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CHAPTER 267

None of them could answer. They all felt embarrassed. They never meant things that way but it ended up just being like that.

"You do not want her to take it up cause you are too scared thinking she is but a child, yet you cannot do the work yourselves and you think she is incorrigible too."

"No sir."

"Sigh. I have made my decision since none of you is willing. I have faith in her, I know she would not disappoint me. Li Jing would oversee the hotel-resort project and everyone is subject under her."

"Noted sir." They said in unison.

"We are sorry sir. We apologize for our inadequacies," they chorused once more.

"Whatever you say. You all may leave now."

"Yes, Chairman Lin," they chorused once more before using the exit.

Immediately he heard the door shut close, Lin Zian let out an exasperated sigh. What were they thinking anyway? He shook his head and used two of his fingers to massage his temple.

"Li Jing, you have a lot of changing of hearts to do, dear but I know that you would scale through no doubt."

***

At the Lin residence, Li Jing is seen sitting on a chair on her balcony overseeing the garden at the side of the house when her phone rings.

She looked at the number on her screen, it was an unknown number. "Hello."

"Good evening ma."

"Evening. Please who am I unto?" Li Jing asked calmly, she was hoping to deduce who the person was but even after he spoke, she could not get it right.

"My name is Uncover. Mr Jayden John gave me your number. He said you needed my services."

"Oh, that is true."

Jayden John was the name of one of her grandfather's bodyguard assigned to her. She had requested from them that she needed an investigator, so he referred her to Jayden.

"Thank you for calling. I would have loved to see you so that I would know the person I am dealing with."

"Sure. No problem. State your time and your place."

"China's Crab, tomorrow at sunset. Second floor.'

"Noted. I would be there at exactly 6: 00 pm," Uncover stated.

"Okay. See you there."

BEEP!

The call ended and she dropped it on the small table by her side. The night was hers to relax as she had just completed all that was needed of her to settle the company's crisis.

"Time for phase one. Time to figure out the link between all these money conniving scheming family members of mine and my mother.

Knock! Knock!

At the sound on her bedroom door, Li Jing's eyes narrowed as she waited for the person to come in.

The door pushed open and with it came the head of someone she was least expecting, her grand auntie.

"Hey, baby girl."

0_0

"Auntie!" She immediately stood up and ran to hug her aunt. It had been like a week since she last saw her on the day of the family get together.

It was a wonder she travelled back here again in such a short time. Without being told, Li Jing knew that it was something important that brought her here.

"Welcome, auntie. Why didn't you inform me that you were coming?" Li Jing asked with a small playful frown on her lips.

"Would you have prepared a banquet for me or something?"

"Umm no, but at least I would have ensured that one of the drivers pick you up and gotten a sumptuous dinner prepared for you."

"Sigh, I cannot say I am tired of their dinner here but then again, I can pass."

She shrugged her shoulder and looked at Li Jing without much care for what she said. "It is nothing that THRILLING, anymore."

"Pff, auntie, come on. I met that I, Li Jing would have personally made you a nice dinner. At least you cannot say no to my cooking."

"Really!" Her eyes lit up alongside her face as a dazzling smile enveloped her being. "I get to eat my grandniece's cooking. Wow, I am so flattered. Well, now that is an offer worth looking towards my dear."

"Yeah, but you didn't call me." Li Jing lowered her eyes and looked at her hands were her fingers were joined together.

"Oh please, this is just one night. I have two more nights here my darling. Who said you couldn't still make me a sumptuous meal?"

"I like that. Come let us go inside. Have you seen grandfather?"

"Not yet."

"Oh, then let us go and see him together, hmm?"

***

In Lin Zian's big parlour on the third floor, he sits down on one of the sofa's and watches the news when his eyes caught sight of two astonishing ladies walking towards him.

"Hello, brother-in-law, good evening."

"Ah, Huilang. My naughty brother's wife."

"Jie isn't naughty. Just thank goodness he isn't here or you two would have hit it off wrong again."

"Pff…" He scoffed at her before gesturing for her to sit down along with Li Jing."

"How are you granddaughter?"

"I am okay grandfather and you?" Li Jing asked moving past her aunt to sit down close to her.

"Good." He clapped his hand twice and three maids exited while another three reentered the living room with drinks and glass cups alongside.

"Thank you, brother-in-law."

"Thank you, gramps."

"And why are you two thanking me? Anyways, I was thinking, what brought this sister-in-law of mine to this city today? Do not tell me that it is because you missed me or is it that you miss your grandniece more/"

"Funny, brother. As much as I wish for it to be the latter, it isn't. I am here for a business meeting. Jie could not come so I am standing in for him.

"That is good. Help yourselves then." Both ladies wasted no time in picking up their half-filled glasses of wine and settled back in on their seats.

"By the way, grandfather, what is it with me and the new building plan? Why me?"

"Simple, because it is you."

"Huh?" Both ladies were utterly speechless about his reply and waited for him to reply accordingly when he noticed the confusion on their faces.

"Because it is you. You are a smart and intelligent woman, Li Jing and to me, that is all that mattered. I am old and shouldn't be running some things anymore."

Lin Zian took in a deep breath slowly then looked at his granddaughter and continued. "It is why I have you as my heir and who better than you to handle the project?"

"But grandfather, I do not know…"

"Do not doubt your strength and capabilities child," Lin Zian cut in calmly. "You can do it. You have so much inside you. I am sorry for not informing you first but I want you to push on with the project."

"I know. It is not going to be easy but I would try."

"Nothing in life ever is easy dearie. Put in your best, show everyone that you are good at what you do and you are just a pushover."

Li Jing looked at her auntie by her side and smiled at her.

"Thank you, auntie. It means alot."

"Just to add to it, make sure your third grand auntie knows that you are very much entitled to your fortune not just because you were born with a silver spoon but because you've got the beauty, brains and brawl."

"Noted auntie."

Lin Zian was more than happy that his younger brother and sister-in-law were busy supporting Li Jing just as they had supported his daughter when she was there with them.

"Now, you do not have much to worry. Thankfully, we are doing this business in partnership with the Kim Group and luckily for you, my dear, Kim's heir, Kim Fan is a brilliant and handsome young man filled with intellect. I have no doubt you two would get along well."

"And what are you insinuating, brother?" Lin Huilang asked her brother-in-law.

"What do you mean by that? I am just saying she would have a necessary help. What is wrong with that?"

"I just hope you are not getting any funny second ideas." Lin Huilang moved her pointy finger in a warning manner at him.

"Tsk, you over thought."

"Let's hope so. Now my dear, you can go have fun and leave these two old ones alone."

"Oh no worries auntie. I am happy being here."

"I know. I would get back to you soon, your aunt and grandfather one to have a word alone. I need to discuss something with him."

"Sure. Okay, goodnight gramps. See you later auntie."

"Goodnight dear," Lin Zian bade her goodnight and hugged her before she left.

None of them spoke till Like Jing was out of the living room.

"Ahem!"

"What?" Lin Zian asked.

"Don't play innocent with me. What are you up to?"

"As I said before, nothing."

"I need not warn you, Lin Zian. Do not let there be a repitition."