The connection in the Beast Appraisal Association Chen Cheng previously mentioned to Chen Yuanyuan was actually Gao Jiang.
From his perspective, having come from one of the three biggest families in Maple City and also a certified beast appraiser himself, Gao Jiang was superior to Lin Jin, be it in qualifications, capabilities, or influence.
However, Chen Cheng hadn’t expected Gao Jiang’s expression to falter upon hearing his request.
Gao Jiang shook his head gloomily and said, “I can’t help you with this.”
“Why not? It’s such a small matter but you’re reluctant to help?” Chen Cheng was baffled from being turned down so quickly. Before this, whenever he came asking for Gao Jiang’s help, the latter never once refused him.
Seeing how upset Chen Cheng was, Gao Jiang immediately pulled him into the hall and told him the full story.
“Chen Cheng, although we’re good friends, that Lin Jin is now superior to me in both qualifications and status. How is that even possible, now that he’s above me? I’m already thanking my lucky stars that he isn’t going after me, and now you’re asking me to teach him a lesson?” Gao Jiang explained, sounding extremely aggrieved.
He wasn’t exaggerating.
With Lin Jin being a Rank 2 beast appraiser now, just this one factor was enough to overwhelm him.
Chen Cheng’s jaw dropped. He hadn’t expected that Lin Jin, whom his cousin sister made to sound like trash, was actually that impressive. Since these were the Beast Appraisal Association’s internal affairs, not many outsiders knew about Lin Jin’s advancement. Also, it only happened just yesterday so word hadn’t gotten out yet.
Apart from that, Chen Cheng just found out about Wang Ji’s predicament. The Beast Appraisal Association had truly undergone a tremendous change so now he understood why Gao Jiang couldn’t help him.
“So that’s what happened!” Chen Cheng fell into deep thought. He was hesitant now as Rank 2 beast appraisers were far more superior to Rank 1s. Since Lin Jin had become successful, it was better not to provoke the man unless he wanted to invite trouble.
Being good buddies, Gao Jiang began venting his frustrations to Chen Cheng, and at the same time, he took the opportunity to ask about his friend’s grudge against Lin Jin.
His inquiry was answered with an explanation about Lin Jin and Chen Yuanyuan’s past.
“I had no idea. Does this mean that your cousin sister used to be engaged to Lin Jin?” Gao Jiang asked out of shock. Chen Cheng nodded. “But after that, she got so infatuated with Yang Jie that she found an excuse to call off the engagement. Who knew that Lin Jin would make such a comeback after that.”
News about what happened in the Beast Appraisal Association gradually spread around town.
At first, only several people knew, but like an infectious disease, tons of people had heard about it by evening on the same day.
Including Chen Yuanyuan.
Initially, she refused to believe it was true, but facts wouldn’t cease to exist just because she didn’t want it to. When the rumors were verified, Chen Yuanyuan finally knew it was true.
She recalled how that Lu woman announced that Lin Jin was a Rank 2 beast appraiser back at the gates of the flower festival.
Back then, Chen Yuanyuan merely assumed she was boasting but who knew that it would be true!
Like a spice rack had toppled over inside her heart, Chen Yuanyuan felt mixed feelings.
Once upon a time, she had indeed been romantically interested in Lin Jin, or else she wouldn’t have agreed to their engagement. But after getting to know him, Chen Yuanyuan couldn’t see a future in their marriage. She just so happened to come across Yang Jie during that time and was instantly enchanted by the handsome man. Hence, Chen Yuanyuan decided to call off her engagement to Lin Jin.
But now, the man she assumed would never be successful in his entire life suddenly became a Rank 2 beast appraiser!
This face-slap came down so hard that even she felt the burn.
With conflicted feelings, Chen Yuanyuan returned home to find her father sitting in the yard with a stern expression.
The servants around them were silent and tried not to make any noise as they worked gently in fear of disturbing their master. Everyone could tell that their master was in a terrible mood.
Despite being spoiled all her life, Chen Yuanyuan still feared her father, Chen Wenlin. Hence, one look at his demeanor told her that something was wrong.
“Father!”
Greeting her father upon returning home was a family tradition.
After that, she wanted to slip away as soon as possible.
“Stand right there, young lady!” Chen Wenlin bellowed.
Chen Yuanyuan instantly froze, not daring to move a muscle.
