Chapter 101: Little Li Zi Again Clings to the Thigh

February 3, 2010, there were still 10 days until the Lunar New Year.

Early morning.

Lin Dongfan received another call from Jingcheng; this time, the caller was a woman who identified herself as his aunt Xie Yinxin, speaking gently, urging him to go to Jing.

Seeing off the uncle, then the aunt arrived.

Lin Dongfan didn't say a word, hung up immediately, not interested in chatting with a "scam gang," mainly because he was really busy today.

Chu Lingxi had already gone to Jing with the arts troupe to rehearse, fighting for a chance to perform on the Spring Festival Gala.

Even his silly-sweet wife was striving for life ideals; how could he just be a salted fish? He had already made an appointment with Shang Keqing last night; today he must go to Shangshi Media Company to sign the betting agreement.

After signing the betting agreement, he could obtain Yin Qiuhong's evidence of guilt.

After finishing breakfast.

Lin Dongfan picked up his briefcase, and before leaving he told Shen Junlan: "Mom, the old Chinese doctor I arranged for you will come today to help with your bones; don't go out today."

Shen Junlan's waist injury had already become a chronic ailment,

After getting an X-ray at the hospital, which showed a lumbar misalignment, the old Chinese doctor in East City had rich experience in this, so Lin Dongfan arranged for him to provide home service.

"I'm not going anywhere today; I'll just stay home and wait for him."

Seeing Lin Dongfan forget his windbreaker again, Shen Junlan shook her head speechlessly, then hurriedly brought the corduroy coat hanging on the rack to the door.

She earnestly reminded Lin Dongfan: "It's almost New Year; don't catch a chill."

"Okay, then I'm leaving."

As early as age five, Lin Dongfan's parents had both passed away; he had never known what it felt like to be cared for by parents.

Shen Junlan's care was like a gentle spring breeze.

After living together for Along time, that long-missing maternal love was filled by her to the brim, giving Lin Dongfan a sense that his life had not been wasted.

However, no one's life is smooth sailing.

In this world, some treat Lin Dongfan like a beloved son and cherish him, while others see him as a thorn in the flesh, wishing to press him to the ground and stomp on him twice.

For example, his fated nemesis Li Hengbo.

Before, Li Hengbo clung tightly to Bai Wentao's thigh, successfully entering the Executive Gang's circle, his promotion speed was like riding a rocket.

This had originally been a source of great pride for Li Hengbo.

Recently Xiao Yunce had become deeply embroiled in public opinion turmoil, and it was unclear how the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission would handle his case; this also made Li Hengbo feel anxious and uncertain.

If Xiao Yunce were to fall, what should he do?

This problem was like a cancer cell, taking root in Li Hengbo's mind and continually spreading, worrying him to the point of losing sleep and appetite, even losing interest in flirting with women.

After repeated consideration.

Li Hengbo called that over-fifty-year-old rich woman: "Honey, sorry, work's been so busy lately I have no time to accompany you to the gym; where are you? I'll come find you."

This heavyweight rich woman weighs 160, and every day she is either losing weight or on the way to lose weight.

The key is her surname is Gao.

She is the younger sister of the Municipal Party Committee Secretary Gao—Gao Lu.

Gao Lu snapped back on the phone: "You dog, after your promotion you don't even answer my calls; now that your boss is in trouble, you suddenly remember me."

"Wronged, even if my boss is awesome, he still has to look at Secretary Gao's face to act; he can't compare to you. I've really been swamped with work and pressure lately. Lin Dongfan has always wanted to have me executed by slow slicing, and I'm also afraid he'll catch hold of my weakness, so I dare not be careless at work."

Li Hengbo spoke in a tone of aggrieved complaint.

From the phone came Gao Lu's laughing reply: "You're smart enough to know your place, kid; do you have something you want from me today? Spit it out."

"I have time today; I just want to keep you company."

After saying that, Li Hengbo felt it wasn't quite right, seeming overly hypocritical.

He quickly added: "However, that guy Lin Dongfan is playing tricks to force Shang Keqing to return home, and he's got nothing good in his stomach. He's tearing down Mayor Xiao's stage, which is actually tearing down Secretary Gao's stage. Think about it—if Mayor Xiao falls, will that several-billion-yuan development project of Hengsha Group also go up in smoke?"

"Don't beat around the bush; just tell me exactly how you want me to help."

Gao Lu was already getting impatient; she was jogging on the treadmill in the morning, so out of breath that her Bluetooth earphones almost fell off.

Li Hengbo replied: "You're so close with Shang Keqing; could you give me an introduction? I want to meet him."

"Just go directly to Shangshi Media Company to find him; I'll call him in a moment."

"That works, thanks."

"You little dog, is that all the thanks you give? After you finish the business, come to the gym to find me on your own; don't force me to put you in the cold palace."

