Chapter 113: Two Hundred Thousand

With the initial alliance ceremony complete, they did not linger on deep discussions due to the late hour.

Yang Zhilin, who loved literature, and Xiao Qiangwei, who loved to sing, retired together to Qi Yue’s bedroom. They did not fall asleep right away; fueled by excitement, the two remarkably gifted young women stayed up late, chatting by candlelight.

In Xiao Qiangwei, Yang Zhilin sensed an affability she felt she lacked. Xiao Qiangwei, three years her senior, learned from Yang Zhilin a sense of detached nobility. Naturally, their primary topic was songwriting. Both being immensely talented, they felt as though they had known each other for years.

In the other bedroom, Lin Yu, who rarely had deep, private talks with Qi Yue, lay bare-chested on the Simmons mattress. The girl, appearing several shades more docile than usual, rested obediently against his chest. The room was not cold, so they lay without covers, resting in silence for several minutes.

Qi Yue, having silently counted the rhythm of Lin Yu’s heartbeat, suddenly whispered, "I feel so happy today."

"What brought on such a sudden sentiment?" Lin Yu, uncharacteristically refraining from any mischief, simply stroked her hair, which flowed like a silken waterfall.

"Because I have you, Uncle Qi Dazhu, my mother, and my grandfather. So many of you care for me and spoil me. And unlike most kids, I’m never short on pocket money; I can buy whatever I want. With my parents away, I can do whatever I please..." Qi Yue ticked off her small, personal joys on her fingers.

"Silly girl. The greatest source of your happiness is that you have a pure and contented heart. To put it simply, happiness is just a feeling in one’s heart. If you are simple, happiness is simple. The all-powerful President of the United States isn't necessarily happier than a beggar wandering the streets of Jerusalem." Lin Yu bowed his head, catching the faint scent of her hair. Amidst the delicate fragrance, he tasted a hint of happiness—subtle and warm.

"I am certain that I am happier than ninety-nine percent of the women in this world," Qi Yue said, turning her face to press her flushed cheek against his chest.

"I hope that one day, you will tell me that you are happier than every woman in the world," Lin Yu said, offering a rare romantic sentiment.

"If one day you hold my hand and we walk into a beautiful crystal cathedral together, at that moment, I will surely feel like the happiest woman in the world," Qi Yue murmured longingly.

"That day will come. All we need to do is let the past be the past and let the future arrive. Of course, such cathedrals are usually only found abroad. If we want to go, we’ll need to earn a lot, lot more money first." Lin Yu laughed as he said it. The girl laughed too, and then, being sensitive by nature, she found her tears flowing uncontrollably.

Glancing back at the window, where the stars seemed to have faded, Lin Yu lowered his voice. "Do you think those two are asleep yet?"

"Them? They must be," Qi Yue whispered back, playing along.

"Then, should we... do something else?" Lin Yu asked mischievously.

"What do you mean?" she feigned ignorance of his hidden meaning.

"This," Lin Yu replied, sliding his hand beneath the collar of her pajamas.

"Hey, stop it! It’s my time of the month; I’m not feeling well! And besides, remember our agreement!" The girl resisted softly as he continued to tease her.

"Can I just hold you and sleep then?" Lin Yu, feeling wicked, persisted.

"Oh, no, you're so annoying!" Having had a little to drink earlier, her voice held a hint of languor. To Lin Yu, it sounded like a siren’s song, setting his blood on fire. He grew excited, and his touch became a bit heavier.

"Seriously, stop. I really don't feel well. Be gentle with me, won't you?" Qi Yue said plaintively, feeling uncomfortable with his advances.

Realizing she was indeed unwell, Lin Yu pulled his hand back gently and held her close. At that moment, he noticed crystalline tears shimmering in her dark eyes beneath her long lashes. Qi Yue pursed her soft lips and broke into a satisfied smile. "I’m certain now—you truly care about me."

"Silly, you only just realized that?" Lin Yu pretended to be indignant.

"It’s because every other time you acted like a wolf, you never stopped! My mom said that if a boy truly cares for you, he’ll be willing to give up anything for your sake—including his desires and his money." She stared at him with bright eyes, her face slightly flushed, her tone filled with contentment.

"Alright, it's getting late. Let's rest. No more overthinking." Touched by the girl's guileless sincerity, Lin Yu felt the soft reality of her in his arms. He felt as though he were no longer a man dreaming of a butterfly, trapped in a fleeting illusion. At that moment, he finally understood the meaning of: *Where the heart finds peace, there is home.* He truly felt one hundred percent fused with this world.

For the next half month, Lin Yu, Qi Yue, and Yang Zhilin attended classes as usual, while Xiao Qiangwei stayed cooped up in Qi Yue’s house, singing and surfing the internet. To avoid discovery, Qi Yue dismissed the cleaning lady and had her father secretly move the conspicuous red Ferrari.

To solve the funding issue for the website, Lin Yu and Qi Yue met with Qi Dazhu. Through Lin Yu’s silver-tongued persuasion, Qi Dazhu agreed to a two-hundred-thousand investment. However, he insisted it was purely a business deal, unrelated to family ties, and demanded a fifty-percent stake. Ultimately, thanks to Qi Yue’s pouting and Lin Yu’s firm reasoning, Qi Dazhu agreed to take a twenty-percent stake, just like the others. Only then did Lin Yu realize that Qi Dazhu’s initial demand for a larger stake was actually a ploy to secure more equity for Qi Yue, elevating her status. Otherwise, with his assets in the hundreds of millions, he would never have cared about such trifles.

During the conversation, Lin Yu learned that the guns held by Liang Tian’s bodyguards were actually replica tranquilizer pistols. Upon learning this, he felt a sense of relief; the fear he had felt toward that group vanished, as he had previously assumed they were ruthless gangsters.

Before Lin Yu and Qi Yue left, Qi Dazhu gave Lin Yu some earnest advice: "Child, remember: it is fine to be poor. But once you have money, you must never let yourself fall into such destitution again. Otherwise, you won't be able to survive."