Chen Wenlin sighed. “Yuanyuan, back then you insisted on calling off your engagement with Lin Jin and wouldn’t listen no matter how I advised you. Fine. As a father, I can’t force my daughter to marry someone against her will so I let you have your way. After all, marriage is such an important life event and no good would come out of pressuring you into it. But let me ask you, back then I had you visit Lin Jin to apologize sincerely and offer him three hundred taels as compensation. Did you do as told?”
At the mention of this, Chen Yuanyuan’s heart thumped.
She did, but what she did instead was mock him. Also, she didn’t give him the money but kept it for her own spending.
Chen Wenlin continued, “Lin Jin is my benefactor, and seeing how young and capable he was, with a decent personality to boot, I thought of matching the two of you up. But after that, our Chen family went back on our word and called off the marriage instead. Rationally speaking, it was our fault and we owe him a favor. I felt so ashamed and was too embarrassed to meet him so I sent you to apologize. But who knew that you were such a despicable person.”
“I didn’t!” Chen Yuanyuan retorted, albeit without confidence.
“How dare you still be stubborn about it!” Chen Wenlin was furious. Taking a few steps forward, he went over and slapped Chen Yuanyuan across the face.
Chen Yuanyuan was dumbstruck by this. With her eyes wide open, she began bawling.
Chen Wenlin’s anger hadn’t subsided yet. “You even have the nerve to cry!”
Having said that, he turned to the side and shouted, “Get out! All of you!”
A few of the Chen family’s maids hurried over with their heads hung low and their faces pale from fear. These maids were Chen Yuanyuan’s ‘confidantes’, and by the look on their faces, Chen Yuanyuan knew that they had ‘confessed’ to her father.
Fear began to wash over her.
Chen Wenlin pointed to the maids and said, “They’ve all confessed so how long do you plan on making excuses?”
Chen Yuanyuan fell to her knees at once, sobbing silently without the courage to argue. Based on her knowledge of Chen Wenlin’s temper, if she continued babbling now, she would just be asking for a beating.
Looking incredibly disappointed, Chen Wenlin admonished, “If I hadn’t asked them about it today and caught onto the discrepancies in their answers, who knows how long you would keep this a secret from me? Although our Chen family isn’t exactly a scholarly family, we’re not ungrateful people. Go and apologize to Lin Jin right now. If you can’t get his forgiveness, don’t think about stepping foot into this house ever again. Get out!”
Having said that, he kicked his chair over and stormed off in anger.
Chen Yuanyuan burst out into tears, feeling frightened.
All this time, Chen Wenlin had treated her dearly. Because Chen Yuanyuan had lost her mother at a young age, Chen Wenlin doted on her even more and had never admonished her such a way before.
Fear, grievance, and panic surged into her mind, making her tears fall like disconnected pearls.
Her confidantes came over and whispered, “Miss, Master is really furious this time. Why don’t… why don’t you just listen to him this one time?”
Chen Yuanyuan was still crying.
Yet, when the tears dried, Chen Wenlin still didn’t come back out.
Chen Yuanyuan now realized that her father was genuinely angry. Despite feeling aggrieved and reluctant, she could only get up and announce through gritted teeth, “I’m going to apologize to Lin Jin.”
Then, she dashed out of the house in tears.
By the time she reached Lin Jin’s home, Lin Jin was in a midst of an enjoyable conversation with Lu Yunhe.
It wasn’t just Lu Yunhe who was there at his house, but Zhao Ying, Lu Xiaoyun, and Han Dong were there as well. Since Lin Jin had officially gotten his Rank 2 beast appraiser sleeve band today, it definitely called for a celebration.
But he had been too occupied during the day. Just today, Lin Jin had appraised over a hundred beasts and treated fifty of them. Not a single person in the Beast Appraisal Association could compete with this level of efficiency.
It was all too fast.
And he hadn’t done it half-assedly either.
However, since it was too much, Tan Lin specifically went over to inquire about his condition, and it was then that Lin Jin realized he had gone overboard. Being too ostentatious wasn’t a good thing sometimes so Lin Jin informed the reception hall to reduce his daily token count back to thirty-five.
Otherwise, the other beast appraisers would get annoyed as well.
Just then, someone could be heard bawling outside, shouting, “Lin Jin, get out here! I was wrong!”