Chapter 68: The Wife's Questioning

"Where have you been?"

"Saving someone..." Mu Lin answered truthfully.

Li Xue closed the door, her expression turning ugly.

"Don't think saying 'saving someone' will shut me up. Let me tell you, you are the nominal son-in-law of the Li Family. Your every action represents the Li Family's image."

Mu Lin said, "It was a matter of life and death, I had to go! You think I wanted to run out in the middle of the night? I didn't. But if I hadn't gone, someone would have died!"

Li Xue snorted. "You think I'll believe you? There are plenty of doctors in the world. Why did it have to be you?"

Mu Lin said, "Because right now, I'm the best doctor they can get."

Tch!

Li Xue's face was cold, full of disbelief.

Mu Lin didn't expect to convince Li Xue, so he simply said, "I'm tired. I'm going to rest. You can do whatever you want."

Mu Lin started to head upstairs, but Li Xue took two large strides forward and grabbed his sleeve.

"Wait. I'll tentatively believe what you're saying is true. What exactly did you do tonight? Tell me everything!"

'It doesn't matter if I tell her or not,' Mu Lin thought. 'Li Xue won't believe me anyway.'

But Li Xue seemed so sincere, it wouldn't be right not to say anything.

Even if he just got mocked for it in the end, what was there to lose?

Li Xue pointed to the sofa. "Let's talk over there."

She even got a cup of water from the dispenser and handed it to Mu Lin. "Here, drink."

This attitude... Mu Lin was a little touched. He took the cup, paused for a moment to think, and then recounted what he had done that day, omitting the details that might frighten Li Xue.

Li Xue listened in silence, her brow furrowed.

'See? You still don't believe me,' Mu Lin thought. 'I told you you wouldn't.'

But Li Xue asked, "Is Qiao Canhua *the* Qiao Canhua? How do you know him?"

'Her attitude is pretty good?'

Mu Lin leaned back on the sofa and said, "Not only do I know Qiao Canhua, but I also snatched the Southside Lot 6 project from the Lu Family and put it in your hands, thanks to him."

Li Xue remembered the outrageous boast Mu Lin had made, and she was stunned. 'Could it be that he wasn't bluffing, that it's actually true?'

'If so, that's incredible.'

Mu Lin immediately added,

"He also wanted me to be a senior executive at Shengding Group, but I turned him down."

"Right now, Qiao Canhua and we are in the same boat. Our interests are aligned, making him a reliable ally—though the Li Family is too small to be called his ally. It's more like we're just being carried along by a big shot."

Li Xue felt that wasn't the main point. "You said a senior executive at Dingsheng Group? When did this happen? Do you think you're qualified?"

Mu Lin said, "I saved his wife's life. What's wrong with taking a senior executive position to retire comfortably? But my master's orders are hard to defy. He wanted me to marry you. If he found out I ran off, he'd kill me one way or another."

Li Xue fell silent. Her attitude toward Mu Lin really had been too harsh.

The words "I'm sorry" were stuck in her throat, refusing to come out.

She stood up and said, "Do you want to come sleep in my room?"

But there was no sound from behind her. She turned her head and saw that Mu Lin had vanished as if into thin air.

The sound of the shower running came from the bathroom.

Annoyed, Li Xue spun around and walked away. Back in her room, she thought that his leaving so quickly wasn't a good sign, so she didn't close the door completely, leaving it cracked open.

She tossed and turned all night, but in the end, Mu Lin never pushed open that door.

「Early the next morning.」

Elder Li was moving his limbs to the rhythm of some music.

Li Xue emerged with dark circles under her eyes, dead tired.

Mu Lin was helping Mrs. Li with breakfast. When he saw Li Xue's huge dark circles, he frowned slightly.

'Was it really necessary?' Mu Lin walked toward Li Xue, who instinctively wanted to shy away.

But last night she had left the door open for him and he hadn't come in. If she avoided him now, Mu Lin would probably grow even more distant.

Li Xue forced herself not to move away, allowing Mu Lin to approach. He grabbed a bottle of hand sanitizer, rubbed some on his hands, and then pressed them around Li Xue's eyes.

He massaged her gently.

Li Xue felt a warm and cool sensation around her eyes, along with a slight, aching pressure.

The aching came in rhythmic pulses, and with each pulse, the pressure around her eyes lessened, making them feel much more comfortable.

"Alright," Mu Lin said, letting go. "Go look in the mirror."

