Chapter 127: So you've come to eavesdrop, have you?

Xu Miaoling soon led Lin Li to a rather modest, hole-in-the-wall eatery.

Despite its humble appearance, the place was packed. In Jiangcheng, such unpretentious little diners were naturally popular among the locals. Up until this point, Lin Li still had no idea what Xu Miaoling was truly planning. Every action the girl had taken so far seemed perfectly normal, leaving Lin Li unable to find a single flaw in her behavior. Yet, Lin Li did not mistake this for innocence. On the contrary, he was all the more convinced that there must be something fishy going on precisely because of how normal she seemed.

"Brother Lin, this is the best place I can afford to treat you with my current salary. But don't worry, the food here is truly delicious. Just look at how many people there are—that should tell you I’m not lying." Xu Miaoling seemed afraid that Lin Li might be reluctant, so she quickly offered an explanation.

"Do you think I wouldn't like the food here?" Lin Li countered.

Xu Miaoling scratched her head, looking embarrassed. "I know someone of your status, Brother Lin, is usually accustomed to five-star hotels. I just can't afford a meal that expensive, so I can only treat you to this."

Lin Li smiled. "I’m no big shot. Besides, I grew up eating meals provided by the neighborhood. I can't forget my roots now, can I?"

With that, Lin Li walked inside on his own. Xu Miaoling stood frozen in place for a long moment, clearly caught off guard by his response.

It was true that Lin Li still didn't know what Xu Miaoling was up to. Her actions felt disconnected, leaving him completely perplexed. However, just as he was about to find a seat, he caught sight of a familiar figure in the crowd.

Lin Yiyi? Why was she here?

Seeing Lin Yiyi felt like winning the lottery. She was the eldest daughter of the Lin family and the only one who had refused to inherit the family business. Her father, Lin Yousheng, had tried his best to groom her to take over, but she had rejected every attempt.

It seemed that for Lin Yiyi, there was only one goal in life: to become an agent of justice. To that end, she had joined the investigation unit. She had even cracked several difficult cases, earning herself quite a reputation in Jiangcheng. She was usually accompanied by the elite members of the unit.

Under normal circumstances, Lin Li and Lin Yiyi had no connection whatsoever. While he knew that she was destined to be one of Ye Aotian’s future harem members, it seemed too early for her to appear now. Moreover, someone of Lin Yiyi’s status would never randomly dine in such a hole-in-the-wall. The fact that she was here at the exact time he and Xu Miaoling arrived could not be a coincidence.

Lin Li finally understood why Xu Miaoling had insisted on bringing him here. Given her current persona, she couldn't take him to a five-star hotel, but she could have easily found a private room elsewhere. But by choosing this crowded, public place, any conversation they had would be overheard.

Lin Li had been moving against the four major families recently. Even though Lin Yiyi didn't care about the family business, that didn't mean she would let others bully her family. Her father was a low-key man who had never done anything wrong. She must have come to stick up for Lin Yousheng, and the best way to do that was to gather evidence of Lin Li’s crimes and destroy his reputation.

Their plan was so transparent that Lin Li could hear the gears turning from ten miles away.

*So, this is the game you’re playing? Trying to bait me into a confession? Interesting.*

Lin Li sneered inwardly, though he maintained a facade of complete ignorance. The seating arrangement confirmed his suspicions: he and Xu Miaoling were seated right next to Lin Yiyi. Accompanying her were another man and woman. The man wore glasses and looked rather dim-witted, but the woman was someone Lin Li knew all too well.

It was the "Queen of Journalists" in Jiangcheng. It was said that under her investigation, no secret remained hidden. She had already brought down a dozen prominent figures. To be targeted by her meant total ruin. It was clear that Lin Li had become her latest mark.

Xu Miaoling shot a subtle look at the group when she thought Lin Li wasn't looking. Little did they know, Lin Li had seen everything and simply chose not to react. *If you want to play games, I’ll play along with your little charade.*

"What a lively place. I used to love coming to spots like this when I was younger. It’s a pity it's hard to find someone willing to dine here with me these days," Lin Li said as he sat down, pouring himself a cup of hot tea with a sigh. His tone was genuinely nostalgic. He truly missed those days. If he had a choice, he would rather not have been thrust into this world or burdened with this ridiculous system. Living as an ordinary person wouldn't have been so bad.

Xu Miaoling poured him a glass of liquor. "Brother Lin, if you like, can I join you for meals here in the future? I quite enjoy this atmosphere; it feels like coming home."

As she spoke, her expression flickered with a hint of sadness, though it vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a smile. She was an orphan, taken in by Luo Yang at a young age and trained to be one of Ye Aotian’s most formidable assets. While she had been gifted in many areas since childhood, her emotional intelligence and social skills had been lacking. Those had been developed over time, and while she still had some odd quirks, she was largely indistinguishable from an ordinary person.

In fact, her performance today was even better than Lin Li had anticipated.