News of Zhihao’s expulsion from the Lin family exploded online, dominating the Spring Festival headlines. Gossip-hungry netizens speculated wildly.
To protect my parents from online abuse, I hired a PR team to tamp down the buzz. But they actually seemed to enjoy sparring with trolls.
Netizen: “It’s just another rich family scandal.”
Mom: “Your life is the real scandal.”
Netizen: “Chairman Lin is a good man, but he’s clearly henpecked.”
Mom gave that one a like.
I realized my parents were happier without their useless son.
Meanwhile, I had Yiran investigated. The report made me laugh coldly—she was working for Huang Yikun, a troublemaking shareholder who’d always tried to undermine my mother and me, claiming women couldn’t run a big company.
He’d tried everything, from fake reports to sexist jabs, but I’d always outmaneuvered him.
Yiran’s tactics with Zhihao were pathetic—waiting outside his dorm at 5 a.m. with homemade breakfast, fetching hot water for his feet, and driving away his previous girlfriend with relentless flattery. According to Zhihao’s friends, what won him over was that Yiran made him feel like a real man, unlike at home where he was always the useless son.
I snapped the report shut, disgusted.
So much for being a “real man”—he needed a woman’s sacrifice to feel important.
Even after learning Yiran was Huang’s pawn, Zhihao stuck with her after we cut ties.
After the holiday, I confronted Huang Yikun. He just smirked, acting as if manipulating my brother would break our family. “In the end, the family business always goes to the son,” he sneered.
But I wasn’t worried. I knew he had more tricks up his sleeve.
Soon, Yiran launched a viral hashtag, #TheLinFamilyFeudTruth, posting a tearful essay accusing me of bullying her, complete with a selfie showing my handprint on her cheek. She painted herself as a victim, claiming I’d driven Zhihao away and destroyed the family.
Zhihao joined in, live-streaming his sob story and hinting that I’d used underhanded means to get my position.
They claimed buying from them was a way to “fight back” against me, and sales soared.
But the company’s reputation tanked, the board demanded my resignation, and Huang Yikun saw his chance.
My father stood by me. “Qiaoling has a solution,” he said.
I smiled at Huang. “You’ll love my plan.”
I played the full surveillance footage from our home, exposing Yiran and Zhihao’s manipulations and lies. The internet turned on them instantly.
“Wow, I can’t believe I ever believed their lies. Yiran is such a drama queen!”
“Watching her mock Qiaoling’s age made my blood boil. 31 isn’t old!”
“Turns out all the rumors came from them.”
“Qiaoling, I’m sorry for doubting you!”
Even former supporters switched sides, flooding my company with positive attention.
Huang was speechless. As he left, police officers appeared at the door—he’d been caught selling illegal goods to Zhihao.
Zhihao and Yiran tried to claim the video was faked, but no one bought it. Their fans turned on them, and their live-stream collapsed. Facing massive debt and legal trouble, they vanished.
I wasn’t about to let them off. My lawyers filed defamation suits using Yiran’s essay and Zhihao’s livestream as evidence.
Zhihao called, begging for help. “Yiran took all my money and ran. I owe everyone, and I’m the only one on the company license. Please, sis, I’ll do anything!”
He cried like a child, but I didn’t forget the things he’d said.
“You were fooled by a manipulator and hurt the people who truly loved you. You’re not sorry for what you did—just for losing.”
“It’s time you learned to take responsibility.”
I hung up.
Yiran was arrested for her part in Huang Yikun’s crimes and went to jail. Zhihao, buried in debt, started working menial jobs. My parents cut him off completely, focusing on my well-being instead.
But I wasn’t stressed. My only passion was my work, and I was thriving.
As for love—life is long. When the right person comes along, I’ll be ready.
The End
Chapter 04
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