Lin Jindong
Suspect
Lin Jindong just stared at me like that.
He seemed certain that Ye Fenglin was that irresponsible, womanizing young master who would soon get tired of me and throw me away.
And what about him? He was extremely confident, as if he were a loving, wealthy, and good man.
I couldn't help but laugh. Lin Jindong clearly felt I was mocking him. He pinched my chin, his sharp, cold face close to mine, his voice carrying a dangerous undertone, "You think I'm inferior to Ye Fenglin?"
“…You’re a bit older than him…” What I really wanted to say was, could he please stop being so childish? An elite prosecutor in a high position is always arguing with college students who haven’t even graduated yet.
Before I could finish speaking, Lin Jindong deliberately misinterpreted my meaning, and the pressure he applied to my chin became increasingly fierce.
"Dislike me?" His voice was low and cold, his aura terrifyingly powerful. I nudged his arm. "No... don't interfere in my affairs." I said with some difficulty.
"If I don't interfere in your affairs, where else can I interfere?" Lin Jindong's eyes were full of interest as he watched me resist without restraint.
Soon, that big hand grabbed my face and patted it. "Be good and answer me. Tell me where to stick your fingers."
I realized that he was usually very patient and gentle with me. At this moment, Lin Jindong was frighteningly unfamiliar, more like the ruthless and unapproachable person he seemed to be when we first met.
Seeing that I kept trying to dodge, Lin Jindong simply grabbed my neck. I resisted, hitting his shoulder, "No, don't..."
His dark eyes were filled with ruthlessness. No matter how fiercely I resisted, the disparity in strength between men and women was too great. My slender, fair neck and the man's wheat-colored hands formed a stark contrast. I felt like a small, pitiful prey, struggling in his palm.
Lin Jindong showed absolutely no mercy or chivalry towards women; I even felt that his gentlemanly facade was just a pretense.
If Jiang Zhao was an unrestrained, possessive, and mad dog, Lin Jindong was simply a vicious dog on the street that would frighten anyone who even glanced at it, with glossy fur and a strong, agile physique.
I even think that if I don't give him some benefits, he'll definitely bite me to death.
My throat felt slightly dry. I looked at him, my mind racing.
His unusually difficult treatment of me, and his constant targeting of Ye Fenglin... I recalled what Lu Qixi had said about Lin Jindong's background, and an increasingly clear answer emerged in my mind.
...It was a subtle jealousy.
Lin Jindong was never a spoiled, carefree, and willful young master like Ye Fenglin, who was pampered by his parents.
He is an illegitimate child with an uncertain identity. Unlike his sister, who receives much attention, he has lived in the shadows since childhood, always walking on thin ice.
A rich young lady like Lin Zhi'en wouldn't consider him.
These pampered young ladies will inevitably choose men whose status and position match their own.
Lin Jindong's social status is indeed high, but it is still somewhat inferior to that of the Lao Qian family.
Even if a young lady had feelings for him, given Lin Jindong's personality, how could he possibly be willing to become a live-in son-in-law?
His anger and jealousy stemmed from the fact that, in his eyes, I was a helpless and vulnerable girl at the bottom of society, and to him, there was no difference between him and Ye Fenglin.
Even in a worldly sense, he has a stable income, handsome appearance, promising job, and a superior family background, making him dozens of times better off than a spoiled young master like Ye Fenglin.
But I seemed to be determined to only care about Ye Fenglin and completely ignore him.
It's like... I'm exactly the same as those people who care about his "illegitimate child" status, deliberately ignoring him.
"You...you let me go, I want to go back..." After figuring all this out, I continued to "struggle".
I understand that the more obedient I am, the more satisfied he will be, but what I want is to make the situation more chaotic. As for his suspicion that I am pregnant, it has become a better bargaining chip. I can vaguely sense that he cares about this matter, so maybe I can give it a try.
Sure enough, my "resistance" worked. Lin Jindong took my actions as resistance against him, and his tone was somewhat eccentric: "You despise me? I don't see what makes Ye Zi better than me."