"Honey, rest assured, after I finish the business I will definitely come keep you company."

To secure this big backer, Li Hengbo was truly willing to go all out, kissing up and down—even over the phone he wanted to plant a kiss.

After appeasing the rich woman, Li Hengbo immediately drove to Shangshi Media Company.

At this time Lin Dongfan was also on the way to Shangshi Media.

He was one step ahead of Li Hengbo.

When Li Hengbo drove his car out of the residential complex's underground garage, Lin Dongfan had already arrived at the open-air parking lot of Shangshi Media.

Ye Jiaying was waiting for Lin Dongfan at the company entrance.

The lucky charm Lin Dongfan gave her was still being worn by her as a pendant around her neck.

This is something many colleagues around cannot understand: a beautiful female executive doesn't wear gold or silver, but every day she wears this cheap street-stall item, unafraid of lowering her status.

"Mr. Lin, you've arrived."

Calling Lin Dongfan "Mr. Lin" is not what Ye Jiaying wishes in her heart; it's only because reality forces her to, as Lin Dongfan's identity is sensitive, fearing to cause him trouble.

Lin Dongfan steadily stepped up the stairs: "Has General Manager Shang arrived yet?"

"He's waiting for you in his office, please." Ye Jiaying waved to lead the way.

"Mm."

Walking side by side with Ye Jiaying, Lin Dongfan remained silent all the way, unsure what to say to her; fortunately the road wasn't long, and soon they reached the Chairman's office.

Today Shang Qing also looked listless, having suffered severe insomnia last night.

He relied entirely on coffee to stay awake.

Lin Dongfan greeted with a smile: "Boss Shang."

"Come so early? Have a seat." Shang Qing gave a casual greeting, then instructed Ye Jiaying: "Xiao Ye, go get that temporarily drafted betting agreement and let him take a look."

Okay.

Ye Jiaying took the agreement and then poured Lin Dongfan a cup of coffee.

Lin Dongfan opened the agreement, read it carefully once, without a hint of hesitation, and directly signed his name on it.

Shang Qing laughed: "For the anti‑corruption drive, you're really willing to go all out."

"Unless the Creator overturns and recreates this world, I could never lose." Lin Dongfan tossed the agreement in front of Shang Qing: "Go ahead and sign."

"Sign it then; either way, I won't lose out."

In Shang Qing's view, this sure‑win, no‑loss betting agreement must be signed right now—even hesitating another second would be a disrespect to one's own intelligence.

With a bold stroke, Shang Qing's three characters were stamped onto it.

Shang Qing then took a silver‑gray USB drive from his office drawer and handed it to Lin Dongfan: "All the leverage on Yin Qiuhong is stored inside."

"Is it audio‑visual material?" Lin Dongfan asked.

Shang Qing gave a mysterious smile: "You'll know once you go back and look."

He said.

Shang Qing then glanced at Ye Jiaying standing beside him.

With a meaningful, teasing smile, he said: "Xiao Ye, Mr. Lin and I have set two conditions, one of which is raising your annual salary to 500,000—such a deep‑sea‑like kindness, won't you thank him?"

The salary increase is written in the betting agreement.

When she previously reviewed this agreement, Ye Jiaying already knew the truth; even before Lin Dong arrived at Shang Clan Media Company, she had been so excited that her thoughts ran wild.

Now that she has seen Lin Dongfan, her mood has calmed considerably.

She gazed at Lin Dongfan with affectionate eyes, gave a faint smile, and said: "Between us, there's no need to say thanks—what do you think, Mr. Lin?"

"What thanks? We're just helping each other out."

Lin Dongfan truly dared not meet her gaze; the look of a first love, so full of affection, was too powerful.

However, Shang Qing greatly appreciated Ye Jiaying's affectionate gaze, thinking he had indeed guessed right—heroes find it hard to pass the beauty's gate, haha, this kid Lin Dongfan also has a hurdle he can't get over.

Shang Qing was about to make a couple more jokes when the secretary suddenly entered and reported: "Boss Shang, Li Hengbo, whom Sister Gao introduced, has arrived."

"In five minutes, bring him in."

After replying, Shang Qing shifted his gaze back to Lin Dongfan.

With a meaningful smile he asked: "My office has a lounge—would you like to go rest for a while?" In fact, he was just telling Lin Dongfan to hide and watch the show.

Lin Dongfan understood and asked: "Sister Gao, are you Secretary Gao's sister?"

"Shhh~~~"

Shang Qing made a hushing gesture.

He also reminded Lin Dongfan: "You can investigate the Xiao surname—I'll support you—but I advise you not to provoke the Gao surname. They are a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee; even if your father‑in‑law climbed another rung, he might not be able to outmatch them."

"Mr. Lin, this way please."

Seeing Lin Dongfan smile without speaking, Ye Jiaying gestured for him to follow, inviting him to the lounge for a temporary retreat.