When Uncle Zhang heard they wanted to visit a jewelry store, he chose the nearest of the many stores under Lin Enterprises. Even in the car, Lin Tingyue was already like a little bird hopping with excitement.
The moment the car stopped, she flew out happily.
Word had already come down from above. Almost anything Lin Tingyue took a fancy to, the sales associate behind the counter would take out and introduce to her.
Lin Tingyue's eyes were filled with the light reflected off the jewels.
How dazzling, how sparkling, how very, very many! Lin Tingyue, you're simply... utterly depraved!
After finishing her introductions, the sales associate asked, "Second Miss, which one have you taken a liking to?"
Do you even need to ask? Only children make choices. As an adult, of course I want them all.
Lin Tingyue said excitedly, "Wrap them all up for me."
Lin Xiawan: "..."
She frowned. "Tingyue, buying this much, won't you..."
"Well, well, isn't this the Lin Family's young lady who was lost out in the world?"
Lin Xiawan and Lin Tingyue turned at the same time and saw four bizarrely dressed... humans. They were probably humans.
The one who had spoken wore a headband and had a lollipop in his mouth, his whole manner wild and unrestrained.
Good grief, are they cosplaying F4 here? Sure, everyone's free to cosplay, but this has to count as shamelessly riding their coattails.
And that lollipop in his mouth. I bet he originally wanted a cigarette.
Oh, I forgot. Luxury places like jewelry stores don't allow smoking.
Shang Gaofei was already struggling to keep it together. He had indeed wanted to smoke, but just as he was about to enter, security had stopped him and said that if he insisted on smoking, they would have no choice but to call the police.
Left with no other option, Shang Gaofei had taken his lackey's advice and switched to a lollipop. Now that someone had exposed him, he was mortified beyond measure.
Shang Gaofei angrily crunched the lollipop in his mouth to pieces and turned his fire on Lin Xiawan. "I'm talking to you. Didn't you hear me? Lin Xiawan, don't think becoming the Lin Family's eldest daughter means you can..."
"Let me interrupt," Lin Tingyue, who had been ignored from the start, quietly spoke up. "May I ask this human what his surname is, and which family's young master he might be?"
Before Shang Gaofei could speak, the lackey beside him lost his patience. "You don't even know our boss?" he demanded arrogantly. "He's Young Master Shang of the Shang Family."
He looked thoroughly honored by the association.
No, seriously, what are you so proud of? You're not even part of the Shang Family. Lackeys don't get a share of the inheritance, sweetie.
Lackey A looked embarrassed.
Wait, the Shang Family? What obscure little nook did they pop out of?
Seriously? Why can't I find them?
Lin Tingyue fell silent for a moment, then said, "Never heard of them."
Shang Gaofei was so angry with Lin Tingyue that he nearly spat blood.
Ah, found it. Here it is.
Oh, he confessed to Lin Xiawan once, but she rejected him, so his humiliation turned to anger, and he started making trouble for her at every turn.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Lin Tingyue shook her head. Lin Xiawan was the female lead, after all. Lin Tingyue could figure out the ending awaiting cannon fodder who kept opposing the female lead even if she thought with her toes.
Either the male lead would deal with him, or Lin Xiawan would take revenge.
Meeting Lin Tingyue's gaze, Shang Gaofei inexplicably felt a chill crawl over his heart. He blustered on. "And who are you, daring to spout such big words in front of this young master?"
"Me?"
Of course I'm financially free, jewelry-free-to-buy, a corporate slave in my past life and filthy rich in this one-
Shang Gaofei and Lackey A pricked up their ears in unison.
The chosen girl!
Lin Xiawan stepped forward and drew Lin Tingyue to her side. "This is my younger sister, Lin Tingyue."
Shang Gaofei and Lackey A failed to hold back and burst out laughing. Clutching his stomach, Shang Gaofei said, "Hahahahaha! Lin Xiawan, I think you've really gone mad, calling the impostor who stole your identity your sister."
Lin Xiawan's expression turned cold.
Lin Tingyue timidly tugged at her sleeve.
Don't worry, big sister. I guarantee I won't steal it.
At Lin Tingyue's "big sister," Lin Xiawan's eyes curved with a smile. Shang Gaofei was still laughing over on the other side, but suddenly, his laughter died. He stared dumbfounded at the picture in front of him.
The culprit waved her phone. Blinking her big, clear, innocent eyes, Lin Tingyue asked, "Shang Gaofei, is this you?"
On the screen, someone was singing and dancing energetically, and that person was none other than Shang Gaofei in a skirt and wig.
Lin Tingyue watched with relish, offering a comment along the way. "You have real talent for dancing."
Shang Gaofei's defenses completely crumbled. His cross-dressing dances were a closely guarded secret; even his lackeys didn't know. How did this Lin Tingyue know?
Not only did she know, she had even searched him out. If this wasn't social death, what was?
That's not all. There's something even more explosive.
