Chapter 172

Before Ning Jinli could speak, Lin Lina immediately said, "However, since the elder brother has returned, according to the law he still enjoys certain inheritance rights; this matter can be negotiated slowly."

Though she said that, Lin Lina had no intention of actually giving away even a bit of the family property.

What a joke—after finally swallowing something, how could there be any reason to spit it out?

Moreover, she was fully confident that, relying on her family's formidable financial strength and tough connections, even if Ning Shan sued to seize the inheritance, success would be impossible.

Of course, Ning Shan couldn't miss her little thought.

Ning Shan also didn't plan to rely on inheritance law in the absence of a will and painstakingly contend.

"You keep citing the law—nice," Ning Shan said softly, "Then, according to the law, if my father's will still exists, shouldn't we follow it?"

Lin Lina said openly, "That's only natural."

Although Ning Shan's question was a bit odd, she had nothing to worry about.

The old man's will had been destroyed right before her eyes by her daughter's lawyer ex‑boyfriend, leaving not even ashes—where could it be found?

Ning Shan laughed, "In that case, it's perfect—with all the Four Major Families present and so many reporters, we can have them as witnesses. Lin Lina, take a look at what this is."

After speaking, Ning Shan pulled a folded sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it over.

Lin Lina's eyes were swollen, she could hardly see, so she gave it to Ning Yao: "Yao Yao, take a look—what is this?"

Ning Yao unfolded the paper and saw a line of handwriting, which she read aloud.

"I, Ning Guowei, after my death, all my estate, including the family group, shall be inherited entirely by my eldest son, Ning Shan."

After finishing, she paused, "Mom, is this Grandfather's will?"

Lin Lina exclaimed, "Impossible! Let me see!"

Ning Yao placed the paper before her; she strained to open her red, swollen eyes and tried hard to recognize it.

The result showed that it was indeed the old man's handwriting.

Beside it were an additional signature, a fingerprint, and the old man's personal seal.

"This… this—where did it come from? I've never seen it before!"

Lin Lina could hardly believe her own eyes.

She clearly remembered that the will destroyed by her daughter's lawyer ex‑boyfriend stated that Ning Shan would inherit seventy percent of the estate, as well as ninety percent of the family group's shares and management rights, listed in particular detail.

How could another will now appear, giving everything to Ning Shan?!

"Why don't you check the date?" Ning Shan reminded, "It's right inside the old man's seal—take a close look."

Lin Lina came to her senses, looked again, and suddenly discovered that this will was dated later than the one she had seen!

In other words, even if the first will still existed, the later one would take precedence.

She was completely dazed.

Ning Shan smiled, "After I returned here, I took the second will that Grandfather secretly gave me, and I've carried it on my person every day—as the saying goes, 'better to meet by chance than to seek early'; today is a good public opportunity."

"Fake! It must be fake!" Lin Lina exclaimed angrily, "You certainly forged the will! I don't believe it!"

Ye Zhiqiu said lightly, "Now that technology is so advanced, why not send it to a professional appraisal agency for testing? What's the use of not believing?"

"Mom… how could this happen? What… what should we do?" Ning Yao panicked at once.

Lin Lina suddenly shoved the will into her mouth.

Under the astonished gazes of the reporters, she forcibly chewed the paper into pieces and swallowed it, choking her until her eyes rolled up.

Even Ning Yao was frightened by her crazy action.

"Cough… cough cough…" Lin Lina coughed a few times, clutching her chest, took a long breath, "Yao Yao… don't worry, now the will is truly gone."

"So the sister‑in‑law likes to eat paper?" Ning Shan curled his lips, "You didn't notice that the paper is too fresh? Doesn't it feel unlike something stored for ten‑odd years?"

Saying that, Ning Shan again produced another copy from his pocket and waved it.

"You…" Lin Lina was once again dumbfounded.

Ye Zhiqiu sneered, "If you like eating it, we have plenty here—it's just a photocopy; eat as much as you want."

"Ugh—"

Lin Lina covered her stomach and began to vomit.

After all that trouble, she ate it for nothing!

"Mom… Mom, are you alright?" Ning Yao hurriedly patted her back.

Lin Lina took a while to recover.

Ning Yao asked tearfully, "Mom, does everything of the Ning family now belong to them? Do we have nothing left?"

