Chapter 40: Gamechanger

Zhang Rongxuan expression turned grim as he absorbed the news. He knew that the Feng's were a powerful and dangerous family, but they were in no way less than them.

The feud between the Zhang and the Feng families went back generations. They were among the two powerful and influential families of the Great Four, each with their own sphere of influence. The Zhangs were deeply involved in politics, with many members holding positions of power in government and the civil service. The Fengs, on the other hand, were known for their military prowess, with many of their members serving in the armed forces and wielding great influence in military circles.

The two families had long been at odds, each vying for power and influence in their respective spheres. They had clashed countless times over the years, with each side seeking to gain the upper hand.

Despite the enmity between them, however, the Zhangs and the Fengs had always maintained a certain level of respect for one another. They were both proud, powerful families with a deep sense of tradition and heritage. And while they might disagree on many things, they were bound by a mutual understanding of the importance of family, honour, and duty.

Zhang Rongxuan already had a vague idea as to why the Fengs were planning to seek revenge against his family. His younger brother had once again done something he shouldn't have done. And, as the elder brother, he would have to clean up this mess.

However, Zhang Rongxuan was not a man who was easily intimidated. He was a born leader and had faced challenges of all kinds throughout his life. Instead of feeling fear or panic, he was very indifferent to the situation.

As a sly smirk slowly spread across his lips, he spoke with a powerful and confident voice. "Well, let them come," he said. "We're ready for them."

***

The two friends, Zhou Xuanzhi and Li Bo, sat across from Song Peng at a quiet corner of Song Peng's restaurant. Zhou Xuanzhi looked worried, and his brow was furrowed with concern.

Li Bo had already explained Zhou Xuanzhi's situation to Song Peng over the phone, and now Song Peng was sipping at his drink and looking at both of them.

"My mother..." Zhou Xuanzhi began, hesitantly. "Her health has suddenly deteriorated further. The doctor said she needs to undergo an operation within three months. The operation is expensive, and I don't know how to afford it."

Song Peng listened carefully as Zhou Xuanzhi explained the situation. "I've been working multiple jobs apart from yours," Zhou Xuanzhi continued, "but it's not enough. I don't know what to do."

"I understand," Song Peng said, nodding thoughtfully. "It's not easy to make that kind of money quickly."

Zhou Xuanzhi nodded, his head still bowed, and he looked at his feet with a troubled expression.

After a moment of contemplation, Song Peng spoke up. "I might have a solution," he said.

Zhou Xuanzhi's eyes widened with hope as he asked, "What is it?"

"I have a friend who's starting a new business in the beverage sector," Song Peng explained. "He needs a model, but he doesn't have a big budget to hire a professional. I was thinking, maybe you could do it for him."

Zhou Xuanzhi looked uncertain. "I've never done modeling before," he said. "I'm not sure if I'd be any good at it."

Li Bo, who was always interested in the entertainment industry, jumped in. "You'd be amazing, Zhou Xuanzhi!" he exclaimed. "With your looks and charisma, you could be an idol!"

Zhou Xuanzhi blushed at the compliment. "I don't know," he said. "I'm just a college student, not a model."

Li Bo put his arm around Zhou Xuanzhi's shoulder. "Leave it to me," he said. "I'll take care of everything. You just show up and look handsome."

Zhou Xuanzhi looked at Song Peng, who nodded in agreement. "And I'll loan you some of the money you need," Song Peng added. "You can pay me back later when you're earning more."

Zhou Xuanzhi smiled gratefully. "Thank you both," he said. "I'll do it. For my mother."

As they parted ways, Li Bo couldn't resist teasing Song Peng. "Now you're not the only one with connections, Brother Song," he said, grinning. "I have Zhou Xuanzhi's good looks on my side."

Song Peng laughed and flicked a finger at Li Bo's forehead. "Don't get too cocky," he said. "You're still just a kid."

Li Bo protested, "Hey, I'm in my final year of college! I'm practically an adult."

Song Peng shook his head in amusement and walked away, leaving Zhou Xuanzhi and Li Bo to discuss this opportunity further.

***

The luxurious penthouse apartment exuded an air of exclusivity and sophistication as if every object in the room had been carefully selected to create a harmonious whole. The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows across the walls, with the only source of illumination being a single lamp tucked away in the corner. The expensive furniture that adorned the space was evidence of the man's impeccable taste, with every piece meticulously placed to highlight its beauty. The air was thick with the sweet scent of lavender, a fragrance that enveloped the room in a calming embrace.

In the centre of the room, lying on a king-sized bed, was a shirtless man with a perfectly sculpted body. Every muscle in his body rippled in the soft light, even as he lay there in a deep slumber. His chest rose and fell in a slow, steady rhythm, completely oblivious to the events that were unfolding in a different time zone.

