C4 Tianyue Media

No sooner had he hung up the phone than Lin Hao's mobile buzzed with two WeChat messages from Meng Shuran. She had sent him 2,000 yuan along with a brief note.

"Buy yourself some decent clothes and don't embarrass me at the family's quarterly gathering tonight."

Lin Hao smirked, pocketing his phone before hailing a cab at the roadside.

The Golden Domain was the epitome of luxury in Wangjiang City, with each villa boasting a sweeping view of the cityscape.

Earlier, Old Master Lin had set up a meeting for Lin Hao at this opulent location.

Reclining awkwardly on the finely crafted leather sofa, Lin Hao eyed the man Old Master Lin had sent to meet with him.

It was his father's sole brother, his second uncle, Lin Hwacheng.

"Hao, it's been over two years. You seem even more carefree than before," Lin Hwacheng commented with a chuckle, observing Lin Hao's lax demeanor.

Lin Hao, listlessly picking nuts from the fruit plate, munched as he spoke, "Second Uncle, let's cut to the chase. How much does the Lin Family need?"

Lin Hwacheng, a formidable figure in his own right, was unaccustomed to seeking help from a younger relative. Lin Hao's blunt approach only added to his discomfort.

"Well, the amount we need isn't all that much..."

Lin Hao arched an eyebrow. "And that would be?"

"Eight billion..."

Lin Hao nearly choked on his snack!

Eight billion was considered a small sum?

He stood up quickly, dropping the nuts from his hand, and said with urgency, "Second Uncle, something just came up, and I really must be going!"

With that, he made for the door, but Lin Hwacheng, desperate, stepped in front of him. "Without that eight billion, the Lin Family is done for! Hao, I'm begging you, you're the only one who can save us now! I've fulfilled the two conditions you set. You can't just walk away!"

Lin Hao, faced with his uncle's fervor, felt a twinge of awkwardness.

"Second Uncle, it's not that I'm unwilling to help the Lin Family through this rough patch, but I simply don't have eight billion."

"Hao! Do you truly intend to let the Lin Family go bankrupt? Others may be in the dark, but your grandfather and I are well aware that the 20% stake you hold in Fengyun Group is now worth no less than 9.3 billion!"

Lin Hwacheng paused, then added with gravity, "Hao, one must have a conscience. Don't forget, you're a Lin too."

After his words, Lin Hao's smile, initially sparked by the mention of 9.3 billion, turned icy.

"Second Uncle, when your wife accused me of conspiring with outsiders to siphon off the Lin family's assets, none of you defended me."

"The money I invested was earned through my own efforts, without touching a cent of the family's wealth."

"Besides, my parents gave their all for the Lin family. Yet, when you cast out our family of three, your conscience was nowhere to be found."

His calm inquiries one after another visibly unsettled Lin Hwacheng.

Lin Hao met his gaze with a scornful smile and continued, "You all know I've become a son-in-law. But when I was stripped of my dignity, not one of you thought to lend a hand."

He inhaled deeply, his fists clenched tight. "If it weren't for the Lin Family's current crisis, I doubt any of you would even spare a thought for my existence."

Lin Hwacheng remained silent for several seconds before speaking solemnly, "Hao, I acknowledge our past mistakes. On behalf of the family, I offer you an apology. But the Lin Family truly needs your help now..."

He hesitated, as though wrestling with a significant decision, then fixed Lin Hao with a resolute look. "Hao, if you agree to help the Lin Family this time, I can make you the president of Tianyue Media. I'll handle all the paperwork this afternoon, and you can assume the role tomorrow."

Tianyue Media had always been under the control of my second aunt and Lin Qiang. Now, Second Uncle was actually proposing to hand it over to him.

Lin Hao thought to himself, second aunt would surely be livid if she caught wind of this.

Tianyue Media has consistently been a cash cow, standing out as the largest and most promising entertainment company among the many ventures of the Lin family. It's worth noting that at least half of the hottest A-list stars in the entertainment industry are signed with Tianyue Media!

Moreover, Tianyue boasts a roster of second and third-tier celebrities brimming with potential. Lin Hao couldn't deny the allure.

With a clenched jaw, Lin Hao gave a nod of agreement. "I accept your terms. I have another engagement this afternoon, so I must be on my way."

Paying eight billion for Tianyue Media might not seem like a good deal, but allowing the Lin family to face bankruptcy wasn't an option either. His grandfather had always shown him great affection. The Lin family was the culmination of his grandfather's life's work; bankruptcy would be unbearable for the old man.

Leaving his ID with Lin Hwacheng to handle the paperwork, Lin Hao departed from Golden Domain.

Before the Meng family's quarterly soiree, there was his high school reunion to attend—a first since graduation. The thought of reuniting with his old pals and the charming girls from his class filled him with an irrepressible excitement. He needed to spruce up quickly at home; any further delay would make him late.

Hailing a cab, Lin Hao reveled in the feeling of affluence. The taxi ride seemed to boost his confidence, and he hummed a tune all the way home, his spirits high.

At Anji Corporation, Meng Shuran emerged from the conference room, her face set in a stern expression. Passing the break room, she overheard the staff idly chatting—on company time. It seemed she'd been too lenient with her employees.

She entered quietly, catching a group of female employees huddled around a phone, giggling at a video.

Peering through the small opening between them, Meng Shuran caught sight of the video they were engrossed in.

"You've been through so much! Rest assured, I will get your revenge," came Lin Hao's voice, heavy with emotion.

"I can't stop laughing. How can a man be that idiotic?"

"I've got to hand it to our chairman, marrying a guy who's as dim-witted as they come. The fact that they're still together after two years is nothing short of a miracle."

"Our chairman brought in a son-in-law simply because Lin Hao is a yes-man!"

A girl took a sip of water and chimed in, "I got here a bit early, and I overheard him at the entrance talking about buying the 'Dream Lover' necklace for the chairman!"

"He's planning to buy the 'Dream Lover'? That's hilarious! He winced at the price of an electric scooter; there's no way he'd splurge on something that pricey. He's quite the fibber!"

Their laughter swelled once more, but as one of them casually glanced back and caught sight of Meng Shuran standing behind them, her face went pale.

"Chairman!"