Chapter 316: Chapter 316: There Is No Light in the Darkness

Back then, the Chu Family faced calamity, yet the wealth that was taken away was a mere drop in the ocean.

In that chaotic era, Chu Zhan reaching such heights with his own strength was already a legend in itself.

He seemed to have lost, but in reality, he trapped all those who were coveting the Chu Family’s wealth in the shadows.

Even now, after decades, many still covet the Chu Family’s wealth, but not a single one has truly found it.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xining’s heart sank. As expected, the development of the situation was related to interests.

“Don’t you want to take revenge for your grandfather?” the man’s voice was tempting, his dark pupils closely watching the person opposite him.

She looked up to meet his gaze, her almond eyes calm like water, betraying no true emotions.

Lu Xining feigned indifference and said, “The man has been asleep for decades; does revenge still matter?”

“However, Mr. Shang seems quite eager for me to take revenge. Do you also want to get your hands on that wealth?”

The upward curve of her eyes was laden with sarcasm.

But these words did not cause any change in Shang Lvxing’s expression; he seemed to have known already how she would react upon knowing, while the phone on the table kept vibrating, ignored by all.

Lu Xining stood up, showing scant interest in the bracelet on the coffee table.

Even without considering the story behind the bracelet, it was, in itself, a precious treasure that would fetch a price of over hundreds of millions at an auction.

“Haven’t you noticed that there are a lot more eyes around you lately?”

Lu Xining’s departing steps halted in response, her daughter’s matching fluffy slippers looking harmonious upon the carpet.

She turned around to look at the man who was slightly lifting his gaze on the sofa, “What exactly are you trying to say?”

Shang Lvxing: “Let’s collaborate.”

Whether through interest or sincerity, he truly had a keen interest in Lu Xining before him.

She was the most transparent of all the people he had ever met.

“I know your influence in Country C is immense, but don’t forget, this is domestic territory. Below the darkness, there is no light. You might not be afraid, but what about your daughter and your son?”

Gazing into her cold, ink-like eyes, Lu Xining saw in him a determination to secure power.

“Business cannot overcome power, and power is held only by a select few.”

His voice was cool and dispassionate, precisely pinpointing their current predicament.

The water temperature on the coffee table had reached the ideal taste, and fingers well-defined and slender grasped the cup as simply as if grasping power itself.

Shang Lvxing was not in a hurry to hear her reply.

He had come in person to deliver something today, and had already made thorough preparations.

Those with vulnerable spots can only force themselves to keep moving forward.

Only by standing at the pinnacle, looking down upon others from above, making everyone wary of your presence, can one better protect those they wish to protect.

Having finished the water in the cup, Shang Lvxing leisurely stood up, lifting the corners of his lips into a tender and warm smile, his gaze briefly sweeping over the black wooden box on the coffee table, without any greed for the wealth behind the bracelet.

“The bracelet, returned to its rightful owner.”

Before leaving, he left his business card.

An understated, patternless black card with silver embossing, carrying just a string of phone numbers.

The living room returned to its previous silence.

Lu Xining’s gaze lingered on the card atop the black wooden box, seeing through the man’s behavior — beneath his calm exterior, he too had a proud and presumptuous nature.

In the departing car, Shang Lvxing saw the four characters from a number he had noted earlier.

[Lu Xining: Happy to collaborate.]

The man’s somber eyes withdrew from the phone screen, and he looked out the window at the retreating rural scenery, his lips curving upward.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend; this saying really isn’t wrong.

A few days ago, Fu Junhang, who had returned to Country C to handle some matters and on Lu Xining’s request took Ming Yuan back to the manor, had just landed at Yun City Airport when he saw a woman who looked somewhat familiar.

Seeing his return, Lu Xining entrusted Little Dumpling into his care.

She needed to frequently visit the experimental base in Fuxian these days.

Although it was only a one or two-hour drive, the child was still young, and frequently taking car rides would inevitably increase some risks.

Fu Junhang had no objections to this.

He had finished dealing with his business abroad and had taken an extended leave for himself; it was a good time to stay at home and accompany the child.

All of a sudden, he said, “When I arrived, I saw Shang Yueling at the airport.”

Lu Xining, who was organizing her papers, did not pause at these words, showing no surprise at this news.

“Shang Lvxing just came yesterday, she must have followed him here.”

“What did he come for, it couldn’t be that he wants to bring up that old matter about child fostering as a spouse again?”

“He came to talk about cooperation.” She briefed him on the important aspects of her dealings with Shang Lvxing.

Although Xi Juan had made a promise, as long as their cooperation was pleasant, he would arrange for people to protect the domestic experimental base, and given his status, that promise was tantamount to a guarantee of immunity.

But yesterday, Shang Lvxing told her another secret.

In the operation that besieged the Chu Family years ago, besides the Shang Family, the most powerful was someone from the Xi Family.

Fu Junhang knew her character; since she had agreed to the arrangement, she must have given it careful thought.

He also did not advise her, these past years while she and Nuonuo were living domestically, he consciously expanded his influence within the country, gradually building up some significant connections.

But almost the entire north was divided between the Xi and Shang families.

With a smile, Lu Xining said, “Don’t worry, I am not that easy to be used.”

If those people thought they could take a slice of the pie from her hands, they had better be prepared to be carved out a piece of flesh by her in return.

A biting rabbit is not necessarily weaker than a lion.

“Be very careful, there are too many rats and bugs lurking in the shadows,” Fu Junhang frowned, his worry for her only growing.

Lu Xining nodded: “I know.”

The next morning, with Fu Junhang by their daughter’s side, Lu Xining set out for Fuxian Experimental Base, feeling more at ease.

As soon as she left the entrance to the village, several black vehicles that had been lying in ambush burst out from the dense forests that obscured the view, trapping Lu Xining’s car in the middle.

“Break through,” Lu Xining said impatiently.

As long as she still had the experimental laboratory, which was a big piece of cake in her hands, flies drawn by the scent of benefits always hovered persistently.

She arrived at the Fuxian Experimental Base right at ten o’clock.

Lu Xining looked at another car that had been totaled, her expression far from pleased.

This was already God knows how many cars that had been hit and damaged.

Cheng Cang had a blade of grass in his mouth and a neat buzz cut, with a darkness in his eyes that never seemed to dissipate.

“Miss Lu,” he said with a smile on his lips, as cunning as a fox.

She had doubted the purpose of Cheng Cang’s presence at the experimental base, but after some investigation, she found that this man’s every action appeared to be genuinely for work.

Not just him, but even those who had previously followed him in ambushing her were working harder than anyone else.

You would have thought the experimental base was named Cheng, for all their dedication.

Lu Xining paused in front of him, glancing briefly at the sandy pit next to her where Lu Nuonuo had been digging, a momentary tenderness in her eyes.

Upon hearing his next words, however, the warmth in her eyes instantly turned cold.