Inside the Xiao family villa.
The old man, who was eating lunch, received a call from the restaurant manager. After learning what had happened, he let out a long sigh.
Lin Fu asked, "Something happened at the restaurant?"
The old man didn't speak, his expression very complex.
"I knew it..."
Lin Fu pouted, "That brat is cunning; how could he not know the ins and outs? And Miss Qu isn't a proper person; all she does is act. Does she really think this old man is blind and deaf, seeing nothing?"
"It's come to this point; what's the use of saying all that?"
"Big Brother, are you still not letting go?"
The old man said helplessly, "You know what happened back then. Without them, I wouldn't have become the guild leader. This favor, I can't not repay it."
"You've helped them clean up so many messes over the years; that should be enough."
Lin Fu was very puzzled. Even if a favor needed to be repaid, it should be between the elders. Why involve young Luke? The old man waved his hand.
"Make the call. Tell him to be careful and leave some leeway for both sides."
...When his phone rang, Luke was about to end the meaningless conversation. After listening to Grandpa Fu's explanation, he had to swallow the words he was about to say. He frowned slightly, his expression somewhat displeased.
Leave some leeway?
Why leave leeway?
Cooperating with these people would only bring trouble, with no benefits whatsoever. Why leave leeway?
Luke rubbed his temples, completely perplexed. The old man wasn't someone who acted on emotion. Although he valued loyalty, he would never put his dearest grandson in a passive position for the sake of it.
Why do this?
Luke was at a loss, pondering for a moment before slowly saying,
"Miss Qu, let me ask you something: are you here to seek cooperation with me?"
Qu Youran was startled, truly surprised. She had thought the negotiation had fallen apart, but the other party had changed his tone, no longer being aggressive. Could it be because of that phone call?
Thinking of this, she hesitated and asked,
"You're willing to cooperate?"
"Of course not. The purpose of cooperation is mutual benefit. For me, getting involved with you all only brings disadvantages, no advantages. Therefore, I can only give you one chance."
Luke held out a finger. "One condition. If you can meet it, I'm willing to provide assistance within a certain scope."
Qu Youran was overjoyed. She didn't care about her indignation or the exposed scenery on her chest (which actually wasn't much scenery) and quickly said,
"What's the condition? Tell me."
"I have a friend who, due to an accident, was blown up, leaving only half of her head. I hope she can live a complete life again."
"Resurrection?"
"Yes."
"How is that possible?"
Qu Youran frowned. "A person with only half a head can no longer be considered a person. How could they be resurrected? This request is too difficult."
"I've already stated the condition. Whether you can do it is your business."
"Heidi,
show them out."
Heidi and Mia walked in and "escorted" the people to the VIP room.
Qu Youran left the Chinese restaurant in a daze, got into the car in a daze, and when she returned home, she was still thinking about their conversation.
Her home was located in the wealthy northern district of Binhai City, an independent, high-end villa.
The villa had four floors: the first and second floors were ordinary living spaces, and the third and fourth floors were secret strongholds. Wang Congxin was the head of the stronghold, as well as an instructor and the general director of external affairs.
Qu Youran had always respected this elegant "senior." The first thing she did upon arriving home was to go to the study on the third floor.
"Uncle Wang, I'm sorry, I messed up."
Wang Congxin put down his book and comforted her, "I heard about what happened at the restaurant. It's not your fault. It's already a pleasant surprise that you came out in one piece. As for cooperation, it doesn't matter if it failed; there will always be opportunities."
Qu Youran shook her head. "The cooperation didn't fail. He agreed to help, but he made a very excessive demand."
Wang Congxin was startled and then said, "What condition?"
"Resurrection!"
Qu Youran clenched her fists. "He wants us to resurrect someone who was blown up and only had half a head left."
"How is that possible? If the body were still intact, and only half the head remained, with the technology we possess, there might be a chance. But now the body is gone, only half a head remains. I've never heard of someone surviving with half a head."
"Uncle Wang, is he playing games with us?"
Wang Congxin said gravely, "No, Luke Xiao wouldn't joke about such things."
"You mean he's serious?"
"Very likely."
"Then what do we do? Can you meet his condition?"
Wang Congxin smiled and said, "We are human, not gods. He made such a request but didn't provide any relevant data. It's very likely he's looking for an excuse to make us retreat in the face of difficulty." He paused, then added,
"However, this isn't a bad thing, is it?"
Qu Youran looked puzzled. How could this not be a bad thing?
Wang Congxin said, "Cooperation always requires a process. Compared to your maternal grandfather and Old Master Xiao, you've done very well. At least he didn't open a hole in your head."
"A hole? What do you mean?"
"Didn't your maternal grandfather tell you?"
"He rarely talks about his youth."
"Then let me briefly explain. Your maternal grandfather went to America to develop his business back then. His first stop was Evergreen City, where he opened a logistics company in Chinatown. His business did so well that it displeased his competitors. So, those people invited Old Master Xiao to preside over justice. The old man was not polite at all; he not only smashed your maternal grandfather's company but also hit him on the forehead with a stick and told him to get out of Chinatown."
Qu Youran: "..."
"Aren't you surprised?"
Wang Congxin laughed heartily. "So, the result of the first meeting isn't important. The key is future development. Our line of work not only requires keen insight but also ample patience."
"Luke Xiao is no ordinary young man. His wisdom, strategy, courage, and resolve far surpass ordinary people. When dealing with such a person, you must maintain patience. Your maternal grandfather and Old Master Xiao took five years to transform from adversaries into sworn brothers. You are still young; five years is too difficult. As long as you can bring him over to our side within ten years, it will be a success."
"I understand."
Qu Youran raised her fist, full of confidence. "I will definitely win him over."
"It's good to have confidence. Only with confidence can you achieve great things. You're tired today, go back and rest."
Qu Youran hummed in agreement and turned to leave the study.
As the door closed, the smile on Wang Congxin's face also disappeared. He reached out and pressed a hidden bell under the table. The bookshelf parted, and an inconspicuous white man emerged from a secret door behind it.
"How was it?"
"No chance at all."
Wang Congxin frowned. "Even your abilities aren't enough?"
"He gives me a very dangerous feeling. I dare not approach him casually." He paused, then added, "I believe Luke Xiao is not a suitable candidate. He's too dangerous. Cooperating with him is like playing with fire."
"Is that your personal suggestion?"
"Yes."
Wang Congxin was silent for a few seconds, then said, "I will consider it. You all also need to speed up. It's best to find a new stronghold before tonight. Time waits for no one; we can't afford to delay."
"What about Qu Youran? Does she also need to be moved?"
"No, she stays."
Wang Congxin lit a cigarette and quietly looked at the villas outside the window. "From now on, she will be the owner of this villa. I will arrange for her to enter high society and become a socialite."
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