Lin Qinghe's forehead was streaked with three black lines.
Brother, people change. Can you at least ask for my opinion before making decisions?
Lin Yi, oblivious to Lin Qinghe's thoughts, continued, "I heard you even changed your major, to the same one as You Ziming's brother? If you dislike him, I'll get him kicked out of Nanda. Don't do anything rash yourself. Last time, if he hadn't agreed to settle, the consequences would have been dire, do you understand?"
It was only at this moment that Lin Qinghe finally understood that the original body's arrogance and willfulness were largely due to Lin Yi spoiling her.
Lin Qinghe: "Stop! Brother, listen to me. I don't like You Ziming anymore. I don't want to get engaged to him, so please give up the idea of me marrying him. Also..."
Lin Qinghe paused, then said solemnly, "I don't dislike You Rong. He's the one I like now. Brother, you absolutely cannot hurt him!"
Lin Yi frowned and, with a worried expression, touched her forehead. "Are you sick? Weren't you still in love with You Ziming a while ago, to the point of fighting with me? Now you say you like You Rong. How can you change your mind so quickly?"
Lin Qinghe pulled Lin Yi's hand away. "Brother! I'm not sick, I'm perfectly fine! I'm serious. I really don't like You Ziming anymore. The person I like is You Rong!"
"So... you changed your major to pursue You Rong?"
Lin Qinghe nodded heavily. "That's right."
"He hasn't agreed to be with you?"
Lin Qinghe answered truthfully, "Not yet."
A flicker of displeasure crossed Lin Yi's face. He patted Lin Qinghe's shoulder and comforted her, "Don't worry. If you really like him, I'll help you win him over."
"Uh... Brother, you're not going to threaten him or force him to be with me again, are you?"
Lin Yi raised his eyebrows and asked instead of answering, "Can't I?"
Lin Qinghe had a speechless expression. If Lin Yi intervened like this, You Rong would probably never like her in this lifetime.
"Brother! You don't need to worry about You Rong. Especially don't threaten him. I can handle it myself. In short... just give up the idea of me marrying You Ziming. That's all I need! Okay?"
Lin Yi's expression was complicated, but after a moment, he let it go. Whatever she wanted, he would agree to it.
"Okay, I'll do as you say. I'll tell Chairman You later to drop the idea of your engagement to You Ziming." Lin Yi affectionately ruffled Lin Qinghe's hair with his large, broad hand. "Remember, whatever you want, your brother will do his best to give it to you, as long as you are happy every day."
Lin Qinghe's heart warmed. "Brother... thank you."
Lin Yi truly doted on the original body to the bone.
Lin Yi smiled, "Don't be so polite with your brother. Let's go. If you don't want to stay at the party, I'll have the driver take you back. But you need to stay home for the next couple of days. It's rare for me to be home, so spend some time with me."
"Okay, I'll go back then."
"Alright, go back. I'm going to talk to Chairman You."
It was past eight in the evening when Lin Qinghe returned to her villa from the party. She ate a little something and lay on the ceiling in her luxuriously European-decorated room, sighing repeatedly.
"How can I make You Rong believe I like him?"
Lin Qinghe racked her brain but couldn't think of a solution. Helplessly, she put it aside for now. "Forget it, I promised Lin Yi I'd stay home these two days. I'll have Lin Yi find someone to see if they can heal You Rong's left leg first."
-------------------------------------
Meanwhile, at the bar where You Rong worked part-time.
Brother Wang put an arm around You Rong's shoulder and said, "Why do you look so absent-minded today? Did something happen at home again? If there's anything, remember to tell me. I can help in some way, no matter how small."
You Rong lowered his eyes, hiding the emotions within. "Brother Wang, it's nothing. Thank you. I was just lost in thought."
Brother Wang took him at his word and stroked his chin in confusion. "By the way, why didn't Lin Qinghe come today? She didn't even call to say anything. Do you know what's going on?"
You Rong: "I... I don't know."
Brother Wang was a little surprised. "I thought you two were quite close recently. I thought you would know... But never mind. A rich girl like her, saying she's doing part-time work is probably just a three-minute passion. I don't expect her to stay long. I'll post a notice for part-time jobs tomorrow and hire another student employee..."
You Rong pursed his lips tightly, remaining silent, deep in thought.
When he returned home after work, Grandma Lin saw him and smiled, "You Rong, you're back. Tomorrow is the weekend, neither you nor that young lady has classes. Why don't you ask her over for a meal? I'll cook."
You Rong clenched the hand hanging by his side. "Grandma, no need. We'll eat by ourselves."
Grandma Lin was taken aback. "Why? Did you and that young lady argue?"
"No," You Rong said in a deep voice. "We'll eat by ourselves. She won't come."
Grandma Lin looked at him doubtfully. "Why wouldn't the young lady come? Did you really argue?"
You Rong felt a wave of annoyance at the questioning. He ended the topic. "Grandma! I need to study. It's getting late, you should go to bed."
Grandma Lin looked worried, wanting to say something but then holding back. In the end, she said nothing more, just reminded him not to stay up too late, and went into her room.
Alone, You Rong opened his laptop to study but couldn't concentrate on a single word. His mind was filled with thoughts of Lin Qinghe.
She wouldn't come again...
From beginning to end, they weren't even friends. She had approached him out of spite for You Ziming. She was such a terrible person. It was a good thing for him to have no contact with her.
But... why did his chest feel so tight, almost to the point of suffocation?
The next morning.
At Nanda University, in You Rong's classroom.
The teacher arrived and began taking attendance. When she called out Lin Qinghe's name, You Rong unconsciously glanced at the empty seat beside him.
The teacher called out several times before sighing, "Never mind the absent students, let's begin the class."
Halfway through the lecture, the teacher on the podium called out, "You Rong, come up here and tell us the answer to this question."
You Rong kept his head down, unresponsive.
"You Rong, You Rong..."
The teacher called out several times, but You Rong sat there, completely unresponsive. A student behind him nudged him. "You Rong! The teacher has been calling you to answer for several minutes. What are you spacing out for?"
You Rong jolted back to reality, realizing he hadn't even opened his textbook.
You Rong stood up, his face pale. "...Teacher, I'm sorry."
The teacher frowned and looked at You Rong for a few seconds. Without saying anything further, she gestured for him to sit down and asked someone else to answer.
You Rong sat back down, but his mind was nowhere near the lesson. No matter how hard he tried to concentrate, he couldn't.
Finally, the morning classes ended. You Rong sat in his seat, unmoving, seemingly not intending to pack up and leave.
Suddenly, two girls walked past him. Their conversation caught You Rong's attention.
"Did you hear? News is circulating online that the You Group and Lin Group are going to form an alliance, and You Ziming and Lin Qinghe are going to get engaged..."