Chapter Four: Taking the Blame

The old lady knew Lin Yuxin had seen through the matter; it was impossible to muddle through any longer. But the arrow had already been notched, and there was no turning back. After a moment’s thought, she spoke slowly, “Yuxin, I’ll be frank with you. The night before last, the Liu family’s little grandson developed a fever. They bought a box of cold medicine from a pharmacy under the Lin Corporation, but instead of getting better, his condition worsened. Now the Liu family wants an explanation from us.”

Lin Yuxin was shaken to the core, disbelief written all over her face.

Even a fool could see what the old lady meant. The Liu family’s grandson was getting sicker, likely because the cold medicine was problematic—probably counterfeit. Whoever was responsible for the procurement was the primary person to blame. Forcing Hong Chen to sign the employment contract was simply to make him the scapegoat.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Yuxin suppressed her anger and said coldly, “Grandmother, this has nothing to do with Hong Chen. Whoever is responsible should answer to the Liu family.”

Her attitude provoked her second uncle’s son. Lin Huihuang sneered, “Lin Yuxin, what are you trying to say? I’ll be straightforward. I was in charge of pharmaceutical procurement before, but I was deceived too. Who could have known the supplier was problematic? This isn’t a regulatory investigation; it’s about giving the Liu family an answer. Do you want to push me out as the scapegoat?”

He jabbed a finger at Hong Chen, continuing as if it were only natural, “Our family has housed this useless man for two years. Isn’t it only right that he contributes something? Besides, if he goes to apologize, it’s not as if the Liu family will take his life.”

The old lady nodded in agreement. “Yuxin, don’t worry. I’ll have your second uncle go with him to the Liu family. As long as they’re sincere, I doubt the Liu family will make things too difficult for him. Afterwards, we can give him a position in the company as compensation.”

The others quickly voiced their assent.

Lin Yuxin trembled with rage. Yes, her marriage to Hong Chen was a three-year contract, and his performance over the past two years had indeed disappointed her. There was little affection between them. But whatever the case, Hong Chen was still her husband. How could the Lin family make such a heartless decision?

“I won’t sign the contract. I can take the blame, and I can go to the Liu family, but I have conditions.” Just as she was about to continue her protest, Hong Chen’s lazy voice sounded. Lin Yuxin froze, a hint of sorrow flickering in her eyes, her heart feeling as though pierced by a thorn—a pain beyond words.

What disappointed her most about Hong Chen was not his inactivity or lack of ability, but his weakness, his resignation, and his utter lack of the backbone a man should have.

She had defended him so resolutely, but he chose to compromise of his own accord. Was this really her husband?

The others’ eyes lit up, and the old lady said simply, “Speak.”

Hong Chen replied coolly, “First, if the Liu family’s grandson dies, I won’t take the fall in court. Second, if you want me to shoulder the blame, the Lin family must pay—two pharmacies under the Lin Corporation as compensation.”

“No way!” Lin Yuanshan rejected flatly. Those two pharmacies, although under the Lin Corporation, were managed by him. Handing them over would cost his household hundreds of thousands in annual profits.

“Absolutely not.” Lin Huihuang was even more adamant than his father.

The others kept silent, while the old lady frowned deeply.

Hong Chen swept a quick glance over them all and asked mockingly, “If the same terms were offered to any of you, would any of you dare take the blame?”

No one answered.

His voice suddenly rose. “The entire Lin family is gathered, and before I came you’d all agreed, even trying to forge a contract to pin the responsibility on me. Even if I were a fool, I’d understand how serious this is. A sincere apology alone won’t settle this—who are you trying to fool?”

Hong Chen laughed coldly, then continued, “I may not know the Liu family’s true power, but I can guess well enough: they’re not people the Lin family can afford to offend. When people visit relatives, they bring gifts; I’m basically walking into a tiger’s den. You expect me to go empty-handed? Let me make this clear—if anyone here thinks two pharmacies are too much to pay for this, then let them take the blame. I won’t do it!”

He knew all too well the Lin family’s ugly faces. As long as he wasn’t divorced, he was still a Lin in name and didn’t want things to turn truly ugly. He could shoulder the blame, but he wouldn’t do it for free. The two pharmacies were his reward—not for the Liu family, but for himself.

