Chapter 70: Shopping

Zhao Ling'Er recommended a well-established shopping center to Qiao Canhua that had been around for a long time.

"This place has been open for a long time, and the prices are fair and affordable," Zhao Ling'Er said. "A lot of locals like to come here to spend their weekends and shop."

"I have a membership card here. You can just use my card for everything."

When Madam Qiao heard there would be a discount, her eyes lit up. "In that case, I'll have to buy a few more things."

She was going to be staying in Anhua City for quite a while, but she hadn't brought many clothes—stuck with an old face, it had never even occurred to her to buy younger, more fashionable styles.

Now, however, she didn't have enough clothes to wear.

They wandered around the clothing section, which boasted a wide variety of categories and numerous brands, offering a truly vast selection.

Madam Qiao spotted a long dress she liked and strode over. A glance at the very reasonable price tag was all it took for her to make up her mind.

"Darling, this is the one!"

Qiao Canhua had the clerk wrap it up so they could pay for everything together later.

Zhao Ling'Er felt this was a wonderful opportunity to be out with Mu Lin. 'How could I not use this chance to buy some nice clothes?'

So, after a quick word with Qiao Canhua, she pulled Mu Lin away to browse the other brands on the same floor.

"Well now!" Mu Lin heard a familiar voice approaching.

"If it isn't Mu Lin from the loser squad. Skipping work on a weekday to pick up girls at the mall? Do you have any idea what this is called?"

Lu Yi said contemptuously, "I'll go tell Old Sun and have him dock your entire salary for the month. And if you have any other violations, I'll dock next month's salary too!"

'Damn it. Enemies really are bound to cross paths.'

Mu Lin rolled his eyes. "I'm out on official leave, and it's all documented. You can check. If you insist on fabricating a reason to dock my pay, go ahead and try!"

"Official leave? I bet you used a bogus reason. Does hitting on girls count as personal leave? I highly doubt it."

Lu Yi glanced around and said simply, "You're in way over your head coming to a place like this, aren't you? The cheapest item here starts at two thousand, and you're not getting a single cent of your salary this month!"

Mu Lin sneered. "You're so annoying. Why don't you piss off?"

Lu Yi glanced around and beckoned to someone in the distance. A salesperson immediately scurried over.

"Young Master!"

As soon as Mu Lin heard that, he knew something was off.

'Is this one of the Lu Family's businesses?'

Zhao Ling'Er looked at Mu Lin and asked, "Brother Mu, who is he?"

To be fair, there was no point in asking Zhao Ling'Er; how could she possibly know the details of the situation?

"You, follow him," Lu Yi said to the salesperson. "Whatever clothes he wants, wrap them up. This young master is footing the bill!"

This was complete and utter humiliation!

"Who asked you to pay for me!"

"You think I'm trying to humiliate you? No, no, no. I'm trying to recruit you. Let's put it this way: the Li Group is a sinking ship. It won't be long before it goes under. When that happens, the smart thing to do is to jump to another ship, not go down with the wreckage like an idiot!"

"I heard from Old Sun that the Li Family pays you two hundred thousand a month, right? I'll give you four hundred thousand. What do you say?"

Zhao Ling'Er's eyes went wide when she heard those figures. She had no idea Mu Lin was so well-paid. Even more shocking was that Lu Yi was offering to double it.

"If you insist on being this stubborn, Chairman Wu of the Yuelong Group is going to make his move! And it won't just be you; everyone in the Li Family will become worthless. After that, sleeping with Li Xue will be cheaper than buying a new shirt."

Mu Lin paused.

"So, is it a yes or a no? Give me a straight answer!"

PTUI!

A thick gob of spit landed right on Lu Yi's face.

Lu Yi trembled with rage, pointing a finger at Mu Lin as he roared, "You shameless bastard! Mark my words, when I take power, the very first person I'll have killed is you!"

With his hands clasped behind his back, Mu Lin said, "Is that so? Bring it on. If you can't kill me, then you're my bitch."

Lu Yi raised his hand, about to make a move, but Mu Lin cut in sarcastically, "Oh, what's this? Calling security? Always relying on outside help, aren't we? You don't think you can take me yourself, is that it?"

"I can't be bothered to dirty my own hands!" Lu Yi had practiced Taekwondo since childhood, achieving the rank of 9th-dan black belt. The average security guard at the company wouldn't last a single round against him.

It was just that he was usually surrounded by so many sycophants that he never had the opportunity to use his skills.

Usually, before he even had a chance to react, someone else would have already stepped up to teach any provocateur a lesson for him.