He was in a deep sleep when his phone started ringing, interrupting his rest. The man groaned as he reached out for his phone, trying to find the snooze button to silence the alarm. But it was not an alarm. It was a missed call from an unknown number. He frowned and tossed his phone aside, hoping to go back to sleep.

But his phone continued to ring, and the incessant noise was driving him crazy. He grabbed his phone again, but in his frustration, he accidentally threw it across the room, shattering it into pieces.

A few minutes later, there was a loud knock on the door, interrupting his attempt to go back to sleep. The man was furious. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Whoever is at the door, I swear to God, if you don't leave me alone, I'll make sure you regret it!"

The door burst open, and a middle-aged man dressed in a black suit and white gloves stormed into the room. He was the butler, James.

"Master Rui, please forgive me for disturbing your rest, but I have some important news," James said in perfect Chinese, bowing down to show his respect.

Rui was a brilliant scientist, renowned for his work at the TAD Research facility. He had been working tirelessly for days, trying to solve a complex equation that could change the course of science forever. Exhaustion had finally caught up with him, and he had fallen into a deep sleep when his phone interrupted him. James's sudden appearance had only added to his frustration, but he knew that if the butler had interrupted his rest, it must be important.

Rui grunted in response, "What could be so important that it couldn't wait until morning?"

"It's from the Research Facility, Master Rui. They have been trying to reach you for weeks, and they said it's urgent," James replied.

Rui sighed and rubbed his eyes, "Fine, give me the phone."

James handed him the phone. Rui answered it with a grudge, "Who is this?"

"Hello, Master Rui. This is Dr. Chris Denver from TAD Research Facility," the caller said, his voice trembling with urgency. "I've been trying to reach you for the past few weeks, and I finally got through to you today."

Rui was getting irritated, "Calm down Dr. Denver and tell me what's going on."

Dr. Chris Denver who was still in a panic, answered, "The artifact, the one you had brought to the research facility. We've been closely monitoring it for years, but a few weeks ago, it suddenly fell off its pedestal. But that is not possible. It was kept in a vacuum, with almost zero magnetic force around it, to prevent any interference"

"What do you mean it fell off?" Rui was now wide awake.

"Master Rui, it fell off, on its own. Just like that." Dr. Denver was on verge of crying.

Rui asked, "An earthquake, maybe?"

"No-No, we have reports from all over the world. There have been no earthquakes. It didn't fall off because of an earthquake. It just suddenly fell off, and we don't have any video footage of it," Dr. Denver said, trying to make sense of it.

Rui stroked his chin thoughtfully. "What about human error? Maybe someone had accidentally knocked it off its pedestal?"

"We've thought of that too, Master Rui," Dr. Denver said with a sigh. "But the pedestal was designed to be highly stable and could withstand even the most severe bumps or jolts. Besides, the security footage showed that there was no one in the room at the time the artifact fell. In fact no one had entered the room that day."

"Sir, you are not understanding. It just suddenly fell off, and we don't have any video footage of it," Dr. Denver said, trying to make sense of it.

Rui leaned forward, his mind racing with possibilities, when he suddenly become more alert. "Wait, What? What do you meet you have no footage?" he asked, incredulous. "Surely there must have been some kind of malfunction in the monitoring equipment, or some other explanation for why there's no video footage."

"We've checked and double-checked everything, Master Rui," Dr. Denver said, his voice shaking with urgency. "There's no malfunction in the equipment, and we've scoured the area for any signs of interference, but we've come up empty. It's like the artifact just disappeared into thin air. And suddenly it was lying in a certain direction."

Rui frowned, deep in thought. "And you said there's no video footage of the fall?"

"None at all," Dr. Denver confirmed. "We slowed down the video to the minimum possible level, but it doesn't show anything. It's like the artifact just vanished and was lying down the moment."

Rui was perplexed, "Not even a millisecond?"

"No, Master Rui, not even a millisecond," Dr. Denver replied, growing more agitated.

Rui went silent, his mind racing with the implications of what Dr. Denver had just told him. For a moment, he was lost in thought, trying to understand the possibilities and complications of this strange occurrence.

Dr. Denver, growing increasingly panicked at the silence on the other end of the line, called out urgently, "Hello, Master Rui? Are you still there? Hello?"

Rui paused, trying to process the information, "Which direction did it fall towards?"

"The east," Dr. Denver replied weakly as if he could faint any second.

"I'll be there in a few hours," Rui said deeply.

He hung up the phone, and James handed him his coat, "Shall I prepare your plane, Master Rui?"

"Yes, James, and make sure I have everything I need for this investigation," Rui ordered.

Rui was now determined to find out what had happened to the artifact. He knew that it was something big, something that could change the world as they knew it. It was a symbol of change and disruption, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that something big was about to happen.

***