Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Grandfather Lin was so traumatized by the incident that he went without food for two days. When he finally managed to eat something, Lin Jiasi went to visit him, only for him to throw it right back up. This scared Lin Jiasi’s mother so badly that she immediately called for the family doctor.

"My mom said that every time Dad sees me now, he thinks of Fu Jingtian, and then he remembers being smooched against his will—hahahahaha!"

Lin Jiasi almost laughed herself sick. After pausing for a moment, she continued, "At his age, being kissed like that by a man is really humiliating. And Dad has always been someone who cares about his reputation more than anything. Now that his pride’s been crushed, he probably won’t even want to leave the house anymore."

Lin Jiasi thought, rather unfilially, that she might be getting a little too much schadenfreude out of this.

After this, Grandfather Lin would probably drop the matchmaking scheme.

"Could this be some twisted poetic justice?"

"The more you value something, the more likely you are to lose it?"

"What goes around comes around!!!"

Lin Jiasi burst into laughter again, slapping the couch beside her.

Bai Yaxin asked, "Does Dad know about the drugging?"

Lin Jiasi sat up straight. "Dad said he didn’t know. If he had, he would’ve shattered that glass on the spot. He’s already severed all connections with the Fu family."

But how much of that was because of her, Lin Jiasi wasn’t completely clued in.

"Thank goodness. If he really had drugged Little Aunt, then what kind of father would that make him? Might as well be an animal."

Lin Jiasi agreed wholeheartedly. She mussed up Tingyue’s hair and said, "Little Aunt only has a few days left before she leaves. She wants to transfer the villa in the east to your name."

A City was a gathering place for the wealthy, where land was worth its weight in gold. The eastern district, developed early and fully equipped, was especially coveted. Properties there were the most expensive in the entire city, never mind a whole villa.

"Isn’t that like buying a siheyuan in Beijing?"

Where was Beijing?

So Lin Tingyue liked siheyuans? She happened to have two of those as well. She’d find a good opportunity to gift them later.

Lin Jiasi scratched Lin Tingyue’s chin and asked, "My little gold-digger, do you like it?"

Lin Jiasi had always wanted to thank Lin Tingyue. If not for her, she might have walked right into Jingtian’s scheme. But since she was rarely home, she wasn’t entirely sure about Lin Tingyue’s preferences.

For this, she had specifically asked Bai Yaxin and learned that what Lin Tingyue loved most right now was money…

The Lin family was rolling in money, and Lin Jiasi had long achieved financial freedom. She owned plenty of properties under her name alone.

After much deliberation, Lin Jiasi decided that the eastern villa was the ballerest gift she could offer.

"Hell yes. Thank you, Little Aunt."

"A freaking villa!!!"

"Whatever makes you happy."

"Um…"

Lin Jiasi said, "Yue Yue, spit it out."

Lin Tingyue hesitated before speaking. "Little Aunt, is this about my irresistible charm that you…"

Lin Jiasi and Bai Yaxin held back their laughter. Bai Yaxin turned away, while Lin Jiasi just laughed out loud, saying, "Yes, Yue Yue is the good-luck charm of our Lin family."

"I'm the good-luck charm!!!"

Lin Tingyue was glowing with happiness.

After Lin Jiasi left, Lin Chengyan hesitantly approached Lin Tingyue.

Lin Tingyue was living her best life on the terrace swing chair, eating snacks and watching TV. Hearing movement, she perked up her ears, on alert, and turned to see her hopeless romantic of a brother.

"Oh no, is Second Brother's lovestruck phase flaring up again?"

"Is he planning to go find Cheng Jinshuang?"

"Yeah right, I won’t cover for Second Brother. I’ll just—Mom..."

Bai Yaxin, who was drinking tea in the living room, glanced over. She would keep tabs on Lin Chengyan until he returned to his room.

Lin Chengyan: "..."

He cleared his throat and asked, "Lin Tingyue, do you want to get rich?"

"Why does Second Brother sound like an organ-harvesting ringleader?"

Lin Tingyue said seriously, "Second Brother, don't you dare do anything illegal."

"At least being lovestruck won't get you canceled."

Lin Chengyan: ...

