"Stop messing around, let's talk serious."
Feng Lin began his most familiar tactic of changing the subject, "If nothing unexpected happens, it won't be long before your family asks you to come back."
"Tch! Stop trying to change the subject..."
Although Xu Ruoying said this, she was very curious because her parents had already called her.
Noticing that Xu Ruoying had calmed down, Feng Lin also laughed, "It seems you want to know the reason. It was I who had Lan Rou ask her grandfather."
"Lan Rou's grandfather."
Xu Ruoying thought about that old man. It was precisely because of Lan Rou's identity that she had many people trying to ingratiate themselves with her.
"That's right, her grandfather put pressure on the Ministry of Commerce."
By saying this, Feng Lin intended to make Xu Ruoying see Lan Rou in a new light.
"No wonder my dad said that."
Xu Ruoying nodded to herself, and then she stared intently at Feng Lin, forcibly pulling her hand away from his grasp.
"What now? Haven't I been good to you? I've been doing everything I promised you before."
Feng Lin's expression was somewhat helpless.
"Do you want to get things over with quickly so you can divorce me and go to Lan Rou?" Xu Ruoying pursed her lips and asked faintly.
"Yes, I do want to wrap up your affairs quickly. We're not close, and having a marriage certificate hanging between us isn't good for either of us."
As Feng Lin said this, he laughed and explained, "Don't worry, I have connections. After we divorce, it will show as if you're single, not divorced."
Xu Ruoying stared at Lan Rou, who was standing in the distance, her mind racing.
For some reason, she didn't want to cut ties with Feng Lin just yet.
Especially since Feng Lin's future partner was Lan Rou.
"Give me your phone, let me use it for a bit." Xu Ruoying stretched out her hand.
There wasn't much on Feng Lin's phone, so he handed it over to Xu Ruoying.
Xu Ruoying opened the contact list and saw that many people were represented by numbers instead.
2345…
But she still found a contact listed as "Dad."
After opening it, Xu Ruoying memorized the number and gave the phone back to Feng Lin, "Tell Lan Rou to come over, I want to talk to her."
"You should have done this earlier," Feng Lin nodded in agreement.
Taking advantage of Feng Lin's absence, Xu Ruoying immediately saved the number in her own phone.
Lan Rou came over from a distance, stood in front of Xu Ruoying, and said with a tone of grievance, "I've apologized to you for the previous incident."
"Stop pretending, my phone isn't recording."
Xu Ruoying showed her phone screen to Lan Rou, "I'm not joking right now, I want to ask you something serious."
"Go ahead."
Lan Rou also became serious.
"Do you have feelings for Feng Lin? Simply put, are you with him because you like him, or are you with him just to see me embarrassed?" Xu Ruoying asked with an indifferent expression.
"What kind of joke is that? I've only known him for less than a day," Lan Rou said, frowning.
"That makes two of us, but I think Feng Lin is not bad, and I want to give it a try with him."
Xu Ruoying wasn't entirely clear on her own feelings, but she just didn't dislike Feng Lin.
She felt this man was acceptable.
Perhaps it was because they knew each other from childhood.
"Are you declaring war on me, saying Feng Lin is yours and telling me to stay away from him?" Lan Rou gently adjusted her glasses.
"Exactly, that's what I mean."
Xu Ruoying straightened her posture, showcasing her impressive figure, "You can't compete with me. Ever heard the saying? Bigger is justice."
"Interesting."
Lan Rou had a plain expression but couldn't help feeling envious inside.
"That's all I have to say. The reason I told you this calmly is to thank you for having your grandfather put pressure on the Xu Family," Xu Ruoying finished and walked toward Feng Lin.
Lan Rou's eyes narrowed into slits. Putting pressure on the Xu Family?
She had never done it before.
Since Xu Ruoying said so, it must have been Feng Lin who told her.
Lan Rou simply couldn't understand why Feng Lin could make Grandpa work for him.
Previously, when she asked Lan He, he didn't say.
It seemed she needed to force the issue.
Feng Lin was looking at the two figures in the distance; they seemed to have let bygones be bygones.
"Feng Lin, let's go back."
Xu Ruoying wrapped Feng Lin's arm in hers and walked inside.
Feng Lin frowned, held by her, feeling as if his body was not obeying him, and followed Xu Ruoying's steps.
Lan Rou secretly took a photo with her phone, smiled, and followed, "Feng Lin, since I've brought you here, I should head back first."
"Okay."
Feng Lin hurriedly extricated himself and turned back to speak.
After watching Lan Rou leave, Feng Lin shook his head and returned to the house.
"Let's discuss your situation. Your family members all value their interests. They'll definitely be crying for you to come back in a day or two."
Feng Lin sat on the couch, looking at Xu Ruoying and said, "Then, you can make your demands."
"Mhm."
Xu Ruoying absentmindedly nodded her head; she was staring at her phone, having searched through several questions.
"How to make a man fall in love with you quickly?"
"I'm pretty attractive, so how can I make a steely, straight man fall head over heels for me?"
"Encountering a steely, straight man, how can I subtly hint at him without leaving a trace?"
...
Meanwhile, Lan Rou got home and walked to Lan He in the courtyard.
"Hehe! You're back, girl. What do you think of Feng Lin?"
Lan He asked with a smile.
"Not much!"
Lan Rou pretended to be angry, took out her phone, opened the photo she took, and handed it to Lan He, "Take a look; is this the fiancé you found for me?"
"This Feng Lin, I really underestimated him." Lan He chuckled and handed the phone back to Lan Rou.
Lan Rou said flatly, "I want to break off the engagement with him."
"Okay, I agree." Lan He nodded.
"You...you agree, just like that?"
Lan Rou was somewhat stunned. How was she supposed to inquire further now?
"Yes, it's also for your safety. I've already said I didn't agree with you joining the Secret Corps. I later agreed because Feng Lin would protect you."
Lan He explained calmly. His subtext was clear.
If she broke off the engagement with Feng Lin, then Lan Rou wouldn't be able to join the Secret Corps.
"So Feng Lin is with the Secret Corps, but what do you mean? Do I still need him to protect me?"
Lan Rou snorted coldly, her expression somewhat disdainful.
"Do you know how many S Rank missions your great-uncles' third department have carried out?"
Lan He suddenly asked.
"Of course, I know! S Rank missions have been executed 19 times, failed 4 times; 2S Rank missions, executed 15 times, failed only 6 times; 3S Rank missions, executed 4 times, failed 2 times."
Lan Rou was very clear. It was under their influence that she wanted to join the Secret Corps.
Her great-uncles' department was among the elite of the combat units.
"Then do you know how many times Feng Lin's organization has executed these missions?" Lan He asked with a smile.
"How many? You mean to say S Rank missions exceeded 10 times?"
Lan Rou asked back. She knew S Rank missions weren't something just anyone could execute.
3S Rank missions elevated to a matter of world security.
Lan He closed his eyes, lay back on the rocking chair, and said, "His organization has executed S Rank missions 0 times, 2S Rank missions 0 times, but 3S Rank missions, executed 298 times, failed just once."
Lan Rou was initially dismissive of what she heard, but upon hearing the last part, she was completely shocked.
PS: Quick question, I'm a steely, straight man; how can I make a girl fall in love with me?