Chapter 242 241: Be Strong

Mu Lin sighed. "Miss Tang, don't ask. You won't be happy with the answer."

After dealing with Li Xue for so long, he had some understanding of how women thought.

They were always overthinking things, hating someone to death one second and then wondering if they were the ones in the wrong the next.

They spent their days going around in these mental circles.

"No, I want to hear it!" Tang Shuang said firmly.

Song Chuan said, "Well, I had her fired. Then I blacklisted her from every industry in Songyang City where I have any influence. She'll have to go to another city to make a living."

Hearing this, Tang Shuang actually let out a long sigh of relief.

At least she probably wouldn't run into that person again in this lifetime.

After speaking, Song Chuan glanced at Zhong Wentao and suddenly remembered that Zhong Wentao's son seemed to be involved as well.

He then put his hand under the table and typed something on his phone.

Zhong Wentao saw the motion and instinctively looked over.

When he took a closer look, his face went pale with panic.

'So that's what happened!' His son was actually involved too?

He only knew that Zhong Haoyu had taken a liking to Hong Rui and had been lucky enough to make a connection with Mu Lin while trying to resolve that issue.

Who knew that Zhong Haoyu had also made a move on Tang Shuang, and even sent people to break her legs.

He shot to his feet and said to Tang Shuang, "Miss Tang, my son also did something monstrous to you! I am so very sorry!"

He stepped away from his seat, found an open space, and prepared to kneel and beg for forgiveness.

Mu Lin sighed. "Chairman Zhong, don't make a scene. This matter is in the past. Shouting like this, you'll make people think Zhong Haoyu actually *did* something to her!"

Zhong Wentao's mouth fell open. "Huh? So nothing... happened, right?"

The moment the words left his mouth, he wanted to slap himself. What kind of thing was that to say? It sounded like he was hoping something had happened.

"I... I didn't mean it like that..."

Mu Lin said, "Enough. We're turning the page on this. Young Master Zhong might be cruel, but he still has a bottom line when it comes to matters between men and women. He won't make a move unless the woman agrees. Otherwise, your Zhong Family might not have survived my wrath."

Zhong Wentao was sweating profusely. 'Thank goodness that little bastard has some restraint,' he thought. 'Otherwise, I have no idea what would have happened.'

"I'll do whatever Mr. Mu says!"

Mu Lin nodded and said no more.

Zhong Wentao instantly lost his earlier composure. His entire body was tense, and he wished he could go back right now and give that monstrous son of his a beating.

Tang Shuang also said, "Chairman Zhong, the matter is in the past. Brother Mu has healed my legs. Although I can't run or jump yet, it doesn't affect my daily life."

Zhong Wentao nodded. "Good, good. I understand!"

'Compensation should also be moderate. Going too far is as bad as not going far enough.'

'If I offer any more, I'm afraid Mu Lin will get angry.'

Xu Bing called out from outside, and the dishes were all brought in.

They were all high-end dishes, personally prepared by the head chef, and Xu Bing quickly introduced them.

Mu Lin nodded in satisfaction. "Mm, very nice. Thank you for your hard work, Manager Xu!"

Xu Bing hurriedly said, "It was no trouble at all. When Chairman Mu eats comfortably, we subordinates can work with more dedication."

Mu Lin smiled and said no more.

Zhong Wentao was filled with anger, but he ultimately had to give Mu Lin face and get through this meal.

As they were eating, a faint commotion could be heard from downstairs.

A waiter ran in and whispered something in Xu Bing's ear.

Xu Bing's expression changed slightly. Song Chuan quickly asked, "What's wrong? Which blind fool dares to cause trouble here?"

Before Xu Bing could speak, the door to the room was thrown open with a BANG.

A group of people appeared at the doorway.

Song Chuan was about to berate them, but the man at the door spoke first.

"Well, if it isn't Song Chuan. You think you're worthy of using this private room?"

A middle-aged man with an icy expression sized Song Chuan up and down.

Song Chuan's face turned quite grim. "Mr. Bai..."

He was like a different person from before, timid and shrinking.

Mu Lin felt something was wrong, but he didn't say anything for the moment.

The middle-aged man surnamed Bai walked up to Song Chuan, grabbed his clothes, and looked as if he was about to lift him up.

"Song, take your friends and get the hell downstairs to eat. I need this room to entertain a distinguished guest!"

"If you know what's good for you, you'll walk out of here on your own. If you don't, you'll be carried out!"

