Su Lin's expression grew serious as he said in a deep voice, "My meaning is very simple: Bingyu is the love of my life. If you want me to leave her... you'll have to pay me more!"
"You want more money?"
Everyone in the villa's living room froze, completely caught off guard by Su Lin's outrageous declaration.
Xia Bingyu shot him a fierce glare.
Did this guy really think of her as some sort of trading commodity?!
"Hahahaha!"
Zhang Shiquan burst out laughing, walking over to pat Su Lin on the shoulder. "Kid, I have to hand it to you—you're a smart man. Name your price. As long as you leave Bingyu, I can give you whatever you want!"
Su Lin considered this carefully. "Since you're putting it that way, I'm not a greedy man. Just give me one trillion, and I'll be out of your hair immediately!"
"One trillion!"
Zhang Shiquan's face darkened instantly. "Kid, you're not joking, are you?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Su Lin retorted coldly, a trace of mockery curving his lips. "Or can you not cough up one trillion at all? If that's the case, it means you were just talking big earlier. If you don't have the means, stop acting like such a big shot!"
"Country bumpkin, is that any way to talk to Young Master Su? Believe it or not, he can have you killed in a minute!"
Xia Fei couldn't help pointing at Su Lin, screaming at the top of his lungs!
"Seems like you really enjoy being someone's dog. Your master hasn't even spoken, yet you're already barking?" Su Lin cast a mocking glance at Xia Fei.
"You—"
Fury flooded Xia Fei's face, but remembering Su Lin's terrifying martial prowess, he didn't dare make another move.
"Kid, this is a family matter for the Xia Family. If you know what's good for you, you'd better stay out of it!"
Xia Guodong spoke coldly, his tone dripping with threats.
Xia Bingyu marrying Young Master Su would bring immense benefits to him and his son; Xia Guodong would never allow this hick to ruin everything!
"Why should I stay out of it? Bingyu is my wife. Without my permission, nobody forces her to do a damn thing!"
Su Lin fired back coldly, radiating an overwhelming domineering aura.
Then, he looked impatiently at Zhang Shiquan. "Well? Can you scrape together one trillion or not? If you can't, get lost. You're blocking my view!"
"You've got a lot of nerve, kid, but unfortunately, you're just a bumpkin straight off the mountain."
"You don't even qualify to fight me, Zhang Shiquan, for a woman!"
Zhang Shiquan didn't take Su Lin seriously at all. He turned his attention to Xia Bingyu. "Bingyu, I'll give you one last chance. Agree to be my woman and chase that hick away, and I'll help you lift the bank's blockade!"
"Otherwise, the Xia Group won't last a few more days before going under. When that happens, no one can save you!"
Xia Bingyu clenched her fists tightly. Unwilling as she was to admit it, what Zhang Shiquan said was the truth!
"Bingyu, just agree to Young Master Su's terms. The Xia Group is your grandfather's life's work—you don't want to see it ruined, do you?"
Xia Guodong chimed in with a meaningful, persuasive tone.
Xia Fei quickly backed him up. "Exactly! What does Young Master Su lack that this bumpkin has? For him to fancy you is your absolute hon—"
*Slap!*
Before Xia Fei could finish, a crisp, resounding slap echoed through the entire hall!
It was Su Lin! He had suddenly struck out, sending Zhang Shiquan flying with a single backhand blow!
Everyone was instantly stunned, completely unprepared for Su Lin to take such drastic action!
"You... how dare you hit Young Master Su?!"
Xia Guodong pointed at Su Lin, trembling with shock and rage!
"I already said, nobody forces my wife to do anything. He threatened my wife, so he had to pay the price!"
Su Lin replied, his expression turning cold and sharp.
Xia Bingyu looked at him with complex, glowing eyes, never expecting him to stand up for her like this.
"You little bastard! You actually hit me! I swear you're dead—no one can save you!!"
"And as for Xia Bingyu, I'm going to make you watch with your own eyes as she becomes my woman and gets used until she's broken!"
Regaining his senses, Zhang Shiquan roared with a fury that shook the rafters, pointing at the middle-aged man who had accompanied him: "Mr. Yuan, please cripple this punk for me! Just break both his legs!"
Mr. Yuan nodded. With his hands clasped behind his back, he took a slow step toward Su Lin. "Kid, if you know what's good for you, break your own legs. It will save me the trouble and spare you a world of pain—"
*Slap!*
Before Mr. Yuan could finish his sentence, Su Lin slapped him right across the face, sending him flying backward through the air. He crashed hard into the wall and slowly slid to the floor, motionless like a dead dog.
