Elder Li said, "You flatter me, Brother Zhuang. To be honest, I have run into a bit of a tricky situation recently."
"Dingli Group from Di Yang City has a new project, and I was hoping for a little support from Elder Lin. Unfortunately, I don't have an 'in' with him, so I had no choice but to trouble you, Brother Zhuang."
The voice on the other end of the line paused slightly. "Elder Lin, you say? Alright. The day after tomorrow, when I go to the birthday banquet, I'll be sure to put in a good word for the Li Group with Elder Lin."
"Then I'll be counting on you, Brother Zhuang. I'll have to treat you to dinner to thank you properly."
"You're too polite."
The two hung up.
"Grandfather, who were you on the phone with?"
"Zhuang Sheng."
Both father and daughter were shocked.
"It was actually Elder Zhuang..." Li Yinhe had been in the business world for many years and had naturally heard of this major figure. Even though he had retired, his influence hadn't diminished in the slightest.
"Decades ago, I saved him once. But I'm a businessman, so it wouldn't have been good for him to be too close to me. Still, it's a good thing that debt of gratitude remains."
"So, what about our invitations to the birthday banquet?" Li Xue asked, a little worried.
"If Brother Zhuang is willing to help, the invitations will naturally be delivered to us. Otherwise, did you really think he has that much sway with the Lin Family? Still, with Brother Zhuang putting in a good word for us with Lin Jin, there's at least a sliver of hope."
Elder Li shook his head again. "All we can do now is wait. If Elder Zhuang is willing to help, the invitations will surely arrive tomorrow."
Li Yinhe and Li Xue both nodded.
Li Xue said, "Dad, word of Pang Dahai's death is all over the streets. They're saying his adopted son killed him. Guo Lei is now gathering Pang Dahai's old crew, trying to take his place."
Elder Li frowned slightly. "Guo Lei? That kid? He's capable of killing Pang Dahai?"
'Why do I get the feeling it's not that simple?'
...
「Inside a large villa in the suburbs of Nanjiang City.」
A white-haired old man put down the phone and said lightly, "Li Hao has a big appetite this time, actually trying to snatch up Dingli Group's major project. It looks like Yuelong Group has really pushed him into a corner."
Beside him, a middle-aged man in a high-end, custom-tailored suit said, "Dad, Elder Lin is a man of his stature; why would he ever give me face? Besides, we have inside information that the Dingli Group project has already been earmarked for Yuelong Group."
Zhuang Sheng laughed and said lightly, "When the time comes, just find an excuse to brush him off. Why are you even hung up on this? We can't afford to provoke Elder Lin or offend the powers behind Yuelong Group just for someone else's company. I'm not that senile yet."
"Li Hao really thinks he's something. Decades have passed, and he's still trying to cash in on that tiny favor from back then. Utterly shameless."
Zhao Yang quickly told Lin Jin the news that Mu Lin had agreed to attend the birthday banquet.
Lin Tian was also very happy when he heard. He planned to use this banquet as an opportunity to properly mend his relationship with Mu Lin.
"Dad," Lin Jin said, "Divine Doctor Zhao said Mu Lin will be coming with him. In that case, we don't need to send Mu Lin an invitation, right?"
"Right. When the time comes, you'll personally drive to pick them up," Lin Tian said. "Also, don't forget the invitations for the Li Family."
Lin Jin nodded. "Already on it."
Lin Tian said calmly, "That Pang Dahai was quite a figure in Anhua City. For him to just disappear all of a sudden... this business is fishy. And that Guo Lei, you can tell just by looking at him that he's not the type to get things done."
"I wonder if it has something to do with Mu Lin."
Lin Jin thought his father was overestimating Mu Lin. He'd believe it if it were about Mu Lin's medical skills, but given Mu Lin's slight build, it was more likely that Pang Dahai could have killed him. Besides, Pang Dahai was notoriously afraid of dying and always had experts protecting him.
"No way. Besides, Pang Dahai died while Mu Lin was on his way to the Holy Medicine Hall. With a window of just a few minutes, how could he possibly have taken out Pang Dahai?"
Lin Tian thought for a moment. "Send an invitation to Guo Lei as well. We'll know the truth once we see his attitude toward Mu Lin."
"Dad, that's not really appropriate, is it? A despicable character like Guo Lei..."
Seeing the look in his father's eyes, Lin Jin immediately shut his mouth.
...
