Lin Xiyue found herself with no escape route. The final exam was history—her strong suit—so she finished quickly and submitted her paper early. The exit was still empty at this hour!
She couldn’t return to the exam hall, so she had no choice but to brace herself and step forward.
“Isn’t Mr. Jin here to pick up Jin Yao?”
Jin Yu curled his lips. “I’m here for Yao Yao, but I also came to see you.”
As he spoke, he suddenly reached out and pinched Lin Xiyue’s cheek.
Startled, Lin Xiyue retreated a step, eyeing him warily.
Jin Yu chuckled. “Why is Miss Lin so afraid? I just wanted to see how much your skin has improved after using our skincare products. Perhaps we could even feature you as a case study…”
Lin Xiyue: “I haven’t used your products.”
The smile instantly vanished from Jin Yu’s face, his gaze turning dark and intense as he stared at Lin Xiyue.
When he smiled, he seemed somewhat approachable, but that friendliness was only superficial. Anyone observant could see the coldness in his eyes.
When he wasn’t smiling, his facial muscles stiffened, and his eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses resembled icy pools. His handsome features seemed coated with frost.
It was terrifying to behold.
His gaze felt like a venomous snake slithering across her heart, poised to strike at any moment.
“Haven’t used them?”
He repeated the words slowly and deliberately.
Lin Xiyue clenched her sweaty palms and spoke with difficulty, “I went to the supply store to check out your skincare products. They’re too expensive. For ordinary folks like us, even putting food on the table is a struggle. How could we afford to spend so much on such things?”
She had to buy herself some time, even if only for a moment.
“Heh…” Jin Yu laughed, and the air seemed to circulate again, the atmosphere around them lightening considerably.
Lin Xiyue also felt a bit more at ease. She heard Jin Yu continue.
“If it’s just a small matter like this, if you find them effective, you can come to the Jin family and look for me. Do you think I’d lack such skincare products?”
Lin Xiyue immediately put on a polite smile. “Mr. Jin, that won’t do. We’re not related or acquainted—how could I accept your generosity for no reason? My family doesn’t raise me with such manners.”
Jin Yu raised an eyebrow. “What? I want to be friends with Miss Lin. Are you refusing to give me face?”
Lin Xiyue: “How could that be? It’s just that the Second Young Master of the Jin family is too renowned. I’m just a little girl barely over ten years old—how could I possibly aspire to such an honor?”
Jin Yu hadn’t expected this ten-year-old girl to be so articulate.
His fingers tapped unconsciously on the car door a few times before his brow relaxed.
“Fine, if you won’t accept it, then don’t.” I have other ways.
As Jin Yu relented, Lin Xiyue visibly sighed in relief.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
She didn’t want to stay in Jin Yu’s presence a moment longer.
Jin Yu could tell the girl didn’t want to see him—her expression had shifted abruptly the moment she stepped out of the school gate. Yet, he had no intention of letting Lin Xiyue have her way.
Her expressions were vivid. When she was incredulous, her phoenix-like eyes widened, glistening with a hint of moisture, resembling a small, vulnerable creature.
No wonder He Mingchu guarded her like a treasure—back when Jin Yao had taken an interest in He Mingchu, he had sent someone to investigate the He family’s background.
On the first day of the college entrance exams, during their exchanged glances at the school gate, he had also discerned exactly what kind of person He Mingchu was.
“Stay where you are. Get in the car. Wait for Yao Yao to come out, and I’ll take you both to the skating rink.”
Lin Xiyue waved her hand and said seriously, “Mr. Jin, this isn’t appropriate. I’m just a child barely over ten years old. If I don’t go home after school, my parents will worry.”
It had to be said that sometimes the identity of a child was quite useful.
While they were talking, many classmates had already begun streaming out of the school gate. Seeing a car parked there, students relieved of their exam burdens all turned to look.
Lin Xiyue felt prickles on her back as if being stared at by needles. She scratched her head and continued, “Mr. Jin, how about this? In a couple of days, I’ll visit the Jin family to discuss college applications with Jin Yao. Today really isn’t convenient—my family is waiting for me…”
She clasped her hands together, speaking with hopeful expectation.
Jin Yu pressed his lips together in displeasure. Being watched by a crowd felt terrible, and with Lin Xiyue repeatedly refusing, he couldn’t very well make a scene at the school gate. He could only give a slight nod.
“Then remember to come. Otherwise, I’ll personally visit your home to invite you.”
Lin Xiyue’s hair stood on end. Please spare me! If He Jianguo and Bai Xiaomei found out, they’d probably be too frightened to sleep at night!
She nodded and was about to leave when suddenly her hand grew warm.
“Xiyue, who is this?The moment He Mingchu exited the school gate, he saw his little pet standing before a young man, looking pitiful and wronged—exactly the kind of appearance that made people want to tease her.
Before entering the school on the first day of college entrance exams, he had also seen this man. Lin Xiyue had told him it was Jin Yao’s second brother.
He Mingchu pulled Lin Xiyue behind him, his gaze meeting Jin Yu’s.
Lin Xiyue: “Brother, this is Jin Yao’s second brother, Mr. Jin Yu.”
He Mingchu’s lips twitched into a faint smile: “So this is the developer of Ruchu Skincare. Mr. Jin, I’ve long heard of you.”
He Mingchu felt irritated. This body was only fifteen now, with a height just under 178cm. Having to look up slightly at the already adult Jin Yu, who stood at 185cm, put him at a disadvantage in terms of presence, and he hated it.
Jin Yu smiled: “You’re the boy Yao Yao likes, aren’t you? Quite impressive indeed. How were your college entrance exams? I heard you’re planning to attend the same university as Yao Yao?”
Their eyes clashed, battling fiercely in the air as if fighting to the death.
He Mingchu: [Trying to steal my little pet?]
Jin Yu: [Steal? I’ll make her come to me willingly.]
He Mingchu smiled: [Hah! Then Mr. Jin is welcome to try.]
Jin Yu slightly frowned: [Don’t you already have my sister?]
He Mingchu: [What does your sister have to do with me?]
…
Lin Xiyue timidly tugged at He Mingchu’s sleeve: “Brother, let’s hurry back. My mom and Uncle Jianguo must be worried.”
He Mingchu squeezed her hand: “Mm, let’s go.”
With that, he took Lin Xiyue’s hand and turned to leave.
Jin Yu suddenly called out loudly: “Lin, don’t forget our agreement!””
Lin Xiyue was shocked. Wait, don’t say nonsense!
He Mingchu looked at her, words squeezing through gritted teeth: “What agreement do you have with him?”
Lin Xiyue’s nose tip broke out in sweat: “No! I made plans with Jin Yao to compare answers and discuss college applications! What agreement could I possibly have with him? You know I try to avoid him whenever I can!”
Jin Yu had been watching the two closely. Seeing them chattering and arguing, the corners of his mouth curved upward.
It really was quite amusing.
He turned and got into the car, stroking his chin. He would be starting university next semester… How could he snatch her away?
The thought of a scalpel slicing through Lin Xiyue’s frail, slender body, releasing that crimson, honey-sweet blood, ignited a blazing madness in his eyes.
Keeping pets—
Was never as interesting as conducting experiments.