Chapter 96
Lin Yi and the other two walked into the Michelin restaurant together.
The restaurant was lavishly decorated, exuding an air of refined taste everywhere.
Lin Yi wouldn’t let these current matters affect his appetite for dinner.
After sitting down, he picked up the menu and ordered several dishes in a row.
After all, one of the main features of Michelin restaurants is the small portion sizes; you can’t expect to be full with just one or two dishes.
Compared to Lin Yi’s calm demeanor, the other two were clearly more preoccupied, ordering only two dishes before putting down their menus.
Huo Mengyan looked at Lin Yi nervously and asked, “Sister-in-law, how has my brother been these past few days?”
Ever since she went home that day, she had been worried, fearing that her brother might do something to pressure her out of anger.
Lin Yi replied casually, “He’s been fine.”
In fact, Huo Jihan had been busy with work every day, showing no particular emotions. Moreover, he had intended to teach his sister a lesson and broaden her horizons, so he hadn’t really inquired much about these matters.
Huo Mengyan sensed that her brother wasn’t as angry anymore and quickly said to Lin Yi, “Then, Sister-in-law, could you please help me plead with my brother?”
Lin Yi picked up his glass, took a sip, and then said, “I don’t even know your boyfriend yet. How am I supposed to plead on your behalf?”
Thinking that Lin Yi was willing to act as an intermediary, Huo Mengyan hurriedly gave Zhao Yu a meaningful look, signaling him to introduce himself.
Zhao Yu sat up straighter, cleared his throat lightly, and showed just the right amount of nervousness and seriousness: “My name is Zhao Yu. I was born in a small mountain village and grew up in a single-parent family. My mother worked hard to raise me. Fortunately, I did well enough to get into a prestigious university and am currently starting my own business…”
Lin Yi picked up on a key phrase: “Starting a business?”
Zhao Yu nodded: “Yes, here’s my company’s business card.”
As he spoke, he respectfully pulled out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Lin Yi with both hands.
On the surface, Zhao Yu seemed faultless.
After all, he was good-looking, appeared polite, and had ambition.
However, if one delved deeper, things weren’t quite so simple.
Lin Yi glanced at the business card and placed it on the table, then asked, “How far along is your company now?”
Zhao Yu replied, “Still in the early stages.”
He assumed Lin Yi wasn’t familiar with such matters, so he answered confidently.
But Lin Yi followed up: “How long have you been running your company?”
Zhao Yu answered, “Three years.”
Lin Yi smiled ambiguously. “Three years and still in the early stages? That’s a bit slow, isn’t it?”
Zhao Yu, who had fought his way from a small village to a big city, had a strong sense of self-respect. He always felt others looked down on him, so he raised his head slightly. “I believe that a qualified entrepreneur should prioritize passion. If we only talk about profits, it becomes too cold and impersonal.”
He blamed the Huo Group for not investing in his company. If the Huo Group, a behemoth, had given them even a small project, they would have taken off instantly.
Lin Yi continued, “So, you started your company not to make money?”
Zhao Yu thought of his company’s negative cash flow and said assertively, “Of course not. I’m a man of passion.”
Lin Yi couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Zhao Yu: “…”
He felt Lin Yi was mocking him and turned red.
What was so great about these rich people? Did everyone grow up with a silver spoon in their mouths? What right did they have to mock someone from humble beginnings?
Zhao Yu couldn’t hold back his thoughts: “Are you looking down on entrepreneurs who start from scratch?!”
Leaning back in his chair, Lin Yi lazily replied, “Don’t put words in my mouth. I’m not looking down on other entrepreneurs; I’m just looking down on you. Besides, are you really starting from scratch? The funding you received from Third Sister is at least ten million, right?”
Zhao Yu didn’t expect Lin Yi to bring up these matters so directly and was left speechless, his chest heaving slightly.
Seeing the situation turn tense, Huo Mengyan quickly interjected, “The food is here. Let’s eat while we chat.”
She tried to ease the atmosphere, as her primary goal today was to ask Lin Yi to help her plead at home.
Lin Yi smiled. “I don’t mind, but your boyfriend seems unsuited for running a company. I happen to know a thing or two about this. Why don’t I give you some guidance?”
Zhao Yu was caught off guard. He didn’t expect Lin Yi, who seemed carefree and lazy, to actually know about running a company.
If they really started discussing, wouldn’t he expose himself?
Zhao Yu immediately said, “Today is a family dinner. Let’s not talk about business.”
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow and looked at him. “Is that because you don’t want to talk, or because you’re afraid to talk?”
Zhao Yu insisted, “Of course, I don’t want to talk.”
Lin Yi: “Well, what if I insist on talking about it?”
Zhao Yu became visibly flustered, his eyes darting around. “Mengyan and I invited you here to ask for your help in pleading our case at home.”
Lin Yi sneered. “You’re quite skilled at avoiding the topic.”
