"Xiaoxuan, don't listen to your mother's nonsense."
"Dad actually understands that the company's stock price has plummeted, and it's no longer worth 3 billion..."
"If I insisted on selling it to you at that price, wouldn't that mean I'm scamming my own son? ┐(-__-)┌"
"But let's not talk about this for now, my good son. First, find a place and buy your father some breakfast! Then we can discuss the matter of kneeling and apologizing..."
"......"
Hearing the change in Lin Jianjun's tone, Bai Yuelan's face darkened instantly, a cold gleam flashing in her eyes.
His words seemed to absolve himself, making him sound righteous.but at the same time, he was putting her on the spot, subtly accusing her of being heartless.
Hmph!
Bai Yuelan finally understood…
Now that the Lin Group was falling, Lin Jianjun was planning to cling back onto the eldest son's thigh?!
Meanwhile, she and her son—his "poor widow and orphan"—had become disposable in his eyes.
Never mind whether he could successfully rekindle his father-son relationship with Lin Xuan.
Even if they did reconcile, Bai Yuelan would never let herself and her son be forced to live under the thumb of that woman's son.
Especially considering all the past conflicts between them.
If she had to rely on Lin Xuan's mercy to survive in the future, how suffocating would that be?!
At that moment, the thought of taking her precious son and running away grew wildly in Bai Yuelan's mind...
On the other side.
"Are you still half-asleep? You're asking me to kneel and apologize? What kind of nonsense is that?"
Looking at Lin Jianjun, who was passionately rambling to himself, Lin Xuan stared at him as if he were an idiot.
He had never seen someone so shameless!
How self-absorbed did he have to be to think others would desperately want to be his son?
Hearing Lin Xuan's blunt response, Lin Jianjun frowned slightly, but he didn't get angry.
Instead, he shook his head and sighed internally, thinking that his eldest son was just too prideful to put aside his ego and seek reconciliation.
Sigh~~
Forget it, forget it~~~
After all, he was his father.
He needed to have a big heart.
As long as he got his son back under control, he would have all the time in the world to "discipline" him and teach him the meaning of "a father's authority is absolute"...
Immediately after.
Lin Jianjun pretended to clear his throat to ease the tension. After all, this was his first time lowering himself to make amends with Lin Xuan.
Though it was a bit embarrassing (︾▽︾), he still forced a smile full of "fatherly love" and extended his large hand.
Screw you!凸(艹皿艹 )
A plant!!!
Lin Xuan was completely dumbfounded.
He realized he could not make sense of Lin Jianjun's logic at all!
"Brother, Daddy has finally forgiven you. What a joyous occasion! From now on, we're one big happy family again!"
At that moment—
Lin Hao beamed with joy, stretched out his arms, and took a step forward, intending to give Lin Xuan a loving hug.
He hadn't thought too deeply about the situation.
He simply assumed Lin Jianjun was using a temporary strategy—thinking he would first get hold of Lin Xuan's money before doing anything else.
SMACK!!!
"Don't touch me, idiot!"
Before Lin Hao could even get close, Lin Xuan smacked him across the face with an expression of pure disgust.
I got slapped again?!
I got slapped again?!??!
How many times has this happened already?!?!?!
The stinging pain on his cheek left Lin Hao momentarily stunned.
But then, an overwhelming fury erupted in his heart.
Pain!
It hurts so much!!!
But Lin Hao was well aware that Lin Xuan was much stronger than him.
So, all he could do was clutch his red and swollen cheek, retreat several steps, and whimper pitifully: "Brother, why did you hit me?"
"Are you still mad at me for stealing Daddy's love from you?"
"Fine! If this will make you happy, then even if you beat me to death, what does it matter?"
"Go ahead, Brother! Hit me! This is my fate! As long as it brings you relief, I am willing to be beaten to death by you!"
"......"
Lin Hao wiped his tears, lifted his chin, and closed his eyes, striking a dramatic, self-sacrificing pose as if he were a noble martyr.
This theatrical posture made Lin Xuan's mouth twitch and his palm itch.
Oh? You're begging for a beating?
Alright, I'll grant your wish!!!
