Chapter 114: A Unique Blossom

Over the past half-month, the sudden disappearance of Xiao Qiangwei had set the entertainment world abuzz with rumors. Many media outlets ran sensational headlines, with some speculating that the pop diva Jasmine had been kidnapped. Others guessed that as the lead singer of the country’s top girl group, the Splendid Heavens, she had suffered a mental breakdown and retired from the stage.

Some of the more unscrupulous tabloids were particularly infuriating, claiming that the pure and innocent Jasmine had met a wealthy local heir during her concert in Bincheng. They alleged that the two had fallen in love at first sight, jetted off to Paris, and held a romantic engagement ceremony beneath the Eiffel Tower, choosing to live a life of seclusion far from the world’s prying eyes. Those familiar with the dark underbelly of the industry privately whispered that Xiao Qiangwei had likely been hidden away by some wealthy benefactor, which was why she had vanished from the public eye.

When asked for comment, the queen of the music scene, Faye Wang, responded with a heavy heart: "If one can find happiness and stability, who would choose to drift in uncertainty?"

The person most distressed by the situation was Xiao Qiangwei’s manager, Liang Tian. Having lost his cash cow, he secretly blamed himself for pushing her to "sell herself," realizing that even a rabbit will bite when backed into a corner. After failing to find her, he filed a police report, hoping the authorities could track her down. Lin Yu, who had been quietly monitoring the situation, couldn't help but smile after reading the reports.

Meanwhile, the Qiao Brothers Restaurant, run by Wang Chunhua, was becoming increasingly popular, turning into a favorite spot for high school students. At lunchtime, many were even willing to wait in line for twenty minutes just to get a meal. The sticky notes on the wishing wall grew thicker by the day, layered one upon another. These notes, covered with the secret dreams of teenagers, became sweet memories, etched into their minds as deeply as any formal confession. Sometimes, a small idea is all it takes to change the trajectory of fate.

Lin Yu was naturally pleased with the success of the business. However, in the month since the restaurant opened, despite netting over 5,000 yuan in profit, no one had approached him about a franchise deal. He realized that advertising was essential; otherwise, even the finest wine would remain trapped in a deep alley.

On another front, Lian Jin called to report that following Lin Yu’s guidance had yielded excellent results. He had not only helped Lin Tiancheng successfully complete the demolition work but had also earned the support of the locals. He now had a few men under his command. As for his severed pinky finger, he didn't mention a word.

Some say that the first person to do something is a genius, the second a mediocre talent, and the third a fool. Lin Yu, however, believed that the second person to do something is often a person of true ability, and Lian Jin fit that description perfectly. If he wanted to rely on Lian Jin to build up real power, Lin Yu felt he would have to wait until he had enough capital to invest heavily in the bar business, which was where Lian Jin truly belonged.

Time flies when one is busy, and before he knew it, the weekend had arrived. On Saturday evening, Lin Yu accompanied his parents to the annual government officials' banquet. Returning to the familiar Brilliant Hotel, he was suddenly struck by the memory of the moment Yang Zhilin had taken his hand and walked out of the lobby with him, leaving a faint ripple of emotion in his heart.

Unlike the Hu family, the municipal government did not skimp on expenses. Organized by the relevant departments, the banquet was held in the hotel's grand hall. This hall was the most famous venue for weddings and banquets in Bincheng, so the decor was festive, dominated by red carpets and tablecloths, appearing both elegant and grand. At such large gatherings, people generally mingled with those they knew or were introduced to new acquaintances by friends.

When the Lin family of three entered, many guests had already arrived, though the Yang and Hu families were not yet present. Under his parents' guidance, Lin Yu went around greeting people he recognized but didn't know well, gradually experiencing the complexities of social networking. Economic foundation determines the superstructure; likewise, one's official position determines the level of attention one receives. While Lin Tiancheng’s position as the director of the Investment Promotion Office wasn't exceptionally high, anything involving investment made him a hot commodity.

Fred’s Law states that one may be powerful today, but disgraced tomorrow. Power is not guaranteed by time; one can be high-spirited today and fall from grace tomorrow. Therefore, in the political arena, one must always maintain a sense of fear and crisis, constantly reminding oneself to be cautious. Thus, when interacting with others, one must be even more careful, avoiding arrogance toward anyone who might become a potential asset in the future. As a result, many who held higher ranks or more prominent status than Lin Tiancheng did not act as imperiously as they once had.

As his father handled the social scene with ease, Lin Yu, feeling somewhat bored, suddenly spotted a familiar figure: Jiang Lele, who had given him her phone number previously.

Jiang Lele was still wearing the yellow evening gown she had worn to Hu Bin’s birthday party. She looked poised and elegant, possessing the grace of a woman from a prominent family. After catching Lin Yu’s eye, she smiled, excused herself from a young man of similar age, and walked toward him with an elegant, cat-like gait. Extending her hand, she said with a smile, "Hello, Lin Yu. It's so nice to see you again."

"Haha, hello," Lin Yu replied. He couldn't remember her name and hadn't saved her number, so he took her hand with a slight sense of apology. To his surprise, the seemingly poised Jiang Lele gently scratched his palm during the handshake.

"What is this? Seducing me?" he wondered, feeling a bit unsettled.

Noticing the surprised look on his face, Jiang Lele smiled calmly and suggested, "This is a world for adults. How about we go outside for some air?"

Normally, Lin Yu would have refused, but the endless socializing had made his face feel like it was cramping from forced smiles. After excusing himself to his parents, he followed Jiang Lele toward the hall’s entrance.

To Lin Yu’s even greater surprise, once they were outside the hall and under the gaze of several passersby, Jiang Lele suddenly said, "Lin Yu, I think I’ve fallen for you. I want to pursue you. If I can't be your queen, I'm willing to be a concubine!"

"…What on earth?" Lin Yu was left speechless by this girl, who looked decent enough but clearly possessed a wildly unconventional way of thinking.

As Lin Yu stood there in shock, Jiang Lele continued, unfazed: "You don't need to feel there's anything wrong with this. At Bincheng University, successful scions like Zhang Yang have multiple girlfriends. I don't think you’re any worse than him. Having a few extra girlfriends is perfectly normal."

"Is university really that open-minded these days?" Lin Yu deflected, avoiding her pursuit.

"It’s alright. Actually, it’s not just these days. Think about it—throughout history, capable men have always had many women around them. It’s just that in the past, it was out in the open; now, it’s all kept in the shadows," Jiang Lele said with a radiant smile.