Lin Ting ended the conversation with a calm “I understand.”
Had he ever doubted Xi Nanzhu?
Of course he had.
He could even say he did not trust anyone. Standing at his current position, he knew better than anyone that the higher one stood, the colder it became. No one who approached him did so with pure intentions.
It was just like when he once suspected that Xi Nanzhu had deliberately collapsed in front of him.
Since it was a piece delivered to his doorstep, why not use it?
Regardless of Xi Nanzhu’s true intentions, his weakness was his sickly mother.
Deliberately bringing up the past in front of Xi Nanzhu was also a warning.
His family could only exist under Lin Ting’s watchful eyes.
Because in his world, betrayal was not allowed.
It seemed that this time after returning, Xi Nanzhu would work even harder to eliminate those who posed a threat to him.
Of course, what Xi Nanzhu said at the end actually satisfied Lin Ting.
It was sincere.
Most people could not easily accept Song Xinyu.
He himself was the same.
But who told him he could hear Song Xinyu’s thoughts?
So then, who exactly was the one who had taken everything from him?
……
Back at home, Song Xinyan saw from upstairs that her younger sister had been sent back by Lin Ting.
She also noticed the moment Ji Mu lowered the car window and stared blankly at Song Xinyu.
Had Ji Mu also been charmed by Song Xinyu?
It was not impossible.
Especially now that Song Xinyu seemed like a completely different person.
So Song Xinyan sent messages to several people.
They were the same four who had been beaten into swollen faces in the restroom by Song Xinyu.
Song Xinyan had gone to express concern.
The next morning, she even brought them nourishing soup.
Those people were so moved they almost cried, and then when they mentioned Song Xinyu again, they became furious and beat their chests in rage.
“Lu Shuangshuang would never let this go! I swear on my surname. When has the Lu Family ever suffered a loss in fights?”
Lu Shuangshuang had quite an impressive background.
In school before, she had always been the one bullying others.
That was also why Song Xinyan had instigated her to bully Song Xinyu.
And that was also why, while Song Xinyan appeared to protect her younger sister, she told her that they could only endure it, because the Lu Family was not easy to provoke.
When she was young, for the sake of the Song Family, Song Xinyu had chosen to endure silently. After years of bullying, she had become increasingly weak and timid.
After learning that Song Xinyan had early on had the maid stew nourishing soup and even packed four bottles to take out, Song Xinyu immediately guessed what she was going to do.
As for why Song Xinyu had so publicly beaten those four into pig-like faces:
First, it was to vent the anger of the original Song Xinyu.
Second, it was revenge on behalf of the original Song Xinyu.
Third, she wanted to see the so-called “main villain” for herself.
No rush. She would meet them sooner or later.
“Cousin, they’ve bullied us this far. We absolutely cannot let her off.” Sure enough, after drinking the nourishing soup sent by Song Xinyan, Lu Shuangshuang immediately insisted on being discharged from the hospital and rushed to find her biggest backer—her cousin—to complain.
“She turned my face into a pig head. Isn’t that slapping the Lu Family in the face?”
Lu Yiye naturally already knew that his cousin had been beaten in the restroom at Ji Mu’s birthday banquet.
The Ji Family had already sent generous gifts as an apology.
Clearly, he could no longer hold the Ji Family accountable.
So he could only go after the person involved—Song Xinyu.
And Song Xinyu was Lin Ting’s fiancée.
“Hmph, foolish.” Lu Yiye kicked away his cousin’s hand that was clutching his leg.
“You’ve been bullying Song Xinyu for years and she never fought back. Why do you think she suddenly dared to hit you yesterday?” Lu Yiye asked coldly.
“Isn’t it because of the Lin Family?”
“Hmph. Not completely stupid.”
“Brother, will you help me get revenge or not?”
“When has the Lu Family ever swallowed humiliation?”
“Brother, I knew you would protect me.”
“Get lost. You’re too ugly. It affects my appetite.”
“Then will you help me or not?” she clung on shamelessly.
Lu Yiye looked at her swollen pig-like face and said: “In the end, she still didn’t beat you badly enough.”
Then a heart-wrenching scream echoed.