Of course, I wouldn't answer his question directly. Letting him guess is much better than me telling him myself.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor. I quickly pushed him away and jumped off the marble sink before another guest could enter. I was a little unsteady and even instinctively leaned against Lin Jindong. He reflexively reached out and hugged me tightly.
The guest looked at our somewhat ambiguous actions with a particularly surprised expression. He didn't approach, but instead turned and left quite consciously, leaving Lin Jindong and me alone in a very quiet space.
I lay against the man's chest, raising my head slightly to look at him.
Just as I thought, Lin Jindong assumed that I had offered myself to him.
"..." The curve of his thin lips lingered, and his slightly rough palm slowly caressed my arm, like a cold and venomous snake, gliding coldly and darkly across my skin.
Before I could even beg for mercy, Lin Jindong moved even closer to me. He was no longer pretending; he had become a vicious and sharp-tongued fellow. His burning passion was impossible for me to ignore. His thin smile revealed a chilling and ruthless feeling as he said, word by word, "Pretending to be innocent is pointless, understand?"
Others may look down on him, but I absolutely cannot.
In his heart, I am not worthy.
I pursed my lips, broke free from his embrace, and took several steps back. I pretended to be panicked and hurriedly pushed open the door, rushing back to the restaurant from the corridor. Lu Qixi looked worried when she saw that I had taken so long to return.
"Xiao Fu, why have you been gone for so long?" She welcomed me back to my seat, and I belatedly realized that there was another man sitting next to her, lawyer Fu Yue, whom I had met at the store that afternoon.
The man's appearance wasn't particularly outstanding, but he had a refined and composed air about him, and a graceful demeanor.
He glanced at me but didn't say anything.
Seeing this, Lu Qixi introduced me: "Xiao Fu, this is Fu Yue, the person who brought me to the law firm. I invited him to dinner today. He knows I have a friend, so he specially bought you a gift, which is why he's so late."
"Sorry I'm late, this is for you." Fu Yue's words were concise, just like the Fu Yue I knew.
I hesitated before accepting the gift he gave me, and gently opened it. Inside, I found the light pink rose earrings that I had introduced to him in the store earlier that day. The flowers were carved from rose quartz, making them exceptionally charming, and they were also adorned with diamonds that were dazzling yet not jarring. They were absolutely beautiful.
Lu Qixi received a handbag he bought at the store, but the earrings were much more expensive than the handbag... I hesitated, but Lu Qixi looked at me and said, "Xiao Fu, why don't you try them on?"
I nodded. Faced with his politeness and kindness, I did not refuse. Instead, I picked up the earrings and put them on. The roses were hidden in my black hair. I was afraid he wouldn't see them, so I deliberately lifted my hair up. He lowered his eyes slightly before I let my hair down.
I looked up and saw Lin Jindong.
He had a cold and indifferent face, and had been watching from the side for who knows how long. In fact, Lin Jindong did have that kind of cold and indifferent look, especially his thin lips that were slightly upturned, which gave people a strong sense of nonchalance and a strong sense of playing with others.
Lu Qixi glanced at him, and Lin Jindong smiled. He and Fu Yue seemed to be old acquaintances, and their conversation flowed naturally.
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"How about it? My judgment isn't bad, is it?" Lin Jindong leaned back, his expression changing quickly. His previous displeasure and hostility seemed like a figment of my imagination. He gave Lu Qixi a friendly smile, like an excellent and friendly senior.
Fu Yue nodded. "Very good."
One is a young and promising partner at one of the top law firms in the industry.
The other is a brilliant prosecutor who is well-regarded throughout the federal government.
Receiving praise from these two people, Lu Qixi's eyes lit up. A gentle smile bloomed on her face, her poise and confidence easily winning over others. I knew Lu Qixi's abilities better than anyone. She was an outstanding student in school, consistently achieving excellent grades; she just lacked an opportunity.
The dinner didn't end until after 10 p.m. Before it ended, Fu Yue was very polite and direct, saying, "I'll take you home."
"I...I'm driving," I whispered.
Lu Qixi looked at me with worry, "Xiao Fu, are you still going back to the West District apartment?"
She didn't really mean anything by saying that, but people from the upper class like Fu Yue and Lin Jindong were well aware of the situation at the West District Apartments.
