Chapter 211 The First Spring Festival

The next day, Lin Yuan woke up very late due to his exhaustion from the previous night.

When he woke up, his phone was full of missed calls from Zhang Yan.

He immediately called her back.

“Hello, what’s up?”

“What’s up? What time is it? Why aren’t you answering my calls? I’ve only been gone for one day.”

“Last night, I was too tired.”

Zhang Yan immediately sensed something was off, and she quickly video-called Lin Yuan.

“What exactly do you want?”

“Checking up on you.”

Lin Yuan held up his phone and spun it around, “I’m in Xia Ye’s room, haven’t gone anywhere.”

“Wait, turn the camera back.” Zhang Yan seemed to have discovered something. “Oh my god, you beast.”

Lin Yuan looked at Zhang Yan’s shocked expression on the screen. He followed her gaze and looked back, “Alright…” Lin Yuan noticed a few drops of red on the bedsheet where Xia Ye had been lying.

“Senior Brother, you hit the jackpot!” Zhang Yan on the other end had an expression like she was watching a juicy drama unfold.

“Hit what jackpot? What are you trying to say? Of course, Little Xia wouldn’t lie to me.”

Zhang Yan teased, “Pure and unblemished, fresh out of a maid cafe, how rare.”

“Aren’t you bored?”

“I’m congratulating you, alright?”

“You’re actually not making a fuss.”

“What’s there to fuss about? If I made a fuss, would you stop doing it? Besides, I might be naturally frigid, so it’s good for you to find Little Xia more often; it saves me trouble.”

“Shit!” Lin Yuan was once again shocked by Zhang Yan’s worldview. “You really know how to think things through. I was just wondering how to bring this up to you.”

“Please, Senior Brother. We’re soulmates. I have a high-class vibe, alright?”

“Gotta go, I’m hungry.”

“Can’t you wash up and eat while on video? I’m already missing you; it’s really boring at home.”

“Is it that exaggerated? How long have you been home?”

“I just escaped from downstairs. Those people downstairs are currently playing power games under the guise of family affection. And there are all sorts of people trying to set me up with dates, it’s driving me crazy.”

“What kind of people are they introducing you to? Let me take a look.” Lin Yuan got up and went to the bathroom to wash up, placing his phone on the sink.

“I didn’t ask, but every single one of them is more powerful and influential than you.”

“Then hurry up! Instead of being the main wife, you insist on being a mistress with me.”

Zhang Yan’s expression changed instantly upon hearing this. “I’ll take my phone downstairs in a bit. You dare say that again.”

Lin Yuan could only give an awkward laugh.

If Zhang Yan’s family found out about his complicated relationship with her, Lin Yuan would definitely be in deep trouble.

“When I get a bit more capable, I’ll go to your house to propose. It’s just that I can’t get a marriage certificate with you. I wonder what my future father-in-law’s expression will be when he hears about it.”

Zhang Yan looked like she didn’t care about stirring up trouble. “Then I’ll definitely be the biggest news in our family to date.”

Lin Yuan quickly finished brushing his teeth. “I’m going out to eat. No more chatting, okay?”

“Don’t hang up! Is Little Xia there? I still want to ask her how she felt last night.”

“You’re a pervert.”

“How am I a pervert? How can I be more perverted than this world?”

Lin Yuan was startled. “Why does your tone sound like my line?”

“You become like those you associate with.”

Lin Yuan chatted as he reached the living room. Xia Ye was coming out of the kitchen with a bowl. “Freshly made dumplings, eat them while they’re hot. Are you busy with work?”

“Not busy,” Lin Yuan said casually. “Just reporting work to Zhang Yan.”

“Ah?” Xia Ye looked surprised.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yan, not one to shy away from trouble, shouted loudly over the phone, “Little Xia, don’t let my Senior Brother off the hook! Keep giving him a hard time tonight…”

Lin Yuan couldn’t take it anymore. “I’m hanging up. I still have some dignity.” With that, he ended the call.

Zhang Yan quickly sent a string of bomb and dagger emojis, but Lin Yuan chose to ignore them.

