Heartthrob, Your Image is Crumbling!

Chapter 595: Overseas Development

The man made a hand gesture, but Zhou Yuwen just stared blankly. He glanced at Lu Lin beside him, completely unable to make sense of what was happening.It was only after Lu Lin's explanation that Zhou Yuwen finally understood—the middle-aged man standing before him was actually her father.

The story behind Lu Lin's family was indeed a long one.

Thinking back on it now, the way Zhou Yuwen and Lu Lin got together seemed utterly unfathomable. At the time, Lu Lin had only asked him for two thousand yuan, declaring that as long as he gave her the money, she would be his.

Zhou Yuwen had been full of vigor and vitality back then. He figured giving her two thousand yuan was no big deal, and since Lu Lin had always behaved exceptionally well afterward, he never bothered to dig any deeper into the matter.

Now that the past had been brought up and her father had resurfaced, Lu Lin felt there was no need to keep secrets from Zhou Yuwen anymore, so she frankly laid everything out.

Lu Lin grew up in what could be considered a single-parent family. She never knew her mother and had lived with her father for as long as she could remember. However, he was rarely home, usually returning for only a month or two out of the year. Even then, he was always preoccupied with various matters, leaving him with absolutely no time to take care of her.

Growing up in such an environment naturally forged her independent and resilient personality.

Her father publicly claimed to be a sailor, but in reality, he was involved in dangerous, life-risking illicit activities overseas. Two years ago, he offended a dangerous enemy, and to ensure Lu Lin's safety, he hadn't dared to show his face since.

This brought immense hardship upon Lu Lin, who had just started university.

Although her father had worked in the underground industry for years, the grown man hadn't managed to save much money. Over the past decade or so, he had only provided her with basic living expenses.

Just when it was time to pay her tuition fees, her father suddenly vanished without a trace.

While Lu Lin had managed to save a little bit from her previous allowances, that meager amount was nowhere near enough to support her through four years of university.

Reaching this part of the story, Lu Lin spoke with a hint of self-deprecation, admitting she didn't even know how she managed to survive that final summer vacation after high school.

The view from the abandoned building was surprisingly beautiful.

Even though their immediate surroundings were dark and gloomy, just beyond the unfinished concrete frame lay a dazzling, bustling metropolis.

Leaning quietly by the window, Lu Lin calmly recounted her past to Zhou Yuwen.

She explained that after paying her initial tuition fees, she was left with less than a hundred yuan to her name. If she didn't find a way to make some money soon, even affording her next meal would become a major problem.

After listening to her story, Zhou Yuwen finally understood. "So that's why you came to me?" he asked.

"Pretty much."

Having finally shared her burden, Lu Lin looked noticeably more relaxed.

She looked at him and admitted that initially, she merely intended to earn some basic living expenses from him.

"But I never expected you to treat me so well. In the blink of an eye, two whole years have passed."

As she finished her sentence, Lu Lin was unable to control herself and let out a soft laugh.

Zhou Yuwen smiled as well, finding the whole situation rather amusing.

"Are you satisfied now, then?" he asked.

Lu Lin gazed at him, her eyes sparkling with emotion.

"Of course I am!"

Before Lu Lin could say anything else, her father seemingly popped out of nowhere. He eagerly pushed Zhou Yuwen forward. "Come, come, son-in-law! Come have a drink with me!"

"From now on, I'm entrusting my Linlin to you!"

"My daughter definitely picked the right man."

"I originally thought that a kid like you, with so many women, was just playing around casually with my girl. But now, my mind is at ease! Come on!"

Her father had started a campfire inside the abandoned building and was busy roasting some meat all by himself.

In order to perfectly execute this little act with his daughter, he hadn't even found the time to eat dinner.

His original plan was to deal with Zhou Yuwen first before having a meal.

But now, things had worked out beautifully—he was eating right alongside him.

The outcome was incredibly satisfying.

Her father had typical Southern features. Standing at around five foot seven inches, he looked a bit short next to Zhou Yuwen, but he was incredibly heavily built. His immense physical strength was obvious just from the two heavy pats he gave Zhou Yuwen on the back.

Speaking Mandarin with a thick Cantonese accent, he dragged Zhou Yuwen over, cracked open some canned beer, and began discussing the day's events.

He mentioned that his original intention for returning this time was to take Lu Lin away with him.

But now, his mind was at ease.

"You're a reliable kid!"

Hearing her father's words, Zhou Yuwen only offered a forced smile.

Leaning against the wall, Lu Lin silently watched the two men drinking together without saying a word.

No one knew what was going through her mind.

When she got off work earlier that evening, her father's sudden appearance had genuinely startled her.

She was incredibly content with her current life.

Yet, the moment her father showed up, he bluntly declared he was taking her abroad.

That had caught her completely off guard.

"Abroad? Go where?"

"It doesn't matter where! I won't leave you behind this time, my precious daughter! Just come with me!" her father had urged anxiously.

However, upon learning of his true intentions...

