"How could it be like this..."
Lin Zhiping, holding the partnership proposal he had painstakingly prepared all night, left the Jinyu Tower dejectedly.
He had not anticipated that the truth of the matter would be so harsh.
From the very beginning, President Lin had never favored him, choosing to cooperate with the Lin Group solely because of a newfound friendship with Lin Qingxue...
And they had naively believed that Lin Qiaoxia had taken a liking to him, thus giving the Lin Family an opportunity.
"Could it be that Lin Qiaoxia is a lesbian? Even if that were the case, did she really have to choose Qingxue, that girl? No curves, an average face, why would she prefer her?"
Lin Zhiping could never quite understand.
...
While Lin Zhiping was dealing with a major setback, Mu Jinyu, on the other hand, was having lunch with Lin Qingxue.
"I can't believe you actually came to Jinling. Did you come specifically to comfort me?" Lin Qingxue asked in surprise after they finished eating.
Her disappointment and sorrow from the previous day had vanished.
Mu Jinyu shook her head, "No, I just happened to be in Jinling for business. Seeing you crying so pitifully, I came by to comfort you and have you treat me to a meal."
"Eh, so you just came to scrounge a meal off me?" Lin Qiaoxia felt a bit disappointed, thinking how nice it would have been if Mu Jinyu had just lied smoothly; it would have made her feel much better.
"Go settle the bill," Mu Jinyu instructed softly.
"Oh." Lin Qingxue responded and obediently went to pay the bill.
After all, she owed Mu Jinyu a lot of money and, being a local of Jinling herself, it made sense for her to pay for the meal as they dined together.
After paying the bill.
Mu Jinyu and Lin Qingxue left the restaurant together.
As they walked and talked, Mu Jinyu casually mentioned, "You said yesterday that you needed to delay repaying the money you owe me?"
"Um..." Hearing Mu Jinyu bring up this topic, Lin Qingxue immediately lowered her head, her gaze dropping to her shoetips, she timidly responded, "I'm sorry, I really can't decide on my family's matters..."
Mu Jinyu said indifferently, "Given how your Lin Family treats you, and you can't repay the money you owe me, why don't you start your own company?"
Lin Qingxue said, "I do have my own company, but it's very small and doesn't make much money. I was hoping that with the Jinyu Group willing to cooperate with my Lin Family, and my becoming the chairman of the Lin Group, I would be able to make enough money to repay you, but unfortunately..."
Her tone was full of regret and disappointment.
Mu Jinyu said, "If the Lin Group won't let you handle this anymore, why don't you represent your own small company and reach out to Jinyu Group?"
"Is that possible?" Lin Qingxue turned suddenly to look at Mu Jinyu, a flash of thought sparking in her mind.
"Why not? Do you think your company is too small for Jinyu Group to notice?"
Mu Jinyu looked her in the eye, smiling faintly, "In their eyes, your little company and the Lin Group are no different. The reason you could discuss collaboration with Jinyu Group wasn't because you had the backing of the Lin Group but because of you yourself..."
"So, since you can't represent the Lin Group anymore to continue dealing with Jinyu Group, and you have no say in how they choose to cooperate, why not represent your own company and keep in touch with Jinyu Group? Maybe after your visit, Jinyu Group's involvement in Jinling won't just be with the Lin Group, but they might start collaborating with both your companies..."
As he spoke, he paused for a moment, and Mu Jinyu light-heartedly said, "Or perhaps, what if Jinyu Group gave up collaborating with Lin Group and chose to only work with your small company instead?!"
"This..." Lin Qingxue's eyes sparkled as she listened to Mu Jinyu's words, somewhat intrigued by the idea that it might be a good outcome for her to have a share of it.
However, after thinking it over, Lin Qingxue shook her head timidly and said, "I still feel it's not possible..."
"How would you know it's not possible if you don't try?" Mu Jinyu urged. "When you represented Lin Group yesterday, could you be sure that you'd definitely secure the contract with Jinyu Group smoothly?"
Lin Qingxue shook her head.
Mu Jinyu said, "See, you went because you were carrying the expectations of the Lin Family. Although you were apprehensive, you still had to try. Now, you are bearing the pressure of owing me money. Why don't you dare to go now? Or is it that from the beginning, you never thought about repaying me?"
"No, I will definitely repay you, I'm not planning to default!" Lin Qingxue hurriedly explained upon hearing Mu Jinyu's words, "I'm just afraid that if I do this, they will..."
"They will call you an ingrate?"
Mu Jinyu said softly.
"Yes." Lin Qingxue lowered her head, not daring to meet Mu Jinyu's gaze.
"Then aren't you afraid of being called an ingrate by me?" Mu Jinyu's voice rose slightly.
"I am..." Lin Qingxue's voice trembled, her voice carrying a hint of sobbing.
Suddenly, Mu Jinyu chuckled and said, "Actually, you don't need to be under such pressure, don't worry. They won't call you an ingrate anymore, and I guess they'll even beg you later."
"Huh?" Lin Qingxue looked up at Mu Jinyu, puzzled by his words.
Mu Jinyu stood on the street and gestured towards Lin Zhiping, who was coming out of Jinyu Tower across the street, saying, "Looking at your cousin's face, the situation seems quite tricky. They probably changed the person in charge suddenly, and that must have upset them. So, this is your chance!"
"Ah?" Upon hearing this, Lin Qingxue also turned her astonished gaze following Mu Jinyu's to the disheartened Lin Zhiping.
"Let's go have a look," Mu Jinyu said with a smile.
He didn't mind kicking someone when they were down.
Lin Qingxue didn't want to go, but since Mu Jinyu went, she could only purse her lips and follow him.
Mu Jinyu led Lin Qingxue and leisurely approached Lin Zhiping before finally saying, "Qingxue, I was actually planning to have dinner and then take you to a movie, but since President Lin is looking for you, you should go to him first."
Upon hearing the name "Qingxue," the previously distraught Lin Zhiping suddenly came to his senses, turned his head, and saw Mu Jinyu and Lin Qingxue "passing by."
"Lin Qingxue, what are you doing here?" Lin Zhiping couldn't help but ask. "The follow-up collaboration between Lin Group and Jinyu Group has already been assigned to me. What chaos are you trying to create?!"
Although from Lin Qiaoxia's attitude, Lin Zhiping knew that the entire Lin Family was now demanding Lin Qingxue to represent them and interact with Lin Qiaoxia to benefit from it.
But Lin Zhiping couldn't swallow this slight, so, hearing Mu Jinyu's words and realizing they were unaware of Lin Qiaoxia's strange behavior towards Lin Qingxue, he saw an opportunity to cause trouble!
Finally, when they returned to the Lin Family, he would use the situation to make Lin Qingxue beg him, and then magnanimously hand over the task back to Lin Qingxue.
That way, he wouldn't be scolded by his grandfather, and the foolish girl, Lin Qingxue, would also be grateful to him.
It was indeed killing two birds with one stone!