Qi Sinian was no pushover. She had seen plenty of people who wanted to use her to get ahead.
She had intended to curse him out and reached out to give him a shove, but before she could spit out her harsh words, the waiter fell to the floor.
Qi Sinian: ???
The murmurs around them grew louder, and some people even stepped forward, eager to stir up more trouble.
"Is this how the Qi Family raises its children?"
"Making a scene in private is one thing, but there are so many people here. There are even reporters at the symposium!"
Qi Sinian's expression darkened. Only then did she remember that the Cheng Family had invited plenty of reporters for publicity. She glanced around in a panic and, sure enough, saw quite a few people pointing cameras their way.
[To protect the Qi Family's reputation, Qi Sijing will come over in a moment and pretend to scold his sister. Then he'll apologize to Tea Bag and invite him to rest in the back.]
Qi Sijing, who had been about to step forward, stopped in his tracks. How did Lin Xingye know?
[Then he'll fall in love at first sight with the gorgeous, irresistible Tea Bag, and they'll start getting it on. Blech~]
[Nope, even imagining it is too much. What a lucky man Qi Sijing is.]
The other three men's eyes lit up as they looked at Qi Sijing.
Qi Sijing: Would you like to have that good fortune instead?
Qin Ke had been sobbing on the floor for so long that he was almost out of tears. Why hadn't Qi Sijing come over yet? This wasn't what the system had told him!
"Are you all right?"
A gentle male voice came from above him. Delight crossed his face, and he quickly raised his hand with a show of frailty, pitching his voice higher. "Thank you... Who are you?"
This man didn't look like the person the system had pointed out to him!
Lin Xingye grinned at him.
[Little Tea Bag, your worst nightmare is here.]
Qin Ke let him pull him up in a daze, only for the man to shove him forward and announce loudly, "Apologize to Miss Qi."
Everyone: ?
Qin Ke looked at him as though he were insane.
Lin Xingye's expression didn't change. "Miss Qi didn't bully you at all. What were you trying to do, jumping out and accusing her of bullying people?"
Qin Ke hurriedly waved his hands, looking on the verge of tears, his voice wavering. "No, I didn't... Ah!"
Lin Xingye shoved him to the floor.
Standing off to the side, Qi Sinian's expression had gone from bewilderment to utter disbelief.
Lin Xingye was still all smiles. "Now that's what getting shoved down looks like. Miss Qi barely touched you earlier. You were faking it. Besides, I was the one she was cursing at. What were you sticking your nose in for?"
"Do you like getting cursed at too?"
Qin Ke's expression nearly cracked. Where had this lunatic come from?
He frantically called for the system in his head, but it told him that because he hadn't collected enough love yet, no one could help him out of his current predicament.
Qin Ke inwardly cursed the useless system. The strange looks from everyone around him left him mortified, and he hurriedly got up, covered his face, and ran off crying.
Lin Xingye's expression turned a little odd. He knew there was something strange about Qin Ke's identity. The man had nothing going for him beyond decent looks, yet somehow so many people liked him.
He could even charm the profit-driven Li Hanwen senseless. There had to be something special about him.
Lin Xingye had only been testing him just now, but he hadn't noticed anything unusual. Was Qin Ke hiding it too well?
"Niannian, apologize to Mr. Lin." Qi Sijing stepped forward with a very amiable smile.
Qi Sinian looked anything but pleased. That little performance had clearly been meant to set her up, and Lin Xingye, that lunatic, hadn't been helping her at all!
He had merely exposed the waiter's fake fall while confirming that she had been cursing someone out! It looked like he had helped her, but he hadn't actually done a thing!
So petty! He really held a grudge!
She gave an extremely reluctant apology, then turned and left. Those reporters wouldn't dare write anything out of line anyway. Her brother would handle it. With that thought, she walked away without a care.
If it weren't for Cheng Yu, she wouldn't have come at all!
Qi Sijing paid little attention to his troublesome younger sister and gently extended an invitation. "Mr. Lin, would you like me to take you to the back for a rest?"
Lin Xingye paused in the middle of eating his dessert.
[This plot feels a little familiar.]
Lin Xingmo froze mid-spectacle. Surely not. Was there a price for his brother disrupting the plot?
Lin Xingye shook his head and politely declined. He wouldn't dare take Tea Bag's storyline.
[Tea Bag gets to go to the back and get it on. If I go, Qi Sijing might grab me and beat me up. No way am I going.]
Qi Sijing: ?
Amused, Cheng Yu poked An Shi. "How does the Lin Family raise its children? How did they end up with such an entertaining kid?"
An Shi moved farther away, his expression indifferent. "Boring."
"Everyone, let's move on to the next segment!" Seeing the atmosphere deteriorate, the host hastily announced the next part of the event.
Next came the presentations, and only those recommended by Cheng Yu and the others could take the stage.
Li Hanwen had no interest in the gossip. His chance to show what he could do was right before him.
He strode onto the stage and began sharing his views with confidence and composure, watching everyone's attention focus on him.
As admiration gradually emerged in their eyes, his vanity swelled.
Lin Xingmo grew anxious as he watched the expressions of those around him. What method had his brother meant to use against Li Hanwen? Could the plot really not be changed?
Lin Xingye casually picked up a glass of wine, a wicked smile curling his lips.
[Ready?]
The men who had little interest in Li Hanwen's speech sharply raised their heads and looked toward the stage.
There was juicy drama coming.
Li Hanwen was reaching the part he was most proud of when he noticed everyone's expressions suddenly turn strange. Their gazes shifted away from him to something behind him.
He followed their gazes and looked back. Intimate photos of him with various women were being displayed on the big screen for everyone below, from every possible angle.
Li Hanwen went deathly pale and shouted at the staff, "What is this? Who told you to put this stuff up?"
The staff had been wondering where their conference background had gone, while the reporters below snapped away furiously.
If anyone had still doubted the photos a moment ago, Li Hanwen's panicked reaction confirmed their authenticity.
Forcing himself to remain calm, Li Hanwen turned back to explain. "Everyone, this is a misunderstanding. Someone must have..."
His eyes met Lin Xingye's. Wearing a smug little expression, Lin Xingye raised his glass to him in a toast.
Rage surged through Li Hanwen. He threw down the microphone and roared, "Lin Xingye, you did this on purpose!"
As he spoke, he stormed toward him.
Lin Xingye put on a bewildered expression. "What does this have to do with me?"
[It was me, you bastard. Hit me if you've got the guts!]
The others couldn't help glancing at his innocent little face. He really was nothing like what he pretended to be.
Li Hanwen came up and raised his fist, but Lin Xingye flung the wine into his face.
His face was full of mockery. "I think your head's a little muddled. Cool off."
The host stood rooted to the spot. Could this symposium even continue?
The reporters' eyes shone. They had really hit the jackpot today.
Lin Xingye cheerfully watched the furious Li Hanwen before him. "Why is your face all bruised?"
[No way, no way. Don't tell me I did that~]
Li Hanwen probably didn't know much about cosmetics. He didn't seem to realize that makeup these days wasn't all that long-lasting-or waterproof~
Hopefully, the major cosmetics brands would take Little Li's feedback and make plenty of improvements~
Li Hanwen's face was thunderous. If there hadn't been so many people present, he would have started hurling abuse long ago.
[What a worthwhile trip. It's been worthwhile for everyone~]
Before you continue