Thursday afternoon.
The Yun Jing City Medical Association building stood at the boundary between the old city and the new district. Its exterior was modern and gray-white, with clean lines and little unnecessary decoration.
The lobby of the association was brightly lit. Sunlight poured down through the towering glass curtain walls, spreading a warm white glow across the terrazzo floor.
The third conference room was on the building’s third floor, facing south. Its floor-to-ceiling windows looked directly onto a row of parasol trees.
Among the green leaves were hints of gold and ocher-red, their colors faintly translucent beneath the afternoon sunlight.
The conference room itself was not large, accommodating around ten people.
A medical ethics poster hung on one wall, alongside a diagram of human anatomy.
The room was quiet, filled only with the faint hum of the air-conditioning system and the soft rustling of leaves outside as the wind stirred them.
Sheng Chengxiu had already arrived.
He sat on the side of the long table nearest the floor-to-ceiling windows.
He wore a moonlight-white suit, sharply tailored. There was no tie around his collar, and one shirt button had been left undone.
The light came in from behind him, tinting his suit with an extremely faint warmth and softening his normally cool, severe air.
In this afternoon light, he looked less like someone coming to negotiate and more like an old acquaintance preparing to meet someone he had not seen in a long time.
His gaze rested on the leaves outside, shifting in the wind.
He had deliberately arrived a little early today.
The conference room door was closed. From the corridor outside came the occasional sound of footsteps and low conversations.
There were less than ten minutes until the appointed time.
Although the meeting was not compulsory, he was certain the other party would come.
When he heard the door open, he turned around, a prepared, gentle smile already resting at the corners of his lips.
Su Muchen and Su Jinye arrived together.
Su Jinye’s appearance today was completely different from his usual look at Guichen Studio.
He wore a black suit the color of wet feathers, a deep crimson tie, and a dark-silver tie clip.
The cut was understated, but the quality was unmistakable.
His long hair was left loose, falling over his shoulders. Rather than the casually tied, slightly lazy appearance he usually had, it had been deliberately styled, making his features appear even more defined than usual.
His presence was like a blade lying dormant in the darkness.
He wore Jiguang, whose silver-gray frames reflected a faint, cool sheen beneath the fluorescent lights, creating a subtle contrast with Sheng Chengxiu’s warmer tones.
Today, he was not here as Xiao.
Because the person Sheng Chengxiu had invited was “Su Jinye.”
Su Muchen stood between the two of them, wearing the best dark-gray coat he owned.
He thought to himself: On one side was the future heir of the Sheng Consortium, and on the other was the man secretly controlling Chenghui Group, with him—a broke little shopkeeper from Guichen Studio—stuck between them.
The scene made him feel as though he had wandered onto the wrong movie set.
Sheng Chengxiu spoke first.
“I’m surprised that the two of you were willing to come.”
He studied Su Jinye. Although the two sides had already crossed paths several times, this was the first time they had faced each other directly like this.
Su Jinye narrowed his eyes slightly, the curve of his lips just right.
“President Sheng was willing to bring out the Sheng family’s greatest secret. If we didn’t come, wouldn’t that be rather rude?”
The two stared at each other across the conference table for a moment before simultaneously extending their hands.
Their hands clasped above the tabletop for roughly two seconds—long enough to be polite, but not long enough to be sincere.
Standing beside them, Su Muchen could feel an invisible membrane tightening in the air, as though two people measuring each other’s presence were silently testing the boundaries between them.
When Sheng Chengxiu withdrew his hand, his gaze turned toward Su Muchen, his tone returning to its gentleness.
“Mr. Su, please have a seat.”
The three sat down.
Su Muchen sat opposite Sheng Chengxiu, with Su Jinye on his left.
Several prepared documents lay on the table. The words “Rural Medical Assistance Program” were printed on their covers.
Su Muchen had assumed Sheng Chengxiu would have his secretary give the presentation.
That was how these meetings usually worked. The secretary took the stage while the person in charge only needed to nod or shake his head at crucial moments.
But he didn’t.
Sheng Chengxiu turned slightly and pressed the remote control on the edge of the table.
The large screen on the conference room wall lit up, displaying a presentation cover. In the center was a line of text:
“Rural Medical Assistance Program · Phase One”
“The program is divided into three stages.”
Sheng Chengxiu’s voice was steady, his pace even as he explained the plan without excessive embellishment.
He did not look at the screen because he already remembered the contents.
The presentation changed along with his explanation.
The first page was a map. Three rural administrative districts surrounding Yun Jing City were marked with pale-blue circles, with the routes indicated by thin lines.
“During the first stage, two AI medical vehicles will be equipped with basic examination equipment and remote consultation systems. Their routes will cover three rural administrative districts surrounding Yun Jing City, with one round each week.”
