"If it weren't for that idiot, Mu Lin... I might never have been able to touch the Special Projects Department in my entire life!"
Although the Special Projects Department was known as a recycling station for trash and losers, they had always kept to themselves. He had no reason to shut it down!
He had tried countless times before, but he had always failed, which left Lu Yi feeling extremely frustrated.
But he believed that in a month, he would no longer have to worry about the Special Projects Department.
When Mu Lin returned to the Special Projects Department office, Zhou Yu, ever so savvy, immediately brewed Chen Xi's prized tea and brought a cup to him.
"This tea is quite aromatic," Mu Lin remarked.
Zhou Yu, Sun Lele, and the others all gathered around him. Zhou Yu asked worriedly, "Brother Lin, they didn't give you a hard time, did they? What was the meeting about?"
Mu Lin gave them a brief summary, and Zhou Yu and the others instantly turned deathly pale.
"Oh, Brother Lin, you didn't actually agree with that bastard, did you? To secure a project worth no less than twenty million on our own, without relying on our families?" Sun Lele asked cautiously.
"Yes, I made a bet," Mu Lin nodded.
THUD!
The second-generation heirs in the room, known as 'useless' and 'trash,' all felt their legs give out and collapsed to the side.
Every single one of them looked as though they were facing a formidable enemy.
"A project worth no less than twenty million... Heavens, that's completely impossible," Sun Lele said blankly.
Seeing the devastated looks on their faces, as if their lovers had just died, Mu Lin asked curiously, "Is it that hard? Isn't it something we can achieve with just a little effort?"
Zhou Yu said mournfully, "Brother Lin, it's not that simple. The Li Group's Special Projects Department is infamous in the business world..."
"Everyone knows that our Special Projects Department is just a team of useless second-generation trust fund kids. No one would be stupid enough to entrust a project to us."
Mu Lin frowned. 'So that's how it is.' No wonder Lu Yi was so confident, acting as if completing this task was an impossible fantasy.
He hadn't expected the Special Projects Department's reputation to be so rotten that even other companies utterly detested them.
"The heavens are out to get me... If I can't even make it in the Special Projects Department, my dad will definitely say I'm worse than useless!"
A young man named Du Qi said in despair.
Hearing this, the others also looked like useless freeloaders on the verge of death.
Seeing them like this, Mu Lin was amused and reassured them, "Don't worry, the Special Projects Department will definitely not be disbanded. I made the bet, and I will take full responsibility."
"If I can't sign the project, no matter what, I will ask the old chairman to come out of retirement and save the Special Projects Department."
Hearing this, the group immediately perked up and all looked at Mu Lin.
"Brother Lin, for real?"
Mu Lin nodded. "Couldn't be more real."
The group heaved a huge sigh of relief. That was great news.
Actually go and complete the task? Sorry, but it had never even crossed their minds to do a thing.
As for Mu Lin's fate... they couldn't care less. Whoever made the mess could be the one to clean it up!
They were all just familiar strangers, after all!
With Mu Lin's assurance, Sun Lele and the others were no longer lying around like dead dogs.
Zhou Yu, however, was very worried about Mu Lin.
Meanwhile, Mu Lin casually flipped through the Special Projects Department's work records.
'Tsk, tsk... It's exactly as Chen Xi said. The Special Projects Department only handles errands, deliveries, and matters that are already settled.'
"Brother Lin... how about we go and apologize to Lu Yi? I've been thinking, Lu Yi is just in a bad mood for the moment. Once he cheers up, he naturally won't bother with our Special Projects Department."
Flipping through the documents in his hands, Mu Lin said calmly, "Your father is one of the major shareholders, yet you want to bow your head to him?"
Zhou Yu was dejected. "In my father's eyes, I'm just a little girl. To put it nicely, I'm still young and naive. To put it bluntly, I'm stupid and I don't even know it. Besides, this place values ability over personal connections. How can we possibly compare to Lu Yi...?"
"What's more, Lu Yi's father is the second-largest shareholder. His voice on the board of directors carries far more weight than my dad's."
Mu Lin smiled, his tone softening a little. "Don't worry about things like that. I'll handle it myself."
Zhou Yu immediately understood. Mu Lin had no intention of giving up; he would never bow his head to Lu Yi.
Suddenly, the young woman stood up, trembling slightly as she said, "Brother Lin, if there's any way I can help, just say the word!"
