The woman's compromise was within Zhou Jinbai's expectations.
"I want you to kiss me," Zhou Jinbai said, a hint of anticipation in his expression. He hadn't forgotten how sweet and delicious her lips were, tastier than any jelly he'd ever had.
Lin Xingwan refused without a second thought, "No, I won't kiss you. We're not a couple." Such things were only for boyfriends.
Zhou Jinbai, clearly expecting Lin Xingwan's reaction, was not annoyed. Instead, he watched her with amusement, wondering how she would argue.
"You've helped me so much today, I'm very grateful, but Zhou Jinbai, I... mmmph..."
Lin Xingwan intended to reason with him, but Zhou Jinbai had already kissed her possessively. He pinned her small hands, which were pushing against his chest, with one hand, and cupped the back of her head with the other, preventing her from pulling away.
The sudden kiss was as overwhelming as a storm. Lin Xingwan instinctively resisted, but Zhou Jinbai's grip, though seemingly gentle, left her no room to escape. The car's interior was already cramped. Lin Xingwan's nostrils filled with the mature man's pheromones, mixed with the clean and pleasant scent of laundry detergent. It was like the most intoxicating aphrodisiac in the world, leaving her mind blank.
Slowly, Zhou Jinbai's kiss softened. Lin Xingwan was not frigid! She was a normal young woman, and being actively courted by such a charming man made her feel weak and powerless.
Finally, when she could no longer breathe, she came back to her senses. "Zhou... Zhou Jinbai... I... I... I'm suffocating..."
Zhou Jinbai released Lin Xingwan, a fire burning in his eyes. This woman was deadly. But he liked her body; it was far more honest than her words.
Lin Xingwan's face flushed even redder at her own seductive voice. What was happening? Was that a sound she should be making? Her chest heaved, and her eyes, like a pool of spring water, stared at Zhou Jinbai, her cheeks flushed and adorable.
"You! I didn't agree to you kissing me!"
"I didn't intend to ask for your permission. After all, this is what I deserve." He had already decided to make this woman his future wife; he was merely exercising his rights as a husband in advance.
Lin Xingwan was furious and wanted to retort, but at that moment, her phone rang. It was Zhong Jingjing calling. Lin Xingwan's expression instantly darkened, and her voice on the phone was devoid of warmth.
"What is it, Grandma?"
"You disgrace, come back here immediately." Zhong Jingjing hung up the phone.
"What's wrong?" Zhou Jinbai asked, noticing how Lin Xingwan's demeanor had completely changed in mere seconds.
"Grandma wants me to come home. Her tone was very bad; I'll probably get scolded again."
"I'll go with you," Zhou Jinbai said, returning to his seat.
Lin Xingwan shook her head. "I'm not going back. I already know the outcome, so why bother?"
Seeing Lin Xingwan's dejected look, Zhou Jinbai changed the subject. "After leaving Huanyu, what do you plan to do?"
"Mr. Zhou, aren't you jumping topics too quickly?" Lin Xingwan could barely keep up with his thoughts, but she answered, "I'm going to open a media company just like Huanyu, snatch all of Huanyu's resources, and let Gu Shaoting know that without me, Lin Xingwan, he's nothing but a useless failure. As for Lin Shirou and Yang Niyun, they'll be heartbroken for misjudging me."
"Starting a new company is easily done for. I remember the Lin family also has a company that specializes in packaging internet celebrities. Why not just take over that company?" the big bad wolf began to subtly guide her.
"Are you talking about Dingfeng Entertainment?" Lin Xingwan immediately asked.
"Mm."
Lin Xingwan couldn't quite articulate her feelings. "Dingfeng Entertainment was founded by Dad and Mom back then. At that time, Dingfeng Entertainment had produced quite a few good artists and made a lot of money for the Lin family. But because I was busy helping Gu Shaoting with Huanyu's affairs, I let my father manage most of Dingfeng Entertainment's matters. In the end, one of my father's wrong decisions led Dingfeng Entertainment into a crisis. Artists defected to other companies, and Dingfeng Entertainment declined."
"I checked, and Dingfeng Entertainment still has three artists. It's not an empty shell. Besides, if an artist becomes hugely popular, they can support an entire company."
