CHAPTER 398: CHAPTER 398

It was all Qin Jinchuan’s own naivety! Or perhaps it was because he had concealed himself for so many years that he was often out of touch with reality?

Upon hearing Xiao Linye’s words, Qin Jinchuan grew even angrier. He picked up his wine glass and drank half of it. "Before, I didn’t believe you, but now I do."

That vixen...! Thinking of her phone conversation with Ji Nan made Qin Jinchuan even more irate.

"It’s one thing for her to deceive me, but she also threatened me!" As he spoke about this, Qin Jinchuan’s tone turned several degrees colder. He wore a serious expression, yet the words he spoke conveyed such a sense of being wronged.

Xiao Linye looked at him, somewhat disbelieving. "She threatened you?"

"Back when we met, she even recorded our conversation! Do you know how despicable that woman is?" What was that? Was that also some kind of scheme? Crying pitifully, begging me to let her go, yet secretly recording everything? By obtaining my promise, did she also secure a way to ensure I couldn’t do anything to her?!

Xiao Linye nodded. "That sounds like something that woman would do."

Qin Jinchuan said unpleasantly, "There’s a saying that’s really true: ’Short people are full of cunning!’" When he first heard people say that, he’d thought it was absurd. How could a person be judged by their height? Now he had witnessed it firsthand! A woman who looked like a child, yet her cunning truly surpassed that of ordinary people...! Recording him! She actually stooped to something like that.

Xiao Linye’s expression stiffened. The image of his own petite wife flashed through his mind, and his face instantly darkened. "Stick to the facts. No personal attacks."

His sudden dark expression made Qin Jinchuan’s hand, holding the wine glass, freeze. He looked at Xiao Linye, a sensitive nerve struck. "What? Is your wife not tall either?" No way. With his own outstanding qualities, and from what he understood of Xiao Linye’s preferences, he shouldn’t like women who were too short.

Xiao Linye didn’t answer his question. He flicked the ash from his cigarette and asked, "So, what’s your plan now? Still going to try and win her back?"

Previously, he had spoken with such conviction. It was as if he wouldn’t rest until he brought that woman back. Seeing Qin Jinchuan like that back then, Xiao Linye had felt a little worried for him. After all, he knew all too well what kind of woman the owner of Manlang truly was. Now that this had happened, surely Qin Jinchuan would give up?

However, Xiao Linye was mistaken!

Only to hear Qin Jinchuan declare, "Chase her? Of course, I’ll get her back!" His words were ground out through clenched teeth, devoid of any warmth or anticipation.

Xiao Linye raised an eyebrow. "From what you’ve said, she doesn’t seem to have any feelings for you. If you really push her too far, aren’t you worried she’ll release that recording?"

The mention of the recording made Qin Jinchuan so agitated he could barely breathe. He said fiercely, "I’ve already arranged for someone to steal that recording. That woman thinks she can control me? Not a chance!"

Xiao Linye listened, an eyelid twitching uncontrollably. He was sure he hadn’t misheard. Qin Jinchuan had said ’steal’; he was going to have someone steal the recording. But stealing...!

"Isn’t that a bit dishonorable?" Xiao Linye said, his tone disapproving. He was the eldest young master of the Qin Family, after all. How could he resort to such tactics?

Qin Jinchuan retorted, "Against that kind of woman, you can’t use honorable methods." He practically spat the words out through gritted teeth! Right now, he wanted to dissect that woman to see exactly where all her schemes were hatched. He’d been completely oblivious to her deception at the time.

Xiao Linye was momentarily speechless at his words. "Are you going to drink more? If not, I’ll have your assistant come get you."

"No more!"

After venting to Xiao Linye, Qin Jinchuan felt somewhat relieved. He stood up, grabbed his jacket, and started to leave.

However, just as he took a couple of steps, Xiao Linye said, "I suggest you don’t get too involved with that woman."

Qin Jinchuan paused. "Are you saying she’ll try to get back at me?" He raised an eyebrow, his tone dismissive.

Xiao Linye nodded. "That woman holds grudges. Xiao Shuo has been messed with by her plenty of times."

Qin Jinchuan fell silent. It would have been better not to mention Xiao Shuo. The mere thought of Xiao Shuo’s engagement to that woman made his stomach churn. "That’s just because Xiao Shuo is too useless."

Xiao Linye didn’t argue, merely giving him a look laden with deeper meaning. It was true that Xiao Shuo was useless, but hadn’t Qin Jinchuan himself been outmaneuvered this time as well?

The moment he said it, Qin Jinchuan realized his slip! He grew even more infuriated with Ye Yuning. How could that woman be so damn scheming? Meeting Xiao Linye’s knowing gaze, he snorted, "This time, I just let my guard down."

"As if Xiao Shuo ever had his guard up," Xiao Linye retorted.

Qin Jinchuan was rendered speechless. Ultimately, it was that woman’s deceptive appearance. This time, he had truly been fooled by her soft, childlike exterior and was thus completely unprepared. Furious, he raked his fingers through his hair, utterly speechless.

「 」

When Xiao Linye returned home, Ye Yuning was still tossing and turning in bed. Seeing Xiao Linye tiptoe into the room, she mumbled, "You’re back."

"Yes. Did I wake you?"

"No, I wasn’t asleep yet."

Xiao Linye took off his jacket, sat on the edge of the bed, and pulled her small form into his arms. "Can’t sleep?"

"Tell me, if an adult gets into a fight, loses, and then calls their parents for help, does that even make sense?"

Xiao Linye was silent.

The moment Ye Yuning nestled into Xiao Linye’s embrace, she poured out all the frustration she had been feeling that evening.

Xiao Linye raised an eyebrow. "Who would do something like that?"

Ye Yuning pouted. "Your precious Seventh Master, that’s who!"