Playing the Overbearing CEO Card The Flames of Jealousy Are Burning

"It's royalties, not gambling money."

"Since freshman year, I've been trying my hand at writing web novels."

"Auntie Qimeng, did you really think I was just playing games at internet cafes all this time?"

"I actually wanted to help shoulder the family responsibilities sooner."

"Here’s the royalty income I’ve transferred over the past few months. Take a look..."

As he spoke, Lin Yu opened his mobile banking app and showed Chen Qimeng the balance screen.

Chen Qimeng, ever the airhead, started counting aloud:

"One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million..."

Lin Yu deliberately waited until she reached "million" before pretending to remind her:

"Auntie Qimeng, don’t... say it out loud!"

Chen Qimeng belatedly realized her blunder and covered her mouth in embarrassment.

Everything that needed to be said had been said.

And the right people had heard it.

He Jing, ever the opportunist, naturally positioned herself as "one of them," stepping closer to Chen Qimeng and placing a hand on her shoulder.

Lin Yu didn’t shy away, tilting his phone screen slightly to let He Jing get a good look.

[Ding!]

[Masterful move! The wealth you’ve gained through worldly experience has left the Thousand-Faced Fox utterly shaken, bringing you closer to subduing her!]

[Reward: 20 Spirit Stones]

He Jing’s pupils trembled as she gasped, "W-writing novels makes this much money?"

"You’re a god, pretty boy!"

"How long did this take? A year? Two?"

Lin Yu casually withdrew his phone and explained,

"To be precise, just the last two or three months."

"I got lucky—last month, the gaming rights to my novel sold."

"That’s why there’s such a big payout. The licensing fee made up most of it."

He could’ve told Chen Qimeng it was money from betting on sports.

But given her simple-minded nature, she’d likely equate it to one of the "Three Evils" of society—not something to be proud of, just something to worry her endlessly.

Passing it off as royalties showcased his capability while providing a sustainable explanation.

Future earnings wouldn’t need elaborate justifications.

And in this setting?

It was the perfect cover.

A little shock therapy for the two seasoned scammers.

Worried about money?

The cash they’d schemed so hard to swindle? He’d earned it effortlessly.

How’s that for salt in the wound?

After his explanation, Lin Yu deliberately studied Yi Haizhou’s expression.

Priceless. Absolutely priceless.

Even a seasoned swindler like him couldn’t hide the sheer "What am I doing here?" look of utter bewilderment.

Before Lin Yu, Chen Qimeng gazed up at him with moved eyes.

Little Yu wasn’t just grown up—he was exceptional.

A college student earning millions? Unheard of in her world.

It proved the boy she’d raised was nothing short of extraordinary.

[Ding!]

[Masterful move! The wealth you’ve gained through worldly experience has warmed the Acting Sect Master’s heart!]

[Reward: 20 Spirit Stones]

"Little Yu, you’re amazing. So, so talented."

"Auntie’s shop never made this much in all these years."

"I’m... I’m really happy for you. You must keep writing!"

Watching Chen Qimeng’s beaming face, Lin Yu felt both touched and a pang of guilt.

This simple-minded fool... didn’t doubt a word he said.

At the same time, he sensed she didn’t care about the amount.

Her joy came purely from him finding a way to support himself.

Even if he’d shown a balance of three thousand instead of three million, her happiness wouldn’t have dimmed.

Then, Chen Qimeng took a deep breath, her eyes suddenly resolute.

Lin Yu: "..."

Here we go.

This airhead was probably about to declare some "nonsensical" resolution.

Chen Qimeng continued,

"Little Yu, thank you for offering to pay the rent."

"No matter how much you’ve earned, this money is your hard-earned income."

"I can imagine how many late nights you spent, racking your brain over plots and twists. It must’ve been exhausting."

"This money... I can’t take."

"Paying three years’ rent is too reckless. The housing market’s unstable—what if rents drop? Wouldn’t that be a huge loss?"

"How about you just cover six months for now?"

"Once I’ve saved enough, I’ll pay you back. You must save your earnings properly. After graduation, you won’t have to worry about money!"

Lin Yu: "..."

What kind of nonsense are you spouting, you big dummy?

This isn’t 2024—it’s 2014!

Rents aren’t dropping!

If you don’t lock in six grand now, next year it’ll be eight, then ten! People will be lining up!

If he kept reasoning gently, two minutes wouldn’t cut it.

An hour of debate, and Chen Qimeng would still dig in her heels.

Fine. Time for the nuclear option.

Lin Yu fixed her with a stern glare:

"Chen Qimeng! When you took me in all those years ago, did you keep a ledger?"

"What’s this ‘your money is yours’ nonsense? Can’t you spend it?"

"Are you trying to settle accounts with me now?"

"Should we tally up every cent I’ve cost you over the years?"

Chen Qimeng froze, speechless: "!!!"

That... wasn’t what she meant at all!

Had her words really come across that way to Little Yu?

Maybe she’d drawn too clear a line about money, but it was for his sake!

And...

Was this the first time he’d ever called her by her full name?

Was he really that angry?

Chen Qimeng: "I... I didn’t..."

Lin Yu cut her off: "Didn’t what? If you really didn’t, there’d be no ‘yours’ or ‘mine’ between us, right?"

Chen Qimeng: "But..."

Lin Yu interrupted again: "But what? Keep this up, and I’ll think you’re hinting that now that I can earn my keep, I shouldn’t come home anymore—that it’s your house, not mine!"

Chen Qimeng panicked: "Little Yu, no! Of course it’s your home too..."

Lin Yu pressed on: "Good! Then I’ll call Uncle Wang in. Let me handle family matters. You just sit back and sign!"

Chen Qimeng, thoroughly overwhelmed, just wanted to calm him down: "Okay... fine."

He Jing and Yi Haizhou watched this "heartfelt drama" unfold in its entirety.

What the actual hell was this?!

Yi Haizhou was numb.

Was this kid really just a college student?

Since when did undergrads pull off domineering CEO vibes?

And damn it...

he kinda nailed it.

It hit Yi Haizhou right in the sore spot—wasn’t he here to play the generous benefactor too?

Yet he’d been completely overshadowed by some undergrad.

What was even the point of him being here?

To highlight how effortlessly Lin Yu threw money around?

He Jing bit her finger, struggling to keep her expression neutral.

Jealousy burned inside her, threatening to scorch her face.

Chen Qimeng’s natural, clueless charm was a skill she’d never master.

How did this clueless woman land such a catch—a handsome, pure-hearted, cash-printing college boy?

Chen Qimeng... deserved to die!

She needed a plan—and fast—to get Lin Yu into her hands.

Standing beside her, Yi Haizhou was completely overshadowed by Lin Yu's brilliance.

Drowning in debt—she should've dumped him ages ago!

He Jing had long since drained every last drop of value from him.

Now, her top priority...

Was to make the emotionally vulnerable Lin Yu utterly obsessed and devoted to her!