The Heartthrob Halo Doesn't Work on the Villain - Chapter 21

Lin Yan and Jiang Jingfei quickly met up at a small restaurant near Hai University. The place was bustling with customers, and if Lin Yan hadn’t claimed she was meeting a friend, the staff blocking the entrance would have given her a small numbered ticket and sent her to the back of the line.

Staring at the remarkably youthful Lin Yan standing in the private room, Jiang Jingfei froze for a long moment. Only after the door closed did she stammer, “Are you… Yuyan?”

Jiang Jingfei had imagined someone with formidable professional skills, unwavering resolve, and even someone who had proposed a collaboration with her—at the very least, an adult. But seeing this girl, it was clear she was just a young girl who hadn’t even undergone differentiation yet.

Lin Yan had anticipated Jiang Jingfei’s reaction. She smiled faintly, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

“What’s wrong? So surprised?”

Her words snapped Jiang Jingfei back to her senses, realizing she had lost her composure. She picked up the freshly brewed tea on the table, took a delicate sip, and raised her right eyebrow, studying the girl before her—dressed as exquisitely as a little princess.

“A little,” Jiang Jingfei admitted with an embarrassed smile. Even though Yuyan’s actual age differed from what she had imagined, Jiang Jingfei still wouldn’t underestimate her. After all, Yuyan’s prowess on the forum was undeniable, and her youth only made her achievements seem even more remarkable.

Setting down her teacup, Jiang Jingfei quickly scanned the QR code on the table with her phone and handed it to Lin Yan.

This café used online ordering, which was very convenient. Jiang Jingfei had been waiting here for a while before Lin Yan arrived. Fortunately, the café was owned by her childhood friend’s family. With her current financial constraints, she wouldn’t have been able to find a suitable place for this meeting otherwise.

“I haven’t ordered yet. Take a look at the menu and see what you’d like.”

Lin Yan glanced at the screen, tapped a few items casually, and handed the phone back to Jiang Jingfei. As Jiang Jingfei was about to place the order, Lin Yan propped her chin on her hand and said, “Actually, I’m planning to start a company. My first step is to acquire your app, then develop a series of derivative chains to expand into other commercial domains…”

Once the conversation had begun, Jiang Jingfei adopted a serious expression. Though she suspected Lin Yan might simply be like her younger self—youthful, energetic, and full of passion—as an online friend she’d known for so many days, she wouldn’t interrupt her with disrespect, especially after hearing Lin Yan’s promises. Despite finding them somewhat fantastical, Jiang Jingfei couldn’t hide her excitement.

“If you contribute your project as equity, I’ll entrust you with full responsibility for it. For all subsequent related projects, I’ll give you a ten percent share. As for salary matters, it’s best to discuss those at relevant milestones. There’s just one condition: we need to sign a life-or-death contract. For a long time afterward, you’ll be responsible for the company’s operations. After all, you can see I’m still just a high school student. I won’t be able to fully focus on the company’s development for at least another year and a half.”

Lin Yan paused, but her smile remained unwavering. “As for funding, you don’t need to worry about that at all. Just tell me how much you need, but try not to exceed this amount.”

With that, Lin Yan made a gesture toward Jiang Jingfei.

Jiang Jingfei had never encountered a business negotiation like this before. In recent days, she had repeatedly hit walls with powerful executives, their shrewd eyes calculating her every move. But when she met Lin Yan’s gaze, she couldn’t decipher what the young woman was truly thinking.

If Lin Yan was being genuine, this opportunity was like a gift from the heavens. Yet after considering it, Jiang Jingfei shook her head.

“Yuyan, I wanted to say this yesterday, but since you mentioned we were both in Hai City, I thought we could meet in person—like an offline meetup. That’s why I agreed to this meeting.”

Jiang Jingfei’s expression suddenly turned somber, and she sighed. “But Yuyan, even though I don’t know how much money you have, after what happened, the entire Hai City electronics industry’s elite will never let me develop freely. If you wade into this mess now, their hostility might…”

Unfortunately, Jiang Jingfei’s words were cut short by Lin Yan. She could only stare in stunned silence at the seemingly innocent-looking girl before her, listening as she uttered words that shook her to her core.

“Ah, I forgot to introduce myself properly. I’m Lin Yan. Lin Group’s Chairman, Lin Qi—she’s my mother.”

On the way back, Lin Yan couldn’t stop replaying the scene in her mind, feeling an exhilarating sense of triumph. After spending so long in this small world, constantly being outmaneuvered by Lou Yubing and never mingling with her former wealthy friends, she hadn’t enjoyed a single day of her privileged life as a second-generation rich kid. Today, she finally had the chance to “wield power and authority.”

But 555 wasn’t as optimistic as she was.

