Prioritizing Romance Over Friendship

“Young Master Lin, should we inform Miss about this matter?” asked Butler Wang.

“No need,” Lin Xuan replied with a cold expression. “I want to deal with him personally.”

He was determined to take matters into his own hands.

Through legal means, he would send Ye Li to prison.

This would also be an opportunity to test whether the martial arts he had been practicing in his personal space were truly effective or not.

Ye Li would be his first test subject.

Seeing Lin Xuan’s demeanor, Butler Wang rubbed his arms, feeling a chill.

After spending so much time with Lin Xuan, Butler Wang had come to realize that while Lin Xuan appeared gentle and refined on the surface, he was actually quite cunning.

Sometimes, Young Master Lin was even more intimidating than Miss Su.

Xu Wenyue, a so-called friend of Su Hua—or more accurately, someone who had clung to Su Hua until she was reluctantly accepted as a friend—walked into Night Garden. She had expected to see a mess.

After all, a notorious troublemaker was kept here, constantly causing havoc and destroying the garden’s precious items.

Yet, Su Hua doted on him, never getting angry no matter how much he misbehaved.

To Xu Wenyue, Su Hua’s affection for Lin Xuan was like a beautiful flower stuck in a pile of manure.

However, as soon as she entered Night Garden, Xu Wenyue was stunned.

Something was off.

Why was the garden so well-maintained?

Had it just been restored after Lin Xuan’s latest destruction?

“Miss Xu.”

“Hello, Miss Xu.”

Along the way, the servants greeted her with smiles.

Xu Wenyue grew increasingly suspicious.

Every time she had visited before, the servants had looked gloomy and lifeless. Why were they so cheerful this time?

She pulled one of the servants aside and asked, “Has something joyous happened in Night Garden?”

“Yes, every day is a joyous occasion now,” the servant replied with a grin. And why wouldn’t it be? Young Master Lin and Miss Su were inseparable, and Miss Su’s happiness had even led to increased bonuses for the servants.

Last month, she had received twenty-three thousand yuan.

“What joyous occasion?” Xu Wenyue couldn’t help but ask.

“Oh!” The servant slapped her forehead. “Look at my memory! I need to hurry and deliver something. Miss Xu, I can’t chat anymore.”

The servant hurried off with her package.

Xu Wenyue entered the villa and saw Lin Xuan lounging on the sofa, casually eating fruit with his legs crossed.

Lin Xuan glanced at her but didn’t acknowledge her presence.

Xu Wenyue had been constantly trying to brainwash Su Hua into leaving him. While he knew he hadn’t been worthy of Su Hua’s affection in the past, he hadn’t forgotten her meddling.

Xu Wenyue was puzzled. Why did Lin Xuan seem so relaxed and carefree?

“Lin Xuan, why are you in the living room?” she asked curiously. In the past, Lin Xuan would lock himself in his room. He never lounged around like this, casually eating fruit and scrolling through his phone.

Lin Xuan ignored her.

Xu Wenyue frowned and pressed on, “Lin Xuan, how’s your relationship with Su Hua now?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she shook her head.

What a pointless question.

How could Lin Xuan and Su Hua possibly have a good relationship?

If Lin Xuan wasn’t actively trying to harm Su Hua, it would already be a miracle.

Lin Xuan still didn’t give her the time of day.

His dismissive attitude infuriated Xu Wenyue, and she shouted, “Lin Xuan, are you even listening to me?”

Just then, Su Hua walked in, her brows furrowed.

“Why are you shouting?” she asked, her tone tinged with reproach.

Xu Wenyue’s expression darkened.

Damn it.

Su Hua had heard her!

Even if Lin Xuan had been completely out of line, Su Hua would still side with him.

Her friend was hopelessly lovesick.

Lin Xuan walked over to Su Hua, his voice filled with tenderness. “Are you tired after working all morning?”

Xu Wenyue: “???”

What was going on?

Since when did Lin Xuan treat Su Hua so affectionately?

“Yes, I’m tired,” Su Hua replied, extending her hand to Lin Xuan. “I’ve been typing and writing all morning. My hand is sore.”

“Let me massage it for you,” Lin Xuan said, skillfully kneading her hand.

Xu Wenyue: “!!!!!”

These two… why did they seem so sweet and loving?

The idea shocked her. Sweetness and love were words that should never be associated with Su Hua and Lin Xuan. Their relationship had always been one of coercion and resistance.

But the scene before her eyes was undeniably filled with pink, romantic bubbles…

Lei Hui contacted Lin Xuan, and Lin Xuan frowned as he read the message on his phone. “Hua Bao, I have something to take care of upstairs. I’ve already prepared lunch. Go ahead and eat.”

“Okay,” Su Hua nodded.

After Lin Xuan went upstairs, Su Hua and Xu Wenyue sat across from each other at the dining table.

“Su Hua, what’s going on between you and Lin Xuan?” Xu Wenyue asked. What had happened in the nearly two months she had been abroad?

Su Hua raised her left hand, showing off a ring. “We’re in a relationship now.”

“Su Hua, don’t you think Lin Xuan might be acting?” Xu Wenyue hesitated. “I suspect he’s being nice to you because he wants something—like stealing company secrets, hurting you, or even poisoning you.”

From what she had heard, Lin Xuan had even prepared dinner for Su Hua.

What if he had slipped some slow-acting poison into her food?

“I trust him,” Su Hua said, her crimson lips curving into a smile. “I believe he genuinely wants to treat me well. Even if it’s an act, I’m willing to accept it.”

Xu Wenyue: “…”

Great. A woman blinded by love wouldn’t listen to reason.

Lin Xuan finished his tasks and joined them in the dining room.

During the meal, Lin Xuan fed Su Hua, just as he had done before.

Xu Wenyue wanted to curse.

Damn it!

Could they be any more lovey-dovey?

She called a servant over. “Please bring me a pair of chopsticks and a bowl.”

It was strange. In the past, whenever she visited during mealtime, the servants would always prepare utensils for her.

This time, they hadn’t. The servants at Night Garden were becoming increasingly careless.

The servant glanced at Su Hua for instructions.

Su Hua replied indifferently, “No need to prepare anything.”

“Su Hua, since when have you become so stingy? You won’t even let me have a meal!” Xu Wenyue was furious.

“That’s right,” Su Hua said calmly. “Because A-Xuan made this meal himself.”

She didn’t want any other woman to taste the food Lin Xuan had prepared for her.

!!!

Damn it!

Xu Wenyue cursed her friend’s priorities in her mind.

“Fine. If you won’t let me eat, I’ll go find one of my young lovers.” She had five, six, seven, eight, or maybe even nine young men under her care, most of whom were in the entertainment industry.

This was something she couldn’t understand about Su Hua. With Su Hua’s status and wealth, she could easily have a hundred men at her beck and call.

Why was she so fixated on Lin Xuan and avoided other men like the plague?