chapter 6 The conditions are different

"You!"
Damian Lin seethed with anger, but he dared not retaliate. His hand had been broken by Orion Jiang, that lunatic.
He didn't want to provoke this madman!
Donovan Lin furrowed his brow. He hadn't anticipated that the son-in-law he had found for Agatha Lin would turn out to be a lunatic who would dare to beat Damian Lin right in front of him.
"I haven't settled the score with you yet!" Donovan Lin threatened with a condescending tone.
But when he met Orion Jiang Ning's eyes, he felt as though he had fallen into an abyss.
His legs involuntarily trembled. It was like facing a terrifying beast with its bloody mouth wide open. What a chilling gaze!
"You want to settle scores with me?" Orion Jiang responded calmly. "It seems that you didn't come here today to ask Agatha Lin to return to work, but to stir up trouble."
Upon hearing this, Donovan Lin immediately calmed down and repressed his anger. He didn't want to let a lunatic derail the most important matter at hand. After signing this contract, he planned to deal with them appropriately.
"Hmph, Agatha Lin, the Lin family needs you. Come back and help," he said, looking at Agatha Lin, though there was no sincerity in his tone.
Agatha Lin was unsure how to respond, and even Cara Su was taken aback.
She had never expected that Donovan Lin would show up at their doorstep one day, requesting Agatha Lin to return to work. However, their previous attitude had been infuriating.
"It seems you still don't quite understand," Orion Jiang chimed in to help Agatha Lin.
"Let me remind you one last time that when you seek help, humility goes a long way. Your attitude today was inadequate. If you come to us again tomorrow, the terms will be different."
Donovan Lin's expression finally shifted upon hearing this. His eyelids twitched, and he shot a cold look at Orion Jiang. "Do you really believe that without Agatha Lin, we wouldn't be able to secure this project?"
"If you doubt it, you're welcome to try," Orion Jiang replied calmly, so composed that both Cara Su and Agatha Lin were astonished. Was this really the homeless son-in-law they had just hired?
"Agatha Lin, my father offered you an opportunity, and you don't seem to appreciate it!" Damian Lin exclaimed in frustration.
Agatha Lin stood her ground and asserted, "I don't care!"
"Alright! Alright! Alright!" Donovan Lin said in succession. He glanced at Orion Jiang and the others, then smiled faintly.
He looked toward the back room, calling out, "Jasper Lin, you're managing the household quite well!"
With that, he snorted, turned on his heel, and departed with Damian Lin.
As soon as Donovan Lin left, the door to the back room creaked open, and Jasper Lin wheeled himself out with a pale complexion. He hadn't dared to come out while Donovan Lin was present.
"Is Brother angry?" Jasper Lin inquired timidly. "What should we do?"
Cara Su shot her husband an infuriated glance.
Where was he when their daughter was being mistreated?
And now, he was asking what to do.
"It's just a job, and I don't care about it," Agatha Lin assured her parents. She looked at them determinedly. "Dad, Mom, don't worry. I can provide for you."
Cara Su gazed at her daughter, feeling a heavy heart. The weight of this family's responsibilities rested squarely on Agatha Lin's shoulders. She wanted to take care of Jasper Lin and help Agatha Lin, but there was little she could do.
"And I will too."
Orion Jiang declared, "I'll take care of you as well."
Instantly, Jasper Lin and Cara Su both turned their attention to Orion Jiang.
Orion had just slapped Damian Lin for his rudeness towards Cara Su, and Cara Su had witnessed it.
Despite her reservations about Orion Jiang, she chose not to say anything at that moment.
"I'll go cook," Cara Su announced and headed into the kitchen.
Jasper Lin, unsure of what to say, retreated to the back room and closed the door.
Agatha Lin pulled Orion Jiang into the house, still feeling a bit stunned. "W-what did you just say?"
"I said I'll take care of your parents alongside you."
