The Divine Doctor Captures a Beauty [Complete] - 20

Chapter 417 USB Flash Drive Gift

Chapter 418 Minister Tan Presents a Gun

Before Lin Yupeng could continue his analysis, Tan Shiquan had already taken out his key, opened the drawer, and reached inside, a strange, cold glint in his eyes.

At this critical moment, Tan Shiquan had already pulled out the Gloca pistol from the drawer. This guy seemed to know a thing or two; his movements were clean and efficient.

However, the instant he pulled the gun out of the drawer, he suddenly felt a chill on the back of his head—a bone-chilling, murderous chill, a chill that belonged to only one object—a gun! A killing gun!

It turned out that as soon as Lin Yupeng saw Tan Shiquan open the drawer, he silently floated behind him and pressed the gun against the back of his head. The two were already close, and this series of actions was completed in the instant Tan Shiquan pulled out the gun.

At the same time, bodyguard Xiang Kui noticed Tan Shiquan's dangerous movement and swiftly raised his gun, aiming it at Tan Shiquan. Before coming here, Lin Yupeng had instructed him not to fire unless absolutely necessary. Therefore, Xiang Kui only pointed the gun at Tan Shiquan, his sharp eyes gleaming as he awaited Lin Yupeng's command.

In an instant, two black gun barrels were pointed at Tan Shiquan's vitals, one in front of the other. His body trembled suddenly, his heart pounded, and his face changed, but he quickly regained his composure. Instead of putting the Gloca pistol back in his hand, he casually placed it on the table.

Lin Yupeng's cold, menacing voice suddenly rang out behind him: "Minister Tan, what are you doing?"

Tan Shiquan was indeed cunning and shrewd. Upon hearing this, he immediately put on a frank and sincere smile and said, "President Lin, as the saying goes, it's only polite to reciprocate! Since President Zhang has given me such a generous gift, I should return the favor with a gift of my own!"

As he spoke, he pointed to the pistol on the table and chuckled dryly, "This gun was a gift from an Austrian friend of mine, a Gloca pistol, one of the world's top ten open-world guns, with superior performance. I know that the senior leaders of the Sky Dome Group like to play with guns, hehe, please help me give this gun to President Zhang!"

Lin Yupeng's eyes flashed with a sharp, cold light as he stared at Tan Shiquan, glancing at the gun on the table out of the corner of his eye. It was indeed a good gun, equipped with a laser sight and a silencer, a level above the Browning pistol in his hand.

"Heh heh, Minister Tan is really generous! Didn't you just say you were going to give me money? Why the gun?" Lin Yupeng asked coldly. He knew perfectly well that Tan Shiquan had intended to fight back with the gun, but Lin Yupeng beat him to it, so he simply offered the gun as a pretext. This guy's adaptability is really impressive!

Lin Yupeng couldn't help but think of the story of "Cao Cao offering a sword" from the Three Kingdoms period. When Cao Cao entered the Prime Minister's residence, he saw Dong Zhuo sleeping facing inwards. He hurriedly drew his precious sword to assassinate Dong Zhuo, but Dong Zhuo saw Cao Cao drawing his sword in the mirror and quickly turned around to ask what Cao Cao was doing. In a panic, Cao Cao raised his sword and used the excuse of offering it to Dong Zhuo to escape unscathed.

What just happened was somewhat similar to "Cao Cao offering a sword," so it should be called "Tan Shiquan offering a gun." The only difference was that Lin Yupeng had already seen through his trick and countered Tan Shiquan in advance, but he didn't expose him.

After all, Tan Shiquan was not as cunning as Cao Cao, while Lin Yupeng was clearly more resourceful than Dong Zhuo.

Tan Shiquan, still wearing a sincere smile, said, "Mr. Lin, I made a mistake earlier. The money isn't here; it's in my other villa! Here, take this gun. I'll send someone to bring the money right away."

He then pulled open the entire drawer, revealing two magazines inside. Tan Shiquan took them out and placed them on the table, chuckling dryly, "Mr. Lin, you can also give these two magazines to Mr. Zhang! This gun can use 17-round, 19-round, and 33-round magazines. The one inside is a muzzle-fire magazine, and these two on the table are 19-round and 33-round magazines. You can give them all to Mr. Zhang!"

Lin Yupeng waved to Xiang Kui, signaling him to take the gun. He put the gun down, sized up Tan Shiquan, and chuckled inwardly. "This Tan Shiquan is quite the smooth talker! He's a hypocrite, lying without batting an eye. He's a real old fox!"

He grinned wickedly at Tan Shiquan, picked up the pistol on the table, and toyed with it in his hand. He stared at Tan Shiquan with a grin and said, "Minister Tan, this gun is really nice. It even has a silencer. Do you think if I fired a shot in this villa, no one would hear me?"

Lin Yupeng's words were a double entendre, implying that Tan Shiquan had tried to use the gun to retaliate against him, telling him not to underestimate him, while also reminding him that Lin Yupeng could kill him at any time!

Tan Shiquan trembled upon hearing this, a bead of cold sweat trickling down his forehead, but his expression remained calm as he grinned and said, "Yes, yes, but I believe this gun won't go off accidentally, as long as no one pulls the trigger!"

Lin Yupeng sneered, "That's right! But you should also understand that no matter where you go, there will always be a gun pointed at you! As long as you cooperate with our Sky Dome Group, I guarantee that no one will ever pull the trigger!"

Tan Shiquan trembled again, a hint of fear creeping into his eyes, his smile stiffening. He stared coldly at Lin Yupeng and sighed in a deep voice, "I'm cooperating with you now!"

Lin Yupeng's eyes flashed with a cold light as he stared at him and sneered, "Yes! But I still have to warn you, try to use your mind on the right things from now on! Don't waste it on women! Shen Junyi, stop bothering her, and Tang Rui, don't even think about it! If I find out you've touched either of these women again, you know what the consequences will be."

As he spoke, he raised the Gloca pistol in his hand and pointed it at Tan Shiquan's head, making a shooting gesture.

Tan Shiquan shuddered, nodding with a wry smile, "I understand, I won't touch them anymore, there are plenty of women in the world!" While saying this, he secretly thought, "So you really are that Yu Peng, otherwise why would you be so protective of Tang Rui! Shen Junyi is a woman I've already slept with, giving her up is no big deal. I'll deal with you all when I've calmed down!"

Lin Yupeng knew Tan Shiquan was definitely resentful and only agreed under pressure, so he chuckled coldly and continued, "And Yan Xin! You must release her immediately. The police are casting a wide net looking for Yan Xin, don't forget you're the police's prime suspect!"

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Tan Shiquan's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "Hehe, you don't need to worry about that. I released Yan Xin yesterday, and I even persuaded her to keep it a secret from now on, she won't dare to report me again!"

A smug, cold smile appeared on Tan Shiquan's face as he spoke of Yan Xin.

Chapter 418 Minister Tan Presents the Gun

Chapter 419 A Cunning Rabbit Has Three Burrows

Lin Yupeng's heart stirred, wondering what kind of wicked trick this guy had used to tame Yan Xin. But he didn't want to dwell on it; Tan Shiquan still had value, so he didn't want Tan Shiquan to be dragged down by Yan Xin's affair.

Suddenly, the image of Tan Shiquan's mysterious underground palace flashed into his mind. The mystery in his heart remained unsolved, so he asked Tan Shiquan in a deep voice, "Minister Tan, there's another question I've always wanted to ask. That secret passage and palace under your villa—it couldn't have been there when you bought the villa, could it? You must have had someone secretly design and build it for you. Who was that person?"

Upon hearing this, Tan Shiquan's heart stirred, a cunning glint flashing in his eyes. He coldly chuckled and asked, "Does President Lin also want to build an underground palace?"

This guy really hit the nail on the head, pointing out Lin Yupeng's true thoughts. Lin Yupeng stared at him, then chuckled dryly, "Not bad! As the saying goes, a cunning rabbit has three burrows, so it's always necessary to have a way out. Minister Tan, who is the person who designed and built the underground palace?"

A strange glint flashed in Tan Shiquan's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "President Lin, I can tell you, but you must keep it a secret for me!"

Lin Yupeng smiled and said, "Okay! Tell me, who designed and built it?"

Tan Shiquan said seriously, "It's Zhu Yachen, a famous architect in our province! He used to be the head of the architecture department at Tianhan Normal University and a doctoral supervisor!"

Lin Yupeng's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and he

thought to himself, "Zhu Yachen, why does that name sound so familiar?" He suddenly remembered that his doctoral supervisor, Zhu Yaguang, had a twin brother who was also an architect. He heard that Zhu Yaguang was a doctoral supervisor at a university, so it must be him.

Lin Yupeng recalled that he had heard his teacher, Zhu Yaguang, mention his brother briefly. Although they were twins, Zhu Yachen and his brother Zhu Yaguang had completely opposite personalities. Zhu Yaguang was kind-hearted, humble, rigorous in his scholarship, and deeply moral. His brother, Zhu Yachen, was different. He was narrow-minded, opportunistic, eccentric, and morally corrupt. Zhu Yaguang had always been disgusted by his brother's actions and had repeatedly tried to persuade him to stop, but to no avail. Eventually, the brothers became enemies.

Lin Yupeng remembered once cleaning out old things at the Zhu family's house and accidentally finding a photo of Zhu Yachen. He noticed a resemblance to his teacher, Zhu Yaguang, and asked him who it was. Upon seeing the photo, Zhu Yaguang turned pale with anger and told Lin Yupeng to throw it away. He had never seen his teacher so angry.

Later, through Zhu Liyan, he learned that it was Zhu Yaguang's older brother, Zhu Yachen. The two brothers had a big fight a few days earlier because Zhu Yachen had been having an affair with a girl at school, and they had been caught in bed together. The scandal had spread like wildfire. Zhu Yaguang had gone to his brother to advise him to behave, but Zhu Yachen not only ignored him but also berated his brother for meddling. This was how the brothers fell out.

At that time, Zhu Yachen was already seventy years old, yet he still had the energy to seduce female students. This guy was truly old but still had a "wicked" heart; old but not "sharp-edged," like a "withered tree" that had come back to life.

Lin Yupeng had only seen Zhu Yachen once in a photo, leaving him with a vague impression. When their teacher Zhu Yaguang passed away, Zhu Yachen, as the older brother, did not show up, which shows that the bond between the brothers had long been broken.

When Tan Shiquan mentioned the underground palace Zhu Yachen had built for him, Lin Yupeng naturally thought of him and couldn't help but wonder, "Why did Tan Shiquan tell me so readily that it was Zhu Yachen who built the underground palace? Could there be a trap?" Though

puzzled, he appeared natural, smiled slightly, and said, "Alright then! I have no other questions. I just hope you take care of yourself and that our cooperation can proceed smoothly; it's beneficial for both of us!"

Tan Shiquan stood up, all smiles, gesturing to see him off. Lin Yupeng gave him a cold smile and said, "Minister Tan, you want me to leave so soon? Where's the money? That gun probably isn't worth a million, is it?" Tan Shiquan smiled awkwardly, deliberately slapping his forehead as if he'd truly forgotten. He said apologetically, " President

Lin, look at my memory! I forgot about that. I'll send someone to bring 500,000 right away! I'm sorry, I only have 500,000 left now. I'll give you the rest after I sell a house!"

Peng sneered, "Sure! But you have to write an IOU, saying you borrowed 500,000 from me to buy the house. I'll give you the grace period until the end of next month to pay it back. How about that?"

Tan Shiquan grinned on the surface and agreed, "Okay! I'll write it right away!" But inwardly he cursed, "I've mastered the art of being a sucker! He's extorting money from me and making me write an IOU, saying my house purchase money is his money—I can't swallow this!"

However, he had leverage over the other party... With his hands full, Tan Shiquan could only swallow his anger. He slumped behind his desk, picked up the phone, and dialed a number. The other end answered, and he said in a

low voice, "Xiao Fu, bring me 500,000 yuan to the villa in the southern suburbs immediately. It's in my safe, you know! The sooner the better!" He slammed the phone down, grinned at Lin Yupeng—a grin more like a grimace. 500,000 yuan was no small sum for him; all the money he'd recently saved had ended up in Lin Yupeng's hands.

"How long will it take?" Lin Yupeng stared intently at Tan Shiquan, asking coldly.

"About twenty minutes. My secretary will bring the money! Mr. Lin, please sit down and wait a moment!" Tan Shiquan forced a smile.

Lin Yupeng chuckled, pocketing the Browning pistol Zhang Yueran had given him. In one hand, he held the Gloca pistol Tan Shiquan had "presented" him, while the other hand placed the briefcase tucked under his arm on the table. He then picked up the two magazines from the table and put them into the briefcase. Leaning down on the sofa, he fiddled with the gun, exclaiming, "Good gun! Hehe!" But out of the corner of his eye, he kept glancing at Tan Shiquan, the muzzle of the gun seemingly lingering on him.

Cold sweat began to break out on Tan Shiquan's face. He thought to himself, "Damn it, even the best gun can misfire. If it misfires and hits me, I'll die a really unjust death!"

Xiang Kui stood beside Lin Yupeng the whole time. Although he had also put away his gun, Lin Yupeng wasn't worried. His speed in drawing his gun was like magic; no one could even see his movements. Right now, they were just waiting for the money. As soon as the money arrived, they would leave this dangerous place.

Chapter 420

A Bountiful Harvest Chapter 421 Showing Off One's Skill Before an Expert

Tan Shiquan saw the beauty weeping and wailing, his heart aching. He quickly pulled her to the sofa, tightly embracing her body, and kept apologizing, "Wife, I'm so sorry! Hit me, scold me! I was wrong, I'm guilty, I'm bad, I apologize!"

In his haste, he made up a few rhyming verses, which actually rhymed quite well. After coaxing her for a long time, Meng Caixia finally stopped crying. The main reason was that Tan Shiquan promised to buy her a diamond necklace as compensation, which made the beauty smile through her tears.

After coaxing the woman, a cold glint suddenly flashed in Tan Shiquan's eyes. He quickly took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Hello? Mr. Zhu, I have something important to tell you!" Tan Shiquan said in a solemn tone.

Lin Yupeng, watching from the monitor, was startled by the news and thought to himself, "Who is Mr. Zhu? Could it be Zhu Yachen?"

He then heard Tan Shiquan solemnly say, "Mr. Zhu, the situation is like this, please don't be angry! There's a man named Lin Yupeng who might ask you to design and build an underground palace for him, you..."

Upon hearing about the underground palace, Lin Yupeng immediately deduced that Tan Shiquan was definitely calling Zhu Yachen. This old guy must be seventy-two or seventy-three years old this year, still young at heart!

Before he could finish, the person on the other end of the phone seemed to interrupt him. After a while, Tan Shiquan explained helplessly, "Mr. Zhu, I've been keeping my promise, but I can't help it. We can't afford to offend the Tianqiong Group! They're forcing me at gunpoint to tell them who built it, how can I not tell the truth!"

"No way! Do you think I can just make up a name and get away with it? They'll have to investigate. The Tianqiong Group has connections everywhere, they can find out anything they want!" Tan Shiquan continued to explain politely.

"Mr. Zhu, let me finish. We can turn the tables on him! You agree to build him an underground palace, but you must secretly install a camera inside. I think Lin Yupeng is definitely up to no good with an underground palace, and filming it will definitely be valuable! Here's what we'll do: if you agree to this request and install a camera inside, I won't take a single penny of the money Lin Yupeng asked you to pay for building the underground palace, and I'll even give you an extra 200,000. Although you've already stopped doing it, you won't be able to refuse Lin Yupeng if he comes looking for you. Why not go with the flow and do him a favor?" Tan Shiquan was indeed worthy of his propaganda work; he was eloquent, quick-witted, and adept at persuading people. He could talk the dead back to life and even persuade someone who wanted to commit suicide to kill!

Zhu Yachen seemed to have softened his stance, and Tan Shiquan knew he was the most greedy, so he increased the stakes to 300,000, and Zhu Yachen finally agreed.

Tan Shiquan nodded in satisfaction, but after hanging up the phone, he cursed under his breath, "That old bastard, he's so damn greedy! He needs that much money for a coffin!"

Lin Yupeng, overhearing their conversation, also cursed inwardly, "Damn it, Tan Shiquan, I knew you were up to something again! Trying to install cameras in my place? You're just showing off your limited skills!"

Further down the screen, after Tan Shiquan finished his call, he and Meng Caixia went upstairs to rest. Lin Yupeng, watching the monitor, rolled his eyes and muttered to himself, "This Tan Shiquan..." Quan is really hard to deal with; he set a trap for me in the blink of an eye. Luckily, my special robot detected him. Now I need to keep him under close surveillance and strengthen my defenses! "Close surveillance" is a new function of the improved robot. Due to its enhanced adhesive properties, the robot can stick to any object like glue, and it can operate normally even as the object moves without being shaken off. This function can be performed automatically without human operation, allowing for 24/7 close surveillance of all information.

Previously, while special robots also possessed this function, it was limited to the human body. Once outside and no longer under human control, they had to be fixed in a fixed position. Now, that's unnecessary.

So, where should we ambush the robot? Lin Yupeng pondered for a moment and decided to find a way to attach the robot to Tan Shiquan's phone. Firstly, the phone was his tool for communication, providing access to a wealth of reliable information. Secondly, someone like Tan Shiquan would undoubtedly have his phone with him at all times, allowing for accurate monitoring of his daytime activities and conversations. At night, he could directly locate Tan Shiquan's residence, meaning Tan Shiquan would be under Lin Yupeng's surveillance 24/7.

Having made up his mind, Lin Yupeng manipulated Little Flying Insect No. 3 into the bedroom. He saw Tan Shiquan and Meng Caixia already lying side-by-side on the bed, eyes closed, ready to drift off to sleep.

He glanced around and saw Tan Shiquan's phone on the bedside table. He quickly shrunk Little Flying Insect No. 3 to its smallest 0.2 millimeter size and flew onto the phone. Where to hide it, however, was another question.

Tan Shiquan's phone was a flip phone, and Lin Yupeng's eyes lit up. He manipulated the small flying insect to stick directly to the hinge. This place was relatively hidden and had a lot of space. Although the hinge would move frequently, it wouldn't shake off the small flying insect with its strong suction.

With everything ready, Lin Yupeng checked his watch. It was 10 p.m., and today's mission was successfully completed. He and Xiang Kui left the old house together.

Lin Yupeng and Xiang Kui returned to the villa in the northern suburbs. It was already 10:30 p.m. They had been extremely busy these past few days, not returning until after 10 p.m. every night.

