Chapter 229 - 165: It’s Not Like I’m Playing Innocent
The sound of "President Lin" made both women’s expressions change.
"We’ll talk about us later."
Lin Jiang turned to Liang Shuhuo and said,
"This is my friend, the design director at Dao Yi Design. She has years of experience and has won quite a few awards. Let’s hand the mall’s renovation and remodeling over to her."
"Yes, yes, of course."
Huang Youwei chuckled awkwardly.
He had just run into Liang Shuhuo upstairs.
But since he had already settled things with Miao Xin, he had ignored her. ’Who knew she was friends with President Lin?’
"Director Liang, I’m so sorry. I had a meeting to get to and couldn’t chat much. Are you free this afternoon? We can discuss the details in my office."
This sudden happiness was almost too much to handle. Liang Shuhuo tried to calm the storm in her heart.
"One o’clock this afternoon. Does that time work for you?"
"No problem."
Huang Youwei glanced discreetly at Miao Xin. They were all intelligent people. The situation was plain to see, and some things were better left unsaid.
"President Huang, I have other business to attend to, so I won’t disturb you any longer."
Miao Xin, with a complete poker face, grabbed her bag and left.
"I’ll be sure to call you for the next renovation. We’ll be in touch," Lin Jiang said.
Miao Xin was so furious that her foot slipped, and she nearly fell.
"You go ahead and eat. I have something to take care of. I’ll come back for you in a bit."
"Okay, you go handle your business."
Lin Jiang and Huang Youwei went out through the back door of the noodle shop.
"Who’s coming tomorrow?"
"The heads of the district fire department and the Municipal Market Supervision Bureau, plus the second-in-commands from other departments."
’That’s not a low-level lineup by any means.’
"Is everything arranged on the mall’s end?"
"I’ve already sent people to make the arrangements. There won’t be any issues," Huang Youwei said with a smile.
"But there’s also a meeting tomorrow. President Lin, will you have time? I can pass on a message, but it would be best for you to attend in person."
"Yes, I know."
’When the leadership comes for an inspection, escorting them personally would definitely have a better effect.’
After discussing the details for another ten minutes or so, Lin Jiang headed back.
By then, Liang Shuhuo had finished her meal. Seeing Lin Jiang return, she asked impatiently,
"Brother, why did Huang Youwei call you President Lin?"
"I bought Berkeley Mall. The renovation and remodeling was my idea."
"You... you bought it...?"
Faced with a man as wealthy and... well-endowed as Lin Jiang, Liang Shuhuo was at a loss for words to describe him.
"Then why didn’t you tell me?"
Liang Shuhuo’s eyes narrowed, like a cunning vixen.
"Tell me, have you met some other woman? Are you planning to give this project to her?"
"I’ve certainly considered it. I’m not sure when I’ll make a final decision, though. It’s a huge project, so I can’t be too rash. But you have given me a reminder."
Lin Jiang fiddled with Miao Xin’s business card. "Judging by her temperament, she probably has a lot of tricks up her sleeve. The experience should be pretty good."
"You’re not that kind of person. I know you’re not."
Liang Shuhuo slipped off her high heels, rubbing her stocking-clad foot back and forth against Lin Jiang’s leg.
"Brother, you’re going to give me this project, right?"
"That depends on whether you can keep me satisfied. The opportunity is in your hands, so you’d better seize it."
Liang Shuhuo fell silent, beginning to have profound doubts about her own taste and preferences.
’This is a project worth tens of millions, and the boss is this handsome.’
’In this cutthroat world, women would throw themselves at a man for a project worth millions, let alone one in the tens of millions.’
’When she went to look at houses with him, two absolutely gorgeous women had plastered themselves all over him.’
’So, what was she hesitating for?’
’Playing innocent?’
’It’s not like that, is it?’
’I’m not that kind of person.’
"Alright, take your time eating. Go talk to Huang Youwei this afternoon and try to get a design proposal ready as soon as possible."
Liang Shuhuo leaned forward slightly, her ample chest resting on the table. She gently squeezed Lin Jiang’s hand. Under the table, she stretched out her foot and rubbed it against his leg again, her gaze sultry and lingering.
