{Chapter: 256 Chen Qu's miserable end! Yan Ruyue's curiosity!}
Lin Yuan's decision sent a chill through the room.
'He's too ruthless… At such a young age, he already dares to sentence someone to be drowned in the river!'
The thought echoed silently in the minds of the other key officials, their gazes tinged with unease and apprehension. What they had just witnessed wasn't just the punishment of a traitor—it was a warning, sharp as a knife, to anyone who dared to betray the Lin family.
They were terrified.
Yet, while everyone else was shaken by Lin Yuan's decisiveness, the young man himself remained calm and indifferent. In his eyes, this punishment wasn't even severe. It was justice.
To Lin Yuan, this wasn't cruelty—it was necessary.
If Wang Qu—no, Chen Qu—were allowed to remain within the Lin Group, he would continue to chip away at its foundation like a termite hiding in the wood. The damage would have been irreparable in the long run. His betrayal wasn't just personal; it was strategic and deeply rooted in destruction.
In fact, in the original timeline Lin Yuan had read, Chen Qu was one of the key reasons why the Lin family eventually collapsed.
So in his mind, this was not vengeance—it was prevention.
However, not everyone could see the situation as clearly as Lin Yuan.
After all, Chen Qu had been a familiar face. A trusted member of the Lin Group's senior management. He had worked tirelessly for years, had meals with them, laughed during company events, and even helped solve emergencies. He had woven himself so seamlessly into the Lin family's daily life that, for many, it was hard to accept the truth.
To punish someone so decisively—even before giving him a chance to explain or repent—seemed harsh, even heartless.
Meng Yuelan, Lin Yuan's mother, who always had a softer heart, couldn't bear it. Her voice trembled slightly as she said, "Xiao Yuan… perhaps it's better if we let the authorities deal with him. A life sentence in prison is already punishment enough."
Interestingly, she still referred to him as "Wang Qu," as though calling him "Chen Qu" would confirm the betrayal too painfully. After all, this man had stood beside them for years. The wound of his treachery was still fresh.
Lin Yuan opened his mouth to respond, ready to defend his decision—but before he could say anything, his father, Lin Jianjun, suddenly interrupted.
"There's no need to talk about rivers or prisons anymore," Lin Jianjun said calmly. "Just take Chen Qu to the Yunhu Villa… and throw him into the fish pond."
Lin Yuan blinked.
At first, he frowned. He thought his father, like his mother, was also being too lenient.
But then, a second later, he processed the last part of the sentence—and his frown melted into a slow, amused smile.
He looked at Lin Jianjun with newfound respect.
Others in the room began to exchange nervous glances. Most of them had visited the Lin family's Yunhu Villa at least once and knew exactly what kind of "fish" lived in that so-called pond.
They weren't koi or carps.
They were sharks. Real, living, flesh-tearing sharks.
A dozen of them, to be exact.
Lin Jianjun had imported them personally, years ago, claiming it was for "security training purposes." But those who truly understood him knew—it was his way of reminding people what happened to those who crossed the Lin family.
So when Lin Jianjun said, "throw him into the fish pond," he wasn't being poetic.
He meant it. Literally.
Chen Qu would be fish food.
The officials' faces paled. Some even took a step back subconsciously. This punishment was even more terrifying than Lin Yuan's original idea.
Lin Yuan couldn't help but glance at his father again, this time with admiration.
In the original storyline of the novel, Lin Jianjun had been the last man standing when the Lin Group was on the verge of collapse. He fought alone, held the reins as long as he could, and only fell when the pressure became unbearable. That strength—that resolve—was showing now.
At home, Meng Yuelan usually handled the smaller, more domestic matters.
But when it came to major decisions—when blood needed to be shed—Lin Jianjun had always been the sword.
And now, both father and son were of one mind.
Meng Yuelan, seeing their agreement, finally sighed and lowered her head in reluctant acceptance. She now understood the truth—if Lin Yuan hadn't exposed Chen Qu today, the damage to the Lin family's future could have been catastrophic. This punishment was not just for revenge—it was a message.
A message to the other key officials.
That betrayal would not be tolerated. No matter how high you climbed in the Lin Group, if you betrayed them… you would pay the ultimate price.
Seeing that nothing more needed to be said, the two bodyguards dragged Chen Qu away silently.
Suddenly, a mechanical notification rang inside Lin Yuan's mind:
[Ding! Hidden spy of the Lin Group exposed! Plot successfully reversed! Reward: 2000 Counterattack Points!]
Lin Yuan's expression remained unchanged on the surface, but internally, he nodded in satisfaction. Another step forward. Another piece of the puzzle resolved.
As Chen Qu's figure disappeared from sight, taken to his gruesome fate, the atmosphere in the room slowly shifted.
It was as if the remaining key officials had just woken up from a trance.
Everything Lin Yuan said had turned out to be true.
There was a spy.
And he had been among them all along.
They couldn't help but look at Lin Yuan with renewed awe—and fear.
