Unexpected Second Chance at Love

Madam Qin’s face burned with humiliation.

She could feel the stares from every direction inside the coffee shop, but what humiliated her most was not the attention—it was Grandfather Ji’s unmistakable defense of Lin Hui.

Without another word, she grabbed Qin Xue by the arm.

”Mother—”

”We’re leaving.”

”Wait—”

Madam Qin refused to listen. She practically dragged her daughter toward the exit before storming out of the coffee shop.

Qin Xue barely managed to glance over her shoulder.

Her eyes found Lin Hui.

There was apology in them, along with embarrassment and something he could not quite decipher.

Then the door closed behind them.

Grandfather Ji stared after Madam Qin in utter disbelief.

”That woman—”

He immediately started toward the entrance.

Lin Hui caught his arm.

”Grandfather Ji.”

”I ought to drag her back in here and make her apologize to you properly.”

”It’s fine, Grandfather Ji.”

”Fine?”

Grandfather Ji turned sharply. Anger still showed on his face.

”What part of that was fine?”

Ji Jingxu nodded beside him.

”Exactly.”

Lin Hui looked between the grandfather and grandson.

Their expressions were nearly identical.

Both were furious.

For him.

The realization warmed his chest in an unfamiliar way.

Lin Hui gave a small smile.

”I’ve heard worse.”

”That doesn’t make what she said acceptable,” Ji Jingxu muttered.

”I know.”

Lin Hui glanced toward the door.

”But forcing her to apologize won’t change how she thinks. It’ll only make this bigger than it needs to be.”

Grandfather Ji frowned deeply.

”She called you worthless.”

”And I’m still standing.”

”She said your existence was wrong!”

”And she’s wrong.”

That silenced the old man.

Lin Hui’s voice remained calm.

”I know what I’m worth, Grandfather Ji. I don’t need Madam Qin to know it too.”

Grandfather Ji stared at him for a long moment.

The anger did not disappear, but eventually, his shoulders relaxed.

”You’re letting her off too easily.”

Lin Hui smiled faintly.

”I’d rather enjoy my coffee.”

Ji Jingxu glanced at the cup still in his hand.

”After all that, you didn’t even spill it.”

Lin Hui looked down at it.

”Priorities.”

Ji Jingxu snorted.

Grandfather Ji looked at Lin Hui then reluctantly abandoned the idea of chasing Madam Qin down.

Then Ji Jingxu seemed to remember something.

”Wait.”

He looked at Lin Hui.

”What are you doing around here anyway?”

Lin Hui’s expression almost betrayed him.

Almost.

His gaze briefly flickered toward the window.

The massage parlor next door remained visible from where he stood.

He obviously could not tell them the truth.

He couldn’t say he was investigating one of the men seen with Choi Li Sun while secretly searching for Liu Peng.

No one else was aware that Liu Peng had escaped.

Especially when Yue Ling herself knew nothing about it.

”I...”

His mind worked quickly.

”I’m heading to De L’amour.”

Ji Jingxu blinked.

”De L’amour?”

”Mm.”

Lin Hui internally cursed himself.

Of all the excuses he could have chosen—

Grandfather Ji’s expression immediately brightened.

”Perfect. That’s where we’re going.”

Lin Hui stared at him.

”...You are?”

”We’re bringing your boss something.”

Lin Hui looked between the grandfather and grandson duo. He suddenly wanted to take back his answer.

Ji Jingxu smiled.

”Looks like you’re coming with us.”

Lin Hui forced a smile that did not reach his eyes.

”Looks like it.”

’So much for surveillance.’

At De L’amour, Lian Ni Shang and Shan Sinan were already waiting downstairs when Grandfather Ji arrived.

”Grandfather Ji.”

Both greeted him respectfully.

Grandfather Ji carefully handed the garment box to Lian Ni Shang.

His hands lingered on it for a second before letting go.

”This dress has been preserved for years.”

