Wait?
Licked what?
Fan Qing's pupils widened in shock, and she took a huge step back, as though she had seen something filthy.
Even the usually composed Lin Yuhuan frowned.
[That's not all. After Song Qi became a trainee, he still didn't break this habit in the company dorm. There were four people to a room, and almost every one of them had been...]
[He even carefully wrote an evaluation handbook... Aaaaaah, how could anything this disgusting happen?]
[Finally, one day, one of his roommates accidentally discovered his evaluation handbook. The roommate wanted to kill him and took the handbook to report him, but Song Qi begged desperately. On top of that, Song Qi belonged to the Song family, so there was nothing the roommate could do to him. He had to abandon the idea, move out of the dorm at lightning speed, and terminate his contract with the company.]
Listening, Lin Yuhuan suddenly recalled something.
The trainee the company had originally intended to promote wasn't Song Qi, but his roommate. That roommate had better looks than Song Qi, but unfortunately, barely had the decision been made before he started demanding to terminate his contract.
The person in charge tried every way to persuade him, but he still insisted on terminating his contract, nearly infuriating the person in charge to death.
With no other choice, the person in charge had to give up on that roommate and choose Song Qi.
[Song Qi is still banking on getting lucky. But a gentleman can wait ten years for revenge. After learning that Song Qi had become the trainee the company was pushing, his roommate planned to wait until Song Qi appeared on the survival show, then expose him with irrefutable evidence and finish him off.]
Lin Yuhuan's gaze sharpened. No matter what, Song Qi could no longer be the trainee the company promoted.
[But speaking of which, why did my eldest brother bring him home?]
Lin Tingyue soon found out.
"Mr. Lin, this disappointing son of mine only got this opportunity thanks to your help. Whether or not he manages to debut in the future, let me thank you in advance."
"Oh, Mr. Song, you're too kind. Although the Lin Group has an entertainment company, Song Qi still has to be good enough. All I did was provide a platform."
"You're being modest, Mr. Lin. Here's to a win-win outcome."
"A win-win outcome."
Lin Rusong and Song Weicai came downstairs as they talked.
Seeing Song Qi standing beside Lin Yuhuan, Song Weicai walked over and patted Song Qi's shoulder, frowning. "This is your Uncle Lin. Don't you know to greet him?"
A flicker of fear crossed Song Qi's eyes. He bowed politely. "Uncle Lin."
Lin Rusong smiled and nodded.
Song Weicai was still dissatisfied. "That's it? You're going to debut someday. With speaking skills that poor, why would anyone give you a debut spot? Don't forget, you were the one who said debuting was your dream."
Song Qi was almost trembling beneath Song Weicai's hand. Lin Rusong smoothed things over. "He's doing very well already. Children always get nervous around us."
"You even need your Uncle Lin to speak up for you. Utterly useless."
Song Weicai raised his hand to pat Song Qi's shoulder, but Song Qi dodged, as though afraid Song Weicai would hit him.
[Strange. Why is Song Qi so afraid of his dad?]
[Oh my god!!!]
Lin Tingyue screamed.
It was so loud that even Lin Rusong and Lin Yuhuan, who were seeing Song Weicai and his son out, paused.
Just how juicy was this gossip?
[Song Qi is so afraid of his dad because once, after he came of age and went home, his dad and some unfamiliar uncle got him drunk together over dinner. Then the two of them did that to Song Qi...]
[And Song Weicai is only making it sound nice now, saying he wants to fulfill Song Qi's dream. He actually just wants to make Song Qi more valuable, because playing with celebrities has become fashionable in their circle lately. Someone young but unpolished like Song Qi no longer makes people feel intrigued or excited.]
[Song Weicai has built up plenty of connections through Song Qi over the past few years. How could he sit by and watch Song Qi lose his value? That's why he agreed to let Song Qi become a trainee and enter a survival show.]
[Song Qi thought this was the beginning of his escape from those demonic claws, but in reality, no matter how he struggles, he can't fly out of his father's palm.]
[Sure enough, no one becomes a pervert for no reason.]
Lin Tingyue let out a heavy sigh.
"Mr. Lin? Mr. Lin?"
Song Weicai's voice successfully brought Lin Rusong back to his senses. Lin Rusong glanced at Lin Yuhuan, who nodded. Lin Rusong said, "Mr. Song, why don't you stay for dinner?"
"No, thank you. I have an important matter to attend to today. Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Lin."
As Song Weicai spoke, his gaze kept drifting almost imperceptibly toward Song Qi beside him.
[An important matter? I think lard has blinded your heart, and all you can think about is debauchery.]
Although Song Weicai was determined to leave, Lin Rusong managed to stall him with the excuse of deepening their cooperation.
After hearing Lin Tingyue's thoughts, Lin Rusong was the angriest of all.
His friendship with Song Weicai was by no means shallow. He had never imagined the man was a beast who wouldn't even spare his own biological son.
Lin Rusong held back until the police arrived before exploding. The moment they came, he slapped Song Weicai. "You're worse than a beast. Go rot in prison."
