Chapter 43 Old Friend

Chapter 43: Chapter 42: Old Friend

Chairman Wu paused, then spoke slowly, "What is his personality like? And his attitude toward the association?"

Chen Feng recalled Han Ning’s behavior and answered cautiously. "He’s highly vigilant and doesn’t like to interact much. However, he respects the rules. After I laid out the conditions and he passed the test, he joined readily without asking too many questions."

"Hmm," Chairman Wu nodded. "People like him usually dislike being tied down."

"Chairman, should we invite him over for a chat right now? To show how much we value him?" Chen Feng asked hesitantly.

Before Chairman Wu could reply, the robust young man beside him shook his head. He was in his late twenties, possessing a muscular build, short hair as stiff as steel needles, and a booming voice full of vitality.

"That’s not a good idea. Based on your description, this man is clearly a lone wolf with extreme vigilance. If we rashly meet him, he won’t see it as a sign of respect, but rather as probing and surveillance. It will only provoke his resentment and wariness. Forced alliances never end well, especially at a time like this."

Chairman Wu gave a slight nod. "Vice President Zhao is right. We can only approach this kind of person slowly and win him over with our sincerity."

"But... our time is limited, and Vice President Wang is trapped deep in the Fog Area, at risk of getting lost at any moment!" Chen Feng was getting anxious.

The suite fell into brief silence, broken only by the CRACKLE of candlelight and the muffled sound of rain outside.

"Han Ning?" A barely audible murmur suddenly emerged from the darkness.

Then, a melodious female voice with a hint of lazy magnetism floated from the shadows inside the suite, breaking the silence. "Let me go and make contact with him."

The air in the suite seemed to freeze for a moment after her words. Chairman Wu and the muscular man both looked surprised. Chen Feng and Lu Yunping turned their gazes toward the shadowy source of the voice, their faces filled with undisguised astonishment.

After all, Vice President Lin—who had just volunteered—possessed unfathomable strength. She was widely acknowledged within the association to be just as powerful as any other vice president, on top of having outstanding management and coordination skills. Nearly a third of the fifty-plus Awakened in the association were on good terms with her and willing to follow her arrangements. Strangely, however, this vice president of exceptional beauty and temperament had never been involved in any romantic scandals. She always maintained an elusive sense of distance from everyone.

Chairman Wu was the first to react. Turning his head, a gentle smile appeared on his face. "Now that I think about it, Vice President Lin’s ability traits are quite complementary to this Han Ning’s. Since Vice President Lin is willing to handle this personally, that couldn’t be better. I’m sure things will go smoothly."

His tone carried absolute trust in Vice President Lin.

"Mm," came a faint response from the shadows.

"Then we will await your good news." Chairman Wu nodded and left the suite along with the muscular man.

Only after Chairman Wu departed did the woman’s calm voice sound again. "Chen Feng, where is Han Ning right now?"

"He should still be on the second floor, buying supplies in the banquet hall market," Chen Feng replied.

"Understood," Lin Qianqian acknowledged. She stepped out and silently left the suite, leaving Chen Feng and Lu Yunping looking at each other in dismay.

...

Outside the banquet hall, Han Ning had just stepped out the door and was preparing to head back.

"Han Ning."

A melodious female voice came from the stairwell above. Han Ning paused his steps. He wondered why this voice sounded a bit familiar. Subconsciously, he looked up.

Standing at the top of the stairs was a tall woman. She looked to be about twenty-six or twenty-seven. She wore a well-tailored dark gray hardshell jacket, unzipped just below her collarbone to reveal a simple black turtleneck base layer. She paired it with durable dark cargo pants and a pair of name-brand outdoor hiking boots. Her long, raven-black hair was simply tied behind her head, exposing a smooth, full forehead and a charmingly attractive face.

Han Ning stared at her face, stunned for a few seconds, before asking uncertainly, "Boss Lin?"

He remembered now. The woman before him was his boss from his previous job, Lin Qianqian. About a year ago, he had joined a modest-sized gaming company as a software developer. The company was small but profitable. His boss, Lin Qianqian, had graduated from a prestigious domestic university and seemed to have some family background. Relying on her connections and capital, she had run the company quite successfully.

His reason for leaving had nothing to do with the job itself; a close family member had fallen seriously ill, and he had been forced to resign to take care of them. He never expected to run into this former boss again in this apocalyptic Otherworld.

Seeing the astonishment on Han Ning’s face, the corners of Lin Qianqian’s mouth ticked upward into a faint smile. "It really is you. When Chen Feng mentioned you earlier, I heard your name and thought it was just a coincidence."

Han Ning suppressed his shock and regained his composure. He wasn’t actually that familiar with this former boss. Their relationship was strictly professional, with no private interactions.

"It is quite a coincidence," he nodded politely. "Did you need something from me, Boss Lin?"

Lin Qianqian didn’t mind his somewhat distant form of address. She took two steps forward, arriving at the edge of the stair landing so they stood on the same level. Her gaze swept over the snow cake at his feet before settling back on Han Ning’s face.

"I listened to Chen Feng detail your abilities," Lin Qianqian said, getting straight to the point without any beating around the bush. "I won’t mince words with you." She looked directly into Han Ning’s eyes, her articulation clear. "I want to explore the Fog Area with you."

Han Ning was somewhat surprised by this sudden team-up invitation from his former boss. He didn’t answer immediately but maintained his usual vigilance, asking in return, "You’re also an Awakened? What ability did you awaken?"

Without another word, Lin Qianqian extended a finger. A ring of pure white radiance glowed at her fingertip. "Touch my finger."

Han Ning recalled that Lin Qianqian had actually treated her employees quite well in the past. He figured she wouldn’t stoop to any dirty tricks. However, just to be safe, he glanced down at the snow cake by his feet. Then, he raised his right hand, extended his index finger, and gently pressed it against Lin Qianqian’s fingertip, which was emitting a soft white light.

The moment their fingertips met.

HUM!

A faint, warm current surged from Lin Qianqian’s fingertip into Han Ning’s body. This warm current wasn’t wild and violent like the blue Energy Balls obtained after killing monsters. It was milder and purer, like the most genial sunshine on a winter day.

Han Ning clearly felt the Spiritual Power in his body, which had been depleted from battle, rapidly recovering.

[Spiritual Power: 17 → 18 → 19...]

In just two or three seconds of contact, his depleted Spiritual Power had recovered by two or three points.

"This is..." Han Ning couldn’t help but look up at Lin Qianqian’s exquisite face.

Lin Qianqian retracted her finger at the right moment, and the pure white radiance on it faded away. "I can help you recover your lost Energy. This is my ability."