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Novel Catalog
Chapter 9
It was already late at night, and Lin Yuzhen couldn’t shake off her unease. Though the night had settled in, her mind was wide awake, turning over thoughts in a restless loop. Her body felt tired, but her nerves kept her from finding peace. Even though she believed that the world was mostly filled with good people, there was still an undeniable feeling of doubt. After all, she had only known Jiang Ning for one day, and the rumors about his mental illness had her worried. What would she do if he suddenly lost control? What if things took a dangerous turn?
On the floor, Jiang Ning lay quietly, sensing the tension in the air. He could feel Lin Yuzhen’s anxious breathing, the way she fidgeted, unable to settle.
“Don’t worry,” Jiang Ning’s voice broke the silence. He spoke calmly, as if reading her thoughts. “You don’t need to keep a pair of scissors under your pillow. Go ahead and sleep, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Goodnight.”
Lin Yuzhen froze for a moment, her hand hovering under the pillow, the scissors still gripped in her fingers. How did he know? She hadn’t said a word about it. Her heart skipped a beat, and she withdrew her hand from under the pillow, trying to steady her breath.
But despite her worry, there was something about Jiang Ning’s words that comforted her. There was a strange sense of assurance in his tone, a calmness that contrasted with the storm in her mind. As if suddenly realizing that she had nothing to fear, she felt a wave of warmth wash over her.
“He won’t hurt me,” she thought to herself.
For some reason, her confidence in him began to grow. Slowly, her anxiety ebbed away, and she relaxed into the bed, closing her eyes. The night passed quietly, without incident, and she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
When she woke up the next day, she felt surprisingly refreshed. The sleep she had feared would be restless had actually left her feeling better than expected. As she stepped out of her room, she found Jiang Ning already sitting at the table, eating breakfast. But it was Sumei who caught her attention—her eyes were bloodshot, the telltale signs of a sleepless night.
“Come on, have some breakfast,” Jiang Ning said cheerfully, looking up at her. “Mum got up early to make it for you.”
Lin Yuzhen smiled faintly, though she noticed her mother’s weary expression. As she walked toward the bathroom, Sumei hurried after her.
“Did… Did anything happen last night?” she asked cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lin Yuzhen’s face turned pink, and she immediately felt embarrassed. “No, Mum. Nothing happened. He slept on the floor and didn’t touch me.”
She wasn’t sure why she felt the need to explain herself so quickly. But something in her mind couldn’t shake the thought. Should she have praised Jiang Ning for being gentlemanly? Or did it mean something else entirely? Had she not been charming enough for him? No, that didn’t make sense. After all, she had always been the most beautiful girl around since she was young. She even used to get a whole stack of love letters, enough to start a fire!
Sumei, meanwhile, let out a sigh of relief. She had been worried, but hearing Lin Yuzhen’s reassurance seemed to settle her nerves.
“Alright, I’ll send you to work today,” Jiang Ning offered as he finished his breakfast, preparing to escort her.
Lin Yuzhen hesitated. “No need, I can go by myself. You stay here, it’s dangerous out there.”
She couldn’t help but worry about the possibility of Lin Feng plotting something behind Jiang Ning’s back.
“Don’t worry, they wouldn’t dare do anything,” Jiang Ning said with a confident smile. “Let’s go.”
As Lin Yuzhen pushed her electric scooter out, Jiang Ning looked at her with an understanding gaze. Her standard of living, despite being the granddaughter of the Lin family, seemed modest. It was a bit surprising to him.
Still, Lin Yuzhen didn’t feel like rejecting his offer. She let him take the scooter’s handlebars while she sat behind him, relieved not to have to face the biting cold wind.
Though it was a simple ride, the sensation of Jiang Ning’s presence behind her felt strangely comforting. She had expected to feel uneasy, but instead, there was something different about this moment.
Meanwhile, at the Lin Group Headquarters, a large group of employees had gathered at the entrance. There were over a hundred workers standing at the ready to greet Lin Yuzhen. But their faces were filled with frustration, anger, and resentment.
They had received orders late at night to arrive an hour earlier than usual, specifically to wait for Lin Yuzhen. It was inconvenient, and to make matters worse, they had heard rumors circulating about her. Apparently, she had been involved with CEO Huang, and now she was flaunting her power over the Lin Group.
To top it all off, Lin Qiang—her uncle—had to beg her to return to work. The employees were livid.
As Lin Qiang stood in front of the crowd, he could feel the seething anger. He had orchestrated this scene to perfection. He didn’t believe that Lin Yuzhen would still be able to maintain her position in the company after causing such a stir. Once she signed the contract, she would be forced to leave.
“Have you called CEO Huang yet?” Lin Qiang asked, his voice cold.
“I did,” Lin Feng replied, a malicious grin on his face. “When I mentioned Lin Yuzhen, he said he’d drop by personally.”
The jealousy in Lin Feng was evident. He had never been allowed to meet CEO Huang, but now that Lin Yuzhen was involved, the CEO himself was coming to the company. It didn’t sit well with him.
Jiang Ning, on the other hand, was already approaching the entrance. From a distance, he could see Lin Qiang and his employees standing there. A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes.
Lin Yuzhen stepped off the scooter and was immediately taken aback by the sight. She had expected to see just her uncle, but now, there was an entire crowd waiting for her. The realization hit her like a wall, and she felt trapped by the stares of over a hundred people.
The employees, led by Lin Feng, greeted her with forced smiles.
“We welcome back Miss Lin!” Lin Feng called out, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
The employees repeated the phrase in unison, their words laced with anger, disdain, and judgment. The noise was overwhelming, and Lin Yuzhen could feel the pressure building in her chest. The cold air seemed to make it worse, and she felt suffocated by the stares.
Lin Qiang’s smile was thin, his words barely hiding the mockery behind them. “Yuzhen, happy now?”
Lin Yuzhen didn’t know how to respond. She could see the scorn in the eyes of her colleagues, and she could feel their resentment. No explanation would help. No apology would make this go away.
“Yeah, I guess I’m quite happy,” Jiang Ning replied, his voice calm and confident as he looked directly at Lin Qiang. “You’ve done well.”
Lin Qiang’s expression darkened immediately. He was enraged by Jiang Ning’s comment, but Jiang Ning paid him no mind, guiding Lin Yuzhen past the crowd and into the building.
Inside the office, the tension was palpable. Employees whispered among themselves, angry about Lin Yuzhen’s sudden return and her new office—bigger and more luxurious than before. It only added fuel to the fire of their anger.
Lin Yuzhen could feel the weight of their judgment, but Jiang Ning’s words were a soothing balm to her raw nerves.
“Don’t worry about what they say,” Jiang Ning murmured, noticing her discomfort. “It’s always the ones who are beneath you who will try to tear you down.”
His words struck Lin Yuzhen deeply. Despite the harsh environment around her, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. Jiang Ning’s support was unwavering.
Meanwhile, Lin Qiang, watching the situation unfold, had already made plans to expose Lin Yuzhen’s “true colors.” He was sure that once the employees saw the rumors about her involvement with CEO Huang, she would be forced out. He had no idea just how much the tables had already begun to turn.
“Is CEO Huang here yet?” Lin Qiang asked, his grin returning as he waited for his plans to unfold.
“He should be arriving soon,” Lin Feng replied, satisfaction in his voice. “We’ll see if Jiang Ning stays calm once he finds out what’s really been happening.”
As the father and son exchanged glances, both of them felt the thrill of anticipation. They were sure this was the beginning of Lin Yuzhen’s downfall. But neither of them realized that Jiang Ning had already positioned himself to protect her, no matter what came next.
