Chapter 104: Qi Yue Learns to Speak

Because of a series of recent events, except for Zhang Chao who was seriously injured, everyone else was unharmed. Lin Yu thought this could be considered nearly perfect. Overall, everyone was in good spirits, so the meal was enjoyed in a warm and cheerful atmosphere.

After finishing the meal, seeing that his mother was determined to stay behind and watch the store, Lin Yu felt an inexplicable pang in his heart. He realized how truly difficult it was for his mother and father. Out of ten days, seven or eight had to be spent alone in an empty house; such loneliness was terrifying.

Glancing at the darkening sky outside, Lin Yu asked the others to wait outside, then sat down to talk with his mother.

“Mom, was it very hard coming to Bin City with Dad? Have you ever regretted it?”

Wang Chunhua smiled at her son contentedly and said, “If I had the sky and all the stars in the air, and all the endless wealth in the world, I wouldn’t ask for anything more. But as long as your father belongs to me, even if I only have the smallest corner of the earth, I am completely satisfied.”

“Mom!” Hearing this, Lin Yu’s heart softened, and he gave his mother a tight embrace.

Stepping out of the restaurant, Lin Yu immediately dialed Lian Jin’s phone. After some polite exchange, he quietly asked, “Dad’s never home these days. Is there a woman involved somewhere?”

“A woman? Your dad is so busy he barely has time to eat! He only eats once a day,” Lian Jin replied admiringly from the other side.

“How have you been lately? Ye Ruoshui’s situation should be safe too, right?” Lin Yu pressed on.

“I’m fine. Zhang Yang hasn’t caused any trouble at all. But if Director Lin keeps going like this, his body won’t hold up! He’s getting less than four hours of sleep a night. That won’t do!” Lian Jin said loudly, having come to respect Lin Tiancheng deeply after some time working together. He found Lin Tiancheng not only looked clean-cut, somewhat like Premier Zhou, but was also equally diligent in his work.

“He’s stubborn like that; you can’t persuade him. I’ll hang up now; you must be busy,” Lin Yu said, about to end the call.

But Lian Jin interrupted, “Wait! We’ve hit some trouble with work recently. It seems some people want to harm Director Lin!”

“What’s going on? Tell me!” Lin Yu’s voice rose with sudden excitement at the thought of someone targeting his father.

“It’s about urban development and attracting investment. We’re preparing to demolish an old building, and Director Lin is in charge. But during the demolition, we’ve encountered a lot of holdouts. These holdouts are like thugs, completely unreasonable. Some have even threatened to beat your dad,” Lian Jin explained.

“Threaten to beat my dad?” Lin Yu was nearly furious.

After a moment’s thought, he said, “Lian Jin, you’ll definitely be able to handle this.”

“I really don’t have a solution. If I did, I wouldn’t be asking you for help,” Lian Jin replied helplessly. After working with Lin Tiancheng for a while, he held him in great esteem and feared for his safety.

“It’s just resisting demolition, right? Among the holdouts, is there anyone reckless enough to risk their life?” Lin Yu inquired.

“No, none like that,” Lian Jin answered.

“Have you ever heard the story of Old Man Qiao? Do you know how he made his fortune?” Lin Yu countered.

“That name sounds familiar, but I only know he’s powerful. How he rose to prominence, I don’t know,” Lian Jin responded in a low voice.

“Let me tell you. Back in those days in Harbin, demolition, though profitable, was no easy task. When the project was about to start, some holdouts refused to move no matter what. Old Man Qiao gathered the tenants, cut off his own little finger with a kitchen knife, and declared publicly: ‘Whoever can do the same doesn’t have to move.’ No one dared respond. The demolition was soon completed smoothly. Because he handled things decisively, he became famous,” Lin Yu whispered as he walked at the back of the group, recounting a story well known in the Northeast.

Lin Yu told this story to awaken Lian Jin’s ferocity. Without a wild spirit, even a dog is inferior. He hoped Lian Jin could create a glory no less than that of old times. After all, he was a talent worth nurturing.

“Oh, I know what to do!” Lian Jin responded calmly before hanging up.

After the call, feeling a little excited from the wine he had drunk, Lin Yu gazed at the star-studded night sky. Watching his brothers and the girls walking in pairs ahead of him, he softly sang F4’s “First Time,” fitting for the era.

In the movie “Friend” starring Jang Dong-gun, Won-ryu writes in a letter to San-tae, who is about to study in America: “After falling out with Dong-soo, I stayed home all day thinking about the true meaning of friendship. I didn’t understand it until the teacher wrote on the blackboard: ‘A long-lasting and intimate companion.’”

At that moment, Lin Yu felt that these few boys and girls, though from different backgrounds but essentially similar, were indeed his long-lasting intimate companions.

That night, Lin Yu did not go home but stayed at the Wealth Center with Qi Yue and Yang Zhilin.

Resting on a white, soft pillow and covered with a clean, soft quilt, he quickly fell into a deep sleep. The recent events had kept his mind in a state of high tension, and tonight he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

But fate was not on his side. Just as he fell asleep, Qi Yue, wearing warm-colored pajamas and with her hair loose, clearly freshly bathed, slipped into his bed.

“Hey, why did you fall asleep so quickly?” Qi Yue playfully nibbled on Lin Yu’s ear.

“What’s up? Why aren’t you sleeping this late?” Lin Yu, disturbed from his sweet slumber, slowly opened his still-drowsy eyes.

“Nothing much, just wanted to say something to you,” Qi Yue giggled, wrapping her arm around his not very broad but comforting shoulder.

“Hurry up and say it, then get lost,” Lin Yu said gruffly.

But there was no malice in his tone, which the girl could tell, because they were close enough to speak like that.

With this in mind, she smiled sweetly and said, “If I had the sky and all the stars in the air, and all the endless wealth in the world, I wouldn’t ask for anything more. But as long as you belong to me, even if I only have the smallest corner of the earth, I am completely satisfied.”

After saying this, she gave Lin Yu no chance to misbehave and swiftly floated out of the bedroom like the wind.

“…That’s definitely something she learned from my mom!”

Hearing the same words twice in one day made Lin Yu feel a little different, but overall, it was warm, sweet, happy, and deeply satisfying.

“Faith, hope, love, happiness. Aren’t these the things we all pursue?” Lin Yu thought silently.