Chapter 167: 167. Chapter 167: Let

167. Chapter 167: Let's Continue Now

"Why do you ask that?"

Shen Huai's fingers tightened slightly around his wine glass, and he avoided Lin Yeman's gaze.

He vaguely felt that whatever Lin Yeman said next might overturn his understanding.

"Because, Yang Lan and I have completely broken ties."

Lin Yeman tilted her head back and downed the red wine in her glass in one gulp; the scarlet liquid made her lip color appear even more bewitching, and it added a touch of cold, resolute elegance to her temperament.

Shen Huai suddenly looked up, staring at Lin Yeman in disbelief, the wine glass in his hand nearly slipping, "This... how is that possible?"

Yang Lan was Lin Yeman's own sister.

Even if the things Yang Lan did at the ball were indeed a bit excessive, a total break? Surely not?

Would even biological sisters go this far?

"There is nothing impossible about it."

Lin Yeman laughed at herself, her tone carrying a hint of bitterness, "Although we are biological sisters, our personalities are diametrically opposed. I like standing in the spotlight, enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention, while she prefers to pull the strings from behind the scenes and control the overall situation."

Lin Yeman paused, her gaze sharp as she looked at Shen Huai, "Shen Huai, you should know that Yang Lan has always wanted to build Xingyao Entertainment into the largest entertainment empire in the country, and I do not agree with her methods."

"Why?" Shen Huai asked, puzzled.

"Because she is too radical; she will stop at nothing to achieve her goals, even at the cost of the company's and the artists' interests."

Lin Yeman's tone carried a trace of imperceptible anger, "I don't want to see Xingyao Entertainment ruined in her hands, so I chose to leave and create a world of my own."

"So, that's why you chose to come to my side?" Shen Huai suddenly realized.

"That's right, I need a platform—a platform where I can flex my muscles and realize my ideals." A confident light flickered in Lin Yeman's eyes, "And your company is the best choice."

Shen Huai fell silent; he did not know what to say.

Lin Yeman's words had undoubtedly cast a giant boulder into his calm heart, stirring up a thousand waves.

He had always thought that Lin Yeman came to his company just to help him through a difficult time, but he never expected that she actually had even greater ambitions.

"Then have you ever thought about what your Yang Family would choose if one day the conflict of interest between Xingyao Entertainment and my company becomes too great?"

Shen Huai raised his head, looking straight into Lin Yeman's eyes, and asked word by word.

Lin Yeman smiled, her smile carrying a hint of playfulness, "I should be the one asking you that question, right? Shen Huai, if that day really comes, which side will you stand on?"

"I..."

Shen Huai gripped the wine glass in his hand, but the cold touch could not cool his chaotic thoughts at this moment.

"I don't know. I just feel that all of this is too sudden. Your appearance and your help both make me feel uneasy."

Lin Yeman chuckled softly, her eyes seeming to hide a sea of stars as they shifted.

"Uneasy? Because you can't see through me, so you're uneasy?"

She set down her wine glass, leaned forward slightly, and stared intently at Shen Huai, "Are you afraid I have ulterior motives?"

Shen Huai avoided Lin Yeman's gaze and said in a low voice, "I just... want to know what it is you actually want to do."

Lin Yeman did not continue to press him; she simply picked up her wine glass and gently swirled the liquid inside.

The scarlet wine, under the dim light, looked exactly like some kind of dangerous signal.

"Shen Huai,"

Her tone was indifferent, yet carried an unquestionable strength, "For now, you just need to remember that we are people on the same boat; that is enough."

Shen Huai fell silent. Lin Yeman's words were like a thick fog, making it even harder for him to see the road ahead. In the end, he still raised his glass and clinked it gently against Lin Yeman's, "Happy cooperation."

"Happy cooperation."

After a pause, Shen Huai added softly, "I am naturally on your side." Lin Yeman's eyes froze for a moment.

Then her smile deepened.

Slightly tipsy, she stood up, walked over to Shen Huai, leaned down, and whispered in his ear, "Remember what you said today, Shen Huai. I will take it seriously."

After saying this, she leaned over and lightly kissed Shen Huai, then turned and left the bar.

She left behind a stunned Shen Huai, who sat alone in his seat, ruminating on the meaning of her last sentence.

Outside the window, the night grew deeper, and the neon lights flickered, decorating the city to look even more blurred and mysterious.

Shen Huai looked in the direction Lin Yeman had left, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.

The next day, Shen Huai arrived at the company early, only to find that Lin Yeman was there even earlier than him.

She was wearing a sharp, professional suit and sitting at her desk, flipping through a document. The morning sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling window onto her, casting a faint halo around her.

"Morning." Shen Huai walked to the desk and greeted Lin Yeman with a smile.

Lin Yeman looked up, saw Shen Huai, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, "Morning, General Manager Shen. Did you sleep well last night?"

"Not bad."

Shen Huai smiled and sat down opposite Lin Yeman, "How about you? Why are you here so early?"

"There are some things to handle." Lin Yeman replied indifferently, then handed the document in her hand to Shen Huai, "This is the promotional plan for the Virtual Idol launch that I worked on overnight. Take a look and see if there is anything that needs to be modified."

Shen Huai took the document and began to read it carefully.

The content of the proposal was very detailed, with thorough planning for everything from the Virtual Idol's persona and positioning to the promotional marketing strategy.

"How is it? Are there any problems?" Lin Yeman asked when she saw Shen Huai remaining silent.

Shen Huai looked up, his gaze burning as he looked at Lin Yeman, "Perfect."

Hearing Shen Huai's words, a faint smile tugged at the corners of Lin Yeman's mouth.

"Is General Manager Shen starting with the encouragement-based education now?" Lin Yeman teased.

"Not at all," Shen Huai looked earnestly at the woman full of confidence and ambition before him, "I am just stating a fact, which is that you are truly perfect."

Lin Yeman's heart skipped a beat.

A strange emotion spread through her heart.

She turned her face away, avoiding Shen Huai's gaze; seeing Lin Yeman reveal a rare shy expression, an inexplicable restlessness surged in Shen Huai's heart.

He stood up abruptly, walked to Lin Yeman's side, and pulled her into his embrace.

"Lin Yeman,"

Shen Huai's voice was low and hoarse, carrying a trace of irrepressible sentiment, "You ran off like that after kissing me yesterday; isn't that a bit much?"

Lin Yeman's body stiffened noticeably, "I... I just wanted to let you calm down by yourself yesterday, didn't I?..."

Her cheeks flushed red as she spoke with a guilty conscience.

The next second, she was held even tighter by Shen Huai.

"Shen Huai, you..."

Before Lin Yeman could finish her sentence, her lips were sealed by Shen Huai.

"Then let's continue now..."

... (End of chapter)