Chapter 105: Lin Cong vs. Chen Yaxin

Chapter 105: Lin Cong vs. Chen Yaxin

The news of the Lin family’s impending marriage proposal sent shockwaves throughout the entire East Sea region, reverberating even across all of China.

Yet, the male lead, Young Master Lin Cong, showed no sign of excitement. As always, he went about his own affairs as if nothing had happened, as if the rumors outside had nothing to do with him.

However, several core members of the Qilin Society keenly sensed a change in Lin Cong. Over the past two days, he had frowned noticeably more often.

“All right, let’s leave the plan as it is for now. When you return, the three of you should discuss it thoroughly and present a final version to me.”

This was the top-floor conference room of the Qilin Palace, the Qilin Society’s headquarters.

Lin Cong was the first to close his laptop and look at the young men around the table, his voice calm and refined as always. He was the kind of person who would never change, even if the sky fell—everything seemed under his control.

That was Lin Cong, a leader one could trust and rely on without a doubt.

“Understood.”

“Goodbye, Chairman!”

Around the table, about a dozen people stood up one after another and quietly exited. Though there were many, the room remained orderly, footsteps light and unobtrusive.

“Zipeng, Haowei, Jiajun, wait a moment.”

Lin Cong suddenly spoke.

The three young men, who had already risen, turned back simultaneously. The others, curious but not lingering, quickly left until only four remained.

Lin Cong looked up at the three. Two were slightly older, close in age to himself; the third was a young man in his early twenties, bright-eyed and openly admiring him.

Lin Cong, however, seemed indifferent, casually asking, “Has Chairman Chen not been to Xuhui these past two days?”

His tone was nonchalant.

Chairman Chen was Chen Yaxin. Apart from Lin Cong, the official chairman of the Qilin Society, there were three vice chairmen beneath him. Chen Yaxin was one of them and the closest to Lin Cong. To exaggerate, they were practically inseparable—many members beneath even regarded Chen Yaxin as Lin Cong’s woman.

Yet, despite their close personal ties, Lin Cong habitually referred to her as Chairman Chen in public. That was Lin Cong—a man of strong principles.

The two older young men in the room were the other two vice chairmen, Ying Zipeng and Chen Haowei. The youngest young man was Jiang Jiajun, also one of the core members of the Qilin Society.

The three exchanged glances. The dark-skinned young man on the left, Ying Zipeng, spoke first: “Yaxin said she wasn’t feeling well the past few days and handed over all Xuhui matters to Jiajun.”

“Is that so?” Lin Cong frowned slightly, glancing at the youngest man.

Jiang Jiajun hurriedly said, “Don’t worry, Young Master Lin. I won’t disappoint you or Sister Xin. I guarantee I’ll handle the Xuhui project swiftly.”

“Hmm. Since Chairman Chen has entrusted this to you, I naturally trust your ability. Well, that’s all for now. You may go about your tasks.”

Lin Cong smiled softly, patted Jiang Jiajun’s shoulder, and turned to leave the conference room.

Jiang Jiajun was instantly overwhelmed with excitement, watching Lin Cong leave for a long moment before calming down.

Ying Zipeng and Chen Haowei exchanged meaningful glances, then left together without greeting Jiang Jiajun, clearly indifferent to the “newcomer” in their eyes.

“Do you think Chen Yaxin is really sick?” Ying Zipeng suddenly asked Chen Haowei in the hallway, voice low enough for only the two to hear.

“You ask me, I ask who?” Chen Haowei replied with a slight frown.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Ying Zipeng said gravely.

“What kind of feeling?” Chen Haowei inquired.

“The Qilin Society might be heading for trouble,” Ying Zipeng said solemnly, glancing briefly at a small door at the end of the corridor before quickly looking away.

“You’re worrying unnecessarily. With the chairman here, even if the sky falls, nothing will happen.”

Chen Haowei chuckled lightly.

“Do you really trust his abilities that much?” Ying Zipeng asked seriously, looking directly at Chen Haowei. If others were present, they wouldn’t dare speak so freely, but alone, they disregarded even their reverence for Lin Cong. Though both were vice chairmen, they were not part of Lin Cong’s inner circle—a fact Lin Cong knew but chose not to expose.

“Honestly, I think he’s in a hurry this time. He shouldn’t have rushed to propose to the Fu family.”

Chen Haowei’s expression was tinged with emotion as he looked toward the corridor’s end, quietly adding, “His abilities don’t need the Fu family’s support. I don’t believe he’s truly enamored with Fu Ziqing. Sometimes, I just don’t understand what’s really on his mind.”

“You’re right not to understand. No one knows what he’s thinking except himself,” Ying Zipeng said coolly, a faint sneer tugging at his lips.

“Ah, it’s just a pity for Chen Yaxin. Such a fine girl, sigh—”

“Indeed, a pity.”

The two entered the elevator as they spoke.

Outside, the Qilin Society, rumored to be solid as iron, was far less united than people imagined. Interests were the true binding force.

—

Lin Cong was unaware of Ying Zipeng and Chen Haowei’s private conversation. Even if he knew, he wouldn’t care.