He went to the master bedroom first, gently pushing open the door. The room was dimly lit, and Fang Na and Qin Xue were embracing each other, seemingly asleep.

Lin Yupeng turned on the bedside lamp, its soft light illuminating his two wives. Qin Xue had her head gently resting on Fang Na's shoulder, her chest rising and falling, her breathing even; she was fast asleep. A misty haze seemed to veil her long, beautiful eyelashes, adding to her poignant beauty.

Lin Yupeng's heart stirred; he wondered, "Did Qin Xue just cry? What was it about?"

Just then, Fang Na slowly opened her clear, spring-like eyes. Actually, she hadn't slept soundly at all; she had been thinking about Lin Yupeng, worried that she wouldn't sleep well all night without him.

Lin Yupeng smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed, gently stroking her dark, glossy hair. A faint scent of jasmine wafted over, filling him with a sense of tranquility.

"Wife, are you still awake?" Lin Yupeng asked softly with concern.

"Mmm! Honey, you've been so busy lately, you need to take care of yourself!" Fang Na's soft, melodious voice held no hint of complaint, only concern and worry.

Chapter 421 Showing Off One's Skill Before an Expert

Chapter 422 Three Words of Wisdom

Lin Yupeng gently stroked her delicate face and said softly, "It's alright, I'll take care of myself!" He glanced at Qin Xue, who was sleeping soundly beside him, and asked with concern, "What's wrong with Qin Xue? She seems to have been crying just now. Is she feeling unwell?"

Hearing this, Fang Na's beautiful eyes filled with sorrow, and she sighed softly, saying, "Sister Xue, she was just thinking about her missing family, and she cried a lot because she was so worried."

Lin Yupeng nodded, his gentle gaze falling on Qin Xue. He couldn't help but reach out and stroke her soft, smooth hand, feeling a pang of sorrow in his heart. Who wouldn't be worried when their family members went missing? Where did Long Ping hide Qin Xue's parents? Had they already been murdered?

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but curse inwardly, "How come Yin Shaoliang can't solve the case for so long? I've urged him several times, but there's still no progress. Did Qin Xue's parents just vanish into thin air? Even if they did, there would be some steam!"

Lin Yupeng felt a surge of frustration. Not wanting to disturb Qin Xue's sleep, he lingered with Fang Na for a moment before leaving the bedroom. Before leaving, he instructed Fang Na to take good care of Qin Xue and give her some tranquilizers if she had nightmares.

After leaving the master bedroom, he returned to the secondary bedroom. He had many things to deal with lately, and they were all quite complicated. He needed to organize his thoughts and think about his next plan.

He turned the air conditioner on full blast, lay down on the bed, and closed his eyes to rest. The refreshing coolness dispelled his agitation, and gradually his chaotic thoughts became more organized, his mind starting to work.

Tan Shiquan was now under preliminary control; at least he was restrained and closely monitored. He had no chance of turning against him in the short term.

Lin Yupeng is about to assume the presidency of Starlight Media Group, which will likely be another dangerous journey, but also a great opportunity for his rapid rise and expansion. The most pressing issue right now is the relocation of Hongfa Paper Mill. Tao Haiping is helping him contact a reputable demolition company, and things should be looking promising soon.

As Lin Yupeng was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a soft knock at the door. His hearing was exceptional; such a sound was imperceptible to most, but after his physical enhancements, he possessed superhuman hearing and vision.

He slightly opened his eyes, and by the faint moonlight and starlight outside the window, he saw his secretary, Xiaoru, standing quietly in the doorway. Her clear, charming, and captivating eyes were brighter than the stars in the sky, her delicate gaze radiating a thousand kinds of allure. A single glance was enough to intoxicate, leaving one completely disoriented.

Xiaoru's charm was boundless and inexhaustible, like a beautiful scroll without end, becoming more and more captivating and mesmerizing with each glance, even enough to make one willing to die for her.

"Brother Lin, are you asleep?" Xiao Ru stood at the door, her beautiful eyes fixed on Lin Yupeng lying on the bed, and asked softly.

Her sweet and melodious voice was like a clear spring, nourishing Lin Yupeng's heart and stirring up a layer of ambiguous waves.

Lin Yupeng opened his eyes wide, two clear and sharp beams of light shooting out and falling on Xiao Ru's pretty face. He smiled slightly and said, "Not asleep! Did you need something?" In his heart, he chuckled, "This Xiao Ru is really interesting. I didn't even look for her, but she came to my door herself!"

"Brother Lin, sorry to bother you for a moment!" Xiao Ru smiled sweetly, turned around and closed the door, and walked gracefully to Lin Yupeng.

"Hehe, it's okay, I wouldn't mind if you bothered me all night!" A wicked smile appeared on Lin Yupeng's face.

Xiao Ru's beautiful eyes were fixed on Lin Yupeng, and she gently pouted her rosy lips, preparing what she was going to say.

She wore only a thin undergarment that barely covered her body, with a beige bodice on top. Her pointed and rounded shoulders, her fair and slender neck, her graceful arms, and her beautiful and firm breasts, along with the alluring navel faintly visible beneath the bodice, all tempted a man's primal desires. On her lower body, she wore only a white, semi-transparent, lace panty, exuding sexiness. Her long, white legs were almost completely exposed to his view, appearing even more translucent under the bright moonlight, adding a mysterious charm. And at the base of her legs, through the semi-transparent panty, one could vaguely see her sacred pubic hair, which was simply enough to make one's blood boil and one's mind wander uncontrollably.

Lin Yupeng's desire flared up. He remembered that he had said during the day that he wanted to make love with her that night, but he had temporarily forgotten because he was thinking about too many things. He didn't expect Xiaoru to take the initiative to come to him. He guessed that she had some important business to attend to, but after discussing it, hehe, it would be time for the pleasures of the couple!

Thinking of this, Lin Yupeng sat up in bed, turned on the bedside lamp, and then reached out and grasped Xiaoru's soft and delicate hand. With a gentle pull, Xiaoru leaned down onto the bed. Her delicate face was flushed, like a ripe apple. She gazed at Lin Yupeng with her beautiful eyes and whispered, "Brother Lin, Chairman Jin has a few words for me to pass on to you."

Lin Yupeng knew that Xiaoru's visit was related to Chairman Jin. He had recently been appointed president of Starlight Media Group, all thanks to Chairman Jin's secret promotion. Therefore, Chairman Jin would definitely use Xiaoru to make some demands on him.

"Xiaoru, go ahead and say it!" Lin Yupeng gazed at Xiaoru and said softly. He held Xiaoru's delicate, tofu-like hand, gently stroking and kneading it.

Xiaoru let him hold her hand, a shy look appearing in her charming eyes, and said softly, "Brother Lin, Chairman Jin only has three pieces of advice for you to remember. First, be extra careful with President Zhang. No matter what happens, always ask 'why' three times before you act, so you can find the right solution."

"Yes!" Lin Yupeng nodded; Chairman Jin's words perfectly aligned with his own thoughts.

"Second—Xu Weiguo is a trustworthy person; you can consult him if you encounter difficulties, but always be wary of Lang Zikun!" Xiaoru continued.

After hearing the second sentence, Lin Yupeng thought to himself, "It seems Chairman Jin doesn't fully trust Lang Zikun! Could he be secretly working for Zhang Yueran? Otherwise, why would he warn me to be cautious about him?"

Xiao Ru's sweet and charming voice rose again, delivering Chairman Jin's third sentence: "Be careful of the police! Don't do anything illegal; the situation is very dangerous right now!"

These three sentences were almost identical to Ruan Yihong's warning to him. Chairman Jin seemed to already know that the provincial department had secretly established a special task force targeting the Tianqiong Group, secretly gathering evidence of the group's illegal activities... The Tianqiong

Group's current situation was like walking on thin ice; one wrong step and it would fall into an ice hole from which it could never recover.

But as the saying goes, "When you're in the game, you're not in control of your own destiny!" The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease. The Tianqiong Group was that large tree that attracted the wind. How to deal with the special task force's investigation and the attacks from its enemies was a problem that needed to be solved. If necessary, extreme measures would have to be taken. Of course, Lin Yupeng was not yet the president of the Tianqiong Group; how to deal with it was Zhang Yueran's business.

After Xiaoru finished speaking, her beautiful eyes, like pools of autumn water, fixed on Lin Yupeng, observing his reaction.

Lin Yupeng chuckled, placing his hand on her smooth, rounded shoulder, and smiled, "Xiaoru, please tell Chairman Jin that I, Lin Yupeng, will remember his three sentences and never forget them!"

Xiaoru nodded gently, a complex emotion flickering in her beautiful eyes, and whispered, "Understood." She then shifted slightly, seemingly hesitant to leave, but she knew very well that once she was here, she wouldn't leave so easily. Having said what needed to be said

, Lin Yupeng was now ready to enjoy the alluring Xiaoru. As the saying goes, "A moment of spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold," and he couldn't break his promise to Xiaoru made during the day!

Thinking this, Lin Yupeng's eyes burned with desire, and he pulled Xiaoru into his arms, sealing her tender, rosy lips with his own. A gentle, intoxicating fragrance wafted over him, causing him to passionately suckle.

Xiaoru was ready, her arms wrapped around Lin Yupeng's neck, her cherry lips parted, and her tongue darting out in a passionate response. Lin Yupeng's hands gently removed her bodice, taking off her pink bra, and lightly caressed her full, firm breasts, slowly kneading and squeezing them...

Xiaoru's pretty face was flushed with a captivating blush, her beautiful eyes shimmering with desire, her breasts heaving alluringly, and she panted softly.

(Chapter 422 Three Proverbs;

Chapter 423 Walking on Thin Ice)

The pleasure from the kisses and caresses made Lin Yupeng feel increasingly aroused, burning with desire, urgently needing to find a place with plenty of water to extinguish the fire. He slowly pulled down Xiaoru's white, semi-transparent, lace panties, and then stripped himself naked. The sweet fragrance of Xiaoru's body stimulated Lin Yupeng's lust even more intensely. He impatiently lifted her buttocks and slowly entered her flower bud, moving rhythmically.

As the intensity of their movements increased, Lin Yupeng and Xiaoru gradually entered a state of ecstasy. Xiaoru's eyes were glazed over, and her red lips parted slightly, emitting sweet and alluring moans.

Xiaoru, after all, had received specialized and systematic training; her physique and abilities were only slightly inferior to Fang Na, who had undergone physical modifications. She still possessed considerable prowess in bed. Their passionate lovemaking continued late into the night, and as dawn approached, Lin Yupeng launched a fierce offensive. The pleasure that had been surging within him surged forth, and his essence once again flowed into Xiaoru's body…

The next morning, Lin Yupeng woke up early. After making love with him, Xiaoru went back to her room to sleep.

He emerged alone from the secondary bedroom, washed up, and strolled down the stairs to the first-floor lobby. Xiang Kui sat upright in a bamboo chair by the door, his posture as straight as a clock, his tiger eyes slightly closed, his breathing steady, exuding a chilling aura.

As Lin Yupeng came downstairs, Xiang Kui's ears twitched slightly. He slowly opened his eyes, two sharp, blade-like glints flashing within them. He glanced at Lin Yupeng indifferently, then closed his eyes again.

Lin Yupeng chuckled, circled the lobby on the first floor, and returned to the mysterious triangular stairwell. The more he looked at it, the more it resembled Tan Shiquan's stairwell. He couldn't help but think, "I really need to go ask that old guy Zhu Yachen sometime. It would be best if he could build me an underground palace and a secret exit too. That way, if something happens in the future, I'll have an escape route."

After lunch, Xiao Ru and Fang Na woke up, while Qin Xue was still fast asleep. The two stunning beauties, Fang Na and Xiao Ru, went to the kitchen to make breakfast, which Lin Yupeng happily did.

After breakfast, Lin Yupeng, Xiao Ru, and Xiang Kui took a car straight to work at Tianqiong Group.

Today is Friday, the last day of the work week. Lin Yupeng had a feeling this weekend wouldn't be easy; many things needed to be finished by the weekend, the first being the opening ceremony of Chen Lihan's new hotel, scheduled for Sunday.

He arrived at the vice president's office just after the start of the work week when he heard a soft knock on the door. Lin Yupeng said in a deep voice, "Come in!"

The door opened, and Xiang Kui stood in the doorway, his face grave, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. He said coldly to Lin Yupeng, "A person named Xie Xiaofen wants to see you!"

Lin Yupeng's heart skipped a beat, thinking, "Xie Xiaofen is Xiaoru's sister, Chen Lihan's secretary. She's here to deliver an invitation, right?"

"I understand. Invite her in," Lin Yupeng ordered in a deep voice.

Xiang Kui nodded blankly, closed the door, and after a while, the door opened again, and Xiaofen gracefully walked in.

After entering the office, Xiao Fen smiled and nodded to her younger sister, Xiao Ru, as a greeting. Then she walked to Lin Yupeng's desk and said with a smile, "Hello, Mr. Lin! I'm here to deliver an invitation from our General Manager Chen."

"Hehe, thank you!" Lin Yupeng smiled slightly and glanced at Xiao Fen a few times. Although she looked somewhat like Xiao Ru, in terms of looks and charm, she was far inferior to her sister. Her figure was also not as curvaceous as Xiao Ru's. However, Xiao Ru was a stunning beauty, a woman of unparalleled beauty. Compared to ordinary women, Xiao Fen was definitely a great beauty.

Xiao Fen was wearing a light pink business suit, which accentuated her tall and slender figure. Her legs were very thin and long, covered in flesh-colored stockings that gleamed with a textured sheen, alluring to men's eyes.

Xiao Fen took out a beautifully crafted red invitation with gold lettering from her handbag, gently placed it on the table, and blinked her large, watery eyes, saying sweetly, "Mr. Lin, please keep this safe!"

Lin Yupeng smiled slightly, took the invitation, and opened it. The contents were handwritten, and he immediately recognized Chen Lihan's handwriting—neat, elegant, and with a serene, flowing beauty. The font was so familiar; he still treasured her old Chinese language workbook in his old box.

He carefully examined the contents, focusing on the time and location. The Weili Hotel's celebration ceremony was scheduled for Sunday morning at 10:00 AM, continuing until 8:00 PM. Guests could also enjoy a complimentary one-night stay at the Weili Hotel and experience its excellent service.

Chapter 423 Walking on Thin Ice

Chapter 424 My Lover

The address of the Weili Hotel is located on Xingfa Road, near the East Bay District of Tianhan City. It is adjacent to Xinglong Street, the most prosperous commercial area of Tianhan City, and is also connected to Binhai Road, which is located in the red-light district. It can be said to be a commercial center. Business here has always been booming. Chen Wei and Chen Lihan are indeed good at choosing a place.

Seeing that Lin Yupeng had roughly finished reading the invitation, Xiaofen asked sweetly, "Mr. Lin, is there any other problem?"

A glint flashed in Lin Yupeng's handsome eyes, and he laughed heartily, saying, "No problem. Please tell Lihan that I will definitely be there on time!"

Xiaofen smiled sweetly and said, "Okay! Mr. Lin, I have to go to work now, goodbye!"

Lin Yupeng nodded with a smile, and then Xiaofen turned gracefully. As she passed Xiaoru's desk, she gave her a sweet smile and said, "Little sister, work hard, I won't bother you anymore, bye-bye!"

Xiaoru raised her head, smiled sweetly at Xiaofen, and said sweetly, "Goodbye, sister!" Then she lowered her head and continued working.

Watching Xiao Fen's departing figure, Lin Yupeng thought to himself, "Is Xiao Fen really Xiao Ru's sister? I feel their relationship is rather ordinary. Xiao Ru is Chairman Jin's goddaughter, but Xiao Fen isn't! If Xiao Fen were also Chairman Jin's goddaughter, she wouldn't have been fired by Zhang Yueran for a minor mistake!"

Lin Yupeng decided to investigate the subtle relationship between Xiao Fen and Xiao Ru after he finished dealing with his recent thorny issues. His current wariness of Xiao Ru stemmed solely from the fact that she was Chairman Jin's goddaughter, and he harbored some doubts about Chairman Jin's painstaking cultivation of him. After all, he knew nothing about Chairman Jin. While Chairman Jin valued him highly now, it was difficult to guarantee that he wouldn't ask him to do things against his conscience in the future.

Perhaps the highest state of life isn't about doing whatever you want, but about not doing what you don't want to do.

Not long after Xiao Fen left, Lin Yupeng's phone rang. It was a publicly available number, and he quickly pulled it out and answered.

A clear, sweet, and energetic female voice came from the other end of the phone: "Brother Lin, is that you?"

Lin Yupeng immediately recognized the voice of Zhu Liyan, the only granddaughter of his mentor, Zhu Yaguang—the gymnastics girl who perfectly combined dynamism and beauty, the pure-hearted girl who had always harbored feelings for him.

"It's me! Liyan, how have you been lately?" Lin Yupeng asked with concern.

"I'm fine! Brother Lin, how about you?" Zhu Liyan asked sweetly.

"Hehe, same as always, very busy! By the way, you should be training with the provincial gymnastics team now, right?" Lin Yupeng asked softly.

"Yes! They're about to select outstanding athletes for the national team for intensive training, so training has been very intense lately!" After saying that, Zhu Liyan paused, her voice becoming very gentle and timid as she asked, "Brother Lin, are you free tonight?"

Lin Yupeng laughed heartily and said, "Of course!" He thought to himself, "This little girl wants to ask me out, right? What's up?"

“Brother Lin, the provincial gymnastics championships are being held this Sunday, which is also a selection competition for the national team! Winning just one individual event in this competition will get you directly selected for the national team and given special training. I… I'd like to ask you to come and cheer me on.”

Lin Yupeng's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, thinking to himself, “Oh no! Why do all these things happen at once?! I have to attend the Weili Hotel's celebration ceremony on Sunday! But Sister Liyan invited me to watch her competition, so I can't refuse! Sigh, if only I were Sun Wukong with the ability to create clones!”

His thoughts drifted, and he remained silent for a while. Zhu Liyan, thinking he couldn't come, asked with a hint of disappointment, “Brother Lin, are you busy on Sunday and can't come?”

Lin Yupeng smiled and said, “I do have something to do, but I can make time to watch you. What time is the competition?”

Hearing Lin Yupeng say he could come, Zhu Liyan replied with a delighted, sweet voice, “Three o'clock in the afternoon…” "It's starting!" she said softly, then added, "But my turn to perform isn't until around 7 PM. The events I signed up for are later in the schedule."