When Mu Lin got home from work the next day, he noticed that the Li father and daughter duo were beaming with uncontrollable happiness.
Mu Lin took the opportunity to ask, "Chairman Li, President Li, I have something to do tomorrow evening and need to go out for a bit. Would it be alright if I left work early?"
Li Xue was in an excellent mood. Looking at her phone, she waved him away. "Yes, yes, that's fine."
After Mu Lin returned to the Li residence, Elder Li also seemed to be in a very good mood. But upon seeing Mu Lin, he seemed to remember something and his brow furrowed slightly.
"Grandpa, are there really four invitations?" Li Xue bounced forward cheerfully.
"Yes," Elder Li nodded.
"That's wonderful!" Li Xue was so happy she felt like jumping for joy.
Li Yinhe's face was beaming. "We'll have to thank Elder Zhuang properly when we see him."
The reason they were all so excited was that the invitations to Lin Tian's birthday banquet had been delivered that afternoon.
Four invitations in total—one for each of them.
"Alright, let's eat," Elder Li said, gesturing for Mu Lin to sit down.
After dinner, Mu Lin played a few games of Chinese chess with Elder Li before heading upstairs.
The night passed peacefully. The next day, shortly before five in the afternoon, Mu Lin left work early and arrived at the Holy Medicine Hall.
Zhao Yang was already waiting for him. As the occasion was a grand one, he had also changed into an expensive, custom-made suit.
Before long, Zhao Ling'Er arrived as well.
Zhao Ling'Er was already a beauty to begin with, and with just a touch of light makeup, she was stunning. This, combined with a strapless lace gown that accentuated her figure, instantly gave off the impression of a young girl who had blossomed into a woman.
"Brother Mu Lin!" Zhao Ling'Er looked at Mu Lin shyly.
Mu Lin smiled and nodded. Every other time they had met, Zhao Ling'Er had been wearing her pink nurse's uniform. He'd never paid much attention, but 'heck, the girl really had a figure on her.'
Just then, a silver-white luxury sedan pulled up in front of the Holy Medicine Hall.
Zhao Yang smiled and said, "Xiaolin, let's go."
Mu Lin looked toward the car. A middle-aged man in a black formal suit stepped out of the silver-white Bentley.
It was none other than Lin Jin, which greatly surprised Mu Lin. 'Could he be a high-ranking figure as well?'
'Is he here to personally pick up Divine Doctor Zhao?'
"Uncle Lin," Mu Lin called out calmly. Lin Jin nodded, then said, "Divine Doctor Zhao, I've come to take you there."
"Then we'll be imposing on you!" Zhao Yang smiled back and said, "Let's go, Mu Lin. We can sit in the back together."
Zhao Ling'Er pouted playfully, a charming mix of innocent cuteness and alluring beauty.
About two hours later, the Bentley pulled into the parking lot of Agate Manor in the East Suburbs.
After Lin Jin got out of the car, some of the guests who hadn't yet entered the manor showed surprised expressions.
'Who could be so important? To think they'd require Lin Jin himself to come and personally pick them up!'
Once Mu Lin and the other two stepped out of the car, it all made sense to those present. It was Zhao Yang, the Divine Doctor of Nanjiang Province from Anhua City.
Rumor had it that the reason Elder Lin had come to Anhua City in the first place was to seek treatment from Zhao Yang.
As for the two young people with him, everyone knew Zhao Yang had a beautiful granddaughter; the other one was probably his future grandson-in-law.
Many of the major figures from Anhua City watched with envy as Lin Jin personally escorted the trio inside.
Just then, a Ferrari pulled into the parking lot. In the passenger seat, an exquisitely beautiful girl with light makeup said in confusion, "I must have been seeing things."
This girl was none other than Li Xue.
"What are you talking about, sweetie?" asked Li Yinhe from the back seat.
"It's nothing. I just thought I saw Mu Lin walk in a moment ago. I must have been mistaken," Li Xue said.
Li Yinhe sighed helplessly and said flatly, "You must be tired. An event this grand and formal is impossible to get into without an invitation. You definitely saw wrong."
Elder Li said nothing, but his solemn expression showed he was clearly unhappy. He had genuinely wanted to bring Mu Lin along, but there had only been four invitations. He sighed, feeling a pang of guilt.
Once the car was parked, Li Hao and his family also entered the manor grounds.
At that moment, Mu Lin was being led by Lin Jin into a luxuriously understated private room.