Chapter 115: Chapter 114: The Son Is Finally Smart for Once

Just as Lin Chu finished breakfast and was about to leave, a call suddenly came in from Hou Chengjin.

Lin Chu smiled faintly and answered the call.

"President Lin, this is Hou Chengjin. About what happened last night..."

Before he could finish, Lin Chu cut him off. "That’s enough. Don’t say another word. Let’s just put it behind us."

There was no need to get hung up on it.

What was the point?

’Was I supposed to have that streamer, Miaomiao, sent to my bed to kneel and sing "Conquer" as an apology?’

’Pointless.’

Hou Chengjin took a deep breath. "Alright, let’s meet. Where are you? I’ll come to you."

Lin Chu said, "Come to my presidential suite. I’m in the elevator now."

「A moment later.」

Lin Chu saw Hou Chengjin at the door. He looked quite haggard, the dark circles under his eyes still visible. It looked like he had only splashed some water on his face, and his hair was a mess.

"President Lin, I won’t waste your time with pleasantries. Tonight, I’ll treat you to a meal to make amends. How does that sound?"

’That’s some old-school gangster etiquette.’

Lin Chu glanced at him and smiled. "Tonight won’t work, I have an appointment. I have to go abroad soon, so let’s do it after I get back."

Hou Chengjin nodded with a smile.

Since Lin Chu didn’t want to mention what happened last night, Hou Chengjin didn’t bring it up either. Talking about unpleasant things was like picking at a scab—it was just undignified.

"Alright, I’ll wait for you then. Give me a call when you’re back."

Lin Chu nodded. "When you treat me to dinner, will there be Buddha Jumps Over the Wall? I still need to ask about that secret recipe."

Hou Chengjin was taken aback for a moment. He hadn’t expected Lin Chu to still be thinking about food after everything that had happened.

Of course, this was also a friendly signal. It showed that he wasn’t going to let the incident with the streamer affect things. Perhaps there was still a chance to move forward with their business.

"Of course, of course."

"How long will you be away on business, President Lin?"

Lin Chu waved his hand. "Probably over half a month. Are you in a hurry? If it’s about business and you’re in a rush, talk to my boy, Zhang Peng. President Zhang. He has my full authority."

Lin Chu patted Zhang Peng on the shoulder, handing the matter over to him.

To be fair, Hou Chengjin’s live-streaming business was doing pretty well.

If they could become friendly competitors and help each other out, it would be a significant benefit.

Besides, Zhang Peng was more diplomatic than he was when it came to handling the details.

"Great, no problem. President Zhang, we’ve already added each other on WeChat. I’ll be counting on your support from now on."

Hou Chengjin knew this was Lin Chu’s way of "downgrading" their relationship—from dealing with Lin Chu directly to dealing with his subordinate.

Hou Chengjin’s mental profile of Lin Chu was now: spends money like water, lives lavishly, loves food, has a short fuse, is never short of women, and has loyal men working for him. He was usually easygoing but could flip a switch and become hostile in an instant. Yet, he could just as easily laugh it off. His emotional control ran deep, and he was sharp as a tack.

In short, three words summed it up: He’s bad news.

Fortunately, the connection wasn’t completely severed, and they hadn’t become enemies. ’I’ll just have to take it slow.’

...

"Brother Chu, don’t forget about dinner with my dad tonight. It’s at six-thirty."

Around noon, while Lin Chu was working out, he got another call from Fang Weidong. He promised he would be there on time.

"Brother Chu, my dad’s asking if you’re married. What should I tell him?"

Not long after the call ended, Fang Weidong sent him a text.

Lin Chu: "Single."

Fang Weidong: "Got it."

’Of course I’m single.’

’As long as you aren’t married, you’re single, no matter how many women you have on the side.’

A little later, he texted again: "Brother Chu, my dad also invited another guy to join, a friend of his. He’s a village chief from over in Longgang. I’m guessing it’s because he owns land."

Lin Chu: "Alright, no problem."

He couldn’t help but laugh to himself. ’This Fang Weidong is like my inside man.’

’It’s a good thing, though.’

A soft-tempered kid like him could even be called a straight-up honest guy. ’And honest people are good people. He won’t try to screw you over.’