When he founded the Qilin Society, it was never meant to be a mere alliance of privileged heirs. It was to create a young business league, bound by interests. As for the loyalty of subordinates, he didn’t care. He trusted his control. As long as he was present, the Qilin Society would always be his most effective instrument.

This was Lin Cong, known as the “Old Fox Lin.” He possessed absolute confidence and unmatched ability, powerful enough to make his peers tremble. None of the Qilin Society members dared betray him.

As dusk fell, Lin Cong left the Qilin Palace alone and entered an unremarkable Toyota sedan.

After a moment’s hesitation, he instructed the driver, “Go to Qinyuan.”

Qinyuan was where Chen Yaxin lived.

About half an hour later, the Toyota entered the gated villa community of Qinyuan. Lin Cong stepped out and approached a nearby exquisite villa with a Western architectural style.

Though he had only been there twice, the memory was vivid.

Standing before the gate, he could faintly see a graceful figure curled on the sofa inside the living room, watching television with a soft sigh.

Lin Cong pressed the doorbell.

The gate slowly opened to either side.

At the same time, the villa’s living room door gently creaked open. A young woman in silk pajamas quietly stood on the steps, staring at Lin Cong at the door in surprise.

Lin Cong’s face broke into a warm smile as he quickly approached her.

“Yaxin, I heard you’ve been unwell these past few days. Are you all right?”

“I’m fine!” Chen Yaxin still looked stunned, unable to believe this was real. Since moving into this private villa over six years ago, Lin Cong had only come twice. The first was when she first moved in, accompanied by several core Qilin Society members. The second was the same year on her birthday when she impulsively dragged Lin Cong here and forced him to stay overnight. That night, scheming, she had crept into his room and climbed onto his bed, only to be coldly sent away by him.

Since then, Lin Cong had never returned.

Chen Yaxin knew her impulsive act had angered him.

She had thought he would never come back to her villa—but now he had come, alone, with no companions.

“Why? Not recognizing me after just a few days apart?” Lin Cong waved his hand teasingly before her eyes.

Only then did Chen Yaxin snap out of her daze and take a half step back, inviting him in.

“Please come in.”

“All right!”

Lin Cong smiled and entered the living room, though a faint frown crept across his brow. Even a simple invitation made him sense the distance Chen Yaxin kept from him. Before, when alone together, Chen Yaxin would never have used the word “please.”

Chen Yaxin didn’t notice this subtlety. After entering, she asked, “Would you like some wine or coffee?”

“Just water,” Lin Cong replied, his smile soft but his eyes casually scanning the villa’s decor.

Soon, Chen Yaxin placed a glass of water in front of him and quietly sat opposite. She stared at Lin Cong strangely, wondering what his purpose was in coming. She didn’t notice how unusually quiet she was—if Lin Cong had come before, she would have been excited, nearly hyperactive. Now, though surprised, she felt little excitement.

“Yaxin, I heard you’re ill and that you handed the Xuhui project to Jiang Jiajun. How bad is it?”

Lin Cong raised his glass but didn’t drink, looking at her with concern.

“It’s nothing, just low blood sugar. Maybe I’ve been overworked lately,” Chen Yaxin offered the excuse she had long prepared.

“Are you sure it’s just low blood sugar? Have you had a proper checkup? Being sick isn’t a trivial matter.”

Lin Cong frowned, unconvinced. Knowing Chen Yaxin well, she wouldn’t abandon a project for mere low blood sugar. That wasn’t her nature.

“I really am fine.” Chen Yaxin shook her head with a smile.

“Good to hear.” Lin Cong nodded but kept his gaze on her eyes. “But illness isn’t something to take lightly. You must take care of yourself. If the medical care here isn’t adequate, we’ll go abroad—Europe, even. You mustn’t ignore your health.”

“I know. I’m really fine. When did you get so nagging?”

Chen Yaxin smiled wryly.

“Am I nagging?” Lin Cong smiled too, surprised at such a response to his concern.

Chen Yaxin didn’t respond but instead asked, “Did you come here just because you knew I was sick and wanted to see me?”

“Otherwise, what do you think?” Lin Cong smiled warmly. “You’ve always been so reckless since you were little. Now you live alone; I can’t help but worry.”

“I’m not a little girl anymore,” Chen Yaxin pouted her luscious lips.

“Yeah, the little girl has grown into a young lady. And quite a beauty, too! Haha!”

Lin Cong laughed, his eyes casually glancing at the silk pajamas she wore. When his gaze swept over her shapely legs beneath the silk, his eyes momentarily brightened, but he quickly looked away.

At that moment, Lin Cong’s eyes narrowed slightly. He noticed Chen Yaxin subconsciously drew her legs back behind her, as if unwilling to let him see.

How could this be?

In Lin Cong’s experience, a woman who admired him like Chen Yaxin would have eagerly moved closer if she noticed him looking at her legs, never withdrawn them.

Startled, Lin Cong lifted his head.

He met Chen Yaxin’s eyes just as a flash of nervousness flickered there, too quick to conceal...