Chapter 48: Imagined Affection

Pfft!

The water Lin Fan had just swallowed almost came right back up.

“Your imagination really is something else. No wonder you look so melancholic—it suits the image of a literary young woman. But don’t overthink things. I just happen to have a lot of money, and I especially like spending it on women, particularly those who are both beautiful and talented, like you.”

He could understand why Miao Tiantian would suspect he might have ulterior motives. After all, she was a nine-out-of-ten goddess, certainly not lacking admirers; in the workplace, it was easy to be targeted. Lin Fan treating her so well for no apparent reason, offering to gift her a villa worth hundreds of millions, would naturally raise suspicions.

“You must have plenty of women around you, right?” Miao Tiantian asked instinctively.

“Uh...” Lin Fan was momentarily stunned. It was true he was surrounded by women, but that didn’t mean he was involved with all of them.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. Please forgive me,” Miao Tiantian apologized immediately upon noticing Lin Fan’s reaction.

“It’s fine... You’ve prepared the contract, haven’t you? Villa Number One will be registered under Su Yanmo’s name—she’s the eldest daughter of the Su family, you should know her. Later, you’ll deliver the contract and keys to her company. I’ll send you the address and contact details, and you can watch her reaction.”

Lin Fan steered the conversation back to business.

“You bought this house to give it to her?” Miao Tiantian was startled, her tone implying disbelief that Lin Fan was pursuing a wealthy heiress with a modest online fame. And he was buying this top-tier estate, spanning ten acres, just to win Su Yanmo’s heart?

“If you like, I can buy Villa Number Two for you, too, and give it to you in a while,” Lin Fan continued, subtly hinting.

He had made up his mind: no matter what, he would recruit Miao Tiantian to his company.

“Mr. Lin, please don’t joke like that...” Miao Tiantian replied with an awkward smile, gently declining Lin Fan’s offer.

Afterwards, the two headed straight to Longquan Real Estate Group to meet Wang Jinwen and confirm the details of the purchase.

Lin Fan paid the three hundred million yuan for the villa on the spot, and Wang Jinwen kept his promise, transferring thirty million yuan to Miao Tiantian as her commission.

When they left the building, Miao Tiantian looked dazed, as if she had just awakened from an utterly unrealistic dream.

“Is thirty million enough to pay off your family’s debts?” Lin Fan asked calmly.

“Mr. Lin, you’ve helped me so much. I really don’t know how to thank you. Let me treat you to dinner,” Miao Tiantian replied, deeply moved.

At the same time, her favorability toward Lin Fan soared to 50!

[Host bonus issued. Wealth +30 million.]
[Total wealth: 59.61 million.]

Seeing his wealth increase by another thirty million, Lin Fan was delighted. He had originally planned to buy two villas, gifting one to Miao Tiantian, so he could gain fifty million in cashback in a single day. But unexpectedly, Miao Tiantian was wise enough not to accept.

Still, Lin Fan noticed she hadn’t answered his question.

“It seems thirty million isn’t enough to clear the debt. Take a couple of days to think about whether you want to join my company. I have other matters to attend to, so let’s postpone dinner for another time.”

Just then, Lin Fan received a message from Zhu Ruoxue: Chen Wei had brought a million yuan to her house to propose, leaving her troubled and asking Lin Fan for advice.

“Alright, I’ll treat you to dinner when you’re free,” Miao Tiantian said, a trace of disappointment flickering in her eyes.

As she watched Lin Fan leave, she stood rooted to the spot, muttering to herself, “It must be another woman inviting him... Ah, I guess I was just overthinking. He’s a billionaire, after all—he can buy the most expensive estate in Hangzhou on a whim and give it away. I really was dreaming…”

Lin Fan didn’t return to his company but went directly to Zhu Ruoxue’s home.

Her residence was in an old neighborhood, a simple apartment. When Lin Fan arrived at her door carrying a gift box, he saw Chen Wei sitting on the stairs nearby, holding an enormous bouquet of roses.

“It’s you!” Chen Wei was shocked at the sight of Lin Fan.

“What are you doing here?”

“I should be asking you! Didn’t Zhu Ruoxue tell you there’s no hope for you two? Why are you still pestering her like a stubborn leech, making yourself unbearable?”

Lin Fan looked at Chen Wei with undisguised contempt.

He had no fondness whatsoever for Chen Yanzi’s family, especially for Chen Wei. Chen Wei had once called him a useless loser to his face, and even tried to attack him, which had earned Lin Fan a lingering grudge. If not for Chen Wei, the freeloading and incompetent brother, Chen Yanzi wouldn’t have raised the bride price from thirty to fifty thousand yuan!

So many troubles had been caused by this worthless man.

Unfortunately, Chen Wei’s parents doted on their son, greedy and selfish, willing to sacrifice Chen Yanzi’s happiness just to have Chen Wei marry Zhu Ruoxue.

“What did you say?” Chen Wei sprang up, eyes blazing with hatred as he glared at Lin Fan.

Just then, the door opened and Zhu Ruoxue stepped out.

She ignored Chen Wei completely and greeted Lin Fan with a radiant smile, “Lin Fan, you’re here! Come in!”

“Wait!” Chen Wei suddenly roared.

“Ruoxue, I’ve been waiting outside for an hour and you wouldn’t let me in, but as soon as he arrives, you invite him inside? What’s your relationship?”

“It’s none of your business. We have nothing to do with each other anymore. Please don’t come to my house again,” Zhu Ruoxue replied impatiently, casting him a dismissive glance.

Chen Wei paused, then the realization dawned on him.

“So you two have been involved all along. No wonder you’re so indifferent to me! Zhu Ruoxue, you’ve really disappointed me!”

Hearing this, Zhu Ruoxue was infuriated and retorted angrily, “Are you brain-damaged? I never agreed to marry you. It’s always been your wishful thinking. You couldn’t even meet my parents’ requirements—how could you give me happiness? Don’t you even know your own shortcomings?”

“You said you wanted a bride price of fifty thousand, and I said I’d pay it. Now it’s up to a million, so I scraped it together, but I didn’t expect you to have this attitude. So you’re playing with my feelings?”

Chen Wei shouted, face flushed with anger.

“Watch your words! What do you mean by ‘playing with your feelings’? Nothing ever happened between us—we didn’t even date. It was you who relentlessly pursued me. My parents asked for the bride price, and you managed to gather it, but it seems someone else helped you pay! If anyone is playing with feelings, your whole family is doing it!”

Zhu Ruoxue rolled her eyes in exasperation.

“Hmph! You still refuse to admit you’re a failure. On top of freeloading, you won’t even look for a job. No wonder Ruoxue never respected you. Even if you offered more bride price, she wouldn’t pay you any heed. I advise you to stop harboring delusions!”

Lin Fan sneered coldly.

Chen Wei had never won Zhu Ruoxue’s favor simply because he was too incompetent. She had given him many chances, but he remained complacent until she finally had no choice but to break up.

Having been scolded mercilessly by the two, Chen Wei’s anger burned, his face twisted as he glared at Lin Fan.