"What do you mean 'belong to us'?" Ye Zhiqiu said sternly, "It was originally ours! Blame only your parents' greed—if they hadn't schemed, your family could still have gotten a share, and Ning Shan would have let your father keep helping manage the company out of familial feeling, letting you live comfortably. But now you all have to give it back!"

"No… no!" Ning Yao couldn't accept it and burst into tears.

Lin Lina forced a semblance of calm, "Elder brother, elder sister‑in‑law… our family… Ning Hai… his whereabouts are unknown; now only I and Yao Yao depend on each other. Please, for Yao Yao's contributions to the Ning Group, leave us mother and daughter something—even ten percent would do."

"What contributions does she have?" Ning Jinli asked with a smile.

"Yao Yao, don't cry." Lin Lina nudged her daughter with her elbow and whispered, "Without you, there would be no such great development of the Ning Group; it's all up to you…"

Ning Yao composed herself, wiped her tears, and regained confidence, "In the past one or two months, I've made the Ning Group's profits multiply several times; I secured large investments, thereby expanding the group's business projects—these are reported in the news! Moreover… moreover, the Four Major Families have become major backers of our group—aren't these all my achievements?"

Ning Jinli sneered, "Wow, you really dare to plaster gold on your own face!"

"Ning Jinli, you—" Ning Yao flushed with anger, ready to launch a tirade.

Lin Lina quickly restrained her daughter, saying firmly, "Xiao Li, the facts are before you—you can't publicly deny Yao Yao's contributions; based on her contributions to the group, reason and sentiment dictate that she should receive some family property, and letting her continue managing the Ning Group would benefit your side with no harm, right?"

"Sigh, it's really hard on you—at this point you still dream of claiming benefits that don't belong to your family." Ning Jinli shook her head, turning her gaze to Lu Jue Ming, "Young Master Lu, perhaps you should tell them the truth."

Lu Jue Ming's face showed a relaxed expression; now Ning Miss could finally let him speak, otherwise he'd have kept it bottled up while watching Ning Yao's self‑importance, which really made him uncomfortable.

"The truth? What truth?" Ning Yao asked blankly.

Lu Jue Ming said, "Actually, at first your father Ning Hai brought a proposal seeking investment from our Lu family; we thought the project was ordinary, could make money but not much, so we didn't take it seriously. Later you took over from your father and approached me for support; I considered the past grievances between Miss Ning Jinli and your family, and originally intended to refuse you, but Miss Ning Jinli directed me to invest, so I followed her instructions."

"What… what?" Ning Yao's face filled with disbelief, "You… you say she… she directed you? You are the eldest son of the Lu family! What authority does she have to command you?! Young Master Lu, are you teasing me?"

Lu Jue Ming had a solemn expression: "Miss Ning Jinli is my boss; she has also shown me kindness, and thanks to her trust I can do the work I love most—she can certainly give me orders."

Upon hearing this, Ning Yao and Lin Lina almost turned to stone on the spot.

All the reporters present had their jaws drop.

If not for seeing it with one's own eyes and hearing it with one's own ears from Lu Jue Ming himself, who would dare believe that the heir of the Lu family, the foremost of the Four Major Families of Xinghan City, actually has such a connection with Ning Jinli?!

Looking at his respectful and serious attitude, it's as if he had become Ning Jinli's little follower!

Before this crowd could recover from their shock, Lu Jue Ming, who would not stop unless he shocked people, continued: "The Lu family's initial investment in the Ning Group, as well as the subsequent additional funds, and including my contacting the other three families to jointly invest money, were all done out of respect for Miss Ning Jinli's face; besides that, it has nothing to do with anyone else."

The reporters erupted in an uproar!

Ning Yao, as if struck by lightning, blurted out: "Could it be… could it not be because… because you… you like me?!"

Lu Jue Ming frowned: "First, I have never said or acted that way; second, you have repeatedly asked me to meet privately, and I have clearly refused each time. I don't know why you have such a deep misunderstanding of me."

"Then… you…?" Ning Yao, her face turning pale with anxiety, searched her mind and said, "Do you still remember our first date? At that time you even helped me deal with Ning Jinli!"

