Chapter Seventeen: I Will Take Over the Corporation

Cai Qing’s chest heaved with anger, but she forced herself to suppress it, keeping her expression cold as she said, “Manager Sun, if there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work now.”

“If you walk out of here now, I guarantee you won’t find a job anywhere in the whole of Lancheng,” Sun Lei vowed.

He’d been around in society long enough to have some connections. Besides, he now had Wang Hongquan backing him up—a department manager at Linda Group. The title didn’t sound particularly impressive, but it depended on where you worked. Even a dog’s owner deserved some respect, let alone a giant corporation with assets worth billions.

“You…” Cai Qing’s expression darkened; this was a blatant threat.

“Of course, you could just leave Lancheng altogether, but think about your parents and your little sister. Their lives depend on you,” Sun Lei narrowed his eyes.

Cai Qing had no doubt Sun Lei had the power to do just as he said, but she clenched her teeth and spat out, “You beast. Dream on.”

Throwing down those words, she turned to leave the office.

Sun Lei, however, had no intention of letting her go so easily. He grabbed her arm, his mouth full of yellowed teeth opening wide as he lunged to kiss her.

Cai Qing’s face changed dramatically. Fighting down her disgust, she slapped Sun Lei across the face on instinct.

“How dare you hit me!” Sun Lei roared with rage.

All pretense of civility vanished as he raised his hand and struck Cai Qing across the face.

With a loud smack, her fair cheek swelled and reddened instantly.

Not stopping there, Sun Lei grabbed her hair and flung her onto the sofa. At first, he’d planned to toy with her, but now he meant to have his way by force.

Just then, his phone rang, causing his actions to pause.

Cai Qing’s heart leapt with hope. Taking advantage of his distraction, she shoved him away with all her strength and ran out.

Watching her retreating figure, Sun Lei cursed furiously at the interruption, “Damn it, who the hell is calling at this hour?”

But when he saw the caller ID, his anger vanished in an instant.

As for Cai Qing, she rushed straight into the restroom, her eyes red. She wanted to cry but forced herself to hold it in.

Click.

The restroom door was suddenly pushed open; it was Lu Lu.

Cai Qing quickly splashed her face with water, but there was no hiding the swelling on her cheek.

“Hey, Cai Qing, what happened to you?” Lu Lu asked.

“It’s nothing,” Cai Qing replied, rinsing her face again and again.

“Don’t say it’s nothing.” Lu Lu grabbed her by the shoulders. “Your face is swollen. Did Lin Yi hit you? I’ll go find him right now.”

“No, it wasn’t him.” Cai Qing shook her head quickly.

“Then who was it? Tell me and I’ll give them a piece of my mind.” Lu Lu waved her small fist.

“Telling you won’t help,” Cai Qing replied.

Lu Lu hadn’t even graduated from college yet. There was nothing she could do about this.

“How will you know if you don’t tell me?” Lu Lu pressed on.

After a moment’s hesitation, Cai Qing told Lu Lu what had happened in the office, partly to warn her as well.

“That bastard Sun Lei, he actually... how could he…” Lu Lu fumed. Being a woman herself, she was furious.

Cai Qing sighed. If things really didn’t work out, she’d have to take her family and leave this place.

“Why not tell Lin Yi? He’s a man, after all. He can’t just stand by and watch the woman he loves walk into the fire,” Lu Lu suggested.

“What are you talking about? There’s nothing between us,” Cai Qing protested, not wanting to drag Lin Yi into trouble.

Still, the image of Lin Yi single-handedly taking on Huang San and his gang in the alley played over in her mind like a scene from a movie.

“Your face is all red, and you say there’s nothing.” Lu Lu teased, hoping to lighten her mood.

“I’m not talking to you anymore. I need to pack up,” Cai Qing said, then left the restroom.

After Cai Qing left, Lu Lu pulled out her phone and called Lin Yi.

…

“Doudou, I’m heading out for a bit,” Lin Yi said, his face expressionless.

“Aren’t you eating?” Doudou asked, holding a chicken drumstick.

Lin Yi shook his head. “No, thanks.”

He left the house, got on his bicycle, and in less than a minute arrived at Rainmaker Bar.

Lu Lu was waiting at the door and was surprised to see him arrive so quickly. “You’re fast.”

“Where’s Cai Qing?” Lin Yi asked.

Whatever else, Cai Qing was his friend. He’d do what he could to help.

“She’s packing up. You’d better stay with her for a while. Sun Lei is a despicable man, tried to force himself on her just now, and he’s got connections with Huang San. He loves plotting behind people’s backs,” Lu Lu warned.

“Got it,” Lin Yi nodded.

Just then, Cai Qing came out with a backpack.

“Lin Yi, what are you doing here?” she asked, glancing at Lu Lu and instantly understanding.

No doubt Lu Lu had tipped him off.

Still, Lin Yi’s quick arrival warmed her heart.

“I came to check on you,” Lin Yi said gently, looking at her face. “Does it still hurt?”

“Not anymore,” Cai Qing replied, instinctively covering her cheek. She didn’t want him to see her like this.

At that moment, Lu Lu gently nudged Cai Qing from behind, grinning. “I’ll leave Cai Qing with you, then. If anything happens to her, you’ll have to answer to me.”

Cai Qing blushed but, for once, didn’t argue.

