The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

Chapter 216 The Secret Meeting at the Xinghai Group Building

Ye Xuehan, Qiao Lu, and Ren Changxi stood in front of the Xinghai Building in Qianmo City.

The towering glass curtain wall cascades like molten gold in the morning light. The Xinghai Group logo, embedded at the top of the building, resembles a suspended star, overlooking the bustling city arteries below.

In the lobby on the first floor, a middle-aged man wearing a baseball cap caught sight of the three people getting out of the taxi and immediately got up to greet them at the door.

The moment they saw the newcomer's face, surprise flashed across the eyes of all three of them—this face was none other than Ning Ze, the founder of Xinghai Group, who had appeared on television news many times.

Ning Ze wore a simple dark jacket with the brim of his hat pulled low, partially obscuring his forehead, but his deep, sharp gaze pierced the morning mist like a searchlight, clearly reflected in the pupils of the three people. The corners of his lips seemed to be tugged by an elusive curve, neither a polite smile nor a condescending scrutiny, but rather a quiet observation that seemed to understand the subtle nuances.

"Ye Xuehan, Qiao Lu, Ren Changxi," Ning Ze's voice was not loud, but it penetrated the noise of the street with unusual clarity, carrying a peculiar penetrating power, accurately calling out the three names, "I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Their eyes met instantly, like lightning, and their hearts surged with shock. Ning Ze, the founder of Xinghai Group, a man of immeasurable wealth and countless affairs, was actually personally waiting for these three prospective astronauts who had just signed contracts? This treatment was unsettlingly bizarre.

Qiao Lu's brain raced as she tried to piece together the logical fragments—the news clearly reported that he had just been discharged from the hospital yesterday, yet he appeared here looking travel-worn.

Ren Changxi silently scrutinized Ning Ze, trying to glean any clues from this legendary figure in the business and technology world. At this moment, even the finest wrinkles were visible on his jacket, a far cry from his glamorous image on screen.

Ye Xuehan's thoughts were suddenly pulled back to the invitation about the "ruins." Captain Zhang and Ning Ze...is there a secret connection between them? Ning Ze's appearance at this moment is no coincidence.

Ning Ze's gaze slowly swept across the three faces, his eyes seemingly able to easily peel away the surface calm and reach the turbulent doubts in their hearts. He offered no explanation, only making a simple gesture: "Let's talk inside. There are some things that need to be confirmed in person."

He turned and pushed open the heavy revolving door, his steps steady on the gleaming marble floor.

The three did not move towards the reception desk or the elevator, but instead walked straight through the lobby and turned into an inconspicuous, access-restricted corridor on the side. Ning Ze raised his hand, and the sensor silently swept across his palm, causing the heavy alloy door to slide open quietly, revealing a quiet passageway with soft lighting and a dark gray carpet.

“This is a better place to talk.” Ning Ze’s voice was particularly clear in the enclosed passage. He did not turn around, nor did he stop walking.

Qiao Lu's doubts surged like a snowball, and the outline of a certain guess vaguely emerged in her mind.

Ye Xuehan's heart began to race. She took a deep breath, suppressing her turbulent thoughts, and fixed her gaze on Ning Ze's broad back.

The passage was short, ending at a much heavier metal door.

Ning Ze verified his identity again, and the door opened silently. Inside was a small, round conference room, with soft lighting pouring down from the dome, illuminating the simple black conference table in the center and several matching chairs. One wall was a single curved screen, currently in sleep mode, displaying a deep, inky blue color.

Ning Ze walked to the head of the conference table, finally turned around, and took off his baseball cap, which was pulled low. The light clearly outlined his face, which could not hide a trace of weariness, but his eyes were as deep as the universe, as if they could see through people's hearts.

He pulled out a chair and sat down, without gesturing for the three to sit as well. His gaze swept over Ye Xuehan, Qiao Lu, and Ren Changxi once more, with a scrutinizing look, or rather, a silent confirmation.

