197: 197. Warning

Both parties were highly aligned on core interests and the cooperation framework, and the subsequent discussions on details progressed surprisingly smoothly.

Although Lu Feng was still a student, at this moment, in this conference room, he already held a very influential position.

One of his ideas might influence the flow of hundreds of billions of funds and the rise and fall of a massive industry in the future.

The talks were drawing to a close in a friendly atmosphere.

Lü Chenxing was very satisfied with the result, looked at Lu Feng with emotion, and sincerely praised, "Mr. Lu is truly young and promising, a pillar of the nation! It's getting late, why don't I host? We can... eat and talk, and celebrate our cooperation?"

He thought about having a meal together to further strengthen their relationship, but Lu Feng gently raised his hand and mildly interrupted him, "No, Minister Lü, I have something else to attend to later..."

Lü Chenxing was a bit curious; usually, celebrating with a meal after reaching a major cooperation was an essential part, and anything else should be postponed.

From Lu Feng's conduct, he shouldn't be ignorant of these customs... unless... Lü Chenxing's mind raced, and he opportunely asked, "May I ask what Mr. Lu is busy with? Perhaps we can help handle it."

Lu Feng's tone was relaxed as he said, "It's just a small trouble. If Minister Lü genuinely wants to help, it would save me some effort."

Hearing it was trouble, Lü Chenxing was pleased rather than angry!

He was just wondering how to further demonstrate the nation's sincerity and power to solidify the cooperative relationship, and the other party had just handed him a pillow! He immediately straightened his face and said, "Mr. Lu, please speak! As long as it's within a reasonable and legal scope, we will certainly give our full support and show our sincerity in cooperation."

Lu Feng smiled, "It's nothing major, just that recently there's been a rather naughty little mouse always eyeing things that don't belong to it, wanting to take a bite. It's a bit annoying. I heard it's from the Zhao family."

"The Zhao family?"

Lü Chenxing's brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed, a hint of understanding and coldness appearing on his face.

He naturally understood what Lu Feng was referring to and was also aware of the methods these deeply entrenched families sometimes used. "The nation is vast, and it's inevitable to have some cockroaches and mice that can't be completely cleaned out, but..."

He deliberately emphasized, "Any individual or force attempting to disrupt the nation's strategic layout and hinder the development of core technologies is an enemy of national interests! Mr. Lu, rest assured, I will personally look into this matter and ensure that no small troubles will ever again disturb the normal development of Tingfeng Energy."

His words were both a promise, a statement, and a deterrent.

Lu Feng nodded in satisfaction, "Then I'll trouble Minister Lü with this."

A potential problem that could have caused significant trouble for Tingfeng Energy was thus resolved invisibly with just a few understated words.

The Zhao family used the power of rules, and Lu Feng also used the same, only stronger and greater... A meeting concerning the future energy landscape and national strategy concluded successfully in harmony.

Lü Chenxing knew that Lu Feng definitely needed to communicate with those around him at this moment, so he stood up first, and with a warm smile, shook hands with Lu Feng again: "Mr. Lu, then we'll go to the restaurant to prepare and await your esteemed presence."

After speaking, he led his team out of the conference room, leaving sufficient space.

As soon as the conference room door closed, the atmosphere inside immediately became somewhat subtle.

The principal let out a long sigh, as if he had just finished a marathon. He wiped his brow with a handkerchief, where no cold sweat actually existed, and looked at Lu Feng with a complex gaze, his tone carrying seven parts shock and three parts complaint: "Student Lu... you... you kept us in the dark!"

Lu Feng turned to the principal, a hint of apology on his face: "Principal, I didn't mean to conceal anything, I just felt it was better to keep a low profile during my studies."

"I understand, I understand!"

The principal quickly waved his hand, his face instantly beaming with smiles, even a touch of obsequiousness.

During the break in the talks just now, he had quickly sent a message to his subordinate to retrieve Lu Feng's admission file. When he saw the nearly perfect transcript and the note in the remarks column, "fiercely contended for from Shuiqing and Beifang," he was so excited that he almost shed tears!

