Chapter 100

Chapter 100

This day.

Lin Yi received an invitation from Zhuang Che and came to a high-end restaurant.

Zhuang Che had been working for some time now, and he no longer seemed as weak and spoiled as before.

However, the moment he saw Lin Yi, his face lit up as if he had found someone to rely on, and he began to pour out his grievances with a frown.

He started by complaining about his clothes: "My parents insisted I wear formal attire, saying it would help me look more authoritative, but I find it so tiring. It's suffocating."

As he spoke, he pouted and undid the buttons of his suit jacket.

Lin Yi sat across the table, sipping his drink slowly while listening to Zhuang Che's complaints.

When Zhuang Che mentioned his formal attire, Lin Yi took the opportunity to observe his outfit.

Indeed, Zhuang Che looked like a young master who couldn't lift a finger, with a somewhat childish face. Wearing such formal attire made him appear like a child trying on adult clothes.

Still, Lin Yi encouraged him: "I think it looks good on you; it definitely boosts your presence."

Zhuang Che paused in unbuttoning his jacket and looked at Lin Yi hopefully. "Really?"

Lin Yi remained calm. "Really."

His expression was so natural that it instilled a sense of trust.

Zhuang Che believed him, for in his eyes, Lin Yi was a beacon guiding his life. He decided to follow Lin Yi's advice.

Zhuang Che stopped complaining about his clothes but then shifted to work-related issues: "I've realized how difficult things are in the company. Every project involves numerous procedures and endless meetings, and there's no guarantee of success. It's exhausting."

He used to be a carefree rich kid who avoided responsibility, but now he was struggling with the workload.

Fortunately, he was the type to work hard, spending more time than others and eventually achieving similar results.

During the toughest times, he learned to handle documents, straining his eyes, but he only muttered a few complaints before continuing.

He persisted, making progress bit by bit.

Lin Yi leaned on the table, holding his drink, and smiled casually. "Look, you're adapting quickly. In time, you'll master the company's operations and take over from your parents."

Then he, as a shareholder, could enjoy dividends without worry.

Zhuang Che stared in disbelief. "R-really?"

The feeling of being recognized was wonderful.

He used to be looked down upon, with everyone in his circle thinking he was useless, but now things were changing.

Lin Yi maintained a composed demeanor. "Of course. I've always known you were exceptional and destined for great achievements. Haven't you noticed your own talent?"

Zhuang Che blushed slightly. "I-I haven't felt that way."

Lin Yi continued, "That's just because you lack confidence. I've always believed in you as a promising candidate."

Zhuang Che's eyes suddenly became determined.

Though he had been feeling tired from work, Lin Yi's encouragement reinvigorated him.

Lin Yi watched Zhuang Che's transformation and smiled silently.

Perfect. As long as Zhuang Che kept going, he, as a shareholder, could rest easy.

At this moment, the waiter brought their dishes.

Today they were at a specialty restaurant known for its spicy and sour dishes.

Especially the golden soup beef with enoki mushrooms was quite appetizing.

They enjoyed their meal thoroughly.

However, towards the end of their meal, a small incident occurred.

A group of poorly dressed rich kids approached their table.

Lin Yi noticed the commotion and looked up, realizing he didn't know these people.

Naturally, these rich kids didn't recognize Lin Yi either; they were targeting Zhuang Che.

One of them, the leader, walked up and roughly slapped Zhuang Che's shoulder.

The slap was so forceful that Zhuang Che's shoulder jolted.

Zhuang Che winced and turned to look at the person.

His expression changed, clearly showing fear.

The rich kid slapped him again. "What? Don't recognize me after a few days?"

Zhuang Che, scared, managed to say, "Sun Ye, I haven't done anything to you."

Sun Ye was a well-known figure among the rich kids, notorious for bullying others and leading a gang.

One of Sun Ye's followers chimed in, "Brother Ye, you didn't know, but Zhuang Che has started taking over his family's business. He's trying to shed his reputation as a useless heir."

Sun Ye sneered at Zhuang Che. "Oh, didn't expect that, did we? Our young master Zhuang is trying to turn over a new leaf?"

A few others also started to speak in a sarcastic tone.

"Master Zhuang, when you make it big, don't forget us brothers."

"Speaking of which, Master Zhuang, do you even know where the door to your company is? Don’t tell me you can’t find your workplace every day."

"Master Zhuang, are you going to start studying hard and punishing yourself?"

Zhuang Che was a coward. Hearing these taunts, he didn’t dare to slam the table and curse back; he could only hunch his shoulders and weakly retort, "I, I’m just going to the company for some experience."

