On the other side, Chen Lin and Fan Ning’er, who also had not yet noticed Bai Jinghong and Shen Yaoyao, continued walking and talking.
Mostly it was Chen Lin speaking, while Fan Ning’er walked ahead with an icy expression.
“Ning’er, what exactly did I do wrong!”
“I’ve been asking you for so long, and you won’t tell me. I really feel terrible.”
Fan Ning’er frowned, annoyed. “Chen Lin, do you realize how annoying you are? You didn’t do anything wrong, but please stay away from me!”
The sudden mention of the name made Shen Yaoyao, who was directly across, freeze.
She heard the name “Chen Lin” clearly and looked ahead.
Wasn’t that indeed Hades, Chen Lin?
Shen Yaoyao was instantly alarmed, realizing her hand was still being held by Bai Jinghong. She wanted to pull it free.
But the moment the thought arose, she stopped herself.
Bai Jinghong wasn’t stupid. She’d been holding his hand all this way without sudden resistance.
If she now, upon seeing Chen Lin, suddenly jerked her hand away with obvious resistance…
Bai Jinghong would inevitably suspect some connection between her and Chen Lin. Why else would she suddenly let go?
Relying on her professional skills, Shen Yaoyao forcibly suppressed that resistant feeling.
Even if Chen Lin saw, he would understand she was just carrying out the mission.
Thus, Shen Yaoyao acted as if nothing was amiss, as if she hadn’t seen Chen Lin.
But her gaze still drifted over there, and she pricked up her ears to listen.
“Ning’er, how can you find me annoying now?” Chen Lin was in disbelief.
“I’m devoted to you, my heart only has you. I honestly can’t think of anything I’ve done to wrong you!”
“Can you tell me the reason? Is someone forcing you to distance yourself from me? Don’t be afraid; I’m here to protect you!”
Chen Lin was truly about to break down. It all felt so inexplicable.
He’d thrown down a billion, and this was the result?
Besides, he truly liked Fan Ning’er. They had been so in love back then.
Chen Lin’s words and actions also fell into the eyes and ears of Bai Jinghong and Shen Yaoyao.
An unnatural look of disgust appeared on Shen Yaoyao’s face.
Sure enough, just as Bai Jinghong had said, Chen Lin was a complete hypocrite.
Still spouting rubbish about being devoted and only having her in his heart…
Moreover, wasn’t Chen Lin acting like a total lapdog right now? By the look of it, he was ready to kneel and lick Fan Ning’er’s shoes.
Fan Ning’er had already been that blunt, and he was still shamelessly clinging on.
How could someone like this be worthy of the position of Hades? How could he lead the Hell Organization?
Even the Death God of the Hell Organization wouldn’t act like this!
“Whoa, isn’t that Fan Ning’er and Chen Lin?” Bai Jinghong muttered with feigned surprise.
“Yaoyao, you have to help me out here. Pretend to be my girlfriend later!” Bai Jinghong suddenly said.
“Ah?” Shen Yaoyao was dumbfounded, not understanding why Bai Jinghong suddenly made such a request.
Chen Lin was right over there!
Bai Jinghong laughed inside but put on a troubled expression. “That Fan Ning’er is sort of my ex-girlfriend. She’s bringing that boy toy Chen Lin, so I need you to help me keep up appearances.”
“Plus, I used to be Fan Ning’er’s lapdog. Gotta stand tall now.”
Shen Yaoyao could understand Bai Jinghong’s thinking. Old flames meeting, a bit of comparison was common. Trying to reclaim lost dignity was also understandable.
But pretending to be his girlfriend…
Under normal circumstances, she could accept it. But Chen Lin was right there across from them.
“Alright, I’ll take that as a yes!”
Bai Jinghong didn’t even wait for Shen Yaoyao to speak and assumed her agreement.
Comparison? Reclaiming dignity? Ha… what a joke!
Did he, Bai Jinghong, need to play comparison games like an idiot? And Fan Ning’er had no dignity in front of him.
This was all to rile up that fool Chen Lin.
He just had to make Chen Lin watch helplessly as the beauty he’d sent to infiltrate was held in his arms.
As for whether Chen Lin doubted Shen Yaoyao’s loyalty… that wasn’t his problem. It’d be even better if a rift formed.
As they spoke, the distance between the two pairs closed until they were face-to-face.
Chen Lin, who had been questioning Fan Ning’er, stopped talking.
His gaze shifted to Bai Jinghong, then fell upon Shen Yaoyao.