He kept changing the subject, refusing to answer any questions about his company.
Zhao Yu couldn’t hold back any longer upon hearing this and slammed his spoon down on the table. “I’ll go outside for some air.”
He put on an act as if Lin Yi had truly angered him.
Huo Mengyan was about to say something.
Lin Yi interrupted her: “If he wants to leave, let him. That means more food for us.”
Huo Mengyan found herself in a difficult position and could only let Zhao Yu leave.
As Zhao Yu walked out, he waited for Huo Mengyan to call him back.
After all, it had happened many times before-whenever he pretended to be angry and left, Huo Mengyan would rush to retain him.
He assumed this time would be no different.
But as he walked further away from the restaurant, no one came after him.
Zhao Yu: “…”
Was he really going to have to return on his own?
Inside the restaurant.
With no one bothering him, Lin Yi focused on savoring the food.
The Michelin-starred restaurant specialized in molecular cuisine, with each dish served in small portions that were hard to identify by appearance alone.
But for Lin Yi, it didn’t matter what they were made of; as long as they tasted good, that was enough.
He ate two or three plates of food in quick succession.
Huo Mengyan, however, seemed to have lost her appetite. She absentmindedly scooped at her plate with her spoon, occasionally glancing outside the restaurant.
Lin Yi, eating slowly, asked her, “By the way, what do you see in Zhao Yu?”
Huo Mengyan was taken aback by the question but then replied, “I just feel like he’s been good to me.”
Lin Yi: “For example?”
Huo Mengyan thought for a moment before giving examples: “Like when it rains, he comes to pick me up. When I’m cold, he takes off his coat and gives it to me.”
Lin Yi asked, “Does he ever treat you hot and cold?”
Huo Mengyan didn’t understand why Lin Yi was asking this but answered honestly, “Sometimes, yes. He doesn’t reply to my messages for a whole day, but he says he’s busy with work.”
Lin Yi reminded her, “A whole day? Doesn’t he need to drink water or eat? Can’t he find a moment to reply?”
Huo Mengyan was stunned, unsure how to respond.
After a while, she murmured, “Sometimes he is indeed very busy and might not have the energy to reply.”
Lin Yi nodded. “Alright, let’s assume he’s busy. We’ll set that aside for now. But I heard that you wanted to enter the entertainment industry, but he stopped you?”
Huo Mengyan wasn’t a student at a professional acting school, but she had a natural talent for acting.
In her junior year, a renowned director picked her for a cameo role in a movie. Despite having only a few minutes of screen time, her performance went viral.
Huo Mengyan, unable to think of a defense for Zhao Yu, simply said, “He said he doesn’t like girls who work in the entertainment industry.”
Lin Yi scoffed. “What outdated thinking is this? Let me tell you, if someone tries to control your life under the guise of love, they don’t truly love you. True love doesn’t interfere with someone’s freedom.”
Huo Mengyan was completely taken aback by these words.
At that moment, Lin Yi dropped a bombshell: “Do you know what PUA is? You should look into it.”
Huo Mengyan felt like she had been hit by a shockwave and couldn’t recover.
She had heard about PUA cases before but never imagined it could happen to her.
However, once someone pointed it out, she began to recall past experiences with Zhao Yu, and it did seem to fit the pattern.
For instance, Zhao Yu often told her that her friends and family had abandoned her and didn’t value her, but he would always love her.
Or sometimes, he would criticize her, saying that as a rich girl, she couldn’t do anything right and had no real merits.
Or the hot and cold treatment, alternating between praise and criticism…
Huo Mengyan recalled these incidents one by one, and her face turned pale.
Her hand shook so much that the spoon clattered back onto the plate.
With her last bit of strength, she said, “But our meeting was beautiful.”
Meeting a boy who captured her heart in a beautiful university campus and falling into a sweet romance…
This was the reason she couldn’t let go, and she couldn’t forget their initial encounter, which felt like a movie scene.
Lin Yi sighed. “Foolish girl, have you ever considered that what you thought was a romantic meeting was actually intentional? You’re the third Miss of the Huo family, and there are countless people who target you for your status.”
Huo Mengyan’s mind went blank upon hearing this, and she couldn’t think anymore.
Outside the restaurant.
Zhao Yu was still waiting for Huo Mengyan to come and comfort him.
But after waiting for a long time, no one came.
Just then, the friend he had been chatting with earlier approached him again. “Why did you suddenly stop talking?”
Zhao Yu typed with some agitation: “My girlfriend’s family is here, and we’re having dinner together.”
A friend reminded him: “Won’t her family notice something and try to stop you two from being together?”
Zhao Yu replied confidently and arrogantly: “Do you think my girlfriend can live without me? She loves me so much that if I tell her to go east, she wouldn’t dare go west.”
The friend was envious: “What method did you use to captivate your girlfriend? Teach me someday, will you?”
