82: One person achieves enlightenment

A surge of immense courage and warmth rose from the bottom of his heart, instantly dispersing all the nausea, confusion, and fear.

The atmosphere in the corridor, however, became incredibly eerie at this moment.

President Qian's shouting stopped.

Mother Su's cries also caught in her throat.

Everyone looked at Lin Yu with expressions as if they were seeing a monster.

It was a look mixed with absurdity, mockery, and a hint of… fear that they themselves hadn’t even noticed.

"Haha… Hahahahaha!"

President Qian suddenly burst into dry laughter, his jowls trembling with the force of it.

"Good! A truly 'I've got this' moment!"

"I'd like to see how you, a good-for-nothing who's been making Waste Card for five years, are going to cover for your sister!"

The company representatives behind him also joined in the jeering laughter.

"That’s hilarious! Both siblings, one's crazy, the other's an idiot!"

"What evil has befallen the Lin family? They only produce such oddities?"

"The biggest joke of the year, no contest!"

The young reporters behind Reporter Wang could no longer hold back their laughter, their shoulders heaving.

Only Reporter Wang himself, his smile had long vanished.

He stared intently at Lin Yu; a professional instinct sent shivers down his spine.

Something was wrong.

Terribly wrong.

The calm of this young man named Lin Yu was not feigned.

And that composure, as if he had everything under his control, was certainly not something a madman could possess.

Then there was Feng Rui of Fengxing Technology.

His smile had also faded.

He adjusted the glasses on his nose, and behind the lenses, his eyes gleamed with shrewdness and confusion.

He couldn't understand Lin Yu.

But he trusted his judgment.

This person was either incurably insane.

Or, he held a terrifying trump card capable of overturning the entire card table.

President Li of Tianqing Group also frowned.

He, too, felt that something was amiss.

But he believed in logic more.

What trump card could a Card Creator who had deferred his exams for five years and was obsessed with Waste Card possibly have?

It was just bluster.

Or perhaps, he was completely insane.

He had come to believe his own delusions.

Using crazy talk to cover up the fact that his siblings had become a laughingstock.

Pathetic, and ridiculous.

"Miss Lin Yao."

President Li stepped forward, deciding to cut through the mess quickly and end this farce.

He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, adopting a businesslike demeanor.

"Our Tianqing Group is very sincere."

"A signing bonus of 110 million, and subsequent resource allocation, are all negotiable."

"But the prerequisite is that you must accept our pre-signing evaluation."

"This is responsible for you, and also responsible for our company. I hope you don't believe some… unrealistic crazy talk and make the wrong choice."

His words once again kicked the ball back into Lin Yao's court.

All eyes refocused on her.

This time, with an even stronger sense of scrutiny and mockery.

They wanted to see.

What ridiculous decision this little madwoman would make after listening to the "incitement" of her big madman brother.

Lin Yao took a deep breath.

She didn't look at President Li, nor at anyone else.

She just took one last look at her brother.

Lin Yu nodded slightly at her.

It was a silent encouragement.

That was enough.

That was truly enough.

Lin Yao turned around, finally raising her head to face the group of predatory people in the corridor.

Tear stains were still on her face.

But in her swollen eyes, all confusion and helplessness had faded.

Only a cold, clear, resolute determination remained.

She first looked at Feng Rui, the man who had maintained his composure throughout, yet also harbored hidden calculations.

"President Feng."

She bowed slightly.

"Thank you for your contract, and thank you for helping me out just now."

Feng Rui was startled, then offered a gentle smile, just about to say something.

But Lin Yao had already shifted her gaze.

She looked at President Qian, at President Li, at Mother Su, and at every face in the corridor that was filled with greed, hypocrisy, and schadenfreude.

Then, she spoke the words that had been brewing in her heart for a long time.

"As for you…"

Lin Yao's icy gaze swept across President Qian's corpulent face, across President Li's hypocritical lenses, and finally, landed on Mother Su's face, twisted by jealousy.

She took a deep breath, the long-accumulated disgust and resolve about to burst forth.

However, just a second before she could speak.

A gentle yet unmistakable male voice rang out at just the right moment.

"Miss Lin Yao, please wait a moment."

Feng Rui of Fengxing Technology had, at some point, walked to the front of the crowd again.

He still wore that inscrutable smile, as if the recent farce had nothing to do with him.

He ignored the about-to-erupt Lin Yao, and didn't look at the others waiting to enjoy the show.

His actions caused all the sharp words Lin Yao had prepared to catch in her throat.

"President Feng, what else do you want to do?" President Qian of Baisheng impatiently demanded, "Isn't this farce enough?"

Feng Rui merely smiled. He turned to Lin Yao and once again offered her the S-rank contract.

"Miss Lin Yao, our sincerity at Fengxing Technology remains unchanged."

"Moreover," he changed his tone, dropping a bombshell that instantly ignited the entire scene.

"Not only do we hope to sign you, but we also hope to reach an exclusive cooperation with your brother, Mr. Lin Yu."

What?

Sign Lin Yu?

The entire corridor once again fell into a deathly silence.

"Feng Rui! You're actually insane!" President Qian pointed at Feng Rui, his entire flabby body trembling with anger.

President Li of Tianqing was also completely bewildered.

He adjusted his glasses, and the shrewdness behind the lenses, for the first time, turned into pure confusion.

Lin Yu? That Card Creator? What value does he have? A pile of useless cards?

However, Feng Rui was oblivious to the reactions of these people.

He turned around, facing Father Lin and Mother Lin, who were completely stunned, with an impeccably gentle smile.

"Mr. Lin, Mrs. Lin, please rest assured."

"Our Fengxing Technology will not only sign Miss Lin Yao and Mr. Lin Yu, but will also provide the highest level of security for your golden years."

"Security, medical care, elderly care, everything will be borne solely by Fengxing."

These words made Father Lin and Mother Lin, who were already at a loss, even more bewildered.

But Feng Rui's performance was not over yet.

His gaze swept past Father Lin and Mother Lin, landing on the several relatives nearby who were equally dumbfounded.

Aunt, Second Uncle, and Mother Su.

"And of course, there are a few relatives who have always 'cared' for Yao Yao."

Feng Rui's smile was meaningful.

"Our Fengxing Technology has always respected family harmony. Since you are Yao Yao's family, you are also friends of Fengxing."

"In the future, should there be any business dealings or work-related needs, the doors of Fengxing Technology will always be open to you."

Boom!

It was as if a clap of thunder had exploded in the minds of the several relatives.

The aunt's astonishment instantly turned into ecstasy.

Second Uncle's features, twisted by schadenfreude, also relaxed, filled with fawning smiles.

Mother Su, even more so, trembled all over.