“Welcome to the core of the Star Sea,” Ning Ze’s deep and powerful voice broke the silence of the conference room. “I know you have many doubts in your hearts. Why you, why the rush, and why I am here waiting.”

His fingertips tapped the smooth tabletop with surgical precision.

"The technology of Phoenix Corporation is merely the visible fuse. The real reason lies in the unique talents that each of you possesses... These talents may be buried on Earth, but at the lunar base, in the upcoming mission, they are crucial."

His gaze finally settled on Ye Xuehan's face, carrying a knowing and unquestionable determination.

“Ye Xuehan,” he began slowly, his voice carrying a strange resonance, “Zhang Zhaoyi should have mentioned ‘ruins’ to you. That was no joke, nor was it an ordinary geological survey. Now, I formally invite you to join this exploration. And the lunar base is your first step on the path to it.”

A deathly silence fell over the conference room, broken only by the faint hum of the air purification system. Ning Ze's words were like a meteorite thrown into a still lake, stirring up a tidal wave in Ye Xuehan's heart. Ruins! Zhang Zhaoyi's dark yet resolute face instantly flashed clearly into her mind.

"Ruins...exploration?" Ye Xuehan's voice carried a hint of tension as she looked directly into Ning Ze's eyes, which seemed capable of devouring all secrets. "What exactly is it?"

Ning Ze didn't respond directly, turning his gaze to Qiao Lu. "Researcher Qiao," he addressed her with solemnity, "do you now have an answer to your question about why I noticed you?" The enigmatic smile on his lips seemed to deepen. "Your preliminary research report in aerospace medicine on the adaptive regulation of the human nervous system under extreme environments offers a unique perspective. Xinghai certainly needs this kind of thinking that breaks free from conventional frameworks. However," he paused slightly, choosing his words carefully, "in the talent-rich Xinghai Group, it's not the most dazzling. The real reason is that I will witness the practical application of your research in interstellar travel in the future."

Jolu's heart skipped a beat. That report! She had only mentioned its initial draft at an internal seminar.

Finally, Ning Ze's gaze fell on Ren Changxi. This student, who had always been the most composed, now had eyes as sharp as knives, filled with scrutiny and a hint of elusive wariness.

“Ms. Ren,” Ning Ze’s voice remained calm, “you can rest assured that this offer has nothing to do with your father’s wishes. At least, your surname is not a factor in Xinghai’s internal decision-making.” He precisely pinpointed Ren Changxi’s biggest concern, “Upgrading the navigation and communication system is the core lifeline of Xinghai’s deep space program, requiring top-notch algorithm masters and system architects. What we value is the logical storm you demonstrated when you independently resolved the signal redundancy conflict of the ‘Phoenix VII’ satellite and your absolute control over complex systems. The department promised in that employment contract will not change its significance because of anyone’s ‘interference’.”

Ren Changxi's pupils contracted dangerously. Ning Ze not only knew her father might be involved, but he had also pinpointed her A-level classified solution! This instantly sent her alarm bells soaring to their peak. Xinghai's intelligence network, or rather Ning Ze's personal database, was unfathomable. His words were both a reassurance and a chilling warning—in Xinghai, value was the only passport.

“So,” Ren Changxi’s voice was as cold as an icy spring, “what is the price? Besides the tempting conditions in the contract, what do we need to give up? Just to work on the moon?” She keenly caught the hidden risks behind Ye Xuehan’s mention of “relics” and Qiao Lu’s ambiguous research.

Ning Ze leaned forward slightly, his hands crossed on the smooth table. The soft light in the conference room cast deep shadows on his face.

"The price?" He repeated the word, his tone almost coldly candid. "The price is that you will step into the forefront of the collision between human technology and the unknown at least five, even ten years earlier. The lunar base is far more than a training ground; it is a gateway to deep space, and also... a bridgehead for exploring certain truths." His gaze swept over the three again. "You will witness scenes far beyond what is described in current textbooks, and bear responsibilities and risks far greater than those of ordinary astronauts. You will no longer be merely employees of the corporation, but may become... participants in history, even its driving force."

