Lin Lei was the current head of the Lin family and the president of the Lin Group.
Soon, someone led Lin Lei into the room. Those who were on good terms with the Ming family now knew about the feud between the two families to some extent.
The room was silent, and the atmosphere became somewhat strange.
Lin Lei was in his forties, in his prime. As soon as he entered, his face was full of smiles, looking very confident.
"Old Madam Ming, the junior from the Lin family wishes you good health and longevity like the East Sea and the Southern Mountains." He stood in the hall, laughing heartily.
The Ming family's expressions were not good. Qin He glanced at her. Her grandmother and her uncle and aunt remained steady.
Only Ming Xue's small face was flushed red, likely because she already knew that the Lin family had tricked the Ming family.
She wanted to stand up and say something, but was held down by her stern-faced elder brother, Ming Chi.
Lin Lei swept his gaze across the Ming family members and finally stopped at Ming Yuzhu, smiling, "Madam Qin, long time no see."
Madam Qin's voice was cold, "Mr. Lin."
The visitor was a guest, especially one who came to celebrate a birthday. The Ming family could not possibly drive him out.
If they really did, it would be making a spectacle of the Ming family.
The atmosphere in the hall was tense. Ming Xue's small face was contorted, looking like she would not be able to hold back her curses at any moment.
Those who were on good terms with the Lin family also wore displeased expressions.
"That Lin fellow is too arrogant!"
"He dares to come, isn't he afraid he won't be able to leave?"
Faint voices reached their ears. Gu Qichen turned to look at Qin He. Her small face was icy cold, and the sharpness in her bright eyes was contained, clearly showing her dislike for the middle-aged man who had entered.
The butler glanced at Lin Lei's birthday gift, and his expression immediately turned cold.
He signaled for someone to accept the gift and planned to invite Lin Lei to the banquet hall outside.
"Old Madam Ming, this is the birthday gift I've brought you." Lin Lei walked directly to his gift and took out a long rolled-up painting. "A Sunset Glow painting from Feng'an in the Ming Dynasty, with the wish for your later years to be happy."
This time, even Yan Chen's brow furrowed. "Who gives a sunset painting for an elder's birthday? Aren't the Lin and Ming families always on good terms? What happened?"
He had "escaped" from Haicheng to Qingcheng, so his information was a bit delayed.
Lin Lei had already unrolled the painting. It was a two-meter-long scroll, with the sunset blazing on the sea, seeming to be on the verge of disappearing, plunging the world into darkness.
Old Madam Ming's chest heaved a few times. This time, even Ming Yusheng could not hold back.
"Lin Lei, it's my mother's birthday. What do you mean by sending this kind of painting?"
Lin Lei, standing in the hall, was taken aback, looking somewhat innocent. "I naturally thought of choosing a gift that was fitting and valuable."
"This Sunset Glow painting, I bought it for over ten million yuan at an auction," Lin Lei said with a smile. "The sunset glow, how much it resembles today's banquet."
In his eyes, this banquet might be the Ming family's last dignified dinner.
In the future, the Ming Group would never rise again.
Lin Lei no longer hid his intentions, and the smile on his face deepened. "Brother Ming, this painting is not cheap. Who knows, it might be of great use to you later. Quickly accept it as an heirloom!"
"Get out!" Ming Xue could not help but stand up and shout.
Lin Lei glanced at Ming Xue and Ming Chi, then scoffed, "That's right. Even if the Ming family falls, you still have a son in the entertainment industry who earns quite a bit."
Ming Chi pulled Ming Xue, his face cold. "Mr. Lin, our Ming family has done nothing to wrong you. Coming here to be arrogant like this, are you afraid that everyone in Haicheng won't know what you've done?"
Lin Lei sneered, "I'm just here to wish your grandmother a happy birthday. You're speaking such unpleasant words, child."
"What birthday wish? You clearly tricked them and now you're coming to gloat!" An old lady familiar with Old Madam Ming stood up, leaning on her cane and angrily cursing, "After doing such a wicked and guilt-ridden deed, are you afraid they'll overcome it and seek revenge, so you've come to feign politeness because you can't sleep peacefully?"
Lin Lei's expression turned cold. He glared at the old lady, "The Ming family is truly worthy of being a prominent family in Haicheng. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. I will wait to see your fate!"
Old Madam Ming's face was calm, "Butler, see the guest out."
This time, they intended to directly kick Lin Lei out.
The butler immediately stepped forward, "Please."
Lin Lei threw the painting on the ground, snorted disdainfully, and turned to leave.
"Wait." A clear, sharp female voice rang out.
The eyes of everyone in the hall immediately fell on Qin He.
Qin He stood up and slowly picked up the painting from the ground. She looked up and saw Lin Lei also turning to look at her.
"Miss Qin." Lin Lei said sarcastically, "What, are you here to vent for the Lin family?"
Qin He picked up the painting, looked at it carefully, and scoffed, "Mr. Lin, when you were by my grandfather's side back then, were you only focused on flattering him? This is clearly a Rising Sun painting."
Lin Lei let out a comical laugh. "The name of this painting is known worldwide. Miss Qin, stop trying to salvage the situation."
Qin He spread the painting on the ground and looked at Old Madam Ming. "Grandmother, look at the reflection of the trees."
Everyone looked closely and discovered that the direction of the tree reflections was not at all in the direction of the sunset.
Perhaps it was because everyone was influenced by the painting's name at first. Now, upon closer inspection, it was clearly a scene of the sun rising in the east, about to emerge from the sea.
Lin Lei also realized it. He glanced at the painting and immediately said fiercely, "Even if this is a Rising Sun painting, the Ming family's sun is about to set!"
Qin Yun stood up from the chair he had been sitting in, his eyes cold. "Mr. Lin, rest assured, as long as the Qin family exists, the Ming family will always be the Ming family."
"Alright, I see you don't know how deep the Ming family's hole is and want to fill it in yourselves. But that has nothing to do with me."
Lin Lei turned around. "Farewell."
He desperately wanted to leave. The main reason was the man sitting on the side.
His gaze was like a tangible thing, scanning his body. His gaze was so indifferent, devoid of human emotion, that it made his spine shiver.
As the president of the Lin Group, he often stared at others silently to pressure his employees.
But now, he felt an urge to escape.
"Mr. Lin." Qin He's voice sounded again.
Lin Lei could only stop in his tracks. "What, Miss Qin still has something to say?"
Qin He smiled. "Thank you for giving that plot of land to the Ming family. Although you are ugly and wicked, you've accidentally done a good deed."
Lin Lei turned his head, staring at Qin He in disbelief. Was this woman crazy?
Qin He smiled calmly. "Ultimately, whether the Ming family's sun is setting or returning to its glory, you will see it soon!"
Her voice was calm, and her pace was not fast, but it carried a tone of certainty.
Lin Lei's heart jolted. Where did this woman get her confidence from?!
But under Qin He's calm gaze, he began to panic.
That was right, all the plans were correct.
The land was indeed in the hands of the Ming Corporation. The person he had placed in the Ming Corporation informed him that Ming Yusheng was currently overwhelmed!
This woman was just bluffing!