Mu Jinyu, upon hearing Lin Zhiping's words, was about to laugh out of annoyance.
Damn it, he had just been kicked out by Lin Qiaoxia, and yet he had the audacity to say such things.
However, since he was "unacquainted" with Lin Zhiping at the moment, he turned to Lin Qingxue and asked, "Qingxue, who is he?"
"Huh? He's my cousin, Lin Zhiping."
Although Lin Qingxue found it odd that Mu Jinyu had just recognized Lin Zhiping's identity and was now asking her, she nevertheless answered candidly.
"Who are you?!" Lin Zhiping, hearing Mu Jinyu's interjection and after giving him a few glances, didn't recognize him, then turned to Lin Qiaoxia, demanding, "Lin Qingxue, I'm talking to you!"
Mu Jinyu spoke calmly, "Qingxue is here on behalf of her company to cooperate with Jinyu Group. Cousin, shouldn't you be discussing follow-up cooperation with Jinyu Group right now? Why are you out here?"
"How's that possible?" Lin Zhiping's expression shifted drastically upon hearing Mu Jinyu's words, then he said to Lin Qingxue, "How could Jinyu Group possibly cooperate with your plaything of a company?!"
"Why wouldn't they?" Mu Jinyu asked softly, "In their company's eyes, what difference is there between Lin Group and your Qingxue Company?"
Lin Zhiping's voice faltered.
Mu Jinyu then curiously asked, "By the way, Cousin, you didn't say, why did you come out of Jinyu Tower so quickly? Could it be… that you annoyed President Lin so much that she doesn't want to cooperate with the Lin Family anymore?"
These words from Mu Jinyu were like several sharp knives piercing directly into Lin Zhiping's heart, making him feel as if his heart was bleeding, oh so painfully!
Mu Jinyu clicked his tongue and commented, "Then your ability is really lacking. I fear you might get a beating from the old man when you get home. Tsk tsk, Cousin, you take care now."
"Cousin, is what Jinyu saying true?" Lin Qingxue, hearing Mu Jinyu's words and seeing Lin Zhiping's odd reaction, had a thought. Recalling what Mu Jinyu had just told her, she quickly pressed with curiosity.
"How could it be? I… I just…"
Lin Zhiping, looking uncomfortable, tried to find an excuse, to say he wasn't refused by President Lin; he had come out early for some reason, but he couldn't find any suitable excuse on the spot.
Mu Jinyu, however, couldn't be bothered to listen to his tale and pushed Lin Qingxue gently, saying, "Go on then, don't waste time, or else you'll end up like your cousin, driven out by President Lin!"
Lin Zhiping's face darkened like coal at these words.
While Lin Qingxue felt that Mu Jinyu was deliberately teasing Lin Zhiping and that Lin Qiaoxia wasn't actually waiting for her, she still cooperated obediently, calling out, "Then, Young Master Mu, Cousin, I'll go first."
Having said that, she quickly ran towards Jinyu Tower.
Mu Jinyu waved goodbye to her, then started to whistle as he prepared to leave. Seeing Lin Zhiping with a darkened face, clenching his fists, and trembling all over, Mu Jinyu paused in his step.
"Eh, Cousin, have you had lunch yet?" Mu Jinyu asked.
He knew very well that Lin Zhiping must have been filled with tea, as no one in the company would have offered him a grain of rice.
The reason for such a question was merely to taunt him further.
"I… have eaten…" Lin Zhiping managed to force a smile at Mu Jinyu, barely holding himself together.
"You've eaten?" Mu Jinyu said in surprise, "Then why are you still standing here catching the northwest wind? Hehehe..."
Having finished speaking, Mu Jinyu no longer wasted words with Lin Zhiping, laughing lightly as he walked towards Jinyu Tower.
"You… I…"
Lin Zhiping, realizing that Mu Jinyu wasn't expressing concern but rather mocking him, was so angry that he wanted to chase after him and fight. But seeing that Mu Jinyu had already entered Jinyu Tower and not daring to make a scene, he could only sulkily curse a few words before departing.
…
Lin Qingxue quickly came out from Lin Qiaoxia's office, and then ran into Mu Jinyu.
"How did it go? Everything went smoothly?"
Mu Jinyu sat in the lobby outside, sipping on a coffee. Seeing Lin Qingxue looking baffled as she walked out, he asked with a smile.
"Huh?" Lin Qingxue snapped back to reality, nodded slightly, then looked at Mu Jinyu incredulously, and asked, "You are... the big boss of Jinyu Group?"
Actually, when Mu Jinyu had repeatedly assured her that there would be no problem, Lin Qingxue suspected he might be connected to Jinyu Group, but she wasn't sure.
But it was only during the conversation with Lin Qiaoxia that she truly learned Mu Jinyu was indeed the man who had founded the enormous enterprise.
No wonder he didn't seem to care much about the more than five hundred million she owed him, and why yesterday, when she sought his blessing, he actually made Lin Qiaoxia, who had originally been going to reject her, change her mind and agree to her plea for cooperation.
Also no wonder that after she cried to him, her cousin Lin Zhiping came over today and was turned away yet again, while her own small company was able to successfully secure a collaborative opportunity with Jinyu Group.
Thinking of these things, Lin Qingxue felt as if she was in a dream.
"Yes, I mentioned it to you before, but you just didn't believe it," Mu Jinyu said with a light laugh.
"I still find it hard to believe. It's too surreal," Lin Qingxue muttered.
"What's so surreal about it?" Mu Jinyu shook his head slightly and said, "I managed to kill such a huge python, and used some water to cure your grandfather's illness. Aren't those things even more unbelievable?"
"That's true," Lin Qingxue nodded blankly.
Mu Jinyu smiled and said, "Alright, now that you are the spokesperson for my company in Jinling, hurry up and make money. Remember to pay me back."
Lin Qingxue pursed her lips and asked, "You've helped me so much just because... I owe you money?"
"Of course," Mu Jinyu answered without any hesitation.
"I understand," Lin Qingxue said, her expression somewhat downcast.
Mu Jinyu stood up, patted Lin Qingxue's shoulder, and said, "Okay, you should hurry back. I guess those people from the Lin family should be coming to you soon. As for what you're going to do, I'm not going to interfere. Just make sure you earn the money and pay me back quickly."
After saying that, he walked toward an office.
Lin Qingxue turned back and watched Mu Jinyu leave, feeling a bit distressed.
Indeed, she shouldn't have expected too much from the very beginning.
Even Sister Qiaoxia, such a beautiful woman, did not have any intimate relationship with Young Master Mu, so how could someone as plain as herself possibly catch his eye?
Lin Qingxue recalled the moment in the office when she tentatively asked Lin Qiaoxia if she was Mu Jinyu's girlfriend but was outright denied, the shadow that crossed the other's eyes.
Lin Qingxue shook her head slightly, deciding not to dwell on it. It was good enough to work for Mu Jinyu and occasionally see him. She should be content with that.
...
Lin Family Villa.
After Lin Zhiping returned, he was summoned by Elder Lin. With a look of unease, he walked into his grandfather's room.
"Grandfather..."
Lin Zhiping called out to the old man lying in bed.
"Hmm, you're back? How did things go?" Elder Lin sat up and massaged his sore back as he asked.