Suppressing the Protagonist at the Start to Seize the Heroine

Chapter 240: The Double Standard of Women

Su Lin, pushing aside his worries, returned to where the women were. He overheard Jiang Ruoxi and Liu Shiwen discussing Xiao Feiyu and decided to eavesdrop by leaning casually against a nearby pillar.

Jiang Ruoxi exclaimed with wide eyes, “Shiwen, you mean your arranged marriage partner is Xiao Feiyu? Are you sure?”

Liu Shiwen sighed, “I knew you’d ask, but yes, it’s true. I don’t know what got into that quack doctor Wang Yannian, insisting on arranging this match for Xiao Feiyu.”

“We’ve heard bits about Xiao Feiyu’s affection for Ruoxi here in the capital too, but meeting him today, he’s nothing like the rumors suggest. Ruoxi, are the stories from Modu not accurate?”

Jiang Ruoxi sighed softly, “Honestly, I only saw Xiao Feiyu’s true colors recently. In Modu, he still put on an act, but here in Donghai, he’s let himself go. The first time he saw Ziyu, his eyes wandered obviously.”

“And when I brought him to apologize to Su Lin, he started pestering Yanyan relentlessly afterward.”

Liu Shiwen gasped, “Really? That’s not what I found in my research.”

Lin Xiaowan laughed, “Whatever you read must be outdated. We’ve had to deal with Xiao Feiyu bothering Yanyan quite a few times.”

“Indeed, I even gave him two needles once.”

At Qin Jiuyue’s words, Lin Xiaowan and Zhao Yanyan couldn’t help but laugh, remembering the decidedly uncomfortable spots where Qin Jiuyue had placed those needles.

“You really need to keep your eyes open to avoid falling for such a man,”

Lin Xiaowan advised Liu Shiwen, who nodded in agreement before curiously looking at Lin Xiaowan and saying, “Xiaowan, Xiao Feiyu may be a scumbag, but how come I hear that all of you are with Su Lin? Doesn’t that make him a scumbag too, seeing as he has so many girlfriends?”

Her question was logically sound; Xiao Feiyu was undeniably dubious in character.

Lin Xiaowan, Zhao Yanyan, and Qin Jiuyue fell into thought. After a moment, Lin Xiaowan responded, “There’s a fundamental difference between Su Lin and Xiao Feiyu. Su Lin doesn’t hide behind pretenses. He doesn’t feign depth or bother people unnecessarily, nor does he cross personal boundaries.”

“Even though he’s a flirt, at least he’s genuine. And really, which man isn’t? As for matters of the heart, they can be impulsive and irrational.”

Hearing Lin Xiaowan’s somewhat biased rationale, Su Lin smiled to himself, touched by her fondness for him.

Zhao Yanyan added shyly, “At first, I was drawn by his looks, then his physique, and only afterward by his talents.”

“Exactly, Yanyan, you’re such a sucker for good looks, just as Su Lin said. You’re all about appearances,” joked Lin Xiaowan.

Zhao Yanyan retorted, “Isn’t that normal? You wouldn’t want to wake up to an ugly face every morning. And just because someone is attractive doesn’t mean they’ve won my heart.”

“What about you, Jiuyue?” they turned to Qin Jiuyue.

She replied, “You all know my story with Su Lin; I don’t think I need to repeat it.”

Her friends laughed. “Jiuyue is blushing!”

As she reminisced about flying through the sky with Su Lin, although she could now fly on her own, she still cherished that night as a precious memory.

Liu Shiwen, listening to their stories, began to understand why these women were drawn to Su Lin. “When you talk about Su Lin, your eyes sparkle. It’s clear you all love him. I envy your romance.”

Jiang Ruoxi nodded in agreement, “Either it’s passionate or sweet. When will I have a romance like that?”

“Ruoxi, you might not get the chance, your parents are probably arranging your marriage at this banquet,” teased Lin Xiaowan.

Both Jiang Ruoxi and Liu Shiwen deflated at that. “Why is it that, coming from similar backgrounds, you get to have a sweet romance, and I have to wait for an arranged marriage without even knowing if my future husband will be tall or short, fat or skinny?” Ruoxi complained.

“At least you can fantasize about your future husband. Me? I’m stuck with an effeminate man who likes to play the deep, sensitive type. It’s too hard,” Liu Shiwen lamented, referring to Xiao Feiyu’s somewhat feminine appearance and mannerisms.

Su Lin, feeling the mood dampen among the group, decided it was time to reveal his presence. “What’s so fun here that you’re all laughing about?” he approached with a smile.

“Only you here? Where are the others?” Lin Xiaowan eyed him meaningfully, suspecting he had been eavesdropping. His timing was just too coincidental, and they knew he could have easily overheard them without being detected.

Su Lin shrugged, “They went off to talk business. I’m just a vice president and don’t really have important responsibilities, so it’s normal for them not to include me.”

“No important responsibilities? Aren’t we handling the mobile business?” Lin Xiaowan frowned.

Su Lin signaled her with his eyes, “Xiaowan, why bring that up? Luckily it’s just us here. If others heard, they’d definitely come asking me about it.”

Lin Xiaowan stuck out her tongue, “They’ll find out soon enough anyway.”

“Ah, and there’s me and Shiwen here too. What if we accidentally spill the beans later?”

Su Lin grinned, “Xiaowan just said it will be public soon anyway.”

Jiang Ruoxi chuckled, “I don’t care, just make sure our family’s share is secure.”

Su Lin: “…”

“Su Lin, what are you hiding here for? Your dad is looking for you. Come on,” Li Hongyang approached, looking anxious.

Su Lin got up, “What’s the rush, Hongyang?”

“What else could it be? The banquet’s started, the vice president is nowhere to be seen, and it’s embarrassing. I’m giving you a minute to greet everyone and then you’re coming with me.”

Su Lin shrugged, “No need for a minute, let’s go now.”