Chapter 143
The curtain rises on the final revenge.
December's cold wave always arrives swiftly. Yesterday, Zhouhai was bathed in sunshine under a clear blue sky, but a light drizzle fell during the night, and the temperature plummeted unexpectedly.
The morning air is chilly, and a deep breath can feel dry and irritating to the throat.
The huge villa was deserted, with nothing much to do except for the smart home assistant routinely playing the morning news.
Perhaps because the heating was on, Lin Jin was only wearing a thin cotton robe, and she looked like a haunting, melancholic figure as she walked through the corridor.
She carried a cup of freshly ground coffee into the bedroom, the air filled with a rich, invigorating aroma, but the taste was as strong and bitter as ever.
According to a brief report from Toutiao News, the Zhouhai police issued another statement yesterday afternoon: confirming that Lin Sheng, the former chairman of the Lin Group, is suspected of multiple major criminal cases. Since he has failed to escape, the police will intensify the citywide manhunt and have also issued a reward notice.
In response to the police report, the public relations department of the Lin Group issued a statement at 8:00 AM this morning, distancing itself from the company: The board of directors of the Lin Group has passed a resolution to re-elect the second largest shareholder, Ruan Jinxian, to officially take over as chairman. The management change may change the current situation of Lin Group's stock price being continuously depressed.
Another message...'
The smart home assistant continued broadcasting the news, but Lin Jin's expression didn't change much because of the news. She remained quietly leaning against the French windows, gazing at the desolate mountain scenery.
In the freezing cold, everywhere there is a desolate sense of life's loneliness. Withered branches and rotten leaves cannot save the birds that roost there, and large patches of lawn in the yard have withered and died due to long-term neglect. The desolation of the world makes her loneliness stand out even more.
She took a sip of hot coffee, lazily resting her head against the window. Her increasingly haggard face was emaciated, with her cheekbones deeply sunken.
Without Cheng Sangluo by his side, everything lost its color. Lin Jin, clinging to the last breath of revenge, had lost all desire to live.
However, today is definitely a wonderful day for her to be excited about.
She put down her coffee cup, turned around and sat down in front of the dressing table. With a blank expression, she applied makeup to her pale face, then picked up an eyebrow pencil and slowly drew lines that exuded an aggressive and sassy vibe. She carefully chose the most vibrant red to apply to her lips.
Today's makeup must be heavy and glamorous, conveying the contempt and intimidation of a superior, and exuding the aura of crushing the person you hate most under your feet.
Lin Jin pursed her moist, luscious red lips, stared at herself in the mirror, and gave her signature hypocritical smile. This smile was devoid of any warmth, and her face, adorned with exquisite makeup, exuded an unprecedented coldness.
When everything was ready, she changed into a simple and neat outfit.
She tied up her chestnut-brown long curly hair, which she usually wore loose, and wore a fitted black coat over a high-necked cashmere sweater, with even her long leather boots being matte black.
Her foot injury was gradually healing, and she was moving more and more freely. So, she was holding a European-style carved cane, which unintentionally added a touch of powerful aura of a king's calm and composed demeanor.
Just before leaving, Lin Jin slightly raised her chin, smiled with her dark eyes, and asked, "Cheng Sangluo, wish me good luck."
The smart assistant still used Cheng Sangluo's voice, but it lacked emotion and vitality, always giving off a mechanical and rigid feel: 'Dear master, I wish you all the best and that all your wishes come true. Of course, I hope even more that you have safe travels.'
When Lin Jin hears Cheng Sangluo's voice, she will show a genuine smile. It is one of the few moments when she is soft-hearted, but it only lasts for a moment.
The moment she appeared, leaning on her cane, and pushed open the villa door, her gentleness was so natural and fleeting.
Secretary Zhou had been waiting in the garden for a long time, pushing the person in the wheelchair. When the boss appeared, he gave a slight nod and said, "Boss, everything you arranged has been prepared. We can leave at any time."
