Chapter 65 Standoff
◎Standing Off◎
Lin Yujing didn't sleep well that night. Her mind was filled with all sorts of trivial matters, which then replayed in her dreams, like a recurring slideshow before her death, keeping her awake all night.
It wasn't until the deep ringing of her phone alarm and the sound of a man's breath close to her ear that Meng, who had been dragging her away, finally let her go.
Just as she tried to open her eyes, a warm, soft kiss landed on the corner of her eye.
Lin Yujing turned over, then hugged Chen Jingshu's waist and pulled him back into the bed.
The two joked around for almost an hour before Chen Jingshu finally ruffled her hair, pulled away, threw the condom into the trash can, and then used a wet wipe to clean her inner thighs, asking, "Are you still drawing at home today?"
She had done some "exercise" in bed early in the morning, and her temples were soaked with sweat. Exhausted, she shook her head, holding Chen Jingshu's hand, "No, today I'm planning to visit museums, old streets and alleys, and stuff like that."
“What’s so great about those places? I’ll take you fishing at the reservoir in the suburbs this weekend.” Chen Jingshu patted her smooth, round buttocks, which were still exposed to the air. “We can have a little picnic and maybe even some sex in the wild. That would be quite fun.”
Lin Yujing felt ticklish from his tickling and laughed as she pushed his hand away, saying, "You're being indecent."
"I'm only unserious with you, but aloof with strangers." Chen Jingshu shifted his legs and finally got out of bed to start washing up.
Lin Yujing put on the bathrobe he had taken off and leaned against the bathroom door to look at him.
She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and then haphazardly squeezed out some of her skincare products to apply to her face.
Lin Yujing felt a strange metallic taste of blood rise in her throat, and an indescribable sourness welled up in her heart.
Why? It's clearly a heartwarming and happy scene, yet she feels a faint sense of sadness...
"I'm going to work now. Be careful when you go out." Chen Jingshu took her ironed suit jacket off the hanger, then reached into her inner pocket in front of her and took out a dark brown bank card, stuffing it into her palm. "Don't be stingy. Buy whatever you like."
Lin Yujing pursed her lips and saw him to the elevator. "Fine, I'll buy you out of house and home."
While waiting for the elevator to go up, Chen Jingshu didn't forget to put his arm around her waist and finally gave her a kiss. "Such a big mouth. I look forward to that day."
"The elevator's here, let's go!"
The silver gate slowly closed.
Chen Jingshu waved at her while grinning foolishly.
The LED display finally showed the elevator going down.
Lin Yu took a breath, her back sliding down the cold wall tiles, and sat alone at the elevator entrance for a very long time...
It's like holding a kick-off meeting for the final battle.
-
Lin Yujing didn't ask Chen Jingshu to arrange a private car driver for her; instead, she hailed a taxi at random.
Wangjinglou Teahouse is located in an alley next to the Summer Palace. She gave her reservation name, and a waitress in a cheongsam led her to a private room.
The Chinese-style private room was filled with the aroma of incense.
The panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows overlook Kunming Lake, where a gentle morning breeze ripples across the surface, creating a shimmering, sparkling effect.
"Director Chen, Miss Lin has arrived."
Hearing footsteps outside the door, Lin Yujing's leisurely enjoyment of flowers and lake views was interrupted.
She stood up and saw the door to the private room being pushed open.
Approaching 60, this man, who has long served in officialdom, is very well-maintained. Every move he makes exudes elegance and composure, befitting an ordinary high-ranking official.
Just like years ago, her first impression was that of a kind and approachable elder, but when he raised his hand to gesture for her to sit down, he did so with a scrutinizing and oppressive air.
Lin Yujing sat in the second seat, and before she could even exchange pleasantries, Chen Rongqing shushed her.
He first dismissed the professional tea master from the teahouse, then personally washed his hands and brewed the tea, and finally personally poured her the first cup of tea.
"This is freshly harvested Biluochun tea this year. Try it and see if it suits your taste." The speaker was very considerate, even their voice was gentle.
In a daze, Lin Yujing seemed to return to her teenage years, to the scene when she first met Chen Rongqing.
He peeled the hamburger wrapper open for her in the same way, and then pushed a whole glass of ice-cold Coke in front of her.
At that time, she actually naively thought that he was just a middle-aged father who had gained and lost his son and had nowhere else to turn.
Lin Yujing blinked lightly, picked up the cup and took a sip. Her mouth was filled with the pure aroma of tea, and the aftertaste was fragrant without being astringent.
But she remained gentle and humble, saying, "I'm sorry, Mr. Chen, I don't know anything about tea tasting, so I can only say these two sentences."
Chen Rongqing simply smiled, as if chatting casually with a younger generation, "Tea tasting! It's one of the eight refined pursuits passed down through generations. In ancient times, daughters of noble families and royalty were almost always trained in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, flowers, and tea from a young age by master chefs. Even today, daughters of prominent families in Beijing are still learning these arts..."