His expression became serious.

”Keep it safe.”

Lian Ni Shang immediately understood the weight of what she was holding. Her teasing nature disappeared.

”Don’t worry.”

She carefully secured the box in her arms.

”I’ll guard it with my life.”

Grandfather Ji nodded approvingly.

Shan Sinan glanced at her.

”Don’t say that. Knowing our luck, Boss will hear you and actually assign you to guard it all night.”

Lian Ni Shang shot him a look.

”I would.”

That earned a small chuckle from Grandfather Ji.

After confirming that the dress would be taken directly to the design room, they parted ways.

Grandfather Ji, Ji Jingxu, and Lin Hui headed upstairs.

The moment the elevator opened onto the top floor, Liu Shan looked up from where he was discussing work with Secretary Jiang.

”Grandfather Ji. Jingxu.”

Then his eyes landed on the third person.

His expression changed.

”Lin Hui?”

Lin Hui gave him a look.

Liu Shan’s eyes narrowed.

Lin Hui rarely came to De L’amour.

There was little reason for him to.

And considering what they were secretly investigating—

Liu Shan immediately knew something was off.

He straightened his posture.

”Grandfather Ji, Boss is inside.”

Grandfather Ji nodded.

Liu Shan turned toward Lin Hui.

”You. Come with me.”

Lin Hui sighed inwardly.

Ji Jingxu glanced between them.

”What?”

”Work.”

Liu Shan smiled innocently.

Neither Grandfather Ji nor Jingxu thought much of it.

The two continued toward Yue Ling’s office while Liu Shan led Lin Hui in the opposite direction.

Yue Ling was not surprised when her office door opened.

She looked up from her computer.

”Yeye.”

Her gaze shifted.

”Jingxu.”

Grandfather Ji smiled.

”We’re disturbing you.”

”If you were, Liu Shan and Secretary Jiang wouldn’t have let you through.”

Ji Jingxu chuckled.

Yue Ling gestured toward the white couch.

”Sit.”

Once they settled down, she called Secretary Jiang.

”Bring some warm tea and snacks.”

”Yes, CEO Han.”

Yue Ling left her desk and sat across from them.

Her attention immediately went to Ji Jingxu.

”How are your wrists?”

”Better.”

”Pain?”

”Only sometimes.”

”Don’t overuse it.”

Ji Jingxu sighed.

”You’re starting to sound like grandfather.”

Grandfather Ji looked offended.

”What’s wrong with sounding like me?”

”Nothing.”

Ji Jingxu immediately corrected himself.

Yue Ling smiled.

A short while later, Secretary Jiang entered carrying a tray.

She placed warm tea, water, and several light snacks on the coffee table before politely excusing herself.

Grandfather Ji reached for his tea.

Yue Ling watched him for a moment.

Then her expression became serious.

”Yeye.”

”Hm?”

”I’ve made my decision.”

His hand stopped.

Ji Jingxu looked between them.

Yue Ling’s bluish-green eyes remained on her grandfather.

”About Ji Corps.”

Grandfather Ji slowly lowered his cup.

”I’ll accept the chairman position.”

For several seconds, the old man said nothing.

Relief slowly entered his eyes.

Yue Ling continued before he could speak.

”But I want to wait until after the wedding.”

Grandfather Ji nodded almost immediately.

”I understand.”

”I don’t want to mix everything together. Right now, I want to focus on the wedding and on you.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

”You don’t have to worry about this old man so much.”

”I do.”

Grandfather Ji sighed, but there was happiness behind it.

”After the wedding, then.”

”After the wedding.”

The decision should have eased the atmosphere.

Instead, Yue Ling noticed something.

Grandfather Ji and Ji Jingxu exchanged a look.

Her eyes narrowed.

”What happened?”

”Nothing,” Grandfather Ji answered.

Ji Jingxu looked at him.

Yue Ling looked at Jingxu.

