Hearing this news, the pride deep within Fang Lin's heart was completely shattered. He yelled things like, "That's impossible, you're lying to me..."
He even tried to lunge in Lin Sen's direction, but the subordinates reacted quickly, ruthlessly pinning down his neck, the back of his head, joints, limbs, and other vital points.
Seeing him still struggling so senselessly.
The crowd rolled their eyes. If you're the mayor's secretary, we'll give you some face. But since you're not anymore, what are you acting so arrogant for? They casually delivered three punches to his abdomen to politely ask Great Scholar Fang to know his place.
Fang Lin instantly rolled his eyes back in pain.
His body crumpled to the ground, writhing incessantly like a caterpillar scalded by hot water.
Even so, he still unwillingly raised his head. His pale face was covered in cold sweat as he shouted at Su Ning with all his might:
"It was you! You bribed Mayor Chen to make him abandon me, didn't you? Why would you do this? We clearly have no grudges against each other..."
He truly didn't understand!
Judging others by his own standards, Su Ning and the Su family hadn't seen each other for over twenty years. Why would she spare no effort to stand up for Su Zhenzhu?
Everyone present had their own thoughts on this question.
However, no one dared to answer.
Soft indoor slippers stepped on the thick carpet, quiet and soundless.
It wasn't until the person stood right in front of Fang Lin.
That he realized the main character had arrived.
Su Ning looked down at him from above, her eyes full of amusement and mockery.
It was as if she were watching a highly comical pantomime, and even her voice revealed her delighted mood:
"Bribery? If thinking that way makes you feel a little better in your upcoming days of utter destitution, then I will allow you to think so."
Like a king pardoning a criminal on death row—Su Ning granted Fang Lin this final shred of pity.
Unfortunately, Fang Lin didn't appreciate it at all. He automatically treated words he didn't want to hear as wind blowing past his ears.
He continued to stubbornly ask Su Ning.
Why was she trying so hard to deal with the Fang family?
A moment later, he softened his tone and explained the pros and cons.
He was an intellectual who had returned from studying abroad and had quite a reputation outside. Mayor Chen's position was already unstable; if someone with ulterior motives caught onto this vulnerability, it would be a disaster for both the mayor and Su Ning...
"I really want to ask..."
Su Ning really couldn't listen to this anymore.
If she listened any longer, she felt like she would get dragged into Fang Lin's self-centered logic.
She had to admit, that was a skill in itself.
"How did your family raise you to be so confident—no, so full of yourself?"
Saying this, she lowered her head and noticed a flash of confusion on Fang Lin's face. She couldn't help but chuckle softly:
"Do I even need to use bribery to deal with you?"
"You are just a little gift Mayor Chen gave me. You aren't anything great, but it's enough to make me feel a tiny bit more favorably toward him."
"To Mayor Chen, that is your greatest value."
"Furthermore, if someone with ulterior motives tries to use a secretary who hasn't even taken office to attack Mayor Chen, I'm afraid the mayor won't suffer the slightest damage, while that person will just be laughed at for being ridiculous."
Hearing these words, Fang Lin's heart sank further and further. He desperately refuted Su Ning in his mind, but his subconscious painfully admitted—
That what she said was likely true.
Listening to the flurry of reward notification sounds ringing in her head like a little tune, Su Ning's smile deepened:
"Well? Aren't you going to thank me."
"For making you realize your own insignificant status?"
A final strike. K.O.
...
Seeing that Fang Lin had completely stopped struggling, Lin Sen gave his subordinates a look. They dragged the man out like a dead dog. Lin Sen then turned back and made a chopping downward gesture:
"Miss, can we make our move on the Fang family now?"
"Do it."
Su Ning let out a bored yawn, feeling that she probably wouldn't be able to fall asleep later. Looking somewhat lethargic, she figured that after her repeated blows, the Fang family's value had pretty much been squeezed dry.
There was no point in keeping them around.
Otherwise, people might question if she was being too soft-hearted.
"Oh right, the catalog from the jewelry shop hasn't been delivered yet, has it? Send someone to purchase some jewelry for Zhenzhu, and say it's to help her calm her nerves."
Su Ning saw things very clearly. Without the assists from Su Zhenzhu and the Su family, the Fang family wouldn't have broken down so easily, nor would they have been stupid enough to throw themselves into the line of fire time and time again.
Since that was the case.
When settling the spoils of victory, it was only right to share some of the benefits, wasn't it?
Lin Sen agreed briskly, pondering how much to buy, what materials to choose, and what price range of jewelry would satisfy Miss Su's wishes—when a boss's instructions were unclear, the subordinates had to pull their hair out figuring it out.
The torment didn't end there.
He had only taken two steps outside when he was called back, helplessly turning around to await further instructions.
"Ding..."
Su Ning raised her eyebrows in surprise. What a rare occurrence! This all-capable assistant Lin Sen had only squeezed out some rewards when he first arrived.
Later on, even when countless tasks fell on his shoulders and he worked overtime until the early hours of the morning every day, he didn't show the slightest resistance. Let alone squeezing out rewards, he didn't even have a single dark circle on his face.
She had thought Assistant Lin had already super-evolved!
Surprise aside, what needed to be ordered still had to be ordered—so said the black-hearted boss Su Ning.
"Also, send a message to the Jin family. Tell them I'll go see the mansion in three days, and thank them for their trouble."
This was a hint for the Jin family to quickly notify their in-laws to discuss whatever needed discussing and to hurry up and clean or repair the places that needed it. Otherwise, they couldn't blame her if the price was driven down.
Lin Sen nodded and took the initiative to ask:
"Is there anything else?"
"Of course." Su Ning very generously forgave his slightly disrespectful wording and continued:
"There's no need to make any moves regarding Mayor Chen for now. Find out who is opposing him in the government, what forces are behind them, and what allies he has."
"I want that intelligence within five days."
The original work was ultimately just a book, and many things were left undescribed. For example, Chen Huaiqian was still the mayor in the story, but there was a difference between a puppet mayor and one with real power.
She didn't dare, nor would she, place her bets rashly.
"Why haven't you left yet?"
After Su Ning finished speaking, she fell into deep thought. A good while later, she looked up only to find Lin Sen still standing motionless in the same spot, so she asked in confusion.
Oh, so the instructions are finally over?
Great. That means he only has one, two, three, four... four things to do.
Lin Sen felt a wave of dizziness. He wanted to say something, but he looked down at his brand-new leather shoes. They were handmade by a master from a time-honored brand, using top-quality cowhide.
The price of one pair was enough to cover his food and drink for half a year in the past.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Sen looked up again and nodded with a smile:
"Apologies, I have a slight issue with a deficiency of qi and blood. I just needed to stand and catch my breath. I've recovered now."
After saying that, he turned and strode away, though his footsteps looked a bit unsteady.
Su Ning shook her head. A deficiency of qi and blood was probably just low blood sugar. Next time, she would have to remind him to carry some candy with him—otherwise, if he fainted, he'd need time off to recuperate.
Where else would she find such a capable assistant?
