Chapter Sixty-Five: The Emperor of Scandal

"Oh my! How embarrassing, so humiliating!" Hiding in the bathroom, Ni Ni tore open her robe with a swift motion, gazing at her predicament—a broken strap on her nightgown, exposing her right breast, making her cheeks flush crimson with shame and anger. She muttered to herself, scowling as she recalled Lin Yang's awkward behavior just moments ago. Only now did she realize what had actually happened.

Yet the embarrassment was quickly replaced by a surge of joy. She had tried many ways to attract and seduce him in the past, all cleverly dodged by him. This unintentional move, however, had finally succeeded, leaving Ni Ni both delighted and somewhat resigned.

Should she go out or stay in? Supporting her exposed chest with her right hand, Ni Ni hesitated.

Knock, knock, knock—the sound of someone rapping at the bathroom door interrupted her indecision.

"Ni Ni, what are you doing in there? It's been ages, hurry up, my stomach hurts," Tang Yixue called through the door, feeling suddenly uncomfortable.

Startled, Ni Ni let out a scream, clutching her chest in exaggerated panic, unsure where to hide. Even if it was another woman, she didn't want anyone to see her like this.

"What's wrong?" Tang Yixue's puzzled voice sounded again. Thinking something serious had happened, she pushed open the door, which, as it turned out, Ni Ni hadn't even closed. Tang Yixue stumbled inside, and Ni Ni, like a frightened rabbit, curled up in the corner, arms crossed protectively, as though resisting some relentless force.

"Ni Ni, are you all right?" Tang Yixue stepped forward, concern in her voice.

"I'm fine." Realizing she couldn't hide it, and since Tang Yixue was a woman, Ni Ni pointed to her nearly fallen bra.

Following Ni Ni's gesture, Tang Yixue stared for a moment, then burst into uncontrollable laughter, leaning forward and back, tears streaming as she laughed herself breathless.

The commotion and unrestrained laughter startled Lin Yang and Meng Hu, who were discussing matters concerning the Leng family. Lin Yang sprang from the sofa and rushed to the bathroom, only to find the two women safe and in fits of laughter, utterly baffled.

Thankfully, Ni Ni managed to cover herself in time, or Lin Yang’s swift entrance might have seen more than intended.

"Are you both all right?" Lin Yang asked, eyes darting shamelessly over the two.

"We're fine," the women answered in unison, unable to stifle their smiles.

Muttering about their madness, Lin Yang returned to the sofa, resuming his conversation with Meng Hu about precautions against a surprise attack from the Leng family.

A shrill phone ringtone interrupted them. Meng Hu pulled out his phone, saw it was a call from a subordinate tracking the Leng family, and hurried to answer.

"They really have left Jinhai, already reached Jiangning City. No unusual movements along the way." After hanging up, Meng Hu took a cigarette from the table, lit it, and took several deep drags, his tone grave.

Lin Yang lit a cigarette for himself, gazing out the window as he exhaled smoke. The Leng family’s departure from Jinhai was unexpected. He didn't believe they'd give up so easily, but as long as they didn't act recklessly, he had no intention of eradicating them.

"Just stay vigilant," Lin Yang said, extinguishing his cigarette in the ashtray.

"Right, that's all we can do," Meng Hu replied. He smoked less fiercely than Lin Yang; his cigarette was still half intact.

From the bathroom, Ni Ni and Tang Yixue walked arm in arm, laughing as they entered the living room.

Ni Ni had traded her loose nightgown for a pink short jacket, tight denim shorts, and comfortable sneakers, instantly restoring her adorable, charming appearance.

"Brother Yang, I'm sorry for causing you trouble this time." She walked over, sat on the nearest sofa, her lips pursed in a cute apology.

"Haha, what are you saying? It’s only right for a brother to look after his sister. The Leng family’s arrogance has always bothered me." Lin Yang waved it off, playfully ruffling Ni Ni's hair until it was a mess, moving away only when she slapped his hand in protest.

"But four brothers died because of this. I feel so guilty, boo hoo…" The memory brought tears flooding down Ni Ni’s cheeks.

After much comforting, and seeing the evening approaching, Meng Hu took the hint and departed, leaving a dozen men to guard the villa. No one could guarantee the Leng family wouldn’t strike again.

Not long after, Tang Yixue left as well. Lin Yang wanted her to stay, but she insisted she had business at the company the next day—a convenient excuse.

