Volume 1, Chapter 8: The First Meeting of Two Men

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Feng Jun quickly raised his wine glass to liven the atmosphere. “To celebrate our reunion, let’s have a drink.”

Lu Lie poured a warm cup of corn juice for Gu Xingnian and said softly, “You drink this.”

Feng Jun immediately expressed his dissatisfaction, shouting, “Senior Brother, we’re not in the lab right now. Today, just let us drink with Senior Sister to our heart’s content—this is her favorite vintage.”

Lu Lie lowered his voice and retorted coldly, “Your Senior Sister isn’t feeling well and can’t drink.”

“Is Senior Sister sick? Is it serious?” Feng Jun quickly put down his glass, his face full of concern.

Gu Xingnian smiled and promptly picked up the cup of corn juice. “It’s nothing. I’ll drink with you next time. Today, I’ll have this. Here’s to our reunion—cheers.”

“Cheers.”

The clink of four glasses echoed their most sincere friendship.

Suddenly, the private room door was knocked on.

The waiter opened the door respectfully, stepping aside as two tall figures appeared.

Leading them was Fu Beichen, whose face no longer showed the anger from before, replaced instead by the detached smile typical of a business occasion.

Beside him stood Huo Chenyuan, also a prominent figure in Haicheng’s elite circles, his face wearing a playful smirk that suggested he enjoyed stirring up trouble.

Huo Chenyuan carried two bottles of expensive red wine.

“President Lu, what a coincidence.”

Fu Beichen’s voice shattered the warm atmosphere inside the room. His gaze casually swept over Gu Xingnian before settling on Lu Lie. Why was Gu Xingnian in the seat of honor instead of him?

“I heard President Lu was here, so Chenyuan and I came over to say hello and bring two bottles of wine as a token of respect.”

His posture was flawless, as if this was truly just a chance encounter to offer a toast.

But the coldness in his eyes instantly lowered the temperature in the room.

The smile on Lu Lie’s face faded slightly but he remained polite. “President Fu, Young Master Huo, you’re too kind. Please have a seat.”

Gu Xingnian’s hand holding the chopsticks tightened slightly.

She raised her eyes to meet Fu Beichen’s gaze, calm and steady, even carrying a trace of barely perceptible provocation.

Ha, bringing wine?

A weasel wishing a hen a happy new year—nothing good comes of it!

They just want to find out the whereabouts of the Divine N.

The air in the room seemed to solidify for a moment.

Fu Beichen wore a perfectly measured smile and was the first to break the silence. He raised his glass and gave a polite toast to the man opposite him.

“President Lu, welcome back to Haicheng. It’s truly a grand occasion for our city to host the Global Medical Summit.”

His tone was warm as a host’s, but his eyes quietly studied Lu Lie.

Leaning back in his chair, Lu Lie exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay. He didn’t even look up at Fu Beichen. His voice was emotionless.

“President Fu is too polite. I’m just passing through as an old acquaintance.”

Those words, spoken lightly, carried an unyielding weight that instantly chilled the atmosphere again.

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Old acquaintance!?

Did that mean Gu Xingnian, or the Divine N?

Fu Beichen’s smile stiffened for a moment but quickly returned to normal.

Beside him, Huo Chenyuan clearly struggled to contain himself. He leaned forward slightly, his face revealing eagerness mixed with the need to maintain the dignity of a noble son.

“President Lu, I have an impertinent request. I heard the legendary Divine N will also attend this summit. I wonder if... it’s true?”

“Of course.”

Lu Lie’s simple answer instantly ignited Huo Chenyuan’s hope.

His eyes locked onto Lu Lie’s, unabashedly eager. “I wonder if President Lu could help introduce me?”

Lu Lie finally raised his eyes, cold and sharp as ice, scanning Huo Chenyuan’s scheming face. A mocking smile curved his lips.

