Chapter 17: Isn't This the Freedom He Longed For?

“You could have called me to pick you up early since you finished work ahead of time today!”

As soon as Liu Tianhan got into the car, her chatter began.

Lin Feng had gradually grown accustomed to her talkativeness and welcomed the rare chance for conversation.

He quipped, “I don’t even have your number.”

The screech of tires suddenly pierced the air as she braked abruptly.

“Oh my god, I actually forgot to add your contact!” Liu Tianhan slapped her forehead and pulled out her phone. “Come on, scan me!”

Lin Feng, slightly exasperated, took out his phone, scanned her code, and the notification chimed as they became friends. He labeled her with a note.

Liu Tianhan tapped her screen a few times, changing Lin Feng’s note to “Second Landlord,” and continued her chatter, “If you ever finish early or need to buy something, just message me.”

Lin Feng’s eyes suddenly lit up.

“Can I call you at other times too?”

“Of course!” Liu Tianhan nodded with a smile. “I’m your dedicated driver now. If you need anything, just tell me. The lady hasn’t restricted your movements...”

Damn!

So why had he been ordering takeout every day?

He’d thought Chu Lingshuang made him work here to keep an eye on him, not letting him go out. Turns out she wasn’t quite that ruthless!

Lin Feng’s mood soared.

Catching his delighted expression in the rearview mirror, Liu Tianhan was bewildered. “You didn’t know?”

“No,” Lin Feng nodded, genuinely grateful. “Thank you for telling me.”

Liu Tianhan was speechless.

If she weren’t driving, she’d have slapped herself. Why say so much? Now her workload, originally two trips a day, would surely increase...

Following the principle that the more you say, the more mistakes you make, Liu Tianhan uncharacteristically kept silent for the rest of the ride.

Lin Feng didn’t mind. This news was nothing short of a blessing for him.

Lunch breaks were long; he could stroll around the city, take leave to go out, or figure out when Lingshuang wasn’t at the manor and hit a bar for some fun.

Suddenly, the future looked bright, and the freedom he longed for was within reach!

Lin Feng was so excited he barely slept until midnight, not even caring whether Chu Lingshuang had returned.

He thought it best not to take leave just after starting, so for several days he kept up his routine.

Chu Lingshuang stayed away from the company. Though Lin Feng kept his distance, Li Hao sat nearby. After last time, Li Hao often leaned over to chat, and over time, the two became friendly.

In addition to Li Hao, Lin Feng found himself with a little sister—

“Brother Lin, Brother Li, over here!”

In the corner of the cafeteria, Xia Qingqing waved to them excitedly.

Since the incident, Xia Qingqing often came over during breaks to chat with Lin Feng. The internal post was more treacherous than the external, and Xia Qingqing frequently complained about the office politics.

Lin Feng didn’t care for it, treating it as gossip, while Li Hao always seemed thoroughly entertained.

Gradually, the three became familiar. Within the company, they might not be true friends, but they had become companions. Every noon, Xia Qingqing would join them with her lunch box.

“After we get our food!” Li Hao responded, slapping Lin Feng on the shoulder. “Come on, brother, let’s go get lunch!”

Lin Feng nodded, glanced at Xia Qingqing, and headed for the serving window.

He kept his distance from them as much as possible.

He didn’t want to expose any weaknesses.

He could still coast and play dead, but if he had a soft spot, it would be all too easy for Chu Lingshuang to control him.

Besides, in any workplace, how could there be real friends?

Just as they sat down, Xia Qingqing said excitedly, “Are you guys on leave tomorrow?”

Leave?

Lin Feng was taken aback; since he arrived, he hadn’t thought to ask.

“Should be about time...” Li Hao glanced at his phone. “Yeah, after a week, we get a day off.”

Xia Qingqing brightened instantly, looking at Lin Feng with anticipation. “What about you, Brother Lin?”

“I...”

Before he could answer, Li Hao cut in, “He can take a day off too. It’s been a week.”

“Great!” Xia Qingqing was thrilled, her eyes sparkling. “Let’s go sing karaoke tomorrow! I’ve been in the capital so long and haven’t gone out to have fun yet!”

“Huh?” Li Hao was surprised. “You didn’t go to university here?”

“No, I went to Finance University in Haishi. The school was strict and the schedule tight. My mom was afraid I’d fall behind and wouldn’t let me go out and play...”

As she said this, Xia Qingqing’s tone grew subdued, as if she’d touched upon a painful memory.

Realizing his mistake, Li Hao quickly ate a few bites, mumbling, “Alright, tonight let’s party, and tomorrow we’ll sleep in.”

Xia Qingqing’s melancholy vanished, her eyes lighting up as she looked hopefully at Lin Feng. “So, Brother Lin...”

Before she could finish, Lin Feng cut her off, “I won’t go. I’ve got plans tonight.”

Seeing Xia Qingqing’s disappointed face, Li Hao couldn’t bear it and complained, “You can sleep in tomorrow anyway, why spoil the fun?”

It really wasn’t about spoiling the fun. Although he wanted to go, his movements were constantly monitored by that crazy woman. If he actually went, who knew what trouble might ensue...

Lin Feng could only refuse, “I really have something to do. It’s not convenient...”

“What, meeting your girlfriend?” Li Hao teased, chewing on some greens.

Across from them, Xia Qingqing grew nervous, watching Lin Feng closely...

“No...” Lin Feng shook his head, his gaze darkening.

“True, I’ve never seen you chat with anyone...” Li Hao muttered, then blurted out, “Is it your parents who won’t let you go out at night?!”

Seeing Lin Feng silent, Li Hao slung his arm around his shoulder. “Come on, brother, you’re old enough not to be so strictly managed by your family. We’re adults now; what’s wrong with going out? Who’s going to stop us?”

Lin Feng’s eyes flickered.

Perhaps Li Hao was right.

Ever since meeting Chu Lingshuang and experiencing all that, he’d developed a kind of stress response, overly afraid of her.

Now he was out working; though still under her watch, he was a living, breathing person. Was he really going to spend his life in her shadow?

No!

Wasn’t this exactly the opportunity for freedom he’d been longing for?