Chapter 84: Why are you bullying him?

【I'm in the lounge, come over.】

【Give you ten minutes.】

Wen Ling saw the message and casually replied with a "1", then got out of the car together with Zhou Yinhe.

Zhou Yinhe gestured for her to hold his arm; after glancing at him, Wen Ling reluctantly linked arms with him.

Lu Zhaoye leaned on the sofa, a pair of sunglasses still perched on his nose, face cold as he looked down at his phone.

Wen Ling pulled Zhou Yinhe to the VIP lounge door, and at a glance saw Lu Zhaoye, who seemed as if the whole world owed him money, and casually called out to him.

Lu Zhaoye raised his head lazily and said, "You really kept it to exactly ten minutes, not a bit more, not a bit..."

As he saw the two people clearly, his words trailed off.

The two had dyed their hair the same color; at that moment they were affectionately linked, and even as he looked over, the man raised his arm to pull the woman in his embrace closer, gazing at him smugly.

Lu Zhaoye narrowed his eyes behind the sunglasses, tugging at the corner of his mouth: "I still have some face, troubling Young Master Zhou to come pick me up."

"How could it not be? You're Lingling's childhood friend; Lingling has always treated you like an older brother, and since I'm together with Lingling, I naturally treat you like an older brother too." As Zhou Yinhe spoke, Wen Ling gripped his hand tightly, and he kept talking, his fingers rubbing the back of her hand.

Lu Zhaoye couldn't help but admit that, hearing Zhou Yinhe's words, a pain welled up in his chest that he couldn't suppress, though his face showed nothing; he gave a light chuckle: "Indeed, I grew up with her, just like real siblings, so she's willing to tell me anything—including how you rejected her recently, making her cry, which I know about."

Zhou Yinhe gritted his teeth, about to retort, but Wen Ling gave him a glare, so he had to hold back.

Lu Zhaoye walked a few steps forward, and Wen Ling said gently: "Tired? Have you booked the hotel? Let's first send you to rest, and after you've rested we'll eat together."

Normally she wouldn't be so nice to him; she just subconsciously felt a bit indebted.

Lu Zhaoye grunted, then shoved the suitcase at Zhou Yinhe, smiling: "Since Fifth Young Master treats me like an older brother, you can just push my luggage for me—thanks."

Zhou Yinhe was momentarily choked, unwilling to respond, and the next second Lu Zhaoye added: "What's wrong? Didn't you say I'm like a sibling to Wen Ling? So what's the harm in helping your older uncle push his luggage?"

Zhou Yinhe gritted his teeth: "Fine, older uncle."

Then Lu Zhaoye pulled Wen Ling's wrist and stepped ahead first.

Wen Ling turned to look at him, seeing his wronged gaze, she instinctively stopped and prepared to wait for him.

Lu Zhaoye lowered his voice to threaten: "Before I came, Grandfather Wen specifically told me to give him a thorough check; if you wait for him, guess whether I'll spout nonsense in front of Grandfather Wen."

"No, Lu Zhaoye, you..." Wen Ling said, disbelieving.

"Shh." Lu Zhaoye cut her off, glanced back at the annoyed Zhou Yinhe, and asked considerately: "Grandfather Wen wants me to say a few things to Wen Ling after seeing her—Young Master Zhou, you don't mind, do you?"

Zhou Yinhe minded! Very much! Extremely so!

But what could he do? Lu Zhaoye had found such a good excuse.

His teeth were aching, and he gave a short grunt.

Wen Ling shot Lu Zhaoye a sideways glance and snapped: "Why are you bullying him?"

Lu Zhaoye avoided answering, only complaining: "Why did you dye your hair the same color as his? It's hideous!"

Wen Ling tugged at the ends of hair hanging in front of her chest, doubtful: "Doesn't it look good? I think it looks great—this is the color I chose."

"Dyeing it the same as his makes it ugly." Lu Zhaoye sneered, scolding: "You truly have no conscience—being together, you didn't even tell me, not even Grandfather Wen or Wen Zhuo know, and you still use a couple photo as your avatar."

"How am I supposed to tell you? You've blocked me, we agreed on a week, and it's been how long now and you still haven't unblocked me—even the flight number was something you had Wen Zhuo tell me. How am I supposed to contact you? Brainwaves?" Wen Ling felt utterly speechless: "You even sent me a text; I called you—did you answer?"

Lu Zhaoye was left speechless by her rapid-fire retorts, rubbing his aching chest from anger, and remained silent.

Seeing that he was angry, Wen Ling felt a bit guilty and demanded bluntly: "How many days are you playing around?"

"Don't worry about it." Lu Zhaoye, still not over his anger, said in a sarcastic tone: "Just take care of your Young Master Zhou."

Wen Ling stopped, glared at Lu Zhaoye, and burst out laughing in anger: "Fine, then you go to the hotel yourself—I'm heading home with Zhou Yinhe."

Lu Zhaoye hissed, his anger not concealed even by his sunglasses, and grabbed Wen Ling's wrist to keep moving forward.

His tone turned serious as he asked Wen Ling's opinion: "I'm planning to start my own company, right here in Sijiucheng—what do you think?"

Wen Ling lowered her eyes in thought, then asked him: "So when you come, what does Uncle Keluosi say?"

"He's got more sons than he knows what to do with—no time to look after me." Lu Zhaoye had his hands in his pockets, drawing out the words: "He won't waive my duties, and I'm also preparing to come to Sijiucheng."

He glanced around; most faces were from Hua Guo, and thinking of his innocent mother, he murmured: "This counts as half my homeland."

His mother was the most innocent—after college she saved up from part-time work and went to R Country for fun, only to be noticed by his father, who had taken his mistress to R Country and was surrounded by flirtatious company; he forcibly brought her to M Country, compelled her to bear him, while his philandering father, upon meeting another woman, forgot her entirely and eventually fell into depression and died.

The Wen Family and the Keluosi Family are old family friends; as the sole heir of this generation of the Wen Family and being on good terms with Lu Zhaoye, Wen Ling naturally knows those matters.

Wen Ling fell silent for a long time, then suddenly chuckled: "Sure, why not—I support you."

Lu Zhaoye glanced at her sideways, curling his lips.

The car was parked in the lot, and only after the three walked to the parking lot did Zhou Yinhe get a chance to interject.

He was driving an SUV today, which loomed noticeably taller than the other cars from afar; suppressing his anger, he put the suitcase in the trunk and said gently to Wen Ling: "I'll drive, you sit in the front passenger seat with me."

Wen Ling nodded in agreement, knowing he felt wronged, and soothed him by squeezing his palm.

Just as Zhou Yinhe was opening the front passenger door for Wen Ling, Lu Zhaoye stepped straight into the seat, smiling faintly at Zhou Yinhe: "Young Master Zhou, let Wen Ling sit in the back; I get carsick, so I'll take the front passenger—you don't mind, do you?"

Wen Ling, Zhou Yinhe: "……"

I mind! Zhou Yinhe clenched his fists in anger, his gaze toward Wen Ling filled with a complaining accusation.

Wen Ling looked at the two, a sense of helplessness washing over her; she sighed, stepped forward, and hugged Zhou Yinhe, comforting him while glaring at Lu Zhaoye where he couldn't see.

She whispered: "Just hold on a bit longer—I'll send him to the hotel right away, then we'll go home and I'll make it up to you, okay?"