Lin Yujing smiled faintly, not interrupting Chen Rongqing.
She washed her hands at the same time, and while listening, she peeled the pecans on the plate.
“However, Miss Lin is also a talented woman.” Chen Rongqing smiled as he looked at her, but there was a hint of scrutiny in his eyes. “Beautiful, intelligent, and knows how to behave. It’s just a pity that you weren’t born into a family like ours. Otherwise, I would definitely choose you as the daughter-in-law of the Chen family.”
Lin Yujing smiled gently and replied calmly, "Then thank you for your approval. But now we live in a modern civilized city, where are we still bound by parental orders and matchmakers? If I were born into a wealthy and powerful family like yours, and my elders had chosen me as their best daughter-in-law, I think Shu would find it boring."
Chen Rongqing laughed, "You're a really funny girl, just like when you were little. How old are you this year?"
"I thought you were too forgetful and had long forgotten me." Lin Yujing's voice remained calm, with a sense of caution that came from careful consideration. "I first met you when I was 17, and you'll be 26 after your birthday this year."
"I learned of Chen Jingshu's existence when I was 26. I had just joined the company and was doing the most basic work. Every day, I wore a hard hat and ran to hundreds of construction sites of all sizes throughout the city. I knew the price fluctuations of every screw in the market, but I didn't know about the changes in my son's height and weight..."
As she spoke, Chen Rongqing's eyes reddened.
Lin Yujing raised an eyebrow, pulled out a tissue and handed it to him, "Mr. Chen, please wipe yourself."
Wipe away your hypocritical crocodile tears.
“Young lady, I’ve come to see you today, and I won’t beat around the bush. This old scoundrel just wants to beg you to leave my son.”
Lin Yujing's smile froze, even the smile in her eyes remained frozen in the air.
The inside of my mouth felt like it was filled with a strong, metallic taste of blood.
She stiffened her neck and stubbornly said, "What if I say no?"
“A-Shu is important to you, and he is equally important to me. I grew up in an unhappy family; my parents didn't love me, and my relatives and friends didn't care about me. A-Shu is the only person in this world who has always chosen me. You want me to leave him? Isn't that like taking my life?”
Chen Rongqing frowned slightly, still speaking in the earnest tone of an elder, and said to her, "Young people all think that love is the most important thing in this life, but I, a person with one foot in the grave, want to expose the truth to you: in this world, love is the least valuable thing."
Lin Yujing held the teacup, the last trace of a smile gone from her eyes. "Have you ever loved anyone? Have you ever been loved steadfastly? Regardless of your current achievements, was there someone who never abandoned you, who told you that you were the most precious person in the world to them?"
Chen Rongqing was stunned for a moment, then remained silent for a long time.
"Judging from your expression, you have never loved or been loved."
Chen Rongqing narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable. "You young people take love, hate, anger, and infatuation too seriously. If you were given the choice between love and your academic future, and had to choose one and give up the other, would you still think love is the most precious thing?"
"But what conflict is there between these two? Starting a family and building a career are inherently one."
Chen Rongqing nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Miss Lin probably hasn't received the confirmation from the doctoral candidate at OSU yet, has she?"
"What do you mean?" Lin Yujing frowned, then looked at Chen Rongqing with wariness.
"I heard your thesis got stuck." Chen Rongqing held up his teacup and slowly brought it to his nose to sniff.
"I have no idea."
"But I know, I also know, if I don't receive a confirmation message today, I will never receive one again."
Lin Yujing's eyes finally flashed with anger, and she said sharply, "Mr. Chen, what do you mean by this?"
"I just want Miss Lin to face reality. One cannot be too greedy; one can only choose one: future or love."
Lin Yujing's eyes immediately reddened, and she sneered twice, "So that was the trap I was waiting for!"
Chen Rongqing relaxed her serious mood a little, and her smile widened. "How could it be a trap? After all, you are a student I once sponsored, and you should still remember the dying wish you made for Chen Jingshu's mother. Let him return to the Chen family and take back everything that belongs to him."
“But our Chen family is a century-old clan, and the heir must unconditionally obey the family’s arrangements. If you are with him, he can only be a son or grandson of the Chen family, not the master of Huaren.”
Lin Yujing's fingernails dug into her palm, leaving deep, red marks. "You are his father, you should know that A-Shu has never deigned to be the master of Hua Ren."
“But your Aunt Chen Xuan cares, and you care too.” Chen Rongqing took a sip of tea, paused for a moment, and then said, “When you love someone, don’t you want them to be happy?”
Chen Rongqing took out a brown envelope and handed it to her, "Do you really think that being a carefree prince will bring you happiness?"
