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Chapter 727 Xiaoxue: Help!

Four p.m.

Chang'an, International Conference Center.

The closed-door seminar on the "Western Photovoltaic New Energy Industry Cluster" is nearing its end.

The atmosphere inside the huge circular council hall was both solemn and enthusiastic.

Leaders from the provincial and municipal governments, representatives from the State Grid Corporation of China, experts from Tangyi Precision, and representatives from several leading domestic investment institutions sat upright and solemnly.

Under the watchful eyes of the entire audience, Lin Muxue stood in front of the podium, microphone in hand, and delivered her concluding remarks.

"...Thank you to the provincial and municipal governments for the detailed introduction. Rongliu Capital believes that the 'Western Photovoltaic New Energy Industry Cluster' is not only a transformation of the energy structure, but also the cornerstone of future data computing centers..."

She nodded slightly after she finished speaking.

"Clap clap clap—" Thunderous applause resounded throughout the council hall.

Subsequently, the other representatives spoke in turn.

The meeting concluded successfully, and everyone rose to leave.

Vice Mayor Li did not rush to leave, but instead walked over to Lin Muxue with a warm smile like that of an elder.

"President Lin, you've worked hard these past two days. Your speech was excellent and very insightful."

"Mayor Li, you flatter me."

The two chatted for a while.

Vice Mayor Li then added meaningfully, "Mr. Lin is from Zhou County, Chang'an. If he encounters any difficulties at home in the future, he can contact me directly at any time."

"Thank you for your concern, Mayor Li. Everything is fine at the moment."

Lin Muxue understood that this gesture of goodwill was naturally out of consideration for Ms. Ouyang.

Even so, a personal promise from a local official was enough to stir her heart.

...

Amidst the warm farewells of provincial and municipal leaders and a host of senior executives, Lin Muxue once again boarded that familiar Bentley. The car door closed, shutting out all the pleasantries and compliments from the outside world.

She leaned back wearily in the soft leather seat and let out a long sigh.

To be fair, Xiaoxue is an expert at showing off, but when it comes to actual work, she still struggles a bit.

He took his phone out of his bag, glanced at it, and raised his eyebrows almost imperceptibly.

The screen displayed several missed calls from the parents.

Since two days ago, in that mansion in "Swan Bay".

That perfect display of arrogance and humiliation allowed her to vent her anger and dissipate most of the resentment that had been building up for years, but they were never truly reconciled.

During these two workdays, she devoted herself entirely to this multi-billion dollar investigation and indeed did not contact her parents again.

After hesitating for a moment, she took a deep breath and dialed her father, Lin Baoshan's, number.

"Dudu-"

The call rang briefly twice before being answered almost immediately.

"Hello? Xiaoxue?"

The father's voice, which sounded ingratiating and cautious, came through the receiver.

"Dad, it's me. I just finished a meeting."

"Hey! Hey! All done? Good thing you're done!"

"Yes. Is there something you need?"

"N-nothing serious..." The father paused on the other end of the line, then asked, "When are you leaving?"

Lin Muxue calmly said, "My flight is tomorrow afternoon. I have some very important work to do back in Yancheng."

This is true.

The global shareholders meeting of Smile Holdings will be held in New York next Monday.

As Tang Song's personal assistant, she was definitely required to accompany him.

Before that, she had to accompany Tang Song to France to inspect the Tang Jin Manor that he had been longing for.

The thought of Tangjin Manor filled her with excitement and boundless anticipation.

That was a world-class private estate, the true core of the Tang and Song imperial harem.

She had already planned a hundred times in her mind how she could own a small building of her own in that private territory belonging to Tang and Song.

That's what symbolizes status and position.

On the phone, the father was silent for a moment before asking in an almost pleading tone, "Xiaoxue, are you... are you free tonight? Your mother and I would like to come see you."

Lin Muxue pursed her lips, not answering immediately, but instead asking, "You didn't go to the construction site today?"

"No," the father's voice lowered further. "Well, you're in Chang'an, aren't you? I was thinking..."

Lin Muxue's chest heaved slightly, her feelings a complex mix.

Her father, Lin Baoshan, is only in his early fifties this year, which is far from the age for retirement and enjoying life in the countryside.

He has been working odd jobs on construction sites in Chang'an, and also has a few acres of land at home. He has no social security and works hard to support his family, even during holidays.

From a young age, she didn't spend much time with her father.

He is far inferior to his mother.

"Xiaoxue..." Her father called out again cautiously through the receiver, afraid that she would get impatient and hang up.

Lin Muxue closed her eyes briefly and said, "I'm going to my brother's place later. We'll have dinner at his house tonight."

"Ah?! Okay! Okay!" The father's voice instantly filled with joy. "I'll have your mother prepare a few more dishes!"

"Ah."

hang up the phone.

