Truly facing your true self

Lin Yuan suddenly realized, "It seems we didn't come here to chat."

"Exactly," Zhang Yan picked up the tea on the table and took a sip, "They told us to wait for him in the hotel restaurant. It's been almost two hours and he hasn't shown up. Did he send you a message?"

Lin Yuan checked his phone, "I was arranged through the Purple Gold branch office. They just told me to wait here and said they'd given my number. I'll call the person in charge at Purple Gold to ask."

Soon, Lin Yuan finished his call.

"Purple Gold said they'd help me follow up again, but they wouldn't give me Manager Wang's number, saying it didn't comply with company regulations."

"So, are we still waiting?"

"I suddenly feel like not waiting anymore. A gentleman's revenge is not too late in ten years. Why should I bother myself over the conflict with Good Group? If Lanbiao Factory isn't cooperative, I'll find other opportunities later."

"So?"

"Since we're already here," Lin Yuan glanced at the scenery outside the window, "It's just past noon, so let's go have lunch now, and then go have some fun."

Zhang Yan's eyes immediately lit up, "Where to eat, where to play?"

"I don't know, I haven't really explored Shanghai properly."

"Then what do you like? Do you want to see modern sights, or something with more of Old Shanghai's characteristics?"

"Of course, I want to see something with character."

"Let's go, we'll eat first."

The two quickly cast aside the purpose of their trip to Shanghai.

This might be what Zhang Yan meant by "Lin Yuan's actions are unpredictable."

If it were anyone else, they would surely think: Is it because my demands are too high that the other party is displeased, and thus deliberately delaying the meeting to put me in my place?

But Lin Yuan was different; he had the typical brashness of a young person his age—if you keep delaying and won't give me the number, then I'm not going to bother with you anymore.

"Senior Brother, do you dare to turn off your phone?"

"What's there to be afraid of?"

Lin Yuan quickly sent a message to Xia Ye, informing her that he was busy and would be turning off his phone for a while, then he actually turned it off.

"Alright, you're paying for today's expenses."

"I'm perfectly willing." Zhang Yan had a gloating expression, "Just don't blame me if your cooperation with Lanbiao Factory falls through."

"I made the decision myself, so of course I won't blame you. I'm not going to spoil them. I'm hungry, hurry up, what are we having for lunch?"

"How about Michelin? I'll take you to show off."

Lin Yuan looked at his attire. Today, he and Zhang Yan had specially come to meet an important business partner, so they were dressed in formal wear. Lin Yuan was uncharacteristically wearing a suit under his wool coat, while Zhang Yan had a light-colored skirt suit under her down jacket.

Lin Yuan exclaimed in surprise, "Our outfits are actually perfect for showing off at a Michelin restaurant. So, it turns out we came to Shanghai just to have fun today!"

"I've wanted you to take me out to play for a long time. There's no time like the present. Let's go!"

—

Inside the Michelin restaurant.

"We're a bit rushed today, so I just brought you to a one-star place. Next time you treat me, you have to take me to a three-star one," Zhang Yan teased, resting her chin on her hand.

"I'm just afraid I won't want to be fleeced a second time after this meal."

"Haha~~" Zhang Yan pursed her lips and giggled, "Actually, I hardly ever come to places like this. To be honest," she leaned closer to Lin Yuan's ear and whispered, "Look at how those waiters are showing off. The food here actually doesn't taste as good as what Xia Ye and Xiao Xiao make. I can eat what they make every day and not get tired of it."

"Haha~~" Lin Yuan also couldn't help but laugh, "So, people who eat here are just engaging in human baffling behavior?"

"Consuming emotional value, you know."

"Hmm~~, emotional value is indeed the pinnacle of human baffling behavior. But this money is easy to earn, it shows me a legitimate way to rob the rich."

"Senior Brother, do you want to change careers? You work so hard writing code, is your profit margin as high as a vegetable salad here?"

Zhang Yan was naturally joking. In fact, the most important aspect of the internet industry is not profit margin, but scale effect. But Lin Yuan was certainly not so foolish as to discuss that with her at this moment.

"I've thought of a more profitable method. I might as well make digital luxury goods."

"What is that?"

"Luxury goods, what they emphasize is status, emotional value. But I don't understand art like painting or sculpture, I only understand IT. So why can't digital products be art? I can use blockchain to make digital luxury goods."

Zhang Yan exclaimed, "I don't quite understand, but it sounds impressive. As expected of my good Senior Brother."

The two kept whispering to each other in the restaurant. To an ordinary person, they looked like a couple deeply in love. But in reality, they were critically observing everything here—the people, the objects, and all the details that transpired.

There's nothing much to elaborate on about the meal.

