Chapter 575: Could it be that you… like me?

Yin Yirou and Lin Yuan were instantly terrified.

Yin Yirou's pretty face instantly turned flushed and flustered.

She clenched her hands tightly, her heart leapt to her throat.

Yin Yirou knew clearly that this pool of blood was her own hymenal blood.

Once Mu Lingxue notices…

then the matter between her and Lin Yuan would be impossible to hide.

By then, who knows how embarrassing it would be.

Just as Yin Yirou was so flustered she couldn't speak, Lin Yuan spoke a step ahead.

Lin Yuan tried to keep his tone steady as he explained: "This is blood from my body. Just now I got injured, lay on the bed for a while, the wound bled, and I accidentally stained the sheets."

While saying that, he subconsciously stepped in front of Yin Yirou to shield her from the rain.

The wound on his back was pulled, causing excruciating pain that made him involuntarily frown.

Mu Lingxue glanced at Lin Yuan's wounds all over his body, then at the pool of blood.

Mu Lingxue's beautiful eyes slightly furrowed; she, however, didn't suspect too much.

Mu Lingxue nodded, her tone solemn as she instructed: "Your injuries are severe; you must rest properly. The safe house has been exposed, you can't stay there anymore."

Afterwards, Mu Lingxue turned her head to look at Yin Yirou.

Mu Lingxue spoke gently: "Yirou, you've been frightened; the police have arranged a new safe house elsewhere, and now I and the officers will escort you there."

Lin Yuan nodded and said to Yin Yirou: "Go, be careful."

Yin Yirou looked at Lin Yuan's pale face, full of worry, yet she also knew staying there was unsafe and inconvenient.

She could only follow Mu Lingxue and the officers as they left.

Before leaving, Yin Yirou couldn't help but glance back at Lin Yuan once, her eyes full of reluctance and concern.

…

The next morning, Lin Yuan simply tended to his wounds.

He endured the severe pain and rushed to work at the Su Group.

He wore a loose black coat, trying to cover his wounds, but his slightly hunched gait still revealed the seriousness of his injuries.

As Lin Yuan just sat down in the office, his phone vibrated once—a WeChat message from Yin Yirou.

The message read: "【Lin Yuan, thank you so much yesterday. If it weren't for you risking your life to protect me, I really wouldn't know what would have happened. Tonight, I'd like to treat you to a meal as a small token of my gratitude for saving my life last night.】"

Lin Yuan looked at the phone screen, tapped his fingertips on it, and replied: "【It's nothing, no need to be so polite. Where are you staying now? Is it safe?】"

A few seconds later, Yin Yirou's reply came: "【The police have arranged a new safe house for me, and specially assigned armed police to protect me; the surroundings are tightly guarded, so I should be much safer now—you don't need to worry about me. Tonight, can you come to dinner? I really want to properly thank you~】"

Seeing the two characters "safe," Lin Yuan's hanging heart eased a little.

Lin Yuan replied: "【Alright, I'll come over tonight.】"

Yin Yirou quickly sent a string of address, adding: "【This is a Western restaurant; I've reserved a private room in advance, the environment is relatively quiet and won't be disturbed.】"

Lin Yuan replied: "【Okay】."

He then put away his phone, forced himself to focus, and handled work.

That day was another busy one.

…

After work in the evening, Lin Yuan didn't delay.

He directly drove to the Western restaurant Yin Yirou had mentioned.

The Western restaurant is located in a bustling area of the city center.

Twenty minutes later, Lin Yuan's car stopped at the entrance of the Western restaurant.

He pushed the door open, got out, and glanced at the Western restaurant.

The restaurant was decorated elegantly and exquisitely; the attendants at the entrance wore uniform uniforms and were respectful.

This place seems to be a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Lin Yuan gave the name Yin Yirou had mentioned in advance.

The attendant immediately led him to the private room on the second floor.

Arriving at the private room.

Lin Yuan stepped into the private room.

Warm yellow light softly spilled into the room, the air filled with a faint aroma of incense.

Exquisite European-style tables and chairs were neatly arranged, with a bunch of fresh champagne roses placed at the table corner.

The atmosphere was warm and refined.

Yin Yirou had already been sitting by the window, waiting for a while.

She had changed into a light blue dress, her long hair loosely tied back, revealing a slender, fair neck.

Yin Yirou wore light makeup; compared to her usual coldness, she now… had gained a touch of gentle beauty.

Seeing Lin Yuan enter, Yin Yirou immediately stood up.

She wore a gentle smile, her eyes showing clear anticipation: "Lin Yuan, you've come."

Lin Yuan saw Yin Yirou's outfit today and his heart skipped a beat.

Tonight's Yin Yirou is different from usual.

After putting on makeup, she became more gentle and alluring.

Moreover, she wore high heels today, making her look even more sexy and stunning.

Tonight she is full of even more enchanting beauty.

Lin Yuan withdrew his gaze and calmed down.

"Sorry, there was a bit of traffic on the way, making you wait." Lin Yuan walked over, sat down, and took off his coat, draping it over the chair back.

The wound on his back was tugged a little.

Lin Yuan instinctively frowned, then quickly returned to normal.