Lin Tingyue pursed her lips toward Lackey A, directing Shang Gaofei's attention to him.
Lackey A's face was as white as paper.
He looked even more devastated than Shang Gaofei.
A little comfort rose in Shang Gaofei's heart. He patted Lackey A's shoulder, touched. "Your boss really didn't misjudge you. Unlike them. Hmph."
Shang Gaofei shot a vicious glare at Lackeys B, C, and D, who remained unmoved.
Lackey A was on the verge of tears. His voice trembled. "Endless Affection?"
As if struck by lightning, Shang Gaofei froze with his hand on the other's shoulder. He said incredulously, "Roaming the World?"
Lackey A nodded, tears streaming down his face.
Shang Gaofei: "Aaaaaaah!"
He ran off screaming.
Huh, does a male wife have inheritance rights?
Shang Gaofei: "Aaaaaah, spare me!"
Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is why you shouldn't date online. See? What used to be a beautiful girl and a handsome guy has turned into a boss and his lackey.
There's no greater human tragedy than this, is there?
Lin Tingyue looked at Shang Gaofei's three remaining lackeys with an exceedingly friendly smile.
The radiance of gossip would shine upon everyone.
She didn't produce gossip. She merely transported it.
Let me take a look at your stories.
There are no minor characters, only vast fields of juicy gossip.
The three lackeys exchanged looks and chose to follow in Shang Gaofei's footsteps, screaming as they ran. Halfway there, they remembered their boss's exploits and ran straight out of the jewelry store, tearing down the street.
Lin Tingyue folded her arms, brimming with triumphant spirit.
From now on, I'll protect Lin Xiawan.
Lin Xiawan was the female lead, after all. As long as she was earnest, attentive, and well-behaved, she would definitely live longer!
Lin Xiawan's heart softened. She stroked Lin Tingyue's hair, and Lin Tingyue looked perfectly well-behaved.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the jewelry store, a man in a suit and polished shoes was approaching with the store manager.
"Mr. Lin, the two young ladies should be fine. Our jewelry store has the most comprehensive security system..."
The manager's voice cut off abruptly. It seemed things had been resolved without even using security.
Looking at the scene before him, Lin Yuhuan pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose and asked, "Are you two all right?"
Lin Tingyue turned her head.
Aaaaaah, no way! So handsome! Why is this world full of male models?
The corner of Lin Yuhuan's mouth twitched violently. "I'm your eldest brother," he said helplessly.
Lin Tingyue: "?"
Huh?
My eldest brother is a male model, and the male model is my eldest brother?
Chapter 7
Uncle Zhang had driven Lin Tingyue and Lin Xiawan there. Before leaving, he had told them to call him when they wanted to go home so he could come pick them up.
Now that Lin Yuhuan was also heading back, Lin Tingyue and Lin Xiawan could ride home in his car, saving Uncle Zhang the trouble of making another trip.
The man in the back seat was noble and elegant, an absolutely perfect match for the jewelry in the trunk. Lin Tingyue tried to strike up a conversation with her male-model eldest brother. "Big brother, why were you at the jewelry store?"
Lin Yuhuan turned to look at Lin Tingyue. Ever since childhood, he hadn't been particularly close to his siblings and didn't really know how to get along with them. Now that he knew Lin Tingyue wasn't his biological younger sister, and that his biological younger sister was Lin Xiawan, he was even more at a loss.
After thinking for a moment, he said in a less distant tone, "I was inspecting the jewelry store today. Mom found out and called, asking me to bring you home on my way back."
Ah, but why did I feel like big brother looked as though he'd come to kill someone just now?
Lin Xiawan couldn't help glancing sideways at the steady, reserved man sitting by the window.
Lin Yuhuan coughed lightly. "Then the manager messaged me, saying some disreputable people had surrounded you."
Disreputable? Nope, that was boss-sis and lackey-bro.
Lin Yuhuan: "..."
Lin Tingyue stared at Lin Yuhuan, who had suddenly gone silent. "Big brother, what's wrong?"
Lin Yuhuan raised a fist to his lips. "Fortunately, you're both all right."
Not only are we all right, we even got some explosive gossip. This trip was such a huge win.
Just then, the car passed a fruit shop. Looking at the bright green watermelons, Lin Yuhuan had an idea. "Why don't we buy some watermelon to eat at home?"
Lin Tingyue: "Huh?"
Lin Rusong returned just after Lin Yuhuan and the others. Bai Yaxin told Mama Zhang to get ready to serve the food, then said to Lin Tingyue, "Tingyue, go call your second brother down for dinner."
Lin Tingyue obediently replied, "Okay."
And so she went sharpening her blade, ready for her second brother.
Lin Rusong quietly moved closer to Bai Yaxin and pointed at Lin Tingyue's retreating figure. "Is this really all right?"
Bai Yaxin didn't even look up. "What's wrong with it? Tingyue likes to play, so let her play. If Xiawan likes it, she can play too."