C81 Apologize to the Big Shot!!

The impeccably dressed director of the Taxation Division, Lee Jianmin, hurried over to Lin Xuan, mopping his brow as he ran. Arriving in front of Lin, he bent into a deep, respectful bow, nearly at a ninety-degree angle.

"I'm sorry for my tardiness, Jianmin. Please forgive me!"

The captain and the two officers were utterly dumbfounded at the sight.

This was their superior, Lee Jianmin, whom they rarely saw and, when they did, could only offer distant, solemn respect.

They never expected to witness their boss up close like this.

And most shockingly, he was bowing so reverently to Lin Xuan, someone they considered a mere commoner.

Their jaws dropped in disbelief!

Lin Xuan spoke calmly, "You truly are a lowly commoner, aren't you? Is this the speed at which you work? It's been nearly five minutes!"

Director Lin Jianmin, terrified by the remark, bowed repeatedly, pleading, "Yes, I was delayed by official duties and have been slow. I beg for your leniency!"

What?!

The captain and the two officers were flabbergasted.

Scolded in less than five minutes?

Who was this man who could instill such fear in their boss?

Lin Xuan questioned, "What official business could you possibly have that's more pressing than mine?"

Lee Jianmin was filled with dread, his legs shaking uncontrollably.

One word from this influential figure, and he could lose his official hat!

And that was the least of his worries. If this VIP were displeased, a decade or more in prison could be his fate, all at Lin Xuan's whim!

"Yes, yes, it's all my fault! I beg for your forgiveness and offer my sincerest apologies!" Lee Jianmin said, dabbing the relentless sweat from his forehead.

Lin Xuan nodded slightly, "Let's ensure this doesn't happen again. However, I must say, I'm not fond of your subordinates."

At those words, Lee Jianmin shuddered.

He then turned to the captain, berating him, "Are you courting death? How dare you provoke this esteemed personage! Your days are numbered!"

The captain's face went ashen. What kind of high-ranking individual was this?

Is the director really that terrified?

It was only then that Lin Xuan lifted his foot and remarked, "Plus, his neck is so stiff, it's been jabbing my foot!"

This...!!!

Lee Jianmin urgently yelled at the captain, "Your neck is a nuisance, getting in the way of my foot. I swear I'll fire you on the spot!"

Terrified by these words, the captain scrambled to his feet, knelt before Lee Jianmin, and pleaded meekly, "Director, I'm in the wrong. I deserve the worst!"

"Insolent!" Lee Jianmin bellowed. "You need to apologize to this gentleman right here and beg for his pardon!"

"If this gentleman doesn't forgive you, even I can't save you!"

The captain frantically bowed his head repeatedly to Lin Xuan, begging as he did so, "My lord, I was blind to offend you. Please overlook my foolishness and let me off as you would a mere trifle!"

He then lifted his gaze to Lin Xuan with a look of utter humility and reverence, as if beholding a deity.

Lin Xuan responded coolly, "I might forgive you, but you've upset my wife. If she doesn't forgive you, all your pleas to me will be in vain."

Upon hearing this, the captain crawled on his knees to Pei Qiuyu and kowtowed, "Manager Pei, I was blind to your stature and have offended you grievously. Please, I beg for your mercy!"

Lin Xuan spat out in disgust, "Pah! Since when did my wife have a nephew like you? Have you no shame?"

Lee Jianmin also lashed out furiously, "You scoundrel, daring to claim kinship with this gentleman's wife? You must have a death wish!"

"Ah??...!!!"

The captain pleaded desperately, "Manager Pei, my blunder is unforgivable. I deserve to die!"

As he said this, he slapped his own face fiercely from side to side.

Pei Qiuyu was completely taken aback. What was this all about?

Confused, she turned to Lin Xuan and asked, "Honey, what should I do?"

Lin Xuan gazed at her fondly and smiled, "Whatever you wish. He's at your mercy."

"Oh." Pei Qiuyu nodded, a hint of confusion in her eyes, before turning to the captain.

"Manager Pei, can you hear how loud that was?"

"Smack! Smack! Smack!"

The captain punctuated his words with sharp slaps to his own face.

Meanwhile, the other two officers scrambled to their feet and knelt before Pei Qiuyu, each one striking their cheeks with fervor.

"Manager Pei, we're to blame..."

"We've been blind, unable to recognize true worth!"

They continued to slap themselves, terrified that any displeasure from Pei Qiuyu might spell their doom.

Pei Qiuyu glanced at Lin Xuan, who offered her a reassuring smile.

Then she addressed the men, "Stand up."

Despite her words, the men hesitated, continuing to slap themselves as they turned their gaze to Lee Jianmin, seeking his cue.

Lee Jianmin barked, "Stop looking at me! Whether you're forgiven is up to this esteemed individual!"

Lin Xuan's brow furrowed. "Did you not hear what I just said?"

Startled, Lee Jianmin delivered a loud slap to his own face and quickly corrected himself, "I will heed this lady's words!"

Lin Xuan gave a nod of approval.

Moved by Pei Qiuyu's compassion, she softly added, "Please, rise."

The captain and his men started to get up but instinctively sought Lin Xuan's confirmation.

Lin Xuan rebuked them, "My wife told you to rise. Do you dare defy her?"

"We're getting up, right away..."

They scrambled to their feet, showering Pei Qiuyu with gratitude. "Madam, your generosity is immense, and we'll never forget it."

Lin Xuan then spoke up, "My wife's kindness does not mean you're off the hook!"

His statement struck the captain and his men like a thunderbolt, leaving them panic-stricken.

What punishment was this influential figure contemplating?

They were now full of regret for coming here, cursing the person who sent them to investigate Pei Qiuyu a thousand times over in their minds.

At that moment, Lin Xuan pressed further, "Who sent you here?"

"Out with it!" Lee Jianmin's eyes bulged as he barked the command.

"Hmm?" Lin Xuan's brow creased.

Terrified, Lee Jianmin quickly softened his tone, "Come on, speak up..."

Raising one's voice in the presence of such an influential figure was tantamount to signing one's own death warrant!

"Let's hear it," Lin Xuan prompted, turning his gaze to the group.

The team leader, struggling to swallow his fear, stammered, "I'll spill it... It was Pei Jinzheng of the Pei family. He paid us fifty thousand yuan to come and snoop on Manager Pei."

"It was all his doing. We bear no grudge against Manager Pei; we wouldn't have any reason to target her otherwise."

Lin Xuan's expression turned stern as he icily retorted, "No grudge, yet you sought her out for trouble? It seems to me you're on a quest for a death wish!"

His words struck terror into the team leader and his companions, their legs turning to jelly, barely able to remain standing.