After the spiritual energy was restored: Goddess girlfriends came knocking.

Half an hour later, the group arrived at Shenzhen Airport.

As soon as the car came to a stop, several bodyguards in suits quickly came to greet us.

Standing at the front was a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit, with a perfectly measured smile on his face, extending his hand to Lin Chu.

"Mr. Lin, everything is arranged here."

Lin Chu shook hands with him and nodded.

The man in the Zhongshan suit gestured with one hand, leading the four people toward a separate passage.

Ground staff were already waiting at the entrance of the passage, bowing slightly to guide the group into the VIP area.

The surrounding passengers all turned to look.

The four of them—one man and three women—were all exceptionally good-looking and had an outstanding presence. With a personal escort and a private entrance, it was impossible for them not to attract attention.

Someone secretly raised their phone to take a picture, and several bodyguards were about to step forward to stop them.

Lin Chu waved her hand: "It's nothing."

The person taking the photo seemed a little embarrassed and awkwardly put down their phone.

But the whispers still couldn't be suppressed.

"Holy crap, who is this big shot?"

"Her aura is amazing, and she's absolutely stunning."

"Is this passageway for private jets? I'm so jealous."

"See that guy in the Zhongshan suit over there? I think I've seen him on the news before."

The four walked through the passageway, and a Gulfstream G700 was quietly parked on the tarmac ahead.

The pure white fuselage gleamed with a warm luster in the sunlight, and the flag of the Xia Dynasty was painted on the tail fin.

Ruoshui glanced curiously at the fuselage, while Lin Chu pulled her toward the gangway.

"This is my first time flying!"

"This is my first time riding in one of these too."

Once on the plane, everyone discovered that the space inside was much larger than they had imagined.

Cream-colored leather sofas formed a semi-circle, and freshly brewed hot tea and several plates of delicate pastries were placed on the coffee table. The cabin was softly lit and covered with a thick carpet.

Ruoshui nestled on the sofa, swinging her legs comfortably: "It's quite comfortable."

Cang Yao sat by the window, watching the ground outside the porthole gradually shrink.

Although its speed was far slower than his own, riding this iron bird for the first time was quite an experience.

Caiwei leaned quietly against the sofa, her gaze sweeping over the furnishings in the cabin, and then inadvertently glancing at Lin Chu, giving her a slight smile.

The man in the Zhongshan suit wisely refrained from disturbing them and led the others to the back area.

Two hours later, the plane landed at the Capital Airport.

The gangway descended, and Lin Chu led the three women off the plane.

A row of people were already standing on the tarmac.

At the front was Lu Chenghong, dressed in a dark Zhongshan suit, his hair neatly combed.

Behind him were several faces he had seen on television news, several generals in military uniforms, their star badges gleaming coldly in the sunlight, standing ramrod straight.

Lin Chu raised an eyebrow slightly.

He really hadn't expected this kind of spectacle.

It seems I underestimated how much the Xia Dynasty valued me.

Lu Chenghong was observing Lin Chu from a distance.

It was completely different from the last time we met. I could clearly feel that the young man in front of me had become as calm and composed as a mountain.

He quickly compared him in his mind to everyone he had ever met before, but found no reference point.

Looking at the three women behind Lin Chu, the report from the special discussion group came back to mind.

These three women, all with formidable backgrounds and power, all have unusual relationships with this young man named Lin Chu.

It seems pretty much true now.

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Lu Chenghong smiled and quickly stepped forward to grasp Lin Chu's hands.

"Mr. Lin, thank you for waiting. You must have had a long journey."

Faced with such respect, Lin Chu naturally wouldn't be negligent, and shook hands with him with a smile: "Director Lu, you're too kind. Thank you for making the arrangements."

"Would you like to grab a bite to eat and rest first?"

"No need, I ate on the plane."

Lu Chenghong nodded and stepped aside to lead the way.

There were five extended vehicles parked on the tarmac, all with license plates containing four zeros.

The group got into the car, and the convoy drove out of the airport, heading towards the center of the capital.

Although there were no police cars leading the way, the traffic lights along the route seemed to have been timed in advance, allowing the convoy to travel smoothly without any obstacles.

The car drove into Lutai.

This was the power center of the Xia Dynasty. Ancient and solemn buildings are nestled among the pines and cypresses, exuding a sense of solemnity.

Lin Chu looked at the scenery flashing past the window and pondered to herself.

The level of hospitality I'm receiving this time is probably no less than that for a visiting president from another country.

