Two people were seated inside the luxurious private room. One was Lin Tian, Lin Jin's father, also known as Elder Lin.
The other person, a man in gold-rimmed glasses, looked utterly terrified, wringing his hands, at a complete loss.
"Mu Xiaoyou is here!" To everyone's surprise, Lin Tian stood up and walked toward Mu Lin.
With a placid expression, Mu Lin said politely, "Greetings, Elder Lin."
Just then, when the man in the gold-rimmed glasses saw Mu Lin, his pupils shrank abruptly, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Lin Jin happened to witness this, and in an instant, a storm of doubt brewed within him.
'Could it be? Did Mu Lin really kill Pang Dahai?'
Although Lin Jin was deeply shocked, his expression remained impassive.
The man with the glasses was none other than Guo Lei, the very same man who had previously been so scared by Mu Lin that he had lost control of his bladder.
At this moment, Guo Lei was breaking out in a cold sweat, his legs turning to jelly.
'Mu Lin… he actually knows a major figure like Elder Lin! And Elder Lin is even treating him with such courtesy!'
At that moment, a single thought flashed repeatedly through Guo Lei's mind: 'Mu Lin is not someone to be provoked!'
Lin Tian calmly turned around and said, "Guo Lei, you may go."
Guo Lei scrambled to respond, "Goodbye, Elder Lin."
With that, he fled the room in terror.
The group watched the door slam shut with a BANG.
Finally, Lin Tian was the one to break the silence.
"Young friend Mu Lin, please, have a seat." Lin Tian smiled kindly. "Thank you for coming."
"I hear you're staying at the Li Family's residence. Might I ask what your relationship is with them?"
Mu Lin listened and replied, "My master owed Grandmaster Li a favor from long ago, and I am here to repay that debt on his behalf."
"I am temporarily staying with the Li Family, and Grandmaster Li has been exceptionally good to me."
He never forgot Li Xue's warning to never reveal their fake marriage to outsiders.
"I see," Lin Tian said, a look of realization dawning on his face. He then turned to Lin Jin. "Let Xiaozhou know that the Li Family will be taking over Dingli Group's next project."
Lin Jin nodded and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Dad. I already told Xiaozhou."
Mu Lin was taken aback. "You have the final say on this Dingli Group project?"
Beside him, Zhao Yang chuckled and said, "Ah, Xiaolin, it seems you really don't understand the Lin Family. They can call the shots on just about anything in Nanjiang Province."
'So this is what Master meant by a top-tier clan or prestigious family?'
Mu Lin hesitated for a moment but said, "Then thank you, Elder Lin, but..."
Lin Tian cut in, "Young friend Mu Lin, if you feel uneasy about it, then in the future, when these old bones of mine are laid up again, I'll have to trouble you to treat me."
Mu Lin thought for a moment, then nodded. "Of course."
Seeing Mu Lin agree, Lin Tian was delighted.
"One more thing, young friend Mu Lin. Later, I'd like to say a few words in front of everyone. First, to thank you publicly, and second, to have you come up so they can all recognize your face. Would that be alright?"
Seeing that Mu Lin seemed about to refuse, Lin Tian sighed. "Young friend Mu Lin, you are the one who saved this old man's life. My life—Lin Tian's life—is worth far more than some small project from Dingli Group."
"That day, my son was desperate to save me and made a terrible mistake. I've felt guilty about it ever since. If I don't do something to alleviate that guilt, I simply won't be able to rest easy."
With that, he glanced at Zhao Yang beside him.
Elder Zhao immediately understood and said, "Xiaolin, Elder Lin is no ordinary figure. With him backing you, you could walk sideways in Anhua City."
Zhao Ling'Er immediately added, "That's right! Brother Mu, you have no idea how many people out there are desperate to have Grandmaster Lin's backing."
Mu Lin heard them, but didn't pay it much mind. He was only in Anhua City to repay a debt of gratitude. He'd stay for half a year at most before returning to his life in his little rundown hut.
But seeing the sincere look on Elder Lin's face, he felt he couldn't refuse.
"Alright, then."
Resigned, Mu Lin's heart softened, and he agreed.
At this, a smile finally returned to Lin Tian's face.
...
In the banquet hall, Guo Lei cut a pathetic figure as he scrambled for the exit.
Many watched him with surprise, wondering how such a low-life, insignificant nobody like Guo Lei had managed to get in.
