"Hmph, you won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences!" Ma Tianhao sneered. "Lin Jinglong, you tricked me, this can't be left like this! However, for Miss Yang's sake, I can give you a lighter punishment!"

He stretched out one foot: "Come on, kneel down and lick my right shoe clean, and I'll let you go!"

"Young Master Ma, that's a good idea!" Zhang Shengtian said with a sly smile. "No fighting, no falling out, elegant!"

"Hahahaha, I've always been a gentleman!" Ma Tianhao burst into laughter. "Lin Jinglong, hurry up! Don't say you weren't given a chance. If you miss it, the consequences will be dire!"

Yang Ruoxue frowned slightly, feeling somewhat reluctant, but still chose to remain silent.

Since Lin Jinglong is so ungrateful, let him suffer a bit.

Lin Jinglong laughed: "Ma Tianhao, I've already told you, you're just a lackey to me!"

"Your ancestors for eighteen generations aren't even qualified to make me lick your shoes!"

"I'd like to see just how much skill you've acquired in these three years!"

"You son of a bitch... Lin Jinglong, I'm going to make you kowtow today!" Ma Tianhao was furious. He waved his hand and said, "Men, smash his mouth first. Let's see how long he can keep up this act!"

"Stop!" A sharp shout suddenly interrupted.

Having just finished a meeting, Chen Muqing strode over in her high heels with an imposing air: "Ma Tianhao, my husband, is not someone anyone can touch!"

"Mu Qing?!" Ma Tianhao's expression changed, and he was so angry that his teeth itched. "I just don't understand, why did you have to go after him of all people?"

"Am I, Ma Tianhao, inferior to a down-on-his-luck good-for-nothing?"

"Please watch your words! My husband isn't a good-for-nothing!" Chen Muqing grabbed Lin Jinglong's arm. "Ma Tianhao, I hope you understand that when it comes to feelings, there's no hierarchy!"

"What if I insist on determining who's better today?" Ma Tianhao said coldly.

Chen Muqing refused to back down: "Then let's give it a try!"

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, as if war was about to break out at any moment.

"Lord Xia has arrived!"

At that moment, someone shouted.

"We've arrived already?" Ma Tianhao's expression changed. "Hmph, I'm going to greet Lord Xia. This time, I won't lower myself to your level!"

"Oh, by the way, Chen Muqing, you don't actually think you have a chance, do you?"

"Let me tell you the truth, my Ma family and Lord Xia have always had a good relationship. This cooperation is undoubtedly ours, so don't even dream about it!"

"Of course, if you're willing to remarry, feel free to come find me anytime!"

After saying that, he arrogantly smoothed his greasy hair and then strode quickly toward a certain direction.

An elderly man dressed in formal attire slowly entered the venue.

His every gesture exudes elegance and natural grace, radiating an air of otherworldly refinement that inspires awe.

"Wow, is this the legendary Xia Donghe, the master of a family business spanning generations?"

"He looks different from others; he doesn't have the air of a businessman, but rather a sage-like demeanor!"

"Nonsense, Lord Xia is not only a businessman, but also an elder of the Celestial Master's Mansion... Let's go and see him quickly. Even if we can get a little bit of his favor, it will be enough to satisfy us..."

The crowd in the banquet hall was immediately drawn to the scene and surged forward.

"My dear wife, who is this Xia Donghe? Is he the purpose of this banquet?" Lin Jinglong asked.

Chen Muqing's expression was rather unpleasant: "Xia Donghe comes from a family of merchants, whose business network extends not only across the country but also overseas! Most importantly, he is an elder of the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain. With this background, no one dares to provoke him easily!"

"If we can reach a cooperation agreement with him, the company's strength will experience a qualitative leap!"

"So you're from the Celestial Master's Mansion, huh?" Lin Jinglong curled his lip in disdain. "He's just an old Taoist priest, what's with all the pretense!"

"I think you're the one pretending! You have no ability and you're just dragging President Chen down!" Secretary Su Xiaoxiao seemed extremely dissatisfied with him. "President Chen, what are we going to do now? Ma Tianhao seems to have a really close relationship with Lord Xia. If we let him secure the cooperation, we'll..."

"No one can claim victory until the very end!" Chen Muqing said gravely. "I must secure Lord Xia's cooperation!"

However, before she could even step forward to speak, Xia Donghe and Ma Tianhao went up on stage together.

Ma Tianhao, beaming with pride, announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our Lord Xia to speak!"

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted.

Xia Donghe, with a calm demeanor, smiled slightly and said, "First of all, thank you all for your kind words. I have fully experienced the warmth of the people of Beijing, and I hope that my project in Beijing will be a very pleasant collaboration!"

"Now, I would like to formally announce that our partner for this collaboration is..."

"It's over, it's all over, there's no hope left!" Su Xiaoxiao shook her head repeatedly from below the stage. "President Chen, it's obvious that Ma Tianhao has been pre-selected, we don't even have a chance to get in!"

"It's all over, it's all over..."

Chen Muqing's face also turned pale, and a hint of despair appeared in her eyes.

"It's just a collaboration, is it really that big of a deal?" Lin Jinglong scoffed.

"What do you know?" Su Xiaoxiao said angrily. "Do you know that because President Chen married you, not only did the company suffer a heavy blow, but the entire board of directors was also dissatisfied. In order to explain herself, she made a solemn promise that she would definitely secure this cooperation, or else she would resign!"

"Is it that serious?" Lin Jinglong raised an eyebrow. "Then let's secure the cooperation!"

"Ha, how do you take it? By talking?" Su Xiaoxiao was even more furious.

"The partner for this collaboration is Ma Tian from the Ma family in Beijing..." Just as Xia Donghe on the stage was about to announce it, Lin Jinglong suddenly raised his arm high and shouted, "Xia Donghe, you keep saying you're here to discuss cooperation, but you haven't even discussed it yet, what are you announcing!"

quiet!

Deathly silence!

All eyes in the room instantly focused on Lin Jinglong.

It's like looking at a fool!

Chen Muqing and Su Xiaoxiao were also dumbfounded, never expecting him to do such a thing!

"Where did this scoundrel come from, daring to question Lord Xia? Security? Where are the security guards? Throw him out!" Ma Tianhao on the stage was furious when he saw this.

He didn't care who Lin Jinglong offended, but he was afraid of displeasing Lord Xia, which would ruin his business.

Everyone thought that Xia Donghe was bound to get angry.

However, when he glanced at Lin Jinglong, especially at his raised arm, he trembled all over, his eyes filled with disbelief, shock, and awe: "Wait, nobody move!"

Without saying a word, he strode towards Lin Jinglong.

In fact, due to the haste, they were quite disheveled!

"May I ask, young friend, who you are?" Xia Donghe bowed to Lin Jinglong and asked in a low voice.

"What expert? I'm just an ordinary person, just raising a question!" Lin Jinglong withdrew his hand and said calmly.