Chapter 69: A Big Project

Chen Xi crouched on the floor to pick up the documents, a wronged expression on his face.

Zhou Yu and Sun Lele crouched down to help him.

"Brother Xi, what is wrong with you? Why did you have to mention menopause? Women already hate it when people talk about their age, and then you had to go and bring up menopause. Did you do it on purpose?"

Chen Xi was incredibly wronged. "That's not what I meant… And stop picking on me…"

Mu Lin waved his hand dismissively. "That's enough out of you two! This project is treacherous. If you keep this playful attitude, you're guaranteed to fail."

As soon as Mu Lin spoke, the scions obediently stayed crouched and listened to him talk.

"First," Mu Lin said, "the Lu Family will definitely be working against you."

The scions exchanged glances. Who cared about that, anyway?

"The Lu Family has never treated us well anyway. What's there to be afraid of?"

"You might also have to face the Yuelong Group directly. You all know they've always wanted this project, right?"

That quieted the scions down considerably. Wu Ming, the young master of the Yuelong Group, had clashed with them on many occasions, so they were all too familiar with the pressure the group could exert.

"So, what do we do?"

Mu Lin said, "Just do as I say. I'll shoulder the responsibility for this matter. Both the performance and the prestige will be ours for the taking."

But his words left the scions utterly bewildered.

"Brother Lin, you're incredible! But… is that really possible? Do you even have a say in this?" Zhou Yu was still more concerned for Mu Lin's safety. Pretending to be a big shot in front of the real tycoons could end horribly.

"It's possible," Mu Lin said. "I'm the one who secured this project in the first place."

Chen Xi looked confused for a moment, but then something clicked. "Oh, I remember you saying that!"

Mu Lin pointed at Chen Xi. "Exactly."

"You all need to start reading the project materials as soon as possible. Make sure you know them inside and out—memorize every detail!"

Mu Lin ordered, "When you're meeting with clients, you can't stumble over your words at all!"

"Yes, sir!" the scions yelled, but they were sighing in the very next breath.

They'd never had that skill back in school, so how could they possibly have it now?

Mu Lin wasn't actually trying to turn them into ace salesmen. He just hoped these scions would stay out of trouble for a while and not introduce any new complications to the situation.

His instructions given, Mu Lin turned, swiped his card at the time clock, and left for the day, effectively clocking out early.

He immediately rushed to the Holy Medicine Hall.

Qiao Canhua was strolling in the courtyard with his wife. The scorched black marks on Madam Qiao's face were gone, leaving only a few faint yellow patches. The rest of her skin was as fair as a peeled, boiled egg.

With a little more time, she would likely recover the legendary beauty of her younger days.

Having gone through this ordeal, Qiao Canhua had become even more doting on his wife.

He kept glancing toward the courtyard gate. Upon hearing footsteps, he hastily pulled his hand from his wife's collar.

"Mu Lin, shouldn't you be at the office? What are you doing here?"

Mu Lin chuckled. "I'm now the group's sales representative for the South City Plot No. 6 project. I'm here to coordinate with you! And you can bet I'm getting paid for every minute of it."

"I see!" 'You think I can't tell you're slacking off on the company dime, kid?' Qiao Canhua thought.

He didn't call him out on it, though, and simply smiled.

"Well then, I ask for Mu Xiaoyou's guidance. The project's smooth progress will be all thanks to you!"

Mu Lin waved his hand. "Not at all. How could a low-level grunt like me have that much influence? Ultimately, moving this project forward depends on the negotiations between you and Chairman Wu. Only when the two of you compromise will there be any room for progress."

"Yes, even a grade-schooler knows we need to talk, but how?" Qiao Canhua heaved a long sigh and pointed to his face, which was swollen from the medication. "Will Wu Long even agree to talk to me?"

Mu Lin said, "He'll certainly do everything he can to obstruct the project. But sooner or later, he'll realize there's little to be gained from obstruction and will eventually return to the negotiating table."

"I already offered him a condition—to set him up with a project outside the city—but he completely ignored me. He even sent people to try and teach me a lesson."

Mu Lin laughed. "Why don't you try inviting him one more time? I bet he'll show up."

Qiao Canhua gave a dry laugh. "I'm not an idiot. I'm not going to court disaster again."

"Leave it to me," Mu Lin said. "I'll arrange it."

"You? You're really getting carried away. This isn't something you can meddle in."

Mu Lin smiled faintly. "If I say it can be done, it can be done."

"And what makes you so sure?"

"Because his most trusted enforcer is my man. How about we arrange the meeting at Huangshang Huang?"