He paused, letting the heavy meaning settle in the silence.

“As for the exploration of the ruins that Ye Xuehan mentioned,” Ning Ze’s gaze refocused on her, his expression resolute, “that is one of the true core objectives of your trip. Beneath the lunar base lie ancient traces far beyond our understanding. We need people with special ‘sensing’ abilities.” He emphasized the word “sensing,” giving Ye Xuehan a deep look. “And your background and abilities are part of that key. The specific details will become clear once you reach the moon. Now, you only need to answer one question—”

Ning Ze's voice was deep and powerful, striking the eardrums of everyone present:

Are you ready to accept this real challenge, which goes far beyond the status of 'trainee astronauts'? ​​Are you ready to accept everything that may overturn your past understanding?

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze instantly. Ning Ze's question hung like a heavy lead weight over the three of them. His deep gaze pierced through the soft light, carrying an unavoidable scrutiny as if tempered by fire, awaiting their choice from the depths of their souls.

Ye Xuehan was the first to break the suffocating silence. Her heart pounded in her chest. Relics, the unknown, Zhang Zhaoyi's words, Ning Ze's invitation at this moment... these fragments swirled and collided in her mind, eventually coalescing into a vortex of gravity that seemed almost fated.

She took a deep breath, the air carrying the dryness of the desert and the coolness of the stars, and met Ning Ze's gaze. Her voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear and firm: "I accept."

Qiao Lu's fingertips unconsciously traced the cold surface of the table. That report on neuroadaptive regulation, that prophecy she thought was merely a flash of inspiration, had actually penetrated layers of barriers and reached Ning Ze's gaze; even being hailed as a prophecy of "future applications"? This completely shattered the boundaries of her understanding. After a moment of silence, she followed Ye Xuehan's words, saying, "I'll join."

Ren Changxi looked at Ning Ze: "I accept the challenge." She didn't mince words, her eyes fixed on Ning Ze with surgical precision. "However, I want to know if you received that message from the future."

“Of course I received the information you sent to Xinghai Group in the future. If the information is true, then you must join Xinghai now to form a closed loop.” Ning Ze’s enigmatic smile seemed to deepen.

He rose and walked towards the massive curved screen wall. With a simple gesture, the deep, dark blue background instantly illuminated, and a huge, clear holographic image of the moon floated in the center of the conference room, familiar craters and lunar maria displaying breathtakingly detailed precision. The image rapidly magnified and focused, finally settling on a specific area on the far side of the moon—the edge of a seemingly ordinary crater. Ning Ze lightly tapped his fingertip, and the image resolution suddenly increased, revealing a hazy, unnatural geometric outline beneath the lunar surface, like the jagged bones of a sleeping behemoth.

“Very good.” Ning Ze’s voice sounded even deeper and more powerful in the holographic light. “Welcome to the first rusty step leading to the future. Your training will take place at the lunar base ‘Guanghan Palace,’ but the real starting point is here.” He pointed to the blurry geometric outline, his gaze sweeping over the three of them. “Preparation time: seventy-two hours. In three days, you will depart from the ‘Horizon’ base on Kilimanjaro, board the ‘Star Shuttle’ spaceplane, travel directly to the Origin Space Station for a transfer, and then proceed to the moon. Upon arrival at the base, you will receive a detailed mission briefing. Now—” He turned off the holographic image, and the room instantly darkened, leaving only the soft glow of the wall lamps. “Take your luggage and head to the airport. Check the text message from last night for your flight information.”

Ning Ze stood up, gesturing for them to leave the conference room together.

The Xinghai Group's airport shuttle bus has been waiting in the building's parking lot for a long time and is about to depart.

Ning Ze escorted the three to the parking lot, adding before parting, "By the way, please be careful in everything you do. You are not some chosen ones; when faced with danger, survival is your priority. I've recruited more than just the three of you; I've already precisely recruited nearly a hundred people. It just so happens that you're in Qianmo City, so I wanted to meet with you."

The bus headed towards the airport.