As the protagonist of a "divine doctor" story, showing off and humiliating his enemies had long become second nature to Lin Xiao.
Although he excelled at keeping a low profile, there was only so much restraint a person could endure.
If he couldn't finally let it out...
He felt like he would suffocate.
Back then, he had come from nothing.
No background.
No powerful backing.
Every step he took had required extreme caution.
But things were different now.
Having joined the Donghua Lin Family, he finally had the confidence to stand tall.
Yet before he even had the chance to make his grand entrance...
Chen Beiyuan had stolen the spotlight.
The Chosen One was furious.
Especially when he saw Leng Ruobing unconsciously walking toward Chen Beiyuan, completely ignoring his existence.
He suddenly felt as though a bright green hat had appeared on his head.
"Chen... Beiyuan!"
As the young master of the Donghua Chen Family, Chen Beiyuan was naturally the object of everyone's flattery.
Unfortunately, the original owner of this body had rarely appeared in public.
He either stayed home cultivating and walking his dog...
Or ran to Donghua Academy to pursue Leng Ruobing.
As a result, he had become an almost mythical figure.
Now that he had personally appeared at the Empire Club banquet, it immediately caused an enormous sensation.
Anyone hoping to establish a connection with him rushed forward.
There were billionaires worth hundreds of billions, hoping to gain the Chen Family's protection.
There were renowned martial experts seeking a powerful patron.
There were descendants of families that had long served under the Chen Family.
There were heirs of prestigious clans hoping to become his confidants.
There were glamorous young heiresses and alluring socialites dreaming of becoming famous overnight...
...
In only a few minutes, Chen Beiyuan casually pointed at several people he found acceptable and accepted them as his subordinates.
Those who were chosen looked as though they had won the lottery.
They were so excited they could barely suppress their cheers.
Those who weren't selected wore expressions of disappointment.
Nowadays...
Even becoming Chen Beiyuan's dog was considered an opportunity to completely change one's destiny.
Most of the time, the name of the Donghua Chen Family alone was enough to deter countless enemies and greedy eyes.
Many wealthy young ladies and elegant married women secretly looked down on Leng Ruobing.
Yet deep inside...
How many of them wouldn't have gladly become the canary Chen Beiyuan kept outside?
Unfortunately...
The people Chen Beiyuan selected were either ultra-wealthy magnates or individuals whose families had long-standing ties with the Chen Family.
As for women?
Not a single one.
At that moment...
A slender figure in a plain white dress suddenly walked through the crowd.
She headed straight toward Chen Beiyuan.
The unexpected scene immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Several wealthy young ladies and noblewomen who hadn't been chosen sneered openly.
"How shameless."
"Young Master Chen is already tired of her, and she's still throwing herself at him."
"One of Yanjing's Four Great Beauties?"
"If it weren't for Young Master Chen, she would've never made the list."
"The other three are leagues above a nobody like her."
"Exactly."
"She acted so cold and pure yesterday."
"But behind closed doors..."
"I heard she was the one who secretly invited Young Master Chen to a hotel in the middle of the night."
"..."
Leng Ruobing ignored every insult.
She had heard countless remarks like these over the past several days.
Her misty black eyes remained fixed on Chen Beiyuan.
Her beautiful face carried a fragile expression that stirred pity.
Her hands unconsciously clutched the hem of her dress as she softly called,
"Beiyuan..."
"Do you need something?"
Chen Beiyuan remained seated with one leg crossed over the other.
His dark eyes resembled an endless abyss as they settled upon her.
He could clearly tell...
The proud beauty's mental state was hanging by a thread.
She was on the verge of collapsing.
"Can you... help me?"
"Help the Leng Family..."
"My father has been unconscious for days."
"My mother has disappeared."
"Some members of the family have been arrested..."
"Others have simply vanished."
"And... there's nothing I can do."
"I know I was wrong before."
"Please..."
"I'm begging you..."
Her voice trembled uncontrollably.
The cold pride she once possessed had completely disappeared.
Days of relentless hardship...
The cruelty of human nature...
And watching her family fall apart...
Would have driven most people insane.
The fact that this fated heroine had endured until now without completely breaking down was already remarkable.
At this point...
She alone was supporting what remained of the Leng Family.
Her frail figure in white had reached its limit.
She could collapse at any moment.
Seeing her reduced to such misery...
Chen Beiyuan remained perfectly calm.
Not a trace of sympathy appeared on his face.
In the original story, the previous Chen Beiyuan had suffered greatly because of this woman.
Now...
He was merely collecting a little of that debt.
"Give me a reason to help you."
He smiled faintly.
Leng Ruobing's pale cheeks suddenly flushed.
Sensing the bold look in his eyes, she lowered her head and whispered,
"If you're willing to help me..."
"I'll be yours."
"You can do... whatever you want..."
"Enough!"
Before she could finish—
Lin Xiao suddenly rushed forward.
"Chen Beiyuan!"
"You've gone too far!"
"What kind of man bullies a woman in public?"
"If you've got the guts, come at me instead!"
At this moment, Lin Xiao truly felt the green light above his head growing brighter.
He had once sent Leng Ruobing to Chen Beiyuan's bed.
But that had been out of desperation.
Now...
If another "green hat" landed on his head—
Absolutely not!
"Ruobing, don't worry!"
"I've already joined the Donghua Lin Family."
"I've acknowledged the Lin Family Patriarch as my adoptive father."
"I now have more than enough power to protect both you and the Leng Family!"
The moment he appeared, Lin Xiao immediately revealed his greatest trump card.
The Donghua Lin Family!
The Patriarch's adopted son!
Everyone who had been preparing to mock him instantly fell silent.
Even Leng Ruobing glanced at him.
But the moment she remembered the terrifying man sitting before her...
She quietly lowered her head once more.
During these past few days...
She had already come to understand just how frightening Chen Beiyuan truly was.
Fear had been deeply engraved into her heart.
She simply didn't believe Lin Xiao could defeat him.
Unless Chen Beiyuan himself relented...
The Leng Family's nightmare would never end.
Watching her lower her head...
Lin Xiao's expression immediately darkened.
This wasn't how he had imagined things!
Wasn't he supposed to appear as the hero...
Win the beauty's admiration...
And humiliate his enemy before everyone?
Instead...
He had become nothing more than a clown.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
"Wonderful."
"Absolutely wonderful."
Chen Beiyuan applauded with a grin as he looked at Lin Xiao's ugly expression.
"You found yourself a new father, yet you're actually proud of it."
"Let's not even talk about whether your mother approves."
"It's a good thing your biological father died early."
"Otherwise..."
"He'd probably have been so furious he'd die all over again."
"Trying to play the hero and save the beauty?"
"I can understand that."
He leaned back against the sofa, the smile on his lips growing wider.
"But unfortunately..."
"The lady herself doesn't think you're capable of saving her."