Jia Laoban's kick was strategically placed—right at Lin Jian's joint. It was excruciating and instantly incapacitated him, yet it left no lasting damage.
Lin Jian didn’t dare report it to the authorities either, since he had nowhere else to live.
[I’ll Slash Down with My Blade]: Boss, don’t leave! Why’d you take Lin Tianba away? Show him to us again! And give us your address first!
[The Internet is Full of "Family"]: So this doggo is Lin Tianba II? So adorable! How does Lin Jian even deserve to be called its "son"? That’s an insult to dogs. I object—who’s with me?
[Goddess Descends Upon Lin]: The Lin family never fails to sink lower than I ever thought possible. Why do I keep getting disgusted by them yet can’t look away from their misery?
[Who Will Regulate the Entertainment Industry?]: Does anyone else think Lin Tianba seems off? He hasn’t said a word since the stream started, and his face is completely blank—like a zombie. Also, @Goddess Descends Upon Lin, your username’s kinda funny.
[Lin Ran Loves Me]: He’s just broken. Imagine going from a billionaire CEO to a penniless wreck, plus all those injuries. Anyone would crack. At least we’re poor—we can’t get any poorer.
Lin Jian, too humiliated to continue, abruptly ended the stream, leaving Shi Nanci stunned.
Then a comment flashed across the screen:
[My Master is Luo Yao]: Shi Nanci, keep it up. Consider our past grievances settled. If you ever need help, come to Nuan Yao and ask for Old Wu. We’re classmates—no need to feel awkward. Remember, you’re an entrepreneur. Swallowing pride for money isn’t shameful—profit matters more than face."Viewers, if you need anything, place your orders. My classmate here might’ve been a bit dim-witted before, but he doesn’t sell fakes. Even if he did, he’d compensate tenfold—no shady alt-account scams," Lin Ran added before exiting, sending the chat into a frenzy.
[RandomName]: Don’t go, Young Master Lin! Please! Tell me—do I still have a chance to get rich?
[HandsomeGuys&BeautiesLoveMyLongUsername]: Bros, let’s go! This streamer’s products are crazy good value.
[Luo Yao’s Little Sister, Luo Xuan]: Are you really Lin Ran’s classmate? Is he as… ahem well-endowed and domineering in real life?
Shi Nanci watched his orders skyrocket and nearly teared up.
"I used to hate Lin Ran—he was too handsome, my rival for… school heartthrob status. But then I realized he’s actually kind, easygoing, and helpful. As for his size, I never measured—@#$%..."
He’d almost mentioned Lin Ran being his love rival too, but stopped, remembering Luo Yao might be watching.
No need to stir trouble. Everyone knew Luo Yao was unhinged.
Sigh. If I’d realized this sooner, Lin Ran and I might’ve been friends.
Even if I couldn’t be as successful as Wu Zhishang, a tenth of that would’ve been enough.
Too bad Lin Jian ruined me. Liu Ruxue ruined me.
Meanwhile, Lin Ran had the screen-sharing shut off.
"Wife, Shi Nanci’s kinda interesting. Maybe giving him a chance isn’t so bad."
Luo Yao: "Why ‘interesting’?"
"Anyone who hates the Lin family is interesting to me."
Uncle Fu interjected, "Young Master, do you realize if netizens heard that, half of them would try assassinating the Lins just to befriend you?"
Lin Ran paused. "Wait, really?"
Seeing Uncle Fu’s confusion, he clarified, "I mean, would that actually work?"
Uncle Fu blinked. "You’re not seriously considering it, are you? It’s simpler—just find someone desperate, offer a favor, and poof, no more Lin family."
Luo Yao shot Uncle Fu a frosty glare, silencing him.
She wanted Lin Ran decisive but shielded from darkness.
Her Lin Ran was perfect as he was.
Lin Ran shook his head. "The Lins won’t last much longer. I’ll handle them my way. Right now, I just want to love Yao Yao properly."
Uncle Fu nearly gagged on the sweetness.
Inner monologue: [Ugh, spare me. Someone hand me an eye-roll emoji.]
At bedtime, the couple drifted off.
Deep into the night, a figure slipped into Jiang Feihua’s hospital room.
The most covert messages travel by the oldest methods…
"Why did you ask to meet?" Jiang Feihua’s voice trembled.
"Luo Yao might know who I am."
"Why do you say that?" The visitor frowned.
"They poisoned me today! Isn’t that proof?"
A pause. Then, an explanation:
"I don’t know why, but you’ve heard about Luo Yao’s cooking. Everyone who eats it gets sick. It wasn’t targeted—just bad luck."
To convince her, they added, "Lin Ran’s been hospitalized twice because of her food. So has their butler, the staff, that variety show’s host and director… It’s inexplicable but true."
Jiang Feihua knew about the show’s crew collapsing but not the others.
"How do you know all this?"
"Nothing’s unfindable if you dig."
A realization struck her.
"So… they were just testing poison on me?"
The visitor nodded. "Call it that if you want. Stay undercover. I can’t linger."
"Wait."
"What?"
"When will you let me go?"
In a flash, the visitor lunged, gripping Jiang Feihua’s throat.
"You agreed to this. No bargaining."
"Under… stood…"
Released, Jiang Feihua gasped for air as the figure vanished.
Back at Lin Jian’s place, Liu Yuemei eagerly asked after the stream ended:
"Xiao Jian, how much did we make today?"
Lin Jian checked the stats and held up five fingers.
"50,000?"
"Five cents. One person tipped ten cents. The platform took half."