Zhou Jinbai began to analyze for Lin Xingwan. Lin Xingwan, however, smiled helplessly. "I'm in this industry; of course, I know that if a company has a popular artist, the entire company can be supported by them. But stars who become hugely popular are rare. Those with potential have already left the company. As for the remaining three... sigh..."
Lin Xingwan had too many regrets. Her biggest regret was ruining her mother's hard work to help Gu Shaoting. The tears she shed now were the result of the foolishness she had in her head then.
Zhou Jinbai naturally stroked Lin Xingwan's hair. "I actually think Dingfeng Entertainment is quite good right now, with a lot of potential. Look at those three artists; even at the company's lowest point, they didn't leave. This shows they can resist temptation. In the entertainment industry, there are too many beautiful faces but few interesting souls. Many male and female stars only know how to stare blankly or count one, two, three, four, five when acting. But the three who stayed at Dingfeng Entertainment, I've seen their work; they are excellent. Xingwan, you have to believe that a sword sharpened for ten years will amaze when it's drawn. They are just waiting for an opportunity to be unsheathed. And you are the one to draw the sword. You wouldn't want to see your hard work turn into nothing, would you?"
Lin Xingwan felt a surge of excitement from Zhou Jinbai's words. She felt like a god who could change others' destinies in his words!
"Your grandmother calling you back most likely means Lin Shirou told her about today's events to criticize and educate you. Furthermore, you still have the thirty-five million from Gu Shaoting, which is not a small sum. They might have their eyes on it. If they bring up money, use it as an opportunity to sever ties between Dingfeng Entertainment and the Lin family. From now on, regardless of Dingfeng Entertainment's development, it will have nothing to do with the Lin family. The only way to defeat what you hate is to face it directly. I remember the Dongfang Consortium is investing in a TV series adapted from a web novel, aren't they? The production company is searching for the most suitable actors for the characters in a needle-in-a-haystack manner. Why not have Dingfeng Entertainment try? I've read that novel, and I think one of the artists under Dingfeng Entertainment fits the role of the second male lead."
"I'm going back right now!" Lin Xingwan was as excited as if she had been injected with adrenaline. She hadn't felt such a strong desire to do something in a long time.
Zhou Jinbai gave his future silly wife a deep look. One hundred ways of effective communication!
Ten minutes later, Zhou Jinbai's car stopped at the entrance of the Lin family villa.
"Why don't you wait in the car? I'll be out soon." Lin Xingwan, remembering the sharp and sarcastic words and doubts at the wedding banquet today, suddenly didn't want Zhou Jinbai to meet her family. They were even more cutting and sharp-tongued.
"Worried about me now?" Zhou Jinbai asked.
Lin Xingwan glared at him. "Always flattering yourself. Who's worried about you?"
"Are you women always so contrary? Look at your face; it's all worried."
Lin Xingwan quickly glanced at the rearview mirror, only to see Zhou Jinbai's smiling face reflected there. Lin Xingwan: !!!
"An ugly bride has to meet her in-laws sooner or later. I'll accompany you."
After getting out of the car, they walked towards the villa. As they entered the ground floor hall, they saw a large group of people sitting on the sofa. Zhong Jingjing sat in the main seat, with Lin Hanhai and Yang Niyun, Gu Shaoting and Lin Shirou, sitting on either side.
When Lin Xingwan and Zhou Jinbai appeared at the doorway, they all looked over in unison. Lin Shirou's gaze was fixed on the DT dress Lin Xingwan was wearing. It was this dress that had caused her so much embarrassment and the DT lawsuit, which would cost at least ten million to settle.
"You disgrace, how dare you come back!" Zhong Jingjing angrily threw the teacup in front of her towards Lin Xingwan. Zhou Jinbai, with quick reflexes, stepped in front of Lin Xingwan. The teacup hit Zhou Jinbai's hand, instantly turning it red from the heat.
"Grandma, what are you doing!" Lin Xingwan shouted at Zhong Jingjing, then pulled Zhou Jinbai's hand. "Are you okay?"
"It's nothing," Zhou Jinbai said, finding the woman's flushed face from anger quite amusing. She blushed when shy and blushed when angry; why was she so easily embarrassed?
