{Chapter: 158 Yu Shanshan gets even!}
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Lin Yuan raised his hand, formed it into a knife shape, and gently rapped the top of Yu Shanshan's head three times with swift precision.
"What nonsense are you spouting now?" Lin Yuan asked, smiling with a teasing glint in his eyes. "I followed you around and called you Sister Shanshan? You sure about that?"
Yu Shanshan gasped dramatically and quickly clapped her hands over her mouth, eyes wide.
"Oh no! I wasn't supposed to say that out loud!" she muttered, clearly flustered.
Recovering almost instantly, she grabbed Lin Yuan's wrist and began dragging him toward the group of nosy girls who had been mocking her moments ago. "Anyway, they didn't believe that someone like you could be my cousin. Now that you're here, I'm going to prove it! Let's go—I want to see the looks on their faces."
Lin Yuan chuckled but didn't resist. He had been planning to head inside anyway, and if Shanshan wanted to make a show of it, he'd play along—for now.
Yu Shanshan marched back toward the group with a look of triumph already forming on her face, preparing a small speech in her head to boast about how amazing her cousin truly was.
But she didn't even get the chance to say a word.
As soon as the girls saw Lin Yuan approaching, their expressions froze in place. Every single one of them stared at him with their mouths slightly open and their eyes wide with disbelief.
It was like they were seeing a super celebrity up close for the first time.
"…Wow," one of them breathed out unconsciously, as if the sight of him had knocked the wind out of her. "So… so handsome…"
Today, Lin Yuan was dressed in a high-end custom suit tailored precisely to fit his frame. The sharp lines of the outfit emphasized his tall and elegant stature, while the dark fabric contrasted perfectly with his fair complexion. Every movement he made carried a quiet confidence and effortless grace.
His sword-shaped eyebrows, star-like eyes, naturally rosy lips, and clean-cut jawline made him look like he had stepped straight out of a romantic drama—or a fantasy.
He had the kind of presence that simply couldn't be ignored.
Even top-tier male celebrities would struggle to compete with the sheer impact of Lin Yuan's charm, and that wasn't even mentioning the hidden aura of prestige and calm power that seemed to radiate from him.
After all, this was a man who possessed a 200-point charm—a level of allure that defied logic.
"Wait... this is Shanshan's cousin? This is the guy she kept bragging about?" one girl muttered, her voice rising in pitch. "Why didn't I believe her before? Oops—my heart's beating so fast I think I'm going to pass out!"
"He's hotter than any celebrity! I take back everything I said! From this moment on, Lin Yuan is my idol!"
"Who just said he was a licking dog?! I swear I'll fight you! That man is divine! I don't care what it takes—I'm going to ask my dad to visit the Lin Family and propose marriage on my behalf tomorrow!"
The group of annoying girls who had been scoffing at Yu Shanshan minutes ago were now blushing furiously, their eyes sparkling as they shamelessly stared at Lin Yuan. Their expressions had gone from disdain to pure infatuation.
Their earlier criticisms? Forgotten completely.
For these ordinary girls, the visual and emotional impact of Lin Yuan was simply too much to handle. Their hearts had been stolen before they even realized it.
And it wasn't just them.
Several middle-aged women and young girls across the room, adorned in elegant dresses and sipping wine and juice, couldn't help but steal glances at him either. Some even whispered among themselves, eyebrows raised with interest.
Lin Yuan's aura and outfit were unmistakably luxurious. Had it not been for the fact that this was a private banquet reserved for high-society guests, some of the bolder older females might've approached him to flirt—or make offers only the wealthy dared to suggest.
But Lin Yuan had long grown used to this kind of attention. He remained calm and composed, his expression unbothered. To him, it was just another day of being himself.
'Well, it's really cool to have a handsome cousin.'
Yu Shanshan, meanwhile, was basking in the attention like a flower soaking up the sun. With pride swelling in her chest, she lifted her chin high and threw a smug glance at the girls who had mocked her earlier.
And just as expected, the moment she stopped walking, the same girls instantly surrounded her like moths to a flame.
"Shanshan! Shanshan! We're besties, right? You trust me the most, don't you? Can you give me your cousin's number?"
"No! Shanshan! I've known you longer! Introduce me to him, please! Just once—I promise I'll be on my best behavior!"
"Shanshan, introduce me to your cousin. I can be one of your harems! Okay?"
"Shanshan, I'm willing to do anything! Let me be part of your cousin's harem! I don't mind being last in line!"
"Shanshan's cousin isn't just handsome—he's clearly loaded too! This is what they call the perfect man…"
As more and more voices joined the chorus of flattery, one of the girls suddenly snapped at the others in jealousy.
"You? Trying to be part of my cousin's harem? Or mine and wanting to meet his cousin! Know your place! What makes you think you're even qualified?"
The chaos was almost comical.
The same girls who had insulted her cousin just moments ago were now desperately scrambling for her favor, begging for a chance to meet him. It was truly a sight to behold.
But Yu Shanshan didn't let it go so easily.
With a raised eyebrow and an exaggerated sigh, she said loudly, "Oh? Weren't you all just saying that my cousin was some pathetic licking dog?"
Silence.
None of the girls had a response.
