37: Chapter 37 Chu Yao's Heart in Turmoil

Vice President Liu Qingyan and Investment Director Shen Ruoyao exchanged a look and reported in unison, "Mr. Lin, we have completed our background checks on the top five security companies in Ze City. Their financial strength, employee numbers, cooperative partners, and past cases have all been compiled. We have currently identified two targets that are most suitable for acquisition and easy for subsequent renaming and integration."

Administrative Director Tang Xingmian produced a spreadsheet, "Mr. Lin, the employee dormitories and the executive flats in the entire commercial building have all been finalized. The prices, unit layouts, and number of rooms are all here; we can arrange for employees to move in at any time."

Lin Yu flipped through the documents quickly, his pen tip constantly marking the paper. His decision-making was crisp and efficient, without the slightest hesitation.

In the entire office, only his steady voice and the clear reports from the female executives could be heard.

...

Elsewhere.

Accompanied by Tang Man, Director Chu Yao had toured the entire office building. The R&D Department, Operations Department, Investment Department, Administration Department... Every floor was busy yet orderly.

Every employee was positive and motivated.

The more Director Chu Yao saw, the more shocked she felt. The Lin Yu whom her father described as having a "deep background and strong capabilities" completely overlapped with the man in front of her—a man who controlled an entire major company, held a three-thousand-acre project in his hands, and was surrounded by a group of top-tier beauties.

Powerful.

Excellent.

Dazzling.

And... out of reach.

Thinking back to those women in the office, each beautiful in her own distinct way, Director Chu Yao's heart was instantly flooded with a trace of panic and unease.

She took a deep breath and said softly to Tang Man, "I... I should go back. I won't disturb his work."

Tang Man noticed she was in low spirits and didn't ask any questions, smiling gently, "I'll see you back to the office."

The two returned to Lin Yu's office.

Lin Yu was still buried in piles of documents, his brows slightly furrowed, looking very focused. Director Chu Yao walked over gently and said in a low voice, "Lin Yu, I'm heading home now."

Lin Yu looked up, put down his pen, and pulled a car key from his pocket, handing it to her—it was the key to her G-Wagon.

"Drive slowly on the way, be safe."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a force that made one feel at ease.

Director Chu Yao gripped the key tightly, her fingertips feeling slightly hot. She glanced at the man behind the desk, radiating such brilliance, and then looked at the several stunning beauties still waiting to report in the office; her heart was in a chaotic mess.

In the end, she only said softly,

"Then... I'm leaving."

She turned around and walked quickly out of the office.

The door closed gently.

Lin Yu raised his eyes and glanced at the disappearing figure, his gaze slightly deep, before returning to his documents, his voice calm, "Continue."

Outside the window, the sunlight was just right.

Director Chu Yao started the car, the engine emitting a low hum, but it couldn't dispel the stuffiness in her chest. The car slowly drove out of the garage, and the sunlight suddenly rushed into the car window, stinging her eyes and making them sore. She subconsciously turned her head, looking at the towering building through the rearview mirror.

He was in that building—the man she had once thought belonged only to her. Images flashed through her mind: his reliability when he fended off trouble for her, his doting smile when he shoved the car keys into her hand. But today, she had also seen several women there who were almost not inferior to herself, yet had more confidence than her, standing by his side.

Those women, whether elegant, vibrant, or capable, all hid an admiration in their eyes when looking at Lin Yu that she was all too familiar with.

Director Chu Yao's fingertips trembled slightly, and she slammed on the accelerator.

The scenery outside the car window receded rapidly; neon lights, trees, and pedestrians all blurred into a smear. She didn't cry, but her heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, and even her breathing felt astringent. The twenty-minute journey was so short that she didn't have time to sort out her emotions before she had already driven into her residential compound.

After parking the car, she dragged herself upstairs, exhausted, and managed to squeeze out a normal expression when opening the door.

"I'm back."

Her voice was as light as a feather.

Wang Mei was in the kitchen cleaning up the dishes; she turned around and glanced at her, her movements pausing. "You're back? Dinner is in the warmer; do you want..."

"No need, Mom, I'm not hungry." Director Chu Yao didn't wait for her to finish, just shook her head slightly and walked toward her bedroom with unsteady steps.

The door closed gently, shutting out everything from the outside.

Wang Mei stood where she was, looking at the tightly closed door, her brows furrowing slightly. She knew her daughter too well; usually, even if she was tired when she got home, she would chatter about work or her eyes would light up when mentioning Lin Yu. Today's demeanor clearly showed that she was troubled.

