Golden Temptation – A Yuri Story - Chapter 86

Lin Hao hummed a cheerful tune as he strolled into the living room, only to be met with his father’s dark, stormy gaze. His mother sat beside him, her face etched with worry.

“Dad! What’s going on?” Lin Hao asked.

Dean Lin shot him a sidelong glance and snapped, “What’s going on? Where the hell have you been lately? Never at home! I heard you’re back with that Qiao Fei girl. And what about Yiling? You’re just tossing her aside now?”

“Dad, I thought something serious happened. Yiling and I weren’t compatible—we broke up.”

Dean Lin flew into a rage. He grabbed the ashtray in front of him and hurled it at Lin Hao.

“You ungrateful brat! How many times have I told you to stay away from Qiao Fei?! Now you’ve offended Shen Yiling, and you know she’s the daughter of a board member—your father’s future is riding on her! And now it’s all ruined!”

“Dad, what do you mean? Speak clearly.”

Madam Lin quickly tried to calm her husband. “Your father’s been suspended from his post.”

“What?!”

“And you still have the nerve to be out partying! Go apologize to Yiling immediately!”

Seeing his father’s face flushed with fury, Lin Hao began to feel the weight of the situation.

________________________________________

The next morning, C University Campus

“You’ve gone too far, Shen Yiling!”

Lin Hao dragged Shen Yiling to the lake at the center of campus. After making sure no one was around, he pointed at her and shouted.

Shen Yiling brushed her hand off with disgust. “Who do you think you are, Lin Hao? Talking to me like that? That’s your attitude? You look ridiculous—like a rooster in heat!”

She turned her back on the furious Lin Hao and strode back toward the academic building. Lin Hao took a deep breath, thinking of his father’s suspension, then gritted his teeth and chased after her.

“Yiling! Yiling! I was wrong. I shouldn’t have yelled at you just now—”

No matter what he said, Shen Yiling completely ignored him. The two tugged and argued all the way, drawing curious stares and murmurs from passing students.

Qiao Fei and Liu Xinyu happened to see the scene unfold. Qiao Fei seemed indifferent—Lin Hao meant nothing to her. But Liu Xinyu was still bitter, cursing under her breath, “May he die a horrible death someday.”

Lin Hao felt the stares. A bad feeling crept up in his chest. Sure enough, when he looked up, he met Qiao Fei’s icy gaze. His hand was still holding on to Shen Yiling’s sleeve—what a mess. And now Fei’er had seen it too.

While he stood stunned, Shen Yiling shook his hand off and walked away.

The preparatory bell rang. Students picked up their pace to head into the building. Lin Hao followed behind, looking dejected. Shen Yiling saw the defeated look on his face and felt a surge of satisfaction.

This is just the beginning, Lin Hao. You just wait.

Feeling perhaps a little too pleased, she didn’t watch her step and tripped just before the last stair. Her body lunged forward in an awkward arc.

But the world always has its strange coincidences. Instead of falling, Shen Yiling landed straight into the arms of someone descending the stairs.

“Miss, are you alright?”

A pleasant voice reached her ears. Embarrassed, Shen Yiling looked up. “It’s you!”

“Oh? You know me?”

Yan Junye looked at her with amusement. That startled expression when she almost fell—those bright eyes like a startled deer—had already left an impression on her. But she quickly searched her memory and couldn’t recall meeting this girl before. Was she just making it up to cover her embarrassment?

“I saw you at Jing Xuan’s party. I don’t know your name, but I know you’re a friend of her.”

Shen Yiling couldn’t hide her pride as she spoke—her bruised ego already forgotten. But when she turned her head and saw her father nearby, clearly displeased, she immediately straightened up.

“Yiling, don’t be rude! You didn’t even thank Mr. Yan after bumping into him!”

Snapping out of it, Shen Yiling instantly switched into polite mode and thanked Yan Junye with grace.

“Mr. Yan, my daughter was careless. Please don’t take offense. This way, please.”

Shen Zhiming plastered on a smile. His daughter had just crashed into someone important. If she offended this Yan executive, the new stadium project might be in jeopardy.

“No harm done. Miss Shen, you’re not hurt, are you? I’m surprised you know so much about me. Since you’re a friend of Ajing’s, that makes you a friend of mine too. Let’s have dinner sometime—my treat.”

“Sure! I love social gatherings!”

“Ahem.” Shen Zhiming coughed deliberately. “Yiling, shouldn’t you be heading to class now?”

“Yes, sir, my dear Chairman Shen! I’m going, I’m going!”

Shen Yiling skipped past Yan Junye, winking playfully as she passed her.

“I must apologize for my daughter’s behavior,” Shen Zhiming said, shaking his head.

Yan Junye watched Shen Yiling disappear around the corner and smiled. “No need. Your daughter is charming—innocent and full of life.”

It was merely polite banter for her, but Shen Zhiming took every word to heart, overanalyzing every nuance.

________________________________________

That evening, at the Shen residence

Lin Hao arrived with gifts, fulfilling his father’s request to make amends. But the Shen family was busy entertaining a very important guest.

Yan Junye had accepted their dinner invitation, and the entire Shen household was focused on her. Lin Hao was ignored, left standing awkwardly to the side.

Realizing he was of no importance here, Lin Hao didn’t dare lash out. He could only rise to his feet and prepare to leave.

Just as he stepped out the front gate, Shen Yiling came running after him.

“Lin Hao! Wait a second!”

Thinking he had a chance, he turned around eagerly. “Yiling, you’ve forgiven me? Can you help convince Uncle Shen to get my dad reinstated?”

Shen Yiling tossed the gift boxes back at him.

“Lin Hao, don’t overestimate yourself,” she sneered. “Let me make two things clear:

First, you don’t need to ask for forgiveness. You didn’t betray me—we were just messing around. We agreed on that from the start.

Second, my dad didn’t suspend yours. He’s a board member, sure, but that decision was made by the entire board. Since you studied management, you should understand that much.

Just a friendly reminder—maybe your dad should think about whether he’s done anything unethical.”

“You—”

“Oh, and take your gifts back. Our trash bin’s already full.”

Lin Hao hurled the gift boxes to the ground in rage. “Shen Yiling, how can you be so cruel? You said I didn’t wrong you—so why are you doing this to me?!”

Shen Yiling crossed her arms and raised her chin.

“Didn’t I tell you? I just don’t like you. I hate you. Take it as me doing the world a favor, getting rid of a pest.”

“Shen Yiling, you—!”

“What? What am I? Lin Hao, I’ve said my piece, and you’ve heard it loud and clear. Now tuck your tail between your legs and get lost. If you keep running your mouth, I won’t be so polite.”

“Fine! Shen Yiling, just you wait. All of you Shen family—just wait!”

Lin Hao stormed off into the night.

________________________________________

Lin Hao failed his mission and returned humiliated. Not only did he get snubbed by the Shen family, but he was also thoroughly mocked by Shen Yiling.

Seething with rage and unable to return home, he found himself drowning in drinks at a bar.

“This won’t stand. I’ll make them all pay!”

He pulled out his phone and dialed Jing Cheng’s number, pouring out all his frustrations to the man he saw as a trustworthy “big brother.”

Jing Cheng offered a few consoling words, assuring Lin Hao that “everything will be taken care of.”

After hanging up, Jing Cheng raised his glass to the short, stout man beside him, a sly smile on his face.

“Brother Pingji, our opportunity has come.”