Sincerity is the ultimate weapon, take the initiative to offer a hug

In the residential community where Miao Haixin rented an apartment.

After getting out of the taxi, Miao Haixin led Lin Yu all the way to a small park.

It was almost dinnertime.

Most of the elderly and children had already gone home, leaving the park nearly empty.

Miao Haixin guided Lin Yu to a stone chess table.

Judging by the pieces on the table, this was likely a regular spot for the neighborhood elders.

Seeing Miao Haixin sit down and start arranging the chess pieces, Lin Yu feigned impatience and asked:

"Ms. Miao, can you finally explain now?"

"Why were you in that alley?"

"Don’t tell me…"

"You and Ms. Yan were in cahoots from the very beginning?"

Miao Haixin: "!!!"

What kind of logic was that?!

How could she possibly be working with someone like Yan Miaozhu?

The very thought was absurd!

But Lin Yu’s wild guess wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

After all, from the moment they met until now, she hadn’t given him a proper explanation.

A reckless, clueless college student jumping to conclusions—whatever he guessed was understandable.

The real reason Miao Haixin had appeared in that alley near the motel was so complicated that guessing it correctly would take nothing short of divine insight.

However.

Miao Haixin had no idea.

Standing right in front of her was, in fact, a "true god."

Everything unfolding now was under the "true god’s" control.

Even as Lin Yu pressed her with questions, Miao Haixin continued setting up the chessboard without pause.

If she stopped now, they’d just be sitting face-to-face, talking awkwardly!

It would be unbearable!

She had no idea how to face Lin Yu like that.

So.

Miao Haixin had thought of chess.

A ready-made prop to divert their attention.

This way, they wouldn’t have to stare at each other while talking, and their minds could partly focus on the game.

It was similar to discussing business over a chess match—just as effective.

And the best solution she could come up with under the circumstances.

"Lin Yu, I know you have a lot of misunderstandings about me."

"You know how to play chess, right? Let’s sit and talk while we play."

Lin Yu didn’t refuse. He took the seat opposite her and began swiftly arranging his pieces in sync with her words.

So, the advisor was trying to distract him!

The more focus and time spent on the game, the easier it’d be to shift his attention.

Lin Yu saw right through such a simple tactic.

Too bad.

Miao Haixin could never have imagined the caliber of the chess player sitting across from her!

"Clack!"

The moment the pieces were set, Lin Yu slammed down his "central cannon," aggressively seizing the first move.

The forceful strike against the board was a clear message—he was still furious.

Miao Haixin didn’t fight for the initiative. Instead, she made her move and began speaking:

"Lin Yu, on the way back, I considered whether I should make up an excuse to brush this off."

"But I know you’re a smart guy. A flimsy lie would only deepen the misunderstanding between us."

"So, I decided to tell you the truth…"

(Clack!)

The moment Miao Haixin placed her piece, Lin Yu responded just as quickly with another sharp "clack!"

His move practically screamed:

Go on, then. Let’s hear this "truth."

Miao Haixin tensed slightly but continued speaking between the rapid "clack, clack, clack…" of their moves, recounting the day’s events.

Lin Yu, who already knew everything, couldn’t help but admire Miao Haixin’s honesty.

Facing her student—just a naive young man—she had every opportunity to embellish or fabricate the story.

With him unaware of the full picture, she could’ve easily tweaked motives and details to make herself look better.

A tale of an advisor protecting her student’s safety didn’t need to be so raw and unvarnished.

Yet despite having every reason to sugarcoat it, Miao Haixin chose to lay everything bare.

Every detail, every thought in her mind—she laid it all out with painful clarity.

Hearing Yan Miaozhu’s voice message, suspecting it might be Lin Yu from the day before, confirming it was him…

And why she guessed it was him so quickly—because of a dream she’d had the night before…

Every single detail matched the information Lin Yu already knew perfectly!

Even something as trivial as a dream—something she didn’t need to mention at all—she included without hesitation.

At that moment, Lin Yu finally understood the greatest weapon this advisor possessed…

Unadulterated sincerity!

In human interactions, sincerity was the ultimate trump card.

For a moment, Lin Yu couldn’t even keep up his angry act.

Continuing to pretend would just make him look like a petulant child throwing a tantrum.

Completely unreasonable.

If anything, this chessboard confession helped Lin Yu finally understand why Miao Haixin had been in the office yesterday.

She was one of the few colleagues who knew Yan Miaozhu was married.

And she had personally witnessed Yan Miaozhu—wearing a hat—leaving a hotel with an unfamiliar man.

Secret marriage + checking into a hotel with a stranger.

That alone had cemented Yan Miaozhu’s character in Miao Haixin’s mind.

Then, hearing from other advisors that Yan Miaozhu always favored male students as class representatives…

And that she seemed unusually close to them?

When she learned Lin Yu had been called into the office alone, Miao Haixin’s reaction made perfect sense.

"I said it…"

"Whew… That wasn’t as hard as I thought."

"Lin Yu, if you’re angry because I didn’t warn you earlier to be wary of Ms. Yan…"

"Or because I took it upon myself to follow her and ended up running into you…"

"If you feel deceived or kept in the dark, I want to apologize. Sincerely."

"I…"

"Huh? Ch-checkmate?!"

Miao Haixin didn’t consider herself a terrible chess player.

She hadn’t even spent that much time talking.

How had she been cornered without even realizing it?!

Was Lin Yu really this good even when he was angry?

Lin Yu set down the piece he had just captured and walked over to Miao Haixin.

She stood up, ready to deliver a proper apology.

Even if she hadn’t done anything wrong, she felt obligated to acknowledge her student’s feelings.

But before she could speak, Lin Yu pulled her into a tight embrace.

Miao Haixin: "!!!"

Wh-what was happening?!

Frozen in place by the strength of Lin Yu’s arms, Miao Haixin didn’t know how to react.

Pushing him away mid-apology…

Would seem incredibly rude.

For a long moment, her arms hung awkwardly in the air, unsure where to go.

"Ms. Miao, thank you!"

"Thank you for protecting me. I was so stupid—I almost misunderstood you."

"I’ve never been in a situation like today’s. When I was alone in that room with Ms. Yan, I was terrified."

[Ding!]

[Masterful move! The Saint’s unfiltered emotional display greatly boosts the Faction Elder’s favor!]

[Reward: 20 Spirit Stones]

...

(Second update today. Bonus chapter coming soon!)