Chapter 165: Chapter 164: I Think I’ve Been Poisoned by a Snake

Zhao Rong felt cornered.

A flurry of thoughts raced through her mind as she tried to put herself in Lin Chu’s shoes and figure out why he was so insistent on pulling her into this project with him.

After all, what others said wasn’t important; what mattered was *why* he was saying it.

After thinking it over, she came up with a few possibilities.

First, he wants to sleep with me—with both of us.

Second, he’s new to Yang City and needs connections. A business partnership would bind our interests more tightly.

Third, he’s setting a trap for me.

After a moment’s thought, she quickly ruled out the third possibility.

It was the most unlikely.

A young master who’d spent a hundred million in a single day, setting up such an elaborate scheme just to scam me out of six million?

What would he even get out of it?

Six million wasn’t a huge amount. She might have been pleading poverty earlier, but that kind of money wouldn’t break her. Investing it for a stake in the project wasn’t a problem.

Besides, she was pretty good friends with Hou Chengjin. He would never set her up, and he was competent.

Also, Yiyi and Lin Chu were already getting lovey-dovey, flirting discreetly at the dinner table. Lin Chu was clearly doting on Yiyi; he was completely infatuated, at least for now. If she coached Yiyi a little, she’d make for an excellent ’inside woman’ later on.

As for the first possibility...

’Who cares?’

’If it really brings in enough profit, then I’ll let him do whatever he wants.’

After weighing everything, Zhao Rong made up her mind and agreed with a smile. "Alright, alright, Xiaocheng. I’m entrusting my life and fortune to you. Let’s set a small goal first, shall we? A tenfold return on investment, how about it?"

She continued to play poor while joking around.

Hou Chengjin was speechless.

"Don’t... spare me. I’ll take the money, but a tenfold return is really not something I can do. For a project like that, you’ll have to ask Brother Chu. I’m also waiting for him to lead me on a big project with a tenfold return."

He used the opportunity to probe Lin Chu’s intentions.

Lin Chu almost burst out laughing. ’Fuck, this is getting interesting.’ A strange, intertwined feeling washed over him. "Call me Daddy, and I’ll carry you."

Hou Chengjin was left speechless. He waved his hand with a smile, feeling the joke had gone a bit too far.

But Lin Chu was at his most imperious right now, so he didn’t say much more, just sighed. "Aren’t you already? My sugar daddy."

Zhao Rong’s eyes glittered. She thought he was being arrogant—nothing was even set in stone yet. She teased with a smile, "President Lin is the real bad boy, always teasing people. You can’t just call him that anywhere. And this isn’t the right place for it, either."

Those who understood the innuendo laughed out loud.

Fang Yichun’s face was beet red. She only half-understood, but seeing Lin Chu’s empty glass, she obediently refilled it for him.

"Alright, that’s about enough. Let’s have one last toast. Thanks for your hospitality, Sister Rong. It’s a dazzling world out there—all that matters is being happy."

Lin Chu recited his personal motto, standing up and raising his glass with a smile.

The group clinked their glasses together.

"Want to go have some fun? It’s not even ten yet. Let’s hit a bar."

As the host, Zhao Rong had to do her part. What kind of hosting was just dinner? Not having a second act was just improper.

Lin Chu smiled. "I don’t have a problem with it. Let’s ask the little lady what she thinks."

He turned to look at Fang Yichun.

With everyone’s eyes on her, she’d never had to make such a big decision, nor had she ever been given so much attention. Her face grew warm, and a sense of vanity washed over her. She couldn’t help but glance at Lin Chu, her mind racing. ’Since Sister Rong was the one who brought it up, then... then we should probably go, right?’

’Lin Chu didn’t seem to be against it, either.’

"O-Okay. I’m fine with anything. So, we’re going?"

She said cautiously, trying to read the room.

No one objected; they all smiled and nodded in agreement.

...