“How dare you!” Shen Huifang slammed the table and rose. “Hong Chen, I’m telling you, you’ll take the blame whether you want to or not, or else—”

Hong Chen fixed his gaze on her and interrupted, “Or else what? Are you going to kick me out of the family? If you have the guts, say it. I’ll leave as you wish. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—if you drive me out now, the problem will remain, and without me as scapegoat, it’ll be your turn. In the entire Lin family, besides me, you’re the most expendable.”

Boom!

Hong Chen’s words struck Shen Huifang like a bolt of lightning, leaving her stunned and pale as she slumped back in her chair, her mouth agape, speechless.

Strip away the pretense, and the truth is always hard to accept, yet impossible to deny.

Lin Yuan returned as the Lin family’s illegitimate son, and his whole branch was lowest in the family hierarchy. Among them, only she and Hong Chen had no Lin blood. Without Hong Chen as a shield, who else but her would be sacrificed?

The others’ expressions shifted unpredictably. Hong Chen’s sudden outburst of sharpness left them feeling as if they no longer recognized him.

He let his mocking gaze sweep over them, finally settling on the old lady. “Grandmother, give me a straight answer. Do you accept my terms or not?”

Her eyes flickered as she fell silent for a long moment. Finally, she nodded expressionlessly. “Very well. The two pharmacies will represent the Lin family’s sincerity. You’ll take responsibility for this alone. Now, go to the Liu family at once.”

Hong Chen agreed without hesitation and turned to leave. His bold, upright figure looked nothing like a man going to apologize, but rather a landlord collecting his rent, leaving the others dazed.

“Yuanshan, go with him. Make sure he doesn’t say anything out of line.” The old lady gave a hurried order. Lin Yuanshan quickly agreed and followed after. When she saw Lin Yuxin move as if to leave too, she barked, “Yuxin, you stay here.”

Shen Huifang reacted swiftly, grabbing Lin Yuxin and shooting her a fierce glare.

“Outrageous! He’s just a dog we raised, and now he wants to bite his masters.”

“Damn it, we’ve raised an ingrate.”

“Hmph, a petty man who’s gotten above himself.”

“Above himself? He knows disaster is coming and is trying to tear a chunk out of the family before he goes down. Useless men like him are always the darkest inside.”

As soon as Hong Chen left, the previously silent hall erupted. The old lady’s face was dark as water; she slammed her chair’s armrest. “Enough!”

At once, the room fell silent. The old lady, holding half the shares in the Lin Corporation, was the true power in the family—none dared challenge her.

She exhaled sharply, then turned her cold gaze to Lin Yuxin. Slowly, she said, “Yuxin, I know you’re upset and think I’ve handled this poorly. But you must understand, my decisions are for the good of the entire family. Don’t forget, you’re a Lin—and your marriage to Hong Chen is only a contract.”

Her tone softened a little. “You’ve been married two years; you know what kind of man he is. Let’s put the past behind us. Now, do as I say and divorce him.”

Lin Yuxin shook her head. “Grandmother, our marriage contract is for three years—”

The old lady cut her off sharply. “We’ve housed him for two years; that’s more than enough. No matter how things turn out with the Liu family, you must divorce him. He’ll no longer be one of us. This is the Lin family’s stance and our explanation to the Liu family.”

Lin Yuxin tried to protest. “Grandmother, making Hong Chen the scapegoat is already unfair to him—”

But the old lady interrupted again, her expression turning icy, her voice even colder. “That’s what he owes the Lin family; let this settle the debt. Your divorce will put an end to things. If you think you’re too grown-up to listen to me, then you needn’t remain a part of this family.”

Lin Yuxin was left speechless with shock. The old lady gave her no chance to respond, instead sweeping her gaze over the others and smoothly shifting the topic. “Now, I have an important announcement about the family’s future. The newly founded Hongcheng Group has invested over five hundred million at once, launching several projects simultaneously. Many families have already taken action. If we keep watching from the sidelines, there’ll be nothing left for us.”

“From today, for the next month, the eldest will represent the Lin Corporation. The other three families will each manage their own subsidiaries. Whoever secures the most orders, with a total value not less than thirty million, will receive ten percent of the company’s shares from me. Every family has a fair chance—may the best win.”

The moment these words were spoken, everyone’s eyes gleamed; they began discussing enthusiastically. With Hong Chen set to take the blame, they seemed to have forgotten all about the Liu family’s troubles.

Only Lin Yuxin sat silently, head bowed, as if her soul had left her body…