Chapter 027: Tang Nianchen

Hearing that voice, Lin Le immediately sat up in bed, startled.

"Is there something you need, Miss Tang?" Lin Le's tone was colder than ever before.

"You should know better than I do what I want from you," Tang Nianchen's voice floated like mist in the sky, as if every syllable she uttered was a gift bestowed upon Lin Le.

"Hmph, isn't it just about breaking off the engagement? Fine, split your Tang family's fortune with me—give me half, and I might show you some mercy and divorce you!" Lin Le still remembered vividly how, when the Lin Group went bankrupt and Lin Tenghui sought help from the Tang family, Tang Baisheng looked down on them with disdain, and Tang Nianchen's cold indifference chilled him to the bone.

"Lin Le, I never thought you could be so shameless! To stoop so low for money!" Tang Nianchen's icy voice cut like a knife.

"That's right, you've known me long enough. I was born this way! You say I'm greedy for money, but aren't you the same? All this scheming to break off the engagement—isn't it so you can inherit your Tang family's fortune?" Lin Le shot back, unrestrained.

"That's nonsense! Do you think everyone is like you? Even if money wasn't involved, I wouldn't want anything to do with a scoundrel like you! The very sight of you disgusts me!" Tang Nianchen shouted.

In Tang Nianchen's mind, her impression of Lin Le was still stuck three years ago: the idle, unruly second-generation heir who spent his days chasing women and stirring up trouble. How could such a degenerate ever be worthy of her? He didn't even deserve to enter her sight!

Earlier that day, when Tang Nianchen called Lin Tenghui, he had earnestly told her that Lin Le had matured a great deal and was no longer the same unreliable youth. Before calling Lin Le, Tang Nianchen still harbored a sliver of hope for him. But after only a few exchanges, he proved himself just as shameless as before.

Hopeless! He was utterly repulsive to her!

If not for the need to sever ties with this man, Tang Nianchen wouldn't have spoken to him for even a second—she loathed him with every fiber of her being.

"You find me disgusting? I feel the same way about you. Forgive my bluntness, Miss Tang—you may have some beauty, but with that cold, wooden face, I imagine you’d be dull even in bed. Honestly, I have absolutely no interest in you." Lin Le spared no effort in humiliating her.

For some reason, whenever he encountered this woman, the usually amiable Lin Le became fiercely combative—like meeting an old enemy, their conflict never ceased.

"You… How can you say such revolting things!" Lin Le's crude remarks about intimacy made the proud and aloof Tang Nianchen feel utterly sick, as if she had swallowed a fly.

"Thank you for the compliment," Lin Le continued, shameless as ever.

Bastard! Scum! Tang Nianchen could not fathom how she had ever become entangled with someone so vile.

The engagement! Damn that engagement! Why had her grandfather pushed her into this pit?

"You want money? I can give you a billion. That should last you several lifetimes—just agree to dissolve the engagement!" Tang Nianchen played her trump card.

"A billion? That's quite a sum," Lin Le feigned surprise.

"So, you're willing then?" Tang Nianchen seemed to glimpse hope.

"A billion is a lot, but compared to the Tang family's hundreds of billions, it's hardly enough…" Lin Le replied lightly.

"You… you are utterly shameless!" Tang Nianchen had thought that, with determination and a billion, she could finally end things with Lin Le. She never expected him to be so greedy, coveting the Tang family's inheritance.

Absolutely shameless!

If Lin Le were standing before her now, she would have felt an urge to kill him.

"What will it take for you to agree to break off the engagement?" Tang Nianchen asked, holding back her fury, her voice cold.

"Why don't you beg me? Call me 'husband,' ask me to divorce you—maybe then I'll agree," Lin Le said with a wicked grin.

"Go to hell!" Tang Nianchen could no longer restrain herself and hung up.

Lin Le stared at the disconnected call, a bitter smile at his lips. The mischievous grin faded, replaced by a somber expression.

Tang Nianchen, Tang Baisheng, the Tang family…

You want to discard the Lin family like trash? Then I'll be a piece of gum stuck in your hair—annoying you at every turn!

