin a once-over, murmuring to herself, "Sure, you're handsome, but you don't strike me as a bigwig. After all, you've got the same nose and two eyes as the rest of us!"

Xu Lin regarded Chu Lan with a look of contempt, musing to himself, "Isn't everyone born with a nose and two eyes?"

Catching Xu Lin's disdainful gaze, Chu Lan propped her chin with one hand and playfully pinched Xu Lin's cheek with the other. "You've got a decent look, boss! Ever thought about making a debut?"

Chu Lan's words were candid, even teasing Xu Lin a bit, which left the onlookers petrified. Was this the fearsome King Yama?

Was Chu Lan actually pinching King Yama's face?

And King Yama wasn't even angry?

This... The crowd found it hard to wrap their heads around the scene.

Particularly when Chu Lan suggested Xu Lin should make a debut, the mere thought sent shivers down everyone's spine! They understood what 'debut' implied—becoming a star.

While ordinary folks might dream of stardom, to these wealthy individuals, celebrities were merely entertainers, and the idea of joining their ranks was far from appealing.

Let alone for the renowned Mr. Xu!

"Chu Lan, remember I'm your boss. Keep this up, and I might just dock your pay!" Xu Lin couldn't help but feel a touch of embarrassment from Chu Lan's antics.

To think that Crismond's formidable King Yama was having his face pinched by a young lady?

This... How would it look if word got around?

"Enough!" Xu Lin said coolly.

Xu Lin's icy stare bore into the members of the Yang family. His chilling look struck fear into their hearts, as if plunging them into a frigid abyss, terror creeping up on them.

"The Chu family owes you a favor, and I'm not going to quibble over it now. We're square. But just because I'm not making a fuss doesn't mean you shouldn't explain yourselves to Chu Lan. My company's CEO is not someone you can just insult. What gives you the right?"

Xu Lin's voice was frosty.

Yang Zhendong collapsed in fear; he was no Chu Lan and understood all too well what 'Mr. Xu' signified.

Yang Zhendong's father immediately knelt, pleading, "Mr. Xu, Mr. Xu! Please have mercy on us! I'm begging you!"

Xu Lin gazed down at the man before him with contempt and stated flatly, "As I've said, I've already spared you. Your dealings with the Chu family are settled."

"Thank you, Mr. Xu! Thank you, Mr. Xu!" Yang Zhendong's father quickly knelt and bowed in gratitude.

Xu Lin gave a sinister smile and remarked, "I may have agreed to spare you, but Chu Lan never made such a promise."

Yang Zhendong's father was momentarily taken aback, then it dawned on him. Truthfully, Chu Lan posed no real threat to the Yang family. Even if the entire Chu family waged war against them, the Yangs could handle it.

But what mattered now was that Chu Lan belonged to Xu Lin. Was there any difference between Chu Lan not sparing them and Xu Lin not doing so? It was well-known that the Chu family had been decimated because of a woman associated with Xu Lin.

"Smack!"

Yang Mingzhe, frustrated and disappointed, delivered a resounding slap to his face.

He spoke icily, "Aren't you going to plead with Miss Chu?"

Finally coming to his senses, Yang Zhendong's father scrambled over to Chu Lan, knelt before her, and pleaded, "Miss Chu, I am entirely at fault. In light of our families' decent relations, please forgive us!

I beg you, Miss Chu!"

Chu Lan regarded the man before her with a chilly gaze and mocked, "You're asking for my mercy? You're asking me to spare the Chu family?

Doesn't your family have a brother who's a police captain?

Have you forgotten how you ridiculed me earlier?

Now you come begging to me?

Uncle Yang, what a remarkable memory you have!"

Yang Zhendong's father's face turned pale as he looked on in fear.

It was only at this moment that he truly grasped the depth of a woman's vengeance. Yet, he failed to consider what the outcome might have been if Xu Lin weren't present or if Chu Lan and Xu Lin were strangers.

People are often like this; when they're on top, they believe their actions are justified. But when they're at a disadvantage, they expect sympathy and mercy.

But on what grounds?

Why should someone you wanted dead spare you?

Chu Lan's voice was frosty as she continued, "Wasn't it your son who wanted my company? Why the sudden change of heart? You were threatening my father before, weren't you?

Why have you stopped now?

Didn't you claim he was under Mr. Xu's protection?

Why aren't you using Xu Lin to intimidate us anymore?"

Yang Zhendong's father's complexion fluctuated between pale and flushed. He had merely sought out an associate of Mr. Xu's—hardly a major player.