Chapter 659 - 652_1
"Yes, Mrs. Lin, I think you misunderstand our leader. He has his reasons for what he does. Although you’re in the stronghold, hasn’t he provided you with good food and drink, and allowed you to stay in the best room? You have the best of what our enclave has to offer. Even though you can’t leave the mountain for now, the leader hasn’t mistreated you, right? Maybe the leader has other considerations for asking you to stay in the stronghold for now."
"That’s right, Mrs. Lin, don’t misunderstand our leader. He’s really a good man; you’ll understand once you’ve been around him longer."
Because Lin Yue’s character was quite likable, and she got along well with everyone, they all tended to favor her. That’s why they spoke up for the leader in such a gentle manner, defending him. Otherwise, if it were someone else, they might have been met with physical confrontation already. Slandering their leader was simply unforgivable.
With everyone talking at once, Lin Yue, no matter how capable, couldn’t outtalk them all. She could only silently wipe her sweat. Originally, she had just voiced some discontentment in her heart—how had it escalated to such collective anger? It seemed she needed to keep a lower profile and endure quietly when on others’ turf.
"Hmm, perhaps I did misunderstand. You all can get back to your activities; I’ll be heading back," Lin Yue said, devoid of any desire to continue the conversation. She turned to leave but unexpectedly encountered Huangfu Yi on the way. His face was full of teasing and laughter as he looked at her, which made Lin Yue rather uncomfortable, especially considering what Huangfu Yi said next.
"How’s it going? Got ganged up on for badmouthing someone behind their back, didn’t you? Tsk tsk, it seems you still don’t quite grasp the respect I command in the stronghold or how much the others trust their leader. It’s not something just anyone can challenge. If you dare to speak ill of me in front of everyone, you’ve seen the consequences. Everyone has actually been quite polite to you. If it were someone else, things might have turned out quite differently," Huangfu Yi said with a grin, clearly reveling in her misfortune.
From his words, Lin Yue realized that Huangfu Yi knew about what happened earlier. Or maybe he had been hiding out of sight, watching the excitement, seeing how she was surrounded by those women—how else would he know so much? How despicable.
"I spoke the truth. If you weren’t a petty person, you wouldn’t have been eavesdropping behind people’s backs. Truly the behavior of a petty man," Lin Yue said, heading straight back to her residence. Huangfu Yi followed at a distance behind, not too far, yet not too close, always having something to retort whenever Lin Yue tried to dismiss him.