Chapter 60: The Contact

"Go home... So that's my home now, is it?" Mu Lin let out a snort of laughter. Infuriated, Li Xue snapped at the driver to hurry up and drive.

Mu Lin turned and walked back into the company.

In the stairwell, he dragged out a trussed-up man.

"You've got some real nerve, stealing all the spark plugs from over two hundred company cars in one go..."

Mu Lin said, "You're one of Wu's men, right? Take me to him."

The man remained silent, his eyes filled with vicious ferocity. With a twitch of his mouth, he bit down, and blood immediately trickled from his lips.

"Thinking you can just die? It's not that easy!"

Mu Lin flicked out two silver needles that landed on the man's throat. The bleeding stopped in an instant.

"You'd best cooperate. Otherwise, I'll make you wish you were dead. Don't blame me for what happens next."

Mu Lin found a woven sack, stuffed the man inside, and tied the opening tightly shut.

The woven sack was breathable, so there was no need to worry about the man suffocating.

He then picked up the sack and walked out nonchalantly.

Just as he reached the entrance, he saw Guo Lei standing there alone, apparently waiting for someone.

Mu Lin narrowed his eyes. "Are you waiting for me? What do you want?"

Guo Lei quickly raised his hands. "No, no, no, don't misunderstand! I'm here to plead with you!"

Mu Lin put the woven sack down and untied the opening. "You're talking about him?"

"That's right. I actually scouted him back in the detention center. He's good material. I was originally planning to introduce him to you, to have him run errands, handle things, and pass messages between us."

"But I never expected his first mission would be to go up against the Li Group..."

Mu Lin said, "His skills aren't up to par for helping me."

"That's the point, isn't it? That he can't fight," Guo Lei said earnestly. "Otherwise, you'd be sure to see him as a threat."

"Mr. Mu, I'm telling you in all sincerity, I hold no hostility toward you. Please don't treat me as your enemy! He is also someone you can completely trust."

As he spoke, Guo Lei came forward and helped the man out of the sack.

The man still had a silver needle stuck in his neck. Guo Lei said awkwardly, "Mr. Mu, if you'd be so kind, please remove the needle!"

Mu Lin reached out and removed the silver needle. The man could immediately breathe again, but blood started trickling from the corner of his mouth once more.

Mu Lin tapped him twice, and the man's bleeding stopped again.

"Thank you, Mr. Mu, for sparing my life!" The man bowed deeply to Mu Lin and said with utmost sincerity.

Mu Lin couldn't be bothered to respond. Instead, he asked cheerfully, "Let me ask you, how long did it take you to steal the spark plugs from two hundred cars?"

The man replied, "A little over ten minutes!"

Mu Lin was left speechless. That speed was simply godlike.

"How did you do it?"

"He got his practice stealing e-bike batteries back in the countryside," Guo Lei explained. "Fled to the city when the heat was on, but he got caught anyway. His speed is unreal, though. It's like watching a magic trick."

"I figured, this guy has no talent for fighting, but he's a master at picking locks and breaking and entering, so I thought I'd introduce him to you, to help you with some... unsavory business."

'Who would have thought a petty thief could cause such a massive disturbance?'

Mu Lin clasped his hands behind his back and said, "I appreciate the thought, but take him back. I don't need this kind of help."

"Yes, of course!" Guo Lei knew Mu Lin wouldn't change his mind, so he didn't press the issue and agreed.

After that, Mu Lin planned to walk back to the Li Family Villa.

Suddenly, a Polo stopped in front of Mu Lin, and the window rolled down.

"Brother Mu!" Zhao Ling'Er's smile was as radiant as a flower, momentarily stunning Mu Lin.

Zhao Ling'Er was clearly wearing light makeup and was dressed in a beautiful casual outfit. Compared to her usual nurse uniform, she had a much livelier air about her.

"Brother Mu, what are you standing there for? Get in! You just got off work, right? Want me to take you home?"

'Well,' Mu Lin thought, 'since there's a ride, I won't have to walk. It'll save a lot of energy.'

"It would be rude to refuse." Mu Lin got into the passenger seat, only to notice Zhao Ling'Er was wearing a short skirt. The hem rested casually on her thighs, swaying gently.

Mu Lin averted his gaze. 'Don't look where you shouldn't, don't look where you shouldn't.'

Zhao Ling'Er keenly caught Mu Lin's reaction and couldn't help but feel very pleased.

