Get together

Lin Yuan was somewhat conflicted.

Logically, he shouldn't have provoked Zhang Yan.

But he just couldn't suppress his selfish desires. He admitted that much.

Although his mentor and Dean Li were considered big shots to ordinary people, they were still very small in the face of the huge capital interests involved in the Good Group incident.

Dean Li could at most help Lin Yuan pave the way for an apology, while his mentor could only provide a safety net for Lin Yuan, ensuring he had a place within Zijin Aviation School.

The capabilities of such big shots were actually not very extensive, so Lin Yuan was already thinking: if he wanted to do something in the future, what path should he take?

The specific path was yet to be determined, but the need for assistance was set in stone. And Zhang Yan clearly seemed like someone who could provide him with powerful assistance.

Therefore, Lin Yuan's feelings towards her were very complex.

On one hand, he genuinely treated her like a younger sister, while on the other hand, he hoped to gain some help from this younger sister.

It was a genuine emotion mixed with utilitarianism.

Lin Yuan always felt he owed her.

It was precisely because of this that he was eager to take Zhang Yan back to meet Xia Ye.

This was to clarify his relationship with Zhang Yan. He wanted to use this action to explicitly tell Zhang Yan: he had no intention of being ambiguous with her; he truly regarded her as a sister.

Lest he give her any wrong impression and cause future trouble.

So, on this day, Lin Yuan took Zhang Yan home.

Xia Ye specifically took leave from her tutoring class, pulled Song Xiaoxiao to the supermarket to buy groceries, and spent half a day preparing a large table of dishes.

The dining table in this rented house was rarely filled with so many plates.

Xia Ye's starting point was simple—after Lin Yuan was taken in, in her perception, Officer Zhang had been very helpful.

Not only with Lin Yuan's matter, but also with Song Xiaoxiao's matter, the other party had been of great help.

Therefore, Xia Ye was acting out of a simple sense of gratitude. For this, she even specially learned several new recipes and bought Australian lobster and hairy crabs.

Song Xiaoxiao also strongly supported Xia Ye in doing this. Although Lin Yuan had told her in advance to treat Zhang Yan like a real sister, Song Xiaoxiao obviously didn't quite believe it. But Lin Yuan couldn't tell her his true thoughts, so he could only let Song Xiaoxiao imagine freely.

In Song Xiaoxiao's view, Lin Yuan was preparing Zhang Yan and Xia Ye to get acquainted in advance, paving the way for a future confrontation.

Lin Yuan felt a headache coming on when he thought about it, but there was nothing else he could do.

So, for the first time, the dining table in the small rented house was filled with four people—Lin Yuan, Xia Ye, Zhang Yan, and Song Xiaoxiao, one person on each side. A mahjong table, complete!

"Officer Zhang, thank you for your help earlier." Xia Ye awkwardly raised a glass filled with a drink, clearly not skilled at this kind of thing.

"Sister-in-law, you're too polite, it's what I should do."

Facing the sudden address of "sister-in-law," Xia Ye was a bit bewildered.

Zhang Yan quickly explained, "My mentor and Lin Yuan's mentor know each other, and this time we also need Lin Yuan's help with something, so I just called him brother. So of course I should call you sister-in-law."

Xia Ye finally realized. 'So there's this connection, no wonder Officer Zhang was so helpful.'

Song Xiaoxiao seized the opportunity to assist, "Officer Zhang, I thank you too. From now on, we're family."

This sounded a bit abrupt to Xia Ye, but Lin Yuan understood Song Xiaoxiao's deeper meaning.

'Sigh!' He could only sigh inwardly. Song Xiaoxiao's worldview was just like that; there was no way to make her believe that he truly had no promiscuous intentions.

Never mind, as long as the atmosphere was peaceful, it was fine.

Thus, the first time the four gathered, the scene was surprisingly harmonious, with everyone choosing to believe what they thought was the truth.

Song Xiaoxiao's perception, of course, goes without saying.

Under Song Xiaoxiao's constant reminders, Xia Ye's already grateful heart towards Zhang Yan became even more so.