Lin Yi seemed not to notice Lu Lu’s teasing. “Actually, it doesn’t have to be this complicated,” he said.

“Huh?” Lu Lu looked at him in confusion.

Lin Yi strode toward the lounge bar. Only then did Lu Lu realize he was about to storm in on Sun Lei’s behalf.

But thinking of Sun Lei’s connections, she hurried to block Lin Yi’s path. “Are you crazy? Planning to take Sun Lei on by yourself?”

“That’s right,” Lin Yi replied.

He’d let Sun Lei off last time, but hadn’t expected him to make trouble again so soon.

As long as it didn’t involve him, Lin Yi wouldn’t have bothered with the man.

He entered the lounge bar. Since it wasn’t business hours yet, the place was nearly empty.

Lu Lu watched Lin Yi’s back and asked Cai Qing, “Aren’t you going to stop him?”

Then she added excitedly, “I didn’t expect Lin Yi to be so cool—a man who’d risk everything for a friend.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Cai Qing scolded.

Lin Yi reached Sun Lei’s office and kicked open the door.

Bang.

The solid wooden door burst open, startling Sun Lei inside.

Seeing Lin Yi, Sun Lei’s face darkened.

“What are you doing here? Get out now, or I’ll call the police,” Sun Lei said, trying to mask his fear.

“Tell me, who’s the boss behind this?” Lin Yi demanded as he stepped inside.

Sun Lei retreated a couple of steps. The noise drew two security guards.

With reinforcements present, Sun Lei’s confidence returned. He barked at them, “Are you blind? Get this punk under control!”

The guards glanced at each other. They all knew Lin Yi—they used to work together.

“Step aside. I’m here for him today,” Lin Yi said, pointing at Sun Lei.

“I’m afraid we can’t do that,” the guards replied, rushing at Lin Yi.

Expressionless, Lin Yi sidestepped them, gently tapping each on the neck. Both collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

He bore no grudge against the guards, so he’d simply knocked them out.

Seeing how easily Lin Yi dispatched them, Sun Lei was terrified, though he tried to keep his composure. “Lin Yi, don’t do anything stupid.”

Lin Yi ignored him, stepped up, and stomped down on Sun Lei’s calf.

The intense pain made Sun Lei want to scream, but Lin Yi’s fingers pressed a point on his neck, rendering him mute.

These methods sent a chill down Sun Lei’s spine.

At that moment, he finally recalled Huang San’s warning—but it was too late.

“So, what should I do with you?” Lin Yi asked.

He actually wanted to finish Sun Lei off, but remembering Cai Qing and Lu Lu outside, he restrained himself.

Sun Lei shook his head desperately, eyes pleading.

Lin Yi remained unmoved. The coldness in his eyes killed any thought of revenge in Sun Lei’s heart.

“Now, tell me—who’s the real boss?” Lin Yi tapped to release Sun Lei’s voice.

“I’ll tell you—it’s Wang Hongquan. He not only wants Cai Qing but also wants to use this to get back at you,” Sun Lei stammered.

A cold smile touched Lin Yi’s lips.

He hadn’t even gone after Wang Hongquan yet, and already the man held a grudge.

“Lin Yi, I’ve told you everything. I’m just a messenger, I’m innocent,” Sun Lei begged.

Lin Yi raised his foot and broke Sun Lei’s other leg. “You made your choice—there’s no such thing as innocence.”

At the door, Lu Lu tugged on Cai Qing’s sleeve, as if seeing Lin Yi for the first time. “Am I seeing things?”

“No,” Cai Qing replied. She’d seen Lin Yi’s skills before and wasn’t as shocked as Lu Lu.

“Wow, he’s a real catch. Cai Qing, you have to hold on to him,” Lu Lu said, eyes shining.

Cai Qing blushed, lowering her head.

Finishing with Sun Lei, Lin Yi turned to Cai Qing and Lu Lu at the door. “I’m stepping out for a bit.”

With that, he left the Rainmaker Bar, pulled out his phone, and dialed Wang Yang.

Soon, Wang Yang called back. “Teacher, I’ve looked into Sun Lei’s background, but it’s complicated.”

“Hmm?” Lin Yi frowned. The Wang family was one of the top ten in Lancheng—if even they found it difficult, Wang Hongquan clearly had serious backing, but nothing more.

“It’s this: Wang Hongquan is a department manager at Linda Group. If that was all, our family wouldn’t be so cautious. But his brother-in-law is Linda Group’s director for Jiang Province,” Wang Yang explained.

The Wang family might be powerful in Lancheng, but against provincial-level forces, they were outmatched.

“I see. Leave this to me. By the way, did you find the herbs I asked for?” Lin Yi asked.

“Well, Teacher, I’ve only managed to find one so far,” Wang Yang replied, embarrassed.

“One is enough for now.” Lin Yi didn’t blame him.

“Teacher, I just remembered—there’s an underground auction coming up in Jiang Province. They have all kinds of rare things. Maybe you’ll find the herbs you need there,” Wang Yang said.

“An auction? All right, I understand.”

Lin Yi hung up, his face calm and unreadable.

He dialed another number. On the other end, an excited, elderly voice answered, “Mr. Lin.”

“I want to take over Linda Group’s Jiang Province operations,” Lin Yi said casually.

“No problem, Mr. Lin. The entire Linda Group is yours if you want it—even if you just want to throw it away.”