To summarize in Lin Yuan's words—other than not being filling and being too expensive, everything else was fine.

Lin Yuan, not feeling full, pulled Zhang Yan out, as he quickly lost interest in further exploration after looking at the menu.

"What's wrong with doing something else with that money? I remember the son of a colleague who was a cycling buddy. He was a truly despicable little brat, but if more investment were put into that kind of child's education, perhaps it could truly dilute some of the darkness in his heart.

I used to think that kid was a little wolf cub, but now I actually feel that a child like him might still be salvageable, because he became that way due to a dual lack of material and spiritual well-being. So, if he becomes more materially and spiritually affluent, perhaps there could still be some change.

But some people turn bad even when they are materially and spiritually affluent, and I think they are beyond saving."

"Senior Brother, you can grumble so much just from eating a meal."

"I must always look at this world with a critical eye, and also look at myself that way."

Zhang Yan then took Lin Yuan's hand and even grabbed it and kissed it, "You first criticize yourself, let me see."

"Cough cough~~, I,,, I was coerced by you."

"Damn it!" Zhang Yan rarely swore, "I brought my ID, don't force me to really coerce you. When we get to the hotel and close the door, let's see if you'll still say that."

"Alright," Lin Yuan finally stopped pretending, "You and Xia Ye are both very good girls. It's my good fortune to have met you."

Zhang Yan smiled mischievously upon hearing this, "How do you plan to handle Song Xiaoxiao?"

"Huh?" Lin Yuan looked at the smiling Zhang Yan, instinctively sensing danger, "I actually wanted her to move out a long time ago. But you know Xia Ye's situation; she's just a half-grown kid, and I really wouldn't feel at ease without Song Xiaoxiao with her.

But since Song Xiaoxiao has to be with her, I can't just kick her out, can I? It wouldn't look good.

Don't worry about this. I absolutely have no intentions towards Song Xiaoxiao. I will remain pure for you and Xia Ye."

"You're taking advantage and still trying to act innocent?" Zhang Yan wasn't annoyed, "From Song Xiaoxiao's perspective, you helped her repay a million. And she's a very practical person, as long as you ask, she won't disagree. Heh~~, I even think she'd be willing to help you keep it from Xia Ye."

"Really? Xia Ye is her good sister."

"Senior Brother, trust me. This is a woman's intuition."

Lin Yuan thought for a moment, "I still don't want to understand these things."

"Senior Brother, I think you must be feeling very pleased with yourself right now. Originally, you had the desire but not the courage, and you were constrained by your simple moral values. Now that you've been forced into submission by me, you must be secretly thrilled."

"I,,, I wanted to be sad about it. Look, I was originally Xia Ye's pure, one-and-only for life, and that was pretty good. But with you suddenly stepping in, I feel like I should be sad. But I tried really hard, and I just can't feel sad."

"Shameless!" Zhang Yan calmly gave a short and precise evaluation.

"However," Lin Yuan immediately emphasized, "I think I'm being very bad like this, and I think I'm being very hypocritical. So, I absolutely cannot have any improper thoughts about Song Xiaoxiao again; that is my bottom line. If I go against what I said today, may I be struck by lightning.

Actually, I'm really panicking right now. How am I going to face Xia Ye? I made so many promises to her, and I broke them."

"What promises?"

"I would marry her and be good to her for a lifetime."

"You didn't break them. You'll still marry her and still be good to her for a lifetime. You're just being good to me for a lifetime extra."

"No, a broken promise is a broken promise. Junior Sister, although this matter between you and me seems to be forced by you on the surface, I actually didn't resist fiercely enough. If I'm honest with myself, I still like you. If it were someone else forcing me, I would definitely resist to the end. I went along with this half-heartedly, but I can't have my cake and eat it too."

"You're finally saying something sensible."

Lin Yuan continued, "Then will I encounter another person I quite like who also tries to force me in the future? For example, if a Zhang Yan 2.0 appears, I definitely can't give in again. So, I've decided, this matter wasn't you forcing me, but rather me making a mistake, me pursuing you.

Junior Sister, it wasn't you forcing me, it was me who seduced you. I'm the scoundrel."

Zhang Yan was stunned, "Senior Brother, as expected of my Senior Brother. Daring to face your true self."

"Junior Sister, I'm very afraid of this change in myself. I'm afraid that one day I'll truly become an adult. So, I want to stop here, and I ask you to bear witness. If I ever flirt again, find someone to put me in a sack and bury me."

"Uh, uhh, it's a society governed by law, you can't just put people in sacks randomly, but don't worry, I have more exciting ways to play than putting someone in a sack."

The two chatted and wandered for a long time until it was time to return. Lin Yuan opened his phone.

Sure enough, there was a stack of missed calls.