Should he thank Lin Tingyue for that?

Lin Chengyan looked at Lin Tingyue’s innocent face and explained, "A reality show producer approached me, wanting to invite you as a guest."

Lin Tingyue: "?"

"What does that have to do with me?"

It didn’t have much to do with Lin Tingyue, but the producer had a novel approach—mixing celebs with regular folks. While the concept was good, celebs were easy to find, but civilians were hard to come by.

As it happens, the producer knew Yun Xixue, who recommended Lin Tingyue.

Lin Chengyan figured Yun Xixue was trying to torture the whole cast, hence recommending Lin Tingyue as a human wrecking ball—but he had no proof.

"The paycheck's nothing to sneeze at."

"Ha! Like I'd sell out that easily?"

"In ancient times, some wouldn’t bend for a bushel of rice. Today, there’s..."

Lin Chengyan said with a smirk, "One million per episode."

Lin Tingyue: !

"Wait—how much?! Say that again?!"

"Today, there’s me, Lin Tingyue, dropping to my knees."

Lin Tingyue waved her arms wildly and literally jumped off the swing chair. "I'm in! I'm so in! Sign me up!"

Lin Chengyan: Pfft!

...

"Living is All About Love" is a reality dating show broadcast live, different from traditional dating shows. This one doesn't have studio guests because the real-time bullet comments (viewer reactions) make all viewers unofficial panelists.

"Tch tch, if there's any drama, there won't even be a grace period."

Any drama today means instant cancellation today, and moreover...

"People live for money, obviously! This title sounds like a trainwreck waiting to happen."

The staff member fitting Lin Tingyue with her mic paused, confused—did this person just say that?

After being fitted with her mic, Lin Tingyue stepped out of the vehicle. The episode she joined featured a group activity where everyone traveled dozens of kilometers from the love villa to a fruit farm, which was where Lin Tingyue disembarked.

Looking up, Lin Tingyue saw lush green plums hanging from the branches.

Before starting, the staff had told her they'd arranged with the fruit farm that contestants could pick and eat the fruits freely.

So Lin Tingyue...

"Why are these so sour!!!"

Her face scrunched from the tartness.

[Is this the new guest? So cute!]

[Hahaha that's totally me—who cares if it's good, just take a bite first!]

Lin Tingyue's unexpected remark drew the attention of the others milling about the orchard.

"At least the civilian participant won't cause drama, right?"

With this hope, Lin Tingyue approached the group.

As she walked over, an attractive contestant noticed her and waved enthusiastically, "You're the new guest today, right?"

"Yes," Lin Tingyue shook Huo Ting's hand, "I'm Lin Tingyue."

"Huo Ting."

After greeting Huo Ting, Lin Tingyue turned to the others. A male contestant leaning against a plum tree kept his distance. When Lin Tingyue greeted him, he only stated his name without moving.

"Ugh, who still thinks rudeness equals cool?"

"Wait, what was that guy's name again?"

Lin Tingyue scrunched her face in thought, while those around her were startled by the unexpected remark.

Just then, Wan Hong—who had ignored Lin Tingyue earlier—approached Huo Ting and murmured, "Ting, you're my only choice."

But his mic picked it up clearly for all to hear.

"Seriously? Opening with cringe already?"

"That's not devotion, that's full-on crazy! Does 'only choice' mean all other women cease to exist? What about your mom then?"

Huo Ting was caught off guard. She liked Wan Hong, but they weren't exclusive. As she hesitated, Wan Hong stalked off in a huff, his cameraman quickly following.

Lin Tingyue: ?

"What’s this guy even doing?"

"I don’t get it. Is this jealousy personified?"

Lin Tingyue glanced around.

"Said he left, but he’s probably just hiding behind a tree, huh?"

"Do the girls have to go baby him now?"

"No wonder the name sounded familiar. Dating show central—come for the love, stay for the mess!"

Lin Tingyue rubbed her hands, weirdly hyped.

"Swindled his ex out of three mil, drove her to suicide with his mind games… So he’s on a show to scout fresh targets?"

Huo Ting, mid-pursuit, froze.

"Wait—his ex is here today?!"