Lin Yupeng's eyes lit up, and he quickly replied with a smile, "I understand. Do I need to buy tickets? Where can I buy them?" He secretly rejoiced, thinking, "I can attend the Weili Hotel's celebration during the day and go straight to Zhu Liyan's competition at 7 PM. It's perfect! Heaven is really looking out for me!"

Zhu Liyan said sweetly, "I have one here, Brother Lin, come and get it!" She then asked shyly and expectantly, "Can you come to the Provincial Gymnastics Training Center tonight at 7 PM?"

Lin Yupeng answered without hesitation, "Sure! Can you ask for leave for a bit? I'll treat you to something good to eat!" He knew that Zhu Liyan always had closed training camps, and she would have to ask the coach and team leader for permission to come out.

Zhu Liyan

said with a hint of difficulty, "It's probably very difficult to get leave to come out. This is a closed training camp, and the coaches and team leaders are very strict!" "Then how about I buy you some good food and bring it to you?" Lin Yupeng asked again.

"That's even more forbidden! The coaches don't allow us to accept food from outsiders, not even from our own family. Accepting it will result in disciplinary action!"

Lin Yupeng thought to himself, "Why are there so many rules! I guess they're afraid that outsiders might add some banned drugs to the food they bring!" He could only sigh and say, "Sigh, you guys are really strict!"

Zhu Liyan said sweetly, "Yes! This closed training camp only gives us one chance to see our family, and it's only for half an hour! Just say you're my cousin!" The implication was that she was giving Lin Yupeng her most precious and only chance to see her family, which showed how important he was to her. The so-called "cousin" was just a cover for how he was addressed as an outsider; she actually already considered Lin Yupeng her "sweetheart."

"Alright then, see you there!" Lin Yupeng said softly. A wave of emotion washed over him: "I just finished pretending to be Tang Rui's cousin a few days ago, and now I have to pretend to be Zhu Liyan's cousin. How interesting!"

"Do you need me to bring you any other things, like daily necessities?" Lin Yupeng asked again.

"Um... Brother Lin, could you buy me a few CDs of Bandari's light music?" Zhu Liyan said with a charming smile.

Lin Yupeng knew she liked listening to light music, so he smiled and replied, "Okay, anything else?"

"No!" Zhu Liyan giggled and continued, "Brother Lin, see you tonight! I secretly called you during a break from training, so we can't talk for too long. I'll hang up now! Bye-bye!"

(Chapter 424: My Lover;

Chapter 425: The Demolition Company)

Lin Yupeng suddenly remembered that he needed Zhu Yachen to design and build the underground palace. He didn't know Zhu Yachen's phone number yet, and he hadn't had a chance to ask at Tan Shiquan's house that day. Since Zhu Liyan was related to Zhu Yachen, could she possibly know?

So he hurriedly said, "Liyan, don't hang up yet! Let me ask you, can you get the phone number of your grandfather's brother, Zhu Yachen? I need to talk to him about something!"

Lin Yupeng didn't know how to address "grandfather's brother." He had never had a grandfather, let alone a grandfather's brother.

In folk tradition, there are many ways to address "grandfather's older brother." Generally, he is called "great-grandfather" or "great-grandfather," but some say "uncle," though that seems inaccurate. "Uncle" should be the last in the order of seniority, referring to the grandfather's younger brother; so, someone before the grandfather would be called "elder brother," but the term "elder brother" is rarely used in folk tradition.

Zhu Liyan hesitated for a moment, then replied sweetly, "I don't know! But my grandma seems to know. I'll call and ask later, and I'll tell you tonight!"

Lin Yupeng said gratefully, "Thank you! Hehe, I won't bother you anymore, goodbye!"

He hung up the phone, Zhu Liyan's lively and lovely image appearing in his mind, recalling the moments they shared, and feeling a sweet warmth in his heart.

Today's work was relatively relaxed. Xu Weiguo and Lang Zikun were handling the preparations for the establishment of Starlight Media Group, while Lin Yupeng, the president, was actually in charge of the more specific work of building the film and television city. He still didn't know if Tao Haiping had made any progress on his end.

Just as he was thinking, his phone rang again. Lin Yupeng picked it up and saw that the caller ID showed Tao Haiping's number. He was overjoyed: "Just like that, he calls! Looks like the demolition issue is on track!"

He quickly answered, smiling, "Brother Tao, hello!"

Tao Haiping's clear voice came through the phone, "Brother Lin, hello! I've basically finished everything I asked you to do! The land bureau has decided to transfer that plot of land to you. I've completed all the paperwork for you; you've signed it. I'll fax it over for you to see. If you agree, just sign it! The transfer fee is only 20 million, haha, incredibly cheap!"

Lin Yupeng smiled slightly... He smiled and said, "Okay, thank you, Brother Tao!" Actually, the procedures and money for purchasing Hongfa Paper Mill were easy to handle and he didn't need to worry about them. The main problem now was the demolition of Hongfa Paper Mill, which was his biggest concern. So he hurriedly asked, "Brother Tao, have you contacted a demolition company for me?"

Tao Haiping replied in a deep voice, "Yes, I've contacted them. It's called Xinda Demolition Company. It's a newly established demolition company in our city in the last two years. They're quite strong. The factory manager is He Bingguo. I have his contact information here. Write it down!"

After saying that, he repeated He Bingguo's contact information twice, including his mobile phone and office phone. Lin Yupeng took the paper and wrote it down. He continued, "Brother Tao, I think you'll have to put in a lot more effort with the demolition! After all, you're the mayor, so your words carry weight. You could have Xinda Demolition Company try diplomacy first, then force them. If Hongfa Paper Mill doesn't cooperate, then we'll have to be more forceful. Kick them all out, move all their equipment outside, and just use bulldozers to demolish the factory buildings. Without their production workshop, they'll definitely have to obediently agree to relocate."

Tao Haiping hesitated for a moment, then said with difficulty, "Brother Lin, isn't that a bit much? The last time we cut off the water and electricity, it caused trouble. If we resort to forceful demolition again, we might encounter even bigger problems!"

Lin Yupeng sneered: “Brother Tao, what are you afraid of! We can act first and report later! Your connections are much stronger than that unfortunate deputy director of the Municipal Construction Bureau. The higher-ups won't dare to do anything to you! At most, they'll just find a scapegoat. If we want to resolve the Hongfa Paper Mill issue in the short term, we have to use this method. I have no other choice!”

Tao Haiping said in a deep voice, “Alright then! I'll communicate with He Bingguo right away and try to find a compromise to resolve the paper mill issue as soon as possible.”

Lin Yupeng said coldly, “Okay! Tell President He to do as I say. As long as the Hongfa Paper Mill can be demolished within a month, I'll give double the wages!”

Tao Haiping responded and hung up the phone.

Lin Yupeng sat on the sofa, turned on his computer, and browsed the Tianqiong Group's internal website. He saw that the two resolutions of the board of directors had been posted on the bulletin board. The content was the establishment of Xingguang Media Group. Of course, the investment plan was not posted. After all, this was a trade secret, and only the senior leaders of Tianqiong Group had the right to know.

After work that evening, Lin Yupeng, as he had done the previous days, let Xiaoru go home first. He and Xiang Kui stayed in the office for a while before leaving Tianqiong Group.

The two first went to a nearby restaurant for dinner, then went to a nearby audio-visual supermarket and bought a complete set of Bandari's works, a dozen or so CDs. Then they took a car straight to the Provincial Gymnastics Training Center.

Tianhan City is the provincial capital, so the Provincial Gymnastics Training Center is located there, in Nantong District, near Dongwan District. It's a modern gymnastics training hall with first-class facilities, capable of hosting international gymnastics competitions.

Arriving at the entrance of the Provincial Gymnastics Training Center, Lin Yupeng told Xiang Kui to wait for him in the car. He got out alone and saw two uniformed security guards standing at the entrance. He smiled and quickly walked up to them.

"Hello! Is there anything I can help you with?" the security guard asked politely.

"Hehe, I want to see my sister. We've already made an appointment. She's an athlete on the provincial gymnastics team, named Zhu Liyan," Lin Yupeng said with a smile, sizing up the security guard.

"Okay, please wait a moment!" The security guard turned around, took a few steps to the side, took out his walkie-talkie, said a few words, and then walked up to Lin Yupeng with a smile, saying seriously, "You must be Mr. Lin? Please come with me!"

Lin Yupeng smiled and nodded, following the security guard into the provincial gymnastics training center. As soon as he entered, he felt a refreshing blast of cold air. The air conditioning was on high, no wonder the staff inside were all wearing long sleeves, otherwise they would definitely get air conditioning sickness.

He followed the security guard to a large hall on the left side of the first floor, which was decorated like a small classroom. Rows of tables and chairs were clean and tidy. There were indeed several girls from the provincial gymnastics team receiving guests, who looked like their parents. No one had ever pretended to be a "cousin" like Lin Yupeng before!

"Please have a seat! Zhu Liyan will be here soon!" After saying this, the security guard went to stand at the door.

Chapter 425 Demolition Company

Chapter 426 Reunion with Li

Yan Lin Yupeng found a seat against the wall and sat down. A short while later, the youthful and lively gymnastics princess, Zhu Liyan, gracefully walked in. She wore a snow-white training uniform, a light and tight-fitting style that perfectly showcased her exquisite figure: her delicate shoulders, her mature and firm breasts, her flat stomach, her slender waist, and her long, shapely legs. Her entire body was a perfect combination of beauty and dynamism. Every gesture was elegant and serene, exuding a natural and refreshing charm.

Lin Yupeng's gaze fell upon her charming and lovely face. Her eyebrows were clear and bright, her beauty unparalleled, her cheeks like fresh lychees, her nose like jade, her eyebrows like spring mountains; her teeth like pearls, her beautiful eyes like autumn water, and her skin so white and smooth it seemed to yield to moisture. Truly,

a girl changes eighteen times as she grows up, becoming more and more beautiful! After not seeing her for a few days, Lin Yupeng felt that Zhu Liyan had become even more radiant.

Upon seeing Lin Yupeng, Zhu Liyan's bright eyes lit up with joy. She gently swayed her slender hands, quickly walked to him, and sat down, sweetly saying, "Brother Lin, you're here so early!"

Lin Yupeng gazed tenderly at her pretty face and laughed heartily, "I bought you what you wanted!" He handed her the plastic bag containing the complete Bandari light music collection.

"Thank you, Brother Lin!" Zhu Liyan's eyes lit up, her face filled with gratitude and joy. She picked up the CDs, clearly delighted.

"As long as you like them!" Lin Yupeng smiled slightly.

"Brother Lin, you're so good to me!" Zhu Liyan's face suddenly flushed a captivating blush, and she said softly, her tone tinged with ambiguous affection.

That's how young girls are when they first fall in love. Even the smallest favor from someone they like will stay with them forever. So, try to treat your woman well; your efforts will always be rewarded. Even if there's no reward, since you chose to give, you should have no regrets!

"Liyan, training has been tiring lately, hasn't it?" Lin Yupeng asked with concern.

"It's alright! The coach is very strict with us, often criticizing us. If we make a mistake, we have to stand as punishment, and the training volume is doubled. Those who are punished often train until late at night before going back to the dormitory, so tired they can't even climb into bed!" Zhu Liyan said

softly, her beautiful eyes filled with fear. "Oh? Is your coach a man or a woman?" Lin Yupeng's eyes flashed with lightning as he asked coldly.

"A man!" Zhu Liyan blinked her beautiful, bright eyes, sticking out her little tongue slightly, and whispered.

Lin Yupeng thought to himself, "What a devilish coach! He has no sense of chivalry whatsoever." He then asked in a deep voice, "Have you ever been punished?"

Zhu Liyan winked mischievously and smiled sweetly, "Not even once! I train very hard!"

Lin Yupeng chuckled dryly, "That's good! Keep up the good work, I'll definitely be there to cheer you on on Sunday! But I can't come too early, isn't your performance at 7 pm? I'll definitely be there by then!"

Zhu Liyan smiled sweetly, "I'll be so happy if you can come!"

Then Lin Yupeng chatted intimately with her, showing concern and care. Zhu Liyan opened up and poured out all the joys and sorrows of the past few days to him, and their hands unconsciously became entangled.

Lin Yupeng once again grasped her soft, smooth, and delicate hand, a fresh and sweet fragrance wafting into his nostrils. Gazing at her two clear, autumn-like eyes and listening to her sweet, gentle whispers, he couldn't help but feel a surge of desire, his mind filled with erotic thoughts: "Liyan, you're probably almost nineteen, aren't you? You're becoming more and more beautiful, and your body must be even more supple and boneless. If I held you in my arms, the feeling..."

He quickly suppressed his wicked thoughts. He had always treated her like a younger sister, though there were also romantic feelings mixed in. But he didn't want to take her as his woman yet. He was afraid that she would ruin her future because of romantic relationships, especially since she was the granddaughter of his mentor, Zhu Yaguang. Lin Yupeng couldn't even predict his own future, how could he possibly ruin Zhu Liyan's?

Lin Yupeng agreed to watch her competition to cheer her on, as she desperately needed his encouragement. If she were to make the national team, it would fulfill one of his teacher Zhu Yaguang's wishes. As for their personal relationship, he'd let nature take its course.

The two chatted for a long time, time flying by. Suddenly, they heard a loud, echoing cough from the doorway of the reception room.

Lin Yupeng looked up and saw a middle-aged man standing in the doorway, wearing a loose tracksuit. He had dark skin, a sallow complexion, a serious expression, and a grim face as if covered in iron. His eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he exuded an imposing aura of authority and dominance, making him someone not to be underestimated.

Zhu Liyan turned around in surprise. Upon seeing the middle-aged man, her beautiful eyes immediately filled with awe. She cutely stuck out her tongue and quickly pulled her small hand, which Lin Yupeng was holding, back. She took out a gymnastics competition ticket from her pocket, placed it on the table, and turned to Lin Yupeng, saying, "Brother Lin, this is the ticket for you! I'm sorry! Our coach is looking for me!"

Lin Yupeng smiled slightly and said, "Then you can go! By the way, I asked you to find Zhu Yachen's phone number. Did you get it for me?" He had almost forgotten about it while chatting.

"Here it is!" Zhu Liyan took out a small piece of paper from her pocket and placed it on the table. Lin Yupeng hurriedly picked up the tickets and slip of paper and stuffed them into his briefcase, smiling as he said, "Thank you!"

Zhu Liyan smiled sweetly, reached for the plastic bag containing the music CDs, and said reluctantly, "Brother Lin, I'm leaving!" With that, she gracefully stood up, walked to the door, and followed the "devil coach" out of the reception room.

Watching Zhu Liyan's slender and graceful figure disappear from sight, Lin Yupeng sighed inwardly, stood up, left the provincial gymnastics training center, and got into his car to return to his villa in the northern suburbs.

Lin Yupeng returned home relatively early today, which naturally made Fang Na, Qin Xue, and Xiao Ru very happy. Qin Xue was in a much better mood today, regaining her usual warm and cheerful personality.

Lin Yupeng spent a wonderful evening with the three beauties, and when it was time to sleep, he naturally engaged in some passionate "one dragon, two phoenixes" games with Qin Xue and Fang Na.

He launched a relentless assault on the two beauties, their breath coming in ragged gasps, their hips swaying wildly as he thrust into them, their delicate bodies trembling with pleasure, their love juices flowing freely…

Chapter 426 Revisiting the Beauty

Chapter 427 Auspicious Beginnings

Lin Yupeng was in a frenzy, pleasing both women with his thrusts, frequently penetrating their hearts, sharing his love equally. This night of passionate ecstasy and intimacy left all three of them feeling incredibly blissful.

The next morning, Lin Yupeng woke up very early. Fang Na and Qin Xue needed time to recover from the night's battle, especially Qin Xue, whose body felt like a lump of spring mud the previous night, eventually becoming too weak to continue and falling into a deep sleep.

Xiao Ru, who hadn't participated the night before, woke up even earlier than Lin Yupeng and was making breakfast in the kitchen.

Around nine o'clock in the morning, Fang Na and Qin Xue got up one after another. The four of them had breakfast together, and Qin Xue suggested that they go shopping together while the weather was cool in the morning. This was exactly what Lin Yupeng wanted, because tomorrow was the opening ceremony of Chen Lihan's Weili Hotel, and he was a special guest, so he had to buy some gifts!

So Xiang Kui drove Lin Yupeng and the three beauties away from the villa in the northern suburbs and headed to the bustling commercial district in the city center.

Lin Yupeng was always generous and spent money like water, buying almost whatever the three beauties liked. In less than a morning, the three beauties, Lin Yupeng, and Xiang Kui were carrying bags and packages that were almost too heavy to carry.

Although they bought a lot of things, Lin Yupeng's three women were the kind of people who were careful with their money. They never went to super expensive boutiques and always preferred to go to discount stores where they could bargain. Although they bought so many things, they spent less than five thousand yuan in total, enough to buy them clothes for all four seasons.

Returning to the jewelry store on Xinglong Street, Lin Yupeng noticed that the "Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Auspiciousness" bracelets were still there, priced the same at 999,900 yuan. Xiaoru's beautiful eyes immediately lit up with envy. Lin Yupeng's heart stirred: "It seems the jade bracelets she mentioned last time really are this pair. I must buy them for her when I have the money in the future, but I wonder if someone else will have bought them first."

Lin Yupeng wanted to buy some inexpensive trinkets for the three beauties, but they politely declined, saying they had already bought enough for the day and didn't want him to spend any more money.

"Hehe, the real expense is yet to come! Don't be scared!" Lin Yupeng grinned wickedly at his women, then led them to a gift shop. After browsing for a while, they bought a beautiful "Three Sheep Bring Prosperity" gift—three small golden sheep, each filled with one-yuan coins. The three sheep, plus the coins inside, cost a total of 100,000 yuan.

After Lin Yupeng paid, the three beauties looked surprised. Lin Yupeng, however, seemed quite calm, chuckling, "A friend's hotel is opening tomorrow, and this is a congratulatory gift. With my status now, giving something too cheap would be embarrassing!"

The three beauties looked relieved upon hearing this. Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed true. With Lin Yupeng's status—Vice President of Tianqiong Group and President of the soon-to-be-established Xingguang Media Group—he was a prominent figure in the Tianhan City business world. He represented not only himself but the entire Tianqiong Group. Giving a meager gift would be tantamount to embarrassing the Tianqiong Group.

