Lin Yingyue received a call from her younger brother, so she first went to their family's old residential area.
When their parents divorced, she and her brother went with their father.
Their father was hands-off, and her brother had been living with their grandmother.
Lin Yingyue took the bus, making her way to an old residential district on the west side of the city.
She had just arrived at the agreed-upon intersection when a teenager came pedaling over on a bicycle in a flurry.
Lin Hanchuan wore a blue and white school uniform, his face beaming with a bright smile.
"Sis!" Lin Hanchuan stopped the bike neatly in front of her, one foot on the ground, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her.
He took a test paper wrapped in a plastic document folder from the bike basket and presented it to Lin Yingyue like a treasure:
"Sis, look. This monthly exam, I got full marks in math and physics! This year, I'll definitely be able to get into the best university, just like you—Linhai University."
"Good! Your sister believes you can definitely get in."
Lin Hanchuan nodded, then, as if remembering something, angrily slammed his fist against a utility pole.
"I heard that Lin Jianguo went to see you again? And told you to go bed-crawling for the Young Master of the Song Family!"
Lin Yingyue's back stiffened. "How do you know?"
"I heard it from Grandma," Lin Hanchuan said, gripping the bicycle handles tightly. "Sis, don't listen to him.
Those chaebols aren't good people; they devour people without spitting out the bones. I heard their mistresses are numerous and their games are wild,
and they probably have truckloads of illegitimate children at a young age! Don't do anything stupid."
"Wait until I graduate from university and find a good job. I'll earn a lot of money to support you. Don't ever do that kind of thing. If Lin Jianguo dares to sell you off, I'll beat him to death!"
As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his defined biceps.
He had often fought Lin Jianguo for Lin Yingyue and their grandmother since middle school. It used to be a bit tough, but now he was getting more and more skilled at it.
Lin Yingyue pulled him back.
Worried that Lin Hanchuan would overthink things, Lin Yingyue didn't tell him about her relationship with Song Zeqian.
"Rest assured, I won't sell myself out."
She wasn't good at lying.
Afraid of being found out, Lin Yingyue dragged her brother to the nearby vegetable market.
She expertly picked out a rack of fresh pork ribs, then bought some corn and carrots, planning to stew a pot of pork rib soup for her brother.
She also bought a mobile phone for her brother.
Lin Hanchuan felt bad that his sister worked hard to earn money, so he only wanted the cheapest phone.
Lin Yingyue said she wasn't short on cash and, with a grand gesture, bought one worth several thousand.
In her eyes, money was meant to be spent.
If you finally manage to earn money, what's the point of hoarding it?
Anyway, it was given by Song Zeqian, so she might as well use it.
Seeing that it was getting dark, Lin Yingyue had to leave.
"Sis, how about I give you a ride on my bike?"
"No need, don't you have school tomorrow? Get some rest early."
"Alright."
Lin Yingyue waved goodbye to Lin Hanchuan and left.
She stood at the street corner waiting for Song Zeqian's car.
Not wanting to be too conspicuous, she chose a small alley behind the school.
But when she turned around, she saw Li Mingyan.
Li Mingyan seemed to have just finished playing basketball, wearing only a blue and white jersey, with long arms and legs.
Lin Yingyue remembered she owed him a bottle of water, so she went to the nearby convenience store, bought a bottle of soda, and brought it to Li Mingyan.
Li Mingyan looked up and saw a girl who looked like a little strawberry cake walking towards him, her smile sweet.
His ears immediately turned red. He leaned on his buddy's shoulder, pretending not to see her, but in reality, his palms were clenched nervously.
"Li Mingyan, this is for you." Lin Yingyue handed him the water.
"Thanks," he took the water, then asked in a seemingly casual tone, "Are you alone? Want me to walk you back?"
Seeing the atmosphere, the people around them started to tease, but Li Mingyan immediately stopped them.
Lin Yingyue shook her head.
"No need, I'll..."
She thought for a moment, then swallowed the words "I'll have someone pick me up."
Li Mingyan knew Lin Hanchuan and her grandmother. Although she trusted Li Mingyan's character, since she and the male lead were going to break up sooner or later anyway, she didn't want her family to know about her relationship with him.
It was only a three-month relationship; it would pass quickly.
The less trouble, the better.
The gap in family status was too big; it would inevitably make her family overthink things.
"I'll just take a taxi home myself later, no need to trouble you."
Li Mingyan was a bit disappointed, but he still forced a smile.
"It's getting late. A girl like you should be careful."
"Mm-hmm."
Lin Yingyue said goodbye to Li Mingyan and left.
There were quite a few university students there also hailing taxis.
A Pagani stopped in front of her.
The license plate was a string of sixes.
No need to think twice—a parade of luxury cars, but the constant was the Young Master of the Song Corporation.
Song Zeqian had plenty of money, driving a different luxury car every day.
The license plates were always a neat row of numbers.
Lin Yingyue closed the ride-hailing app and got into the car.
The university students outside were dumbfounded.
Damn!
What kind of thunderous job market is this? Even a Pagani owner has stooped to being a ride-hailing driver?
Song Zeqian patted his thigh. "Come sit over here."
Lin Yingyue was stunned by his words.
He hadn't brought a driver today, so he was driving himself.
The steering wheel was right in front of Song Zeqian. How was she supposed to sit? It would be way too cramped...
Lin Yingyue looked up at the surveillance camera above and hesitated:
"Do I really have to sit there?"
Improper driving leads to tears for your loved ones.
Song Zeqian looked up at her, his tone light:
"Baby, can't you sit here?"
"But the steering wheel is in front of you. How am I supposed to sit over there?"
Song Zeqian grabbed the girl's slender waist with one hand and supported her rear with the other, lifting her directly from the front passenger seat.
The space was cramped. Since she was wearing a short skirt, Lin Yingyue sat straddling his lap, pressed very close to him.
Her back touched the steering wheel, and feeling the continuous heat radiating from where their inner thighs met, her entire body instantly flushed a faint pink.
Song Zeqian looked at her calmly.
"Who was that person just now?"
"I saw you give him water."
His voice was flat, betraying no emotion, and his expression was also light, but Lin Yingyue's heart tightened and a chill ran down her back.
Hadn't he just arrived?
How long had he been silently watching!
She immediately explained:
"Just a high school classmate who helped me before."
After saying that, she felt a bit conflicted.
Was Song Zeqian jealous?
Then, she immediately dismissed the thought.
In the original book, the female lead had a whole harem.
Although Song Zeqian was dark and twisted, as the main wife, he was an absolutely rational man with a strong drive for his career, and he had never been jealous.
He hadn't even been jealous for the female lead, let alone for her, an insignificant ex-girlfriend.
It was probably just a man's possessiveness acting up.
A child of destiny, he had never faced setbacks anywhere.
Naturally, he wouldn't be willing to fail with her either.
Sure enough, after hearing her explanation, Song Zeqian didn't press further.
He curled his lips into a smile, the heavy ferocity in his ink-black eyes subsiding slightly.
"I believe you, baby."
Lin Yingyue secretly breathed a sigh of relief. See, she knew it.
There was absolutely nothing between her and Li Mingyan.
At least, she had no improper intentions whatsoever; she was completely innocent.
A rational and intelligent person like the male lead would definitely see that at a glance.
He wouldn't care about such trivial matters.
She didn't see Song Zeqian's eyes darken the moment he turned around.
He sent a text message to a friend—
Investigate everything about baby's high school years, down to the smallest detail, and compile it all for me.
✦✦✦