Chapter 102: Lin Fan’s Past

“You,” Zhao Fanglin said, pointing at Zhao Ying, “don’t worry. I’ll do my best to help you with your mother, but don’t get your hopes up too high. You know your mother’s temper—changing her mind is no easy feat. Ultimately, it still depends on this young man here.” As he spoke, Zhao Fanglin glanced at Lin Fan.

Lin Fan hadn’t expected that the esteemed Party Secretary of T City would be a man who feared his wife. But thinking about it, Zhao Ying’s mother must be a formidable woman; otherwise, how could she keep Zhao Fanglin in line?

Throughout the dinner, Zhao Ying was surprised to see how well Lin Fan and her father got along, as if they were old acquaintances. Especially when Zhao Fanglin kept calling Lin Fan “kid,” she could sense that her father was quite pleased with him. With that, her own goal was achieved.

As they left the restaurant, Zhao Fanglin purposely pulled Zhao Ying aside, hoping to glean more information about Lin Fan from his daughter. But Zhao Ying knew little beyond the fact that Lin Fan was a security guard.

This left Zhao Fanglin both amused and exasperated. His daughter didn’t even know Lin Fan’s background, yet dared to bring him before him. If it weren’t for Old Master Tang’s information that at least confirmed Lin Fan was Lin Zhentian’s son, Zhao Fanglin would never have approved of their relationship. But judging by the current situation, even if he refused, it seemed his daughter was already captivated by this young man.

Before parting, Zhao Fanglin shot Lin Fan a sharp glare. This kid had the audacity to bring his daughter to a hotel room right in front of him—such boldness! But Zhao Fanglin also knew that these were young people’s affairs, and meddling too much would only backfire. He trusted that his daughter knew her limits. If only he knew Zhao Ying had already given Lin Fan her first time, who knew how he would react.

After Zhao Fanglin left, Lin Fan and Zhao Ying walked hand in hand toward the parking lot.

“Tell me—when did you meet my dad?” Zhao Ying eagerly asked, curious how Lin Fan knew her father.

“We’ll talk about it when we get back,” Lin Fan replied, opening the car door for her as the vehicle slowly headed toward the city center.

“You know I’m… busy today. Can we do it another day?” Zhao Ying sat in the passenger seat, lowering her head and blushing.

Whenever it came to matters between men and women, Zhao Ying always wore this expression. But Lin Fan liked it—he had witnessed her passionate side before. “Ying’er, I never said I wanted it now. Why are you so eager to give it to me?” Lin Fan pouted, pretending as if he was being coerced.

Having been together for some time, Zhao Ying immediately understood the act and reached out to grab him. “Hmph, you’re just pretending. Go ahead, keep pretending if you can.”

“Stop it, stop it! Easy, easy, if you break it, it won’t work anymore... I’m driving,” Lin Fan’s voice followed quickly. “What? You don’t want it right now, do you?” He opened his mouth wide, feigning shock as he looked at Zhao Ying.

“You pervert…” she murmured.

“If I’m a pervert, it’s only for you...” he teased.

Since confirming their relationship, Lin Fan realized that although Zhao Ying could be a little mischievous at times, like just now, she was mostly gentle. He found himself growing attached to her. Being with her felt effortless, allowing him to momentarily cast aside all his worries.

When Lin Fan parked in front of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Zhao Ying finally understood that when he talked about booking a room, this was what he meant.

“Come on, top-floor presidential suite,” Lin Fan said, holding Zhao Ying’s hand.

Seeing Zhao Ying hesitate, Lin Fan smiled gently. “Don’t worry, I have money on my card. Besides, I wouldn’t want to treat you badly,” he said, lightly brushing her delicate nose.

The money he referred to was, of course, the openly “earned” fortune from Master Jin. When a hundred million suddenly fell from the sky, a fool wouldn’t refuse it.

Speaking of Master Jin, Lin Fan had already asked Tan Zhiyong to track him down. After the Green Gang’s failed ambush, Master Jin flew back to Shanghai that very night. But Lin Fan knew their feud wouldn’t end so easily. A man like Master Jin wouldn’t let him off after being publicly embarrassed.

