Chapter 504: Li Xue Arrives in Di Yang

Chapter 504: Chapter 502: Li Xue Arrives in Di Yang

Shopkeeper Su said with a grave expression, “Mr. Mu, I’m begging for your help to get me through this crisis!”

With that, he was about to kneel, but Mu Lin quickly stopped him.

“President Su, healing the sick and saving lives is my calling. Of course I’ll help you!”

Shopkeeper Su was ecstatic. “Oh, thank you so, so much!”

He had consulted countless famous doctors, but they all said there was nothing they could do.

If all else failed, Shopkeeper Su’s only option was to seek medical help in Beijing. But he was just a shopkeeper. Who was he to ask a doctor from the capital to come all this way to treat a patient?

It was a laughable idea.

His father was a doctor who had always taught him by example: no matter what, you must never do anything to harm a patient.

‘It’s fine to make money, but making it unscrupulously is just wrong.’

That was why he ran the Profound Secret Herb Shop, earning only an honest living. The profit margins were thin, but his loyal customers gave him enough business to keep the doors open.

When Mu Lin first came here, he had been astonished by the quality of the herbs. ‘It seems this is all the result of Shopkeeper Su’s meticulous management,’ he thought.

Shopkeeper Su said, “Mr. Mu, in that case, I’ll arrange a time with the patient and then ask you to come for the consultation. What time is convenient for you?”

“I’m flexible. Any time is fine.”

Shopkeeper Su nodded repeatedly. “Alright then, I’ll arrange it right away.”

Suddenly, a pang of hunger hit Shopkeeper Su. He glanced at the time, and his expression changed. It was already past two o’clock.

“Oh my, it’s so late and we haven’t even eaten! Mr. Mu, please wait a moment. I’ll have the kitchen whip something up!”

Mu Lin didn’t object. For someone at his level of cultivation, eating was merely a form of recreation.

His phone suddenly rang. Mu Lin picked it up and saw it was Li Xue.

Only then did he remember: Elder Li had called him a few days ago to tell him that Li Xue would be coming to Di Yang for the Shengding Group bid.

He answered the call. “President Li? What’s up?”

Li Xue’s voice came through. “Where are you? You’ve been gone from the office for days. I’ll be merciful and won’t dock your pay.”

“Oh, I’m in Di Yang taking care of some things. Grandpa knows about it. You can’t dock my pay. Otherwise, I’ll go have Grandpa settle this.”

Li Xue couldn’t be bothered to argue. She snorted coldly. “I’m about to leave. I’ll be at Di Yang South Station in two hours. There’s an important banquet tonight, and you’re going with me.”

“Hardly a big deal. Alright, I got it.”

Putting his phone away, Mu Lin found it rather strange. ‘Did Li Xue have a change of heart? Doesn’t she usually find me embarrassing? And now she’s actually taking me to a banquet?’

‘Has she really run out of people to ask?’

After lunch at the Profound Secret Herb Shop, it was nearly four o’clock. Li Xue’s train would be arriving soon.

Mu Lin took his leave, saying he had to go to the South Station to pick someone up. Shopkeeper Su offered to lend him his luxury car, but Mu Lin politely declined.

So, Shopkeeper Su took it upon himself to drive Mu Lin to the South Station.

Once there, Mu Lin messaged Li Xue to ask where he should wait for her.

Li Xue replied, “What’s with all the questions? Just wait there obediently.”

Mu Lin was all too familiar with her temper, so he grimaced and said nothing more.

‘There was nothing more to say, anyway. What could he do?’

About twenty minutes later, Mu Lin spotted Li Xue, who was dressed in a cute, stylish outfit.

Even though she wore sunglasses and a mask, her stunning figure was unmistakable. Mu Lin recognized her in a single glance.

The moment Li Xue saw Mu Lin, her temper flared. “What are you just standing there for? Get over here and take the luggage! You’re really something else. Go on one business trip and never come back. I bet you were having so much fun you forgot all about home, didn’t you?”

Mu Lin wasn’t one to be so easily provoked. He calmly replied, “I was waiting for you here in Di Yang. It was Grandpa’s idea. If you’re not happy about it, you can take it up with him.”

“Just keep using Grandpa as your shield! I bet you’re just a player. If Grandpa finds out you’re fooling around, you’ll have me to answer to!” Li Xue left her suitcase where it stood, turned on her heel, and stalked off.

Mu Lin could only sigh and pick up the suitcase.

Li Xue tried to call for a car with her phone, only to find the battery was dead.

She didn’t want to ask Mu Lin to do it, so she stood by the curb and started hailing a taxi.

Luckily, it wasn’t rush hour, and a taxi soon pulled over. Li Xue told the driver, “Lishui Baihe Manor, please.”

The name sounded familiar to Mu Lin. He’d been down this road more than once, having bought breakfast for Zhou Ying by this very roadside on multiple occasions.