After all, three people under one roof was awkward enough, especially with Ni Ni’s emotions still turbulent.

Tang Yixue drove her red Mercedes away, her mood unsettled. She was no fool; Ni Ni’s reliance on Lin Yang was obvious, and leaving such a charming girl by his side was worrying, no matter what she told herself.

Sighing in frustration, Tang Yixue floored the accelerator, the engine roaring as she sped off.

Watching her leave, Lin Yang stood alone beneath the night sky, gazing up at the inky heavens, listening to the rustling leaves and feeling the cool autumn wind swirl around him, his heart in turmoil.

Closing his eyes, letting the wind wash over him, Lin Yang suddenly felt warmth on his shoulders. Unbeknownst to him, Ni Ni had draped a jacket over him. It wasn’t so much that his vigilance had waned as he had simply let himself relax utterly.

"Brother Yang, it's cold. Come inside," Ni Ni’s gentle voice drifted to his ears, perhaps changed by the day’s events.

"Mm."

Under the faint starlight, two shadows stretched long, walking side by side.

Lin Yang couldn’t recall when he had fallen asleep, but when he opened his eyes, it was already ten in the morning, even the nine-thirty alarm failed to wake him.

He hurried through his morning routine, knocking on Ni Ni’s door only to find it half open and the girl lounging lazily in bed.

Old habits die hard, as the saying goes. Ni Ni still liked to sleep naked, unchanged in the least. Thankfully, the villa's guards weren't allowed upstairs, or her beauty would have been on full display.

Through the half-open door, Lin Yang glimpsed a sight that made his blood race—her right leg almost entirely exposed, though the upper thigh was covered. Otherwise, he doubted he could have restrained himself, especially after his recent awakening to desire.

Seeing her still in bed, Lin Yang shook his head, softly approached, tucked her in, closed the door, and hurried to the hospital. Today was the grand reopening after renovations, and he was never one to be late.

His Audi was wrecked beyond repair, but at least his flashy police car remained. Driving a police car couldn’t last, though, so Lin Yang decided to splurge on a Range Rover, having squeezed a hefty sum from the Leng family yesterday. After compensating the four fallen brothers with a million, he meant to give Meng Hu two million, but the man refused. After much bargaining, Meng Hu accepted one million, plus forty thousand from before, totaling one hundred forty thousand. Each brother received thirty-five thousand—a considerable sum.

The police car’s advantage was ignoring red lights and bypassing traffic jams. What usually took forty-five minutes during rush hour now took only thirty.

Parking by the roadside, Lin Yang headed straight for the hospital. Despite extensive renovations, the layout remained unchanged by his insistence, save for the fresh look, which pleased him.

Rumors about the Thirteen Blades Plastic Surgery Hospital and Lin Yang had been swirling fiercely lately. Early this morning, the hospital entrance was packed, lines stretching endlessly. The number of patients hadn’t diminished after the recent attack—in fact, it had grown.

Before he could enter, Nurse Liu Meng greeted him with a cheerful smile. "Brother Yang, long time no see. You’re our Jinhai superstar these days!"

"Uh, superstar? I feel more like a scandal king," Lin Yang replied with a wry smile, following Liu Meng inside.

"Ha, nowadays everyone fights for attention. Look at all those posting selfies on Weibo and QQ—none of them have your reputation. Isn’t that superstar status?" Liu Meng pouted, arguing with a hint of mischief, her radiant smile complemented by a playful brush of her ample chest against Lin Yang’s hand.

"So, have you picked today’s candidates yet?" Not wishing to dwell on rumors, Lin Yang cleverly changed the subject, glancing at the snaking queues outside.

As his exclusive secretary—purely professional, mind you, selling only her time, never her body—Liu Meng handled patient selection for treatment, though her thoughts about the handsome Lin Yang were hardly pure.

"Yes, I knew you’d be here today, so I’ve already chosen. I haven’t announced the list yet, worried they’d cause trouble." Her voice lowered, recalling the chaos from the hospital attack.

"Trouble? People still dare after what happened?" Lin Yang asked sternly. The recent events surely made most disgruntled folks more cautious.

Suddenly remembering something, Liu Meng exclaimed, "Right, there’s a mysterious person among today’s patients. They specifically requested you as their doctor, claiming to be your friend."