Chapter 461 460: Almost Got Tricked

Mu Lin was very confused. 'How was I being muddle-headed?'

'Where was I being muddle-headed?'

"What do you mean? I don't understand. Zhou Ying is the one who asked me to stay."

Lin Shishi said coolly, "Zhou Ying asks you to stay, so you just stay? Are you an idiot?"

"Zhou Ying might be tolerant and not care, but as a man, you have to consider things from her perspective."

"Putting everything else aside, what will other people think of her? An unmarried man and woman living in the same place—won't people gossip? I know nothing is going on between you two, but what will others think?"

Mu Lin thought it over and realized he had indeed been inconsiderate.

He had only been thinking about protecting Zhou Ying, not about the potential damage to her reputation.

'Maybe I should just get a hotel room.'

But Lin Shishi said, "I think you should stay at my place."

Mu Lin nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard that.

'What in the world is she talking about?'

"Didn't you just say I can't stay at Zhou Ying's? So how can I stay at your place?" Mu Lin said, pointing at Lin Shishi.

Lin Shishi smiled. "The Lin Family estate is a large compound with several villas. No one will notice you coming and going, so you won't have to worry about anything."

Mu Lin was momentarily dazed. He hadn't expected Lin Shishi to be laying this trap for him.

Her logic wasn't exactly wrong, but something about it still felt off, like the pieces didn't quite fit together.

He suddenly laughed, shaking his head. "You're really something else. If I let you persuade me, I'm afraid I'd never be able to go back to the mountains."

Lin Shishi pursed her lips, a small pang of disappointment in her heart.

'Mu Lin didn't take her suggestion. The distance between them would only grow after this.'

'She wondered if she'd ever be able to close it again.'

Lin Shishi said, "It was just a suggestion! I didn't mean anything else by it!"

"I know," Mu Lin replied.

Lin Shishi knew this had just made things awkward.

'She had been too pushy and ended up putting him on edge.'

She turned her head to look outside, feeling lost and disheartened.

Just then, someone happened to walk by. Their eyes met, followed by a flicker of delight.

Lin Shishi said, "Look, that's a high school classmate of mine."

Mu Lin turned to look. The man who had met Lin Shishi's gaze through the glass window quickly moved away from it and walked straight into the restaurant.

The moment he entered, it was as if the entire restaurant lit up, sparkling brightly.

He looked like Prince Charming from a TV drama, practically glowing.

Many of the girls eating in the restaurant were astonished. They put down their chopsticks and couldn't help but stare at him intently.

The man smiled at Lin Shishi. "Lin Shishi, what a coincidence! I never thought I'd see you here!"

Lin Shishi smiled back. "Yeah, it's a small world! It's been so many years since graduation, I never expected to run into you here!"

Lin Shishi turned to Mu Lin and said, "Mu Lin, let me introduce you. This is my old high school class president, Ji Fan. His grades were amazing back then, and he later got into a top university. I imagine he must be working at an excellent company now!"

"Ji Fan, this is Mu Lin, my friend."

Mu Lin nodded politely at Ji Fan. "Hello, Ji Tongxue!"

Ji Fan laughed. "Brother Mu, you're a lucky man. Shishi was one of the top beauties in our school, and to think she'd end up with you."

'I can't let him misunderstand,' Mu Lin thought. 'Otherwise, this could get very troublesome.'

Just as he was about to speak, Lin Shishi cut in, "We're not. We only met a short while ago. He helped me with something, so I'm just treating him to a meal to thank him."

Ji Fan's eyes lit up. "So you're saying you're still single? And I still have a chance?"

Lin Shishi gave a faint smile, offering no clear response.

Ji Fan said cheerfully, "Shishi, let's go get a drink!"

Lin Shishi thought about how she still had Mu Lin with her. 'It wouldn't be right.' She was just about to refuse.

But then her eyes suddenly fell upon the tag hanging from Ji Fan's neck.

Her expression instantly became dazed.

"Okay, I'd love to have a drink with you!" Lin Shishi said.

Mu Lin noticed something was wrong with Lin Shishi. Her expression was dazed, and the change was somewhat stiff.

It was clearly unnatural, perhaps caused by some particular variable.

Mu Lin glanced at Ji Fan but said nothing for the moment.

Ji Fan glanced at Mu Lin and asked, "What university did you go to? What's your relationship with Lin Shishi?"