Finally, his eyes rested on their clasped hands.
“Boom!”
A clap of thunder seemed to sound in Chen Lin’s mind.
What was going on?
Didn’t Yaoyao say she was his secretary? Why were they holding hands?
Yaoyao’s hand… Damn it, I haven’t even held it yet.
Fan Ning’er also saw that scene.
She felt a tightness in her chest, a heart-wrenching pain, a suffocating anger.
Inexplicably, she wanted to question Bai Jinghong.
Bai Jinghong feigned just noticing them. “President Fan, what are you doing here?”
“Oh, Brother Adulterer, you’re here too. You two taking a stroll?”
“Bai Jinghong… she… who is she?” Fan Ning’er ultimately couldn’t maintain her composure and looked at Shen Yaoyao.
Bai Jinghong hadn’t expected Fan Ning’er to ask on her own.
He’d planned to introduce them himself, even if it was a bit forced.
Now it wouldn’t be forced. It’d flow naturally.
Bai Jinghong reached out and wrapped his arm around Shen Yaoyao’s slender waist, pulling her into his embrace.
“This is my obedient treasure, Shen Yaoyao!”
Shen Yaoyao’s body trembled slightly, but she didn’t struggle.
“Yaoyao, let me introduce you. This is President Fan Ning’er of the Fan Corporation. And this gentleman here is her old flame!”
Shen Yaoyao felt extremely trapped by the circumstances. Staying calm was paramount.
So she squeezed out a smile and said to the two, “Hello!”
That greeting felt like a thousand knives stabbing into Chen Lin’s heart.
His capable, personally deployed operative, now…
Fan Ning’er’s heart was twisted in pain, but she feigned strength and returned the greeting. “Hello!”
The four exchanged looks, the atmosphere strange.
Fan Ning’er looked at Shen Yaoyao, her eyes filled with hostility.
Shen Yaoyao, in turn, glanced somewhat innocently at Bai Jinghong.
Bai Jinghong, naturally, just wanted to see Chen Lin’s stifled, aggrieved expression.
As for Chen Lin, his face was extremely ugly and vicious.
Like his father had just died.
“Alright, you two continue your walk. We won’t disturb you further!” Bai Jinghong was the first to break the awkward silence, a smug smile on his face.
Speaking under the watch of both, he held Shen Yaoyao and kissed her on the cheek.
Then he headed straight forward.
Chen Lin nearly erupted in murderous rage.
That animal actually kissed Shen Yaoyao’s cheek! He hadn’t even kissed her there!!!
[Ding! Face-Slapping System notification: Disrupting the protagonist’s affairs. Reward: Mastery of Music Theory. Reward issued.]
A flood of knowledge about music instantly filled Bai Jinghong’s mind.
Piano, guitar, drums… everything related to music, he instantly comprehended completely.
Bai Jinghong felt joy in his heart. This was faster than copying—a full mastery.
To cause Chen Lin frustration and displeasure, and get a reward on top of it… too satisfying.
“Bai Jinghong!” At that moment, Fan Ning’er called out.
Bai Jinghong halted his steps and glanced back. “President Fan, is there something else?”
“The day after tomorrow is my father’s birthday. Can you come?” Fan Ning’er asked.
Chen Lin, standing to the side, couldn’t hold it in anymore.
Damn it, Fan Ning’er was actually inviting Bai Jinghong?
Bai Jinghong pondered for a moment. In the original plotline, this birthday event did exist.
But in the original story, it had nothing to do with him by that point because he’d been crippled and was lying in a hospital.
The main event of the birthday was announcing the betrothal between Chen Lin and Fan Ning’er before many prominent business magnates.
Chen Lin also got to know a few rather capable individuals there.
But now, things were different.
Even if Fan Ning’er hadn’t invited him, he would have gone anyway.
“Sure, I’ll go!” Bai Jinghong gave a simple reply and continued on his way, holding Shen Yaoyao.
Fan Ning’er hadn’t actually expected Bai Jinghong to agree.
She had just been testing her luck.
In the past, many people would have come to her father’s birthday banquet.
But after the wedding banquet fiasco, countless people were distancing themselves from the Fan family. There definitely wouldn’t be many guests at the birthday.
If that happened, her father would certainly be heartbroken and might even take his anger out on her.
But now it was different.
Bai Jinghong’s agreement meant that others who wanted to go but didn’t dare would show up simply because Bai Jinghong was attending!
