Chapter Fifty-Eight: A Missed Opportunity

Dong Wenwen knew her explanations would be of little use, but she refused to believe Lin Yi would do such a thing. Even someone as prominent as Yao Likun admired Lin Yi so much; how could he possibly steal such a trivial amount of money and brazenly keep it on his person?

Dong Wenwen said, “Perhaps someone deliberately framed him.”

As she spoke, Dong Wenwen glanced at Li Yang.

Li Yang was not as composed as Yuan Zhekai; upon hearing Dong Wenwen’s words, his expression grew visibly anxious. He had chosen to approach Lin Yi only when no one else was around.

Jiang Xiaoning seemed to notice Li Yang’s change. She lowered her voice, irritated and impatient: “What are you scared of? She’s just trying to frighten you. Don’t mess things up for me later.”

Li Yang’s nerves eased slightly, and he nodded quietly.

Yuan Zhekai spoke in a grave tone: “Dong Wenwen, we’re all friends here. Who would deliberately frame him?”

“Friends?” Dong Wenwen sneered.

From the start of the gathering, these people had done nothing but try to exclude Lin Yi. Earlier, in the hotel lobby, Lin Yi had helped them, but what had they done in return?

Hearing Yuan Zhekai utter the word “friends,” Dong Wenwen found it laughable.

Jiang Xiaoning could hardly stand it any longer. She said impatiently, “Kai, why waste words with her? Just send Lin Yi to the police station.”

“Yes, exactly.”

Everyone agreed. After all, Lin Yi never fit in; he’d been solitary throughout university. If they didn’t ostracize him, then who?

Lin Yi watched it all with calm eyes. In truth, he’d already guessed their intentions when Li Yang approached. But he said nothing; to him, these childish schemes were nothing more than kids playing house—barely worth his attention.

Yuan Zhekai feigned distress: “Lin Yi, we’ve been friends for years. If you needed money, you could have just asked. Why steal?”

Lin Yi replied expressionlessly, “Such petty cash means nothing to me. Why would I steal it?”

His words made everyone furious.

Pretend all you want.

At a time like this, not only did he refuse to repent, he even boasted.

This kind of money doesn’t matter to you? Do you even have it?

Yuan Zhekai was delighted, seeing that Lin Yi had now provoked everyone’s wrath.

“Lin Yi, I’ll give you a chance: kneel and knock your head ten times, then crawl under my legs. I’ll pretend none of this happened. I heard from Li Yang you’re a teacher, right? Don’t let this leave a stain on your record.”

Yuan Zhekai’s words were laced with threat.

If you don’t apologize, fine, we’ll hand you over to the police. You’ll never escape the mark on your name.

It must be said, Yuan Zhekai’s plan, though simple, was enough to ruin a person’s future.

The crucial thing was that, aside from Dong Wenwen, no one would speak for Lin Yi.

Dong Wenwen said, disappointed, “Yuan Zhekai, isn’t this too much?”

“Too much? Ask everyone—do you think I’m being excessive?” Yuan Zhekai chuckled.

“Wenwen, did that thief hypnotize you or something? Why keep defending him?”

“Hypnotize? I think the two of them are having an affair.”

“She acts so pure, but who knows how many men she’s been with behind the scenes. Shameless.”

Everyone chimed in, siding with Yuan Zhekai.

Some jealous girls said the nastiest things they could.

No matter how strong Dong Wenwen was, she was still a girl, and her heart was deeply hurt.

Lin Yi shook his head, took out his phone, and directly called Angel.

“Hello, Angel? Come to the equestrian club outside the city, and bring plenty of cash.”

With that, he hung up.

Yuan Zhekai sneered, “Lin Yi, who are you trying to impress now?”

“Angel from Linda Group. Do you know her?” Lin Yi smiled faintly.

Yuan Zhekai certainly knew Angel.

As Linda Group’s spokesperson, if he didn’t know her, he’d have wasted his life.

“Heh, are you going to tell me Secretary An will be here soon?” Yuan Zhekai scoffed.

“Yes.” Lin Yi nodded.

Yuan Zhekai laughed as if he’d heard the funniest joke.

Angel was someone even his father had to make an appointment to meet, and Lin Yi—a mere student, a country bumpkin—claimed he could summon her with a call.

It was the difference between a billionaire and a beggar. Lin Yi ought to look in the mirror before boasting.

After a while, Yuan Zhekai said, “Fine, I want to see if Angel will show up today.”

He was determined to crush Lin Yi’s arrogance.

“Ten minutes should be enough.” Lin Yi checked his watch.

Time passed quickly. Five minutes later, a white Maserati slowly stopped at the club entrance.

“Wow, that’s a Maserati Quattroporte, worth over a million,” Jiang Xiaoning said, staring at the car in envy.

The other girls looked on with longing.

The car door opened, and a stunningly beautiful mixed-race woman stepped out.

She wore a smart business suit, her hair in a bun, black stockings and heels. She looked competent yet alluring, impossible to look away from.

