Chapter 166: The Price of Lin Man

Faced with Ding Heng's question once again, Lin Man couldn't help but start to ponder.

Was Ding Heng serious, or was he just teasing her?

The "crying scene" in the elevator just now was something she came up with on the spur of the moment, wanting to tease this man who always ignored her.

According to her script, Ding Heng should show a surprised expression and then ask her why she had fallen to such a state. She would then fabricate a tragic backstory to see if he would feel any pity for her.

As it turned out, the man didn't follow the expected pattern at all.

When the word "out" came out of his mouth, Lin Man almost couldn't hold back.

"Have you made up your mind?"

Ding Heng asked again, his tone still calm and unhurried.

Lin Man tried her best to remain calm and asked with a smile, "How much do you think is appropriate?"

"Let's go inside and talk..."

Ding Heng pushed open the car door, and a cold wind rushed in, dispersing the lingering smell of alcohol in the car.

Without waiting for Lin Man's response, he walked straight to the hotel lobby.

Sitting in the driver's seat, the last vestiges of reason in Lin Man's mind told her that she had better leave now and pretend that nothing had happened tonight.

But a strange obsession welled up inside me...

"asshole."

Lin Man muttered a curse under her breath, pulled out the key, pushed open the door, got out of the car, and chased after the man.

The moment she stepped into the hotel, Ding Heng's mind went blank.

[Congratulations on capturing Princess "Crown of Thorns" of the Heretic Kingdom and bringing her back to your territory. The quest is now officially unlocked. Please begin your punishment as soon as possible.]

Crown of Thorns: Lin Man

[Current Status: A Princess Defiled by Worldly Affairs]

[Penalty Value: 0%]

Atonement Value: 0%

[Refuge Value: 0%]

Ding Heng stared at the three progress bars that had appeared out of nowhere in his mind, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Wenjing is one, Huaqing is two, Linman is three... The missions are getting harder and harder!

The advantage is that I can get a lot of merit points from Lin Man.

The downside is that Hua Qing's two haven't been fully leveled up yet, and now three more have appeared. Who knows when it will be time to level them up?

When the elevator reached the 28th floor, Ding Heng snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at Lin Man.

He asked curiously, "Do you usually dress like this for work?"

Lin Man paused for a moment, then looked down at her clothes.

She wore a loose gray sweatshirt with jeans, her face was bare, and her hair was casually tied into a ponytail.

She never expected to run into Ding Heng before she left home today. She was already being very accommodating by dressing like this to confront Lin Zhiyuan at the KTV.

"It's not my shift start time yet."

She tossed her hair, feigning nonchalance, and said, "That's why I didn't have time to get dressed up."

"oh."

Ding Heng fixed his gaze on Lin Man, looking her up and down, as if he were appraising a commodity waiting to be sold.

Lin Man felt uneasy all over and subconsciously took a half step back.

Ding Heng joked, "Dressed like this to go out for a nice meal with me, you can't exactly ask for a higher price, can you?"

"Um... I'll have my friend send me a local package, can you wait a little longer?"

"rest assured."

Ding Heng opened the door and went inside first, tossing out a sentence without turning his head: "I have plenty of patience."

Lin Man gritted her teeth, followed him to glance at the apartment number, and then suddenly asked, "Don't you usually live on the 27th floor?"

"Wenjing and Zhao Yanxi might come back at any time. It wouldn't be good to get caught looking for prostitutes."

Ding Heng said matter-of-factly, "It's embarrassing."

Lin Man almost laughed out of anger.

She deliberately softened her voice, her tone aggrieved: "It seems you still dislike me."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Ding Heng suddenly reached out and grabbed her waist, pulling her into his arms.

Before Lin Man could react, she was already pressed against Ding Heng's chest.

"It's alright, as long as my second brother doesn't mind."

Lin Man was startled and instinctively tried to push Ding Heng away, but she didn't dare to use force when she placed her hand on his chest.

She said nervously, "Didn't you say... you still had patience? I haven't even decided on a price yet..."

[Penalty Value: 2%]

Ding Heng glanced at the numbers in his mind and roughly understood what the system meant by "punishment".

He walked over and sat down on the sofa. He crossed his legs, raised his chin towards Lin Man, who was staring blankly at the door, and asked, "What, aren't you coming in?"

Lin Man gripped the hem of her hoodie tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Reason once again reminded Lin Man that she had better turn around and leave now; at worst, she would be ridiculed by Ding Heng.

But her feet seemed to be rooted to the ground.

