Chapter 23: Discovered! Shura Field

There was only one narrow path to the restroom, only wide enough for one person. Lin Yiwan stopped, her gaze emotionless as she looked at him.

“Lin Yiwan, tell me, what are you doing?” Song Huaiqing’s fists were clenched tight, his red eyes fixed on her.

Lin Yiwan’s lips curled into a slight smile, but her eyes remained cold. “As you can see, Brother Xie Lin and I are getting married soon.”

“Ha…ha…ha…married?” Song Huaiqing chuckled, his eyes becoming even redder and more frightening.  “You’re getting married to my uncle?!” 

He had drunk several glasses of wine, his blood rushing, and he even swore.

Lin Yiwan sneered coldly. “Who I marry is none of your business. What right do you have to question me?”  In her previous life, he had never acknowledged their relationship. Only a few people knew they were dating.

Song Huaiqing, intoxicated by alcohol, couldn’t listen to reason. “I know, you’re getting revenge, right? Revenge for me advising you to give your job to Yirou, forcing you to go to the countryside.”

Lin Yiwan scoffed coldly. “Who do you think you are? That I’d use my marriage to get revenge on you? You’re too full of yourself! I’m marrying Brother Xie Lin because I admire his handsome looks and abilities!”

“Impossible! I don’t believe it!” Song Huaiqing interrupted angrily. She couldn’t possibly like his uncle!  She liked him!  Her eyes had always shone so brightly when she looked at him.

“I don’t believe it! Don’t lie to me! Wanwan, I know I was wrong, I’ll go to the countryside with you, okay? Don’t marry my uncle!”

Lin Yiwan almost laughed. He’d rather give up his job and go to the countryside with her than let Lin Yirou lose her job. What a saint!

“Should I marry you instead?  Wait for you to convince me to give my house to Lin Yirou?

Or wait for you to convince me to save food and send it to Lin Yirou, who has a job?

Or wait for you to tell me not to spend money and save it to buy Lin Yirou leather shoes?” 

These were things that had actually happened in her previous life.  With each sentence, her voice grew colder.

“Lin Yiwan! Don’t talk nonsense, I never said those things!”

“Oh really? You could even decide to give away my job, a mere house and food are nothing to you, right?”

Song Huaiqing was speechless.

“Get out of my way!” Lin Yiwan said coldly.

“Get out of your way?” Song Huaiqing stared at her. “Why should I? You’re my girlfriend, you should marry me!”  He moved closer.

Lin Yiwan’s heart tightened, her feet retreating.  If this escalated, it would be hard to contain.  She hadn’t expected this reaction. Didn’t he like Lin Yirou? She had made space for them, and he was still unhappy?

Seeing the slight panic on her face, the coldness gone, replaced by vividness, Song Huaiqing, slightly drunk, felt a surge of admiration and infatuation. 

His gaze fixed on her lips, his breathing quickening. He only wanted to kiss her!  If he kissed her, she wouldn’t marry his uncle!

“Wanwan… Wanwan…” Song Huaiqing murmured, cornering her.

Lin Yiwan knew what he was thinking. Her heart pounded. She pulled out the brass knuckles she had bought for self-defense. 

Just as she was about to strike, Xie Lin’s voice came from the end of the path.

“Wanwan, what took you so long?”

The deep, magnetic voice was like a thunderbolt, snapping Song Huaiqing out of his frenzy!  He instinctively stepped back. 

Lin Yiwan’s heart almost stopped.  Quickly putting away the knuckles, she said, flustered, “I… I haven’t been here in a while, I forgot where the restroom was.”  Her nervousness made her ignore his “Wanwan.”

Xie Lin appeared at the end of the path.  Backlit, Lin Yiwan couldn’t see his expression.  Song Huaiqing was sober.

“Un…Uncle…” he stammered, feeling Xie Lin’s gaze like a mountain pressing down on him.

“Mm.” Xie Lin responded calmly, then turned to Lin Yiwan.  “Did you find the restroom? Do you need me to take you?”

Lin Yiwan quickly shook her head.  “I’m done.”  She walked away, her legs weak.  He… must have heard!

Getting closer, she saw his face.  Meeting his inscrutable gaze, she felt even more uneasy.

“Let’s go back.”  Xie Lin glanced behind her, then turned to leave.

Lin Yiwan followed, her heart pounding. He must have heard!

Behind them, Song Huaiqing, his back soaked with sweat, leaned against the wall, gasping for breath.  He felt like he could have been shot! 

Three years apart, his uncle was even more unfathomable.  But he wasn’t willing to give up!  Lin Yiwan was his girlfriend!  How could she marry his uncle?

Lin Yiwan anxiously followed Xie Lin back to the living room.  His words were concise, but she sensed something was different.

“Wanwan, Wanwan?”  Someone called her.

Blinking, she turned to Chen Fangying.  Chen Fangying touched her forehead worriedly.  “Are you feeling unwell?  Why do you look so pale?”

Lin Yiwan forced a smile.  “Aunt, I’m fine, what were you saying?”

Song Zhihua smiled.  “Mom asked where you want to live after you get married.”

Where?  Lin Yiwan wanted to go to the Northwest, but after what just happened, she was uncertain.  Would the marriage still happen?  She looked at Xie Lin, meeting his deep gaze. She bit her lip and looked away.

“I’ll listen to Brother Xie Lin.”  If he didn’t want to marry her, she’d find another way.

The man’s deep, strong voice cut through her thoughts. “She’s coming to the Northwest with me.”