Zhao Yu typed: “Sure, once you learn it, you’ll be able to walk sideways.”
Zhao Yu continued boasting to his friend for a while, but then he started to get impatient.
He put down his phone and tried to look into the restaurant, but unfortunately, he didn’t see Huo Mengyan coming to find him.
At this moment, Zhao Yu began to feel uneasy.
This was different from usual. Could there be some unexpected change?
Still, despite feeling anxious, Zhao Yu didn’t lose his composure.
After all, in his mind, he had completely controlled Huo Mengyan. She was his possession and couldn’t escape his grasp.
But to be safe, Zhao Yu decided to go in and check the situation.
Inside the restaurant.
Lin Yi ate comfortably.
Huo Mengyan sat in her seat, looking dazed, lost in thought.
She could have been a carefree young lady, but now she was in a mess because of a misguided romance.
Just then, Zhao Yu returned.
He had stormed out in anger and now felt awkward returning on his own.
Lin Yi looked at him with a half-smile: “Done with the breeze?”
Zhao Yu found an excuse: “I’ve already ordered my food. If I don’t eat it, it would be a waste. I grew up in poverty and know better than to waste food.”
Lin Yi nodded slowly: “Hmm, good excuse.”
Zhao Yu: “…”
He almost lost face.
At this moment, he realized he was no match for Lin Yi and decided not to argue further. Instead, he turned to Huo Mengyan and said jokingly: “Mengyan, I’ve lost quite a bit today by accompanying you here. My friend just texted me saying they opened a bottle of wine from the 90s, waiting for me. I’m really losing out. But don’t worry, I won’t leave you alone.”
Huo Mengyan looked at Zhao Yu with a blank expression.
Once suspicion takes root, everything the other person says or does seems ulterior.
Zhao Yu was taken aback by the unfamiliar look in Huo Mengyan’s eyes.
At this moment, Lin Yi spoke slowly: “Third Sister, you see how he tries to make you feel guilty with every word, making you think he’s sacrificed so much. Whether or not the wine story is true, isn’t the purpose of this visit to get the Huo family’s approval for him? Isn’t he the one benefiting the most? How can he claim he’s accompanying you?”
Huo Mengyan looked at Zhao Yu even more disappointedly after hearing Lin Yi’s words.
She occasionally felt their relationship was off, as if she was always at a disadvantage and felt inferior. She thought it was just a matter of finding the right way to interact, believing she could adapt.
Now, it seemed like it was all part of his plan.
To constantly belittle and undermine her, making her feel guilty and inadequate, pushing her to change herself further.
Zhao Yu hadn’t expected things to turn out this way and finally panicked, stammering: “H-how could that be? I genuinely love Mengyan.”
Lin Yi sneered: “Your kind of love, even dogs wouldn’t want.”
Zhao Yu: “…”
He couldn’t help but look at Lin Yi: “We have no grudge against each other. Why are you slandering me?”
Lin Yi spoke slowly: “Because I can’t stand idiots prancing around me.”
Zhao Yu turned red: “W-why are you cursing?”
Lin Yi leaned lazily on his chair: “Is this bad? I have worse things to say. Want to hear them?”
Zhao Yu: “…”
He had no way to counter Lin Yi. Not only could he not win logically, but he couldn’t even win by being a thug!
Zhao Yu turned green with anger and turned back to Huo Mengyan: “Mengyan, don’t listen to his nonsense. We’ve known each other for over three years. Are you going to deny everything we’ve shared because of some stranger’s lies?”
Finally, Huo Mengyan spoke, looking at Zhao Yu with disappointment: “First, my sister-in-law is not a stranger; she’s family. Second, I think we should take some time apart. My mind is very confused right now.”
Zhao Yu tried to use the same tactics to win her back.
At this moment, Lin Yi stood up and said to Huo Mengyan: “Let’s go. Why waste time talking to scum?”
Huo Mengyan obediently picked up her bag and stood up.
Zhao Yu panicked and reached out to grab Huo Mengyan.
After all, Huo Mengyan was the best catch among all his girlfriends, perhaps even unattainable.
If he lost her, his daily expenses and company’s finances would be in jeopardy.
Seeing Zhao Yu’s move, Lin Yi’s expression turned cold, and he kicked the nearby chair to block Zhao Yu’s hand.
Zhao Yu’s hand hit the chair with a loud thud, and he quickly pulled it back, crying out in pain.
Lin Yi then said to Huo Mengyan, “Let’s go.”
At this moment, Huo Mengyan felt a strong sense of security from Lin Yi and was no longer afraid that Zhao Yu would suddenly snap. She picked up her bag and obediently followed Lin Yi.
The two walked out of the restaurant, one after the other.
Lin Yi led Huo Mengyan toward his sports car.
Suddenly, Huo Mengyan remembered something. “Sis-in-law, we haven’t paid the bill yet.”
Comment