As for Guo Lei, he couldn't have cared less. All he wanted was to disappear from that place at once.
In his panic, Guo Lei almost collided with a group of people. When he looked up, he was shocked to see it was Li Hao's party.
'The Lin Family... Mu Lin...'
He stammered in extreme terror, "E-Elder Li, Chairman Li, I am so terribly sorry!"
"Guo Lei?" Li Hao was taken aback. 'I know I look down on him,' he thought, 'but does he have to look like he's seen King Yama just from seeing me?'
Guo Lei didn't dare say anything more. He quickly stepped aside and bolted for the main entrance.
Li Xue's fine brows knitted together. "Is Pang Dahai's godson always so reckless?"
Li Hao found it strange as well. He looked at Li Yinhe and asked, "Is my face that frightening? Why did he look so terrified when he saw it was me?"
"No, I have no idea what's gotten into him," Li Yinhe replied, equally baffled.
Li Hao was still puzzled when a man in a suit walked up to them and asked respectfully, "Excuse me, are you Mr. Li Hao and Mr. Li Lai?"
"I am," Li Hao replied, confused.
"You can call me Xiaozhang. I'm secretary to Mr. Zhou."
"Mr. Zhou asked me to inform you that the Dingli Group project has been unofficially awarded to the Li Group. After the banquet, you are invited to meet with Mr. Zhou in his hotel room."
Li Yinhe and his daughter, Li Xue, were both flabbergasted. A moment later, their eyes filled with disbelieving joy.
After a moment of stunned silence, Li Hao suppressed his elation and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Secretary Zhang, to thank Mr. Zhou on my behalf."
The young Secretary Zhang smiled and said, "Of course. Mr. Zhou will be waiting for you in Room 2022 of the Huangshanghuang Grand Hotel."
"Noted. Thank you very much."
After Secretary Zhang left, Elder Li looked at Li Yinhe and Li Xue, his wrinkled face breaking into a huge smile. "We actually did it!"
Li Xue was thrilled as well. She had worked herself to the bone for over half a year, putting in countless extra hours, just to raise enough liquid capital for this.
"Grandpa, Grandmaster Zhuang must have been the one to pull the strings for us."
'The invitation to the banquet, the Dingli Group project... Grandmaster Zhuang must have helped us with everything.'
Li Xue was certain of it.
Even Li Yinhe thought the same.
Li Hao took a deep breath. "This is an enormous favor we owe."
Just then, Zhuang Sheng and his son, who were standing nearby, began to walk in their direction.
"Zhuang Sheng is over there. Come on, let's go over as a family. We absolutely have to give Elder Zhuang our proper thanks."
Meanwhile, Zhuang Sheng, who had been sampling some wine, was quite surprised to see Li Hao's family heading his way.
His son, Zhuang Kun, lowered his head and whispered, "Dad, the Li Family actually managed to get in."
They hadn't lifted a finger to help, so naturally, they never expected the Li Family to make it.
"Who knows," Zhuang Sheng muttered, frowning.
"Brother Zhuang," Li Hao said, his voice thick with emotion and gratitude, "I really must thank you for tonight."
Zhuang Sheng's mind reeled. 'It seems Li Hao has misunderstood something. Does he really think I would help him?'
He thought for a moment. 'Li Hao doesn't know anyone else who has Lin Tian's ear. Could it be... because Wu Long's record isn't clean, the invitation went to the second-best choice, Li Hao, instead?'
'That's entirely possible.'
'Still, I should leave myself a way out.'
He quickly replied, "Don't mention it. It was nothing."
Hearing this, Li Hao felt even more grateful. "I'll have to treat you to a meal soon. Brother Zhuang, you must do me the honor of coming."
'In my entire network, Zhuang Sheng is the only one with enough clout, the only one who can meet directly with Lin Tian.'
'Besides, I only asked Zhuang Sheng for help. If it wasn't him, who else could it have been?'
"A meal is fine," Zhuang Sheng said, his thick brows furrowing. Suddenly, the lights in the banquet hall grew brighter.
A beautiful emcee in a magnificent gown and glamorous makeup walked onto the stage. Her clear, melodious voice rang through the hall.
"Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, first, allow me to welcome you all for taking the time to attend the 80th birthday banquet of the venerable Mr. Lin Tianlin."
"He is deeply grateful for your attendance. We have prepared an abundance of fine food and drink for tonight, and we hope all of you have a wonderful evening."