Volume 1, Chapter 29: Is This Even a Brother? Even an Enemy Wouldn't Go This Far!

Wang Chenzu is a philanderer with a notorious reputation in Jiangcheng, known for his cruel and perverse methods in his dealings with women. Despite being the only eldest grandson of the Wang family, very few respectable families in Jiangcheng are willing to marry their daughters into his household, unless they are specifically looking to curry favor with the Wang family.

Jiangcheng and Nancheng are far apart, and some details are not widely known. However, Lin Wen attended university in Jiangcheng; he should know exactly what kind of person Wang Chenzu is! Even with this knowledge, he still insists on pushing Lin Jie into a pit of fire?

Lin Wen was stunned and asked instinctively, "How do you know?"

Nancheng and Jiangcheng are not close. How could Tang Ruan possibly know about Wang Chenzu?

Tang Ruan curled her lips in mockery. "This isn't exactly a secret." One only needs to be willing to investigate. A private investigator found out everything without much effort.

Tang Ruan did not want to continue the conversation with Lin Wen. She stood up and walked toward the door. "Xiao Lian, show the guest out."

Xiao Lian walked in and extended her hand with a serious expression. "Young Master Lin, this way, please." Having been standing by the door, she had overheard fragments of the conversation inside. Linking it to what the private investigator had uncovered about Wang Chenzu, her brow furrowed involuntarily.

*Young Master Lin actually wants to marry his own sister to someone like Wang Chenzu? How is this any different from pushing her into a pit of fire? Is he really her brother? Even enemies wouldn't do something like this!*

In an instant, her gaze toward Lin Wen changed.

Lin Wen was unwilling to leave like this. He chased after her, saying, "Ruan—Miss Tang, I need to see Xiao Jie."

Things had reached this point; he had to choose between family ties and the Lin family. He chose the Lin family. As for Lin Jie, he would just have to consider himself a brother who had failed her. Once the Lin family recovered, he would make it up to her.

Tang Ruan turned her head, her tone turning icy. "Impossible!"

Let him see Lin Jie, so he could lobby her to return to the Lin family and marry Wang Chenzu? Dream on!

"She is a member of the Lin family!" he argued, implying that Tang Ruan had no standing to interfere.

Tang Ruan retorted bluntly, "She is herself!" Lin Jie was an individual—a complete person with her own consciousness, not someone else's property. "Show him out!"

Xiao Lian immediately blocked his path. "Young Master Lin, this way, please."

Lin Wen still wanted to say something, but when he met Tang Ruan's sharp gaze, for some reason, the words died in his throat. He took a breath and warned, "Wang Chenzu will not let this go." He knew a little about Wang Chenzu's temperament; he would not stop until he achieved his goal.

Tang Ruan remained silent. Lin Wen was escorted out of the Tang Corporation building.

***

A few days later, Lin Wen's words proved true.

Tang Ruan and Lin Jie were cornered in a private dining room at a restaurant. They were surrounded by layers of bodyguards, a truly imposing scene.

"Young Master Wang is here."

The bodyguards cleared a path, and Wang Chenzu walked in, still wearing his usual slouching, nonchalant air. Only when his gaze swept over Lin Jie did it hold a touch of delight.

Tang Ruan stepped forward, shielding Lin Jie behind her.

Wang Chenzu suddenly smiled. "Miss Tang, Miss Lin... we meet again."

Tang Ruan snapped back, "If we had the choice, we would prefer not to see Young Master Wang at all." They had been avoiding him like the plague.

Wang Chenzu was not offended. He walked straight to the seat Lin Jie had just vacated, sat down, picked up the bowl she had been drinking soup from, and downed it in one gulp. It contained cilantro, which he hated, but that didn't matter; Lin Jie liked it, and he would learn to accept it. After finishing, he licked his lips with lingering satisfaction.

A word popped into Tang Ruan's mind: *pervert*. Wang Chenzu was a genuine, textbook pervert.