"Brother Mu, do I look good?"

Mu Lin's gaze drifted to the horizon, but his tone was light and breezy. "Very nice! Where are you headed?"

"Going shopping with my girlfriends!"

'Doesn't seem likely,' Mu Lin thought, but he didn't dare press the issue. He decided to just go with it.

The atmosphere in the car turned a bit quiet, so Mu Lin casually turned on the radio.

The song that came on was "Tian Mi Mi."

And just like that, the air in the car froze.

When Mu Lin got out of the car, his legs were stiff. Zhao Ling'Er wasn't any better off. She really wanted to just be brave and seal the deal.

First, her grandfather would probably get angry. Second, the car windows weren't tinted. Third, she hadn't paid enough attention in health class; she really didn't know how to "cook the rice."

She could only watch helplessly as Mu Lin walked toward the Li Family Villa.

'Zhao Ling'Er, you're so useless.'

She resolved to go search her grandfather's room for some 'instructional films' on DVD to study up.

Just for a bit.

Just as Mu Lin was about to walk in, he saw Li Xue standing by the door, watching him.

"What's wrong?" Mu Lin asked.

"We may have an agreement not to interfere in each other's love lives, but don't take it too far! What's the meaning of getting involved with a married woman?"

'A married woman?' Mu Lin was dumbfounded. 'Is she talking about Zhao Ling'Er?'

"You've misunderstood, haven't you?" Mu Lin said. "She's just a regular friend!"

Li Xue replied, "A Polo is the classic car for a young, married, white-collar professional! Who else would buy one if they weren't married?"

Mu Lin didn't know anything about cars, so he could only let her talk.

Seeing that Mu Lin didn't argue back, Li Xue pressed her advantage. "If she's just a regular friend, then why did she pick you up yesterday and today? Two days in a row can't be a coincidence, can it?"

Mu Lin scratched his head. It would be dishonest to claim that Zhao Ling'Er didn't have those kinds of intentions.

"I'm not asking you to explain yourself, just be a little more mindful!"

After saying her piece, Li Xue turned and walked toward her room.

She was exhausted and really wanted to take a hot shower and rest before dinner.

Elder Li saw Mu Lin and waved him over. "Kid, come here!"

Mu Lin obediently went over. "Grandpa!"

Hearing "Grandpa," Elder Li laughed heartily, all his worries vanishing. "Good boy, come and sit!"

A Chinese chess board was already set up.

Mu Lin casually pushed his third pawn forward, setting up the "Immortal Points the Way" opening.

Elder Li asked, "What did you think of the situation today?"

Mu Lin replied, "Extremely dangerous."

"I thought so too. I panicked and ended up handing you over."

"I called Zhuang Sheng and asked him to plead on my behalf, but I never expected Wu Long to be right there with him. He was adamant about not letting the Li Family go."

"But there was one voice who said that as long as you were willing to be the vice president at his group, he would step in to protect the Li Group."

Mu Lin mulled it over. 'It was probably Qiao Canhua.' "Did you agree?"

Elder Li shook his head. "No. Where you're willing to work is your own business. How could I make that decision for you? So in the end, it came to nothing. But the result was good; you still saved your father and Xue'Er."

Mu Lin said, "We have to be more careful from now on. Wu Long will press us at every step. He won't let up."

"Sigh!" Elder Li's face filled with sorrow. "They are the knife and chopping block, and we are the fish. We have no freedom at all. If we don't cough up the project, I'm afraid he won't let up."

He stared blankly for a long while, then let out a long sigh. "Mu Lin, tell me, if I transfer the project to the Yuelong Group, will Wu Long let us off the hook?"

Mu Lin made a move on the board. "He won't. What Wu Long wants is to eliminate the Li Group, his biggest rival, not just one small project."

"Does that mean from now on, we'll be completely pinned down by them, with no freedom at all?" Elder Li's face showed his sorrow, and he was very tense.

"That's right. But don't worry, Grandpa. I'm here!"

With that, Mu Lin advanced his cannon. "Check."

"Oh, dear..." Elder Li scratched his head. "My mind is completely preoccupied with that other matter."

"Wu Long is a ruthless guy. What can we do? We have to take it slow. We'll counter his moves as they come. Who knows, maybe we'll see the light of dawn eventually?"

Elder Li stared blankly for a moment, then slowly nodded. "At this point, this is the only way. We'll fight him to the end!"