67: You have such a sharp tongue!

She spoke coldly, her voice not loud, but it pierced like an icicle.

"Your feet are fragrant, they don't stink at all."

"Why don't you stick them out and see who in this office is willing to hold those size-forty Hong Kong feet of yours?"

"Pfft—"

Someone couldn't hold it in and let out a laugh.

That seemed to flip a switch.

The entire cubicle area suddenly erupted into a roar of laughter.

"Hahaha, Sister Wang, your tongue is too sharp!"

"'Hong Kong feet' is a good one. Old Lin, you really need to pay attention to your personal hygiene!"

"Stop it, stop it, I can already see it..."

The waves of laughter and teasing were like countless invisible hands, slapping Lin Guodong's face from both sides.

Fury burned in his chest, and he felt like he was about to explode on the spot.

Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, the door to the supervisor's office opened with a 'click.'

The laughter stopped abruptly.

Everyone seemed to have been hit by a pause button, turning their heads in unison to look over.

Lin Chao walked out in a relaxed manner, one hand in his pocket.

Behind him followed that beautiful girl named Lan Qingyu, who was still holding the massager box in her arms.

The office instantly became quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

Those who were laughing loudly a moment ago were now staring at their noses or hearts, pretending to tap on keyboards and click mice as if nothing had happened.

Lin Chao's gaze swept indifferently across everyone's faces. He said nothing and led Lan Qingyu straight toward the company's main entrance.

Only after the two figures completely disappeared into the elevator entrance...

...did Lin Guodong suppress his voice and squeeze out a cold sneer through his teeth.

"Hmph, I think that wasn't a client at all!"

He lowered his voice, his tone full of malicious speculation.

"Lin Chao is just using the company's products to pick up girls!"

These words were like a needle dipped in ice, accurately piercing Yan Qiaoqiao's heart.

The hand she was using to hold the mouse stiffened slightly, and her heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, sending waves of sharp pain through her.

Picking up girls... is that how it is?

The other colleagues didn't join in this time; they were all too lazy to bother with Lin Guodong anymore.

Everyone knew exactly what was going on.

The new Director Shen was not someone to be trifled with. Her lecture during the morning meeting had made everyone feel unprecedented pressure.

Lin Chao had good sales performance, and Market Department Two benefited from that, but their own livelihoods still depended on themselves.

If they kept bickering over these useless things and their performance failed to meet the standard, they would be the next ones invited to leave the company.

Instead of wasting time being jealous of others, it was better to hurry up and contact more clients.

On the other side.

Lin Chao drove his flying fox SUV and stopped steadily in front of Lan Qingyu's house.

"Alright, we're here."

"Thank you, Uncle Lin!"

Lan Qingyu unbuckled her seatbelt and pushed the door open to get out.

Standing outside the car door, she bent down again, poked her head into the car, and waved the box in her hand at Lin Chao with a grin.

"Don't worry, Uncle Lin. If I think it's good after using it at home, I'll definitely work my tail off to help you promote it on my social feed!"

The girl's youthful face was full of sincerity.

She was wearing a loose white T-shirt, and as she bent over like this, the neckline naturally hung down.

A pair of delicate collarbones and a glimpse of snowy-white scenery burst into Lin Chao's vision unexpectedly.

His gaze only lingered for a tenth of a second before he quickly looked away and focused on the steering wheel.

"Alright."

His voice sounded calm.

"I'll send you a copy of the specifications and introductions for all the company's products later."

In truth, he didn't expect a female college student's social feed to bring in any sales.

He paused and then added with a smile, treating it as teasing her.

"If you really manage to sell some, I'll give you a three percent commission for every unit sold."

"Huh?" Lan Qingyu's brow immediately furrowed. "Only three percent? That's way too little!"

Lin Chao was amused by her money-grubbing appearance.

"It's not little, young lady."

"Even when I sell one myself, the commission is only eight percent."

"Fine, fine, fine!"

Upon hearing that, Lan Qingyu immediately beamed with joy again, looking like a little fox that had successfully stolen a treat.

"Deal!"

She straightened up, but before leaving, she leaned on the car window and tapped it with her finger.

"But you also have to help me investigate Zhong Xiaoru's matter properly. No slacking off!"

"I know."

Lin Chao rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"So naggy."

He started the car and, amidst Lan Qingyu's farewell wave, turned the vehicle around and merged into the traffic.

The street scenery outside the window receded rapidly.

The smile on Lin Chao's face gradually faded, replaced by a look of contemplation.

Zhong Xiaoru... where should he even start investigating this matter?

Inside the speeding SUV, the car stereo was playing a piece of soothing instrumental music.

But Lin Chao's heart couldn't relax at all.

Lan Qingyu's description of Zhong Xiaoru was very simple—a poor, helpless girl entangled with loan sharks.

But a principal of twenty thousand rolling into one hundred and twenty thousand in interest was clearly a carefully designed trap.

He just didn't know if the target was Zhong Xiaoru or Lan Qingyu.

Of course, Lin Chao felt the latter was more likely.

After all, Zhong Xiaoru's attitude was indeed quite abnormal.

So, was he going to investigate this by himself?

What kind of international joke was that?

A gentleman does not stand under a crumbling wall.

He had only managed to scare off those thugs with a recording today by pure luck, and the fact that the other party didn't want to make a scene.

With his small frame, let alone investigating, if he were really cornered in an alley by those thugs, what else could he do besides curl up and protect his head?

Getting beaten would be the light version.

Lin Chao rubbed his brow irritably and slowly pulled the car over to the side.

He turned off the engine.

The car interior instantly fell into silence.

He needed help.

A helper who could command the scene, preferably someone with connections in the underworld.

His social circle wasn't large. Going through his mind, only two people seemed to fit the criteria.

Lan Yanran and Xie Mengya.

Lan Yanran definitely wouldn't work.

This matter was commissioned by her daughter. If he turned around and went to the mother, what would that look like?

Not only would it make him look incompetent, but it would also violate his promise to Lan Qingyu.

That left only Xie Mengya.

Lin Chao picked up his phone and called Xie Mengya.

The call was answered quickly.

"Hello?" A lazy voice with a perfectly balanced magnetic quality came through the receiver.

The voice was like a feather lightly brushing against his eardrum, making his heart itch.

Lin Chao cleared his throat. "Sister Mengya, are you busy?"

There was silence on the other end for two seconds, followed by a light chuckle.

The laughter carried three parts playfulness and seven parts teasing.

"Oh, isn't this our busy man, Supervisor Lin?"

"What's the matter?"

"Is my little brother... missing me?"

Lin Chao felt his spirit sway and immediately followed her lead.

"I really do miss Sister Mengya."

"I was just afraid you were busy and didn't dare to disturb you."