Lin Ya stood up and looked at the other man in the eye as he said this.

  “Your other option is to marry Kerou, and we’ll be family from then on. Between family members, there’s always room to negotiate, Eldest Young Master Mu.”

  He sounded as though he was making peace, but it couldn’t be more deceptive.

  His words echoed in the still air of the study.

  Mu Donglin clenched his jaw, pressing into the desk with his fists so hard that his fingernails cut into the flesh of his palm.

  Still his usual style!

  Intimidation, coercion!

  Alas, everything he said was true.

  Did he have a choice?

  Mu Donglin shut his eyes for a moment. Opening them again, he sighed as he looked towards Lin Ya and said, “Lin Ya, by doing this, you’re just pushing your sister into a tight spot.”

  “She likes you, so I will help her.” Lin Ya smiled faintly. “And whether it’s a tight spot, or what sort of desperate situation it turns out to be, that has got nothing to do with me.”

  Mu Donglin was a little taken aback and looked at the man sharply. He reminded him, “She’s your sister.”

  “That’s why I want you to marry her.” There was almost a cruelty in the man’s calm demeanor as he continued, “Perhaps she might feel a little happiness if she were to marry you, and on the other hand, you would have gotten what you want.”

  \r \r \r

  “Money, reputation, woman, power…… You’ll have everything you wish for.” He leaned forward with his hands on the desk and continued, “Life is difficult. Life as the good guy is even more difficult, Donglin. Marrying Kerou is the win-win situation for everyone involved.” He broke into a smile. “Both of us will be the good guys, so why not?”

  Mu Donglin was speechless.

  Yes, the good guy.

  He’d be the good guy if he married Lin Kerou.

  And if he were to marry her, then Lin Ya would naturally be the good elder brother.

  But was this really good for Lin Kerou?

  Not necessarily.

  “Lin Ya,” Mu Donglin had never felt this exhausted in his life. He whispered, “Are you sure this is the right thing to do?”

  Lin Ya chuckled as though he was amused. He said, “Right or wrong is only a matter of perspective. Anything that is of mutual benefit is right.”

  Yes, that would be the right thing.

  Mu Donglin was almost convinced.

  However, there seemed to be a nagging feeling eating at him, protesting.

  No, it wasn’t right! It wasn’t right!

  However, the notion was drowned out in the face of the various impacts and given all the evidence against himself.

  Sensing that the man was wavering, Lin Ya further prodded, “Whatever it is that you wish for, you need a helping hand. And I, am that helping hand.”

  Mu Donglin kept silent for a long time and eventually said, “Fine.” ……

  Lin Ya and Mu Donglin talked for a long time.

  When they finally reappeared, Lin Ya had the usual calmness and placid smile on his face. He announced, “Select a date for the wedding.”

  The members of the Lin Family felt as though a huge burden had been lifted off them.

  Lin Kerou, of course, was secretly ecstatic and could hardly believe it.

  Mu Che and Wu Meiya had no objections. After all, Mu Donglin was at a disadvantage given all the evidence against him.

  So it seemed, things were sorted and the dust settled.

  He was getting married.

  With Lin Kerou.

  After sending everyone off, Mu Donglin sat on the sofa for a long time, lighting and stubbing out one cigarette after another.

  An urgent call came from the company. Mu Donglin did not hear the details of the matter.

  He called the chauffeur and went downstairs.

  Before the chauffeur turned up, a metallic white Spyker pulled up.

  Mu Donglin was surprised. However, before he could figure out who it was, he saw that the car window was being wound down.

  A face appeared from within—so familiar it hit his nerves.

  The sculpted contours of the facial features made the man look powerful and dashing. He turned sideways to look out of the window, his calm eyes deep as an ancient well.

  The person in the car spoke unhurriedly in a low voice, with a barely detectable smile, “Congratulations.”