Chapter 12
Her slender arms were like soft, slippery snakes.
After driving for a while, the Maybach slowly stopped in front of a restaurant hidden in the bustling city.
The restaurant's khaki-colored wooden doors and walls blend seamlessly, with no conspicuous signboard, its hidden nature sparking the imagination.
Stepping through the door reveals a courtyard where one can listen to the wind and appreciate the rain. Dense bamboo walls isolate the hustle and bustle of the outside world, making it so elegant that it doesn't seem like a place for dining.
This understated approach, seemingly designed to avoid being noticed, ironically highlights the stark contrast of extreme luxury. Of course, the menu here is also astonishing.
Cheng Sangluo was eager to know the cause and effect that Lin Jin had mentioned, but she didn't mention the three million debt at all along the way.
Her mind was filled with speculation about who had kidnapped Cheng Xing. She didn't care whether the person lived or died, because over the years, the cold-blooded family had already drained her of any affection.
Having served as a scout for a long time, her perception was sharper than that of ordinary people, and she always felt that this matter was strange, and not just a superficial debt problem.
If it was Lin Jin who did it, it was nothing more than a trick to make her submit. Once you find out the truth, just treat it as a prank and ignore it.
If it was Xu Songheng who did it, then that's a different story. We should keep a record of this grudge so that we can settle the score later.
When she came to her senses, Cheng Sangluo had already followed them to the uniquely decorated private room.
It was clear that Lin Jin was a regular customer here. The manager didn't need to bring him a menu; upon hearing the phrase "the same as always," he understood and left.
Cheng Sangluo stood upright at the dining table, her eyes wide open. If her gaze could kill, the madwoman would have been a hornet's nest by now.
Lin Jin picked up his teacup and took a small sip. Looking at the little dog with a murderous look on its face, he couldn't help but laugh: "It would be better to say nice things to coax me than to glare at me. Since you want to know the answer so much, you have to show some appreciation. I'm a businessman, after all, and I value the exchange of benefits."
"I now reasonably suspect that you don't actually know anything, after all, you're a habitual liar who's been lying to me." Cheng Sangluo clicked her tongue and deliberately chose the chair furthest away to sit down.
“What if the habitual conman who tricked you says…” Lin Jin deliberately dragged out his words, his eyes narrowing with a mocking glint of anticipation, “Three million is no small sum. What would a poor little dog with only one life left do?”
The three million that slipped out was like a dart, precisely piercing Cheng Sangluo's doubts and overturning her predicament.
Cheng Sangluo's hands, which were resting on her knees, slowly clenched until her knuckles made a cracking sound.
She tried her best to control her emotions and waited until she calmed down before replying: "You say you didn't do this, but you know the whole story. Don't you think that's contradictory?"
"Can't I just be a bystander enjoying the show?" Lin Jin put down her cup and began to speak slowly and deliberately: "I know more than just that you have an older brother who owes three million in debt. I also know that you were originally admitted to one of the top universities in the country, but then..."
'Bang—' Cheng Sangluo's face turned ashen as she slammed her hand on the table, stopping Lin Jin from speaking.
She really didn't want to recall those messy past events, and pressed, "Stop talking nonsense, get to the point, what else do you know?"
In fact, she knew better than anyone that the answer lay in Lin Jin's mouth, but she couldn't get the answer just by asking, since that cunning and manipulative woman was always thinking of ways to tease her.
Lin Jin tilted her head and deliberately asked, "What else do I know?"
She got up and walked behind the puppy, her slender arms, like supple snakes, wrapping around Cheng Sangluo's neck inch by inch, until she leaned down and whispered in his ear, "It all depends on your attitude..."
Cheng Sangluo disliked this intimate behavior, but the breeze blowing past her ears was filled with fragrance, as if it might stir up a storm in her heart if she wasn't careful.
Fortunately, she remained unmoved and clear-headed enough to raise her hand to stop the hand that was about to slip into her collar, and calmly asked, "Is it that hard to answer my question?"
Lin Jin feigned a look of unfulfilled longing, "Is it so hard to say a few words to make me happy?"
With a creak, the waiter pushed the food in, interrupting their conversation.
Lin Jin chose a new seat facing the puppy, slowly spread the napkin in front of her, and smiled with raised eyebrows: "Watching you eat makes my appetite better. Isn't that a feast for the eyes?"
Cheng Sangluo remained silent, only gripping the cup tightly and silently cursing inwardly: "Show off your dad, watch out or you'll choke on shit..."
In fact, Lin Jin only ordered a single-serving set meal. The exquisite plating covered most of the table, creating a stark contrast with the empty space in front of Cheng Sangluo.
She took small bites of the food, glancing occasionally at Cheng Sangluo's stern face, her smile becoming increasingly annoying. "Hmm~ the food tastes pretty good today~"
The puppy seems to like it very much today!
Playing the confrontation lane with the crazy woman for most of the day kept Cheng Sangluo in a tense state. After a brief moment of relaxation, the headache caused by the high fever became even more intense.
She held her forehead and kept chugging tea, only realizing later that she hadn't eaten anything all day. The hunger pangs came on strong, causing her stomach to convulse.
