"Luotang has arrived, quickly come and sit..."
Xia Xiangyun got up and personally pulled Gu Luotang to sit beside her, smiling and asking with concern, "When did you get here? Why didn't I see the two of you before?"
"Auntie, we were just in the study," Qi Miaomiao said with a smile, standing beside them.
Xia Xiangyun looked at Gu Luotang with gentle eyes and smiled, "You're not used to this kind of occasion, are you?"
Facing the various gazes from the wealthy ladies present, Gu Luotang nodded and smiled a little shyly.
"It's alright, you'll get used to it slowly. Come, let me introduce you, this is Aunt Cui Lan..."
Next, Xia Xiangyun held Gu Luotang's hand and began introducing the wealthy ladies present...
Seeing this, the wealthy ladies like Deng Meizhen could only wear helpless smiles, knowing that Xia Xiangyun's actions indicated her strong approval of Gu Luotang as her future daughter-in-law...
This made things interesting. Wan Yunting's father fancied Fang Yanxi, while his mother Xia Xiangyun fancied Gu Luotang. It was as if they had conspired.
Wan Yunting was unaware of this. He was finding a place to drink and chat with Jiang Wenhao. Coincidentally, he saw Huang Zhen arriving with his wife. Wan Yunting immediately stood up and smiled, "Director Huang has arrived, please have a seat."
Huang Zhen nodded, gestured to his wife to go find acquaintances, and sat down opposite Wan Yunting. He also nodded to Jiang Wenhao and asked, "Yunting, the assassin you apprehended this afternoon was just an ordinary assassin from our country. As for the employer behind him, you probably know without guessing!"
Wan Yunting took out a cigarette and offered him one, nodding and smiling, "I know. However, regarding Chen Qiuyun, I'll have to trouble Director Huang to keep an eye on her. But don't worry, I'll make arrangements for her!"
Huang Zhen nodded, then raised an eyebrow and said, "I previously asked people in Joseon to investigate the Eye of Heaven Divine Cult, and found that this cult has significant influence in Joseon. At the same time, Sima Boyong is indeed connected to the Eye of Heaven Divine Cult!"
"Oh? What connection?"
Wan Yunting's eyes lit up, and he looked directly at Huang Zhen. He said, "According to our investigation, Sima Boyong is very likely the Left Leader of the Eye of Heaven Divine Cult!"
"Leader?"
Wan Yunting's expression froze, and he said with some disbelief, "Doesn't that mean Sima Boyong founded this Eye of Heaven Divine Cult?"
"He really didn't found it!"
Huang Zhen shook his head and said, "We've investigated a lot about the history of the Eye of Heaven Divine Cult. This is a native Chinese cult, of course, existing since the Anti-Japanese War. After we achieved victory and cleared out those 'ghosts and monsters' among the people, the Eye of Heaven Divine Cult was one of our targets."
"At that time, their leader was said to have escaped to Joseon. Now, the Eye of Heaven Divine Cult's influence there is very large. It can be said that among all the religious organizations in Joseon, the Eye of Heaven Divine Cult has the largest and strongest influence. At the same time, their Right Leader, Che Tai Min, is the one in power of the Eye of Heaven Divine Cult!"
"Che Tai Min?"
Jiang Wenhao raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "This name sounds familiar. Isn't he the chairman of the Doosan Group in Joseon?"
"That's him!"
Huang Zhen nodded and said, "That Che Tai Min is the Right Leader of the Eye of Heaven Divine Cult, and also one of Joseon's top three wealthiest individuals. The connections are very complex. It can be said that Che Tai Min is a person who holds absolute power in Joseon!"
Wan Yunting raised an eyebrow and said, "So, this Eye of Heaven Divine Cult has a Right Leader and a Left Leader?"
"That's right."
Huang Zhen nodded and said, "According to our investigation, the Left Leader, Sima Boyong, seems to have a poor relationship with the Right Leader, Che Tai Min. The two of them have formed two factions within the Eye of Heaven Divine Cult!"
"Oh?"
Wan Yunting was surprised and couldn't help but become interested. "It seems this matter is not a secret over there!"
Huang Zhen nodded and said, "Indeed. After all, Joseon is not like China. Religious organizations are not illegal in Joseon, especially large cults like the Eye of Heaven Divine Cult. Che Tai Min himself is very complex and has immense influence, completely overshadowing Sima Boyong!"
Wan Yunting took a puff of his cigarette, a cold smile on his lips. "It seems Sima Boyong still has a weakness in Joseon!"
Jiang Wenhao looked at him askance and asked, "Teacher, you're not planning to use Che Tai Min to deal with Sima Boyong, are you?"
Wan Yunting turned to him and smiled, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Why not?"
Huang Zhen said, "Yunting, what I've told you is just surface-level information. After all, we're not familiar with the situation over there, so we can't jump to conclusions too early!"
"Naturally."
Wan Yunting nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. He understood that if Huang Zhen could easily uncover this information about the Eye of Heaven Divine Cult, it meant it wasn't a secret over in Joseon.
As for the relationship between Sima Boyong and Che Tai Min, he would have to go and confirm it himself.
"Wenhao, haven't you been discussing cooperation in Joseon recently?"
Wan Yunting turned to Jiang Wenhao and asked, "Can you try to sound out that Che Tai Min?"
Jiang Wenhao smiled, "It's quite a coincidence. I'm currently negotiating a business deal with Doosan Group, but I haven't met Che Tai Min yet!"
"Alright, you go and test Che Tai Min for me first to see what kind of person he is. Then I'll go to Joseon to meet him," Wan Yunting agreed readily, planning to start with Che Tai Min and see if he could find a fatal flaw to strike Sima Boyong.