Zhao Ying silently nodded, saying nothing more as Lin Fan led her into the elevator.

Lin Fan wasn’t nervous about sharing a hotel room with a woman, especially since he and Zhao Ying had already been intimate. Though he wasn’t sure what impression he left on her after their first time, he hoped it wasn’t too bad.

What Lin Fan didn’t realize was that after that night’s ordeal, Zhao Ying’s entire body had been weak for a whole day, and though she scolded him countless times, her heart was filled with sweetness.

Inside the bedroom, Lin Fan released Zhao Ying’s hand and walked to the window, opening it to overlook the dazzling city lights. Whenever he was with Zhao Ying, memories of Ling Xue—the woman he both loved and hated—would flash through his mind, only to be forcibly suppressed.

He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and exhaled a smoke ring, fanning it away so the smell wouldn’t drift into the room.

“Come in and smoke,” Zhao Ying said, sitting on the bed and watching Lin Fan’s back.

Hearing her call, Lin Fan stubbed out the cigarette and smiled mischievously. “Wifey, every moment counts. Let’s get down to business.”

“I’m… on my period today. If you really want to, I’ll go shower first,” Zhao Ying said after a moment’s thought, willing to endure a little discomfort if Lin Fan couldn’t hold back.

But Lin Fan didn’t wait for her to finish. He grabbed her and flipped her beneath him. Zhao Ying, slightly flushed from the wine she’d drunk earlier, breathed deeply as Lin Fan tenderly brushed back her hair.

Her lips parted softly, an invitation and a signal. She tucked her bangs away, revealing a faint scar on her forehead.

Unable to resist, Lin Fan lowered his head to kiss her. Though they’d done this before, Zhao Ying’s movements were still unfamiliar. She tried her best to match him, her breathing growing heavier. The smell of alcohol on Lin Fan’s breath sent a hazy intoxication through her body.

After four or five minutes, Lin Fan slowly pulled away, licking his lips. He feared that, fueled by the alcohol, he might lose control and take her against her will. That would be unacceptable. He knew Zhao Ying wouldn’t refuse, but the outcome would be pleasure for him and pain for her—and Lin Fan was determined not to let that happen.

Some men loved a woman for sex, but Lin Fan was not one of them. He loved Zhao Ying, and that was why their intimacy mattered.

He rolled onto his back beside Zhao Ying, reaching out for her to rest her head on his arm. Watching the woman lying against him, caressing his chest, Lin Fan suppressed his urge. Zhao Ying had caught a cold that morning; now was not the time.

“Not tonight. But you owe me a proper reward another day,” Lin Fan smiled slyly.

Zhao Ying understood his meaning and felt a surge of indescribable warmth. After hesitating, she finally asked, “Can you tell me about yourself?”

From the moment she met Lin Fan, Zhao Ying sensed he was a man with a story, and everything that followed confirmed her intuition.

Lin Fan pulled out a cigarette and gestured toward Zhao Ying before slowly lighting it and placing it between his lips. Without a smoke, he felt the mood was incomplete.

Taking a deep drag, he began, “Nine years ago, I was fifteen. Back then, I believed I would live a happy life forever. Until one stormy night, a group of men in black broke into our home. My mother hid my sister and me under the bed. When I crawled out, she was already lying in a pool of blood, and the house was ransacked. Soon after, my father died in a sudden car accident.”

As he spoke of his parents, Lin Fan’s hand trembled slightly, his eyes reddened, and an inexplicable aura of fierce determination radiated from him. Without realizing it, he held Zhao Ying tighter.

“Later, my uncle brought me into the Falcon unit—a secret special forces team of the state. I stayed there for five years, rarely interacting with the outside world. All I knew were harsh trainings and endless missions. Back then, I didn’t understand love. I only knew I belonged to the country, and protecting it was my duty. Though I wanted to avenge my parents, I didn’t even know who my enemies were. How could I seek revenge?” Lin Fan exhaled, rolling his eyes in self-mockery.

(To be continued…) Please add this book to your bookshelf!