Chapter 26: Liao Huizhang's Request
Chapter 26: Liao Huizhang's Request
"Who's looking for my son?"
Lin Shoucheng asked as he stood up, his mind racing as he confirmed that all the relatives who were supposed to be present were accounted for, with no absences.
Could it be that one of the relatives had changed their mind and decided to come without informing them beforehand? Lin Shoucheng couldn't help but wonder.
"It's Mr. Chu," the staff member replied, heaving a sigh of relief. It was understandable, given that the Chu Corporation had been collaborating with the hotel for many years. The staff member had been startled when the founder of the Chu Corporation had shown up in person, asking to see Mr. Lin Yuan. She was relieved that he was indeed present at the hotel.
"Mr. Chu?" The family banquet guests were slightly taken aback.
Surname Chu? So, he's not a member of the Lin family?
As everyone whispered among themselves, a man with a beard entered, accompanied by a young man who appeared to be in his late teens.
Although the bearded man's attire was plain, the air of sophistication he exuded set him apart from ordinary individuals, resembling the demeanor of those who wielded power and influence.
"Is he the founder of the Chu Corporation?" Someone in the room exclaimed, as if they had just made a startling realization.
In this interstellar age, the internet was pervasive, and photos of citizens with even a modicum of fame were circulated online. As one of the top fifty corporations in Dongning City, the Chu Corporation was undoubtedly well-known, and its founder, no matter how low-key, would be recognizable.
"The founder of the Chu Corporation?"
"My goodness! He's a big shot in our Dongning City."
"I heard that the Chu Corporation has assets worth tens of billions, and the founder is a renowned billionaire in the surrounding cities."
"Such an influential figure has come to see Lin Yuan?"
The guests at the banquet began to buzz with excitement, and some even connected to the internet on the spot to compare the bearded man before them with photos online.
"Director Chu," Lin Jiye blurted out as he rushed over, his voice filled with excitement. "We met six years ago when your group purchased that piece of land in the suburbs."
"Mhm," the bearded man acknowledged nonchalantly. In truth, he didn't remember Lin Jiye at all.
His eyes scanned the room and landed on Lin Hao, who was seated in the host's seat. He nodded slightly in greeting.
Then, he pulled the young man behind him, Chu Siyu, and strode over to Lin Yuan.
"Mr. Lin, please forgive my junior's impudence," the bearded man said, his posture humble and devoid of any airs of a senior figure.
"It's fine," Lin Yuan replied, shaking his head after glancing at Chu Siyu, who sat stiffly beside him, recalling their recent chance encounter at the coffee shop.
"How did you find this place?" Lin Yuan asked out of curiosity.
"I had planned to bring Siyu to visit your home today, but when we arrived, we heard from others that your family was hosting a banquet here at the hotel, so we followed along," the bearded man explained honestly.
"I see," Lin Yuan nodded slightly.
The family banquet hosted by his father, Lin Shoucheng, was not a secret. Six or seven out of ten neighbors in the community were aware of it.
"Please accept this small token of my congratulations on your evolution," the bearded man said as he handed over an envelope with a respectful gesture.
His reverence was not directed at Lin Yuan's status as an Evolver—while Evolvers were rare, they were not unheard of, and the Chu Corporation itself employed a group of them. What truly struck awe in the bearded man was the favoritism shown by the Wisdom Goddess towards Lin Yuan, to the extent that even searching for related information would prompt a warning from the goddess.
Anyone with common sense would realize that Lin Yuan was no ordinary individual, especially when they didn't receive any warnings from the goddess when searching for information about someone as prominent as a corporate founder.
"Alright," Lin Yuan replied nonchalantly, not giving the incident at the coffee shop much thought. In fact, nothing significant had transpired that day.
What Lin Yuan didn't know was that his conversation with the bearded man had set off a storm of speculation among the many relatives present.
After recognizing the bearded man's identity, some had doubted whether there was a case of mistaken identity. Perhaps the 'Lin Yuan' that the bearded man, Zhao, was looking for was merely a namesake of Lin Shoucheng's son.
After all, Lin Yuan had only recently become an Evolver, so how could he have amassed such an impressive network to associate with a prominent figure like the bearded man?
However, when the bearded man approached Lin Yuan and they engaged in conversation, the guests realized that there had been no mistake. The founder of the Chu Corporation was indeed there to see Lin Yuan.
"Lin Yuan," Lin Jiye's expression shifted between sunny and stormy.
Moments ago, he had intended to offer Lin Yuan a chance to work under him, posing as a benevolent elder and offering a salary of two thousand a month.
But now, before long, the founder of the Chu Corporation, someone he couldn't even dare to look up to, stood before Lin Yuan with an uncharacteristically low stance.
"My nephew," Lin Hao, seated in the host's seat, fell into deep thought.
While the guests saw the bearded man as a formidable figure, to Lin Hao, he was merely a businessman, albeit one who had achieved a certain level of success.
However, what surprised Lin Hao was that despite the bearded man's apparent wealth and status, he spoke to Lin Yuan with such deference.
Knock! Knock! Knock! The door to the private room was knocked on again.
"Is this Mr. Lin Yuan's private room?" A voice, robust and full of vitality, echoed through the door.
Ah? Someone else here to see Lin Yuan?
After witnessing the bearded man's example, the guests dared not underestimate the situation, and Lin Shoucheng himself went to open the door.
Under the watchful eyes of the guests, a man with a ramrod-straight posture entered, accompanied by a young man in his late teens—none other than Huo Qingyao.
"Who is this person?" The guests at the banquet began to search for information online but came up empty-handed.
"He shouldn't be a big shot this time, right?" Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The bearded man's behavior had unnerved them, making them wonder if Lin Yuan had some intimidating identity they were unaware of.
Now, it seemed that they might have overthought things, and the bearded man's attitude towards Lin Yuan was likely just a coincidence.
Just as everyone's tense nerves relaxed...
Lin Hao, who had been seated in the host's seat and to whom even the bearded man had shown deference, abruptly stood up.
"Colonel Huo?" Lin Hao's voice carried a hint of disbelief.
Military district information was usually classified, and it was challenging for ordinary people to find any related information on the internet without the necessary access permissions.
But Lin Hao was different. As the secretary to the bureau chief, he had far greater access and was privy to more sensitive information.
"Secretary Lin?" Huo Yanming glanced at Lin Hao and nodded in acknowledgment.
He stepped aside, and another figure strolled in casually.
"President Liao?" If seeing Huo Yanming had startled Lin Hao, the sight of the person behind him sent shivers down his spine.
President Liao.
The president of the Dongning City Evolvers' Association.
A second-class citizen, whose status and influence ranked among the top five in Dongning City.
Such a prominent figure would even make Lin Hao's bureau chief greet him with utmost caution and respect.
"Could it be..." Lin Hao's mind raced with an incredulous thought.
"Is President Liao here to see Little Yuan as well?"
(End of Chapter)
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