Lin Jin could tell the puppy was hungry, so she deliberately picked up the delicate crystal crab roe bun, put it in a spoon and took a small bite, and the crystal clear soup instantly leaked out.
Cheng Sangluo only glanced at it, but she could imagine how fresh and sweet it would be, and she couldn't help but swallow.
In the quiet dining environment, a rumbling stomach suddenly broke out, even drowning out the clattering of cutlery.
Cheng Sangluo had no time to defuse the awkward situation, so she could only quickly cover her stomach and turn her head away from the food on the table.
She bit her lower lip, secretly cursing her stomach for acting up at such an inopportune time.
Hearing those cute, strange noises, Lin Jin picked up a crab roe bun and waved it at the puppy: "Want some?"
Cheng Sangluo remained stubborn as always, vehemently denying it: "I don't want to."
She silently vowed not to eat food offered with contempt, especially not from a madwoman; it was poisonous, extremely poisonous.
Lin Jin didn't have a big appetite, and barely touched any of the dishes on the table before picking up a napkin to wipe her mouth. "Since you don't want to eat and won't say anything nice, what's the point of you staying here?"
Cheng Sangluo also felt that staying like this would not only bother others, but also make her purpose unclear.
Feeling wronged and driven away after being told that by the crazy woman, he had no choice but to get up and prepare to leave.
Three days is plenty of time. She didn't think about raising money, but it was enough for her to investigate Cheng Xing. If all else fails, she can go to Seventeen Port to retrieve the body in three days.
Seeing that she was about to leave, Lin Jin regretted using reverse psychology and simply called out, "Stop, watch my bag for me, I'll go pay the bill."
Cheng Sangluo looked at the barely touched dishes in disbelief and then let out a scream: "You're full?!"
"Um."
"This food looks untouched," Cheng Sangluo criticized, unable to tolerate food waste. "Do you know that many people in this world starve to death every day?"
Lin Jin shrugged indifferently, his inherent cold-bloodedness condensed into a vicious retort: "What does it have to do with me? It's not like I killed them."
With that, she picked up her phone and went outside.
Cheng Sangluo was speechless with grief, utterly disgusted by this minority group who enjoyed resources without caring for the common people. In her heart, she gave Lin Jin her verdict: He wasted food in this life, died as a starving ghost, and was a beggar in the next.
She craned her neck to look around for a while, and only when the madwoman was gone did she sneakily walk to the table.
Looking at the exquisitely presented dishes, she murmured to herself and kept swallowing; she was truly hungry.
She muttered to herself, "It's not shameful, it's shameful to waste, right?"
After hesitating for only a moment, I quickly grabbed a crab meat bun and stuffed it into my mouth. One wasn't enough, so I stuffed another in until my face looked like a hamster's.
She puffed out her cheeks and chewed vigorously, muttering under her breath, "I curse you to be a beggar in your next life... and the life after that... and the life after that... so you'll never get to eat such a delicious bun again..."
After finishing a basket of crab roe buns, she angrily picked up a piece of pork rib with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. When she tasted the bright and delicious flavor, her eyes lit up!
Cheng Sangluo didn't even realize that she was using the madwoman's chopsticks to finish the meal.
Lin Jin pretended to have walked a short distance before turning back to the door, leaning against a spot where the puppy wouldn't notice and silently watching.
For a distinguished guest like her, the bills at regular restaurants and clubs are directly deducted from her account, so there's no question of her paying a bill.
At this moment, the more frantically Cheng Sangluo ate, the more broken she appeared in Lin Jin's eyes.
Her eyes were dim, and there was no trace of mockery on her face. An indescribable sadness stretched from her heart all the way to her throat, making her feel tight and bitter.
At first, she just wanted to satisfy her own perverse pleasure, to catch the puppy in the act of embarrassment and humiliate it.
But when she actually saw the scene in the private room, she panicked and even felt afraid that her appearance would disturb the dog's eating.
Seeing Cheng Sangluo choking on her food and patting her chest, she sniffed her reddened nose and murmured helplessly, "Silly, eat slowly."
Only after the puppy had finished eating and burped, rubbing its belly, did Lin Jin casually walk to the door.
Cheng Sangluo mistakenly thought she had been discovered, and hurriedly turned her back, wiping her mouth with her hand. She cursed inwardly, "I hope I've been found out. I don't have any money to split the bill!"
Lin Jin laughed at the puppy's clumsy acting, then tried his best to suppress that doting smile, and seriously proposed: "Didn't you want to know who kidnapped your brother? I'll tell you who did it, why they owe so much money, and a solution. In exchange for the information, you have to spend a day with me and listen to me. Deal?"
[Author's Note]
1. Good news, an extra chapter today. Bad news, there will be a two-day break from Monday to Wednesday. Before entering the VIP section, updates will need to be updated according to the word count rankings.
2. I went to the hospital for a checkup today and was diagnosed with conjunctivitis. My eyes feel so uncomfortable! [crying emoji]
3. Upcoming novels: "The Detective's Lover" [criminal investigation] and "Becoming the Scandalous Lover of a Hong Kong Film Queen" - please add to your collection.
4. Leave a comment in this chapter to receive a red envelope (cash gift).
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