Chapter 153 Childhood Sweethearts

She knew that figure all too well.

Fu Li'an's military boots clattered on the cement floor with a deep, rhythmic sound.

With each sound, Qiao Wanyin's heart trembled.

She couldn't help but flinch slightly, her fingers unconsciously tightening.

He turned his head, lowered his gaze, looked at her, and whispered, "Don't be afraid."

She looked up abruptly, meeting his unfathomable eyes.

"Director Qiao has arrived!"

Everyone looked towards the doorway.

Behind the gold-rimmed glasses, a pair of almond-shaped eyes immediately lit up with an alarming brightness the moment they saw Qiao Wanyin.

"Aqing?"

He called softly, his tone almost affectedly gentle.

"Is it really you?"

Qiao Wanyin looked up, her heart almost stopping.

The Lin Zhiming before me is more particular than before, and he's also better at presenting himself.

A section of snow-white shirt peeked out from the cuffs of the well-tailored suit.

The most striking thing was the jade ring on the ring finger of his left hand.

"Is this Commander Fu?"

Lin Zhiming stood up, smiling as he extended his hand. The Rolex on his wrist gleamed with a blinding cold light under the sun.

"I've heard so much about you; Aqing often mentions you in her letters."

His tone was gentle, and his smile was appropriate.

Qiao Wanyin's pupils constricted, and she almost stopped breathing.

She never wrote a letter to this person!

Not a single one!

She felt disgusted even seeing the name, let alone writing a letter!

"Mr. Lin has come from afar and must be weary from your journey. Why don't we talk in the reception room?"

After saying that, he acted decisively, gently putting his right arm around Qiao Wanyin's shoulder and leading her to turn around and take a step.

Lin Zhiming's eyes, however, seemed glued to Qiao Wanyin, constantly glancing at her.

His lips moved slightly, and a hint of amazement flashed in his eyes.

After several years apart, Aqing has become even more charming, and the naivety of her youth has faded from her eyes.

Even her demeanor has changed!

The former gentleness and timidity are gone, replaced by an independent aura.

In the reception room, the curtains were half-drawn, and sunlight slanted across the mahogany floor.

Lin Zhiming plopped down, crossed his legs, and adopted an arrogant posture.

He slowly took out a pack of imported cigarettes from the inside pocket of his suit.

The cigarette box is silver-gray with foreign language printed on it.

He took out a cigarette, held it between his slender fingers, and offered it to Fu Lian.

"Want one?"

He smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

Fu Li'an glanced coldly at the cigarette but did not reach out to take it.

Instead, he subtly stepped to the side, pulling Qiao Wanyin closer to him and using his body to block Lin Zhiming's view.

"Get to the point."

Lin Zhiming wasn't annoyed. He withdrew his hand without any embarrassment, took out a lighter, and lit his cigarette with a "snap".

A flash of firelight illuminated half of his face.

He took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled rings of white smoke amidst the swirling smoke.

His gaze, without any attempt to conceal it, fell on Qiao Wanyin's face.

"Ah Qing, it's been a long time," he said in a light, airy voice, "You've become even more beautiful."

As he spoke, his gaze lingered on Qiao Wanyin.

He seemed not to have seen Fu Li'an standing next to him at all.

Or, deliberately turning a blind eye.

Qiao Wanyin sneered, raised an eyebrow, and directly exposed his true colors.

"Lin Zhiming, you tricked me into going to Hong Kong back then, saying you'd help me build a career and live a good life. And what happened? You almost sold me into a dance hall, making me live a life of shame! And now you still have the nerve to stand in front of me?"

Lin Zhiming spread his hands in a mocking manner, his face showing a wronged and innocent expression.

"Oh, Qing, you're mistaken. I genuinely wanted to give you a good life back then, truly. But then the business ran into trouble, the cash flow dried up, and the situation forced me to act against my will..."

"Business?"

Qiao Wanyin immediately interrupted him, her voice suddenly rising.

"Your so-called business is nothing more than swindling girls from the countryside, luring them to the port city, and then secretly selling them to fill your bottomless pit?"

Lin Zhiming's expression changed, and a hint of ferocity flashed in his eyes.

He forced a fake smile and softened his tone.

“Ah Qing, you’ve misunderstood. People change, and times change too. I’m different now. I’ve opened a company in Hong Kong, and I’m doing legitimate business, import and export trade. I have a business license and customs registration.”

He paused, deliberately drawing out his words.

"I came back this time because I want to invest and develop in the mainland, do some real business, and give back to my hometown."

As he spoke, he slowly pulled a gold-embossed business card from his briefcase.

He gently pushed it towards Qiao Wanyin with two fingers.

"The owner of Hong Kong Hua Feng Trading Company?"

Qiao Wanyin looked down at the business card in her hand, her gaze sweeping over the gold-embossed lettering, and gave a cold laugh.

"Oh, so you've stopped doing those sneaky, human trafficking things? Now you've switched to swindling rich people?"

Lin Zhiming's expression changed, and his smile froze instantly.

“Aqing,” he said slowly, his voice lower, “you really are different now.”

"Yes, I've changed."

Qiao Wanyin stared at him.

"I'm clear-headed now, and I can tell who's a human and who's a wolf. I won't be fooled by your sweet words anymore."

Fu Li'an stood to the side, not saying a word, his hands hanging at his sides, his expression cold and stern.

But his gaze grew colder and colder.

He suddenly reached out and subtly took the gold-embossed business card.

Then, he raised his eyes, his tone remaining calm.

“Mr. Lin, if you’re here to discuss business, then let’s talk in the office. Don’t use our past relationship as an excuse to bother my wife.”

Lin Zhiming narrowed his eyes, stared at Fu Lian for a few seconds, and then suddenly chuckled softly.

"Commander Fu, don't be so wary. Aqing and I are old acquaintances, childhood sweethearts, that's a fact. It's not too much to chat for a bit, is it?"

"Let's reminisce?"

Fu Li'an twitched the corner of his mouth, his tone laced with sarcasm.

"You made up a story about her writing you a letter, and you call that catching up? Don't you find that ridiculous?"

When his lie was exposed, Lin Zhiming remained calm and composed.

Instead, he gave Qiao Wanyin a meaningful look, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Aqing, I was wrong about what happened before."

“I was young and confused back then, and I did a lot of wrong things that hurt you.”

“But things are different now. I have the ability and the resources to give you a life you never even dared to dream of. We suffered before because I lacked the ability; now it's different, I can give you everything.”

Back then, Qiao Wanyin wanted to change her life and escape that oppressive home.

She once secretly took money from home and ran away with him to a faraway place.

Back then, her eyes shone with light, and her heart was full of dreams. She believed that as long as she followed the right person, she could escape the mire and head towards the distance.

Unfortunately, what awaited them in the end was not a new life.

Rather, it is a deeper predicament and betrayal.

This time, Lin Zhiming looked at Qiao Wanyin in front of him.