{Chapter: 257 Yan Ruyue's alertness!}
Upon seeing the curious gazes of Lin Jianjun, Meng Yuelan, and Yan Ruyue fixed intently on him, Lin Yuan merely offered a calm and unfazed smile. Naturally, he couldn't reveal the truth about his system or the counterattack points. There were some things best left hidden, even from close family.
He simply chuckled and said playfully, "Didn't I tell you before? I can see into the past and calculate the future. Just think of it as one of my little talents."
His voice was relaxed, with an air of mischief that made it hard to tell whether he was joking or being serious.
Meng Yuelan and Lin Jianjun exchanged skeptical glances. His explanation was vague—borderline absurd even—but the results spoke for themselves. Despite their doubts, neither pressed the issue. In the end, they trusted Lin Yuan.
Lin Jianjun finally sighed and said, "Yuan'er, the core executives who were present today were truly impressed by your judgment. They acknowledged your leadership potential. If you ever find the time, why don't you start familiarizing yourself with some of the company's affairs?"
Meng Yuelan nodded in agreement. She was just about to add her own encouragement when Lin Yuan raised his hand and cut them off casually.
"I've said it before—both of you are still young and healthy. When you're old, tired, and can barely walk, then we'll talk about passing the torch," he replied with a teasing grin. "Now, didn't you keep urging me to go to the movies just now, Miss Yan? Let's not keep the movie waiting."
Without waiting for another word from his parents, Lin Yuan smoothly took Yan Ruyue's soft hand in his and led her out with an air of confidence and decisiveness.
Yan Ruyue was momentarily stunned. Her cheeks turned slightly red, but she didn't resist. Instead, she allowed herself to be led along, her heart beating just a little faster.
Watching their son leave with such ease, Lin Jianjun and Meng Yuelan could only shake their heads with helpless smiles.
"He's getting harder and harder to manage," Lin Jianjun said with a sigh, though there was a trace of pride in his voice.
"He's no longer a child," Meng Yuelan added. But then, seeing how comfortably Yan Ruyue let Lin Yuan hold her hand, she smiled gently. "At least our pig has finally found his cabbage—and what a beautiful, well-raised cabbage it is!"
They both chuckled, feeling reassured.
…
As they entered the elevator, Lin Yuan glanced at Yan Ruyue, who remained quiet, lost in thought. The recent exposure of Chen Qu had clearly left an impression on her.
For Lin Yuan, the entire incident had not only garnered him 2,000 counterattack points thanks to the shift in narrative, but also significantly reshaped Yan Ruyue's perception of him. Her admiration had deepened, and the subtle shift in her emotions earned him another bonus—1,000 counterattack points from the system.
At that moment, Yan Ruyue was still murmuring the names "Wang Qu" and "Chen Qu," as if trying to sort out the details.
After a moment, she looked up at Lin Yuan, her brows slightly furrowed in curiosity. "By the way, Lin Yuan… just now, when Uncle Lin mentioned something about throwing Chen Qu into the fishpond at Yunhu Villa, what exactly did he mean?"
She remembered how strange everyone's expressions had become when that pond was mentioned. Some of the people even looked… sympathetic, as if it was some kind of punishment worse than death.
Lin Yuan laughed lightly. "Oh, that? It's nothing too complicated. It's just that my father keeps a dozen or so great white sharks in that pond."
He smiled with a glint in his eye. "Why? Interested? When I'm free, I can take you for a swim in it. It's actually quite spacious."
Yan Ruyue's eyes widened in horror, and she immediately shook her head frantically. "No, no, no! I'd rather not. Thank you very much!"
Seeing her expression, Lin Yuan couldn't help but laugh. "Relax, I was just teasing."
Even as she calmed down, Yan Ruyue looked at him with eyes full of admiration. Her usual cold demeanor softened, and her voice lowered slightly as she said, "You were incredible today. The way you exposed the spy… it was something I never expected. I honestly believe that if you ever take charge of a company, it will prosper under your leadership."
Her gaze grew more serious. "If I ever run into trouble with my company or need some advice, would it be okay to ask for your help?"