This was Angel.

Even without makeup, just a touch of red lipstick, she was dazzling.

“So beautiful, so elegant,” murmured the boys.

“Vixen, showing off,” Jiang Xiaoning said sourly, noticing Yuan Zhekai’s eyes fixed on Angel.

Her voice wasn’t loud, but Angel, experienced as she was, caught it easily.

Her cold gaze swept over Jiang Xiaoning, who shrank back instinctively, unable to withstand Angel’s aura.

Suddenly, Yuan Zhekai slapped Jiang Xiaoning hard across the face.

“Kai, what are you doing?” Jiang Xiaoning snapped angrily.

She’d been stewing ever since Lin Yi slapped her earlier, and now Yuan Zhekai’s unexpected strike made her fury boil over.

“Apologize immediately,” Yuan Zhekai demanded, his back drenched in cold sweat.

Jiang Xiaoning was reckless, talking about anyone without care. She might end up in trouble someday.

“Why should I? I won’t!” Jiang Xiaoning screamed.

Yuan Zhekai’s face darkened, and he ignored her. If she wanted to dig her own grave, let her.

He walked quickly to Angel, forcing a smile: “Secretary An, what brings you here?”

But Angel didn’t even glance at him. She scanned the crowd and asked, “Where is Mr. Lin?”

Mr. Lin!

Yuan Zhekai’s scalp tingled. He hadn’t expected Lin Yi’s call would actually bring Angel here.

Not only that, she called him Mr. Lin.

It was just like before at the Jin Hao Hotel, when Yao Likun had addressed him as Mr. Lin.

Now Angel did the same.

Li Yang claimed Lin Yi was just a teacher. It made sense he could know Yao Likun, but how did he know Angel as well?

“Secretary An, who’s Mr. Lin?” Yuan Zhekai asked, his nerves fraying.

“Lin Yi. Mr. Lin.” Angel glanced at Yuan Zhekai indifferently.

On any other day, a word from Angel would delight him, but now, he felt only terror.

Yes, terror.

Lin Yi’s status seemed far greater than they’d imagined.

Jiang Xiaoning was dumbfounded, realizing the beautiful woman was Angel.

She knew only that Linda Group in Jiang Province was managed by Angel, but had never paid much attention to her personally.

More importantly, this woman had come for Lin Yi.

Suddenly, she remembered Lin Yi’s earlier call, when he’d said it was to the Wang family.

If so…

The thought made Jiang Xiaoning’s legs buckle, and she collapsed gracelessly to the floor.

Dong Wenwen stepped out from the crowd, saying, “Secretary An, Lin Yi is being detained in the club’s main hall.”

Angel’s expression changed instantly, her voice rising: “What? Take me there, quickly!”

“Alright.”

Dong Wenwen led Angel to the hall, where they found Lin Yi sitting calmly, surrounded by four male students.

Angel rushed to Lin Yi’s side, her tone urgent: “Mr. Lin, are you alright?”

Yuan Zhekai, who had followed them in, felt his mind spin at Angel’s anxious voice.

He was finished, truly finished now.

Lin Yi shook his head. “Did you bring the money?”

“Mr. Lin, I wasn’t sure how much you needed, so I brought ten million first. Will that be enough?” Angel replied respectfully.

The surrounding classmates were shocked.

Ten million, and she asked if it was enough?

My god, was this the Lin Yi they knew?

Just standing next to Angel made them feel pressured, but now it seemed Lin Yi was her superior.

“It’s enough.”

Lin Yi stood up abruptly, looking at Yuan Zhekai with indifferent eyes. “I told you, your money means nothing to me.”

Yuan Zhekai had lost all his arrogance, nodding repeatedly: “Yes, you’re right.”

Ten million was about his family’s annual profit. Yet Lin Yi’s word had brought Angel with that sum, without hesitation.

What did that mean?

Lin Yi likely knew Linda Group’s top executives, or perhaps he himself was one.

The more Yuan Zhekai thought, the more terrified he became. He wished he could slap himself twice for his foolishness.

Why, oh why, had he been so arrogant, only to kick iron?

Angel was perceptive. From a few words, she understood the situation fully, her face cold as ice: “If Mr. Lin wants, even a hundred million or a billion is possible.”

Then she looked to Lin Yi, “Mr. Lin, I think we should call the police.”

Yuan Zhekai, Jiang Xiaoning, and Li Yang all broke out in cold sweats, their legs trembling.

If this were investigated, with Linda Group’s power and influence, they’d be finished for life.

For a moment, the entire hall was silent.

Lin Yi scanned the three and said, “You deal with this as you see fit.”

He knew that after today, these classmates would never dare speak to him again.

But Lin Yi didn’t care; he didn’t need these false friends.

“No problem.” Angel nodded and made a call to arrange things.

Lin Yi said, “Let’s go. Take me home.”

“Mr. Lin, please.”

Angel stood respectfully behind Lin Yi, opening the car door for him.

To the others, this scene was bitter indeed—they’d missed an opportunity.