Chapter 2293: Love and Chaos: System Showdown 17

Group office.

Behind the wide ebony office desk, Jin Chen leaned back in the high-backed chair, his fingertips holding the pen that You Le'an had previously given him, lightly tapping the spread-out thick documents intermittently.

It was precisely the astonishingly valuable core document of the city investment project that had just been torn from the Xie family.

Meanwhile, the Xie family's small moves never ceased, like a dying beast struggling, still attempting to reclaim this piece of flesh that Shengsheng had gouged out.

Ridiculous.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open, and Xi Lan walked in.

He wore a well-tailored suit, his hair carefully groomed, trying to maintain his former dignity, but the guilt and panic deep in his eyes could not be concealed.

His steps were somewhat stiff; when his gaze touched the prominent project document on Jin Chen's desk, his pupils contracted and he quickly looked away, as if burned.

"Jin…… President Jin, you called for me."

Xi Lan's voice was dry and tense.

Jin Chen did not lift his head, nor did he stop the tapping of his fingertips with the pen; he merely gave a faint hum, his gaze still on the document.

An intangible sense of oppression, like a tangible weight, pressed heavily on Xi Lan's shoulders.

Xi Lan's cold sweat almost soaked through his back shirt.

He took a deep breath, his voice trembling noticeably: "President Jin, I… I came to apologize. For my bewildered actions on the cruise ship…"

He paused, feeling that this explanation was feeble, and hastily added, "I was really used by Xie Jiu Long! He threatened me! I… no, I was duped by You Le'an."

He finally lifted his eyes, meeting Jin Chen's deep, unfathomable, waveless gaze, and the words that followed instantly caught in his throat.

That gaze was too cold, too penetrating, as if it could see through all his clumsy lies and excuses with perfect clarity.

Xi Lan knew that with just an apology, he would definitely not be able to leave this office unscathed today.

He had to offer something more valuable.

His eyes flickered, as if he had grasped at the last straw.

"President Jin! I know you've been getting close to You Le'an lately. But! You must not be deceived by him! Xie Jiu Long's side has already investigated this thoroughly! You Le'an… he… he is nothing like what you think!"

"His approaching you surely has ulterior motives!"

"Oh?"

Silent Jin Chen finally had a reaction.

He slowly raised his head, without anger or surprise, only icy mockery.

He gently placed the pen on the desk, which sounded especially clear in the silent office.

Jin Chen leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped on the desk, his composure relaxed, each word crystal clear, like ice beads falling and striking Xi Lan's fragile nerves.

"Xi Lan."

He spoke that name, his tone flat.

"You mean I should question the person who, on the cruise ship, devised a scheme to save me."

"Then."

His gaze swept over Xi Lan.

"Let you off, the person who, in the darkness, truly wanted to push me into the sea?"

"President Jin, I…"

"No need to say more, sign the papers, handle the resignation."

Jin Chen interrupted him, putting the project document into his bag, then glanced at Xi Lan: "If you still want to stay in this line of work, you'd better not play any tricks on You Le'an."

Xi Lan's vision darkened in waves; he opened his mouth but could not utter a sound.

——

Today is the day of Lin Xi's piano competition.

You Le'an was in the room debating with the system.

〖Currently the accumulated Blackening Value is only 30, only a small part comes from the male lead, this progress is very dangerous. 〗

The Villain System left no stone unturned in its urging, 〖If you want to return to the original world, you still need to put effort into the male lead! 〗

You Le'an hugged the cushion, "I'm a bit confused, memory-wise…"

He always felt that the memories "transmitted" by the system were a bit too natural.

But You Le'an lacks experience, so he naturally can't tell which memories are his own and which were transmitted.

As for the so-called original world…

You Le'an even felt that it was chaos in his mind.

The system buffered for a moment, then said: 〖Think back to your original goal—wasn't that your own wish? 〗

You Le'an blinked, and his eyes gradually grew resolute.

One person and one system began to discuss the next step.

Meanwhile.

Ling Gun Gun broadcast the Blackening Value of the Villain System to Jin Chen.

【It seems the calculation method is different,】 Ling Gun Gun rolled back and forth in the back seat, 【The degree of blackening toward outsiders can also be accumulated there!】

Jin Chen happened to have parked the car in the garage; hearing this, his eyebrows slightly rose.

Isn't the way to break the situation right here?

——

To see off Lin Xi, who was about to compete, Jin Xing De and Lin Ying, far away on the other side of Diqiu, specially had them air‑freighted…

A chef.

The steward earnestly arranged the new employee's onboarding, and incidentally labored over the children's 'Tea Gathering to Celebrate Lin Xi's Victorious Start'.

Zhou Du remarked: 'How exciting, it feels as if I too am about to compete.'

It is truly too immersive.

The small gathering also invited several cousins and same-age peers from the Jin Family.

They had long admired the prestige of Zhang Gongzi, and also heard through various rumors that You Le'an still had a tangled, ambiguous relationship with Jin Chen, so they also asked for leave to attend this gathering.

As the main character of the small gathering and also a competitor in the afternoon's match, Lin Xi was inevitably nervous.

Before lunch, he just changed into the competition's white suit, full of vigor, but his eyelids kept twitching.

Survival System bb:

Lin Xi tried to reassure himself: 'With so many people here, they're all my own brothers and sisters, You Le'an… should probably restrain himself.'

Just consider it as giving face to his brother.