“Chen Jingshu’s heart disease wasn’t congenital; it was a complication from a car accident.” Chen Rongqing frowned, his brow furrowed with deep resentment. “It’s all thanks to the eldest son’s wife, his own aunt!”
"The business world is like a battlefield. Do you really think Chen Jinyi is a complete defector?"
Lin Yujing looked at the photos taken by the private investigator.
The white SUV was practically totaled. When Chen Jingshu was rescued, he was covered in blood, looking like a pale, easily folded piece of white paper.
"She must be very supportive of your relationship with Chen Jingshu, right? Because if you two are together, Chen Jingshu will definitely lose his right to be the heir. And once the old man and I, this old fool, close our eyes, a new emperor will bring a new court, and Huaren will have no place for Chen Jingshu at all."
Lin Yujing forced a smile, her laughter more sorrowful than her sobs. "It's truly kind of you to prepare so thoroughly. It's impossible for me to say no..."
“The old man spoils him now, so he has the right to play around and cause trouble. But Chen Jinyi has his maternal grandparents’ family behind him, and he also has a group of experienced elders at Huaren.”
“You know Chen Jingshu’s character; how could he possibly live a life dependent on others? When things change drastically, he’ll be completely out of control.”
Lin Yujing bit her lip, her head suddenly spinning, unsure of who the truly good person was.
"You're a high-ranking official, so you must have more power than Sister Jinyi and the others, right?"
"If I go into politics and not business, things will be a completely different story after I retire next year."
The officialdom and the arena of fame and fortune are the same.
Lin Yujing understood the principle that "a new emperor brings a new court."
“Mr. Chen, you are truly a qualified negotiation expert. Sharp, quick-witted, incisive, and to the point.” Lin Yujing put down the photo she had been clutching. “Through coercion, enticement, and playing the victim, I had almost no other choice.”
Chen Rongqing maintained her calm tone, "But this is already the best ending for you two. You've almost achieved everything except love. Career, studies, wealth—at your age, it's safe to say that no one your peers can surpass your achievements."
Lin Yujing gave a bitter smile. "I agree. But I'm not the teenage Lin Yujing anymore. I need you to pay me a breakup fee."
Chen Rongqing shrugged, let out a long sigh, and took out a check from his pocket. "Fill it in however you like."
Lin Yujing didn't answer, but stared straight into his eyes and said coldly, "I want 2% of Huaren's shares."
"What did you say?" Chen Rongqing took off his glasses, and his narrowed eyes finally revealed a fierce look.
"Shares, or I could simply give up studying abroad and stay by Chen Jingshu's side, taking a gamble with him. Sister Jinyi is kind-hearted by nature and would never do what you said, driving us to the brink of ruin."
This time, Chen Rongqing couldn't sit still any longer. "You really are asking for the moon."
"It's just a small share; you have a choice." Lin Yujing stuffed the photo back into the manila envelope and pushed it back to Chen Rongqing.
Chen Rongqing stood up and paced back and forth in the private room for a long time before finally saying, "Okay, but you have to call him and break up with him in front of me, is that alright?"
Lin Yujing laughed out loud, with a hint of helplessness, "Mr. Chen, you must have never been in a relationship."
Breaking up is not something that can be explained in a few words over the phone.
Besides, she and Chen Jingshu have broken up and gotten back together so many times; she's exhausted...
"You can prepare the equity transfer agreement now, I'll make the call."
Less than ten minutes later, Secretary Wang knocked on the door and handed in a document stamped with the official seal.
Lin Yujing took a deep breath and dialed Chen Jingshu's number.
"Finished shopping?"
No. I'm just a little tired.
Chen Jingshu was unaware of her true intentions and simply echoed her words, "Where are you? I'll come pick you up."
"I mean, dating is exhausting, and marrying you is exhausting."
"What's the meaning?"
Chen Jingshu became wary and asked again, "Where are you?"
"Ah Shu, how about we call it a day?"
Chen Jingshu took a breath, his slightly cold tone revealing his barely suppressed anger, "We've only had a few days of good times, what are you causing trouble for now?"
"..." She simply remained silent, looking only at Chen Rongqing, and hung up the phone.
“If we keep talking, we’re bound to start arguing. It seems we can’t break up in front of you.”
Chen Rongqing raised an eyebrow and simply pointed to the contract, "Then I'll go back and wait for Dr. Lin's good news."
Lin Yujing watched him get up, then paused at the door. "Remember the deadline for the equity transaction. You have five hours left."
The door to the private room was closed again; some were satisfied, while others felt as if they had entered an ice cellar.
Lin Yujing didn't shed a tear. Now was not the time to cry, nor did she have the time to cry.
He only called Chen Jingshu back and said, "I'm at the Summer Palace."
"Wait for me at the door, don't wander off." Chen Jingshu said to her almost through gritted teeth, "Otherwise I really won't be able to hold back, I'll break your legs and lock you up next to me."
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