Chapter Thirty-Two: The Tool for Making Money

Lin Yi and Lu Lu returned to the table, and Cai Qing asked, “Lu Lu, why are your eyes red?”

“It’s nothing, just got a bug in my eye earlier. Let’s eat.”

After her tearful confession, Lu Lu felt as if a weight she'd carried in her heart for so long had finally been lifted, leaving her feeling lighter.

Once they finished their buffet meal, the group headed back to Lancheng. After dropping Cai Qing and Dou Dou off at home, Lin Yi decided to go to Lu Lu’s house to help resolve her situation.

Lu Lu glanced at Lin Yi, who was resting with his eyes closed in the car, her feelings mixed.

Soon, the car arrived in a city village, most of whose houses dated back to the 1990s.

“Lin Yi, Sister An, my house is a bit shabby—I hope you don’t mind,” Lu Lu said hesitantly.

“It’s fine,” Angel replied with a gentle smile.

Lin Yi remained silent.

As Lu Lu got out and pushed the front door open, a middle-aged woman immediately called out from behind it, “Lu Lu, you’re just in time. Give your mother ten thousand yuan.”

The woman was none other than Lu Lu’s mother, Chen Xiaohong.

“Mom, you already took all my money—honestly, I have nothing left,” Lu Lu protested, her voice aggrieved.

“You wretched girl, talking back now? We raised you with such effort, and this is how you repay us?” Chen Xiaohong snapped, reaching out to pinch Lu Lu’s arm.

But before she could touch her, her wrist was caught in a firm grip.

She turned to see a man of unremarkable appearance and dress, and immediately demanded, “Who are you?”

“I’m her friend,” Lin Yi replied calmly as he let go.

“Friend? Looks more like a boyfriend to me.” Chen Xiaohong glared at him.

“Mom, what are you saying? Lin Yi really is just my friend,” Lu Lu quickly explained.

“Hmph, am I wrong?” Chen Xiaohong sneered, then said disdainfully to Lin Yi, “Look at my daughter—she’s beautiful, has a great figure. With your conditions, you’d better give up. To tell you the truth, I’ve already agreed to the village chief’s proposal. The bride price alone is a million.”

Lu Lu’s face changed. “Mom, who gave you the right to decide for me? When did I ever say I’d marry that idiot?”

“Idiot? His name is Zhang Xu. You’re my daughter—I’ll marry you to whomever I choose,” Chen Xiaohong declared, self-righteously.

“I—” Lu Lu’s eyes reddened once more.

At this, Chen Xiaohong seized Lu Lu’s hand and said, “Hurry home and get ready. Your father is at Zhang Xu’s house right now discussing your engagement.”

“I won’t!” Lu Lu broke free, quickly hiding behind Lin Yi.

Chen Xiaohong tried to grab her again, but Lin Yi stepped in, blocking her. “If I gave you a million, would you call off this engagement?”

“A million?” Chen Xiaohong scoffed. “With those bargain clothes, you probably don’t even have two hundred. How would you give me a million?”

Angel stepped out of the car and laughed softly, “Who said Mr. Lin has no money?”

If even her boss didn’t have money, then there would be few truly wealthy people in the world.

“And who are you?” Chen Xiaohong asked, tinged with jealousy. Angel’s looks, figure, and bearing were all exceptional—just standing there, she drew every eye. Even Lu Lu seemed somewhat inferior beside this mixed-blood beauty.

“No need to ask who I am. Do you see that car behind me?” Angel gestured elegantly at the Maserati.

“Oh my, a Maserati Quattroporte—that’s over a million!” Chen Xiaohong exclaimed, circling the car in delight.

Though her family had little, luxury goods were her favorite daydream, and she often fantasized about a life of gold and jewels. Though her daughter was a burden, she could still recoup some value at the right moment.

“You do have some discernment. To be honest, if Mr. Lin wanted, he could easily buy a hundred of these,” Angel smiled.

Lu Lu, too, was a bit surprised, but quickly thought Angel was probably just talking him up.

