Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Ambulances and police cars were back on the scene.

Out-cold Du Haocang was carried onto the ambulance, while a woman named Xiao Rong—suspected of fraud and misconduct in public—was taken away by the police. Since this incident occurred at the new property development of Xingsheng Group, Du Yongyuan, the chairman of Xingsheng Group, was inevitably called to answer for it.

"Damn, that was wild."

"Just wait till Du Haocang wakes up—how those two will even look at each other? HAHA."

The opening event went down the drain. Lin Chengyan didn’t earn a single cent, but this massive scoop of gossip made up for his losses. He got into the car, ready to head back with Bai Yaxin and the others.

Just as Lin Tingyue was about to board, Yun Xixue’s assistant came over and handed her a business card. With a wink, she said teasingly, "If you ever want to get into showbiz, little sister, you can come find me."

Lin Tingyue nodded.

"Nothing beats being your own heiress."

"Dating Du Haocang is Sister Yun's one regret."

Yun Xixue, who was standing in the distance, stumbled—yeah, that was definitely her one regret.

In the car, Lin Rusong was driving, Bai Yaxin sat in the passenger seat, while Lin Tingyue, Lin Xiawan, and Lin Chengyan occupied the back.

Too excited from all the drama, Lin Tingyue had forgotten to call Lin Yuhuan. Now, she was hammering away at her phone, her fingers practically smoking from typing so fast.

Without her, who'd even respect Big Bro as the eldest?

Lin Chengyan asked, "Lin Tingyue, do you want to join the entertainment industry in the future?"

"The entertainment industry? That’s a viper’s nest."

Lin Tingyue shook her head decisively. "No way."

Lin Chengyan, who was already in said viper’s nest: "..."

"Then why did you take Yun Xixue’s business card?"

"Of course I’d take a gorgeous celeb’s card. But if Second Brother handed me one, I’d definitely refuse."

After mentally roasting him, Lin Tingyue added sarcastically, "I do have manners, after all."

Lin Chengyan: "..."

Such manners.

Why did Lin Tingyue always target him? Was being a hopeless romantic really the lowest rung in the family hierarchy?

Seeing Lin Chengyan’s expression, mischief bubbled up in Lin Tingyue. Suddenly, she said teasingly, "Second Brother, look—it’s Cheng Jinshuang!"

Lin Chengyan immediately snapped his head toward the window, frantic. "Where? Where?"

He scanned the surroundings but couldn’t spot Cheng Jinshuang anywhere.

Lin Tingyue said innocently, "In your heart, Second Brother."

"In a way, Second Brother really stays true to his heart."

Lin Xiawan chuckled. If she told Second Brother she remembered something funny, was it too late to say that?

Lin Chengyan glared daggers at Lin Tingyue: "Lin! Ting! Yue!"

Lin Tingyue covered her ears.

"Why are you yelling so loud!!!"

Bai Yaxin, who had been listening to Lin Tingyue's inner thoughts for a while, turned her head and disapprovingly said, "Lin Chengyan, keep it down."

Lin Chengyan: Wah!

...

Lin Rusong's youngest sister had just returned from abroad in the last couple of days.

The Lin family was a big family. Lin Rusong was the eldest son. After his mother passed away, the Lin patriarch married twice more.

Lin Rusong's mother had a son and a daughter, the second wife had two sons, and the third wife only had this one daughter.

The youngest aunt was lively, adorable, independent, and was close to Lin Rusong. However, because she was all about love matches and refused to marry, her relationship with the Lin patriarch had become quite strained.

So even if she returned, she wouldn’t go back to the old mansion—she would only stay at her eldest brother’s place for a few days. Bai Yaxin also liked this younger sister-in-law very much, and the Lin family even had a room specially reserved for her.

As soon as they heard she was coming back, Bai Yaxin had her room deep-cleaned. Just as Bai Yaxin stepped out of the room, she heard from downstairs that the aunt was here.

Lin Tingyue, Lin Xiawan, and Lin Chengyan—who had no work these days—all trooped downstairs and queued up to say hi to their aunt.

"Ah, Chengyan is looking more handsome every time I see you. That star power’s working for you, huh?"

