Chapter 409: Chapter 409
Wangyue Building, Jusong Pavilion.
Assistant Wen pushed open the door: "PT, please come in." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novelꞁire.net
Inside the private room sat a man in a tailored suit, brewing tea. His every movement exuded refined elegance, reminiscent of ancient literati steeped in the art of tea ceremony by bamboo groves.
A gentleman in every sense—cultured and graceful.
The tone was casual, as if they were old friends who had known each other for years.
Assistant Wen thoughtfully closed the door to the private room.
Shen You’an took a seat across from him: "Are Mr. Ren and I very familiar with each other?"
"Let’s not dwell on the past. From today onward, we’ll make ourselves familiar. Have some tea."
The man slid a cup of clear tea toward Shen You’an.
Shen You’an didn’t touch it, responding coolly, "I’m quite busy. If Mr. Ren has something to say, please get straight to the point."
"I like straightforward people."
The man smiled and looked up.
He had a pair of fox-like, narrow eyes that contradicted his otherwise dignified demeanor. Sharp and piercing one moment, they reverted to calm serenity the next, as if any sharpness had been an illusion.
"I highly value talent. If you’re willing to work for me, name your terms."
The man took a document from beside him and pushed it toward Shen You’an.
"A gift for our first meeting."
It was a deed to a house in Hongfeng Garden—Qingzhou’s most expensive residential development, where even the cheapest property was worth several million.
Underneath the brim of his cap, the youth raised a sword-like eyebrow: "Quite the gesture from Mr. Ren—what else should one expect from the founder of the Wenze Fund."
"Your abilities are deserving of it."
"Thank you for your kind offer, but I’m used to my freedom and dislike being constrained. I fear you’ll be disappointed, Mr. Ren."
Ren Mingze furrowed his brow, carefully studying the person before him.
The youth was shrouded entirely in an impenetrable darkness, like a solitary wanderer in the night—elusive, mysterious, and seemingly untethered by anything or anyone in this world.
"It’s late; I should be going now."
The youth rose and left the private room without looking back.
The tea had already gone cold.
Assistant Wen walked in: "Sir, this kid’s being ungrateful. Shall we apply some pressure?"
The man chuckled softly: "If he had agreed outright, then I’d be suspicious."
True geniuses carry a streak of arrogance. If greed made them bow their heads, they’d lose their spirited essence. Such a person, who could be swayed by a house, would one day be tempted by something of greater value elsewhere.
"Dig into his background. Everyone has weaknesses. This talent—I’m determined to recruit him."
Investigating the background of a top-tier hacker wouldn’t be easy.
But Assistant Wen had his methods.
In the underworld, there existed an intelligence network called Black Seven. It was said the organization’s powerful boss could provide any information desired—so long as he was given something he wanted in return.
No matter how deeply PT hid himself, he couldn’t escape Black Seven’s watchful eyes.
"Sir, Mrs. Liu is hosting a welcoming banquet for Miss Xiang tonight in Hui Cui Garden. Should you attend...?"
"Miss Xiang hails from Jingzhou’s Xiang family—a deeply rooted dynasty—and she also holds the trust of the Yu family. Her position is unshakable. Her sudden arrival in Qingzhou—what do you think her purpose is?"
Assistant Wen quickly caught on: "Is it the Yu family’s intention?"
But why? He couldn’t make sense of it.
"Several months ago, during Old Madam Yu’s birthday banquet, Mrs. Liu mentioned a jade tablet."
Assistant Wen suddenly thought of something: "A jade tablet? Didn’t Qingge Auction House recently sell a piece of Qingguo White Jade Tablet for an astronomical price—ten billion? Could it be this jade tablet?"
"Helian Yu doesn’t speak without reason. Xiang Chenyu might have come for the jade tablet. Investigate its origins and find out who it ended up with."
The man drank the last cup of tea and slowly stood.
"Let’s go meet this Miss Xiang. Let’s see the storm her arrival might stir in Qingzhou."
Hui Cui Garden—tonight, elites had gathered.
Helian Yu stepped away from small talk among the socialites, pulled her phone from her handbag, and held it to her ear.
With a stern look, Helian Yu said, "Where is Miss Xiang? I asked you to fetch her personally—where have you taken her?"
"Madam, I’ve been waiting at the airport all this time, but I haven’t seen Miss Xiang. Could her flight have been delayed?"
"Impossible. Keep waiting—perhaps something came up to delay her."
After hanging up, Helian Yu looked up Xiang Chenyu’s number in her contacts and called twice, but no one answered.
Helian Yu frowned deeply.
The stage was set, but the guest of honor was missing. What kind of situation is this?
Winter in Qingzhou brought early nights. Neon lights were already strung across the city.
Cold winds swept through the streets, which were mostly empty of pedestrians, though cars continued to flow ceaselessly, adding a touch of liveliness to the chill-filled night.