"You still have the nerve to ask me what I'm doing? I never expected our Lin family, with such a strict family tradition, to raise a wicked child like you. How could you debase yourself like this, supporting a freeloader? And spending so much money on him, you must be bewitched." Little did Zhong Jingjing know how heartbroken she was when Lin Shirou told her that the wicked child had modified a car for a freeloader and spent four million on a comb as a gift! The money she earned hadn't even been enjoyed yet, so why give it to an outsider?
"Family tradition? Heh! Is it the family tradition of hiding women outside while being married, or the family tradition of secretly having an affair with your sister-in-law while engaged?" Lin Xingwan's tone was full of mockery, her gaze towards Zhong Jingjing filled with defiance.
Zhong Jingjing choked, temporarily speechless. Gu Shaoting and Lin Hanhai, the two men, felt inexplicably guilty.
"Xingwan, Grandma is just worried you're being deceived by a bad person," Yang Niyun said, trying to play the peacemaker.
Lin Shirou also advised Lin Xingwan, "Sister, I heard at the wedding banquet that modifying a car costs at least five million, plus that wooden comb worth over four million. You've spent so much money on him in just a few days. If he truly loved you, how could he let you keep spending money? Moreover, I had Shaoting investigate his background; he's just a useless person with no stable job. Don't be fooled by his appearance."
Zhou Jinbai found their words absurd and laughable. How dare they investigate him? He was not particularly moved; a Canglong never cared about the taunts of ants.
However, Lin Xingwan was quite angered. "It's my money; when did it become your business to point fingers?" What was wrong with these people? She could spend her money on whomever she pleased, and besides... she hadn't spent any money on Zhou Jinbai; the outfit she was wearing was a gift from him. How dare they look down on Zhou Jinbai like this? She was *very* angry!
Sensing the woman's anger beside him, Zhou Jinbai felt pleased. She cared about him, which was why she was like this. Zhou Jinbai took Lin Xingwan's hand. Feeling the continuous warmth from his palm, Lin Xingwan's anger subsided somewhat.
Yang Niyun spoke again, this time with a seemingly heartbroken expression. "Xingwan, we're not pointing fingers at your money. It's just that the Lin family's subsidiary companies have been having problems for years. To solve these issues, each of us has put in a lot of money. Three days ago, another company supervisor absconded with twenty million, and your father and grandmother haven't been able to eat or sleep properly while raising funds. Hearing you squander money like this made them so angry."
Lin Hanhai glared unhappily at Yang Niyun. "Didn't I tell you not to mention these things? She doesn't care about our lives."
Zhong Jingjing also said to Lin Xingwan, "We're all being pushed to the brink, and you're spending so much money on a freeloader. How can I not be angry?"
Lin Xingwan was stunned after hearing their words. She hadn't expected that what Zhou Jinbai had told her not long ago would come true here, one by one. She didn't believe their story at all; their clumsy acting was nauseating.
Zhou Jinbai squeezed Lin Xingwan's hand, and the shocked woman snapped back to reality. The bewilderment on Lin Xingwan's face faded, replaced by an urgent expression. "What? The supervisor ran off with the money? And took twenty million? Such a big deal, why didn't you tell me?" Let's act, you act, I'll trick you, that's acting!
"We didn't tell you because we were afraid you'd worry. But now... we're at our wit's end." Yang Niyun said, tears welling up in her eyes. "Xingwan, why don't you lend us twenty million? We'll return it to you once the company gets through this difficult period."
Lin Xingwan's face showed a look of hesitation. "You always say 'lend,' but you never pay me back."
Gu Shaoting, who had been silent all along, snorted. "Lin Xingwan, you're too selfish. You can spend ten million on a freeloader but don't care about your family's lives. How have you become like this? Since you're so heartless, then watch the Lin family's companies collapse one by one."
"I know you've resented us all these years, but you don't want to see your father go to jail, do you?" Zhong Jingjing's tone softened. At this moment, she did have a bit of a grandmotherly demeanor. It was a pity it was all an act.
Lin Xingwan lowered her head, no one seeing the cold glint in her eyes. She was silent for a long time, then said, "This is the last time I'll give you money, but... I have one condition."