Chapter Sixty-Three: Lin Yufei Admits Her Mistake

“Do you also want me to kneel and beg for forgiveness?” Hong Chen asked coolly. Shen Ruoshuang shook her head in panic. “Young Master Hong, I was blind to your greatness…”

“Enough, I don’t want to hear your nonsense,” Hong Chen interrupted, pointing at Tao Rui. “Are you still going to protect her?”

Shen Ruoshuang shook her head desperately. At that moment, Tao Rui’s face was ashen, her entire being as if struck by lightning, trembling slightly. The two glances Hong Chen cast her way became the final straw that broke her nerve. With a thud, she dropped to her knees.

“Young Master Hong, I’m sorry, I was wrong, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” Tao Rui wept uncontrollably, completely flustered, her fear muddling her thoughts as she repeated her apologies endlessly.

Had it been another girl, even knowing who Hong Chen was, she might not have lost her composure so thoroughly. But Tao Rui had grown used to being Shen Ruoshuang’s minion both on and off campus, her worldview already warped. In her mind, as long as someone had a powerful enough background, they could torment others at will. Now that the tables had turned, she couldn’t help but be terrified.

“Enough,” Hong Chen stepped forward, looking down at her, his voice stern. “I have two demands. First, pass a message to Li Yi: after eight tonight but before eight-thirty, he must come to the King’s Club. If he doesn’t, he’ll bear the consequences. Second, from now on, you are to stay at least thirty meters away from Lin Yufei. If you bother her again, you know what will happen.”

Tao Rui agreed at once, nodding fervently. Hong Chen gestured with his hand. “Get up, I didn’t ask you to kneel.”

Trembling, Tao Rui got to her feet, still murmuring her thanks, her mind in a haze—was it really that simple?

Hong Chen then spoke briefly with Jiang Jiwen, politely declining his invitation to lunch, and left. Just then, a girl emerged from the dormitory building—it was Zhang Yan, Lin Yufei’s roommate.

“Tao Rui, that guy is Lin Yufei’s useless brother-in-law. When he came to our dorm, he saw Lin Yufei beaten up like a pig’s head and swore he’d avenge his sister-in-law and come after you,” Zhang Yan said, glancing at Hong Chen’s receding figure, then at Tao Rui among the gathering crowd. Motives unclear, she leaned in to stoke the flames.

As soon as she finished, Zhang Yan sensed something was off. Everyone was staring at her with hostility, sending a chill down her spine.

…

Xu Le and Lin Yufei talked for nearly half an hour at the campus café before Hong Chen finally arrived. Seeing things were settled, he had Lin Yufei sign a labor agreement for 1.35 million, stipulating that for the next two years, she would work two evenings a week on weekdays, plus Saturdays at Hongcheng Group as a temp. The specific work would be assigned as needed.

With business concluded, Lin Yufei went to class. Xu Le called Cao Zilin, and the three met at Cafeteria B for lunch. Afterward, Hong Chen slipped away alone, not wanting to be a third wheel.

At seven in the evening, Hong Chen drove his old Santana to the entrance of Qing City University. Lin Yufei was already waiting; as soon as he parked, she got into the passenger seat.

Tonight, they were scheduled to meet the Bald Giant at the King’s Club at eight-thirty. As the debtor, Lin Yufei had to be present. Of course, Hong Chen had other reasons for bringing her along.

“Why are you staring at me?” As they drove, Hong Chen shot a glance at Lin Yufei, who had been gazing at him curiously since she got in, making him uncomfortable.

“Tao Rui came to apologize this afternoon. She also gave me thirty thousand as compensation.” Lin Yufei, her face masked, voice distant, handed over three stacks of hundred-yuan bills.

“What am I supposed to do with that? You got beaten up—consider it your wages,” Hong Chen replied indifferently, not reaching for the money.

Lin Yufei hesitated, then quietly said, “Hong Chen, I’m sorry for everything in the past.”

Lin Yufei, apologizing to him?

Hong Chen wondered if he’d misheard. Yet, seeing the sincerity in her eyes, he fell silent for a long moment before asking, “Did Tao Rui tell you something?”

Lin Yufei shook her head. “She just apologized. I asked if it was because of you. She denied it, but I’m not stupid—I know it must be because of you.”

She paused, then went on, “I know I got myself into serious trouble this time, but even up until you came this morning, I was still deluding myself. I guess I’ve been too naive.”

At last, she lowered her eyes, guilt and torment clear in her expression.

Hong Chen exhaled softly and nodded. “I accept your apology. I hope you’ll learn from this lesson.”

Before eight o’clock, the Santana pulled into the club’s parking lot. After getting out, Hong Chen sent Lin Yufei into the lobby and headed alone to a quiet spot, lighting a cigarette. Halfway through, his gaze sharpened as he noticed something.

In the darkness, a man and woman approached side by side—Tank and Qiu.

“The mask and cloak are in the car, second row in the parking lot, license plate number XXXXX. Remember, only strike if your opponent poses a threat,” Hong Chen instructed. Tank nodded silently, then slipped away into the night.

“You’ll come with me. Anyone I point out, you’re responsible for bringing to Room 6.”

Qiu nodded without objection and followed Hong Chen into the lobby. When Lin Yufei saw the stunning woman at Hong Chen’s side, her eyes filled with undisguised suspicion, though she said nothing.

“Come on, let’s go identify them,” Hong Chen said, not introducing Qiu. He showed a membership card from Gao Tianxiong, passed through verification, and led Qiu and Lin Yufei into the club.

The night Lin Yufei played cards, besides Li Yi, Lin Meimei, and Lin Huihuang, there were four others who collectively won almost two million. Hong Chen gave Lin Yuxin a task: identify these four—assuming they were in the club.

They made a circuit of the public lounges, but with no luck. Then they moved to the card room area, which had twenty private rooms.

The three of them went room to room. At the sixth, Lin Yufei’s eyes swept the table and locked onto a balding middle-aged man. She whispered, “He’s one of the four.”

Hong Chen said nothing, just looked at Qiu. Then, he and Lin Yufei stepped out. Less than a minute later, Qiu emerged with the middle-aged man. He appeared to have his arm slung over Qiu’s shoulder, but in fact, she was supporting him. Though she looked delicate, she bore at least one hundred and fifty pounds with ease; the man’s feet barely touched the ground, his head drooping, eyes half-closed in a drunken stupor. It looked as though he had simply had too much to drink.