System: Master Your Life-Chapter 606 - 152: Journey to the Capital City, First Meeting with Pei Danqing, Xu Lin’s War of Words with the Old Man (Part 2)

Chapter 606: Chapter 152: Journey to the Capital City, First Meeting with Pei Danqing, Xu Lin’s War of Words with the Old Man (Part 2)

Xu Lin also noticed that the other person lived on the same floor as he did.

Soon, the eighth floor arrived.

Xu Lin was the first to step out of the elevator.

He wanted to find a restroom, and as luck would have it, he saw a cleaning lady as soon as he exited the elevator.

"Auntie, could you tell me where the restroom is?"

"Go to the end and then turn left; it’s at the other end."

"Thank you, Auntie."

Xu Lin then headed toward the restroom.

Clatter clatter...

Xu Lin heard the sound of high heels behind him, moving rhythmically, probably belonging to the woman he had just shared the elevator with.

Xu Lin certainly didn’t think she was following him; she was just going to the restroom too.

Speaking of which, Xu Lin really wanted to strike up a conversation.

Seeking a mate is an adult male’s instinct.

Soon enough, Xu Lin entered the men’s restroom.

Guys are quick in the restroom, just unzip and go.

After using the toilet, Xu Lin took the opportunity to wash his face.

When he came out, he happened to see the same woman stepping out from the adjacent ladies’ restroom.

The woman glanced at Xu Lin and asked, "Are you familiar with the way around here?"

Xu Lin didn’t expect her to start a conversation.

"Do you know me?"

"I’m invited to dinner tonight too. Do you think I know you?"

"What a coincidence!"

Xu Lin said, "I’m not familiar with this place."

"Follow me then!"

"OK."

Xu Lin followed her, "What’s your name?"

"Pei Danqing. Pei as in ’non-dress’, Dan as in ’elixir’, and Qing as in ’a beauty’. "

Pei Danqing introduced herself, "And you?"

"Xu Lin, Lin as in ’elegant as a jade tree in the wind’."

"Got it."

A few minutes later, Pei Danqing led him to a large private room.

Inside, there were already ten men and women, including Jiang Yu.

When Jiang Yu saw Pei Danqing, he greeted her, "Director Pei, you’re finally here, please sit here!"

Jiang Yu invited Pei Danqing to take a seat.

Xu Lin noted how respectfully Jiang Yu addressed Pei Danqing as Director, perhaps even ingratiatingly so. He wondered what Pei Danqing’s position was.

Director? What kind of director?

In CCTV, these positions have administrative ranks. For instance, a director position is at the deputy bureau level, unlike those various directors in private companies; even roadside salons have style directors.

Pei Danqing nodded slightly, then pointed to the seat next to her, "Xu Lin, sit here."

"OK."

Xu Lin wasn’t about to stand on ceremony—sit next to a beautiful woman or a bunch of middle-aged men and women? Any young person wouldn’t hesitate for a second. This group looked to be in their thirties, at least, while Xu Lin and Pei Danqing seemed to be the youngest.

"Director Pei, this seat is reserved for Mr. Xiao..."

Jiang Yu seemed hesitant; he glanced at Xu Lin as if to suggest, "Mr. Xu, maybe you could switch places?"

Pei Danqing simply said, "Ignore him, Xu Lin, you just sit next to me."

This Pei Danqing was quite assertive, Xu Lin thought to himself.

Though, who was Mr. Xiao anyway?

At this point, Pei Danqing introduced Xu Lin to some key figures in the room, like the producer, chief director, etc.

Among them was an old man, also involved in music composition, who seemed to have a significant background.

Xu Lin stood up, extending his hand for a handshake, as a gesture of courtesy, especially since he always respected the elderly and cared for the young.

However, the old man snubbed him, not extending his hand, remaining motionless as if to give Xu Lin a hard time, loftily remarking, "Hmph, a young whippersnapper. I wonder if you can shoulder this responsibility?"

?

Xu Lin in the world of social maneuvers believed in not depleting oneself needlessly. What’s depletion? It’s when someone insults you, and you hold it in, stewing over it at night, unable to sleep, and later wishing you had reacted differently.

But Xu Lin would entertain no such things, so he simply said, "At your age, I’d worry about your memory failing and needing assistance to walk. Besides, looking at your seventy or eighty years, is your mind still sharp, or have you run out of creativity?"

He said this while sitting down.

Damn it.

He wasn’t afraid of offending anyone—being someone who’s lucked out, did he really need to court the favor of anyone in the scene?

These old men like this one all acted the same in many circles, hoarding resources while making the younger newcomers toe the line. If you don’t? Then forget about making it.

But Xu Lin wasn’t going to play along.

Worst case, he could just walk away.

Li Bai once said: "Laughing loudly, I go forth; am I one to be trampled underfoot?"

Li Bai lived with flair all his life, serving as one of Xu Lin’s idols. If Xu Lin catered to people like him, he’d have to take their last name today.

"Ha! A young buck shows signs without understanding respect for elders, blind to hierarchy, and won’t go far in the future!"

The old man hadn’t expected Xu Lin to be so blunt, leaving him nearly unable to save face from the surprise.

"Confucius said, ’An old villain who doesn’t die.’ Even ancient saints who were teachers didn’t dare rest on their laurels. You’re just a commoner, aren’t you overstaying your welcome? At your age, just an old cucumber; how much longer can you last?"

"You!" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The old man was angry; Xu Lin was implying he didn’t have many years left.

He snorted coldly, "Hmph, the steed returns one day to the desert, no longer fighting the chicken in the east of the city!"

The old man was calling Xu Lin petty, implying he was a nobleman who wouldn’t stoop to Xu Lin’s level.

Ha!

Seeing the man quoting poetry, Xu Lin responded with, "On the wall is a reed, top-heavy and shallow-rooted. The bamboo shoot in the mountains, sharp-mouthed, thick-skinned, empty inside."

The old man was practically laughing in frustration, "To test your rarely-seen voice among beasts—it’s just for laughs!"