NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 23:
Chapter 23:
“Heh, fiancé?”
Lin Chuan reacted as if he had just heard the most ridiculous joke. “Since when has she ever considered me her fiancé? Hasn’t she always wanted to break off the engagement? Fine, I agree—let’s call it off!”
“You…”
Xu Manli was infuriated by his shameless response. Not only was he unapologetic, but he even had the audacity to talk back. She was about to lash out again when Lu Chaoge quickly stopped her.
“Manli, that’s enough.”
Xu Manli huffed in frustration. “Chaoge, just look at his attitude! He’s clearly in the wrong, yet he still tries to argue. Why are you even hesitating? Just let your dad call off the engagement!”
“I have my own plans.” Lu Chaoge’s tone carried a hint of displeasure.
Xu Manli wanted to say more, but seeing her expression, she swallowed her words.
Lu Chaoge turned to Lin Chuan. “Can we talk?”
Lin Chuan didn’t answer right away. Instead, he affectionately instructed Ning Wenrou, “Keep practicing properly. I’ll check on your progress later.”
Only then did he step out of the pool.
Lu Chaoge and Xu Manli hurriedly averted their gazes.
Lin Chuan smirked, picked up a towel from the table, wiped his body, threw on his robe, and lay back on the lounge chair. “Alright, speak. What do you want?”
Lu Chaoge hesitated for a moment before handing him the folder in her hands. “I received this anonymous letter today.”
Lin Chuan took a sip of tea, placed the cup on the table, and then accepted the folder.
After reading the contents, he let out a cold laugh. “Resorting to such underhanded tactics… I guess I overestimated you.”
With that, he casually tossed the letter onto the table.
There was no need to guess—this letter was undoubtedly written by Lin Hai.
Previously, Lin Chuan had deliberately let Chen Jirong spread the news about his arranged marriage with Lu Chaoge to Wen Qiang.
His real intention was to let Wen Qiang pass the message to Lin Hai.
As expected, Lin Hai reacted immediately—leaking their competition to Lu Chaoge in an attempt to ruin their engagement and completely cut off his retreat.
Heh, ruthless move!
Lin Chuan sneered inwardly. “That’s right. I do have a younger half-brother, and yes, we are in a competition. And I’m already at a complete disadvantage. Shouldn’t this be good news for you?”
Lu Chaoge frowned. “How can you say that?”
“Am I wrong?” Lin Chuan turned to her. “You’ve always hated me. You’ve always wanted to break off the engagement. Now you have the perfect chance—don’t waste it.”
Lu Chaoge finally lost her patience. “Why are you being so unreasonable? I came here out of kindness to warn you, and instead of appreciating it, you’re mocking me?”
Lin Chuan, unfazed by her scolding, simply shrugged. “You act like this is your first time dealing with me.”
“You know exactly what kind of person I am. I’m ungrateful, I’m useless—so what? If you can’t stand it, just break off the engagement.”
Lu Chaoge clenched her fists tightly, clearly trying to suppress her anger.
After a long silence, she gradually loosened her grip. “Is there anything I can do to help? Of course, only if it doesn’t violate the competition rules.”
Lin Chuan was taken aback. He stared at her in disbelief. “You… want to help me?”
“I… I just don’t want to take advantage of your misfortune. Even if we do break off the engagement, I’d rather wait until you’ve dealt with this crisis.” Lu Chaoge’s gaze darted away as she spoke.
Lin Chuan studied her for a long moment before blurting out, “Are you insane?”
Lu Chaoge froze.
She had come with good intentions, yet he called her insane?
Xu Manli couldn’t hold back any longer and snapped, “You’re the insane one! Chaoge is trying to help you, yet you treat her like this? Do you even have a conscience?”
Even Lin Chuan realized he had gone too far and fell silent.
But deep down, he was genuinely surprised.
In the original plot, Lu Chaoge despised him to the core and was always looking for ways to cancel their engagement.
Now, with the perfect opportunity right in front of her, shouldn’t she be rushing to the Lin family to break things off?
Yet instead of doing that, she came all the way here to warn him…
And even offered to help.
What kind of bizarre turn of events was this?
Though confused, he refused to back down. “That’s just the kind of person I am. If you don’t like it, then go ahead and cancel the engagement.”
“You…”
Xu Manli was furious, but Lu Chaoge stopped her again and turned to Lin Chuan. “If you don’t need my help, then… I wish you luck.”
With that, she pulled Xu Manli along and walked away.
Even as they left, Xu Manli was still complaining.
“Chaoge, what’s wrong with you? That jerk practically threatened you with a breakup—why didn’t you just agree? This was the perfect opportunity!”
“Manli, drop it. I have my reasons.”
“Why should I drop it? I don’t understand what’s gotten into you today. What’s going on?”
“Ugh, just do me a favor and stop asking.”
“I swear, that guy was right—you must be crazy. Do you have some kind of masochistic tendency? The more he mistreats you, the more you enjoy it?”
“You… what nonsense are you talking about?”
“How am I wrong?”
Their voices faded into the distance, but Lin Chuan remained lost in thought.
Lu Chaoge’s behavior today was completely out of character.
He had been as blunt as possible—any woman, let alone someone as proud as Lu Chaoge, would never tolerate it.
Yet she did.
And she even showed concern for him like a devoted wife.
Ever since he transmigrated, the characters in the original story had started acting strangely.
Ning Wenrou was one example.
Lu Chaoge was another.
Had his mere presence already started to cause ripples in the plot?
As he pondered, a system notification suddenly rang in his mind.
[Congratulations, Host! You have completed Choice Three and obtained the ‘Combat Mastery’ skill (equivalent to the strength of a hundred men).]
The moment the notification ended, Lin Chuan felt a surge of knowledge flood his mind—detailed insights into combat techniques.
Simultaneously, his muscles underwent a transformation.
What had once been soft, untoned flesh became tight and powerful.
A sudden burst of energy coursed through his body. Unable to resist testing it out, he sprang into action.
With a powerful leap, he executed two high kicks, followed by a sweeping leg strike.
His movements were sharp, precise, and filled with overwhelming force.
Still not satisfied, he approached a lounge chair and delivered a devastating downward kick.
CRACK!
The solid wood chair split cleanly in half, as if it were made of tofu.
In the pool, Ning Wenrou, who had been awkwardly practicing swimming, was utterly dumbfounded.
What was wrong with this man now?