After shopping, Lin Yupeng, accompanied by three beautiful women and his bodyguard Xiang Kui, went to a grand hotel for a sumptuous lunch. In the afternoon, he returned home and spent the day watching TV and playing cards with his women. The day passed pleasantly.

Lin Yupeng felt a sense of comfort and warmth, sensing that such wonderful days were likely numbered. He knew he would be busy all day, as the battle against Hongfa Paper Mill would begin next week. The world was treacherous, and people's hearts were unpredictable; he would face even greater challenges.

That night, Lin Yupeng unusually refrained from indulging in romance. After putting Qin Xue and Fang Na to sleep, he went to the secondary bedroom, lay down, and continued to organize his thoughts, devising a comprehensive plan. He also carefully analyzed and pondered the three sentences Jin Dong had given him.

His mind remained highly alert throughout the night. He only managed a short nap at dawn before getting up. He needed to attend the Weili Hotel's celebration ceremony at ten o'clock in the morning and prepare early.

Lin Yupeng walked out of the bedroom and into the master bedroom. He saw Fang Na and Qin Xue lying side by side on the bed, each in a different, incredibly alluring pose, fast asleep. Their breasts rose and fell, their tempting peaks trembling, their fair and delicate legs pressed together, gleaming with a lustrous sheen.

Beautiful women often love to sleep in, as sufficient sleep is essential for maintaining radiant and youthful skin. Gazing at the two beauties' alluring and adorable sleeping forms, Lin Yupeng longed to pounce on them and fully experience their beauty and tenderness. However, he restrained himself. He glanced at his watch; it was almost seven in the morning. If he were to get into a passionate encounter with Fang Na and Qin Xue now, he'd probably be busy all morning.

So he closed the door and went to the kitchen. Xiao Ru had also gotten up late today, so breakfast was naturally left to Lin Yupeng to prepare.

Half an hour later, four nutritious breakfasts were ready. Lin Yupeng ate his own, then put the other three in a warmer, waiting for his women to wake up and eat them.

At nine o'clock in the morning, Fang Na, Qin Xue, and Xiao Ru woke up one after another. After washing up, they ate the breakfast that Lin Yupeng had prepared with relish.

Lin Yupeng chatted with them for a while. At 9:30 a.m., he and Xiang Kui left the villa in the northern suburbs and drove straight to the Weili Hotel in the city center.

When they arrived at the hotel, it was already 9:50 a.m. According to the celebration ceremony's schedule, the ribbon-cutting ceremony would begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by a celebratory luncheon, then cultural performances in the afternoon, and a celebratory cocktail party in the evening. The schedule was quite full

. In front of the Weili Hotel was a large parking lot, which was already full of people and cars. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was about to begin.

Lin Yupeng and Xiang Kui got out of the car and walked towards the scene. They saw that the area had been cordoned off with red ribbons, and several security guards were checking guests' invitations at the entrance to prevent anyone from sneaking in.

A sharp-eyed security guard spotted Lin Yupeng immediately, smiled, and ran over, saluting politely, "Mr. Lin, hello!"

Lin Yupeng sized up the guard, finding him increasingly familiar. Suddenly, he remembered he was the former security guard at the entrance of the Xinhang Hotel. During that time, he frequently visited the hotel to discuss acquisition matters and had dealt with him many times. So, he smiled and said, "Hello, haha, may I show you my invitation?" Lin Yupeng smiled, took out his briefcase, and reached for the invitation. The security guard smiled and waved his

hand , saying, "Mr. Lin, you don't need to show any invitation. Please come in! By the way, you'll be cutting the ribbon later, so please stand in the front row!" He was a long-time employee of the Xinhang Hotel and had always worked for Chen Lihan. He was well aware of the subtle relationship between Lin Yupeng and their boss, Chen. They might become husband and wife, or at least close friends. How could Chen Lihan not invite Lin Yupeng to the opening of her new hotel? Lin Yupeng smiled slightly at the security guard, then stepped into the venue, secretly delighted: "Chen Lihan arranged for me to be a ribbon-cutting guest, what an honor!" Lin Yupeng couldn't help but carefully examine the five-story Weili Hotel in front of him. Its completely antique architectural style exuded a majestic and solemn aura, a powerful and masculine presence, with a vibrant and pleasing aesthetic amidst its ancient and dignified style. The hotel's exterior was predominantly painted in the vermilion and white colors characteristic of the Tang Dynasty, with freely flowing eaves, painted beams and carved pillars, dazzling the eye, giving one the feeling of returning to the prosperous Tang Dynasty. Lin Yupeng's heart skipped a beat: "It seems that Chen Wei and Chen Lihan were already planning to open a new hotel before the Xinhang Hotel was acquired, otherwise it would have been impossible to renovate it to this extent in such a short time!" The entrance to the Weili Hotel had already been set up as a ribbon-cutting site, the hotel's large plaque covered with bright red silk, through which one could vaguely see the ancient, gold-leafed clerical script. A scarlet carpet covered the entrance, with two retractable microphones—similar to those used in stand-up comedy—in the center. A row of female servers stood at the hotel entrance, each carrying a tray with a small, gleaming pair of gold scissors and a pair of white gloves. These scissors were either pure gold or gold-plated; they were clearly for ribbon-cutting ceremonies. The hostesses were all stunningly beautiful, with fair skin and captivating charm. They wore sweet, alluring smiles, and were all of similar height and build, young, healthy, and elegant, all alluring to men. Just after ten o'clock in the morning, Chen Wei, the chairman of the Weili Hotel, and Chen Lihan, the general manager, walked out of the hotel side by side, followed by several middle-level managers—familiar faces, all former employees of the Meihua Hotel, the original staff of the Xinhang Hotel. Chen Lihan was wearing her favorite white business suit, a chic little blazer with a midi skirt. A beige blouse was faintly visible through the open neckline. A white belt cinched her narrow waist, accentuating her slender figure and making her breasts appear even fuller and firmer. Her shapely, sexy legs were encased in flesh-colored stockings, and she wore silver-white high-heeled sandals. She exuded a charming and alluring yet noble and dignified air, like a solitary orchid blooming in a secluded valley, a lotus rising from the mud unsullied, or a radiant treasure, drawing all eyes to her. Among those gazes were men's amazement and greed, and women's envy and jealousy. Chen Lihan was undoubtedly the most beautiful focus of this celebration. Chen Lihan gracefully moved to the microphone, her clear, bright eyes sweeping over the guests. When her gaze met Lin Yupeng's, a soft glint appeared in her eyes, but she quickly looked away as if fleeing. Lin Yupeng's gaze, however, remained fixed on her, observing this woman who brought him both joy and sorrow. A mix of emotions welled up within him. He couldn't help but think back to the past. If Chen Lihan had accepted him and become his girlfriend back in high school, after four years of university, they would probably be walking down the aisle by now!

Unfortunately, life is often filled with disappointments. Chen Lihan was Lin Yupeng's first love, but Lin Yupeng was not Chen Lihan's first love.

Lost in thought, Lin Yupeng heard Chen Lihan's beautiful, melodious voice, like celestial music, gently flowing through the room. Like a clear spring, it instantly washed away all the distractions in Lin Yupeng's mind, making him listen intently to her words. He noticed that all the other guests were also listening attentively, and the room was completely silent.

Chen Lihan was giving a congratulatory speech. She never used a prepared script; her speeches were impromptu, passionate, clear, and eloquent. Her meticulous logical thinking and quick wit were admirable.

Just as Chen Lihan was halfway through her speech, a clear, pleasant beeping sound rang out from outside the room.

Lin Yupeng glanced sideways at the area outside and saw a super-long Hummer and a BMW parked steadily one after the other. Five people then stepped out of the Hummer. The leader was a burly man in his thirties, wearing an open, button-down shirt. He was about 1.9 meters tall, with bronze skin that gleamed like metal. His arms were as thick as beams, his legs as thick as pillars, and he wore large shoes that made his feet look like stone rollers. His muscles were bulging like small steamed buns.

Looking at his face, he had a dark complexion, a straight nose, and a square jaw. His large, bell-like eyes shot out two sharp, golden beams that were intimidating.

Lin Yupeng immediately recognized the burly man as one of the most powerful henchmen of Hong Tianhao, the underworld boss of Tianhan City. The man known as "Ahai," who could roar like a shrew, was actually named Lu Zhanhai. He had followed Hong Tianhao for over ten years and was highly valued by him.

The four men beside Lu Zhanhai were all dressed in black suits and ties, wearing sunglasses, with serious, cold expressions, never smiling, and expressionless, as if someone owed them a lot of money—just like bodyguards of Hong Kong triad bosses in movies and television.

Hong Tianhao, after all, had spent some time in Hong Kong, and hadn't learned anything good there, colluding with local triad organizations and picking up a lot of their methods.

Lin Yupeng thought to himself, "Why is Hong Tianhao here? Did Chen Lihan invite him to the opening ceremony as well? No! How could Chen Lihan know anyone in the underworld? It must be her brother Chen Wei who invited him!" Then he thought again, "This area is all Hong Tianhao's territory, so it's not surprising that this guy is here! Does he want to swallow up the Weili Hotel as well? Sigh, Chen Wei, Lihan, why did you choose such a place!"

After Lu Zhanhai got out of the car, he quickly opened the middle door of the Hummer. A pair of shiny black leather shoes, so shiny you could see your reflection in them, landed steadily on the ground. Then, the owner of the shoes, Hong Tianhao, appeared in Lin Yupeng's sight.

Chapter 428 The Spotlight

Chapter 429 Underworld Tycoon

Hong Tianhao, dressed in a sharp suit and wearing gold-rimmed glasses, cleverly concealed the roguish and domineering air emanating from his eyes and brows. His clothes were spotless, giving the impression of a large corporation owner. In reality, he was the chairman of the Hong Group in Tianhan City, using this as a cover for his illegal and unethical activities.

As soon as Hong Tianhao stepped out of the car, two henchmen pulled out shoe-shining cloths from their pockets and quickly bent down to polish his already shiny leather shoes, making them shine even brighter.

Lin Yupeng cursed inwardly, "Damn it! Hong Tianhao! What's with the attitude? Where the hell did he learn this stinky behavior?"

He watched as the two henchmen finished wiping Hong Tianhao's shoes, quickly stood up, and joined the six men who emerged from the BMW behind them. A total of ten men formed a formidable formation around Hong Tianhao, with six leading the way and four bringing up the rear. Beside Hong Tianhao stood Lu Zhanhai, his bodyguard and enforcer.

The group's arrival caused a small commotion. The henchmen leading the way were rude and arrogant. Passing the entrance to the celebration venue without even flashing their invitations, they pushed past several security guards and strode in with their heads held high. The guards, seeing their menacing presence, didn't dare utter a sound and obediently let them pass.

Lin Yupeng cursed inwardly, "Damn it, these security guards at the Weili Hotel are a bunch of good-for-nothings! They're cowards who bully the weak and fear the strong! How could Chen Wei hire these spineless cowards as security guards!"

He couldn't help but think of Hong Tianhao's ill intentions; it seemed he was bound to cause trouble. A sudden surge of fierceness rose in his heart: "You, Hong Tianhao, coming here to cause trouble? I can't just stand by and watch Chen Lihan get bullied. I'll fight you to the death!"

He assessed the situation: Hong Tianhao had twelve men, while his side consisted of only him and Xiang Kui. Lu Zhanhai seemed like a fierce and ruthless character, and Xiang Kui might not be able to take him down quickly. Therefore, if a fight broke out, it would likely result in mutual destruction.

Hong Tianhao and his group quickly broke through a path and arrived at the front row, standing right next to Lin Yupeng!

Chen Lihan's speech was still ongoing, and she seemed completely unaffected by Hong Tianhao and his group. However, Lin Yupeng clearly saw a hint of melancholy and fear flickering in her clear, beautiful eyes, and his heart tightened accordingly.

Out of the corner of his eye, Lin Yupeng glanced at Hong Tianhao, who was surrounded by bodyguards not far away. Just then, Hong Tianhao's gaze also turned towards him. Their eyes clashed like sparks flying, creating a confrontational atmosphere. Hong Tianhao's eyes held a hint of contempt and disdain.

Lin Yupeng, of course, didn't back down. A disdainful sneer appeared on his lips, and his sharp, piercing gaze swept over Hong Tianhao, as if trying to penetrate his very soul.

An undercurrent of tension simmered beneath the surface; a storm was brewing, and the covert struggle between these two sworn enemies, Lin Yupeng and Hong Tianhao, had begun.

Lin Yupeng appeared calm and composed, but a hint of smugness lingered in his heart. He thought to himself, "Heh heh, Hong Tianhao, you probably never dreamed that your sister Pan Lu, that slut, is now in my hands, right? You must have been frantic these past few days, haven't you?"

Pan Lu's disappearance naturally caused Hong Tianhao immense anxiety. In truth, his relationship with Pan Lu had long surpassed that of siblings. On the surface, they were brother and sister, but in reality, they had already engaged in a physical relationship and committed adultery! After all, they were born of the same mother—this was blatant incest! It was Pan Lu who first seduced Hong Tianhao. Moreover, Hong Tianhao himself was no saint. He tried to appear refined and cultured, but in reality, he was a lecherous man. Upon seeing his sister's stunning beauty, he was overcome with lust, and with Pan Lu offering herself to him, the two hit it off immediately.

However, incest between siblings is one of the most despicable acts of depravity. Hong Tianhao knew this was not something to be proud of, so he kept it a closely guarded secret and even went to great lengths to send Pan Lu to Tianhan Normal University to cover his tracks. Very few people knew the truth, and they were all Hong Tianhao's closest confidants.

Since Pan Lu's disappearance, Hong Tianhao had been searching for her everywhere. Because of their secret relationship and the fact that they were siblings, he was extremely anxious. He had suspected Lin Yupeng, but had no evidence. Especially after the people he sent to spy on her a few days ago were all imprisoned and implicated Hong Tianhao, he was questioned by the police. He insisted he didn't know the two men. The police had no other evidence, and besides, sending people to spy on someone was at most an invasion of privacy. Before a crime was committed, sentencing was always a blind spot, so they had no choice but to release Hong Tianhao, leaving him only with a criminal record.

But Hong Tianhao was the most powerful underworld boss in Tianhan City. This incident even landed him in the police station, meaning he'd suffered a silent loss at the hands of Lin Yupeng, a minor setback. Therefore, his gaze towards Lin Yupeng today still burned with hatred.

After Chen Lihan's speech, the second and most important part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony immediately began—the ribbon-cutting by special guests.

Before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Chen Wei, chairman of the Weili Hotel, announced the list of guests, a total of nine people. Lin Yupeng was one of them, along with important figures from the business and political circles of Tianhan City. The majority were from the business world, totaling seven, including Hong Tianhao, which wasn't surprising given his position as president of the Hong Group. The two political figures were also quite prominent: Hou Fengchun, deputy secretary-general of the Tianhan Municipal Government, and Chai Jian, executive deputy district head of the Dongwan District, both invited by Chen Wei.

After announcing the list of guests, Chen Wei waited for them to come up on stage and line up for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to begin.

Just as Lin Yupeng was about to step onto the stage, he suddenly heard a clear and piercing voice beside him: "Isn't this President Lin?!"

He turned to look and saw his arch-rival, Hong Tianhao, walking towards him. Hong Tianhao's gloomy face wore a malicious sneer, and two sharp, sword-like glints shot from his hawk-like eyes, staring intently at Lin Yupeng.

"Mr. Hong, hello!" Lin Yupeng said with a forced smile, his gaze meeting Hong Tianhao's without flinching.

Chapter 429 The Underworld Tycoon

Chapter 430 A Power Struggle in the Shadows

Hong Tianhao walked to Lin Yupeng's side, followed by his thugs who formed a fan-like shape around Lin Yupeng and Xiang Kui. Hong Tianhao extended his hand to Lin Yupeng and smiled, "Mr. Lin, hello, I didn't expect to meet you here. It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Just now, Hong Tianhao and Lin Yupeng had been staring at each other for a long time, secretly competing, but now he was pretending to have just seen Lin Yupeng, which surprised Lin Yupeng.

No matter how much animosity existed between the two, since Hong Tianhao had extended his hand, Lin Yupeng had to shake it. On the outstretched hand was a jade thumb ring, which gleamed in the sunlight.

Lin Yupeng chuckled, grabbed Hong Tianhao's hand, and feigned politeness, saying, "Nice to meet you! How have you been, Mr. Hong?"

"Not bad!" Hong Tianhao replied coldly, his sharp eyes fixed on Lin Yupeng. Once their hands were clasped, they didn't let go. As long as Hong Tianhao refused to release his grip and subtly exerted his strength, Lin Yupeng felt a tightening in his hand. He thought to himself, "So, Hong Tianhao, you were planning to use this handshake to secretly exert force and embarrass me in public? Heh heh, you've got a bad idea. Do you think I can lose to you in terms of strength?"

Thinking this, he increased the pressure on his hand, preparing to counter Hong Tianhao. Their hands became entangled, each exerting their own strength, the veins on their hands bulging.

To outsiders, Lin Yupeng and Hong Tianhao seemed like old friends who hadn't seen each other in ages, shaking hands "warmly" and reluctant to let go. In reality, however, both were secretly plotting to humiliate the other. They exchanged polite words, but inwardly, they were ready to fight.

Hong Tianhao, presumably trained in martial arts, had a hand like a vise, powerful and forceful. But Lin Yupeng's body had been enhanced, and his strength was astonishing. In less than a minute, Hong Tianhao was gradually losing ground in the struggle.

Lin Yupeng sneered inwardly, secretly increasing his pressure. Hong Tianhao's hand began to deform, a piercing pain spreading from his palm. Sweat beaded on his forehead; he was using every ounce of strength he had, but he still couldn't contend with Lin Yupeng. If he continued to resist, he would surely be humiliated in public.

Seeing his master about to suffer a loss, Lu Zhanhai, standing beside Hong Tianhao, glared at Lin Yupeng with a sharp, yellow light flashing in his eyes, secretly gathering his strength to help.

At that moment, Xiang Kui, standing beside Lin Yupeng, saw through Lu Zhanhai's intentions. He instinctively moved forward, ready to join the fight, a chilling killing intent emanating from him.

The air tensed suffocatingly, like a volcano about to erupt. But at this crucial moment, Lin Yupeng's eyes flashed coldly, and he suddenly withdrew his hand from Hong Tianhao's, pretending nothing had happened, even giving Hong Tianhao a slight smile.

