Chapter 155: Fatal Blow

The cries echoed, some loud and some soft, piercing the hearts of all who heard them. Qin Lin sat huddled amidst the crowd, his face deathly pale, his eyes devoid of any spark of life.

"Move aside, all of you! My father is in this state, why must you keep shouting?" Gao Ran rushed over, shoving several people away to steady the swaying Qin Lin.

"You’re nothing but an illegitimate daughter; do you really have any right to speak here?" The daughter born to Qin Lin’s legal wife crossed her arms, speaking with arrogance. "I didn't bother with you before, and I let it slide, but the situation is critical now. All our lives are in his hands—isn't it only right that he saves us?"

"If you keep talking, you'll be dead soon enough."

"Yes, we'll die if we wait! Get lost, don't force me to use violence."

Since stepping off the plane, Gao Ran had been ensnared in a deception. She was boiling with rage, and this run-in with her nominal sister was the perfect outlet. If she wanted to fight, so be it; she’d strike first.

With a swift kick, she sent the woman sprawling. Seeing this, Qin Lin’s wife immediately began to wail and throw a tantrum, grabbing Gao Ran’s hair and dragging her. As the elder joined the fray, Gao Ran’s mother, Gao Feng, didn't stand on the sidelines either, jumping in to grapple with Qin Lin’s wife.

Every moment of this scene was captured on surveillance.

"Look at that, Brother Long, the whole family is tearing each other apart."

The man who had just spoken glanced at the monitor and shook his head with disdain. He had seen too much of this over the past few days. A mistress and a wife fighting was child’s play; some people, to survive, would even sell out their own children. Human nature was laid bare in times like these—family, brothers, and friends meant nothing. The only things one could rely on were one's own fists and the money in one's pocket.

"Who would have thought the untouchable tycoon of piracy would end up in such a spot? If this got out, I don't know how many people would laugh themselves to death."

*A tycoon?* You probably don't even realize this is all part of Qin Lin's scheme.

Swallowing what he was chewing, the man said, "Stop gossiping. Keep a close watch on them. Securing the money is what matters." Their boss had orchestrated this massive setup, luring in every smuggler and sea-runner, all for the sake of profit. If he didn't handle this well, he would be the next one "cleaned up."

Qin Lin had been starving for days and was already weak; having taken two iron-fisted blows from the bodyguards earlier, he simply lacked the strength to intervene. However, this infighting had at least allowed him to see the true faces of those around him. His wife had clearly abandoned him entirely, while it was Gao Ran, his illegitimate daughter, who stood by him and tried to protect him.

"Stop fighting, all of you! I will give each of you a clue. Take it and save your lives."

"Couldn't you have just said that earlier?" The wife smoothed her clothes and hair, wiping a smear of blood from the corner of her mouth. "I know you care for this illegitimate daughter of yours, and I won't hold that against you. But there is one thing you must agree to."

"I’ve been your wife for so many years. I ignored your philandering, kept the house in order, and cared for your parents. You must give me at least two clues. My youth cannot have been spent in vain. You don't want your son and daughter to end up as laborers in a factory, do you?"

"A reasonable request. And what about you all?" Qin Lin turned to his other lovers. Those women lacked the wife's boldness; they kept their heads down, not daring to speak, waiting for Qin Lin to make the distribution himself.

Soon, everyone had received two clues—one to buy their survival, and another to secure their future. Having obtained what they wanted, they didn't linger for a second. They walked to the front door, knocked, recited their clues, and left the villa. Before long, only three people remained: Qin Lin, Gao Ran, and Gao Ran's mother, Gao Feng.

"Ranran, take your mother and leave. I don't think I'll be able to get out."

At this point, Qin Lin knew his fate. That boss was determined to keep him here and would not allow any unstable factors to remain.

"I’m not leaving. I’m staying here with you."

"Why stay? Go quickly. Once you're out, forget everything that happened here. Live a good life with your mother and stop thinking about things you shouldn't."

Gao Ran shook her head stubbornly. "Father, you're afraid of their retaliation. As long as we find stronger allies, they will be forced to let us go."

Qin Lin smiled bitterly and shook his head—what a naive girl. The boss behind this was a true titan, a force of nature. Even if Zhang Tianfeng himself were to intervene, he might not be able to pull it off. If there were any hope, it would only be the Huo family. But knowing Zhang Tianfeng as he did, Qin Lin knew that while the man seemed kind and friendly on the surface, he was cold-blooded at his core. If a situation touched upon his fundamental interests without offering a proportional return, he would never lift a finger.

Hearing Qin Lin’s thoughts, Gao Ran still shook her head. "Father, I don't believe it. 'Crazy' will definitely come to save us."

Realizing he couldn't persuade his daughter, Qin Lin looked at Gao Feng behind her. "Gao Feng, I opened two accounts in America under Ranran's name and deposited two sums of money. Take Ranran and leave immediately. One account is to buy your safety, the other for your livelihood."

"No, I won't go."

"Gao Feng, those accounts are hidden in the lining of my work badge. Take Ranran and go!"

"Let's go, Ranran. Staying here will only make things harder for your father," Gao Feng said, grabbing her daughter's arm.

Gao Ran’s eyes were red as she shook her head. She didn't want to leave; she feared that if she left now, she would never see her father again.

After several attempts, seeing that Gao Ran would not change her mind, Gao Feng stood up and said, "If you won't go, then I will go by myself."

"Gao Feng, what do you mean by that!" Qin Lin narrowed his eyes and growled.

"She refuses to leave, what can I do?" Gao Feng looked back and said, "I have no intention of staying here to die with you."

"Mother, you..." Gao Ran stared at her mother, her expression one of utter shock.

"Daughter, did you really think I stayed because of this nonexistent family bond? The only reason I stayed was for the money, and it could only ever be for the money."

Gao Ran’s eyes flickered as she said, trembling, "But you always told me that Father was a good man."

"That was acting, just to keep the money flowing. Since we're here, I might as well be clear: the only reason I gave birth to you was to get my hands on his wealth. It’s just a pity that the tigress in his house was too formidable; I couldn't beat her, so I had to use you as leverage."

"Well, everything that needed to be said has been said. You two can stay here and continue your little father-daughter drama. I’d like to see if all your efforts to please him will actually change your status as an illegitimate daughter."

Gao Feng’s words shattered Gao Ran’s inner defenses. Since she was a child, the thing she heard most was her mother’s praise for her father. When she grew older and learned of her status as an illegitimate daughter, she was initially distressed and even fell into a depression. But seeing the apparent affection between her parents had reignited her hope, a hope she had clung to until this very day. Now, however, her mother’s words caused her hard-won worldview to collapse entirely.

"Gao Feng, do you even know what you're saying?"

"Of course I do. I know exactly when to say it. You're a prisoner now; who knows how many days you have left in the sun? Why should I be afraid of you?"

"You will regret this."

"I'd love to see you try to make me regret it!"

Gao Feng sneered and walked toward the exit. She hadn't taken more than a few steps when she heard Qin Lin’s loud shout.

"Long Anlei, I know you’re monitoring me. Come out. It’s time we had a real talk."