When the private jet finally descended through the thick London clouds and touched down smoothly on the runway, Xia Lin felt his heart leap into his throat.
The landing was so steady that he almost did not realize they had arrived until the engine's powerful roar softened into a low hum. His hands, which had been gripping his phone tightly, relaxed slowly as he looked out the window at the unfamiliar skyline and the vast private airfield stretching out before him.
Ah Mei stepped forward first and opened the cabin door. Cool London air rushed in, carrying with it a faint scent of rain and steel. Xia Lin stood up immediately. His legs felt slightly weak from excitement. He turned toward Su Ning instinctively, waiting for her signal.
"You may go down first," Su Ning said calmly, her voice gentle but firm.
Xia Lin nodded quickly. "Yes, Miss Su."
He stepped down the polished stairs carefully, his shoes touching foreign ground for the first time in his life. His eyes widened as he looked around. The airfield was wide and orderly, lined with luxury vehicles and uniformed staff. He could already see a black Rolls-Royce parked not too far away.
Inside the jet, before stepping out, Su Ning raised her hand slightly. Ah Fu and Ah Ling understood immediately. Without a word, they bowed deeply.
"We will await your summons," Ah Fu said respectfully.
Su Ning nodded once. In the blink of an eye, they returned into her space.
Only after they were gone did she step toward the cabin door. Ah Ting and Ah Mei followed two steps behind her, their movements synchronized and dignified.
Outside, seated in the back of his Rolls-Royce, David Mark had been checking his watch impatiently. When he heard the thunderous landing of the jet, he instinctively looked up.
His breath caught in his throat.
The jet was magnificent—sleek, massive, with gold-lined wings that reflected the gray London sky like polished metal. It did not look like a rented aircraft. It radiated ownership, power, and quiet wealth.
"My God…" he muttered under his breath.
But his shock was only beginning.
When he saw the cabin door open and a young girl step out, his mind froze completely.
She descended the stairs gracefully, her posture straight, her steps calm and controlled. The cream silk blouse beneath her tailored blazer moved slightly in the breeze, her diamond necklace catching the light. Her presence alone seemed to shift the air around her.
Behind her were two bodyguards he could tell at a glance that they were highly trained. Their eyes were sharp, their expressions steady, and the way they positioned themselves spoke of discipline.
Beside her stood Xia Lin, who looked both overwhelmed and proud.
David Mark's mouth parted slightly in disbelief.
She's… looks younger than I thought.
Without thinking further, he quickly pushed open the car door and stepped out. The driver rushed to stand upright.
As Su Ning approached, David Mark composed himself as best as he could. He straightened his suit, stepped forward, and bowed slightly.
"Miss Su Ning," he greeted respectfully, his voice carrying both admiration and caution.
Su Ning offered him a small, elegant smile, extending her hand for an handshake.. "Hello David. It's good to finally meet you in person."
For a second, he hesitated—not out of disrespect, but because he was momentarily stunned by how unreal her beauty was. Up close, she was even more breathtaking. There was no trace of arrogance in her expression, yet her aura made it impossible to look down on her.
He quickly regained his composure and took her hand gently. "The honor is mine," he said sincerely.
She released his hand and gestured toward Xia Lin. "This is Xia Lin. He is the researcher and developer I mentioned."
David Mark immediately turned to Xia Lin and extended his hand warmly. "Welcome to London."
Xia Lin, though unable to understand English, recognized the gesture and eagerly shook his hand. "Hello! Hello!" he said in excitement, bowing slightly.
David Mark chuckled lightly, amused by his enthusiasm.
"Please," David said, turning toward the Rolls-Royce. The driver opened the back door immediately. "Allow me."
Su Ning entered the car with calm elegance. David Mark entered from the opposite side. Meanwhile, Ah Ting and Ah Mei guided Xia Lin into the second vehicle behind them.
The convoy moved smoothly out of the private airfield and into the city.
As the car drove through Central London, Su Ning looked out the window quietly.
They passed through Canary Wharf, where tall glass towers reflected the cloudy sky like mirrors. The streets were alive with movement—double-decker buses rolled by steadily, people in suits walked briskly with coffee cups in hand, and modern architecture stood side by side with historical buildings made of stone.
The River Thames flowed calmly nearby, its surface shimmering under the muted daylight. Bridges arched gracefully across it, connecting the city's heart.
For a moment, Su Ning allowed herself to simply observe.
It was her first time leaving her country.
There was something refreshing about seeing a different world—different people, different rhythms. Yet despite the change in scenery, she felt completely at ease.
"It's beautiful," she said softly.
David Mark glanced at her. "London has its charm," he replied. "Though I suspect you have seen far more impressive places."
