Chapter 122: Long-Buried Secrets!

In an Italian restaurant, Qin Luo and Wang Jiujiu sat facing each other.

Wang Jiujiu had placed her baseball cap aside and untied the ribbon from her ponytail, letting her dark, silky hair cascade over her shoulders. Her skin was as smooth as jade and radiant with a soft, rosy glow. A sense of youthful vitality emanated from her, one that was effortlessly infectious. Everyone who spent time with her felt relaxed and comfortable, as if their own spirits were rejuvenated by several years.

Wang Jiujiu cut a small piece of steak, chewed it, and said to Qin Luo, "From now on, if Qin Zongheng approaches you again, you must call me first."

Qin Luo took a sip of tea and asked with a smile, "Is Qin Zongheng really that terrifying?"

"He is terrifying," Wang Jiujiu nodded seriously.

"How so?"

"I don't know," Wang Jiujiu shook her head.

"You don't know?" Qin Luo looked surprised, pausing his meal.

"That's right. It is precisely because no one knows why he is so terrifying that everyone finds him to be so," Wang Jiujiu explained.

"Has anyone ever offended him?"

"No. Everyone thinks he is wonderful. Anyone who knows him is conquered by his personal charm. People both respect and fear him—it's just like the feeling my father gives me," Wang Jiujiu said, lost in thought as she struggled to describe the sensation.

Qin Luo nodded. That was indeed the terrifying nature of Qin Zongheng. He didn't come across as a peer, but rather as an elder. He could speak to you in a kind and approachable manner, yet if you did something to anger him, he could slap you across the face in the name of being an elder.

"Is there no one in Yanjing more powerful than him?" Qin Luo asked. The enemy of an enemy is a friend; Qin Luo wanted to know if he had any potential allies.

"I wouldn't say who is more powerful than whom. It's just that there are a few people Qin Zongheng is wary of," Wang Jiujiu replied.

"Who?"

"Wenren Muyue of the Wenren family. That woman is too mysterious. I doubt you'll have the chance to meet her. I haven't seen her either. Legend says she is the most beautiful woman in China, though I don't know if that's true," said Wang Jiujiu.

"She might not be as pretty as you," Qin Luo said with a smile. He hadn't expected Wenren Muyue to be so famous, let alone dubbed the most beautiful woman in China. However, if she were to smile at someone, it would truly be soul-stirring.

Wang Jiujiu’s face turned pink, but she didn't feign modesty, saying confidently, "I think so too. But the reason I rank her first is that I've heard Qin Zongheng has been pursuing her for years without success. He certainly wouldn't dare offend the woman he loves."

Qin Luo nodded. He was aware that Qin Zongheng liked Wenren Muyue; otherwise, their meeting today wouldn't have happened.

"Who are the others?"

"The second one is the playboy, Wenren Zhao," Wang Jiujiu said.

A playboy? Wenren Zhao? Qin Luo nearly spat out his tea.

"What's wrong?" Wang Jiujiu asked, finding his expression odd.

"Why do they call him a playboy? Is he a womanizer?" Qin Luo asked with a laugh. He hadn't expected such a ridiculous nickname for that kid.

"Hehe, Wenren Zhao isn't actually a womanizer. It's just because he looks too pretty, almost like a woman. And he has a major weakness: he loves mature women older than himself. Whenever he sees one, he gets all lovesick. So, behind his back, everyone calls him the 'Playboy'." Wang Jiujiu explained with a grin. It seemed that kid Wenren Zhao was not only notorious but also quite entertaining. Presumably, others had the same expression as Wang Jiujiu when mentioning the nickname.

"Why is Qin Zongheng wary of him?" Qin Luo asked, feigning ignorance.

"He is Wenren Muyue's younger brother and Qin Zongheng's future brother-in-law. Qin Zongheng naturally treats him with care. Moreover, he deeply admires Qin Zongheng and is always tagging along with him," Wang Jiujiu explained. "However, the person who gives Qin Zongheng the most headaches is likely Bai Pojue of the Bai family. They are old rivals who have been fighting for years without a clear winner. Everyone in our circle knows this."

"Bai Pojue? Who is that?" Qin Luo was taken aback.

Rarely getting the chance to dine with Qin Luo while also playing the role of mentor, Wang Jiujiu’s vanity was greatly satisfied. She took a sip of tea to clear her throat and said, "There are three families in Yanjing with immense power. The first is the Bai family, which is where Bai Pojue comes from. The Bai family was once known as the premier family of China, while the Qin and Wenren families were newcomers, far inferior in strength."

"However, Wenren Ting of the Wenren family was a genius. He led the family in a powerful rise, developing very rapidly. Because of this, the Bai family felt threatened. After years of planning, they launched a massive, hostile takeover against the Wenren family. Almost overnight, half of the Wenren family's shareholders defected to the Bai family's side."

