418: Lu Xiaoying was shocked! She'd seen Grandpa Huang on TV before!

Chapter 410 Lu Xiaoying's Shock! Grandpa Huang, whom she had seen on TV!

The night was deep, and all was silent.

In the bedroom on the second floor of the villa, Lu Xiaoying was wrapped in a soft down quilt, sleeping soundly and sweetly, a carefree, faint smile still on her lips.

However, the guest room, just a wall away, presented a different scene.

Gong Qing held her scorching hot phone, pacing back and forth in the room.

The incoming call from "CEO Zhao" on the screen flashed incessantly, like a death warrant.

The roaring from the other end of the line almost pierced through the earpiece.

"Do you know the background of Minghuang Group? A single word from them can make it impossible for us to survive in this entire industry!"

She collapsed onto the sofa, looking at the gradually brightening sky outside the window, feeling a splitting headache.

This night, she felt like a prisoner pushed onto the judgment stand, tormented for an entire night by the phone bombardment from various forces.

It wasn't until the first light of dawn that the curses gradually subsided.

Gong Qing looked at her haggard reflection in the mirror and couldn't help but smile bitterly—this night, she had heard all the dirtiest words in the entertainment industry.

The phone casing was already burning hot, and a red low battery warning kept popping up at the top of the screen, much like Gong Qing's nerves, which were on the verge of collapse.

She slumped back into the sofa, her beautiful hair disheveled, dark circles under her eyes, and her pupils bloodshot.

CEO Zhao's hysterical roar from earlier seemed to still echo in her ears.

"Gong Qing! You good-for-nothing scoundrel! You've ruined me this time!"

"Minghuang Group officially sent a letter last night—contract terminated! We are in unilateral breach!

Black and white! Three billion! A sky-high penalty of three billion! Where am I supposed to get that much money? Huh? Huh? Huh?"

By the end, his voice was distorted and changed, mixed with despair and madness.

"Listen! This is my last chance for you all—get Lu Xiaoying ready and come with me to Minghuang Group to apologize!

If we don't get their forgiveness, then we all go down together!"

Gong Qing closed her dry eyes and buried her Face deeply in her palms.

Outside the window, the sky was already bright; a new day had arrived.

Three billion!

This astronomical figure was like a massive mountain, pressing down heavily on CEO Zhao's heart.

Outsiders saw Tianyu International's market value in the tens of billions, looking infinitely glorious, but those were all superficial book values.

To actually come up with three billion in cash flow, unless the entire company was packaged and sold off cheaply, there was no way to fill this hole.

After receiving the call from Minghuang Group last night, CEO Zhao was completely sleepless and drove to the company before dawn.

He now stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of his top-floor office, looking down hundreds of meters at the cars scurrying like toys.

A wave of dizziness washed over him—for a moment, he truly wanted to jump.

Ultimately, reason pulled him back.

CEO Zhao suddenly turned, grabbed his phone from the desk, and slammed it to the ground.

"Gong Qing! Lu Xiaoying!" he roared at the scattered parts, "You two scoundrels!!! You're going to be the death of me!"

The morning light was just right, exactly nine o'clock.

Lu Xiaoying walked lightly down the spiral staircase, her high ponytail bouncing on her shoulders with each step.

A simple white short-sleeved T-shirt outlined her youthful figure, paired with classic blue slim-fit jeans that made her legs appear straight and long.

This fresh and neat outfit perfectly highlighted Lu Xiaoying's pure and charming demeanor.

Although she was already twenty-five, the vibrant vitality about her was still like a glass of iced drink in midsummer, refreshing and eye-catching.

Anyone who saw her would feel that this was clearly the hot and bright school beauty from campus novels, the one who captivated countless senior and junior students, brought to life.

And Gong Qing, standing beside Lu Xiaoying, was like the elegant blank space next to a meticulously colored ink painting.

She had chosen a pink and white pinstriped silk blouse, its hem neatly tucked into a white ankle-length skirt.

Gong Qing's Face had light, elegant makeup, with light apricot eyeshadow paired with cherry blossom lipstick; her entire outfit exuded a mature and intellectual charm.

But even the most exquisite makeup could not hide the traces of her sleepless night.

Although Gong Qing used the most expensive concealer, two faint circles of bluish-gray still showed beneath her eyes.

When Gong Qing forced a smile, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes held an lingering weariness.

These two women standing side by side, one as fresh and bright as morning dew, the other as gentle and serene as an evening glow.

It was clear that both Gong Qing and Lu Xiaoying were dressed exceptionally dignified and appropriate today.

Lu Xiaoying, forgoing her usual short skirts and hot pants, uncharacteristically chose long pants.

