Xing Tianlong said graciously, “Well then, Elder Yu, let’s eat and talk.”
Soon, a waiter brought a table full of dishes, all of them the restaurant’s specialties, along with several bottles of expensive red wine.
Yu Guangrong took a bite of food and said, “Tianlong, are you really planning to get into the real estate industry?”
Xing Tianlong glanced at Tian Zhenhao and smiled.
“Elder Yu, this is something I’ve been considering for a long time.”
“Right now, the Xing family’s businesses are more or less established.
While profits have risen year after year, we’ve clearly hit a growth ceiling.”
“That’s why I’m planning to enter the real estate market.”
“I invited Mr.
Tian here today because I’d like to partner with him.
After all, I don’t have any experience in real estate development.”
Yu Guangrong nodded.
“In that case…
Mr.
Tian, what are your thoughts?”
Since he had to drive, Tian Zhenhao wasn’t drinking.
He took a sip of tea and smiled.
“I would be delighted to partner with Mr.
Xing.”
“He has the capital, and I have the experience.
You could say it’s a match made in heaven.”
Yu Guangrong saw them both looking at him and naturally understood the unspoken implication.
He chuckled.
“So, Tianlong, why exactly did you invite me here?”
Xing Tianlong thought for a moment before saying, “Elder Yu, I invited you here today mainly because I want to secure that plot of land in Liu family Village on the west side of the city.”
Yu Guangrong stroked his beard, feigning difficulty.
“That land in Liu family Village is quite the hot commodity.
Right now, there are already two major corporations with their eyes on it.”
“One is Dingsheng Group, and the other is the Wu Group.
Tianlong, are you confident you can compete with them?”
Xing Tianlong smiled.
“Don’t worry, Elder Yu.
I’ll be sure to follow all the proper procedures for the auction.
I was just hoping that when the time comes, you might be able to…
give us the green light on the policy side of things.”
Yu Guangrong nodded.
“That can be arranged.
That can be arranged.”
Xing Tianlong then looked at Lin Yu, and then back at Tian Zhenhao.
“Once I secure the land in Liu family Village, I plan to put Lin Yu in charge of the entire project.”
Lin Yu stared at Xing Tianlong in astonishment.
He had absolutely no experience in real estate development.
Xing Tianlong asking him to manage the project was, of course, a way of giving him a major opportunity.
After all, Lin Yu would never accept a simple handout of cash.
Besides, it’s better to teach a man to fish than to just give him a fish.
Yu Guangrong and Tian Zhenhao were also quite surprised.
They had never expected Xing Tianlong to hold Lin Yu in such high regard.
Tian Zhenhao shot Lin Yu a displeased look and said bluntly, “Mr.
Xing, this kid is only in his twenties, isn’t he?
He can’t have been in the workforce for more than a few years.”
“Putting aside whether he has any management experience, even if he does, it certainly can’t compare to that of a veteran.”
“I don’t mean to pour cold water on your plans, but putting Lin Yu in charge of the entire project could cause the whole thing to go up in smoke.”
“Surely you don’t want to just throw your money away, Mr.
Xing?”
Tian Zhenhao’s tone was extremely hostile.
Yu Guangrong, however, was much more tactful.
“Tianlong, I urge you to reconsider,” he advised.
“Real estate development is no child’s play.”
Tian Zhenhao’s attitude infuriated Lin Yu.
He looked at Tian Zhenhao and said coldly, “Mr.
Tian, have you been feeling cold in your hands and feet lately?
And do you always feel as if something is watching you from behind?”
Tian Zhenhao’s brow furrowed.
Lin Yu had hit the nail on the head.
He’d been experiencing this strange phenomenon recently.
He had even gone to the hospital for a full workup, from head to toe, but they couldn’t find anything wrong.
Someone had suggested he might have run afoul of some malevolent entity, but Tian Zhenhao was an atheist and didn’t believe in any of that nonsense.
“Nonsense,” Tian Zhenhao said coldly, his face darkening.
Lin Yu shook his head and continued, “If you don’t believe me, then I don’t think you’ll live to see tomorrow.”
