One person: Lu Jin, do I look like your master?

"What...what exactly happened? What's going on up there...?"

He pointed subtly to the ceiling, indicating the board of directors.

"Hahaha! It's alright! It's alright!"

Liao Zhong let out a loud laugh, patted his deputy's shoulder forcefully, and deliberately amplified his voice so that all the employees around him who were listening could hear him.

"What a scare! What a scare!"

He put his arm around Chen Duo, who seemed a little lost, and explained to everyone with a smile:

"Our girl Chen Duo has turned misfortune into blessing this time! She's so lucky! She met a reclusive master who was traveling around!"

That master was incredibly powerful and kind-hearted; he easily and completely cured the girl's long-standing ailment!

He pointed to Chen Duo's abdomen:

"Now, Chen Duo is no different from an ordinary newcomer who has just awakened her Qi! She's perfectly healthy!"

She contacted me privately beforehand, all mysteriously, just to give me this surprise!

Sorry for the scare, everyone! Thank you all for your hard work! My bonus will be doubled this month!

Liao Zhong selectively concealed most of the truth.

He crafted a relatively reasonable, easily accepted, and most favorable explanation for Chen Duo's future.

He must do it.

If his colleagues knew that Chen Duo had tried to kill him, even if there was a reason, it would inevitably leave some people with resentment and fear, which would be detrimental to Chen Duo's future life here.

This is for the best. Chen Duo is a "victim who has been cured," and all the problems can be pushed onto that mysterious "master."

Sure enough, upon hearing Liao Zhong's explanation, everyone showed expressions of sudden realization and immense joy!

"Really?! Chen Duo is cured?!"

"That's wonderful! Thank God!"

"Who is this amazing person? We should thank them properly!"

Especially the female employees of those companies, they had long felt affection for Chen Duo, but because of the strict safety regulations in the past, they were preventing accidental infection with the Gu poison.

He has been forbidden from having any physical contact with Chen Duo.

Upon hearing this incredible news, they could no longer contain their excitement!

"Ah!! Duo'er!"

Several young female employees cheered and pushed aside the male colleagues blocking their way, surging towards Chen Duo like a tide and surrounding her.

They chattered away, asking questions all at once:

"Duo'er, are you really better? That's wonderful!"

"Is there anything else that feels uncomfortable?"

"That scared us to death!"

"From now on, your older sister can take you out to play!"

They no longer showed the same distant concern as before, but instead reached out excitedly and naturally.

Some ruffled Chen Duo's hair, some pinched her cheeks, and some even gave her a big, warm hug!

Chen Duo was a little stunned by the sudden and overly enthusiastic encirclement. Her body stiffened slightly, and she was somewhat unaccustomed to such close physical contact.

But strangely, she didn't feel disgusted or afraid.

These older women's embraces were soft, their words warm, carrying a pure, undisguised joy and care.

This feeling... is unfamiliar, but not bad.

She awkwardly and cautiously savored this sudden warmth.

The other male employees, seeing this, also smiled with satisfaction and applauded.

The atmosphere in the company lobby instantly changed from oppressive and anxious to cheerful and warm.

Many people breathed a sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from their shoulders.

Although Chen Duo's tragedy was mainly caused by the scum of the Medicine Immortal Society, they were employees of Nadutong, which was responsible for handling such incidents.

Those who failed to detect and stop the evil deeds of the Medicine Immortal Society in advance felt more or less guilty and powerless.

Now that they see Chen Duo truly rescued and freed from the shadows of the past, they are genuinely happy for her, as if they have also made up for the regret in their own hearts.

Liao Zhong looked at Chen Duo, who was surrounded by her female colleagues with enthusiasm, and although she seemed a little flustered, she did not show any aversion.

Seeing the genuine smiles of his colleagues around him, his tense heart finally settled down completely.

He knew that Chen Duo's new life had truly begun from this moment on.

What he had to do was protect this hard-won warm haven for her.

Chapter 26 Reporting the Situation

The laughter and chatter continued in the hall.

Chen Duo was surrounded by a group of enthusiastic female colleagues, and she was still a little uncomfortable with this sudden intimacy.

But those emerald eyes no longer held their usual emptiness; instead, they held a touch of innocent warmth and subtle helplessness.

She was like a butterfly that had just emerged from its cocoon, cautiously exploring a new world.

Liao Zhong watched this heartwarming scene with a relieved smile on his face.

He clapped his hands, his loud voice drowning out the noise in the room:

"Alright, alright! We'll stop being so lively for now!"

These past few days, everyone has been searching for Chen Duo, going up and down mountains and down rivers without sleeping a wink. You've worked so hard!

Now that everyone is back safely, and it's almost dawn, everyone should hurry back and rest!

"Get plenty of rest, and come to work later tonight... oh no, I mean later today!"

Although the employees were still reluctant to leave, since their boss had spoken and they were indeed exhausted, they smiled and agreed.

