Chapter 70: Mutual Support in Adversity

Lin Yu was a bit surprised to see Lian Jin just now, but then he realized there must be a reason why this guy became a formidable figure in his previous life. He definitely wasn’t the type of fool who, after beating someone up, would stay in the same place waiting for revenge.

A minor hermit hides in the wilderness, a middling one in the city, and the greatest in the court. Lian Jin hiding in this Western restaurant could be considered the second type—a hermit in the city, relatively safe. The reason he hadn’t hardened his heart and left Bincheng was that he couldn’t bear to part from his girlfriend, Ye Ruoshui, with whom he had just been intimate. Both of them were the kind who would rather stay together through thick and thin than become strangers drifting apart.

With Qi Yue and Yang Zhilin both present, Lin Yu found it inconvenient to say much. He exchanged a glance with Lian Jin and lowered his head to eat. Lian Jin understood and quietly left. By now, he saw Lin Yu as his last lifeline. He knew that while he could evade the revenge of those spoiled brats, Ye Ruoshui was still exposed and vulnerable. This problem had troubled him for days; he needed a permanent solution.

After Lian Jin left, Qi Yue, as if performing a magic trick, took out three pairs of chopsticks from her shoulder bag and distributed them to Lin Yu and Yang Zhilin, grinning. “We didn’t order steak anyway, so let’s use chopsticks to eat. I don’t know why, but every time I bite on a cold fork or knife, my teeth start to chatter.”

Seeing Qi Yue’s lively expression, Lin Yu smiled and took a pair of chopsticks. Then he asked the two women, “Do you know why table tennis is our national sport? And why the Chinese team is so good at it?”

“Just eat your food quietly—why are you talking about sports?” Qi Yue snapped playfully at Lin Yu before picking up a shrimp and putting it in his small dish.

Lin Yu had intended to explain that Chinese people are skilled at table tennis because they grow up using chopsticks, which makes their hands nimble, but he could only shake his head and focus on eating.

He knew that after a knife wound, one shouldn’t eat seafood, fish, or spicy food, but it was hard to refuse such kindness. Besides, indulging once in a while probably wouldn’t matter.

At this moment, the ever-observant Yang Zhilin noticed something unusual. Lin Yu’s complexion looked paler than usual, lacking its usual healthy color—almost like the sickly Lin Daiyu from “Dream of the Red Chamber.”

“What’s wrong?” Yang Zhilin asked softly, her tone as cold as ever, but there was a trace of concern in her eyes.

“It’s nothing. Let’s eat first; we’ll talk at home,” Lin Yu replied calmly. He knew that if they found out how badly he was injured, the meal would be ruined.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” Qi Yue, who was eating a chicken wing, heard their exchange and asked with concern.

Seeing both women focused on his appearance, Lin Yu felt a warm glow inside. Naturally, he wouldn’t reveal that he had been chased with knives and nearly lost his life.

He smiled and lied, “The place was far, and I got tired from cycling. I went to see Zhang Chao this afternoon, and on the way back I couldn’t catch a cab, so I borrowed a bike to make it to our dinner. That’s why I’m late.”

After his explanation, the two women found it reasonable and settled down to eat. Lin Yu began pouring red wine, half a glass for each of the three.

After pouring, Lin Yu gently swirled his glass, and a clear liquid clung to the inside, forming little droplets that slid down. The droplets didn’t linger long on the glass, showing that the wine wasn’t high in alcohol or sugar—clearly a light-bodied wine.

He raised his glass to the two women. “To enduring love, to lasting friendship—cheers.”

Seeing Lin Yu propose a toast, Qi Yue put down her chopsticks, lifted her glass with elegance, and said “cheers” before taking a small sip. Afterward, she complained that it tasted terrible and was no match for cola.

Yang Zhilin also toasted Lin Yu with a smile. “May love be everlasting, and friendship endure through the ages.” She then downed half her glass in one go.