Lin Xuan rolled up his sleeves, ready to deliver a "ten-hit combo" special…
It happened so fast that Lin Jianjun didn't even react at first.
"Honey, say something already!"
"Xiao Hao is about to be beaten to death! Are you really just going to stand by and do nothing?"
Seeing her precious son about to be pummeled again, Bai Yuelan was both furious and anxious.
She elbowed Lin Jianjun several times before he finally snapped out of it.
Realizing Lin Xuan was about to strike again, he hurriedly shouted: "Stop!!! Xiaoxuan, that's your little brother!"
"You should love each other—how can siblings hurt one another?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes, and suddenly, a strange smirk appeared on his lips.
"Little brother? I don't have a little brother. And… haven't you noticed? Lin Hao doesn't look like you at all."
"Are you sure… that he's really your biological son?"
In the original novel, the Lin family wasn't given much attention, and there was never any mention of blood relations between the family members.
As a minor villain family in the early stages, they were quickly wiped out.
So, Lin Xuan had never thought much about it.
But after Lin Jianjun's "reminder,"
Lin Xuan suddenly recalled some subtle hints from the original novel— small details he had subconsciously overlooked before…
Sss~~~ (Sharp inhale~~)
Could it be…
Lin Jianjun was nothing but a tragic joke in the grand scheme of things?
"You unfilial brat! What nonsense are you spewing? How can you joke about something like that?"
"If you keep this up, I'm really going to get angry."
"If that happens, I definitely won't give you another chance to be my son!!!"
Being cuckolded—is a humiliation no man can accept.
Hearing Lin Xuan joke about such a thing made Lin Jianjun's face turn even darker.
He… was mad!!!
And he issued a dire threat to Lin Xuan—
And he issued a deadly threat—if Lin Xuan continued being rude, not even kneeling would get him another chance.
But what Lin Jianjun failed to notice was…
Behind him, Bai Yuelan's breathing had quickened, her face distorted with tension, and panic flickered in her pupils.
Fortunately, her mask and sunglasses hid her expression well, so no one noticed.
'This brat… how could he know?!'
'No, he's just guessing…!'
'Damn it! How is his guess so accurate? Why doesn't he go buy a lottery ticket?!'
Although she was cursing nonstop in her heart, Bai Yuelan secretly let out a sigh of relief when she realized Lin Xuan was just making a wild guesses.
To prevent this topic from spiraling out of control, she immediately flung herself to the ground and started wailing hysterically.
"Honey~~ are you just going to stand by?! I can tolerate anything else!"
"But for Xiaoxuan to slander our Hao'er, saying he's not your son—that's an insult to my noble character!"
"I can't go on… sob sob… I'm going to jump off a building to prove my innocence. Sob sob sob..."
"......"
Seeing his beloved wife crying so pitifully, Lin Jianjun felt a sharp pain in his heart.
At this moment, he couldn't be bothered with playing the role of a kind and gentle father anymore.
Turning around, he glared fiercely at Lin Xuan, his face full of disappointment and frustration as he roared angrily: "Lin Xuan! Why are you just standing there?!"
"Can't you see how much your mother is suffering because of your false accusations?"
"Don't you feel even a little guilty?!"
"If you still have a conscience—if you still want to be my son—then kneel down immediately and beg your mother for forgiveness!!!"
"......"
Looking at Lin Jianjun's flushed, furious face—
Lin Xuan's expression remained as calm as water. Toward this man... all he felt was pity.
"You're truly pathetic."
"What?? What nonsense are you talking about now?!"
Lin Jianjun looked utterly confused.
He thought Lin Xuan was just trying to be evasive and was using vague words to dodge responsibility.
He was completely disappointed!!!
Sigh!
What a sin!!!
What happened to my good son? Is he possessed?!
He used to be so obedient, never talking back or fighting… such a filial child...
How did he turn into this...
So ungrateful, so rebellious?!
Heartbroken, Lin Jianjun prepared to give his unfilial son one last chance.
"Lin Xuan! Are you really going to sever ties with me completely?"
"Didn't you come here today to seek my forgiveness?"
"Fine! I'll forgive you!"
"As long as you sincerely kneel and apologize to your mother, I'll be magnanimous enough to recognize you as my son again!"
