Chapter 79: Mind Reading (20)

Xiao Lingfei felt both anxious and furious. “Do you think I would care about something like this?”

How could his fiancée be so foolish?! She was the victim; why should she punish herself for someone else’s mistake?

“But I do,” Yan Ling sobbed. “Every time I remember what he did to me… I feel unworthy of you.”

Xiao Lingfei’s anger towards Jin Yingyao flared up again, never expecting their relationship to crumble so absurdly at the hands of another person.

“I don’t care about any of that, Lingling. You…” Xiao Lingfei tried to reassure her.

But Yan Ling seemed convinced they were mismatched, interpreting his genuine words as mere sympathy or consolation.

“I know you’re very kind, Lingfei. Precisely because you’re too good, I can’t hold you back.” Wiping away her tears with red-rimmed eyes, she said, “Even if we can’t be lovers, we can still be friends…”

“Friends? I don’t want just ‘friends’!” Realizing his harsh tone had startled Yan Ling, Xiao Lingfei quickly softened his voice. “Jin Yingyao is no longer my friend; people like him aren’t fit for friendship. Lingling, you shouldn’t think your actions affected our relationship—he doesn’t deserve it!”

Xiao Lingfei firmly grasped Yan Ling’s shoulders and said with conviction, “My fiancée can only be you; if it’s not you, I don’t want anyone else. Are you truly willing to abandon me for such a reason?”

“Lingfei, if you cannot accept this reason, then just consider that I never liked you.” As Yan Ling spoke, she opened her phone, preparing to call her driver.

In an instant, Xiao Lingfei noticed the wallpaper on Yan Ling’s phone-it was a picture of him playing basketball! “If you’ve set my photo as your wallpaper, how can you say you don’t like me?” Feeling a mix of jealousy and longing, he wrapped his arms around Yan Ling tightly and pleaded, “Lingling, I love you, and you love me too. Let’s not separate, okay…”

“I will delete all the photos,” tears welled up once again in Yan Ling’s eyes. “Every single one.”

Xiao Lingfei felt utterly helpless, unsure what to do. “I…”

“Let go of me, Lingfei.” Gently pushing away his arm, Yan Ling whispered, “Not here…don’t embrace me.”

Even though they had left the academy grounds, public displays of affection could still catch the attention of Saint Hieria students nearby.

Xiao Lingfei desperately wanted to confess that he didn’t just want to hold her but also kiss her, to engage in all the intimate acts lovers should share. However, respecting Yan Ling’s wishes, he silently released his grip without going against her desires.

The young girl dialed a number and summoned her driver.

Xiao Lingfei quickly climbed into the car after her, his fox-like eyes pleading, “I’ll leave right after dropping you off…”

This time, Yan Ling did not reject him outright.

As they sat inside the vehicle, Xiao Lingfei noticed Yan Ling opening her phone’s photo gallery and systematically deleting all pictures of him, which only intensified his discomfort. In the past, when witnessing clingy couples unwilling to part during breakups, he had found their behavior melodramatic and embarrassing. Now that it was his turn, he realized he wasn’t much better.

Feeling increasingly frustrated, Xiao Lingfei’s nose stung, and his eyes couldn’t help but redden slightly.

“Why do we have to separate?” Xiao Lingfei knew how pure and shy Yan Ling was; her hesitation due to Jin Yingyao made sense to him. However, the one deserving punishment was that bastard Jin Yingyao, not himself! “I won’t, I refuse!” Xiao Lingfei declared resolutely, “I will not cancel our engagement!”

Yan Ling silently lowered her gaze, her eyelashes trembling faintly.

“Please believe me…” Xiao Lingfei reached out and held Yan Ling’s hand, saying earnestly, “As long as we can be together, I don’t care about anything else.”

Unfortunately, even as Yan Ling got out of the car, she did not respond to him at all.

To avoid further annoyance, Xiao Lingfei reluctantly left after watching Yan Ling enter her home.

Jin Yingyao! This is all Jin Yingyao’s fault!

Baring his teeth with hatred towards his former “brother,” Xiao Lingfei picked up his phone and dialed a number.

“Find out everything Jin Yingyao has been doing behind the scenes!”

“Make sure to check for any unusual or inappropriate actions; I need the most comprehensive information possible!”

If it were revealed that the heir of JS Group was a pervert, it would certainly be entertaining, Xiao Lingfei thought grimly.