Li Xue found a mirror and took a look. The two huge dark circles were gone. The skin at the corners of her eyes was fair and firm, better than the effect of any skincare product.

The key was that she felt awake now, not so tired.

'Wow! I didn't know Mu Lin could do this,' Li Xue thought. 'If I'd known he had this skill, why would I ever go to a beauty salon?'

The twice-monthly facials could be completely handed over to Mu Lin. Those two treatments cost at least ten thousand yuan.

However, she still couldn't bring herself to ask.

Pursing her lips, she sat down at the dining table and said "thank you" to Mu Lin.

"You're welcome. Remember to take a nap this afternoon, or you'll be in for it."

'That's it?' The simplicity of his response left Li Xue feeling unsettled.

It felt a little distant.

Elder Li felt that Li Xue was acting strangely today, but he didn't say anything.

「At the office.」

Mu Lin went and sat with the special project team.

The second-generation heirs finally felt the pressure of time and started frantically searching everywhere for projects.

Mu Lin didn't get involved. As expected, the heirs' enthusiasm would only last a moment before they gave up.

Sure enough, before noon, they had already set their work aside and gone back to playing games.

After lunch, Mu Lin went downstairs for a walk. He suddenly heard footsteps beside him and turned to see Li Xue.

"Idiot, don't turn around," Li Xue called out. Their public relationship was non-existent; walking together so openly would only give people grounds for gossip.

Mu Lin quickly turned back around.

But Li Xue immediately felt a pang of regret. 'If I talk to Mu Lin like that, won't our relationship be even more screwed?'

'I'll find a chance to apologize later!' Li Xue thought.

For now, she acted as if nothing had happened and said simply, "Regarding the company's current situation, do you have any ideas?"

Mu Lin looked around, pretending to be talking to himself. "What's my status? What's your status? This is clearly your responsibility! What's the use in asking me?"

Li Xue said, "You have private dealings with senior executives from major corporations. I definitely need to ask for your help!"

Mu Lin chuckled. "I'm truly powerless to help with that."

Even Qiao Canhua himself couldn't control the direction of the entire situation.

Wu Long was the local powerhouse. If he didn't let go, not even someone as influential as Qiao Canhua could hope to get free.

"In that case, I'll assign this project to the special project team and Project Team Two to work on together. The practical implementation will be handled by Team Two, and you'll be responsible for communicating with Qiao Canhua. Can you do that?"

'I could,' Mu Lin thought, 'but why should I?'

'Don't you have hands and feet, Li Xue? Can't you do it yourself?'

"No."

"Why? This position comes with a lot of power. Countless people would kill for it."

Mu Lin said simply, "Too much trouble."

Li Xue was so angry she could grind her teeth, but there was nothing she could do. "Fine! I'm sending the notice to your project team anyway. Whether you do it or not is up to you!"

Mu Lin watched as this huge task was thrust upon him, his mouth hanging open, unable to say a word.

Sigh.

Back in the office, Mu Lin found the second-generation heirs in an uproar.

"Brother Lin, have you heard? It's great news! A pie just fell from the sky!"

Chen Xi rushed over and threw his arms around Mu Lin.

He was wringing his hands with glee.

Mu Lin quickly pushed him away. "I'm not interested in that, get off me!"

Chen Xi waved his hands dismissively. "I'm just so happy! A pie fell from the sky! You know Southside Lot 6, right? Sister Xiaoxue is letting our team and Team Two handle the project together! And she said performance will be based on the work we do!"

Mu Lin thought it over carefully and could only sigh.

'Li Xue is so calculating.' These heirs had no idea of the dangers behind this matter and would surely charge ahead mindlessly.

And he certainly couldn't stand by and watch them throw themselves into danger, so he would definitely have to help.

And just like that, her plan would be realized.

On the other hand, the special team's status would be elevated, which could be used to suppress the Lu Family's influence.

The members of the board of directors would also become more united.

Killing multiple birds with one stone. Absolutely brilliant.

"Brother Lin, what are you sighing for? This is great news! We should be celebrating!"

Chen Xi was ecstatic, jumping around the office happily.

"No, no, I've got to get to work. I'm going to get the files from that menopausal woman."

The words had barely left his mouth when he saw that very "menopausal" secretary pushing a cart of documents, glaring at them with a face full of displeasure.

She upended the cart, sending files scattering across the floor.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" Chen Xi shouted.

"I'm menopausal!"