Chapter 21

He still had some things he hadn't said to Meng Zidan. Of course, the enemies also included those who wanted to kidnap Qiao Antian, but these small hooligans like Gao Yunliang were clearly not in the same league as those desperados. If a problem couldn't be solved with guns, how could they send people with steel pipes and machetes?

Moreover, at the time of the incident, all the fierce bandits who had seen his face had been killed by him.

Ning Lan didn't speak, tacitly accepting Lin Zixian's explanation. She didn't understand the intricacies of such violent affairs.

"Lanlan, what's the deal with this Dong Jiayun?" Meng Zidan asked with a displeased look. Someone causing trouble in the Ivory Coast she managed naturally made her unhappy.

"She was originally the head of the General Affairs Department of my Minghua Group..." Ning Lan briefly recounted the events.

"Jiuren Zhan's niece's son dares to act so arrogantly, actually causing trouble in my Ivory Coast. I think he doesn't want to be a deputy director anymore..." Meng Zidan's face turned red with anger. She leaned forward, picked up the phone on the table, and dialed a number.

Soon, the phone was answered by an unusually enthusiastic voice from Jiu Renzhan: "Is this President Meng? ... Hello! Hello! What can I do for you?" His tone seemed even more respectful than when he spoke to Qiao Antian.

Meng Zidan coldly said, "Director Jiu! The public security in your Donghai is a big problem!"

The other end of the phone was stunned, not knowing why this young lady would call him about this. Given her background, if there was an issue, she would usually go directly to the chief, not to a deputy director. This was truly strange.

However, his tone immediately became serious, "President Meng, has someone offended you?"

"I'm sure you're not unfamiliar with the name Gao Yunliang. This person actually led a group of people armed with weapons to storm into my Ivory Coast and attack my guests. I was wondering who this person was, and upon inquiry, it turned out to be your relative. Director Jiu, you are truly formidable!" Meng Zidan sneered.

Gao Yunliang? Jiu Renzhan on the other end of the phone was completely petrified, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. While ordinary people might not know Meng Zidan's identity, how could he not?

The Meng family was a prominent family in the capital, with many of their children involved in military and political affairs, and some holding high positions. If the Meng family wanted to deal with a deputy director like him, a single word could make his life unbearable.

"President Meng, I... I will bring that beast to apologize to you, you..."

Before he could finish his trembling words, Meng Zidan interrupted, "No need. As a local official, you should bring benefits to the people, not harm them. I hope Director Jiu will take care of yourself. I don't want this to happen again!" Without waiting for a response, she hung up the phone, the demeanor of a prominent family's offspring evident.

Lin Zixian smiled. With this phone call, Dong Jiayun probably wouldn't dare to act recklessly anymore. Ning Lan, however, was secretly impressed. The Meng family's wealth and power were far beyond what a pure businessman like Qiao Antian could compare to.

On the other end, Jiu Renzhan, holding the phone, felt dizzy. His wife, noticing something was wrong, asked, "What happened?"

Smash! Jiu Renzhan directly smashed the phone to pieces and roared at her, "It's all because of your sister's good son!" His wife was still in a daze when he rushed out of the house like a gust of wind to settle accounts with Gao Yunliang.

Back in the suite at the Ivory Coast, Meng Zidan had only casually warned Jiu Renzhan and didn't take the matter to heart. Looking at the silent Ning Lan, she asked with a hint of meaning, "Lanlan, I heard you almost had an incident? Why don't you come and help me? The treatment I offer won't be worse than what Qiao Antian offers you!"

She was referring to the incident with Qiao Antian. However, there were some things she couldn't say in front of Lin Zixian, as she didn't know the relationship between Lin Zixian and Ning Lan. But it showed how well-informed she was; the matter hadn't been made public, yet she already knew.

Ning Lan almost without hesitation shook her head, "Zidan, I appreciate your kindness. You know my situation. If it weren't for Chairman Qiao's support and help, I wouldn't even have the chance to go to college, let alone have my current life. Chairman Qiao has given me a second chance, and this isn't about the treatment."

"If you could come and help me, that would be great." Meng Zidan sighed, reaching out to embrace her shoulder. Their heads leaned together, a gentle affection that made people envious. She suddenly shook Ning Lan's shoulder, glancing at the lazy Lin Zixian, and laughed, "You really keep him as a kept man, don't you?"

At these words, Lin Zixian's gaze, which had been looking out the window, quickly turned back. Ning Lan, trying to suppress her laughter, said, "He said I'm beautiful and have a luxury car, so he wants to live off me. I agreed to keep him, and he agreed. Is it true or not?"

These words didn't seem very credible, and Meng Zidan couldn't help but ask Lin Zixian for confirmation, "Mr. Lin, do you really want to live off our Lanlan?"

