Lin Yichen moved quietly and competently through the polished halls of government administration, where efficiency and intellectual rigor were the most important things. Mei Lin's older brother was very smart and worked hard, just like she did. However, he worked in public service instead of the digital shadows. He had just worked on a project that involved people from different departments and briefly worked with Horizon Tech. This gave him a professional look at how they work, and more specifically, at Liang Chen's personality.
Lin Yichen and Liang Chen mostly worked together on projects and made sure they were on the same page strategically. But in those short meetings, he had come to have a lot of respect for Liang Chen's smart leadership and undeniable intelligence. He liked how calm Liang Chen was under pressure, how quickly he made decisions, and how clearly he saw the future of his business. Lin Yichen had told his parents at dinner one night that Liang Chen was "really sharp," not knowing how complicated the family ties were that connected Liang Chen to their own lives or the shocking plan that was slowly being put into action.
Lin Yuze and Wen Hua, his parents, listened with quiet pride as their oldest son talked about a famous person in such a positive way. They put honesty and merit above everything else, and Lin Yichen's praise of Liang Chen without being asked said a lot. They were glad that their son could tell who had talent and strong character, especially in such a high-stakes situation.
Lin Yichen and his parents had no idea that the powerful Liang family was starting to get involved in their lives in a big way. Lin Yichen respected Liang Chen only as a professional, as a leader who was good at what he did. It was a connection made in the unassuming world of official duties, but it unknowingly added another link to the complicated chain of events that would soon tie Mei Lin's fate to Liang Chen's.