"Thank you, Brother."
He stood up, left, and drove to the Haojie Clubhouse.
Foot traffic at Berkeley was dwindling, so its overhaul was imperative. The renovation of the Haojie Clubhouse, however, could be pushed back.
With those ten top-tier female specialists, he wouldn’t have to worry about a lack of business.
But that name, reeking of unsophisticated, provincial taste, definitely had to be changed. He couldn’t keep calling it that.
...
News that Pan Yongbin and Lang Zhenglian had been taken away quickly reached the ears of the Lin Family.
They immediately tried to use their connections to get them out.
Xinyang Building, one of Lin Jiansheng’s properties.
Lin Jiansheng loved to fish and spent most of his time doing just that.
But with Pan Yongbin in trouble, he hadn’t gone today, choosing instead to stay here and wait for news.
Having had a son late in life, Lin Jiansheng was no longer young. His temples were graying as he sat on a rattan chair with a stern expression.
Just then, the sound of high heels approached, and the door to the private room was pushed open.
A sexy, enchanting woman walked in from outside. It was the "sexy anaconda" Lin Jiang had encountered at the noodle shop.
The woman’s name was Lin Qiangwei, and she was Lin Jiansheng’s daughter.
"Did you get him out?"
"There was no way to settle it. He’s been detained for three days," Lin Qiangwei said, taking a seat.
"You can only blame him for being stupid enough to get played by Lin Jiang."
Over the next few minutes, Lin Qiangwei recounted the entire incident to Lin Jiansheng.
Lin Jiansheng’s brow furrowed, and he remained silent for a long time.
"You went to his noodle shop this morning. What do you think of him?"
"He’s very guarded. Seems like a sharp guy. With Pan Yongbin’s level of intelligence, it’s only normal he’d get played."
Even though he was supposedly her boyfriend, Lin Qiangwei didn’t hold back in her criticism.
"Three days in detention isn’t a big deal, but it’ll be hard to explain to Pan Shengli."
"I don’t think we need to worry about that. No one forced him to go to the noodle shop; he went on his own. Pan Shengli can’t say a thing," Lin Qiangwei said.
"I talked to them when I was there. Lin Jiang has three chefs, and none of them look like your average guys. They also said something interesting."
"What was it?"
"’There’s only one Master Lin in this area, and that’s Lin Jiang.’"
Lin Jiansheng chuckled.
"Interesting. Tomorrow, I’ll go test him out myself."
...
「The next morning」
Lin Jiang arrived at the mall bright and early.
Around 10 a.m., the district officials arrived at the mall.
Lin Jiang and the mall’s senior management led them on a tour, completing the inspection.
After offering their guidance, the group moved to the conference room to proceed with the rest of the formalities.
Lin Jiang and the mall’s senior management sat up straight, their expressions serious and professional.
Just then, a game notification appeared.
[Boss incoming]
[Boss Name: Lin Jiansheng]
[Kill Condition: Make him submit wholeheartedly and admit his inferiority.]
[Kill Reward: Master-level Finger Technique, 2,000,000 cash]
’What kind of badass technique is this?’
[Master-level Finger Technique: Golden Spear Never Falters, Unrivaled in Both Technique and Fingers.]
Lin Jiang: ???
’The NPCs and my little ’pets’ haven’t done anything to deserve this, do I really have to go that hard on them?’
Soon, the meeting began, and Lin Jiang composed himself.
’I need to be serious right now. No time for these distracting thoughts.’
Meanwhile, Lin Jiansheng’s car pulled up to the mall entrance.
The doors opened, and three people stepped out.
Besides Lin Jiansheng and Lin Qiangwei, there was a burly man who exuded a powerful aura the moment he stepped out.
This man was none other than another one of Lin Jiansheng’s famous enforcers, Wang Jilong, nicknamed Xiaolong.
The trio’s arrival didn’t attract much attention. After getting out of the car, they stood still, looking at Lin Jiang’s noodle shop.
"Business is booming. He’s really got something."
"I had someone run the numbers. A shop this size, doing this well? It can easily pull in three or four million a year."
"After we put him in his place, we could talk about franchising or buying a stake."
