Chapter 74: Meeting the Parents (Part One)

Qin Ruolin read out more than twenty comments in one breath, all concerning Lin Feng.

“Well? Do you have anything to say?” She put down her phone and looked at Lin Feng.

“Hold on a second…” Lin Feng also took out his phone, logged into Weibo, and cleared his throat. “Why don’t you listen to what I’m getting?”

“Lin Feng, please stop causing trouble. You’re making things really hard for our goddess.”

“Oh dear, he’s clashing with the Basketball Association again. I really feel for Sister Ruolin.”

“Qin Ruolin’s kingdom of music, please come rein in your boyfriend.”

“You’re not worthy of Queen Qin! Not worthy, not worthy…”

“Stop, stop, stop…” Qin Ruolin interrupted after just a few lines.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Feng looked at her, puzzled.

“That last comment you read—who wrote it?” Qin Ruolin asked.

“Uh, is that important?”

“Very important. Because that person has excellent taste!” Qin Ruolin replied with a triumphant smile.

Lin Feng was speechless. “So, do you want to hear more?”

“Forget it, it’s the same old stuff over and over.” Qin Ruolin stretched, her graceful curves accentuated.

“Let’s talk about something serious.” She sat up from the sofa, smoothed her slightly tousled hair, and said, “My new album is about to start recording. I plan to include both your song ‘Smiling Eyes’ and ‘When’. But I don’t have the full lyrics and music for ‘When’ yet. So, if you have time, please get the complete version ready for me—any problem with that?”

“No problem at all, it’s only right.” Lin Feng scratched his head, realizing he’d forgotten about it. Qin Ruolin had bought the song for three hundred thousand after just hearing his a cappella, yet he hadn’t even given her the complete composition—definitely his oversight.

“As you should. Don’t make me remind you!” Qin Ruolin gave him a sidelong glance, then added, “One more thing. Tomorrow morning, come have lunch with me.”

“Lunch?” Lin Feng eyed her warily. “Is this going to be a trap?”

“More or less.” Qin Ruolin didn’t hide it. “My father wants to meet you.”

“Director Qin wants to meet me?” Lin Feng’s brow furrowed instantly.

“He’s meeting you as my father, not as a director,” Qin Ruolin shot him a look.

“Oh.” Lin Feng was quiet for a moment, then asked, “Can I not go?”

“Of course you can.” Qin Ruolin smiled. “No one has the right to force your choices. But, if you don’t show up tomorrow, my old man will definitely think you’ve abandoned me, and then your troubles won’t just be with the Basketball Association…”

“Is that a threat?” Lin Feng looked at her.

“Of course not. I am, after all, the queen of pop. How could I stoop to threats? Right, Kelly?”

A charming smile played across Qin Ruolin’s lips.

Kelly nodded and said to Lin Feng, “Ruolin has always been a champion of freedom.”

“Fine…” Lin Feng glanced at Kelly, then at Qin Ruolin. Freedom? The two of you are clearly in cahoots.

He thought for a moment, then asked, “I don’t mind going, but if I do, how long do we have to keep up this act?”

“What, is it embarrassing to be my boyfriend?” Qin Ruolin’s brows arched, her gaze sharp.

“Not at all,” Lin Feng quickly denied.

“So you have someone else you like? Want to date someone?” she pressed.

“No, that’s not it.” Lin Feng shook his head.

“Then why are you so eager to distance yourself from me?” she pursued.

“I’m not trying to distance myself. It’s just… meeting your father makes me nervous…” Lin Feng admitted honestly.

Qin Ruolin laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m with you! My old man wouldn’t dare do anything to you. Just answer his questions truthfully.”

“Alright then…” Hesitating, Lin Feng finally agreed.

“That’s more like it. Nine o’clock tomorrow morning, I’ll meet you in the underground parking lot,” Qin Ruolin said, her face alight with a playful smile.

“Okay.” Lin Feng nodded. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

“In such a hurry?” Qin Ruolin frowned as she saw him stand.

“Uh, it’s nothing…”

“Then why rush off? Are you really afraid I’ll eat you up? Relax, you’re not the Tang Monk—no one’s that eager to eat you!” She rolled her eyes at him.

Lin Feng shook his head awkwardly. “It’s not that, it’s just… just…”

He was at a loss for words, but at that moment, a knock at the door provided a timely rescue.

“Mentor Ruolin, it’s Mengqi. I’ve finished my work,” a girl’s voice announced from outside.

“Kelly, let her in,” Qin Ruolin instructed.

“But, with Lin Feng here, might it cause unnecessary misunderstanding?” Kelly hesitated.

“Everyone already thinks we’re together. What’s one more misunderstanding?” Qin Ruolin was unconcerned.

Kelly nodded, opened the door, and let in the girl who introduced herself as Mengqi.

She was sweet-looking, well-proportioned—a rare beauty even among a crowd.

“Hello, Mentor Ruolin.” Chu Mengqi greeted Qin Ruolin first, but her gaze inevitably fell on Lin Feng.

Since Lin Feng was sitting with his back to the door, she hadn’t seen his face when she entered. Now, seeing him clearly, she was momentarily stunned.

“You’re… Lin Feng?”

“Yes, that’s me!” Lin Feng nodded.

“Oh my god, so all those news reports were true…” Chu Mengqi looked from Qin Ruolin to Lin Feng, blurting it out before she could stop herself. Realizing her slip, she quickly covered her mouth. “Sorry, Mentor Ruolin, I didn’t mean to gossip about you, I…”

“No need to be nervous, it’s fine.” Qin Ruolin waved her hand dismissively.

Lin Feng stood. “You two have work to do, so I’ll go.”

“Alright, don’t forget tomorrow,” Qin Ruolin reminded.

He nodded and left the room.

Out in the hallway, Lin Feng leaned against the wall, letting out a long breath. Even though he’d met Qin Ruolin several times, he was always nervous around her. She was simply too beautiful—so much so that, as an ordinary man, he felt his heart tremble, cautious with every word and gesture for fear of offending her perfection.

Back in his room, Lin Feng organized the sheet music and lyrics for “When,” then went to sleep.

The next day.

Lin Feng arrived at the hotel’s underground parking lot right on time. After a few moments, Qin Ruolin’s red jeep pulled up beside him.

He got in. Today, Qin Ruolin wore little makeup—almost none at all—yet her face was flawless from every angle, her beauty still breathtaking.

“You’re going to meet my old man dressed like that?” Qin Ruolin looked at Lin Feng’s boyish casual outfit and was left speechless.

“This is how I usually dress,” Lin Feng replied with a wry smile.

“Looks like we’ll have to stop by the mall first,” Qin Ruolin said, stepping hard on the accelerator.

Twenty minutes later, her jeep pulled into the underground parking lot of the World Trade Department Store.

“We need to be quick, or someone might recognize us.” She found sunglasses and a mask in the car, donning a full disguise.

“Honestly, I think I look fine like this,” Lin Feng shrugged helplessly.

“It’s fine for every day, but not today!” Qin Ruolin’s tone was firm. “If you really don’t want to go up, just give me your measurements and I’ll buy something for you. You can wait in the car.”

“Forget it, I’ll go with you,” Lin Feng said, putting on a mask and sunglasses and stepping out with her.

…