Unexpected Encounters and a Desperate Plea

On the other side, next to a commercial building, lay a vast expanse of bluestone road. Two luxurious cars were parked along one edge of the paved path.

Inside one of the cars, a silver-haired girl kept her tired eyes open, a terrifying surge of irritation swirling within her aqua-blue pupils.

Earlier that morning, Chen Sishi had been abruptly woken from her sleep. Already deprived of rest and prone to a fiery temper, she had nearly stabbed the person who roused her.

Following her father’s wishes, she had hastily donned a pale pink gown and rushed into the car.

Now, she had been waiting in the vehicle for over half an hour. She wondered which important figure warranted such a prolonged wait.

Chen Sishi had already made up her mind: once those people arrived, she would certainly give them a piece of her mind.

As she fumed silently, a black motorcycle pulled up ahead. Hearing the commotion, Chen Sishi lifted her head and saw a man and a woman.

The woman wore a motorcycle helmet, obscuring her face, but her aura alone suggested she was not someone to be trifled with. However, as Chen Sishi shifted her gaze to the person behind her, her expression froze.

The features and physique of that individual were incredibly familiar to Chen Sishi—so familiar that she dreamed of pinning him beneath her every night.

She rubbed her eyes in disbelief, wondering if she had seen incorrectly.

Yet, even after repeated glances, the person’s appearance remained unchanged.

Her heart began to pound faster and faster. Chen Sishi flung open the car door and leaped out recklessly.

The young man outside also noticed the girl in the car, subtly taking a step back. Chen Sishi looked stunning in her pale pink dress, which accentuated her adorable, doll-like charm. White stockings peeked out beneath the pink hem.

Such a delightful sight should have been refreshing. However, Lin Yi internally declared that he never wanted to see her again in this lifetime.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. Lin Yi instinctively gripped Lin Yiting’s hand, his inner dread assailing his composure repeatedly.

Sensing the pressure on her palm, Lin Yiting looked at Lin Yi with a puzzled expression. The moment she saw the silver-haired girl approaching, she stepped forward, shielding Lin Yi behind her.

“It’s alright, I’ve got you, Xiaoling.”

Lin Yi remained silent, his gaze fixed on his sister’s profile, a strange sense of guilt stirring within him.

He felt it was unmanly to constantly hide behind his sister. No matter what, he shouldn’t let her bear these burdens for him.

With these thoughts, his eyes hardened, and he quietly stepped forward.

Noticing Lin Yi’s movement, Lin Yiting glanced at him, a hint of gratification appearing on her face.

‘My silly little brother is finally showing some backbone,’ she thought.

Despite her inner satisfaction, Lin Yiting did not let down her guard. Her amber eyes remained fixed on Chen Sishi, ready to draw her dagger without hesitation should the girl make any untoward move.

Fortunately, Chen Sishi did nothing of the sort. She simply walked up to Lin Yi and lightly patted his shoulder.

“Lin Yi, why are you here today?”

“Ah, haha, well…”

Lin Yi awkwardly took a step back, his gaze naturally falling upon Lin Yiting. It was Lin Yiting who had informed him to come; otherwise, he wouldn’t have attended this banquet.

After all, the original plot only mentioned this event briefly. He didn’t even know who hosted it or where it was held.

Just then, a tall figure in a black suit blocked Lin Yi’s view. The man was very imposing, easily over six feet tall. He looked down at Lin Yi, his gaze sweeping back and forth.

The middle-aged man’s face bore a striking seven or eight-tenths resemblance to Chen Sishi’s. His aqua-blue eyes, in particular, looked as if they were cast from the very same mold.

Looking at those eyes, Lin Yi couldn’t help but think of Chen Sishi.

The middle-aged man offered Lin Yi a smile, his powerful aura making it difficult for Lin Yi to breathe. Fortunately, he only observed Lin Yi for a moment before shifting his gaze to Chen Sishi.

“Sishi, these are the guests I mentioned. You can sit with them later. I won’t crowd you young people.”

“Is Daddy really not going to sit with us?”

“No.”

Upon receiving the definitive answer, the irritation on Chen Sishi’s face completely vanished. She joyfully hugged Chen Lujun’s arm, warmth overflowing in her heart.

Chen Lujun sighed, covering his forehead. His daughter was wonderful in every way, but her capricious nature always gave him a headache.

Even after watching her grow up, Chen Lujun still couldn’t get used to her personality. With a helpless sigh, Chen Lujun gently stroked the girl’s silver hair, his slightly downturned eyes watching her with doting affection.

Standing beside them, Lin Yi watched the father and daughter, deliberating whether to approach them. He knew he shouldn’t interrupt such a moment, yet he was keenly aware that if Chen Lujun got into that car, he would likely die within a few hours.

If Chen Lujun died on the road, triggering the original novel’s plot, Lin Yi himself would be in grave danger. To save his own life, he first had to ensure Chen Lujun survived this plot-mandated death.

Having no other choice, he secretly braced himself.

However, the moment Lin Yi met Chen Lujun’s eyes, the courage he had painstakingly gathered completely dissipated.

There was nothing he could do; Chen Lujun’s aura was simply too overwhelming. In his presence, Lin Yi couldn’t muster an ounce of bravery.

“Just say what you want to say. It’s fine.”

Lin Yi’s expressions and actions could not escape Chen Lujun’s keen eyes. He had long noticed that Lin Yi wished to say something, but he had simply chosen not to acknowledge it until now.

“Uncle Chen… could you possibly ride in our car?”

Upon hearing this, Chen Lujun pondered for a long while. He subtly observed Chen Sishi’s expression, and seeing no objection from her, he finally nodded.

“Alright, I’ll take the front passenger seat. You all can sit wherever you like.”

With that, he was the first to get into the car. Seeing this, the three quickly followed.

The chauffeur in the sedan was a middle-aged man in a sharp suit, appearing quite amiable.

Lin Yi glanced at him, then slid into the innermost seat. Lin Yiting followed closely, sitting directly beside Lin Yi, like a wall separating Chen Sishi from him.

****

The dinner venue was a manor located in the new city’s suburbs, approximately a two-hour drive away.

Lin Yi leaned against the car door, trying to relax his body. A two-hour drive with tense nerves would likely lead to motion sickness, just like last time.

Watching the rhythmic scenery outside the window, Lin Yi began to feel drowsy. He had woken up early that morning and found nothing to do in the car, so feeling sleepy was only natural. Even Chen Sishi on the other side had started to doze off.

However, Lin Yi couldn’t afford to sleep. He had altered the original plotline, but it was still unclear whether these changes would allow Chen Lujun to survive.

This world possessed a corrective force. What if he fell asleep and Chen Lujun died anyway?

With this thought, Lin Yi put on his headphones. To prevent himself from falling asleep during the journey, he even deliberately amplified the sound.

Listening to the unfamiliar melody, Lin Yi couldn’t help but hum softly along.

Unbeknownst to him, the car was eerily silent at that moment, with no one else making a sound. As a result, his humming was heard by everyone inside the vehicle.

Three pairs of curious eyes were fixed on Lin Yi. Oblivious in his headphones, he hummed with increasing vigor, even starting to sing the lyrics aloud.