Chapter 181: Why Isn't He Popular?

Zhou Yinhe quietly gazed at his own mother, Ning Qing let out a puffed laugh.

You didn't leave; after great difficulty coming back this once, you ought to keep us company.

"Oh, then I won't be going home lately." Zhou Yinhe turned his face to look at the scenery outside the window, his expression unreadable—whether awkward or embarrassed.

Wen Ling didn't dare laugh out loud, fearing Zhou Yinhe would become annoyed and turn to bully her, so she only dared to snicker; Ning Qing, however, had no such restraint, bullying her own son more than anyone else.

Affection is affection, teasing is teasing.

When Ning Qing laughed out loud, Wen Ling knew she was in for trouble.

Because Zhou Yinhe turned his head to glare at his own mother, he happened to see that Wen Ling still hadn't suppressed her smile.

Ning Qing got a call from the household steward and, not having time to see the elders, left first; Wen Ling saw her to the car, then turned around and bumped directly into Zhou Yinhe's embrace.

Zhou Yinhe had his hands in his pockets, lowered his gaze to look at her, his expression indifferent.

Wen Ling was first startled by him, then gave a couple of hehe laughs, tiptoed to pat his shoulder, saying, "Don't be so petty."

"All right." Zhou Yinhe curled his lips in a light smile, turned and headed back to the villa first; Wen Ling felt he was too agreeable, surely he had some scheme in mind, but his demeanor was quite natural, and she didn't know how to guard against it, so she could only stay wary inside.

In the afternoon, Chu Yao sent a message inviting Wen Ling to play at the Chu family home; Zhou Yinhe wanted to tag along, but Wen Ling ruthlessly refused.

"We girls are playing together; what's it to you to tag along?" Wen Ling sat in the driver's seat, Zhou Yinhe stood outside the car door, reluctant.

Wen Ling raised her hand to touch his face, putting on a teasing, flirtatious expression and gesture, and said lightly, "I'll give you a chance—come pick me up later, be good, and go home to look after our two sons."

"……" Zhou Yinhe glared at her, feeling aggrieved; Wen Ling moved her fingers outward a few times, signaling him to step back two steps. As Zhou Yinhe obediently retreated, Wen Ling pressed the accelerator, the car drove far off, leaving Zhou Yinhe with a frustrated, unrequited expression.

Wen Ling glanced at him in the rearview mirror and gave a light laugh.

Chu Yao invited her to the Chu family home, gave no reason, only insisted she come, and said Fu Huahua would be there too.

Upon arrival, Wen Ling furrowed her brows; the Chu family home was unusually quiet, unlike Chu Yao and Fu Huahua's usual style.

Wen Ling leaned against the car, took out her phone intending to call Chu Yao, when a cold voice suddenly sounded from behind.

"Yao Yao is in her room; I'll take you in."

Wen Ling turned around; Chu Lin stood lazily by the small path beside the parking lot, his eyes deep and profound.

"Is she home?" Wen Ling felt something was off, tightened her grip on the phone, and her other hand readied to open the car door and get in.

"She is," Chu Lin said, lifting his chin toward the villa to signal Wen Ling to look.

Wen Ling lifted her gaze; Chu Yao stood by the window waving at her, shouting loudly, "Ah Ling, come quick, I've been waiting for you forever."

Wen Ling relaxed her guard a little, but remained cautious; she nodded at Chu Lin, followed him toward the villa, merely moving the fingers of the hand that held her phone at her side across the screen.

Upon reaching Chu Yao's room, Wen Ling saw that Chu Yao and Fu Huahua were indeed there, whereupon she lowered her guard against Chu Lin and entered Chu Yao's room.

Chu Lin stood at the doorway watching her back, gave a light chuckle, then turned and left.

Wen Ling heard his chuckle, turned to glance at him, then after he left she promptly pulled the room door shut and locked it as well.

"You finally came; I've been waiting for you so long."

"What's going on with your family? There's not a single person around."

Chu Yao sighed; Fu Huahua helplessly explained: "Chu Yao has taken a liking to a man, Chu Eldest Brother won't allow it, so he's locked her up at home."

"My brother had everyone in the household transferred away, leaving only a bunch of bodyguards guarding the perimeter to stop me from running out." Chu Yao let out a grievous whimper: "What's wrong with him? Why won't my brother let me be with him?"

Wen Ling only thought Chu Yao's crush might be a young master from another wealthy family in Sijiucheng, possibly someone with whom Chu Yao had a conflict, which is why Chu Lin disagreed; but the next second, Fu Huahua said: "What's good about him? He's just an eighteenth-tier little celebrity; being with you might just be after your status and influence, hoping you'll help him gain some resources."

"……" Wen Ling felt it was absurd, sat on the sofa, her head a little sore, and sighed: "Who?"

Chu Yao remained slumped face-down on the bed, motionless; Fu Huahua took her own phone, looked up that person's encyclopedia entry, and handed it to Wen Ling for a glance.

Wen Ling gazed at the face on the phone screen, blinked, and felt her headache ease a bit.

Regardless of his motives toward Chu Yao, that face is certainly enough to make her swoon; but the key point is, bearing that face while mingling in the entertainment industry, he's remained an eighteenth-tier act—doesn't that seem a bit odd? Wen Ling isn't very versed in Hua Guo's domestic entertainment scene; she's just offering a personal opinion.

"He's indeed handsome; why isn't he popular?" Wen Ling asked sincerely.

Chu Yao was about to speak when the ever-cheerful and cute Fu Huahua shouted at her to shut up.

Fu Huahua stared at that face on her phone, rolled her eyes hard, and said in a hostile tone: "He's low on emotional intelligence and can't keep his mouth shut; he goes on variety shows with top-tier idols, and while they say things to maintain their image, he just blows their cover, causing that idol to be mocked online for ages; afterward, that idol keeps targeting him, and whenever he gets resources, they get snatched away."

Wen Ling pressed her lips to suppress laughter, but seeing Chu Yao's innocent, aggrieved expression, she burst out laughing—a clear, pleasant sound, not small in volume, full of mocking intent.

"Stop laughing, Ah Ling; help me think of a way—how am I supposed to meet him? We'd planned to see a movie together this weekend." Chu Yao climbed out of bed, sat facing Wen Ling, and clung to her arm, coquettishly whining: "I finally managed to catch him, and we were about to make big progress; I don't know how my brother found out, but just two days after we got together he locked me up and hasn't even taken my phone."

"Then how did you manage to send me that message?" Wen Ling wondered.

"My brother sits beside me, watching me send you the message; after you reply and I'm about to come, he snatches my phone away." Chu Yao wailed, "The worst part is, while I was messaging you, he also messaged me, asking why I wasn't replying to him; I really wanted to answer, but my brother just glared at me like a tiger eyeing its prey."

Wen Ling now had to bite her lip to keep from laughing; although Chu Yao was upset and her laughing wasn't appropriate, Wen Ling couldn't help herself.

She strained to hold back her laughter, trembling, and Chu Yao, leaning against her, easily noticed, shouting: "How can you still be gloating over my misfortune? Are we even still good sisters?"

"No, I just feel…" Wen Ling, for the first time, felt her Chinese was merely average.