Gong Qing, even more so, used an ankle-length skirt to cover herself completely.

Such conservative attire was precisely because they were accompanying Lu Xuan to meet his old friend.

Both of them knew well—any elder Lu Xuan personally visited must be a highly respected, reclusive figure.

In this regard, Gong Qing displayed her thoughtfulness and wisdom as a manager.

All her attire adhered to the four words "dignified and appropriate," ensuring no slightest impropriety in front of an elder.

Last night, while Gong Qing was tormented by phone calls and Lu Xiaoying was soundly asleep in her dreams, Lu Xuan remained seated on the sofa in his room.

For a Great Grandmaster of National Art in the Baodan Realm like him, sleep was no longer a necessity.

He only needed to sit in meditation for an hour or two, allowing the internal Baodan energy to circulate naturally through his body, and the generated martial Dao True Intent would be enough to cleanse fatigue, an effect far superior to a normal person's full night's sleep.

On the sofa, Lu Xuan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze containing a deep brilliance, looking even more refreshed than someone who had slept for eight hours.

This was the foundation of a Baodan Realm powerhouse—a Physical Body of Perfection without leaks, and an endlessly regenerating spirit.

"Grandpa, where are we going today?" Lu Xiaoying twirled lightly in front of Lu Xuan, smiling charmingly.

"Should Xiaoying lead the way? I've been in The Capital for over three years, so I know the streets and alleys well!"

Her tone carried a hint of pride, clearly in high spirits, and her expressive eyes sparkled as she looked at Lu Xuan, full of anticipation.

Seeing Lu Xiaoying's joyful demeanor, Gong Qing temporarily suppressed her worries.

She knew that since she had already publicly rebuffed the director and Minghuang Group's producer yesterday, the matter was done, and further anxiety would be useless.

It would be better to be as open-minded as Xiaoying; since a storm was coming, why not cherish the present moment of tranquility?

Enjoy every moment of happiness.

Having come to this realization, Gong Qing's Face once again showed a gentle smile, and she stepped forward half a pace, speaking softly to Lu Xuan.

"Xiaoying is right. I wonder where your friend lives? I'll have the driver plan the route in advance to save us travel time."

Lu Xuan leisurely rose from the soft sofa, his hands clasped behind his back, a serene smile on his Face.

"Qingquan Mountain."

His tone was as casual as if he were talking about his own backyard, yet it made Lu Xiaoying and Gong Qing both freeze simultaneously.

"The people sent from there have been waiting outside the villa area for an hour."

Lu Xuan's gaze swept over their surprised Faces, and he gently added, "I saw you two were still getting ready in your rooms, so I didn't rush to disturb you."

These three short sentences, however, made Gong Qing and Lu Xiaoying gasp.

Not to mention the significance of having someone wait outside for an hour in advance.

The mere three words "Qingquan Mountain" were enough to stir up huge waves in the hearts of those in the know.

That was a well-known forbidden zone, the true core of Dragon Country!

Gong Qing's phone almost slipped from her hand. She finally realized that Lu Xuan's "old friend" was probably an existence beyond their wildest imagination.

Gong Qing's voice unconsciously lowered, with a hint of incredible caution: "Elder, are you sure... your friend is at 'Qingquan Mountain'?"

She almost suspected that Lu Xuan, being Advanced in years, had misheard the place name, and couldn't help but explain.

"That's a heavily guarded area, with elite guards stationed there year-round. Without special permission, let alone getting in, even getting close is as hard as ascending to heaven..."

Lu Xuan did not explain further, "I don't know if I misheard the place name, but my old friend has already sent someone to pick us up."

"Are you two ready?"

The pink sedan slowly drove out of the villa area, steadily moving along the quiet tree-lined road.

It continued until it passed through the impressive gate and smoothly came to a stop to one side outside.

Lu Xiaoying and Gong Qing were the first to open their doors and alight, and when they saw the scene before them, they both involuntarily held their breath.

Lu Xuan was the last to calmly get out of the car, and the pink sedan, having completed its mission, silently turned around and drove back into the villa area.

Gong Qing was quite experienced, but when she clearly saw the motorcade waiting by the gate, her pupils involuntarily constricted slightly, and a wave of astonishment and shock surged in her heart.

Three pitch-black modified sedans were parked side by side, their body lines rigid and heavy, like three silent steel beasts.

They were parked in perfect alignment, and what was most startling was—they bore no license plates.

The car windows were extremely dark one-way glass; apart from the driver's side front, which was slightly transparent, all other windows were a deep black, completely blocking any outside view.

