Chapter 114

Chapter 114

"Middle-aged orthopedic romance LOLOLOL."

"The younger brother spiking the older brother's drink just to..."

"The hidden secrets of wealthy families... LOL these tabloids are killing me."

Lin Chengyan, leaning against the sofa and listening to Lin Tingyue's inner monologue, smirked in amusement. "Now the Tu brothers are probably going to trend for ages."

Lin Tingyue looked at Lin Chengyan. "So Second Brother's actually sneaky evil, huh?"

Lin Chengyan: "?"

He's always been like this, okay? Does Lin Tingyue have some misunderstanding about him?

But since she didn't know this side of him before, would she dislike him now?

The superstar who never cared what people thought actually felt a flicker of nervousness.

Lin Tingyue's gaze lingered, so Lin Chengyan asked in a mock-gruff tone, "What are you looking at? Think I went too far?"

Lin Tingyue gave Lin Chengyan's shoulder a pat, saying earnestly, "Second Brother, you're the best."

"...Huh?" Lin Chengyan was skeptical.

Lin Tingyue continued, "If it weren't for your master plan, the Tu brothers wouldn't have reaped what they sowed so quickly."

"Second Brother is a straight-up genius!"

A genius!

Lin Tingyue called him a genius!

Lin Chengyan lit up instantly, his invisible tail practically standing straight up. But he didn't expect Lin Tingyue's praise to have a follow-up.

"I've decided not to bring up Second Brother being a hopeless romantic for a whole week."

Lin Chengyan: "?"

He clenched his fists. Would they ever let this go?!

Just as he was about to retort, Lin Yuhuan's phone rang—

Lin Xiawan had seen the incident in the family group chat and called Lin Yuhuan.

Lin Yuhuan said breezily, "Don't sweat it, Xiawan. Everything's been handled perfectly."

Lin Xiawan let out a relieved sigh. "That's good."

Bai Yaxin grabbed the phone from Lin Yuhuan, concern written all over her face. "How are you holding up over there? Is it hard? Are you tired?"

"It's alright."

Bai Yaxin fretted, "But you look thinner to me."

Perhaps every mother thinks their child has lost weight. Lin Xiawan chuckled wryly. "Actually I've put on weight. My manager's been telling me to cut back."

"Show me."

Lin Tingyue leaned into the camera, pressing close to Bai Yaxin’s face. She studied her closely before nodding and saying, "You’ve lost weight."

"Seriously? Tingyue, look closely."

"Of course it’s true. I never miss a thing—my eyes are like a measuring tape!"

Lin Xiawan laughed, her eyes curving into crescents, and Bai Yaxin chuckled along. She asked, "So, Xiawan, when are you coming back?"

Lin Xiawan paused to think. "The day after tomorrow."

"I’ll come get you then."

Lin Tingyue shot her hand up eagerly. "Sis, I’ll come too!"

Lin Xiawan teased, "Don’t you have work that day, President Lin?"

"Oh right, I can’t just waltz in late and duck out early on my first days."

Lin Tingyue hesitated, but she wasn’t one to give up!

She declared, "Then come get me after work!"

Bai Yaxin tapped Lin Tingyue’s forehead in amusement. "That’s not how this goes."

But Lin Xiawan said, "Sure."

After hanging up, Lin Chengyan slung an arm over Lin Yuhuan’s shoulder and lamented, "Big bro, looks like there’s no room left for us brothers at home anymore."

Lin Yuhuan shrugged off Lin Chengyan’s arm and corrected, "No room for *you*."

Lin Chengyan stared at Lin Yuhuan in disbelief, only to see genuine amusement in his elder brother’s eyes.

"So now you’re dropping the act, Lin Yuhuan?"

So annoying!

...

On Monday, when Lin Tingyue went to work, it was Ying An who drove her.

Lin Chengyan gritted his teeth in frustration, and Lin Yuhuan asked curiously, "What’s wrong with you?"