A flash of resentment appeared in Hong Tianhao's hawk-like eyes, but he still stopped Lu Zhanhai from attacking Lin Yupeng. After all, this was the celebration ceremony, and he was a specially invited guest for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Moreover, there were two city leaders present; a fight here would have a terrible impact.

Lin Yupeng thought the same way. He didn't care about the two so-called leaders. Although one was the deputy secretary-general of the municipal government and the other was the deputy district head, they were just insignificant officials in his eyes. His main concern was that they might cause trouble for Chen Lihan. On such a joyous occasion, if they started fighting, would the celebration even proceed? Therefore, although he had the upper hand in his struggle with Hong Tianhao earlier, he held back and didn't embarrass him in public, so as not to anger Hong Tianhao.

Because Lin Yupeng and Hong Tianhao were secretly competing backstage, they were a little late. Now that the other seven guests on stage were ready, Chen Lihan had just seen Lin Yupeng and Hong Tianhao's actions. Being intelligent, she knew that the two seemed to have a deep grudge. Her heart pounded nervously, and worry appeared in her beautiful eyes.

Lin Yupeng didn't want to put Chen Lihan in a difficult position, so he smiled and said to Hong Tianhao beside him, "Mr. Hong, please!"

With that, he led Xiang Kui and the other man towards the ribbon-cutting stage.

Hong Tianhao gave Lin Yupeng a cold glance, then, surrounded by his thugs, also walked towards the stage.

All nine guests were finally lined up. Lin Yupeng and Hong Tianhao stood side-by-side, their eyes constantly scanning each other. Xiang Kui and Lu Zhanhai stood behind their respective masters, these two ruthless assassins also vying for dominance, neither willing to fall behind. Hong Tianhao's ten black-clad bodyguards, divided into two groups, stood behind Lu Zhanhai, their sunglasses flashing cold light as they surveyed the surrounding people. This entourage far surpassed that of all the guests present.

Chen Wei announced the official start of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the band immediately began playing auspicious and cheerful music. The sound of firecrackers and applause from the audience filled the air, instantly creating a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere.

Nine hostesses standing at the hotel entrance immediately carried trays and marched in unison towards the ribbon-cutting guests. These nine hostesses were all dressed in identical bright red cheongsams, paired with flesh-colored pantyhose and black high-heeled shoes; their makeup was light, their hair was styled in an updo, and their beautiful faces revealed radiant, charming smiles.

One of the hostesses, carrying a tray, approached Lin Yupeng, playfully blinking her clear, bright eyes. Her pure and delicate face wore an innocent and sweet smile; her skin was as white as snow, smooth and delicate, like a magnolia blossom blooming quietly in a secluded valley, or a lotus rising from the mud unsullied.

Lin Yupeng immediately recognized this hostess as Wen Yuqi, the innocent girl he had interacted with many times—a beautiful girl whose heart was pure and without a trace of impurity, like a blank sheet of paper, so innocent it was worrying.

He smiled slightly and nodded to Wen Yuqi, thinking to himself, "So she came to the Weili Hotel with Chen Lihan too, and even acted as a hostess!"

The ribbon-cutting ceremony wasn't a place for chatting, so Lin Yupeng and Wen Yuqi didn't speak, only exchanging glances. He saw a joyful glint in Wen Yuqi's bright eyes as she gazed tenderly at Lin Yupeng.

Lin Yupeng smiled back, reached for the white gloves on the tray Wen Yuqi was holding, and then picked up the gold scissors from the tray. He lightly weighed them in his hand; they weren't very heavy, so they seemed to be gold-plated. If they were made of pure gold, how much would that cost!

He was about to cut the ribbon when he glanced at Hong Tianhao beside him. The hostess had been standing there for ages, yet he remained unhurried and composed.

(Chapter 430: Hidden Power Struggle

; Chapter 431: Celebratory Luncheon)

Lu Zhanhai's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He reached for the white gloves on the hostess's tray, deliberately shook them in the air to remove dust, and then handed them to Hong Tianhao. Actually, these white gloves were brand new, as white as snow, without a speck of dust.

Hong Tianhao took the gloves and put them on. Then Lu Zhanhai picked up the gold scissors on the tray, fiddled with them for a moment, and then pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket to carefully wipe them. This action was unnecessary; the scissors were brand new and shiny. Even if there was dust, the white gloves wouldn't allow it to get on his hands!

Lin Yupeng glanced at Hong Tianhao disdainfully, cursing inwardly, "Damn it, he's putting on airs! What's he trying to

prove?" Dissatisfied, he didn't stop cutting the red ribbon in a few strokes. He glanced at Hong Tianhao again, noticing that his earlier delay had caused the other guests to cut their ribbons long before he could even pick them up. Everyone's eyes were now on Hong Tianhao, waiting for his final cut.

Hong Tianhao remained calm and composed, a hint of arrogant sneer on his face. He slowly pressed the scissors against the colorful silk, twisting them bit by bit. What others could finish in less than a minute took him a full five minutes. All eyes were on him, some with surprise, some with suspicion, some with worry. Hong Tianhao's status was special; his appearances always caused a stir.

Lin Yupeng felt a surge of anger, about to explode again, but when she saw the worry and anxiety in Chen Lihan's eyes, she repeatedly told herself not to act impulsively and to think of her.

Fortunately, Hong Tianhao finally cut the silk, and the entire audience erupted in enthusiastic applause. Chen Wei and Chen Lihan secretly breathed a sigh of relief; today's celebration had brought a ticking time bomb. But given Hong Tianhao's status, not inviting him would have been even more troublesome.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the hostesses, carrying their trays, withdrew. Wen Yuqi gave Lin Yupeng a sweet smile, turned, and left as well. Before leaving, she secretly glanced at him, her clear, innocent eyes holding a hint of ambiguity. Lin Yupeng's heart skipped a beat, thinking, "Could this little girl have developed feelings for me?"

He carefully recalled their past interactions, from the first time he pretended to be a perfume wholesaler and chatted with her, to standing up for her and driving away customers who wanted to cause her trouble. He had always protected her like an older brother. For a girl as innocent as Wen Yuqi, she would remember anyone who treated her well.

Every time he saw Wen Yuqi, a warm yet melancholic ripple would stir in Lin Yupeng's heart. This girl, so innocent it was heartbreaking, was like a white lotus blooming in the mud in this materialistic society, easily corrupted. Therefore, he always wanted to protect her, to keep her forever untouched by society's corruption, to preserve her eternal innocence. Was that possible? He himself couldn't give a precise answer.

The golden signboard of the Weili Hotel was revealed after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the large, gilded characters gleaming in the sunlight. Next came the second item on the agenda—a celebratory luncheon.

It's worth noting that the Deputy Secretary-General of the Tianhan Municipal Government and the Deputy District Head of the Dongwan District left after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, not participating in the subsequent celebratory activities. Some people, the lower their rank, the bigger their airs! Attending such a banquet seemed beneath them; they only reluctantly attended such a prestigious event as the ribbon-cutting.

Lin Yupeng followed the guests into the Weili Hotel. The interior layout was even more reminiscent of the Tang Dynasty. The windows were decorated with tortoise-shell patterns, and the iron frames were covered with wood veneer, making them much sturdier than pure wood. The

ceiling was painted with blooming lotus petals and patterns of flowers, birds, fish, and insects, while the walls were adorned with ancient female figures, their lines full and flowing, reminiscent of Wu Daozi's "Wu-style brushstrokes."

The hall just inside the entrance had been transformed into a banquet hall. A scarlet carpet covered the floor, and in the center were over twenty rosewood tables covered with red tablecloths. Pots of blooming peonies, peonies, and oleanders lined the walls, adding a touch of life to the hall. A sweet, refreshing fragrance filled the air, making one feel relaxed and happy.

At the entrance, a long table draped in red cloth stood, behind which sat a security guard and a waitress, responsible for recording the monetary gifts given by the guests. After each guest presented their gift, the security guard would loudly announce it to everyone, reminiscent of a nouveau riche hosting a birthday banquet in the

old days. Lin Yupeng had attended Chen Lihan's engagement ceremony last time, and the scale was similar. He secretly suspected this wasn't Chen Lihan's idea; she was naturally cautious and low-key, never liking to be ostentatious. It must have been her brother Chen Wei's unsophisticated suggestion.

Some guests presented congratulatory gifts, while others offered monetary gifts. When it was Lin Yupeng's turn, he had Xiang Kui present the "Three Sheep Bring Prosperity" gift they had bought. It had a red ribbon with the giver's name and two lines of blessing written on it.

The security guard's eyes lit up immediately, and he asked with a grin, "Mr. Lin, is this 'Three Sheep Bring Prosperity'?"

Lin Yupeng smiled and nodded, thinking to himself, "This security guard is quite cultured!"

Then the security guard announced loudly, "Lin Yupeng, Vice President of Tianqiong Group, presents the congratulatory gift 'Three Sheep Bring Prosperity'!"

Many guests involuntarily turned their gazes towards him, seeing that Lin Yupeng had presented three small, pure gold sheep, each seemingly containing money. The total value was estimated to be over 100,000 yuan, making this the most valuable gift so far, and everyone couldn't help but show surprise and envy.

An insider couldn't help but sigh, "Lin Yupeng really went all out to pursue Ms. Chen of the Weili Hotel! He gave her 100,000 yuan at her engagement ceremony, and later, when Ms. Chen was kidnapped, I heard he paid over a million yuan in ransom. He's incredibly devoted!"

Love, of course, isn't measured in money, but love without a material foundation is like a beautiful but unrealistic castle in the air.

How wonderful it would be if there were a love castle in the world, where only truly loving people could go, never having to worry about making a living, because all expenses would be free and inexhaustible. Of course, such a love castle doesn't exist; if it did, it would probably burst from the crowds after just one day.

Chapter 431 Celebratory Luncheon

Chapter 432 An Extraordinary Gift

After Lin Yupeng presented his gift, Hong Tianhao followed closely behind. He had initially arrived before Lin Yupeng, but after entering, Hong Tianhao started putting on airs again. His underlings were either kneeling down to wipe his shoes or handing him towels to wipe his sweat, as if serving royalty from the old society.

Lin Yupeng had dealt with Hong Tianhao a few times before, and he had never seen him act so extravagantly. Had he suddenly become demanding after not seeing him for a few days? He thought for a moment and realized, "I understand now. Hong Tianhao's act is just for show, to impress Chen Wei and his sister. He wants to elevate his status so he can bully them and profit from their misfortune!"

A glint flashed in his eyes as he coldly stared at Hong Tianhao, cursing inwardly, "Hong Tianhao, do you still want to collect protection money here? Wishful thinking! I won't stand idly by!"

In truth, Lin Yupeng knew best that with his current strength, he was no match for Hong Tianhao. A direct confrontation would be like throwing an egg against a rock. Hong Tianhao was the head of the largest gang in Tianhan City, with henchmen throughout the city. Recently, he had also allied with gangs in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Unless he relied on the power of the Tianqiong Group, he was no match for Hong Tianhao.

Fortunately, Zhang Yueran has also become enemies with Hong Tianhao. Although there is a hidden conflict between Lin Yupeng and Zhang Yueran, their common enemy is Hong Tianhao. At crucial moments, under the pressure from Chairman Jin, Zhang Yueran will stand with Lin Yupeng, so Lin Yupeng feels somewhat more confident.

Hong Tianhao pretended to be a big shot for a while before slowly presenting his congratulatory gift. His gift was in a small red box, wrapped with a red ribbon, and was placed in front of the table by one of his underlings.

Lin Yupeng wondered to himself, "What's in there? The box isn't very big, is it filled with gold and silver jewelry?"

His curiosity piqued, he didn't immediately find a seat to wait for the banquet, but instead watched coldly from the side. Lin Yupeng wanted to see what kind of congratulatory gift Hong Tianhao had given.

He saw the security guard, his face full of obsequious smiles, quickly unwrap the red ribbon around the box and open it. When his eyes fell on the gift inside, he couldn't help but tremble,

his eyes showing astonishment and fear, his expression freezing instantly!

Lin Yupeng, being closer, couldn't help but look into the box as well. When he clearly saw the congratulatory gift inside, his heart skipped a beat!

Inside the red box lay a gleaming gold revolver, resting on a soft white foam pad. The gun, presumably made of pure gold, was very heavy, deforming the foam pad. However, it wasn't a real gun that fired bullets; it was merely a replica. Beside the gun was a piece of paper, seemingly a certificate of authenticity for gold artifacts. Lin Yupeng was

secretly startled: "It really is made of pure gold! But to give a gun as a gift at this kind of occasion? What does it mean? Even if it's a fake, it still carries a threatening connotation, doesn't it? It seems Hong Tianhao wants to put pressure on Chen Wei and his sister; he's determined to take advantage of the Weili Hotel!"

Many guests present had their eyes fixed on the gold gun in the box, their faces showing even greater surprise, as if they had seen a plague.

Chen Wei and Chen Lihan, upon seeing the gold gun, also showed fear on their faces, forcing themselves to remain calm and greeting the guests as if nothing had happened, while their hearts pounded.

The security guard who accepted the gift was stunned for a moment, his expression changing, but he quickly regained his composure, grinned, and said to Hong Tianhao, "Sir, could you please tell me your name and the name of your gift?" He was extremely polite, almost kneeling before Hong Tianhao. Hong Tianhao's gift didn't have his name on it, so the security guard wanted to know it as well.

Hong Tianhao's eyes flashed sharply as he glanced at the security guard,

snorted coldly, and remained silent, his face showing disdain. Lu Zhanhai, standing nearby, glared at him with his large, round eyes and coldly retorted, "You don't even recognize Brother Hao? And our gift, that's a golden spear, don't you recognize it either? Are you blind?"

In Tianhan City, the name "Brother Hao" was practically a household name, known to everyone, young and old.

Moreover, his name had the power to scare children; if a child cried and made a fuss in the middle of the night, all the parents had to do was shout, "Stop crying, or Hong Tianhao will come!" and the child would immediately stop crying and go to sleep obediently.

"Hong Tianhao, Chairman of the Hong Group, presents a pure gold replica gun as a congratulatory gift!" The security guard, after a long pause, finally shouted in a trembling voice. The words had barely left his

lips when a sharp "slap" rang out, and a bright red bruise immediately appeared on his face. It turned out that as soon as the guard finished speaking, Lu Zhanhai, standing beside Hong Tianhao, glared fiercely and slapped the guard across the face. The guard, bewildered by the blow, stared at Lu Zhanhai in terror, his body trembling and unable to speak.

Lu Zhanhai's hand was as large as a fan; although the slap wasn't particularly forceful, it still left the guard's face swollen and red, his vision blurred, his head buzzing, and he felt dizzy.

A commotion erupted among the guests present, many casting astonished glances in their direction. Some guests' expressions changed drastically, already preparing to flee. Hong Tianhao was clearly up to no good; who knew what trouble he might cause today!

Chen Wei and Chen Lihan were inviting guests to their seats when they caught a glimpse of the earlier commotion. Their expressions changed simultaneously, and the worry that had been building up inside them intensified.

Lu Zhanhai glared at the security guard and shouted angrily, "Do you think you can just call our boss by his name like that? Did you even brush your teeth? You're asking for it!"

The security guard regained some composure, and a look of grievance immediately appeared on his face. He thought to himself, "This slap is truly unjust! I called him by his real name and got it wrong. Sigh, I should have just called him 'Brother Hao'!"

Actually, the security guard hadn't thought things through. If he had called him "Brother Hao," Lu Zhanhai would have slapped him again, saying, "Don't you know our Brother Hao's name? Today I'll teach you a lesson!" In short, he was destined to get slapped today. On the surface, Lu Zhanhai was hitting him, but in reality, he was hitting the Weili Hotel, giving them a warning.

Seeing this, Lin Yupeng's anger surged again. He abruptly turned around and strode towards Hong Tianhao's group, his bodyguard Xiang Kui following closely behind, exuding a murderous aura.

"What are you doing?" Hong Tianhao's thugs immediately formed two rows, blocking Lin Yupeng's path.

Lin Yupeng stopped abruptly, glaring at Hong Tianhao in the crowd, and shouted sharply, "Hong Tianhao, you're too arrogant! I've called you by your name too, Hong Tianhao! What are you going to do to me?"

" You fucking want a beating too?" Before Hong Tianhao could speak, Lu Zhanhai beside him

erupted

, his large, bell-shaped eyes blazing with murderous intent, his thick, tree-like arm raised as if to strike. Hong Tianhao's ten bodyguards also got into position; a fierce fight was about to break out!

Just at this critical moment, Chen Wei, the chairman of the Weili Hotel, suddenly appeared, standing between the two groups, and said with a smile, "Brothers, I'm sorry, let's talk this out! Hehe!"

Hong Tianhao then pushed aside the bodyguards in front of him, swaggered up to Chen Wei, and sized him up with a sharp look in his eagle eyes. He smiled and said, "Chairman Chen, I'm sorry! I didn't control my men well!" As he spoke, he didn't even glance at the furious Lin Yupeng, but turned to look coldly at Lu Zhanhai, and said in a hypocritical, stern voice, "What's wrong with you? Who said I can't call you by my real name? The name Hong Tianhao isn't my exclusive name! Go apologize to that brother right now!"

"Yes, yes, Brother Hao, I was wrong!" Lu Zhanhai, who had always been respectful and obsequious in front of Hong Tianhao, immediately bowed to Hong Tianhao upon hearing this. Then he turned to the security guard and apologized, "Brother, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have hit him!" As he spoke, he took out a hundred-yuan bill from his pocket, slapped it on the table, and smiled, "Brother, keep this money to buy some medicine! I really feel bad about what happened today. I'll treat you to drinks another day to make amends!"

The security guard was stunned. He didn't know whether to take the money on the table or not. This was what they called giving a sweet treat after a slap!

Lin Yupeng's anger rose again. He could tell that this was obviously a scheme devised by Hong Tianhao and Lu Zhanhai. One of them played the good cop, and the other the bad cop, using both soft and hard tactics to give the Weili Hotel a warning and establish "Brother Hao" as a powerful figure in the underworld so that they could easily extract profits from the Weili Hotel in the future.

This was one of Hong Tianhao's gang's usual tactics, and Lin Yupeng often used it too. How could he not see it? He never expected this trick to be used on his first love, Chen Lihan, today. How could this not ignite his fury?