Lu Shuangshuang’s leg was broken, and she was carried out.
While crying, she shouted: “Song Xinyu, this isn’t over!”
In fact, the Lu Family and the Lin Family were sworn enemies.
Lin Ting had entered his company at seventeen to learn the business.
Lu Yiye had taken over his family’s business at fifteen.
That year, his father suddenly died, and he, a teenager who only knew how to fight, was forced to grow up overnight.
On that stormy night, he held his father’s ashes alone without shedding a single tear.
“Dad, you said a man must take responsibility. From now on, the Lu Family is mine.”
But after the funeral, when no one was watching, he cried under the blanket all night.
From that moment on, he hated everyone in the Lin Family.
A subordinate asked: “Do you really want to avenge the cousin, President Lu?”
Everyone knew this cousin caused trouble for the Lu Family all the time. If not for their mother—Lu Yiye’s aunt—who had raised him like her own son, Lu Yiye would not have been cleaning up her messes all these years.
“What do you think?” Lu Yiye sneered. His androgynous face carried a dark, gloomy aura, his eyes deep and unreadable.
The subordinate did not dare speak further.
“I hate the Lin Family, but I will not be used as a weapon.”
“At Ji Mu’s birthday banquet, they fought. The Ji Family wants to stay out of it and watch our Lu Family and Lin Family fight, so they can reap the benefits.”
It could be said that the three major powers of S City’s elite circles—the Lin, Ji, and Lu families—had long stood in a triangular balance.
A three-way stalemate.
This balance had been maintained for years.
That was also why, despite his hatred for the Lin Family, Lu Yiye had not acted rashly.
He was waiting for the right moment to strike them down in one blow.
But clearly, now was not the right time.
“But Ji Mu is not that smart.” Lu Yiye changed his tone. “He’s a love-brain. He only cares about Song Xinyan. He probably just wants to avenge her.”
As for Song Xinyan, Lu Yiye understood her very well. This woman was just like him—ruthless.
Her gentle and harmless appearance was all an act.
Otherwise, why would she kindly send nourishing soup?
Interesting.
He would meet her.
Soon, Lu Yiye arranged a meeting with the two Song sisters.
Lin Ting immediately received the news.
Originally, he had no interest in meeting Lu Yiye.
That man was like a mad dog.
But unexpectedly, Song Xinyu became interested and insisted on going.
Lin Ting could only follow, planning to eavesdrop on her thoughts.
Ji Mu also came along to join the excitement.
His silver-rimmed glasses could not hide the dark circles under his eyes—he had not slept well for two days.
Who could sleep peacefully knowing they were about to die?
He glanced at Song Xinyu resentfully, like a wronged little wife.
Meanwhile, Song Xinyu herself was already excited beyond measure.
【Let me take a look… what does the villain of this book look like…】
Lin Ting: …(calm, extremely calm)
Ji Mu: !!! (I’m going insane)
Lu Yiye: ???
【Not bad. The title of “S City’s number one handsome man” is not undeserved.】
Ji Mu coughed and adjusted his silver-rimmed glasses, putting on a refined and elegant demeanor.
But inside, waves surged: Song Xinyu, are you blind? Shouldn’t I be the number one handsome man?
No, that’s not the point. The point is—Lu Yiye is the villain?
At this moment, Lu Yiye, who had been labeled as the villain, remained very calm.
Even if someone called him a murderer, he could still pretend innocence and say: “I’m not a bad person.”
He then looked deeply at Song Xinyu.
Strange. She had not spoken.
Yet her sparkling eyes were full of curiosity, perfectly matching that inner voice.
He then looked at Song Xinyan. She sat properly, every gesture elegant and flawless as a young lady of high society, with no visible flaws.
And the first thing she said was to defend her sister.
“My sister did not do it on purpose.”
Lu Yiye really did not want to hear this.
Song Xinyan’s fake act.
Lin Ting also did not want to listen, but he was too lazy to speak. He was only here to watch the show.
So he slowly lifted his teacup and took a sip.
Seeing Lin Ting so composed made Lu Yiye even more irritated.
“Lin Ting, what brings you here?” Lu Yiye smiled faintly. “What, worried I might eat your woman alive?”