"I was supposed to drive Tingyue today."

But now Ying An—his old pal turned brother-in-law—had swooped in first.

"Ugh, so unfair."

Bai Yaxin sighed in exasperation. "Lin Chengyan, why don’t you find something to do?"

"Mom, I’m just waiting on Tingyue’s funding."

"You’re hitting up your little sister for cash? Have some dignity!"

"Then how about you front me some cash, Mom?"

Bai Yaxin spun on her heel and marched off, Lin Chengyan hot on her heels.

As they drove, Lin Tingyue asked, "Mr. Ying, is your shoot wrapped up?"

"Soon."

"Then how do you still have time to come?"

"Does Miss Lin not want to see me?"

Lin: "?"

"That's quite an accusation! I just hope love doesn't interfere with my career!"

Lin blinked, "Do I really seem like that?"

Ying An chuckled softly, "Guess I was wrong."

"A major misunderstanding."

The car went quiet for a moment before Ying An suddenly said, "I wanted to give you a ride on your first day at the company."

Lin paused, then turned her head with a smile, "Then why didn't you?"

Ying An frowned slightly, "Was tied up."

Lin understood, "So this is compensation?"

Ying An said quietly, "If possible, I hope I'll never have to compensate you again."

"Hmm... what kind of line is that?"

Lin looked around deliberately, "Seems like we're almost at the company."

Ying An pursed his lips, "Yeah."

"Mr. Ying, is there anything else you want to say to me?"

Ying An looked surprised, "How did you know—"

"Because Mr. Ying's thoughts are just too easy to guess."

That easy?

Ying An couldn't help touching his face. Everyone always said he was hard to read.

Ying An asked, "Did you like how the Tu family matter was handled yesterday?"

Lin didn't expect this question. She laughed, "That's all?"

"Yeah."

"I thought it'd be some romantic line, like 'Lin, do you love me or not?'"

Ying An smirked. So, did Lin like him or not?

"I'm very satisfied." As the car stopped, Lin unbuckled her seatbelt. "Don't you worry I'll think you're a bad person?"

Ying An shrugged, "As long as I do things for you and protect your family, that's all that matters."

"Are you saying even if I asked Mr. Ying to do something terrible, he'd jump right in?"

His eyes gleamed. He truly would risk everything for Lin.

Lin Tingyue grabbed Ying An’s tie. Before he could react, she yanked him close.

Ying An’s gaze landed on her beautiful face, and he held his breath, as if a butterfly had perched before him—one wrong move, and it’d be gone.

Lin Tingyue felt she might have gone too far. Loosening her grip, she teased, "Who knew Mr. Ying was such a romantic?"

After saying that, she patted his tie, straightening it for him, and said, "Goodbye, Mr. Ying."

"Goodbye."

As Lin Tingyue walked away, Ying An sat in the car, still dazed.

Lin Tingyue walked into the building and saw Wei Qianfeng at reception.

She greeted him, but to her surprise, Wei Qianfeng stopped her. "Director Lin, got a minute?"

Lin Tingyue asked, "What is it?"

"Director Yao’s back."

"Yao Aoyun’s back?"

Wei Qianfeng nodded.

Lin Tingyue knew of this person—Lin Yuhuan had mentioned her. Yao Aoyun was a top performer at the branch, extremely competent, but she’d never accepted Lin Tingyue’s parachute appointment.

As for how to handle Yao Aoyun, Lin Yuhuan hadn’t made a decision yet.

Things couldn’t always go her way, and Lin Tingyue had long prepared herself.

She couldn’t just push out a talented employee after arriving, could she? Lin Tingyue took the initiative to tell Lin Yuhuan that she would handle her relationship with Yao Aoyun herself.

She’d adapt—she had to.

Coincidentally, during Lin Tingyue’s first few days, Yao Aoyun had been away on a business trip, so their confrontation was delayed until now.

Lin Tingyue stood tall, but her confidence was shaky. If she couldn’t find a way to work with Yao Aoyun, she’d be out on her ear.