Lin Yupeng's eyes blazed with fury, ready to unleash a torrent of fire and fight Hong Tianhao. He had long vowed not to let Chen Lihan suffer any injustice, and he was confident of victory. After all, his bodyguard, Xiang Kui, was a super assassin capable of taking on ten or even a hundred men single-handedly. Even if Lu Zhanhai had some skill, he probably wouldn't be a match for Xiang Kui.

But just as he was about to make his move, he suddenly felt a sweet, delicate fragrance waft into his nostrils, followed by a sweet, melodious voice like celestial music in his ear: "Brother Lin, please calm down, okay?"

Lin Yupeng turned to look and met Chen Lihan's bright, clear eyes, filled with pleading and worry. Hearing her soft, pleading voice, his anger instantly subsided by half.

Chen Lihan reached out her slender, fair, and smooth hands and grasped his arm, pulling him away as if afraid Lin Yupeng and Hong Tianhao's group would start a fight. She wasn't worried about the celebration being disrupted, but rather that Lin Yupeng would be outmatched and suffer a heavy loss, given Hong Tianhao's superior numbers.

Lin Yupeng's arm was held by Chen Lihan, and even through her clothes, he could clearly feel the soft, smooth texture of her hand, as if it were boneless. Waves of intoxicating pleasure surged through his arm, making his heart flutter. His

earlier impulsive desire was instantly suppressed by Chen Lihan's gentle touch. No wonder there's an old saying: "A virtuous wife at home keeps a man from doing anything reckless." Chen Lihan wasn't even Lin Yupeng's wife yet, but she already had this effect, demonstrating her importance in his heart—at least on par with Fang Na and Qin Xue.

Hong Tianhao didn't press the issue further. After all, he was there to attend the celebration ceremony and didn't want to leave the guests with an impression of being domineering and unreasonable. He wanted to give the Weili Hotel a hard time while maintaining his dignified, imposing, and righteous image, which is why he and Lu Zhanhai put on a show of deceit.

Chen Wei bowed and scraped to Hong Tianhao like a lapdog, his body seemingly bent over, doing everything he could to be obsequious. Lin Yupeng felt nauseous watching this: "No wonder the hotel security guards are all so spineless; they're just like their chairman!"

Originally, Chen Wei wanted to arrange for all the ribbon-cutting guests to sit at one table, with him and Chen Lihan accompanying them to the banquet. However, since Lin Yupeng and Hong Tianhao had almost come to blows, Chen Wei temporarily rearranged the seating. He had Chen Lihan sit at another table with Lin Yupeng, while he sat at the originally arranged table with Hong Tianhao, separating the two groups to avoid any further incidents.

Lin Yupeng was pulled by Chen Lihan to sit at a sandalwood table. Xiang Kui stood behind him like a javelin, his tiger-like eyes flashing with lightning-like light, like a bolt of lightning striking from the dark clouds. The invisible, chilling aura emanating from him sent a chill down one's spine.

The celebratory luncheon officially began. First, Chen Wei, the chairman of the Weili Hotel, took the stage to give a speech. He held a manuscript in his hand and read it in a very formal manner. The content was nothing more than some high-sounding words, but it was very well-written. Lin Yupeng recognized Chen Lihan's writing style and knew that the manuscript was written by her for her brother, Chen Wei.

After Chen Wei finished his speech, there was indeed a group of sycophants in the audience who led the applause, making the atmosphere very enthusiastic.

Next, it was Chen Lihan, the general manager of the Weili Hotel,'s turn to give a speech. She gracefully walked to the platform in front of the banquet hall, speaking extemporaneously without a prepared script. Chen Lihan's speaking skills were first-rate; she was adept at engaging the audience, far more lively than her brother's scripted delivery. Applause erupted continuously, instantly bringing the joyful and harmonious atmosphere of the banquet to a fever pitch. Many had long forgotten the unpleasant incident caused by Hong Tianhao earlier.

Lin Yupeng admired Chen Lihan's confident and poised demeanor on stage, captivated by her beautiful voice. After Chen Lihan finished speaking, he, like everyone else, applauded enthusiastically, a handsome smile spreading across his face.

After Chen Lihan finished her speech, the luncheon officially began with the eating and drinking, which was also the most important part. The beautifully dressed waitresses brought out a variety of delicacies, all signature dishes of the Weili Hotel, including fine dishes from the four major Chinese cuisines: Beijing, Shandong, Sichuan, and Cantonese. The flavors were authentic, the colors vibrant, and they whetted the appetite.

(Chapter 433 Black and White Double Act;

Chapter 434 Powder Keg)

Chen Lihan sat beside Lin Yupeng, eating and chatting with him, while Chen Wei went around toasting each table. Chen Lihan assumed he didn't drink, so Chen Wei didn't ask her to join him.

This gave Lin Yupeng a perfect opportunity to chat with Chen Lihan while they ate. Gazing at her exquisitely beautiful face, inhaling her sweet, orchid-like fragrance, and listening to her melodious voice, Lin Yupeng felt as if his soul was floating, as if he had ascended to a fairyland.

Facing Lin Yupeng's intensely affectionate gaze, Chen Lihan's face quickly flushed red, her expression revealing shyness and bashfulness. She lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eye, her heart pounding like a rabbit's.

While chatting with Chen Lihan, Lin Yupeng's eyes were constantly glancing at Hong Tianhao at the next table. He saw that this guy sat calmly and confidently, exuding an air of arrogance and haughtiness, and his elaborate manners were even more outrageous.

As soon as Hong Tianhao extended his right hand, crossing his index and middle fingers into a V-shape, a bodyguard on his left immediately offered him a cigar, while Lu Zhanhai, standing to his right, promptly pulled out an expensive lighter and lit it for him. Several other attentive bodyguards diligently poured him drinks and served him food, but Hong Tianhao didn't eat a single bite. Two lewd and arrogant glints shot from his eyes, which occasionally met Lin Yupeng's gaze a few times. The two seemed to treat each other's eyes as swords, constantly clashing and sparking invisible flames.

Chen Wei's rounds of toasting finally reached Hong Tianhao. He was holding a stemmed wine glass half-filled with baijiu (Chinese liquor), accompanied by a waitress carrying a tray with a bottle of fine Wuliangye liquor.

This bottle of wine was newly opened. Chen Wei had been toasting each table, only taking a small sip for each person, but with so many guests present, he had already finished a bottle.

Fortunately, Chen Wei had honed his drinking capacity through years of business dealings, and now he only felt slightly dizzy. He figured he could probably drink two more bottles without a problem. There weren't many people left to toast, so one more bottle would be enough.

"Brother Hao, thank you so much for your presence. Our humble establishment is honored. On behalf of all the staff at Weili Hotel, I offer you a toast, wishing you booming business and abundant wealth!" Chen Wei had picked up these phrases from somewhere, but they were surprisingly easy to recite.

Hong Tianhao didn't even stand up, nor did he move an inch. His hawk-like eyes shot out two sharp, knife-like glints as he coldly stared at Chen Wei. At the same time, he glanced at Lin Yupeng and Chen Lihan out of the corner of his eye, and said with a forced smile, "Chairman Chen, why doesn't your sister, General Manager Chen, come and toast me?"

He spoke loudly, and Chen Lihan and Lin Yupeng at the next table stopped in their tracks. They saw a look of fear appear on Chen Lihan's pretty face, and the faint worry in her beautiful eyes rose again. A layer of sorrow appeared on her delicate eyebrows.

Lin Yupeng gritted his teeth, thinking fiercely, "Damn it, Hong Tianhao is causing trouble again! He's already been arrogant enough today!"

Thinking this, he pressed his hands on the table, about to stand up and confront Hong Tianhao. Chen Lihan, noticing this, quickly placed her slender hand on Lin Yupeng's, her beautiful eyes fixed on him with pleading, implying that he should calm down and let his brother, Chen Wei, deal with Hong Tianhao.

This time, Lin Yupeng directly touched Chen Lihan's flawless hand, the one he so longed for, which calmed his agitated anger. He secretly suppressed his anger and gave Chen Lihan a gentle look, assuring her that he wouldn't act rashly for the time being.

Upon hearing Hong Tianhao's words, Chen Wei's heart skipped a beat, but he still smiled and said, "Brother Hao, I'm sorry, my sister doesn't drink. Please forgive her!" He then raised his glass and smiled, "Brother Hao, I'll drink

this first as a sign of respect!" Chen Wei tilted his head back and downed the glass, giving Hong Tianhao ample face. He only took a small sip with the other guests, but he drank almost half a glass with Hong Tianhao!

However, Hong Tianhao didn't appreciate it at all. Although his men had already filled his glass, he didn't even glance at it. His hawk-like eyes remained fixed on Chen Wei as he coldly sneered, "Chairman Chen, I still hope you'll toast me too. It's alright if you don't drink; even just a sip is a token of your appreciation!"

As he spoke, he looked around and laughed heartily, "Don't you all agree?"

The bodyguards around Hong Tianhao, including Lu Zhanhai, nodded repeatedly, and some even chimed in, "Yes, yes! Our Brother Hao has come to congratulate us in person. If your President Chen doesn't come to offer a toast, that would be too disrespectful!"

Chen Wei wanted to explain and shield his sister from this, because he knew that Chen Lihan had a "powder keg" named Lin Yupeng by her side. If Hong Tianhao came to cause trouble for her, Lin Yupeng would definitely lash out. They had almost come to blows just now, and he was currently holding back his anger, ready to explode at any moment.

However, Hong Tianhao didn't give him a chance to speak. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and he abruptly stood up, holding a wine glass full of wine. He strode over to Chen Lihan and Lin Yupeng, not even glancing at Lin Yupeng. Facing Chen Lihan, he said with a wicked smile, "President Chen, since you won't do me the honor of offering a toast, I won't make things difficult for you. I'll offer you a toast myself. You can't refuse me this time, can you?"

Chen Lihan smiled sweetly, stood up gracefully, and said calmly, "Chairman Hong, I'm sorry, I really can't drink. How about I use water instead?" She didn't address Hong Tianhao as "Brother Hao," but directly addressed him by his title, appearing neither servile nor arrogant, unlike her brother Chen Wei who always called him "Brother Hao," which was obsequious and unbecoming of his status.

Chen Lihan prefers mineral water, so she often uses it instead of alcohol when attending banquets to socialize with guests. No one has ever complained about it; after all, she has a lot of personal charm.

However, Hong Tianhao is deliberately trying to cause trouble today, and he also has a secret he doesn't want to reveal! He's heard that Lin Yupeng and Chen Lihan have a close relationship; they're old classmates, and Lin Yupeng has been pursuing Chen Lihan. Therefore, Hong Tianhao wants to test how much Chen Lihan means to Lin Yupeng so he can formulate appropriate strategies for the future.

Chapter 434 Powder Keg

Chapter 435 Another

Tide Hong Tianhao's face darkened with anger. He arrogantly shook his head and sneered, "President Chen, water is water, and wine is wine. How can you substitute water for wine? It doesn't make sense! I think you should just take a sip; that would be giving me face!"

Chen Lihan hesitated, not yet making a final decision, when Lu Zhanhai, standing beside Hong Tianhao, impatiently scolded, "President Chen, you're putting on airs! Our Brother Hao rarely offers toasts to others. Don't be ungrateful!"

Hong Tianhao glared at Lu Zhanhai for his rudeness, which immediately silenced Lu Zhanhai. Their charade wasn't over yet!

Chen Lihan never touched a drop of alcohol, and even the smell of it made her uncomfortable. But given the current situation, it seemed she had no choice but to drink. She noticed her brother, Chen Wei, repeatedly gesturing to her, indicating that she should just have a small sip to get through the day.

So she gently bit her rosy lips, about to nod and agree to Hong Tianhao's offer to have a small sip, but her clear, lake-like eyes revealed a look of grievance and sorrow, even welling up with tears!

It was precisely this faint hint of pain in Chen Lihan's eyes that pierced the softest corner of Lin Yupeng's heart, stirring a tenderness that made him want to protect her for life, while simultaneously igniting a spark of anger—anger directed at Hong Tianhao!

Lin Yupeng was instantly enraged, his eyes flashing with a cold, sharp light. He slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly. He had been holding back for a long time, and now he was finally about to explode, because he didn't want Chen Lihan to suffer any injustice, not even the slightest bit.

"Hong Tianhao! President Chen really can't drink, please don't make things difficult for her! I can drink for her, what do you say?" Lin Yupeng stared intently at Hong Tianhao and sneered.

"Oh? Who are you to her? You can drink for her? I'm afraid you're not worthy!" Hong Tianhao smiled coldly, staring at Lin Yupeng with contempt and disdain.

"I'm her... friend, is it wrong for me to drink a glass for her?" Lin Yupeng stared intently at Hong Tianhao and said coldly. Actually, he almost said he was Chen Lihan's "boyfriend," but he changed his words at the last minute, afraid that Chen Lihan would be embarrassed, after all, they weren't actually boyfriend and girlfriend in the true sense.

"Oh? Boyfriend?" Hong Tianhao's eyes gleamed, and he spoke for Lin Yupeng.

Lin Yupeng noticed Chen Lihan's pretty face flush red, as beautiful as the sunset, but her eyes held a pleading look as she looked at him. He immediately understood that Chen Lihan didn't accept the title yet, and told him not to acknowledge it either.

He sighed inwardly, but his expression remained calm. He stared at Hong Tianhao with disdain and sneered, "We're good friends! Hong Tianhao, what exactly do you want today? Speak plainly!"

Hong Tianhao laughed, his hawk-like eyes flashing with a wicked light as he stared intently at Lin Yupeng. He said coldly, "Since you're President Chen's good friend, you can drink on her behalf. However, according to the rules, drinking on behalf of someone else requires a higher alcohol tolerance. One cup isn't enough; you have to drink at least a bottle!"

Lin Yupeng chuckled inwardly, "One bottle? I'm not afraid of ten!" He sneered, "Fine, one bottle is fine. I'll drink to the end!"

A hint of worry flickered in Chen Lihan's beautiful eyes. Although she knew Lin Yupeng had a high alcohol tolerance, drinking a whole bottle in one go was still very harmful to his health. She was now unconsciously starting to worry about him.

Hong Tianhao was surprised by Lin Yupeng's quick answer; he had no idea that Lin Yupeng's alcohol tolerance was so astonishing. His gaze swept over the 500ml bottle of Wuliangye liquor on the tray carried by the waitress beside Chen Wei. It was about half a pound, and a heavy drinker could probably down it in one gulp.

However, Hong Tianhao was deliberately trying to make things difficult for Lin Yupeng, even humiliating him. Therefore, he glanced at Lu Zhanhai beside him and said coldly, "Go get Mr. Lin a new bottle. The one on the tray is too small; I'm afraid Mr. Lin won't have enough. Hehe!"

Lu Zhanhai understood immediately, a wicked smile spreading across his fleshy face. He turned and walked over to the waitress, whispering a few words in her ear. His large, bright eyes shone with an irresistible aura of intimidation. The waitress's pretty face immediately showed surprise, and she turned to Chairman Chen Wei beside her, whispering a few words for instructions.

Chen Wei, also intimidated by Lu Zhanhai's tyranny, wore a bitter expression, but still had the waitress do as Lu Zhanhai instructed.

Lin Yupeng had excellent hearing. Although Lu Zhanhai had spoken in a low voice, he still picked up on something, as if Lu was talking about exchanging some kind of liquor. He couldn't help but sneer inwardly, "Don't even mention exchanging liquor, I could drink a whole bottle of alcohol."

A short while later, the waitress gracefully returned, carrying a bottle of Wuliangye on her tray. This bottle was more than three times larger than the previous one; it was a 52-proof Wuliangye called "Success Upon Arrival," 1500 ml. The density of the liquor was similar to water, so its actual weight was equivalent to three jin (approximately 1.5 kg).

Who could drink three jin of high-proof liquor in one go? Most people couldn't do that. Even if they managed to, they would be completely drunk, suffer from alcohol poisoning, or even die from it!

If someone could drink three jin of liquor in one go without changing their expression, they were practically a superhuman! And Lin Yupeng was precisely that superhuman!

However, Hong Tianhao was unaware of Lin Yupeng's extraordinary ability. He deliberately had someone switch to a larger bottle of baijiu, intending to embarrass Lin Yupeng. If Lin Yupeng dared to challenge him and drink it all, even if he didn't die from drunkenness, he would at least skin him alive.

Hong Tianhao's lewd gaze fell on the expensive bottle of Wuliangye, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He turned to Lin Yupeng and sneered, "President Lin, if you want to drink for President Chen, then drink this whole bottle! You already promised me, I don't think you'll go back on your word, will you?" His words were full of sarcasm and provocation, deliberately designed to provoke Lin Yupeng's competitive spirit.

In fact, Lin Yupeng didn't need any provocation. He was confident he could easily finish the bottle. Since his body was enhanced, drinking alcohol was like drinking water for him—he drank fast and absorbed it quickly, at the speed of light and the capacity of the ocean.

When Chen Lihan, standing next to Lin Yupeng, saw that large bottle of strong liquor, easily three jin (approximately 1.5 kg), a look of fear immediately appeared on her beautiful face. Although she knew he had a high alcohol tolerance, drinking that much at once was still quite frightening!

Chapter 435 Another Turbulence;

Chapter 436 A Fierce Drinking Battle.

Chen Lihan quietly tugged at his sleeve, signaling him not to fall for Hong Tianhao's trick. Then she turned to face Hong Tianhao and said calmly, "Chairman Hong, I promise you I'll only have a small sip, so please don't let President Lin drink the whole bottle!"

Hong Tianhao's eyes flashed with a cold, electric light, and his face immediately darkened. He waved his hand abruptly and sneered at Chen Lihan, "President Chen, he's the one who wanted to drink it for you. We've already agreed, so you can't go back on your word! If he's your boyfriend..." " If it were just a friend, I could consider letting him drink only a small bottle, but he said you're just good friends, so I have no choice but to let him drink the whole bottle!"

Lin Yupeng laughed and chimed in, "That's right! I, Lin Yupeng, always keep my word! I'm definitely drinking this today, and nobody can stop me!"

Chen Lihan's pretty face showed even more worry after hearing Hong Tianhao's words, and a sense of regret rose in her heart. If she had admitted that Lin Yupeng was her boyfriend just now, he wouldn't have to drink so much and harm his health! The more she thought about it, the more regretful she felt, and she secretly blamed herself, "Why am I so concerned about saving face? If anything happens to Lin Yupeng today, I will never be able to forgive myself for the rest of my life!"

However, given the current situation, Lin Yupeng had no choice but to drink, and he even seemed quite willing to drink, which greatly surprised Chen Lihan.