"Cough, cough!" Lin Zixian cleared his throat. Since it was a verbal sparring match, he didn't believe a grown man would have a thinner skin than a woman. So he shamelessly nodded, "On the condition that she warms my bed."

"Wow!" Meng Zidan exclaimed excitedly, "Lanlan, did you agree to warm his bed?"

"If Lin Zixian really had the face to be a kept man, what's the problem with me warming his bed? The key is whether he dares," Ning Lan shot a disdainful look at Lin Zixian.

Meng Zidan, eager to stir things up, cheered, "That's right! Mr. Lin, do you dare?"

"Tsk!" Lin Zixian put on a tough guy act, saying disdainfully, "Who benefits and who loses is obvious. I have nothing to fear."

"Hey!" Meng Zidan let out a strange cry, stood up, and her simple white cheongsam accentuated her good figure. With a mischievous smile, she looked left and right and clapped her hands, "Since that's the case, I'll make it happen for you. I'll book the best sea-view presidential suite for you tonight. Whoever doesn't dare is a dog!"

Lin Zixian rolled his eyes, speechless. This woman was just causing trouble. Didn't she see they were joking? Why did she come to join in? Ning Lan's face turned red...

Meng Zidan laughed uncontrollably, sitting down and hugging Ning Lan, who pinched her hard a few times before she begged for mercy and changed the subject, "Is Mr. Lin really the deputy head of security at Minghua Group?"

Lin Zixian shrugged, not confirming or denying. Ning Lan answered for him, "Yes, appointed by the chairman."

"Looks like Minghua Group is full of hidden talents!" Meng Zidan's eyes widened in surprise, "Like our Lanlan, several multinational corporations offered her high salaries and positions, but she chose to stay as Qiao Antian's assistant. I can see that Mr. Lin's skills are not ordinary. With such abilities, making money is not difficult, yet he chooses to be a deputy head of security at Minghua Group. It's truly unbelievable. Qiao Antian must have some special way of attracting talent. I underestimated him... Mr. Lin, why don't you come to our Ivory Coast? I'll double whatever Qiao Antian offers you. How about it?"

Lin Zixian smiled but said nothing. He didn't seem to be the kind of person who could be swayed by money. Ning Lan pinched Meng Zidan again, glaring, "Why do you always try to poach people? ... We're here to eat. Is the seating arranged?"

"Alright! I know he's your kept man, I won't take him from you. I'll just borrow him when I have the chance, don't be so stingy." Meng Zidan dodged her claws, smiling and walked up to Lin Zixian, extending her hand, "How about we become friends? Let's call each other by our first names from now on!"

Lin Zixian stood up and shook her hand again. After letting go, she walked to the window and pointed up and down, "I've prepared two seats for you, one by the sea and one on the rooftop terrace. Which one do you choose?"

Lin Zixian looked at Ning Lan, who seemed indifferent, and scratched his head, "Let's go by the sea! It's more convenient for smoking!"

After confirming the location, the three of them went downstairs. As they stepped out of the lobby, soft lights illuminated the white marble square, where many tables were set up. A gentle sea breeze blew, and the green trees swayed. Tourists and couples sat in groups, enjoying their meals outdoors.

At the edge of the square, near the sea, white wooden bridges extended every twenty to thirty meters, leading to circular terraces. The terraces were surrounded by simple fences, suspended over the sand, with wooden stairs leading down to the beach.

The white skyscrapers, the white open square, the white wooden bridges, and the white sand—this was the Ivory Coast!

Meng Zidan personally led the two to the terrace at the end of the wooden bridge. Such seating was clearly limited. Lin Zixian looked around and estimated there were at most a dozen, most of which were occupied, indicating that reservations were necessary.

Each terrace was dimly lit, and while they were not far apart, the night made it impossible to see the people on the opposite terrace or hear their conversations, unless someone laughed loudly. Otherwise, the sound would be easily drowned out by the waves.

Occasionally, a ship would pass by in the distance, and the sound of the waves, the wind, the stars, the moon, and the lights made dining here a true pleasure. It seemed simple but exuded luxury and class.

Extra chairs at the table had been removed, leaving only three. After Lin Zixian and Ning Lan sat down, polite waiters arrived, serving utensils, dishes, and pouring wine for the three of them.

Meng Zidan sat for a while, checked her watch, sipped her wine, and raised her glass to the two, "Enjoy your meal. I'll go attend to the guests." She then stood up and left with her glass.

Lin Zixian's stomach was already growling, and seeing the sumptuous feast, he forgot about manners, rolled up his sleeves, and started cutting a large piece of steak with his knife and fork, chewing and swallowing it with a gulp of red wine. He gave Ning Lan a thumbs up, "It's delicious, hurry up and eat!" and continued to busy himself with his knife and fork.

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