Chapter 124: The Villain

Lin Fang’s home was surprisingly located right behind the Provincial City Hospital.

It was a two-story building, standing alone with its own yard.

“This is your home?” Xu Fei looked at the building before him with some surprise.

In this era, to have such a villa-like house in the provincial city, especially in the city center, Lin Fang’s background was clearly extraordinary.

Not simple at all.

“Come in,” Lin Fang smiled and pulled him into the courtyard.

Xu Fei awkwardly withdrew his hand from hers.

“Aunt Du,” Lin Fang called out toward the kitchen as she entered the living room.

A woman in her forties, wearing an apron, came out.

Seeing Lin Fang, she smiled warmly, “Miss, you’re home early today?”

Lin Fang smiled back, “Let me introduce him. This is Xu Fei, Brother Xu. Brother Xu, this is Aunt Du, our housekeeper.”

A housekeeper?

Xu Fei’s mind was already clear. The Lin family was no ordinary household. Only those wealthy or noble could afford a housekeeper. Looking around at the lavish decor, every detail spoke of luxury.

The entire style was European.

To have such a decoration style at this time meant the owner must have exquisite taste.

“Aunt Du, please tidy up the guest room.”

Aunt Du paused.

“Miss, are you going to stay there?”

Lin Fang nodded.

“Oh, and prepare some good food tonight. Brother Xu is having dinner with us.”

Aunt Du glanced at Xu Fei and asked, “Mr. Xu, do you have any favorite dishes or any dietary restrictions?”

Xu Fei thought to himself: This really is a wealthy family.

He shook his head.

“No, Aunt Du. I have no special dislikes.”

Aunt Du nodded and went to prepare the room.

“Brother Xu, what would you like to drink? Coffee or juice?”

“Anything is fine.”

Lin Fang thought for a moment and said, “Then you go sit in the living room. I’ll get you something to drink.”

Xu Fei nodded and walked into the living room while Lin Fang headed to the kitchen.

At this moment, Xu Fei surveyed the living room’s arrangement.

It was truly luxurious and tasteful.

As he was admiring the room, a man entered through the door.

He appeared to be around forty-eight or forty-nine, refined in demeanor.

He placed the briefcase he carried onto a cabinet by the entrance and looked up at Xu Fei, nodding slightly.

“Lin Fang, is that you?”

The man walked inside and called toward the kitchen.

Lin Fang came out of the kitchen holding two bottles of drinks.

“Dad, you’re home early today?”

“Yes, there was a company meeting this afternoon, so I came back right after.”

The man glanced at Xu Fei.

“And who might this be...?”

Lin Fang led the man over to Xu Fei.

“This is Xu Fei. Dad, this is my father, Lin Chuan Zhi, General Manager Lin.”

“You little rascal,” Lin Chuan Zhi laughed, looking at Lin Fang.

He then extended his hand.

“Hello, Mr. Xu.”

Xu Fei quickly shook his hand.

“Please have a seat,” Lin Chuan Zhi gestured toward the sofa.

Xu Fei and Lin Chuan Zhi sat down in the living room, while Lin Fang placed the drinks in front of Xu Fei.

“Mr. Xu, where do you work?”

“Mr. Lin, I’m not from here. I came to the provincial city to accompany a friend for medical treatment.”

“Oh, where are you from then?”

“Donghai.”

Lin Chuan Zhi nodded.

“I’ve been to Donghai before. It’s a coastal city with beautiful beaches.”

Xu Fei smiled in agreement.

“So, when did you and Lin Fang meet?”

Lin Fang sat beside her father.

“Dad, we’ve only known each other for two days.”

“Two days?” Lin Chuan Zhi looked surprised.

“From the way you two act, it seems like you’ve known each other for a long time.”

“Really?” Lin Fang smiled faintly but sneaked a glance at Xu Fei.

“Dad, I want to discuss something with you, but you have to agree first.”

Lin Chuan Zhi smiled at his daughter.

“Is this a discussion?”

“Dad, will you agree or not?”

“All right, all right, I agree.”

“Brother Xu doesn’t have anywhere to stay right now. I want him to live with us for a while.”

Lin Chuan Zhi frowned slightly and looked at Xu Fei.

“Isn’t Mr. Xu here to accompany his friend?”

“Oh, his friend is in the hospital, so Brother Xu doesn’t need to be on duty at night.”

Seeing Lin Chuan Zhi hesitate, Lin Fang grasped his arm and said, “Anyway, you already agreed just now. It’s settled then.”

Lin Fang then turned to Xu Fei.

“Come on, Brother Xu, I’ll show you the room.”

Lin Chuan Zhi could only shake his head helplessly, but Xu Fei noticed the expression on his face.

Xu Fei knew well.

As an outsider who had only just met Lin Fang, how could her father not have reservations about him?

He had wanted to decline, but Lin Fang’s enthusiasm made it hard to say no.

He followed her to the guest room.

The room was on the first floor, at the end of the corridor, with one room on each side.

Lin Fang opened the left room.

Aunt Du had just finished tidying it; it was very clean. Besides a double bed, a double-door wardrobe stood against the wall.

The room even had a private balcony.

Floor-to-ceiling windows welcomed the sunlight inside.

“How do you like it, Brother Xu?” Lin Fang stood on the balcony and turned to look at him. The sunlight cast a soft golden hue over her hair.

“I like it,” Xu Fei nodded.

He approached the balcony and glanced at Lin Fang beside him.

“But...”

Lin Fang turned to him.

“But what?”

She clearly thought Xu Fei had some dissatisfaction.

“If there’s anything you don’t like, I can ask Aunt Du to tidy up. By the way, we have three guest rooms. You can check them all and choose whichever you like.”

Xu Fei shook his head.

“That’s not what I mean. I mean I can’t stay at your house.”

“Why not?” Lin Fang asked, puzzled.

“We’ve only just met. You don’t know much about me. Aren’t you afraid I might be a bad person?”

Lin Fang was stunned for a moment, then her furrowed brow relaxed.

“Ha, a bad person? So that’s your worry, Brother Xu. There’s no need to think like that. To me, you’re the best and kindest person. I trust you.”

Xu Fei was taken aback by her unfounded trust. He looked at Lin Fang, momentarily at a loss for words.

“Listen, I actually have a friend. We stayed together in the studio last night, so...”

“Then let him come too. We have plenty of rooms anyway,” Lin Fang said with innocent simplicity, completely disarming Xu Fei.

“Thank you, Lin Fang. I’m really touched that you trust me so much. It means you consider me a friend, but...” Xu Fei patted her shoulder gently.

“I still can’t stay here.”

Lin Fang’s brow furrowed once more.

“Why not?”

Xu Fei smiled.

He truly didn’t know how to explain, but recalling Lin Chuan Zhi’s expression earlier, he said with a smile, “Well, I have to go to the hospital. This afternoon, I need to find some work at the labor market, so I won’t be having lunch here.”

With that, he headed out the door.