Lin Chaodong spoke with profound reverence.
"Old brother, the man I respect most in my life, is like an omnipotent immortal. Twenty years ago, had he not saved me, I would have been dead long ago and certainly wouldn't have survived until today."
Zhou Yu immediately pressed for details.
"Grandfather Lin, please tell me more about the old man."
Lin Chaodong's face showed a hint of reminiscence.
"I know very little about old brother, only that he had divine abilities. Twenty years ago, after he saved me, we drank through the night. It was that evening when we settled this marriage arrangement."
Lin Chaodong suddenly chuckled.
"Old brother had a humorous way of speaking. I still remember, he joked to me that by the time you came along, you should just set yourself down properly in the Lin Family as a live-in son-in-law."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu's eyes betrayed his astonishment.
"The old man... really said that?"
Zhou Yu's heart was overwhelmed by a massive surge.
He knew the old man too well, every word he said had its purpose.
What exactly was going on?
On one hand, the old man had him swear to clean up his house, yet on the other hand, he was to be a dutiful live-in son-in-law in the Lin Family.
These two were simply contradictory.
Could it be that the old man intentionally wanted him to break his solemn vow?
No, that couldn't be it.
Zhou Yu believed that the old man would never intentionally harm him.
Unless…
Staying with the Lin Family was the way to clean house!
"Hahaha…"
Seeing Zhou Yu's expression change, Lin Chaodong burst into laughter.
"Xiao Yu, don't worry."
"You're the descendant of old brother, how could you be a live-in son-in-law in the Lin Family? That would be disrespecting old brother, and I, Lin Chaodong, would never do such a thing."
His face beamed with gentle laughter.
"Xiao Yu, you rest well these next couple of days. Rest assured, I have plans for what's to come."
"During these days, I will arrange for you to join Lin Corporation so you can become familiar with our operations. It's also a perfect chance for you and that girl to get to know each other better."
"That girl is not bad at heart, just a bit reclusive. Be more tolerant with her."
Zhou Yu nodded.
"Thank you, Grandfather Lin, I will."
Lin Chaodong smiled and said.
"What 'Grandfather Lin'? That's too formal, call me Grandpa from now on."
"Alright, Grandpa."
...
In the living room.
Lin Luoluo bowed her head in silence, tears streaming down.
Lin Wanhao, feeling distressed for his daughter, hurriedly consoled her:
"Luoluo, don't worry, I will find a way to persuade the old master, I won't let you marry..."
Before he could finish his sentence, his mobile phone suddenly rang.
Lin Wanhao answered the call to hear a chuckle on the other end.
"Director Lin, you're still up so late?"
Lin Wanhao was taken aback, then his complexion darkened.
"Huang Zongsheng!!! It's you???"
Lin Luoluo, who had been crying, stopped upon hearing the name Huang Zongsheng, her expression turning tense.
Huang Zongsheng was the chairman of Zongsheng Group.
And the Zongsheng Group was the Lin Corporation's biggest rival in the Yancheng business world. These past two years, the clashes between the two companies had become more frequent and intense, with the Lin Corporation often on the losing side.
One could say that the Lin Corporation was teetering on the brink of danger under Zongsheng Group's pressure.
A call from Huang Zongsheng at this time was definitely not a harbinger of good news.
"You have good hearing, Director Lin."
Huang Zongsheng chuckled.
"Huang Zongsheng, calling me at this late hour, what do you want?"
"Hehe, I know you must be very anxious right now, so I've specifically called to offer you a solution to your troubles."
Shock flickered in Lin Wanhao's eyes, and he instinctively glanced around him.
He was indeed feeling extremely anxious because Lin Chaodong planned to marry Luoluo to a young man of unknown origin from a rural area, but this had only just happened.
Lin Wanhao exclaimed in shock and anger.
"How did you know?"
"Haha, of course I know."
Huang Zongsheng's laugh was filled with confidence.
"President Lin, I can resolve your worries, but there's a favor I must ask of you in return."
"What is it?"
"It's simple, I want the Lin Group to withdraw from the bidding for the Yancheng Subway Line 10 project."
"Impossible!"
Lin Wanhao flatly refused.
The Yancheng Subway Line 10 project was something the Lin Group had obtained the right to bid for after expending a significant amount of financial and material resources.
If they could win the bid for this project, it meant that the assets of the Lin Group would multiply several times in a short period, lifting them to the status of a first-rate force in Yancheng.
Besides, the Lin Group could also secure a firm footing in the provincial city by leveraging this project.
This was absolutely a crucial step for the Lin Group to leap like a carp across the dragon's gate, and it was highly valued by everyone within the Lin Group. How could Lin Wanhao possibly agree to this?
"President Lin, I advise you to think carefully before you speak; don't joke around with your daughter's life."
Lin Wanhao was startled.
"My daughter's life? What do you mean?"
Huang Zongsheng sneered.
"Still playing dumb? Your daughter is poisoned and you want her to die?"
Lin Wanhao was dumbstruck, but in the next moment, he realized what was happening.
"Huang Zongsheng!!! Is the poison on my daughter your doing?"
"I didn't say that, don't wrong me. I'm just telling you I happen to have the antidote. If you want your daughter to be safe, you'll need to comply with my request just now."
"Now, I'll give you one minute to think it over."
Huang Zongsheng spoke as if he had Lin Wanhao pegged.
Lin Wanhao cursed angrily.
"Huang Zongsheng, you are truly shameless. Using such a despicable tactic, but this time, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed."
"What do you mean?" Huang Zongsheng was taken aback.
At that moment, Lin Luoluo took over the phone and said coldly.
"Huang Zongsheng, I'm fine, and we Lin Group will remember this debt."
Upon hearing Lin Luoluo's voice, Huang Zongsheng was stunned.
This shouldn't be.
Lin Luoluo was supposed to be unconscious by now due to the poison of the black hornet stinger, and her body should be turning black, how could she still be speaking?
A cold glint suddenly flashed in Huang Zongsheng's eyes.
"It seems I've underestimated Li De'an's ability!!!"
In all of Yancheng, only Li De'an could possibly have cured her.
"This time, consider yourselves lucky."
"However, Lin Wanhao, I have a piece of advice for you, the Lin Group will be devoured by the Zongsheng Group sooner or later. If you're wise, you'll submit to me early. You might still live the rest of your life without worries about your livelihood. Otherwise, I'll make sure your whole family ends up homeless on the streets."
After speaking, Huang Zongsheng hung up the phone directly.
...
In a villa in the western suburbs of Yancheng.
Huang Zongsheng angrily threw his phone onto the floor.
"Damn it, I didn't expect that old man Li De'an could actually cure the poison of a black hornet stinger and foil my plan."
Beside Huang Zongsheng sat a bald man.
This person was none other than the boss of Yancheng's underworld, named Xue Sanqiang, commonly known as Boss Xue.
Xue Sanqiang was brought up by Huang Zongsheng himself, specifically to handle dirty work for him.
"Boss Huang, what's wrong? What happened?"
Huang Zongsheng's face darkened as he spoke:
"I was planning to use Lin Luoluo to force the Lin Family into submission, but it was ruined by that old man Li De'an."
"Xue San, go teach Li De'an a lesson tomorrow and, by the way, kidnap Lin Luoluo for me."
Xue Sanqiang grinned and said.
"No problem, Boss Huang, it'll be done before tomorrow afternoon."