"So much talking, and yet you go down in one hit. I really wonder where you got the nerve to show off."
Su Lin muttered dismissively, then strode toward Zhang Shiquan.
At this moment, Zhang Shiquan was completely frozen in shock!
Mr. Yuan was his personal bodyguard, a veteran retired from Longxia's most elite special forces unit who had once single-handedly wiped out an entire foreign special ops team during a mission!
Because of this, besides a monthly base salary of one hundred thousand, Mr. Yuan commanded an extra twenty thousand for every fight he took.
Though expensive, Zhang Shiquan had kept him close, and over the years, Mr. Yuan had solved countless enemies for him without breaking a sweat.
Yet now, a mountain bumpkin had batted him away with a single slap like a fly. The mental shock dealt to Zhang Shiquan was catastrophic!
"Hey! Didn't you just say you were going to break my legs?" Su Lin walked right up to Zhang Shiquan and patted his face.
Coming back to his reality with a jolt, Zhang Shiquan scrambled back two steps in sheer terror. "W-what do you want?"
Su Lin didn't answer. With the speed of lightning, he delivered two sharp kicks straight to Zhang Shiquan's kneecaps!
*Crack! Crack!*
Accompanied by the sickening sound of shattering bone, Zhang Shiquan collapsed heavily onto his knees, letting out a shriek like a slaughtered pig!
"How does it feel to have your legs broken? Nice?"
Su Lin asked with a grinning, mocking smile.
"Su Lin, you have lost your mind! How dare you hit Young Master Su? Do you have any idea what kind of background he has?!"
Xia Guodong's face twisted in horror as he shrieked curses at him.
"Bingyu, hurry up and divorce this punk, make him get out of the Xia Family right now, or we'll all be dragged down and killed because of him!"
Xia Fei was similarly scared out of his wits, his face drained of all color!
To be honest, Xia Bingyu hadn't expected Su Lin to be so merciless either, but things had come this far. Gritting her teeth, she stood her ground. "Second Uncle, powerful as the Zhang Family may be, our Xia Family isn't a pushover. Is there any need to shit your pants like this?"
"Besides, what's done is done. No matter what, I'm standing by Su Lin!"
"You—" Xia Guodong was so furious he choked on his own words.
"Wife, you really are the best to me!"
Su Lin put on an act of being deeply touched, then shifted his attention back to Zhang Shiquan. "Oh right, honey, this piece of trash insulted you just now. Let me teach him another lesson on your behalf!"
"No need, this is already enough. I'm sure he won't dare come back to trouble us again!" Xia Bingyu rushed to intervene.
Su Lin threw punches like he didn't understand restraint at all. She was genuinely terrified that he might accidentally kill Zhang Shiquan, which would blow the matter completely out of proportion!
"Alright, seeing as my wife is so kind-hearted, I'll let him off easy for today."
Su Lin nodded, then casually kicked Zhang Shiquan away. The body crumpled right in front of the group of subordinates he had brought along. "What are you standing there gawking for? Carry him and get lost!"
"Oh, and don't forget that dead dog over there either!"
None of the lackeys dared utter a single word of defiance. They hurriedly picked up Zhang Shiquan and Mr. Yuan, scrambling out of the villa as fast as their legs could carry them.
"You've brought a catastrophe upon us! Beating Young Master Su like this means the Zhang Family will never let you off!"
Xia Guodong glared at Su Lin with unabashed hatred.
If it weren't for this punk, things would never have spiraled this far!
"A mere Zhang Family? If they dare come looking for trouble again, I'll just wipe them out!"
Su Lin shrugged with complete indifference.
"You bumpkin, you sure talk big! Wipe out the Zhang Family? Who do you think you are?!"
Xia Fei sneered with deep disdain!
*Slap!*
Su Lin slapped Xia Fei right across the face, snapping impatiently, "I thought I told you not to call me a bumpkin? Do you genuinely lack memory, or are you just begging for a beating?"
"I'll give you one last warning today. Try that again, and little master here is going to cut your tongue right out!"
"You little...!" Xia Guodong was incensed. Su Lin was growing more arrogant by the second!
"What about me? Say one more word, and see if I don't beat you up too!" Su Lin cut him off flatly.
Xia Guodong's expression shifted violently. He didn't doubt for a second that Su Lin would actually do it. In the end, he flicked his sleeve in disgust. "Fine! You've offended the Zhang Family now—let's just see how long you can swagger around! Xia Fei, let's go!"
Xia Fei didn't push his luck further. He shot Su Lin one last venomous glare before storming out of the villa alongside Xia Guodong.
With them gone, only Su Lin and Xia Bingyu remained in the vast hall.
