Chapter 49 "From now on, on every birthday of yours, I..."
The last few shots were filmed surprisingly smoothly.
Lin Suxing was brimming with energy, and Zhuo Hongjie and the rest of the production team gathered behind the machine to review the original footage, and were very satisfied.
He Xiao caught a glimpse of Lin Suxing out of the corner of her eye; he was already so eager to slip away, just one word from the editor-in-chief away, that she couldn't help but chuckle to herself.
"Okay, that's all for today!"
Upon hearing Zhuo Hongjie's words, Lin Suxing immediately lifted the hem of her costume and rushed briskly towards the dressing room: "Okay, then I'm off work. Goodbye everyone!"
Along the way, staff members teased her: "Enjoy your birthday!" "And your handsome boyfriend, haha." "Hurry up, after you take off your stage makeup, we'll touch up your everyday makeup so you can go on your date, okay?"
Lin Suxing changed back into her casual clothes and ran out with her slightly tousled short hair at around midnight.
"Slow down, no rush." Li Xinian said gently as the young man jogged to his car.
"Okay, where are we going now?" Lin Suxing asked Li Xinian yesterday if there was anywhere he wanted to go, but the other party said that it had already been arranged and that he didn't need to worry about it.
"It's already noon, let's go eat first. You must be hungry." Li Xinian drove himself, his profile appearing even more profound in the flowing light and shadow outside the window.
The car's interior is spacious and quiet, filled with soft classical music.
Lin Suxing sat in the passenger seat, her mood cheerful, like a little bird released back into the forest, chirping and sharing the fun things that happened on set. Li Xinian mostly listened quietly, occasionally letting out a low "hmm" in response.
The car eventually drove into a private club with an unassuming exterior but a surprisingly spacious interior.
The waiter led them through the ancient-style corridor with its winding stream and flowing water. The soft lighting in the corridor illuminated the artwork and exquisite ornaments on the walls, creating an extremely elegant environment.
After they sat down, Li Xinian casually pushed the menu in front of Lin Suxing: "Take a look and see what you want to eat." He paused, then added, "This restaurant mainly serves Hunan cuisine, you should like it."
Lin Suxing's eyes lit up. He loved spicy food, and Li Xinian had clearly remembered this little preference of his.
He happily flipped through the menu, but after a few pages, he suddenly looked up at Li Xinian, who was sitting across from him with a calm expression, and asked with a hint of seriousness, "Brother Xinian, what about you? Do you like Hunan cuisine?"
To be honest, he found it hard to say "Niannian" to a man with a cold and serious face who looked rather stern when he wasn't smiling.
However, although Li Xinian didn't say it outright, Lin Suxing felt that Li Xinian's change in attitude was clearly due to the reason that Li Xinian had gotten angry about his aloofness offline last time.
He was certain that Li Xinian was unhappy because of the distance between them in real life, so he made up his mind to get close to Li Xinian as he would to Niannian while wearing the system's skin.
...Although the results weren't particularly good, he had done his best!
Li Xinian paused almost imperceptibly in the hand holding the water glass.
He looked up and met Lin Suxing's clear eyes, which were filled with pure concern.
He paused for a moment, then chose to answer honestly: "I eat rather bland food." This was a tactful denial.
"Ah, I see..." Lin Suxing blinked, making a decision almost immediately.
The young man lowered his head, gesturing on the menu with his finger as he said in an unusually serious tone, "From now on, when we eat out, we can't just order according to my taste; we have to consider what you like. Hmm... let's order a few light dishes today too!"
He spoke so naturally, as if "the future" was a matter of course, and "we" were an inseparable whole.
Looking at his serious planning, Li Xinian couldn't help but smile slightly.
He was used to being in control and giving, but rarely experienced the feeling of being included in someone else's consideration and being carefully taken care of.
Being gazed at so intently by Lin Suxing at this moment, it felt as if the strings of his heart were being gently plucked.
His heart was churning with emotion, but on the surface, he merely lowered his eyelashes slightly, concealing the fleeting tenderness in his eyes, and responded with a faint, "Okay."
The final dishes we ordered were indeed half spicy and half mild, arranged harmoniously on the table.
After the last dessert was removed, Li Xinian stood up and said, "Let's go, I'll take you to see the gift I prepared for you."
"A gift? Where is it?" Lin Suxing asked curiously as she stood up.
Li Xinian did not answer directly, but simply gestured for him to follow.
The two walked through a corridor that was more private inside the dining room. A waiter stopped in front of a double wooden door with intricate carvings and smiled as he opened it for them.
