Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Leaking secrets to a competitor...

Is she a corporate mole planted by a rival company?

"Actually, you can’t blame Big Bro. Even though she’s only been here for three months, her work performance has been stellar."

"This time, Qifeng must be desperate. They must have suffered such a huge loss from Big Bro last time that they resorted to this underhanded move."

Qifeng?

Lin Yuhuan remembered. Qifeng and Lin Corporation had always been at odds, especially in recent months. Every deal Qifeng wanted had been successfully bid on by Lin Corporation.

Lin Yuhuan knew they would hold a grudge, but he never expected them to plant a mole in his department.

His blood ran cold. Over the past three months, as Zhou Nannan had been killing it, he'd actually been giving her more access.

Including the proprietary documents of Lin Corporation’s most critical project recently.

If what Lin Tingyue said was true, and Zhou Nannan stole those documents for Qifeng, they could take an even bigger hit than Qifeng had in the past.

"Eh? Why did Big Bro suddenly become so serious?"

"Big Bro looks so handsome like this. No wonder I picture him as a runway model!"

Do I really look like a model? Lin Yuhuan fidgeted with his suit awkwardly.

"But then again, if Big Bro doesn’t know the secretary is a mole, he’ll be heartbroken when he finds out the truth after the confidential information is stolen. That little romantic spark will just be snuffed out like that."

Lin Yuhuan thought, why wait until Zhou Nannan steals the information? He’d crush whatever was between them immediately.

At the latest, he would have Zhou Nannan removed from the company by tomorrow. Lin Yuhuan sent a message to his assistant—firing someone required documentation, after all.

After sending the message, Lin Yuhuan said, "Tingyue, I have a meeting to attend soon. You..."

Lin Tingyue immediately stood up. "I’ll leave."

"An English-only meeting would destroy me."

Lin Yuhuan watched Lin Tingyue’s hurried exit: "...”

Was it really that bad?

He thought it was fine. Besides, the meeting wasn't even fully in English.

Zhou Nannan, holding a dessert tray, ran into Lin Tingyue as she exited Lin Yuhuan’s office. Zhou Nannan asked, "Miss Lin, are you leaving?"

Lin Tingyue nodded.

After walking past Zhou Nannan, she doubled back stealthily and took the pastries from her hands. Smiling, she said, "Thanks, gorgeous."

"Ughhh, why'd you have to be a spy, you traitor?!"

Zhou Nannan paused briefly. "It's alright, Miss Lin. Are you heading downstairs now?"

"Yeah, just looking around."

Lin Tingyue remembered there was an entertainment company owned by the Lin Group in this office building.

This entertainment company focused on training idols, and right now was their dance practice time.

Lin Tingyue decided to slip over and watch the handsome guys dance.

Handsome guys, handsome guys... After finishing her dessert, she was practically bouncing with anticipation in the elevator. When the doors opened, she stepped out but collided with something surprisingly firm yet yielding.

"What the—??"

Rubbing her forehead, Lin Tingyue looked up and saw Ying An.

Ying An was looking at her with concern. "Miss Lin, are you okay?"

Lin Tingyue shook her head. "I'm fine."

But...

She began reevaluating what she had just bumped into. Given her height, it must have been Ying An's toned chest. She mused, "Who knew such rock-hard pecs could feel this soft?"

Ying An: "..."

Lin Tingyue openly ogled Ying An's... chest.

Ying An adjusted his white shirt collar, his ears turning red. "Miss Lin, could you..."

"Could I what?" she blinked up at him innocently.

"Huh? Why are his ears red?"

Ying An wished he could cover his flushed ears. Meeting Lin Tingyue's smiling eyes, he said, "It's nothing. What brings you here today, Miss Lin?"

"This seems to be part of my family's holdings..."

Ying An nodded. "It is indeed one of the Lin Group's properties. So, are you here for an inspection?"

"Inspection???"

"Ooh, fancy," Lin Tingyue puffed up with importance and said seriously, "That's right. I'm here for an inspection."

"Would you like me to give you the tour, Miss Lin?"

Receiving no response, Ying An turned his head and realized Lin Tingyue had somehow gotten right in his face. His heart skipped a beat. "She wondered aloud, 'So, you're actually signed under the Lin family's company too?'"

"No, Miss Lin. Our Ying family has its own entertainment company. I was just stopping by today."

"Small world."

Looking at Lin Tingyue's rosy cheeks, Ying An's voice dropped unexpectedly. "Yes, small world."

Ying An and Lin Tingyue headed deeper into the company side by side. When he found out that Lin Tingyue was there to watch the trainees' dance practice, Ying An took her to the dance studio.