Without missing a beat, Su Lin walked right over and looped his arm tightly around Xia Bingyu's waist, pulling her straight into his embrace!
Their bodies were pressed flush against one another in an instant!
Su Lin could even feel the incredible softness and bounce of her chest against him!
"Su Lin, what are you doing?"
Xia Bingyu asked, her voice tinged with panic.
A wicked grin spread across Su Lin's face. "Nothing much, wife. I just wanted to ask—was your husband's performance just now top-notch?"
***
Xia Bingyu shot Su Lin a fierce glare, knowing he was just taking advantage of the situation again.
Still, she didn't push him away. The way Su Lin had stepped up, aggressively driving Zhang Shiquan out and putting Xia Guodong and his son in their place, had given her an undeniable sense of safety and reliance.
So... this was what it felt like to be protected by a man?
"Right, your dad has been recovering for a few days now, and he's ready for his second round of acupuncture. I'm heading upstairs to treat him."
Remembering his task, Su Lin turned and headed for the second floor.
Xia Bingyu quickly followed, wanting to check on her father's condition.
Upstairs.
Xia Guodong's rival brother, Xia Guoliang, had been looked after by a dedicated nurse hired by Xia Bingyu. His complexion had improved drastically over the past few days, though he still couldn't get out of bed to walk.
This was precisely why Xia Guodong had been in such a rush to marry Xia Bingyu off.
If Xia Guoliang made a full recovery, they would lose their chance at power forever!
"Bingyu, what happened downstairs just now? Did Xia Guodong and his son come to harass you again?"
Seeing them walk in, Xia Guodong asked with a frown.
"Dad, it's like this..."
Xia Bingyu gave him a summarized version of events, carefully omitting the part about Su Lin breaking Zhang Shiquan's legs so as not to worry him.
"That Xia Guodong goes too far! No matter what, you're his niece, yet he treats you like this!"
"When I make a full recovery, I'll make sure he pays!"
Hearing this, Xia Guoliang was filled with righteous anger!
"Relax, Father-in-law, you don't need to get so worked up. With me here by your daughter's side, nobody touches her!"
Su Lin stepped forward to offer reassurance.
Xia Guoliang broke into a smile. "I'll have to trouble you to look after my daughter during this time. She has no major flaws, except for a bit of a stubborn temper—bear with her a little."
"If she ever treats you poorly, come tell me, and I guarantee I'll give her a strict scolding!"
Su Lin couldn't help sighing. "Father-in-law, to be completely honest with you, your daughter is great at everything except for one thing: she refuses to bear me a grandson. Every day she leaves me to sleep alone in an empty room—it's so lonely, cold, and miserable!"
Xia Guoliang coughed twice awkwardly.
When it came to such private matters, he really didn't know how to intervene!
"Su Lin, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?! Hurry up and treat my father!" Xia Bingyu glared at him, her face burning with embarrassment.
Su Lin curled his lip, said nothing more, and pulled out his silver needles to begin the treatment.
In no time at all, the session was complete.
Xia Guoliang's complexion visibly brightened right before their eyes.
"Young Master Su, you really are a divine doctor! I can feel my strength returning. Give it a few more days, and I should be able to get out of bed and walk!"
Excitement flooded Xia Guoliang's face!
"Roughly. Once I give you your third treatment in a few days, you should be completely back to normal," Su Lin said casually.
"Young Master Su is truly a miracle worker!"
Xia Guoliang sighed with emotion, then offered an apologetic smile. "Young Master Su, I have some things I need to discuss privately with Bingyu. Could you perhaps..."
"Understood, Father-in-law. I'll go get some fresh air!"
Su Lin sensibly nodded and walked out of the room.
"Dad, what did you want to talk to me about?"
Xia Bingyu asked with curiosity.
"Bingyu, this Young Master Su gives me the feeling of an extraordinary man. Furthermore, this marriage was originally arranged by your grandfather—I think you should consider truly accepting him."
Xia Guoliang urged her with a solemn expression.
Xia Bingyu instantly grasped her father's meaning. "Dad, you don't understand that guy at all. Aside from some medical skills, he has no other real talents. On top of that, he talks nonsense all day long. He's nothing like what you think!"
Xia Guoliang sighed. "Bingyu, the truth is, I understand. You haven't truly let go of him yet."
"What I want to say is, some people are destined not to be together. And if you keep waiting for him... don't you think it's terribly unfair to Young Master Su?"
Xia Bingyu bit her lower lip and whispered softly, "When the time comes, I'll give him a huge sum of money as compensation."
