Chapter 42: The Clash Between Hecate and Lin Ziyu

Driving home, the two barely spoke.

The entire journey took just over half an hour, and they soon entered the house.

“Welcome back, Young Miss.” As Lin Ziyu stepped through the Lin family’s grand entrance, the household staff greeted her warmly. Lin Ziyu nodded in response, clearly well-liked as the young miss of the Lin family.

“Welcome, Young Miss.” Lin Ziyu continued forward, and Hecate descended from the upstairs, greeting her softly.

“You are?” Lin Ziyu immediately noticed Hecate.

In her previous life, Lin Ziyu had seen Hecate by Lin Tai’s side, but back then, she hadn’t paid her much attention, assuming she was just an attractive follower Lin Tai kept around.

It wasn’t until later that she learned Hecate was the world’s second-ranked assassin, the most formidable in the assassin world aside from Ye Bai.

However, this woman wasn’t dangerous. On the surface, she was Ye Bai’s subordinate, but in reality, she wasn’t truly loyal to him.

In her previous life, if Hecate hadn’t intervened to help, they likely wouldn’t have succeeded in killing Ye Bai so smoothly.

Even though Hecate aided them in killing Ye Bai, Lin Ziyu never fully understood her motives.

It wasn’t until Hecate took her own life at Lin Tai’s tombstone that Lin Ziyu realized.

Her foolish brother had somehow, unknowingly, turned the world’s second-ranked assassin to his side.

In her previous life, Lin Ziyu deeply admired Hecate. But now, reborn and seeing Hecate again, her mood was far from pleasant.

“My name is Hecate, the young master’s servant,” Hecate said, noticing the guarded look in Lin Ziyu’s expression. She recalled their first meeting in her previous life.

Back then, Lin Ziyu hadn’t even spared her a glance. What was different now?

Why did it feel like Lin Ziyu was wary of her, with her gaze unconsciously drifting toward Lin Tai?

Was she guarding against her relationship with Lin Tai?

Hecate narrowed her eyes. It seemed Lin Ziyu’s gratitude toward her brother was far from ordinary.

Too bad—a little girl trying to compete with her was far out of her league!

“Lin Ziyu, this is my person. Don’t bully her,” Lin Tai said, naturally stepping in to defend Hecate. But at this moment, he was more curious about the dynamic between Lin Ziyu and Hecate.

Their gazes—Lin Tai sensed something unusual between them.

He remembered that in his previous life, their first meeting wasn’t nearly this tense.

Lin Ziyu had always been indifferent to him and completely uninterested in his social circle, with minimal interaction.

Even as part of Ye Bai’s harem, the two women didn’t have a particularly close relationship.

But now, he had a strange feeling. The way Hecate and Lin Ziyu locked eyes felt like they were staking a claim—over him, it seemed.

No way! That had to be his imagination!

Lin Ziyu had always had a poor attitude toward him. How could she suddenly care about her brother?

Two female leads, instead of vying for the male protagonist Ye Bai, coming to claim ownership over a villainous side character like him?

Lin Tai shook his head. He must have been rattled by the recent string of setbacks, making him paranoid.

“…” Lin Ziyu glanced at Lin Tai. When had she bullied Hecate?

Oh, foolish brother, you’ve been targeted by this woman and don’t even realize it.

But no matter. She would make Hecate back off. A killer could never become her sister-in-law.

Lin Ziyu didn’t say much more, bypassing Hecate and heading straight to her room.

She urgently needed an ally.

Back in her room, Lin Ziyu quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Yao Anxuan’s number.

It was time to call in her best friend.

Back then, it was Yao Anxuan’s advice that led her to study abroad.

This time, she had deliberately contacted Yao Anxuan to come to the capital to discuss matters right after her return.

In the blink of an eye, noon passed. By two or three in the afternoon, a luxurious Bentley, after passing security checks, drove into the Lin family estate.

Seeing her best friend Yao Anxuan arrive, Lin Ziyu hurried downstairs and immediately pulled her into her room.

“Brother Lin Tai, hi,” Yao Anxuan said politely, flashing a bright smile and greeting Lin Tai as she passed through the living room.

“What’s with you?” Lin Ziyu frowned, puzzled. Perhaps because of Hecate, she had become paranoid, feeling that her best friend’s smile hid something more.

But Lin Ziyu didn’t dwell on it.

Due to her, Yao Anxuan and Lin Tai’s relationship had always been frosty. There was no way they could have any connection.

Besides, she hadn’t even explained anything to Yao Anxuan yet.

How could Yao Anxuan suddenly be on better terms with Lin Tai?

“He’s your brother, isn’t he? We’re best friends, so your brother is like my brother,” Yao Anxuan said with a light laugh, offering a simple explanation.

“Let’s go, hurry upstairs. I have something to discuss with you,” Lin Ziyu said, feeling the explanation was flimsy but, upon reflection, reasonable.

It couldn’t be that her brother and her best friend had some special relationship, right?

Lin Ziyu quickly dismissed the thought. It was simply impossible.

Without spending a long time with her brother, no one could know his good qualities, and Yao Anxuan certainly couldn’t know how wonderful her brother was.

This worry was completely baseless.

“Mm,” Yao Anxuan nodded politely to Lin Tai again before following upstairs, her gaze lingering on him.

She hadn’t expected to meet Lin Tai again under such circumstances.

This time, she hoped she’d have enough time to get to know him, and that Lin Tai would have enough time to get to know her.

In the room, as soon as Yao Anxuan sat down, Lin Ziyu spoke urgently, “Anxuan, I need to tell you a secret. It’s very important to me! It concerns our family’s future. Listen carefully and give me advice!”