Lin Man took a deep breath, stepped into the living room, sat down next to Ding Heng, and said in a soft and charming tone, "Don't be angry, I'm not ready yet."

"Okay, I'll think about it some more."

"It's so kind of you……"

Lin Man rested her chin on Ding Heng's shoulder and gently blew on it: "I've already given you all the perks, aren't you going to comment on how it feels?"

She had hoped to turn the tide and regain the initiative, but Ding Heng showed no embarrassment whatsoever and instead began to think about it seriously.

Ding Heng continued to comment, "To be honest, it's rare to see someone with your figure who studies dance."

Although not as exaggerated as Wenjing, Lin Man still carries considerable weight and is quite different from ordinary dance students.

Lin Man tossed her hair with her fingers, her tone nonchalant: "I didn't develop like this from a young age. I had a hunchback and uneven shoulders when I was little, so my mom sent me to dance classes to train my physique and temperament. She never intended for me to go down the path of art exams."

"Aren't you a dance major?"

"No, my grades are okay, my academic score is just enough to get into Hunan Normal University."

Lin Man moved closer, her lips gently nibbling at Heng's earlobe, her tone becoming increasingly ambiguous.

"Dancing is a plus, and it's also a little perk for my future husband."

"Compared to Hanaharu?"

"Then I won't compete. You know best how flexible she is."

The two were exchanging flirtatious banter when the doorbell rang.

Ding Heng walked over, opened the door, took a local package, and handed it to Lin Man.

"Go get your package."

"No peeking!"

Lin Man picked up the package, tiptoed and gently kissed Ding Heng on the cheek, then turned and walked into the dressing room.

It took nearly an hour for Lin Man to put on makeup and change clothes. Finally, she walked out of the dressing room when the sun had completely set.

Ding Heng put down his phone and turned to look.

The warm light from under the eaves cuts down at an angle, casting a gentle shadow on the off-white wall.

Lin Man's jet-black curly hair was loosely tied back, held in place by a gold hairpin. A few strands of hair fell beside her cheeks, just enough to cover her half-closed eyelashes, revealing only a hint of her rosy lips.

Round gold ornaments of the same color dangled from her ears, swaying gently with her subtle movements. A long chain of the same style cascaded down her collarbone, casting shimmering light on her snow-white skin, exuding elegance without being ostentatious.

The creamy white blouse with its smooth, flowing fabric draped loosely over the shoulders, revealing one shoulder completely with lines as smooth as a crescent moon.

Paired with a flowing black maxi skirt that flares out from the waist, it accentuates the waistline, making it appear even slimmer.

Alluring and elegant, this is where dreams begin and come true. Yet, it also possesses a coldness that keeps people at a distance.

She tilted her head, a smile playing on her lips: "Can I go have a 'pretty meal' with you now?"

Ding Heng walked up to her and extended his hand in a gentlemanly manner.

Without much hesitation, Lin Man raised her hand and gently placed it on the man's arm, thus taking the opportunity to hold his entire arm.

Stepping out of the room, Ding Heng pressed the elevator button: "What do you want to eat? Chinese or Western food?"

Lin Man obediently replied, "I'll do as you say."

The Western restaurant is located on a high floor of the hotel, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of Changsha's nightscape.

The waiter pulled out a chair, laid out a napkin, and handed over the menu.

Lin Man took the menu, glanced at it, and then naturally turned to the waiter.

"Two servings of Angus ribeye, medium-rare. Side dishes: asparagus and truffle mashed potatoes."

"Okay, would you like some drinks for the ladies?"

"Let's start with a bottle of Bordeaux. The vintage doesn't have to be too good, just a recent few years' vintage will do."

"Does the lady have a favorite winery?"

"La Fontaine-Roche."

Lin Man closed the menu, speaking naturally and skillfully: "Prepare the decanter in advance."

The waiter acknowledged and withdrew.

Lin Man picked up her water glass, took a sip, met Ding Heng's gaze, and smiled sheepishly, "Was I too casual?"

"No, it's fine."

Ding Heng spoke in a flat tone.

In this upscale Western restaurant, Lin Man was clearly much more skilled than him...

The waiter brought the red wine, opened the bottle, and poured it into a decanter.

Lin Man picked up her wine glass, brought it close to her nose, and then took a small sip.

"Well enough."

She put down her wine glass, placed her hands folded on the table, and leaned forward slightly.

"Ding Heng, can I ask you something?"

"ask."

"What exactly do you do for a living?"

"Student, don't you already know?"

"I mean... what does your family do?"

"My dad is a photographer, my mom passed away, and we come from an ordinary family."

