The hotel entrance was solemn, and the atmosphere was extremely tense. On one side was the Lin Family, and on the other was Fang Yi, an obscure young man. To everyone present, even if Fang Yi could defeat these bodyguards, what of it?
The Lin Family was one of the four major families in Moon City and a business giant, controlling the massive economic lifelines of Moon City. They were also on excellent terms with officials. Daring to create such a scene at the entrance of Elder Lin’s grand birthday celebration meant that the Lin Family would certainly not let him off.
Thus, people were highly skeptical about Fang Yi’s chances. Although someone had just disapproved of Lin Yuanchen using a little girl to threaten Fang Yi, society was such that there was no such thing as fairness—having money and power was all that mattered.
"I came here today with the intention of celebrating, but since you forced my hand, I can only say I’m sorry," said Fang Yi, surrounded by numerous bodyguards yet remaining composed.
Lin Xiongxiao, the third in the middle generation of the Lin Family and the father of Lin Yuanchen, had a gloomy look in his eyes. He growled fiercely, "How dare you lay a hand on my son, you’re seeking death!"
As his words fell, the bodyguards finally made their move, all of them charging toward Fang Yi.
But at that moment, a small figure ran towards Fang Yi and stood in front of him.
Everyone was taken aback, and the bodyguards were also stunned, while Lin Xiongxiao’s gaze suddenly turned icy.
"Who is this little child?"
"Could it be Lin Mengyan’s sister?"
"Yes, that little girl!"
"But why would she help this man?"
The little girl spread her arms, visibly upset, and declared, "Don’t you bully Big Brother!"
Fang Yi was also surprised, not expecting Lin Yiyi to run out and stand in front of him. He was somewhat amused and reached out to pat the little girl’s head, saying, "Yiyi, be good, please step aside."
Lin Yiyi turned around, her large watery eyes showing determination as she asserted, "I won’t!"
Fang Yi sighed, still amused, and could only lightly flick the little girl’s nose, which only made her more aggrieved.
"Yiyi, step aside!" Lin Xiongxiao had already gestured for the bodyguards to stop. He knew very well that the family patriarch cherished Lin Yiyi like a precious treasure, nearly afraid to let her melt in his mouth.
"Uncle, I won’t! If you dare to bully my Big Brother, I’ll tell Grandpa!" Lin Yiyi pouted stubbornly.
"But he hurt your uncle and even broke your uncle’s arm!" said Lin Xiongxiao.
Lin Yiyi, witty and clever, glanced at Lin Yuanchen, who had managed to stand up next to Lin Xiongxiao, her pout becoming more pronounced. Then, in an innocent voice, she said, "Served him right!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd was in an uproar; how could this child of the Lin Family always seem to turn her elbows outwards? They wondered what charm Fang Yi possessed that made the little girl so protective of him.
And with the words "served him right" out of her mouth, the faces of Lin Xiongxiao and Lin Yuanchen couldn’t hold their composure, especially Lin Yuanchen, who was furiously enraged. He was indifferent towards his sister, even a bit jealous. Hearing the little girl say that, he was glaring furiously.
"I also think it served him right," another voice spoke up just then, as Lin Mengyan made her way through the crowd.
Lin Mengyan possessed a noble and frosty demeanor. As she stepped forward, she naturally carried an air of stunning, unparalleled elegance, her beauty indescribable. What was even more surprising was that Lin Mengyan walked directly to Fang Yi’s side, clearly supporting him.
The crowd was perplexed; both the elder and younger daughters of the Lin Family seemed to be speaking up for Fang Yi. Could Fang Yi possess some unique charm?
Seeing this, Lin Xiongxiao and his son were grinding their teeth in fury. After all, both Lin Mengyan and Lin Yiyi were direct descendants of the family and daughters of their elder brother; if it came to a fight, they were not opponents they could easily contend with.
"Mengyan, your brother was beaten, yet you actually side with an outsider?" scolded Lin Xiongxiao.
Lin Mengyan said, "I only speak reason, not favoritism, and as for your son, my brother, you as a father must know what kind of person he is."
Lin Xiongxiao was speechless; he certainly knew what his own son was like.
Lin Mengyan didn’t say much more, she just smiled slightly and turned to Fang Yi with a welcoming gesture.
"I’d rather not go in," Fang Yi said, having just beaten Lin Yuanchen and disabled one of his arms, he worried that entering would provoke the Lin Family to flay him alive.
Lin Mengyan smiled enchantingly and asked, "Are you scared?"
"Don’t provoke me, I’m not falling for that," Fang Yi replied.
Lin Mengyan said, "If you leave , people might look down on you, they might even call you a coward, can you handle that?"
"Let them talk, it’s not like I’ll lose a piece of flesh," Fang Yi said.
"Are you really not going in?" Lin Mengyan was getting a bit impatient.
"Big brother, just go in, take this young lady with you," Yiyi urged, pulling Cai Cai along.
Fang Yi thought for a moment, then decided to go in after all; if he just left like that, it really would seem like he was scared. Besides, he was originally here to freeload off the Lin Family; what’s face worth, can you eat it?
"Going in is fine, but I don’t have 200,000," Fang Yi said.
"Whatever you have will do," Lin Mengyan replied. "The Lin Family isn’t short of your little bit of betrothal cash."
Fang Yi oh-ed, then started to rummage through his pockets, eventually pulling out a wad of cash—some five, some ten. He scraped it together and handed the money to Lin Mengyan, "Here, only fifty, that’s all I’ve got."
Not only was Lin Mengyan speechless, but everyone else also felt a dizzying urge.
Eventually, Fang Yi did go into the hotel.
Cai Cai and Yiyi hit it off well; once inside the hotel, they held hands and ran off to play. Fang Yi had wanted to follow them, but Lin Mengyan stopped him.
"Kids will play with kids, why do you want to go with them, you don’t have to avoid me to this extent," Lin Mengyan said.
"Today is your elder’s birthday celebration, I thought you might be too busy," Fang Yi replied with a smile.
"What busy? Welcoming guests and such is managed by my dad and the others, I’m just here to make an appearance really. But speaking of which, you really did me a solid," Lin Mengyan said.
"What do you mean?" Fang Yi sensed a kind of trap.
"That Lin Yuanchen and Lin Yuanhao are two peas in a pod, backed by the Lin Family, they behave atrociously all the time, and they both have issues with me and Yiyi. If it weren’t for wanting to save face, I would have dealt with them a long time ago."
Fang Yi finally understood; Lin Mengyan disliked Lin Yuanhao and Lin Yuanchen, and those two had issues with her, typical of family feuds and struggles for power.
"But I still have a question, I’ve never even met your elder, why did you invite me to this birthday feast, tell me, what’s your agenda?" Fang Yi asked, wary of this seemingly harmless woman.
"I don’t really have an agenda, I just wanted you to pretend to be my boyfriend for a bit," Lin Mengyan said with a charming smile, speaking in a coquettish tone that was incredibly enticing.