Chapter 55

"You still like me, right?"

Lian Yu suddenly realized that the reason he had been feeling restless all day was because he liked her. This wasn't a feeling left in the original owner's body, but rather his own. He had fallen in love with Qin Yi.

But he shouldn't be like this.

Lian Yu took a step back, slowly widening the distance between them. He looked into Qin Yi's eyes. Across a low wall, the light from the street lamp fell on Qin Yi's dark eyes, like a whole galaxy of brilliant stars. As if sensing something, the galaxy trembled.

Qin Yi caught up with Lian Yu's evasive gaze, and spoke with urgency: "Speak!"

"Does the answer matter?" Lian Yu let out a self-deprecating laugh in the night. His tone was relaxed, but the obsidian on his earlobe gleamed like a teardrop. "This kiss is a bet, and only a bet. Mom, we're even."

Lian Yu turned and left.

The market was bustling with people, and the stalls on both sides of the road were lined with people, most of them traveling together, chattering about whether the food was delicious or what had happened recently. Lian Yu walked through the bustling crowd, and suddenly something dawned on him. He had come into this world for Qin Yi.

Now... Lian Yuluo curled up his fingertips at his side.

As if sensing his thoughts, Tutu suddenly said: [The mission is not completed yet, you can't leave.]

After saying this, Tutu remained silent for a moment. After waiting for Lian Yu's response for a long time, Tutu tilted his head and continued. "Also, the protagonist's resentment towards you has increased. If this continues, you may never be able to leave this world."

"That's it." Lian Yu stopped listening to Tutu.

Under the wall.

Qin Yi clenched his fists at his sides, his head lowered, his teeth clenched. "Stepmother, stepmother!" he asked. "My favorability has increased so much, yet she's still talking nonsense about clearing the relationship." Qin Yi knew Lian Yu was a man of high moral standards, saying so out of consideration for their respective identities. But was he trying to push him away? He didn't even think about it.

Qin Yi loosened his fist and looked at the pinch marks on his palm.

Suddenly, there was a sound of something being kicked down outside the wall. Qin Yi looked up quickly. The moment their eyes met, the panicked figure opposite ran away.

Broken bricks lay piled beneath the wall. Qin Yi picked one up and threw it at the man. The brick hit him squarely in the back, and he groaned and fell to the ground. Qin Yi slowly lowered himself, his knee resting on the man's lumbar spine. His gaze fell on the phone he clutched tightly in his hand. The screen was still lit, seemingly frozen on the photo album.

It was after that kiss that Lian Yu leaned over and put her arms around his waist, embracing him, which was almost a more intimate gesture than a kiss.

The shot is quite atmospheric.

"Let me go!" The man under his knees struggled in fear. He obviously didn't expect that the thin Qin Yi could be so strong.

Qin Yi chuckled and said, "Don't be afraid. I'll buy it for double the price the person who asked you to take this photo paid."

The man stopped struggling and looked at him hesitantly, twisting his neck: "Really?"

"Of course." Qin Yi twisted the man's wrist. Amidst a cry of pain, he took the phone from the man's limp hand and played with it with interest: "But you have to tell me who asked you to take the photo first."

"This..." The man hesitated.

Suddenly, a message flashed on the screen. Qin Yi restrained his expression and narrowed his eyes. He suddenly stood up and threw the phone back into the man's hand: "Get lost."

"Aren't you going to buy it?" the man asked tentatively, but was quickly frightened to death by Qin Yi's cold look.

Looking at the man's back as he fled in panic, Qin Yi suddenly laughed out loud.

Want to make a big fuss? Then make a big fuss. The bigger the better.

——

After that, Lian Yu never spoke to Qin Yi again. Until now, when the two returned to the company, 36 hours had passed since the kiss. It was enough time for Lian Yu to slowly digest the feeling at that time and put it behind him.

The two of them got off the elevator together. Lian Yu was going to the general office, while Qin Yi was going to his own office. The road they walked together was not long before they forked. Lian Yu suddenly said, "Section Chief Qin."

Qin Yi stopped and looked at him.

Lian Yu avoided his gaze and bowed: "Thank you for your guidance. You have worked hard these past two days."