"Yeah?"

Lin Man clearly didn't believe it.

Where do ordinary families get so much money?

He stays in presidential suites every day, keeps a bunch of women around him, and can even help them...

Lin Man simply asked directly, "Did you arrange for Hua Qing to go to the Beijing Dance Academy?"

Ding Heng spoke frankly: "Her own abilities have little to do with me."

"Not a big deal? Does that mean it's related?"

"Think what you want... People always have to move forward. Hua Qing just wants to improve."

Lin Man lowered her head and poked at the salad on her plate with her fork.

"You're so good to Hua Qing."

Her voice was very soft, and it was impossible to tell what emotion she was expressing.

"She is my woman."

Ding Heng picked up his wine glass, his tone indifferent: "Isn't it only right to be good to her?"

Lin Man didn't reply, but secretly glanced at the man in front of her through the amber-colored wine.

Ding Heng was cutting his steak with his head down, not very skilled with the knife and fork, but his posture was inexplicably calm.

Lin Man lowered her eyes, poked the asparagus in the plate with her fork, but didn't put it in her mouth.

"Ding Heng".

"Um?"

"You just said Hua Qing is your woman..."

"What's wrong?"

"Have you ever thought about what would happen if she found out about what happened between you and me tonight?"

"That depends on what we have to do tonight."

Lin Man choked.

She realized that Ding Heng had completely given up on playing this pointless game with her.

Ding Heng continued, "Speaking of which, you still haven't forgiven Hua Qing?"

Lin Man didn't expect Ding Heng to ask this suddenly, and couldn't help but laugh at herself: "I'm a good person in every way, except that I'm petty and hold grudges."

"If you hold grudges over such trivial matters..."

Ding Heng cut off a piece of steak and stuffed it into his mouth: "Aren't you more vengeful about big things?"

Lin Man's hand movements came to a complete stop.

Ding Heng continued, "Let me give you a piece of advice: holding grudges is not a good habit, especially if you don't have the ability to get revenge. It will only make you feel more and more frustrated."

The speaker is unintentional and the listener is interested.

Lin Man lowered her eyes and unconsciously chewed the food in her mouth.

She does hold grudges.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have held onto Hua Qing's unintentional remark for three years.

On the other hand...

She was powerless to avenge the true blood feud and had to beg for food under someone else's roof.

out .

"Ding Heng".

She looked up, meeting the man's gaze: "What do you mean by saying that?"

"Give me some face."

Ding Heng said sincerely, "Make peace with Hua Qing. You two might run into each other all the time in the future, so there's no need to make things so tense."

Lin Man didn't respond to his comment, but instead laughed: "You really care about Hua Qing."

"I told you, she's my woman."

Ding Heng said matter-of-factly, "I'm a bit of a chauvinist."

Suddenly, something came to Lin Man's mind again.

"That incident where Hua Qing and Long He caused quite a stir... was it you who smoothed things over for her?"

Liu Jianming's affair caused quite a stir, and Lin Man naturally heard about it, even knowing more inside information than the average person.

Ding Heng didn't say anything, but picked up his wine glass and took another sip.

Lin Man continued to press, subconsciously lowering her voice as if afraid of disturbing something: "Don't tell me that Liu Jianming turned himself in because he had a change of heart and even brought his wife and children back to China to suffer."

Ding Heng put down his wine glass, his expression remaining unchanged.

"There might be some connection, but don't overthink it."

He neither admitted nor denied it.

But Lin Man's heart was already in turmoil.

If Liu Jianming's surrender was due to being threatened and was still within the realm of understanding, then the fact that his wife and children returned to China further illustrates Ding Heng's methods.

When ordinary people threaten Lau Kin-ming, he can at most clear himself of any wrongdoing; how could he possibly drag his wife and children into it as well?

unless……

Anyone who threatens Liu Jianming can make his entire family suffer terribly.

Lin Man scrutinized the man in front of her once more.

If he could bring down a "big shot" like Liu Jianming for Hua Qing, then could he also do it for other women...?

In an instant, a glimmer of hope appeared in the seemingly endless hatred of the past.

Lin Man took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

"Ding Heng".

"Um?"

"You just asked me about the price..."

"Have you thought it through?"

"I've made up my mind."

Lin Man downed the glass of red wine in one gulp, but her hand trembled slightly as she put the glass down.

"What's the price?"

Ding Heng leaned back in his chair, looking at her calmly.

Lin Man parted her red lips slightly, her foxy eyes sparkling.

"I won't take your money..."