Yu Shanshan scoffed, flipping her long hair dark. Please—as if she'd let these average-faced girls get anywhere near her cousin. They didn't even meet her own basic harem standards, let alone the qualifications to become her sister-in-laws.
Without another word, she ignored their pleading and walked away with her head held high, leaving the desperate girls scrambling in her wake.
'Hmph. Having a handsome cousin really is the best.'
Yu Shanshan turned to her love Xiaoxue, her eyes practically glowing with excitement. "Xiaoxue, look! I told you, didn't I? I wasn't lying! Isn't my cousin just incredibly handsome? And not only that, he also—"
She was about to continue boasting and formally introduce Lin Yuan, but suddenly paused.
Xiaoxue wasn't responding.
She wasn't nodding, wasn't teasing, wasn't even blinking.
Instead, she was staring ahead in a daze, lips slightly parted, eyes glazed over like someone hit by Cupid's golden arrow.
Yu Shanshan followed her gaze, and sure enough, it was fixed squarely on Lin Yuan. Her so-called loyal 'wife' wasn't even trying to hide it!
For a brief moment, Yu Shanshan was stunned.
Then it hit her like a brick: Her cousin was stealing her girl!
Xiaoxue finally snapped out of her trance. Without hesitation, she wrapped both arms around Yu Shanshan and gave her an almost pleading look.
"Shanshan," she said sweetly, "your cousin is seriously so handsome. Please, introduce me to him?"
Yu Shanshan raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Didn't you swear to me that you only loved me? That you'd love me till the end of time? Remember all those late-night texts? The long kisses? The matching bracelets?"
Xiaoxue gave a soft, playful giggle and waved her hand as if brushing off the accusation. "Of course I love you, silly. You're my number one—my favorite forever. I just want to meet him. Come on, your cousin is technically my cousin too, right?"
That logic was flimsy at best, but Yu Shanshan sighed and gave in. "Fine, fine. But don't forget who you belong to," she warned with narrowed eyes, though her voice held a teasing note.
Hand-in-hand, the two girls made their way toward Lin Yuan, who stood not far off, the light from the chandelier above casting a soft glow across his features like something out of a painting.
The other girls nearby—who had been silently seething with jealousy—immediately perked up, eyes narrowing in envy as they realized Xiaoxue was about to be introduced.
Still, not one of them dared to step forward.
Despite his friendly, polite smile, Lin Yuan's presence exuded an unapproachable elegance. Without Shanshan as a buffer, none of them had the nerve to casually strike up a conversation with him.
Just as Yu Shanshan was about to speak up, she suddenly found herself interrupted.
"Brother, this is—" she began.
But before she could even finish, Xiaoxue let go of her arm and stepped forward, boldly hugging Lin Yuan's arm as if they were already familiar.
"Hi there, Shanshan's cousin!" she said with a sweet smile and sparkling eyes. "My name's Lu Xiaoxue. I'm 18 this year. I'm Shanshan's best friend."
Then, she added in an innocent, practiced tone, "I'm single, never been married, and I don't have a boyfriend. I really like your aura—your whole vibe, you know? Can we be friends? Maybe you could give me your contact information?"
Yu Shanshan was speechless.
She stood frozen in place, jaw dropping open as she stared at Xiaoxue—her usually gentle, quiet, and shy girlfriend—now acting like a completely different person. Since when did sweet little Xiaoxue know how to flirt?!
Lin Yuan glanced at the girl clinging to his arm, dressed in a soft pastel l*lita dress, her face delicate and youthful. Her innocent charm wasn't fake—it was just weaponized.
He let out a light chuckle.
Well, she really is a member of Shanshan's harem. Her potential is pretty high. Give her a couple more years and her beauty could easily hit 85 to 90 points.
Naturally, Lin Yuan didn't refuse. He calmly took out his phone and let her add him on WeChat.
Then, without another word, he turned and began making his way toward the main villa where Mei was staying.
Seeing him leave, Yu Shanshan quickly trotted after him. Not to be left behind, Xiaoxue followed closely, her hands still clasped together like she was walking in a dream.
And, unsurprisingly, the crowd of annoying girls followed behind them too like a group of baby ducks.
Yu Shanshan clenched her fists, grinding her teeth in frustration. She caught up to Lin Yuan and barked, "Cousin! Why did you let Xiaoxue add you? Huh? You shameless rogue—are you planning to steal someone from your own cousin's harem?"
Lin Yuan shot her a lazy smile and replied, "Didn't she say she doesn't have a boyfriend?"
"She doesn't," Yu Shanshan snapped, "but she has a husband! And that's me!"
Lin Yuan gave a helpless shrug and smiled again. "Then you should keep an eye on your wife. Your cousin's a busy man."
Just then his phone vibrated, he turned back to his phone, opening WeChat to check his messages. Sure enough, he saw a text from Yan Ruyue.
> Yan Ruyue: I couldn't find you.
Lin Yuan quickly tapped out a reply:
> Lin Yuan: Just got here. Heading up now.
Just as he placed his phone back in his pocket and made his way to the second floor, something—or rather someone—unexpected appeared in his line of sight.
Standing right at the entrance of the upper floor, looking as arrogant as ever, was someone Lin Yuan recognized instantly.
He lifted a brow slightly in amusement.
Well, well… Look who it is.
It was none other than Ye Feng.