Chapter 182: Chapter 179: Of Course, I Choose to Forgive Him
"Looks like I shouldn’t come to the next gathering."
After Uncle Nine and his group led Qian Zhi away, Lin Chu and Zhu Yixian sat back down, and Lin Chu suddenly remarked, as if nothing had happened.
Zhu Yixian: ?
"I’m afraid I’ll get a member arrested every time I show up."
Lin Chu told a bad joke. It was pretty lame, a bit of gallows humor even, but he just really wanted to say it. He couldn’t help but laugh after he did.
A chubby, middle-aged club member passing by overheard this. He visibly shuddered and quickened his pace as he walked away.
Zhu Yixian: ...
’Thanks a lot!’
’You’re so thoughtful!’
He was struggling to come up with something to say when he heard Lin Chu add, "So, for the next gathering, you absolutely have to invite a girl group. Otherwise, I’ll invite Uncle Nine instead."
Zhu Yixian’s eyes went wide. He stared at Lin Chu in shock and disbelief.
He was even more shocked than when he’d seen the police making the arrest.
’People... People shouldn’t act like this, right?’
He couldn’t even tell if Lin Chu was joking or dead serious.
’What was going on? Did seeing the police once somehow break a seal on Lin Chu, making him even more wild and unrestrained?’
"Uh, I’ll need to run that by the Vice President."
Zhu Yixian, always feeling the need to respond, managed to eke out a reply.
Lin Chu clapped him on the shoulder. "Go for it. I believe in you. You can do it. If he doesn’t agree, you can just stage the Xuanwu Gate Incident."
Zhu Yixian: ...
He subconsciously glanced around. His uncle was already gone, and he breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
’What kind of dangerously bold words were those!’
In any case, he could clearly sense a subtle change in Lin Chu. He was suddenly far less formal, and a bit more candid and flippant.
’But why?’
’I don’t get it.’
Of course, he didn’t understand, but Lin Chu himself knew exactly why.
’It wasn’t that having an "Uncle Nine" on the police force suddenly gave him a backbone. Rather, he had suddenly become disenchanted with concepts like "wealth," "powerful families," and "elite circles."’
’No matter how much money you have, how powerful your family is, or how big your circle is...’
’This called for that classic line Liang Kun said to Big B—’
’So why am I trying so hard to fit in with them?’
’Okay, okay, even if I’m trying to fit in to make more friends and make life easier, I can afford to be more relaxed about it, a bit more carefree. After all, life is fleeting. Anyone can be gone in a flash. No one’s that big of a deal.’
...
After leaving the Mission Hills Golf Club and getting into his car, Yang Guangyao’s brow furrowed slightly. He decided to call his niece.
"Ah Xian, I just saw that boyfriend of yours at Mission Hills Golf. The young man seems quite successful in his career."
He said, his tone calm and casual, as if making small talk.
’Yang Huixian was a little surprised. Wasn’t Lin Chu on a business trip in Yang City? How did he end up at Mission Hills, and how did he run into Uncle Nine?’
"Um, yes... he runs his own company, so he often needs to network with clients and people like that. Did you see something?"
She was a little worried, wondering if Uncle Nine had seen Lin Chu with another woman.
’If she found out about something like that first, it would be manageable. Dealing with a mistress is a required course for every woman, and she wasn’t afraid of a fight. But if the elders in her family found out... that would be humiliating. For her.’
"He’s a nice young man, well-spoken, just a little on the flippant side. He even invited me to play golf. Do you need your Uncle Nine to vet him for you?"
He asked nonchalantly. He didn’t have any particular prejudice against businessmen, but this concerned his niece. Of course, he also knew Yang Huixian’s temper—she was a formidable woman. If he were to really investigate her boyfriend, he’d have to clear it with her first. That was a matter of respect.
"He just runs a regular company, what’s there to vet? Oh, please don’t trouble yourself. If he finds out, he might get angry, and then I’ll be stuck in the middle. If we break up over it, you’ll be taking full responsibility."
Yang Huixian could tell from his tone that there was nothing wrong with Lin Chu; this was just an elder’s typical concern. But it was the kind of concern she didn’t need. Really, she didn’t.
’With Lin Chu’s personality, if he found out I was having him investigated—whether I initiated it or not—then... I’d be facing the whip again.’
"Haha, alright, alright. I won’t overstep, then. I wish you two happiness. If he asks for my phone number, feel free to give it to him."
Yang Guangyao said with a laugh.
’If his niece didn’t want him to investigate, then he wouldn’t. It saved him the effort anyway.’
’Offering his number was half a sign of approval and half a test, to see if the young man had any ulterior motives.’
’It would actually be better if he didn’t call.’
’It would prove the young man was straightforward and knew his place.’
An old fox’s grasp of traps and boundaries was, naturally, impeccable.
"Okay, okay, I get it. You go on with your work. I’ve got a client here."
Yang Huixian replied in a sweet, slightly chiding tone before hanging up.
...
Just as Yang Guangyao was about to get back to the station, his phone chimed. DING. He had received a screenshot of a chat from Yang Huixian.
Lin Chu: "I just saw your Uncle Nine. He was pretty impressive, all imposing and authoritative, arresting someone right there at Mission Hills Golf. And because of that, I lost out on a potential 12-million-dollar deal. The client got spooked, afraid I don’t play by the rules. So, what do you think we should do about it?"
The screenshot showed just that one message; the rest of the conversation was cropped out.
