Chapter 88: Why Haven't You Apologized to Young Master Yu Yet?

"Yuqing, are you all right?"

Li Hao looked at Lin Yuqing with concern written all over his face as he asked.

"I'm... fine." Lin Yuqing forced a smile and then asked, "Why are you here?"

"Yuqing, something this serious happened to you—of course I had to come." Li Hao replied earnestly and with guilt, "I never expected our relationship to be twisted by outsiders like this. I have a responsibility. I'm sorry, Yuqing, I've dragged you into this."

"I didn't sleep at all last night, I was worried about you the whole time."

"Yuqing, just look at how much Li Hao cares about you," chimed in Liu Cuiping and Lin Fu, standing nearby. The couple looked on with satisfaction, thinking how fortunate their daughter was to have Li Hao as a future husband.

"Thank you, but it’s really not your fault. Actually, what people say isn’t entirely wrong—if you hadn’t helped me all this time, I wouldn’t be where I am today," Lin Yuqing said, sitting down on the sofa.

"Yuqing, please don’t think that way," Li Hao went over to comfort her. "They don’t know anything. We all see how hard you work. You go to the company every day, train diligently, improve yourself, and yet you’ve suffered so many grievances from your own family. If you didn’t have the capability, nothing I did would help you, right?"

"That’s right, Yuqing, don’t take it to heart," Liu Cuiping echoed.

"Thank you, don’t worry about me, I’m fine," Lin Yuqing smiled, then added, "If nothing else, I’ll just live an ordinary life in the future. There’s nothing wrong with that."

"Yuqing, it’s good that you can think that way," Li Hao nodded. "But don’t worry, I won’t let them smear your name. I’ll help clear your reputation—I can’t let you suffer any injustice. My company has good connections with the media. I’ve already asked them to release statements to clarify things for you. Later, you can hold a press conference to set the record straight. If we have a clear conscience, we have nothing to fear."

Hearing this, Liu Cuiping repeatedly praised, "Li Hao really is reliable at critical moments."

"Yuqing, now you see how good Li Hao is to you? Where else could you find a man like this?"

"Exactly, Li Hao, it’s thoughtful of you. With you as Yuqing’s boyfriend, I can finally rest easy," Lin Fu nodded approvingly.

"Uncle, Auntie, you’re too kind. Yuqing is my girlfriend—I would never let her suffer. As long as there’s something I can do for her, I’ll give it my all," Li Hao said seriously.

Lin Yuqing was moved by his words. In truth, Li Hao was a good man. Though he had a few flaws typical of a rich young man, he really did treat her well.

"Li Hao, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease too," Liu Cuiping said with relief. "Now that you’re here, stay for lunch. I’ll go buy groceries now."

"All right, Auntie, thank you for the trouble."

"Come now, there’s no need to be so polite. We’re all family from now on," Liu Cuiping beamed, barely able to contain her joy. "Yuqing, why don’t you go take a walk downstairs with Li Hao? Come back when the meal is ready."

Lin Yuqing nodded, rose, and left with Li Hao.

The two of them walked side by side along the paths of the residential complex. Li Hao noticed the melancholy on her face and gently took her hand.

"Yuqing, don’t be so down. I’ve already arranged for people to handle everything—there won’t be any problems. Cheer up, or I’ll feel terrible," he said, his face full of affection.

Lin Yuqing’s hand trembled slightly, and she withdrew it as if she’d been shocked, still unaccustomed to such intimacy with him.

Everything Li Hao had just said and done for her warmed her heart deeply. But why, when he merely held her hand, did she feel so resistant inside?

Gratitude and true feeling—only a single word apart, but worlds away in meaning.

Lin Yuqing had just made up her mind to speak frankly with Li Hao, to end this awkward and strange relationship. But thinking of everything he had just said and done, how could she turn around and abandon him now? Wouldn’t that make her an ungrateful, self-serving person? How would she be any different from Lin Yuxin?

Lost in this painful struggle, she ultimately couldn’t bring herself to be that shameless person.

Li Hao noticed her withdrawing her hand and felt a pang of discomfort and a surge of irritation. This wretched woman—already my girlfriend, and she won’t even let me hold her hand? Is she really so high and mighty?

He silently decided that when the opportunity arose, he would make things irreversible and slowly teach her to accept him.

"Li Hao, I... really appreciate all that you’ve done for me."

"Yuqing, you’re my girlfriend—why are you still so distant with me?" Li Hao pretended to be upset.

Lin Yuqing forced another uneasy smile. "Do you remember what I said when I agreed to be with you?"

"I said that if I ever felt we weren’t right for each other, I’d break up with you at any time. You’ve done so much for me—aren’t you afraid that I might want to end things?"

Li Hao tensed inside, but feigned magnanimity. "I don’t believe that will happen. I treat you so well—what reason would you have to leave me?"

......

Lin Yuqing didn’t know what to say. She only smiled bitterly and fell silent.

Media Company.

Tang Meng asked her manager and assistant to wait outside, then went alone to Chen Min’s office and knocked before entering.

The moment she stepped in, she froze, staring in disbelief at the man sitting in Chen Min’s chair—the very same man she had run into downstairs just moments ago: Xia Yu.

"You... Why are you here?!"

"What are you doing here, you nobody? Do you have any idea what kind of place this is? How dare you sit there?" Tang Meng spat, her voice full of contempt.

Xia Yu looked at her with an amused glint. "Oh, am I not allowed to sit here?"

"Of course not! Who do you think you are? You’re nothing but a lowly delivery guy!" Tang Meng raged. "You think you deserve to sit there? Get out now or I’ll call security. If you trespass in someone else’s office, I could have you arrested for stealing trade secrets, you know?"

"Heh, you don’t even know why I’m here—why do you assume I don’t belong?" Xia Yu replied, his tone playful.

"You’re just a delivery guy who sneaked in! I’ll count to three—get out or I’ll call someone!" Tang Meng threatened.

"All right, go ahead."

"You... You really must have a death wish." Tang Meng shouted, "Director Chen! Director Chen!"

A moment later, Chen Min entered, having gone out to fetch coffee for Xia Yu. When she saw Tang Meng, she frowned. "Why are you shouting in the office?"

"Director Chen, this delivery man actually dared to sit in your chair! Call the police! He’s a thief!" Tang Meng pointed at Xia Yu.

Smack!

Chen Min raised her hand and slapped Tang Meng hard across the face.

"Shut up! How dare you disrespect Master Yu? Are you out of your mind?!"

Tang Meng clutched her face, dumbfounded, staring at Chen Min in utter confusion.

Though Chen Min was strict in her management, she was always known for her grace and composure. How could she act so rashly—how dare she hit her?

"And what are you waiting for? Apologize to Master Yu at once!"