Chapter 78: So This Is the Woman You Have Outside?

Airport.

Even though Xia Ningshuang was already sitting here, everything that had just happened still felt like a dream. The events brought about by the man before her seemed utterly unbelievable, as if she could not accept that they had truly occurred.

“I know you might have a touch of doubt about what just happened,” he said softly. “But it doesn’t matter. Everything that happened to you in the past will soon be resolved, one by one.”

Lin Li understood that Xia Ningshuang must be feeling insecure at the moment. Anyone confronted with such circumstances would react the same way. Moreover, she was about to leave the place she had always called home; it was natural for her to feel a little anxious.

Yet Lin Li appeared relaxed, confident that Xia Ningshuang would soon overcome these troubles.

“I know all this may seem difficult to you,” he continued, “but believe in yourself. You’ll soon be able to accept everything smoothly.”

Compared to Dongdu, Jiangcheng would actually be easier for Xia Ningshuang to embrace. With Lin Li by her side, she needn’t worry about others’ opinions in Jiangcheng. This would allow her to devote herself fully to what she needed to do.

From Ning Yurou’s perspective, even she hadn’t expected Lin Li to place such trust in her. The situation was far more complex than she had imagined. Yet Lin Li seemed never to have feared anything, leaving Ning Yurou at a loss for words.

“Mr. Lin, I’ve caused you so much trouble this time. I promise I’ll do everything I can to make it up to you,” she said.

Lin Li merely smiled, unconcerned. “There’s no need. Many people see me as a villain. Just assume I’m in a good mood and want to earn some good karma.”

Seeing Lin Li’s open-minded demeanor, Xia Ningshuang said nothing more, but she etched today’s events deeply into her heart. Not everyone could act as Lin Li had. Even Xia Ningshuang herself could not foresee what the future would bring. Yet one thing was certain: she could never return to Dongdu.

...

“What did you say?”

“At a critical moment, this guy doesn’t stay in Jiangcheng but dares to venture out. Does he not worry that Ye Aotian will devour him alive?” Ning Yurou looked at Leng Ningxue, whose face was filled with astonishment.

She had interacted with Ye Aotian several times recently. At first, she doubted whether Lin Li’s words were true, but Ye Aotian’s sincerity seemed genuine. If someone could act so convincingly yet be false, then Ye Aotian must be a born actor.

So Ning Yurou came to seek advice from Leng Ningxue, only to learn that Lin Li had already left Jiangcheng. Now, at the pivotal moment of Lin Li’s struggle against Ye Aotian, he not only failed to become more cautious, but left everything behind and departed. No one else could possibly solve these problems.

“Ye Aotian hides his intentions deeply. It’s impossible to discern his purpose easily,” Leng Ningxue cautioned. “When dealing with him, you must be extremely careful. Don’t let him find leverage against you.”

She emphasized her point repeatedly. She herself was a prime example—if Lin Li hadn’t helped her at the crucial moment, she would certainly have lost if relying only on her own abilities. Even Leng Tianyi had sided with Ye Aotian.

“Don’t worry. His tricks don’t seem so clever. If I didn’t know the truth, maybe he could fool me. But now, there’s nothing to worry about,” Ning Yurou replied.

With her intelligence and wit, even Ye Aotian’s protagonist aura couldn’t outmatch her. Furthermore, after Lin Li’s warning, Ning Yurou had prepared herself in advance. The more Ye Aotian tried to maintain his image as a devoted lover, the more comical he appeared in her eyes.

But Ning Yurou was now deeply curious about what Lin Li was plotting. The immediate task was to determine a winner between him and Ye Aotian. Yet Lin Li chose to leave at such a moment—anyone would find that surprising.

“No matter what, I believe Lin Li has other secrets. I refuse to believe I can’t uncover them,” Ning Yurou whispered.

Leng Ningxue smiled faintly from beside her. “That man is much more formidable than you think, and he always likes to play by his own rules. I advise you not to make too many plans regarding him.”

If Lin Li’s methods were truly simple, it would be easy. But everything that had happened proved he was not someone who could be dealt with so readily.

“The more you say that, the more curious I become about his abilities. If you hold him in such high regard, he must have genuine talent,” Ning Yurou said, smiling at Leng Ningxue.

Leng Ningxue offered no further explanation.

...

On the other side, Lin Li brought Xia Ningshuang back to the Qin family.

When Su Lan saw Xia Ningshuang, she showed no surprise. In fact, she seemed to have expected this outcome. She had assumed Xia Ningshuang was one of Lin Li’s people, but it turned out Lin Li’s attitude towards her was not as she thought.

“So, isn’t this someone you brought for yourself—”

Before Su Lan could finish, Lin Li gave her a look. “Lan, do I seem like that kind of person?”

Su Lan regarded his serious expression and snorted. “Why not? If you’re not a womanizer, those words might as well be erased from the dictionary.”

Lin Li shook his head with a smile at her earnest tone.

“She’ll stay here for a while. I’ll trouble you, Lan, to look after her.”

Su Lan paused. So, you brought a woman back and now want me to take care of her? But seeing Lin Li, she sighed, tapping his head lightly with her slender fingers.

“You little rascal. Meeting you must have been my punishment in a previous life.”

However, when Su Lan saw Xia Ningshuang’s appearance, she fell silent. She had expected Lin Li to bring back a stunning beauty, but instead, it was a woman whose face was twisted and scarred. Yet seeing her, Su Lan felt no fear—only pity.