Lin Feng could feel Xu Lin's pain and grievance at that moment.
He also knew that a woman like Xu Lin was most vulnerable to emotional hurt.
He felt guilty and uneasy.
But at this moment, explaining would only make things worse. To win back her favor, Lin Feng decided to go all in.
He gazed at Xu Lin and suddenly raised his voice, "Xu Lin, just because you saw me having dinner with my sister, you stopped trusting me and started doubting my character?"
"In your eyes, I'm just a scumbag who likes to flirt around?"
"I always thought you were different from other girls. I wanted to cherish and protect you, and I thought this would lead to mutual trust and understanding between us!"
"Now I realize I was wrong. You've disappointed me too much!"
Lin Feng counter-attacked, feigning disappointment.
"What? You're saying that person is your sister?"
Xu Lin's eyes snapped open, revealing an expression of disbelief.
This was because Lin Feng and Liu Yuan's actions just now were too intimate. Lin Feng had proactively wiped Liu Yuan's mouth with his finger, their every move resembling that of a couple.
Liu Yuan also looked at Lin Feng with eyes full of affection. It was difficult for Xu Lin not to overthink.
Just as Xu Lin was feeling lost, Liu Yuan walked over with a smile.
"Lin Feng, is this Miss Xu the nice girl you told me about? She's very beautiful. You have good taste."
Liu Yuan said, looking at Xu Lin.
Seeing Liu Yuan covering for him, Lin Feng's suspended heart finally relaxed. He walked up to Xu Lin and put his arm around her.
"Alright, I know you care about me, and you're worried. You misunderstood my relationship with my sister."
"Now the misunderstanding is cleared. I forgive you this time, but don't be so suspicious next time. It makes me feel very uncomfortable."
Lin Feng comforted Xu Lin while not forgetting to admonish her.
Xu Lin was stunned, unsure of what to say.
Initially, the evidence was irrefutable, and Lin Feng should have been the one criticized.
But now, she was the one who had made a mistake.
However, since Liu Yuan had said so, Xu Lin knew she might have misunderstood Lin Feng.
"Lin Feng, I'm sorry. I didn't know she was your sister. I... I lost my composure a bit."
Xu Lin felt awkward and guilty towards Lin Feng.
Being misunderstood by him and then accused in front of so many people must have been very difficult for him.
Yet, Lin Feng was actively comforting and forgiving her.
She realized she had gone too far and shouldn't have said those hurtful words before confirming the truth.
At the same time, Lin Feng saw a change in his favorability score.
The score, which had dropped to zero, quickly rose back to ninety, with an additional five points, making it 95!
Lin Feng didn't feel particularly happy about the favorability score increasing after narrowly avoiding disaster; instead, he felt a pang of guilt.
This was because his counter-attack strategy was rather despicable.
"It's alright, I'm not angry. Your misunderstanding means you care about me."
"Sister Yuan, we'll be leaving now. I'm taking her out for some fresh air."
Lin Feng felt indebted to Xu Lin and intended to make it up to her.
"Okay, you two go ahead. Be good to her," Liu Yuan said with a smile.
Lin Feng nodded and pulled Xu Lin's hand as they walked out of the hotel.
"Lin Feng, it was my fault for making your sister witness that. But I'm truly afraid of being deceived."
Xu Lin's eyes were red. Despite her usual strong demeanor, she was, at heart, a fragile woman.
Especially in love, she became like a little girl, unable to bear seeing the person she liked being intimate with another woman.
Even Xu Lin didn't know what was happening to her; she had suddenly become sensitive and prone to outbursts.
"It's not your fault. It's mine. I didn't pay attention to you and overlooked your feelings."
"I also know you've been deceived and hurt by a boyfriend before. I understand what it's like to be deceived."
"I'll treat you better from now on and consider your feelings more."
Lin Feng said with sincerity.
Hearing Lin Feng's heartfelt words, Xu Lin's eyes welled up with tears.
"Alright, no more tears. Cheer up."
Lin Feng reached out and gently wiped Xu Lin's tear-streaked face, feeling heartbroken.
"I'm fine. There's a beggar up ahead. Let's give him some money."
Xu Lin forced a smile and pointed to a raggedly dressed person on the overpass not far away.
"Is my dear Miss Xu overflowing with compassion? I don't have much cash on me. You can give him what you have!"
Lin Feng felt his pockets, managing to find a crumpled ten-yuan bill.
"No need for your money. Keep it for yourself. I have some."
Xu Lin smiled and took out several red banknotes from her handbag.
She followed Lin Feng to the overpass.
The old beggar, dressed in rags, was holding a stack of small flyers and handing them out to everyone he met.
His hair was disheveled, and his face was dirty. It was clear he was distributing flyers just to earn a living.
"Grandpa, take this money to eat and buy some clothes."
Lin Feng took the banknotes from Xu Lin and handed them to the old beggar.
Hearing a familiar voice, the old beggar suddenly pushed back the messy hair from his forehead and roared, "You little brat, I'll kick your ass! This Daoist has been searching for you so desperately, and you dare to play tricks on me? I'll kill you!"
Lin Feng looked at the furious old beggar and, upon closer inspection, realized it was Duan Liang.
"Daoist Master, is that you? How did you end up like this?"
Lin Feng looked at Duan Liang in surprise. If Duan Liang hadn't spoken, he would have mistaken him for a beggar.
"How dare you ask me? You ran off without a word while I was healing."
"The world is so vast, where am I supposed to find you?"
"I've searched for you all the way from Qingcheng to the capital, printing stacks of missing person posters. I've searched door-to-door, and my legs are almost broken."
Duan Liang said pitifully, his teeth gritted in anger.
Lin Feng then noticed that the flyers Duan Liang was distributing had his portrait on them.
"Lin Feng, you know this old gentleman?"
Xu Lin asked, taken aback.
"Know him? I wish I could kill him!"
Duan Liang, fuming, clenched his fists. Without another word, he grabbed Lin Feng by the collar and dragged him aside.
"Hand it over. Quickly give me the Flying Pig Speed Manual, or you're betraying my painstaking efforts."
Duan Liang's fists were almost broken. In his long life, he had never been so miserable.
Here, he was unfamiliar with the place, and even the stray dogs barked at him.
When had he ever lived so humbly?
"Daoist Master, please calm down. I had to leave suddenly due to unforeseen circumstances."
"If I intended to run, would I have let you catch me?"
"This is all a misunderstanding!"
Lin Feng explained with a dry laugh.
He curiously picked up a missing person poster and read it. It said: Son kidnapped by human traffickers, searching for son across thousands of miles.
"Daoist Master, since when did I become your lost son?"
Lin Feng chuckled.
"I don't have a rebellious son like you! None of that matters. Just give me the item quickly, and I'll be on my way. I don't want to stay here for another second."
Duan Liang puffed out his beard and glared, eager to return to his sect and live a carefree life.
"Don't be so hasty. Since you've finally come out, let me treat you to some local delicacies. We can eat and chat."
Lin Feng, seeing Duan Liang's hardship, decided to make amends.
"Alright, this Daoist is indeed starving. Don't play any tricks on me this time."
Duan Liang rubbed his stomach, which rumbled with hunger.