"Yes, I just spent one billion to buy all the shares of the Lin Group," Lin Zhiming said, a hint of mockery in his smile.

"What a bold move!" Yao Tianlong couldn't help but exclaim.

A billion is not frightening; what's frightening is having a billion in cash. Nowadays, even companies worth hundreds of billions—who can take out a billion in cash?

"Now, I want to ask you, what did you just say to my wife?" Lin Zhiming stared at Yao Tianlong.

"Lin Zhiming, what tone is that? That's Yao Jing's grandfather, and also your grandfather! Do you have any respect for your elders?" Yao Jing's mother, Zhou Yanqiu, reprimanded sharply.

"Respect? With people like you having the audacity to call yourselves elders? When the company faces problems, instead of looking for the reasons within, you let the women in the family sell their bodies. Is this what you elders do? If this counts as respect, then I truly don’t have any respect for people like you!" Lin Zhiming said arrogantly.

His outburst left everyone stunned again. It’s important to note that Lin Zhiming had always portrayed himself as weak and incompetent; how come he was now acting like he had just taken a dose of gunpowder, daring to confront anyone?

"Lin Zhiming, you are outrageous; I am your mother!" Zhou Yanqiu pointed at Lin Zhiming, trembling with anger.

"You are my mother? If you were my mother, would you advise my wife to divorce me? I, Lin Zhiming, have only one mother in my life, and you, Zhou Yanqiu, have no right to be my mother!" Lin Zhiming declared proudly.

"Zhiming, don’t be so angry; let’s all calm down. We are all family," Yao Jing’s father, Yao Jianyong, said, trying to mediate.

"I don’t have family members like you. I really don’t mind tearing the face today. I tell you, whatever the hell Tianjiao Group’s CEO, my wife won’t be it anymore. All cooperation between the Lin Group and Tianjiao Group is terminated! Wife, let’s go!" Lin Zhiming said, grabbing Yao Jing's hand and walking out.

Yao Jing, usually strong-willed, didn’t react at all and was taken out of the office by Lin Zhiming like that.

Inside the office, everyone was dumbfounded.

"What kind of sin have I committed to have such a son-in-law?" Zhou Yanqiu slammed the table in frustration.

"Dear, don’t be angry; calm down. It’s normal for young people to have a bit of temper," Yao Jianyong comforted.

"Grandpa, this Lin Zhiming doesn’t put us in his eyes at all. And Yao Jing, Lin Zhiming just scolded us like that, and she didn’t even stop him. This is clearly a case of elbowing outwards, Grandpa!" Yao Shanchuan said excitedly.

"Lin Zhiming really thinks of himself as a big shot? This guy has been a softie for over twenty years; I really don’t believe he can rise after lying low for decades. Normal people can’t do that, let alone him. There must be some enemy of the Lin family backing him up, which is why he had the money to acquire the Lin Group. I think he will soon lose his usefulness and be abandoned. Let’s see how arrogant he can be then! Shanchuan, pass my order: revoke Yao Jing’s position as CEO and dismiss her from Tianjiao Group. Effective immediately, you will take over as the company’s CEO!" Yao Tianlong said coldly.

"Yes, Grandpa, I will definitely lead the company to a better tomorrow!" Yao Shanchuan said excitedly. He had waited for this opportunity for years. At this moment, he was incredibly grateful to Lin Zhiming; without Lin Zhiming’s sudden outburst, how could he have suddenly become CEO?

"Dad, please don’t. I will talk to Jing again. I hope you can give her another chance; she must have been coerced by that Lin Zhiming!" Zhou Yanqiu shouted, seeing her daughter’s CEO position about to be lost.

"When Yao Jing kneels in front of me and apologizes, I will consider letting her back into the company," Yao Tianlong said coldly.

"I will never forgive that bastard Lin Zhiming!" Zhou Yanqiu gritted her teeth and stomped her foot in anger.

At that moment, a company employee pushed the door open and walked in.

"Chairman, we just received news from the Lin Group that they have terminated all cooperation with us," the employee said.

"Let them terminate it; the Lin Group is on shaky ground and could go bankrupt at any time. Working with us could still bring in some income; now they are seeking their own demise. We don’t need to care about them anymore. Our main partner now is the Li family. Do you understand?" Yao Tianlong asked.

"Understood!" Yao Shanchuan nodded with a smile and said, "I will make sure to maintain a good relationship with the Li family!"

On the other side.

Lin Zhiming held Yao Jing’s hand, passed through the work area, and got into the elevator.

Inside the elevator, Yao Jing said faintly, "Are you happy now?"

"Yeah, very happy, especially happy!" Lin Zhiming nodded.