Xia Ye said awkwardly, “Zhang Yan knows everything?”

“She accidentally saw the stained bedsheet when I video-called her just now.”

“Okay. Is she not angry?”

“Don’t you know her? She’s a lunatic.”

“She’s really not angry?”

“Don’t worry, she won’t be two-faced with you and me, because there’s absolutely no need.”

For Zhang Yan, there really was no need at all.

“Then what… what exactly does she want?” Xia Ye simply couldn’t understand Zhang Yan’s way of thinking.

“I don’t know either. Anyway, she didn’t come to me because of my looks.” Lin Yuan used his phone as a mirror and checked himself. “Though I’m still quite handsome.”

His action made both Xia Ye and Song Xiaoxiao laugh.

“What do you mean? Am I not handsome?”

“Uh… handsome, absolutely dashing.”

Lin Yuan finished his dumplings and put down his chopsticks, feeling content. A wave of satisfaction washed over him. This satisfaction wasn't just from a full stomach, but also on a spiritual level.

Now, Lin Yuan had money and girls; he had everything he could want.

For ordinary people, this could be considered having everything one could wish for.

At this thought, he subconsciously glanced at Song Xiaoxiao. Song Xiaoxiao happened to be looking at him too.

As soon as their eyes met, Song Xiaoxiao immediately looked away.

A sudden thunderclap struck Lin Yuan’s mind. The phrase “The deeper one’s desires, the shallower one’s heavenly opportunities” resurfaced. He had to admit that his recent thought was wicked.

‘How could I… subconsciously have such a thought…’

Today was Chinese New Year’s Eve, and the HK stock market had already closed.

Therefore, even though Lin Yuan was dealing with the Good Group, he had nothing else to do. This New Year period was a rare holiday for him.

He pulled Xia Ye out the door, planning to wander around.

But Xia Ye insisted on bringing Song Xiaoxiao along.

Lin Yuan really had no choice; he also felt bad about leaving Song Xiaoxiao alone.

So, Lin Yuan walked in the middle, with the two girls on his left and right, and the three of them strolled through the empty streets and alleys.

“Little Xia, Zhang Yan said she could help you with the Purple Arts exam. What do you think?”

Xia Ye was startled at first, then a little disappointed, “That’s great.”

Everyone knew that if some means weren’t employed, Xia Ye would simply not be able to pass the exam. Because if she could have passed, she would have already done so.

“You make your own decision. I told you last night, the choice is in your own hands.”

“What is Zhang Yan thinking? Does she want me to go out and study?”

“You don’t need to worry about her thoughts. Even if you go to Purple Arts, I wouldn’t let you live in the dorms.”

“Then what do you think I should choose?” Xia Ye remained her usual confused self. It’s hard to change one’s nature; she wouldn’t undergo a drastic personality change without experiencing something significant.

“I think you can go to Purple Arts. Although I’ve always treated you like a child, I still hope you can go out and experience the world.”

Xia Ye quickly understood Lin Yuan’s meaning. “So I don’t always overthink things, right?”

“Xia Ye.” Song Xiaoxiao quickly interjected to remind her.

However, Lin Yuan didn’t mind. “If you go to Purple Arts, maybe in the future you’ll gain a skill and truly become self-reliant. You have to be strong yourself.”

“I understand. Then I’ll go to Purple Arts. I’ll work hard, I’ll prove that I’m not a complete freeloader.”

Lin Yuan smiled, “Good, I’ll be watching your performance. Xiao Xiao, you go too.”

“Ah?” Song Xiaoxiao exclaimed, “Are the spots at Purple Arts that easy to get? Xia Ye has been practicing dance for so long, and I was just tagging along in the cram school. I never thought about going to Purple Arts.”

Lin Yuan chuckled, “Art, you know, doesn’t have any standards. If they say you’re good, you’re good.”

“Oh.” Song Xiaoxiao didn’t say anything more. Anyway, she was already used to relying on others. She even had a strange illusion: as if Xia Ye was her daughter, and she was a mother selling her daughter.

Lin Yuan’s Chinese New Year was both ordinary and exciting. He had completely detached himself from his original life trajectory.