Chapter 8: I'm Not Dating—I'm Saving a Lost Youth!

After dinner, the two strolled along the riverside, enjoying the night view while digesting their meal.

Lin Beifan cracked a joke, making Song Yuqing laugh softly.

She realized that the young master beside her seemed to understand her well. He always knew what topics would interest her, how to make her laugh, and how to keep the conversation light and comfortable.

Before they knew it, it was already 9 p.m.

"It's getting late—I should head back," Song Yuqing said, a hint of reluctance in her voice.

"I'll take you home," Lin Beifan offered.

After a brief hesitation, Song Yuqing asked, "And after that? Are you going straight home to rest?"

"For a rich young master like me, it's still too early to sleep! The night is just getting started! My friends invited me to Xintiandi to have some fun."

Xintiandi was a well-known entertainment district, a bustling hotspot for food, drinks, and nightlife.

Hearing this, Song Yuqing felt an inexplicable discomfort.

She wanted to dissuade him but realized she had no right to do so.

Even so, she still said, "Those places are a mess… It's better if you don't go."

"But where else can I go?" Lin Beifan sighed. "The night is long, and I don't like being alone. It feels uncomfortable without someone to keep me company."

Song Yuqing thought for a moment before suggesting, "Why not… watch a movie instead? By the time it's over, it'll be late enough to head home."

Lin Beifan's eyes lit up. "Great idea!"

The two of them headed to the nearest cinema.

Coincidentally, the most popular film at the time was a romance movie—A Story About Lavender.

As soon as they stepped inside, a saleswoman enthusiastically approached them, trying to sell lavender specimens.

"Sir, your girlfriend is so beautiful! Why not buy her a bouquet of lavender? The flower's secret meaning is waiting for love—it symbolizes that love is on its way!"

Lin Beifan chuckled and shook his head. "You're mistaken. She's not my girlfriend—"

"Liar! Who else would come to watch a romance movie together if not a couple? Even if you're not dating now, you will be in the future! Hurry up and buy her some flowers—it'll bring you good luck in love!"

Unable to argue with her persistence, Lin Beifan bought a bottle of lavender and handed it to Song Yuqing.

"The saleswoman was too enthusiastic—I had no choice but to buy it. Here, this is for you. You can keep it on your desk at work. Looking at it might brighten your mood."

Song Yuqing took the bottle with flushed cheeks.

Silently, she told herself:

I'm not on a date. I'm just saving a lost youth!

Yet, her fingers instinctively tightened around the lavender bottle.

Just then, Lin Beifan suddenly turned toward the entrance.

Song Yuqing noticed and asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing… I thought I saw someone I know," Lin Beifan murmured, frowning slightly. "Maybe I was mistaken. Forget it. The movie's about to start—let's go in."

As the two stepped into the theater, a young man in a security uniform appeared at the entrance.

He clutched his chest, panting. "That was close! I almost got spotted!"

His expression twisted with complicated emotions.

"As expected of Lin Beifan—the demon king of chaos who once defeated me!"

Then, he froze.

"Wait… why am I afraid of seeing him?"

"I've been reborn… He shouldn't know me. So why am I still scared?"

A bitter smile spread across his face.

"Even after reincarnation, the shadow of my past still lingers…"

"But not this time!"

"The heavens have given me a second chance, and I will not waste it!"

"I will reclaim everything you took from me—bit by bit!"

"No—twice as much!"

"I will seize your fortune! Your women! Your entire empire!"

"And when I step on your corpse, I will finally reach the pinnacle and become the true master!"

His gaze lingered on the theater doors for a moment longer before he turned and left, his steps steady and determined.

By the time the movie ended, it was already 11:30 p.m.

Lin Beifan dropped Song Yuqing off at her home before heading back himself.

The next morning, he slept in, only waking up around noon.

Then, with a caring heart, he decided to visit the protagonist—who was still wrapped up like a mummy—in the hospital.

Of course, his main reason was to keep an eye on him.

And also to enjoy watching someone who despised him yet couldn't do anything about it.

After all, Xiao Chen was the Son of Destiny. Fate always favored him, turning disaster into fortune.

As a villain, Lin Beifan knew he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

Even though he had won for now, vigilance was key.

Upon arriving at the hospital, he found that Xiao Chen's senior brother had also come to visit—bringing a set of acupuncture needles.

He was preparing to use the legendary Ghost Valley Divine Acupuncture to heal the protagonist.

Lin Beifan's eyes gleamed.

"Perfect timing! I haven't made today's wish yet!"

With that, he clasped his hands together and sincerely prayed:

"Oh great system, please listen carefully to my wish! Today, I wish for…"