Volume 1, Chapter 31: Even in a Moment of Impulse, She Could Only Think of Li Shiyan

The phone rang.

Li Shiyan looked down. The name pulsing on the screen was Lin Haoyu. He swiped across the screen but did not answer.

Lin Haoyu was persistent, calling several more times. By the fifth call, Li Shiyan’s patience had run out. He answered, "Speak."

"Uncle, Xiaoyu asked me out tomorrow!" Lin Haoyu’s tone sounded displeased.

Li Shiyan’s eyes turned cold. His fingertips tapped against the side of his glass, one beat after another. So, that was the reason she was "busy."

Lin Haoyu, calling late at night, knew he was encroaching on Li Shiyan’s boundaries, so he stopped beating around the bush and poured it all out: "Uncle, I didn't mean to disturb you, but you know my parents don't like Xiaoyu. You're the only one in the family who approves of her, so I had to call you. There’s been some trouble with the Ning family’s company today—it seems someone is targeting them. But because of this, Xiaoyu, who has never asked me out before, invited me for tomorrow. She’s definitely going to plead for that Ning family project. Even though I was the one who told my father to give that project to the Nings, you know I’m not the one in charge. I don’t know how to answer her."

His tone was vexed and restless.

Under normal circumstances, Lin Haoyu would have had enough time for only one sentence before Li Shiyan hung up. However, the first thing Lin Haoyu said had hit the mark, so Li Shiyan did not disconnect.

Lin Haoyu, unaware of the underlying currents, was simply groveling for his uncle’s help. He didn't have the final say on the project, but if his uncle spoke up, no one in the Lin family would object. Although he hadn't been overly explicit, he knew his uncle understood; whether he would agree was another matter entirely.

Lin Haoyu waited, heart in his throat.

A full two minutes later, he heard the man’s low, cold, and hoarse voice on the other end: "Address."

Lin Haoyu was overjoyed.

***

When Ning Yu woke up, the nanny, Mother Li, had already prepared her clothes. Standing in the bathroom, Ning Yu looked at the lingerie and dress that her mother had prepared from head to toe, feeling speechless.

That lingerie—with so little fabric, it was practically begging her not to wear anything at all. This wasn't a date; if one ignored the dress on the outside, the inner layers were clearly meant to send her straight to Lin Haoyu’s bed.

Ning Yu didn't wear them. She put on her own undergarments and the dress her mother had prepared, which at least looked decent.

The venue was the top floor of a high-end restaurant. When Ning Yu arrived, only Lin Haoyu was seated. It looked like he had booked the entire floor. They were certainly willing to spend money; in the eight years since she had returned, this was the first time she had enjoyed such treatment.

"Xiaoyu, sit." Lin Haoyu was dressed in a suit, looking more formal than usual.

Ning Yu smiled gently. "Haoyu, I'm sorry to bother you at work."

"It's no bother. This is the first time you’ve asked me out. When a beauty invites you, nothing else matters." Lin Haoyu spoke with an attempt at humor, though his gaze kept drifting toward the door.

The two chatted and ordered food. Ning Yu found an opening to bring up the Ning family company. "Haoyu, our company has run into a small issue, but it’s nothing serious. You don’t need to worry; we will definitely complete the Nancheng project well. It’s just that if the project timeline could be extended slightly, we would certainly be able to deliver the highest quality."

As she spoke, she looked up at Lin Haoyu and noticed him nodding with a smile, his gaze repeatedly drifting away from her. He seemed to be waiting for someone.

Ning Yu smiled. "Haoyu? Haoyu? Are you still waiting for someone?"

"Ah... no, no..." Lin Haoyu was frantic. His uncle had clearly promised to come and negotiate for him and Xiaoyu, so why wasn't he here yet? He desperately wanted to wave his hand and agree to Ning Yu’s request, but he didn't want to break his word to her, nor did he want to admit the reality that he held little real power in the Lin family.

If not for his lack of authority and influence, he wouldn't have had to repeatedly lean on Li Shiyan, hoping to find a way through him. The Li Corporation was incomparable to the Lin Corporation. It was no exaggeration to say that many things could be decided by a single word from Li Shiyan.

But right now, Ning Yu wanted an answer. Lin Haoyu couldn't give her one. Fortunately, a waiter came over to serve the dishes: "Please enjoy your meal."

