Lin Haoran called out to Zhou Shengren, who was about to leave, with a fawning expression.
"President Zhou, Lin An is indeed a good kid. I've been sleeping poorly lately, and what I said just now was nonsense. Please forgive my rudeness and don't hold it against me."
"I remember you just said that Lin An was a wild child, full of problems, and that you two had already broken off your relationship, right?"
Lin Haoran wiped the sweat from his forehead and pointed at Lin Zhe, stammering, "Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue, President Zhou, it's all this kid's fault for spreading rumors. I was just afraid you would be misled. It's all a misunderstanding. Please let me explain."
Zhou Shengren glanced at the aggrieved Lin Zhe and said coldly, "There's nothing to explain. President Lin is a good father. I have no interest in your family affairs."
After saying that, Zhou Shengren turned and walked away. Lin Haoran chased after him down one floor: "President Zhou, please give me another chance to explain."
Annoyed by the nagging, Zhou Shengren stopped and said, "I already said, there's no need to explain. Besides, I see that you're quite busy at home, so you probably don't have much time to handle business. Let's just downgrade your Lin family company to a third-tier distributor."
Lin Haoran's head buzzed, feeling like it was about to explode. The Lin family company had worked so hard for so many years, and now it was being downgraded. He still wanted to plead for leniency, but Zhou Shengren glared at him and said in an icy voice, "If President Lin is not satisfied, it can be downgraded to level four."
Lin Haoran was so frightened that he dared not chase after him any further, and slumped to the ground, remaining silent.
Seeing his expression, Zhang Wanru was a little scared: "Honey, let's go home. We can figure out a solution for the business later."
Lin Zhe came over tearfully, trying to help him up: "Dad, it's all my fault. I didn't listen to what President Zhou said. I didn't expect things to turn out like this."
"Useless trash!" Lin Haoran was furious. He stood up and slapped Lin Zhe across the face, his voice echoing down the corridor.
However, the person hit was Zhang Wanru, who had stepped forward alone to block the attack. Lin Zhe was the child she had raised with all her heart and soul. When she saw Lin Haoran about to hit him, Zhang Wanru instinctively rushed forward.
Looking at her mother's swollen face, Lin Rou felt heartbroken and choked back tears as she accused her father:
"Xiao Zhe is still a child. How could he understand the meaning behind the words of a big boss like President Zhou? Besides, talismans are just a scam. Doesn't Dad have any faults? Does he have to beat his wife and children when something goes wrong?"
"Besides, you already declared in front of outsiders today that you have severed ties with Lin An. He must hate us to death. Now, our Lin family only has Xiao Zhe as our son. Do you still want to beat him to death?"
After recovering from the beating, Zhang Wanru also advised, "Honey, we've watched Xiao Zhe grow up. He's such a good boy. Please forgive him."
Lin Zhe supported Zhang Wanru, his expression filled with self-reproach, tears already streaming down his face: "Mom, sister, please don't try to persuade Dad anymore. I know my brother won't come home again, but don't worry, I will take good care of you. As long as our family works together, the business will definitely improve."
Looking at his obedient son, Lin Haoran's heart softened, and he reached out to pat Lin Zhe's head: "Alright, I'll figure out a way to handle the company's affairs."
Lin An and Principal Chen escorted the Zhou family father and daughter to their Bentley.
The two went up to the third floor together. Lin An was about to go back to the classroom to continue studying when he saw the four members of the Lin family cuddling together, looking very affectionate. He felt nothing. He was tired of seeing the Lin family's dramas.
However, the four members of the Lin family were blocking the stairwell, preventing him from returning to the classroom. Lin An had no choice but to remind them, "Please move aside and don't block the way."
Lin Rou, who was closest to him, was the first to react. She was ridiculed by President Zhou today, and her family business was affected. It was all Lin An's fault, including the time he mocked her when they met before. Lin Rou was full of anger and wanted to vent.
"Lin An, you jinx! If I had known you would bring this bad luck to the family, I shouldn't have brought you home in the first place. Don't think you can rise to the top just because you've climbed up the Zhou family."
Lin An felt that her thought process was abnormal and was eager to get away: "Can you move aside? Don't disturb my class."
Seeing Lin An's indifferent attitude, and remembering that she had gone to the hospital because she was worried about him, Zhang Wanru felt a surge of anger: "Lin An, what kind of attitude is this? Do you know that Xiao Zhe almost got beaten up because of you? You, as his older brother, are so insensible!"
Lin An felt irritated. He now knew where Lin Rou got her eccentricities from; there wasn't a single normal person in the whole family. He sighed and said calmly:
"I don't have time to argue with you. Lin Haoran said today that I have no relation to your Lin family. Can you move aside? I'm busy studying."
Lin Haoran was furious when he heard Lin An call him by his full name: "You little brat, you have a powerful backer now, huh? How dare you call me by my full name?"