The second page showed a table of equipment specifications, listing the vehicles’ internal configurations and examination items.
“During the second stage, remote medical centers will be established in the rural areas. The Sheng Medical Research Center will provide technical support, while local health clinics will serve as the operating bases.”
The third page was a timeline. From the launch of the first vehicle to the full implementation of the third stage, each segment was marked with an estimated schedule and the responsible department.
“During the third stage, we will establish a mobile consultation system and a free chronic disease follow-up program. Local health clinic personnel will conduct the initial screenings, while Sheng will provide subsequent diagnostic and treatment resources.”
He turned to another page, his tone unchanged.
“Sheng is also willing to open up several patents related to medical imaging analysis and remote diagnostic systems for public welfare purposes, without charging licensing fees.”
Su Muchen’s fingertips paused on the tabletop.
He had originally only intended to play along with a performance, but when he heard the words “without charging licensing fees,” his gaze involuntarily fell upon the specific figures and plans in the documents.
These plans clearly had not been written casually.
The presentation even listed the expected number of people served and the allocation of funds.
Routes, equipment specifications, staffing, funding sources—every item had concrete figures and an implementation timetable.
Sheng Chengxiu continued.
“The program will be carried out under the name of a partnership between Guichen Studio and the Sheng Consortium. Guichen Studio’s name will appear on all public documents and promotional materials. If the program proceeds smoothly, Guichen Studio’s reputation in the field of medical charity will be established as a result—”
He paused and switched to the final page.
The words “Guichen Studio” appeared on the screen, with a smaller line beneath them:
“Partner: Sheng Consortium.”
“—which should be beneficial to Guichen Studio’s future operations and development.”
Su Muchen did not respond immediately.
He looked at the document, examining it back and forth.
He had initially assumed this was simply a means for Sheng Chengxiu to get closer to them, but the plans genuinely seemed feasible.
He could even imagine what kind of people would be waiting by the roadside when those medical vehicles drove into the rural areas.
Su Jinye had been listening quietly the entire time without interrupting.
Only after Sheng Chengxiu finished his final sentence and the presentation stopped on the last page did he speak.
His low, cold voice caused the atmosphere in the conference room to tighten once again.
“President Sheng, is this program charity, or business?”
Sheng Chengxiu did not answer immediately.
He leaned back in his chair and reached out to turn off the presentation. The screen went dark.
After a moment, he said,
“If charity can make a company money, then it can continue to exist.”
Su Jinye looked at him without looking away.
A few seconds later, he gave a slight nod.
“At least you didn’t lie.”
Su Muchen felt that the exchange just now had been a test.
Su Jinye’s words were not spoken out of trust. They sounded more like confirmation of the other man’s bottom line.
At least for now, no one was lying.
But Sheng Chengxiu was best at wrapping his true intentions in the truth itself.
The charity might be genuine, but its ultimate purpose would never be revealed on the surface.
Su Muchen looked at Sheng Chengxiu and then asked,
“What benefit does this give you?”
Sheng Chengxiu turned his gaze toward him without avoiding the question.
“It’s simple.”
His tone was calm and unembellished.
“Charity can improve the consortium’s image, which benefits both me and the consortium. But my ultimate purpose is simply to cooperate.”
He paused.
“If there is a program that can benefit the company while also giving Guichen Studio a positive reputation, then it’s a viable path for both sides. I don’t require trust. I only need cooperation.”
Su Muchen said coldly,
“You should know that our main purpose in coming here today wasn’t to discuss cooperation.”
The meaning was clear and direct.
The fragment was what they had truly come to see.
Sheng Chengxiu did not deny it.
“I know.”
He showed neither displeasure nor disappointment. Su Muchen’s reaction had been within his expectations.
He closed the document and pushed it toward the center of the table.
“You can consider the cooperation.”
Su Muchen looked at the document for several seconds, as though weighing the decision.
“I need one day.”
He paused, then added,
“I’ll give you an answer tomorrow.”
Sheng Chengxiu remembered his first meeting with Su Muchen.
Back then, Su Muchen had also asked for one day using almost the same words.
And Su Jinye had already been quietly watching from the side.
It was as though the scene from that day had repeated itself.
But this time, their positions were different.
Sheng Chengxiu nodded.
“All right.”
Su Jinye finally spoke.
“Before noon tomorrow, I’ll send the final decision directly to President Sheng.”
It was not a request. It sounded more like a declaration.
He was cutting Sheng Chengxiu’s secretary out of the communication chain, ensuring that no intermediary would have contact with the message.
Sheng Chengxiu’s gaze rested on Su Jinye for a moment before he nodded.
“All right.”
He did not ask why.
He assumed Su Jinye simply wanted to ensure the communication line remained clean, with no intermediaries and no room for errors.