"And the consequences? Have you considered them?" Yao Jing asked again.

"I’m holding my wife’s hand; what consequences should I consider?" Lin Zhiming asked.

"Uh?" Yao Jing was slightly taken aback, then realized that when Lin Zhiming said he was especially happy, it referred to holding her hand.

"When did you become so glib?" Yao Jing frowned and pulled her hand away from Lin Zhiming.

"I just wanted to ease the atmosphere," Lin Zhiming said with an awkward smile.

"A person’s maturity depends on whether they can control their emotions," Yao Jing said.

"I got it... By the way, why didn’t you stop me just now?" Lin Zhiming asked curiously. Given Yao Jing’s calm personality, she would definitely have stopped him during his outburst.

"My husband stood up for me; why should I stop him?" Yao Jing retorted.

"Then you say I didn’t consider the consequences... Did you not consider them either?" Lin Zhiming asked.

"I actually didn’t want to do it anymore," Yao Jing said, looking at the descending floors of the elevator calmly. "Your appearance just happened to give me the opportunity."

Lin Zhiming was stunned for a moment, then forced a bitter smile.

His outburst was partly to stand up for Yao Jing, and partly to worsen his relationship with her family so that under pressure from her family, Yao Jing would have to divorce him if she didn’t want to.

But he never expected that it would turn out to be what Yao Jing wanted.

He prided himself on seeing through the world, yet he couldn’t see through Yao Jing. Why would this woman, who didn’t love him at all, be willing to withstand so much pressure and ridicule from others just to be with him?

"I’ll go work at your company," Yao Jing suddenly said.

"Huh?" Lin Zhiming was taken aback again, once more confused by Yao Jing's thoughts.

"I won't let you be just a puppet," Yao Jing said calmly.

A puppet?

Lin Zhiming was taken aback as he looked at Yao Jing, quickly realizing that she likely thought he could afford to buy the Lin Group because he had someone backing him. She believed he was merely a puppet of that person.

Logically speaking, this assumption was not incorrect; after all, a person who had been a softie for over twenty years couldn't possibly come up with a billion.

"Let’s talk about this later," Lin Zhiming said. His goal was still to divorce Yao Jing, so he wasn't keen on her working at his company.

To Yao Jing, Lin Zhiming's words further solidified his identity as a puppet. If he were truly the chairman of the company, arranging for her to work there would be a matter of minutes. Why did he need to say "let’s talk later"?

Ding! The elevator doors opened.

"I’m going to buy groceries," Yao Jing said as she walked out.

Lin Zhiming hesitated for a moment before heading to his car.

The two drove out of the parking lot in separate vehicles.

"Young Master, that woman has gone to the suburban detention center," Dong Jian's voice came through Lin Zhiming's phone.

"Has there been any movement from the people behind that woman?" Lin Zhiming asked while driving.

"Not yet," Dong Jian replied.

"I understand. Keep an eye on them," Lin Zhiming said.

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Inside the Haixia City detention center.

Shen Hongyue sat across from Lin Zhixing.

Lin Zhixing resembled Lin Zhiming somewhat but was much taller.

"From the current situation, it’s clear that someone is backing Lin Zhiming, and this person is likely the one who got you locked up. Don't worry, my son; I will not let those who harm you go unpunished!" Shen Hongyue said through gritted teeth as she held Lin Zhixing's hand.

"That bastard Lin Zhiming should have been killed back then!" Lin Zhixing said with a murderous glint in his eyes.

"It's alright, son. What Lin Zhiming and his backer bought is just a soon-to-be-bankrupt Lin Group. Once the punishment decision comes down in a few days, the Lin Group may not even be worth a billion. I want to see if Lin Zhiming can still be so arrogant then! A softie will always be a softie! You are the most outstanding person in our Lin family!" Shen Hongyue said.

"When can I get out?" Lin Zhixing asked.

"Just wait. Your grandfather is already working things out at a higher level for you; you'll be out soon!" Shen Hongyue said.

"The day I get out will be the day Lin Zhiming disappears from this world!" Lin Zhixing said, his eyes gleaming coldly. This time, he wouldn’t let his brother escape like he did last time.

Lin family old residence.

This seven-story building in the old city area had once been a symbol of the Lin family's status in Haixia City.

Built over forty years ago, it was erected after Lin Zhiming's grandfather made his fortune. Even now, many Lin family members still lived here. However, due to its location in the old city, the core members of the Lin family had all moved to their own luxury homes in the city center. Those living here were mostly peripheral members and the elderly.

Lin Zhiming drove his modern Hyundai Elantra into the yard.

Inside the yard, a few Lin family members chatting and laughing noticed Lin Zhiming’s arrival and exchanged knowing smiles.