The Challenge (5)

Since Xiu Ling had said that, Lin Kang was going to try his best to support her. Even though he still did not think this was a good idea, perhaps a side of him still worried that she might fail, at the very least, he did not try to stop her and in fact, he tried his best to be in her corner.

Elder Lin said that he was not allowed to help Xiu Ling monetary but he was allowed to help her from other aspects. Therefore, after the board of directors and Elder Lin left, Lin Kang sat down to help Xiu Ling draft her business plan.

Xiu Ling had no idea what kind of business she was going to have, after all, she had no experience in this field before. Lin Kang gave her the idea of opening a retail store. Starting a company like Lin Corps would help roll in the cash but that would be something for the long run. Xiu Ling was required to earn 10,000 in a week, she did not have the time waiting for a company to grow.

Therefore, the most direct and quick was to start a retail business. With enough popularity and people willing to spend at her shop, it was not impossible to reach the target of 10,000 in a week.

However, what kind of stuff to sell, that was something that she had not considered yet. Lin Kang suggested she could tap into the female market by focusing on cosmetics and fashion. Xiu Ling accepted them into her consideration but she was not that keen on the idea. She did not see her life as being tied to these types of product, she was just not that kind of woman. Perhaps it would have worked for someone like her best friend, but definitely not her. She did not have the passion for this particular industry.

They discussed this until the company closed for the day and they still had not come to a conclusion. Lin Kang volunteered to drive Xiu Ling home like how they had been doing it since Lin Kang offered Xiu Ling a job at his company.

When they stepped through the front door of the Lin family manor, the maid who had been busy cleaning the living room, came over to inform Xiu Ling, "Miss, the Old Master would like to have a talk with you. He's waiting for you at his study."

Xiu Ling was rather surprised by this request because she assumed Elder Lin had told her everything he had to tell at the company. In any case, she thanked the maid and decided to head for Elder Lin's study.

Very naturally, Lin Kang made to follow Xiu Ling. He was protective of his wife and if his father had plan to make things more difficult for his wife, he wanted to be there to stop him.

The maid hesitated before moving forward to stop them. "Young Master, the Old Master stated explicitly that he wishes to have a private talk with the Young Miss." Then, the maid quickly lowered her head because she could sense Lin Kang's fiery gaze that was boring into her soul. No one dared to stop Lin Kang but she had to abide by the order of Elder Lin as well. She hated to be placed in this awkward position.

The fact that Elder Lin stopped him from following Xiu Ling only raised more alarms in Lin Kang's mind. He had half a mind to tear into the maid who dared to stand in his way when Xiu Ling patted him lightly on his arm.

Xiu Ling pitied the maid, after all, she was only the messenger, she did nothing wrong. Xiu Ling did not want Lin Kang to shoot the messenger. She comforted Lin Kang, "It's alright. I'm sure father only want to have a little chat. It'll be fine. I will see you during dinner."

As much as he wanted to be there for Xiu Ling, Lin Kang found himself unable to resist his wife's demand. Lin Kang turned to Xiu Ling and told her in a sincere tone, "Please be careful."

"I will." Xiu Ling then parted from Lin Kang as she moved to Elder Lin's study.

The maid who watched this all unfold could not help but roll her eyes at their dramatization of the whole situation. Young Miss was merely going to have a talk with the Old Master but the Young Master was making it look like she was going to the war or something.

Lin Kang watched Xiu Ling walk away with worry with his eyes. After Xiu Ling turned the corner, Lin Kang finally turned and walked off. On the way to his office, Lin Kang ran into his mother.

Seeing the expression on his face, Mrs. Lin stopped him to ask him what was wrong. Lin Kang filled her mother in on the situation and Mrs. Lin was shocked. Just as she thought the relationship between Lin Kang and Xiu Ling was going smoothly, this had to happened. Mrs. Lin sighed.

However, Mrs. Lin also knew her husband had his reasons. They had been married for far too long for her not to realize that. All she could do was to comfort her son, telling him everything would be alright... or was it?

Xiu Ling knocked on the door to Elder Lin's study. Then, her father-in-law's voice came out from within. "Come in."

Xiu Ling opened the door and she found her father-in-law seated at the sofa with a pot of tea in front of him, on the coffee table. This familiar scene reminded her of that one thing she came to ask for his father's favour to rescind Lin Kang's order to save Xu Jing's company.

Things had changed so much and yet stayed the same since then. She had a family of one in the Lins back then but now she had a family of four, and similar to back then, she loved them all.