Seeing Director Lin’s expression of grim determination, Wei Qianfeng couldn’t help but remind her, "Director Lin, Director Yao’s not that bad."

Lin Tingyue nodded. "I know."

Wei Qianfeng: "..."

But you look like a rabbit facing a wolf!

Lin Tingyue and Wei Qianfeng went upstairs together. Yao Aoyun was rounding up her team for a meeting. Noticing Lin Tingyue, she stopped short. "Director Lin?"

"Hello, Director Yao. Of course."

Yao Aoyun shook Lin Tingyue’s hand, her striking face unreadable. "We’re starting a meeting. Care to sit in, Director Lin?"

That went surprisingly well!

Lin Tingyue brightened. "Of course."

Then, the awkward question.

Now, who takes the head of the table?

Lin Tingyue outranks Yao Aoyun, but does Yao Aoyun respect this new boss Lin?

Just as everyone grew uncomfortable, Lin Tingyue had already taken the #2 seat without being asked. "The lead presenter sits up front," she declared.

"Since when does the boss automatically get the head seat?"

Oh right.

They'd forgotten this Lin had no patience for corporate BS.

Yao Aoyun's eyebrow twitched. This Lin wasn't what she'd expected.

Yao Aoyun's recent trip focused on scouting charity initiatives for the company.

"I've shortlisted three candidates. First—a previously healthy little girl who suddenly developed a critical illness."

Yao Aoyun brought up a side-by-side: the left showed the vibrant child before, the right her current frail state.

The shocking before-and-after drew gasps. "Jesus Christ..."

The cruelty of fate toward this innocent child hit them viscerally.

Yet Lin Tingyue stayed weirdly detached.

"If I recall correctly, since her diagnosis, the parents have been courting media attention for donations to fund treatment."

Yao Aoyun drummed her fingers absently. True—but the sky-high medical bills became a money pit. The donations barely made a dent, and the girl's condition kept deteriorating.

Hence Yao Aoyun's selection.

"Pity all that cash lined her parents' pockets."

Everyone: "???"

Meaning?

"These grifter parents play devoted—milking the waterworks for cameras—but it's pure theater. They've been exploiting their daughter to bankroll their one-year-old son."

Yao Aoyun's grip tightened on her documents. She could still see the mother's "tearful" interviews—all fake?

And they'd always claimed they only had this one daughter—they actually had a son?

"Yao," Lin Tingyue met her gaze, "I'd recommend deeper vetting for case one. Your thoughts?"

*She wouldn't think I'm picking on her, would she?*

*I swear on my life—I adore capable women like her!*

In another world, teaming with Yao Aoyun would mean getting carried by a superstar while admiring her beauty.

Yao Aoyun: "...?"

Where did this come from?

Perhaps Lin Tingyue's brainwaves were too loud—even unflappable Yao Aoyun colored slightly. She coughed awkwardly. "Since Lin's raised concerns, I'll take her word for it. Next case."

Lin Tingyue, who'd been shrinking into her seat, bounced right back. *She caves that easy? Hardcore crush activated!*

Yao Aoyun eagerly pulled out the info on the second case, worried that any more delay would make Lin Tingyue like her even more.

The thing is, there were so many colleagues watching.

The colleagues thought: Beautiful people appreciating beautiful people—we stan!

"This photo shows a high school student from a mountain village and her sponsor. I plan to use the sponsor as an entry point to bring attention to more people who urgently need financial support."

After speaking, Yao Aoyun looked at Lin Tingyue and asked, "What does Ms. Lin think?"

Lin Tingyue first praised Yao Aoyun's idea: "Ms. Yao has found excellent cases, and this approach is quite fresh."

"However..."

Yao Aoyun's eyebrow shot up—was this one problematic too?

Out of three, had she already missed the mark twice?

"This high school student dropped out to have a baby with the sponsorship money."

Yao Aoyun: Wait, what?!