Chapter Sixty: A Profound Lesson for My Sister-in-law

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Yuxin lay down again, turning on her side, presenting Hong Chen with a back that brooked no argument. This was perfectly in line with her decisive, and, in many ways, more assertive character compared to most women.

Hong Chen sat there, unsure whether to laugh or cry. What did she mean by “different from his original intention”? She clearly assumed he’d been unfaithful. But had he? Absolutely not!

If it weren’t the dead of night, he would have liked to howl at the sky: “I’m innocent!”

After a long while, his heart bitterer than gall, Hong Chen ground his teeth and muttered, “So, for now, we’re not getting divorced, right?”

Lin Yuxin gave a soft “mm” in response. “I won’t interfere in your interactions with colleagues or friends outside, but mind your own boundaries. If I catch you once more, we’re finished for good.”

Hong Chen felt as if he’d swallowed a fly. He ground his teeth again and again, but in the end, he didn’t retort. It seemed this injustice would be hard to clear up.

“Fine, we won’t divorce for now. But there are some things I have to make clear. During these three years of our marriage contract, unless you cross my bottom line, I won’t propose divorce unless you do. But when the term is up, we both get a say in what happens next.” In the end, Hong Chen accepted reality, but his tone was cold as he laid out the necessary words.

This so-called new beginning felt, to some degree, like an attempt to see if things might develop between them. Lin Yuxin was a beauty, and he didn’t actually dislike her temperament. To say he wasn’t moved at all would be a lie. But he had his secrets, things he must do—love could not be his whole life at this stage. Who knew what the future would bring? It was best to set expectations early.

Lin Yuxin said nothing, and Hong Chen took her silence as tacit agreement. He didn’t pursue the topic further. After a moment of thought, he said, “Tell me exactly what’s happened with Yufei.”

All he knew so far was a number—three million eight hundred eighty thousand—and a few scattered details.

Lin Yuxin sat up again, organized her thoughts, and then recounted everything in detail, beginning with the bald man and the fat woman coming to collect the debt that night.

As Hong Chen listened, a glint flickered in his eyes—partly at Lin Yufei’s foolishness, partly at the outsiders digging a pit for her, and partly at the Lin family’s coldness and lack of compassion, kicking them while they were down...

“I’ve already spoken to my boss about this,” he said. “Don’t touch the house, Dad’s shares, or your shares. Leave it to me.”

It wasn’t that he was taking charge because there might be a turning point in their marriage. Even if they got divorced tomorrow, he would still step in. After all, they’d been married for over two years, and he’d lived in this home just as long. He couldn’t just stand by and watch Lin Yuxin’s family fall into ruin without reaching out a hand.

Of course, his approach might differ. If he were to sever ties with this family in the future, he’d only care about the immediate outcome. But now, it was necessary to give his sister-in-law a profound lesson—otherwise, this woman, already on the wrong path, would stray even further.

Lin Yuxin stared at him for a long time. It wasn’t out of pride, but because she couldn’t quite process it. She’d already prepared herself to lose everything and start over, and now, suddenly, Hong Chen said he’d handle it all—she wouldn’t have to pay a dime. It was almost unbelievable.

“You...how do you plan to handle it?”

“The King’s Club is backed by the Wang family. Right now, Hongcheng Group and the Wang family are at each other's throats in the entertainment industry; all that’s missing is the final spark. My boss thinks Yufei’s situation could be a good opportunity.”

Hong Chen’s face was unnervingly calm. “But regardless of the outcome, one million three hundred fifty thousand was lost through Yufei’s gambling. That’s real money, and she has to take responsibility for it. I have one request: she must pay it back herself. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the university to find her. If possible, I’ll have my boss meet her in person.”

Lin Yuxin was shocked. “She’s just a student who hasn’t even graduated yet. How could she possibly pay back over a million?”

“She can work two evenings a week and one weekend day. Don’t worry, I’ll only have her do proper jobs, which will benefit her when she graduates and enters society.”

He paused, then added, “Yufei isn’t a child anymore. She has to take responsibility for her actions. Crying a few tears and saying sorry isn’t enough. Frankly, you spoiled her too much, and that’s why she’s gotten so out of hand.”

Lin Yuxin didn’t try to defend herself or Yufei. After a moment’s thought, she nodded. “You’re right. I’ve been too lenient with her. She needs to face the consequences this time and learn a lesson.”

“As for the rest of the Lin family...” Hong Chen hesitated, then shook his head. “Let’s deal with the debt first. We’ll talk about them later.”