"Not only that! I will also transfer all my shares to you for free!"
"From now on, you'll be the owner of the Lin Group. Isn't that great? Are you happy now?!"
Lin Jianjun wore an expression like he was being overly generous.
He smiled and walked up to Lin Xuan, patting his shoulder, teary-eyed, practically screaming "fatherly love" from every pore…
Oh?
Transferring all your shares to me for free?
Lin Xuan was a bit surprised, thinking maybe Lin Jianjun had finally seen the light and decided to change.
Was he finally repenting?
But the very next second, Lin Jianjun's words completely shattered that illusion.
"Of course, I won't let you take advantage of me. Since we're father and son, I'll only charge you 2 billion!"
"You should know, those shares were originally worth more than 6 billion!"
"But because you're my son, and talking money hurts feelings, I'll give you a special discount…"
Lin Jianjun smiled expectantly, waiting for Lin Xuan's response. Lin Xuan slapped his hand away, looking utterly unimpressed.
"First of all, you're delusional! I finally cut ties with you, why would I jump back into the pit?"
"Second, 2 billion? Keep dreaming! My offer is 20 million—take it or leave it!"
Ah… what?!
Hearing Lin Xuan's firm, no-nonsense response, Lin Jianjun's pupils contracted.
He suddenly realized something embarrassing…
Was this entire time… just him imagining things???
Was he the clown all along???
This unfilial brat never wanted to be his son again?!
No—impossible!!! Absolutely not!!!
There are countless people in Magic City who'd kill to be my son. How could Lin Xuan not care?!
"You... you... you unfilial son. Are you trying to anger me to death?"
"I still own a full 55% of the shares!"
"Last time you only offered 100 million—that was already ridiculous. Now you're saying 20 million?!"
Furious and embarrassed, Lin Jianjun gritted his teeth while pointing at Lin Xuan's nose.
Looking at this ridiculously handsome face that resembled Daniel Wu, he had the urge to slap it hard.
Yet Lin Xuan, with an infuriatingly smug attitude, said arrogantly: "I already told you last time, there's a lot of room for price reduction."
"20 million is just the starting price! Tomorrow, it might not even be worth that much...."
Hearing this, Lin Jianjun trembled with rage.
The Lin Group was his life's work.
And now, in Lin Xuan's mouth, it was worthless—like it had to be sold at a clearance discount.
How could he accept this?!
As the saying goes: "On the wedding night! The bride might endure—but not even the groom could take it!"
Fuming, Lin Jianjun started unbuckling his belt—
Preparing to give this brat a good "fatherly education" to remind him what paternal love really meant...
But just as he loosened his belt, Lin Xuan cupped his hands like a megaphone and shouted toward a group of fierce-looking men nearby: "Where are the 10,086 dog-slaying warriors of Magic City? Where is the dog-slaying squad?"
"Lin Jianjun, the beast, is right here!!!"
At Lin Xuan's call—
The men, who had been looking for Lin Jianjun, lit up like wolves spotting prey.
"You… you're so cruel!!!"
Lin Jianjun's eyes bulged. He frantically rebuckled his pants and ran for his life out of the hospital.
But the furious mob wasn't about to let him go.
Once they confirmed his identity, they swarmed in and began a "banquet of clubs and sticks."
Though they were furious, most remained rational, knowing that murder carried consequences.
So, they deliberately avoided fatal areas, focusing instead on his hands, feet, and well-padded buttocks…
But even so...
The pain was excruciating, and Lin Jianjun couldn't help but scream.
Pinned to the ground, he had no way to escape.
Instinctively, Lin Jianjun could only call for help from those closest to him.
"Yuelan! Hao'er! Save me!"
But when he looked up, all he saw was the backs of Lin Hao and his mother, hand in hand, quickly walking away.
Lin Jianjun: "??????"
They ran away?
I was abandoned?!
They just left me here and ran?!!
At that moment—
More than physical pain—
Lin Jianjun's heart finally understood what true heartbreak felt like!
Pain!
So painful!!!
In his daze, he thought of Lin Xuan's mother, that woman who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside...
If it were her...
She would have definitely rushed in to shield him from the blows...