[Wow, Dad is so badass. I hereby declare Dad the War God of Slaps.]
But the War God of Slaps had used so much force that he nearly sprained his wrist.
That evening, as Bai Yaxin rubbed medicinal liquor onto it, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Honestly, you're not young anymore. Even if you were going to hit someone, did you have to use that much force?"
Lin Rusong snorted. "Tingyue, Yuhuan, and Qingqing were all there. If I hadn't put some force into it, how could I show my determination to cut ties with Song Weicai and never wallow in the same filth?"
Bai Yaxin laughed herself silly. "Cut ties? Never wallow in the same filth? You still ended up spraining your wrist."
Lin Rusong looked embarrassed. "That was just an accident..."
There was a knock at the door. Bai Yaxin put down the medicinal liquor and opened it to find Lin Tingyue, Lin Xiawan, and Lin Shengyan outside, along with Lin Yuhuan, who was standing behind them with a composed expression, seemingly because there wasn't enough room at the doorway.
As soon as Bai Yaxin opened the door, Lin Shengyan charged in first. Waggling his eyebrows at Lin Rusong, he said irreverently, "Old Lin, the moment I got back, I heard you beat up a beast. That treasured blade of yours hasn't dulled with age, huh?"
"Lin Shengyan, show some respect. This wrist may be sprained, but the other one is perfectly fine."
"Seriously? Your son rushed over to see you, and you're going to smack me?"
Lin Shengyan felt deeply wronged.
"Dad." Lin Tingyue stood before Lin Rusong.
Beside Lin Tingyue, Lin Xiawan also called, "Dad."
She hadn't witnessed what happened, so she offered some advice. "Dad, no matter how angry you are, you need to take care of yourself."
This was the first time Lin Xiawan had shown concern for him. Deeply moved, Lin Rusong nodded like he was pounding garlic. "I definitely will next time."
Lin Tingyue blinked. "Dad, you're going to hit someone again? Doesn't everyone say people in high positions command respect without anger?"
Lin Rusong smiled. "I'm not an emperor."
Lin Tingyue: "."
[That's true.]
"Who called the police, anyway? I never imagined Song Weicai had done so many terrible things. What a satisfying outcome."
Lin Tingyue didn't know they could hear her thoughts,
so the Lin family could only play along with her.
Amid a chorus of agreement, Lin Yuhuan said, "It seems to have been an anonymous tip. When someone does enough evil, heaven's net may be wide, but nothing slips through."
Lin Tingyue agreed. "Exactly."
As they enjoyed the warm atmosphere, Lin Rusong's stomach suddenly growled. He said, "You were all so busy coming to see me that none of you brought any presents?"
Lin Tingyue felt around in her pocket and took out a squashed flower. "I brought a flower. Does that count?"
Amid a roomful of laughter, Bai Yaxin said, "All right, everyone, go eat."
On Friday, at Fan Qing's invitation, the Lin family went to a banquet celebrating her mother Feng Shuiyun's new lease on life.
The decorations centered on Feng Shuiyun's favorite red roses, with plenty of gold accents mixed in. It truly resembled a phoenix reborn in flames.
Fan Qing pulled Lin Tingyue over to meet Feng Shuiyun.
Feng Shuiyun wore a red dress, her hair pinned up with a red rose tucked beside her temple.
[Waaaah, Qingqing's mom is so beautiful.]
Hearing Lin Tingyue's thoughts, Feng Shuiyun's eyes curved in a smile. "You must be Yueyue?"
"Yes, hello, Auntie."
"I prepared a little first-meeting gift for you." Feng Shuiyun handed Lin Tingyue a box. "See if you like it?"
Lin Tingyue opened the box. "!"
Inside was a diamond necklace that glittered beneath the lights.
"I love it!"
[Love it doesn't even begin to cover it. I love it so much I'm going crazy.]
Fan Qing and her mother exchanged a smile. How did one get Lin Tingyue wrapped around one's finger?
Simple. All it took was getting a money-grubber wrapped around one's finger!
"But Auntie," Lin Tingyue said, contrary to her true feelings, "this is too expensive."
[I'm a money-grubber with principles!]
Fan Qing snorted with laughter. Lin Tingyue looked at her curiously, and Fan Qing turned her face away.
Feng Shuiyun said, "Your friendship with Qingqing is what's worth a thousand pieces of gold."
The situation between her and Fan Wei had been such a mess that she had constantly worried Fan Qing would be affected. Fortunately, Lin Tingyue had been there for Fan Qing. Besides, Lin Tingyue had also exposed Tang Xiao's true colors. No matter how she thanked Lin Tingyue, Feng Shuiyun felt it wasn't enough.
[Waaah.]
Lin Tingyue was genuinely moved by those words. Before, in the real world, she had had no ties or attachments. Only after coming to this world had she discovered how wonderful family affection and friendship could be.
In Lin Tingyue's eyes, they were no longer characters in a book, but people who truly existed beside her. They were her family.
She would definitely live her life well!
Lin Tingyue headed back with the box and happened to come across Lin Shengyan talking to a high school classmate he had unexpectedly run into.