Rescuing Cheng Yu

The two pretended to eat while sneaking furtive glances at Cheng Yu and Qin Ke, who had sat down not far away.

The pair were chatting and laughing, seemingly getting along well.

An Shi was dumbfounded. Was this really the Cheng Yu he knew? Just a few days ago, he had falsely accused Qin Ke of being An Shi's wife, and now he was romancing him himself?

Before Lin Xingye could even register his shock, he hurriedly recalled the events of his previous life. After the banquet... after the banquet, I was preparing for my wedding!

He remembered that the wedding had been rushed, with hardly anyone invited.

Back then, Cheng Yu had been... Now I remember! Cheng Yu lost a project to Li Hanwen!

His parents had never thought highly of Li Hanwen. Even when they arranged the wedding, they had done so reluctantly.

Only after Li Hanwen suddenly snatched a project from Cheng Yu did his parents start to see him as somewhat dependable. At least he had some ability.

Otherwise, Lin Xingye would never have let Li Hanwen help manage the Lin Corporation's business afterward.

He had asked Li Hanwen how he had done it, but Li Hanwen had only given a disdainful smile. "He just wasn't as good as me."

It had been Cheng Yu's first failure since taking charge, shattering his legendary reputation in the industry while propelling Li Hanwen's reputation to new heights.

Could it have been... because of Qin Ke?

The look Lin Xingye gave Cheng Yu grew increasingly pitying.

[What a shame. He's just as blind as I was.]

[We're both lost souls in the same boat.]

An Shi was speechless. Was this really the time for wistful reflections?

Fortunately, they were close enough to catch faint snippets of the conversation.

Without any prompting, both of them scooted a considerable distance outward and leaned their ears toward the pair.

After making the same movement, they exchanged a glance, then simultaneously raised a finger to shush each other.

Lin Xingye: ...

An Shi: ...

Lin Xingye flashed him a wicked grin that looked a little sleazy.

[It's okay, bro, I get you. Romance is much more fun when you're watching other people do it~]

[Especially people you know.]

An Shi was too speechless to respond.

He only wanted to hear what the two were talking about. After all, he also suspected Cheng Yu might be in the same situation as Qi Sijing.

"Recently, I've been working on... there's a project..."

"What kind of project... that sounds so interesting..."

Their voices were hard to make out. Lin Xingye practically stuck his ear over there, but could still only catch fragments.

"That's not right. Cheng Yu never discusses business in public." An Shi had known Cheng Yu for years. Even though he usually found those guys annoying, they still knew one another very well.

Remembering Qi Sijing's strange behavior last time, he was deeply shaken. Could something like this really exist?

Even hypnosis took time. What was Qin Ke relying on? Eye contact? Even then, it was utterly unbelievable.

Could he really be a fox spirit?

While An Shi anxiously pondered the answer, Lin Xingye listened and kept stuffing his face.

[Tea Bag really knows how to play push-and-pull with his words. Worth learning.]

[The old me would've scoffed at this. The current me is studying every word.]

[Ah, so good. But that's enough spectating for now.]

He put down his plate, stood up, and walked toward them.

An Shi was startled by his sudden movement. Realizing what he intended, he wanted to stop him, but Lin Xingye had already walked away without looking back, his inner voice still running.

[You rotten Tea Bag. Forgotten all the evil you've done? Wherever you go, you're always looking to hurt someone.]

[Now that I've dealt with that bastard, it's your turn.]

[No matter who tries to protect you from now on, I'm going to kill you.]

Unlike his usual joking tone, those words carried a profound hatred, as though he were facing his mother's murderer.

An Shi's outstretched hand froze. After a long silence, a rare look of irritation crossed his face. He spat out a short curse, stood up, and followed.

Whatever was going on, what if that bastard Cheng Yu wasn't in his right mind and hurt Lin Xingye?

Lin Xingye suddenly appeared before the pair. The coy smile had yet to fade from Qin Ke's face, and he was about to greet him when a slap landed across his cheek.

Smack!

The slap came with every ounce of his strength, knocking Qin Ke straight to the floor.

At the sight, Cheng Yu flew into a rage. "Lin Xingye, you-!"

He moved to help Qin Ke up as he spoke. Qin Ke covered his cheek and rose with his help, choking on sobs. "Cheng Yu, why... why did he hit me?"

An Shi stood behind Lin Xingye without a word. A nearby server jumped in fright and tried to come over to break up the fight, but An Shi blocked the way.

The surrounding diners kept looking over. The restaurant was a well-known spot for business meals in their industry, and most of its customers knew one another.

They abandoned their business discussions to watch the drama, pulling out their phones and typing furiously.