Sun Ye said with ill intent, "Master Zhuang is being modest. With your efforts, you might rise to great heights someday. When that happens, please give us brothers a way out."

His words seemed to be praising Zhuang Che, but they were laced with sarcasm.

Since meeting Sun Ye, Zhuang Che had never had the upper hand. Naturally, he didn’t dare to retaliate this time either.

He hung his head timidly, nervously fidgeting with his fingers.

At this moment, Lin Yi, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up. Leaning lazily against the chair, he looked at Sun Ye and his group and said, "You’re jealous, aren’t you?"

Sun Ye hadn’t expected Lin Yi to speak up. Narrowing his eyes, he glanced at Lin Yi and said, "What are you talking about? Jealous? And who the hell are you?"

Lin Yi replied indifferently, "You don’t need to know who I am. But you are indeed jealous of Zhuang Che, jealous that he’s starting to work hard while you’re still living off your parents."

These rich second-generation kids were all part of the same circle, so it was inevitable that they would compare themselves. News of who was making progress and who was still relying on their families spread quickly.

Sun Ye slammed the table, trying to intimidate Lin Yi. "You better watch your mouth!"

Compared to Sun Ye’s anger, Lin Yi remained calm and powerful. He looked at Sun Ye and said, "Caught off guard and now getting angry?"

Sun Ye glared, "Who’s getting angry?"

Lin Yi sneered, "You people are quite amusing. You don’t want to work hard, so you try to bring down those who do. Is that called envy or a dark heart?"

Sun Ye, having his thoughts exposed, turned red and clenched his fists, looking ready for a fight.

Lin Yi showed no reaction and said calmly, "Want to fight? By the way, I have a friendly reminder: I brought bodyguards today. If you get beaten up by them, don’t cry home to mommy."

Sun Ye paused, then looked around and saw two bodyguards in black nearby.

In essence, Sun Ye was the type who backed down when faced with someone tough. Seeing the bodyguards, he lost his nerve.

Looking at the bodyguards, he was astonished. Who was Lin Yi, to have bodyguards?

Despite his doubts, Sun Ye didn’t want to lose face in front of his subordinates.

Therefore, he growled, "Fine, I’m feeling generous today, so I’ll let you off!"

Lin Yi didn’t give him an easy way out, saying with a half-smile, "Actually, if you’re scared, you can just say so. No need to beat around the bush."

Sun Ye was speechless.

He had always been used to getting his way, never facing such humiliation.

Where did this Lin Yi come from, not playing by the usual rules?

Sun Ye stood there, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

At this moment, Lin Yi slowly said, "By the way, you don’t like seeing Zhuang Che working hard, right? Let’s set a three-month deadline. Zhuang Che will definitely achieve something significant. You should attend his celebration party and see his accomplishments, and feel your own incompetence."

Sun Ye was speechless.

The others were also stunned.

Zhuang Che, hearing this, looked at Lin Yi in confusion.

What celebration party? Lin Yi hadn’t mentioned it beforehand.

But when he met Lin Yi’s calm gaze, he felt reassured, as if Lin Yi was someone he could trust completely.

Eventually, Sun Ye and his group left dejectedly.

But they secretly mocked him.

Zhuang Che’s celebration party? They would certainly attend to see what this useless master could achieve.

The meal ended like this.

Lin Yi and Zhuang Che walked out of the restaurant together.

Lin Yi walked ahead, while Zhuang Che followed behind with his head down.

At this moment, Zhuang Che called out, "Lin Yi!"

Lin Yi turned around, "What?"

Zhuang Che hesitated before asking, "Do you really think I can achieve something significant in three months?"

Lin Yi smiled and raised an eyebrow, "Why not? I believe in you."

Human potential is limitless. Sometimes setting a seemingly unattainable goal can lead to success if one puts in their best effort.

Besides, Zhuang Che had the support of Zhuang Entertainment.

Hearing Lin Yi’s words, Zhuang Che’s eyes lit up, and he clenched his fist, saying, "I will work hard and not disappoint you!"

Lin Yi smiled, "Good, I’m waiting for you."

Zhuang Che finished his ambitious speech and hurried off to the company.

He was determined to start making great achievements from this moment on with high spirits!!

Lin Yi watched Zhuang Che, who indirectly earned money for him, feeling very satisfied. Then he leisurely strolled over to the Huo Group.

When Lin Yi arrived at Huo Jihan's office, Huo Jihan was not there.

According to the secretary, he had gone down to inspect operations in one of the departments.

With nothing else to do, Lin Yi wandered around Huo Jihan's office and finally settled on Huo Jihan's executive chair, taking a seat.

