Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Inside the villa, three faces turned to stare at Bai Yaxin in unison.

Bai Yaxin hung up the phone, rubbed her temples, and then said, "Zhao Ru said she might cut ties with Yun Mingning as her son."

Clearly, Lin Tingyue's earlier mental commentary had also hit Bai Yaxin hard too.

An hour earlier.

"Auntie Zhao, Auntie Zhao, on the day of Yun Mingning's wedding, he plans to invite all the girls he likes, claiming it's to 'witness his wedding.'"

"Auntie Zhao, Auntie Zhao, a fight’s gonna break out at the wedding."

"And just when the fight reaches its peak, your younger sister shows up, and Yun Mingning says, 'Even Auntie’s fair game—'"

At this point, Zhao Ru completely lost it. Forgetting all decorum, she angrily dragged Yun Mingning away without even saying goodbye to Bai Yaxin.

She was terrified that if she delayed even a second, all of this would actually come true.

That was her only younger sister—how could Yun Mingning even think that?!"

After hearing Bai Yaxin's words, Lin Tingyue tilted her head in confusion.

"Huh? Did Auntie Zhao finally see Yun Mingning for who he really is?"

"Good! Raising a son like Yun Mingning is worse than raising char siu—poor Auntie Zhao."

Just recalling Yun Mingning’s words made Lin Tingyue shudder, and she rushed into the first-floor bathroom again.

Meanwhile, Lin Chengyan stood up and headed for the door. Bai Yaxin stopped him and asked, "Lin Chengyan, where are you going?"

Lin Chengyan turned back, wearing a creepy smile as he murmured, "I’m going to punch Yun Mingning."

Lin Xiawan kindly reminded her newly met second brother, "Second Brother, assault’s still a crime. If you do that, won’t you…?"

She phrased it delicately—if he did that, wouldn’t Lin Chengyan end up being a criminal too?

One committing bigamy, the other assault—they’d be cellmates in no time.

Lin Chengyan abruptly turned back and met Lin Xiawan’s gaze, seeing a hint of pity and... sympathy? in her eyes.

Wait, who’s she pitying?

This time, Lin Tingyue stayed in the bathroom for a long time before emerging. When she came out, Bai Yaxin looked at her worriedly. "Tingyue, what’s wrong?"

Lin Tingyue shook her head.

Bai Yaxin paused. "Mom saw how much you liked the necklace Auntie Zhao gave you. Why don’t you and your sister browse our Lin Group jewelry stores and see if there’s anything else you like?"

Just as expected, Lin Tingyue’s eyes lit up.

"Oooh, jewelry!"

Bai Yaxin smiled, but at that moment, Lin Chengyan spoke up. "Mom, count me out."

He was exhausted and needed some time to re-evaluate his life choices.

Bai Yaxin didn’t care one bit. "Good riddance if you don’t go—it’s a perfect chance for the two sisters to bond."

Lin Chengyan: "..."

Since when did his status nosedive the moment he got back?!

...

Hearing they were heading to a jewelry store—since Lin Corporation owned several—Uncle Zhang picked the closest one. In the car, Lin Tingyue was practically bouncing in her seat like a hyper sparrow.

The second the car parked, she bolted out like a shot.

The staff had gotten the memo. Every gem Lin Tingyue so much as side-eyed was instantly shoved under her nose by the salesperson.

Lin Tingyue’s eyes sparkled with the reflected gleam of the jewels.

"So shiny! So sparkly! So... so... so much! Lin Tingyue, you’re downright... shameless!"

After the salesperson finished introducing the pieces, she asked, "Miss Lin, which one’s calling your name?"

"Is that even a question? Kids pick one. Grown-ups take the lot."

Lin Tingyue exclaimed excitedly, "Ring it all up!"

Lin Xiawan: "..."

She frowned and muttered, "Tingyue, isn’t buying so much a bit..."

"Well, well, look who we have here—the Lin family’s long-lost princess."

Lin Xiawan and Lin Tingyue turned simultaneously to see four bizarrely dressed... creatures (human, presumably).

The one who spoke wore a headband and had a lollipop dangling from his mouth, oozing wannabe bad-boy energy.

"Trying to cosplay F4 or what? This is some dollar-store F4 knockoff."

"And with a lollipop? Bet he swapped that cig for a lollipop last minute."

"Oh right, high-end jewelry stores like this don’t allow smoking."

Shang Gaofei was about to blow a gasket. He had indeed wanted to smoke, but the moment he tried to enter, security shut him down, threatening to call the cops.

Left with no choice, Shang Gaofei followed his lackey’s suggestion and switched to a lollipop. Now that someone had called him out, he was ready to die of shame.

Furious, Shang Gaofei bit down hard, shattering the lollipop, and turned his hostility toward Lin Xiawan. "I’m talking to you! Didn’t you hear me, Lin Xiawan? Don’t get cocky just ‘cause you’re the Lin family’s golden girl now—"

"Hold on," Lin Tingyue, who’d been ignored until now, interjected calmly. "Kind sir, may I ask your surname and which family’s young master you claim to be?"

