The next day, Xu Mengyao went to work.
After breakfast, Lin Chen took Lin Xiaoqian downstairs. The weather was getting hotter, and only the early morning remained cool.
"Qianqian's dad!"
"Hello, Brother Lin. Could I ask you a few questions?"
"Mr. Lin, will you be participating in professional competitions?"
As soon as they stepped outside, people who had been hiding somewhere suddenly emerged, swarming around Lin Chen and his daughter.
Lin Xiaoqian, frightened, clung tightly to Lin Chen's leg.
Lin Chen picked her up. "Everyone, you've scared my daughter. I'm just an ordinary basketball enthusiast and have no plans to compete professionally."
"Please don't waste your energy and time on me."
A self-media blogger asked, "Brother Lin, according to online reports, you carried your wife and daughter for over an hour. How did you manage to keep going for so long?"
"Qianqian's dad, are you a son-in-law who lives with your wife's family?" another person shouted.
Lin Chen's brow furrowed. "I have nothing to say. Please stop bothering us. Thank you."
Holding Lin Xiaoqian, he quickly returned upstairs.
"Dad, those people were so scary," Lin Xiaoqian said.
"Who were they?"
Lin Chen said, "Some are reporters, some are self-media bloggers, and some are just here to join the commotion. Qianqian, it seems we won't be able to go downstairs for a while."
He hadn't expected them to arrive so soon. The street below had looked quiet, but they were already here.
These days, any incident attracts a swarm of people looking to ride the wave of attention and boost their traffic. This is precisely why he had been hiding all along.
He'd seen it all online.
When someone becomes famous, their rural hometown becomes a hotspot for onlookers.
Lin Chen suddenly thought of his parents.
His hometown's location had likely been exposed already. Had people already rushed there?
*Ring, ring!*
Lin Chen called his mother.
Chen Mei answered quickly. "Son, I was just about to call you. Strangers showed up in the village early this morning and started taking pictures all around our house."
"They even broke into the house we're renovating."
"Some are filming us with their phones. Your father yelled at them to stay out, but they wouldn't listen."
Lin Chen's brow furrowed. "Mom, what's the situation?"
Chen Mei sighed helplessly. "I've hidden out here. Work on the house stopped today—the workers can't continue. Your father is inside trying to persuade them to leave."
"But I don't think it'll help."
"Your dad just texted me that there are even more people now."
Lin Chen thought for a moment. "Mom, you and Dad should go to the county. That house probably isn't widely known."
"I'll take Qianqian and come over to hide out for a few days too."
Chen Mei's eyes lit up. "You'll bring Qianqian?"
"There are some people gathered downstairs too, but they can't get upstairs. We're in a slightly better situation."
Lin Chen said, his voice tinged with sadness.
"Then we'll head over right now," Chen Mei said. "We haven't been there in a week; we'll need to clean it up beforehand. Will you and Qianqian come this afternoon?"
"I'll ask Meng Yao. If she's free, we'll come tomorrow. If not, I'll bring Qianqian over today."
"Okay, okay."
"Son, if we leave, will the house be—"
"Mom, once you're gone, those people will stir up a fuss for a while and then leave. They're just chasing the latest hype; something else will grab their attention soon enough."
"Mm-hmm."
After hanging up, Chen Mei quickly told Lin Hai.
They called a car, which was waiting for them.
"Honey, don't forget to bring some masks," Lin Hai reminded her.
"Alright."
They quickly got into a car and drove away. Many of the people who ran over had their own cars, but when they tried to chase after Lin Hai, some of them blocked their path.
By the time the blockers moved aside, Lin Hai and his group had already vanished.
"Honey, was there something important?" Xu Mengyao asked when she called Lin Chen back half an hour later.
"I was in a crucial meeting earlier and couldn't take the call."
Lin Chen explained the situation.
Xu Mengyao thought for a moment. "I'll be swamped with work these next few days. I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany you and Qianqian. Honey, why don't you take Qianqian back to visit your parents?"
"Oh, by the way, do you have any private dining reservations recently?"
"President Chen had one," Lin Chen replied. "I just contacted him, and it's been postponed to next week. Let's see how things settle down after this whole thing blows over."
"That's good."
"Don't worry about me, honey," Xu Mengyao reassured him. "I'll stay at my parents' place after work. That community has strict security; outsiders can't get in."
Xu Guofeng's community was small and easy to manage. Purple Garden Community, while upscale, had too many residents to compare to a villa district.
"Okay."
Lin Chen wasn't particularly worried about Xu Mengyao. As the CEO of a major corporation, she was already a public figure. While this situation might affect him and Lin Xiaoqian, it wouldn't have a significant impact on Xu Mengyao. In fact, occasional media exposure might even benefit her.
"Honey, you should take our private jet. If you fly commercial, you might be recognized," Xu Mengyao suggested. "It might be too tight to leave in the morning, but we can go in the afternoon."
"Alright," Lin Chen agreed.
After hanging up, Xu Mengyao quickly made arrangements. The private jet was scheduled to depart at 2:30 PM, just after lunch.
"Qianqian, we can't go out to play today," Lin Chen told his daughter.
"What do you want to play at home, sweetie? Daddy will do whatever you want," he said, kissing her cheek.
"Let's practice martial arts, Daddy! We haven't practiced yet today, and I want to get stronger," Lin Xiaoqian replied.
"Martial arts?" Lin Chen asked. "Are your legs still sore?"
"A little bit, Daddy, but I'm not afraid. I'm a brave girl, hehe!" Lin Xiaoqian answered.
"Alright then," Lin Chen said with a smile.
After martial arts practice, Lin Chen played doctor with Lin Xiaoqian using her toy medical kit.
At Shen Qing's home, she was mindlessly scrolling through short videos.
*Lin Chen and Xu Mengyao's Profit Analysis*
Shen Qing stumbled upon a video with that title.
*Profit 1: A luxury residence in Purple Garden Community, market value approximately 12 million yuan.*
*Profit 2: A commercial property outside Purple Garden Community, market value approximately 5 million yuan.*
*Profit 3: Two luxury cars—a Lamborghini Aventador and a bulletproof Cullinan—totaling over 20 million yuan.*
*Profit 4: A villa under construction in his hometown, valued at 3 million yuan.*
Shen Qing frowned after watching.
Though the video creator hadn't explicitly stated it, the implication was clear: Lin Chen had likely gained these benefits by becoming a *zhui* (a man who marries into his wife's family and takes her surname).
"Mengyao, look at this," Shen Qing said, forwarding the video to Xu Mengyao.
Xu Mengyao, who happened to be free, clicked on the video.
She was furious after watching.
The bulletproof Cullinan was her father's birthday gift, but the rest of the assets were all Lin Chen's own hard-earned wealth. He was not a *zhui*!
*Ring! Ring!*
Xu Mengyao called Lin Chen.
"Honey, I sent you a video. There are some comments online, don't take them to heart."
"Let me see."
After hanging up, Lin Chen quickly watched the video.
His heart remained unmoved.
Even if he were a kept man, with his excellent circumstances and Xu Mengyao's beauty, countless people would be eager to be with her, even if Lin Xiaoqian weren't her biological daughter.
-----------------------
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