After witnessing this melodramatic breakup scene straight out of an eight o’clock soap opera, m577 was somewhat surprised by its host’s actions: [Aren’t you quite fond of your sexy fiancé? Breaking up without even touching him seems uncharacteristic.]

Tong Ling, while texting Lu Yifan on her phone, cheerfully chatted with the system: “Well, didn’t I already choose Yifan? At any given time, I only maintain intimacy with one person—I’m very devoted.”

Upon hearing this, m577 rolled its eyes immediately: [Devoted… You dare call yourself devoted?]

Tong Ling affirmed confidently, “Yes, I’ll always adore young and handsome boys. Isn’t that being consistently devoted?”

[…]

Damn it, there was no way to refute that!

“Besides,” Tong Ling continued, “even though they’re considered engaged, they never truly got together in the original plot. Since Jin Yingyao would eventually disrupt their relationship anyway, isn’t helping him along for the best?”

[…Are you sure this counts as helping?]

Given Xiao Lingfei’s reaction, he seemed to deeply detest Jin Yingyao now!

Drawing from its experience across multiple worlds, m577 offered the male lead a profound piece of advice: Stay away from your host; proximity only brings misfortune.

Lu Yifan received Yan Ling’s message, which was concise and straightforward—it contained an address.

The address of the Yan family residence.

Was she inviting him to her home? Lu Yifan felt suddenly tense. Wasn’t this happening… too quickly?

However, the fact that she invited him over indicated that Yan Ling genuinely saw him as a potential future partner. At this thought, Lu Yifan couldn’t suppress the smile spreading across his face.

He hastily replied, assuring her that he would arrive as soon as possible, and then promptly called his father for advice.

“I’m going to… visit the home of the girl I like. Should I prepare something?” Lu Yifan sought advice from his father.

Lu Yifan’s father, an elite lawyer, was initially taken aback by his son’s words before bursting with joy. “Yifan, you have someone you’re interested in now?”

His excitement wasn’t unwarranted; in matters of romance, his child had always seemed rather clueless. At times, Father Lu even wondered if he had inadvertently passed on overly dense genes to Yifan. With their Yifan being such a wonderful person, how could he not have a girlfriend yet?

“Yes, I’m certain I like her, and I’m striving to deepen my feelings for her.” As Lu Yifan spoke, a blush crept across his cheeks. “What should I do?”

“Um…” Father Lu lacked experience in this area. “Just be obedient?”

In the past, when Father Lu first became involved with Lu Yifan’s mother, it was she who pursued him passionately. The charismatic Duchess swept Father Lu off his feet, leaving him perpetually feeling fortunate to have been chosen by her.

“Being obedient is enough for men,” Father Lu said, using himself as an example. “Whatever your mother liked, I would do accordingly as she instructed. As you can see, our relationship has always been strong.”

Lu Yifan nodded in agreement, recalling how his parents interacted and feeling even more confident about his relationship with Yan Ling. His mother found his father charming, and Lingling also thought he was adorable; perhaps they were destined to be together.

“Oh! I remember now!” Father Lu prompted, “Romance - your mother always says I lack romance. You mustn’t follow my example. Prepare some flowers for that young lady and have plenty of gifts ready. Do you have enough pocket money? If not, I’ll open another card for you, specifically for dating expenses.”

Lu Yifan gratefully accepted his father’s offer, responding cheerfully, “Once she chooses me, I’ll bring her back to meet you both!”

Father Lu smiled, “Great, I’ll share this wonderful news with your mother too. Good luck, Yifan.”

Lu Yifan called his driver and went to the florist to select the most beautiful bouquet. Then, he visited his mother’s stylist for a meticulous grooming session. Alongside this, he had the stylist pick out several elegant pieces of jewelry as meeting gifts for Yan Ling.

With everything prepared, Lu Yifan dared not delay any further and rushed swiftly towards the Yan residence.

In the living room, Tong Ling sat as Father and Mother Yan lectured her.

The chauffeur who had overheard her conversation with Xiao Lingfei reported back to Father and Mother Yan about her intention to break off the engagement upon their return home. Naturally, this couple couldn’t allow Yan Ling to recklessly follow her whims.

“Lingling, is it because of Secretary-General Gu’s son that you want to cancel your engagement?” Mother Yan still held some appreciation for the young man, but breaking off the engagement for Gu Li seemed unwarranted. “Your relationship hasn’t progressed that far yet; why rush into canceling the engagement?”