Yanyan, don’t celebrate too soon. The Lin Group is going bankrupt in less than six months. You’re just riding its coattails now, but who knows what will happen after that?

Lin Yan was completely baffled by this. Although the Lin Group’s accounts and ongoing projects were indeed extensive, spanning various sectors, she had reviewed them thoroughly and found no major flaws. Lin Qi, as an Omega, had single-handedly managed the Lin Group for years and possessed far greater expertise than Lin Yan herself. If such a crisis were truly looming, how could she have missed it?

Lin Yan was now deeply curious about how this plot point would unfold. Perhaps, as a mere background character destined for an early exit, the narrative required her downfall regardless of logic, forcing a contrived flaw to topple everything she possessed. If that were the case, she had no idea how to resolve it.

In short, this was something she couldn’t figure out at this stage.

“I’m just securing multiple paths for myself. I have confidence that Jiang Jingfei can fully advance that project within six months. By then, even if the Lin Group collapses, I won’t have to live a life of hiding, hunger, and cold.”

Even if everything she owned was seized to pay off debts, she believed that given their current relationship, Jiang Jingfei wouldn’t abandon her.

Their agreement today was only verbal. Lin Yan would later have her legal team draft a formal contract and send it to Jiang Jingfei. Though it felt like they hadn’t been talking long, checking their phones after leaving the private room revealed that several hours had passed. Jiang Jingfei initially wanted to treat Lin Yan to dinner, but Lin Yan, still thinking about the lavish meal Xia Qiyu had mentioned the day before, waved her hand and declined.

As Lin Yan stood outside her dormitory building, she suddenly recalled the scene from earlier that day when Lou Yubing had stopped her at noon. Lou Yubing’s behavior today had been somewhat odd, though it was hard to pinpoint exactly what felt off. Standing there, the words Lou Yubing had spoken hours earlier echoed in her mind.

“I’ll come find you right away—”

Lin Yan frowned slightly, her hand still on the car door, hesitating whether to get in or out.

The driver, noticing her hesitation, leaned forward and asked, “Miss, have you changed your mind? Would you like to go somewhere else?”

He likely deduced her indecision from her gaze fixed on the back seat through the open door. His words, however, solidified Lin Yan’s resolve.

I should get in first. It’s mealtime anyway; he’s probably eating. I’ll go to his dorm later.

With a measured push, she closed the car door and shook her head at Uncle Zhang, who was still waiting for instructions.

“It’s fine, Uncle Zhang. You can go home now. I don’t need anything else.”

With that, Lin Yan turned and entered the dormitory building.

She took the elevator straight to the tenth floor. The electronic card beeped as it unlocked the door, and the moment she pushed it open, she caught the faint aroma of cooked food.

Lin Yan had never experienced such warmth before. In her original world, she was an orphan who had never known closeness with anyone. In this world, she had arrived only to become a miserable boarding high school student. Though Lin Qi was supposed to be good to her, they were both so busy that they rarely saw each other.

Setting her handbag aside, Lin Yan naturally slipped into her slippers and walked inside. Just then, Xia Qiyu emerged from the kitchen carrying the final dish, its aroma making Lin Yan’s eyes light up.

“Ayan, you’re back!”

“Qiyu, what delicious things have you made?”

The two spoke simultaneously, their faces close, and they couldn’t help but smile at each other. Lin Yan peered at each dish with childlike curiosity, while Xia Qiyu took off her oven mitts and pointed to the sink.

“Wash your hands first. Dinner’s ready.”

The living room was tucked away in a blind spot near the entrance. Unless someone turned left immediately after entering, it would remain hidden. Lin Yan, however, had turned right toward the kitchen.

Lou Yubing watched the two women chatting intimately before her, a flicker of loneliness in her eyes. But the emotion vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by her usual cold indifference.

Lou Yubing had already given Lin Yan a chance. She had no intention of continuing contact with someone so glib and unreliable, who said one thing today and another tomorrow.

Xia Qiyu had tried calling Lin Yan earlier, but her phone was switched off. She then sent a text message, but whether Lin Yan had seen it or not, she had promised at noon to come find Lou Yubing the moment she returned, not to burst through the door cheerfully calling another person’s name.

Yet in the next instant, Lou Yubing began making excuses for Lin Yan. What if she went to the dorm first and couldn’t find me, then came back here?

This possibility took root in Lou Yubing’s mind, and she was desperate to confirm it. But the very next second, Lin Yan emerged from the bathroom, strode straight to the dining table, picked up her chopsticks, tasted the dishes, and shattered Lou Yubing’s heart all over again with her first words:

“This feast is exactly what I’ve been craving! I’m so glad I rushed back right away, or I would have missed the hottest dishes. I was thinking about this the whole way here. Qiyu, your cooking is amazing!”