Mu Lin was slightly surprised, but he still smiled. "Mm, I will."
During his lunch break, Mu Lin left the Li Group and headed to the Holy Medicine Hall. Chen Xi was still there.
Zhou Yu, Sun Lele, and the others went downstairs to the company cafeteria.
Sun Lele couldn't help but advise, "Sister Yu, I think it's best if we stay far away from Mu Lin... from Vice Team Leader Mu."
"Sun Lele, what kind of bullshit are you talking! Did you forget what you said this morning?" Zhou Yu shouted angrily.
Du Qi hurriedly tried to placate her. "Sister Yu, don't get so worked up. Everyone in the company is saying that Vice Team Leader Mu openly challenged President Lu during the meeting. He was tactless and that's why he offended President Lu!"
Zhou Yu's expression changed drastically, and her heart filled with worry.
...
「Holy Medicine Hall」
"Brother Lin... thank you, really!" Under the special care of Mu Lin and Zhao Ling'Er, Chen Xi had woken up long ago. With Mu Lin around, forget dying—even his deep knife wounds were healing quickly.
"It's good that you know." Mu Lin nodded, then picked up the silver needles from the Holy Medicine Hall and practically turned Chen Xi into a human pincushion. 'If you want a fast recovery, acupuncture is key.'
"Also, the company held an emergency meeting today. Since you weren't there, I had to go."
Chen Xi hurriedly said, "Brother Lin calls the shots in the Special Projects Department! You can go if you want, or not go if you don't want to!"
Mu Lin had saved his worthless life last night, and he was deeply grateful to him.
"How did you end up in such a sorry state because of Wu Ming last night?" Mu Lin asked curiously.
Chen Xi was silent for a moment, his expression turning ugly. "I was set up by a damn bitch."
Seeing his uncomfortable expression, Mu Lin didn't press for details.
Chen Xi, however, continued, "Brother Lin, my grandfather doesn't know I almost got into an 'accident' last night, does he?"
"Logically speaking, he shouldn't know." Mu Lin thought for a moment. 'Zhou Yu doesn't seem like the type to snitch, right?'
'Sun Lele and the others probably wouldn't either.'
Chen Xi heaved a huge sigh of relief. "Thank goodness, thank goodness..."
Speaking of today's meeting, Mu Lin asked, "Why is Lu Yi's relationship with President Lin so bad?"
Chen Xi paused, then nodded. "It's not just bad, it's terrible. Lu Yi was originally supposed to be the company's general manager, but Sister Xiaoxue, with her Sheng Baiqin Garden project and her own outstanding abilities, was pushed onto that throne by two-thirds of the board."
"So naturally, Lu Yi hates Sister Xiaoxue to the bone!"
Chen Xi's expression changed. "Did Lu Yi make trouble for Sister Xiaoxue at the meeting again?"
Mu Lin nodded. "The problem was with Sheng Baiqin Garden. They're saying the quality is substandard and are refusing to sign off on it."
"Bullshit!" Chen Xi was furious. "Sister Xiaoxue practically watched over this project twenty-four hours a day! I can guarantee that every single stage was perfect!"
"Who the fuck did the quality inspection? I'll flay them alive!"
"I think it was Gao Yi," Mu Lin said.
The moment Chen Xi heard that name, his expression changed drastically. "That bastard Gao Yi?"
Mu Lin asked curiously, "You know him?"
"Of course!" Chen Xi's face darkened. "Back in the day, when I was young and foolish, I used to hang out in... certain establishments. That's where I heard of that mongrel, Gao Yi."
"Brother Lin, Gao Yi is not a good person. You absolutely cannot let Sister Xiaoxue be alone with him! That guy uses all sorts of shady tricks to get his hands on beautiful women!"
"And rumor has it, Gao Yi has a very close relationship with Wu Long, the chairman of Yuelong Group..."
Mu Lin raised an eyebrow. 'Wu Long, hm?'
Li Xue was, after all, Elder Li's most beloved granddaughter. No matter what, he couldn't let anything happen to her.
'Looks like I'll not only have to take care of Gao Yi, but I can't let Yuelong Group off the hook either...'
Just then, Zhao Yang slowly walked over, smiling. "Mu Lin, the medicine you prescribed last night worked exceptionally well! This young brother's flesh wounds have already mostly healed overnight."