Chapter 12: Boarding the Young Lady's Car

Ji Xiaorui snapped, “What do you mean, ‘such a tragedy’?”

Lulu handed her phone to Ji Xiaorui. “See for yourself.”

When Ji Xiaorui saw Lulu’s social feed filled with video clips of Young Master Lin knocking Zhao Hu to the ground with a single punch, her eyes widened in shock.

“So, just now that guy…” Ji Xiaorui could hardly believe it.

“The very guy who turned you down—he’s the Young Master Lin you’ve idolized for six years!” Lulu exclaimed, eyes wide with astonishment.

“Young Master Lin…” Ji Xiaorui’s lips parted, her heart racing with excitement.

Back when Ji Xiaorui was just a schoolgirl, Lin’s name had already become legendary, whispered in every corner of every school in Haizhou.

Countless tales about him had become cherished stories. To Ji Xiaorui, this man was the stuff of legend, someone she admired far more than any celebrity.

Young Master Lin was loyal, brave, and wise—he would fight evil with courage and never harm the innocent. In Ji Xiaorui’s heart, only a man like Lin deserved to be called a real man.

In fact, Ji Xiaorui’s life path had been shaped in no small part by Lin’s influence.

Though she worshipped him, she had never seen his true face. After the Lin Group went bankrupt and Lin left Haizhou, Ji Xiaorui had been heartbroken for a long time.

“That guy…” Her face was a mix of emotions.

Without another word, Ji Xiaorui leapt into her Maserati.

“Xiaorui, where are you going?” Lulu called after her, alarmed.

“My man’s about to be stolen away—of course I’m going to get him back!”

With a roar, the Maserati shot out like a wild beast, tearing down the road in the direction Lin Le had just gone.

But by now, Lin Le and Xu Xier had vanished from the street.

That evening, as Lin Le hummed a tune on his way home, a beautiful figure stepped out from a parked Audi and blocked his path.

“You certainly made me wait,” came a familiar voice.

Gu Ya, dressed in a black-and-white checkered dress, smiled at him.

Her outfit accentuated her flawless figure—the cinched waist of her dress emphasized her delicate curves, her slender waist easy to encircle, her silhouette at once graceful and voluptuous. From head to toe, Gu Ya radiated the poise of a true lady of high society.

Seeing her again, Lin Le was genuinely surprised. This girl was simply too exceptional, too perfect—hardly any man could remain calm in her presence.

“What brings the illustrious Miss Gu to see me?” Lin Le asked with a smile.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” Gu Ya had never made such a request of any man, convinced that no one could refuse her.

Ever since Lin Le had cured her grandfather’s illness and refused her one hundred million yuan reward, Gu Ya had sensed that this seemingly ordinary young man was anything but. He exuded a mysterious air that intrigued her, drawing her closer.

“Perhaps it’s better not,” Lin Le declined, catching Gu Ya off guard.

In truth, Lin Le was simply embarrassed by the mess inside his apartment. He didn’t want her to hear his father’s snores from next door and risk an awkward scene.

Gu Ya, however, took it as arrogance and felt her earlier favorable impression quickly diminish.

“Fine, then shall we talk in the car?”

Inside the car, Lin Le and Gu Ya sat side by side.

From Lin Le’s perspective, her alluring figure was even more striking; beneath her skirt, her smooth, pale, endlessly long legs were right in his line of sight, enough to make any man’s heart race.

In the confined space, Lin Le’s gaze inevitably swept over her perfect form.

As the heiress of the Gu family in Haizhou, Gu Ya had grown numb to the advances of countless wealthy suitors.

Yet to her surprise, when she noticed Lin Le’s faintly appreciative glance at her legs, she felt a strange sense of satisfaction. His admiration secretly pleased her.

Realizing this, Gu Ya grew uneasy. What was happening to her? He was just a poor boy from the slums—by status and wealth, he couldn’t hold a candle to those rich heirs. Why did she feel this way in front of him?

A wave of inexplicable shame flushed Gu Ya’s cheeks.

