148: I live there

He didn't know the market price for a top-tier hacker's services, so after a moment's thought, he simply transferred ten thousand yuan over.

[Lin]: Here's ten thousand for now. Let me know if it's not enough.

[K]: It's enough. You're generous, Boss.

[K]: Call me again if you need anything next time.

After their brief exchange, K's avatar went dark.

Lin Chao shut down his computer, went into the bathroom, and took a hot shower to wash away his exhaustion before falling into a deep sleep... The next day, at Kangyang Group.

As Lin Chao walked through the company's main entrance, he immediately felt an atmosphere that was completely different from usual.

The entire company was shrouded in a strange yet excited mood.

Almost everyone was whispering and discussing yesterday's earth-shattering reversal.

Especially those executives who had previously gossiped behind her back, claiming Director Shen was Chairman Yang's "mistress."

Now, they were as quiet as cicadas in winter, sitting upright and hardly daring to breathe.

They never would have guessed in a million years!

That cold, aloof Director Shen, who seemed above worldly matters, was actually Chairman Yang's legitimate goddaughter, complete with a formal ceremony!

This background was countless times more solid than they had imagined!

At the thought of their own previous filthy speculations and comments, these people felt a chill down their spines and broke into a cold sweat.

Lin Chao had no interest in what these people were thinking.

Not long after arriving at his office, he was leisurely brewing a cup of freshly arrived West Lake Longjing tea in the pantry.

The tea's aroma curled upward, refreshing the soul.

Just then, a familiar figure carrying a pink mug also walked in.

Lin Chao looked up and was slightly taken aback.

Yan Qiaoqiao?

Upon seeing Lin Chao, Yan Qiaoqiao's already lively eyes instantly lit up.

She walked over quickly and lowered her voice, her face a mix of excitement and curiosity.

"Lin Chao, Lin Chao, have you heard about Director Shen?"

Lin Chao picked up his teacup, gently blew on the floating tea leaves, and took a sip.

"I know."

He looked up, somewhat amused by the irrepressible gossiping spirit on Yan Qiaoqiao's face.

"When did you become such a gossip?"

"What do you mean gossip!"

Hearing this, Yan Qiaoqiao immediately pouted in dissatisfaction.

"I'm standing up for what's right, okay?"

"Director Shen is so pitiful. Who could be so wicked to use such underhanded methods to slander her?"

Her tone was filled with genuine indignation.

Lin Chao looked at her righteous indignation, merely smiled, and said nothing.

Some things were better left unknown to her.

Seeing that he wasn't responding, Yan Qiaoqiao suddenly seemed to remember something and clapped her hands.

"Oh right, there's one more thing."

"Lin Guodong processed his resignation today."

The hand Lin Chao held his teacup with didn't falter for even a second.

Lin Guodong?

Heh.

To the current him, a clown like that didn't even have the qualifications to be his opponent; at most, he was just a buzzing fly.

He gave a casual "mm," then carried his teacup and turned to walk out of the pantry.

However, sometimes, even if you don't want to pay attention to a fly, it insists on coming right in front of you to disgust you.

Just as Lin Chao stepped out of the pantry, he spotted Lin Guodong nearby, packing his things into a cardboard box.

His workstation was already empty.

Lin Chao looked straight ahead and walked right past him, not even bothering to give him a second glance.

But at the moment they brushed past each other.

"Lin Chao!"

A voice suppressed with malice and jealousy suddenly rang out from behind.

Lin Chao paused and slowly turned around.

He saw Lin Guodong holding the box, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at him. His face was distorted with jealousy, looking exceptionally hideous.

Before Lin Chao could speak.

Lin Guodong's shrill, mean-spirited insults came crashing down like a dumped load of trash.

"What the hell are you so proud of?"

"Didn't you only get that order by going to Qinglan Garden to sell your ass?"

"Tsk tsk, you were there for hours."

"I wonder which old hag or which fat, greasy old man it was that you served so diligently?"

"Your ass is certainly worth a lot of money!"

Knowing he was about to get kicked out, he simply tore off his mask and hurled the nastiest insults possible, wanting to vent his anger and get his money's worth before he left!

The surrounding colleagues, hearing the commotion, cast astonished looks over.

However, the expected scene of Lin Chao flying into a rage did not happen.

He only frowned slightly, his face even showing a bit of surprise.

"You followed me?"

These four words were light, yet they hit Lin Guodong's heart like a heavy hammer.

The arrogant fire on his face instantly choked.

"Who... who followed you!"

His eyes darted around, but he continued to bluff.

"I just... saw you on the way!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chao suddenly laughed.

The smile contained an unmasked trace of contempt and amusement.

"On the way?"

"You can be 'on the way' all the way to Qinglan Garden?"

"And you can stay there for several hours 'on the way'?"

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, like a sharp knife piercing through the other's ridiculous lies.

"Otherwise..."

He leaned forward slightly, staring at Lin Guodong's face which had turned the color of pig liver, and asked word by word.

"—How did you know I stayed in Qinglan Garden for several hours?"

Lin Guodong's breath hitched.

Forced into a corner by these successive questions, he was speechless, his mind going blank!

That's right!

How did he know?

If he hadn't been lurking there like a pervert for several hours, how could he possibly know so clearly!

Seeing the increasingly disdainful looks from his colleagues, Lin Guodong completely broke down!

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he suddenly shrieked!

"So what if I did!"

"I did follow you!"

"If I didn't follow you, how the hell would I know you ran to Qinglan Garden to sell your ass?!"

Lin Guodong's raspy roar echoed through the quiet office area, sounding exceptionally harsh.

He seemed to have finally found an outlet, falling into a state of frenzied excitement.

However, facing this nearly demonic appearance, Lin Chao's reaction was eerily calm.

Not only was he not angry, but instead... he smiled.

It was a smile tinged with pity and amusement.

"Lin Guodong."

He spoke softly, his voice not loud but clearly overriding the other's roar.

"Is there a possibility..."

He paused, his dark eyes looking straight at the other man with a hint of playfulness.

"That I wasn't going to someone else's house."

"—That I, actually live in Qinglan Garden?"