Lin Yupeng reached out and picked up the three-jin bottle of Wuliangye. Without using any tools, he simply twisted the cap off with his hand, and a rich and mellow aroma of liquor wafted out, refreshing the senses.

However, Lin Yupeng didn't immediately drink the bottle of liquor. Instead, he turned around, picked up a 500ml bottle of baijiu from the table next to him, and handed it to Hong Tianhao, saying provocatively, "Mr. Hong, since you're the one who offered the toast, and I'm already drinking from the bottle, you're not going to use a glass, are you? If you do, I'll feel like I'm outdone, hehe!"

Lin Yupeng used a reverse psychology tactic, first putting Hong Tianhao in his place with his words. Hong Tianhao smiled coldly, picked up the 500ml bottle of baijiu without hesitation, and said with a contemptuous smile, "Mr. Lin, well said! If you're using a bottle, of course I have to join you! Come on, let's drink!" In his heart, he thought, "I'll drink a 500ml, you drink three 500ml, I don't believe I can pass out before you!"

As soon as Hong Tianhao finished speaking, he saw Lin Yupeng laugh heartily, grab the bottle with one hand, tilt his head back, and start gulping down the liquor. His clear and sharp eyes were fixed on Hong Tianhao, filled with provocation and sarcasm.

Hong Tianhao, not to be outdone, opened his bottle and began drinking as well. The surrounding guests watched these two important figures chugging down baijiu with expressions of astonishment and admiration. They all knew that Lin Yupeng and Hong Tianhao had been secretly competing since their first meeting, and now they were at the table, locked in a

drinking contest. Chen Lihan's beautiful face had changed from worry to deep fear. She bit her soft, luscious lips and secretly tugged at Lin Yupeng's sleeve, urging him to stop and drink less. But Lin Yupeng seemed oblivious. The inverted bottle continued to bubble, and in a flash, he had downed the entire three-jin (1.5 kg) bottle of Wuliangye.

Unlike some who, while pretending to be bold, chug from the bottle, Lin Yupeng was cunning. He deliberately let the liquor trickle down his throat, often only managing to drink half a bottle, the rest going down his chin and chest.

Lin Yupeng wasn't that kind of person. He drank it all cleanly and efficiently, not a drop left, not even spilling from his mouth. He was incredibly fast, finishing the three jin of liquor in one go, even faster than Hong Tianhao's one jin! After finishing, he even smiled and stared at Hong Tianhao as he continued drinking, his face filled with disdain and contempt. He sneered, "Mr. Hong, isn't that a bit slow?"

Hong Tianhao glanced at Lin Yupeng while drinking, and seeing that he was drinking faster than him, he was secretly astonished: "Is he drinking water? How can he be so fast?" Looking more closely at Lin Yupeng, he saw that after downing three jin of liquor, his expression remained unchanged, his speech was still strong and clear, showing no signs of drunkenness. His suspicions deepened.

After finishing the bottle of liquor, Hong Tianhao felt dizzy. He wasn't a small drinker, but he was no match for Lin Yupeng. He barely managed to stay upright, his face flushed with a drunken red. He cursed inwardly, "Didn't I just ask for trouble? I didn't expect Lin Yupeng to not pass out after drinking it all. Does he really have that much alcohol tolerance? Impossible!"

Thinking this, he coldly glanced at Lu Zhanhai beside him. Lu Zhanhai understood immediately. He walked over to Lin Yupeng, looked him up and down, then picked up the empty bottle, sniffed it like a police dog, fiddled with it a few times, and then returned to Hong Tianhao, shaking his head helplessly.

Hong Tianhao immediately understood. Lu Zhanhai had checked everything but found nothing suspicious. It seemed Lin Yupeng had really drunk those three jin of liquor and hadn't reacted at all—it was truly bizarre!

After drinking three jin of baijiu (a type of Chinese liquor), it would be impossible for Lin Yupeng to have no reaction at all. He felt a burning sensation in his stomach and a slight dizziness, but these were all within his body's tolerance. He managed to suppress them with willpower and even gave Hong Tianhao a cold smile, his face full of disdain.

Hong Tianhao snorted coldly, his face flushed with anger. He abruptly turned and walked towards his seat. Because he had just drunk a jin of baijiu, his legs were a little weak, and he walked as if he were walking on cotton. Several bodyguards beside him tried to help him, but he shoved them aside with a glare.

Chen Lihan saw that Lin Yupeng had drunk so much yet remained unfazed and chatted and laughed. Her heart finally settled down, and gratitude and relief appeared on her pretty face. Her clear, autumn-water-like eyes revealed a glint of surprise. She hadn't expected Lin Yupeng to have such a high alcohol tolerance.

Her hand remained gently tugged at Lin Yupeng's collar, as if afraid he might suddenly become intoxicated and faint. Lin Yupeng, not wanting to miss such an opportunity for intimacy, seized Chen Lihan's delicate, fair hand and pulled her back to their original seats.

The banquet continued. After the incident, Chen Wei continued toasting the remaining guests, while Chen Lihan ate with Lin Yupeng.

"Brother Lin, how are you feeling now? Is anything bothering you?" Chen Lihan asked Lin Yupeng with concern as soon as she sat down.

"I'm fine! This little bit of alcohol won't hurt me, Lihan, don't worry!" Lin Yupeng laughed heartily, gazing tenderly at Chen Lihan, his expression calm and composed, yet his hand never released Chen Lihan's slender, beautiful hand.

Chapter 436 A Fierce Drinking Battle

Chapter 437 Lingering Anger

Lin Yupeng felt the soft, smooth texture of her jade-like hand, waves of intoxicating current spreading from it. He couldn't help but admire her flawless hand; her ten fingers were delicate and translucent, like ivory carved from white jade, even her tiny fingernails were exquisitely beautiful.

A gentle wave of tenderness surged in Lin Yupeng's heart; he only wished time could stop, how wonderful it would be to hold her hand forever! Chen Lihan, driven by girlish shyness, tried to pull her hand away, but to no avail; Lin Yupeng only gripped it tighter.

Remembering how she had made Lin Yupeng drink so much because of her pride, she felt a surge of guilt and remorse. She then let him hold her hand as he pleased, a small reward for his earlier "heroic act."

Some sharp-eyed guests noticed Chen Lihan and Lin Yupeng holding hands and couldn't help but chuckle and whisper among themselves. But Chen Lihan no longer cared about saving face. As long as she was willing, why should she care about other people's opinions?

"Face is given by others, but only dignity is lost by oneself." Chen Lihan secretly decided to let go of her mental burdens and give Lin Yupeng a fair chance to pursue her. She'd see how he seized the opportunity.

"Brother Lin, eat more! It'll help you calm down!" Chen Lihan's hand was tightly held by Lin Yupeng, while she kept putting food on his plate with the other, her concern overflowing. She was still worried; although Lin Yupeng seemed fine on the surface, he might be putting on a brave face, and his body was already exhausted.

"Thank you! You eat more too!" Lin Yupeng ate the food she put on his plate and also put food on her plate, their intimate manner making them look like a young couple to outsiders.

While eating, Lin Yupeng's eyes were still glancing at Hong Tianhao. He saw that Hong Tianhao's face showed signs of drunkenness, but he was still trying to maintain his composure, his airs still high and mighty, and he kept casting hateful and hostile glances at Lin Yupeng.

Lin Yupeng's eyes gleamed, and he sneered inwardly, "Hong Tianhao, once I gain power, the first person I'll deal with is you! You'll get what's coming to you sooner or later. We'll see!"

In Tianhan City, there were two figures who were the most arrogant and difficult to mess with: Tan Shiquan, the propaganda minister of the municipal party committee, and Hong Tianhao, the underworld figure. Now that the once-arrogant Tan Shiquan had been thoroughly taught a lesson by Lin Yupeng, Hong Tianhao would be his next target.

After the luncheon, the celebratory performance was held in the open space outside the hotel. A makeshift stage had been set up, and a group of performers from the city's dance troupe and song and dance troupe were invited to perform. Their singing and dancing carried far, seemingly audible throughout Xingfa Street. Passersby would stop to watch, which was also a powerful form of publicity.

Hong Tianhao didn't go to the celebration performance. After the luncheon, he and his group found Chen Wei, seemed to say something, and were then led away by a waitress, seemingly upstairs.

Lin Yupeng was secretly surprised. Where did Hong Tianhao go? Did he go to a guest room? He knew that the Weili Hotel had catering services on the first, second, and third floors, and guest rooms on the fourth and fifth floors. Hong Tianhao had already eaten, so he probably went to a guest room to rest, since he had drunk quite a bit earlier.

Chen Wei and Chen Lihan accompanied Lin Yupeng to the performance, one on each side. Now he had become the most important person among the guests, and Lin Yupeng finally had a chance to ask Chen Wei a few questions to indirectly find out Hong Tianhao's intentions.

"Why did you invite Hong Tianhao? Don't you know this guy is involved in the underworld?" Lin Yupeng asked Chen Wei in a low voice.

Chen Wei's face contorted in bitterness, as if he'd just eaten a bitter melon. He sighed, "How can I manage without him? My hotel hasn't even opened yet, and Hong Tianhao has already sent his men to find me, all aggressive and demanding, saying that their boss has to be there for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the opening, or else business will be ruined!"

Lin Yupeng's heart skipped a beat. He stared at Chen Wei and sneered, "When you chose this location, didn't you know it was Hong Tianhao's territory? Why didn't you avoid it?"

A strange glint flashed in Chen Wei's eyes. He smiled bitterly, resigned to his fate. He said, "This place was transferred to me by a friend. My friend is going to develop his business abroad, and the transfer fee for this hotel was extremely cheap. Moreover, the decoration is very luxurious, no less than the original Xinhang Hotel, so I took it over..." He paused, leaned closer to Lin Yupeng, and lowered his voice even further, saying, "Mr. Lin, as long as I am still developing my business in Tianhan City, I will inevitably have to deal with Hong Tianhao. Now his influence is no longer limited to these few streets. In just the past month or two, he has developed rapidly and has already monopolized the catering and entertainment industry in Tianhan City." Most of the businesses in Tianhan City are under the protection of the Tianqiong Group, but because the Tianqiong Group's main focus is not on the catering and entertainment industry, it only protects a few venues that it has completely acquired. In this sector, it is difficult to compete with Hong Tianhao, and is in a defensive position. In this sense, Hong Tianhao effectively monopolizes the catering and entertainment industry in Tianhan City. Newly opened restaurants must offer him gifts, and larger restaurants must invite him to their celebrations. Sometimes, Hong Tianhao will send a representative from one of his subordinates. "Yes, but no matter who comes, there's an appearance fee. Big hotels pay more, small hotels pay less, it all depends on the model and the business. What's even more infuriating is that Hong Tianhao has a price list, with a systematic and strict set of rules for how much to charge for how many square meters of hotel space. He's already established his underworld rules."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yupeng felt indignant, his anger flaring up again. He cursed inwardly, "Hong Tianhao, you're even more arrogant than I imagined! Do you think you're a celebrity, charging appearance fees? It's utterly despicable!"

"So, how much did you pay him for attending today's celebration ceremony?" Lin Yupeng asked Chen Wei anxiously, his eyes flashing with cold light.

Upon hearing this, Chen Wei gritted his teeth, his face contorted with pain more intense than if his own flesh had been ripped out. Trembling, he extended his five fingers and waved them. Lin Yupeng stared at his hand and tentatively asked, "Fifty thousand?"

Chen Wei shook his head with a bitter smile, leaned close to Lin Yupeng's ear, and whispered, "Five hundred thousand!"

Chen Lihan, standing nearby, also showed grief and grievance on her pretty face. These expressions pierced Lin Yupeng's heart like steel needles. A surge of invisible rage flashed in his eyes, and he thought bitterly, "You, Hong Tianhao! You've even taken bribes from my Lihan! How can I swallow this?"

(Chapter 437 Unquenchable Anger; Chapter

438 Erotic Words and Lascivious Tales)

"It's alright, don't be sad. I'll get this money back for you sooner or later!" Lin Yupeng said through gritted teeth.

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Lihan's pretty face showed fear and worry. She pleaded anxiously, "Brother Lin, please don't! Just consider it paying for some peace and quiet. You can't do anything foolish!"

Her words only fueled Lin Yupeng's desire to seek justice for her. However, he remained calm on the surface, gently comforting her, "Hehe, I was just saying. Don't worry, I won't do anything risky. I'll protect myself..." He paused, then his eyes suddenly filled with sincerity. He leaned close to Chen Lihan's ear and whispered softly, "Because I'm going to marry you someday. I won't do anything foolish for you!"

"Ah...you..." Chen Lihan never expected him to say something so unexpected. Her pretty face flushed crimson, even her ears and neck turning a captivating blush. She gave him a shy glare, pouted her cherry lips, and her heart pounded like a deer's. Unable to utter a word, she lowered her head bashfully.

Gazing at Chen Lihan's infinitely charming and adorable face, Lin Yupeng had no regrets about what he had just said. He would say it often in the future. He found her shyness absolutely breathtaking, as if it could steal one's soul.

Chen Wei, with his sharp ears, had overheard bits and pieces of Lin Yupeng's deliberately lowered voice. A look of joy appeared on his face. He no longer objected to Lin Yupeng pursuing his sister Chen Lihan; in fact, he had already sided with Lin Yupeng.

Seeing Chen Wei's smug expression, Lin Yupeng felt a surge of anger. There were still some questions he hadn't gotten cleared up! So he turned to Chen Wei and said, "Chairman Chen, I don't understand why you want to leave Tianqiong Group?"

Chen Wei's expression darkened, and he sighed, "Alas, originally, I should have left after my Xinhang Hotel was acquired, but after working there for so many years, I was really reluctant to leave. Your General Manager Zhang didn't say I had to leave immediately, so my sister and I decided to stay for a while longer. But a few days ago, Zhang Yueran finally gave me a subtle dismissal, appointing a new chairman, who was concurrently held by Tong Yu, the vice president of Tianqiong Group. The reason given was that since I no longer had any shares, it wouldn't be legally justifiable for me to remain chairman. He made me the general manager, demoted my sister to executive vice general manager, and appointed a guy named Huo Baichang as the finance and administration director. In reality, Tong Yu and Huo Baichang held all the power. My sister and I couldn't stand being caught in the middle, so we chose to resign and go it alone."

Lin Yupeng nodded upon hearing this. He knew that Zhang Yueran would eventually squeeze out Chen Wei and his sister. He was determined to keep the newly opened Meihua Hotel firmly in his own hands. Chen Wei and Chen Lihan should have left long ago, but why had Chen Wei persisted for over a month? He probably wouldn't reveal the secret behind it all.

"Where did Hong Tianhao's group go?" Lin Yupeng finally asked Chen Wei.

"They went to their rooms to rest!" Chen Wei replied casually.

The performance on stage continued, the same unchanging song and dance. The actresses wore brightly colored, revealing outfits, their snow-white skin radiant under the blazing sunlight, dazzling the eyes and attracting the lustful gazes of many men.

Especially striking was a beautiful young woman, around sixteen or seventeen years old, playing the pipa and singing ancient melodies. She wore a red shimmering cheongsam, the slits of her thighs almost reaching her groin. As she moved, the alluring glimpses of her private parts were revealed, attracting many lecherous men to the sides to admire her snow-white thighs.

Lin Yupeng listened more closely to her song and frowned, thinking to himself, "Isn't this just ancient erotic music? How did it end up in the celebration ceremony? It certainly wasn't arranged by Chen Lihan!" He turned to look at Chen Wei, who was listening intently, a smug smile playing on his lips. The audience below the stage cheered loudly, their voices tinged with lewdness.

Looking at Chen Lihan beside him, she was already both angry and ashamed, her face flushed, her jade hands clenched tightly, glaring at her brother Chen Wei with reproach in her eyes, as if saying, "How could you arrange for such a erotic song to be sung on stage?"

Let's listen to a few lines from what the girl sang: "Hand in hand we entered the boudoir, removed our makeup, and went to the jade bed… What a charming young man, his kisses made my breasts tingle and my heart flutter. I hardened my heart, willing to give my body to my lover. I endured the pain, but couldn't resist the tingling… My spirit was touched, and my whole body felt good; just like: butterflies fluttering among flowers, mandarin ducks playing in the water, red waves churning within the brocade quilt…"

Anyone with a little literary knowledge could understand… The song was about sexual matters between men and women. Lin Yupeng couldn't help but scrutinize the young girl. Her skin was delicate and smooth, as clear as jade, and her beautiful eyes were full of affection. Her voice was melodious and sweet, with a lingering melody, like a sob or a lament. Her delicate face still had a childlike innocence. Lin Yupeng couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "She's probably not even eighteen yet. She should be in school, but she makes a living by singing these lewd songs. Society is truly a big dye vat! Underage girls are all being tainted!"

After the young girl finished singing, a group of actresses, dressed in thin, revealing gauze dresses, performed a lively dance. Their jade legs flew, like swarms of bees and butterflies, bringing the celebration to its climax.

Lin Yupeng had no interest in appreciating the song and dance. His eyes were fixed on the stage, but his mind was calculating how to deal with Hong Tianhao. He had only comforted Chen Lihan earlier; would he really give him that 500,000 yuan for nothing? Even if Chen Lihan didn't become Lin Yupeng's girlfriend, Lin Yupeng wouldn't let his friend suffer such a huge loss just because of their old classmate and good friend relationship. He secretly vowed in his heart, "Hong Tianhao, I'll make you spit out that money you ate, and I'll make you spit it out double!"

But he had too many trivial matters in front of him, and it was really difficult to come up with a concrete plan to deal with Hong Tianhao, especially since he wasn't strong enough to confront Hong Tianhao right now. Fortunately, he still had Pan Lu as a card he could play at a crucial moment.

The celebration performance continued until after 5 pm, followed by the celebration banquet, which officially started at 5:30 pm. Lin Yupeng remembered that he had to watch Zhu Liyan's gymnastics competition at 7 pm, so halfway through the banquet, he excused himself to Chen Wei and Chen Lihan.

Before leaving, Lin Yupeng specifically told Chen Lihan to call him if she needed any help. He was always worried about Hong Tianhao, this ticking time bomb, not knowing when he would explode.

Chapter 438 Erotic Words and Lascivious Tunes

Chapter 439 The Power of Love

Although Chen Lihan readily agreed, Lin Yupeng knew she was always strong-willed; she wouldn't ask him for help unless it was a truly intractable problem.