“Um, is there something you needed from me, Miss Gu?” Lin Le asked calmly, oblivious to her inner turmoil.

“It’s… my grandfather sent me to find you,” Gu Ya managed, forcing down her chaotic thoughts.

After Lin Le had left the hospital that day, the doctors had provided Gu Old Master with a blood transfusion and follow-up treatment. He soon awoke.

Upon learning that a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old youth had saved him, the old man was astonished.

He knew his health was no longer suited for martial cultivation. Yet martial arts had been his life’s pursuit—life itself meant little to him now. What he truly longed for was to reach a new level in his martial journey, hence his reckless attempt at a breakthrough.

That it ended in disaster was no surprise to him. But to be rescued from such a state—by a mere youth! That was beyond anything he could have imagined.

What’s more, Gu Ya had told him the young man was also a martial artist, perhaps even a master of internal strength.

This revelation, to a lifelong martial devotee, was earth-shattering. The old man wanted to pull out his IV and go find such a prodigy immediately.

Only after much persuasion from his family did he agree to let Gu Ya make inquiries and invite Lin Le to visit.

“So your grandfather wants to see me?”

“That’s right. He wishes to thank you in person.”

“There’s really no need. When I saved him, I expected nothing in return,” Lin Le said, his meaning layered.

Gu Ya recalled the earlier incident with the one hundred million and realized Lin Le was still displeased by her attempt to shower him with money.

She looked at him disdainfully. He really was petty—so small-minded, so lacking in manly magnanimity. How disappointing.

“You’re not still upset about the money, are you?” Gu Ya fixed him with a stare.

“Of course not. Why would I be? Not in the least,” Lin Le replied, gazing up at the sky. The moon was round and bright tonight.

For some reason, seeing him like this made Gu Ya laugh. She realized he was only teasing her.

“Well, since you’re not upset anymore, would you be so kind as to grant me this favor and meet my grandfather?” As soon as she said it, she regretted it; the words sounded dangerously close to flirting.

It was only their second meeting—they barely knew one another—so why did she feel so at ease, as if he were not a stranger at all?

She silently scolded herself. How could she, usually so composed, make such a blunder? If he refused her now, it would be mortifying…

Just as she grew anxious, Lin Le answered readily, “Of course. Since the lovely Miss Gu has asked, how could I refuse?”

He agreed not just for her sake, but also because of her grandfather. Besides reviving the Lin Group, Lin Le hoped to advance in martial arts. Since Gu Old Master was a skilled practitioner, getting to know him could only help.

Hearing his answer, Gu Ya finally relaxed. After agreeing on a time, she drove away.

Lin Le crept upstairs quietly, careful not to disturb his father.

But as soon as he stepped inside, the lights flicked on.

“Your skills at wooing girls haven’t diminished at all!” Lin Tenghui, wearing shorts and a cigarette dangling from his lips, leaned by the window, grinning knowingly.

Clearly, he’d witnessed the whole scene with Gu Ya.

“Dad, you’re overthinking it. We’re just friends.”

Lin Tenghui nodded. “Sure. I remember when you were with that daughter of Boss Zhang, you said the same thing—until your mother and I found her hiding stark naked in your closet…”

“Hey, Dad, that’s too much—personal attack!” Lin Le pleaded.

The old Young Master Lin had been a bit of a playboy, and, well, not much had changed…

“Fine, fine, I’m not getting involved. But next time, at least bring her home. The car’s too cramped…” With that, Lin Tenghui nonchalantly returned to his room.

It took Lin Le a while to realize the implication, and just as he was about to protest, the bedroom door had already closed.

“Dad, what are you thinking! Like father, like son…” Lin Le muttered.

Just as he was about to head to his own room, the door creaked open again.

“One more thing…” Lin Tenghui poked his head out, looking hesitant and troubled.

“What is it?” Lin Le asked.

“The Tang family… called today…”

“Oh…”

“It’s nothing. I’m going to bed.” Without another word, Lin Le returned to his room.