According to the current vehicle management regulations of Dragon Country, such modifications and driving without plates or permits were simply inconceivable.

It was as if the words "illegal" were written on the car body.

Now, the only explanation was that the very existence of these vehicles represented some kind of extraordinary authority.

They operated above the rules.

Beside each car stood two men in dark suits, with upright postures.

Their expressions were stern, their gazes sharp as eagles, and their bodies exuded a battle-hardened, iron-blooded aura.

Before long, the leading man in a black suit stepped forward, respectfully performed a standard salute to Lu Xuan, and spoke in a steady, powerful voice.

"Elder Old Lu, we have been instructed by the higher-ups to welcome you. The route has been cleared. Please accompany us to Qingquan Mountain."

Gong Qing sat alone in the back seat of the last car in the motorcade.

The car interior was spacious and quiet, and the engine was almost inaudible when it started.

Her fingertips tightened slightly, a mix of shock and apprehension intertwining deep within her heart.

Good heavens... this setup, it's actually real?

Realizing that the person she might Face on this trip was far beyond imagination, Gong Qing immediately took out a compact mirror from her exquisite handbag.

Using the soft interior lighting of the car, she carefully examined her makeup—was the foundation even, was the eyeliner smudged, was the lip color appropriate?

Gong Qing repeatedly checked every detail, afraid of any impropriety.

Only when the image reflected in the mirror was flawless, displaying a mature, capable, yet respectful appearance, did she let out a long sigh of relief and put the mirror back into her bag.

At this moment, Gong Qing leaned back in the high-quality leather seat, her mind rapidly reviewing all information about the Old Lu family.

She knew Lu Xiaoying's background like the back of her hand.

Her father, Old Dog Lu Yulong, a core member of the Yifeng Province Ancient Martial Arts Association, owner of the Wanhui Guilongquan martial arts hall, a local National Art Great Master.

Her eldest uncle, Lu Yuliang, once one of the high-level officials in Yingnan City, retired a few years ago.

Her third uncle, Chairman Lu Yuhong, presided over Huafu Group, with a net worth of tens of billions, firmly ranking among the top ten wealthiest in Yifeng Province.

This family background was prominent locally, enough to ensure Lu Xiaoying had no worries in the entertainment industry.

But—

Such a background, placed in The Capital, a place teeming with hidden Dragons, was simply not enough, let alone being associated with that forbidden place!

"Qingquan Mountain..."

Gong Qing silently uttered these three words, feeling a tightness in her chest.

This meant that behind the Old Lu family, there was a foundation far more unfathomable than what was apparent in their public records.

Lu Xiaoying, feeling a bit uncertain, directly abandoned Gong Qing and sat in the back seat of the middle car with Lu Xuan.

After the car drove steadily, she couldn't help but lean closer to Lu Xuan and whispered.

"Grandpa, the person we are going to meet this time, is it the... Grandpa Huang you often mentioned before?"

Lu Xuan nodded slightly, a kind and serene smile on his Face: "Yes, it's him."

He looked at Lu Xiaoying's slightly nervous Face and added gently, "Haven't you already seen him on TV?"

"Huh!" Lu Xiaoying suddenly froze, as if struck by lightning, her entire body rigid, staring blankly at Lu Xuan's smiling profile.

A long-forgotten memory fragment suddenly surfaced—

It was probably one evening when she was ten, her Grandpa accompanied her in front of the TV in the villa. The screen was broadcasting a state banquet receiving foreign guests.

Grandpa had smiled then, gently stroking the top of her head with his broad hand, his tone as casual as if introducing a neighbor.

"Xiaoyingying, look, this is the old friend Grandpa often tells you about."

And at the center of the TV screen at that time was an elder who was chatting and laughing with foreign guests... and he was in the C-position!!!

Lu Xiaoying felt a "buzz" in her head, a complete blank, her mouth slightly agape, unable to close it for a long time.

She had always thought that was just a joke Grandpa told to make her happy!

Shortly after the three black sedans started, a waiting convoy of escort vehicles appeared ahead.

They cleared the road ahead in a precise formation.

All traffic lights remained green, and the roads along the route were quietly controlled. The motorcade sped along, heading towards the very core of The Capital.

As the vehicles entered the Second Ring Road, the atmosphere abruptly changed.

After passing through several inconspicuous but heavily guarded checkpoints, a serene area surrounded by high walls and lush greenery suddenly appeared before them.

Inside, a continuous range of mountains, with clean concrete roads and ancient trees towering on both sides.

Plainclothes security personnel, wearing masks, were visible everywhere, their gazes sharp, their steps steady.

The motorcade wound its way up the mountain road, finally disappearing into the depths of the verdant forest.