Li Tianming let out a long sigh, a flash of determination crossing his eyes.
Jiang Dongchen was already coming into his own. With him looking after Li Ruolin, she should be fine.
As a father, he needed to do something for Li Ruolin!
For instance, taking control of the Li Group to make it up to Li Ruolin!
Of course, Li Tianming felt this was a father's bounden duty and did not mention it to Jiang Dongchen!
After a hurried meal, Li Tianming returned to the Li Family estate.
Gritting his teeth, Li Tianming went straight to find the Matriarch: "Matriarch, Lin Feifei is not a member of the Li Family and is no longer fit to serve as the president of the Li Group!"
A sharp glint flashed across the Matriarch's eyes: "Remove Lin Feifei and let Li Ruolin take her place, is that it?"
Li Tianming nodded: "That's exactly what I'm thinking!"
The Matriarch sneered: "Over my dead body!"
Li Tianming raised his voice by an octave: "You've tormented Ruolin for ten years—what more do you want?"
The Matriarch's voice boomed even louder than Li Tianming's: "She is just the spawn of you and that bitch!"
"As long as I draw breath, not only will she never set foot in the Li Family, but I will continue to make her suffer!"
Li Tianming's teeth clicked together in fury: "It was my fault for not listening to you back then!"
"But she is still my flesh and blood!"
"And you already drove Ruolin's mother to her death—what else could you possibly want?"
Seeing Li Tianming's bloodshot eyes, the enraged old lady suddenly lashed out with a slap: "I am still alive, and it's not your place to call the shots in the Li Family!"
Clutching his stinging face, Li Tianming looked at the Matriarch in agony.
Then, the Matriarch broke into a violent fit of coughing.
The coughs grew more and more severe, until finally, drained of all strength, she collapsed limply into her chair.
Chapter 46
Panic gripped Li Tianming: "Matriarch, are you alright?!"
The Matriarch glared viciously at Li Tianming: "You're going to worry me to death sooner or later!"
"Get out!"
Fearing that he might worsen her condition, Li Tianming had no choice but to leave.
Watching Li Tianming vanish beyond the doorway, the Matriarch could no longer suppress the turbulent blood surging in her chest, and she spat out a mouthful of dark blood!
Wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, a bitter smile touched her lips.
"My condition is getting worse, and the attacks are coming more and more frequently!"
"If I don't find a way soon, I'm afraid my days are numbered!"
"Could it be that I really have to beg that good-for-nothing?"
To cure her ailment, the Matriarch had tried countless methods and sought out countless famous doctors.
Yet not a single physician could heal the old lady.
It wasn't until today's engagement ceremony, upon hearing those words spoken by Jiang Dongchen, that the Matriarch had a sudden intuition!
The only one who could save her was perhaps Jiang Dongchen!
But she and Jiang Dongchen were irreconcilable enemies. Even if she begged him, would Jiang Dongchen agree?
Standing quietly by the window, Lin Feifei had overheard the Matriarch's murmurs, and pure venom flashed in her eyes.
She had caused Zhao Ming to fall ill, and Zhao Ming hated her to the marrow, almost beating her to death at the engagement ceremony!
Her marriage to Zhao Ming was completely ruined.
Lin Feifei knew that after this incident, her status and standing within the Li Family would plummet to rock bottom!
She had intended to come and cozy up to the Matriarch in hopes of finding a way to secure her position.
Never had she expected to overhear the conversation between the Matriarch and Li Tianming!
Li Tianming was the Matriarch's own son. She had refused this time, but what about the next?
Besides, the Matriarch's resolve was faltering; she wanted to ask Jiang Dongchen for treatment...
Would the Matriarch use the Li Group to buy Jiang Dongchen's forgiveness?
No, absolutely not!
My destiny is in my own hands. I cannot let such a thing happen!
The only way out is to go and beg Jiang Dongchen!
After all, they had shared three years as husband and wife. As long as she humbled herself and offered a sincere apology, she could surely make Jiang Dongchen change his mind!