Lin Yu had wanted to say that red wine should be savored slowly, not drunk in one gulp, but with these two heroines leading the way, he could only follow suit.

In less than a minute, Lin Yu noticed that both young women, having drunk quickly, now sported rosy cheeks, their charm reminiscent of the legendary Drunken Concubine.

At that moment, Lin Yu suddenly understood the line from Hetu’s “All for the World”: “What is a blood-drenched empire compared to the red mark between your brows? If the world falls, so be it—it’s all just fleeting glory.” He understood why, since ancient times, so many emperors loved beauty more than power; why there were stories of kings lighting warning beacons just to amuse a beautiful woman, or risking everything for love.

Perhaps it was the alcohol, but Lin Yu felt that for the sake of the two girls before him, he too could give up a kingdom and a lifetime of glory.

But in the next instant, he banished Yang Zhilin from his thoughts, feeling he’d gone too far—that this was a kind of emotional betrayal.

He recalled a statistic from 2011: 39% of Chinese men found themselves attracted to their girlfriend’s best friend. Of those, 35% acted on their feelings—23% flirted, and 12% confessed, with a 10% success rate.

It really wasn’t just empty talk!

After being with one’s girlfriend for a long time, looking at her best friend really did reveal a different kind of allure.

After Qi Yue and Yang Zhilin became a little tipsy, they quietly went back to eating. Lin Yu excused himself to go to the restroom, but actually went out to find Lian Jin.

At the end of the corridor, Lin Yu saw Lian Jin leaning against the wall, looking listless and drained.

He pulled out a cigarette and handed it over with a playful tone. “Here, have one. It’s Yellow Crane Tower—not too strong, but the taste is good.”

Lian Jin, face clouded with worry, forced a bitter smile and declined. “I’m quitting for good—my girlfriend won’t let me smoke. Besides, if I get caught smoking in the wrong place at work, I’ll be fired.”

“All right, I won’t force you.” Lin Yu lit one for himself, took a slow drag, exhaled, and said, “Do you want to get rid of Zhang Yang and his gang?”

“What do you think?” Lian Jin replied with a bitter smile. Right now, he had no aura or abilities left, so he had no attitude, either.

At this moment, Lin Yu felt no sense of pressure from Lian Jin at all. The realization left him both satisfied and disappointed. In this desperate state, Lian Jin would be easy to control. But lacking ferocity and wildness, it would be hard for him to become Bincheng’s underground king as he did in a previous life.

“A tiger that’s lost its fangs—hasn’t it just become a housecat?”

Lin Yu pondered for a moment, then unzipped his tracksuit to reveal the blood-stained white bandages across his torso.

“Look, I was ambushed by Zhang Yang at the seaside this evening. I hope you’ll help me get revenge.”

“You want me to get revenge on Zhang Yang for you?” Lian Jin looked surprised.

“Yes. You go find a chance to ambush him. As long as you don’t kill or maim him, I can handle the rest. Afterward, I’ll take you and Ye Ruoshui somewhere safe. I’m planning to tell my dad to join forces with some friends and go after Zhang Yang’s father, Zhang Kailai. Hopefully, we can bring him down. Once the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. If Zhang Kailai goes down, Zhang Yang will be finished too.” Lin Yu looked confident.

“Are you sure you can pull it off?” Lian Jin asked, puzzled. He didn’t know much about Lin Yu’s connections, but he knew Zhang Kailai was a local kingpin in Bincheng.

“Man proposes, God disposes. But honestly, I do have some confidence.” Lin Yu, coming from the future, had insights others lacked, so his confidence was well-founded.

“Are you sure your confidence is justified?” Lian Jin pressed again. Lin Yu’s two rather impressive appearances had led him to believe Lin Yu was some kind of powerful rich kid.

“A wise man always has a plan. Think it over—whether you want to help me or not.” After saying this, Lin Yu got Lian Jin’s phone number and turned to go back to the private room.

After Lin Yu left, Lian Jin remained where he was, lost in thought, his mind turning over unknown possibilities.