"Miss Lin, have you considered what I proposed earlier?" He had told Lin Jie that if she would be with him, he would spare no effort to help the Lin family through their crisis. He had finally found a woman he liked, and he believed the old man would understand.

Lin Jie took a deep breath. "I refuse." She truly wanted to help the Lin family, but definitely not by selling herself. Furthermore, Tang Ruan had stood up against Wang Chenzu for her sake multiple times; even for Tang Ruan's sake, she would never agree. To agree would be to tear Tang Ruan's dignity apart and trample it into the dust. She would not do that.

Wang Chenzu raised an eyelid, glancing at her with a cold, deep voice. "I'll give you one more chance."

"No matter how many chances you give me, my answer will not change."

Wang Chenzu's patience was exhausted; he couldn't be bothered to waste more words on Lin Jie. He gestured, and his bodyguards received the order, closing in on the two women. If the gentle approach didn't work, he would have to use force. The old man was right: if you like something, you take it. As long as the goal is achieved, the means don't matter.

The bodyguards seized Tang Ruan and Lin Jie, pulling them apart.

"Wang Chenzu, this is Nancheng!" Tang territory.

At these words, a flash of cruelty crossed Wang Chenzu's brow. "So what if it's Nancheng?!"

Nancheng was not peaceful these days. The power of the Wang family was on par with the Tangs; he did not fear Tang Ruan. Huo Yanchuan was mired in scandal and overwhelmed; the Huo family was struggling to protect itself, and he didn't believe Huo Yanchuan had the energy to save Tang Ruan. As for when the Huo family eventually recovered... by then, he would have already brought her back to Jiangcheng and made her his wife in every sense. Jiangcheng was the Wang family's stronghold; even if Huo Yanchuan wanted to force his way in, he would have to think twice.

"Tang Ruan, you aren't still pinning your hopes on Huo Yanchuan to save you, are you?" Wang Chenzu sneered. "Stop dreaming. He can barely take care of himself; how could he possibly look after you?"

Tang Ruan tilted her head, a smirk tugging at her lips. "I haven't placed my hopes on him."

The next moment, a man's voice rang out: "What are you doing?!"

It was a middle-aged man. Wang Chenzu didn't take him seriously, gesturing to one of his lackeys. The lackey understood, turned to meet the middle-aged man, and threatened, "If you don't want to die, get lost!"

Unexpectedly, the middle-aged man felt no fear at all. With a wave of his hand, he easily shoved the lackey aside. The lackey stumbled back, his spine slamming into the wall, wincing in pain. *How does this man have so much strength? It’s like he swallowed a super-strength pill!*

"Uncle Qi, help me!" Tang Ruan seized the opportunity and shouted.

Hearing her, Uncle Qi's expression shifted. He pulled away the bodyguards blocking his path and finally saw the restrained Tang Ruan.

"Miss!"

"Miss, don't be afraid. I'm here to save you."

"Save her?" Wang Chenzu scoffed. There were so many of them and only one of him; he thought he could rescue Tang Ruan from his men? Dreaming! Wang Chenzu was full of confidence. These bodyguards were all hired at a high price. He didn't believe they couldn't stop one old man with one foot in the grave!

"I advise you to get out of here quickly. Our Young Master Wang's bodyguards are all handpicked. Dealing with you is child's play!" the lackey began to flatter. Wang Chenzu stood tall, looking proud.

His pride and confidence vanished the moment he saw Uncle Qi tearing through his bodyguards like a locust swarm. In a blink, of the twenty-odd bodyguards, less than five were still standing, while the rest lay on the ground, wailing.

*Is... is this even a human?*

Lin Jie was also shocked, as if seeing Uncle Qi for the first time. She knew Uncle Qi was one of Tang Zhenguo's men. Ever since she could remember, Uncle Qi had been by Tang Zhenguo's side. She had guessed that Uncle Qi was capable, but she never imagined he was *this* capable!