"Sorry," Lu Jue Ming continued without mercy, exposing her directly: "That time I actually met her at the invitation of Miss Ning Jinli. Out of consideration for your face, I went along with you a bit, but I never expected you to go overboard; the quality you displayed made me very uncomfortable, and from that point on I have only had a negative impression of you. Where would any liking for you come from?"

Lu Jue Ming's voice was not loud, yet each word struck Ning Yao's heart like a boulder.

Ning Yao felt as if her heavens had collapsed.

And the complex looks cast upon her by the many reporters made her feel utterly unable to find a place to hide.

"I… I…" Ning Yao swayed on her feet, her face alternating between red and pale.

Feeling the immense pressure coming from all sides, she wanted to flee but had nowhere to go; she could only try to salvage a bit of face: "Well… even if those are… are my misunderstandings… but… but you cannot deny that the Ning Group's business projects only became greatly profitable under my leadership! Having the Four Major Families' investment is one thing, making the business profitable is another!"

"Miss Ning Yao, you are also mistaken about this." The senior executives of the other three major families' groups standing beside Lu Jue Ming also stepped forward to explain to her.

After investing, the groups under the four families opened doors of convenience in every aspect for the Ning Group's business projects, and secretly helped reduce costs, streamline operations, broaden markets, and so on.

Do you really think, Miss Ning Yao, that by merely visiting the company once in a while, sitting in the office for an hour or two playing with your phone and computer and drinking coffee, without formulating any strategy for any aspect of project operations, you could make the project progress so smoothly?

Saying this was tantamount to stripping away Ning Yao's last fig leaf.

The reporters suddenly came to a realization.

As it turns out, the Ning Group's rise—from obtaining investment to achieving huge profits—has nothing at all to do with Ning Yao!

After all this fuss… it turns out that the miracle was created precisely by Ning Jinli, the person who was driven out of the family by Ning Yao's own clan ten years ago!

At this moment, the reporters felt a solemn respect for Ning Jinli.

She is the true legend!

Ning Jinli's mind went blank; she staggered backward a few steps and collapsed onto the ground, unable even to cry.

"Hehe… hahaha…" Lin Lina suddenly burst out laughing: "Well… amazing, truly amazing! Ning Shan, Ye Zhiqiu, and you… Ning Jinli! I never expected I had underestimated you so much! Everything you've arranged in this layout is truly brilliant! In the end you sit back and reap everything, letting our family… suffer utter defeat! Are you satisfied now?!"

Ning Shan furrowed his brows: "Do you still not understand that it's you who are wrong?"

"Hah!" Lin Lina's eyes flashed with a cold light: "You've won, so naturally you can say whatever you want; we're merely fighting over interests, winner takes all, loser is the villain—what's there to debate about right and wrong? I just never imagined we would lose so suddenly and completely."

Ning Shan let out a soft sigh: "You're just like Ning Hai—beyond help."

"Yao Yao, let's go!" Lin Lina shouted at Ning Yao.

Ning Yao was dazed and had no reaction.

Lin Lina had her bodyguards help her up and put her into a Rolls-Royce.

"Have the police been called?" Ning Shan turned to ask Ye Zhiqiu.

Ye Zhiqiu nodded: "Reported, they should be arriving soon."

Hardly had the words fallen when several police cars arrived at the scene.

Lin Lina, we have received a report; you are suspected of murder and of obtaining inheritance through illegal means, and we also suspect you may be linked to certain cases involving Ning Hai; under the law we are now taking you in for interrogation—please cooperate with the investigation.

The officer displayed the arrest warrant before Lin Lina's eyes.

Lin Lina, expecting this, stretched out her hands, allowing the officer to cuff her without any resistance, and got into the police car.

"Mom! Mom!" Ning Yao jumped out of the car, gripping the officer tightly, and shouted, "What evidence do you have to dare arrest someone?! Release my mother! Otherwise I'll sue you!"

Before the officer could say anything, in her panic she punched and kicked him, even slapping his face a few times.

Click—

A pair of cold handcuffs was clamped onto Ning Yao's wrist.

Ning Yao's face changed drastically: "What… what are you doing?! Why are you arresting me too?!"

The officer then produced another arrest warrant: "We have also received a report that you illegally entered a factory, bringing people to cause violent disturbances; moreover, certain special envoys who conducted investigations in violation of regulations were also linked to your private instigation; we are now investigating you according to law!"