Luo Meixiang’s face also revealed a trace of worry.
She knew Zhang Changhuai too well. Zhang Changhuai always appeared genial, a gentleman through and through, but he was actually ruthless and sinister.
If he didn’t have enough means, how could he have stood firm in such a cutthroat environment, confidently occupying the top position in the circle of young nobles?
Once he angered Zhang Changhuai, with his vicious mind, there was no way Lin Beichen could contend with him.
Just as she was anxious, she saw Xu Hongzhu step forward and give her a reassuring smile.
"Zhou Yixian, you have a lot of nerve. Who gave you the right to speak disrespectfully to Mr. Lin? Apologize immediately!"
"Xu Jie, you’re asking me to apologize to him, did I hear that right?"
Zhou Yixian looked at Xu Hongzhu in disbelief, and the few people beside him also found it unbelievable.
Xu Hongzhu was one of their own circle; they were all from the South. How could she side with an outsider?
Could it be that the kid won over Xu Hongzhu with just two encounters?
Everyone stared blankly at Lin Beichen, but no matter how many times they looked, they couldn’t figure out what was so appealing about this kid.
Pretty boy?
With his looks, he wasn’t even qualified for that!
"Zhang Changhuai, today I spare your life, but the score for using others to manipulate me, I will settle with you eventually."
Xu Hongzhu stared coldly at Zhang Changhuai as she spoke.
Zhang Changhuai trembled at her words, got up silently, and walked out.
With that one sentence, Xu Hongzhu seemingly explained nothing, yet made everything clear.
Lin Beichen watched his back, not making another move, but the trace of killing intent in his eyes lingered.
Zhang Changhuai was indeed the mastermind behind the scenes.
Upon discovering his identity, Zhang did not act personally but let Xu Hongzhu take the front, watching the struggle from the sidelines.
Xu Hongzhu was difficult to utilize, but sometimes, intelligence could backfire.
A smart person, thinking they were being used, yet feeling strong enough, would be fearless.
Xu Hongzhu wanted to seize this opportunity to eliminate him and thereby take the chance to attack the North, falling right into Zhang Changhuai’s trap.
In the end, Xu Hongzhu was hoisted by her own petard. But her hatred for Zhang Changhuai at this point was also understandable.
Zhang Changhuai had calculation and patience, truly an outstanding son of a noble family.
"Sir, do you need me to kill him for you?"
Xu Hongzhu, smiling cautiously, asked.
Their previous relationship was not very good; they were only playmates from the same circle.
Even without today’s incident, they would have acted immediately with no hesitation when it came to interest conflicts in the future.
Moreover, Zhang Changhuai had forced her hand, causing resentment deep to her bones, making it impossible for her to let him off easily.
"Killing someone is the simplest punishment. If I wanted to kill him, do you think I couldn’t?"
Lin Beichen said coldly.
"I want to push him to a desperate situation step by step, let him watch his hopes shatter, and then finally kill him."
Xu Hongzhu shivered uncontrollably at his words.
But she was puzzled, what deep grudge was there between Zhang Changhuai and Lin Beichen?
Zhang Changhuai’s attack on Lin Beichen could be explained as a legitimate interest conflict, albeit with brutal methods.
But what about Lin Beichen?
Lin Beichen’s methods against Zhang Changhuai were more about humiliation than interest.
Could Zhang Changhuai have offended Lin Beichen in the past?
She couldn’t understand and didn’t dare to ask.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yixian and the others stared in disbelief at the closeness between the two.
To outsiders, Xu Hongzhu, the queen of the Underworld, seemed uninterested in men.
Anyone close to Xu Hongzhu was either beauties like Luo Meixiang or younger girls like Jin Chuchu.
Everyone assumed Xu Hongzhu played for the other team. Now she suddenly showed interest in a man?
Even Luo Meixiang was stunned.
But Luo Meixiang didn’t find Xu Hongzhu’s attitude strange. Outsiders misunderstood Xu Hongzhu’s interest, but her close friends knew Xu Hongzhu was actually very traditional and still longed for love deep down.
