Chapter 15: Thirty Million in Hand

As soon as Lin Yuan twisted the throttle, the motorcycle spun into a sharp turn, almost throwing her off.

"Are you crazy? Stop!" Lin Shanshan shouted anxiously.

Lin Yuan was actually driving toward the villa district, as if he intended to go back and face Yang Guang.

"Alright," Lin Yuan replied, slamming on the brakes.

"Ah!" Lin Shanshan crashed straight into Lin Yuan’s back, but unfortunately, she was rather unremarkable in that regard, and it brought Lin Yuan no satisfaction.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Lin Shanshan, both embarrassed and angry, her cheeks flushed, raised her tiny fists as if to strike.

"You told me to stop," Lin Yuan protested, feeling wronged.

"I meant for you to leave! Why aren’t you leaving?" Lin Shanshan didn’t even bother to fuss over his taking advantage of her.

"I’m leaving now." Lin Yuan started the engine and continued forward.

"No... I want you to leave Binhai!"

"Why should I? Because of Yang Guang?"

"What else?"

"I wish he’d come after me. I could make at least ten million this time."

"You even dare to blackmail Yang Guang?" Lin Shanshan was speechless—this guy was truly fearless.

"Blackmailing is fast money—quicker than robbing a bank." Lin Yuan wished he could blackmail a few more rich people; he was broke right now.

Very soon, they arrived at Villa No. 13.

"Kid, our boss wants to see you!"

Several men in suits surrounded them.

"If I’m to see him, fine, but why are you surrounding me?" Lin Yuan’s gaze swept around them, cold and sharp.

"Cut the crap—get out of the car and come with us!" The group of men closed in, ready to act.

"Even if I go in, it should be you lot begging me on your knees, not threatening me in!"

Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes—a chilling aura emanated from him.

The Tibetan mastiffs at the gate whimpered, terrified, and slunk back into their kennels, tails tucked between their legs in submission.

"You!" The men felt a powerful sense of danger; cold sweat beaded on their foreheads.

"Lin Yuan, you’re back. Come apologize to Boss Yang immediately," Lin Ruhai called out, stepping outside.

"Uncle Lin, you’re the most spineless boss I’ve ever met. No wonder the Lin family has never prospered," Lin Yuan sneered.

Hearing him speak of her father that way, Lin Shanshan felt a pang, but she couldn’t refute him.

"You can say whatever you like, but today you must apologize to Boss Yang," Lin Ruhai replied, keeping his composure, trying to appear gracious and tolerant.

"Fine. Since I’m here, let’s talk money," Lin Yuan got out, entered the house, and sat down with ease.

Yang Guang sat rigidly on the sofa, smoking, his face dark as thunder.

"Lin Yuan, I’ll admit you have some skill. Today, kneel and apologize, hand over the antidote, and I’ll let this go. Otherwise, even if I don’t say a word, my men won’t let you off easily—you just saw what they’re capable of."

Lin Yuan almost laughed. "Boss Yang, here’s my offer: five million for the antidote, and you have until tomorrow night. If your son doesn’t get the antidote by then, he’ll be a dead man."

"Are you threatening me?" Yang Guang roared, slamming the table.

"Now it’s ten million. Otherwise, prepare a coffin for your son."

Lin Yuan crossed his legs, picked up a banana from the table, and began eating it lazily, completely unfazed by Yang Guang.

Beside him, Lin Weiwei frowned. How could he dare? Speaking to Boss Yang like that.

"Do you believe I can banish you from all of Lingnan?"

Yang Guang trembled with rage, voice threatening.

"Boss Yang, I’m just a wage earner—what does it matter where I go? If I can’t stay in Lingnan, I’ll go to the capital. You hardly have the power to cover the sky with one hand."

Lin Yuan snorted. "Now it’s twenty million."

"You’re pushing it! The most I’ll give is three hundred thousand!"

Yang Guang remained calm and composed.

"Given your attitude, it's now thirty million. Want to keep haggling? Your son’s life is expensive, you know," Lin Yuan said coolly, utterly unruffled with the upper hand.

"You... Fine! Thirty million! I’ll transfer it to you right now!" Yang Guang nearly coughed up blood, but pulled out his phone and made the transfer.

"Here’s my bank card," Lin Yuan tossed it over.

Yang Guang could only endure, transferred the money, and returned the card.

"The money’s sent. Where’s the antidote?"

"Weiwei, could you get me a bottle of mineral water?" He leaned in and whispered, "Pour out the water, fill it with toilet water."

Lin Weiwei rolled her eyes at him but didn’t actually do it. She fetched a bottle of mineral water from the fridge and handed it over.

Lin Yuan unscrewed the cap, dipped his finger in and stirred, then sealed it up.

"Alright, take it."

Yang Guang eyed the bottle suspiciously, but didn’t question it—he’d heard the same kind of antidote had been given to Brother Hu.

"Lin Yuan, my money isn’t so easily taken. Pray you never fall into my hands!"

"Boss Lin, you’ve really hired a fine bodyguard!" Yang Guang snorted coldly, scowled, and left in anger.

"Thirty million, easy as that," Lin Yuan grinned.

"Let’s see if you can keep it. Now that you’ve crossed Yang Guang, how are you going to survive in Binhai?" Lin Shanshan mocked.

"You should take the money and head to the capital or Shanghai," Lin Weiwei advised. "At least there, Yang Guang wouldn’t dare act openly."

"No, you can’t leave yet!" Lin Ruhai interjected. "Tomorrow, you’ll come with me to the Yang family and return the money in full."

"Don’t worry, you won’t be implicated. I’ll move out tomorrow anyway. My master only wanted me to be a bodyguard to make a living, and now I won’t starve."

Lin Yuan stretched with a yawn. "I’m off. I still need to make Fair Jade Cream. Blackmail is all well and good, but running a company is even more profitable."

At the mention of Fair Jade Cream, Lin Weiwei’s eyes lit up, then she hesitated, lost in thought.

"Fine, you said it yourself!" Lin Ruhai was only too glad to see him go.

Lin Shanshan felt a pang of sadness.

She’d never taste that country bumpkin’s chicken stew again.

...

At nine o’clock that night, Lin Ruhai finally left.

Lin Weiwei knocked on the door.

"Lin Yuan, can we talk?"

He opened the door and saw the tall, elegant, and alluring woman before him. "Weiwei, what is it?"

She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and asked softly, "The Fair Jade Cream you mentioned earlier—is it a skincare product?"

"Yes, it’s a beauty cream used by imperial concubines in ancient times. The effects are astonishing. I plan to make some and sell it."

Lin Yuan didn’t hide it—after all, only he knew the recipe.

"Can I try it?" Lin Weiwei was interested; she’d always dreamed of launching a skincare line.

She’d consulted countless dermatologists and traditional medicine experts, but never found a formula that satisfied her. Neither chemical nor pure herbal formulas had worked well.

"Of course. I have some right here." Lin Yuan handed her a plastic bag.

"This..." Lin Weiwei was speechless. Could the packaging be any more basic?