She wiped the water from her hands, hesitated for a moment, then put down the rag and walked gently to her daughter's bedroom door.

"Knock, knock—"

Two light knocks.

"Yaoyao, Mom is coming in."

There was no response.

Wang Mei pushed the door open gently and immediately saw Director Chu Yao sitting by the bed.

She had her back to the light, her shoulders slightly slumped, her hair hanging somewhat messily by her cheeks, her eyes gazing emptily at the floor like a little bird with wings soaked by rain—dazed, helpless, and even her usual radiance had vanished without a trace.

Wang Mei's heart softened; she walked over with light steps, sat down beside her, and reached out to gently hold Director Chu Yao's cold hand.

Her daughter's hand was very cold, and her fingertips were slightly stiff.

"What's wrong?" Wang Mei's voice was extremely soft, "Did you suffer a grievance at work?"

Director Chu Yao shook her head slowly, her lips moving, but no sound came out.

"Then... did you have an argument with Lin Yu?"

At the mention of this name, Director Chu Yao's long eyelashes trembled violently. She was silent for a full half-minute before slowly raising her head. Her eye sockets were already red, but she held back the tears, her eyes full of confusion and helplessness, like a child who had lost their way.

"Mom..." Her voice was hoarse, "Lin Yu and I didn't argue, it's just... I feel terrible inside."

Wang Mei didn't press further, just patted the back of her hand gently, waiting patiently.

Director Chu Yao took a deep breath, as if she had finally found a direction to confide in, and spoke intermittently.

She spoke of the first time Lin Yu helped her out of a predicament, of how he stood up for her when she was being made difficult, that sense of security descending from the sky that still made her heart race when she thought about it; she spoke of him buying her a car without a second thought, not to show off, but just because she liked it; she spoke of him remembering that she didn't eat cilantro, that she couldn't touch cold things during her period, and remembering the trivial matters she mentioned in passing; she spoke of his steady way of doing things, his gentle treatment of others, and his outstanding capabilities. In her heart, Lin Yu was almost perfect.

But today, she went to his company.

"I saw so many, many beautiful girls," Director Chu Yao's voice became softer and softer, carrying a trace of inferiority she hadn't even realized, "They are good-looking, have temperament, have ability, they are so much better than me... They all surrounded him, talking to him, the way they looked at him... Mom, I suddenly feel like I'm not worthy of him at all."

"I don't even know if his kindness to me is just a whim."

The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt, her nose stinging, and tears finally couldn't be controlled as they rolled down, hitting the back of her hand, scaldingly hot.

Wang Mei listened quietly, never interrupting. After Director Chu Yao finished speaking, crying until her shoulders trembled slightly, she let out a long sigh, looked toward the window with complex eyes, and was silent for a long time.

Only Director Chu Yao's suppressed sobbing remained in the room. After a long while, Wang Mei spoke slowly, her voice carrying a kind of exhaustion and calmness that came from having experienced the ways of the world.

"Yaoyao, there are some things Mom originally planned to tell you when you were a little older..."

Director Chu Yao was stunned, looking at her mother through teary eyes.

"You have always thought that your father and I have a very good relationship, right?" Wang Mei smiled, but there wasn't much happiness in that smile, more of helplessness, "Actually... your father has had someone else outside for a long time."

"Boom—"

Director Chu Yao stiffened completely, her tears instantly stopping in her eye sockets, staring at her mother in disbelief.

"What did you say?" Her voice was trembling, "Impossible! Dad is not that kind of person! You two are so good..."

"It's true." Wang Mei nodded gently, her tone so calm it was unnerving, "I knew it a long time ago, I just never said anything, and I didn't let you know."

"Why..." Director Chu Yao only felt her worldview shaking, "In my heart, you have always been the best, I always thought... I thought love should be like yours."

"The feelings are not fake." Wang Mei held her hand, using a bit more force, her gaze serious, "Your father loves me, and he loves you, and he loves this family even more. For so many years, he has never treated us unfairly; he has always carried the burdens of the home, and he has been nothing but good to you."

"Then that woman..."

"He is good to her too." Wang Mei calmly said this cruel sentence, "Outstanding men shine wherever they go. Your father is already excellent enough, but Yaoyao, think about it, Lin Yu is younger than your father, more capable than him, has more means than him, and is so outstanding in appearance... Do you think there will be few women surrounding him?"

Director Chu Yao opened her mouth but couldn't say a word.

"Once a man reaches that position and has those abilities, the temptations around him will never cease." Wang Mei's voice carried a kind of coldness that came from seeing through the ways of the world, "Some come to them proactively, some are met through work; many times they are not bad, just... soft-hearted, don't know how to refuse, or have a bit of polyamory in their bones, not wanting to hurt anyone. In the end, it becomes what you see now."

