NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29:
Chapter 29:
On the other side, Lin Hai panicked when he saw that Qin Chao was seriously considering Lin Chuan’s proposal.
His entire advantage in this competition came from Qin Chao’s support.
If Qin Chao abandoned him and chose to back Lin Chuan instead, he would be finished.
He had already tasted power, and there was no way he was going back to his former miserable life.
His mind raced, and soon, his eyes lit up as an idea struck him.
“Mr. Qin, didn’t you take a liking to Lu Zhaoge?” Lin Hai suddenly spoke up.
“That woman is Lin Chuan’s fiancée. Isn’t he trying to steal your woman?”
This statement immediately reminded Qin Chao.
A few days ago, at a banquet, he had accidentally encountered Lu Zhaoge—and was stunned by her beauty.
After investigating, he learned that she was Lin Chuan’s fiancée.
When he heard this, he found it ridiculous.
A useless, spoiled second-generation heir like Lin Chuan… was worthy of such a woman?
However, he had also learned that Lu Zhaoge despised Lin Chuan and had been trying to break off the engagement.
Now that Lin Chuan had come to him for help, it was the perfect opportunity to settle this matter once and for all.
“I can support you,” Qin Chao said, “but on one condition.”
“What condition?” Lin Chuan asked curiously.
“Cancel your engagement with Lu Zhaoge.”
Hearing this, Lin Chuan’s eyes flashed coldly, but he quickly concealed it.
“That might be difficult. Our engagement was arranged by our families—I don’t have the power to cancel it on my own.”
“I’m sure you’ll find a way,” Qin Chao said firmly, leaving no room for refusal.
“In short, I want Lu Zhaoge. You figure it out.”
Lin Chuan’s smile slowly faded.
“Can we change the condition?”
“No.”
Qin Chao’s tone was resolute.
Lin Chuan’s expression darkened, his calm gaze locking onto Qin Chao.
“Even though I have no feelings for her, she is still my fiancée in name. If I give her up just to gain your support, how would people see me?”
At this moment, he was almost certain—his plan to stall Qin Chao had failed.
“Anyone who wants to accomplish great things shouldn’t get caught up in trivial matters.” Qin Chao lectured him.
“If you can’t even sacrifice a woman, how do you expect to achieve anything significant?”
Lin Chuan suddenly grinned, but this time, it was a completely different kind of smile.
“Then how about this—why don’t you give me your mother?”
“What did you just say?!”
Qin Chao’s face turned dark.
“Wasn’t it your own words?” Lin Chuan’s smile widened.
“If you can’t even sacrifice a woman, how can you achieve great things? So why don’t you offer your mother to me?”
“You’re courting death!”
Enraged, Qin Chao swung a punch at Lin Chuan.
But Lin Chuan had been expecting it—he immediately stepped back, dodging the attack.
His lips curled into a mocking sneer.
“I wasn’t planning on falling out with you this soon, but you were the one who didn’t know when to stop.”
“Now, we have nothing left to say.”
“Just make sure you don’t regret it later.”
His words were genuine.
Deep down, he had hoped to delay his confrontation with Qin Chao.
After all, Qin Chao was the original novel’s protagonist, someone with unmatched luck and a ridiculous protagonist halo.
But unfortunately…
Even though he had extended an olive branch, Qin Chao remained as arrogant as ever—he had even dared to demand Lu Zhaoge from him in public.
This was nothing short of a blatant insult.
If Lin Chuan gave in now, he would never be able to hold his head high again!
Qin Chao, however, laughed mockingly.
“Regret?” he sneered.
“I’ve never regretted anything in my life.”
“I gave you a chance, but you were the one who refused.”
“Since that’s the case, your woman and your family’s wealth—I’ll be taking all of it.”
Lin Hai, who had been nervous earlier, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
His greatest fear had been Qin Chao abandoning him for Lin Chuan.
But now that the two had become enemies, Qin Chao would only support him even more.
Lin Chuan scoffed at Qin Chao’s arrogance.
“Since this is our first official clash, let’s see who laughs last.”
Then, he turned and walked up to Xia Tian.
“Now, let me show you who these two really are.”
Xia Tian looked at him, startled.
She had no idea what he was trying to do.
Then, Lin Chuan pulled out his phone and played a video—the one he had secretly recorded earlier.
Due to the angle, only half of Lin Hai’s body was visible, but his clothing and voice made it clear that it was him.
“Mr. Qin, everything is ready.”
The moment Lin Hai’s voice came from the phone, his face turned pale.
Lin Chuan had secretly recorded their conversation?!
Qin Chao’s eyes narrowed, staring coldly at Lin Chuan.
He had no idea what Lin Chuan was planning.
Then, his own voice came from the recording.
“Good work.”
Since he had been inside the car when speaking, and Lin Chuan had recorded from a distance, his voice was slightly muffled—but the words were still understandable.
“It’s my honor to serve you, Mr. Qin. This is nothing.”
“Once this is done… I’ll give you another investment tip… You’ll make a fortune this time.”
“Thank you, Mr. Qin! I’ll never forget your kindness!”
“Enough with that. Get to work.”
“Yes, sir.”
The video ended there.
Xia Tian’s face turned cold as she glared at Qin Chao and Lin Hai.
“Why did you two deceive me?!”
Lin Hai, feeling guilty, stayed silent.
But Qin Chao didn’t flinch—instead, he looked completely innocent.
“Miss Xia, you’re misunderstanding,” he said calmly.
Xia Tian pointed at Lin Chuan’s phone.
“Then explain this video!”
Qin Chao feigned confusion.
“Do you see me in the video?”
“I…”
Xia Tian paused—the video only showed Lin Hai, not Qin Chao himself.
“Even if you’re not in the video, your voice is!” she argued.
“Are you sure that voice is mine?” Qin Chao countered.
Xia Tian hesitated.
Lin Hai’s voice was clear, making it undeniable that he was in the recording.
But Qin Chao’s voice was muffled and unclear.
Even though it sounded like him, it was impossible to prove it definitively.
Qin Chao saw her hesitation and smirked.
“If there’s no video proof of me, and you can’t confirm the voice is mine, then how do you know it’s me?”
Xia Tian glanced at Lin Chuan.
“He said so.”
Qin Chao turned to Lin Chuan, grinning mockingly.
“He and I are enemies. Of course he’d slander me.”
“I saved you—I asked for nothing in return.”
“But don’t stab me in the back.”
His sharp retort and moral high ground left Xia Tian speechless.
For the first time…
She felt guilty.