It was true; sitting in this black leather chair gave him an entirely different feeling.

It felt like he was in charge of a massive conglomerate.

Lin Yi sat in the chair, savoring the sensation, then spun around to face the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The Huo Group building stood tall in the heart of the city, where every inch of land was precious. From the top floor, looking out, the surrounding buildings seemed much lower, giving a sense of overlooking everything.

Lin Yi couldn't help but wonder if this was what it felt like to be at the top?

Indeed, it felt pretty good.

Just as Lin Yi was thoroughly enjoying himself, the office door suddenly opened behind him.

He turned the chair and saw Huo Jihan walking in.

Huo Jihan wore a well-tailored black suit, his dark eyes cold and distant, exuding an aura that kept people at bay.

But all of this changed when he saw Lin Yi. His gaze softened, like a warm breeze melting ice.

Lin Yi blinked his delicate almond-shaped eyes and joked, "Mr. Huo is here, please come in."

To his surprise, Huo Jihan played along: "Hello, President Lin. What business do we have today?"

Lin Yi couldn't help but laugh but still managed to say, "How about some business related to love?"

Huo Jihan nodded: "Sure, but this particular business can only be discussed with me."

Lin Yi blinked innocently: "Why? Can't I just talk to any employee of your company?"

Huo Jihan replied firmly: "No."

Lin Yi pretended to think for a moment, then conceded: "Alright, but you'll have to give more benefits."

Huo Jihan had already approached him and looked deeply into his eyes: "How about giving you the entire Huo Group? As a dowry."

Lin Yi tried hard not to laugh, teasingly saying, "Mr. Huo, you're losing big on this deal. Do you always negotiate so generously?"

Huo Jihan looked at him seriously: "Only with you."

Lin Yi stood up from the chair, wrapped his arms around Huo Jihan's waist, and looked up at him: "In that case, it seems I have no choice but to marry you."

Huo Jihan's eyes sparkled with amusement: "Exactly what I wanted."

Without another word, he kissed Lin Yi, the sound of their kiss fading away between their lips.

Huo Jihan kissed deeply.

Lin Yi had to open his mouth, welcoming his tongue's exploration...

Gradually, Lin Yi found it hard to stand and eventually sat back down in the chair, weak-kneed.

Huo Jihan leaned down, lifting his chin with one hand, continuing to kiss him.

Their lips and tongues made soft, intimate sounds.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Yi felt his breathing become labored and was finally released.

Huo Jihan moved slightly away, then ran his thumb over Lin Yi's moist, red lips, his voice hoarse: "You need more practice."

Lin Yi looked puzzled: "Practice what?"

Huo Jihan smiled slightly: "Practicing how to breathe during a kiss."

Lin Yi blushed upon hearing this.

It wasn't his fault that Huo Jihan always kissed so intensely, leaving him defenseless.

Now he was blaming him for not knowing how to breathe properly?

That was unfair!!

Afterward, they chatted for a while, and then Huo Jihan started working.

Lin Yi didn't disturb him and instead went to the sofa area to play games.

Around three in the afternoon, Huo Jihan finished his work and walked over to Lin Yi, asking, "Do you want to go to the cafeteria for afternoon tea?"

Lin Yi immediately put away his phone: "Your company's cafeteria?"

Huo Jihan nodded: "Yes, I'll take you around."

Lin Yi sensed something in his words and asked with amusement, "It seems like you have more than just food in mind. What's the real purpose?"

Huo Jihan didn't hide it: "Probably because someone doesn't want to give me a title, so I have to work harder."

Lin Yi laughed and sighed: "You actually care about this? But, does your way of working harder involve taking me around more often?"

Huo Jihan: "That's the current situation."

Lin Yi was almost laughing out loud.

However, since Huo Jihan seemed to genuinely care about this matter, perhaps it was time to put the official announcement plan on the agenda?

A few minutes later, Lin Yi followed Huo Jihan to the group's cafeteria.

The moment Lin Yi entered the cafeteria, he was stunned.

The cafeteria was large and spacious, with various food stalls offering an array of dishes that left one dazzled and unsure what to choose.

At this hour, many employees had come for afternoon tea.

But they never expected to encounter their Mr. Huo in the cafeteria, and they instantly fell silent, though their eyes kept sneaking glances at Huo Jihan.

The reason was simple—Huo Jihan wasn't alone; he had brought Lin Yi with him.

These employees rarely saw their Mr. Huo acting so gentle.

Now, Mr. Huo was holding a tray in one hand, occasionally asking for opinions from the person beside him before selectively placing food on the tray.