Xia Guoliang shook his head helplessly. "Since you feel that way, I won't lecture you anymore. Just make sure you think it through carefully, and don't make a decision you'll live to regret!"
Xia Bingyu nodded and quietly left her father's room.
However, once outside, her heart simply refused to settle.
Just as Zhang Shiquan had said, when Xia Bingyu had gone up the mountain to find Su Lin and fulfill the engagement, she had purely intended to use his status as a shield!
Deep down, Xia Bingyu had never looked favorably on Su Lin, who always carried himself like a lazy, unreliable vagabond.
Of course, the main reason was that Xia Bingyu had once made a promise to someone else, and she was still waiting for that person to return!
Though Su Lin had helped her immensely lately, it had only earned him a bit of extra favor—she was still a long way from truly accepting him.
Precisely because of this, Xia Guoliang's words echoed endlessly in her mind.
Was it really fair to Su Lin to treat him this way?
***
Meanwhile, at the Zhang Family estate.
"Dad, that bitch Xia Bingyu and her wild man actually broke my legs! You have to avenge me!"
Zhang Shiquan lay in bed, roaring with unbridled rage.
Watching his son's miserable state, Zhang Zizhong's face turned frosty. "That bitch Xia Bingyu has gone too far!"
"Originally, to fulfill the orders of that high-ranking figure, I intended for you to marry her and bring her into the Zhang Family so we could get our hands on that item!"
"Since she refuses a toast only to drink a forfeit, don't blame the Zhang Family for dropping the courtesy!"
Zhang Shiquan gritted his teeth. "Dad, how are you planning to deal with that bitch?"
Zhang Zizhong pondered for a moment, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Let the Black Tiger Sect handle it. Have them grab Xia Bingyu first. With her as leverage, the Xia Family will have no choice but to hand over the item!"
"Dad! Once Xia Bingyu is dragged here, I'm going to torture her and break her spirit until she's nothing more than my obedient bitch!"
Zhang Shiquan's face was twisted with a sick, manic euphoria!
"Once the mission is complete, she's just a woman—do whatever you want with her."
"But before that, remember: that item is what matters most. If we fail, that big figure will wipe out our entire Zhang Family without blinking!"
Zhang Zizhong warned him with lethal seriousness.
"Dad, I understand!"
Thinking of that terrifying figure, Zhang Shiquan shivered involuntarily.
Without wasting another word, Zhang Zizhong pulled out his phone and dialed a number: "Brother Heihu, I have a favor to ask. It's nothing major—just need you to deal with a woman..."
"Fine, ten million it is. But tonight, I want that woman delivered to the Zhang Family!"
Hanging up, Zhang Zizhong's eyes flashed with excitement.
As long as this task was accomplished, their Zhang Family would truly soar to unprecedented heights!
***
At the exact same time the Zhang Family was plotting against Xia Bingyu.
In a hotel suite, Xia Guodong and Xia Fei were each holding high-end escorts, their hands wandering wantonly over the women's bodies!
"Dad, we have a nice villa to live in—why did we have to move out?"
Xia Fei asked while his hands remained busy.
"Are you an idiot? That punk beat Zhang Shiquan like that today; the Zhang Family is bound to retaliate. If we stay in that villa and get caught in the crossfire, what then?" Xia Guodong scolded him impatiently.
Xia Fei frowned. "Dad, are we just going to hide in this hotel forever then?"
"Relax. Zhang Shiquan took such a massive blow; he'll definitely retaliate within the next couple of days!"
"Combined with the Baihua Bank's joint blockade on the Xia Group, Xia Bingyu is bound to lose everyone's trust at the company!"
"When that happens, it'll be the prime moment for us to step in and take over!"
Xia Guodong wore a confident smile of absolute control!
"Dad, I still feel like that hillbilly is a bit weird. What if the Zhang Family fails?"
"And my uncle has already woken up. If he makes a full recovery, it'll mess up our plans too."
Xia Fei felt a nagging sense of unease whenever he thought of Su Lin.
"Hmph! No matter what, I am getting my hands on the Xia Group. If all else fails, don't blame your old man for playing dirty!"
A fierce, ruthless glint flashed in Xia Guodong's eyes!
Xia Fei said nothing more. In truth, he felt that even without being the president of the Xia Group, as long as there was plenty of money to spend, life would be comfortable enough.
However, Xia Guodong had an obsession with the Xia Group, so he had no choice but to obey his father's arrangements!
***
Nighttime!
Su Lin, Xia Bingyu, and Lin Feixuan were having dinner together when Xia Bingyu's phone suddenly rang.
She answered it, listened for a few seconds, and her expression drained of color: "What did you say?"