He hadn't encountered someone as blatantly confrontational as Mu Lin in years.

"If you've really got the guts, come at me yourself!"

The words made Lu Yi see red. He instantly launched a flying kick, slamming his foot into a tempered glass panel.

All the force of his body concentrated into a single point of impact, and he shattered the tempered glass.

The glass disintegrated into a shower of neat, polygonal chunks that rained down onto the floor.

"AHHH!" Zhao Ling'Er screamed in terror, scrambling to get away from Lu Yi.

Lu Yi, however, was very pleased with her reaction. After cracking his knuckles, he looked at Mu Lin. "Get it now? If you do, then get on your knees and promise to be my dog from now on! If you can't do that, you're dying here today."

Mu Lin crooked a finger. "Be my guest."

"So you won't cry until you see the coffin!" Lu Yi assumed a fighting stance, ready to strike.

But Mu Lin's kick was as fast as a lightning strike, catching Lu Yi square in the chest and sending him flying backward.

He crashed through several clothing racks.

"All flash and no substance. Pathetic."

Mu Lin turned back to look for Zhao Ling'Er and found her trembling on the floor.

Her hands were clamped over her ears, and she was shaking violently.

Mu Lin surmised that the events of the previous night had left her with psychological trauma, triggering a powerful physical reaction to this kind of violence.

"Ling'Er, it's okay now," Mu Lin said softly, walking over and squatting down beside her.

Only when she heard Mu Lin's voice did Zhao Ling'Er look up. Seeing that he was completely unharmed, she threw herself into his arms.

As Mu Lin comforted Zhao Ling'Er, he kept an eye on Lu Yi.

Lu Yi was struggling to get up. The salesperson rushed over to help, only to be slapped by Lu Yi from the floor. "Do you think I can't get up on my own?"

The salesperson took the hit without daring to retaliate, saying pitifully, "Of course you can get up, Young Master Lu. I have faith in you."

Lu Yi forced himself to his feet, clutching his bruised chest.

If it weren't for years of training to take a punch, he would have passed out right then and there.

"You just wait," Lu Yi said, pointing at Mu Lin. "If I can't deal with you, I know someone who can!"

With that, he went to make a call, but all he heard was a busy tone.

Mu Lin guessed he was trying to call Guo Lei.

But a minute earlier, Mu Lin had already sent Guo Lei a message, telling him not to pick up for Lu Yi.

Lu Yi's face paled. It seemed he was out of options.

Hearing the sound of shattering glass, Qiao Canhua rushed over with his wife. Seeing the scene, he asked Mu Lin curiously,

"What's going on here?"

But Lu Yi jumped in first. "We ran into each other, and I was just trying to discuss a work matter with him, but he suddenly flew into a rage and attacked me! If I hadn't studied martial arts since I was young, I'd probably be dead right now."

"Mr. Qiao, you've seen it for yourself. The Li Family is full of despicable people like this; they're not worthy of your partnership! It's not too late to sign with our Lu Family instead."

Zhao Ling'Er cried out, "Mr. Qiao, don't listen to his pack of lies! He was the one who started it, insulting Brother Mu. Brother Mu was being incredibly patient, but he kept provoking him and was even about to attack. Brother Mu had no choice but to defend himself!"

"Resorting to violence when you can't compete in business, then playing the victim when you can't even win a fight... I don't think a person can get any more pathetic!" Zhao Ling'Er said, her face livid, her voice sharp and clear.

Her words made Lu Yi's own face turn livid. To be berated like that by a young girl was simply...

Qiao Canhua said, "This young lady has made things perfectly clear. My decision to change partners has nothing to do with anyone else's influence. It's because you're a piece of trash. And not just you—your father is, too."

"Did you get that?" Mu Lin asked with a triumphant grin. "If you did, then hurry up and get lost. Don't make me repeat myself."

"Oh, and by the way, I'm putting yesterday's little disturbance on your tab for now. If you don't behave yourself, I'll be sure to settle the score with you."

Lu Yi knew he wasn't going to gain anything today, so he left without another word.

Qiao Canhua said, "Well done, Mu Xiaoyou. If I were a little younger, I'd have taken care of a scumbag like that myself."

Mu Lin waved his hand dismissively. "You're not old at all!"

Qiao Canhua took it as a joke and waved his hand.

"Did you find any clothes you liked?" Mu Lin asked.

"I'm not buying anything else! I've thought it over. Buying new clothes just to meet someone like Wu Long? He's not worth the effort! We just bought a few changes of clothes for my wife, and that's enough."