Back in the dorm, Lin Ting had just changed into her pajamas when her phone rang urgently.
It was the number of one of Lin Zhaoye’s rowdy friends.
She sighed inwardly, thankful she hadn’t removed her makeup—otherwise, handling the situation would have been even more stressful.
Quickly, she entered the destination and called a ride-hailing car.
Over the years, she’d cleaned up countless messes left behind by her half-brother.
In high school, Lin Zhaoye had been the school bully; in college, he became the typical rich playboy, using the Lin family’s influence to stir up trouble everywhere.
Lin Ting firmly believed that, at birth, his brain had been packaged upside down: the main brain empty, the cerebellum twitching—resulting in the arrogant brat he was today.
His stepmother, Feng Wei, was a domineering woman in business, ruthless yet indulgent when it came to her only son.
Whenever Lin Zhaoye got into trouble outside, he wouldn’t dare approach Feng Wei. Instead, he leaned on Lin Ting, knowing she was easier to manipulate and had money to cover for him.
In exchange, every time she cleaned up his messes, Lin Ting demanded a hefty “settlement fee.”
Outside the bar, Lin Zhaoye’s friends were already waiting.
Seeing Lin Ting, they lit up as if a savior had arrived, immediately guiding her inside.
Lin Ting asked calmly, “What did he do this time?”
A young man with dyed yellow hair hesitated, stammering, “Uh… nothing major, just a small misunderstanding. You’ll see when you get there, sis…”
Lin Ting didn’t press. She knew exactly what awaited her.
It was probably just some petty drama between boys and girls—jealousy, arguments over feelings, nothing life-threatening.
After squeezing through the crowd, she saw a man hitting someone on the floor. She cursed inwardly: Did he really go pick a fight with a married woman?
Lin Zhaoye weakly called out, “Sis…”
Lin Ting’s gaze fell on the stiff back of the man standing over him.
Clearing her throat, she spoke with practiced words, her innocent face belying the confidence in her voice:
“Hello, I’m Lin Zhaoye’s sister. On his behalf, I apologize to you and your girlfriend. I didn’t teach him well and caused you trouble.”
“If there’s any specific dissatisfaction, perhaps we can discuss it privately and resolve it—?”
Shen Xiao couldn’t stand it anymore. What a mess!
He quickly stepped forward, having his bodyguards disperse the crowd.
Lin Ting’s words came to an abrupt halt.
The man turned.
In the dim light, his expression was unreadable, but the bloodied fists shoved into his pockets betrayed the intensity of the fight. When he looked at Lin Ting, a rare flicker of unease crossed his eyes.
Lin Ting was surprised. “Lu Hesheng? Why is it you?”
Lu Hesheng’s tone was matter-of-fact: “Why not me?”
“Your brother’s mouth is vile, insulting people behind their backs. I couldn’t stand it—did I commit a crime by acting on your behalf?”
Lin Zhaoye groaned from the ground:
“Sis, it’s not fair! I didn’t even get to say anything before he hit me.”
Lin Ting knew Lu Hesheng wouldn’t strike someone without reason. She nodded:
“Then he deserves it.”
She called a familiar surgeon and had Lin Zhaoye, the troublemaker, taken away to get treated.
Lu Hesheng finally let go of his pent-up anger, wiping his hands clean.
The friends were shocked to see Lin Ting’s connections—she even knew Lu Hesheng—and looked at her with admiration as they helped their friend leave.
Lin Ting pressed her lips together and was about to leave as well.
He stepped in front of her, stopping her, and invited,
“Since you’re here, want to have a drink before you go?”
Lin Ting politely declined. “No, I don’t drink much.”
Lu Hesheng didn’t move. His gaze dropped heavily on her, his towering bodyguards forming a protective circle around him.
Out of the corner of her eye, Lin Ting noticed a wet wipe with blood on it.
She quickly changed tactics: “But a few light drinks wouldn’t hurt.”
Satisfied, Lu Hesheng’s hand lightly rested on her slim waist as he guided her up to the second-floor booth.
Since starting college, Lin Ting had rarely set foot in a bar full of trendy people. She found a sofa and sat down, hands neatly on her knees, looking very restrained.
Lu Hesheng leaned back casually beside her. “Don’t be afraid. I brought you here to have fun, not to be punished.”
The others in the booth noticed Lu Hesheng returning, now accompanied by a girl with an innocent, refined aura.
They exchanged glances and gathered around to play drinking games.
One boy recognized her. “Lin Ting? You remember me, right? We were in neighboring classes in high school.”
Lin Ting looked up, almost failing to recognize him. The once-200-pound boy had slimmed down into a handsome young man.
Time was a wonderful thing—it could change everything, and help you let go of the past.
Lu Hesheng poured her a drink and handed it over.
Lin Ting took it, sipping just a little. “Of course I remember. You look really good now.”
The young man scratched his head, embarrassed, and returned to his seat with a smile.
After he left, Lu Hesheng leaned in near Lin Ting’s ear, slow and deliberate:
“Forgot to mention… this cup is mine.”
Lin Ting’s face turned red as she noticed the lipstick mark on the rim. “Really? I didn’t know it was yours.”
Lu Hesheng: “Doesn’t matter. You can keep using it.”
Lin Ting silently thought: Of course you don’t mind—you don’t like good girls anyway.
Little did he realize the power of an accidental kiss.
The booth door opened again.
Nan Sangning, beaming, had just finished watching the male model show downstairs. She spotted Lin Ting on the sofa and ran over, giving her a big bear hug.
“Lin Ting! Long time no see, I missed you so much!”
Lin Ting hugged her back. “I missed you too!”
Their first meeting in high school had been memorable—full of rivalry and competitiveness.
At Beijing University’s affiliated school, with rich kids, top students, and international students everywhere, they had been a refreshing presence among the hardworking students: one always first in class, the other second.
Both had been little underdogs in their own ways—Lin Ting lost her mother and was forced to live with the Lin family, while Nan Sangning had been abandoned by her family and adopted by the Nan household.
But unlike Lin Ting, she discreetly noticed Nan Jiyun’s subtle protective glare, a possessiveness that went beyond normal understanding.
The two caught up briefly, and Nan Sangning eagerly pulled her into the games.
With familiar friends around, Lin Ting gradually relaxed.
They played a dice game to guess high or low.
Lin Ting was a rookie, far behind the seasoned drinkers.
After a few rounds, she lost more than she won and had to drink several cups of low-alcohol beer.
Though mild, the dim lights and atmosphere magnified the effect, leaving her a little dizzy.
She considered leaving.
In a hazy moment, she seemed to be back in high school on a similar night in a bar.
She had drunkenly sat in the hallway, unable to see clearly, clinging to a man’s sleeve:
“Wait… handsome…”
She blinked, trying to smile foolishly. “You’re so nice… so handsome… I really like you…”
Lu Hesheng had taken the cup from her hand, his tone serious yet a little helpless:
“Little sister, do you know—”
“It’s very dangerous for a girl to be alone in a bar, drunk.”
Lin Ting looked at him, confused, then at the cup he’d taken.
Only then did she realize that the clear liquid inside wasn’t soda—it was alcohol.
The next day, Nan Sangning could barely describe her drunken antics.
Lin Ting felt guilty but realized that, even drunk, the only man she instinctively clung to was Lu Hesheng.
Later, she never forgot his warning.
Noticing her dazed stare, Lu Hesheng smirked, lightly patting her shoulder.
“Feeling drunk, huh?”