Chapter 277 276: Inviting Someone Over

Mu Lin laughed. "You're making such a trivial thing sound so serious. For a moment there, I thought something major had happened."

"Master Hu, is it? Just have him come here. I'll have a chat with him in person."

Young Master Fan was nearly driven mad by Mu Lin's attitude.

"Fine! You're the one who said it!"

Young Master Fan pointed at Mu Lin. "You just wait!"

Young Master Fan walked over to Brother Cheng, helped him up, and said obsequiously, "Brother Cheng, hurry up and call Master Hu! Teach this brat a bloody lesson!"

Brother Cheng had been beaten senseless. After getting to his feet, he instinctively took several steps back, glancing at Mu Lin with lingering fear.

He now truly understood Mu Lin's strength and didn't dare harbor any further disrespectful thoughts.

Mu Lin just smiled. "It's fine, go ahead and call. I'm also curious to see what kind of man this so-called Master Hu really is."

Young Master Fan shook Brother Cheng. "See, Brother Cheng? He has a death wish! We might as well grant it for him!"

Brother Cheng shoved Young Master Fan away and said coldly, "Stop bugging me!"

Then, he scratched his head in frustration. He had been put in an impossible position.

It was utterly hopeless.

Young Master Fan wasn't angry at being pushed away. Instead, he stared at Brother Cheng with eager anticipation. "Hurry up!"

Brother Cheng made the call, only to hear a busy tone from the other end.

His expression shifted repeatedly.

"I... I can't get through..." he stammered. Fearing Mu Lin would think he was pretending, he added anxiously, "See? I really did call, but..."

Mu Lin turned away. "Then tell him to find me in the Top-Rated Private Room at the Celestial Phoenix Hotel. Tell him to come at once. If he doesn't, I'll go find him."

"Yes! Yes!" Now that Brother Cheng understood who he was dealing with, he was naturally filled with terror.

Inside the Celestial Phoenix Hotel, Mu Lin had invited Song Chuan and Zhong Wentao.

When the two men heard it was Mu Lin treating them to a meal, they naturally showed him enough respect to come at once.

The two of them, along with Mu Lin, Lin Shishi, and Hong Rui, had just sat down and exchanged some pleasantries when Xu Bing and Tang Shuang pushed the door open and entered.

Tang Shuang, dressed in her general manager's uniform, led the way with Xu Bing following behind. However, Tang Shuang kept glancing back at Xu Bing, as if seeking his approval.

Tang Shuang said, "Brother Mu, shall we order? What would everyone like to eat?"

Song Chuan and Zhong Wentao naturally said that anything was fine. Having eaten every delicacy imaginable, they were long past caring about the menu.

Besides, were they really here for the food? Obviously not. They were here to curry favor with Mu Lin.

Mu Lin looked at Hong Rui. "Hong Rui, what would you like to eat?"

Hong Rui pursed her lips. "I'm not really sure, but the dishes you brought home last time were nice."

Mu Lin nodded. "Let's just have the same spread as last time."

Tang Shuang thought for a moment. 'The same spread as last time?' Then it suddenly clicked. She hadn't realized the leftovers Mu Lin took home last time were for Hong Rui and Lin Shishi.

Hong Rui was pure and lovely, while Lin Shishi was elegant and poised. Each had her own charms, and together, they were a breathtaking sight.

Even Tang Shuang felt a little inadequate in comparison. 'What is this all about?'

Mu Lin glanced at Tang Shuang. "Tang Shuang, why don't you join us?"

Tang Shuang quickly shook her head. "No, I have to focus on learning how to be a general manager. I can't afford to slack off!"

Mu Lin shrugged, but Lin Shishi's eyes were sizing Tang Shuang up and down. She remembered that Tang Shuang was the one who had sent Mu Lin home last time.

Mu Lin took the initiative to raise his glass to Song Chuan and Zhong Wentao.

"Uncle Song, Uncle Zhong, I'm planning to return to Anhua. You've both taken great care of me these past couple of days, so I wanted to thank you properly before I go."

Song Chuan and Zhong Wentao exchanged glances. 'He's the one taking care of us, not the other way around,' they thought, but quickly waved their hands in dismissal. "You're being too polite! Leaving so soon? I was hoping to show you the city's famous sights!"

Mu Lin smiled. "I'm very busy. Maybe next time. Definitely next time!"

'I still have a wife in name only back home. I have to be careful. If I'm away from the Li Family for too long, it'll be hard to explain things to Li Xue.'

'Besides, Elder Li would probably get suspicious too.'

'That wouldn't be good for me.'

After Tang Shuang and Xu Bing turned and left, she asked, "Which dishes from last time was he talking about?"

