Lin Li furrowed his brows deeply.
"How did you get back? Qianqian, weren't you abroad?"
"It's Brother Lin Li's twenty-first birthday today! I rushed back to celebrate your birthday," Shen Qianqian said with a smile.
Lin Li's heart sank.
He had thought Shen Qianqian would remain overseas and never return, so he had invited Qin Ruoyao to his birthday party without worry.
If Qin Ruoyao found out he had a fiancée, she might just lose her mind.
At this moment, Qin Ruoyao stood frozen in place, her eyes wide with disbelief as she watched the intimate pair.
Who is this woman?
What is her relationship with Lige?
Lin Li also noticed Qin Ruoyao. Hastily, he pulled his hand out of Shen Qianqian's arm.
"Qianqian, I just remembered there's some urgent business at the company that needs my attention. I need to make a call first. Wait here for me, will you?"
"Sure, Brother Lin Li," Shen Qianqian nodded.
Lin Li grabbed his phone and walked out, quickly sending a message to Qin Ruoyao: "Yao Yao, come out for a moment. I have something to tell you."
Qin Ruoyao complied.
A hotel staff member, seeing this, narrowed his eyes and stealthily followed them out.
Neither Qin Ruoyao nor Lin Li was aware of his tracking.
They headed to a secluded spot, an area so remote that hardly anyone would venture there, to meet in private.
Lin Li pinned Qin Ruoyao against the wall, speaking tenderly: "Yao Yao."
"Lige, what is the relationship between you and that woman?" Qin Ruoyao asked with teary eyes.
Lin Li replied, "She is my fiancée."
"Fiancée?" Qin Ruoyao's eyes widened, "Lige, you're engaged to another woman?"
"Yao Yao, listen to me. I don't love her. The only woman I love is you. The engagement was forced upon me by my parents. They believed the Shen family had better financial standing, so they made me pledge to marry her," Lin Li explained.
Qin Ruoyao's eyes filled with panic.
If Lige was engaged to her, he would eventually marry that woman. What would happen to her?
Would she never become the mistress of the Lin family?
"Lige," Qin Ruoyao's voice trembled as tears filled her eyes, "We are in love, and I don't want to see you marry another woman."
Lin Li stroked Qin Ruoyao's hair, soothing her: "Yao Yao, don't worry. My wife will only be you. I didn't tell you about Shen Qianqian because I was afraid it would hurt you."
"Yao Yao, I promise you that I will find the right moment to dissolve the engagement with Shen Qianqian. Then I will bring you to meet my parents and convince them to agree to our marriage."
Qin Ruoyao was filled with touching gratitude.
Of course, Lige still cared about her the most.
"But Yao Yao, before that happens, don't tell anyone about our relationship. I'm afraid it might backfire. If my parents think I'm breaking off the engagement because of you, they might develop a negative impression of you," Lin Li gently instructed.
"I understand," Qin Ruoyao nodded firmly, "Lige, I'll follow your plan."
The hotel staff member watched with satisfaction and forwarded the video he had recorded.
In a car, Lin Xuan sat, and his phone buzzed with a notification.
He opened it to find the video, a smirk curling his lips.
Originally, Shen Qianqian hadn't planned to return to the country. He had sent her a photo of Lin Li and Qin Ruoyao embracing—though Qin Ruoyao's face wasn't visible in the photo.
Shen Qianqian had immediately booked a ticket and flown back overnight.
Exposing the relationship between Lin Li and Qin Ruoyao in front of all relevant parties… now that would be entertaining.
He had also anticipated that Lin Li would privately explain to Qin Ruoyao to calm her down. Therefore, he had bribed a hotel employee in advance to keep an eye on them.
Sure enough, the plan had succeeded in capturing the video.
Lin Xuan transferred fifteen thousand dollars to the staff member.
Ding!
The staff member quickly replied, "Sir, if there are any more opportunities like this in the future, feel free to contact me."
Lin Xuan arrived at the Imperial City Hotel and didn't head straight to the banquet hall; instead, he went to the lakeside and stood there.
The banquet hadn't officially started yet, and he had no interest in dealing with the Lin family crowd just yet.
Lin Li and Qin Ruoyao also returned to the banquet hall.
Lin Li was currently engaged in conversation with a middle-aged man with a large belly.
The man laughed and said, "Young Master Lin is truly outstanding, impressive indeed."
"You flatter me," Lin Li nodded.
At that moment, one of Lin Li's subordinates approached and whispered into his ear, barely audible to anyone else: "Young Master, Lin Xuan is here. He's currently by the lakeside."
Lin Li's eyes lit up.
Lin Xuan had come, and he had gone to such a remote place as the lakeside. Perfect. Lin Li could now set the stage for Lin Xuan to experience another round of public humiliation by the Lin family.
Lin Li nodded to the middle-aged man, "Mr. Wang, if you'll excuse me, I have something urgent to attend to."
Without hesitation, Lin Li made his way straight to the lakeside.
The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only Lin Li and Lin Xuan present.
Lin Li approached Lin Xuan with a glass of wine in hand.
"Lin Xuan, you've finally shown up," Lin Li sneered, "I thought you'd, like before, be a coward hiding from the festivities."
Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow, "Brother's invitation was sincere. How could I decline?"
Lin Li let out a cold laugh, "Lin Xuan, you are truly good at pretending."
"You claimed to have severed ties with the Lin family, and I actually believed you would leave for good. But you were just putting on an act."
"You knew if you stayed in the Lin family, you'd always be overshadowed by me, and the family would never pay attention to you. So you left, hoping to gain their attention this way."
Otherwise, why would Lin Qingwan suddenly change her attitude and start showing concern for Lin Xuan, speaking up for him from time to time?
Lin Li was certain that Lin Xuan was behind this.
"When it comes to the art of pretense, Lin Li, I would say you have me beat," Lin Xuan adjusted his suit sleeve, speaking in a calm, measured tone.
Lin Li burst into laughter, "I admit, I can pretend, but at least I've gained everything—the love of my parents and siblings, a prosperous life."
"From the past to the future, I will continue to step all over you—the so-called true son of my parents."
"Lin Xuan, Lin Xuan, you have no place in the Lin family."
Lin Xuan was his greatest masterpiece, after all.
Lin Xuan listened to all this with a serene expression.
In the past, he might have been hurt and distressed, but after experiencing everything once, he no longer cared about such familial affection.
The only people he truly cherished were Su Zuo, Wang Dahe, and those who genuinely cared for him.
In the banquet hall.
Lin Li's subordinate rushed frantically to Jiang Shuqin, "Madam, have you seen Young Master?" the subordinate asked urgently.
“Did Li'er not come to this banquet?” Jiang Shuqin frowned.
“I’ve been searching for Young Master, but I can’t find him anywhere. He isn’t answering his calls either. I’m worried that something might have happened to him!” The subordinate was frantic, on the verge of tears.
Jiang Shuqin, along with Lin Qingwan and Lin Qingyan, began searching for Lin Li.
“I just saw Young Master Lin leave.” A security guard pointed in the direction of the lakeside, “He went that way.”