Why did the system take my request to take photos with a cosplayer seriously?

"Throw it out? Throw it where?"

"promise!"

Lin Man glanced at Ding Heng, her meaning crystal clear.

Lin Kaihui's face was gloomy.

"Xiaoman, you're using family money to give to that gigolo..."

"uncle."

Ding Heng interrupted him: "There's something I want to ask you."

Being abruptly interrupted, Lin Kaihui's face turned even uglier, but he still held back from lashing out.

"what's up?"

How did you know Xiaoman was in Hong Kong?

Why are you asking this?

"I'm asking you a question, Uncle!"

When Lin Kaihui met Ding Heng's gaze, he was inexplicably startled and felt a chill run down his spine.

He swallowed hard. "Didn't Xiaoman post on WeChat Moments? I saw she was in Hong Kong, and I figured it was on my way..."

Ding Heng turned to look at Lin Man.

Lin Man quickly explained, "This morning I was in my room, and I took a selfie with my back to the French windows. I didn't know it would..."

Ding Heng reached out and gently patted Lin Man's thigh.

"It's okay, we'll talk about it tonight."

It's perfectly normal for a woman to take a selfie and post it on social media. But Lin Man, as Ding Heng's "secretary," failed in her duty and exposed her boss's position!

It might not seem like a big deal now, but it could cause trouble later! If someone doesn't even have this much sense of privacy, they'll need a good talking to tonight!

Seeing the intimate posture between the two, and Lin Man seemingly a little afraid of Ding Heng, Lin Kaihui felt a surge of anger rising within him.

What a traitor! He gives them attitude at home, but he's so obedient to a strange man outside.

Lin Kaihui's tone sharpened: "Who exactly are you, and..."

"uncle."

Ding Heng interrupted him again: "What project are you talking about? Tell me about it."

Lin Kaihui was repeatedly interrupted by Ding Heng, which made him furious, but he inexplicably dared not lash out.

He took a deep breath and began to speak eloquently.

"An AI startup with staff who have worked in Silicon Valley... Let me tell you, this sector is booming right now, with strong government support and excellent policies."

My friend has already secured several rounds of funding, and his valuation is skyrocketing. I had dinner with him the day before yesterday; he's preparing to open a round of internal subscriptions, open only to close friends. We've been friends for many years, and he specifically reserved a share for me.

I originally planned to invest myself, but I'm a bit short on cash lately, so I came to Xiaoman for help. You know, for businesses like ours, cash flow is paramount; sometimes it's just a matter of that crucial step.”

He got more and more excited as he talked, spittle flying everywhere.

"Five million isn't a lot! Once the company goes public, that five million could easily become fifty million. I'm only telling you this because we're family..."

Ding Heng picked up his teacup and said slowly, "Uncle, you met with your client in Portugal?"

Lin Kaihui's narration came to an abrupt end.

Ding Heng raised his chin, gesturing for Lin Man to look into Lin Kaihui's pocket, where a small portion of an MGM chip was visible.

Lin Kaihui hurriedly stuffed the chips back into his pocket, giving an awkward smile: "The customer likes to play a couple of rounds..."

"Oh."

Ding Heng's gaze then shifted to Lin Kaihui's wrist: "Uncle should wear a watch often, why isn't he wearing one today?"

Lin Kaihui looked down, and the marks left by long-term friction on the leather watch strap were clearly visible on his left wrist.

Lin Man asked coldly, "Uncle, where's your Patek Philippe?"

Lin Kaihui stammered, completely unable to speak.

Lin Man began to press her with questions: "Did you sell the pawnshop? Did you go gambling again? Does Grandpa know?"

Lin Kaihui's face turned pale and then red, his lips trembled a few times, and finally he knelt down with a thud.

"Xiaoman! Xiaoman, listen to me! Your uncle begs you, please don't tell Dad! If he finds out, he'll beat me to death!"

How much did you lose?

Lin Kaihui lowered his head, not daring to look at her.

"Say something!"

"Not much, just over eight hundred. Lend me five hundred, and I'll fill the hole right away!"

"Good heavens..."

Lin Man felt no sympathy whatsoever after hearing this; in fact, she almost laughed.

Lin Kaihui continued, "Xiaoman, please help your uncle. I'm really desperate. They said if I don't pay them back, they'll break my arms and legs... Xiaoman, please have pity on your uncle and lend me some money. I'll definitely pay you back when I turn my life around, and I'll pay you back double..."

Just as Lin Man was about to ask another question, a hand reached out and gently pressed the back of her hand.

"Go back and rest first."

"Boss, this is a family matter, you..."

"obedient!"

Ding Heng's tone was serious and brooked no argument.

Lin Man hesitated for a moment, but finally stood up and obediently walked out of the tea room.

…………

When Ding Heng returned to his room, it was already six o'clock in the afternoon.

Lin Man was sitting on the sofa, holding a cup of tea that had gone cold. When she heard the door open, she immediately stood up.

"boss!"

"Don't worry, I went with your uncle to see the creditors, it's nothing serious..."

Ding Heng walked to the sofa and sat down, tossing a file folder onto the coffee table.

Lin Man looked at the file folder.

"what is this?"

"Your uncle's IOU."

"Boss, why did you lend money to that bastard?!"

"Don't worry, I'm not that stupid..."

Ding Heng chuckled softly, reached out and pulled Lin Man onto his lap, then picked up the file folder and handed it to her: "Here, take a look."

Lin Man took the file folder, opened it, and took out the contents.

The lender was an investment company she had never heard of, registered in Hong Kong, with a value of over 20 million.

The contract was filled with dense clauses, the interest rate was outrageously high, and the late payment penalties were shockingly high—it was practically a legal "usury"!

The following is the mortgage contract.

The collateral includes Lin Kaihui's villa in Pengcheng, a Mercedes-Benz, a BMW, and shares in several of his companies.

Lin Kaihui has lost everything he could possibly lose...

Lin Man gasped, "Boss, how did you get it back?"

Ding Heng gently kissed her cheek: "What, you have to ask the boss about things too?"

"I'm sorry, boss, it was my fault for being so talkative..."

Lin Man quickly apologized, clutching the stack of documents tightly in her hand, fear welling up inside her.

In just one afternoon.

Ding Heng not only found Lin Kaihui's creditor, but also retrieved the "IOU" from him intact.

Local bullies who do this kind of business are all tough nut to crack...

Lin Man simply couldn't imagine how Ding Heng had done it, or what his background was.

She asked timidly, "Boss, what are you planning to do?"

"It's yours."

Ding Heng spoke casually, and Lin Man even thought she had misheard.

"give you."

Ding Heng repeated it, then smiled and asked, "With this, you should be able to control Lin Kaihui, right? I guess he should be of some use to you."

Lin Man didn't say anything.

Lin Kaihui was his maternal grandfather's most beloved son. Controlling him was more than just "somewhat useful".

How did Ding Heng find out? And how much does he actually know? Has he already discovered something?

Lin Man dared not think any further...

"Thank you, boss."

"Don't just say thank you."

"Oh……"

Lin Man responded charmingly, put the file bag aside, broke free from Ding Heng's embrace, and knelt down in front of the man once again.

She took a hair tie off her wrist, gently bit it in her mouth, and then casually tucked her long hair behind her ear.

The movements were gentle, compliant... and increasingly skillful.

Ding Heng closed his eyes, and the system interface quietly appeared in his mind.

Crown of Thorns: Lin Man