Mu Lin's expression remained unchanged. He said flatly, "I didn't go to university. My relationship with Lin Shishi is just an ordinary one. Don't overthink it."

A scornful smile flashed in Ji Fan's eyes. 'At his age, not in school but just messing around outside? This guy must be a complete and utter loser.'

Ji Fan said arrogantly, "I'm taking Lin Shishi for a drink now. You should scram! Stay away from Shishi from now on. She's mine, and in the future, she'll only be eating with one man—me."

Mu Lin remained unfazed, continuing to size up Ji Fan.

After a few seconds, Mu Lin finally spoke. "You've tricked a lot of girls with that despicable trick of yours, haven't you?"

Ji Fan was inexplicably startled. He hurriedly stood in front of Mu Lin and dangled the white tag before his eyes.

But Mu Lin showed no signs of being affected at all.

In that moment, Ji Fan grew extremely anxious.

'If Mu Lin wasn't controlled, didn't that mean he saw his whole ugly act?'

He repeatedly waved the white tag in front of Mu Lin, but Mu Lin just said, "You can stop trying. An inferior Illusion Technique like this can't control me."

Mu Lin took out a needle and pricked Lin Shishi on the neck.

The clarity immediately returned to Lin Shishi's eyes.

"What happened to me? My head feels so fuzzy!" Lin Shishi exclaimed.

Mu Lin said, "You were under an Illusion Technique. He was controlling your mind. The white tag hanging from his neck is the medium he uses to cast it."

Lin Shishi was stunned. She glared furiously at Ji Fan. "Ji Fan, I can't believe you're this kind of person. I am so disappointed in you!"

Ji Fan was also stunned. He never would have thought that the Illusion Technique he had used so successfully for so long would fail.

However, he still thought it must be a fluke. Besides, the vast majority of people in the world wouldn't believe in such things anyway.

That being the case, he could just brazen it out and continue the charade.

"Shishi, don't listen to his nonsense. We have to believe in science. Anyone who believes in stuff like an Illusion Technique is an idiot."

"There's something wrong with his head. You should stay away from him from now on!"

Ji Fan shouted with a particularly loud voice, immediately drawing the attention of many other customers in the restaurant.

"An Illusion Technique? That's just bullshit. What century are we in? How can anyone still believe in this stuff? Man, that's hilarious."

People at other tables also started mocking them.

"The girl is willing to go for a drink with her classmate, what are you meddling for? Not to mention you're not even her boyfriend. And even if you were, show a little grace, would you?"

The insults were all overwhelmingly directed at Mu Lin, but he wasn't angry. Instead, he just watched them calmly.

'They were just looking for entertainment anyway. They'd laugh at anything.'

'It was pathetic.'

Inside the restaurant, the manager heard the commotion and came out. When he saw Ji Fan, he was star-struck for a moment.

"Mr. Ji!"

The manager hurried over.

Ji Fan glanced at the manager but couldn't recall who he was.

"Excuse me, who are you? Do we know each other?"

The manager said very politely, "Have you forgotten me, sir? I was at Young Master Ran's last meeting!"

Ji Fan then remembered. "Oh, so it's you, is it? What's your name?"

"My name is Ma Changkong. You can just call me Xiaoma!"

Ji Fan said, "Ah, Manager Ma. This brat is spouting malicious slander against me. Hurry up and throw him out."

Ma Changkong glanced at Mu Lin and was instantly unable to suppress his anger. He pointed at Mu Lin and berated him:

"Kid, you've got some nerve! I see you don't know the consequences of offending Young Master Ji. There's no escaping this one. You'd better pray for your future!"

Mu Lin was very calm and paid Ma Changkong no mind at all.

"Mu Lin, let's go. Don't get mixed up with them!"

Mu Lin agreed and got up to leave.

But Ji Fan refused to let it go and stepped in front of Lin Shishi.

"Shishi, he's a lunatic! It's dangerous for you to be with him!"

Lin Shishi's expression was furious. "Ji Fan, let me tell you something, I trust Mu Lin more! As for you, I don't trust you at all. Don't flatter yourself. Can we please not waste any more time on this?"

Ji Fan's face contorted with rage, his anger flaring. "Lin Shishi, do you have any idea what you're saying?"

"I'm worried about your safety out of the goodness of my heart, and you turn around and side with a lunatic!"

"You think you can do whatever you want just because you're pretty? Well, let me tell you, you can't!"