Then it hit him—this was the way to Zhou Ying’s home…

A light bulb went off in Mu Lin’s head. Zhou Ying’s place was in Lishui Fairy Tale, and Li Xue was going to Lishui Baihe Manor. ‘They must be properties from the same developer,’ he thought.

‘They’re so close to each other. Don’t tell me they’re going to be neighbors?’

‘Now that would be awkward!’ Mu Lin felt a sense of unease.

Before long, the car arrived at Lishui Baihe Manor. Mu Lin breathed a sigh of relief. Zhou Ying had a small apartment, whereas Li Xue had a huge villa. The difference was vast enough that unless their luck was exceptionally bad, they were unlikely to ever cross paths.

Li Xue directed the driver further into the complex, finally stopping in front of a villa.

Li Xue led Mu Lin toward the entrance and easily opened the door with a key card.

Mu Lin remarked, “So the Li Family owns property here as well!”

Li Xue replied, “I bought this with money I made from my own investments back in college. The family knows about it, but they don’t interfere much.”

Mu Lin believed her. Li Xue’s capabilities were undeniable.

Mu Lin said, “President Li, I’ll just put the luggage down and be on my way. Just call me if you need anything.”

“You’re staying,” Li Xue said.

This left Mu Lin feeling frustrated. “President Li, there’s no point in me staying here. What do you want from me?”

“The Di Yang Li Family is still watching me like a hawk. News of my arrival in Di Yang can’t be kept secret, and they might try something.”

“You’ll be staying here as well. This was Grandpa’s idea. The small room on the second floor is yours.”

Mu Lin paused. ‘I have no idea if Elder Li actually requested this,’ he thought, ‘but the fact that Li Xue is letting me stay here is strange enough on its own.’

“Alright!”

Besides, this place was conveniently close to Zhou Ying’s home. If she ever ran into danger and activated the True Essence Talisman, Mu Lin could get to her in an instant.

Mu Lin was very satisfied with this arrangement. ‘Nothing more to it,’ he told himself.

Li Xue headed upstairs with her suitcase. “I’m going to touch up my makeup. Get yourself ready. I’m taking you to the mall to buy clothes later.”

‘Buy clothes for me? But why?’

Mu Lin found it odd. ‘Why is she being so nice to me all of a sudden?’

Li Xue offered no explanation and went straight upstairs to settle into her room, leaving Mu Lin to wait leisurely.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Mu Lin opened it and saw the junior assistant from the Li Group—the same one who always guarded Li Xue’s office door and refused to let him in.

The assistant saw Mu Lin and recognized him instantly. Her memory of the man who was always trying to barge into the office was vivid, and she was so shocked she almost couldn’t maintain her composure.

‘How could Team Leader Mu be living in the same villa as President Li? Even if he was just here to help out, this is a private residence! I’ve never heard of hospitality like this.’

Seeing the assistant’s utterly gobsmacked expression, Mu Lin knew the cat was out of the bag.

The two of them stood frozen. Mu Lin had no idea how to explain the situation.

They stared at each other for a moment before Mu Lin, being the more thick-skinned of the two, broke the silence. “Assistant Hu, would you like to come in and sit for a bit? I just made some tea.”

The assistant’s heart pounded with fear. ‘I heard Team Leader Mu is a really good fighter… Is he going to ‘get rid of’ me?’

Her smile became even more rigid as she thought this. “T-Team Leader Mu, what a coincidence to see you here.”

She walked stiffly to the sofa like a robot, sat down, and placed her hands on her knees, looking for all the world like a prim and proper schoolgirl.

A short while later, Li Xue came downstairs. She spotted the assistant immediately, and her heart suddenly started to POUND.

The assistant, thinking she had just stumbled upon President Li’s secret love nest, was scared out of her wits. “President Li! I… I’m here!”

Li Xue did her best to remain calm, saying with feigned nonchalance, “Things are pretty busy here, and I needed someone to help manage the situation, so I called Team Leader Mu over.”

“He just happened to be in Di Yang on business already, so he got here a little sooner than you did.”

The assistant nodded obediently. “President Li, I understand! You’re keeping Team Leader Mu by your side to mentor him personally because you value his strong work ethic!”

‘Why did that sound so weird coming out of my mouth?’

Li Xue looked completely exasperated, at a loss for words. “Just remember, don’t spread rumors. There’s really nothing…”

The assistant raised her hand as if taking a solemn oath. “Right, there’s really nothing! You can rest assured, President Li! I won’t tell a soul! Please… please don’t kill me, okay? I haven’t even met my oppa yet!”

Li Xue rolled her eyes. ‘This little fangirl is really something else…’

“Give me the car keys. You can take a few days off and go have some fun. Once the Di Yang branch office is established, you’ll be swamped with work.”

“Yes, yes!”

The assistant quickly placed the keys on the table and practically fled out the door.

Li Xue didn’t explain anything to Mu Lin. There was nothing worth explaining.

The assistant’s family was from Di Yang, so Li Xue had her drive back ahead of time.

Then, after finishing up her business at the Anhua Li Group headquarters, Li Xue took the high-speed train over herself.