Luo Meixiang was just puzzled how Lin Beichen became so close with her in just two visits.
In the back, Jin Chuchu stood silently outside the corridor, a fleeting complex expression on her face.
Others couldn’t see it, but she could sense that Xu Hongzhu had the same kind of aura as her inside.
This woman, like herself, was under Lin Beichen’s control, their lives at his mercy, becoming his slaves.
The proud head of the Xu Family and the queen of Huadu’s Underworld had also submitted to Lin Beichen, making Jin Chuchu feel a violent delight.
After the Phoenix Club meeting ended, everyone dispersed, and Lin Beichen got into Luo Meixiang’s car.
The convertible returned to the campus. On the way, the two hardly spoke. It wasn’t until they entered the parking lot that Luo Meixiang suddenly said:
"Lin Beichen, are you familiar with Miss Xu? Also, what exactly happened between Zhang Changhuai and Xu Jie to cause such a rift?"
"Xu Hongzhu told me some things, but they are her privacy. Even if she didn’t tell you, I wouldn’t be at liberty to say.
But there’s one thing I hope you won’t misunderstand. She got close to me only because I saved her life tonight."
Lin Beichen said with a faint smile.
Luo Meixiang, thoughtful and wise, immediately gleaned many implications from Lin Beichen’s words.
Combining Lin Beichen’s ambiguous hints, she quickly pieced together the night’s truth.
In her perspective, the shooting at the gathering was likely arranged by Zhang Changhuai.
Zhang Changhuai had deliberately set up an assassination plot, which Lin Beichen thwarted, causing Xu Hongzhu to realize the crisis and turn against Zhang Changhuai, then thank Lin Beichen.
Everything Lin Beichen said was true; strictly speaking, he didn’t lie to Luo Meixiang. What she inferred was beyond his concern.
"Why would Zhang Changhuai do this? They are from the same circle. How could he bear to take action against Xu Jie?"
Luo Meixiang covered her mouth in shock.
Lin Beichen smiled without explaining.
Luo Meixiang became more confused and stared at Lin Beichen, unable to understand.
"Luo Meixiang, don’t think too much. This matter has nothing to do with us, right?"
Lin Beichen smiled.
Luo Meixiang, still unsure, nodded and walked into the school with a complex expression.
Watching her leave, Lin Beichen disappeared from the spot.
With the crisis at the Phoenix Club resolved, Lin Beichen’s life returned to peace.
The Zhang Family and Bai Family fiercely competed over Mingzhu Port. Yet, on a certain morning, they seemed to cease hostilities simultaneously and made peace.
Observers knew well that while they exchanged formal words, the deep-seated enmities wouldn’t dissolve so easily.
The conflict between the Bai and Zhang Families wouldn’t end so simply; inevitably, they would clash again.
Meanwhile, Lin Beichen continued his tranquil campus life.
The only difference was, the once unknown Lin Beichen now found himself suddenly surrounded by several women.
Yuan Yanan seemed to have undergone a change, inviting him out every few days.
Sometimes for a meal, sometimes for a stroll.
But regardless of the activity, Su Manni always accompanied them. Despite seeing Luo Meixiang, she didn’t seem to give up.
At Huadu University, the lab work progressed steadily with Ruan Yunyun’s help.
Because Lin Beichen pitched the concept of the second-generation Life Spirit Liquid, Huadu University treated it as a major annual event.
To build the lab, Huadu University organized two research teams in the biology and pharmaceutical departments.
Their role was to assist, not to interfere with Lin Beichen’s research.
Even so, the professors who joined these teams were overjoyed, competing intensely for a spot.
Any discovery from this lab could be globally groundbreaking, providing both fame and commercial prospects.
Such opportunities—part fame, part fortune—were a rare boon for researchers.
The ultimate goal was for Huadu University to surpass the Twin Stars and become the top research institution in the country, hinged on Lin Beichen’s results.