[Get over here for dinner! Cheng Yu brought someone out to eat, and someone got hit!!! An Shi's here too!]

[Who got hit??]

[Who hit Cheng Yu??]

[An Shi hit Cheng Yu???!!!]

The rumors grew increasingly ridiculous.

Unaware of any of this, Lin Xingye stared coldly at Qin Ke. "You owed me that."

Qin Ke's heart lurched. Impossible. Even if Duan Peng had been arrested, there was no way he would implicate him.

After all, he hadn't done anything. He had only complained a little and suggested a way for Duan Peng to act...

That thought restored his confidence, and he cried even more pitifully. "I don't even know you. Did you hit the wrong person?"

Cheng Yu was still backing him up, his tone vicious. "He doesn't even know you. Lin Xingye, apologize!"

Lin Xingye rolled his eyes at him. "None of your fucking business. Get lost."

[Shit, and I was thinking of saving you idiots. Look at you.]

[Anyone who protects him is getting punched too.]

An Shi's brow twitched. Sure enough, Lin Xingye threw a punch. Terrified, Qin Ke scrambled backward, screaming.

"Are you insane? What's wrong with you?!" Qin Ke could no longer maintain his usual act of frailty. Where the hell had this lunatic come from?!

An Shi caught hold of Lin Xingye from behind, his brows tightly furrowed. "Lin Xingye, calm down!"

Meeting An Shi's worry-filled eyes, Lin Xingye felt his surging emotions slowly subside a little.

[My bad. Got too excited seeing an old acquaintance.]

But he really was sorry. Apology filled his eyes. "Sorry, An-An. I made you worry."

An Shi's grip on his hand abruptly tightened, his voice trembling slightly. "What did you just call me?"

"Hey, An Shi, stop getting in the way. Make him apologize!" Cheng Yu kept Qin Ke shielded behind him. Seeing that neither of them intended to apologize and had even started chatting, he couldn't help getting angry.

An Shi turned and glared at him. "Shut up!"

Lin Xingye was even angrier than Cheng Yu. The fury that had barely subsided immediately flared again. "Get out of my way. You don't get a say here!"

Qin Ke hid behind Cheng Yu, playing the pitiful victim. "Who's been bullying you?!"

Lin Xingye stormed forward. "What, weren't you the one who tried to frame Qi Sinian before? Last time I saw you, weren't you trying to seduce Qi Sijing? What, you've switched targets already?"

The onlookers erupted.

"He tried to frame Qi Sinian? When did that happen?"

"Was it at the Symposium? That server? How did he end up with Cheng Yu?"

"Oh my God, he hit on Qi Sinian's brother, and now he dares to chase the man she likes? If Qi Sinian finds out, she'll probably come charging over!"

That person had guessed correctly. One of Qi Sinian's friends was eating there. At first, seeing that Cheng Yu was with a man, they hadn't thought much of it, but they had just called her.

Qi Sinian was already on her way, ready for blood.

Qin Ke's expression darkened. Clearly noticing Cheng Yu look dazed for a moment, he hurriedly grabbed his hand. "What nonsense are you talking about? You've got the wrong person, haven't you? I'm warning you, stop slandering me!"

Lin Xingye snorted with laughter. "Hey, Qin Ke, don't you also have a lover called Duan Peng waiting for you in Orange?"

Someone couldn't hold back a startled exclamation, blurting out a loud "Fuck!" before hurriedly covering their mouth.

Now Qin Ke truly went pale. How could Duan Peng have implicated him?

He clung to Cheng Yu's hand and squeezed out a couple of tears. "Cheng Yu, dear Cheng Yu, you believe me, don't you?"

The bruising around his eye had finally faded considerably, only for his cheek to swell up instead. He was seething inside.

The haze in Cheng Yu's eyes deepened. Against his will, he turned and pointed at Lin Xingye. "Lin Xingye, watch what you say."

An Shi's face was thunderous. He suddenly understood why Qi Sijing had been so frightened afterward. The Cheng Yu before him was so unfamiliar that he wondered whether someone else had taken over his body.

[Look at him. The poor guy's completely spellbound.]

He rolled his eyes. "Cheng Yu, how long have you known him, to be protecting him like this?"

When Qin Ke heard An Shi speak, he finally stepped out from behind Cheng Yu and reached pitifully for An Shi. "Mr. An, please hear me out..."

"Get the hell away." Lin Xingye shoved him aside, his eyes icy. "Do you try to seduce everyone you see?"

Then he turned a sinister gaze on Cheng Yu. "What did you just say?"

Provoked like this, even Cheng Yu's mild temper couldn't hold out any longer. "Lin Xingye, you-!"

"You asked for this."

Thud!