Chapter 82: Worthless

Two days after Zhou Xuan’s birthday banquet, You Chong went back to the company again because of his heavy workload.

Lately, the two of them had been seeing each other less and less, but Lin Hexi had already gotten used to it. You Chong was constantly busy, and Lin Hexi had his own things to take care of as well.

Following the advice of the old professor from the Art College, Lin Hexi had already begun preparing for the postgraduate entrance exams at the end of the year. He spent his days immersed in the library and attending specialized training classes for his courses.

Although he had no plans or intention to study abroad, at this moment, Lin Hexi couldn’t help but feel grateful that You Chong had insisted last year that he pass the CET-6 English exam. At least now, when he opened the postgraduate exam English materials, he no longer felt the overwhelming headache he had experienced the previous year at the sight of English letters.

Even though they hadn’t seen each other, they maintained regular contact for a set amount of time each day.

However, about a week later, someone claiming to be You Chong’s father’s assistant approached him, saying that You Chong’s father wanted to meet him.

At the time, Lin Hexi was on his way to a training class when a luxurious car stopped him by the roadside.

Lin Hexi didn’t say much, only asking the assistant, “Is Mr. You in the car?”

The assistant opened the car door and, in a formal tone, invited him in, “The driver will take you there.”

Lin Hexi shrugged and spread his hands. “My schedule is full. I’m heading to class now, and later I have to go to the library.”

The assistant remained silent but glanced toward the front and back of the car.

Suddenly, the two cars parked in front and behind the luxury vehicle stirred, and four people emerged from them, walking toward Lin Hexi.

Lin Hexi smirked slightly, instantly understanding the reason You Chong’s father had sought him out. As he called his training class instructor to ask for leave, he bent down and got into the car. After hanging up the phone, he even jokingly asked the assistant sitting in the front passenger seat, “Has Mr. You prepared the check?”

The assistant wisely chose to remain silent.

Finding it dull, Lin Hexi simply opened his phone and started watching an online course for his postgraduate English exam, letting the audio play aloud in the car as he focused on it.

The assistant in the front seat glanced at him several times through the rearview mirror, feeling increasingly conflicted. He couldn’t help but think that this illegitimate child of the Lin family was indeed quite different from the rumors circulating about him.

The driver took him directly to a coffee shop in the city’s business district. The assistant led him to a private room upstairs, knocked on the door for him, and then stopped outside, making no move to enter.

Lin Hexi glanced at him briefly and, without any change in expression, walked inside.

You Yueteng was sitting in the private room, waiting for him.

Although Lin Hexi had attended Zhou Xuan’s birthday banquet that night and You Yueteng was also present, he hadn’t seen him in the banquet hall.

Now, looking at the man exuding the commanding presence of someone in power, Lin Hexi didn’t spend much time scrutinizing him. Instead, he took an extra moment to observe the man’s facial features and contours.

Even though he had never met Mrs. You, it wasn’t hard for Lin Hexi to see that You Chong’s appearance inherited all the best traits from his biological parents. Undoubtedly, You Chong had surpassed even his own father in looks.

Suddenly thinking of You Chong, Lin Hexi couldn’t help but curl his lips into a slight smile before taking a seat across from You Yueteng.

You Yueteng took the initiative to ask him, “Aren’t you going to call You Chong?”

Lin Hexi thought about it seriously, then casually replied, “I’m guessing he’s probably in a meeting right now?”

You Yueteng paused briefly, then smiled. “You’re not foolish. You should know the reason I asked you here today.”

“I do.” Lin Hexi nodded. “But aren’t you going to ask what kind of relationship I have with You Chong?” He half-joked, half-seriously added, “Perhaps we’re just mutually beneficial bed partners.”

“If it were truly just a bed partner relationship, I wouldn’t interfere in your affairs,” You Yueteng said, his sharp gaze sweeping over Lin Hexi’s face. “But unfortunately, it’s not. I’ve called you here for one reason.” He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, speaking slowly and deliberately, “Break up with You Chong.”

Lin Hexi met his gaze directly, unable to suppress a look of confusion. “Where do you get the confidence that I would break up with You Chong?”

You Yueteng replied, “Do you really think that with the Lin family’s limited assets and connections, you can withstand the pressure I’m capable of exerting?”

The confusion on Lin Hexi’s face deepened. “What does whether the Lin family can withstand your pressure have to do with me? I’m just an illegitimate child. None of the Lin family’s assets or matters are connected to me. But, based on what you’ve said,” he raised his lips into a slight smile, “I’m actually kind of curious to see the Lin family go bankrupt.”

“If the Lin family has nothing to do with you, then—” You Yueteng narrowed his eyes, “what about your career, your future? Are you really willing to give all that up for You Chong?”

Lin Hexi, having anticipated this line of argument, remained unfazed.

“I can make sure you don’t graduate, and I can make sure you never find a job,” You Yueteng’s tone was as calm as if he were discussing something trivial. “I’ve heard you’ve been preparing for your postgraduate exams recently. I can also make sure you don’t pass. Think it over carefully—I can do many things, while you can do very few.”

Lin Hexi remained silent and composed, never responding to his words.

You Yueteng continued, “If you don’t care about those things, what about You Chong’s future? Everything he has now, I gave him. Just as I gave it to him, I can take it back at any time. At that point, you’ll be the one responsible for ruining his career and his future.”

“You won’t,” Lin Hexi finally lifted his gaze. From the moment You Yueteng began threatening him with You Chong, he stopped using any respectful titles when addressing the man in front of him. “If you were really going to do that, then the person sitting here today wouldn’t be me, it would be You Chong.”