Tian Zhenhao exploded with rage.
He shot to his feet, slammed his hand on the table, and pointed at Lin Yu.
“Bullshit!
You’re just a punk kid, how dare you be so disrespectful!
Are you trying to curse me to an early grave?”
“Keep spouting that nonsense and I’ll fucking kill you.”
Lin Yu just shrugged.
“Fine, don’t believe me.”
Xing Tianlong and Yu Guangrong thought Lin Yu must have had too much to drink to suddenly start spouting such nonsense.
With an embarrassed expression, Xing Tianlong quickly forced an apologetic smile.
“Mr.
Tian, please don’t be angry.
My brother doesn’t know what he’s saying.”
Yu Guangrong also chimed in to smooth things over.
“Mr.
Tian, there’s no need to be angry.
Young people are hot-headed.
It’s only normal for him to get a little fired up after being challenged like that.”
“Hmph.
Out of respect for Mr.
Xing and Elder Yu, I’ll let it slide for now.
But if you spout any more nonsense, I won’t be so lenient.”
Tian Zhenhao snorted heavily and finally sat back down.
“I’m going to the restroom,” Lin Yu said, getting up and walking out.
After using the restroom, Lin Yu was walking out when he bumped right into a drunk and staggering Chen Luo.
“Who the fuck isn’t watching where they’re going…” Chen Luo muttered, but when he looked up and saw it was Lin Yu, he froze.
“Lin…
Lin Yu?”
Lin Yu didn’t respond.
He started to brush past Chen Luo, intending to head back to his private room.
Chen Luo grabbed Lin Yu’s arm and sneered.
“Lin Yu, you really are too proud for your own good, aren’t you?
You’d rather suffer than lose face.”
“We asked you to come with the group, but you refused.
So why are you sneaking here by yourself now?
Trying to celebrate Manager Lu’s birthday privately?”
“So, what gift did you get her?”
Lin Yu frowned and said coldly, “You’re insane.
I have a dinner to get back to, get out of my way.”
Chen Luo’s eyes widened, and he scoffed, “Lin Yu, you really are a hypocrite.
Your vanity is off the charts.”
“You have a dinner here?
Are you buying, or is someone buying for you?
Take a look around.
Do you even know where you are?”
“This is a five-star hotel.
Can you afford to be here?”
Lin Yu said flatly, “I’m eating here for free.”
Chen Luo’s face was full of contempt.
He leered at Lin Yu and burst out laughing.
“For free?
Who do you think you are?
Brother Long’s little brother or something?”
“Oh, so you’re dining and dashing.
All I can say is, you’ve got some serious nerve.”
The argument attracted the attention of Lu Chunxue and Dong Liya, who were just coming out of the restroom themselves.
When Chen Luo saw them approaching, his voice grew louder.
“Manager Lu!
Miss Dong!
You’re just in time.”
“Lin Yu here is planning to dine and dash.
Isn’t that hilarious?”
“I just asked him if he snuck over here to celebrate your birthday, Manager Lu, but he’s too stubborn to admit it.”
The moment he saw Dong Liya, Lin Yu clenched his fists.
This woman, who had made He Xiaoqi suffer so much, stirred a murderous rage within him.
Dong Liya felt a chill run through her entire body under Lin Yu’s gaze, and she instinctively backed away.
Seeing Dong Liya’s panicked expression, Lu Chunxue quickly steadied her and squeezed her hand.
She thought something must have happened and began to comfort her.
However, when Lu Chunxue turned her head and saw Lin Yu standing right in front of Dong Liya, she was first startled, then her expression immediately turned grim.
“Lin Yu?
How dare you come here and bully Liya!
Are you even a man?”
“Liya, don’t be afraid.
We’re here.
Lin Yu won’t dare lay a single finger on you.”
With her best friend by her side and a grown man like Chen Luo to back her up, Dong Liya’s frantic heart gradually began to calm.
She took a deep breath, finally daring to mock him.
“Lin Yu, a leopard really can’t change its spots.
I can’t believe you’ve stooped to dining and dashing here.”