Chapter Fourteen: Lin Shanshan's Care

Bang!
Crash…
Thud!
Clang…

Windows, tables and chairs, flowerpots, wine racks, the television—everything was smashed to pieces by the two of them, their destruction gleeful and unrestrained.

“Having fun?” Lin Yuan asked, having just shattered a large, expensive flat-screen. He glanced at Han Ling.

“It’s great,” Han Ling replied, cheeks flushed with excitement, her expression radiant. Human nature has an inherent urge for destruction; smashing things here with abandon brought her immense relief, letting her vent all her pent-up frustration and gloom.

“Come on, let’s head to the first floor and smash up their wine racks,” Lin Yuan said, taking her delicate hand and leading her downstairs.

“Yes!” she replied, nodding happily.

When they reached the ground floor, many guests were still present. As soon as they appeared, a couple in the corner noticed them. The woman didn’t recognize them, but men naturally appreciate beautiful women. Recognizing Han Ling, the man was visibly startled.

“Lin Yuan, thank you for today,” Han Ling said, overjoyed. She turned, wrapped her arms around Lin Yuan’s neck, lifted one shapely leg behind her, and delightedly kissed him.

The man stared, fists clenched so tight his knuckles cracked, face flushed with rage, his eyes nearly spitting fire.

“Han Ling, what are you doing?” he demanded, suppressing a murderous urge, eyes bloodshot.

Hearing his voice, Han Ling turned and was momentarily stunned. “Ye Jianren, why are you here?”

“You have the nerve to ask me? Look at yourself—do you even see me as your boyfriend anymore?” Ye Jianren shouted, his composure shattered.

Han Ling rolled her eyes. “Before you say that, maybe check the woman beside you? The two of you enjoyed your night in the hotel room, didn’t you? I could hear you from the hallway.”

That night, she had tracked down his room and listened for a while from the hallway, losing all hope in this scumbag. Even as he was with another woman, he called her name and spewed filth.

“What? How did you know?” Ye Jianren’s expression changed.

“Wait a second—so the couple kissing in the hotel lobby that night was you two?” Suddenly, the memory clicked—no wonder that slender waist and those long, beautiful legs had seemed so familiar. He’d even thought to himself how she was just as stunning as his girlfriend. Who could have guessed—they were one and the same.

Realizing the truth, he turned green with jealousy.

“So what if it was?” Han Ling shot back.

“You—you shameless tramp!” Ye Jianren seethed, unwilling to accept it. Such a beauty, and he hadn’t even touched her—yet this guy had gotten ahead of him.

Thud!

Lin Yuan struck him on the head with a club.

“Ahhh!” Ye Jianren howled in pain as blood streamed down his forehead.

“Murder!” the woman beside him shrieked.

Thud!

Lin Yuan knocked her out with a single blow as well.

“One’s foul-mouthed, the other’s deafening—truly a match made in hell. Not like Han Ling, whose lips are sweet and impossible to kiss enough,” Lin Yuan said, grinning meaningfully at Han Ling.

Her face flushed deeper, and she glared at him. “Even if it’s not enough, there’s no more for you.”

“But I want to kiss you to my heart’s content,” Lin Yuan replied, staring at her rosy lips and swallowing.

Watching their flirtation, Ye Jianren was so enraged that he coughed up a mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot.

“Pathetic, passing out so easily. Let’s keep smashing,” Lin Yuan said, raising his bat.

“Wait, I need to take this call.” Han Ling’s phone buzzed. She glanced at it—it was her aunt.

She answered, only to be bombarded with a tirade.

“Where have you run off to this time? Haven’t come back for so long, am I wasting two thousand a month feeding you? With your work attitude, how could you face your mother? If I hadn’t taken you in, you’d still be sponging off your family! Useless thing!”

Han Ling’s eyes reddened. “I’m coming back now,” she said, hanging up.

“I have to go,” she said, a touch of reluctance in her voice.

“Wait, take this with you.” Lin Yuan handed her a bag of Jade Skin Powder.

“What’s this?” she asked curiously, fiddling with the bag—it was just a plastic pouch of powder. A terrible suspicion crossed her mind.

“It’s a beauty powder I made myself, better than any cosmetic. It whitens, rejuvenates, removes spots, and nourishes the skin.”

“Oh, this is wonderful—thank you!” Han Ling exclaimed, startled that such a precious thing was in a plastic bag. She’d nearly thought it was something illicit.

“No need to thank me. Try it out and let me know how it works. Don’t worry, it’s pure herbal, completely safe.”

“Alright, I’ll test it for you,” Han Ling replied before hurrying off to work.

Lin Yuan muttered to himself, “Looks like I need to find her a better job.” Then he resumed his spree, leaving the club in utter ruin.

That evening, he received a call from Lin Weiwei, summoning him back to the villa. Yang Guang’s men had come to cause trouble, even disturbing Lin Ruhai…

Lin Weiwei’s Villa

“Mr. Yang, please calm down. That boy will be back any moment now,” Lin Ruhai said politely, offering tea.

“Ruhai, let me give you some advice—don’t just bring anyone into your house. Luckily, it’s me this time,” Yang Guang replied.

“Yes, yes. As soon as he returns, I’ll have him kneel and apologize, and hand over the antidote,” Lin Ruhai said obsequiously.

The Lin family’s business, while not small, was worth only a little over a billion. But Yang Guang was a major player—a big boss in the south, owner of the Lingnan Star Hotel chain, with a market value of several billion.

At the gates of the villa complex, Lin Yuan strolled back, blissfully unaware of the gravity of the situation.

Lin Shanshan was furious as she intercepted him.

“You need to go—don’t come back!” she said.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Yuan felt a warmth in his heart. He hadn’t expected her to help him at such a dangerous time.

“Yang Guang’s here with a whole crew. The moment you step inside, they’ll grab you. Here—take my scooter and this card; there’s five hundred thousand on it, enough to get by. Go—now!” She pressed the keys and card into his hands urgently.

“But I can’t bear to leave you, Miss Lin. Besides, if I hand over the antidote, Yang Guang should let me go, right?” Lin Yuan replied naïvely.

“You really are adorably stupid! Do you know who Yang Guang is? Even my father has to curry favor with him. After what you did to his son, as long as you stay in Binhai, he’ll try to kill you!” Lin Shanshan was frantic. She shoved the keys and card into his hands and pushed him toward the scooter.

“Go! Take my little scooter and leave Binhai. Never come back.”

“Just like that?” Lin Yuan looked reluctant.

“Yes. If you don’t go, I can’t protect you anymore. If it were just my boyfriend, I could help you—he’d listen to me. But Yang Guang won’t. I’m sorry, country boy—I never looked down on you, it’s just… the way you dress is really old-fashioned.”

“Leave Binhai, find a good job, and if I have time, I’ll come visit you.”

“Go now.”

She fussed over him, giving endless instructions. Even Lin Shanshan was surprised by her own reluctance.

“Before I go, will you watch the scenery with me for a bit?” Lin Yuan asked after getting on the scooter.

“You’re really something… Fine. I’ll ride with you for a while,” Lin Shanshan agreed, getting on and sitting at a slight distance behind him.