That's the most luxurious private apartment in the East End.
The entire apartment building faces Central Park, boasting the best views. The area around the apartment is almost entirely filled with art galleries and museums, making its location incredibly advantageous.
That's not a place that ordinary rich people can afford to live in.
And it's even more impossible for an ordinary girl like me who works for a luxury brand.
Lin Jindong narrowed his eyes, his expression appearing somewhat dangerous and sharp.
Fu Yue's gaze was slightly subtle, but he remained composed.
“Xiao Fu is staying with a friend now.” Lu Qixi looked at them and explained again on my behalf, but the atmosphere only became more and more subtle.
I felt unwell. No, my heart suddenly started pounding, its rhythm slightly changing. I felt like I'd overlooked something... A strange yet familiar sense of déjà vu washed over me, giving me a belated sense of dread.
No, I never told Lu Qixi that I lived with Ye Fenglin.
Although we sometimes talk about things late at night, I'm pretty sure I've never said anything like that. How did Lu Qixi find out? My body trembled slightly; I was a little confused.
But I made myself appear nonchalant and turned to her softly, saying, "I'll take you home." @Unlimited great articles, all at Literary City
Lu Qixi nodded.
I suppressed my unease and nervousness, and pulled my coat tighter around myself. Lu Qixi looked at the pure white Audi, but she wasn't surprised or taken aback at all. She sat down in the passenger seat with remarkable ease and fastened her seatbelt.
“Xiao Fu, I’ve been working on bankruptcy cases with Attorney Fu lately, and I feel that what I’ve learned from books is completely different from what I’ve actually encountered.” Lu Qixi’s eyes were bright, just like when she would wait for me at school to go to lunch together, intimate and natural.
How did we meet? I drove silently, looking at the somewhat quiet and desolate street in front of me.
She was very warm and cheerful, and it seemed like she had been actively approaching me and greeting me ever since I started university. I have to say, Lu Qixi understood me better than Yu Xu, even better than I understood myself. She knew I liked chocolate cake, was allergic to peanuts, liked to get up in the middle of the night to drink a glass of warm water, that my period usually ended at the end of the month, liked berry-flavored bath bombs, and that the position Yu Xu and I used most often was woman-on-top…
Lu Qixi is so good to me. In my memory, the person who understands me so well was originally deeply associated with the brothers Jiang Mingzhuo and Jiang Zhao.
Later, I ran away from the Jiang family. I tried my best to change my habits, but Lu Qixi was very patient and meticulous. She knew a lot, a lot... even many secrets that only my brothers and I had.
The unease in my mind grew stronger.
Behind us, I noticed a car was even following us. My skin began to heat up, as if I was experiencing a slight burning sensation. I bit my lip tightly, and my body trembled more and more violently.
"Xiao Fu!" Lu Qixi suddenly reminded me, and I quickly stepped on the brakes and stopped the car on the side of the road.
Lu Qixi looked like she was about to cry. She was so worried about me, looking at me and saying, "Xiao Fu... are you still sad because of Yu Xu? Don't be like this, I'm really afraid something will happen to you."
Her patience and worry were genuine, but her doubts were not unfounded either. Yet, they couldn't quell the voices in my mind and heart.
Fake? Real? Fake, fake, fake...
I lowered my head, my heart sank, and the burning and stinging sensation spread to my chest. I glanced quickly, then lowered my eyes, my eyelashes trembling violently.
"On Qixi Festival, I," I said softly, "have a secret I want to tell you."
“I might be pregnant. I think the child is Yu Xu’s…” I frowned, looking weak and frail, tears welling up in my eyes. I gestured to her in sign language: “You know, he was badly injured and won’t wake up again. I want to find a new father for the child… Ideally, he would accept the child and continue to take care of me and protect me.”
Lu Qixi's eyes widened in surprise. A faint hint of reluctance and confusion surfaced on her expression. A trace of pain seemed to make her hesitate; I noticed her fingers were digging deeply into her palms, she was struggling with her decision.
I only told her about my pregnancy.
I'm pretty sure that person won't let me off the hook once they hear this news.
If he really appeared in front of me...
He is the murderer who harmed Yu Xu.
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