Xue Jingdong's expression darkened. He was stung by Su Qingning's words.

Back in college, Su Qingning was the campus belle. Her family background wasn't particularly outstanding, but she carried herself with the pride of a swan. He had poured his heart out to her, but she had never once smiled at him. Now, she was acting all sweet and affectionate with a filthy beggar she'd been married to for just a few days. Xue Jingdong couldn't help the ache in his heart.

The first time he ever laid eyes on Su Qingning, he swore he would marry no one else. Yet now, not only had he failed to marry her, but she had also married a filthy beggar. If not for his considerable self-control, he would have coughed up blood from the sheer frustration.

Lin Xiao was somewhat surprised by Su Qingning's affectionate behavior. He hadn't expected this woman to act this way toward him. That enchanting voice, that devastatingly beautiful face, and those bright, alluring peach-blossom eyes.

"Honey, I think I'd better not go to your class reunion," Lin Xiao said with a smile. "After all, I'm sure you all have a lot to catch up on. With me there, you might not be able to relax!"

Although Lin Xiao knew that Xue Jingdong's so-called welcome banquet and investment were just a pretext for something malicious, he still agreed with his own point. This was a gathering of Su Qingning's former classmates. If he went, he might make them feel awkward.

"But I want you to go!" Su Qingning insisted stubbornly.

"Why?"

"Because I don't want you to get the wrong idea!"

Her words struck Xue Jingdong like a physical blow; he felt the urge to vomit blood. Damn it! He had kindly invited Su Qingning to this high-end gathering, and she was worried about a filthy beggar getting the wrong idea?

Now that she'd put it that way, Lin Xiao feigned helplessness, shrugged, and said, "Alright then, as long as Young Master Xue doesn't mind!"

"How could I? The fact that Qing Ning chose you is your good fortune, brother. I'm only envious, not disdainful. Besides, I'm not a man without manners!" Xue Jingdong said, his eyes crinkling into a smile.

Even though he despised this filthy beggar, he recalled that the guests at this banquet were all from prominent families. If this beggar went, he would undoubtedly face all kinds of humiliation. The contrast between them would naturally make Su Qingning see how wonderful he was. With a little more effort on his part after that, she might quickly divorce this filthy beggar. It was this thought that made Xue Jingdong smile so amiably.

"Alright, let's go then!" Lin Xiao said.

Xue Jingdong smiled. "Qing Ning, why don't you ride with me? Come to think of it, you've never been in my car before."

Xue Jingdong's plan was simple: get Su Qingning in his car so he could have a good chat with her on the way.

But Su Qingning shook her head. "Thank you, but I'll just take my husband's car!" With that, she got into the Cullinan that Lin Xiao had bought for her.

When Xue Jingdong saw this, he froze for a moment.

While a mere Cullinan was nothing to him, the key was that Su Qingning had just said she would take her *husband's* car. Could this beggar have actually bought it? Impossible.

Xue Jingdong had already done a thorough background check on Lin Xiao. He knew he was a penniless beggar. How could he possibly afford a Cullinan?

It must be that Su Qingning was afraid of people saying she married poorly, so she splurged to buy this car for the beggar. Yes, that has to be it.

But when he arrived at this conclusion, Xue Jingdong felt even worse. Su Qingning was actually willing to buy such a nice car for this filthy beggar. At that moment, he felt a pang of jealousy.

The two cars pulled out of the bar, one after the other.

Lin Xiao glanced at Su Qingning in the passenger seat. "Honey, you're looking for an investment?"

Su Qingning nodded. "My bar is doing quite well now, but Su Qingkun's trading company is also developing rapidly. He's already secured several major deals. If the bar gets an investment, it can expand and make more money. That would improve my chances of winning."

Lin Xiao smiled. "That guy's an incompetent fool. I don't believe for a second he has that kind of ability!"

Su Qingning sighed. "Of course he doesn't. The problem is that my uncle is secretly helping him. Also, I only recently discovered that while Su Qingkun's company appears to be losing a lot of money on the surface, it's actually doing quite well behind the scenes."

"No wonder!" Lin Xiao chuckled. "But honey, what if you fight tooth and nail to get Su Corporation back, only to find it's just an empty shell buried in debt? What will you do then?"

Su Qingning fell silent. But it was clear from her expression that she had already considered this possibility.

"Even if Su Corporation is an empty shell or buried in debt, I have to get it back. It's the company my father built from scratch," Su Qingning said resolutely.

"Good. I support you. In that case, we can talk about the investment right now!"

Su Qingning shot Lin Xiao a skeptical look. "What do you mean?"

Lin Xiao grinned. "Simple. If you need an investment, I can give you one. After all, your husband is so poor now that the only thing he has left is money!"

A small chuckle escaped her lips. She was truly amused by his words.

Looking at Lin Xiao's beggar-like appearance, Su Qingning couldn't imagine how he had the nerve to say he was so poor that all he had left was money.

But Lin Xiao was captivated by her laugh. He was suddenly reminded of an idiom: a smile that could topple cities. Beautiful. So very beautiful. Her devastatingly gorgeous face was one thing, but that smile made her lovely, peach-blossom eyes sparkle as if countless stars were exploding within them. Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat.

"Honey, do you think you could smile a little more often?"

"Hmph, no!" Su Qingning pouted.

"Why not?"

Su Qingning gave Lin Xiao a flirtatious eye-roll. "Because you're always bragging. 'So poor the only thing you have left is money.' How can you even say something like that?"

"But I'm not bragging. Go on, how much do you need?"

"One hundred million. You got it?" Su Qingning asked irritably.

"Huh?"

Lin Xiao was floored.

He had expected her to ask for more. He never thought she would only say one hundred million. For Lin Xiao, that number was practically an insult.

Seeing Lin Xiao's stunned silence, Su Qingning thought the figure had scared him. To be honest, she was deliberately trying to provoke him. It was his own fault for bragging about being so poor that all he had left was money.

When Lin Xiao remained silent, Su Qingning huffed. "What, did I scare you? Maybe now you'll think twice before you brag!"

Lin Xiao smiled. "Honey, I'm not scared. I just think one hundred million is too little. How about this? I'll give you a billion."

To Lin Xiao, a billion was, of course, small change. Since Su Qingning needed an investment, he certainly wouldn't be stingy. It was also a chance to prove his own strength, an opportunity Lin Xiao refused to miss.

Su Qingning was so exasperated she could have spit blood. She couldn't believe this shameless rogue was still bragging.

Without another word, she irritably stuck out her delicate hand toward Lin Xiao.

Her hand was truly beautiful. Her five fingers were long and slender, as if they were carved from lustrous white jade.

Without a second thought, Lin Xiao took her hand in his, their fingers interlocking tightly.

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