Chapter Fifty-Six: What Are You Trying to Do?

Dong Wenwen was a little surprised. She had already taken the initiative to invite him—if it had been any other boy, he would have been overjoyed by now. Yet Lin Yi's gaze remained clear and calm. There was not the slightest hint of delight at her invitation, as if, in his eyes, she was no more than a passing stranger. No, not as if—as a matter of fact, that was exactly the case.

This realization made Dong Wenwen uneasy. Anxiously, she composed herself and said, “Lin Yi, I hope I can work under your leadership.”

Opportunities must be fought for, and right now one stood before her. She wasn’t about to let it slip by.

“I am just a teacher,” Lin Yi replied, shaking his head.

For a moment, Dong Wenwen didn’t know what to say, though she knew in her heart that Lin Yi was certainly not as simple as a teacher.

Then Lin Yi spoke again: “If you can, by your own ability, become the Director of Housekeeping at the Golden Grand Hotel in three months, I’ll give you a chance.”

Dong Wenwen’s eyes lit up. Though rising to Director of Housekeeping in three months would be difficult, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

“Lin Yi, I’ll give it my all,” Dong Wenwen said, somewhat delighted.

“Very well,” Lin Yi answered indifferently.

The two of them entered the riding arena, where their classmates were selecting horses.

Jiang Xiaoning spotted Lin Yi and sneered, “Oh, Lin Yi, finished your call? Who were you talking to, so secretive about it.”

“Do you really want to know?” Lin Yi asked with a smile.

Jiang Xiaoning beamed and nodded. “Of course.”

She had just heard Yuan Zhekai’s analysis: Lin Yi was a nobody who, by some mysterious means, had helped Young Master Yao. Young Master Yao had shown him some respect, but Lin Yi seemed to have overestimated himself.

Most likely, after today, Young Master Yao’s impression of Lin Yi would change drastically, and then he could trample on him as he pleased.

“Do you know Wang Yang?” Lin Yi asked, half-smiling.

“Wang Yang? Who’s that? Never heard of him. Must be some nobody,” Jiang Xiaoning scoffed. She certainly didn’t know anyone named Wang Yang—if it were Li Yang, maybe.

But Yuan Zhekai found the name Wang Yang familiar. Suddenly, he looked at Lin Yi and asked, “You mean the old master of the Wang family who’s risen to prominence recently?”

He might not know Wang Tong, but the old master of the Wang family was a hot topic among the upper echelons of Jiang Province.

“That’s right,” Lin Yi nodded.

Jiang Xiaoning clung to Yuan Zhekai’s arm and asked, “Brother Kai, who’s this old master Wang?”

“It’s normal you don’t know,” Yuan Zhekai explained. “There are ten major families in Jiang Province, and the Wang family ranks first.”

Jiang Xiaoning didn’t know much about the province’s ten great families, so she asked, “How do they compare to Young Master Yao’s family?”

“Heh, Young Master Yao?” Yuan Zhekai shook his head. “There’s no comparison. With a single word, the Wang family could bankrupt the Yao family. You tell me who’s more powerful.”

Everyone’s eyes widened in shock. They hadn’t realized the Wang family was so formidable.

Yao Likun was already a significant figure in their eyes, yet with a single word from the Wang family, the Yao family could become history.

Jiang Xiaoning’s face paled slightly, clearly startled by Yuan Zhekai’s words.

Then, glaring at Lin Yi, she mocked, “Ha! The old master Wang is so busy, and our Mr. Lin claims he’s calling his family? Can’t you come up with something a little more believable?”

She couldn’t believe this country bumpkin Lin Yi could possibly know Wang Yang.

Yuan Zhekai also ‘kindly’ advised, “Lin Yi, be careful what you say in the future. If the Wang family heard this, you’d get beaten up for sure.”

“Thank you for your reminder,” Lin Yi replied calmly.

Jiang Xiaoning grew even more annoyed at Lin Yi’s indifferent attitude—it was like a beggar you’d always pitied suddenly winning the lottery and now looking at you differently.

“Hmph, always pretending,” she muttered, then sweetly said to Yuan Zhekai, “Brother Kai, let’s go pick out a horse.”

Soon, everyone had chosen their horses and changed into their riding gear.

Lin Yi, however, didn’t need any protection, so he didn’t change.

He watched the fine horses galloping in the arena, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.