That's it? Qin Yi raised his lips, but there was no smile in his eyes. He nodded, then quickly turned around and ignored Lian Yu behind him. When he reached the office door, he was stopped. Chu Tian's secretary had obviously been waiting for him there for a long time.

"Mr. Qin," the secretary nodded slightly at him, "President Chu, please come over."

As soon as Lian Yu entered the office, he noticed a strange atmosphere. Unlike the day he reported, when everyone was openly discussing him, the atmosphere in the office was very quiet. Vague glances peeked out from behind the computer desks, only to retreat back when Lian Yu noticed them.

It's like... everyone is waiting for something to explode.

Lian Yu sat down next to Zhou Fei. Zhou Fei perked up instantly and waved at him, but his voice was very low: "Brother Yu, you're back."

Even Zhou Fei was puzzled.

Lian Yu frowned and was about to ask something, but saw Zhou Fei quickly lower his head, staring at his mobile phone without looking away, and he didn't know what he was tapping on the phone keyboard.

Lian Yu's scalp tingled, and he suddenly felt his palms begin to sweat. What on earth was going on?

At this moment, the cell phone in his pocket vibrated.

[Fei Ah Fei: Brother Yu, um, it turns out your life story is so interesting]

[Fei Ah Fei: I kept saying you and Teacher Qin were getting back together. I'm so sorry. If I knew about your relationship with Teacher Qin, I would never have said that!]

[Fei Ah Fei: And don't take those things you see online to heart. They must be made up by Wan Heyi again. I believe you're not that kind of person!]

Zhou Fei spoke tactfully, but the more unclear it was, the more horrified Lian Yu felt.

"What are you talking about?" Lian Yu looked at Zhou Fei blankly. Even though he deliberately controlled the volume, he couldn't stop everyone from looking at him.

Zhou Fei didn't expect him to react like this. His eyes widened. "Don't tell me... you still don't know anything?"

Lian Yu shook his head, and the next second, Zhou Fei's phone was poked in front of him. The photo immediately caught Lian Yu's eye, and he stood up abruptly, his shoulders heaving violently.

"Brother Yu!?"

Lian Yu rushed up to the 47th floor, where Chu Tian’s office was located.

In the original owner's memory, Chu Tian had brought him to the top of this building when he was a child. However, as the original owner grew up, Chu Tian respected his wish to conceal his identity and rarely appeared in his social life as Chu Tian. Therefore, apart from those in the circle who knew the situation, no one would associate the original owner with Chu Tian's adopted son.

So that photo was like an atomic bomb exploding, revealing two shocking revelations at the same time: one, the intern at the center of the discussion was the youngest son of the company chairman; two, the youngest son’s rumored girlfriend was his stepmother.

The big news naturally led to a series of discussions, but it all came down to three points: criticizing Lian Yu's willfulness, insulting Qin Yi's infidelity, and pitying Chu Tian, ​​the affectionate and domineering CEO who was cuckolded by his adopted son.

Lian Yu walked hurriedly, as if he knew what he was going to do. The secretary did not stop him, but instead opened the office door for him.

"Dad." Lian Yu couldn't control her speech and breathing: "This is all my fault. I forced Qin Yi."

Chu Tian sat behind a large solid wooden table, his eyes deep behind his silver-rimmed glasses, making it impossible to tell his emotions. "So? How do you plan to deal with this public opinion?"

"Call the police on me, terminate my adoption, and then release a statement."

"And then what? You take all the blame, and Qin Yi and I get away with it. Is that your plan?"

Lian Yu lowered his eyes: "It was my fault in the first place."

Chu Tian sneered, as if he was angry at Lian Yu. "Okay, it's your fault. Tell me, why did you force Qin Yi? Were you tempted by her beauty? I don't believe you are such a person."

"Because," Lian Yu paused, unconsciously clenching his fists. He knew he shouldn't say these words at this moment, but suddenly he didn't care anymore. So what if he said it? He would soon say goodbye to all this anyway.

"I like him." Lian Yu raised her head.

Contrary to the reaction he expected, Chu Tian sighed and looked out the door: "You win."

Lian Yu suddenly turned around as if realizing something.

Qin Yi walked out from behind the door.