He lasted approximately three seconds.

”We ran into something while waiting at a coffee shop nearby.”

Grandfather Ji let out a long sigh and shook his head helplessly. He had always known Ji Jingxu had a particularly soft spot for his sister.

No matter how stubborn the boy tried to be, all Yue Ling had to do was look at him long enough and his resolve would eventually crumble. Still, Grandfather Ji hadn’t expected him to cave quite that quickly.

He had barely lasted three seconds.

So much for keeping anything from his sister.

Yue Ling’s expression sharpened.

”What happened?”

Ji Jingxu told her.

He explained that Lin Hui speaking with Qin Xue led to a problem.

How Madam Qin had intervened.

And then—

The insults.

Lowly.

Worthless.

A nobody.

Someone unworthy of standing beside her daughter.

By the time Ji Jingxu finished, Yue Ling’s face was completely expressionless.

Grandfather Ji knew that look.

It was far worse than anger.

”She said his existence was wrong?”

Her voice was quiet.

Ji Jingxu nodded.

Yue Ling’s eyes chilled.

Of all the things she despised, people who used wealth and family status to humiliate others ranked high on the list.

Money did not determine someone’s worth.

A surname did not determine someone’s worth.

She had built businesses filled with people from vastly different backgrounds, and she had never once considered someone’s family wealth a measure of whether they deserved respect.

Lin Hui was one of her people.

He had fought beside her.

Bled beside her.

Risked his life for her and the others more times than she cared to count.

For someone to belittle him merely for existing—

”Where is he?”

”He’s here,” Ji Jingxu answered. ”He came with us.”

Grandfather Ji added, ”Liu Shan dragged him away before we came inside.”

Yue Ling stood.

”Wait here.”

”Yue Ling—”

She was already heading toward the door.

Grandfather Ji and Ji Jingxu exchanged another look.

Neither attempted to stop her.

Inside Liu Shan’s office, the atmosphere was entirely different.

Liu Shan sat behind his desk, staring at Lin Hui.

Lin Hui sat across from him.

”So?”

”So what?”

”Why are you here?”

”I came to visit.”

Liu Shan stared blankly at him.

Lin Hui stared back.

”Try again.”

Lin Hui sighed.

”I was following our lead.”

Liu Shan immediately became serious.

”The man from the footage?”

”Yes.”

”Did you find him?”

”No. But I found a place he visits regularly.”

”Where?”

”Massage parlor nearby. I watched it all morning. He never showed.”

Liu Shan nodded slowly.

It made sense as to why the man did not show up. They were no doubt lying low since their faces were captured on the surveillance.

He tilted his head slightly to the side and his eyes narrowed on the man across from him.

”So how did watching a massage parlor end with you walking into De L’amour with Grandfather Ji and Jingxu?”

Lin Hui rubbed his forehead.

”I ran into them.”

”And?”

”I couldn’t tell them what I was doing.”

”So?”

”So I said I was coming here.”

Liu Shan stared.

Lin Hui’s expression darkened.

”I didn’t know they were coming here too.”

Silence.

Then Liu Shan leaned back in his chair.

”You’re an idiot.”

”Thank you.”

”But that’s not the full story.”

Lin Hui’s eyes moved toward him.

Liu Shan folded his arms.

”Tell me what happened.”

”Nothing happened.”

”Lin Hui.”

Nothing.

Liu Shan sighed.

They had known each other for too long.

He knew when Lin Hui was withholding something.

Lin Hui knew it too.

Eventually, he gave in.

”I ran into Qin Xue.”

Liu Shan’s eyebrows rose.

”The redhead?”

”Yes.”

”The accidental-kiss redhead?”

Lin Hui gave him a warning look. He had told them about the kiss and how Qin Xue told him she would take responsibility.

They told him that if he was interested in the girl then he should go for it.

At first, he was reluctant but after talking himself out of it, he thought it wouldn’t hurt to try.