Just then, Jiang Xiaoning, riding a young mare, trotted over to Lin Yi and giggled, “Hey, Lin Yi, are you too scared to ride? Not even changing your clothes?”

“No need,” Lin Yi replied.

“Ha! ‘No need?’ What arrogance. If you’re scared, just admit it. Doesn’t it tire you out, pretending all the time?” Jiang Xiaoning said.

Lin Yi couldn’t be bothered to respond. He deliberately chose a Mongolian horse.

This breed was sturdy and spirited—hard to handle for the average rider.

But for Lin Yi, this was no challenge at all.

Jiang Xiaoning was a little surprised at his choice, but mostly scornful.

Even Yuan Zhekai, a seasoned rider, had chosen a docile Sanhe mare. Yet Lin Yi was courting disaster by picking such a wild stallion.

Sure enough, a nearby female instructor approached with concern, “Sir, if you’re a beginner, I’d advise against riding that one.”

“It’s fine,” Lin Yi smiled, seating himself effortlessly on the horse’s back.

The Mongolian horse immediately began to struggle. Jiang Xiaoning watched gleefully, hoping Lin Yi would be thrown off hard.

Yet Lin Yi sat as unmoving as a mountain, no matter how the horse bucked.

Soon, the Mongolian horse stopped struggling and obediently allowed Lin Yi to ride.

Jiang Xiaoning’s face darkened; she hadn’t expected Lin Yi to actually tame the horse, and the thought annoyed her.

The instructor breathed a sigh of relief. Now that Lin Yi had subdued the horse, barring any unexpected incidents, nothing should happen.

But Jiang Xiaoning couldn’t stand to see Lin Yi succeed, and a vicious glint flashed in her eyes.

As she passed by Lin Yi’s Mongolian horse, she suddenly slapped the horse’s hindquarters.

Startled, the horse bolted in a frenzy.

Lin Yi’s gaze turned cold as he pulled hard on the reins.

“Stop!”

With a quiet command, the Mongolian horse froze in place.

The instructor hurried over. “Are you all right?”

Lin Yi said nothing, but fixed his gaze on Jiang Xiaoning.

“What are you looking at me for?” Jiang Xiaoning called out, her voice tinged with guilt.

“Why did you slap my horse?” Lin Yi’s voice was cold.

He had let previous slights slide, but this time Jiang Xiaoning had gone too far.

“Don’t you go accusing me without proof! Be careful or I’ll sue you for slander!” Jiang Xiaoning retorted.

Lin Yi shook his head and strode over to her, his eyes icy.

“What… what do you want?” Jiang Xiaoning stammered, backing away in fear.

Lin Yi’s gaze was like a torch, making Jiang Xiaoning furious at herself for being intimidated by a country bumpkin.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She raised her hand to slap Lin Yi across the face.

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

Just then, Yuan Zhekai shouted, “Lin Yi, what kind of man are you, bullying a woman?”

The commotion had attracted attention; many people were now watching.

“Brother Kai, help me! Lin Yi’s gone mad—he wants to hit me!” Jiang Xiaoning pleaded, looking pitiful.

Yuan Zhekai strode over, his expression grave. “Let her go, or don’t blame me for what happens next.”

Lin Yi chuckled. “And what will you do?”

Yuan Zhekai’s eyes darkened. He didn’t dare cross Yao Likun because of his connections, but who did this pauper Lin Yi think he was?

With a swift motion, Yuan Zhekai launched a Taekwondo kick at Lin Yi—a kick that could break a board, let alone hurt a person.

Lin Yi’s eyes filled with disdain. He easily caught Yuan Zhekai’s ankle with his free hand, then kicked him lightly on the calf.

Yuan Zhekai gasped in pain, and reflexively dropped to one knee.

The whole exchange happened so fast that most bystanders hadn’t even realized what had happened before Yuan Zhekai was brought down.

“Damn it!” Yuan Zhekai gritted his teeth. He’d hoped to redeem himself, but once again, Lin Yi had humiliated him. The defeat stung bitterly.

Jiang Xiaoning’s face turned deathly pale. She protested tearfully, “Lin Yi, I only said a few words to you. Did you have to be so petty?”

She would never admit her guilt. At worst, it would ruin their relationship; at worst, it could land her at the police station. She was only in her twenties, with her whole life ahead of her. Given her relationship with Lin Yi, admitting fault now would lead to nothing good.