Xue Ying'er watched Lin Fan's departing back, tears streaming down her face. She turned and ran into the courtyard.
Xue Deyou grabbed her arm, his face stern, and warned, "No matter who it is, if they want to marry you, they have to pay off my debts first and give me two hundred thousand in betrothal gifts!"
"And another two hundred thousand for my retirement, another two hundred thousand for your mother's retirement, and a hundred thousand for our burial expenses!"
"Not a single cent less, and no one will even touch a single strand of your hair!"
Xue Ying'er angrily shook off his hand. "Did he say he wants to marry me? Do you even know who Lin Fan likes? Are you trying to sell me off to everyone you meet?"
A sly smile curved Xue Deyou's lips. "Isn't he with that young widow? What's the big deal, it's not like it costs him a pound of flesh."
"He can build a small Western-style house for his sister-in-law, and he can spare two hundred thousand for our family. He can conjure up another five hundred thousand or a million."
"No matter who he's messing around with, as long as he treats you well, you should milk him dry for our family."
Xue Ying'er cried out, "I'd rather die than marry him!"
Xue Deyou chuckled wickedly. "That's right! First, trick him out of his money, then Dad will find you a rich family. Then..."
"Just find me a ghost marriage! I heard the price is even higher!"
Xue Ying'er rushed into her room and collapsed onto the bed, sobbing.
—
As dusk fell, the midsummer sun still blazed fiercely like fire.
By the time Lin Fan arrived at the county town, sweat was already dripping from his brow.
Outside Gao Lu's company.
"Halt! What are you doing here?"
A security guard pointed his baton at Lin Fan and asked.
Lin Fan smiled politely. "I'm looking for your CEO, Gao."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No."
"Make a phone call and have someone come down to pick you up."
Lin Fan spread his hands. "Sorry, I forgot my phone."
The leading security guard waved his hand. "No appointment, no entry. Hurry up and leave!"
Lin Fan looked troubled.
Judging by the security guards' attitude, no matter how much he argued, he wouldn't be able to get in.
Helpless, he went to the shade of a nearby tree and cultivated while waiting for Gao Lu to appear.
He waited until eight o'clock in the morning.
After a night of cultivation, his dantian showed no change.
The spiritual energy was neither more nor less, still just a tiny amount, not even enough to activate his Purple Extreme Spirit Eyes.
Lin Fan felt a pang of sadness. If he couldn't find any rare treasures to heal his internal injuries, he might never fully recover.
"Manager Duan, good morning!"
He saw Gao Lu's subordinate arriving for work and quickly went to greet him.
Manager Duan paused for a moment, then smiled. "You're here so early, is there something you need?"
Lin Fan nodded. "I have something urgent to see CEO Gao about."
Manager Duan hesitated, then took out his phone and made a call nearby.
He walked back a moment later and said to Lin Fan, "Follow me."
Lin Fan followed him. They took the elevator to the seventh floor, outside a large conference room.
Through the glass wall, he saw a row of employees in suits standing inside, all looking tense, as if being reprimanded.
Gao Lu stood at the forefront, facing her employees.
She was wearing a light green suit that accentuated her curvaceous figure, her overall appearance was exquisitely graceful.
Especially the pair of black stockings, which made her long, straight, and beautiful legs appear even more alluring, a glance enough to make one's blood boil.
Her dark, sleek hair was tied into a ponytail, revealing a lightly made-up face with a hint of spirited charm.
Her beautiful eyes flickered with a decisive, sharp glint.
"I don't care about a few dollars, but my company doesn't need incompetent people, nor greedy ones!"
"The four of you are fired!"
Gao Lu said sternly, her voice as cold as ice.
"CEO Gao, please give me another chance!"
"CEO Gao, I won't dare again, please spare me this time!"
"CEO Gao..."
The four pleaded desperately.
"I hope you will retain your last shred of dignity and leave!" Gao Lu said unyieldingly.
The four left with dejected faces.
After they exited, a man in his forties gritted his teeth and muttered, "Just you wait, bullying me, you'll get yours!"
In the conference room.
"From now on, anyone caught engaging in corruption or bribery will be immediately fired, with no leniency!"
Gao Lu's frost-chilled voice, filled with deep anger, made the remaining dozen or so senior employees tremble and lower their heads, secretly wiping the cold sweat from their palms.
Seeing this, Lin Fan couldn't help but frown. He hadn't expected this girl to be so authoritative and ruthless in her company. Truly, strong women were super tigresses!
"Meeting adjourned!"
Gao Lu saw Lin Fan outside and dismissed the meeting immediately.
She walked out first. "Follow me," she said, heading towards the elevator.
Lin Fan followed her. They took another elevator to the top floor.
CEO's office.
Gao Lu stood in front of a cabinet, searching for something.
Under her imposing aura, Lin Fan felt a strong sense of pressure and became somewhat awkward.
"Xiao Fan, why are you being so formal with me? Sit down!"
"I'll get you some good tea, a hundred times better than what's in your clinic!"
Gao Lu turned her head, her stern expression completely gone, replaced by a gentle smile and a sweet, soft voice.
This change in demeanor and tone was so drastic that it made Lin Fan's mind reel.
"Th-thank you."
He instinctively replied politely, then slowly sat down on the sofa.
Gao Lu poured the tea and placed it in front of him, asking, "Tell me, what is it you need to see me about?"
"It's like this, I have two bottles of medicinal wine I want to sell you."
Lin Fan said with a sheepish smile, taking out two small bottles from his pocket.
Inside were the medicinal wines he had developed, with the effects of invigorating blood and qi, and clearing heat and detoxifying.
Gao Lu chuckled. "You're here to borrow money, aren't you?"
"Yes and no..."
Lin Fan recounted the entire situation with Xue Ying'er in detail.
Gao Lu suddenly understood. "Oh, I see. You're afraid Ying'er's father will pester you, so you're creating a false impression that he has no money?"
"Right, right, right," Lin Fan nodded repeatedly.
Gao Lu sighed. "It's useless. He'll still pester you, unless you stop helping, or you stop contacting Ying'er after helping."
"I have to help now, I've already promised her," Lin Fan said with a wry smile.
Gao Lu nodded gently. "Alright. How much do you want for these two bottles of medicinal wine?"
Lin Fan held up two fingers. "Two hundred thousand."
He couldn't quite put a price on the medicinal wine himself at the moment.
But one bottle was definitely worth more than a hundred thousand.
Gao Lu suddenly stood up and walked behind the desk, sitting in the executive chair. "There are many women in the world who need help, can you help them all?"
Her implication was that Lin Fan was fickle and fell for every woman he met.
"Xiao Fan, since you've asked, I will definitely buy these two bottles of medicinal wine. However, our relationship ends here."
Lin Fan knew she had misunderstood and quickly explained, "Lulu, Ying'er is my elementary school classmate, and we're from the same village. I can't not help her. Please don't overthink it."
"How about this? Just pretend I'm really here to sell medicinal wine, okay?"