C6 Standoff

Su Hao's commanding and forceful words fell from his lips, resonating in the hall's corner long after they were spoken.

Beneath the glow of the crystal chandelier, Su Hao's piercing, eagle-like gaze swept over Lin Yilun, carrying a sliver of warning in its depths.

Bai Wenling, cradled in Su Hao's embrace, felt her cheeks flush with color, her mind a blank canvas.

His strong, powerful hand held her close, pressing her face against the warmth of his chest, where she could distinctly hear the steady beat of his heart.

A sense of security she had never known before enveloped her, as if in holding Su Hao, she held the whole world in her arms.

Bai Wenling's emotions were a tangled web.

For the past two months, Su Hao's behavior had caused her to lose faith in both marriage and life itself.

Yet today, Su Hao had ignited a glimmer of hope within her, shining brilliantly.

She wondered if this was just another of Su Hao's games, a quest for a thrill, and whether tomorrow he would revert to the frivolous playboy obsessed with life's pleasures.

Her instinct was to push him away, yet Su Hao's grip only tightened.

Lin Yilun, observing this exchange, maintained a smile, but a closer look revealed the icy specks dancing in his eyes.

He had never imagined that someone he deemed worthless would dare to embrace the woman he desired.

Nor had he anticipated that Bai Wenling, who loathed Su Hao, would allow herself to be held without protest.

He understood Bai Wenling well—a woman of formidable ability and exacting standards.

Whether in business negotiations or daily interactions, she kept men at arm's length, going so far as to wipe down chairs they had used with a tissue.

Drawing her into an embrace was a feat he thought impossible.

Yet Su Hao had achieved it.

This infamous man, known for his indulgent lifestyle, had succeeded!

Lin Yilun's eyes moved between Su Hao and Bai Wenling before he finally spoke, "My apologies. Mr. Su, as Miss Bai's fiancé, is naturally her perfect dance partner."

"It's more than just being a fiancé," Su Hao replied with a shake of his head, his tone earnest. "Wenling's beauty and grace are exquisite, her temperament unparalleled. How could just anyone catch her eye?"

Lin Yilun narrowed his eyes and flashed a sly smile. "Mr. Su, are you suggesting that someone like me isn't good enough for Wenling?"

"Director Lin, with your wealth and good looks, you're the heartthrob of countless women in Quanzhou. How could you not be worthy of Wenling?" Su Hao gestured dismissively, pointing towards a figure in the distance. "But you see, Director Lin, while a pretty face is common, a truly fascinating soul is one in a million. For a rare talent like yourself, only the most extraordinary match will do. I believe that person over there, with their unique spirit, is the perfect match for you. Don't you agree?"

Lin Yilun's gaze followed Su Hao's gesture, and he couldn't help but wince.

The figure Su Hao indicated was quite a sight: a round face as large as a durian, a body robust as a bear, making the floor tremble with each step.

Indeed, a soul tipping the scales at over 300 pounds!

Lin Yilun withdrew his gaze, his eyes icing over as he faced Su Hao. "I've always heard of Mr. Su's silver tongue and gift of gab. Seeing it in action today, I must say your reputation is well-earned."

"Likewise, there are whispers of Director Lin's eclectic tastes and diverse interests. Having met you, I must concede," Su Hao replied, locking eyes with Lin Yilun and offering a serene smile. "I hope you'll find your way to the altar with that intriguing soul soon. And when you do, kindly extend an invitation my way. Rest assured, I'll come bearing a generous gift."

Lin Yilun's expression turned stormy in an instant.

He was no fool; Su Hao's mockery was crystal clear.

Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Lin Yilun squinted once more and deftly steered the conversation elsewhere. "Mr. Su, I understand you haven't pursued higher education. I'm quite curious, how do you measure up to those well-educated heirs of prominent families? What exceptional skills do you bring to the table?"

"I have my fiancée, Wenling," was Su Hao's simple retort.

A muscle in Lin Yilun's jaw twitched. "And yet, you spend your days aimlessly, indulging in leisure at the Butterfly Loving Flower Company, living off others like a parasite. Can you, like others, claim ownership of luxurious homes and cars?"

"My fiancée, Wenling, can," Su Hao shot back confidently.

"I'm talking about you!" Lin Yilun's eyes blazed with indignation, his voice dropping to a growl. "With your nightly escapades, sometimes not returning home for days, what can you possibly offer to Miss Bai, who is left weary and worn?"

"Director Lin, before you answer that question, could you entertain one of mine?" Su Hao asked with a smile, savoring a sip of red wine.

Lin Yilun's brow furrowed. "What is it?"

"What's that red splotch on your pants?" Su Hao pointed at Lin Yilun's lower half, his question laced with mockery.

Lin Yilun, caught off guard, looked down and his face flushed with embarrassment.

A patch of his trousers had turned red from the wine.

Apparently, his earlier confrontation with Su Hao had been so intense that he'd accidentally spilled his drink.

