Standing Next To You-Chapter 231: Swallow Your Pride

Lin Sanju looked at Li Mei, "Why? Did I say something wrong? You coddle her too much, and she thinks the world revolves around her. If she looks around carefully, she would notice that you and Father have fought and that our fourth branch is losing power as the days go by because of what she did-"

Li Mei couldn’t take it anymore and raised her voice, "Lin Sanju, go upstairs!"

Lin Sanju stood up despite not having finished his food, "You are the same as her. You both only look at yourselves." He then left and went upstairs.

The dining table was silent and tense.

Lin Sunji was dumbfounded. She looked at her mother anxiously, "Is he telling the truth? Did you and Dad fight because of me? Are we losing power?"

Li Mei sighed. It seemed she could not hide it any longer. "...Your brother is right. Our situation is not good right now. Your father thinks that sending you abroad is the right choice, but I—"

"I don’t want to go abroad! People will think I ran away!"

"I am against it. I won’t let you go abroad. We will think of some other way, okay? Things might get hard for you in the future. But we will endure it. We will rise back again."

Lin Sunji lowered her head. She wanted to ask more but she was afraid of hearing the answer.

Was their family really losing power? How could it be?

They were the third-strongest contender, even stronger than the third and fifth branches. How could they fall into such a predicament?

Lin Sunji and Li Mei had no appetite to eat anymore. They went back to their own rooms with gloomy hearts.

.....

On her way to her room, Lin Sunji met her brother. Lin Sanju was leaning on her door, waiting for her.

Lin Sunji glared at her brother. If he knew the family’s situation before her, he should have told her, or at least let her know without throwing a fuss.

"Why are you here?"

Lin Sanju did not answer her question and asked, "What do you plan to do now? Are you going to keep your useless pride or help the family?"

"Hah, you speak as if you are contributing to this family," Lin Sunji replied angrily.

She felt that her brother was more useless than her. At least, she tried her best to bring more benefits to their fourth branch while her brother did nothing and just played his games all day.

Lin Sanju felt that talking to his sister was like talking to a spoiled, stubborn three-year-old kid. At least a three-year-old was a lot cuter than his sister, "It’s useless to talk to you. But I still have to remind you. Our family is at a breaking point. You should wake up and stop being immature."

Lin Sunji was about to lash out again when Lin Sanju continued, "But you may be right about one thing. There is something you can contribute."

Lin Sunji did not want to listen, but she was curious. If the fourth branch lost power, then her marriage prospects might be worse than an illegitimate child’s. She was the backbone and hope of the fourth branch. She must do something to keep them afloat.

"What is it?" Taking the bait, she asked Lin Sanju.

"Swallow your pride."

Lin Sunji: "...."

"If you humble yourself even once, it won’t be too hard to be humble next time. You are too stubborn and act so mighty when your ability can’t match it--"

"I am not listening!" Lin Sunji was so angry that she went to her room and slammed the door behind her.

Swallow her pride? For what?

She was a Lin. She deserved to act high and mighty!

As expected, it was useless to listen to him.

*****

In a high-rise building in Country A, a young man looked down on the busy street. The glasses on the bridge of his nose reflected the city lights below.

"Young Master, Mr. Bang finally agreed to our proposal. He just signed the confidentiality contract."

Mr. Bang was the last supporter on Lin Ruo’s side. He was very loyal and capable, an important figure in the fourth branch. He was equivalent to Lin Ruo’s right-hand man. Without his support, the fourth branch would be crippled.

Lin Zhe turned to face his personal butler. The gentle and amiable look on his face was gone. He replied coldly, "Then proceed to take over. The fourth branch has no choice but to follow us. We need to acquire them before the second branch makes a move."

"Yes, Young Master. I’ll ensure that you become the Master of the fourth branch before you return to the country."

The takeover was just a formal process. The head of the fourth branch, Lin Ruo, had to take a vow to support another heir using everything at their disposal. They had to surrender and announce to everyone that they wished to follow another branch, essentially swallowing the fourth branch as a whole.

And the first one to swallow a branch would undoubtedly gain a significant advantage in thei heir competition. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

.....

At the same time, in a luxurious hotel.

Lin Fei swirled a glass of wine as he watched several videos on the large TV screen. A familiar face appeared on the screen.

A moment later, a butler whispered next to him.

Lin Fei raised his eyebrows, "The fourth branch is done for so soon?"

This took him by surprise. The fourth branch’s downfall happened so quickly that Lin Fei could not help but be suspicious. Was it really only him and Lin Zhe pulling the strings behind the scenes?

"What should we do, Young Master? I think the first branch is going to force Lin Ruo to make a vow. We should move before it happens." Lin Fei’s personal butler suggested.

Lin Fei laughed. His expression and movements were very languid, as if this matter was not urgent at all, "Why did you ask me when you already have an answer of your own? I don’t think I need to instruct what you have to do. Or do you want me to do it personally?"

The personal butler was speechless for a moment. He was just concerned and advising for the Young Master’s sake. Why he suddenly get his ire?

It was very hard to keep up with the thoughts of an eccentric Young Master.

Looking at his butler’s speechless face, Lin Fei laughed again, "I was just kidding around. Alright, I think I need to act personally. In this way, uncle will see that I am more sincere than that pretentious bastard, right?"

Lin Fei then reached out his hand, "Did you already get what I asked you for?"

The butler handed a USB to him, "Yes. We have compiled it. But Young Master, will this be enough to convince the fourth branch?"

"I believe Uncle Ruo will make a wise decision. If he doesn’t want what is in this to go public."

The butler nodded but was still unsure in his heart. Would their Young Master finally be lucky and get it right?

...

Many schemes and webs of plots were being woven in the dark, ready to be laid out in plain sight once the right timing had come.

The third branch’s mansion wasn’t idle either.

That night, Bei Sangyun had an unusual visitor.