Lin Jin approached slowly, responded with an "Mmm," then knelt down and took the hand of the person in the wheelchair, asking with concern, "Can you hold on until the end?"
Because he was bitten beyond recognition by Lin Sheng's dog and fell off a cliff and was smashed to pieces, even after two or three months of recovery, he was still unable to move.
His body and face were wrapped in thick bandages. His once tall figure was now skin and bones, making normal communication extremely difficult. Apart from nodding and shaking his head, he could hardly make any sound.
He gripped Lin Jin's hand tightly and squeezed it, as if to reassure her that he was alright, and also as if to respond to some kind of determination.
Lin Jin stood up and said to himself, "Let's go. Some things can't be delayed any longer, lest we encounter unforeseen complications."
*
In the garden of the Lin family ancestral home.
Ruan Jinxian was wrapped in an expensive snow-white mink shawl, followed by two maids who served her closely.
After having breakfast in the morning, she would habitually take a leisurely stroll in the front yard of her villa to aid digestion, a healthy routine she maintained even in the depths of winter.
She had always presented herself as dignified, elegant, warm, and kind. But ever since Mr. Lin passed away and Lin Sheng committed a crime and fled, this woman who had always played the role of a virtuous wife and loving mother has finally revealed her true colors.
Especially after her son's accident, Ruan Jinxian's temper became increasingly unpredictable, and she would throw tantrums for no reason at all.
She would often curse at the servants in the house over trivial matters, and would even vent her pent-up anger by smashing things. It was likely that she had been suppressing her anger for too many years in this deep mansion, and when she suddenly exploded, it turned into her wanton arrogance.
She would often suddenly start rambling on and on for no reason, cursing Old Master Lin as a short-lived ghost and Lin Sheng as a useless fool, but most of the time she would be cursing Lin Jin, using filthy and unpleasant language. When she was furious, she would even curse herself, regretting that she hadn't been ruthless enough to push Lin Jin off the cliff that year as well.
At this moment, the maid following behind was on edge, her neck hunched over, not daring to relax or even breathe loudly, for fear that she might displease the mistress and incur unwarranted scolding.
Ruan Jinxian walked along, stopping occasionally to admire the green plants in the courtyard that brought her joy.
These lush green plants, growing in clusters one after another, are so well cared for by the gardener that they seem to have forgotten about the four seasons. Their verdant growth is out of season, suggesting that the homeowner must have spent a considerable amount of money on them.
Ruan Jingxian wrapped her mink shawl around herself with a delicate air, and held the hand adorned with a large emerald ring. Without uttering a single unnecessary word, she simply made a gesture, and one of the maids immediately understood.
She immediately picked up the teapot, covered it, and quickly poured a cup. "Madam, here's your tea. Please enjoy."
Ruan Jinxian was in a better mood than the weather today, probably because she had secured her position as the chairperson of the Lin Group. Even though the tea burned her lips, she didn't complain to the servants.
She put down her teacup, curled her pinky finger and rubbed the leaves of the green plant beside her. Just as she was about to give some instructions, the butler who rushed over interrupted her conversation.
"Madam...Madam..." The butler was panting heavily as he ran, and it took him a long time to get the sentence out clearly.
Distracted by the noise, Ruan Jinxian frowned and glanced at the housekeeper with disdain: "I hate people like you who act like the sky is falling over everything. Either explain yourself clearly or get out."
Afraid of delaying important matters, the butler tried his best to calm his breathing and explained, "Miss...Miss is here...The car is parked outside...and she brought other people with her..."
"She really is... coming as soon as she smelled the scent..." Ruan Jinxian sneered, thinking that the news of the Lin family's change of ownership must have attracted this uninvited guest, so she did not show much surprise.
She was quite disgusted by the title of butler, and her face gradually revealed an expression of intense hatred. As she warned him, her long, thin nails dug into the butler's neck, and as she spoke, the pressure deepened. "I'll only say this once, there is no young lady here. You only have me to serve as your master. Do you understand?"