Lin Jiasi handed a gift to Lin Chengyan.

No man could resist being called handsome, and Lin Chengyan was no exception. He smiled and said, "Thank you, Aunt Jiasi."

After Lin Chengyan came Lin Xiawan.

This was Lin Jiasi’s first time meeting this niece. Noticing the resemblance between Lin Xiawan’s features and those of Lin Rusong and Bai Yaxin, Lin Jiasi said, "Xia Wan, it’s good to have you home. Auntie didn’t know what girls your age like, so I picked something out."

Lin Xiawan smiled and replied, "Thank you, Aunt Jiasi."

When it was almost Lin Tingyue’s turn, she was practically bouncing with excitement.

Lin Jiasi said, "Like I’d forget our Yue Yue! Look what I got you!"

Lin Tingyue took the pretty box and beamed, "Thank you, Aunt Jiasi."

After giving gifts to the younger generation, Lin Jiasi made sure her sister-in-law wasn’t left out either.

The atmosphere in the living room was cozy. Bai Yaxin told Lin Jiasi, "Rusong and Yu Huan should be home any minute."

"Alright."

Lin Jiasi picked up her phone and glanced at it, her face fell. Bai Yaxin asked, "What’s wrong?"

"Dad knows I’m back and wants to have dinner with me."

Originally, Lin Jiasi wanted to refuse. Things between her and Dad weren’t something that could be fixed over a single meal—it had built up over years.

But Dad kept saying how much he missed her, and he had even asked Big Brother and his wife to come too.

Maybe it's just a family dinner?

If her eldest brother and sister-in-law go, then Lin Jiasi will go too.

Lin Rusong and Bai Yaxin didn't object, but that day, Lin Chengyan happened to have an advertisement shoot, Lin Xiawan had to go to school unexpectedly, and Lin Yuhuan was busy with work—he never showed up for family dinners anyway. In the end, the only one who went with them was Lin Tingyue.

But if the old man really had any ill intentions, just having Lin Tingyue would be enough!

Lin Tingyue noticed the meaningful looks from her mother and aunt and suddenly felt the weight of responsibility on her shoulders.

Lin Tingyue was baffled—what responsibility?

She was only going to eat!

Despite being called a family dinner, it was held in a private room at an external hotel.

The moment Lin Jiasi pushed open the door to the private room, she got a bad vibe.

Sure enough, as she walked in, she saw a stranger.

The unfamiliar man was sitting with her parents, who looked about her age.

So this so-called family dinner was actually a setup for a blind date?

The old man still wouldn't drop this. Lin Jiasi immediately rolled her eyes and turned to leave.

But before she could, Old Master Lin spoke up first: "Lin Jiasi, is it really so hard for you to have a meal with your parents?"

Seeing her unmoved, he played the emotional card: "Your mother and I are getting old, and you’re always running around. How many more chances like this do we even have?"

"Fine, fine," Lin Jiasi said, she'd heard this spiel so often her ears were calloused. She pulled out a chair and sat down. "Satisfied?"

Once everyone was seated, the old man began introducing the unfamiliar man beside him. "This is Fu Jingtian. He just returned from abroad too, Jiasi. You two probably have plenty to talk about."

"Seems like he’s introducing him to everyone, but it’s really just to set Auntie up with him."

Whoa, seriously?

She’d heard from her sister-in-law that she could hear Lin Tingyue's thoughts, but she hadn’t realized it was this useful.

Lin Jiasi immediately gazed at Lin Tingyue like she'd discovered gold.

Lin Tingyue: "?"

"Why is Auntie looking at me? Ignore this man—he's shady."

Bai Yaxin gave a cold smirk. Just as she thought.

Old Master Lin had always mooched off Lin Rusong, and now he was half-assing his youngest daughter's marriage like this?

Who does he actually care about?

Fu Jingtian walked up to Lin Jiasi with two glasses of wine. He looked polished, with a tall nose bridge and gold-rimmed glasses. "Miss Lin, let me propose a toast."

"No! Auntie, don't drink that! This man drugged the wine!"

With a loud crash, Lin Jiasi dropped the glass in shock.