Lu Lin hadn't even hesitated. Her expression turning cold, she retorted, "If you want to leave, leave. I'm staying."

"Why won't you go? Don't tell me you actually fell for that kept man! Uncle Guan already looked into him for me. That gigolo has more women than you can count on one hand. What kind of future could you possibly have with a guy like that?"

"Once we get out of the country, I'll send you to the best university! I'll find you a rich second generation heir to marry so you can live as a wealthy young madam!"

Hearing this, Lu Lin simply furrowed her brow. "Don't say things like that to me. I have absolutely zero interest in any of it. You can leave, but I won't. I already have a man, and this place is my home!"

"What right does he have to be your man?!"

Her father became utterly frantic at her words, desperately wanting to talk some sense into his daughter.

But Lu Lin wouldn't even lift her head to look at him.

Ever since she was a little girl, she had always been an incredibly opinionated and decisive person.

Once her mind was set on something, absolutely no one could change it.

Staring at his stubborn daughter, her father simply couldn't understand it. What kind of immense charm could a philandering gigolo possibly possess to bewitch his daughter so thoroughly?

After racking his brain for a long while, he finally gritted his teeth and declared, "Fine! You can stay! But I have to test him for you first! There's no way I'm letting my own daughter become some punk's secondary wife for nothing!"

Lu Lin was left speechless by his outburst. What was this nonsense about being a secondary wife?

However, her father refused to listen to reason. He was dead set on putting Zhou Yuwen to the test.

And just like that, he meticulously orchestrated the entire fake kidnapping.

Now that the results were out, her father had come clean to Zhou Yuwen about everything, proudly proclaiming that Lu Lin had chosen the perfect man.

Grinning widely, he added, "The fact that you had the guts to show up here all by yourself—I already admire you for that!"

As for the thirty to fifty million yuan ransom, her father hadn't cared about it in the slightest. He had just tossed those numbers out casually.

He truly hadn't expected Zhou Yuwen to brave the danger alone.

What's more, the young man had even offered to exchange his own life for Lu Lin's.

That courageous act had stirred the old man's heart to the core. He felt his daughter's judgment was impeccable; this was exactly the kind of man a woman should look for.

Who cared how many women he had?

As long as he treated his daughter well.

Then he would gladly sell his life to this kid!

After knocking back a few sips of beer, her father wasn't exactly drunk yet.

But his behavior was just as rowdy and boisterous as if he were.

Slapping Zhou Yuwen heartily on the shoulder, he sighed, lamenting that despite hustling out in the world for so many years, he had failed to set anything aside for Linlin.

Only this tough old life of his was still worth a little something.

"If you ever need anything from now on, just say the word! Let me tell you, your father-in-law has quite the reputation internationally!"

He boasted, thumping his chest proudly.

Zhou Yuwen merely replied that he was a legitimate businessman and didn't dabble in such illicit affairs.

"I know, I know. I've dealt with plenty of businessmen in my time,"

his father-in-law replied, grinning broadly.

The reason her father treated Zhou Yuwen so warmly was because, in his eyes, the young man had genuinely been willing to trade his own life for Lu Lin's.

He brought it up to Zhou Yuwen more than once.

Yet, Zhou Yuwen merely smiled in response every time.

Probably everyone present believed that Zhou Yuwen was ready to sacrifice his life for hers.

But Lu Lin, leaning quietly in the corner, knew the real truth.

The real reason Zhou Yuwen dared to show up alone was his absolute confidence in his own combat skills. He genuinely believed that even against a dozen armed thugs, he could easily dismantle them just like an action hero in a movie.

He was probably planning to launch a sudden, devastating counterattack the moment the hostage exchange took place.

Still, none of that mattered.

For Lu Lin, the simple fact that Zhou Yuwen had shown up for her was more than enough reason for both father and daughter to pledge their lives to him.

That alone was enough.

As they drank together, Zhou Yuwen grew somewhat curious about the older man's past affairs.

While her father might have kept his lips sealed around anyone else, he was incredibly forthcoming with his son-in-law. He recounted his harrowing experiences while on the run over the past two years.

He never expected the person he offended to have such a massive background, forcing him to live a desperate life in hiding.

Fortunately, he had the backing of a group of fiercely loyal brothers who would die for him.

In the end, they even managed to launch a counter-offensive straight into the enemy's headquarters.

Now, his debts were settled, and he was completely free of his burdens.

Lu Lin walked over at that moment and asked her father what his plans were next.

"What plans could I have? You were always my biggest worry. Now that your situation is settled, I can finally find some peace of mind. Just live a good life with your man, and don't worry about my affairs anymore."

He flashed her a seemingly hearty and carefree smile.

But seeing right through him, Lu Lin scoffed in disdain. "Saying all that just means you have absolutely nowhere left to go."

"How could I have nowhere to go?!"

Her father stubbornly refused to admit it, but Lu Lin continued mercilessly. "Do you still think you're living twenty years in the past? You're almost fifty years old! Do you really plan to keep running around aimlessly like you used to?"

