After finishing the hearty soup, Lin Xuan placed the bowl on the table and slumped into his chair, looking utterly drained.
Jiang Qing inwardly tsk-tsked in amazement. Quite the intense affair, huh.
"Young Master Lin, the soup you just drank had a medicinal taste. Are you feeling unwell?" Jiang Qing asked, puzzled.
On a related note, if Young Master Lin needed medicine, how was he still able to carry on with Director Su in bed, ahem, for so long?
Lin Xuan gave Jiang Qing a lingering look.
It's all Su Hua's fault!
She's nearly drained him dry!
Thankfully, his pride as a man was holding him together, or else he'd have been thoroughly defeated again.
Su Hua, this woman with her obsessive tendencies, is far too terrifying.
He needs to keep training!
"Young Master Lin, what's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" Jiang Qing frowned, sensing a hint of resentment in his gaze.
She hadn't done anything to him, had she?
Lin Xuan exhaled, "It's nothing, just a slight cold, so I needed some medicine."
"Oh." Jiang Qing replied, half-convinced.
She suspected something fishy about the soup Young Master Lin had just consumed.
The servants began serving the dishes, and Lin Xuan picked up his chopsticks, devouring the food.
He must bulk up—only then could he better dominate Su Hua.
Jiang Qing's gossiping gaze lingered on Lin Xuan.
"Jiang Secretary, why are you staring at me like that?" Lin Xuan asked, puzzled.
"Well, Young Master Lin, I have a rather impertinent question. How did Director Su introduce Miss Xu to you?" Jiang Qing's curiosity was piqued.
Lin Xuan asked, "Wasn't the information about Xu Wan investigated by you, Jiang Secretary?"
"Yes," Jiang Qing nodded.
It was Director Su's rather peculiar requests that intrigued her, making her wonder what exactly Su had told Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan frowned, "Then why are you asking me? Didn't Su Hua just relay the information you provided?"
"Young Master Lin, I've been having a headache lately and my memory is a bit hazy. I was afraid I might have missed something in the report to Director Su. Since Director Su isn't here, I wanted to clarify with you." Jiang Qing said earnestly.
Lin Xuan answered, "Not much, just that Xu Wan has been through one boyfriend after another."
Jiang Qing nodded.
That checks out.
For someone like Director Su, who only has Young Master Lin as her partner, Xu Wan's past of three or four boyfriends would indeed seem like consecutive relationships.
In the next moment...
Lin Xuan: "Su Hua also said that she's had 108 boyfriends. She started dating back in kindergarten. Every man she met fell madly in love with her, only to be kicked to the curb."
Jiang Qing: ???
Holy crap!
108 boyfriends?
Since kindergarten?
Director Su, you really know how to spin a tale.
And what's more, Young Master Lin actually believed it.
No wonder Director Su wanted her to find photos of Xu Wan with other men, preferably in somewhat suggestive poses. Everything was planned out!
Xu Wan's reputation took a heavy hit!
Xu Wan would never have imagined that the sister she respected the most would slander her so behind her back...
Jiang Qing's expression was hard to describe, "And... anything else?"
"Oh, and she broke the limbs of several of her boyfriends and sent them to the hospital," Lin Xuan added.
Jiang Qing: "..."
This sounds like some creepy stalker rather than Xu Wan.
Director Su's ability to twist the truth is impressive.
Lin Xuan commented, "Jiang Secretary, isn't it odd that although Su Hua's mother and Xu Wan's mother are sisters, their personalities are so different?"
One is obsessed with him, while the other changes men like changing clothes.
Lin Xuan suddenly thought of his own family and felt his question was rather redundant.
After all, both siblings from the same parents could have vastly different personalities.
Jiang Qing chuckled, "Well, that is rather far-fetched, isn't it?"
What can she even say?
Xu Wan was simply dating normally, yet Director Su turned her into a full-blown villainess.
"By the way, Young Master Lin, what's going on? Why did Director Su suddenly instruct me to investigate Miss Xu?" Jiang Qing asked again.
"Ah," Lin Xuan sighed deeply, "I just opened an entertainment company."
Jiang Qing was surprised.
An entertainment company?
Young Master Lin actually started an entertainment company?
"I was thinking of bringing her into my company, so I did a background check online, but Su Hua misunderstood," Lin Xuan explained.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been punished by Su Hua in bed.
It was damn exhausting!
Though, admittedly, it was also quite satisfying.
Jiang Qing let out a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, she thought Young Master Lin had done something to betray Director Su.
"Jiang Secretary, Su Hua is asleep right now and might not wake up until late," Lin Xuan informed her.
"No rush, it can be signed tomorrow. I'll be taking my leave now, Young Master Lin," Jiang Qing responded, leaving with her documents.
Joke's on her!
At a time like this, she wouldn't dare stay and be a third wheel.
Lin Xuan returned to his and Su Hua's room.
The floor was littered with various outfits—maid costumes, pure student uniforms, rabbit costumes, and more.
Lin Xuan's face flushed. He couldn't help but recall how alluring Su Hua had looked the past two nights, wearing these very outfits.
He had spent so much time indulging Su Hua, partly due to his competitive streak and partly because Su Hua was incredibly seductive.
He wondered where Su Hua had even found so many costumes...
Lin Xuan lay down in bed, joining Su Hua in sleep.
Two hours later, Su Hua awoke, resting her head on Lin Xuan's chest.
Lin Xuan gently stroked her stomach.
"Su Hua, do you think there might already be a baby in here?"
He hadn't used any protection the entire time. He had tried to put one on earlier, but Su Hua had stopped him.
Su Hua's expression froze. She furrowed her brows tightly, "Lin Xuan, do you really like kids?"
"Not particularly," Lin Xuan honestly replied.
Back in the Lin household, when he was fifteen, a friend of Jiang Shuqin visited with her toddler. They went out to play, leaving the child in his care.
The child ended up tripping and falling, and Jiang Shuqin had hit his palm with a ruler until it was red and swollen.
"But, a child with you, Su Hua, I'd like," Lin Xuan added.
Su Hua's lips, which had been about to lift into a smile, fell flat once more.
It was now clearer than ever.
Their child couldn't come into this world—not yet, at least.
Meanwhile, Qin Ruoyao had fully convinced herself of Luo Yuan's words, especially as Lin Li's attitude towards her had gradually cooled. Every time she asked to meet him, he found excuses not to come.
Determined, she decided she must obtain the video of her and Lin Li together, and, even more importantly, conceive a child with him...
Qin Ruoyao went to great lengths to follow Lin Li.
Finally, she found her opportunity.