Having found a solution to her immediate predicament, a look of smug triumph actually flashed through Lin Feifei's eyes!
After parting ways with Li Tianming, Jiang Dongchen realized he wasn't far from his rented place. Deciding against taking a cab, he strolled along leisurely!
The troubles caused by the Zhao Family and the Wu Family were temporarily resolved.
Given the nature of the Zhao Family and the Wu Family, once their wounds healed, they would surely forget the pain!
If they dared to reach out again, he wouldn't mind rooting them out completely!
Right now, the most important thing was to restore Li Ruolin's appearance and nurse her back to health!
Then, he would take Li Ruolin with him and reclaim everything that belonged to her!
At the thought of Li Ruolin, a gentle warmth surged in Jiang Dongchen's heart, and he quickened his pace!
Just then, Jiang Dongchen saw a young girl squatting by the roadside, anxiously shaking an old man lying on the ground: "Grandpa, what's wrong!"
"Don't scare me like this!"
The girl's panicked voice carried far into the night!
Yet passersby fled as if avoiding a plague-demon!
"Last time, Old Li helped an old man up and got extorted for over thirty grand!"
"That kid from the Zhang family meant well, but he got scammed by the other party. Good thing there was security footage, or he would have been bankrupted!"
"Exactly, who can guarantee they aren't pull a scam?"
"These days, it's better to mind your own business. Everyone, stay away!"
Chapter 47
Jiang Dongchen strode forward, pulled a pack of needles from his pocket, and knelt beside the old man.
"Young man, don't be foolish!" A passing middle-aged man tried to stop him.
Jiang Dongchen didn't even look back. With a flick of his wrist, a silver needle flashed and pierced the old man's Baihui acupoint.
Instantly, the old man, who had been gasping for breath and foaming at the mouth, stopped convulsing.
With a few more swift needle placements, the old man let out a long breath, opened his eyes, and slowly regained consciousness.
The young girl burst into tears of joy: "Grandpa, you're awake!"
"You scared me to death!"
The old man patted the girl's hand weakly and said with a wry smile, "Grandpa is old, my heart isn't what it used to be..."
"Thank you, young man." The old man looked up at Jiang Dongchen with genuine gratitude.
"No trouble at all," Jiang Dongchen said calmly as he retrieved the needles. "His heart disease flared up from emotional agitation. He just needs to rest more."
Saying this, Jiang Dongchen stood up and prepared to leave.
"Young man, wait a moment!" The old man struggled to sit up. "Let me get your contact information so I can properly thank you later."
"No need," Jiang Dongchen replied indifferently, walking away without looking back.
Watching his retreating figure, the old man muttered softly, "What an extraordinary young man..."
After leaving the scene, Jiang Dongchen continued walking toward his rented apartment.
Chapter 48
From afar, Jiang Dongchen spotted Li Ruolin, wearing bandages on her face, busy at her stall.
Seeing Jiang Dongchen approach the stall, Li Ruolin's gaze flickered slightly: "If I don't run the stall, there's no income!"
"And I'll be careful, I won't overwork myself!"
Since Li Ruolin put it that way, Jiang Dongchen naturally couldn't say much more.
Without hesitation, Jiang Dongchen stepped into the stall to help her watch it.
Yet the two of them seemed to have nothing to say, and a faint sense of oppression hung in the air!
Two women walked over to ask about prices, and Li Ruolin hurriedly went to greet them.
The two women picked over the items, their dissatisfaction growing more and more obvious: "The craftsmanship is so poor, and you still want twenty-one for one!"
"Make it cheaper, ten yuan each, and we'll both buy one!"
Li Ruolin could only explain: "This is the lowest price. If I lower it any further, I won't make a profit!"
The taller woman gave Li Ruolin a sideways glance: "Doing business like this, you'll starve!"
Before Li Ruolin could retort, the tall woman left with her friend.
Li Ruolin walked back to Jiang Dongchen's side in silence, bitterness lingering in her eyes: "Am I really that stupid?"
Jiang Dongchen smiled: "It's not that you're stupid; it's just that they don't know quality when they see it!"