Lin Muxue let out a long breath, told the driver, and changed the destination.

His gaze drifted out the window.

The Bentley was driving across the moat, and the majestic ancient city walls looked desolate yet magnificent in the setting sun.

……

at the same time.

Ruixiang Jiayuan residential community in the southern suburbs.

Lin Muchuan's small living room instantly erupted into chaos.

Wang Suxia was so excited that she spun around on the spot, and then handed her grandson to her daughter-in-law Peng Xiaomeng. "Xiaomeng, you watch the baby for a while. I'm going downstairs to buy some things. Xiaoxue loves to eat stone-baked bread and Qiong Guo Tang (a type of sweet soup)."

As she spoke, she deftly put on her cotton-padded coat.

Then he shouted at Lin Baoshan, who was still in a daze, "Hey! What are you standing there for? Hurry up! Go pick out the walnuts we brought from our hometown, crack them open, Xiaoxue loves them. Also, put the jujube buns that were steamed a couple of days ago back in the pot and heat them up!"

Peng Xiaomeng felt no displeasure at all seeing her mother-in-law's excited expression of "having lost it and found it again".

Instead, she immediately offered, "Mom, don't worry. How about I call Mu Chuan now and ask him to take a day off and come back sooner?"

Wang Suxia hesitated for a moment, then nodded heavily.

She usually avoids disturbing her son's work, but the situation is different now, as her daughter has finally come home.

More than twenty minutes later.

Lin Muchuan drove his slightly worn Nissan Sylphy and hurriedly rushed home.

As soon as he entered the house, he first helped his mother in the kitchen for a while, and then carefully cleaned the living room.

Only then did he nervously rub his hands together and finally relax.

"Mu Chuan, come with me for a moment."

Peng Xiaomeng tugged at his arm and led him into the master bedroom.

"What's wrong?" Lin Muchuan asked.

Peng Xiaomeng lowered her voice and asked, "What's the current situation at your company? Can it even hold on?"

"Sigh." Lin Muchuan sighed, "It's still the same. I'll be lucky if I can hold out until the end of the year and get paid. But don't even think about the year-end bonus."

"Mu Chuan, Xiao Xue is leaving tomorrow." Peng Xiaomeng's eyes flickered. "Shouldn't you mention your work to her?"

Lin Muchuan immediately frowned and said, "No way! We've only just started to get along better with Xiaoxue, how can I possibly ask her for something? Wouldn't that be like asking her for something?"

“But given our family’s current situation…” Peng Xiaomeng hesitated before continuing.

"Anyway, it's not suitable. Let's talk about it later." Lin Muchuan stubbornly shook his head.

Peng Xiaomeng sighed and didn't dare to press him further on this topic.

She could also tell that Lin Muxue was still angry, so it was indeed inappropriate to bring up money or work at this time.

She gritted her teeth and adopted a gentle tone: "Alright, let's not talk about it then. You can spend more time chatting with your sister later. Don't worry too much about work. I still have that 8 yuan dowry in a fixed deposit. I'll withdraw it later; it should be enough for us to get by for a while."

Hearing this, Lin Muchuan was stunned for a moment, and a strange feeling of emotion welled up in his heart.

This was the first time his wife had been so gentle with him since she became pregnant.

And she even offered to use the dowry money that she valued more than her own life.

At this moment.

"Ding-dong—ding-dong—" The doorbell rang.

"Oh! It must be Xiaoxue!" Peng Xiaomeng's eyes lit up, and she quickly nudged her husband, "Come on, come on! Go open the door!"

The two quickly went to the living room.

Lin Baoshan rushed over and opened the door, and Wang Suxia, who had just come out of the kitchen wiping her hands, also stopped in her tracks.

Immediately afterwards, a tall and aloof figure walked into the small living room.

"Xiaoxue." "Xiaoxue, you're here..."

The four of them quickly greeted her, their voices filled with barely suppressed nervousness and ingratiation. Lin Muxue stepped in.

He was carrying a black and gold Hermès Birkin bag in his right hand, and wearing a high-quality black cashmere coat over a simple black business shirt.

She appeared increasingly refined and capable, but also increasingly aloof and elegant.

She simply stood there quietly, and the powerful aura she exuded, cultivated in the world of fame and fortune, made even the small space by the door seem cramped.

"Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister-in-law," she greeted them, using the correct titles, but her tone was flat.

Her gaze then fell on the baby in Peng Xiaomeng's arms, who was staring wide-eyed with curiosity. Her eyes softened slightly. "Dudu."

"Hey! Dudu, quickly call her Auntie... Auntie..." Peng Xiaomeng smiled and waved her son's little hand, "This is your Auntie Xiaoxue..."

As the baby babbled, the suffocating oppressive atmosphere in the living room seemed to dissipate somewhat.