The moment the door to the private room opened, Lin Suxing seemed to be frozen in place, standing there dumbfounded: "So many?!"
The exquisitely handsome young man's mouth was slightly agape, his almond-shaped eyes wide with disbelief and shock.
The room's main color scheme was white and champagne gold. Large bunches of white roses filled the room, and the fresh fragrance of the flowers instantly lingered in his nostrils.
The starting point of the spiral, which is also the lowest point, is a gift marked "1," which is probably compensation for his first birthday. The ending point is a gift marked "19," which is his birthday gift this year.
The gift spiraled upwards along the staircase, as if picking up, filling in, and making whole the nineteen years he had missed without Li Xinian's participation.
The lighting on the ceiling of the private room was cleverly designed to resemble stars, with soft light casting a hazy glow on every gift and every petal.
He looked up, somewhat flattered, and asked, "Are all of these... for me?"
This is way too much! I knew he'd give me something expensive every year, but I never expected it to be in this way...
The meaning of the number plates 1-19 is not hard to guess.
Li Xinian wanted to make up for all the birthday gifts he had received over the previous eighteen years today.
Li Xinian lowered his eyes and looked at the little guy beside him, who was so moved that his eyes were red like a little rabbit's. His heart softened completely.
He raised his hand and, with a slightly awkward yet extremely gentle motion, ruffled Lin Suxing's soft hair. His deep voice sounded particularly moving amidst the fragrant flowers in the room.
"Yes, they're all yours. Happy birthday, Su Xing."
Lin Suxing's eyes suddenly reddened without warning, and a layer of moisture quickly filled his eyes, blurring the overly beautiful scene before him. He subconsciously reached out and gently grasped Li Xinian's sleeve beside him, his fingers trembling slightly with excitement.
Lin Suxing's voice was choked with sobs, so soft and sweet: "No, I feel like I'm going to cry. Are these gifts for each of my birthdays?"
Li Xinian looked at him, his deep voice unusually clear in the quiet private room: "Yes. I missed your previous birthdays, so I'll make up for it all this time."
"From now on, I won't miss your birthday again."
***
In the study of the Lin family villa, the rich aroma of sherry and the crisp scent of agarwood quietly intertwined in the air.
Li Xinian sat on the Italian leather sofa, his slender fingers lightly stroking the rim of his glass, his gaze calmly fixed on Lin Siyi across from him.
“Lin’s ready-to-wear market share has been declining in recent years, but the brand’s heritage remains.” Li Xinian pushed a document onto the coffee table. “If we return to the haute couture route, we will have to cut at least 30% of our existing channels.”
“The Li family has experience operating seven luxury brands,” Li Xinian said calmly. “From craftsmanship to customer resources, they can provide a platform for the Lin family.”
He leaned forward slightly, his gray-blue eyes appearing particularly deep under the light. "The important thing is that before the Lin family completes its transformation, it needs sufficient funds and resources to stabilize the situation."
Lin Siyi had to admit that these words had hit his weak spot perfectly.
He picked up his glass and took a small sip, using this action to conceal his inner hesitation. The conditions offered by Li Xinian were indeed tempting, but he still maintained his last bit of caution: "President Li's proposal is very constructive, but I need more time to consider such a significant decision as investing."
“Yes, I understand.” Li Xinian nodded calmly, as if he had already expected this answer.
He then took out a gold-embossed gift list and gently pushed it over: "Today is Su Xing's birthday, this is a small token of my appreciation."
The moment Lin Siyi unfolded the gift list, her pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.
The land deed for No. 88 Yunjin Avenue shows that the annual rent for shops in that location is as high as eight figures.
"President Li, this is far too expensive." Lin Siyi tried her best to keep her voice steady, but her heart was already in turmoil.
He couldn't help but recall Li Xinian's recent special attention to his younger brother, and a vague guess gradually became clear in his mind.
Li Xinian's expression remained unchanged as he lightly tapped the letter of intent for cooperation with his fingertip: "Since the Li and Lin families are about to become partners, these things are nothing."
He spoke casually, downplaying the astonishingly generous gift as a mere business transaction, adding, "We will need to support each other in brand operations in the future."
After having lunch with Lin Suxing, he returned to the Lin family home to discuss business cooperation with Lin Siyi before the evening banquet began.
This gift is quite substantial. When the list of all the gifts is made public after the banquet, everyone will know what kind of gift he gave, and naturally no one will dare to neglect Lin Suxing anymore.