She smiled faintly but said nothing.
After a few moments of silence, David cleared his throat. "Would you prefer to visit the company first, or would you like to rest at the hotel? I've prepared the presidential suite for you."
Su Ning turned her gaze from the window and looked at him directly.
"Thank you for your consideration," she said calmly. "But I would like to go to the company first."
"Of course," he responded immediately.
"As for accommodation," she continued, "you may cancel the hotel reservation. I will be staying at my private island."
David blinked.
"Your… private island?" he repeated slowly.
She nodded lightly. "Avalon Crescent Island. Off the London coastline."
For a moment, the only sound inside the car was the hum of the engine.
David Mark's eyes widened.
"Avalon… belongs to you?" His voice was no longer steady.
Su Ning only smiled.
That smile was enough.
David leaned back against his seat, completely stunned.
Avalon Crescent Island was known only to a select few elites in London. It had been whispered about in business circles—an isolated paradise with untouched land and enormous potential. Billionaires had attempted to acquire it, some offering up to forty billion dollars.
Even Donald Cruz, the richest IT CEO in London, had tried—and failed.
And yet this young woman, who had appeared from another country with no public background, owned it quietly.
"How…" David began, then stopped himself.
He remembered that weeks ago, when he had first heard her name, he had tried to investigate her background. There had been nothing. No records. No history. As if she had appeared out of thin air.
That was when he understood she was not someone to probe carelessly.
Now, sitting beside her, he felt a mixture of awe and caution.
He cleared his throat and composed himself. "Shall I brief you on Vogue's current situation?"
"Yes," Su Ning replied. "And tell me—are the official members present today?"
"They are waiting."
"Good."
He started to brief her, forty minutes later, their cars entered the grand driveway of a towering skyscraper surrounded by four other modern buildings. The Vogue headquarters stood proudly against the skyline, its glass walls reflecting the busy city below.
The vehicles came to a stop.
David stepped out first and opened the door for Su Ning. Ah Ting and Ah Mei exited the second car swiftly and took their places behind her. Xia Lin followed closely, his eyes scanning everything with amazement.
Inside the building, employees moved quickly through the lobby, some in formal suits, others in lab coats. The atmosphere was busy but organized.
They entered a private elevator and ascended to the ninety-second floor.
When the doors opened, David led them down a polished hallway toward a large, round glass-walled meeting room that looked like a pod.
Inside, eight executives were waiting.
The moment Su Ning entered, they stood up in unison.
"Welcome," one of them said respectfully.
Su Ning nodded calmly. "Please, sit."
She walked to the head of the table and took her seat. Ah Ting and Ah Mei stood behind her silently. David gestured for Xia Lin to sit before taking a seat beside Su Ning.
"Let us begin with introductions," Su Ning said.
One by one, the executives introduced themselves—the Head of Pharmaceutical Development, the Director of Clinical Trials, the Chief Financial Officer, the Operations Manager, and others.
After they finished, Su Ning spoke.
"I am Su Ning. I will be overseeing Vogue's strategic direction moving forward. This is Xia Lin, a researcher and developer who will collaborate with your teams."
The executives nodded, though some exchanged subtle glances. She looked young.
The discussion began.
They presented production numbers, research pipelines, ongoing drug trials, and regulatory challenges. Charts appeared on the screen showing revenue growth and market competition.
Su Ning listened without interrupting, her expression calm.
When they finished, she folded her hands lightly.
"You have strong foundations," she began. "But your development cycle is too slow. You focus heavily on final-stage testing, yet your early-stage research lacks predictive modeling."
The room went silent.
"You rely on traditional trial-and-error drug screening," she continued. "Incorporate AI-assisted molecular simulations to reduce compound failure rates before clinical testing. It will cut your costs by at least twenty percent."
The Head of Research blinked. "We… have considered that, but implementation—"
"You lack integration between departments," she interrupted gently. "Your pharmaceutical and data teams operate separately. Merge their analytics framework."
She stood up and walked toward the screen.
"Second," she said, "your supply chain depends too heavily on two international vendors. Diversify. A geopolitical issue could collapse your production within months."
The CFO looked stunned.
"Third," she continued, "you are underestimating regenerative medicine. Invest in stem-cell-derived therapies and nanomedicine delivery systems. The future is targeted treatment with minimal side effects."
She continued, by the time she finished, the room was completely silent.
Even David was staring at her.
Everything she said was precise, forward-thinking, and beyond what they had analyzed internally.
The Head of Clinical Trials finally spoke in awe. "Miss Su… your insights are… remarkably detailed."
Su Ning smiled faintly. "We are in the medical and pharmaceutical sector. Lives depend on efficiency and innovation. Mediocrity is unacceptable."