It was hard to believe. Here was a business prodigy, whose mental fortitude was said to be tenfold that of an ordinary person, and yet Su Hao had managed to rattle him.

"Miss Bai, please excuse me for a moment." Lin Yilun gave Su Hao a penetrating look, offered Bai Wenling a strained smile, and hurried off to the restroom.

Bai Wenling watched Lin Yilun's retreating figure, a spark of astonishment in her beautiful eyes.

Over the past two months, Su Hao and Lin Yilun had crossed paths numerous times, with Lin Yilun always getting the upper hand in their verbal sparring, leaving Su Hao seething with frustration. He had never managed to get the better of him.

Lin Yilun's formidable psychological resilience, honed in the cutthroat world of business, was a benchmark for many ambitious university graduates. He was known for his ability to keep his composure, regardless of the opponent.

Yet today, Su Hao had managed to corner Lin Yilun with his words.

After watching Su Hao for a moment, Bai Wenling's gaze dropped to his hand. "He's gone now. Can you let go?"

"Sorry!" Su Hao said with an embarrassed chuckle, quickly withdrawing his hand.

"Wenling, I hope you'll keep your distance from Lin Yilun in the future. He's a cunning man, and it's all too easy to fall into his traps. He'll stop at nothing to get what he wants, and you, with your kind nature, are particularly vulnerable to deception, so..."

"So I should steer clear of Lin Yilun and stick by your side, is that it?" Bai Wenling cut him off before he could finish.

Su Hao hesitated, his mouth agape, at a loss for words.

In his past life, he had been no stranger to womanizing. To coerce Bai Wenling into sleeping with him, he had even sold off shares of the Butterfly Loving Flower Company. Compared to Lin Yilun, he might have been the more detestable one.

His earlier words had the ring of a thief crying "Stop thief!"

A flicker of disappointment crossed Bai Wenling's eyes when she noticed Su Hao's silence. If only he could genuinely assure her of his reformation and make a promise, she might have considered his plea to distance herself from Lin Yilun. But Su Hao's silence offered her no glimmer of hope.

"Perhaps he's just seeking a thrill," Bai Wenling mused with self-deprecating laughter. Without further comment, she pulled out her phone and immersed herself in the latest news.

Emerging from the restroom with a dark scowl, Lin Yilun shot a venomous look toward Su Hao. That a nobody had managed to make him look foolish in front of the woman he desired was utterly inexcusable.

"Director Lin, what's with the grim look?" A man dressed in opulent attire approached with a look of concern. Lin Yilun was known for his grace and poise, a man whose mere smile could set hearts fluttering. To see him without a trace of his usual charm, his eyes smoldering with anger, was startling.

Lin Yilun regarded the man, a calculating gleam in his eye. He leaned in and whispered, "I've heard that Wang Baiwan is bringing two esteemed calligraphy masters from Quanzhou to the celebration. They'll surely be asked to critique. When they do, shift the focus to Bai Wenling and nominate her as the first reviewer."

"Bai Wenling?" The man blinked in confusion. "Director Lin, isn't she the woman you're fond of? She's not exactly a calligraphy connoisseur. Putting her in the hot seat as a judge—isn't that like throwing her into the fire?"

It seemed out of character for Lin Yilun to draw trouble toward a woman he admired.

With a casual sip of his red wine, Lin Yilun clarified, "I have no intention of making Bai Wenling critique. I simply want you to direct attention her way. She'll be out of her depth with calligraphy and become anxious. That's when I'll step in to smooth things over for her."

"Brilliant!" The crew-cut man's eyes lit up, and he enthusiastically gave a thumbs up.

By causing trouble for Bai Wenling, and then having Lin Yilun step in to resolve it, Bai Wenling, now free from the predicament, would naturally feel indebted to Lin Yilun, perhaps even developing a fondness for him.

This classic 'hero saves the damsel in distress' tactic was sheer genius!

A smug look crossed Lin Yilun's face. "Handle this well, and your company will enjoy three years of sponsorship from Lin's Group."

"Rest assured, Young Master Lin, I've got this under control," the man exclaimed, his face beaming with excitement as he confidently thumped his chest.

A three-year sponsorship from Lin's Group could catapult his company from the middle ranks straight to the top tier.

Lin Yilun gave a slight nod and, swirling his red wine glass, strolled over to an adjacent seat to sit down.

He cast a glance towards Su Hao, noticing that Su Hao was also watching him.

Their gazes met in the air, igniting a silent clash of wills.

Eventually, Lin Yilun looked away, his lips curling into a sinister smirk.

Su Hao's brow furrowed, his eyes glinting with an icy resolve.

Lin Yilun, in your past life, you went to great lengths to ruin Butterfly Loving Flower Company, driving Bai Wenling to such despair that she took her own life.

This time around, I, Su Hao, have returned with the Moonlight Treasure Box. If you so much as harm a hair on Bai Wenling's head, I swear I'll leave you penniless and filled with remorse.