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

"No need."

Ding Heng could guess Lin Kaihui's thoughts: he wanted the "IOU" back and, incidentally, wanted to test his background.

He decided to leave everything to Lin Man; he didn't want to get involved, nor was there any need for him to.

Lin Man drove out of the hotel and merged into the evening rush hour traffic in Shenzhen.

Ding Heng leisurely lay back: "I'm going to a birthday banquet tomorrow, aren't you going to tell me about your family situation?"

"Okay, boss."

Lin Man took a deep breath and began to tell her story: "My maternal grandfather's name is Lin Fengnian. He is from southern Fujian. He is seventy-eight years old this year. He has four wives, seven sons, and four daughters."

Ding Heng raised an eyebrow: "So many?"

“In the old days, people in southern Fujian believed that having many children meant having many blessings.”

Lin Man gave a wry smile: "Besides, my maternal grandfather made his fortune early and could afford to raise me."

How many are left now?

“My mother is inside. One of my uncles died in a car accident years ago. Now he has six sons and three daughters.”

Ding Heng nodded, not interrupting her.

"My eldest uncle, Lin Zefu, is sixty years old this year and controls more than 90% of the family business. As the eldest son, he is also the most capable among the uncles. He always manages to seize opportunities during every business transformation or major trend."

"So he's now in complete control?"

"More or less... The rest of my uncles and aunts all worked under him, managing various venues."

Where is Lin Kaihui?

Ding Heng asked in bewilderment, "How could someone as useless as you be favored by your maternal grandfather?"

Lin Man explained, "Lin Kaihui had a twin brother, Lin Zhanhui, who was also capable and resourceful, even on par with my maternal uncle. However, in 08, he crashed into a guardrail while driving under the influence of alcohol and died on the spot, which became a thorn in my maternal grandfather's side."

So no matter how useless and wasteful Lin Kaihui was, as long as his grandfather saw his face, he would turn a blind eye.

After a moment's thought, Ding Heng immediately realized the key issue.

He jokingly asked, "So you mean your maternal grandfather had a lot of children, but including your mother, only three were capable of inheriting the family business? One is in jail, one has passed away, and now only your eldest uncle is left."

Lin Man pursed her lips but did not answer.

Ding Heng then asked, "Was the Xingcheng Market developed by your mother?"

I guess so...

Lin Man recalled, "My maternal grandfather had long had the idea of ​​developing outside the province. My mother, as the pioneer, successfully built up the Brilliant Planet business. Later, after she joined, the market in Xingcheng was gradually taken over by Lin Zefu and his sons."

After listening, Ding Heng roughly understood the situation.

Lin Zefu has seized absolute power, and those who originally had a chance to compete with him have all ended up in bad shape.

The reason why Lin Man was still able to receive money from the Lin family every month was...

One reason is probably that her mother still holds some leverage over the entire Lin family.

Secondly, raising a pretty but useless niece like Lin Man wouldn't cost much, and it would also make Lin Zefu appear generous, nostalgic, and worthy of his roots.

Kill two birds with one stone.

Ding Heng didn't ask any more questions and turned his gaze to the window.

The car drove into the garage of a villa area. Lin Man took a deep breath, opened the door, and got out of the car.

Ding Heng came to her side and took Lin Man's hand.

He could clearly feel his capable secretary trembling slightly, as if she were in fear.

"Aren't they all relatives of the same generation? What are you afraid of?"

"me……"

Lin Man stammered and couldn't explain clearly.

Her usually alluring, foxy eyes now gave off a fragile, broken feeling, which made Ding Heng feel sorry for her.

Ding Heng didn't press further, and gently patted her hand: "Don't worry, I'm here today!"

"Um……"

Lin Man let out a long breath and gently leaned her body against Ding Heng.

"The boss is so nice!"

There was no coquetry, only sincerity.

[Refuge Value: 7%]

Chapter 187: That's fucking awesome!

The villa's lobby was brightly lit.

Lin Zhiyuan stood by the pool table, a glass of whiskey in his hand, chatting and laughing with his cousins.

Standing next to him was a man half a head taller than him, around thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, with a burly build, wearing a black polo shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his strong forearm muscles.

His facial features are largely similar to Lin Zhiyuan's, but more rugged, especially his thick, fluffy black curly hair, which is particularly eye-catching.

Lin Zhihong.

Lin Zhiyuan's older brother, and the most important figure among the Lin family's grandchildren.

Inside the house, several children were chasing and playing, their laughter shrill and piercing.

One of the girls, about seven or eight years old, was squatting by the coffee table, intently playing with a Barbie doll in her hands. Her dark curly hair hung down from her ears, covering half of her face.

The moment Ding Heng and Lin Man entered the room, several pairs of eyes turned to them simultaneously.

The first to greet her was a woman in her early thirties, with exquisite makeup and a voluptuous figure: "Xiaoman is here! Long time no see, you've become even more beautiful!"

"Sister-in-law."

Lin Man's politeness was just right: "Your complexion is getting better and better."

The eldest sister-in-law turned her gaze to Ding Heng, looking him up and down: "And who is this?"

"My boyfriend, Ding Heng."

Lin Man stepped aside, giving up half a body space.

Ding Heng smiled and nodded: "Hello, sister-in-law."

"Good good."

The eldest sister-in-law responded repeatedly, "Come in and sit down, don't stand."

Several more people gathered around.

"Xiaoman is back?"

"Long time no see. How have you been in Changsha?"

"I heard you opened a gaming companion service? How's business?"

They greeted each other warmly, as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each other for years.

Lin Man responded to each question with a polite smile and a neutral tone.

Ding Heng stood beside her, his gaze sweeping over each face.

I can't feel any temperature at all.

It's totally fake!

Finally, Lin Zhihong potted the black eight, put down his cue and turned around.

"Xiaoman is here?"

"Brother Zhihong, it's been a long time!"

“You haven’t been back for more than half a year! Grandpa was talking about you yesterday. Take some time to go see him.”

"I'll go tomorrow."

"That's good!"

Lin Zhihong then turned to Ding Heng, smiling politely: "Is this Mr. Ding?"

Ding Heng extended his hand, and the two shook hands: "Mr. Lin, you're too kind."

"Xiaoman told me you run an investment company in Hong Kong?"

"Minor trouble."

Ding Heng smiled and said, "It can't compare to your big physical businesses."

"Where."

Lin Zhihong waved his hand, about to say something, when a voice interrupted from the side.

"Oh, Xiaoman's back?"

A man in his early thirties walked over, holding a wine glass.

He was short and thin, with slicked-back hair and an ill-fitting dark blue suit.

He exuded an energy that seemed to be "overdoing it".

"Brother Wenhao."

Lin Man spoke in a flat tone.

Lin Wenhao stopped in front of the two men: "Is this the one you were talking about... who runs an investment company?"

"Ding Heng".

Ding Heng introduces himself.

"Oh, Mr. Ding."

Lin Wenhao extended his hand: "It's an honor to meet you. I heard you run an investment company in Hong Kong?"

"Small company".