"Your father loves this home, and he loves others too. Lin Yu being good to you is true; him being polite and caring to others might also be true."

Director Chu Yao felt cold all over, her voice trembling: "Then you... how can you endure it?"

Wang Mei gave a bitter smile, a trace of bitterness flashing in her eyes, yet it was incomparably realistic. "If I don't endure it, what else can I do? Make a scene with him? Divorce him? After a divorce, can I find a man who is single-minded, absolutely devoted, and only looks at me for the rest of his life?"

"Yaoyao, reality is just like this." She gently stroked her daughter's hair, her tone heavy, "Men without money, it's not that they aren't unfaithful, it's that they don't have the capital. Those with money and ability, there are almost no exceptions. There is no cat that doesn't steal fish; although this saying sounds ugly, it is the truth."

"As long as your father still keeps this family in his heart and still cares for me and you, I am content."

Director Chu Yao was completely stunned.

The love she had always yearned for was exclusive, possessive, and having only each other in one's eyes. But her mother's words were like a basin of ice-cold water, poured from the top of her head to the soles of her feet, shattering all her beautiful fantasies.

So, the affection between her parents that she had envied for so many years hid such a secret behind it. So, the love she thought was unique was, in the adult world, so fragile and so realistic.

She looked at her mother's calm face, not knowing what to say, whether to refute or accept. Her heart was sour and blocked, countless thoughts in a chaotic mess.

For a long time, she spoke softly, her voice so light it was almost inaudible.

"Mom... I want to be alone and think about it more."

Wang Mei looked at her dejected appearance, sighed with heartache, didn't force her any further, just patted her shoulder gently.

"Okay, Mom won't disturb you. When you can't figure it out, come out and tell Mom. No matter what, home will always be your backing."

After saying this, she stood up gently, quietly exited the room, and closed the door for her daughter.

The room returned to quietness.

Director Chu Yao sat alone by the bed, the sky outside the window darkening bit by bit, twilight shrouding the entire room, and also shrouding her heart that was dazed and helpless, having its first doubts about love.

In the flat at Ruiyuan Residential Compound.

The nanny, Sister Zhang, was wiping the coffee table on tiptoe. Seeing him return, she quickly lowered her voice, "Mr. Lin, you are back."

"Where are they?" Lin Yu's gaze swept across the living room, not seeing those two familiar figures.

"The Madam was not feeling well this afternoon and just went back to lie down in the master bedroom. Miss Wanwan is eating in the dining room by herself."

Lin Yu lightened his footsteps and walked straight to the dining room. Warm light fell on her figure; Mu Wan was holding a bowl of white porridge, the spoon gently scraping in the bowl, not having taken a single bite, her brows knitted tightly, her originally lively eyes dim and lackluster, not even noticing when he approached.

"What's wrong, Wanwan?" Lin Yu softened his voice and sat down beside her.

Mu Wan looked up suddenly, her eye sockets instantly turning red. The next second, she put down the spoon and threw herself directly into his arms, her two hands tightly clutching his hem, her voice carrying a sobbing tone, "Brother Lin Yu... Mom isn't feeling well, she went to sleep without eating, I'm a bit worried."

The body in his arms was trembling slightly; Lin Yu's heart softened. He reached out to pat her back gently, his tone firm and reassuring, "With me here, there's nothing to be afraid of. You finish your meal obediently, and I'll go up to check on Mom, okay?"

Mu Wan buried her face in his arms, nodding heavily, her voice muffled, "Okay..."

Having received the promise, Mu Wan finally let go of her hands, obediently picked up the spoon, and began to drink the porridge in small sips. Lin Yu rubbed her hair and turned to walk quickly toward the master bedroom.

The bedroom door was slightly ajar; he pushed it open gently. Only a soft night light was on in the room, the light dim and warm. Su Manqin was lying on her side on the bed, her long hair scattered on the pillow, her complexion a few shades paler than usual, and even her breathing seemed light and shallow.

Hearing the movement, she slowly opened her eyes. Seeing that it was Lin Yu, she managed to pull out a trace of a smile, "You are back."

"Where are you not feeling well? Why didn't you call me?" Lin Yu walked quickly to the bedside, his tone carrying a hint of tension.

Su Manqin shook her head gently, her voice weak, "I knew you were busy and didn't want to disturb you... It's just that I'm cold for a while and hot for a while, it should just be a common cold, it's nothing."

Lin Yu didn't say much, reaching out to gently place his hand on her forehead.