Chapter 18: Suffocation
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“Xiao Nan is not only handsome and courteous, but at such a young age, he already possesses medical skills so extraordinary they seem almost miraculous.”
“To have gained such an outstanding son-in-law is not only my daughter’s good fortune, but also a blessing for the entire Lin family!”
In front of countless dignitaries below the stage, Lin Guodong made no effort to hide his praise for Xiao Nan.
As he spoke, he cast a meaningful glance toward the table where the Xie and Li families were seated and smiled. “Speaking of which, my Lin family’s good fortune in gaining such an exceptional son-in-law is thanks in no small part to the Xie family—and the Li family as well.”
As he spoke, Lin Guodong raised the wineglass in his hand. “Patriarch Xie, Patriarch Li, allow me to toast you both.”
“Oh?”
“What does this have to do with the Xie and Li families?”
Everyone present grew curious.
Could it be that the Xie and Li families had introduced the miracle doctor Xiao Nan to Lin Guodong when he was ill?
If that was truly the case, then they had done the Lin family an enormous favor!
They had been wondering why Lin Guodong had gone out of his way to invite second-rate families such as the Xie and Li families to today’s engagement banquet.
Now they knew the reason.
It seemed they would have to cultivate closer ties with those two families from now on. With the Lin family behind them, these two second-rate clans might very well rise rapidly in Luocheng.
Yet Lin Guodong continued, “There is something everyone may not know. Before this, the elders of my exceptional son-in-law Xiao Nan’s family had arranged a marriage between him and the eldest daughter of the Xie family.”
“However, not long ago, when Xiao Nan took the marriage contract to the Xie family, intending to marry the eldest daughter of the Xie family…”
“She tore up the marriage contract right in front of him, became engaged to the eldest son of the Li family, and then drove him out of the Xie residence without the slightest hesitation.”
“Hahaha! If not for that, how could my Lin family have gained such an exceptional son-in-law? Tell me, shouldn’t I, Lin Guodong, properly thank the two patriarchs of the Xie and Li families?”
Lin Guodong’s words once again set the entire hall abuzz.
“Pfft… So that’s what the Lin family head meant by solemnly thanking the Xie and Li families.”
Anyone with eyes could see what was happening.
The richest man in the Lin family was venting his anger on behalf of his future son-in-law.
Those who, only a moment earlier, had been thinking about drawing closer to the two families now immediately abandoned the idea.
Draw closer?
From now on, they had better stay as far away from them as possible!
The Xie family had truly been blind. Not only had they missed out on a young miracle doctor like Xiao Nan, they had also offended the Lin family.
They might not even be able to preserve their status as a second-rate clan in the future.
Xie Meina stared fixedly at Xiao Nan, who was standing onstage in the full glory of the moment, and bit her lip hard.
Her mind was already drowning in endless regret.
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She had actually abandoned a promising young miracle doctor like Xiao Nan for the sake of Li Yadong.
She regretted it deeply.
“Impossible. Absolutely impossible.”
“There’s no way he could be a miracle doctor.”
At that moment, the fury in Li Yadong’s gaze toward Xiao Nan nearly burst into flames.
He was nothing but a country bumpkin.
It was bad enough that Lin Ziqing, a breathtaking beauty, had become engaged to him.
Now Li Yadong even sensed that his own fiancée, Xie Meina, seemed to be regretting the decision they had made back then.
That made his anger burn even hotter.
He immediately took out his phone and called Li Yunbao.
“Hello, Brother Bao. Didn’t you promise last time to deal with that country bumpkin named Xiao Nan? How is it that he’s not only perfectly fine, but is now smugly getting engaged to someone?”
“I’m extremely unhappy every time I look at him. I want you to bring your men here right now and teach him a lesson. In addition to what we agreed on last time, I’ll give you another ten million.”
“Yes, right now. Qingyun Hotel. Bring as many people as possible, and hurry.”
He had intended from the beginning to summon people to cause trouble and ruin Xiao Nan’s big day.
Li Yadong had made no attempt to conceal the call.
The people seated nearby all changed color when they heard it.
“Brother Yadong, what are you doing?”
Even Xie Meina was startled by the call and hurriedly reminded him, “This is the Lin family’s hotel.”
Li Yadong snorted. “So what if it’s the Lin family’s hotel? Didn’t you hear how that Lin fellow humiliated both our families in front of everyone just now? If he refuses to show us any respect, why should we show him any?”
“Brother Bao’s men will be here soon. Today, I’m going to teach that bastard surnamed Xiao a proper lesson and make sure this engagement never takes place.”
Hearing Li Yadong’s words, Li Changsheng and Xie Wenqiang, who had been about to say something, both fell silent.
Li Yadong was right. Lin Guodong’s speech onstage had clearly been a vicious public slap in the face to both families before the entire city of Luocheng.
There was no need for them to show the Lin family any further respect. After all, a break between them was inevitable once today was over.
The Xie family deeply regretted missing out on a miracle doctor like Xiao Nan as a son-in-law.
But they also knew that regret was useless now. They had no choice but to continue standing together with the Li family.
Lin Guodong had just handed the stage over to Xiao Nan and Lin Ziqing and walked down.
Two old friends immediately pulled him aside and told him that Li Yadong intended to bring people there to cause trouble.
“Brother Bao? You mean Li Yunbao, the man with considerable influence in the South District?” Lin Guodong asked, his brow instantly furrowing.
He knew who Brother Bao was.
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They said he had several hundred men under his command.
Lin Guodong had never imagined that the Xie and Li families would be so brazen. He had merely made a few pointed remarks to vent his son-in-law’s anger, yet they had dared to call in underworld figures to wreck the Lin family’s event.
They were completely refusing to play by the rules.
The thought of those underworld figures gave Lin Guodong an immediate headache.
Although he was Luocheng’s richest man, all his businesses were legitimate. He had never had much contact with the city’s underground forces.
“Dad, should I call the police?” Lin Shuyun suggested.
“It won’t help.” Lin Guodong shook his head.
If Li Yunbao did not bring too many men, the Lin family’s bodyguards and security personnel could handle them.
But if he brought all several hundred of his men…
Even if they called the police, the Luocheng authorities would probably only be able to come out and clean up after Li Yunbao had finished wrecking the place and left.
Onstage, the emcee, who had no idea what was really happening, continued presiding over Xiao Nan and Lin Ziqing’s engagement ceremony.
Below, however, the guests could not help but worry for the miracle doctor who was basking in his triumph onstage.
The contents of Li Yadong’s phone call had already spread throughout the hall.
“You didn’t hear Li Yadong’s tone on the phone. He clearly intends for Brother Bao to kill Xiao Nan!”
“Speaking of which, Brother Bao is quite a formidable man. I wonder why he would listen to Li Yadong.”
“I know why. Before Brother Bao made his fortune, Li Yadong’s father, Li Changsheng, once saved his life.”
“Tsk, tsk. Xiao Nan is in real danger today. I doubt the Lin family can protect him.”
Before Lin Guodong could come up with a response, he saw a crowd of men in black uniforms and sunglasses storm into the hall.
They formed a dark, imposing mass—there appeared to be several hundred of them.
Many people recognized the burly, crew-cut man at their head.
It was Brother Bao.
In an instant, the air throughout the hall became suffocating.
Lin Guodong sighed silently.
The very thing he had feared had come to pass.
Li Yunbao had actually brought every one of his men.