No one dared to question her.
By the end of the meeting, every executive stood up with genuine respect and reverence.
"We will follow your direction," one of them said sincerely.
Xia Lin's grin stretched across his face. He looked as though he might burst from pride.
Afterward, David guided them to the research facilities around the skyscraper.
There were five massive research factories above ground. Scientists in white lab coats moved between advanced machines. Screens displayed complex data streams.
Su Ning's eyes shone slightly.
Xia Lin looked like a child in a candy store. "So many machines…" he whispered in awe.
They stepped into the restricted elevator after passing through several layers of security clearance. The doors closed quietly, sealing them inside the spacious metallic compartment.
David Mark pressed his access card against the scanner and entered a code. A soft mechanical sound followed, and then the elevator began its descent.
The movement was smooth but steady, and the digital panel above the door continued counting downward far longer than a normal building floor would require. One minute passed, then two.
Xia Lin shifted slightly, unable to hide the excitement flickering across his face. Ah Ting and Ah Mei stood calmly behind Su Ning, their expressions composed and alert.
After over five minutes of descending, Su Ning slowly spread out her divine sense. Her brows lifted slightly in surprise. The underground space was vast—far deeper and wider than she had expected. It felt less like a basement and more like an entirely separate world constructed beneath the city.
The structure was layered and reinforced, with multiple chambers extending in different directions. Even she had to admit she was impressed.
"How did you manage to build something of this scale underground?" she asked, her tone calm but genuinely curious.
David Mark allowed himself a small, proud smile. "It took years of negotiation and engineering," he replied. "We acquired the land in phases and constructed section by section. Most of it is reinforced with high-density steel and vibration-resistant foundations. Confidentiality was our priority."
Su Ning gave a slight nod, acknowledging the effort and resources it must have required.
When the elevator finally stopped, the doors opened to reveal a secured corridor with bright white lighting. At the entrance stood a fumigation chamber. A staff member greeted them respectfully and guided them inside.
They were each handed protective lab coats, gloves, and goggles. Su Ning put hers on smoothly, her movements unhurried. Ah Ting and Ah Mei followed suit without a word. Xia Lin handled his equipment carefully, glancing around repeatedly with undisguised amazement.
Once the fumigation process was complete, the inner doors slid open.
The underground laboratory was even more advanced than the facilities above ground. The ceilings were high, fitted with rows of sterile lighting panels. Massive machines lined the walls, some humming softly as they processed data and samples.
Transparent glass partitions separated different research zones, and large digital screens displayed complex molecular structures and real-time experimental results.
Scientists in white coats moved efficiently between workstations, their focus entirely on their tasks. The air carried a faint sterile scent, clean and controlled.
Xia Lin's breathing grew slightly uneven. His eyes widened as he took in the equipment before him. Some of the machines were models he had only read about in academic journals. Seeing them in operation made his fingers twitch with anticipation.
They walked deeper into the underground complex until David stopped in front of a reinforced glass door labeled "Lab Room 16."
He pressed his access card against the panel. The door unlocked with a soft click.
Inside, ten scientists and technical staff members were already standing in neat formation. The moment Su Ning and the others entered, they bowed respectfully.
"Good afternoon," one of them greeted in a steady voice.
David stepped forward slightly. "This is Miss Su Ning," he said formally. "She will be overseeing our operations moving forward."
The scientists straightened and greeted her politely.
Su Ning gave them a composed nod. "Please continue your excellent work," she said calmly.
Her gaze shifted toward Xia Lin. "And this is Xia Lin."
David turned to the team. "From today onward, he will be leading new research and development projects here. You are his assigned team."
There was a brief pause before the team members nodded in understanding.
"We look forward to working with you," one of the senior researchers said sincerely.
Xia Lin, listening through his translator device, froze in place for a second. His eyes widened dramatically as the translated words reached his ears.
"My own… team? I get a team?" he asked, almost unable to believe it.
David smiled slightly. "Yes. The laboratory, the equipment, and the personnel are all at your disposal for your projects."
Xia Lin's face flushed with excitement. He quickly bowed repeatedly toward Su Ning and David Mark. "Thank you! Thank you very much!" he said, his voice trembling slightly with emotion.
He turned toward the scientists and bowed again, gratitude shining clearly in his eyes.
Su Ning watched the exchange quietly. A faint smile curved her lips as she observed Xia Lin's barely contained excitement. His passion was obvious, and she knew he would not waste this opportunity.
The scientists began briefing him on the laboratory's available systems and current projects. Xia Lin listened attentively, nodding eagerly at every explanation.
Standing there in the advanced underground facility, surrounded by cutting-edge technology and dedicated researchers, it was clear that this marked the beginning of something significant.