This was not just a student; this was clearly an auspicious sign from heaven!

He now wished he could promote the admissions officer who had snatched Lu Feng for Jiangda at all costs by three ranks!

"Let's go, let's go!"

The principal instantly switched back to enthusiastic mode, urging, "Don't keep Minister Lü and the others waiting. The banquet has already been arranged."

Lu Feng, however, shook his head slightly, his tone gentle but firm: "Principal, I will go to the banquet. However, I still hope to live the life of an ordinary university student in school and don't wish to be too ostentatious."

The principal was an astute person and immediately understood, nodding repeatedly: "Understood, understood! Low-key, absolutely low-key!"

He immediately gave Yu Tianxiong and Qin Tian a look and smiled, "Then, President Yu, Professor Qin, shall we... lead the way?"

The two nodded silently.

Thus, when the group walked out of the conference room, an interesting scene unfolded.

The principal, Yu Tianxiong, and Qin Tian walked side by side in front, chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened, while the true central figure, Lu Feng, quietly followed a few steps behind, like an inconspicuous attendant.

Lin Wanqiu, who had been waiting at the door, her heart already in turmoil, kept her eyes fixed on Lu Feng, her gaze seemingly wanting to see through him from the inside out.

Lu Feng felt a bit uncomfortable under her gaze and touched his nose.

Lin Wanqiu finally couldn't help but quickly took two steps to his side, lowering her voice, and asked with an incredulous tone, "Lu Feng, you... who exactly are you?"

Lu Feng turned his head and gave her an innocent and gentle smile, "Senior, I'm just an ordinary freshman."

Lin Wanqiu couldn't help but roll her beautiful eyes and chided, "You're lying to the devil!"

But looking at Lu Feng's composed expression, she wisely didn't press further, though her curiosity and shock had already reached their peak.

In the corridor outside the conference room, a group of Student Union cadres and staff had long been waiting anxiously, craning their necks to look.

When they saw the principal and several important figures walk out, and Lu Feng merely followed silently as a junior assistant, with none of the bigwigs in front even looking back at him, the absurd speculation that had just arisen in their minds instantly wavered.

"See? I told you it was impossible..."

"Exactly, how much capability can a freshman have? It must have been a coincidence earlier."

"Maybe President Yu or Professor Qin knows him? Brought him in to see the world?"

"Scaring ourselves, really..."

"But... he should have some connections, right...?"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that their earlier shock was purely their own overthinking.

Only Zhang Zhanpeng and Liu Yuxi exchanged glances, both seeing the same certainty in each other's eyes.

They had personally witnessed Lu Feng's calm and composed aura backstage after the freshman welcome party, and the unconscious respect Yu Tianxiong showed him.

The two thought to themselves, "A big shot! This is definitely a big shot!

This low-key style, this presence... no mistake!"

...On the other side, Lü Chenxing's motorcade was heading towards a restaurant in the city known for its privacy.

Inside the car, Lü Chenxing leaned back in the comfortable rear seat, closed his eyes to rest for a moment, then suddenly spoke, his tone flat, instructing his secretary Pan Feng in the passenger seat: "You heard just now. Go handle the matter with the Zhao family."

Secretary Pan Feng heard this, a hint of hesitation appeared on his face, and he cautiously reminded, "Minister, although the Zhao family's old master has retired, his influence is still strong, and his former students and acquaintances are everywhere... The current patriarch, Zhao Ruilong, also has some power locally... and his methods are... not gentle. If we intervene directly, will it...?"

Lü Chenxing didn't even open his eyes, a cold smile merely played on the corner of his lips, his voice carrying a decisive, condescending tone: "No need for a major fuss. Just go warn them personally, give them some dignity, and they will understand. If they understand but pretend not to..."

He paused, not saying anything further, but the invisible pressure had already spread.

Pan Feng's heart tightened, and he immediately responded, "Yes, Minister, I understand!"

...