The three women behind him, including Ruoshui, had been much quieter along the way.

In front of outsiders, everything revolves around Lin Chu; this is an unspoken understanding.

The convoy stopped in front of a three-story building at the deepest part of Lutai.

Lu Chenghong personally opened the car door and led Lin Chu and the other three through the porch into a spacious conference room.

In the center of the conference room stood a long, narrow rosewood table covered with a dark green velvet cloth. The bookshelves on the four walls were neatly arranged with thread-bound ancient books and modern file folders.

An elderly man with a full head of white hair was standing in front of the window. Hearing footsteps, he turned around.

Lu Jingyuan.

The supreme leader of the Xia Dynasty.

In the more than ten years since he came to power, the Xia Dynasty has developed at a speed far exceeding any previous period.

It was a face that Lin Chu had seen countless times on television news since she was a child.

Lin Chu stopped, straightened his clothes, and gave a solemn bow.

Lu Jingyuan looked at him, a kind smile appearing on his face.

He had seen Lin Chu's photos and videos countless times in the documents. She was an ordinary college graduate who worked as a designer in a company in Shenzhen. Then she suddenly disappeared and reappeared completely transformed.

But now that I'm actually standing in front of him, I realize that the descriptions in the documents are far from sufficient.

This young man's demeanor is the kind of composure that comes from long-term exposure to high positions.

That composure in every gesture, the calmness when eyes meet, and the unintentional display of authority.

Ordinary people might not be able to tell, but someone who has been in politics for decades can recognize him at a glance.

I have only seen similar things in those extremely outstanding national leaders.

How old is Lin Chu?

Lu Jingyuan's mind raced, but his face remained impassive.

He gestured for Lin Chu to sit down, and then nodded to the three women behind him.

Cangyao, Ruoshui, and Caiwei nodded in return, their demeanor composed and flawless.

They naturally wanted to make Lin Chu look good in public.

Instead of getting down to business right away, Lu Jingyuan pulled Lin Chu aside and started chatting about everyday things.

He asked about the situation in Shenzhen and about things in Linchu Village, his tone as friendly as an elderly neighbor.

Lin Chu responded to each question with neither arrogance nor servility.

After chatting for a while, Lu Jingyuan smiled and patted his knee: "Good lad, not bad."

He stood up, and Lin Chu followed suit.

"Let's have a nice first meeting today. You must be tired from your journey, so please go and rest. We can talk about the details tomorrow."

Lin Chu nodded: "I'll follow your arrangements."

Lu Jingyuan nodded to Lu Chenghong.

Lu Chenghong understood and led Lin Chu and the other three out of the conference room.

The car was already waiting at the door.

The motorcade drove out of Lutai and headed towards the hotel specifically for receiving state guests.

In the car, Lin Chu suddenly realized that the two of them shared the surname Lu, and that they did indeed look somewhat alike.

He smacked his lips.

Good heavens, we've accidentally wandered into the imperial palace.

A dozen minutes later, the car stopped in front of a detached courtyard-style hotel.

White walls and black tiles, a few ginkgo trees planted in the courtyard, tight security, and identity verification required for everyone to enter and exit.

Just as I reached the lobby entrance, a small figure rushed out from the revolving door.

"Brother Lin Chu!"

Cang Xiaoxiao threw herself into Lin Chu's arms with such force that Lin Chu took a half step back.

She was wearing a light green blouse, her eyes were red, and she was holding Lin Chu tightly around the waist with both hands, burying her face in his chest and refusing to let go.

Lin Chu smiled and gently rubbed the top of her head.

"Alright, alright, how old are you to still be crying like that?"

"Who's crying?" A small voice muffled inside his clothes, thick with a nasal tone, "I just got sand in my eye."

Cang Yao stood aside and shook her head helplessly.

"I've been waiting for you for so, so long!"

She wanted to continue speaking, but something got stuck in her throat.

She bit her lip, swallowed the rest of her words, and then fiercely wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"Never mind." She sniffed and looked up at him. "Anyway, I've found you."

Lin Chu gently patted her back, letting her cling to him.

Lu Chenghong stood a few meters away, staring in disbelief.

I've had quite a bit of contact with this young girl lately.

He appears harmless, but when he gets down to business, he is experienced and shrewd. He knows how to advance and retreat at the negotiating table, and he handles things with perfect tact. He is cold and unfriendly to everyone.

He could tell that she was actually very proud at heart.

But right now, the one hanging around Lin Chu's neck is clearly a spoiled little girl.