☆, Transformation
In the room dedicated to Lin Yujia at Yushulin, Xiao Banli was pushed onto the sofa by Lin Yujia. She stared intently at the door behind her, which slammed shut, and when she looked up, she found herself face-to-face with Lin Yujia’s charming and suave face. In her past life, when she was 19, she had encountered Lin Yujia and been captivated by his handsome, gentle, and elegant demeanor, much like poison…
“You’re truly beautiful. How old are you this year?” Lin Yujia, slightly unsettled by the way Xiao Banli was looking at him, pinched her chin and examined her face.
Xiao Banli gritted her teeth, shrinking her shoulders. Seeing this, Lin Yujia pulled her back beneath him, smiling and saying, “Don’t be afraid of me. I’m very gentle, in this entertainment center, I’m the gentlest.”
“Young Master Lin, please let me go. I’m from the Ouyang family,” Xiao Banli said with a trembling voice, though the tremor wasn’t from fear, but because she hadn’t seen this man in so long. She had thought that by avoiding such people in this life, she could lead a simple, desire-free life, but fate played her cruelly. No matter how she tried to guard against it, what was meant to happen would happen.
Lin Yujia’s lips curled up slightly. “Still from the Ouyang family? I thought so. No wonder you’re so beautiful, you’re from the Ouyang family. Which master do you belong to?”
“I… I’m just a maid. My master is Ouyang Que.”
“Ouyang Que?” Lin Yujia raised an eyebrow. “Haha, him? A stray dog. You’re with him? You’d be better off with me. Since you’re already out, don’t go back. What’s he worth?”
Xiao Banli clenched her teeth tightly and glared fiercely at Lin Yujia. She didn’t know what fate awaited Ouyang Que, nor could she be sure of his future. But now, everyone has started to treat him as a joke.
In her previous life, when she died at 28, Ouyang Que was still a fool.
“Young Master Lin, I’m sorry, but I belong to the Ouyang family, no matter… ah—” Her newly developing chest was suddenly gripped by Lin Yujia, and Xiao Banli screamed in terror.
“Tsk tsk, still feels too small…” Ouyang Que shook his head with disapproval, leaned down, and his lips pressed fiercely against her neck.
Fear exploded inside her as his presence completely enveloped her. She could never forget that on the last night before their divorce, he had held Yuan Muxiao in his arms, making her watch a live display of intimacy for the whole night until she kept retching but he still wouldn’t let her go.
“Lin Yujia!” A scream, sharp enough to pierce the ceiling, suddenly broke out.
The man looming over her stopped, straightened up, and glared down at her. “You think you’re allowed to call my name? A mere servant of the Ouyang family—how do you even know my name?”
Xiao Banli, breathing heavily, her newly swelling chest rising and falling slightly, sneered, “Lin Yujia, a year from now, your father will bring home a sister, and that sister will bring home a man who will fight you for your inheritance…”
“What are you talking about?” Lin Yujia looked at Xiao Banli in disbelief.
“When next autumn comes, your father will bring your sister home, and she’ll bring a man with her who will fight you for the inheritance. If you don’t want… this to happen, you need to take precautions now. And… Ouyang Que is definitely no fool. You’ll see clearly, in the end, who the real winner in the Ouyang family is.”
At this moment, Xiao Banli realized that even if she wanted to live her life timidly, fate wouldn’t spare her. Rather than cowering, she might as well rise up and fight back fiercely against destiny.
Lin Yujia released Xiao Banli and turned to sit on the sofa across from her, resting his hands on his knees, watching her—messy yet strikingly beautiful under the light.
Xiao Banli straightened up, brushing her hair back, her eyes sparkling with an enchanting brilliance hidden beneath her locks.
“Is everything you said true?” Lin Yujia asked.
With a smile, Xiao Banli leaned forward, radiating a confidence completely unlike her previous timid demeanor. “It’s true. If Young Master Lin doesn’t believe me, come find me at the Ouyang house in a year.”
“For now, Young Master Lin, let me go. You have your choice of women, I’m just an underage girl. Wouldn’t it be more fun to wait until I grow up? But until then, you might find my mind more interesting than my body.”
Lin Yujia squinted his eyes, observing the girl on the sofa. She was underage, appearing at most around seventeen, but the smile on her face was not one you’d expect from a seventeen-year-old.
“What’s your name?”
“Xiao Banli.”
There was a “bang bang” sound as someone knocked on the door. Lin Yujia took a deep look at Xiao Banli, adjusted his clothes, and walked over to open the door.
