C80 Please!

The moment he spoke, a shockwave rippled through everyone in the hall.

They looked up just in time to see Zhang Chen, a smile gracing his face, as he walked through the doorway.

Why had he come?

Lin Junkai's brow furrowed instantly, a flash of coldness in his eyes.

But then, he eased up.

The poison he had acquired had cost him dearly, and it was notoriously difficult to counteract.

With that thought, Lin Junkai allowed himself to relax.

Lin Zhiqing bit her lip gently, her nose tingling with the onset of tears. She felt an inexplicable urge to cry.

Lee Fengqin's eyes sparkled as she spoke with excitement, "Zhang Chen! How could I have forgotten you? Where is your sister? Call her quickly!"

"Your grandfather has been poisoned again. You must get your sister to save him!"

A wave of bitterness washed over Zhang Chen.

For all these years, it seemed this was the first time Lee Fengqin had spoken to him with such urgency.

Without delay, Zhang Chen responded with a smile, "My sister has already left; she can't make it back."

"What?"

At his words, Lee Fengqin, Lin Guofeng, and the others gasped, their brows knitting together in concern.

Lee Fengqin's voice was laced with urgency as she asked, "Where has your sister gone? When will she return?"

Zhang Chen replied calmly, "My sister has gone abroad. She likely won't return for several years."

His words were merely a ruse to mislead Lin Junkai.

"She's not coming back?"

Lee Fengqin's eyes widened in shock, and she stumbled back two steps.

Both Lin Guofeng and Lin Guolong wore expressions of deep sorrow.

The sparkle in Lin Zhiqing's eyes faded too; she had hoped they could at least save Old Master Lin's life.

Only Lin Junkai's sneer grew more pronounced.

Lee Fengqin's face went through a series of changes.

Finally, with great anger, she said, "What good are you? You're absent when we need you, yet you appear when we don't."

"Knowing that Old Master Lin was in danger, how could you let your sister leave?"

"What are you really up to?"

Zhang Chen was taken aback.

He had only meant to bluff Lin Junkai. How had they taken him at his word?

But as realization dawned, Zhang Chen's anger flared.

"Where my sister goes is none of my business, and certainly none of yours!"

"My sister's act of saving Old Master Lin was a privilege for the Lin family!"

Zhang Chen's voice was icy as he spoke.

He despised people like this the most.

Lee Fengqin hadn't expected Zhang Chen to talk back to her, her anger boiling over!

Yet, when she pointed at him, she was at a loss for words.

Just then, Lin Junkai's frosty voice cut through, "If you're not here to save Old Master Lin, then why are you here?"

Zhang Chen quelled the rage within him.

His true objective was Lin Junkai, and he was there for serious business.

After a brief pause, a smile crept across his face. "I'm here to clear Lin Zhiqing's name."

Lin Junkai let out a mocking laugh. "Clear her name?"

"What exactly did you mean by your words upon arrival?"

"Wasn't it Lin Zhiqing who poisoned Old Master Lin?"

For Lin Junkai, this was yet another chance to solidify Lin Zhiqing's guilt!

Zhang Chen replied with a grin, "Of course not. Otherwise, why would I be here?"

His statement left everyone dumbfounded, their bewildered eyes fixed on Zhang Chen.

With a sneer, Lin Junkai challenged, "If not Lin Zhiqing, then who was it that poisoned him?"

Zhang Chen responded matter-of-factly, "You."

"What?" Lin Junkai's face contorted as he barked, "I wasn't home all day; I was with my friends. How could I have poisoned Old Master Lin?"

Zhang Chen shrugged in exasperation. "What's your problem? You wanted an answer, I gave it, and now you're berating me."

"You're truly twisted."

His words hung in the air as brows furrowed all around.

Lin Zhiqing bit her lip, the flicker of hope inside her slowly extinguishing.

She realized that Zhang Chen had no evidence either.

Lin Guolong stepped forward, his voice stern, "Zhang Chen, we, the Lin family, are grateful to your sister for saving my father's life."

"But you should watch your words! Accusing Lin Junkai is slander!"

Zhang Chen simply shook his head, chuckling.

Lin Guolong was Lin Junkai's father; of course, he would come to his son's defense.

It was unclear whether Lin Guolong was aware of the situation.

If he was, Zhang Chen wouldn't spare him.

"What evidence do you have that Lin Zhiqing is the one who poisoned him?" Zhang Chen challenged.

Lin Junkai's brow furrowed in anger. "She's the only one in the entire mansion."

Zhang Chen flashed a wry smile. "What if someone slipped in and poisoned her?"

"You..."

Lin Junkai was seething with rage, caught off guard by Zhang Chen's tenacity.

After a moment's contemplation, his eyes sparked with determination. "Fine, I'll find you your evidence!"

"If she's the poisoner, there might still be something incriminating left in the villa!"

Without another word, he headed straight for the kitchen to begin his search.

Lin Zhiqing felt a sense of despair. Even if no evidence was found, she had no way to prove her innocence.

The other three had their own thoughts on the matter.

Zhang Chen waited in silence, observing Lin Junkai's performance.

Soon after, Lin Junkai called out, "Over here!"

Everyone froze at the sound of his voice.

Once they snapped out of it, they hurried toward the source of the sound.

Lin Junkai, pointing at a box, said with a cold laugh, "Just as I thought, I've found it!"

"Let me be clear, I haven't touched this thing. We can check for fingerprints later!"

Lin Guofeng's brow creased as he asked icily, "What's inside?"

All eyes were wide with anticipation.

Using a pair of chopsticks, Lin Junkai extracted a small plastic bag from the box.

With a sneer, he said, "Lin Zhiqing, perhaps you'd like to explain what this is?"

Lin Zhiqing's eyes went wide in shock.

Wasn't this the ginseng Lee Junyi had given her? She hadn't realized there was something else hidden in the box!

"I don't know, the box was delivered by someone else..." Lin Zhiqing stammered nervously.

It was only now that she understood the gravity of her situation.

Had Lee Junyi and Lin Junkai conspired against her?

Lin Junkai's sneer grew colder. "What could this brown powder be, if not poison? Rest assured, I'll be turning this over to the authorities!"

"Get ready for a prison sentence!"

His voice resonated with a commanding presence.

Everything was unfolding just as he had orchestrated, without a single slip-up.

It was a done deal!

Lin Zhiqing staggered backward, taking a half step in retreat.

Despite having pieced together the truth, she was utterly powerless to counter it.

The evidence was all against her.

Despair washed over Lin Zhiqing.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she lifted her gaze to meet Zhang Chen's, her expression etched with solemn urgency. "Please," she implored, "could you ask your sister to come back? Is there any chance she could save my grandfather?"

It was her final thread of hope.

Her voice brimmed with desperation.