"Ah?" Agatha Lin looked at Orion Jiang in shock. She hadn't fully accepted Orion Jiang as her husband yet, and she often wondered when he would make it clear that their relationship was impossible.
Not only because of Orion Jiang's background but also because of the ten-year age gap between them.
"Uncle..." Agatha Lin hesitated.
"Be ready to sign a contract at any time and negotiate your terms," Orion Jiang replied. Agatha Lin momentarily forgot what she had wanted to say.
"Uncle, do you really think they'll come begging me again?" The project with Mr. Huang was almost finalized, with only the contract signing left.
Anyone could do it, so it didn't necessarily have to be her. Besides, Donovan Lin and his son had many connections in Dong Hai City, so finding someone to replace her wouldn't be difficult.
"Well, it has to be you," Orion Jiang said plainly.
…
Donovan Lin and his son returned home.
"Boom!"
Damian Lin slammed a teacup onto the table.
"This is unreasonable!" he bellowed.
"Dad, why did you stop me? I wanted to teach that lunatic a lesson!"
He had been slapped twice by Orion Jiang. If news of this got out, how could Damian Lin show his face in the East China Sea? What would others think of him, beaten by a lunatic?
"Don't mess with the insane; they can get away with murder," Donovan Lin grumbled.
He never anticipated that in his quest to find the most ineffectual husband for Agatha Lin, he would end up with a lunatic.
Dealing with someone like that was the last thing he wanted to do, except when absolutely necessary.
But why did Orion Jiang's eyes have to be so unsettling? Even someone like him, who had spent years navigating the world of commerce, couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease after meeting Orion. Well, he reminded himself, Orion Jiang was a psychopath, so feeling afraid was only natural.
"Dad, what's our next move? That woman, Agatha Lin, still expects us to bow down and beg her. She's delusional!" Damian Lin scoffed. He couldn't fathom the idea that this project hinged entirely on Agatha Lin.
Donovan Lin narrowed his eyes, pulled out his cell phone, and began making a few calls. "I'll need to rely on a contact of mine to sort this out."
He had reached out to someone familiar with Mr. Huang and managed to establish a connection. The project's particulars had already been discussed, and signing the contract was essentially a formality.
He couldn't believe that Mr. Huang would willingly forgo such significant benefits for Agatha's sake.
"Don't worry, Mr. Li and Mr. Huang have a history of collaboration, so there shouldn't be any issues in seeking their assistance," Donovan reassured his son, aware that there would be a price to pay, but it was a more palatable option than demeaning themselves before Agatha Lin's family.
Damian Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. "Dad, once this project is finalized, I want to drive Agatha Lin's family out of Donghai!"
A flicker of sinister thoughts crossed Damian Lin's eyes. "If she weren't my sister, I'd have considered..."
"Damian Lin, don't take things too far. If your grandfather catches wind of this, you'll be in hot water," Donovan Lin cautioned. Damian Lin instantly composed himself.
He was only pondering the situation. Despite Agatha Lin's beauty, he wondered what kind of woman he truly desired.
As father and son conversed, Donovan Lin's cell phone began to ring.
He answered it and found it was Mr. Li calling. It seemed that the matter had been resolved.
"Mr. Li, how did things go? It couldn't have been too difficult for someone of your stature..."
"Donovan Lin, what are you so worried about? You offended Mr. Huang, and put me on the spot for trouble? Now even our company's collaboration is ruined! I'll fuck your mother!"
"You fucking tricked me on purpose, I'll take note of this!"
On the other end, after Mr. Li's loud outburst and abrupt hang-up, Donovan Lin was left momentarily flabbergasted.
What did that mean?
Couldn't Mr. Li have at least offered some reassurance?
And if Mr. Li's project had also been rejected, what did it imply about Mr. Huang's intentions?
"Dad, you're not seriously suggesting that we lower ourselves and beg Agatha Lin, are you?" Damian Lin's Adam's apple bobbed nervously as he voiced his concern.