The dance studio used a one-way mirror, allowing people outside to see every move inside, while those inside only saw their own reflections in the mirror.

Lin Tingyue rested her chin on her hand, watching with interest, while Ying An stood silently by her side, not interrupting her obvious enjoyment.

So Miss Lin likes watching people dance?

Ying An had always been uncoordinated since he was a kid, and after deciding to focus on acting, he never danced again. If Miss Lin liked it, though...

"Why does this look so lifeless?"

"Is it because they're bad, or because I can't hear the music?"

"And why are they all so... weak-looking?"

"They couldn't win a fight, let alone an idol competition."

"Where's the muscle? No abs, no pecs?"

Huh?

Ying An froze, then glanced down at himself, suddenly feeling pretty good about himself.

Advantage... What was he thinking? Why did he need an advantage in front of Miss Lin?

Lin Tingyue was getting bored. "Let's go," she said.

"Alright."

Just as they were about to leave, the class ended, and the dancers came out in groups, many noticing Lin Tingyue and Ying An outside.

"Hey, are they someone's fans?"

"Are you crazy? This is the company—how would fans get in here?"

"There are so many staff in this office building, and they can come and go freely. Maybe someone ditched work just to see me."

"Be careful. This building doesn’t just have staff—it has bosses too."

"Come on, there aren’t that many rich benefactors these days."

Rich benefactor herself, Lin Tingyue: ?

She might not be a billionaire, but she definitely had millions.

"Who does this guy think he is?"

"Ditching work just to see you? Talk about delusional. The only thing in this world that gets unconditional support is money!"

"I live for money, I die for money, I'd bang my head against a wall for cash!"

Cen Fang walked up to Lin Tingyue thinking she might be his fan, while the others stopped at the outburst.

Cen Fang was handsome, especially when he smiled—which was charming. He gave her his dazzling smile and graciously informed her, "I have time now. You can have my autograph and take a picture with me."

Lin Tingyue blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Why would I want your autograph or a picture?"

Cen Fang watched as Lin Tingyue looked at him in confusion...

With a puzzled expression, he asked, "Are you a fan of someone else? That can't be right—I'm clearly the best-looking one here," he said sarcastically.

"Is this how people brag about themselves these days?"

"Does anyone even care about me?"

After convincing himself, Cen Fang lowered his voice and said, "None of them have come today. You’re my one and only fan."

Lin Tingyue made a face of utter suffering.

"Little xx, get out of this planet!!!"

"That fake bubbly voice is so cringey."

Lin Tingyue pointed at Ying An beside her and asked, "Do you see him?"

Cen Fang followed her finger and looked over. He clearly recognized Ying An. "Yeah, I see him—Ying An," but what does that matter?"

Cen Fang believed those seniors were only popular because they debuted earlier—before he had the chance. Once he debuted, he would definitely become the most outstanding rising star in the history of talent shows, he boasted.

Lin Tingyue stepped closer to Ying An, crossing her arms as she asked, "What makes you think I’d be your fan instead of Actor Ying’s?"

Actor Ying smirked.

After some thought, Cen Fang declared confidently, "Because I’m younger."

Actor Ying wasn’t pleased, and Lin Tingyue was completely speechless!

"Why don’t you say it’s because of your eight non-celebrity girlfriends, your history of school bullying, or the fact that you were dating four fans simultaneously?" she snapped.

What???

Cen Fang was like that?!

Yan Yu, who had just warned Cen Fang earlier, thought carefully. He shared a dorm with Cen Fang and had heard him calling someone "baby" during outings. He'd just figured Cen Fang was affectionate with his girlfriend—but were those "babies" actually different people?

"With only a few hundred followers on Weibo, you carefully picked four fans to date… Who would actually fan over someone like this?!!!"

The company’s manager, who had rushed over upon hearing that the second daughter of the Lin family had arrived, overheard this. He froze in place, glancing at Cen Fang, who was still looking pleased with himself.

Cen Fang's career just imploded—right outside the dance studio, inside his own company.

It all came crashing down so suddenly.

As noon approached, Lin Tingyue called Lin Yuhuan. He was busy collecting proof that Zhou Nannan was a mole from a rival company and couldn't make it for lunch. Still, worried that she might feel lost in an unfamiliar place, he asked if she needed company.

When he heard she was with Ying An, Lin Yuhuan relaxed. "Then have lunch with Ying An."

After hanging up, Lin Tingyue turned to Ying An. "Big Brother said we should have lunch together. You free?"

"Nope."

As they took the elevator downstairs, Ying An suddenly said, "Miss Lin, I'm just twenty-six."

"Wait, what?"

"I'm still young, you know."