Before Shang Gaofei could answer, one of his lackeys couldn’t resist boasting. "You seriously don’t know who our boss is? He’s Young Master Shang of the Shang family!"

He puffed up like a proud peacock.

"Not so fast. Why are you so proud? Sidekicks don’t get a cut, honey."

The lackey’s face fell in embarrassment.

"Wait, the Shang family? What backwoods dump spat them out?"

"For real? They’re not even on the map."

Lin Tingyue paused for a moment before saying, "Who's that?"

Shang Gaofei was about to explode with rage at Lin Tingyue.

"Ah, found it. So it's here."

"Oh, someone who once confessed to Lin Xiawan but got rejected, then turned resentful and started making trouble for her everywhere."

"Tch, tch, tch."

Lin Tingyue shook her head. Lin Xiawan was the female lead, after all. As for this kind of cannon fodder who constantly opposed the heroine, Lin Tingyue could guess his fate without even trying.

"Either the male lead will wreck him, or Lin Xiawan will get her revenge."

Shang Gaofei locked eyes with Lin Tingyue and inexplicably felt a chill creep into his heart. He forced himself to say, "Who do you think you are, running your mouth like that in front of me?"

"Me?"

"I'm the ex-corporate drone turned overnight millionaire—"

Shang Gaofei and Goon A perked up their ears simultaneously.

"The one and only chosen one, duh."

Lin Xiawan stepped forward, pulling Lin Tingyue to her side. She said, "This is my sister, Lin Tingyue."

Shang Gaofei and Goon A couldn't hold back and burst into laughter. Shang Gaofei doubled over laughing, saying, "Hahahaha, Lin Xiawan, you’ve lost it, calling this fake who took your place your sister."

Lin Xiawan's expression turned cold.

Lin Tingyue gave her sleeve a timid tug.

"Relax, sis, I’m not after your stuff."

Lin Xiawan's eyes crinkled with amusement at Lin Tingyue's use of "sis," while Shang Gaofei was still laughing. Suddenly, his laughter choked off. He stared dumbfounded at the photo in front of him.

The culprit waved her phone. Lin Tingyue blinked her innocent, clear eyes and asked, "Shang Gaofei, is this you?"

On the screen was someone busting out some wild dance moves—and that person was clearly Shang Gaofei, wearing a dress and a wig.

Lin Tingyue watched, utterly delighted, commenting, "You've got quite the dancing talent!"

Shang Gaofei totally lost it. His deep, dark secret—his cross-dressing dance—was something even his goons didn’t know. How did Lin Tingyue find out?

Not only did she know, but she also dug it up. This was social suicide, plain and simple.

"Wait, it gets better."

Lin Tingyue nodded toward Goon A.

Goon A's face was as pale as paper.

He looked like he was about to cry, even more devastated than Shang Gaofei.

A flicker of relief rose in Shang Gaofei's heart. He patted Goon A's shoulder, moved, and said, "At least I can trust you, unlike these traitors!"

He glared fiercely at Goons B, C, and D, who remained indifferent.

Goon A looked like he was about to cry, his voice trembling as he said, "Seriously? Lovey-dovey?"

Shang Gaofei was as if struck by lightning, his hand frozen mid-air on the shoulder pat. He said in disbelief, "Roaming the ends of the earth?"

Underling A nodded with tears streaming down his face.

Shang Gaofei: "Nooooo!"

He screamed and fled.

"Hey, does a husband have inheritance rights?"

Shang Gaofei: "Aaaah! Spare me!"

"Tch tch tch I told you not to fall for online romance. Look, it was supposed to be a beauty and a handsome guy, but now it's a tough guy and his sidekick."

"Now that's what I call tragic."

Lin Tingyue looked at Shang Gaofei’s remaining three henchmen with a kind smile.

The spotlight of gossip finds everyone.

She doesn’t make the drama—just delivers it.

"Let me see, what’s your story?"

"There are no small people, only juicy gossip."

The three henchmen exchanged glances, then chose to scream "WTF!" while following Shang Gaofei’s footsteps. Halfway through, they remembered their boss’s track record and tore straight out of the jewelry store, sprinting wildly down the street.

Lin Tingyue stood arms crossed, victorious.

"Starting now, I’ll protect Lin Xiawan."

Lin Xiawan is the heroine, after all. As long as she stays careful and obedient, she’ll definitely live longer!

Lin Xiawan’s heart melted. She gently stroked Lin Tingyue’s hair, who looked up at her with an innocent expression.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the jewelry store, a man in a suit approached, accompanied by the store manager.

"Mr. Lin, the two young ladies should be fine. Our store has top-notch security..."

The manager’s voice trailed off—they handled it without security.

Lin Yuhuan observed the scene before him, pushing up his gold-rimmed glasses. He asked, "Are you both alright?"

Lin Tingyue turned her head.

"Ohmygod no way, he’s so handsome! Is everyone in this world a male model?"

Lin Yuhuan's eye twitched. He sighed helplessly, "I’m your older brother."

Lin Tingyue: "?"

Huh?

"Brother? Model? Model brother?"