Lin Yuan, on the other hand, hoped not to give any of the three of them any wrong impressions; he really wanted to clarify the relationships between them. This gathering was for that purpose.

As for Zhang Yan, she couldn't quite articulate her thoughts. This meal made her understand Lin Yuan's intentions. But she always had a feeling of guilt, not daring to face her own heart.

"Sister-in-law, my brother and I need to go on a business trip to Shanghai. He needs to help with some work, and it probably won't be a short time. But we'll definitely be back before the New Year."

Xia Ye readily agreed, "I've been busy lately too, dancing every day, and I don't have much free time before the New Year. You can take him."

The two women efficiently completed the temporary handover of Lin Yuan.

Dinner ended in laughter and joy, and after the meal, Zhang Yan even put on an apron and went to the kitchen to help clean up.

This was not Zhang Yan deliberately trying to curry favor, but rather she enjoyed the warm and harmonious atmosphere.

During their conversation, Zhang Yan also clearly told Xia Ye about her current studies at Zijin Aviation School, and Xia Ye didn't think much of it.

Afterward, Lin Yuan and Zhang Yan left together, while Xia Ye and Song Xiaoxiao stayed in the house.

"Xiao Xiao, do you think Lin Yuan's long trip this time won't be him being taken away for investigation, will it?" Xia Ye's imagination was focused on worrying about Lin Yuan.

"How is that possible? If they really wanted to take him for investigation, there'd be no need to make it so complicated. Don't overthink it."

—

On the other side, Lin Yuan and Zhang Yan were walking back to school.

"Senior, Good Group bullied you so much this time, aren't you going to get back at them?"

"I'd like to. But if I really did that, your mentor would probably be the first one to have a problem with me."

Zhang Yan thought for a moment, "That's true. When I talked to him about this OCR matter before, he didn't seem to care much. Old Mo said he's been busy with network work guidance recently."

Lin Yuan chuckled, "Do you think your mentor can guide?"

"Uh, he is my mentor after all."

"I estimate that this OCR matter is now like a chicken rib for your mentor. But to help Old Li, I still have to push this matter forward."

"To help Old Li?"

"Dean Li, of course. Your mentor was willing to cooperate with my mentor and Dean Li before, wasn't it just for that little bit? Now your mentor has taken your peach, and he's on the verge of promotion. But the person who genuinely helped me is still stretching his neck in anticipation."

Zhang Yan was a bit embarrassed for a moment, because Director Wang's current smooth sailing was precisely because he got that report before her resignation.

That report, which included Lin Yuan's forecast of Good Group's trends, was intended for Zhang Yan, but Zhang Yan didn't take it seriously and just included it in the report.

That's why Lin Yuan was conflicted: Old Li, who had helped him, got no benefits, while Director Wang, with whom he had no interaction, took advantage.

"Brother, don't talk about me."

"I'm not talking about you. I'm complaining about your mentor. How could he? Didn't he even ask you first?"

"He is my mentor after all, and he even credited me with a merit. He also included me in the guidance of Good Group's matters."

"But the credit for leadership and command became his."

"Oh, it doesn't matter. My mentor wants to get promoted to full-time before retirement, both Old Mo and I know about this, so just consider it my filial piety to him... It's just that I let down Senior's good intentions..."

"It's good that you know. I hope your mentor doesn't act too ugly, and can be more cooperative on this OCR matter, and eat a little less."

"Are you worried that my mentor will steal the credit?" Zhang Yan pondered for a moment, "It shouldn't be that bad."

"The advantage your mentor gained this time, to be precise, was from me, and he must be aware of that. Logically, he should assist unconditionally in this OCR matter, because he has already received his due reward. But I heard from Old Li that your mentor is quite uncooperative."

Zhang Yan thought carefully, "If my mentor really acts too ugly, then I also have a way. Don't worry, no one can steal your credit."

"My credit doesn't matter, it's just that Old Li is hoping to get promoted to full-time before retirement with this. Alas~~, I hope your mentor doesn't burn his bridges."

"Senior, you were doing it for your mentor after all. Don't worry, I will make sure you get what you wish for."