Leave If You Dare! (GL) - Chapter 4

After deciding to meet Lin Wangran’s new wife, Lin Zi still had some reservations, even feeling a bit at a loss about the unknown.

Dealing with women was far more interesting than dealing with men, but it also came with unavoidable frustration and heartache. Especially when facing a stranger who had taken her late mother’s place—Lin Zi was not inherently confrontational, but expecting her to remain completely composed in front of such a woman was no easy task.

Lin Zi bit her chopsticks, imagining a fair-skinned, rosy-cheeked, curly-haired girl in a frilly dress—the kind Lin Wangran often compared her to. Unfortunately, Lin Zi had never liked such outfits. Skirts were too cumbersome; running in them risked exposing her underwear. Shorts and sneakers were much better for competing with boys on the sports field.

If Lin Wangran’s new wife was that kind of woman, it would indeed be a headache.

Despite her worries, after steeling herself, Lin Zi arrived at the Lin Group headquarters—the Donglin Building, located in the busiest district of the city center.

She couldn’t remember the last time she had been here, only vaguely recalling that she had been very young. Back then, her gentle mother would follow her father from one end of the corridor to the other, while employees in the cubicles on either side would immediately stop their work and stand respectfully at the door to greet Chairman Lin and his wife.

Lin Zi remembered even more clearly how her low-key yet beautiful mother, Ming Fengluan, had been the subject of private discussions among the staff. Male employees envied Lin Wangran for building the Lin Group from scratch in less than two decades, wielding immense power and influence in D City. Female employees, meanwhile, admired her mother’s foresight—for standing by her father in his youth, weathering every storm with him until she became the sole mistress of the Lin Group and a sought-after socialite in D City’s high society.

Of course, their unshakable marriage and love over the years had also earned widespread admiration.

But what did any of that matter now? The title of the Lin family’s mistress had long since been passed to someone with the surname Qin. Promises of eternal love, vows of lifelong devotion—people were fickle, always choosing what suited them best. All those grand oaths were nothing more than scraps of paper, scattered by the wind.

Her father, who had once sworn to remain single after her mother’s early death, had remarried without hesitation, bringing home a Ms. Qin.

“Miss Lin, you’re here?” A young woman in a professional skirt suit, her hair tied in a neat ponytail, approached as soon as Lin Zi entered the Donglin Building. Her gaze was calm, her demeanor deferential. “I’m Xue Xue’er, the chairman’s assistant.”

Lin Zi forced a smile in response. The new wife must have anticipated her return to the Lin Group. Of course—Lin Wangran had blocked every other path. If she wanted to shed her undocumented status in D City, she had no choice but to return and sign an agreement with this new wife.

Lin Wangran had his own style and methods, but Lin Zi had her own ways of handling things. She could sign the guardianship agreement—no problem. But whether she fulfilled its obligations or claimed its rights? That was entirely up to her.

“Miss, please wait a moment. Madam is currently receiving guests. Allow me to announce your arrival.” Xue Xue’er remained cautious, pushing open the door to the chairman’s office to request permission before Lin Zi could enter.

Through the crack in the door, Lin Zi seemed to catch a glimpse of the new wife—dressed in a soft lilac dress, sitting gracefully in the central seat, surrounded by vaguely familiar uncles and relatives she didn’t know well.

The door soon shut tightly, sealing away the new wife’s elegance along with it.

Lin Zi suddenly felt a wave of relief. It seemed Lin Wangran hadn’t fallen for another eccentric, dolled-up sweetheart this time but had chosen a mature and poised older sister with undeniable presence. At least he was still somewhat clear-headed.

Yet, whether it was her own sensitivity or pure coincidence, Lin Zi couldn’t shake the feeling that this new wife looked familiar.

“Miss, please come in. Madam and the board members are waiting for you.” Xue Xue’er quickly returned, offering Lin Zi a warm smile.

Lin Zi stood up and followed Chen Cheng into the chairman’s office. The moment she stepped inside, she noticed the unusually plush carpet beneath her feet and the minimalist yet tasteful decor. She knew instantly this couldn’t be Lin Wangran’s style—he had always favored ostentatious displays of wealth, and despite his attempts at refinement, he could never quite shake off that nouveau riche air.

“Xiao Zi, come here, come here.” An elderly uncle greeted her enthusiastically. “Do you remember me? I held you when you were just a baby.”

Lin Zi smiled awkwardly and nodded. She truly didn’t remember. Using infancy as a way to bond felt both pitiful and laughable. Everyone knew the Lin family had an eldest daughter named Lin Zi, but no one had actually known her whereabouts during her upbringing.

Her gaze drifted past the uncle to the figure in lilac standing by the large desk, her back turned as she prepared tea. At the sound of movement, the woman turned around, holding a delicate tray with a gentle smile. “Xiao Zi, you—”

But the rest of her words died in her throat. Lin Zi saw her own shock mirrored in the woman’s slightly stunned eyes. The beautiful woman standing before her was none other than Qin Ximo—the woman she had spent a night with at the hot springs.

Qin Ximo. Lin Wangran’s new wife. The “Ms. Qin” the vampire lawyer had relentlessly insisted she meet. Her legally resurrected mother?

Somehow, Lin Zi’s mind instantly replayed the memories of Qin Ximo, wrapped in an elegant and dignified facade, taking her again and again—the comforting warmth of her body, her flawless skin, the intimate whispers in the dark. Buried memories surged forth in an instant, vivid and alive, replaying in her mind like a freshly painted scene. A faint tremor ran through her, the kind that came with a naive girl’s first reckless venture—something akin to the thrill of participating in a crime. It was inexplicably exhilarating, making her breath quicken and her heart race, filling her with a fear that made her want to shut her eyes tight. Yet, against her will, she couldn’t help but leave a tiny crack in her heart, skimming the surface of that strange, unfamiliar sensation.

Even after more than a week, she could still hear Qin Ximo’s breathy gasps and commanding whispers in her ear.

Lin Zi flushed slightly. She had tried her best to remain composed, greeting each uncle with grace, but she couldn’t be sure if Qin Ximo would notice her unease.

But Qin Ximo remained as calm as an autumn pond, undisturbed by the passing geese. She walked over steadily in her high heels, gracefully bent down to place the freshly prepared tea cakes in front of Lin Zi, and smiled softly, her voice as light as a fledgling swallow’s feather, “These are the pastries you like. Try them.”

With that, she straightened up, tilting her swan-like neck slightly, and returned to her seat with effortless poise, showing not a trace of awkwardness. She sat upright, smiling, her every movement impeccable in its grace and propriety.

Yet just a week ago, she had been the gentle demon who stripped Lin Zi bare in bed, sending her shuttling between heaven and hell.