The Favour (12)

When Elder Lin made that request, Lin Kang knew his father had seen through him. He knew why he was requesting him to stop the hostile take-over. Lin Kang could not help but mope because he thought he had hidden his intention well.

Then again, his father had always been an astute individual in his life. Lin Kang had never notice anything slip past his father's attention before. In his youth, Lin Kang was up to many mischief and while Elder Lin did not once expose him, Lin Kang knew his father was privy to everything and he was thankful that his father did not once try to forcibly intervene into his life.

In any case, since Elder Lin had requested to talk to Xiu Ling, Lin Kang would either wait for his father to summon his wife or he would try to drop hints during his conversation with Xiu Ling to get her to come to see Elder Lin.

Lin Kang was surprised that Xiu Ling had already planned to meet with Elder Lin. Xiu Ling's worry that Lin Kang would see this as a betrayal was unfounded. The man was actually quite glad that his wife was such a tactful person.

Then again, the beauty was in the eye of the beholder. If Lin Kang did not have affection towards Xiu Ling, he probably would see her action as cunning and disrespectful to his authority.

Even though Lin Kang did not know what transpired during the meeting between his wife and his father, Xiu Ling must have managed to impress his father somehow or else he would not have allowed him to stop the take-over.

Elder Lin said that he was going to follow Lin Kang's directions since he had handed to reins of the company over his son but that was not entirely true. Elder Lin was still consulted on bigger issues such as the take-over of Xu Corps. This was a strategic move that his father approved.

This was because in business, just like in war, charity could be one's biggest downfall. Being kind to others was equivalent to being cruel to yourself.

To not strike when the former CEO of Xu Corps had passed away was a gentlemanly move but being a gentleman had no place in a cutthroat business world. In business, one had to strike hard and strike fast.

At the end of the day, did Elder Lin really approve of Xiu Ling?

Lin Kang thought he did but the reality was not as certain as he thought. All Elder Lin did was to conduct a business trade with Xiu Ling, exchanging a favour for another.

In any case, Lin Kang was happy because his wife was happy.

Before he left his father's study, Elder Lin called after him to say in a cryptic tone, "Some of the greatest men in history had fallen under the allure of a woman. Son, be careful."

Lin Kang frowned in confusion but had accepted the curious way of speech his father had the tendency to adopt. Like those wise men in Chinese wuxia novels, his father liked to speak in riddles.

Lin Kang didn't quite get the message his father tried to communicate but like usual, he nodded and said, "Yes, father."

After Lin Kang closed the door behind him, Elder Lin sighed to himself.

…

It was a sunny day that morning and Lee Mu could be found jogging in a lush park. He had arrived in the wee hour of the morning and other than the group of elderlies who were there for their stretching exercises, the park was practically vacated. Lee Mu came so early on purpose because he did not want to be accosted by fans when he was in the middle of his exercise.

Of course, he appreciated the fans but dealing with them would take up precious time that he could be using for his exercise.

Lee Mu made a quick round around the park and smiled at some of the elderlies who waved at him. They had come to know him as the handsome young man who would come to jog every morning. Majority of them did not follow modern dramas which was what Lee Mu was famous for. Therefore, they did not know they had an everyday interaction with one of the brightest stars in the country. Lee Mu preferred it to stay that way.

When Lee Mu finished the first lap around the park, he saw the girl walk through the gate.

When he received the message from his co-star yesterday night, asking to go on a jog with him, Lee Mu was honestly quite surprised. His initial reaction was to make up an excuse and reject it but the girl sounded so sincere in her message, saying it was to make up for the no-show when she asked him out the previous time.

Lee Mu did not have the heart to break an innocent girl's heart so after some contemplation, he said yes. After all, he did not mind having a company when he exercised, perhaps it would help break the monotony.

However, when he set his eyes on the young woman, Lee Mu started to regret his decision. 'Who in the world comes running in a spaghetti strap dress? Has she lost her mind?'

In any case, Lee Mu walked forward to greet the young woman who smiled brightly back at him. They made a curious pair with Lee Mu in a dark toned tracksuit and Qing Qing in an off-white spaghetti strap dress.

When questioned about her choice of attire, Qing Qing blushed greatly while she looked down. The young woman explained that she had not been for a jog in her life so she did not know what the appropriate attire was.

Since it was spring, she thought a dress would be right for the occasion.

Obviously this was a lie. She wore that dress on purpose because she was there that morning for a mission and the dress was an integral part of her mission.