Yang Guangyao glanced at it... ’Hm?’
’Still, it was a plausible scenario.’
DING.
It was a JPG.
Another one followed.
Lin Chu: "Ah, forget it. He’s an elder, after all. What can I do? Of course, I choose to forgive him!"
Yang Guangyao: ...
He let out a soft sigh.
After a moment’s thought, carefully choosing his words, he replied to his niece: "Apologize to the young man for me. I didn’t consider that possibility. When you have time, bring him over to my house for dinner. I’ll cook myself."
Yang Huixian: "I’ll ask him what he thinks, but my guess is his attitude right now is... to keep a respectful distance. It’s okay, Uncle Nine. I’ll handle comforting him. You get back to your work."
To save face, Yang Guangyao sent another message: "If he runs into any trouble in the future, he can come to me—as long as it’s all legal and aboveboard."
Yang Huixian: "Okay, okay, I got it. Thanks, Uncle Nine!"
...
「Back at the golf club.」
Most of the members had already headed to the course, but Lin Chu had no interest in playing and was getting ready to leave. Several bosses had just come over to add him on WeChat; it seemed he was starting to become a familiar face in this circle. As for his chat with Yang Huixian, it was complete nonsense he’d made up.
’Besides, I said it was a "potential" deal, not a real one.’
DING.
Yang Huixian forwarded her chat history with Uncle Nine to Lin Chu, acting as a go-between for the two men.
After seeing the message, the corners of Lin Chu’s mouth lifted into a small smile. He was now completely at ease.
’This Uncle Nine seems to be a man of strong principles.’
’After all, with the collective demolition and relocation of their village, his family must have received a hefty compensation. They certainly wouldn’t be short on cash, so it made perfect sense for him to focus on his work and advance his career the proper way.’
"Okay."
Lin Chu replied with a single, concise word.
Yang Huixian: "So are you coming home tonight?"
Lin Chu: "Itchy?"
She: "...!!!"
’This man was so shamelessly flirty it was blinding.’
...
"Miss Chen, hello. I was wondering if you might be free this evening? If you have the time, I’d like to invite you for a cup of coffee to thank you for all your hard work today."
In the back kitchen, Chen Jinyu was getting ready to leave for the day. The event had been a complete success, and she’d earned a nice little profit.
’Mission Hills Golf was a major client, of course, and this was their first time working together. To be honest, it had been quite a surprise.’
’Perhaps it was because this Zhu Yixian had been highly appreciative of the chef’s complimentary dish when he’d dined at Ensue before, which is how they’d met.’
And now...
She hesitated for a moment, then quickly replied, "I’m sorry, I’m a little tired today. I think I’ll just head home early."
’Suddenly, she got what he was implying, and everything clicked into place.’
’The truth was, men were always hitting on her, both old and young.’
’Chen Jinyu was well aware that as a wealthy woman with a great figure, a pretty face, and her own successful career, she was still at the top of the food chain, even at thirty-two.’
’Most of the time, however, she could read between the lines of their casual conversation and sense their designs on her wealth—or at the very least, an intent for ’mutual financial assistance.’’
’This feeling, this sense that their motives weren’t pure, she found it deeply annoying.’
—There was a reason she was still single at her age.
’And ever since meeting Lin Chu, at times like these, she would recall something he’d said—’It’s fine to be after sex, but being after money is just low-class.’’
’At least a man who just wants a physical relationship is more straightforward.’
’As for this Zhu Yixian, he was too polished, too much of a gentleman. He seemed to have an excellent upbringing. Perhaps being friends with him wouldn’t be so bad.’
’She’d already made plans to get coffee with Lin Chu tonight, so of course she couldn’t accept his invitation.’
「In the function hall.」
Seeing the rejection, Zhu Yixian shrugged and gave a helpless smile.
Just then, Lin Chu emerged from the restroom. He scanned the room and saw it was mostly empty. Geng Yue was waiting for him—after all, they had only just confirmed the intent to invest and hadn’t discussed the finer details yet; the money certainly hadn’t been transferred. Spotting Zhu Yixian, Lin Chu ambled over.
"What are you up to?"
"Let’s grab dinner together tonight."
’Lin Chu hadn’t forgotten he had plans with Chen Jinyu, but that was for after dinner.’
’To be honest, Lin Chu coveted Mission Hills Golf. He truly did.’
’A golf course was a natural fit for his persona, so he planned to befriend Classmate Xiaozhu first and bide his time, observing from the sidelines.’
’It wasn’t that he was dead set on stealing from the Zhu Family—he wasn’t that domineering, nor did he have that kind of power yet. A prime asset like this had to be worth over ten billion.’
’It’s just that, if the Zhu Family ever found themselves short on cash and needed to raise capital from outside investors, perhaps he could sneak in as a minority shareholder. Then he’d have even more playgrounds in the future.’
"Sure."
Zhu Yixian agreed without much hesitation. He’d just been rejected by a girl, so he might as well go mess around with his friends.
「A moment later.」
He saw Chen Jinyu walking out from the back kitchen. Lin Chu gave her a familiar wave, and suddenly, Zhu Yixian froze on the spot.
’Huh?’
In that instant, Zhu Yixian felt an inexplicable, faint twinge of guilt.
’The two of them... could they be... a couple?’
—Did I... Did I just ask Lin Chu’s girlfriend out for coffee?
’And now we’re all going to dinner together?’
’I...’
Zhu Yixian felt like a thief.
...
...