"Then... I'll thank President Li on behalf of Su Xing in advance." Lin Siyi stared at the composed man opposite him and suddenly realized that this meeting before the birthday banquet was far more complicated than he had imagined.
He recalled how, at the charity gala last month, Li Xinian had openly violated the rules of exchanging dance partners and danced with Su Xing all night long; he recalled the rumors circulating in the industry that the Li family had suddenly acquired three fashion magazines; and he recalled the overly generous "birthday gift" on the table at this moment.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, guests' vehicles were arriving at the manor one after another.
Li Xinian stood up and straightened his suit cuffs, his gray-blue eyes devoid of emotion: "Since there's nothing else to do, I'll excuse myself for a moment."
Lin Siyi immediately stood up to see him off: "President Li, let me see you off. The lounge has been prepared for you. You can rest for a while before the banquet begins."
***
The strict management of the private mental health sanatorium on the outskirts of the city, its cold white walls reflecting a bleak light.
The screams and roars seemed endless, penetrating the distance of just one wall and filling the entire room.
Lin Ke huddled in the corner of the room, her former radiance gone, her hair disheveled and curled up on the floor, her arms wrapped around her body and trembling.
The phone rang for a long time before being answered. In the background, there was melodious classical music and faint laughter, indicating that Zhao Gan was in an elegant setting.
"Hello?" Zhao Gan's voice carried a hint of displeasure at being disturbed.
"Agan...it's me, Lin Ke." Lin Ke's voice was immediately shrouded in an overwhelming sweetness and grievance, with a trembling, hesitant sob.
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. Zhao Gan seemed to have moved to a quieter place, and the music became muffled.
His tone was full of undisguised sarcasm: "Lin Ke? What a rare guest. What, Li Jingjia's backer has fallen? So you, this big shot, have finally remembered to call me, your 'old friend'?"
On the day of the spring banquet, Zhao Gan had approached Lin Ke before Li Xinian ordered her to leave the venue, attempting to salvage their relationship.
At the time, he thought Lin Ke was just confused for a moment, and he still held a sliver of hope that Lin Ke would turn back and choose him.
After all, Li Jingjia was a veteran of sex parties, and his appearance was so ugly that he didn't seem like the type Lin Ke would like.
Like a defeated dog, he desperately clung to Lin Ke's hand, begging her not to be such a materialistic person and not to ruin the simple, sunny boy in his heart.
But how did Lin Ke react?
Lin Ke not only showed no remorse for blocking Zhao Gan's contact information after getting on Li Jingjia's list, but even turned around and accused him: "Zhao Gan, if your family wasn't useless and you weren't useless, would I have needed to rely on Li Jingjia? This is all your own fault, how can you blame me? I just wanted to live a better life!"
After saying that, Lin Ke ignored Zhao Gan, who was crying bitterly because he had been dumped, and walked away without looking back.
Lin Ke was so heartless, even threatening, "Don't come looking for me again, don't interfere with my life." How could Zhao Gan not hate her at all?!
He's a man who cares about his reputation. Being cheated on, disliked, ridiculed, and humiliated like that, his feelings for Lin Ke naturally wouldn't be as pure as before.
Hearing the name "Li Jingjia," Lin Ke's heart clenched. Suppressing her resentment, she said in an even softer, more coquettish voice, "Agan, don't make fun of me... I was... I was bewitched back then, Li Jingjia forced me to do it! The one I've always truly loved has always been you!"
"Oh?" Zhao Gan drawled out, his tone sinister. "You like me? You like me so much that you kicked me aside and climbed into Li Jingjia's bed without looking back? Lin Ke, your 'like' is really cheap."
"No! Let me explain!" Lin Ke cried out, his voice filled with genuine panic. He knew Zhao Gan might be his only way out. "Li Jingjia is a complete scumbag! I have absolutely no feelings for him. I was just confused before and he fooled me. Look at his ugly appearance, how can he compare to you?! In my heart, there is definitely only you!"
Seeing Zhao Gan remain silent, Lin Ke's tone became increasingly urgent: "Agan, I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong... Now only you can help me. Please, for the sake of our past relationship, save me, okay? I promise, as long as you help me get out, I'll listen to you in everything and never leave you again! Didn't you like outdoor sex before? From now on, I'll listen to you. I'll do whatever you want, wherever you want!"
He was using almost all his strength to fawn over Zhao Gan, his tone humble and earnest, a stark contrast to his previous haughty demeanor in front of Zhao Gan.
Zhao Gan asked slowly on the other end of the phone, "Help you? How? Go head-to-head with the Lin family? Lin Ke, you overestimate my feelings for you."