Not denying his words, You Yueteng’s gaze lingered on Lin Hexi’s face for two seconds before he suddenly changed the subject. His tone softened noticeably. “You were an art student in high school, right?”

As if he had already guessed what was coming next, Lin Hexi remained silent, merely looking at him.

“But now you’re studying a major completely unrelated to art. Since we can’t reach an agreement, why don’t we both take a step back?” You Yueteng slowly smiled. “You want to pursue a master’s degree in fine arts, right? Break up with You Chong, and I’ll send you to study at a prestigious university abroad for your fine arts degree. I’ll cover all your expenses while you’re overseas.”

He asked, “How about it?”

Lin Hexi finally moved, but it was only to take out his phone and check the time. “When can I leave?”

You Yueteng stared at him for a moment, his eyes dark, before his expression returned to normal. He picked up the phone on the table and dialed a number.

The assistant answered the call and quickly entered the room. “Mr. You.”

You Yueteng said, “Take him back.”

The assistant responded respectfully and stood by, waiting.

Lin Hexi stood up from his seat and turned to head for the door, but then he heard You Yueteng’s voice again from behind, full of meaning and condescension: “You will agree.”

After pausing for a second, Lin Hexi walked out without looking back.

After leaving You Yueteng’s place, Lin Hexi spent the last three peaceful days before his planned departure abroad.

During those three days, You Chong’s workload at the company doubled. When they video-called, Lin Hexi could clearly see the dark circles under You Chong’s eyes.

It wasn’t until the morning of the fourth day, when Lin Hexi was physically overpowered by strangers at his doorstep and pushed into a car parked downstairs, that he understood what You Yueteng had meant by “you will agree.” These people not only forced him into the car but also broke into the place he shared with You Chong, locked their Alaskan dog and cat on the balcony, and forcibly packed a suitcase of his belongings to take away.

He didn’t care about the Lin family’s survival, but the Lin family did. And throughout these past few years, he had never truly escaped the control of the Lin family to live an independent life.

Lin Yuanwei wouldn’t dare offend You Yueteng; in fact, he constantly schemed about how to latch onto the You family.

During those three days, You Yueteng had approached Lin Yuanwei. Lin Hexi was forcibly taken back to the Lin household and locked up, with all his electronic devices and important documents confiscated.

The Lin family didn’t let a word of this slip outside, and even Lin Tong had no idea that he was being held at home.

Besides being unable to contact You Chong, Lin Hexi was also worried about the Alaskan dog and the cat at home, with no one to take care of them.

Over the next ten days, he didn’t give up on any method of escaping the Lin family. Whether it was trying to climb out of the upstairs window or sneaking out during the housekeeper’s meal deliveries, he made several attempts.

However, the bodyguards Lin Yuanwei had borrowed from You Yueteng were no pushovers. On his last attempt to escape, when he was caught, the leader responsible for guarding him even resorted to physical violence.

Ten days later, in the middle of the night at 2 a.m., those men dragged him out of bed, drove him to the airport, and the swelling on the corner of Lin Hexi’s mouth was still very noticeable.

Wearing a mask, Lin Hexi was flanked by tall and strong bodyguards as they escorted him without any trouble into the empty VIP lounge at the airport.

Thirty minutes before boarding, You Yueteng and Lin Yuanwei appeared in the lounge.

In front of You Yueteng, Lin Yuanwei berated him, calling him shameless for seducing others, ungrateful, and accusing him of being just as lowly as his biological mother.

Throughout the entire tirade, Lin Hexi kept his eyes lowered, completely ignoring Lin Yuanwei’s words.

Just as Lin Yuanwei was about to continue, You Yueteng waved his hand, stopping him.

At You Yueteng’s signal, the bodyguards began escorting Lin Hexi toward the boarding gate. After taking a few steps, he was suddenly called from behind.

You Yueteng walked slowly up to him and smiled slightly. “I told you before I would send you abroad to study, and that offer still stands.”

Not believing You Yueteng would be so generous, Lin Hexi stared at his face for a long time before freezing in realization.

A moment later, as the pieces fell into place, he clenched his teeth and, with icy eyes, asked, “You want to tell You Chong that I chose to give him up in exchange for a chance to study abroad?”

The smile on You Yueteng’s face deepened. “See, I told you before, you’re not foolish.” He glanced at the bodyguards standing nearby. “Gag him.”

Before the words had fully left You Yueteng’s mouth, someone had already grabbed Lin Hexi’s arms, forcefully covering his mouth.

You Yueteng signaled to the assistant behind him to call You Chong.

The assistant did as instructed, and once the call connected, he handed the phone over to You Yueteng.

Taking the phone, You Yueteng pressed it to his ear.

Whatever was said on the other end, You Yueteng, standing right in front of Lin Hexi, calmly admitted, “Yes, I did meet with him, three days before he left for abroad.”

“I did meet with him, but if just based on what I said, he agreed to break up with you and chose to accept my support to study abroad, it seems he doesn’t love you very much,” You Yueteng continued before You Chong could press further. “Besides, staying with you would mean not only enduring my pressure and difficulties but also facing a future where he might not graduate or find work.”

“With two completely different futures laid out before him, I think,” You Yueteng’s tone took on a deeper meaning, “no one would refuse the chance to study abroad, receive regular financial support, and live a comfortable life.”

Before hanging up, You Yueteng calmly glanced at Lin Hexi, who was struggling desperately, his eyes burning with fury. Then, he spoke coolly into the phone one last time, “You Chong, this is reality. In the face of it, love is worthless.”