Looking at her daughter, who was both familiar and unfamiliar, Wang Suxia gritted her teeth, finally mustered up the courage to step forward, and grabbed her arm.

"Xiaoxue, come in and sit down. Take off your coat, don't get it dirty."

She pulled her daughter to sit on the sofa, then quickly turned around and called out, "Mu Chuan, what are you standing there for! Quickly pour some water for your sister!"

"Okay!" Lin Muchuan quickly replied.

In no time, the family began to bustle about, warmly welcoming the guests, some pouring water, others fetching fruit.

Lin Muxue looked at the walnuts, glutinous rice candy, and steaming jujube buns laid out on the coffee table... all of which were her favorite snacks when she was a child.

She looked around again, taking in her brother's new home, which she had only seen in his WeChat Moments.

Excluding the common area, the actual usable area is probably only about 70 square meters. The decoration is very ordinary, and the furniture is the cheapest style.

It was for this house that they sold the plot of land that they had promised to leave to her.

Noticing her gaze, Lin Baoshan and Wang Suxia felt a sudden tightness in their chests, and embarrassment and worry appeared on their faces.

Lin Muxue withdrew her gaze, picked up a piece of Qiong Guo Tang (a type of sweet soup), put it in her mouth, and chewed it slowly.

That cloyingly sweet taste, reminiscent of childhood, melted on her taste buds, stirring a complex warmth in her heart.

Lin Muchuan pursed his lips, finally mustered his courage, stood up and said, "Xiaoxue, about the house I bought for my wedding, Mom and Dad sold your land plot, all for my sake. I'm sorry for this, I apologize to you."

Wang Suxia's eyes also reddened. She held her daughter's hand, her voice choked with emotion, "Xiaoxue, it was my fault. I shouldn't have kept it from you... I apologize to you."

Looking at the family's state, Lin Muxue felt the resentment that had been building up in her heart for two years dissipate.

She took a deep breath and shook her head: "It's all in the past. I know you had your difficulties back then."

She didn't say she forgave him, but her simple statement, "It's all in the past," was enough to relieve Lin Muchuan and Wang Suxia of their burden.

Wang Suxia's tears streamed down her face.

Peng Xiaomeng quickly grabbed a tissue and handed it over.

The tense atmosphere in the living room finally softened.

Lin Muxue looked at Lin Muchuan and asked casually, "Brother, are you still working at that same machinery factory?"

"Yes, I've been doing it for over four years."

Lin Muxue took a sip of hot water, looked up and said, "I heard from Sister Jiajia that your company is about to go under?"

Peng Xiaomeng's heart skipped a beat, and she instantly realized what was happening, holding her breath.

Lin Muchuan blushed and lowered his head in shame. "Well... the industry is in a slump right now, and the company is also... sigh."

In his view, he had sucked so much blood from his family and caused his sister to suffer great injustice, yet he had accomplished nothing and it was truly shameful.

He studied automation in college and after graduation joined this traditional machine processing plant, which has low technical content and its business is heavily dependent on foreign trade orders.

Given the current situation, the company's future is uncertain.

He himself didn't learn any cutting-edge technology, but instead developed a kind of inertia typical of traditional manufacturing. When he wanted to switch to a high-tech industry, his knowledge structure and work pace couldn't keep up.

It's neither here nor there, extremely awkward.

Just then, Lin Muxue opened the black and gold Birkin bag.

He took out a finely crafted business card, gently placed it on the coffee table, and pushed it in front of him.

"This is the contact information for Wang Mingwei, the general manager of Tangyi Precision's Chang'an branch."

Her voice was flat, as if she were talking about something trivial.

“I’ve already told him about your situation. Go see him tomorrow morning; he’ll help you arrange your new job. You’re under a lot of pressure now that you have Dudu. Dad’s getting old too; try not to work on construction sites anymore.”

"boom--"

These words exploded in the room like a thunderclap.

Lin Muchuan stared blankly at the thin business card, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

Peng Xiaomeng bit her lower lip tightly to keep from screaming, her eyes bursting with unbelievable ecstasy.

She dreamed her husband would get a stable job at a large, reputable company, but unexpectedly… he went straight to Tangyi Precision?!

That's Tangyi Precision! The pinnacle of domestic manufacturing!

For Lin Muchuan, who studied automation and mechanical engineering, it was a holy land.

Salary, benefits, job security... I don't even dare to dream about it!

Is that all?! Or did I contact the general manager directly?!

Wang Suxia and Lin Baoshan exchanged a glance, their expressions complex and inexplicable, a mixture of joy for their son and guilt and unease for their daughter.

"Oh! Thank you, Xiaoxue! Mu Chuan is so lucky to have a sister like you!"

Peng Xiaomeng was the first to react, so excited that she was incoherent, and quickly nudged her husband who was still in a daze.