Lin Haoyu eagerly placed the orange juice in front of Ning Yu. "Xiaoyu, no rush, no rush. Let’s eat first. It’s the orange juice you like."

Ning Yu saw his evasive attitude and knew the matter would be difficult to discuss, which didn't surprise her. She picked up the orange juice and took a sip, deciding not to bring it up again for the moment. Lin Haoyu also relaxed, and the two ate while making small talk.

Meanwhile, at the Ning residence, Ning Yunyun was leaning against her mother, playing with her phone and idly tugging at her mother's clothes in a display of unconscious intimacy. Her mother was on the phone, and Ning Yunyun listened in out of boredom.

"Did you put it in? Is the private room ready?" her mother asked.

The person on the other end answered quickly: "It’s in. Both the orange juice and the wine have been drugged. I watched them drink it myself. The effects will kick in after half an hour. Once they finish eating, I will guide them to the private room."

Ning Yunyun’s interest was piqued instantly. Drugged? Them? Who would her mother drug? Her first instinct, driven by a strange intuition, was that it must be Ning Yu, who was out on a date with Lin Haoyu today. Combined with the company issues from yesterday... it was very likely! She was trying to force Lin Haoyu and Ning Yu into a marriage by making them a couple in the eyes of the world!

***

The drug took effect within minutes. A wave of heat washed over Ning Yu, making her thoughts murky and incoherent. She was vaguely aware of being led to another place.

"Xiaoyu... you're so beautiful..." Lin Haoyu kept throwing himself at her. Every time he touched her, Ning Yu felt a chill of disgust and struggled to push him away.

Only her mother could have staged this so perfectly. Combined with the lingerie from the morning, it was clear: her own mother really was willing to send her to Lin Haoyu’s bed just for a project!

"Xiaoyu, don't be afraid. I'll take good care of you. Once we’re engaged, we’ll get our marriage certificate immediately... I’ll definitely treat you well for the rest of my life. I like you so much..." Lin Haoyu was no longer sober, clutching Ning Yu tightly as he spoke.

Looking at the man’s face, a subconscious revulsion rose from her stomach; Ning Yu only wanted to push him away. The disparity in physical strength between a man and a woman was too great, and no matter how hard she fought, she couldn't break free.

Just then, the door to the suite was kicked open violently. Ning Yunyun rushed in: "Brother Haoyu!!"

Without a word, she forcibly pulled the drugged Lin Haoyu off Ning Yu. Lin Haoyu kissed Ning Yunyun’s cheek, all the while calling out for "Xiaoyu."

Once they left, all the strength in Ning Yu’s body drained away. She collapsed onto the bed nearby, an overwhelming sense of emptiness washing over her. In her mind, she couldn't stop the image of Li Shiyan from appearing. She hugged herself instinctively, curling into a ball.

She had really fallen for it. Even after eight years, why was it that whenever she was in a moment of vulnerability, the only person she could think of was him?

Not long after, the door clicked. Using the last shred of her reason, Ning Yu looked up, struggling to identify the man walking toward her. A familiar face... she had seen him before... why couldn't she remember?

Zhou Yunming held his phone, looking at the woman curled into a ball on the bed, and smiled with amusement. "Fifth Master, I found her in the Platinum top-floor suite. But something isn't right with her."

Li Shiyan’s hand, which had been writing, paused. His tone turned cold. "Speak."

"Her face is flushed, and she’s shaking. It looks like she’s ingested something she shouldn't have," Zhou Yunming said in a languid tone. Honestly, looking at her like this, the woman really had a certain charm, a kind of allure that was rare. It was a pity, though; she was the Fifth Master’s person, and he didn't dare touch her.

Li Shiyan paused for two seconds and went back to writing his report. "She didn't come alone. Drag Lin Haoyu over there."

Zhou Yunming let out a scoff. "But from what I can see, this girl has someone else in her heart. If Lin Haoyu had any chance, would I even have been able to find her?"

There was silence on the other end of the line. Adhering to the principle of being a helpful person to the end, Zhou Yunming held the phone to Ning Yu’s ear.

Li Shiyan’s voice rang out: "Isn't she busy going on a date with Lin Haoyu?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a delicate, breathless voice came from the other side: "Fifth Master..."

Li Shiyan’s pen stopped dead on the paper.