Chapter 70: Chapter 70

Chapter 70: Exposing Weakness and Striking Back Hard!

Due to Lin Guoqiang’s rare appearances in the media, few people in the classroom recognized him.

Those who did recognize him doubted themselves – such a high-ranking mayor wouldn’t have time to attend a parent-teacher meeting for his child.

Although he was surrounded by many people when he came in, most assumed these were parents consulting Teacher Wang Yi about their children’s progress.

Lin Guoqiang was pleased that no one in the classroom recognized him. It would have been troublesome if they had – everyone would want to greet and chat with him, disrupting the meeting.

Su Lin was somewhat speechless. Ever since sitting down, Lin Guoqiang had been glaring at him, as if his gaze could kill. Su Lin wondered why a mayor would resort to such tactics. Wasn’t it boring?

Just as Su Lin was about to speak, Lin Guoqiang finally said, “Young man, are you the son of Su Zhenguo?”

Su Lin nodded: “Uncle Lin, we had dinner together last year.”

“Hmm~! Xiaowan has been mentioning you a lot lately.”

“Uh… What did Xiaowan say about me?”

When Su Lin called her ‘Xiaowan’, Lin Guoqiang’s eyes narrowed: “She said you’re compassionate, excel in academics, capable, strong, creative, and have a broad perspective!!!”

Lin Guoqiang listed all the praises Lin Xiaowan had for Su Lin as if it was nothing. Su Lin realized that Lin Guoqiang was making fun of him. How could anyone be so perfect? By saying this, Lin Guoqiang was trying to embarrass him.

“Uncle~! Did Xiaowan really say that about me?” Su Lin feigned an innocent look, appearing quite elated.

Lin Guoqiang: “…”

Was the boy missing the point? A full-score student couldn’t understand what he meant? Impossible. Su Lin was playing dumb.

“Young man, drop the act. Playing dumb? I stopped doing that when I was eighteen. Only kids play dumb,” Lin Guoqiang scoffed.

Su Lin smiled: “Uncle Lin, aren’t you also playing games with me? Praising me so much, are you complimenting or mocking?”

“And I am a child. I’m only eighteen, and you, a forty-year-old, are mocking someone.”

“Hmph, if it weren’t for Xiaowan, I wouldn’t bother mocking you. Tell me honestly, do you have dishonorable intentions towards my daughter?” Lin Guoqiang glared at Su Lin menacingly.

“Uncle~!! Isn’t ‘dishonorable’ a bit inappropriate? Xiaowan is beautiful, has a great personality, talented, gentle, and generous. It’s only natural for me to like her.”

“Uncle~!! You can’t take away my right to like someone.”

“Good boy, so thick-skinned. You’re so young, how do you know what liking someone means? And when did I take away your right to like someone?”

“Others like her because they admire and appreciate beauty. What about you?”

Facing Lin Guoqiang’s questioning gaze, Su Lin was unafraid: “Of course, I admire her too. How could I like Xiaowan otherwise? But I’m different from others.”

“They didn’t take action because they knew they weren’t worthy of Xiaowan. I think I’m quite compatible with her.”

“Shameless!”

“Uncle~! You’re acting like a child right now. How did you become a mayor?”

Lin Guoqiang ignored Su Lin’s question: “Young man, I’m telling you, it’s fine to be friends with Xiaowan, but pursuing her is not allowed. Xiaowan’s future isn’t in Zhongjiang.”

“She won’t marry you. She will work in the government in the future, and her mother and I will help her find a suitable partner.”

“Xiaowan will go to university in the capital. There are countless outstanding youths there. I don’t mean to belittle you, but you still fall short compared to them.”

“Heh~! I feel like I’m back in the feudal era. Uncle~! I heard from Xiaowan that you hardly took care of her for eighteen years. She studied hard on her own. Now that she’s grown up, you suddenly want to control her life. Do you think that’s possible?”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t have the face to say such things.”

Faced with Su Lin’s sharp words, Lin Guoqiang was infuriated. He never expected a high school student to talk to him like this. In fact, Su Lin dared to speak this way because he knew Lin Guoqiang’s character; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so bold in front of a mayor.

Su Lin was relentless: “Eighteen years. How many eighteen years does one have? Once childhood is gone, it’s gone. Uncle~! Do you feel guilty?”

“As for how many outstanding people there are in the capital, I don’t care, nor does Xiaowan. What I care about is simple: whether Xiaowan is willing to be with me. If she is willing, no one can stop us.”

“What era is it? This is a time that values freedom and free love, not arranged marriages.”

Lin Guoqiang was left speechless by Su Lin’s retort. Indeed, he had many reasons to counter Su Lin, but Su Lin focused on one point.

Lin Guoqiang hadn’t been involved in Xiaowan’s life for eighteen years, so what right did he have to control her life now? Su Lin had rendered Lin Guoqiang speechless, stripping away his previous arrogance.

“Anyway, early romance is not allowed. If I find out you two are in a relationship, I’ll send her abroad.”

Su Lin’s smile grew wider: “Uncle~! Please, send Xiaowan away. Rest assured, as soon as she arrives, I’ll follow. We’ll be together then.”

Teacher Wang Yi praised Su Lin and Lin Xiaowan from the podium, and some parents listened attentively. However, he noticed that Su Lin and Lin Guoqiang weren’t listening but whispering to each other.

Su Lin wore a smile, while Lin Guoqiang looked angry and helpless. Wang Yi was puzzled – what was going on between these two?

Seeing Lin Guoqiang glaring at him speechlessly, Su Lin knew not to overdo it: “Uncle~! Just relax. We’re all preparing for the college entrance exams now. After the exams, it’s university. You can’t stop me from pursuing Xiaowan then.”

“By that time, you can introduce Xiaowan to the outstanding youths you think highly of. We’ll compete fairly, and whether it works out will depend on my ability.”

Lin Guoqiang narrowed his eyes: “What are you planning, young man?”

“I’m just seeking an opportunity,” Su Lin said earnestly.

“Opportunity?” Lin Guoqiang looked at Su Lin suspiciously, instinctively not believing his words.

But Su Lin’s face showed no other expression.

“Uncle, if you forcefully separate me and Xiaowan, it will backfire. We’re not in a relationship yet, but after your meddling, I’m sure Xiaowan, with her temperament, will definitely be with me. So, in a way, I’m helping you resolve your worries.”

“You think you’re being kind-hearted?”

“I said, I’m just fighting for my chance. I believe in ‘man’s determination conquers fate’,” Su Lin declared confidently.

“Man conquers fate, fine, I’ll see how you do it.”

“Heh… Let’s wait and see,” Su Lin chuckled.

Lin Guoqiang snorted and stopped arguing. He felt he had been hasty in confronting Su Lin, not knowing him well enough, and Su Lin had hit his weak spot.

Moreover, Su Lin wasn’t like those in their system; he was unpredictable in conversation, jumping from one topic to another, making it hard to pin him down.

“You’re opening a supermarket on Zhongjiang Avenue?”

Su Lin nodded: “Yes, Uncle. That area is a new development zone, the future economic center of Zhongjiang. I think opening a supermarket there is an excellent choice.”

Now it was Lin Guoqiang’s turn to be surprised. During their conversation, he had thought Su Lin was just shameless. He hadn’t expected Su Lin to have such a thorough analysis of Zhongjiang’s economy.

Lin Guoqiang knew about Zhongjiang’s economic construction, and he was sure Xiaowan didn’t know about it.

“What makes you so sure it will be the economic center?”

“Real estate development, new residential areas, parks, schools moving there, and the hospital under construction. Isn’t it obvious?”

Lin Guoqiang: “…”