Lin Shuwen paused before he added. “Someone wants to see me. Since he is at this clubhouse, I will be back in a jiffy.”
Fang Chen did not probe him for details. “Sure. Go ahead.”
“Uh huh.” Lin Shuwen nodded before he stood up and said to Old Mr. Pei and the others, “One moment, please.”
He happened to bump into the wait staff sending in the food on his way out of the private room.
There were a total of seven to eight people coming in with dining carts of food as they filed in one after another.
Lin Shuwen was startled by the huge entourage of servers. He finally composed himself after everyone sent the food into the private room.
He had been to Flower Haven previously but had never witnessed such a high level of service. It felt as though they were serving an emperor.
Lin Shuwen shook his head. He swiftly shook the crazy thoughts out of his mind before he headed to the other end of the corridor.
Huo Yao’s foster father had asked to meet Lin Shuwen at Flower Haven. Initially, Lin Shuwen wanted to turn him down. Since Old Mr. Pei organized lunch here as well, he changed his mind.
*
Meanwhile, inside another private room.
Lu Hongwen, He Xiaoman, and Lu Hongwen’s friend who worked in the government had been waiting for Lin Shuwen since 11:00 am.
Lu Hongwen kept looking at the private room door every now and then as he checked his watch for the time and clearly looked nervous. “Do you think there is a chance Mr. Lin will stand us up?”
He Xiaoman sat in her chair nervously as well. “Let’s wait for a bit longer. Maybe he is caught in a jam.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Lu, don’t be anxious. Since Secretary Lin has agreed to come, he won’t stand you up. He said he would arrive around 12:30 pm, so he ought to be here soon.” He could tell that they were worried.
Lu Hongwen laughed uncontrollably as he looked at his friend. “It is not that I am anxious whether he will turn up. I am more nervous about what to say to him when I see him since we don’t know much about his personality.”
His friend took a sip of tea unhurriedly. “Secretary Lin is a straightforward guy, so you should make your point.”
“Okay. We are counting on you to help us convince him later.” He Xiaoman beamed as she looked at her husband’s friend.
“Uh huh,” acknowledged Lu Hongwen’s friend. He paused for two seconds and added. “I am not that high ranked and have never spoken to Secretary Lin in person before.”
Lu Hongwen promptly replied. “You are so modest. I am already very impressed that you can arrange this meeting.”
“Uh huh. This means that your superiors hold you in high regard,” He Xiaoman chimed in.
Even though Liang Jun felt flattered, he shook his head modestly and said nothing.
The private room door suddenly opened and Lin Shuwen appeared. Liang Jun stood up right away. He was clearly a little anxious.
Liang Jun walked over and greeted Lin Shuwen courteously. “Secretary Lin.”
Liang Jun was a middle-aged man in his forties and he had never met Lin Shuwen before. Hence, Lin Shuwen assumed he was Huo Yao’s foster father the minute he laid eyes on him.
Although he was not as courteous to him as he was to Huo Yao, it was considered polite of him.
“Hi, Mr. Lu,” said Lin Shuwen as he nodded.
The moment Liang Jun heard his words, he was stunned. He quickly composed himself and said awkwardly, “Secretary Lin, I’m Liang Jun. This is Mr. Lu.”
He proceeded to point at Lu Hongwen as he walked over.