Yin Yirou told the waiter at the door, "You can serve the dishes now."

The waiter acknowledged and withdrew.

Not long after, exquisite dishes were brought out one after another.

The thick-cut Wagyu steak sizzled, its exterior fragrant and charred, the interior pink and juicy, with a rich meat aroma;

The large Boston lobster was split in half, the meat plump and springy, drizzled with golden garlic butter, its aroma filling the air;

There were also truffle mushroom soup, baked French escargot, and several other refined appetizers……

Various precious dishes filled the entire table.

Besides that, the waiter brought over a bottle of exquisitely packaged red wine.

1982 Lafite.

This bottle of wine is expensive.

The waiter carefully opened the red wine and poured a glass for each of them.

"We ordered so much we can't finish it." Lin Yuan looked at the full table of dishes, somewhat helplessly.

"It's fine, it's rare that I treat you to a meal, so I definitely want you to eat well." Yin Yirou lifted her wine glass, looking sincerely at Lin Yuan, "This glass, I toast you. Thank you for risking your life to protect me last night; I've always kept this favor in my heart."

Lin Yuan also lifted his wine glass and lightly clinked it with hers.

The cups collided, producing a clear sound.

Lin Yuan said lightly, "No need to be so polite; protecting you is what I should do."

After saying that, he took a small sip of red wine, the rich aroma spreading in his mouth.

Yin Yirou's fingers gripping the wine glass tightened slightly.

She lifted her eyes… and looked at Lin Yuan.

Yin Yirou's eyes held a hint of probing as she softly asked, "Why should you do that? Could it be… you like me?"

Upon hearing that, Lin Yuan froze for a moment, the red wine he had just swallowed almost making him choke…

He set down his wine cup, a hint of embarrassment on his face, and quickly explained, "You're overthinking it; because we're colleagues, protecting you is what I should do."

Upon hearing the word "colleague," the light in Yin Yirou's eyes instantly dimmed.

Her smile also faded a bit.

Yin Yirou softly let out an "oh."

She lowered her head, picked up her knife and fork, and unconsciously played with the steak on her plate.

The atmosphere instantly turned into a subtle silence.

The two ate while chatting casually.

The topic went from work to life……

From Hangcheng's local specialties to the surrounding scenery……

The atmosphere was relaxed and harmonious.

Yin Yirou seemed in a good mood, drinking glass after glass of red wine.

Her cheeks gradually flushed, her gaze becoming somewhat hazy, obviously she had drunk too much.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan couldn't help but remind, "Don't drink too much; this wine gets you drunk easily."

Yin Yirou, however, shook her head and poured herself another half glass.

Her beautiful eyes stared straight at Lin Yuan, carrying a few drunken boldness and obstinacy.

After a few seconds of silence, she suddenly spoke, her voice slightly slurred yet unusually clear: "Lin Yuan, I have a question for you."

"Go ahead." Lin Yuan put down his knife and fork and looked at her.

"Are you and Mu Lingxue really a couple?" Yin Yirou leaned in, bringing herself closer to Lin Yuan.

Her warm breath, carrying the wine's rich aroma, brushed over Lin Yuan's cheek, her eyes full of inquiry.

Lin Yuan froze upon hearing that, obviously not expecting her to suddenly ask this question??

Lin Yuan stared for a few seconds before nodding: "Yeah, why ask this all of a sudden?"

"Why ask all of a sudden?" Yin Yirou gave a light laugh, her laughter tinged with a bit of self-mockery.

She leaned in again, almost pressing her face to Lin Yuan's, "But I feel you two aren't really a couple; it seems… you're just pretending."

"What do you mean?" Lin Yuan furrowed his brow, feeling somewhat surprised.

He thought his and Mu Lingxue's pretense was fairly seamless, even the colleagues at the Public Security Bureau hadn't noticed.

But he hadn't expected Yin Yirou to see through the flaw.

"Just literally." Yin Yirou's eyes were hazy yet carried a hint of certainty.

She extended her slender finger, lightly tapping the tabletop, "I've noticed it from many details."

"For example, at the last project team meeting, when you and Team Leader Mu discussed the case, your eyes showed only work rapport, with no hint of lovers' intimacy……"

"Also, earlier at the safe house, when Team Leader Mu reminded us to mind our boundaries, your gaze when meeting hers was more like comrades' rapport rather than lovers' reliance."

Yin Yirou paused, then took another sip of red wine, her tone more direct: "Also, I once inadvertently saw Team Leader Mu send you a message; the content was entirely about the deployment to protect me, with not a word of personal concern. If you were truly a couple, how could there be not even a daily greeting?"

"Moreover, every time you deliberately act intimate in front of outsiders, your movements are stiff and unnatural. Furthermore, I noticed… your gaze toward Mu Lingxue holds only the concern of partners, lacking the genuine feeling between lovers."

Yin Yirou's voice grew softer, yet each sentence struck a vital point……

She stared straight at Lin Yuan, her eyes carrying a few drunken vulnerabilities and a hint of expectation: "Am I right? Your relationship is actually a pretense, right?"

At that moment, Lin Yuan didn't know how to explain or refute.

This…