Lin Yuan smiled slyly. "Sure. But Miss Yan, consultation services don't come free. You'll have to pay."
Yan Ruyue blinked. "And what exactly do you want as pa…?"
Before Yan Ruyue could even finish her question, she felt Lin Yuan's gaze sweep across her body—lingering briefly on her full breasts and trailing down to her long, slender legs.
Today, Yan Ruyue had chosen a white dress. Although the style was not particularly extravagant, it perfectly highlighted her natural beauty. Her complexion was as pale and flawless as freshly fallen snow, her waist delicately slim and graceful. The modest cut of the dress still left a portion of her snowy-white calves exposed beneath the hem—just enough to catch the eye and stir the imagination.
Perhaps because she was going out with Lin Yuan today, she had also carefully chosen a pair of pale gold high heels that shimmered subtly with each step. Even with the heels, she remained slightly shorter than Lin Yuan, but her elegantly long legs were undeniably striking.
Sensing the warmth of Lin Yuan's gaze, Yan Ruyue's cheeks flushed with pink, and she instinctively lowered her head, her fingers slightly tightening around her phone.
Lin Yuan smiled and withdrew his gaze naturally, reading her reaction with amusement. 'Seems like her favorability toward me is higher than I thought,' he mused. If she didn't like him, she would've likely glared at him coldly for staring. Instead, she shyly avoided eye contact—a sign of quiet acceptance.
Not teasing her further, Lin Yuan flashed a calm smile and said, "Alright, let's go catch that movie."
With a blushing Yan Ruyue at his side, Lin Yuan made his way to the parking garage. Since they were heading out together, he didn't see the need for them to take separate cars. He had someone drive Yan Ruyue's red Ferrari back to her villa while he personally opened the passenger-side door of his sleek black Lamborghini for her.
Sliding into the seat beside Lin Yuan, Yan Ruyue felt a bit awkward.
The passenger seat had clearly been adjusted recently—the backrest was tilted a bit too far forward. It felt cramped for someone with legs as long as hers. With a small frown, she leaned back and discreetly adjusted the seat for more space, gently smoothing out the hem of her skirt as she settled in.
But as she did so, something caught her eye.
Several strands of long hair were stuck between the seat and backrest. They were slightly curled and obviously didn't belong to her. Intrigued, Yan Ruyue plucked one up and gave it a gentle sniff. A faint, lingering scent clung to the leather—delicate and refined, like the subtle fragrance of an orchid in bloom.
A faint sense of discomfort rose in her heart.
Who sat here before me? she wondered. She didn't exactly have the right to question him, but she couldn't shake the curiosity—and, if she was honest, a touch of jealousy.
Just as she was about to speak, Lin Yuan—ever observant—spoke first with a casual smile, "So, which theater did your friend book the tickets for?"
"Huh? Oh… Wanda Cinemas. The one in Qinyang District," Yan Ruyue said, glancing at her phone to pretend to check.
Lin Yuan chuckled lightly. "And what about the tickets? Didn't your friend send them to you already?"
Yan Ruyue immediately turned red again, flustered. Why is he asking about the tickets all of a sudden?
Did he figure it out? Did he know I just made that up?
"I-I did get them… She sent e-tickets… Umm… I think they're somewhere in my inbox…" she mumbled softly, eyes darting away, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lin Yuan let out a light laugh, nodding knowingly. "I see. Got it."
That gentle smile on his face told her everything—he absolutely knew she had made up the whole thing just so she could go out with him.
Yan Ruyue's face turned crimson. She bit her lip lightly, not knowing what to say. She had been completely exposed.
By then, Lin Yuan had already started the car, the engine roaring smoothly as they pulled out of the parking area.
For a few minutes, Yan Ruyue remained quiet in her seat, her mind swirling. After all that, she had forgotten to ask who had been sitting there before her. But now… she was too embarrassed to bring it up again.
She leaned her head slightly against the window, peeking at Lin Yuan from the corner of her eye. He was still smiling faintly as he drove, one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting lazily beside the gearshift.
He definitely did it on purpose, she thought with a huff.
But even as she pouted in silence, a soft warmth filled her heart.
*****
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