Li Ruolin laughed as well: "I never took you for a flattener."
Jiang Dongchen's face darkened: "Are you saying I'm just flattering you?!"
"No!"
"I'm stating a fact!"
Li Ruolin was amused by Jiang Dongchen's expression.
Seeing her smile, Jiang Dongchen suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of ease.
Seizing the moment, Jiang Dongchen asked, "Do you have any plans?"
Li Ruolin nodded: "Yesterday I made over twenty thousand yuan. After deducting costs, I netted over five thousand!"
"I want to rent a proper storefront and renovate it nicely!"
"That way, people won't think my goods are cheap street stalls, and I can sell them for a better price!"
"Once I earn enough money, I'll try opening branch stores, starting with three..."
Listening to Li Ruolin outline her future, a gentle warmth surged in Jiang Dongchen's heart.
Living through adversity, Li Ruolin had never once bowed her head!
She was still full of hope for the future, yearning for a prosperous and secure life!
She was still that same young girl from ten years ago; she hadn't changed at all!
Pondering this, Jiang Dongchen said, "I'm actually moved by your description!"
"Director Li, how about letting me buy a stake?"
Li Ruolin looked at Jiang Dongchen somewhat strangely: "You actually care about a small business like this!"
She asked this because she wasn't stupid.
Yesterday's villa at Cloud Dream Bay, the king of them all, was worth three hundred million!
How could someone with a three-hundred-million-yuan villa care about a small business worth ten-odd thousand?
Knowing what Li Ruolin was thinking, Jiang Dongchen smiled: "That's my friend's house!"
"No matter how nice it is, it's still just my friend's!"
"I also want to earn money with my own hands and buy a villa like that someday!"
Li Ruolin looked Jiang Dongchen up and down: "You aren't lying to me, are you?"
Jiang Dongchen maintained a serious expression: "I wouldn't lie to you for the world!"
Jiang Dongchen was indeed lying to Li Ruolin, but he considered it a benevolent lie—a lie meant to strive alongside Li Ruolin and accompany her every step of the way!
Therefore, he felt no guilt about it.
Furthermore, with these words spoken, Jiang Dongchen temporarily abandoned the idea of taking Li Ruolin to confront the Li Family in half a month to reclaim everything that belonged to her!
He had forsaken boundless glory precisely to accompany Li Ruolin!
Since it was about companionship, he would go along with everything Li Ruolin wanted and fulfill her every wish!
Of course, if Li Ruolin had turned out to be someone like Lin Feifei, that would be another matter entirely!
Chapter 49
Moreover, she had indeed sensed the terrifying aura of a Half-Step Grandmaster Realm powerhouse within the Dragon's Bay villa district.
Yet she still said, "Besides the demeanor he inadvertently displayed, this young man also gives me a very familiar feeling."
"Master, you know me; my intuition is usually quite accurate most of the time."
"My gut tells me that this young man might genuinely have some indescribable connection with Lin Yi."
"Your intuition?" At this, hearing these words from Xiao Yutong, Feng Huacheng was somewhat unsure as well, and for the first time, he turned his head to look in the direction of Lin Yi and the Thousand-Face Ghost.
By then, Lin Yi had already approached to within ten meters of the Yin Dragon.
Standing his ground right in front of the Yin Dragon, which was coiled within the bone-chilling longevity pool, he looked like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Even so, he showed not a shred of panic. Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes revealing undisguised excitement.
Opposite him, the Yin Dragon, surrounded by a frozen world, seemed particularly displeased by his reaction and immediately let out a threatening roar in his direction!
"Hiss!"
Its serpentine tongue flickered, and a wave of extreme yin-cold malevolent Qi, carrying a dark-green, foul stench, blasted straight toward Lin Yi's face!
Yet despite this, Lin Yi remained completely unfazed.
His expression and posture were as if, rather than a ferocious Yin Dragon baring its fangs before him, it were merely a lapdog trying to curry favor with him.
"Hiss, hiss!" Seeing this, the Yin Dragon was clearly enraged.