Chapter 167 Can Also Go to Your House

(Thanks to the book friend [Mithrandir] for becoming the Squad Leader, extra Chapters to express appreciation! It seems today is also your birthday? Happy Birthday!)

"I know you’re rich, really, you clearly look like a rich person."

Looking at Li Yan’s serious and earnest response, Wang Lin couldn’t help but feel awkward.

Qiao Huanxuan also laughed. Since Li Yan arrived, she had an excuse not to let Wang Lin send her off, and she easily introduced Li Yan: "This is Wang Lin, his father is a project leader of the one we’re involved in this time."

Li Yan warmly greeted, and before Wang Lin could react, he took out a cigarette and handed one over: "Do you smoke?"

"Uh..." Wang Lin felt flattered by the ’leader’s’ gesture, though somewhat awkward. However, seeing Li Yan offering a cigarette, he believed it was an act of goodwill, so he didn’t overthink it. But with Qiao Huanxuan present, he felt it necessary to maintain his image, thus waved his hand saying: "I don’t smoke! Probably shouldn’t smoke here, besides, there’s a beauty around."

"It’s alright, you can take it outside and smoke."

Wang Lin realized, wasn’t this still a way to get rid of him? Geez, how unethical!

He stood up politely but didn’t leave immediately; instead, he said to Qiao Huanxuan, "Miss Qiao, I’d like to have a private talk with your friend..." Then he gestured to Li Yan.

Li Yan patted Qiao Huanxuan’s back and directly walked out of KFC with Wang Lin.

"Hey buddy, you’re being a bit excessive!" Wang Lin was just over twenty, always passive and lacking confidence in front of Qiao Huanxuan. Now seeing Li Yan with her, without knowing more, he thought they were a better match, which made him frustrated and try to act mature.

"How am I being excessive?" Li Yan placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it hard. "Did I scold you? Or hit you?"

"Not really..." Wang Lin said, but immediately felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, took a deep breath, and just as he was about to shout, Li Yan let go, giving him a somewhat mocking smile.

Wang Lin felt uneasy, realizing this guy was either strong or skilled in martial arts. "Come on, we’re all civilized people, let’s talk properly."

"And what if so?" Li Yan chuckled.

Seeing Li Yan seemed unaware of his father’s position, Wang Lin quietly smiled wryly, but helplessly. "Well, here’s the thing, we’re all pursuing Qiao Huanxuan. Everyone relies on their abilities in this competition, do you really have to sideline me like this?"

Li Yan couldn’t help but laugh, sighed: "I say, do you genuinely not understand or are you pretending? Huanxuan has no interest in you whatsoever, in her eyes, you’re just an extra character. Just because of your dad’s work relationship, she doesn’t want to get confrontational, so she’s too lazy to reprimand you. Huanxuan, albeit young, is already a renowned architectural designer. How could she be interested in someone like you who’s uneducated?"

Wang Lin initially called Li Yan out to sternly lecture him on age not being an issue while defending his right to pursue love. However, after hearing Li Yan’s words, he reflected on his intense effort since knowing Qiao Huanxuan, only to realize he’d made no progress, feeling deeply defeated.

"Is there really no hope for me?"

"There was hope initially."

Hearing Li Yan’s answer, Wang Lin felt a glimmer of hope: "What do you mean? Then why is there none now?"

"Bad luck, you encountered me! Huanxuan’s affection is for me, how could you have even a glimmer of hope?" Li Yan wasn’t boasting; Qiao Huanxuan truly waited for twelve years, a complex and profound affection.

After listening to Li Yan, Wang Lin sized him up in disbelief: "Come on, aside from having slightly stronger force, what else do you have over me?"

"Kid, in matters of wooing, it’s about talent and charm. Personal charm is something you lack."

"Flattery...? If it leads nowhere, then technically, there’s no stunning beauty, let alone true love." Wang Lin lamented.

"You’re a bit ’naive’... Go back, stunning beauties are reserved for big shots like me. Better go accumulate some charisma and charm, maybe you’ll achieve something later."

Li Yan humored him with a few words and didn’t accompany him in further lamentation, heading back to KFC on his own.

...

"I’ve sent that fool away..." Li Yan returned to sit beside Qiao Huanxuan, halted his words as he noticed something.

