Chapter 61: Uneasy

 The sight of Lin Feng's seemingly gentle smile inexplicably caused Su Ning to feel uneasy. Gu YuChen previously warned her several times to keep away from Lin JinYan's brother and she'd made every effort to decline all his invitations thus far. However, at this moment Su Ning was in a predicament; she didn't know how to reject Lin Feng's offer without arousing suspicion. 

Su Ning had initially wanted to use her DeeDee ride as an excuse. But unluckily enough, her phone pinged a notification that her ride had been cancelled by the driver due to rush hour traffic. It was difficult to grab another DeeDee at this time and the Rolls Royce currently parked at the App Share Pickup Station had caused several cars to be backed up behind them. Su Ning didn't want to inconvenience the other people waiting at the pick up point but she was also hesitant to accept Lin Feng's offer. 

Perhaps her expression gave away her predicament, Lin Feng called out softly to remind her. "Xiao Ning, there's people waiting."

"Miss Ning, please," said Lin Feng's tall and well built subordinate gesturing towards the open door at the back seat of the vehicle.

"Uhm, then...thank you for your kind offer." Su Ning said hesitantly as she slowly got into the car.

 Lin Feng sat comfortably at the back seat of his Rolls Royce impeccably garbed in a bespoke grey suit. He casually glanced at the beautiful young girl who sat tensely beside him and he let out a soft chuckle.

"Xiao Ning went out to play with friends today?" Lin Feng asked.

"En. I went with my middle school friends," Su Ning answered politely.

"Did they come to watch your play as well?" he asked casually.

"Huh? Oh…How did you know?" Ning asked, surprised.

"Hmm. XIIN Entertainment always has representatives attending M Academy events," Lin Feng answered calmly.

"Oh. I see. Is this to scout for new talent?" Su Ning inquired, making small talk. However, internally she wished that time would pass quicker and they would arrive at the M Compound sooner.

"Mhmm. What does Xiao Ning think about joining XIIN Entertainment?" (Lin Feng)

"Ah?! Uhmm, Lin Feng-gege I'm actually...music is a hobby for me," Su Ning explained respectfully.

"Hmm. That's too bad. Xiao Ning is really talented. You're still young, there's no need to decide so early," Lin Fen responded, disregarding Su Ning's refusal.

"Oh. But.." Su Ning began, attempting to explain further. However, she was quickly interrupted by Lin Feng.

"Has Xiao Ning eaten dinner?" he said, changing the subject.

"Ah..Not yet. I was going to eat dinner at home," Su Ning naturally replied.

"With JinYan?" he asked sharply.

"En," Su Ning responded with slightly furrowed brows. 'Is it just me or did Lin Feng sound a bit angry?'

However, when Su Ning glanced at the man beside her, his expression appeared completely normal. 'Ah, it must be my imagination.'

"My little brother is so lucky to have a nice friend like Xiao Ning," Lin Feng commented with a small smile.

"Ah no..JinYan-ge is a good friend to me. Has Lin Feng-gege eaten yet?" (Su Ning)

"Not yet. I wanted to eat with Xiao Ning. But it's been quite difficult to get a hold of her. My secretary reached out several times only to be rejected each time," Lin Feng pointed out.

"Ah! Sorry about that. I was just busy with rehearsals," Su Ning answered with a slight tremble in her voice. 'Somehow, I feel he is displeased with me although his face doesn't show it.'

"So, since the musical is over Xiao Ning is free to share a meal together?" (Lin Feng)

"Uhh..En." (Su Ning)

"That's good. Xiao Ning looks really pretty today." (Lin Feng)

"Oh uhh thank you. Lin Feng-gege looks really handsome today as well," she said graciously.

"Mm, it's for a company event. Red hair really suits you," Lin Feng commented as he naturally reached out to touch a lock of Su Ning's long hair. This kind of behavior was commonly done by Lin JinYan so it shouldn't be much different if done by his brother but Su Ning still stiffened at the unfamiliar touch.

"[nervous laughter] Thank you. Uhm..I think we are almost at my place," Su Ning pointed out apprehensively.

"Ah. That's too bad. I wanted to chat with Xiao Ning a bit more," Lin Feng said nonchalantly, taking obvious satisfaction at the young girl's discomfort.

"[nervous laughter] Mm. Then, thank you for the ride. Lin Feng-gege, please take care on your way back," Su Ning called out as she quickly alighted from the vehicle.

"Mmm." Lin Feng gave a soft humm of acknowledgment. 

The Rolls Royce exited out of the M Academy compound and Lin Feng leisurely reclined on the expensive white leather seat with an inscrutable look on his face. 'As I thought. She's perfectly suited to be part of my collection.' 

"Keep an eye on her," Lin Feng said addressing Secretary Xu on the front seat of the car.

"Understood," Xu ShiMu replied adroitly without a change in his expression.

.....

As soon Su Ning entered the lobby of the luxury apartment complex, M Heights, she began to take several calming breaths. She was so tense in the presence of Lin Feng that she'd been unconsciously holding her breath. 'I need to calm down. I'm being overly dramatic. It was only a car ride,' Su Ning began to rationalize.

It wasn't as if she's never experienced the company of sketchy characters before. In her past life, even the area she previously lived in was frequented by pickpockets and delinquents yet she always managed to keep calm and come through unscathed. But somehow a short car ride with Lin Feng had managed to make her feel so uneasy. 'My heart is beating fast. I didn't notice it then but I must have been afraid,' she thought.

Su Ning spent several minutes seated on the sofa of the elegantly decorated apartment lobby debating whether to inform Gu YuChen and Lin JinYan of what had just transpired. However, after much deliberation, she eventually decided against it. No matter how strained the relationship between Lin JinYan and Lin Feng, they were still brothers. And Su Ning was loath to foster additional animosity between the two. On the other hand, Gu YuChen is on another continent. It wouldn't be right to trouble him over something like this. 'Nothing even really happened anyways. Lin Feng didn't actually do anything to me. Maybe I'm really just over-thinking.'

With her decision made, Su Ning proceeded up the elevator doors and pasted a bright smile on her face to greet Lin JinYan.