"Brother Shen, calm down," Lin Chang urged.
Shen's Father raised his voice, "Lin Li did not behave properly, and my daughter will never be with such a man. From this moment, Shen Qianqian and Lin Li's engagement is canceled!"
"From now on, they will go their separate ways, as if on different bridges and paths, with no more ties between them."
Shen Qianqian's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Now her identity was no longer Lin Li's fiancée, which meant she could openly be with Lin Xuan.
Shen Qianqian quickly glanced at Lin Xuan and blushed shyly.
Lin Xuan's alarm bells were ringing.
He strongly suspected that Shen Qianqian was going to latch onto him!
Lin Li, on the other hand, clenched his fists tightly.
Shen Qianqian was the only daughter of Shen Mao, and since she was a simple-minded person, Lin Li had planned to marry her. After Shen Mao passed away, with some skillful maneuvering, he believed he could take over Shen Corporation.
But now, all those plans were ruined.
"Furthermore, all cooperation between Shen Corporation and Starlight Group will be terminated," Shen's Father stated emotionlessly.
Lin Chang's heart skipped a beat.
Starlight Group had partnered with Shen Corporation on numerous expansion projects, investing billions. If these collaborations were indeed terminated, those billions would essentially go down the drain.
This would be a major blow to Starlight Group!
"Brother Shen, can we not discuss this further? Even if we can't be family, we can still be partners. We can't let the children's affairs cause major losses to both our companies," Lin Chang pleaded.
Shen's Father chuckled coldly, "Shen Corporation invested more in technology than in funds. The few hundred million we put in is no more than loose change to us. Canceling the partnership will hurt you more than us."
Lin Chang staggered slightly.
The rupture between the Lin and Shen families was now a certainty.
"Qianqian, let's go," Shen's Father commanded firmly.
"Mhm," Shen Qianqian nodded.
As she walked past Lin Xuan, she smiled shyly, "Lin Xuan, remember my name. I'm Shen Qianqian."
Lin Xuan: "!!!"
His worries were confirmed.
A thorny relationship!
Old Huang also chimed in, "Lin Li, there's no need for you to attend the apprenticeship ceremony two days from now."
He would not accept someone of poor character as his student.
Lin Li felt like his world was crumbling.
Old Huang, a major figure in the computer industry with extensive connections, had finally taken notice of him and was set to take him as a student.
But now, it was all gone...
Shen's Father, Shen Qianqian, and Old Huang left, followed by the other guests who gradually dispersed.
"You useless thing!" Lin Chang was shaking with anger as he raised his hand and slapped Lin Li.
"Your actions have turned us into a laughingstock for everyone!"
Frustrated, Lin Chang's face turned bright red. He gritted his teeth and said slowly, "With the Shen family ending the engagement and the partnership, do you know the extent of the damage this will cause to our family?"
Jiang Shuqin shielded Lin Li protectively, "Why are you hitting Li? Did he ask for this to happen today?"
"Even if there’s a misunderstanding and Lin Li and Qin Ruoyao's affair is true, so what? At worst, she's just a mistress. The marriage partner would still be Shen Qianqian!"
"Hasn't Lin Li been good enough to Shen Qianqian? Just because of this unconfirmed video, she wants to cancel the engagement. I think she's fallen for another man and is using this as an excuse to end the engagement!"
In Jiang Shuqin's eyes, the Shen family was overreacting.
Lin Chang ignored Jiang Shuqin and commanded coldly, "Get down on your knees!"
"Thud—" Lin Li's knees hit the ground with a hard plop.
"Dad, I'm sorry," Lin Li's voice was hoarse.
"Speak, Lin Li, what's the deal here? What's your relationship with this woman?" Lin Chang pointed at Qin Ruoyao.
Lin Li had already prepared his story. He looked down, as if confessing everything, "I once had too much to drink, felt dizzy, and when I woke up, I saw Qin Ruoyao lying next to me."
"After that, she used those photos and videos to blackmail me, forcing me to stay with her. If I refused, she threatened to tell all of you, my parents and sisters, and even Qianqian, about my affair with her."
"I was afraid you'd all find out and think poorly of me, so I had no choice but to comply with her demands."
Qin Ruoyao's eyes widened in shock.
Why was Li Ge slandering her like this?
Lin Li looked anguished, tears streaming down his face.
"I'm sorry, it was my fault. I brought shame to the family," Lin Li said painfully, his eyes red.
His sisters and Jiang Shuqin couldn't help but feel heartbroken at his distress.
Jiang Shuqin grabbed some tissues and gently wiped the tears from Lin Li's face.
"Li, Mom believes you," she comforted.
"Dad," Lin Qingyan pleaded, "Let it go, Little Li didn't mean any harm."
Lin Chang's expression softened gradually.
Indeed, given Lin Li's character, he wouldn't engage in such immoral behavior.
Ultimately, Lin Li was also a victim, deeply suffering.
"Get up," Lin Chang took a deep breath, his tone no longer blaming Lin Li.
Lin Xuan watched the scene with a mocking expression.
This outcome was exactly what he had anticipated.
Given how much they loved Lin Li, no matter what he said, they would believe him.
The events he had designed today weren't aimed at disrupting Lin Li's relationship with his family.
Instead, it was to end Lin Li's engagement to the Shen family, undermine Qin Ruoyao, and reveal Lin Li's true nature to everyone.
Jiang Shuqin suddenly became emotional, "I know who you are!"
"You're Qin Ruoyao, the same woman who married Lin Xuan before. You're the same person."
"So it must be you and Lin Xuan who conspired to trap Lin Li."
The Lin family members turned their attention to Lin Xuan, who was calmly sipping on red wine.
Lin Xuan set his glass down slowly and put away his phone.
Meanwhile, Luo Yuan, who had been video-chatting with Lin Xuan, was taken aback. "!!!!"
The video was gone?
He was enjoying the drama! How could it just end like that?
Ugh!
Nothing was more frustrating than being left hanging right when the drama was getting good.
Lin Xuan smirked, "You're right, the video was my doing today."
"Lin Li, didn't I say I'd give you a big gift? Well, that's it," Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow. "I wonder if my little brother likes this gift?"
"So it was you!"
Jiang Shuqin glared at Lin Xuan. "You really are cruel! Lin Xuan, are you trying to ruin Lin Li?"
"Yes, I want to ruin him, not just him, but all of you," Lin Xuan admitted without hesitation, wearing a defiant expression.
He planned to bring them down to their knees, shattering their perfect family dynamics.