Chapter 117

Chapter 117

Qi Le’s face turned red with rage. "If you knew who she is, you’d definitely regret it."

The suit-wearing jerk draped an arm over the posh woman’s shoulder and grinned cockily. "Oh? Let’s see how you’ll make me regret it, then."

Lin Tingyue, who had been orchestrating everything, began counting down.

"Five."

What was happening? Was someone else about to arrive?

"Four."

More people means more chaos—this’ll be a glorious trainwreck.

"Three."

Karma’s a bitch.

"Two."

Who was coming? Or would it be a whole mixed crowd?

"One."

Though no one knew what would happen next, the tension was palpable. Fan Qing’s eyes lit up with anticipation as she stared at the entrance.

The moment Lin Tingyue finished counting, a young woman appeared at the door and marched right up to the table where the suit-wearing jerk sat.

Based on Fan Qing’s experience, this was likely Qi Le’s wife.

Hou Yuxin pointed at Qi Le’s nose and yelled, "Oh, Qi Le, I knew something was off! You were hemming and hawing on the phone, and turns out you were here with some guy… *and* some woman—two at once! Just how many surprises do you have hidden, huh? Running a whole dating roster now?"

Why was Hou Yuxin here?

Before Qi Le could process it, he stammered, "Yuxin, didn’t I say I’d meet you this afternoon? I was even going to buy you that cake you love from your favorite shop!"

Hou Yuxin: "?"

"Did you seriously make a rotation schedule for this?"

"Rotation schedules? Assistant Li’s got that down pat."

Assistant Li, miles away, sneezed. He had no interest in being familiar with such matters.

Hearing this random-ass comment, Hou Yuxin scoffed. "Wow, now you’re pulling assistants out of thin air? Why not just launch yourself into orbit, Qi Le?"

"Yuxin—"

Hou Yuxin ignored him. "It’s over!"

She gave Qi Le an open-handed slap and stormed off.

Fan Qing: "Wait—"

Why leave now? Though that was *chef’s kiss*, wasn’t she the wife mentioned in Yue Yue’s inner thoughts?

The suit-wearing jerk grabbed Qi Le by the collar, snarling. "Qi Le, what do you have to say for yourself now? You really did betray me this whole time?"

"Hey, handsome."

Cui Yi felt someone pat his shoulder from behind. He turned to see a young woman wearing sunglasses. Frowning, he asked, "What do you want?"

Shang Mei took off her sunglasses and tucked them into her pocket. She said earnestly, "I was worried you’d kill him with one punch. Mind if I go first?"

Cui Yi: "???"

"You too..."

"*Just* found out. Worse, I *ate spinach* before coming here."

Shang Mei actually liked the color green—it made her look fairer. So she decided to teach this scumbag a lesson.

From then on, Qi Le became like a punching bag. Every minute, another woman or man would appear, taking a turn to hit him.

A confused customer kindly pointed out, "Boss, isn’t this kind of behavior illegal?"

The boss quickly clarified, "This is entirely due to this gentleman’s personal misconduct—it has nothing to do with our establishment."

Affairs???

There must’ve been over a dozen people hitting him by now.

Was he dating all of them at the same time?

Cui Yi snapped. "Qi Le, you live off me, and now you’re using my money to support others too?"

Everyone wanted to break up with him. If Qi Le still couldn’t tell someone was deliberately targeting him today, he’d be a total moron.

The most likely culprit, aside from the person right in front of him, was—who else?

Qi Le, tears pouring down his face from the beating, sobbed, "Cui Yi, don’t play innocent. You knew I had a wife, yet you still clung to me, saying it was love at first sight, that you’d willingly be the other man."

The onlookers gasped. These two were truly a match made in hell.

"I understand people like Cui Yi all too well. Back then, he was willing to be the side piece just to be with Qi Le because it didn’t harm his interests and satisfied his sick fantasies. But now it’s different—Qi Le’s been seeing so many people, making a fool of him. His interests are threatened, so he panics. Did he ever think about how innocent Qi Le’s wife was?"

Exactly.

Bai Yaxin and Feng Shuiyun both despised people who wrecked families, regardless of gender. Knowing someone had a family yet still clinging to them—how pathetic is that?

"Qi Le, you’d better shut up right now," Cui Yi threatened in a low voice.

Qi Le laughed, his battered face making the grin eerie. "Do it, then. Kill me. You still don’t know who she is, do you?"

He pointed at the well-dressed woman. "She’s my wife’s mother."

"What???"

Cui Yi stood frozen, like he’d been electrocuted.

Outside, a black-clad figure watched Qi Le and Cui Yi brawling, then left satisfied—without so much as a glance at the well-dressed woman.

As they got into the car, Fan Qing suddenly blurted out, "So all of this was planned by Qi Le’s wife, right?"

Lin Tingyue chewed on her lollipop. "She’s been waiting for this day for a long time. And her mother knew Qi Le was betraying her but never told her—even hooked up with his boyfriend."

Fan Qing sighed after hearing this. Betrayed by her husband, abandoned by her mother—she hoped the wife would find happiness from now on.

"Mr. Ying, what brings you here?"

Ying An didn’t say he’d rushed over in a panic after seeing the wedding photos in Lin Tingyue’s WeChat moments. He stared at her and said seriously, "I’ve been a bit busy lately."