Because of Wang Jiujiu's unique background, these secrets that were usually hidden from outsiders were second nature to her.

"What was worse was that at the critical moment when the two families were locked in battle, Wenren Ting fell gravely ill. The Bai family was ecstatic and accelerated their absorption. Just as the Wenren family was about to face total destruction, a miracle doctor happened to arrive in Yanjing and cured Wenren Ting. Wenren Ting then used some unknown method to turn the situation around in one fell swoop."

Wang Jiujiu wasn't a professional storyteller, merely recounting the events in a conversational tone, but Qin Luo listened with intense excitement. He could imagine the scene of the two families clashing and the despair of the Wenren family. What made him most proud was that his own grandfather had played a decisive role. If his grandfather hadn't happened to be traveling in Yanjing, and if he hadn't been able to cure Wenren Ting, what would the landscape of these three families look like now? Would the Wenren family even exist? Would the Bai family have grown into an unstoppable monster?

No wonder Wenren Ting made such a solemn vow: If he had a son, he would be at the Qin family's beck and call; if he had a daughter, she would become a wife of the Qin family. If you had ever experienced such hysterical despair and someone reached out to pull you from that darkness, you too would be eternally grateful.

Without needing Qin Luo to prompt her, Wang Jiujiu continued: "Because the takeover failed, the Bai family suffered a heavy blow, while the Wenren family seized the opportunity to expand and become the second-largest family today. The Qin family was the smartest fisherman; while the Bai and Wenren families fought, they hoarded their strength and developed in secret, becoming the third-largest family before anyone realized it."

Turning the clouds with a flip of a hand and the rain with another—the business world is treacherous and filled with deceit. Yet, as a man, shouldn't one live life with such grandeur?

"What kind of person is Bai Pojue?" Qin Luo asked.

"His nickname is 'The Madman.' You can tell what kind of person he is from that name alone," Wang Jiujiu said with a smile.

Qin Luo thought for a moment and said, "To be able to fight Qin Zongheng for years without failing, he must possess an intellect to match his behavior."

Wang Jiujiu nodded. "He and Qin Zongheng are two extremes. One is very low-key, the other extremely arrogant. On the surface, Qin Zongheng seems more popular, but Bai Pojue isn't exactly disliked. He just doesn't have as many friends as Qin Zongheng. However, those who do stand by him are all fanatics willing to die for him."

"Yanjing truly is a place where talent abounds," Qin Luo sighed.

Wang Jiujiu smiled brightly. "I think they aren't even as good as you. If Teacher Qin had been born in Yanjing with a powerful background, you would definitely be more popular than both of them."

Qin Luo gave a bitter smile. "How could I compare to them? One is the 'Wise Prince,' the other is the 'Madman.' If I went there, what would my nickname be? I wouldn't have a title as响亮 (resounding) as theirs."

Qin Luo was only joking, but he didn't expect Wang Jiujiu to take the matter seriously. She held her fork and pondered for a while before laughing: "I never paid much attention before, but now that I think about it, it's hard to come up with a good one. How about 'Fragrant Lord'? Chu Liuxiang is my favorite martial arts character, and I think Teacher Qin is quite like him."

"Forget it, forget it. I was just joking. If I really took on the nickname 'Fragrant Lord,' people would laugh themselves to death," Qin Luo waved his hand.

After lunch, the two took a car to the Southern Building. Qin Luo had taken special note that the office of the China Famous Doctors Hall was on the sixteenth floor. To uncover the truth about this emerging traditional Chinese medicine organization, he had to investigate it himself.

"Teacher Qin, why are we here?" Wang Jiujiu looked up at the shimmering gold sign on the Southern Building and asked in confusion.

"To visit some colleagues," Qin Luo said with a smile.

They entered the elevator and went straight to the sixteenth floor. With transparent glass doors and a modern office lobby, a quaint and elegant sign reading "China Famous Doctors Hall" hung by the entrance. On the surface, it certainly looked like a company with significant resources.

Seeing guests arrive, a female receptionist in uniform walked over with a bright smile. "Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Is your manager in?" Qin Luo asked.

"I'm sorry, our manager is currently out. Do you have an appointment? Or you can leave your name and contact information, and I will report it to him when he returns."

Qin Luo scanned the area and said, "No need. I'll visit again another time."

"Very well. We look forward to your next visit," the receptionist said politely.

Qin Luo left with Wang Jiujiu and stood on the sixteenth floor waiting for the elevator.

*Ding!*

The indicator light flashed, and the elevator doors opened. Just as the two were about to step inside, they saw Guan Xu and Li Lingxi about to step out.

Caught off guard, the group collided in that exact moment.