69: A bit green

She cleared her throat, her tone turning faint and ethereal again.

"Besides, what's wrong with being eighteen?"

"Eighteen is already an adult; it's recognized by law."

"What's more..."

Her voice was like a sleek snake, slithering into Lin Chao's ears.

"Girls nowadays mature early; they're all as sharp as tacks and know everything."

"Do you think they're still blank slates who don't understand anything?"

"And if you truly like someone, why would you care about a few years' age difference?"

"Don't you agree, little brother?"

These words left Lin Chao speechless, unable to squeeze out a single word for a long time.

Lin Chao could only cough twice, forcing a change of subject.

"Ahem..."

"Um... Sister Mengya, I'm just purely helping out."

"After all, I can't bear to watch a friend's daughter get deceived."

"Yes, that's it. It's purely out of morality and sympathy."

The more he spoke, the more he felt like he was trying to cover something up only to make it more obvious.

On the other end of the line, Xie Mengya naturally heard the guilt in his voice.

She chuckled softly and didn't continue to make things difficult for him.

"Alright, alright, I get it."

Her tone carried a knowing "I understand."

"You don't like eighteen-year-old girls, okay?"

Lin Chao's lip twitched.

However, feeling that his emotional intelligence was still decent, he immediately spoke up: "Sister Mengya, you're wrong about that."

"Hmm?"

Xie Mengya clearly hadn't expected him to retort and made a curious humming sound.

Lin Chao cleared his throat, his voice steady and magnetic.

"It's not that I don't like them."

"I just feel that seventeen or eighteen-year-old girls are still a bit too green."

"Like fruit that hasn't fully ripened; though they look fresh and juicy, they always lack a bit of flavor when eaten."

At this point, his tone suddenly shifted: "On the contrary..."

"It's those mature and intellectual women who have been tempered by time..."

"...just like aged fine wine."

"Every smile, every frown, every movement exudes a fatal charm."

"That is... what's most flavorful."

He paused deliberately before slowly uttering the last few words in a tone that was almost a sigh.

"For instance... someone like you, Sister Mengya."

Xie Mengya was stunned, her pretty face flushing slightly: "Smooth talker!"

"I'll send you a contact's info in a bit."

"Add him and just tell him Xie Mengya introduced you."

"He knows the rules."

The heavy stone in Lin Chao's heart finally dropped. He hurriedly thanked her sincerely: "Thank you, Sister Mengya! I knew you were the best to me!"

Hanging up the phone, Lin Chao let out a long sigh of relief.

He tossed his phone onto the sofa and leaned back, Xie Mengya's bright and moving face involuntarily surfacing in his mind.

*Buzz buzz—*

The phone vibrated on the sofa.

Lin Chao picked it up and saw it was a wechat message from Xie Mengya.

It was just a wechat contact card.

Not a single extra word, clean and efficient, just like her style.

Lin Chao clicked on the contact card.

The profile picture was pure black, without any pattern.

The wechat name was even simpler, just the letter "K" followed by a period.

[K.]

Lin Chao raised an eyebrow and directly clicked to add as a friend.

In the verification message, he wrote a concise note.

[I was introduced by Sister Mengya.]

Almost the second after he sent the request, the phone vibrated again.

The other party had already accepted the friend request.

This efficiency surprised Lin Chao a little.

Before he could even type, a message from the other party arrived.

[President Xie's friend is my friend. Mr. Lin, feel free to say whatever is on your mind.]

The tone was crisp and direct, without any nonsense, and between the lines, there was a steady and experienced air of the underworld.

Lin Chao nodded inwardly; the person Xie Mengya introduced was indeed reliable.

He didn't waste time on pleasantries either, getting straight to the point.

[I want to look into someone's background.]

The other party replied instantly.

[Send the detailed information over.]

Lin Chao then sent all the information about Zhong Xiaoru that Lan Qingyu had told him.

After sending it, the other party only replied with two letters.

[OK.]

Lin Chao thought for a moment and sent another message.

[Mr. K, about the payment... how much will it be?]

He didn't want to owe favors, especially those involving the underworld.

A moment later, the other party's reply came back.

[Since President Xie introduced you, talking about money would hurt our relationship.]

[Let's forget it this time.]

Lin Chao's brow furrowed slightly.

[Business is business. I understand the rules.]

He insisted.

[Give me a price so I know what to expect.]

The other side of the screen was silent for about half a minute, seemingly weighing the options.

Finally, the other party sent a message.

[We'll talk after I find the information.]

This was a compromise and gave both parties a way out.

Lin Chao didn't push further.

[Alright, then I'll trouble you, Mr. K.]

[You're welcome.]

Finishing the conversation with "K," Lin Chao set his phone aside.

He leaned back on the sofa and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

This "K," though a man of few words, had a style of conduct reminiscent of an ancient knight-errant—valuing loyalty and following rules.

This made Lin Chao feel a bit more favorable toward him.

With such a person helping, Zhong Xiaoru's matter should come to light soon... Meanwhile, at the other end of the city.

Lan Qingyu returned home.

She tossed her bag onto the sofa and immediately took out the massager, fitting it around her neck.

This time, she had learned her lesson and didn't dare touch the red button representing the highest setting.

Instead, she chose the gentlest "Soothing Mode."

"Beep—"

A soft sound.

A warm sensation emanated from the massager's metal pads, like applying a hot towel, instantly dispelling the stiffness and chill in her neck.

Then, a tingling, extremely slight vibration, like countless tiny hands, gently tapped and kneaded her skin.

The pressure wasn't heavy, yet it precisely stimulated every aching acupoint.

"Mmm..."

Lan Qingyu couldn't help but let out a soft moan of comfort.

It was so comfortable.

All the tension, fatigue, and soreness accumulated previously seemed to be smoothed out and dissolved bit by bit under this gentle force.

She leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes, completely immersing herself in this ultimate relaxation.

Fifteen minutes later, the massager automatically stopped working.

Lan Qingyu slowly opened her eyes and moved her neck, feeling an unprecedented sense of ease.

The needle-like aching from before had vanished without a trace.

"This thing... is truly quite magical."

She picked up the small device and turned it over and over, liking it more the more she looked at it.

Suddenly, she remembered her promise to Lin Chao.

Right, she was supposed to help him promote it on moments.

At this thought, she immediately perked up.