"Serious Mr. Ying is so handsome."

Ying An’s ears turned red quietly.

Lin Tingyue crossed her arms and chuckled. "I know—didn’t you already explain everything to me?"

The Lin Tingyue in front of him had playful eyes, like a sly little fox.

Ying An pressed his lips together, then reached out to cup her face.

The second his hands met her skin, Lin Tingyue froze. She blinked in confusion, then leaned into his touch.

Ying An: "!!!"

As if scorched, his eyelashes fluttered, and he quickly pulled back. Meeting her gaze, his voice grew hoarse. "Miss Lin."

"Yeah, I’m here."

Ying An said quietly, "When I’m busy, I can’t be with you."

"Are you afraid I’d get lonely, Mr. Ying?" she asked, tilting her head.

Lin Tingyue had always been popular, with more friends than she could count. But that was only natural—she was radiant, and anyone around her could see it. Yet right then, Ying An felt a twinge in his chest.

Hesitantly, he answered, "You wouldn’t get lonely, would you?"

"Mr. Ying is acting strange today."

Ying An stiffened, worried she’d notice he was acting off.

"Is it...?"

Is it what? He grew even more nervous.

"Jealous?"

Lin Tingyue took wedding photos with Fan Qing—why would he be jealous?

"Mr. Ying."

"Hm?" Ying An looked up.

"Will you be busy tomorrow too?"

"I’ve got a big variety show shoot tomorrow..."

"What about the day after?"

"I’ll be free then."

Lin Tingyue gazed at him and grinned. "Then let’s go see a movie and get dinner the day after?"

Her smile was contagious, easing his restlessness. Ying An smiled back faintly. "Yeah, I’ll pick you up at your office then."

"Okay."

Before leaving, Lin Tingyue intertwined her finger with Ying An's.

When Lin Tingyue returned, Lin Chengyan teased, "Look who's back from her date!"

Lin Tingyue let out a noncommittal sound, brushing past Lin Chengyan into the elevator.

"Doo bee doo..."

Bai Yaxin, chatting with Lin Rusong, paused, and the two shared a look.

Lin Rusong sighed, "A daughter in love is a daughter lost."

"Don’t say that. If Tingyue marries Ying An someday, it’s not like she won’t come home."

Lin Rusong chuckled, "Fair enough."

Lin Xiawan murmured, "Tingyue seems to really like Ying An."

"Lin Xiawan, are you, the ultimate sis-con, feeling jealous...?" Lin Chengyan exposed Lin Xiawan’s thoughts.

"Doesn’t Second Brother feel the sting too?" Lin Xiawan retorted.

"Wait," Lin Chengyan suddenly realized, "Does this mean our spot in Tingyue’s priorities is going to drop?"

Bai Yaxin, Lin Rusong, Lin Yuhuan, Lin Xiawan: "!!!"

Oh no.

But...

Lin Yuhuan glanced at Lin Chengyan, "Do you even need to worry?"

Lin Chengyan: "..."

His elder brother’s words made him uneasy. He was the one who needed to worry the most.

...

Sunday.

Lin Ruzhi’s youngest son brought his girlfriend over, and the whole family gathered at the old house.

When Bai Yaxin and the others arrived, Cao Min was chatting with Lin Jiaxin.

"Xingyun’s been a handful since he was little. His education gave Ruzhi and me nothing but trouble—Ruzhi even landed in the hospital over it. We finally had to send him abroad to study. Now he’s turned out alright and even found someone."

Lin Jiaxin smiled, "What a relief. Now you can relax and enjoy life."

"From your lips to heaven’s ears."

Lin Hong coughed, "Call Xingyun—see where he’s at."

Lin Ruzhi, sitting beside Lin Hong, teased, "Someone’s eager."

"You’ve got it made—about to be a grandpa, and now your youngest has someone too. Rusong, as the eldest, has children who are all grown up, yet there’s no prospects in sight. I wonder if they’ll end up like Lin Jiasi..."

Bai Yaxin got it—he was throwing shade.

"Whether it's Jiaxin or Xingyun, they're just two different paths life can take. As long as the kids are happy, the choice itself doesn't matter. Right, Dad?"

Bai Yaxin deftly deflected the topic, leaving Lin Hong momentarily speechless. "Lin Rusong, your wife is getting quicker with her comebacks these days."

Lin Rusong played along, "Indeed, Dad. I'm lucky to have her."

Lin Hong: "..."

How infuriating.

Now that he's old, everyone's getting too big for their britches.

"Ah," Lin Jiaxin interjected, "Sounds like Xingyun's back."

Supported by Lin Ruzhi, Lin Hong stood up, and everyone stepped out to see Lin Xingyun coming down the hallway.

Holding a girl's hand, he waved cheerfully with his other hand, "Grandpa!"

Lin Hong beamed, "Come here, let me take a good look at you."

As Lin Xingyun approached, Lin Hong gave him a once-over and patted his shoulder. "Xingyun's really grown up."

"Of course," Lin Xingyun said hello to everyone before introducing, "This is my girlfriend, WangLan."

WangLan followed his lead, calling out, "Grandpa."

Lin Hong was overjoyed. "Wonderful! The Lin family's getting a new daughter soon!"

"Who says?" Lin Xingyun teased, "Maybe it'll be a grandson!"