Chairman Wu paused before speaking slowly, "What's his personality like? And his attitude toward the association?"
Chen Feng recalled Han Ning's behavior and answered cautiously, "Highly vigilant, doesn't enjoy excessive social interaction. But he follows rules—once I offered the terms and he passed the test, he joined without further questions."
"Mmm." Chairman Wu nodded. "People like that usually dislike being restrained."
"Chairman, should we invite him over now to chat? Show our regard?" Chen Feng probed.
Before Chairman Wu could respond, the robust young man beside him shook his head first, "Not advisable. From your description, he's clearly a lone wolf with extreme wariness."
"Meeting him abruptly might seem like probing and surveillance rather than regard in his eyes. It would only provoke his aversion and caution. Forced relationships bear no fruit, especially in times like these."
The man appeared slightly younger, around twenty-eight or twenty-nine, with a sturdy build and short, spiky hair. His voice boomed like thunder, brimming with vigor.
Chairman Wu nodded slightly, "Vice Chairman Zhao makes a valid point. With such individuals, we must proceed gradually, warming them with our sincerity."
"But... time isn't on our side! Vice Chairman Wang is trapped in the mist, at constant risk of losing himself!" Chen Feng grew anxious.
The suite fell into brief silence, punctuated only by the crackling candle flames and the muffled rain outside.
"Han Ning?"
At that moment, an almost imperceptible murmur rose from the darkness.
Then a melodious, slightly lazy yet magnetic female voice emerged from the shadows within the suite, shattering the stillness, "Let me be the one to approach him."
As her languid, magnetic voice faded, the air in the suite froze momentarily.
Both Chairman Wu and the robust man displayed expressions of surprise.
Chen Feng and Lu Yunping shifted their gazes toward the shadowed source of the voice, their faces openly astonished.
After all, this Vice Chairman Lin who volunteered possessed unfathomable strength, universally acknowledged within the association as rivaling any vice chairman. Coupled with her exceptional management and coordination skills, nearly one-third of the fifty-plus Awakened in the association maintained good relations with her and followed her arrangements.
Yet curiously, this vice chairman—with her striking looks and poise—had never been linked to any romantic rumors, maintaining an enigmatic distance that kept others guessing.
Chairman Wu recovered first, tilting his head with a warm smile, "Come to think of it, Vice Chairman Lin's abilities complement Han Ning's quite well. Since you're willing to take this on personally, nothing could be better. I trust this matter will proceed smoothly."
His tone carried full confidence in Vice Chairman Lin.
"Mmm." A faint acknowledgment came from the shadows.
"Then we'll await good news." Chairman Wu nodded and departed the suite with the robust man.
Only after Chairman Wu left did the woman's calm voice resurface, "Chen Feng, where is Han Ning now?"
"He should still be at the market in the second-floor banquet hall, purchasing supplies," Chen Feng replied.
"Got it," Lin Qianqian responded before silently stepping out of the suite, leaving Chen Feng and Lu Yunping exchanging bewildered glances.
...
Outside the banquet hall, Han Ning was just leaving, preparing to return.
"Han Ning."
A pleasant female voice came from the stairway above.
Han Ning paused mid-step—why did that voice sound familiar?
He instinctively looked up.
Standing at the top of the stairs was a tall woman.
She appeared to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven, wearing a well-tailored dark gray windbreaker zipped up just below her collarbone, revealing a simple black high-neck undershirt.
Her lower half was clad in durable dark work pants, with a pair of branded outdoor hiking boots on her feet.
Her jet-black hair was tied simply behind her head, exposing a smooth, full forehead and an alluring face.
Han Ning stared at that face for a few seconds before hesitantly speaking, "Boss Lin?"
He remembered now.
The woman before him was his former boss from his last job, Lin Qianqian.
About a year ago, he had joined a small gaming company as a developer.
Though the company was small, it was quite profitable. Boss Lin Qianqian, a graduate of a prestigious domestic university with some family connections, had managed to run the company successfully through her network and capital.
His reason for leaving had nothing to do with the job itself—a serious illness in his family had forced him to resign and return home to care for them.
Never did he expect to encounter his former boss again in this apocalyptic alternate world.
Noticing the surprise on Han Ning's face, Lin Qianqian's lips curled into a faint smile.
"It really is you. When Chen Feng mentioned you earlier, I thought it might just be a coincidence."
Han Ning suppressed his astonishment and regained his composure.
He and his former boss weren't particularly close—their relationship had been strictly professional, with no personal interactions.
"What a coincidence," he nodded politely. "Is there something you needed, Boss Lin?"
Lin Qianqian didn't mind his somewhat distant tone. She took two steps forward, stopping at the edge of the stairway platform, now level with Han Ning.
Her gaze briefly swept over Snowflake at his feet before returning to Han Ning's face.
"I heard Chen Feng describe your abilities in detail."
Lin Qianqian got straight to the point, without any beating around the bush. "I won't mince words with you."
She looked directly into Han Ning's eyes, enunciating clearly:
"I want to explore the Mist Zone with you."
Han Ning was taken aback by this sudden team-up invitation from his former boss.
Instead of answering immediately, he maintained his usual caution and countered, "Are you an Awakened too? What's your ability?"
Without hesitation, Lin Qianqian extended a finger, its tip glowing with a soft white radiance.
"Touch my finger."
Han Ning recalled that Lin Qianqian had always treated her employees fairly.
She probably wouldn't try anything underhanded.
Still, to be safe, he glanced at Snowflake by his feet.
Then he raised his right hand, extending his index finger to lightly press against Lin Qianqian's glowing fingertip.
The moment their fingers touched—
Hum!
A gentle warmth flowed from Lin Qianqian's finger into Han Ning's body.
This warmth was nothing like the violent surge of the blue energy orbs obtained from killing monsters.
It was gentler, purer, like the warmest sunlight in winter.
Han Ning could clearly feel the Spiritual Power he had depleted in battle rapidly recovering within him.
[Spiritual Power: 17→ 18→19...]
In just two or three seconds of contact, two or three points of his expended Spiritual Power had been restored.
"This is..." Han Ning couldn't help but look at Lin Qianqian's delicate face.
Lin Qianqian withdrew her finger at just the right moment, the glowing radiance at her fingertip fading away.
"I can help you recover lost Energy. That's my ability."
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