He had long lost his feelings for Lin Ke because of the loss of face and the trampling of his self-esteem. At this moment, he listened to Lin Ke's desperate pleas with great interest, like a cat catching a mouse.
"No need for a direct confrontation!" Lin Ke said hastily, her tone turning sinister. "You just need to find a way to get me out of here, and... and teach that Lin Suxing a lesson!"
Zhao Gan lowered his eyes, his expression one of undisguised sarcasm and coldness: "What lesson?"
"Today Lin Siyi is going to throw a birthday banquet for him, and we're going to make him lose face on what he thinks is a glorious birthday! I have a very loyal servant in the Lin family who owes me his life."
At this point, Lin Ke's voice turned cold and calm, clearly indicating that she had made up her mind: "Just tell him that I was kicked out of the Lin family because of Lin Suxing and am now locked up in a mental hospital. I need him to kill Lin Suxing for me. He will understand."
Zhao Gan frowned, never expecting that Lin Ke, who was usually just arrogant, could be so ruthless: "You want to kill him?? Isn't he just your Lin family's adopted son? Why do you have to try to kill him like this?"
"Agan, I hate him so much! If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be in this state! You have to help me!" Lin Ke made no attempt to hide her deep-seated hatred for Lin Suxing.
Zhao Gan listened to his venomous curses and cloyingly sweet promises, hesitated for a moment, and then said in a condescending tone, "Alright, what kind of behavior is this, crying and sobbing? Remember what you said today. Wait for my news."
Receiving this promise, which wasn't quite a promise, Lin Ke felt like a dying man grabbing onto a piece of driftwood. He offered a series of words of gratitude and assurances before reluctantly hanging up the phone.
Zhao Gan put down his phone and immediately called out to a maid who was passing by him: "Hello, I'd like to find one of your maids named Xiao Cui. Could you please call him out so I can say a few words to him?"
"...Of course there's something I need to tell him to do." Zhao Gan smiled, his eyes hiding a ruthless glint.
Although I don't want to avenge that bitch Lin Ke, it's still quite pleasing to see the Lin family, which Lin Ke cares about, lose a young master at the banquet I hosted.
...
"A standalone shop on Yun Jin Avenue! A Bugatti Centodieci!"
Meng Huaiwen was casually looking at the copy of the gift list, which recorded the gifts from important guests, when he turned to Li Xinian's page. Even he, a man of great knowledge, couldn't help but gasp slightly.
"Tsk tsk," the young man's deep brown eyes gleamed with undisguised envy. He nudged Wang Shunduo beside him lightly with his shoulder, lowered his voice, and exclaimed with exaggerated amazement, "Brother, look at President Li's generosity... especially that Bugatti Centodieci, there are only ten in the world, it's so cool!"
Wang Shunduo stood behind him, looking at him with a doting expression as his gaze swept over the gift list: "Want some?"
The man wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, which made his figure appear even taller and more slender.
He had a refined and handsome face, with a pair of exquisite gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. The eyes behind the lenses were deep and unfathomable, and his thin lips, when slightly pursed, exuded an aura of authority without anger. Even in such a relaxed setting, he still maintained a certain distance and seriousness.
Standing beside him, Meng Huaiwen was a completely different kind of dazzling figure.
He was tall and muscular, and his well-fitting tuxedo accentuated his smooth and powerful muscle lines.
Her pure blonde hair shone like flowing gold under the dazzling crystal chandelier, dazzling and eye-catching.
His features are striking and handsome, the kind of handsome that exudes sunshine and vitality, and the upward curve of his lips when he smiles carries a wild and untamed charm.
Seeing Wang Shunduo's ambiguous attitude, Meng Huaiwen immediately seized the opportunity and reached out, seemingly unintentionally hooking Wang Shunduo's suit sleeve hanging at his side with his finger. He lowered his voice and said in a slightly coquettish nasal tone, "Of course, brother, I like this the most."
His soft, affectionate way of calling him "brother" created a strange contrast with his tall, masculine appearance, yet it didn't seem out of place at all; on the contrary, it had a unique allure: "There's no need for such an extravagant gift from President Li, just... that new colorway of the Pagani Huayra, the lake blue, I think it looks really good!"
He spoke with conviction, his eyes sparkling with anticipation, and his fingers, which were hooked around Wang Shunduo's sleeve, lightly brushed against the other's wrist.
Although the Meng family is wealthy, the older sister and mother are strict in managing the household and would never give Meng Huaiwen, who already owns two sports cars, so much money to buy such an expensive one.
