Chapter 127: The Begonia Blossoms

As the premier boutique in Bincheng, the Flower Pavilion remained as popular as ever. While not quite as crowded as during Lin Yu's last visit, it was still bustling with activity.

The two pushed open the doors and began browsing through the small trinkets to the sound of elegant piano music. Yang Zhilin’s presence earned Lin Yu countless envious glares and whispered comments. Whenever the attention turned toward them, Lin Yu would tease her about her beauty, leaving the girl blushing and pouting in protest.

When they encountered some familiar faces from high school, Yang Zhilin was too shy to even raise her head, a stark contrast to her usual ethereal, goddess-like demeanor.

Many of the notes on the display shelves had been changed to read: "Cinderella only has smiles, no tears."

Looking at the new text, Lin Yu smiled and said, "Cinderella would shed tears if she sprained her ankle."

"You're so mean, wishing a sprained ankle on someone!" The kind-hearted Yang Zhilin playfully tapped his shoulder, earning a light chuckle from him.

Wang Xiaole, the shop assistant who had witnessed everything, was deeply shaken. She clearly recognized Lin Yu as the same boy who had beaten up Zhang Hongkai last time. She couldn't fathom how this boy always managed to attract such exceptional girls. The girl from his previous visit, Qi Yue, had been not only beautiful but also quite wealthy. This new girl, judging by her attire and temperament, was clearly not from an ordinary family.

"What a lucky guy! No wonder there are so many bachelors in China—all the good girls are being snatched up by guys like this!" Wang Xiaole thought, a mix of envy and melancholy, as she continued to serve customers.

During his previous visit, Lin Yu had bought a snake-bone bracelet for Qi Yue. This time, he chose a rather unique hair clip. It looked simple, but had an antique charm that suited Yang Zhilin perfectly. What left Wang Xiaole most speechless was that once again, the girl paid for the item, still wearing a smile of quiet contentment just as the previous girl had.

After leaving the Flower Pavilion, they didn't continue shopping. After stopping at a pharmacy to pick up some soothing ointment for her face, Lin Yu escorted Yang Zhilin back to the Fortune Center.

As they parted, Yang Zhilin gazed at Lin Yu’s back as he headed toward the end of the corridor with her glass-like, luminous eyes. "Wait!" she called out, hesitating. "I have something else to say."

"Hm? What is it?" Lin Yu asked, turning around, his eyes fixed on his beautiful, close confidante.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Yang Zhilin took a deep breath and said, her face flushing, "Can you see? The begonia blooms, and someone waits for you for a lifetime."

In that instant, Lin Yu felt his heart stir. If not for Qi Yue, he would certainly have stepped forward to embrace her. Even so, he searched his memory and found a matching line to offer to the delicate, orchid-like girl: "Can you see? Every stitch of embroidery, someone aches for you."

Afterward, under Yang Zhilin’s gaze, a slightly blushing Lin Yu quickly disappeared from the Fortune Center. Feeling a pang of guilt toward Qi Yue, he didn't head upstairs but went straight home.

His parents hadn't returned yet, and it was too early to sleep. Bored, Lin Yu dialed Lian Jin’s number. He hadn't been in touch since suggesting a rather ruthless strategy to him.

"Brother Yu! You were truly impressive today! Absolutely legendary!" As soon as the call connected, Lian Jin’s excited voice came through. It was clear he had already heard about everything that happened at the Brilliant Hotel that evening.

"Hehe, it was nothing. I was just forced to retaliate. You can't let some people get their way, or they'll keep causing trouble for you," Lin Yu said dismissively. In truth, he had been walking on thin ice that night, and it was only through a stroke of luck that he had succeeded.

"Oh, don't be so humble. My brothers and I know exactly how arrogant Jia Qing is. You were truly amazing today—not only did you beat him, but you took on his father too. That's a legend that will never be replicated in Bincheng's history." Lian Jin had clearly been drinking, making him less composed than usual.

"Do what must be done, strike those who deserve it—that's all," Lin Yu replied politely before asking, "How are things going? How many men do you have now? Do you need funding?"

Having received the two-hundred-thousand-yuan investment from Qi Dazhu, Lin Yu realized he wouldn't need all of it for his website or instruments. He wanted to sponsor Lian Jin to help build his own sphere of influence. The world was never entirely black or white; there were always points of intersection between light and darkness.

Lin Yu didn't want to become a gangster; he simply wanted to protect his own interests when he eventually opened a bar, and to better protect those around him.

Having run a bar in his previous life, it remained a dream. He felt that even if he succeeded in other areas, he would still invest in Lian Jin to help him open the biggest bar in Bincheng.

While Lin Yu was lost in thought, the unusually excited Lian Jin began to rattle off his progress. "I've recruited some good brothers, but there are some bad apples too. Some are from other underground gangs; their conduct is poor, and I don't like it."

"Right, you can't keep people like that. Our men must have clean backgrounds and possess a sense of morality. We don't want backstabbers. Simply put, quality over quantity."

"Exactly, my thoughts exactly. We aren't born bad; we can't do the dirty work of collecting protection money or bullying the weak!" Lian Jin agreed.

"Last time I accompanied my girlfriend to a concert, I met a group of low-level thugs at the arcade across from the stadium. Their leader, a former soldier, left a good impression on me. You should try to recruit him. Mention my name; it might help." Lin Yu laughed, feeling a bit like Cao Cao, wanting to recruit every talent he encountered.

"Just a few small-time thugs, don't worry about it. Oh, my wife is calling me to bed. Let’s talk later." Lian Jin’s tone grew intimate, and in the background, the soft, beautiful voice of Ye Ruoshui could be faintly heard.

"Alright then. A moment of intimacy is worth a thousand pieces of gold; I won't keep you. When you have time, come by and pick up the money. I'll give you a few tens of thousands to start; make sure every cent is spent wisely, you know how it goes." Lin Yu hung up with a smile.

To live with confidence for two hundred years, and to strike the waters for three thousand miles.

Lin Yu hoped that through his own efforts, he could gradually change his destiny, and the destinies of his family and friends.