Long Hui didn't reply. At the mention of Jiang Ying Yue and their son, he became too overcome by jealousy to listen in a rational manner to Lin Yehan's explanation. He just continued glaring at Lin Yehan instead.
Lin Yehan could sense that his words weren't getting through Long Hui but didn't give up and continued explaining. He remembered Jiang Ying Yue's heartbroken expression when the couple broke up because of the incriminating photos. Guilt consumed him, even though he knew very well that it wasn't his fault. He was innocent alongside Jiang Ying Yue. Long Hui was just misunderstanding everything. If only the man would listen to him, then this painful issue would hopefully be resolved.
"I'm telling the truth. There's really nothing between Miss Jiang and I. We only consider ourselves as friends because of our respective relationships with my brother Liwei and your sister Xiulan."
"Tell me, Lin Yehan. When was the last time you saw Ying Yue?"
Lin Yehan hesitated for a bit before deciding that honesty was the best policy at this point. He had no reason to lie, anyway. "Earlier this week. My brother Liwei and Xiulan invited the rest of our brothers and her friends to their place for dinner. It was just a regular gathering between friends."
The ugly green monster growling inside Long Hui gave a raging roar. He only heard that Lin Yehan and Jiang Ying Yue saw each other earlier this week. The rest of Lin Yehan's words were drowned by his poisonous jealousy.
"You motherfu—"
He was interrupted when the waiter arrived with their drinks. Oolong tea for Lin Yehan. Coffee for Long Hui. The waiter left them again.
Lin Yehan picked up his cup and inhaled the tea's aroma. He nodded, pleased at the café's brewing quality of his company's tea. He appeared calm on the outside, but in actuality, he was anxious deep inside. Long Hui's repeated accusations couldn't help but affect him, yet he was still trying his best to remain calm. With a sigh in his heart, he sipped the hot tea in the hopes that it would relax him in this tense situation.
As for Long Hui, he didn't touch his coffee at all. His hands were tightly clenched on his lap, trying to stop himself from swinging his fists towards Lin Yehan's calm face.
Thus, Lin Yehan changed tactics and began talking about the custody case instead.
"Your son, Little Jun, is a wonderful child. He deserves all the happiness that could fit in his life. Although he's still a young child, something like this, a custody battle between his parents, will certainly scar him one way or another."
This time, Lin Yehan's words managed to penetrate Long Hui's thick head.
"What are you trying to say?" Long Hui asked in a tone filled with suspicion.
"Please think of your son. The kid still wants you. You're his father. Don't make it too hard on your son and to Miss Jiang. There's no need for a custody battle like this. It'll just hurt all the parties involved and worsen the situation."
Long Hui remained quiet but his expression showed that he was finally listening, so Lin Yehan continued.
"How about you have a proper conversation with Miss Jiang?" he suggested. "I think it's better to talk everything out face to face about your relationship, your plans regarding your son, and try to resolve all the issues between you. Perhaps you may even reconcile…even if that's not possible, at least you'll stop treating each other like enemies. Although it's not common here in our country, it's still possible to have a joint custody or co-parenting arrangement just like in the West."
Silence.
Nobody spoke for five minutes. The atmosphere was so tense that the waiter who was headed their way to ask them how they were enjoying their drinks so far stopped himself and turned around instead.
"Yes."
"I've listened to what you've said. Now listen to me."
"Alright."
Long Hui leaned forward and narrowed his eyes before speaking in a low growl. "My issue with Ying Yue and our son is none of your fucking business, Lin Yehan. You're the one who destroyed my family first. Don't act like you're doing everyone a favour by trying to persuade me to believe in the lies you concocted with Ying Yue. Both of you are cheating snakes. I'm going to take my son away from that cheating slut no matter what. Go stay in your farm with your potatoes and pigs. Don't bother me again!"
He stood up and left without looking back.
Lin Yehan was left there alone with a dark expression. His usually gentle eyes were now simmering with cold fury. He could tolerate it when Long Hui continuedly provoked him. However, when Long Hui called Jiang Ying Yue a cheating slut, something snapped inside Lin Yehan. Such a good woman, such a good mother, such a good person was far from a cheating slut.
It was fortunate that Long Hui immediately left after saying his piece because if he didn't, Lin Yehan would've probably beaten the shit out of the unreasonable son of a bitch.
Before this, he had hoped to persuade Long Hui to reconsider his decision to separate with Jiang Ying Yue. Now, however, Lin Yehan didn't want such an asshole to return to her side. Long Hui didn't deserve such a good woman like Jiang Ying Yue.
Lin Yehan's protective nature now completely blanketed itself over Jiang Ying Yue and Little Jun after his failed conversation with Long Hui. He hadn't realized it yet, but he already started treating the mother and son as his responsibility.