Chà Chà Novel

“How do you know about Lin Yanyan? Did you really send someone to watch me?!”

Qin Fan regretted his momentary impulsiveness. He had accidentally exposed himself.

Lin Huaiqing might not look particularly clever, but he caught on quickly enough.

“Whatever the case, what would it hurt to let my brother have the bracelet? Don’t tell me you couldn’t see it was worth three million at most. Your family may be wealthy, but that doesn’t justify throwing money away.”

“Who are you to tell me what to do?! I wanted that bracelet. Why should I care whether it holds its value?”

Qin Fan lowered his eyes, studying the complicated expressions on Lin Huaiqing’s face.

He seemed to discern something.

“You didn’t want the bracelet. You wanted to oppose my brother! Why? You did this at school too. Haven’t you had enough?”

For a moment, Lin Huaiqing felt guilty at having his motives exposed, but he quickly hid it.

Raising his fine brows, he tilted his head and retorted, “So what if I did?”

Qin Fan’s expression turned cold, as though another possibility had occurred to him.

“You’ve always been like this. Whatever my brother does, you have to interfere…”

Lin Huaiqing assumed he was defending his brother. Instead, Qin Fan’s next words were, “Don’t tell me you like him?”

Lin Huaiqing: “!!!”

“Are you insane? Me, like your brother? I’d love nothing more than to trample him underfoot! Even at school, he acted so unapproachable. Who was he trying to impress?”

Perhaps he imagined it, but Qin Fan seemed inexplicably relieved.

“Good. Still, take my advice. Stay away from Qin Feng, and stay away from Lu Yuting too.”

“Are you going to tell me to stay away from you next? What is it? You dumped Lu Yuting back then. Do you want to get back together now?”

Qin Fan wanted to explain, but the auction had ended and more people were coming backstage. He let it drop.

“She’s nowhere near as simple as you think.”

Leaving him with that, Qin Fan went to find his brother.

Lin Huaiqing turned the words over in his head, still unsure whether Qin Fan had meant Lu Yuting or Qin Feng.

In any case, Qin Feng certainly wasn’t simple.

Although he had failed the bracelet mission, at least Qin Feng would surely hold a grudge.

After all, his interference had more than doubled the price of a bracelet worth three million. The additional four million might mean little to the Qin family, but given the protagonist’s habit of repaying every kindness and every offense, he would certainly add this to his ledger.

Returning to the main hall, Lin Huaiqing discovered that Xue Cheng’an now held a rather attractive gemstone necklace.

“Cousin! You’re back! Look, do you think Grandmother would like this?”

Its final price was four point seven million, neatly within their budget. They had at least completed Uncle Wang’s first assignment.

“The necklace is only average quality. It isn’t quite suitable for Grandmother’s status.”

Then Lin Huaiqing realized he sounded a little too discerning. Afraid Xue Cheng’an might notice something, he hurriedly added, “It would be just right for your mother.”

Xue Cheng’an: “…”

Seeing his cousin’s speechless expression and obvious effort not to roll his eyes, Lin Huaiqing returned to the company feeling thoroughly satisfied.

At the office, he found Uncle Wang’s desk piled with documents awaiting attention.

The two cousins sat side by side on the sofa, waiting for instructions. A folder on the desk caught Lin Huaiqing’s eye.

Its title read: “Development Plan for the Lovers’ Island Tourist Resort Project.”

If he remembered correctly, this project was crucial to advancing the plot.

It was also where competition between the Lin and Qin families began to intensify.

“Uncle Wang, the Qin Group is bidding on this project too. Does that mean we’ll be competing with them directly?”

Before Lin Huaiqing could speak, Xue Cheng’an voiced his opinion.

He understood the desire to impress one’s elders. Besides, his cousin had asked exactly what he wanted to know.

“That’s right, Young Master Cheng’an. Chairman Lin considers the Lovers’ Island project very important. It’s one of the most promising projects the company has pursued in recent years. The Qin Group has had its eye on it for a long time. Securing it won’t be easy.”

Xue Cheng’an sat thoughtfully beside him.

“Oh! Cousin, wasn’t the man sitting next to you earlier the Qin family’s second son? You seemed rather close. Why don’t you ask whether he could get the Qin Group to withdraw its bid?”

“Huaiqing, are you close to Qin Fan?”

Lin Huaiqing explained wearily, “We’re only former schoolmates. He’s just as annoying as his brother. Who says we’re close?”

“I saw you go backstage to talk with him. I thought you had quite a special relationship.”

The little bastard was clearly trying to expose him completely in front of Uncle Wang!

“Enough. Huaiqing, keep your distance from the Qin family. Especially before the bidding, it’s best not to have any contact.”

Before a commercial tender, each company’s bid documents were confidential. One leak could cost them everything.

As the Lin Group’s future heir, Lin Huaiqing would naturally never deliberately harm it. But the boy was not particularly quick-witted. If someone exploited him, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t reveal confidential information.

After a tiring day, Lin Huaiqing returned home utterly drained.

The drudgery of going to work really did not suit the original owner’s pampered body. Lying on his bed, he wanted neither to move nor to sleep. He could only scroll aimlessly through his phone.

Then a message from his friend Yu Wenle appeared at the top of the screen.

“Young Master Lin! Come out and have some fun! A new bar opened near the university district. Apparently even the servers are female university students. Coming?”

Lin Huaiqing was too tired to lift a finger. Naturally, he did not want to go.

【Ding! Side mission triggered: “Drunkenly Harass the Heroine.” Completion rewards: Hatred +10, Health -5.】

Wait. What the hell kind of mission was that?

Lin Huaiqing sprang up and slapped the table in anger.

Ten hatred points were one thing, but why was he losing health too?!

Would the protagonist catch him harassing the heroine and beat him up?

【Congratulations, host! You guessed correctly! Apparently an IQ of 69 does nothing to diminish your natural brilliance!】

He could do without that sort of flattery.

What concerned him was whether his frail body would be able to get up after one punch from the protagonist.

“Wait for me. I’ll be right there.”

After sending the message, Lin Huaiqing had his driver take him to the address Yu Wenle provided.

The bar was near the capital’s university district. Apparently, its owner belonged to their social circle.

Naturally, university students were plentiful in the area. The owner had capitalized on that, attracting many customers who came after hearing about it.

“Huaiqing, you’re finally here! Sit down!”

He had arrived early. The bar had only just opened, yet a queue had already formed outside. Fortunately, they knew the owner, so their seats had been reserved well in advance.