This middle-aged man surnamed Bai was clearly targeting Song Chuan. Even if Mu Lin were completely clueless, he would have understood by now.

There must be some serious animosity between the two, and Song Chuan was the weaker party.

There was probably no other explanation.

Mu Lin considered it. He already knew from Tang Shuang that Song Chuan was a top-tier businessman. An ordinary, small-time merchant would never dare to take this attitude with him.

So this "Bai" was probably *that* Bai.

Song Chuan placed his hand on the middle-aged man's wrist but didn't try to force it off.

The middle-aged man raised his eyebrows.

"Song Chuan, what's the meaning of this? Do you really want to be carried out?"

"Mr. Bai, I have guests. Can we put our dispute aside for now? I'll make a formal apology to you later!"

Mr. Bai glanced around and sneered, "A distinguished guest? You mean Chairman Zhong?"

Zhong Wentao's expression was ugly. When had he ever been treated with such contempt?

But this was Mr. Bai. There was nothing he could do.

The Bai Family's power was still an existence he could not challenge.

Zhong Wentao never knew about the grudge between Song Chuan and the Bai Family. He only knew that Song Chuan had a powerful enemy.

He never imagined that this enemy was actually the Bai Family...

Zhong Wentao stood up and bowed respectfully to Mr. Bai.

"Greetings, Mr. Bai!"

"Chairman Zhong, you don't mind making way, do you? It's actually quite spacious downstairs."

"Not at all!" Zhong Wentao said hastily. Of course he minded, but facing the power of the Bai Family, how could he possibly say so?

If the Bai Family got angry, they could dismantle his corporation with ease.

"Good," Mr. Bai said coolly. "Just give up the room."

"Now get out!"

Mu Lin didn't really care where he ate. Song Chuan was the host, and if he didn't have an issue, Mu Lin certainly wasn't going to meddle.

If Song Chuan got angry instead of complying, however, the problem would become much bigger.

'Why get dragged into the muck?'

He was just about to leave when Xu Bing stumbled in, covered in injuries.

"Chairman Mu! President Tang! I'm sorry, I couldn't stop Mr. Bai!"

When Mr. Bai heard this, he felt a little strange. 'Who's Chairman Mu?' he wondered. 'Doesn't this hotel belong to Su Longfei?'

When Mu Lin saw Xu Bing covered in injuries, a flicker of anger ignited within him.

The injuries would take some time to heal, but they weren't serious, so Mu Lin didn't immediately step in to treat them.

Instead, he looked at Mr. Bai with extreme displeasure. "Did your men hit him?"

Mr. Bai chuckled. "Yes, they did. So what?"

"Do you have any idea who I am? How dare you speak to me like that?"

Seeing Mr. Bai's foul expression, an expert from behind him immediately rushed forward.

This person's strength was impressive, unleashing power comparable to a Martial Arts Grandmaster.

But he was still half a step short.

A figure with a white beard and hair also rushed in from outside the door—it was none other than Song Chuan's bodyguard, Master Chen.

CLANG! PING! PANG! The sounds of blows rang out continuously.

The fight was spectacular, a flurry of back-and-forth attacks.

But neither of them could defeat the other, and the fight came to a stalemate.

It was an ugly scene.

Mr. Bai sneered, "No wonder you're so fearless. You're relying on Master Chen, aren't you?"

Master Chen said, "Reason doesn't depend on the loudness of one's voice. Mr. Bai, why must you do this? We can talk things out peacefully!"

Mr. Bai sneered, "Master Chen, this has nothing to do with you! Stop causing trouble! You, of all people, should know how powerful the Bai Family is. You're on the verge of advancing to Grandmaster. If you had the Bai Family's help, you would have a much better chance. But your defiance has clearly made you miss that opportunity."

Master Chen said, "There's no need! Since I work for Chairman Song, I naturally can't abandon him when he needs me!"

He knew, moreover, that this kind of phony recruitment attempt would never work. The moment he showed interest, the Bai Family would just make excuses and never deliver on their promises.

It was more reliable to stand firmly with the Song Family than to be tricked into joining the Bai Family by a lie.

There was another Martial Arts Master behind Mr. Bai, who coordinated with the first one and charged at Master Chen.

Mu Lin's eyes narrowed. He would not allow a two-on-one situation to occur.

Song Chuan had been quite friendly to him, after all. It wouldn't do for his guard to suffer a loss.