Principal Chen, who had been standing silently behind Lin An for a while, was also annoyed by their noise. He originally didn't want to ask about the students' family matters, but Lin An was the hope of No. 12 Middle School, so he had to intervene: "Alright, this is a school. If you have something to say, go home and talk about it. Don't delay Lin's studies."
Lin Zhe saw everything, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and pitifully tried to dissuade him:
"Mom and Dad, don't be angry. My brother is no ordinary person now. He was handpicked by Principal Chen to represent the whole school in the competition. Let's not delay his studies. Although the Zhou family is deliberately targeting our business, my brother's studies are more important right now."
Lin Rou noticed that the principal was also there, and complained in a high-pitched voice: "Principal Chen, for the sake of the reputation of No. 12 Middle School, I can't stand it anymore. I'm going to expose Lin An to you. He has character problems. He not only cheated on the exam, but also stole things from home. Letting him participate in the competition is an insult to the reputation of No. 12 Middle School."
He was tired of hearing rumors about Lin An cheating. Lin Rou's high-pitched voice made him physically uncomfortable. Principal Chen's face turned disgusted, and he retorted, "Everything requires evidence. Always bringing up these unfounded rumors is framing."
Lin Rou didn't understand why outsiders were siding with this poor, unruly country boy, and blurted out, "Principal Chen, I've known him for so long, you have to trust my judgment."
Lin Zhe interjected, "Sister, please stop talking. Principal Chen is still counting on brother to win an award in the competition; he values brother the most right now."
Lin Zhe reminded Lin Rou that Principal Chen was now pinning his hopes on Lin An, so naturally he was speaking on Lin Rou's side. He said indignantly:
“Principal Chen, I know this kid better than you do. He can’t compare to Xiao Zhe in anything at home. How could he become so capable after leaving home for only a month? He must have used some underhanded methods.”
Principal Chen was annoyed by her nagging and scolded her, "I don't need you to judge me. Lin An is the best student I've ever seen, and he deserves to represent the school in the competition."
Lin An, who had been holding back for half a day, felt a surge of warmth in his heart when he heard the principal's strong support. He blurted out, "Thank you, Principal. Don't worry, I will do my best."
Lin Rou sneered coldly, "What's the use of going all out? Does it guarantee a ranking? The competition is very strict. If you fail in the end, won't you just be embarrassing the school?"
Lin An asked with a sneer, "Lin Rou, what makes you think I'm no good? What's your purpose in belittling me like this? Do you think I'm inferior to you and should look up to you?"
As lunch break approached, teachers kept coming out of their offices, and everyone was drawn to the commotion, stopping in the corridor to watch.
Regarding Lin An's question, Lin Rou wanted to say yes, she just felt that Lin An, who grew up outside, was not as good as her, a woman of noble birth, but he just wouldn't accept it.
As more and more people gathered around, she didn't want to be too direct, so she sneered, "What could my purpose be? I'm just afraid you'll embarrass yourself."
Looking at the onlookers and Lin Rou, who seemed to be acting like a madwoman, Lin An smiled amusedly and asked her, "You keep saying I'm no good, but what if I win a prize in the competition? Shall we make a bet?"
Lin Rou laughed a few times. No one in the history of No. 12 Middle School had ever won a national competition ranking. She didn't believe Lin An could break this record: "Okay, let's bet. I know your capabilities. Tell me, what do you want to bet on?"
Lin An laughed and said, "If I make it into the top three in the competition, you will kneel down in front of me in public, kowtow three times, and say that you were wrong. If I don't make it into the top three, then I will kowtow to you and admit my mistake."
Lin Rou immediately burst out laughing: "Hahaha, okay, I'll bet with you, don't renege on the bet later."
Lin An replied, "Okay, it's a deal. I ask Principal Chen and all the teachers to be witnesses. Whoever goes back on their word will suffer from age spots, hair loss, bankruptcy, and the death of their entire family."
Lin An knew that Lin Rou, who was extremely vain, was most afraid of becoming ugly and poor, and that Lin Haoran would definitely not agree to the option of his whole family dying.
"Fine, I'll wait for you to kowtow and admit your mistake." Once she said this, Lin Rou had no chance of going back on her word. She thought Lin An was just acting impulsively, losing his temper and making a bet after she hit a nerve. She had no chance of losing this bet.
Lin Rou wanted to say something harsh, but Zhang Wanru covered her mouth.
"Alright, stop making a scene. Aren't you ashamed? Go home."
Seeing her two children causing such a scene in front of everyone, Zhang Wanru wanted to disappear into the ground. She pulled Lin Rou, who still wanted to say something, downstairs. Lin Haoran, being a man of pride, quickly followed.
As the crowd dispersed, Lin Zhe looked at Lin An with a fierce gaze and said with a grin, "Lin An, no one from No. 12 Middle School has ever won a prize. I'll wait and see you kowtow."
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