But Meng Huaiwen knew that Wang Shunduo would indulge him, and if he said he liked it very much, the car would definitely appear quietly in his garage within a few months.
Wang Shunduo lowered his eyes, looking at Meng Huaiwen's hand, which had distinct joints and exuded strength, yet was making such a small movement at this moment. His gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses flickered slightly.
He didn't agree immediately, nor did he shake off his hand. Instead, he leaned slightly closer to Meng Huaiwen's ear and said in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, "Want the Wind God? Sure."
He paused, sensing Meng Huaiwen's sudden loss of breath, before continuing slowly, "That depends on how you perform over the next month."
As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Huaiwen's ears turned red at a visible speed, whether because of that ambiguous "performance" or because of the warm breath that Wang Shunduo brushed against his cheek when he got close to him.
He cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly, but tightened his grip on his sleeve, muttering under his breath, "...When have I ever behaved badly?"
Wang Shunduo straightened up and looked at Meng Huaiwen, who was trying to remain calm but couldn't hide the excitement and shyness in his eyes. The corners of his lips curved upwards almost imperceptibly.
As the melodious violin music faded, the dazzling crystal chandelier focused its light on the stage in front of the banquet hall, which was covered with deep blue velvet.
The whispers and laughter that had been flowing gradually subsided, and all the guests' eyes, filled with either curious scrutiny or silent observation, were turned toward the center of the stage.
Lin Siyi, the current head of the Lin family, stepped forward to the microphone.
The man was dressed in a perfectly tailored dark black suit, his posture upright like a pine tree. His young and handsome face was adorned with a calm and dignified smile, his gaze gentle yet firm. As he surveyed the entire room, he exuded an undeniable air of authority.
"Thank you all for taking the time to attend tonight and witness such a very important moment for the Lin family..." Lin Siyi's magnetic voice clearly resonated throughout the banquet hall through the high-quality sound system.
Just as he began to speak, Lin Suxing stood quietly waiting in the shadows on the side of the stage.
He wore a white suit tailored for him by Li Xinian. The well-tailored suit perfectly accentuated his slender yet tall and upright figure. A sapphire brooch from the same series as Li Xinian's cufflinks adorned the collar, sparkling brilliantly.
He pursed his lips slightly, his long eyelashes trembling, revealing a hint of nervousness, but more so, anticipation and excitement at being officially recognized by his family and introduced to the world.
The soft light fell on his delicate profile, making him look as beautiful as a painting.
Below the stage, the guests exchanged glances and whispered among themselves. The whispers surged like a tide amidst the elegant attire and swaying hair, and some had already learned the true purpose of the Lin family's banquet.
"Is this the real young master of the Lin family? He has a clean and refined air about him, and he does bear a resemblance to Lin Siyi in some ways."
"This is called similarity? They're obviously brothers, not to mention Lin Suxing has that other person by his side now..."
"With President Li personally by his side, it seems the rumors are true; this young master is deeply loved by the Li family."
"Everyone remembers what happened at the spring banquet, right? Li Xinian danced with him all night long, and he wouldn't even switch partners."
"This person is going to be very prominent in the industry in the future."
"Lin Ke isn't here today. Has she been kicked out of the Lin family?"
"He offended Li Xinian before, and was cyberbullied in the entertainment industry. He can't make it anywhere. The Lin family probably doesn't want such a useless and troublesome child. After all, raising a child is a small matter, but offending Li Xinian is a big deal."
...
However, in this seemingly harmonious atmosphere, a figure dressed in a standard waiter's uniform, carrying a tray half-full of champagne tower, was quietly weaving through the gaps in the crowd with his head down.
His movements were no different from those of other well-trained waiters; his steps were steady and his posture respectful.
But if anyone were to notice his eyes at this moment, they would find that there was none of the humility and enthusiasm that other waiters should have, only a cold, almost numb, deathly silence, and a chilling murderous intent hidden deep within, like a poisoned dagger locking onto its prey.
He was Lin Ke's loyal servant who had infiltrated this place to fulfill his former master's request.
As Lin Siyi's speech drew to a close, he smiled and turned his warm and firm gaze toward Lin Suxing, preparing to solemnly introduce his long-lost and found younger brother to the audience.
At that very moment, the man disguised as a waiter subtly tensed his arm muscles as he adjusted the angle of the tray, his fingertips quietly groping for something cold and hard at the bottom of the tray.
Like a lurking shadow, he silently took a few more steps forward, closing the distance between himself and Lin Suxing to the point where he could launch a fatal attack…
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