C12 Wife's Best Friend

"Absolutely no problem."

Ye Qingqiu stood with a mix of fear and excitement, her heart fluttering with nervous joy. She had never imagined she'd get to see her idol from such a close distance.

Without any hesitation, she agreed as soon as she understood what was being asked of her. Gone was her usual composure of a high-profile figure; she was now as docile and understanding as a child.

"How could I possibly take your money? It's just a few rooms, and after all, the Dihao Hotel is part of your empire."

Ye Qingqiu laughed, amused by the thought. Who on earth would dare to accept the War God's money? To be connected with someone of his stature was honor enough.

"The money isn't from me; it's from the Ruyi Group for you. Please, take it without worry. Business is business, and I can't break the rules."

True to his name, the War God's magnanimity was breathtaking.

The War God Shrine was Lin Yuan's creation, yet he never once sought personal gain from it, never once taking more than he gave.

Why was he known as the War God? Why did he command such respect in the shadowy corners of the world? It was all due to the man before her, with a breadth of spirit that others could scarcely dream of matching.

The rules established at the founding of the War God Shrine had always been followed to the letter, even by Lin Yuan himself. His self-discipline was nothing short of admirable.

"Since you've made the request, I'll honor it. But I'm not sure if you have the time?"

Ye Qingqiu looked up eagerly, her voice tentative as she broached the subject.

Lin Yuan's brow creased slightly.

"Speak your mind."

"For a long time, I've held you in high esteem. I would like to invite you to dinner. I'm quite a good cook and I hope you'll do me the honor of accepting."

Her eyes were warm as she spoke, a look that could set many a man's heart racing.

But Lin Yuan simply shook his head.

"I'm not available. You should go back and make your preparations."

Ye Qingqiu was known as a goddess, with countless admirers who had tried and failed to share a meal with her.

Here she was, extending a personal invitation to Lin Yuan, even offering to cook for him, yet she couldn't secure even a moment of his time. If word of this spread, surely many would go to great lengths for a chance with Lin Yuan.

Upon hearing those words, Ye Qingqiu's delicate features couldn't mask her crestfallen expression, her eyes brimming with disappointment.

Lin Yuan's words left Ye Qingqiu with no choice but to silently turn and push the door open to leave.

Outside, a crowd had gathered, including Bai Shuang, Xu Youcai, and several company employees.

As Ye Qingqiu walked away, Lin Yuan remained seated in his office, not even contemplating seeing her out. The onlookers were stunned.

What did this imply? It suggested that their relationship was not one of friendship, but rather one defined by Lin Yuan's superior status.

Ye Qingqiu was undeniably beautiful, rivaling even Bai Shuang, captivating countless male employees with her charm.

For reasons she couldn't quite pinpoint, Bai Shuang felt an odd discomfort watching Ye Qingqiu's dejected departure.

"Lin Yuan is really despicable. He had these connections all along but kept silent, leaving our CEO anxious. Had he spoken up sooner, all this trouble could've been avoided," Suen Lanju complained bitterly. She had once dismissed Lin Yuan as worthless, but now faced with this unexpected twist, she struggled to accept it, resorting to her usual sarcasm.

Despite his connections, Lin Yuan was no saint. As a man, his failure to alleviate a woman's worries put him on par with the useless, in her eyes. Such was the nature of her illogical reasoning.

Sometimes, it was impossible to reason with those who seemed to lack common sense.

Zhao Youcai stood by with a dark scowl. His initial plan to oust Lin Yuan from the company had suddenly become complicated. With Lin Yuan's newfound influence, the task wouldn't be easy.

Yet, Zhao Youcai wasn't deterred. Connections might be fleeting, and Lin Yuan lacked true talent. There would be other opportunities.

"Bai Shuang will eventually be mine," Xu Youcai thought to himself, eyeing Bai Shuang with a covetous gaze.

The company was abuzz with talk, and the chatter persisted even as the evening drew to a close and employees headed home.

Lin Yuan stood by the door, waiting for Bai Shuang so they could head home together.

Lately, they had noticed someone shadowing them.

Concerned for his wife's safety, Lin Yuan never strayed too far from her, ensuring he was there to escort her to and from work every day.

Bai Shuang finally appeared downstairs after a lengthy wait, silent as she approached Lin Yuan.

As they reached the front of their villa, Lin Yuan stepped out of the car, his brow furrowed in concern. His gaze fixed on their home like a watchful cheetah, he could tell someone had been there. The traces of a visitor were clear, and from the clues, it seemed to be a small-statured woman.

A thief, perhaps?

Initially, Lin Yuan's gut reaction was to suspect an assassin, but no professional would leave such blatant evidence.

It seemed the only other possibility was a thief.

Before Bai Shuang could step inside, Lin Yuan halted her.

"Honey, wait here. It looks like we've got a brazen little burglar who decided to visit our home," he said, a mix of annoyance and disbelief in his voice.

He was at a loss for words. The nerve of this thief was astonishing, leaving the door wide open and even the lights on as if to announce her presence. And in such an upscale neighborhood, the security was disappointingly lax.

Bai Shuang initially startled, then contemplative, was about to respond when Lin Yuan dashed into the house.

He found a young girl lounging on the sofa, nonchalantly munching on potato chips and engrossed in the television, seemingly without a care in the world.

She was barely 1.6 meters tall, petite and adorable, yet surprisingly well-proportioned.

She presented a baffling contrast; typically, shorter girls didn't boast such figures, but here was Ye XiaoXiao, defying expectations.

Lin Yuan was momentarily at a loss for words at her audacity.

"How old are you? And why would you choose to be a thief?" he asked.

"Hey, who are you?" Ye XiaoXiao inquired, her eyes widening. "You're not Bai Shuang's husband, are you?"

Her voice was tinged with surprise as she turned to face him.

Just then, Bai Shuang, following closely behind, entered the room. Hearing Ye XiaoXiao's words, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Ye XiaoXiao, what are you blabbering about? I won't be so forgiving next time. How come you didn't give me a heads-up about coming today? I nearly mistook you for a thief!"

Ye XiaoXiao was strikingly beautiful, a different kind of beauty compared to Bai Shuang – hers was an innocent and endearing charm. With her petite frame, she was truly a beauty to behold.

Lin Yuan instantly released his grip, realizing he had been holding onto Ye XiaoXiao's shoulder a moment before.

It was all a big misunderstanding. She was Bai Shuang's friend, which explained her boldness. But having the keys to the villa meant they were probably more than just friends; they must be besties.

"Weren't you studying abroad? What brought you back all of a sudden?" Bai Shuang asked, clearly delighted.

"There's been some trouble at home, so I had to return. I'll be staying at your place for a while," Ye XiaoXiao said with a chuckle, her gaze shifting to Lin Yuan.

"Hope I'm not intruding on you two, am I?"

"Lin Yuan and I aren't what you're imagining. We're not actually married, so no worries – make yourself at home here," Bai Shuang quickly clarified.

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