This sight left the employees so astonished that they almost forgot to breathe.

It turned out that their Mr. Huo wasn't always cold and distant; he could also coax someone softly and even smile!

Because of Huo Jihan's presence, the entire cafeteria was dead silent.

The employees hurriedly ate their food while occasionally looking over at Huo Jihan, their minds reeling with shock.

Over here.

Lin Yi had chosen what he wanted, but due to the vast variety of foods, he couldn't finish selecting everything and would have to come back another time.

He found a seat and sat down with Huo Jihan.

As he picked up a pastry, he said to Huo Jihan, "I didn't expect your group's cafeteria to offer such a rich variety of food."

This was just afternoon tea, mainly pastries, fruits, and drinks. One could only imagine how much more diverse the options would be during regular meals.

Huo Jihan explained, "Providing basic welfare benefits to employees is one of the group's regulations."

Lin Yi nodded in understanding.

No wonder all those top graduates were fighting to join the Huo Group. Besides the high pay, there were also generous benefits—who wouldn't want that?

At this moment, Lin Yi was eating a cream pastry.

By accident, he got some cream on his hand.

Huo Jihan then took a napkin and grabbed his hand to wipe it clean before putting the napkin down.

During this process, Lin Yi clearly heard a collective gasp from the surrounding employees.

Clearly, they never expected their Mr. Huo to do something like this.

Seeing this, Lin Yi lowered his voice and joked to Huo Jihan, "Mr. Huo, you scared your employees."

Huo Jihan responded indifferently, "Mm."

He didn't seem to care about this.

Since Huo Jihan didn't mind, neither did Lin Yi, as he wouldn't be coming here often anyway.

In the afternoon, Lin Yi waited for Huo Jihan to finish his work, and then they went home together.

In the living room.

Huo Mengyan and her brother were playing with their nephew.

They poked Huo Mianmian's soft cheeks and rubbed his head.

The siblings seemed quite intrigued by this little bundle of joy.

However, when they saw Huo Jihan return, they immediately stopped their actions in unison.

It was clear how much authority Huo Jihan held over them.

They greeted him in turn, "Big Brother, Sister-in-law."

After greeting them, Huo Shi touched his nose and stood up, saying, "I'll continue practicing my game. Don't call me for dinner."

Huo Mengyan couldn't find an excuse to leave, so she stayed seated on the sofa.

Lin Yi and Huo Jihan walked over and sat down on the sofa as well.

At this moment, Huo Mianmian, the little bundle of joy, came over to Lin Yi, lying on his lap, and said in a soft voice, "Daddy, I missed you so much."

Especially when he was caught and played with by his second uncle and aunt, he wished his daddy would come quickly to rescue him.

Lin Yi smiled and said, "Daddy missed you too."

Here, father and son chatted happily.

On the other side, the atmosphere between Huo Jihan and his siblings was much colder.

Huo Mengyan felt uneasy and was thinking about leaving quickly.

At this moment, her phone, placed on the coffee table, suddenly rang.

It was Zhao Yu who had called her.

Huo Mengyan was startled and quickly hung up.

But Huo Jihan had already seen this scene.

Huo Jihan looked at her with icy eyes: "You still haven't decided to cut ties with this Zhao Yu?"

Huo Mengyan lowered her head, not daring to speak.

Huo Jihan's voice was particularly stern: "Speak."

Huo Jihan was clearly angry, though his anger didn't show directly. However, the oppressive feeling was hard for anyone to bear.

Huo Mengyan trembled in fear, almost on the verge of tears.

Lin Yi stopped talking to Huo Mianmian and looked over at them.

Huo Mengyan immediately looked at him pleadingly.

After pausing for a moment, Lin Yi spoke: "How about giving Third Sister a bit more time? She'll eventually see through that scoundrel's true colors."

Huo Jihan's eyes were very cold, but in the end, he said nothing more, got up, and left.

As soon as Huo Jihan left, Huo Mengyan immediately came to Lin Yi's side, clearly terrified, her voice trembling: "Sister-in-law, thank you, thank you so much."

Lin Yi sighed and gently patted her head: "It's no use saying that; ultimately, you need to figure it out for yourself. What are you going to do with that Zhao Yu?"

Huo Mengyan sniffled in response: "Okay."

She took some time to calm down from her fear, then looked at Lin Yi with immense gratitude: "Sister-in-law, it's a good thing you're here. Otherwise, I'd be doomed."

Lin Yi couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated.

To be honest, he felt both affection and frustration towards Huo Mengyan.

But everyone makes mistakes, and as long as they aren't major ones, it's best to be understanding.