"What were you thinking? Going clubbing in your school uniform? Aren’t you afraid the cops will arrest you?"

Once they were in the back seat of the car, Lin Chu lectured her in a slightly harsh tone.

Huh?

Fang Yichun froze.

’D-Did I get it wrong?’

’Doesn’t he want to go?’

Lin Chu said irritably, "You’re so naive. Sooner or later, your Sister Rong is going to sell you out completely, and you’ll be the one helping her count the money."

She was speechless...

She pouted, feeling wronged.

’That hit where it hurts.’

’I’ve already been sold, and I even paid a thousand yuan for it!’

’Just thinking about it makes me want to cry!’

"Driver, find a mall where we can buy some clothes and head there first."

Lin Chu instructed the driver. Taking a girl in a school uniform to a bar was just too improper. It wasn’t even thrilling, just crazy.

The driver nodded, quickly found a location, and headed straight there.

Fang Yichun realized he was going to buy her clothes.

’A small spark of happiness lit up inside her.’

’It’s like I’m about to get my money back!’

"What kind of clothes does your Sister Rong usually buy for you?" Lin Chu asked casually.

She replied, "Uniqlo, Zara, and stuff from Taobao."

"Hmph..."

Lin Chu only let out a single syllable and didn’t say anything more.

She pouted. "Where’d you get that floral shirt of yours?"

Lin Chu laughed. "It’s an island shirt. Fifty Philippine Pesos, which is about a dollar. Bought it on Bohe Island."

She was speechless...

Speechless, she couldn’t help but snort with laughter. "That’s even cheaper than my clothes."

"That depends on who’s wearing it. On me, it’s a priceless treasure."

"Ew..."

She retorted with disgust.

Lin Chu couldn’t help but ruffle her hair. Perhaps it was the dim light in the car that made her features look more defined, more dazzlingly beautiful.

Her pure, cute, and overwhelmingly girlish aura was like a potent poison tailored for men, making one’s heart stir restlessly. A beast roared within, tearing at its cage, desperate to break free from his soul.

"I think I’ve been bitten by a snake..."

Lin Chu looked down, muttering thoughtfully to himself.

Huh?

Fang Yichun was startled by his words. Following his gaze, she saw the massive bulge that even his loose shorts couldn’t conceal. For a moment, she was completely stunned.

’What?’

’What the heck!’

Her first instinct was to cover her eyes, but she was petrified, staring blankly.

Lin Chu casually covered himself and adjusted his position with a sigh.

He shifted a little farther away from her, rolled down the window to let the cool night breeze in, and lit a cigarette. He exhaled a long plume of smoke, and the agitation in his heart subsided a bit. The beast was caged once more.

"Little lady, my ex-girlfriends, and all the women who like me, are all going to be jealous of you."

Lin Chu said in a slow, deliberate tone.

The words came from the bottom of his heart; it was what he truly felt.

She could vaguely sense his emotions at that moment—a kind of tender affection for her, desire, and restraint.

She was dazed for a second, but when she came to, a sweet feeling instinctively and quietly blossomed in her heart.

’Those words... so much like an overbearing CEO.’

’And I’m the overbearing CEO’s most beloved little princess!’

"So what should we do about it?"

"I guess you can blame me for being too beautiful."

She said in a very Mary Sue-like way, feeling a strange mix of embarrassment and sweetness, but also a hint of hidden pride.

Lin Chu glanced at her, keenly aware that she was starting to get carried away. It seemed to be a woman’s instinct to act spoiled when doted upon—an instinct that had nothing to do with age, experience, or character.

For some reason, Lin Chu instantly cooled down inside.

’If I really let myself be completely smitten by a little girl, that would be the biggest joke of all.’

’Unless it’s my own daughter.’

And just like that, all the softness receded like the tide, and the hard, black reef reemerged. The smile still played at the corners of Lin Chu’s eyes. "Yeah, you can say that again. So beautiful. Come over here and give your daddy a kiss."

...

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