“I heard Jin Yingyao is pursuing you?” Since noticing his daughter’s change, Father Yan had also become more attentive to her love life. “If you don’t reject him, our potential partner could be JS Group instead. Do you realize the implications of what you’re doing?”

“Father, please calm down first,” Tong Ling feigned reassurance, sounding insincere. “By rejecting him, I’ll make him even more obsessed with me. Don’t worry, he’s still chasing after me; he won’t go anywhere.”

“As for breaking off the engagement, I assure you that our Yan family will suffer no loss whatsoever.” Tong Ling was visibly dissatisfied with their confrontational “interrogation” approach. “You both intend to hand over the Yan family to me eventually; trust should be given accordingly. Don’t rush to question me at every minor issue - I don’t have the time to constantly explain myself.”

Mother Yan still couldn’t adjust to her daughter’s changed attitude. Upon hearing these words, she felt her temples throbbing. “We are your parents! How dare you speak to us like this!”

“And as for that talkative driver…” Tong Ling’s gaze turned colder, “I won’t have him chauffeur me anymore.”

Just as Father Yan was about to rebuke Yan Ling further, news arrived from the butler outside: Lu Yifan, the son of Olay’s Grand Duchess, had come to visit Miss Yan Ling.

“Lu Yifan?!” Father Yan knew well who Lu Yifan was - he was the only child of the Grand Duchess and highly favored by Queen Aura herself. As the future heir to the Grand Ducal title, his status alone demanded they treat him with utmost respect.

Father Yan swiftly rose from his seat, straightened his attire, and plastered a welcoming smile on his face. When he looked at Yan Ling again, all traces of rebuke vanished. Lu Yifan indeed held greater value; representing not just the status of a grand duke, but also the backing of the royal family. His daughter… had excellent discernment.

“Let Yifan in,” Tong Ling instructed the butler.

“What do you mean ‘let him in’? Hurry and go welcome him!” Mother Yan’s attitude instantly shifted, now eyeing her daughter as if she were a prized rarity. “Lingling, your relationship with Lu Yifan is…”

Tong Ling did not answer Mother Yan directly. “Mother, please maintain some decorum and don’t embarrass me.”

Mother Yan’s eyelid twitched slightly. Despite her discontent, she composed herself, preserving the demeanor of a noblewoman without further challenging Tong Ling.

Both Father Yan and Mother Yan prepared themselves to strengthen their ties with Lu Yifan, but Tong Ling didn’t give them a chance. As soon as Lu Yifan entered, she led him to her room and requested that no one disturb them without her permission.

Father and Mother Yan exchanged glances, feeling unusually disheartened.

“Is Lu Yifan the fiancé Lingling has chosen or… her lover?” Mother Yan whispered.

Deep down, Father Yan felt he could no longer control his daughter. “Regardless of their relationship, Lu Yifan seems to genuinely adore our daughter. From now on, whatever Lingling wants to do… let her have her way.”

“Oh right, Lingling dislikes that driver; avoid changing him so as not to upset her,” Father Yan sighed. “We must rely on this daughter in the future, and we can’t treat her as before. Otherwise…”

Otherwise, if Yan Ling becomes rebellious, who knows what complications might arise?

Feeling apprehensive, Lu Yifan entered the Yan residence. Before he could even greet the hosts, Yan Ling haphazardly pulled him into her room.

Lu Yifan had no time for shyness. He set down the flowers in his hand and, with genuine concern, asked, “Lingling, is there some issue between you and your parents?”

Given Lu Yifan’s keenness, how could he fail to notice Yan Ling’s deep disdain for her family?

“Yifan, do you know why I don’t want to choose between Xiao Lingfei and the others?” This time, it was Yan Ling who displayed a worried expression before Lu Yifan.

Lu Yifan gently took Yan Ling’s hand, “Lingling, if you don’t wish to talk about it, you don’t have to.”

“My parents want to use me as a bargaining chip for their own gain.” The young girl looked up at him, her eyes rimmed with redness—clearly, she had been secretly crying before he arrived.

“To them, I’m not just a daughter; I’m merely a tool they’ve cultivated. At the right moment, I must perform the appropriate actions, such as entering an arranged marriage with the Xiao family. I have no say whatsoever…”

“I don’t want to be their puppet on strings anymore. So even after establishing a supposed ‘fiancé’ relationship with Xiao Lingfei, I also approached President Gu Li. I know it’s wrong, but I couldn’t think of any other options.” Yan Ling spoke with a slight self-mockery, “In your eyes, I must seem like a manipulative woman who ruins friendships, right? After careful thought, I still don’t want to deceive you, Yifan. You shouldn’t force yourself to love me; someone like me… isn’t worth being loved.”