"How many more years can you realistically keep running?"

After hearing his daughter's harsh but true words, her father fell silent, lowering his head without a word.

Given his current identity and background, staying by his daughter's side was out of the question. Besides, he couldn't just stop everything—he still had a crew of loyal brothers depending on him for survival. Remaining in the country was simply impossible.

Thus, all he could do was feign impatience and wave her off. "Ugh, I told you, don't worry about my business!"

Listening to the father-daughter duo argue, Zhou Yuwen quickly grasped the underlying situation. When Lu Lin glanced over at him, he proactively spoke up. "Uncle."

Her father immediately voiced his displeasure. "What do you mean 'Uncle'? Are you looking down on me or something?"

"No... Dad..."

It was Zhou Yuwen's first time calling another man 'Dad', and it felt undeniably awkward.

But her father was immensely satisfied, nodding as if to say 'That's more like it'.

"Just say whatever's on your mind."

Zhou Yuwen continued, "From what I gathered just now, you don't actually know where you're heading next, right?"

Her father shook his head in denial, claiming that wasn't exactly true. He mentioned that an old client over in Europe had actually reached out to him a while back.

They wanted him to come out of retirement and take on a job.

"If I head over there, earning a few million Euros for you guys would be a piece of cake!"

Hearing this brag, Lu Lin merely let out a disdainful sneer.

'His old habit of bragging hasn't changed a bit,' she thought to herself.

Zhou Yuwen offered an awkward smile as well. "I suppose I should thank you then, Dad. But... looking at our current situation, Linlin and I really aren't lacking money."

"That's true. You're loaded, kid!"

Her father nodded in agreement. He had already investigated Zhou Yuwen's background thoroughly and knew exactly how wealthy he was, but he never had any intention of asking the young man for a dime.

He already felt like he hadn't brought his daughter much pride or face.

If he shamelessly asked Zhou Yuwen for cash on top of that, how could Lu Lin ever hold her head high in front of him?

Wrapping an arm around Lu Lin, Zhou Yuwen said gently, "Actually, Linlin and I just want you to stay healthy and safe, Uncle."

"Over in North America, I have a five-hundred-acre estate, and I'm currently in desperate need of reliable manpower. Uncle, I heard you say you still have a crew of capable, battle-hardened subordinates. I happen to be in a foreign country and need exactly that kind of muscle right now. If it's convenient for you, how about bringing your men over to my place? Don't worry, your commission won't be short a single cent."

Her father's eyes couldn't help but light up at the proposal. "Not bad at all, kid! You even own a massive estate overseas. Those definitely don't come cheap."

Zhou Yuwen downplayed it modestly.

"I just bought it at the right time, got a good deal on it. So... Dad, what do you think?"

Zhou Yuwen maintained a perfectly sincere expression.

Her father tried to act reserved for a brief moment, but ultimately gritted his teeth and declared, "I think that works."

"Since you don't look down on this old bag of bones, then whatever you need me to do, I'll absolutely get it done!"

Zhou Yuwen couldn't help but smile upon hearing his commitment. "That's fantastic!"

And just like that, the matter was settled. In truth, Zhou Yuwen had been quietly fretting over his lack of an armed security force abroad. Having this group of experienced men join his ranks would make handling future affairs infinitely smoother.

However, these men were still outlaws and desperados; he couldn't possibly house them directly within the estate.

Zhou Yuwen's real plan was to purchase another large estate up in Canada to accommodate them. He would let them set up their base and expand their operations in Canada. Judging by her father's sheer physical prowess and robust vigor, combined with his own financial backing, establishing a powerful local syndicate shouldn't be a problem at all.

With this solid plan forming in his mind, Zhou Yuwen felt a profound sense of relief and gladly shared a few more rounds of drinks with her father.

Right at that moment, Zhou Yuwen's phone began to ring.

Glancing at the screen, he saw it was a phone call from Liu Shuo, and he suddenly remembered that the guy was still waiting for him outside.

Sure enough, as soon as the call connected, Liu Shuo's frantic voice blasted through the speaker.

Liu Shuo demanded anxiously, "Bro, how's the situation?! Why weren't you answering your phone?"

"Oh, the matter has already been perfectly resolved," Zhou Yuwen replied calmly.

"Huh? Perfectly resolved?"

Liu Shuo was utterly baffled.

Zhou Yuwen explained, "It was all just a huge misunderstanding. Tell everyone to head back home, and you come on up and have a drink."

"A drink?!"

Liu Shuo was even more confused. But after he made his way upstairs and learned the entire bizarre sequence of events, he was left entirely speechless.

Her father, on the other hand, took quite a liking to Liu Shuo. He praised the young man for his sturdy build, suggesting he could come roll with him for a few years.

As he spoke, he heavily hammered Liu Shuo on the shoulder a few times.

The rough treatment made Liu Shuo frown in annoyance as he snapped, "Don't touch me."

"Oho, this kid's got quite the temper on him, huh?"