Mu Lin spoke nonchalantly, his tone utterly unshaken, as if stating the obvious.

Qiao Canhua narrowed his eyes, studying Mu Lin for a long moment before sighing.

"If you say so, I'll trust you for now. Let me know the time once you've arranged it."

Mu Lin pulled out his phone. "Right away."

He immediately called Guo Lei.

Guo Lei was in the middle of a session with a prostitute he'd called. Seeing the call was from Mu Lin, he scrambled to answer.

"Hello, Mr. Mu. What can I do for you…?"

Mu Lin frowned slightly. "Sounds like you're busy."

Guo Lei, slightly embarrassed, stopped what he was doing.

But Mu Lin didn't seem to care and simply continued:

"Arrange a meeting between Chairman Wu and Chairman Qiao. Make it at Huangshang Huang. I'll be waiting to hear from you."

Then he hung up.

Qiao Canhua narrowed his eyes, finding Mu Lin's actions fascinating. He had arranged the whole affair with just a few words.

"You're done already? Just like that?" Qiao Canhua asked. "When I assign tasks to my subordinates, we have to go back and forth for ages. Are you telling me you're more impressive than I am?"

Mu Lin chuckled. "But of course. If you held his life in your hands, he'd have to listen to you, one way or another."

Qiao Canhua didn't quite catch his meaning. "What kind of strange illness does he have? One that you can cure so easily?"

Mu Lin waved his hands frantically. "No, nothing like that. I can just easily kill him."

Er…

Qiao Canhua pursed his lips. "Don't make business sound so bloody. It's not you who kills him, is it? It's the knife that kills him."

Mu Lin was thoroughly impressed. When it came to this level of thinking, this degree of ruthlessness, Qiao Canhua was clearly the master.

"You're on another level."

His phone rang. It was Guo Lei, reporting back dutifully. "Brother Mu, it's all set. Seven o'clock tonight, Room 2020 at Huangshang Huang."

'That VIP room again,' Mu Lin thought with a faint smile.

"Did you even ask Wu Long? How did you confirm it so quickly?"

"As long as nothing special comes up, his schedule is handled by his secretary. I've paid her off, so she naturally does as I say."

'So that's how it is.'

"Alright, then." Mu Lin hung up and turned to Qiao Canhua. "Tonight at seven o'clock, Huangshang Huang, private room 2020. You'll see Wu Long there."

Qiao Canhua narrowed his eyes. "I didn't realize you had a few tricks up your sleeve."

"How could I get by in this world without them?" Mu Lin said, raising a hand. "I'll be there tonight as a representative of our side. If Wu Long tries any funny business, I'll deal with him right then and there!"

Qiao Canhua just chuckled, not wanting to discuss it further with Mu Lin. "Well then, I'd better get myself properly dressed. Can't lose face tonight."

With that, he put his arm around his wife's waist and began to walk away.

After a moment's thought, Mu Lin followed them. "Let me go with you. You never know, something unexpected could happen!"

"You should indeed come with me. I honestly have no idea where any shopping centers are."

Mu Lin chuckled. So that was why. "You've been here for so long, I completely forgot you're a genuine out-of-towner."

"That's why I need a local to show me the way."

Mu Lin smiled faintly. "What a coincidence. So am I."

Huh? Qiao Canhua's eyes widened, a sense of absurdity washing over him.

"You just don't want to be our guide, is that it? Fine, I can go by myself."

Mu Lin quickly stopped him. "That's not what I meant! It's only been half a month since I came down from the mountain. I've been swamped with work ever since I got to Anhua City, so I really haven't been out much."

Qiao Canhua found the explanation plausible, so he didn't get angry. Just then, Zhao Ling'Er came out. Qiao Canhua waved to her and said, "Miss Ling'Er, I'd like to buy some clothes for my wife. Would you be able to take us shopping?"

Hearing the word "shopping," Zhao Ling'Er's eyes lit up. "Oh, yes, of course! Wait for me a second!"

She immediately ran back inside, emerging a moment later dressed in a vibrant, youthful outfit.

Then, with a practiced familiarity, she linked her arm with Mu Lin's. "Brother Mu, you're going too, right? Let's go together!"

And just like that…

Mu Lin, a dazed look on his face, was dragged forward by Zhao Ling'Er.

'Why did she have to come along, too?'

The situation had suddenly become very awkward. Mu Lin had to stick around to protect Qiao Canhua.

But that meant being pestered by Zhao Ling'Er.

Seeing Mu Lin's predicament, Qiao Canhua burst out laughing.

"Younger Brother Mu, you don't know how good you have it!"