"There probably isn't... the three of us were all adopted by Master. It was mainly Master Bai who taught us, but among the three of us, only Zining had talent in medicine…" Lin Chen got the gist of it from Murong Qingcheng. All three of his wives were orphans, rescued and raised by their masters. They used to live in the mountains and came down about ten years ago to develop their own paths.
Aside from Gu Ruohan, none of them had a martial arts foundation, but they still made names for themselves in their respective fields. Their masters clearly believed in letting their disciples grow freely.
Murong Qingcheng left to handle business matters. Since the company had formed a partnership with the Long family, many things required her personal attention as the CEO. Meanwhile, Lin Chen headed to the Lin Group's headquarters.
He had left most of the company affairs to He Ling, perfectly happy to play the hands-off boss. But He Tianchi, as the wealthiest man in Yancheng, likely knew many things. Plus, Old Bai had considerable influence, yet Lin Chen didn't know much about it. It was time for a chat.
Knowing Lin Chen was coming, He Tianchi waited downstairs early.
"Mr. Chu," He Tianchi greeted respectfully as Lin Chen stepped out of the car.
Lin Chen waved his hand. "Thanks for last night."
He Tianchi returned the gesture quickly, clearly flattered. "It was my duty. I've already assigned top bodyguards. They'll protect Miss Murong from the shadows. Nothing like that will happen again."
Lin Chen nodded slightly—He Tianchi was a reliable man. He'd remember this favor.
"Let's go talk upstairs."
Once in the top-floor executive office, Lin Chen took the CEO seat while He Tianchi stood solemnly in front of him.
"Young Master, traces of activity were found in several hidden areas of the building—ventilation ducts, secret compartments, warehouses. These people were very cautious and cleaned up after themselves well. If I hadn't led the inspection myself, we might not have discovered anything."
"Based on what we found, I believe they were searching for something. If I'm not mistaken, it likely has to do with the tragedy that befell the Lin family."
"The Lin family was Yancheng's top aristocratic clan. Destroying them would've required a massive effort. For anyone to take such a risk, what they were after must be incredibly valuable—more than worth the cost. From what I've gathered… this item might be more valuable than the entire Lin family!"
Lin Chen nodded in agreement. "You make a good point. They wouldn't have attacked us unless there was a major gain involved. Clearly, they haven't found it yet."
"But what exactly are they looking for? My family never told me anything about such a thing."
If this object was so important, surely they wouldn't have kept it from him. Maybe he had been too young at the time. He needed to ask Grandpa.
He Tianchi furrowed his brow and thought for a while before speaking. "We don't have many clues right now. It'll be difficult to investigate further."
Lin Chen shook his head dismissively. "If they didn't find it, they won't give up. That's probably why they've kept my grandfather alive. Now that I—the legitimate heir—have returned, they won't miss this chance."
"The Liang family was just the spark. As long as I stay put, they'll come to me."
He Tianchi nodded. "You're right, Young Master. But still, be careful. The people who dared to take on the Lin family are no small fry."
Lin Chen smirked confidently. "No one who can hurt me has been born yet. I'm confident in my abilities."
Thinking of the underground empire supporting Lin Chen, He Tianchi nodded slightly. Even if a powerful force had attacked the Lin family, the Dragon Emperor behind Lin Chen could crush them. This was just a trial for the Young Master.
Then Lin Chen turned his gaze to He Tianchi. "By the way, the Liang family must be involved. Investigate them thoroughly."
From the banquet to Liang Haoming's death, the Liang family had been provoking him nonstop—even sending a special ops unit with submachine guns. There had to be a powerful force backing them.
"Yes, I'll handle it right away." He Tianchi bowed and left.
Soon after he left, He Ling entered. Dressed in a teal dress, her long legs immediately caught Lin Chen's eye. He found himself staring.
Then he thought of Murong Qingcheng—and especially those sharp little tiger teeth—and immediately snapped back to his senses, straightening his posture and coughing. "Ahem. What brings you here, Director He?"
He Ling walked up to him with a charming smile. "President Lin, there's an important contract tonight. I think it's best if you sign it in person. Afterward, how about dinner? I have something to discuss with you."
Lin Chen glanced at her. Clearly, she'd carefully chosen her outfit today—flattering, but not revealing. Her makeup was light, understated.
As vice president, it was normal for her to have dinner with the company's president. Still, Lin Chen could tell she had something else in mind.
"Dinner sounds good. Since you'll be running the company, we should communicate more. By the way, I'll bring my wife along. You two should get to know each other. You'll be working together closely."
Bringing Murong Qingcheng would normalize the dinner and subtly set boundaries. Framing it as a couple's invitation added a layer of formality.
He Ling, an astute businesswoman, instantly understood what Lin Chen meant. She smiled and didn't push further.
"That's perfect. Your wife is a legend—I'd love to meet her."
Murong Qingcheng was famous in Yancheng not just for her beauty, but for building her business empire from scratch—a dream woman in many men's eyes. She and He Ling were both known as business prodigies, and naturally held some mutual admiration.
Just then, He Ling's phone rang. Seeing it was her father, her eyes flickered before she smiled lightly.
"Excuse me, President Lin. I need to take this."
She stepped outside and answered in a low voice.
Upon hearing the voice on the other end, her face turned red instantly.
"Grandpa! What are you talking about?! 'Take down Mr. Lin tonight'?! We're just colleagues—and he's married!"
He Tianchi's voice came urgently through the phone.
"So what if he's married? He has three wives already! If you put in the effort, maybe you can become the fourth!"
He Ling blushed furiously, both embarrassed and annoyed. "Grandpa! Don't say things like that… I could never be that kind of woman."
He Tianchi's tone turned serious. "Ling'er, you're almost thirty. I've never pressured you about your love life because I respect your independence. But this time, it's an opportunity. If you miss it, you'll regret it."
His words made He Ling hesitate. Twirling a lock of hair around her finger, she peeked shyly into the office—at Lin Chen, seated calmly at his desk.