Lin Yupeng and his bodyguard Xiang Kui left the Weili Hotel and drove straight to the Provincial Gymnastics Training Center, the venue for today's provincial gymnastics selection competition.

When the car arrived at the gymnastics center entrance, since he only had one ticket, he asked Xiang Kui to wait in the car while he got out and went inside with the ticket. At the entrance, the security guards had good memories and recognized Lin Yupeng. One of them, while checking the ticket, smiled and said, "Buddy, you're here to watch Zhu Liyan's competition, right?"

Lin Yupeng smiled and nodded. After the security guard finished showing the ticket, he stepped inside and found his seat according to the ticket—the middle seat in the third row, a relatively good spot. With Lin Yupeng's extraordinary eyesight, he could even clearly see if any of the athletes had thugs on their faces.

He glanced around but didn't see Zhu Liyan. The male gymnasts were currently competing on the horizontal bar. It turned out that the men's gymnastics competition ran from 3 PM to 7 PM, with the women's events starting at 7 PM.

There were four women's gymnastics events: vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise.

Lin Yupeng sat patiently, waiting for Zhu Liyan to appear. Just after 7 PM, the women's events officially began. This time, to select promising athletes for the national team, all events were individual competitions; there were no team events.

The first event was the women's vault. The first to appear was a young athlete of only fifteen years old, with delicate features and a clear future beauty. She took a quick run-up, brought her legs together, and leaped, completing a series of graceful movements in the air before landing. Her body wobbled slightly upon landing, indicating a slight instability, which would likely result in a deduction of points, but overall, her performance was quite good.

Applause rang out, and Lin Yupeng clapped a few times as well. The girl immediately flashed a sweet and charming smile.

The second to perform was Zhu Liyan. She wore a tight-fitting red competition outfit, revealing her long, slender, and supple legs covered by sheer crystal stockings, giving her a dynamic and incredibly flexible look.

When Zhu Liyan's bright, clear, and expressive eyes saw Lin Yupeng sitting in the third row, her expressive eyes lit up with joy, and a charming smile appeared on her pretty face. Lin Yupeng's eyes were filled with encouragement and expectation, and he secretly gave her a victory sign, cheering her on.

Deeply encouraged, Zhu Liyan's fair and delicate face shone with a radiant and charming smile. Her movements became even more skillful, and her landings were as steady as a mountain, immediately winning a standing ovation and enthusiastic applause.

Lin Yupeng, of course, also generously applauded her. The judges nodded frequently, indicating that her score would definitely be higher than the first contestant's.

Zhu Liyan was quite satisfied with her performance. After leaving the arena, she turned back to Lin Yupeng with a charming smile, her beautiful, bright eyes filled with a hint of ambiguity. That shy glance was full of tenderness and stirred endless fantasies.

No wonder some say, "The power of love is truly great."

Zhu Liyan continued preparing for the next event. She would participate in all four women's events tonight, striving to win an individual championship so she could directly enter the national team training camp.

After the first vault event, the judges checked the scores and announced the rankings. Zhu Liyan won the vault individual championship, and with this result alone, she could enter the national team training camp.

Lin Yupeng felt much relieved and relieved. Zhu Liyan's long-cherished wish had finally been fulfilled, which was also the unfulfilled wish of his late teacher. He would definitely visit his grave sometime to tell him this good news.

The competition continued, but Lin Yupeng wasn't interested in the other athletes' performances; he was only concerned with Zhu Liyan's. Zhu Liyan performed well in the uneven bars and balance beam events, especially the balance beam, where she won another gold medal. She was undoubtedly a highlight of the evening's women's competition, and the national team coaches responsible for selecting promising athletes nodded frequently, their faces showing approval.

The last event was floor exercise, a shared event for both men and women. The competition area was 12 square meters, with plenty of sponge underneath, providing good elasticity and cushioning to facilitate athletes' execution of various high-difficulty movements.

Athletes participating in the floor exercise were required to perform somersaults and acrobatic moves to music without accompaniment, typically within 70 to 90 seconds, with the movements and music perfectly coordinated.

Zhu Liyan was the fifth to perform, tasked with completing a high-difficulty routine. The music of Bandari's "Childhood," her chosen background music, filled the arena. The gentle, melodious strains, pure and ethereal, captivated the audience as they watched Zhu Liyan's beautiful movements.

Her routine was generally well-executed, but with a few minor flaws. Mistakes are inevitable in gymnastics competitions. As Zhu Liyan completed a move—a straight-body backflip with a 1440-degree twist—she twisted her ankle the moment her foot touched the ground. Her body swayed, and Lin Yupeng noticed a faint look of pain appear on her delicate face, as if she had sustained a minor injury. Despite this, she maintained a sweet smile, gritting her teeth and persevering to finish the routine, a few beads of sweat glistening on her forehead.

Lin Yupeng felt a sudden pang of pain in his heart. As the saying goes, concern breeds confusion, and a wave of worry

washed over him: "Is Liyan really injured?" Because of Zhu Liyan's small mistake earlier, her floor exercise score was slightly affected, resulting in only a fourth-place finish. However, her mission for the day was accomplished; she won two individual events, securing her a place on the national team.

After finishing her floor exercise, Zhu Liyan quietly walked towards Lin Yupeng. He noticed a slight limp as she walked and immediately assumed the small mistake had injured her ankle. When Zhu Liyan reached him, he smiled broadly, his face full of satisfaction and praise: "Your performance today was absolutely perfect! I was mesmerized! Hehe, two individual events! Amazing!"

Zhu Liyan's beautiful eyes sparkled, and she smiled sweetly: "Thank you, Brother Lin. Without your encouragement, I wouldn't have achieved such great results!" Seeing an empty seat next to Lin Yupeng, she leaned down and sat down.

Chapter 439 The Power of Love

Chapter 440 Embracing Both of Her

Lin Yupeng gazed tenderly at her, gently taking her soft, smooth hand in his. His eyes, however, fell on her left ankle, which appeared to be her hand, and seeing the redness and swelling, he asked with concern, "How's your injury? Does it hurt a lot?"

Zhu Liyan gently bit her lip, nodded, then immediately shook her head, looking incredibly cute. She giggled, "It's nothing, injuries from gymnastics are normal. I'll get the team doctor to treat it in a bit, and it'll be fine in a couple of days!"

Lin Yupeng smiled slightly, gazing into her beautiful eyes, and said, "Don't forget, I'm a doctor too! Let me help you improve blood circulation! Bear with the pain; prolonged bleeding will cause bruising."

A delicate blush rose on Zhu Liyan's pretty face. She didn't refuse Lin Yupeng's kindness, nodding obediently, her jade-like hand clenched tightly, a layer of alluring softness shimmering in her beautiful eyes, appearing infinitely shy and captivating.

Lin Yupeng acted immediately, gently lifting her left leg and placing it on his lap. Even through her trousers, he could clearly feel the beauty of her legs—soft and alluringly elastic. The sheer stockings added a touch of slick, intoxicating pleasure, making him feel an urge to caress her entire leg. Fortunately, he restrained himself. Even if Zhu Liyan consented, how could he make such an intimate gesture in this setting with so many onlookers?

In fact, his next action was quite suggestive. He gently placed his hands on Zhu Liyan's swollen left ankle, slowly massaging it to improve blood circulation.

Zhu Liyan had never been so close to Lin Yupeng before, especially in this setting. This intimate action made her face flush crimson, even her ears turning red, her shyness indescribable.

Lin Yupeng's blood-activating technique was unique. After a few minutes, the redness and swelling at Zhu Liyan's injury had subsided by half, and she no longer felt much pain. She felt that her ankle was being massaged very comfortably by Lin Yupeng's hands, and that comfortable feeling even spread to her entire thigh, causing a wave of ambiguous spring waves to rise in her heart.

Lin Yupeng held her slender and exquisite ankle, and through the thin, cicada-wing-like silk stockings, the smooth and soft feeling quickly spread from his fingertips. Inhaling the faint sweet fragrance of her virginity, he couldn't help but feel a flutter in his heart. He glanced at Zhu Liyan and saw that she had already lowered her pink neck in embarrassment, her fair and delicate hands fiddling with the hem of her clothes, looking extremely shy.

Just as ambiguous feelings were surging between the two, Lin Yupeng suddenly heard that exaggerated cough he had just heard the day before yesterday. He turned around abruptly and saw Zhu Liyan's devilish coach standing next to him. He already had a bitter face, but it turned gloomy with anger, as if he were weighed down by lead. His imposing and intimidating aura emanated from him, making people feel cold.

Upon seeing the devilish coach, Zhu Liyan's pretty face, flushed with shyness, instantly turned deathly pale with fear. She adorably stuck out her tongue, quickly removed her foot from Lin Yupeng's lap, stood up, and apologized to him, "Brother Lin, I'm sorry! The coach came to see me!"

Lin Yupeng smiled and nodded, gently saying, "Go on! You need to rest your injured foot. Avoid strenuous exercise for at least two days."

Zhu Liyan nodded obediently, her beautiful eyes filled with reluctance. She pouted her cherry lips, turned, and walked to the devilish coach's side, giving him an apologetic smile, lowering her head like a child who had made a mistake. The

devilish coach glared at her fiercely, then abruptly turned and walked out with his hands behind his back, leaving Zhu Liyan to follow him pitifully.

Just as he was about to turn around, Lin Yupeng clearly saw the devilish coach glare at him coldly with a sharp gaze, filled with hatred and hostility. This made his heart tremble, and he thought to himself, "No way! I was just helping Liyan improve her blood circulation, and that was a good intention! Why does she hate me like this?"

He kept drawing question marks in his mind. He always felt something was off about that devilish coach, like someone from Mars. Suddenly, a strange thought arose in his mind: "Could this guy be a wolf in sheep's clothing?"

With Zhu Liyan taken away by the coach, Lin Yupeng lost all interest in watching the competition. He abruptly stood up, turned, and left the provincial gymnastics training center.

Sitting in the car, Lin Yupeng was still thinking about what had just happened. It seemed Zhu Liyan was going to be punished by the coach again.

Back at the villa in the northern suburbs, it was already 10 PM. He took a shower first, then went to the master bedroom on the second floor. The door was ajar, with a faint light escaping from inside.

Lin Yupeng gently pushed the door open and saw Fang Na and Qin Xue lying side-by-side on the bed, each holding a fashion magazine, engrossed in reading and occasionally whispering about which clothes looked good, which handbags were trendy, and which cosmetics were effective. Completely absorbed, they didn't hear Lin Yupeng's slight opening of the door, nor did they know he was back.

A mischievous smile appeared on Lin Yupeng's face. A playful thought crossed his mind, and he quietly slipped inside.

Because the magazines Fang Na and Qin Xue were holding blocked their view, the two beauties didn't notice him when he reached the bedside.

Lin Yupeng chuckled, leaped onto the bed, and pounced on the two beauties, grinning wickedly, "My two good wives, I'm back!"

"Ah...ya..." Fang Na and Qin Xue were startled, simultaneously dropping their books; one landed on the bedside table, the other on the floor.

Lin Yupeng chuckled again, pulling Fang Na and Qin Xue into his arms, his hands moving irregularly over their fragrant, delicate, and alluring bodies.

Qin Xue, her heart pounding from the fright, gave him a reproachful glare, her small fists raining down on Lin Yupeng's chest and back, playfully scolding, "Husband, you're so naughty! You scared me to death!" The blows looked forceful, but they were actually very gentle, like tickling or a tender caress, feeling quite comfortable.

Fang Na had been startled, but upon realizing Lin Yupeng was just teasing them, she quickly calmed down. A sweet and gentle smile bloomed on her beautiful face as she nestled her head against his shoulder, her beautiful eyes shimmering with happiness.

Lin Yupeng gently embraced Fang Na's sexy and alluring body, savoring the exquisite curves of her form. His hands began to unconsciously caress her smooth, white skin.

Chapter 440 Embracing Both Sides

Chapter 441 Where Does the Beauty Teach the Flute

Qin Xue was still relentlessly pounding his chest in a coquettish manner. Lin Yupeng didn't stop her, his eyes slightly closed, looking quite pleased with himself. He chuckled dryly, "So comfortable, a little harder... Yes, pound down, down..."

Qin Xue snapped out of her daze, stopped pounding, gave him a charmingly glare, and said coquettishly, "You're so annoying! When did you get back?"

"Just got back, I've been missing you all day! Hehe!" Lin Yupeng pulled Qin Xue into his arms with his other hand, a wicked smile on his face.

"Annoying! Who asked you to miss me!" Qin Xue said coquettishly.

"You don't want to? Really don't want to?" Lin Yupeng asked her with a smile, while rubbing the ticklish flesh under Qin Xue's armpits. He knew Qin Xue was most afraid of being tickled, and in a few moments, he had her heart fluttering with desire, laughing uncontrollably. The bedroom was instantly filled with a spring-like atmosphere.

"Na-mei, please help me!" Qin Xue cried out to Fang Na, her face flushed as she endured the pain.

"How can I help you?" Fang Na asked with a sweet smile, her pretty face rosy.

"You should tickle him too!" Qin Xue said with a seductive laugh.

Fang Na smiled sweetly and began to tickle Lin Yupeng with her slender hands. She didn't know how to tickle anyone, and in the end, she ended up helping him undress.

Lin Yupeng was adept at juggling both, attacking Qin Xue while also pleasing Fang Na. Before long, the two beauties had stripped him down to his underwear.

"My two wives, who will give me a blowjob? Why don't you both come at me? I don't mind!" Lin Yupeng, with two beauties in his arms, was filled with lust. Looking at the tent he was making, he chuckled wickedly.

"Blowjob? What's a blowjob?" Fang Na's beautiful face showed confusion. Her beautiful eyes were filled with affection as she gazed at Lin Yupeng and asked in a sweet voice.

Lin Yupeng's eyes gleamed with lust as he stroked her delicate face, chuckling dryly, "Don't you know what 'playing the flute' means? You've done it for me so many times before!" He vividly recalled the earliest time, in the hotel room, when Fang Na, under the influence of an aphrodisiac, gently "played the flute" for him—the intoxicating feeling was still fresh in his memory.

Qin Xue knew what he meant; her pretty face flushed crimson. She gently pinched Lin Yupeng, and seeing Fang Na's adorable, bewildered expression, she couldn't help but giggle and roll her eyes at her, pointing to the small tent Lin Yupeng had erected, and said coquettishly, "Playing the flute means... it means sucking on his naughty thing!"

Fang Na finally understood, a captivating blush rising to her delicate face. She buried her head shyly in Lin Yupeng's chest, her eyes brimming with desire, her gaze shimmering with desire.

Lin Yupeng chuckled mischievously and asked several times, but Fang Na remained silent, her face flushed. Her eyes darted between Qin Xue and Lin Yupeng; she really wanted to give him a blowjob, having done it a few times before. However, with Qin Xue present, Fang Na, naturally shy, felt embarrassed. Besides, she wasn't sure if Qin Xue was willing, and was momentarily at a loss.

Actually, Qin Xue had similar thoughts. She gave Lin Yupeng a few suggestive glares and said coquettishly, "What nonsense! Your mind is full of these naughty thoughts, always trying to bully us."

"Fine, neither of you want it? One day I'll put a layer of honey on it, sweet and delicious, hehe, let's see if you'll eat it!" Lin Yupeng continued to tease the two beauties.

"I love chili and mustard, will you put some on me too?" Qin Xue asked with a mischievous giggle.

"Ah! Forget it then! If it gets swollen, you won't be able to go to the flower shop to collect honey!" Lin Yupeng said with a wicked grin.

"Oh, how lewd! You're so naughty!" Qin Xue said coquettishly, her face flushed.

Under Lin Yupeng's persistent coaxing, Fang Na finally stepped forward to give him another blowjob. She swiftly pulled down his underwear, her face red, and knelt on the bed, leaning down gracefully. Her lips parted slightly, and she gently took Lin Yupeng's already erect member into her mouth, stroking it up and down… Her long, glossy black hair, soft and silky, cascaded over his lower abdomen and thighs with her movements, further arousing his desire.

Lin Yupeng once again tasted that intoxicating pleasure, feeling as if he were floating on clouds, his body swaying, waves of pleasure rising higher and higher. Enjoying Fang Na's gentle advances, a line from the Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu suddenly popped into his mind: "On the night of the bright moon over the Twenty-Four Bridges, where is the jade maiden teaching the flute?"

Wasn't he teaching the jade maiden to "play the flute" tonight? He thought the poem was incredibly "brilliant," perfectly matching his current situation.

Of course, Lin Yupeng was deliberately misinterpreting the poem, trying to think of it in a distorted way. If Du Mu knew this in the afterlife, he would surely appear in his dream that night and berate him for his "lewd thoughts."

While enjoying Fang Na's flute playing skills, Lin Yupeng naturally wouldn't let go of Qin Xue, who refused to play for him. His devilish hand immediately slipped into her thin nightgown, which didn't have a bra, and his hand directly climbed up to her soft, firm breasts, kneading them.

"Ah..." Qin Xue moaned softly, her heart already surging with desire. No longer resisting Lin Yupeng's actions, she actively responded, offering her soft cherry lips and passionately kissing him...

It was another passionate night. Qin Xue and Fang Na cooperated perfectly, satisfying all of Lin Yupeng's demands and desires. At the same time, their bodies, under Lin Yupeng's repeated bombardment, repeatedly reached the peak of pleasure, the clouds of joy.

After the passion subsided, dawn was approaching. Fang Na and Qin Xue were exhausted and fell fast asleep in Lin Yupeng's arms. Their sweet sleeping postures and adorable, contented expressions stirred up desire within Lin Yupeng again.

However, he couldn't make any further moves with them. He had already been very vigorous that night, and continuing would likely be too much for their bodies. In fact, even Lin Yupeng himself was somewhat tired. He hadn't expected that when these two stunning beauties, Fang Na and Qin Xue, worked together in perfect harmony, they could drive him to ecstasy.

Lin Yupeng, with the two beauties in his arms, took a short nap. His energy returned, and his brain cells became active again. He recalled the events surrounding the Weili Hotel's celebration ceremony, especially the scenes of open and covert struggles with Hong Tianhao. The wicked fire in his heart resurfaced. "That Hong Tianhao is really arrogant. He'll definitely be a formidable opponent for me in the future!"

At the same time, a sense of worry arose in his heart—would Hong Tianhao take action against him? He had to take precautions in advance. But after careful analysis, his tense mood gradually eased. Given the current situation, it was entirely possible to seek stability amidst the risks.

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