They couldn't hide the shock on their faces as they stared at Lin Yuan in disbelief.
Just ten minutes ago, when Lin Yuan calmly claimed that there was a hidden spy among them, nearly everyone in the room sneered or scoffed. To them, it sounded absurd—like the boast of an inexperienced young man trying to act important.
But now, less than half an hour later, Lin Yuan had done what none of them expected.
He had not only exposed Ding Fan, the metaphorical moth eating away at the group's foundation, but had also unmasked the long-hidden spy, Chen Qu.
And Chen Qu was no ordinary figure—he had been part of the Lin Group's core management team for years. No one had suspected a thing. He had blended in perfectly, even earning their trust.
The shock wasn't just from the exposure itself, but from how Lin Yuan discovered it.
Wasn't Lin Yuan known for not being deeply involved in the family business? Wasn't he still young and inexperienced compared to them?
So how did he know so many things—even matters that escaped the eyes of the most seasoned executives?
The other senior officials couldn't make sense of it. But they weren't fools.
Through this incident, they saw Lin Yuan in a completely new light. Behind his youthful face and composed demeanor was a sharp and calculating mind, one that clearly saw far more than they gave him credit for.
Some even began to realize that Lin Yuan's methods were more decisive—more ruthless—than either Lin Jianjun or Meng Yuelan.
Especially the way he handled Chen Qu.
There was no hesitation in his voice when he said he didn't care if Chen Qu sank to the bottom of a river.
Lin Jianjun, for all his years of experience, was no gentle soul either, but compared to his son, he seemed… restrained.
Lin Yuan, on the other hand, exuded an aura of quiet authority, the kind that naturally commanded attention and even fear. He gave them all a sense of pressure—of looming power.
In their minds, they had no doubt now: this young man would be their future boss.
And if they were smart, they should get on his good side—sooner rather than later.
At that moment, Lu Junlan, who had earlier questioned Lin Yuan's judgment, took a step forward and bowed slightly with admiration. Her voice rang with newfound respect.
"Young Master Lin is truly brilliant. Fortunately, your insight was like a divine flame in the dark. You saw through the traitor Chen Qu, or else he might have continued hiding among us like a snake in the grass. Who knows how much harm he could have caused to the Lin family and the Lin Group!"
She paused, then added with a smile, "Green is born of blue but surpasses blue."
(T/N: A Chinese proverb meaning a student can surpass their master, or the next generation may outdo the previous one.)
Lu Junlan didn't refer to herself as 'Aunt Lu' anymore.
Her previous attitude had completely transformed into one of sincere admiration. It wasn't just lip service—she meant every word.
Her words sparked a ripple effect. The other core executives also turned to Lin Yuan, faces full of awe and respect.
"Youthful yet so wise—Young Master Lin will surely guide the Lin Group toward a new era of greatness!"
"Director Lin and Director Meng have truly passed their strengths to Young Master Lin. This is the future of the Lin family!"
"The decision about Chen Qu was swift and decisive. I've always found him a little suspicious, but I never had the courage to speak out. Young Master Lin's bravery is truly admirable!"
Compliment after compliment echoed through the room. But this time, there was no flattery for flattery's sake.
Each one of them now recognized Lin Yuan's capabilities, not as the child of Lin Jianjun and Meng Yuelan, but as a leader in his own right.
Both Lin Jianjun and Meng Yuelan looked on, visibly pleased by the scene. In their hearts, they had begun to truly believe that Lin Yuan was ready to inherit the Lin Group's future. He was no longer just their son—he was the rightful successor.
Of course, the support of these experienced veterans would still be important along the way. But Lin Yuan had shown he could take control when it mattered most.
Still, Lin Yuan wasn't swayed by their praise. He responded to each compliment with calm politeness, acknowledging their words but not letting them distract him.
After all, this was just the beginning.
Once the atmosphere calmed down, he gave a light nod and said with a composed tone, "Everyone has worked hard today. Let's call it a day. You're all dismissed."
One by one, the key officials bowed and quietly left the room.
As soon as the last of them had stepped out, Meng Yuelan hurriedly walked over, eyes filled with a mix of awe and curiosity.
"Xiao Yuan, how did you know? How could you be so certain that Chen Qu was a spy? And so clearly too?" she asked in a breathless voice.
Lin Jianjun and Yan Ruyue also leaned in, waiting for the answer.
They had all been caught off guard by his precision.
How could someone so young uncover a spy who had infiltrated the Lin family for years—within ten minutes no less?
Even Yan Ruyue, who had known Lin Yuan for some time now, couldn't hide her surprise. She would be lying to herself if she said she wasn't shocked.
She realized that the more she got to know him, the more mysterious and unreadable he became.
But strangely, that mystery only drew her closer.
The more distant and unfathomable Lin Yuan seemed, the more fascinated she became—almost enchanted. A part of her couldn't help but want to get closer, to understand the mind behind those calm, watchful eyes.
*****
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