“Young Master Huo’s information is quite reliable.” His voice suddenly turned icy. “But the Divine N has a bad temper. She dislikes clinging to the powerful and hates being disturbed.”

That refusal was direct and absolute, completely trampling on Huo Chenyuan’s pride.

Huo Chenyuan’s smile froze but he forced it back, his tone becoming more earnest.

“President Lu, you misunderstand. I’m not trying to curry favor. It’s just that...”

He took a deep breath, his voice trembling slightly.

“My grandmother is ill, and her condition is serious. I just want to ask the Divine N to see her. Whatever her terms, I’m willing to meet them.”

Lu Lie didn’t look up but slowly poured a bit more corn juice into Gu Xingnian’s cup.

Fu Beichen’s brow twitched.

At that moment, Gu Xingnian suddenly lifted her head and softly asked,

“What illness?”

Huo Chenyuan hadn’t expected her to speak and hesitated before answering solemnly.

“Lung cancer.”

“Mid-stage.”

Silence again filled the room, broken only by the faint hum of the air conditioner.

Lu Lie set down his cup, voice still cold and firm. “Young Master Huo, I understand your feelings. But before the summit officially begins, I won’t reveal any trace of the Divine N.”

“That’s the rule!”

He looked sharply at Huo Chenyuan, for he would not break the boundary for anyone.

“The Divine N will appear naturally at the opening ceremony. Then, Young Master Huo can personally make the request. Whether she agrees to see you depends on your own ability.”

Those words blocked every backdoor avenue for Huo Chenyuan.

Want to bribe your way in? No chance!

Seeing this, Fu Beichen quickly smiled and stepped in to smooth things over, cleverly changing the subject. “Alright, enough business talk. Let’s discuss something personal.”

He looked at Lu Lie with a gentle smile. “President Lu, this Saturday is the anniversary banquet for our Fu Group. I wonder if you have time to grace us with your presence?”

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Lu Lie glanced at him, hesitated briefly, then said coolly, “I will attend on time.”

With his objective achieved, Fu Beichen and Huo Chenyuan no longer lingered and stood to take their leave.

Fu Beichen still wore his polished, affable expression, but Huo Chenyuan’s face was troubled and gloomy.

Once outside the private room, shielded from view, Huo Chenyuan lowered his voice, tinged with frustration and confusion.

“Chen, those people inside... none of them are the Divine N, right?”

He frowned and added, “Could it be that the Divine N didn’t come with Lu Lie at all?”

Had the information he received been wrong? He couldn’t understand why Lu Lie hid the Divine N so deeply.

Fu Beichen paused, glanced sideways at him, and a meaningful smile spread across his face, tinged with mystery as if seeing through but not revealing.

“I don’t know if the Divine N came. But...” He deliberately dragged out the tone, glancing toward the private room.

“Gu Xingnian, she definitely knows who the Divine N is.” Fu Beichen was certain.

That woman’s calm gaze was too serene—too serene to be normal.

There was something hidden there; he wasn’t fooled.

Huo Chenyuan seemed suddenly enlightened, his eyes brightening. He grabbed Fu Beichen’s shoulder urgently, with a hint of encouragement.

“Then what are we waiting for? We start with ‘Sister-in-law’!”

“This is your job, Chen! If necessary, sacrifice a little charm!”

It was the first time he had called Gu Xingnian “Sister-in-law.”

Fu Beichen’s expression darkened, and he brusquely pushed his hand away.

“We’re getting a divorce.”

“Don’t get any ideas.”

Huo Chenyuan sulked and withdrew his hand, then suddenly remembered something and smirked slyly.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, you didn’t see how Lu Lie looked at ‘Sister-in-law’ just now—with such tenderness.”

“And he personally poured her corn juice, taking care of her so meticulously!”

Fu Beichen was speechless.

His chest inexplicably felt tight.

This Gu Xingnian was quite the talent.

How exactly did she get connected with Lu Lie?

It seemed he needed to investigate this ex-wife thoroughly.