After being kicked out of the wealthy family - Chapter 5: What a Coincidence, You Live Here Too

Chapter 5: What a Coincidence, You Live Here Too

Lin Wu arrived at Yujiadi Garden, a luxurious residential area in the heart of the city. Though the Lin family may have disowned her, her grandfather had always been kind, and Lin Wu couldn’t ignore him. Even if Lin Qian hadn’t disrupted everything, she would have returned to Beicheng to see her ailing grandfather in the hospital.

Returning to the Lin family home was not an option, so Lin Wu had purchased a villa in Yujiadi Garden beforehand.

The taxi dropped her at the entrance, as vehicles weren’t allowed inside the complex. After showing her residence permit to the security guard, she entered the quiet, moonlit grounds. The stillness of the night surrounded her as she walked, her thoughts drifting.

Not long after, she became aware of footsteps behind her—steady, measured, and following her closely. Whoever it was, they moved with the precision of someone highly trained. Quickening her pace, she could still sense the presence trailing her.

When she reached Villa No. 31, her patience wore thin. She turned abruptly, ready to confront her pursuer. "How long are you planning to—" The words froze on her lips.

Standing two meters away was the tall, imposing man from the train. If their encounter on the train had felt like a coincidence, this definitely did not.

The man raised his hand from the pocket of his dark coat and gestured to Villa No. 32, just ahead. A slight smile played on his lips as he looked at her with a blend of amusement and surprise.

"Take a closer look. It’s not me following you; I live there," he said, his voice deep and low.

Lin Wu blinked, caught off guard.

The man continued, "I've been living in Yujiadi Garden for a year, but this is the first time I've seen you. Who’s following whom here?"

Lin Wu said nothing, still eyeing him warily. When he realized she was still suspicious, he shrugged and walked past her. He keyed in a code at the smart lock on Villa No. 32’s door. The lock clicked audibly in the quiet night, and he turned to glance at her once more, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"So, we're neighbors now," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "If you need anything, come see me. Consider it… repayment for your kindness." With that, he stepped inside, leaving Lin Wu standing in stunned silence.

She finally muttered a curse under her breath and walked into her own villa, shutting the door behind her.

As soon as she sat down, her phone buzzed. The call came from an unknown number.

"Hello?"

“Brother! Where are you? How was your evening? Are you satisfied?” The voice on the other end was a familiar, overly confident male tone.

Lin Wu opened the refrigerator, grabbed a cold beer, and sat down at the dining table, putting her phone on speaker.

“More than satisfied,” she replied coolly. “So satisfied, I’m canceling our next business deal.”

"Wait, what?" The man stammered, "Why? Did my people not treat you well?"

"Your Manager Song did an excellent job entertaining the Lin family," Lin Wu replied, her voice calm but sharp.

There was a pause before he asked, “Then what are you angry about?”

Lin Wu sighed, “If that’s all you wanted to talk about, I’m hanging up.”

"No, no, no! I really have something important!" he quickly added. "Listen, I’ll be back in Beicheng next week. Let’s catch up then.”

This caller was Lu Guichi, a scion of one of the five powerful families in Beijing. He was the only one among Lin Wu’s connections who had seen her true face. They’d met four years ago when she was in Beijing on business, seeking to procure some rare spices he monopolized in the black market. Their initial encounters were more like duels than business dealings, but after a dangerous third party nearly cost them both their lives, they formed a strong bond. Since then, Lu Guichi had been eager to recruit her into his circle.

Lin Wu finished her beer. “If you don’t say what you need to, I’ll block you.”

Lu Guichi chuckled nervously, “Okay, okay. There’s someone here who’s very interested in your spices and wants to meet you.”

"I don’t want to meet him," she replied curtly.

“Come on, just give me this one favor!” He continued, his tone pleading. When she didn’t respond, his tone grew serious. “This person is critical to my project. I swear, you’ll benefit from meeting him too. It’ll be worth your time.”

Lin Wu didn’t reply, but just as she was about to hang up, he sent a message: *[This person may be related to what you've been investigating.]*

Her expression shifted as she read the message. After a moment’s hesitation, she replied: *[Fine.]*

As she set her phone down, a new message popped up on the screen.

It was from Zheng Qi, her assistant: *“Boss, the doctor at the hospital informed us that your grandfather’s condition has worsened. They’re at a loss on what to do.”*

Lin Wu’s eyes narrowed. *“Tell the doctor to try every available treatment, regardless of the cost. I’ll visit my grandfather in the hospital tomorrow.”*

*“Understood, boss,”* Zheng Qi replied swiftly.

After hanging up, Lin Wu headed upstairs, determined to finish work on a new spice formula she’d been researching. This particular blend might be useful for her grandfather’s treatment. But as she crossed the living room, her gaze drifted toward the balcony.

Villa No. 32 lay just next door.

Pondering for a moment, Lin Wu dialed Zheng Qi again. “I need you to run a background check on my neighbor in Villa No. 32.”

After two chance encounters with the man, her instincts told her there was something about him that warranted a closer look.

(End of chapter)