They dispersed in twos and threes, not forgetting to say goodbye to Chen Duo before leaving, saying things like "Duo'er, get some rest" and "I'll come see you again tomorrow."

Liao Zhong stopped a female employee who was usually calm and meticulous, and whispered to her:

"Xiao Zhang, take Chen Duo to the rest area later and find a quiet and comfortable room for her to stay in."

Remember, let her choose for herself; she can stay in whichever room she likes.

He specifically emphasized "choose for yourself," which was a change he was determined to make after Wang Xuan's words enlightened him—to give Chen Duo respect and the right to choose.

Female employee Xiao Zhang nodded seriously:

"Don't worry, boss, I'll take care of it."

After arranging things for Chen Duo, Liao Zhong's relaxed expression quickly vanished, replaced by a serious one.

He strode up the stairs to his office on the second floor.

There are more important and more pressing matters that need to be addressed immediately—reporting to the board of directors.

He knew that ever since he crushed the earpiece and cut off the communication, the bigwigs at headquarters were probably jumping up and down in a panic, their blood pressure soaring.

Meanwhile, in the company's headquarters boardroom.

The atmosphere was indeed as heavy and oppressive as Liao Zhong had predicted.

On the huge circular conference table, the ashtrays were already overflowing with cigarette butts.

Bi Youlong, the hottest-tempered chairman, was shocked when the communication was suddenly cut off and he heard an unfamiliar voice and Liao Zhong's painful groans coming from the other end.

He almost ordered all mobile forces near South China to rush to that abandoned factory immediately, and even considered using more powerful means.

"What are we waiting for?! Something terrible must have happened to Lao Liao! Communications are down! Send someone over there immediately!"

Bi Youlong practically shouted it out.

"Old Bi, calm down."

Sitting in the main seat, Chairman Zhao Fangxu adjusted his glasses. His gaze behind the lenses was calm and experienced. He waved his hand, stopping Bi Youlong's impulsive act.

"Think back carefully to the last commotion. Although it was chaotic, after that unfamiliar voice appeared..."

Xiao Liao's cries of pain seemed to have stopped, and... there was no further sound of conflict.

He slowly analyzed:

"It doesn't sound like an enemy, but rather like... a third party has appeared and intervened, and the outcome is likely to be good."

Xiao Liao is a man of principle. Since he voluntarily cut off communication, he probably has his reasons and reasons.

If we rashly launch a major attack now, it may disrupt his plans and even cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

"Wait a little longer. I believe that after clearing the scene, Xiao Liao will contact us as soon as possible to explain the situation."

Zhao Fangxu enjoys high prestige within the company and is known for his deep foresight.

His words were reasonable and well-founded, which temporarily calmed the anxiety of Bi Youlong and the other directors.

But the wait was unpleasant; the atmosphere in the conference room remained as calm as the sea before a storm, though turbulent beneath.

Time passed by, and each second felt incredibly long.

Finally, an encrypted communication phone placed in the center of the conference table suddenly rang urgently!

All eyes immediately turned to that direction!

Bi Youlong glanced at the caller ID and immediately said:

"It's Liao Zhong's call!"

"Answer it, put it on speakerphone."

Zhao Fangxu said in a deep voice, leaning forward slightly.

Bi Youlong pressed the answer button and the hands-free button.

"Hey! Mr. Bi!"

Liao Zhong's familiar voice immediately came from the speaker. Although he sounded a little tired, he was full of energy and seemed to be uninjured.

Upon hearing this voice, the directors in the conference room all secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

At least no one was hurt.

"Hey, Liao Zhong."

Bi Youlong tried his best to make his voice sound steady.

"Just say what you need to say! I'm on speakerphone, and Chairman Zhao and the other directors are here too."

Liao Zhong on the other end of the phone seemed to have expected this. He took a deep breath and then began to speak in the clearest and most concise way possible.

He reported everything that happened tonight in its entirety and without reservation.

He started by recounting how he rushed to the abandoned factory after receiving Chen Duo's call, and how Chen Duo clearly stated that she did not want to return to the company.

How he tried to forcibly bring her back, how the board of directors issued the order to eliminate her, his inner struggle and despair, and how he was finally forced to hand over the controller...

Then, he focused on describing Chen Duo's unexpected kiss, as well as the extreme pain and near-death experience brought about by the sudden outbreak of the primal poison...

"...At that time, I was already in a daze and felt like I was about to die."

Liao Zhong's voice was hoarse with a hint of lingering fear.

"Just then, a young man suddenly appeared and made his move."

"He just reached out and put his hand on my head... and then I felt a very warm, very strange power flow into my body."

That feeling... is indescribable.

The primal Gu poison that had been wreaking havoc in my body and was incurable was completely dissolved by that power in the blink of an eye, just like snow meeting the sun!

All the pain vanished instantly, and my body...fully recovered, even feeling better than before!

Liao Zhong's description left the board members in the meeting room looking at each other in disbelief.

Dissolving the Primal Gu with bare hands in an instant? That's simply a fantasy!