NOVEL NEXT Chapter 45
Chapter 45: Oh? Just a Few Days Away and You Ended Up Like This?:
“Hello?”
Qi Lin lazily answered the call.
According to his original plan, he could have stepped in the moment Yu Chen was getting beaten.
But then, he hesitated.
If Yu Chen got attacked and Qi Lin just happened to show up nearby, wouldn’t that seem a little too coincidental?
As long as Wang Siling wasn’t a complete fool, she would eventually suspect that Qi Lin had something to do with it.
So in the end, Qi Lin chose to wait.
He wanted to bet that when Yu Chen was truly helpless, Wang Siling would think of him as the one who could save the day.
That way, his arrival would seem much more natural.
And clearly, judging by this phone call, Qi Lin had won his bet.
“Qi Lin! Yu Chen is getting beaten up by some thugs! Hurry and come over! If you don’t, they’re going to break his leg!”
Over the phone, Wang Siling’s usually sweet voice was now choked with sobs, pitiful and desperate.
But Qi Lin remained unmoved, speaking lazily.
“Little Siling, are you sure you called the right person? If I remember correctly, just yesterday, you told me we had nothing to do with each other anymore and that I should stay away from your family.”
“And now that your beloved is in trouble, you come looking for me? Why don’t you call your brother? Or your parents? Why are you asking a ‘stranger’ for help?”
“I-I’m sorry! I’m really sorry, Brother Qi Lin! I was wrong yesterday… I apologize…”
“Please, just come to the embankment on Jiangbin Road! If you come any later, Yu Chen will really be in danger! If you help me, I’ll… I’ll let you kiss me every day again! I’ll even take the initiative… Please, just come quickly!”
Her voice was trembling.
This was a girl who was normally so shy that even a slight tease would make her blush.
Yet now, she was saying such things without hesitation.
It was clear—she was completely desperate.
She could think of no one else who could save Yu Chen.
Seeing that the timing was just right, Qi Lin sighed and said,
“Well, your Brother Qi Lin has a soft heart, after all. But remember what you just said—if you go back on your word, you’ll face the consequences.”
He hung up the phone and checked his watch.
He then casually waited for another 7–8 minutes before starting his car and driving toward the embankment.
Since his villa wasn’t far from the riverbank, this timing was perfect—it wouldn’t make Wang Siling suspicious.
Screech!
The sound of brakes echoed as Qi Lin’s car came to a stop on the embankment.
“Brother Qi Lin!”
Seeing that Qi Lin had really come, Wang Siling, who had been filled with worry and fear, suddenly felt a surge of relief.
She ran toward him with joy in her eyes.
“Siling! You mean to tell me this bastard is the one you called for help?!”
Hearing Wang Siling call out Qi Lin’s name, Yu Chen—who was still being pinned to the ground—immediately struggled furiously.
Wang Siling’s delicate face stiffened, a mix of guilt and frustration welling up in her heart.
That’s right.
Why was she so happy to see Qi Lin?
Even if Yu Chen was saved, she would once again fall into the hands of this devil and live in his shadow forever.
“Oh? Isn’t this Yu Chen? Haven’t seen you for a day, and you’re already this miserable?”
Qi Lin stepped out of his car, strolled over to the group of thugs, and smirked down at Yu Chen.
Hearing that Young Master Lin had arrived, the gangsters—who had been suppressing their laughter—finally let loose.
Now it was time for their grand performance.
“Kid, are you the one this chick called to pay up?”
The thug with the baton gave Qi Lin a once-over.
Qi Lin nearly laughed at their dramatic expressions.
These guys had way too much enthusiasm for their roles—what a waste of talent.
“That’s right. I’m the one.”
Qi Lin nodded.
“Good, that makes things simple. This punk insulted us and even injured us. We need 10,000 yuan in compensation. You got the money?”
The thug twirled his baton menacingly.
“And what happens if I don’t pay?”
Qi Lin asked with a smirk.
The thug let out a cold laugh. “Then we break his leg. Right now.”
“No!”
At that moment, Wang Siling rushed forward in panic.
“Brother Qi Lin, please! Help Yu Chen! I’ll treat it as a loan, okay?”
She pleaded desperately.
“Now that’s the right attitude.”
Qi Lin smiled leisurely.
“My money doesn’t grow on trees. But if you’re willing to sign an IOU, I suppose I can lend it to you.”
“Don’t you dare beg this bastard! I’d rather have my leg broken than take a single cent from him!”
Yu Chen roared angrily.
“Siling! He’s just trying to take advantage of you! He’s not really trying to help!”
“Yu Chen! Please! Stop talking already! I’m doing this willingly!”
Wang Siling sobbed.
“You’re still young! If you lose a leg now, what about your future? What will you do for the rest of your life?”
Qi Lin, however, was running out of patience with their melodrama.
“So, are you borrowing or not? If not, I’m going back to enjoy my air conditioning.”
Wang Siling immediately grabbed his arm, her voice still trembling with tears.
“I’ll borrow! I’ll borrow it!”
“Good. Then sign the IOU.”
Qi Lin handed her a pen and a prepared sheet of paper.
Yu Chen, whose eyes were still stinging from the lime powder, couldn’t see anything.
The other girls stood too far away.
Whatever Wang Siling wrote on the IOU… only she and Qi Lin would know.
“Here’s 10,000 yuan. Count it.”
Qi Lin casually tossed a thick wad of bills to the gangsters.
“Now we’re talking.”
“Heh, kid, you got lucky today. If it weren’t for your rich friend here, we would’ve broken your leg for sure.”
The thugs smirked as they took the money and let Yu Chen go.
Grinning, they left the scene, pockets full of cash.
Or so they thought.
Because the stack of bills Qi Lin had given them?
Only the top two notes were real.
The rest? Just training banknotes—worthless paper.
After all, why would Qi Lin actually hand over 10,000 yuan to a bunch of low-level thugs?