“Since today’s discussion went relatively smoothly, it’s my turn to fulfill my end of the agreement.”
Sheng Chengxiu turned his head and gave the secretary standing by the door a slight nod.
The secretary turned and left the conference room. A few minutes later, he returned pushing a cart.
On the cart was a transparent vacuum-sealed protective case. Inside lay a book.
The pages had yellowed, the edges were charred black, and the paper looked extremely brittle, as though it would crumble at the slightest touch.
Sheng Chengxiu did not open the case.
“This fragment was severely damaged due to improper storage in the early years. It must now be isolated from the air to prevent further deterioration.”
He was not lying.
The book really was severely damaged, and it genuinely needed to be kept under vacuum.
He did not say, “You can’t touch it,” but the vacuum case itself was already a wall.
He then took another document from the cart.
It was a thin, neatly bound booklet with a line of text printed on the cover:
“Sheng Family Fragment · Translation”
He placed the translation on the table and pushed it toward them.
“This is the AI-generated translation. It corresponds directly to the original text and has not been altered.”
Su Jinye took the translation.
He first glanced at its cover, then at the original fragment.
Then he opened to the first page.
The conference room fell silent.
Su Muchen sat beside him, his gaze also falling on the translation, but he did not disturb Su Jinye’s reading rhythm.
Su Jinye turned the pages neither quickly nor slowly, as though he were reading a document that required every word to be verified.
Across from them, Sheng Chengxiu sat quietly and watched.
He did not urge him.
He simply observed in silence.
He observed which lines Su Jinye’s eyes stopped on, where his fingertips paused along the edge of a page, and whether he lingered for an extra second over any particular paragraph.
———————
【Fragment One: Record of the Door】
Between Heaven and Earth, there is a door, unseen and unknown to ordinary people. Neither gold nor jade, neither wood nor stone… (illegible)
When the door opens, it does not rely on human strength or any object. The corresponding Su clan is required before the door will respond.
【Appendix to Fragment One: The Golden Road】
When the door opens, strange objects often emerge. There is gold, jade, medicine, and artifacts, none of which belong to this world.
The Sheng clan walks its road; the Su clan guards its door. The two clans agreed not to question its origin or investigate its end.
This path can be traversed. Thus, it is called the Golden Road.
The Sheng ancestors upheld the agreement for several decades and never overstepped it. Later, a member of the clan peered into its… (section missing)
【Fragment Two: The Su Clan】
Those who know of the Su clan know that, generation after generation, they have been connected to the door. … (illegible) “Key.”
It seems that the bloodline of the Su clan is different from that of ordinary people. Thus, as long as the Su clan does not perish, the door will not cease to exist. If the Su clan were to… (section missing)
【Fragment Three: The Two Realms】
The door connects two places. One lies here, and the other lies there. That place is neither Heaven nor Earth, neither void nor reality. It is the “Other Realm.” … (illegible) The sun and moon are the same, but the passage of time differs. If the door remains open, the two realms’… (damaged by burning)
———————
When Su Jinye finished reading the final line, he gently closed the translation.
Then he placed it back on the table.
There was no obvious change in his expression, and his tone remained as flat as usual.
He only said,
“President Sheng is willing to bring these out. Your sincerity is certainly sufficient.”
Sheng Chengxiu showed neither satisfaction nor smugness.
He maintained a perfectly measured distance, as though he were simply confirming that something had been completed.
He said,
“If the two of you need to examine any other sections, you can contact me at any time.”
Sheng Chengxiu stood and escorted the two of them out.
He looked at Su Jinye.
“Mr. Su, it is my great honor to have met you today.”
Su Jinye gave a slight nod.
“The feeling is mutual.”
Both men wore faint smiles on their faces, but there was not the slightest trace of a smile in their eyes.
The two walked out of the conference room.
Only after the elevator doors closed did Su Muchen feel his shoulders slowly relaxing.
Although they had come prepared, he really had been afraid the meeting might turn into some kind of all-out battle.
“Was the content of the fragment he gave us genuine?” Su Muchen asked.
Su Jinye did not answer immediately, as though he were reviewing the contents he had just read in his mind.
After a moment, he replied,
“As far as I can tell, yes. But Sheng Chengxiu definitely kept other material from us.”
His fingers moved through the air, uploading everything Jiguang had recorded just now to a designated secure server belonging to Chenghui Group, while simultaneously sending the data to several specific people.
At the very least, they now possessed some important intelligence concerning the Sheng family.
But that did not affect the plan that would follow.
Nor did it affect their ultimate goal.
Su Jinye removed Jiguang and took out a lens cloth, wiping the lenses.
His lowered gaze seemed to be focused on something.
The next step was to see whether the prey was willing to walk into the hunting ground on its own.
But he knew Sheng Chengxiu would definitely come.