However, after today’s incident, he wasn’t so sure anymore.

Oblivious to his thoughts, Liu Shan raised both hands.

”Continue.”

Lin Hui omitted several details, particularly those involving Qin Xue’s reaction to him.

But he told Liu Shan enough.

How Madam Qin had appeared and had insulted him. Although, he left out some parts that he knew would only anger the man.

Grandfather Ji and Jingxu overheard and stepped in.

The more he spoke, the darker Liu Shan’s expression became.

”She called you what?”

”It doesn’t matter.”

”It matters to me.”

”Liu Shan—”

”She said you weren’t worthy of standing beside her daughter?”

Lin Hui sighed.

”Among other things.”

”What other things?”

Silence.

Liu Shan’s eyes narrowed.

”Lin Hui.”

”She called me a worthless nobody.”

Liu Shan’s jaw tightened.

”She said someone like me should know my place.”

His hand curled into a fist.

”And apparently, my existence itself is offensive.”

*Bang!

Liu Shan’s fist struck the desk.

”That woman is too much. How can she act like a saint in public but spit such vicious words!”

His last word fell and the office door opened.

Both men turned.

Yue Ling stood in the doorway.

Liu Shan immediately fell silent.

Lin Hui’s expression changed.

One look at her was enough.

Grandfather Ji and Ji Jingxu had told her.

Yue Ling appeared calm. Far too calm.

She walked into the office and closed the door behind her.

Neither man spoke.

Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she approached Lin Hui.

He looked up. Not sure what reaction to give her, all he could muster was a faint, hesitant chuckle.

”Boss.”

Yue Ling stopped at the side of his seat.

Her bluish-green eyes searched his face.

Lin Hui knew that look.

She wasn’t looking for physical injuries.

She was checking him.

His expression.

His eyes.

Everything he might be trying to hide.

Then, to his surprise, Yue Ling lowered herself into a squat beside him.

Her anger disappeared from her face.

What remained was concern.

”I heard what happened.”

Lin Hui said nothing.

Yue Ling’s voice softened.

”Are you alright?”

Something tightened unexpectedly in his chest.

He had brushed Madam Qin’s insults aside because they meant nothing to him.

At least, that was what he had told himself.

Yet Grandfather Ji had defended him.

Ji Jingxu had stood in front of him.

Liu Shan had become furious for him.

And now Yue Ling had left her own grandfather and brother sitting in her office just to come and make sure he was alright.

Lin Hui looked into her eyes.

For a moment, he couldn’t find his usual joking answer.

Finally, a faint smile appeared.

”I’m fine, Boss.”

Yue Ling continued staring at him.

”You don’t have to pretend with me.”

His smile faltered.

Liu Shan quietly looked away.

Lin Hui released a slow breath.

”I know.”

Yue Ling nodded.

She did not ask him to explain himself.

She did not tell him Madam Qin’s words shouldn’t matter.

Instead, she simply rested a hand on his arm.

”No one gets to decide your worth because of where you came from.”

Lin Hui’s eyes lowered to her hand.

Her voice remained quiet.

”Especially not someone who thinks money makes them better than everyone else.”

His throat tightened.

Yue Ling gave his arm a small squeeze.

”You’re one of my people.”

Simple words.

Yet they carried more weight than Madam Qin’s insults ever could.

Lin Hui looked back at her.

This time, his smile was genuine.

”I know.”

Behind his desk, Liu Shan watched them silently.

Then his gaze dropped.

Because there was one thing Yue Ling did not know.

While she sat there worrying about Lin Hui—

Both men were lying to her.

Liu Peng was alive.

Choi Li Sun was in Imperial.

And somewhere in the city, the man was walking around wearing the face of Yue Ling’s dead lover.

Liu Shan’s earlier guilt returned.

Yue Ling was protecting them as she always had.

And they were keeping something from her that had the power to drag the past straight back into her life.