“Young Master, Young Master Ouyang is here to see you.”
Lin Yujia turned to look at Xiao Banli sitting on the sofa and then asked the person at the door, “Which young master?”
“Ouyang Que.”
Lin Yujia replied with a soft “En” and said, “Alright, let him in.” Afterward, he sat back on the sofa in front of Xiao Banli, took a cup from the cabinet, and asked, “What would you like to drink?”
“Just plain water.”
Lin Yujia poured a glass of water and placed it in front of Xiao Banli. Xiao Banli picked up the glass but noticed that Lin Yujia’s gaze was fixed on her hand. She looked down, and Lin Yujia’s voice, tinged with a smile, came through, “I thought you weren’t afraid. I didn’t expect your hand to be shaking like this.”
Xiao Banli felt somewhat embarrassed. She had indeed been holding up despite the fear.
At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed at the door. Xiao Banli looked up and met Ouyang Que’s concerned eyes. Lin Yujia followed her gaze, and saw Ouyang Que standing at the door, looking disheveled from travel.
Lin Yujia clenched his fist and cleared his throat, stepping forward and moving to block Ouyang Que’s line of sight. He extended his right hand, saying, “Young Master Ouyang, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Ouyang Que looked at the hand in front of him, relaxed his tightly clenched fist, and shook Lin Yujia’s hand. “Young Master Lin, it’s a pleasure to meet you. She is my maid. If she has offended you in any way, I ask for your understanding.”
“Oh? Your maid, Young Master Ouyang? I apologize for causing you worry. I also didn’t realize the situation and didn’t know she was your maid. If I’ve offended you in any way, Young Master Ouyang, please don’t take it to heart,” Lin Yujia said with a warm smile, his gaze examining the legendary Ouyang Que, who had been labeled as a fool. Last year, Ouyang Que had joined the company and was said to act arrogantly, yet never appeared in the media. Many people within the company wanted to bring him down, but the Lin family, as an external business partner, merely saw him as an incompetent heir.
But seeing him today… the rumors are not so easy to explain…
Ouyang Que nodded, “As long as she remains unharmed, I won’t take it to heart.”
Lin Yujia’s smile stiffened for a moment, his eyes flashing with a sharp gleam. The diplomatic tone quickly shifted into something more threatening, making anyone uncomfortable. But it lasted only for a second before Lin Yujia returned to his cheerful demeanor. “Young Master Ouyang, please stay for a meal. We are, after all, somewhat fated.”
Ouyang Que shifted his body, glancing at Xiao Banli, then at Lin Yujia. “No need. I’m just here to take her away.”
Xiao Banli slowly stood up and walked toward Ouyang Que, standing by his side without looking away. Lin Yujia found the sight somewhat irritating, but the smile on his lips deepened.
“Just a meal, Young Master Ouyang. You wouldn’t refuse, would you?”
Ouyang Que paused, his narrow phoenix eyes turning toward Xiao Banli. When he saw the smooth, flawless side of her face, his gaze darkened slightly. “What do you think?”
If it were before, Xiao Banli would have definitely refused.
But now, she glanced at Lin Yujia. If she didn’t get emotionally involved, Lin Yujia could indeed be a friend worth making, especially with the upcoming corporate disputes Ouyang Que would face.
Lin Yujia definitely had the ability to be of help.
“Young Master Lin is being so considerate. If we refuse now, it would be our fault.”
Lin Yujia’s eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands, saying, “Good, you’re straightforward. Let’s go, I’ll treat you to a good meal.”
Although Ouyang Que found Xiao Banli’s agreement somewhat confusing, since he had given her the choice, he could only nod. “Then we’ll let Young Master Lin treat us.”
The group went to the Golden Morning Hotel across the street. Lin Yujia reserved a small private room, and once the door was closed, only the three of them remained.
“Come on, Banli, tell me, how did you know about my family’s situation a year from now?” Lin Yujia asked, curious.
Xiao Banli pressed her lips together, unsure of how to answer.
The narrow, elongated phoenix eyes also looked at Xiao Banli with confusion.
Under the weight of those two gazes, Xiao Banli swallowed nervously, gripping the tablecloth with her palm. “I have a little bit of the ability to foresee the future, just a little bit…” She kept emphasizing “just a little bit.”
Lin Yujia and Ouyang Que were both stunned, exchanging glances. Had they encountered a soothsayer?