NOVPUB
Chapter 100 - 100: A Surprise Counterattack2
Shelley took a deep drag from her cigarette.
If Lin Zhenxin remembered correctly, Shelley was only a year older than her, just 23.
When they first met, her face, which never wore makeup, was now replaced with heavy makeup.
"I started hating you when Sister Wang favored you and strongly recommended you for the night program host position," Shelley said.
These words, Shelley had never confided in anyone else before.
Lin Zhenxin said nothing.
"I'm prettier than you, our internship performance is about the same, so why... Just because Sister Wang favored you, you got ahead of me?" Shelley was unconvinced, feeling that the efforts she put in were never as effective as Lin Zhenxin's smile.
No matter how hard she worked, others seemed to prefer Lin Zhenxin just a little more.
The night show host position, which now seemed beneath her, was once more important than her dignity to the competitive version of herself back then...
She was genuinely unwilling to accept it!
"I'm jealous of you, jealous that you didn't have to do anything but got everything."
Out of jealousy, she started spiraling, participating in parties and social events; Shelley mingled increasingly, quickly becoming a renowned socialite within the station.
Her makeup products changed from the basic Dabao cream to imported brands costing two or three thousand each.
But it wasn't enough, still wasn't enough. Once she'd gotten a little, she desired more.
The greater the desire, the more ambitious she became, revealing the inner poverty and emptiness of her soul.
It was like an endless abyss...
In contrast, Lin Zhenxin was the same as always over the years; her position never changed, nor did her appearance.
Shelley was genuinely not resigned to it!
She was really unwilling to accept it!
"People are ugly; those who say they congratulate you may curse you in their hearts, and those who say they hope for the best for you may sabotage you behind your back. Lin Zhenxin, I just want to tell you, I'm bad, I'm dirty, but at least it's all out in the open!"
"At least it's stronger than the tricks you pull behind the scenes!" Shelley's expression twisted slightly at this mention.
"What tricks did I pull?" Lin Zhenxin genuinely didn't understand what she was alluding to, both overtly and covertly.
"That old guy didn't even send that email; someone hacked his computer!"
During the second half of the broadcast, Lin Zhenxin was distracted.
Shelley said the station manager hadn't sent that email; someone hacked his computer.
Who was that person...
Deliberately, she chose not to think any deeper about it.
Soon, the live broadcast ended.
After leaving the studio, Lin Zhenxin casually informed Sister Wang about her upcoming annual leave.
After packing up and heading to the door, she didn't see Li Yanan as she usually did.
Instead, there was a black Bentley parked there.
It looked very familiar.
When the car window descended, who else but He Bainian would it be?
"Get in, I'll give you a ride home," said He Bainian.
Lin Zhenxin instinctively took a step back, He Bainian noticed, keeping a straight face.
Deep in his eyes lay an unmistakable disappointment.
"No need, Yanan picks me up every day," Lin Zhenxin said.
Seeing He Bainian several times in one day left Lin Zhenxin with an indescribable feeling.
By all logic, He Bainian was her benefactor, and she should treat him better, but...
Their past interactions couldn't be described as pleasant.
So whenever she saw He Bainian, odd emotions would mix together.
"Today you guys made a big scene at the Li Family; did you think Li Chengze wouldn't react at all?"
He Bainian said coldly.
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhenxin's expression turned cold.
"You mean Li Chengze went to trouble Yanan?"
If that were the case, it would make sense why Li Yanan hadn't shown up yet.
"How do you know we made a scene at the Li Family today?"
Then, Lin Zhenxin thought of this question.
He Bainian just smiled, not saying a word.
"He probably won't be showing up anytime soon; let me give you a ride home."
Tonight, Li Chengze had gathered quite a few people.
"No, he will come," Lin Zhenxin said.
As soon as she spoke, bright headlights cut through the night from afar, illuminating the area around Lin Zhenxin.
Shielding her eyes with her hand, she saw it was Li Yanan's car, and a smile appeared on her face.
He Bainian's expression turned serious, his thin lips tightly pressed.
"I'm late," said Li Yanan as he got out of the car.
Then he looked at He Bainian with an unclear expression.
"Let's go." Li Yanan didn't immediately question He Bainian's presence.
Lin Zhenxin nodded, took two steps, then turned back to look at He Bainian.
"Mr. He, I'll repay that money to you," she said.
She was very grateful for his help back then, and over the years, she had been saving up to ease her own heart.
Instantly, He Bainian noticed Li Yanan's gaze sharpen significantly.
"No need..."
"Did He Bainian say Li Chengze went to trouble you?"
If it weren't for Li Yanan driving, Lin Zhenxin would really have reached over to check if he was alright.
Li Yanan stayed silent.
The atmosphere in the car was particularly oppressive.
The street lamps outside cast their light inside, highlighting and shadowing Li Yanan's features, making him appear even more tense.
A long while later, Lin Zhenxin sensed something was wrong.
What was wrong with him?
