Chapter 16: The Eldest Brother Has Returned

Leng Ningxue was remarkably efficient.

The next morning, Lin Li met privately with the young lady of the Leng family in the restaurant.

A document was handed to Lin Li. As he read its contents, he couldn’t help but gasp.

Su Lan.

Campus belle of Rongmao University in Jiangcheng, once a figure of note in her youth. Yet Su Lan had no background to speak of. Both her parents had died, leaving only herself and a younger brother, along with a small inheritance.

Relying on her own exceptional intellect, Su Lan managed to gain admission to university and raise her brother.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly. But unexpectedly, her brother got involved in gambling, and later borrowed usurious loans from Qin Guosheng.

Left with no choice, Su Lan was compelled to marry Qin Guosheng.

Thus began the ensuing series of events.

Throughout the years, she remained in the Qin household solely because her brother had vanished without a trace, and only Qin Guosheng knew his whereabouts.

For this, Su Lan had no choice but to wait.

As for Qin Lang, the boy had grown up without a mother, and Su Lan had devoted much effort to raising him. She even felt a certain affection for him.

Yet Lin Li, upon learning all this, was furious—the original story had never mentioned any of it. Who would have thought Su Lan had suffered such a tragic past?

Leng Ningxue had read the contents as well and was moved to sympathy for Su Lan, her view of the Qin family completely changed.

Jiangcheng should never have harbored them.

“What are you planning next?” Leng Ningxue stared intently at Lin Li, as if trying to discern something hidden.

“When Qin Guosheng returns, his first move will surely be to target your bodyguard, Ye Aotian. I need only sit back and watch.”

What?

Leng Ningxue thought Lin Li must have a concrete plan, yet he intended only to observe?

“You’re not going to do anything?”

Lin Li shook his head. “There’s no need. And I’d advise you not to be so anxious. Your bodyguard, Ye Aotian, is far more formidable than you imagine.”

“His background eclipses Qin Guosheng’s by miles. Taking down the Qin family would be a matter of days, and he might even help you through this crisis.”

He sat there, confident and unruffled, leaving Leng Ningxue stunned.

She had considered Lin Li nothing more than one of Qin Guosheng’s subordinates, privy only to certain family affairs. Clearly, she had misjudged him.

She couldn’t quite explain why she trusted him so much; he simply didn’t seem like someone who would jest with her.

But was Ye Aotian truly so capable?

“Lin Li, are you joking? Ye Aotian can’t possibly be as powerful as you claim. If he really had such skills, why would he be a mere bodyguard?”

Leng Ningxue shook her head. “Besides, I hadn’t noticed before, but after getting to know him, he’s nothing but trouble—a narrow-minded, self-important man, and far too forward for my liking.”

“I detest people like him.”

Lin Li’s eyes widened. Sister, that’s not how you described him in the original story.

So you just trashed Ye Aotian because he’s no match for me, and his shining persona vanished, huh?

“Miss Leng, don’t you see? Even the bodyguards of the most powerful figures can’t rival Ye Aotian’s skills. His willingness to serve you is simply a means to get close.”

“The one who stands nearest to the water gets the moon first—Ye Aotian’s true aim is your Xingchen Group, and the entire Leng family.”

At these words, Leng Ningxue’s expression shifted.

“Are you serious?”

Lin Li tapped the table and smiled. “On this matter, I assure you I’m not joking.”

“Consider what I just said. If not for certain mishaps, wouldn’t your first impression of Ye Aotian have been quite favorable?”

“Right now, the Leng family is trying to oust you from the chairmanship. What if Ye Aotian gave you a hundred million in startup capital?”

Bombshell after bombshell, Leng Ningxue was left in a daze.

Ye Aotian investing a hundred million in her? Absurd—if he had such wealth, why be a bodyguard?

But thinking it over, Lin Li’s words weren’t entirely impossible.

If everything unfolded as Lin Li described, she would indeed view Ye Aotian in a new light, perhaps even come to love him over time.

Lin Li knew he’d achieved his purpose and continued.

“Of course, it may not happen. In any case, I’ll do my best to avoid conflict between the two families. That would be ideal.”

...

“Damn Leng family! That bastard bodyguard dared to treat my precious son like that!”

A cacophony of crashing sounds rang out.

The villa’s living room was in utter disarray, shards of art littering the floor.

Qin Guosheng was truly enraged this time.

He couldn’t believe that the Leng family and a mere bodyguard dared disregard the Qin family so blatantly.

Lin Li stood quietly by, watching Qin Guosheng.

“Xiao Lin, is Ye Aotian really as formidable as you say?”

“Even I can’t touch him?”

Lin Li met Qin Guosheng’s gaze, unyielding. “Big brother, I suggest resolving this peacefully.”

“Let Ye Aotian find someone to treat Qin Lang, and let’s put the past behind us. There’s no need for unnecessary trouble.”

Qin Guosheng snorted angrily. “Nonsense! Everyone knows my reputation—now my son has been beaten like this.”

“If I, as his father, do nothing, wouldn’t I become a laughing stock?”

Qin Guosheng would never admit defeat so easily.

The conflict between him and Ye Aotian was irreconcilable.

One of them would have to fall.

This was precisely the outcome Lin Li wanted, but first, he needed to find out the whereabouts of Su Lan’s brother, Su Zeming.

“Go contact the brothers and prepare for action. Since the Leng family doesn’t know what’s good for them, I want to see just what that young lady intends to do.”

Indeed, Qin Guosheng’s first move upon return was to abduct Leng Ningxue.

This led to a fierce clash with Ye Aotian, with Ye Aotian failing in the first round.

Though the God of War had returned,

He was still wounded; otherwise, with Ye Aotian’s strength, he’d never have needed such tactics.

He could have subdued every family with sheer force.

But what followed would be quite interesting.

“Big brother, I’ll make the arrangements right away.”

Qin Guosheng, having a son late in life, could not tolerate this humiliation.

If he didn’t vent his anger, he would never let it go, and Lin Li had no intention of stopping him.