"Given his personality, he might not agree," said Lin Qiangwei.
"He’s young and has opened such a popular shop. He’s a cut above the average person, so a bit of arrogance is to be expected. I’ll go have a chat with him, knock him down a peg or two, and he’ll know what to do."
Lin Qiangwei said nothing. To be precise, she wasn’t particularly interested in the matter. Instead, she found Lin Jiang himself to be quite interesting.
There was an indescribable quality about him that was a little intoxicating.
"Master Lin, I don’t think we even need to talk to him," Wang Jilong said, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
"Why not just get physical? Beat him into submission first, and the conversation will be a lot easier."
"You all need to change your way of thinking. Society isn’t what it used to be. Avoid using your fists if you can. We should try to resolve things in a civilized manner."
Lin Jiansheng looked up at the noodle shop.
"Let’s go. I’m actually looking forward to meeting him."
The three of them walked inside. Lin Qiangwei’s appearance instantly drew the attention of every male customer in the place.
In the back kitchen, Yan Ming seemed to catch a scent and came out.
"Holy shit, Brother Yang! Brother Yang! That woman’s back!"
"Which woman?"
"The one who was hitting on Brother Jiang yesterday."
"Chicks are hitting on Brother Jiang every day. Which one are you talking about?"
"The one you said could kill me with one sit of her ass."
"Let’s go take a look."
The two of them peered at Lin Qiangwei through the kitchen window.
"Why’d she bring people with her? This doesn’t look like a social call."
"Beats me."
Spotting Yang Tao and Yan Ming, Lin Qiangwei locked her gaze onto the two of them.
Lang Zhenglian had said yesterday that he was cornered by three chefs in Lin Jiang’s shop. These two must have been among them.
Lin Jiansheng realized this as well and walked over to them.
"Where’s your boss?"
Yang Tao sized up the trio.
"Who are you? What do you want with Brother Jiang?"
"I’m Lin Jiansheng. I have some business to discuss with him."
"You’re Lin Jiansheng!"
Learning the man’s identity, both Yang Tao and Yan Ming were stunned. They never thought he would show up at their door.
’In that case, this woman’s identity was far from simple.’
"You’re here to start something, aren’t you," Yan Ming said.
"If you’ve got a problem, go get your crew. We’ll see who’s all talk and who’s got the goods."
"You, be quiet for a minute."
With Lin Jiang away, Yang Tao kept a cool head.
"My Brother Jiang isn’t in the shop. If you’re looking for him, try Room 601."
"Alright. You two carry on."
Lin Jiansheng appeared amicable and prepared to leave.
"You two go on ahead. I haven’t eaten yet, so I’ll stay here and get a bite."
Lin Jiansheng nodded and left with Wang Jilong.
Lin Qiangwei scanned the QR code on the counter to order, then waved her phone.
"One pan-seared steak over rice and a glass of sour plum juice."
"Wait here," Yang Tao said coldly before turning back to the kitchen.
"Brother Yang, why’d you sell out Brother Jiang?"
"I didn’t sell him out. Brother Jiang told me to do it," Yang Tao said.
"Brother Jiang told me yesterday that if these guys ever showed up again, I should just send them to find him."
"Brother Jiang is by himself. What if something happens? The three of us should go over too."
"Alright."
Lin Jiansheng and Wang Jilong took the elevator to the 6th floor and headed for Room 601.
"Who are you?"
Seeing their unfamiliar faces, a mall security guard stopped them.
Wang Jilong pointed at the guard’s nose and started shouting.
"Get the hell out of the way! We’re here to find someone, so don’t be a nuisance!"
The guard was so stunned with fear that he froze on the spot, not daring to move.
Lin Jiansheng smiled as the two of them continued toward Room 601.
BAM!
Reaching the door, Wang Jilong kicked it wide open. The conference room fell silent.
The two stood at the entrance and saw a group of people in formal jackets and white shirts.
They were instantly petrified.
...
I saw a photo that was the spitting image of Qin Yangyang in my mind, but I won’t post it because I’m afraid everyone’s tastes are different, haha...
Also, asking for your monthly votes. Thanks, thanks.