After all…
He had also shown sufficient sincerity.
◇◆◇◆◇
The following morning, an email arrived in Sheng Chengxiu’s inbox.
The sender was Su Jinye.
—————————
Sender: Su Jinye (Chenghui Group · Cultural Assets Department · Senior Consultant)
Recipient: Sheng Chengxiu (Sheng Consortium)
Subject: Response Regarding the Cooperation Terms for the “Rural Medical Assistance Program”
Dear President Sheng,
Thank you for taking the time to attend yesterday’s meeting and provide a detailed explanation of the “Rural Medical Assistance Program.” After careful consideration, our side is, in principle, willing to participate in the trial period. However, in order to ensure that both parties’ rights and responsibilities are clearly defined and to establish a stable foundation for cooperation, please confirm the following three conditions:
- The trial period shall be set at three months.
Mr. Su Muchen will participate in the program in the capacity of a consultant. However, during the trial period, he will not sign any formal cooperation agreement. Once the trial period has ended, both parties may jointly determine whether to continue the cooperation based on the actual results of its implementation.
- All consultant-related work shall be conducted at Guichen Studio.
If President Sheng needs to meet with Mr. Su Muchen for discussions, please provide advance notice of the proposed time, after which Mr. Su Muchen will determine the final meeting schedule. In addition, I will be present throughout the meeting to ensure smooth communication and clarity regarding both parties’ positions.
- During the trial period, neither party shall enter into any legally binding agreement.
After the trial period ends, should both parties wish to pursue further cooperation, the terms of a formal cooperation agreement may then be negotiated separately.
Please confirm the above conditions. If there are no objections, please respond within three days so that the subsequent trial arrangements can be made as soon as possible.
Additionally, regarding the translation of the Sheng Family Fragment, there are still some sections that require further confirmation on our side. We will contact you separately regarding those matters.
I await your reply.
Chenghui Group
Cultural Assets Department, Senior Consultant
Su Jinye
—————————
When Sheng Chengxiu finished reading the email, his gaze stopped on the words “in principle, willing.”
He had originally expected them to refuse.
He had already prepared his next move.
If Su Jinye refused, he would take a step back and offer more lenient conditions, or extend the time.
But Su Jinye had replied with a letter like this.
In the most cautious manner possible.
A trial period.
No contract.
No crossing boundaries.
A safe location.
Even so, those words—”in principle, willing”—were still there.
Sheng Chengxiu put down his phone and leaned back into his chair.
He knew Su Jinye would never allow him to get close to Su Muchen unless there was some deeper purpose behind it.
Just as he had used the fragment as bait to lure Su Jinye into the conference room, Su Jinye was using “Su Muchen” as a trump card to lure him into a prearranged position.
Cooperation in name.
A trap in reality.
If he stepped inside, he would be walking into a game already laid out by the gatekeeper.
But if he did not step inside, he would never be able to approach Su Muchen, and he would never be able to determine where that 0.3% sequence ultimately led.
He could not see what action the other side intended to take, but he knew their ultimate objective very clearly.
They wanted him to abandon his pursuit of the Door.
And abandonment could take many forms.
Death, for one.
But directly killing an heir to a consortium would bring enormous trouble to the Su family.
Or perhaps he would survive, but become incapable of taking any further action.
He thought of the two men he had sent to investigate, who had returned as soulless shells.
The true game had never been played in the conference room.
It began at the moment when both sides knew that the other knew.
Su Jinye had neither refused nor accepted.
Instead, he had moved the chessboard into Guichen Studio.
Guichen Studio.
The gatekeeper’s territory.
And also the place Su Muchen trusted most now.
It meant surveillance.
It meant precautions.
And it also meant—
Su Jinye was finally willing to let him take one step closer to the Door.
One step.
That was all.
Yet it was a step even his grandfather had never taken.
Sheng Chengxiu smiled faintly.
“Finally willing to make a move.”
He raised his hand and lightly tapped his fingertips against the tabletop.
Once.
Then again.
The rhythm was very slow.
“Su Jinye.”
He murmured the name.
“You want me to walk into Guichen Studio because you believe it’s your chessboard.”
He looked out the window.
The sunlight outside was brilliant.
Reflected against the glass, it overlapped with his own reflection, blending his silhouette with the daylight.
“Unfortunately, I think the same thing.”
He picked up his phone and called his secretary.
“Push back all my work for the foreseeable future.”
There was a slight pause on the other end.
“President Sheng?”
“From now on…”
Sheng Chengxiu looked at the letter on his desk.
“There is only one thing my work will be focused on.”
He paused.
His tone was so calm that it was almost devoid of emotion.
“Going to Guichen Studio.”
He hung up the phone, then continued in a low voice,
“Let’s see exactly how Su Jinye intends to kill me.”