Xu Bing replied, "The ones from that time you were also there."

'So it really was that time...'

Tang Shuang confirmed it. 'So he really did take the leftovers to those two women.'

'That's just...'

'Why them?'

Tang Shuang wondered, 'If those two stood naked in front of Mu Lin, how would he react?'

'Would he be the same way he was last night?'

"Hurry and get it ready," Xu Bing said. "You stay here and keep an eye on things. I'll go to the kitchen and supervise. We can't let a single thing go wrong!"

Tang Shuang pursed her lips. "Then I'm going too!"

Xu Bing said, "You stay here on standby for today. Chairman Mu is here. We absolutely cannot have any mishaps!"

Tang Shuang thought for a moment, then obediently agreed.

It was just that watching Mu Lin laughing and chatting with the two girls made her feel very unhappy.

As Xu Bing was supervising in the kitchen, his phone suddenly rang.

He glanced at the screen. It was Master Hu.

"Master Hu, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Is there someone in your Top-Rated Private Room right now?"

"Yes, there is. They might be finished in a little while. Do you need the room?"

Master Hu said, "The people inside beat up my men. Manager Xu, please lock the Top-Rated Private Room. I'm bringing my crew and we're on our way."

Xu Bing thought, 'What the hell are you thinking?'

'The only person who would dare to beat Master Hu's men is Mu Lin, isn't it?'

'Picking a fight with Mu Lin?'

'How many lives does this guy think he has? Has he even considered the consequences?'

"Are you trying to get yourself killed? You'd be better off running into traffic! It'd be a quicker death!"

"Manager Xu, what's that supposed to mean? No need to wish death upon me, is there?"

Xu Bing sneered. "Do I need to? If you keep this up, you're a dead man walking!"

With that, he hung up.

He rushed to find Mu Lin and quickly reported the situation.

'At least I've cleared myself of any responsibility,' he thought.

'Otherwise, there would be a huge disaster.'

Mu Lin thought for a moment before saying, "I was the one who told him to come. It's nothing."

"Huh?"

Xu Bing didn't understand what Mu Lin was up to.

'It wasn't like I had to worry about Mu Lin losing, but was this Master Hu out of his mind?'

'He just secured his territory, couldn't he just focus on running it properly? Why did he have to stir up trouble like this?'

'Offending the one person he absolutely shouldn't have. People in the know might think he's got guts, but anyone else would just think he's an idiot!'

Both Zhong Wentao and Song Chuan were confused. What was going on? Mu Lin looked perfectly calm, while Xu Bing looked panicked.

When they pressed him for details, Xu Bing remained silent.

Not long after, a man covered in scars got out of a car in front of the Celestial Phoenix Hotel. His underlings followed closely, hurrying forward.

This middle-aged man had clawed his way up in Songyang for many years, surviving countless bloody brawls. When he finally seized the opportunity of Su Longfei's death, he rose up to swallow the entire Songyang underworld, becoming its new master.

To have survived so many battles proved he was no reckless brute.

After hearing Xu Bing's words over the phone, he had immediately realized something was wrong.

'This person is probably someone I can't afford to cross.'

He had immediately changed his approach.

As he walked, the murderous aura he naturally exuded sent onlookers scattering in fear.

He was clearly not someone to be trifled with.

But when Master Hu reached the door of the Top-Rated Private Room, he carefully raised a hand and knocked gently.

"Come in!"

A young voice called out. Master Hu opened the door and saw Xu Bing standing beside a young man, his posture one of utmost respect.

Nothing more needed to be said.

"You must be Mr. Mu?" Master Hu asked, his back hunched. He was as timid as a schoolboy.

Mu Lin raised an eyebrow. 'This guy is smart. He didn't try to force things. It would have been rather inconvenient to leave another corpse behind right before my departure.'

Mu Lin smiled faintly. "I am. Why all the politeness? Didn't you come here for a reason? Let's hear it."

With a THUD, Master Hu dropped to his knees. "My crimes are unforgivable! Mr. Mu, please spare my life!"

The underlings behind Master Hu were all dumbfounded. They had expected a bloody fight, but their boss had kneeled the moment he saw the guy.

'What in the world was happening?'

'Could that young man be some kind of big shot?'

The men exchanged glances, none of them daring to move a muscle.

Mu Lin asked, "What did you do wrong that has you so nervous?"

"My subordinate offended you. That was completely out of line."

Mu Lin smiled. "Good enough. Get up. You said it yourself—it was your subordinate's actions, and they have nothing to do with you."

Master Hu let out a long sigh of relief. 'I guess I managed to stay out of it,' he thought. 'That would have been terrifying.'

"Thank you, Mr. Mu!"