CHAPTER 1015: CHAPTER 1022: DECEPTION

"When you’re out and about, you rely on friends. Fortunately, I’ve been lucky to make many like-minded good buddies. Elder Zhou, you really don’t need to feel so sad, after all, so much time has passed. Everyone has their destiny, maybe yours isn’t to remain unknown in the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, but to achieve something great."

Zhou Qi waved with a smile, "I’m old, I don’t have the energy for great achievements. Ling Chen, what you’re doing now is what’s truly significant, and it’s benefiting the people. If you can destroy the God Organization, it would mean saving countless innocent lives. In this respect, the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion can’t compare to you."

"The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion has too many taboos and intricacies, which results in their efficiency being too slow. Also, the pavilion itself is a martial arts arbiter, never actively getting involved in disputes. Unless they’re provoked directly, they don’t act rashly. When I stayed at the pavilion for a long time, I hadn’t thought about many things. But since I’ve gone through so much with you, I’ve realized how selfish the pavilion can be in this regard."

"Everyone knows the greater the power, the greater the responsibility. However, the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion has such formidable martial prowess and abilities, yet they huddle in their territory, never actively helping others solve problems. Even when someone approaches them, they deliberate repeatedly before making a decision. By the time they decide, it’s already too late."

Ling Chen chimed in, "The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, after all, has a history of hundreds of years, and more or less there are bound to be these sorts of issues. What’s more, these issues have taken root, and they can’t be changed overnight unless Su Mei has enough determination."

Zhou Qi sighed, "I watched Su Mei grow up, and I’m very clear about her abilities. Managing a Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion is already quite challenging, thanks only to her grandfather’s reputation protecting her. To change the pavilion, it’s simply impossible. Unless her grandfather returns to the pavilion, there’s a slight chance."

Hearing Zhou Qi mention Su He, Ling Chen suddenly remembered his father Ling Kun’s instructions before he left. Su He asked Ling Kun to pass on a message to him, asking him to visit when he had time, as Su He seemed to have something to discuss with him.

However, being busy dealing with the God Organization lately, he didn’t have the time, so he thought he’d check it out later.

After a round of drinks, Zhou Qi was a bit tipsy. Seeing it wasn’t early, Ling Chen let Zhou Qi rest first, while he stayed at the control center to oversee the latter part of the night.

The night passed.

By eight o’clock the next morning, Hu Fei and his team returned to the base.

"Fatty, I’m heading back to rest, call me if anything comes up," Ling Chen instructed.

"Got it."

Leaving the base, Ling Chen didn’t head straight home but drove to Wealthy Manor. Last night, Nanrong Wanqing wasn’t feeling well, and he wondered if she was better today.

As soon as he reached the entrance of the Nanrong Family home, and parked the car, before entering, Nanrong Hao came out from inside.

"Chen, you’re here early."

"How’s your sister? Is she feeling better?"

"My sister?" Nanrong Hao asked confusedly, "What’s wrong with my sister? She’s fine, we even had dinner last night. However, while her health is fine, she seemed quite preoccupied, not sure why. Hey, Chen, did you upset my sister?"

"Of course not. Okay, you head to the company, I’ll go check on your sister." Saying this, Ling Chen quickly made his way to Nanrong Wanqing’s villa and went straight in.

On the villa’s second floor, Ling Chen stood in front of Nanrong Wanqing’s bedroom and knocked gently. However, there was no response from inside.

Strange! Could she have gone out?

Thinking this, Ling Chen pushed open the door and entered. There was no one in the spacious bedroom, and the quilt on the bed was neatly arranged.

Where is she?

Didn’t Nanrong Hao say Nanrong Wanqing was home? How could there be no one? Thinking for a moment, Ling Chen took out his phone and dialed Nanrong Wanqing’s number.

After a short while, the call connected, and Ling Chen asked, "Wanqing, where are you?"

"I’m at home, why? Do you need something?"

"You’re at home?" Ling Chen was slightly taken aback, staring at the empty room, "Uh... are you feeling better? I was just about to visit you at home."

"No need to trouble yourself. I feel much better after sleeping and there’s no issue. I still need to go to the company later. You should focus on your matters, no need to worry about me. Alright, I won’t chat more, I need to get up for breakfast." With that, before Ling Chen could say anything else, Nanrong Wanqing hung up.

Breakfast?

Ling Chen chuckled wryly. If he hadn’t come to the Nanrong Family home, he might have believed Nanrong Wanqing’s words.

He couldn’t understand, was there something she couldn’t just tell him? Why resort to deception? Also, since knowing Nanrong Wanqing, she had never lied to him.

What was really going on?

Ling Chen touched his nose, feeling a headache coming on. Nanrong Wanqing certainly had something on her mind, which was why she found an excuse to avoid attending the family banquet last night. Whatever was troubling Nanrong Wanqing, it certainly wasn’t a simple matter.

After much thought, Ling Chen decided to head home first. Since Nanrong Wanqing intended to keep him in the dark, pressing her would be futile and might even anger her. If she wanted to tell him, she would eventually.

...

Two days later.

In the chairman’s office at Hongyu Group.

Secretary Wang Lan knocked on the office door, and after receiving a response, she entered.

"Chairman."

"Lan, what’s the matter?" Nanrong Wanqing asked without looking up from her document.

"Chairman, Mr. Han just called. He wants to see you to discuss something important in person."

"Mr. Han? Which Mr. Han?"

"Han Mingchao."

"Him?" Nanrong Wanqing frowned slightly, "If it’s business-related, let him talk to Nanrong Hao. I don’t have time to meet him now."

"Chairman, Mr. Han mentioned that it’s a personal matter, not business, and he’s already downstairs. Should he come up, or should he reschedule?"

Hearing this, Nanrong Wanqing thought for a moment, closed the document in her hand, and said, "Since he’s here, let him come up."

"Okay." With that, Wang Lan turned and headed out.

"Lan, wait!" At this moment, as if remembering something, Nanrong Wanqing called out to Wang Lan.

Wang Lan stopped and turned back to ask, "Chairman, is there something else?"

"Inform the front desk in the lobby that if Ling Chen comes by, let them notify me in advance. Understand?"

"Yes, got it." Wang Lan replied, though she was a bit puzzled inside.

What’s up with the chairman? She’s been stern-faced these past two days, could it be she had a falling-out with Ling Chen?