Facing this direction, he saw across a few seats, two people he hadn’t noticed before, probably just arrived. One was Li Jie, whom he escorted not long ago, and the other was Zhou Yunfei, the Yu Family’s security team leader hired by Chen Mingying. They were passing time, each with a drink and fries.

Li Yan really wanted to sit across from Qiao Huanxuan, in Wang Lin’s former seat, but now it would be too obvious after approaching. KFC here had relatively fewer customers; Zhou Yunfei and Li Jie likely noticed him.

"Why don’t we leave? You’re really going to eat all this?" Qiao Huanxuan pointed at the table, "Aren’t you afraid it’s too late?"

Having already eaten, Li Yan wasn’t interested in fast food. Seeing Li Jie and the others made him feel he couldn’t delay, needed to explain to Qiao Huanxuan quickly.

"Aren’t you curious why I came so quickly?"

"Nothing surprising, you were surely at the airport, got the call, and came right over."

"Indeed... Don’t you want to know why I’m at the airport this evening?"

Qiao Huanxuan glanced at him, said indifferently, "Going to the airport is usually to drop someone off or pick them up, unlikely to just be shopping around on a whim."

"Well then..." Li Yan was still unsure how to start.

"Want to know why you picked up or dropped off someone? Does it matter to me? I’m not your girlfriend and you’re not going to involve me in your life circles. Whether I know or not, is it important?" Qiao Huanxuan self-deprecatedly smiled.

Hearing her words, Li Yan became much more calm and composed, pondered momentarily, said: "Actually, I came to the airport tonight to meet my girlfriend. You know her, Yu Xiaodi. But I wasn’t picking her up; her mother took her away, forbidding contact for a while. They’re back tonight, I heard the news, worried about her and came to check on her."

Qiao Huanxuan was a bit surprised: "What happened? Aren’t you supposed to have a good relationship? Her mother disapproves of your relationship?"

"Kind of." Li Yan reluctantly smiled.

He felt several gazes on him, looking up, Zhou Yunfei disdainfully glared at him. This guy was loyal; hired by Chen Mingying, he was devoted to the employer including the employer’s daughter, Yu Xiaodi. Thus, long ago, when he saw Li Yan’s casual relationship with Hai Fu at a hotel meal, he came over to ridicule. Compared to his current employer, his boss and superior were Li Chengfeng and Li Jie, to whom he showed utmost loyalty. Knowing from Li Chengfeng that Li Yan would be the ’prospective son-in-law’, he felt depressed and helpless. Help whom? Amidst contradiction, he decided to stay neutral and not get involved.

Seeing Li Yan at the airport, Zhou Yunfei naturally suspected Yu Xiaodi leaked the news. But spotting Li Yan with an elegant lady, seemingly in good terms, he assumed it was coincidence but felt more furious and contemptuous. Whether Yu Xiaodi or Li Jie, they were both excellent ladies, and this guy balancing two boats wasn’t satisfied, still straying around?

He was itching to beat Li Yan as a lesson!

Besides Zhou Yunfei, Li Jie eyed him, puzzled. How could he hook up with a beauty in just a brief time? Eventful even in KFC? Or merely his concealment?

Having listened to Li Yan, Qiao Huanxuan roughly guessed the situation but knew better than to comment, lest it appear like instigating or exploiting.

"Understood. So you’re waiting for her, what time does she arrive? Should I wait with you or head back?" Qiao Huanxuan calmly asked. If not too long, she would wait; otherwise, she’d not linger.

"Nine o’clock, just a few more hours."

Qiao Huanxuan thought a bit, "Nine’s fine, I can wait with you. Do you need me here? Or prefer I leave?"

Li Yan smiled, "Of course, if you’re not uncomfortable."

"No embarrassment at all, she’s your current girlfriend while I’m considered... a past crush." Qiao Huanxuan slightly jested, added: "I know her. If it’s inconvenient to approach, want me to relay anything?"

Li Yan pondered, Yu Xiaodi knew about Qiao Huanxuan, and having her relay might be more fitting than Li Jie. Though, considering, he shook his head: "Never mind, back home, she should have more chances to contact me. Better to speak directly! Haha, I sent Wang Er away, if it’s a bit later, I’ll ensure you safely get to the hotel."

Qiao Huanxuan chuckled, "Maybe not necessarily a hotel, could go to your house..."

My house?! Li Yan sweated a bit. (To be continued, to know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com, more Chapters, support authors, support genuine reading!)