"Yanan, what's wrong?" At the red light, Lin Zhenxin reached out and touched his face.
His skin was cold to the touch.
"I'm fine," he said.
"When did you buy the strawberries?" Perhaps trying to change the subject, Li Yanan glanced at the fresh strawberries in the bag.
"He Bainian gave them to me," Lin Zhenxin said.
The sound of a sudden brake filled the air as Li Yanan looked straight ahead, without saying a word.
Only then did Lin Zhenxin realize, the problem lay with He Bainian.
"Zhenxin, I've told you, no matter where you see He Bainian, stay away from him!"
Yesterday's yellow roses, today's strawberries, along with the words Zhenxin spoke to He Bainian before leaving...
Something must have happened without his knowledge!
Lin Zhenxin saw Li Yanan with a taut expression; it seemed he was genuinely angry.
"I know, but... can we discuss this at home?"
Soon, Li Yanan started the car again, driving towards home...
"I didn't expect him to suddenly bring out the remittance slip's stub, nor did I expect the benefactor I was looking for all along to be him."
Back at home, Lin Zhenxin explained everything to Li Yanan without leaving out a single detail.
From start to finish, Li Yanan didn't speak; he even maintained the same posture for a long time without moving.
"You mean He Bainian took out the remittance slip's stub for you?"
After a long time, so long that Lin Zhenxin grew anxious, Li Yanan finally spoke.
"Yes," Lin Zhenxin nodded.
"Originally, because he was He Nuoxin's brother and because of the things he did, I really didn't like him, but now..."
Lin Zhenxin actually struggled with it quite a bit.
"Back then, it was because of this remittance that I came out of my predicament; I couldn't bring myself to repay kindness with enmity."
After saying that, Lin Zhenxin looked at Li Yanan with apprehensive eyes.
On the road earlier, she really felt he was angry.
"Please don't be angry with me, okay?"
Sitting beside Li Yanan, her hand rested on his arm, shaking it slightly.
"The way you were just now was really scary."
He had always spoiled her; even the last time when she got him injured, he wasn't like just now...
Cold and pushing her away!
Li Yanan looked at Lin Zhenxin with deep eyes.
On her clean and lovely little face full of anxiety, her clear pupils held nothing but him.
He reached out, covering the top of her head, messily rubbing her soft long hair like treating a child.
As if that wasn't enough, he reached out to pull her into his arms.
"Zhenxin, whatever you want, I'll give you everything, okay? Even if you want the stars in the sky, I'll pluck them for you..."
Lin Zhenxin heard his voice beside her ear but found it funny.
"What would I do with stars? Having you is enough!"
Her hand lightly patted his back, and she wondered whether it was her illusion, but she felt Li Yanan's body trembling slightly.
"Then, could you not treat anyone else as well as you treat me?"
Li Yanan's chin rested on her shoulder as he spoke softly, abandoning his usual commanding tone, opting for a pleading one.
"Of course, Yanan is the most special to me!"
No one was more important to her than Li Yanan!
Just as she had such faith in Li Yanan, they were the most important existence to each other.
Li Yanan didn't speak, just held her tighter, eyelids slowly closing as he steadily gathered the turbulent emotions within...
Late at night, Lin Zhenxin was already asleep.
It wasn't known how long Li Yanan watched her from the bedside, nor how many times he tucked back the blanket she kicked off.
As he reached to touch her face, Lin Zhenxin instinctively nuzzled into his palm, finally bringing a smile to his lips.
But that smile was fleeting.
It wasn't long before Li Yanan picked up his car keys and left the house...
In the presidential suite of the hotel.
He Bainian sat at the bar, in front of him was a glass of whiskey with ice, amber in color.
Water droplets gathered on the glass, slipping down and dampening the countertop.
On the opposite side where no one sat, he poured another glass, same whiskey, with ice.
It seemed as though he was waiting for someone to arrive.
Until the sound of the doorbell came, He Bainian's lips slowly curved into a thin smile.
He had been waiting.
Opening the door, Li Yanan stood there shrouded in an extreme chill.
Facing each other, it was He Bainian who stepped aside first, allowing Li Yanan to enter.
"I knew she would tell you, and I knew you'd come find me."
He Bainian swirled the whiskey, the ice clinking with a crisp sound.
"In fact, I thought when you walked in, you'd beat me up as hard as you did when you warned me to stay away from her before."
He Bainian laughed mockingly, the black cotton shirt he wore exuding an innate arrogance.
"Do you feel aggrieved? Those years you fought and worked hard overseas, risked your life in underground boxing, got your ribs broken, and nearly lost your life, all for a meager income, yet the credit was snatched away by my words and a piece of paper."
"Do you especially regret letting me remit that money for you back then?"
Li Yanan acted as if he hadn't heard, quietly drinking the whiskey in his glass.
"I still remember, you had to split a single meal into two parts..." Like he was reminiscing, He Bainian fell silent for a moment.
