"Eh? Cousin has arrived, haha." Tao Shuishui was overjoyed.

"Who is this?" Both the landlady and the Old Director were puzzled, seeing that the woman was full of spirit, qi and mind, and faintly had the air of authority of a superior, coupled with the exceptional red flag sedan, she must be someone of extraordinary status.

"This is Mayor Tao of Huadu City." Ouyang Xiaoya explained with a smile.

"What!"

Both the landlady and the Old Director were stunned.

Mayor Tao actually came to a small county town!

"That fatty over there is Huadu City's Police Chief, Xiao Selang, Uncle Old Director, he's your immediate superior." Tao Shuishui joked half-seriously.

"What?! He is Director Xiao?" The Old Director was shocked once again.

The impact of Xiao Selang was much greater than that of Tao Xia, as they belong to the same work system, and he is his immediate superior.

"Who in the world is Brother Lin? He even knows such high-ranking officials." The Old Director couldn't believe it.

Tao Shuishui pouted, "Dabang Lin is just a little security guard, and also a driver."

"People are only considering President Ouyang's face."

"Tsk tsk, Miss Ouyang, I really didn't see it coming, your interpersonal relations are astonishing," the Old Director said in amazement once again.

For a woman to have such a background was already very impressive.

The landlady also took a deep breath in envy, looking at Ouyang Xiaoya with envy. This girl was not only exceptionally beautiful, but her career and social relations were also enviable. Even though they were both women, it was clear that people's fates are different, but she didn't feel the slightest envy.

"Lin, what have you been busy with lately? You didn't even give me a call!" Tao Xia's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her moist eyes held a hint of annoyance, her tone coquettishly reproachful.

Boss Lu was shocked for the fourth time in his heart, damn, who is this guy? Mayor Tao's tone just now clearly sounded like a young wife or a resentful woman seeing the man she loves.

"Cough cough, I've been somewhat busy lately," Lin Hai said with a cold sweat, already seeing a look of dissatisfaction in her eyes.

"Speaking of which, how did you end up mixing with my cousin?" Tao Xia interrogated.

"Uh, that's not a very civil way to put it, what do you mean 'ended up mixing together'? Tsk tsk, we are innocent," Lin Hai retorted.

"What I meant by 'mixing together' is just being ordinary friends, it seems your value perspective has been completely twisted by dirty thoughts."

"Nani? I'm very pure, okay?" Lin Hai retorted again.

"Hmph, you, pure? Our values are completely different."

"How are they different?" Lin Hai widened his eyes.

"The so-called difference in values is that when given a candle, some people think it's missing a cake, while others would think it lacks a whip."

"Sister, I feel like you're wronging me," Lin Hai protested.

"Don't call me 'sister', call me 'big sister'," Tao Xia got slightly angry, it has been so long since she had been yearning for People Lin, enduring the cold edge of her bed, lonely and cold, and this guy doesn't even have sweet words to comfort a woman upon seeing her, it's simply unbearable.

"I don't think there's much of a difference," Lin Hai snickered with a bad grin.

Tao Xia glared at Lin Hai fiercely and asked, "How is there no difference? Tell me, is there a difference between Big Aunt and auntie?"

"Cough cough," Lin Hai choked.

"Cousin, cousin, I missed you so much, muah," Tao Shuishui also ran out of the restaurant, cheering and jumping for joy.

"I'll deal with you later!" Tao Xia glared fiercely at Lin Hai.

Lin Hai pursed his lips, feigning the expression of a wronged little wife.

"Eh? Cousin, you know Dabang Lin?" Tao Shuishui, seeing this scene, asked in confusion.

"What did you just call him?!" Tao Xia's eyes widened in surprise as she asked.

Tao Shuishui nodded, "Yep, Dabang Lin, that's his nickname."

"Have you seen him before?" Tao Xia quickly followed up, casting a wary glance at Lin Hai.

"Sh*t!" Lin Hai's head immediately felt as big as a bucket, sensing he was getting into trouble.

Tao Shuishui vigorously shook her head.

Lin Hai secretly sweated a lot, and let out a long sigh of relief.

But right after that, Tao Shuishui spoke again, causing Lin Hai's heart to leap into his throat.

"No, I haven't seen him, but Sister Chuqing said his old nickname was Dabang Lin."

Lin Hai breathed a sigh of relief once more, feeling as though he had narrowly escaped catastrophe.

"Oh, that's right, I remember, he once bumped into me, it hurt so much," Tao Shuishui added.

Instantly, Beast Lin felt a sharp gaze like a cold blade shine directly on his head, making his scalp tingle.

"Beast, what on earth did you do to my cousin?!" Tao Xia angrily interrogated Lin Hai, and from her tightly knitted brows, it was apparent she was truly enraged.

Lin Hai hurriedly waved his hands, trying to look as innocent as possible, explaining, "It's really a misunderstanding, we just accidentally bumped into each other at the corner."

"Misunderstanding? Damn beast, Shuishui just graduated from high school and is only nineteen years old this year! You, you've truly disappointed me!" Tao Xia's pretty shoulders trembled with anger.

"It's really a misunderstanding, ask Shuishui, it's really a misunderstanding," Lin Hai said while wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, thinking all sorts of "sh*t" in his mind.

"Lin Hai, you have to explain this matter to me clearly, if you've truly harmed my cousin, I will never let it go even if it kills me!" Tao Xia grew more and more agitated as she spoke, her eyes shimmering with a trace of tears.

Deep down, she was actually very afraid, profoundly afraid of that kind of disappointment.

If Lin Hai had really done something, Tao Xia could never bring herself to hurt him, because she loved that man. But love often made her unable to fight back and would rather hurt herself. She did not want to end up like that.

"Mayor Tao, hello." Ouyang Xiaoya also happened to walk out.

The awkward conversation paused temporarily because of her arrival.

"When we get back, you must give me a thorough explanation," Tao Xia whispered.

Lin Hai nodded frantically, like a pecking chick, more obedient than ever could be.

"This must be the Ice Mountain CEO of Huadu, I've long admired your reputation," Bai Gu also greeted with a smile.

Ouyang Xiaoya looked confusedly at Bai Gu, then glanced at Lin Hai.

"Oh, this is Bai, a good friend of mine. He struck it rich last year and heard I had some troubles, so he made a special trip over. He used to be a security guard," Lin Hai lied with a smile.

After all, Bai Gu had a different identity, being involved in the underworld.

Ouyang Xiaoya extended her hand to Bai Gu, "Nice to meet you, Bai."

"Lin Hai, I think Bai is much stronger than you, both gentle and kind."

"Cough cough," Lin Hai silently despised the CEO's judgment. Bai Gu, gentle? The man was utterly ruthless when it came to killing.

...

The matter with Boss Lu was completely settled, making Lin Hai deeply understand what it meant to be within Bai Gu's sphere of influence around Huadu; with Bai Gu stepping in, no one dared to contest, and his reputation alone was enough to scare a bunch of people silly.

Regarding the matter of the medicinal herb fields on the back hill, Ouyang Xiaoya and Tao Xia communicated, and Vice County Magistrate Zhang and Director Wu who arrived guaranteed they would fully cooperate to ensure the matter was well handled.

Ouyang Xiaoya and others were also invited to visit the site for field inspections.

As for Lin Hai, he was left behind to settle the bill with the boss's wife and, while at it, begrudgingly help clean up the tables, acting as an unpaid laborer.