Lu Yifan was aware that Yan Ling’s emotions were unstable and that she might not fit the traditional mold of a pure-hearted maiden. When alone with him, Yan Ling displayed a distinctly different demeanor. He didn’t dislike this side of her; on the contrary… he greatly appreciated how Yan Ling treated him.

Lu Yifan deliberately overlooked the unusual aspects of the girl’s behavior. Having already decided to love her, what significance did those issues hold?

What Lu Yifan didn’t expect was for Yan Ling to openly confess these matters to him. This revelation completely erased any lingering doubts within him. “I’m not委屈, Lingling. You don’t realize how wonderful you are. I’ve never thought of you as a bad person; you absolutely deserve to be loved!”

“If you don’t like your parents, then we won’t involve them,” Lu Yifan said solemnly. “My father and mother are both wonderful people; they will love you just as much as I do!”

The corners of the girl’s mouth curved upwards, sweeping away all traces of worry from her face. “Do you understand the gravity of what you’re saying, Yifan?”

“I…” Lu Yifan tightened his grip on Yan Ling’s hand. “Choose me, Lingling. I will wholeheartedly love you.”

“Do you truly know what love means?” Yan Ling asked.

Lu Yifan pondered thoughtfully, “I think… I’m starting to understand.”

“Seeing you sad, Lingling, makes me sad too…” Lu Yifan placed his hand over his heart. “In my eyes, you’re the best person there is. I don’t want you to undervalue yourself…”

“That’s not enough.” Yan Ling leaned closer, and once again, Lu Yifan caught the sweet fragrance from her presence. He suddenly realized they were now in Yan Ling’s bedroom, much more intimate than their interactions at the club…

“Yifan, you truly are the cutest boy I’ve ever met.” Yan Ling reached out, gently stroking Lu Yifan’s hair. His golden locks felt as smooth as silk, making her reluctant to stop.

“Do you want me to continue teaching you how to love me?”

Lu Yifan obediently let Yan Ling caress his head, feeling no discomfort with her gesture. ”…Yes,” he replied. “I’ll listen carefully.”

This response elicited laughter from the girl.

“Well then, let’s move on to step two.” Yan Ling wrapped her arms around his waist, her petite body fully enveloped in his embrace. “Hugging.”

“Yifan, hold me.”

In truth, Lu Yifan had already learned to embrace without her needing to ask.

Almost instinctively, he tightened his arms as the girl’s soft and fragrant body nestled into his embrace. This feeling was a hundred times better than holding hands!

Lu Yifan couldn’t resist snuggling closer within Yan Ling’s arms, but upon realizing how embarrassing his actions were, his face flushed with heat again.

“Does it feel even better than holding hands?”

The warmth of the girl’s breath against his neck sent tingles through Lu Yifan. He felt something peculiar stirring within him, yet he earnestly replied, ”…Yes.”

“Do you know what the third step is?” Yan Ling asked.

Lu Yifan’s gaze shifted evasively, “I… I don’t know.”

“Seems like Yifan can also be sneaky.” Yan Ling smiled. “If you don’t know, then let’s just…stop here.”

Seeing the girl’s soft body about to leave his embrace, panic surged through Lu Yifan. “I-I remembered!”

Lu Yifan wasn’t foolish; after the first step of holding hands and the second step of embracing, he already realized that these actions were typically reserved for lovers.

“The third step is…” Lu Yifan gazed at the girl’s captivating smile, feeling bashful as he replied, “It’s kissing.”

The term “kissing” sounded genuinely adorable.

Yan Ling gently patted Lu Yifan’s head encouragingly, “So, does Yifan know how to kiss?”

Involuntarily, Lu Yifan’s gaze fell upon the girl’s pale pink lips. His neck turned completely red now, and his green eyes misted over with embarrassment. ”…Yes, I do.”

“How did Yifan learn to kiss?” The girl furrowed her brows slightly. “Have you kissed someone else before?”

“No!” Lu Yifan hastily defended himself, “I’ve seen-my parents kiss, they said it’s something only done with the person you truly like, and they told me not to do it casually with others!”

Yan Ling slowly relaxed her expression, “Then now, you can do it.”

She softly said, “Come, kiss me, Yifan.”