"Understood."
Jiang Wenhao nodded. After that, Wan Yunting chatted with Huang Zhen for a while, and Fang Yanxi returned. Wan Yunting pulled her to sit down, looking at her flushed and charming face, and smiled, "Drank too much?"
"A little."
Fang Yanxi nodded with a smile. She had just been introduced to the business magnates of the capital by the man's father, so of course, there were toasts involved.
"Do you want me to take you back to rest first?"
Wan Yunting asked with concern. Fang Yanxi shook her head slightly, her beautiful eyes looking at him meaningfully, and smiled, "I still need to meet someone later!"
Wan Yunting's expression froze, and his heart skipped a beat, his smile immediately becoming unnatural.
Fang Yanxi stood up, glancing at him with her beautiful eyes, and smiled, "Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for her!"
This made Wan Yunting awkwardly rub his nose. Jiang Wenhao couldn't help but tease, "Teacher, will the two madams fight?"
Wan Yunting kicked him. "You're not afraid of stirring up trouble, are you?"
"Hehe, no..." Jiang Wenhao dodged, a mischievous smile on his face.
On the other side, Xia Xiangyun had introduced Gu Luotang to the wealthy ladies present. However, she could see that the girl was truly uncomfortable in such social settings, so she asked her daughter Ouyang Fanmeng to take Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao away.
"Phew, finally out."
Qi Miaomiao walked out of the reception hall and let out a sigh of relief. "Those aunties were too enthusiastic. Especially a few of them, their gazes looked like they wanted to eat you up, Senior Sister!"
"Hehe, isn't it because they're jealous of you, Sister Luotang?" Ouyang Fanmeng giggled, covering her mouth.
Gu Luotang shook her head and smiled wryly. She was naturally shy and preferred quiet places. The scene just now made her feel uneasy, but she was very happy in her heart and understood the intentions behind her man's mother's actions!
"Let's go, we should go back and find Sister Shuyuan and the others to hang out."
Ouyang Fanmeng also disliked such scenes and led Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao back to the study next to the west courtyard. However, on the corridor, they encountered Fang Yanxi, dressed in a white evening gown with a small jacket. She was sitting on a chair in the corridor, her expressionless profile, illuminated by the light, was like a queen's, elegant and proud, yet undeniably imposing.
It was clear that Fang Yanxi was waiting for someone!
Seeing this, Gu Luotang's expression froze, and her heart inexplicably tightened.
Ouyang Fanmeng and Qi Miaomiao beside her also felt their hearts tighten. Qi Miaomiao, to protect her senior sister from being bullied, stepped forward to block Gu Luotang.
"Sister Yanxi, wh-why are you here?"
Ouyang Fanmeng, having recovered, also felt worried for Gu Luotang.
Fang Yanxi turned her head, her sharp, beautiful eyes directly meeting Gu Luotang's. Their gazes locked, and neither spoke. The air around them seemed to instantly freeze...
Facing Fang Yanxi's sharp and powerful gaze, Gu Luotang felt nervous, but she gritted her teeth and met her gaze with unwavering determination, showing no intention of backing down.
Ouyang Fanmeng and Qi Miaomiao clearly felt the change in atmosphere, making them exchange glances involuntarily. They knew what was about to happen. Ouyang Fanmeng wanted to speak, but Fang Yanxi stood up and walked directly towards Gu Luotang, saying, "Miss Luotang, long time no see!"
Gu Luotang suppressed her complex emotions and nodded politely, "Miss Fang, long time no see..."
"Sister Yanxi, we..."
Ouyang Fanmeng wanted to intervene, but Fang Yanxi raised a hand to stop her, smiling gently, "Fanmeng, I'd like to have a private chat with Miss Luotang!"
Ouyang Fanmeng paused, but Qi Miaomiao, who had realized what was happening, widened her eyes and sharply questioned Fang Yanxi, "What do you want to do?"
"Miaomiao, don't be rude."
Gu Luotang glanced back at Qi Miaomiao and said, "You go with Fanmeng first, I'll have a private chat with Miss Fang!"
"Senior Sister..."
Gu Luotang waved her hand to stop her, signaling Qi Miaomiao not to interfere, as she had to face this eventually.
Qi Miaomiao glared fiercely at Fang Yanxi before quickly leaving with Ouyang Fanmeng, clearly intending to find Wan Yunting to discuss this matter...
Fang Yanxi and Gu Luotang stood facing each other. The former smiled, "Miss Luotang, it's a bit windy here, let's sit over there."
The composed Gu Luotang smiled and nodded, gesturing, "Miss Fang, please..."
Fang Yanxi didn't stand on ceremony and turned towards a lounge at the end of the corridor. Gu Luotang's heart skipped a beat, knowing what Fang Yanxi was about to discuss.
"Miss Luotang, actually, I've wanted to have a private chat with you for a long time. It's just that work has been busy lately, so I haven't found the free time to talk about our matters!" Fang Yanxi said with a smile as she walked, her back to Gu Luotang.
Following behind her, Gu Luotang's presence was clearly weaker than Fang Yanxi's. After all, she felt guilty and ashamed towards Fang Yanxi. However, thinking about their future, Gu Luotang pursed her red lips, quickened her pace to walk alongside Fang Yanxi, and said firmly, "Miss Fang, you want me to leave Yun Ting, don't you?"
As soon as she spoke, Fang Yanxi stopped, turned her head to look at Gu Luotang's determined expression, her delicate eyebrows slightly raised, her beautiful eyes narrowing...