The butler turned pale with fright and nodded repeatedly, saying, "I...I understand...I understand..."
"Go to the garden and make some simple preparations, just do something casual," Ruan Jinxian instructed, her eyes narrowed, her words filled with contempt and hostility towards Lin Jin. "I don't want that woman's child to step into my home."
After saying that, she deliberately lingered in the veranda for a while, as if she wanted to leave Lin Jin out in the garden to catch a cold wind. But when she slowly walked to the parasol where guests were entertaining tea, she saw a completely different scene.
Lin Jin took over the host's seat and sat in Ruan Jinxian's private leather chair, which was lined with a thick, warm fox fur cushion. Beside her sat Sheng He in a wheelchair.
Lin Jin enjoyed the fragrant hot tea and the exquisitely presented tea snacks, seemingly unconcerned about being left out in the garden.
As she watched her greatest enemy slowly approach, a radiant smile spread across her face, but her tone was inflammatory: "You're living a good life, aren't you? You don't have to do anything all day, and money just comes from all directions. Do you need servants to feed you now?"
Hearing the veiled and unpleasant words, Ruan Jinxian forced a smile and twitched her lips. She wanted to continue pretending to be weak as before, but she couldn't switch back in time, so her expression looked extremely distorted.
She wrapped her mink shawl tighter around herself and sat down in the guest chair, displaying the warm hospitality of a hostess: "Look at what you're saying. I'm just relying on the little bit of wealth your father left behind. Life goes on however we live. But I have something to say to you. Your father has been gone for so long. Even if you didn't attend the funeral, you should at least go and sweep his grave. And you should also visit the ancestral hall in the back courtyard. After all, this is your home too."
Lin Jin put down her teacup, as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world. She laughed for a while before suddenly stopping and asking, "My home? This house should be renamed Ruan House now, which is quite fitting for your arduous journey of becoming a mistress and a gigolo."
Ruan Jinxian maintained her polite smile, but gritted her teeth and whispered, "Lin Jin!"
She endured it all, her hands on her shawl gradually clenching, the veins bulging clearly, as if the words "mistress" held immense humiliation in her heart.
"Enough, enough, it's so boring for us to have this pointless banter." Lin Jin waved her hand dismissively, then her eyes lit up with excitement. "I'm here to give you a big gift. You should be happy. Congratulations on your long and arduous life, outlasting your husband and forcing your son away, finally getting the Lin Group to change its name to Ruan."
Not feeling it was exciting enough, she clapped her hands in a humiliating manner and exclaimed, "Even someone like me has to admire her skills."
Ruan Jinxian twisted her emerald ring, glaring coldly at Lin Jin who kept mocking her, and directly gave him the order to leave: "If you just want to come and see me or pay respects to our ancestors, I welcome you very much. If you're here to cause me trouble, I can only say goodbye. You're not welcome here."
"Don't be in such a hurry. Since I've come to visit with a gift in good faith, you should be curious about what I've prepared for you." Lin Jin leaned back lazily, unmoved, her smile becoming increasingly relaxed, which only fueled the other party's anger.
Ruan Jinxian tightened her jaw, thinking that out of sight, out of mind, she turned her gaze to Lin Jin's side.
As she approached, she became distracted, secretly observing the person in the wheelchair. However, the person's face was wrapped in bandages and they remained silent, so she couldn't discern their appearance.
She was curious but didn't ask, thinking that Lin Jin would naturally unleash the storm that was brewing today.
Lin Jin took a document out of his briefcase and slammed it on the table. The most eye-catching thing on the cover of the document was the words "DNA Test Report".
Ignoring Ruan Jinxian's expression, she turned and patted Sheng He's shoulder, introducing him to herself: "This lady is the one who abandoned you in the ravine. How was your first meeting with her? Did you find her disgusting? But take a good look at your mother. Remember her ugly face. You might never see her again after today."
[Author's Note]
1. My pre-order novel, "The Sinful Lover," is available for collection.
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