「A little while later.」

Fang Weidong: "Brother Chu, my dad asked about you. I said you have a house, a company, you’re rich, and handsome. The other guy said he’d have his daughter come join us."

Lin Chu: "? Is she hot?"

Fang Weidong: "Hotter than my ex-wife. Graduated from a top university, she’s in the jewelry business and has her own designer brand. This is what she looks like. [Image Attached]"

Lin Chu glanced at the photo and was pleasantly surprised. She was a very poised and elegant-looking young woman.

Lin Chu: "Why aren’t you going after her?"

Fang Weidong hesitated for a moment before replying: "My dad wouldn’t even dream of it. She’s way out of our league."

Lin Chu: "Call me Foster Father and I’ll help you out."

Fang Weidong: "...Stop messing around. You go."

He knew, of course, that Lin Chu was joking.

After their chat ended, Lin Chu couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle.

’Actually, women in her social class often have a harder time finding a partner. When women have money, they’re just like men—they value a match in social and economic status. They’re afraid of getting taken for all they’re worth, or worse, having someone wipe out their entire family fortune.’

’Of course, it’s not like she’s short on men, either.’

’She probably plays the field more than most.’

Lin Chu didn’t give it much thought. ’She’ll just be one more person there to liven things up.’

...

In the afternoon, Lin Chu first went back to Swan Castle to check on the interior decorating. The first floor and his bedroom were already finished.

The overall style was very cozy, with a leather sofa, a solid wood coffee table, a study, a collection room, a kitchen, and a temperature-controlled wine cabinet all fully installed.

This style was somewhat similar to Chen Jinyu’s home. When he had visited, Lin Chu had found it very comfortable and homey.

That’s why he had leaned toward this design when choosing the plans.

He could move in as early as tonight, which was great.

"Old Gao, thanks for your hard work these past couple of days. Take me to a dinner party tonight. Let’s take the Mercedes."

For this kind of gathering, Lin Chu planned to bring his driver to project a mature, business-like image.

After all, he was dining with his elders.

Gao Haitao nodded with a smile. "Yes, President Lin."

Lin Chu changed into a casual dress shirt, slacks, and leather shoes. He put on his ten-million-yuan Richard Mille, styled his hair with some gel in front of the mirror, and then stared at his reflection, suddenly thinking, ’Holy shit... is that me?’

’Clothes really do make the man.’

’Suddenly, I looked a bit like a well-dressed scoundrel.’

’Pah, pah, pah!’

’What am I talking about, "well-dressed scoundrel"? The right term is a "wolf in sheep’s clothing."’

’Huh?’

’No, that’s not quite right either. It should be... a "well-dressed thug."’

Having thought of a satisfying term, a pleased smile spread across Lin Chu’s lips.

...

At around ten past six, Lin Chu arrived at their house carrying two bottles of twenty-year-old Maotai. It was a valuable gift, but not ostentatious.

When he arrived, he found three men in the living room.

Fang Weidong introduced his father and his father’s friend. They both looked like old local stock. Fang Wende was a bit heavier and taller. The friend, named Yang Guangrong, was thinner and had a darker complexion.

Fang Weidong’s mother was in the kitchen cooking, so the four men sat down in the living room and made small talk.

They casually made small talk, subtly feeling each other out.

The two older men were old hands at this, but of course, Lin Chu was just as subtle in what he revealed.

They quickly pieced together a profile of Lin Chu: from a rural background, self-made, formerly in finance, lives in Swan Castle, his company is at the Zhuoyue Center, plays golf, wears a Richard Mille, was dropped off by a driver, and now wants to buy land. He was also tall, fair-skinned, and carried himself with a scholarly air, with no sign of a potbelly.

Piece by piece, an image formed of a young, promising, and highly capable business elite.

Fang Wende’s attitude grew increasingly cordial. He was starting to think that his son had truly made an excellent friend this time.

’This is good.’

’The young man is respectful but not subservient, polite and well-mannered. He even has a certain air of authority. Though he’s still young and that aura isn’t fully developed, it’s no wonder my son calls him ’Brother.’ After all, my own son is two years older than him.’

Yang Guangrong excused himself to use the restroom, where he called his daughter and urged impatiently, "Everyone’s here, we’re just waiting for you! Get your ass over here, now! Don’t you give me any more of your bullshit excuses, or you can forget I’m your father!"

...

...