“Really?” Chen Xiaohong swallowed hard, her gaze toward Lin Yi now heated.

Whether Lin Yi had money or not was unclear, but this beautiful mixed-blood woman was definitely a true heiress.

“Of course. Do you think I’d lie to you?” Angel replied.

Chen Xiaohong’s eyes flashed, and she quickly invited, “Come, come in, both of you.”

Once inside, she told Lu Lu, “Treat our guests well—I’ll go get your father.”

As soon as Chen Xiaohong left, Lu Lu couldn’t help but ask, “Lin Yi, would you really give a million for me?”

Lin Yi nodded. He was generous with his friends.

Lu Lu felt a strange sweetness in her heart. If Lin Yi really was rich and just a bit more handsome, he’d be the ideal son-in-law. Unfortunately, all his posturing seemed propped up by Angel, and was easily exposed.

A sudden melancholy came over her. She patted her cheeks and said, “I’ll pour some tea for you. It’s just jasmine—Sister An, I hope you don’t mind.”

“You make me sound so delicate,” Angel teased.

“Hehe.” Lu Lu hurried off, returning in minutes with several cups of tea. She set them on the coffee table. Angel blew on hers and took a sip. “Not bad.”

Girls’ topics are easily opened. Lu Lu peppered Angel with questions about cosmetics, then talked about local snacks.

As they chatted and laughed, Chen Xiaohong’s voice called from the courtyard, “Lu Lu, come out—Zhang Xu is here!”

Lu Lu’s face changed immediately. Zhang Xu was her childhood playmate, but because she’d lacked parental affection growing up, she’d always been bullied—especially by Zhang Xu. But his father was the richest man in the village, a little tyrant since childhood whom no one dared cross.

As Lu Lu grew up and became more beautiful, Zhang Xu began to pursue her, but the shadow of childhood couldn’t simply be erased.

Lin Yi placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Come on, I’ll go with you.”

He could see that to Chen Xiaohong, Lu Lu was nothing more than a money-making tool, and he understood her reason for inviting Zhang Xu: she purely wanted to drive up the price, seeing who would pay more.

But from the very beginning, Lin Yi had never planned to pay a cent. Lu Lu was his friend, not a commodity to be bought and sold.

“Thank you, Lin Yi,” Lu Lu said.

“No need for thanks. Aren’t we friends?”

With that, Lin Yi left the room ahead of her. Lu Lu and Angel followed. When they reached the courtyard and saw seven or eight men blocking the way, Lu Lu’s face turned grim. These were all Zhang Xu’s cronies, layabouts who swaggered about behind him all day.

“Lu Lu, you worthless girl, what are you dawdling for?” Chen Xiaohong snapped, then turned to a strapping young man beside her. “Zhang Xu, this is Lin Yi. He’s offering a million for me to call off the engagement.”

Zhang Xu cast a disdainful glance at Lin Yi, but his gaze lingered on Angel.

“What a beautiful woman,” he remarked, giving Angel a once-over. Lu Lu was pretty, but she lacked Angel’s aura.

He knew better than to rush things, though—otherwise, he might end up with nothing.

With a light laugh, Zhang Xu said, “Aunt Chen, these days, a bit of money isn’t enough. You need connections too. To be frank, my father has established close ties with the Liu family.”

“The Liu family? The one in Lancheng?” Chen Xiaohong asked nervously.

“That’s right, the very one,” Zhang Xu replied smugly.

Lu Lu paled and tugged at Lin Yi’s arm. “Lin Yi, this is trouble.”

“Why?” Lin Yi asked.

“The Liu family is the most powerful in Lancheng. If Zhang Xu’s family really has connections there, my parents will definitely side with him.”

“It doesn’t matter. Even if the Liu family’s patriarch came himself, he wouldn’t dare interfere,” Lin Yi replied calmly.

Angel couldn’t help an inward smirk. Mr. Lin was a figure who could unite all the forces of Jiang Province—what was Lancheng’s so-called top family to him? Only a select few knew how truly formidable he was, for he kept a low profile.