"Xiaoxue," Lin Muchuan's voice trembled, "Thank you, but... won't this make you feel too indebted?"

"Heh, not at all." Lin Muxue casually picked up her water glass. "I'm here on behalf of the company to cooperate with [Tangyi Precision]. Besides, I have a good relationship with Ms. Ouyang, this is just a casual matter."

And then the words "Ms. Ouyang" were uttered lightly from her lips.

Even Lin Baoshan's eyes widened in surprise.

Lin Muchuan and Peng Xiaomeng were stunned, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"Ms. Ouyang...? Is she the chairwoman of Tangyi Precision?!" Lin Muchuan stammered.

Lin Muxue chuckled and said, "Yes. The apartment I bought in Shanghai was transferred to me by her as a friend."

The small living room fell into an eerie silence.

At this moment.

"Ring ring—" The cell phone in the bag rang.

[Tangyi Precision - Secretary Chen]

Lin Muxue's heart skipped a beat. She waved her phone and said, "It's a call from Ms. Ouyang's secretary. I'll take it."

After saying this, amidst the extremely shocked and awe-inspiring gazes of everyone in the room, she got up and walked towards the balcony.

"Hello? Secretary Chen."

"Assistant Lin, good afternoon. I hope I didn't disturb your rest?" Chen Jing's calm and capable voice came from the other end of the phone.

"No, no, Secretary Chen, what can I do for you?"

"Hehe, it's nothing serious." Chen Jing laughed. "I heard from General Manager Wang of the Chang'an branch that you're planning to have your brother join the company as an equipment engineer?"

Lin Muxue's heart tightened, and she quickly explained, "Yes. He studied automation in college, and he had been working in a machine factory before, so his major is quite relevant."

She initially thought it was a trivial matter, something that could be resolved with a few words. After all, given her current status, arranging entry-level positions for her family members was perfectly normal. She never expected it would even involve Ms. Ouyang's chief secretary.

Her heart skipped a beat; she didn't know what the other person meant.

"Assistant Lin, please don't misunderstand, I didn't mean anything by it." Chen Jing seemed to have guessed her thoughts, and her tone remained gentle. "The reason I called was that the arrangements made by President Wang were not quite appropriate."

"what?"

“Since he’s your own brother and has a background in a related field, it’s a waste of his talent to just assign him to a regular equipment engineer position. My suggestion is to have General Manager Wang reassign him to a management trainee position, starting in the automation technology R&D department, where he can learn for six months. If he can keep up, he can be trained to become an expert in high-tech fields. His salary and benefits will naturally be in accordance with the standards for management trainees.”

Lin Muxue breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, thank you so much, Secretary Chen!"

"You're welcome." Chen Jing then inquired about her schedule in Chang'an, before changing the subject casually, asking, "By the way, Assistant Lin, you're accompanying President Tang to New York next week for the global shareholders' meeting of [Smile Holdings], right?"

"Yes, before that, I will go to a manor in France. The itinerary has been arranged."

"Hehe, then you'll be meeting Director Jin in person." Chen Jing's tone carried a hint of amusement. "It's quite a coincidence, you might not know, but all the personal schedules and daily chores you're handling for President Tang now were previously arranged by Director Jin himself. In that sense, you've perfectly taken over some of Director Jin's functions around President Tang. I'm sure you two will get along very well when you meet."

Lin Muxue froze, even doubting her own hearing.

(⊙_⊙)?!

What the hell? !
The personal secretary work I'm doing now... is what Director Kim used to do?!

Chen Jing's voice remained calm on the other end of the line: "Also, I just received news that Director Jin, on behalf of the board of directors of [Smile Holdings], has sent a letter inviting President Tang's assistant, Shen Yuyan, to attend this shareholders' meeting as well. I believe President Tang will inform you soon, and you two assistants can discuss the details of the trip in advance."

"Then I won't bother you any longer. Enjoy your time with your family. Goodbye."

"Goodbye..." Lin Muxue replied blankly.

The receiver emitted a busy tone indicating that the call had been disconnected.

She stood on the balcony, phone in hand, her mind a jumble of thoughts.

An absurd yet heart-pounding thought popped into her head uncontrollably.

In her worldview, Director Jin is President Tang's legitimate wife, the high and mighty behind-the-scenes controller.

Judging from Chen Jing's words, it seems that Director Jin had also done this kind of work similar to a private secretary?

If that's really the case.

She seemed to suddenly understand why Director Jin's attitude towards her always carried a subtle scrutiny and admonishment.

Did Director Jin personally invite Shen Yuyan to New York?
Is it a warning? A reprimand? Or is it an attempt to promote Shen Yuyan to replace her?

It's over! It's over!
Help! How can we play like this?!

(End of this chapter)