You want to sever the engagement? Wait until I restore the Lin Group to its former glory, rise to heights you can only dream of, and then I'll tear up that engagement and slap it in your faces!

When Lin Le makes a promise, he keeps it.

With lingering resentment toward the Tang family, Lin Le soon drifted off to sleep.

The next day was the weekend—no need to rise early. Lin Le had hoped for a good rest, but before long, loud voices from the living room woke him completely.

Soon after, Lin Tenghui came knocking at Lin Le's door.

"Le, your second and third uncles are here. Why don't you get up and greet them?"

Yesterday, they had heard about the fire at Lin Tenghui's house and the move to a new home, so they came to visit.

Lin Le had never had any fondness for his second and third uncles.

When Lin Tenghui's Lin Group was at its peak, the uncles insisted on being placed in leadership roles, shoving their wives and even friends—wives' friends included—into the company, creating chaos, yet acting as if it was all Lin Tenghui's obligation to them.

But when the Lin Group went bankrupt, instead of helping, they schemed to grab what they could for themselves.

Especially the third uncle's family, who sold off much of the Lin Group's private assets, infuriating Lin Le to the point of violence.

Later, when Lin Tenghui lost everything, neither uncle ever truly stood up for him—instead, they blamed him for lacking ability, for causing the company's collapse and costing them their jobs.

Beyond that, their children were no better—his cousin Lin Xueling, for example, showed no kindness to Lin Le's family.

With relatives like these, Lin Le would have preferred not to engage, but blood ties are difficult to sever. For his father's sake, he could only swallow his resentment.

A few minutes later, Lin Le entered the crowded living room.

Both families had come, filling the space.

Lin Le sighed, but still greeted them all.

"Three years have passed—Lin Le looks much more mature now. Though he seems to have gotten darker," observed the third aunt.

"Of course. He used to be the young master, but now he's a grunt—it's not the same," the second aunt remarked offhandedly.

"Why must you say that?" the second uncle whispered.

"What's wrong? I'm not wrong! If big brother hadn't gone bankrupt, Lin Le would still be fair and tender. He wouldn't have had to join the army and suffer!" The second aunt sounded concerned, but her words were deeply uncomfortable.

The second uncle, ever fearful of his wife, fell silent after her retort.

"We've already learned plenty from Dad's bankruptcy—no need for reminders," Lin Le replied with a smile.

"You child…" The second aunt had no rebuttal.

On the sofa nearby, a fashionably dressed young man with an earring sneered, "Three years in the army, but Lin Le's young master attitude hasn't changed—still so cocky!"

This was Lin Kai, third uncle's son, a few months younger than Lin Le. Having dropped out of school, he now helped manage the family business.

Lin Kai had always resented his cousin's spotlight as the Lin Group's young master, who not only stole attention at family gatherings but often lectured him as an elder cousin, embarrassing him multiple times.

Previously, Lin Kai had been wary of Lin Le's family's status, but now that Lin Le had fallen and his own family had prospered, he felt emboldened. He lounged on the sofa, feet propped on the coffee table.

Lin Le knew Lin Kai's character well and ignored him with a dismissive snort.

Lin Kai had hoped to provoke Lin Le, planning to humiliate him, but was irked when Lin Le simply disregarded him. He pressed on, "By the way, Lin Le, I heard from cousin that you were bullied at school just a few days after you arrived? No surprise, with your young master attitude, you’re bound to offend people. But don't worry—I know a big brother from the Tianxiong gang. If he speaks up for you, no one at school will dare mess with you!"

"Tianxiong gang? Isn't that the largest underground force in south Haizhou? I heard the guy Lin Le fought, Zhao Hu, isn't easy to deal with. If the Tianxiong gang steps in, maybe things can be settled," said Lin Xueling.

The second uncle and aunt immediately looked at Lin Kai with newfound respect, and the third uncle and aunt felt a sense of pride.

Lin Le knew Lin Kai was just showing off his connections. He didn't care much for that, but since it was the Tianxiong gang, his interest was piqued.

"I've heard about the Tianxiong gang—so which one do you know? Is it Guan Tianxiong himself?" Lin Le asked, intrigued.