CHAPTER 232: CHAPTER 232: DEALING WITH HER SCANDAL

"Banxia, you really don’t know a good heart when you see one. The reason I came to see you today is because I feel for you and wanted to check on you." Huo Qinglin was flushed with anger due to Lin Banxia.

"Care about me? Huo Qinglin, save it. Don’t I know what kind of person you are? What you care about is probably still my pear garden, isn’t it?" Lin Banxia felt utterly disgusted at his words.

In her past life, he was the bastard who hurt her until she was completely broken—scum of the earth. And now he talks about caring for her? How utterly ironic.

Huo Qinglin was somewhat dumbfounded. He believed he hadn’t done anything deeply immoral to Lin Banxia, so why did her gaze toward him carry such intense hatred and resentment?

Perhaps this woman was fiercer than others, unable to tolerate even a speck of sand in her eyes.

"Whether you believe in my sincerity or not, I just want to tell you, I’m no longer the bastard I was before. I’ve genuinely fallen for you this time." Hanging his head in shame, Huo Qinglin muttered.

In truth, he wasn’t lying. He realized that certain traits of Lin Banxia still held an inexplicable allure for him.

Before, he always scorned Lin Banxia for her casual clothing and her lack of effort to dress up.

But now?

Even when Lin Banxia dressed like a rural housewife and stood before him, his heartbeat quickened.

Lin Banxia scrutinized him, and her heart ached with indescribable pain. That face... it once was the one she loved most. But he had hurt her so deeply, even costing her another chance at life—how could she possibly forgive him?

"If you truly want to care about me, then go and tell Lu Huan Ning to stop her online attacks and to quit while she’s ahead. If she truly angers me, she’ll regret it." Lin Banxia turned her face aside, suppressing the surge of pain welling up from her heart, and spoke coldly.

"Lu Huan Ning?" Huo Qinglin frowned tightly. "What nonsense is she up to behind the scenes?"

"Go ask her yourself!" Lin Banxia sneered.

Huo Qinglin stared at the icy, distant girl before him, his mind an ocean of mixed feelings.

"If you ever need my help, just call me anytime." After uttering that, Huo Qinglin couldn’t stand staying any longer and swiftly left.

After leaving the pear garden, Huo Qinglin immediately called Lu Huan Ning.

Lu Huan Ning hadn’t received a call from Huo Qinglin for over half a month, and as soon as she answered the phone, she coquettishly teased, "Qinglin, have you been very busy lately? Why haven’t you responded whenever I try to reach you?"

"Have you been doing things to harm Lin Banxia these past few days?" Huo Qinglin asked directly.

At his question, Lu Huan Ning instantly sounded eager, as if bragging, "Of course! Didn’t she divorce Huo Yanting not long ago? I asked some of my friends in the entertainment industry to spread posts and fake news about her online. I want her reputation to be utterly ruined. When the time comes, I bet..."

"Stop your foolish behavior immediately!" Huo Qinglin roared.

Lu Huan Ning seemed frightened by his outburst, falling silent for a long moment before carefully asking, "Qinglin, what’s wrong? Don’t you want to see Lin Banxia in a miserable state? Don’t forget, she coldly hurt you too."

"Even so, you shouldn’t spread lies and smear her reputation." Her remark made Huo Qinglin calm down slightly.

Indeed, Lin Banxia had hurt him. On the cruise ship, the proposal he had meticulously planned turned into a humiliating joke, all thanks to her.

Logically, he should despise this woman, should despise her completely, should ensure she pays the price for provoking his fury.

"Qinglin, everything I’ve done is for you! Have you forgotten what she did to you?" Lu Huan Ning immediately sounded pitiful, breaking into sobs as if she had been wronged.