Lin Yuxin nodded, hesitated, then said, “Don’t push yourself too hard. If there’s a problem, let me know in time. I’ve already prepared myself for the worst.”

Hong Chen glanced at her and chuckled softly. “The worst? Losing everything, even yourself? Honestly, your decision tonight really disappointed me. Do you remember what I said to you on our wedding night, after you kicked me out of bed? I told you, even if you’re cold, you’re still my wife. If you ever run into a problem you can’t solve, don’t hide it from me. I’ll do my best to help you. But you just let it go in one ear and out the other.”

With that, Hong Chen lay down to sleep. Lin Yuxin fell silent. In the darkness, her expression was unreadable, and no one knew what she was feeling. After sitting quietly for a long time, she finally lay down without a sound.

The night passed without incident. The next morning, they got up at eight, washed, had a complimentary breakfast in the restaurant, then checked out. Hong Chen drove Lin Yuxin to Linfeng Trading, then headed straight for Qing City University.

Along the way, he called Xu Le first, then contacted Tank and the others, instructing them to be in Qing City by eight that night. Finally, he spoke with Gao Tianxiong for a full fifteen minutes.

It was just after nine when he reached the university. He parked outside the gate and waited about ten minutes before a taxi pulled up. A rotund figure emerged from the back seat—it was Xu Le, impeccably dressed in a suit, shiny leather shoes, hair perfectly combed, a BOSS briefcase in hand, and with a serious round face that, when not smiling, actually gave him the air of a corporate executive.

Hong Chen explained his plan to Xu Le, then tried calling Lin Yufei’s phone, but it was switched off. Left with no choice, he headed for her dormitory.

Qing City University was the largest comprehensive university in the province, sprawling over twice as much land as most schools. Hong Chen and Xu Le walked for seven or eight minutes before reaching Dormitory Building Y for girls.

The dorm supervisor eyed them suspiciously and frowned. “Men aren’t allowed in the girls’ dorms on weekdays. Call her and have her come down.”

“Xu Le, what brings you here?” Just as Hong Chen was about to reply, a melodious, unexpectedly cheerful voice called out.

“Zilin.” Xu Le turned and saw a graceful girl in a school uniform approaching. His face lit up with joy. Hong Chen glanced at her a few times before realizing she was the singer he’d met at the night market.

“This is Hong Chen—call him Brother Chen—my best friend. You’ve met. If it weren’t for him that night, I wouldn’t have been able to protect you... Brother Chen, this is Cao Zilin, my girlfriend.”

Xu Le introduced them, though both had already recognized each other. Cao Zilin smiled graciously. “Brother Chen, thank you for that night. If you’re not in a hurry, let me treat you to lunch later.”

Hong Chen accepted readily, “Sure.”

“Auntie, I’ll take them upstairs and bring them right back down, okay?” Understanding their purpose, Cao Zilin negotiated with the dorm supervisor. With her excellent rapport, the supervisor hesitated only a second before relenting. “Just be quick and don’t stay too long.”

The three of them, chatting and laughing, made their way to the third floor and knocked on the door of Room 307. Soon, the door opened, and a long-faced girl with a nonconformist style blinked in surprise to see two men. But recognizing Cao Zilin, she asked, “Zilin, who are they?”

“I’m looking for Lin Yufei. I’m her... brother-in-law.”

At Hong Chen’s self-introduction, the long-faced girl’s eyes flashed with disdain. She sneered, “So you’re the useless brother-in-law Yufei’s always talking about?”

Before Hong Chen could reply, Cao Zilin’s smile vanished and her tone turned frosty. “Zhang Yan, watch your mouth, or I’ll help you shut it.”

Zhang Yan seemed to be afraid of Cao Zilin. Her face stiffened, and she glared at Hong Chen. “She’s still in bed. Go see for yourself.”

With that, she turned and stalked back inside.

Hong Chen gave Cao Zilin a surprised look. She smiled again, a little embarrassed. “That girl is the worst. Back in our first year, I won a singing competition at school, and to curry favor with the girl who came in second, she came over to insult me. I made sure she learned her lesson.”

Hong Chen nodded silently, recalling Cao Zilin facing down a group of thugs with nothing but a greasy pot. With that courage and resolve, she certainly wouldn’t be bullied in the ivory tower of a university.

“Enough, don’t show off in front of Brother Chen,” Xu Le teased, earning a playful glare and a feigned look of fear.

In Hong Chen’s eyes, the two of them were clearly flirting. He shook his head quietly and stepped into the dorm. With one glance, he spotted the lower bunk by the window. When he saw the girl lying there—her face bruised and swollen—his eyes narrowed in shock. He could hardly recognize her!