Chapter 176
Chapter 176
The fact that Dvain’s invited friend was Huangfu Junsheng took both Nan Mu and Wang Zheng completely by surprise.
But when the guests who had resented the late arrival saw that it was Huangfu Junsheng, their attitudes changed. Suddenly, his tardiness seemed entirely natural.
After all, Huangfu Junsheng held City A’s economic lifeline in his hands. It was only reasonable for a man like him to be busy and arrive late.
Wine flowed throughout the banquet, and the guests enjoyed themselves immensely.
Huangfu Junsheng, however, seemed especially close to Dvain and personally toasted him several times.
“Nan Mu, something about this doesn’t look right.” Holding his wineglass, Wang Zheng leaned closer. “Do you think Dvain returned for Nan Huan Group, or for Wisdom Biotech Company?”
Nan Mu frowned in confusion. “What do you mean? What does Dvain’s return have to do with Wisdom Biotech Company?”
Wang Zheng gave him a surprised look. “You don’t know? A few days ago, Huangfu Junsheng publicly told the media that his company’s next goal is to address the severe problem of global waste pollution. He openly invited talented professionals from relevant fields around the world to join Wisdom Biotech Company and build a better future for the planet.”
Nan Mu had been so busy with Wen Miao lately that he truly had not noticed the news.
“If Wisdom Biotechnology genuinely plans to enter the environmental sector, its business will overlap heavily with ours,” Wang Zheng said worriedly. “I suspect Huangfu Junsheng might be here to recruit Dvain. You need to be careful.”
Nan Mu rubbed his wineglass thoughtfully as he watched Dvain speaking with Huangfu Junsheng.
Whatever they were discussing, Huangfu Junsheng suddenly smiled and said, “You’d be very welcome.”
Wang Zheng immediately signaled to his subordinates. Several Nan Huan Group employees attending the banquet rose and began circulating to offer toasts.
Before long, someone came over and relayed what they had overheard.
“What? Huangfu Junsheng invited Dvain to tour Wisdom Biotechnology?” The wine in Wang Zheng’s hand instantly lost its appeal. “We put on this enormous banquet for him, only for Huangfu Junsheng to swoop in and steal him?”
Wang Zheng complained indignantly for ages. When he turned and saw Nan Mu calmly eating as though nothing had happened, his anger intensified. “Eat, eat, eat. That’s all you know how to do… Fine, you should eat more. Today was a complete waste anyway. At least get some of our investment back through the food.”
Nan Mu paused with his chopsticks and looked at Wang Zheng helplessly. He set them down. “Why are you panicking? Dvain hasn’t decided anything yet.”
Wang Zheng pointed at the two men chatting animatedly across from them. “No, he hasn’t. But looking at that, do you think a decision is far away?”
Nan Mu sighed, picked up his glass, and walked over to Dvain and Huangfu Junsheng. He slipped an arm around Dvain’s shoulders. “Hello. What are you two discussing?”
Dvain turned and beamed at Nan Mu, raising his glass to clink it against Nan Mu’s. “President Huangfu invited me to visit Wisdom Biotech Company. Even when I was in Country M, I heard that the company’s headquarters had an exceptionally avant-garde design. Would you like to come along, President Nan? We might learn something.”
Nan Mu smiled. “Of course. Wisdom Biotechnology has always been a benchmark company in City A. I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity than a tour. I only wonder…”
He turned and smiled at Huangfu Junsheng. “Would you mind if I came to take a look, President Huangfu?”
Huangfu Junsheng clearly had not expected events to take this turn. He froze for only a moment before smiling. “Of course not. Wisdom Biotechnology welcomes everyone.”
===
The next day.
Xu Yang personally drove Wang Zheng, Nan Mu, and Dvain to Wisdom Biotech Company.
Sitting in the front passenger seat, Wang Zheng twisted around and chatted happily with Dvain in the back. The atmosphere between them was remarkably relaxed. Wang Zheng’s witty conversation repeatedly sent Dvain into hearty laughter.
“Mr. Wang is truly charming,” Dvain said, turning to Nan Mu. “I’m already looking forward to working with all of you at Nan Huan. I’m sure it will be a wonderful time.”
Nan Mu and Wang Zheng both froze at his words.
Wang Zheng reacted first, delight spreading across his face. “Does that mean you’ve already made your decision, Mr. Dvain?”
Dvain looked surprised as well. “I thought my visit had already made my intentions clear.”
Wang Zheng and Nan Mu exchanged a glance, then broke into smiles at the same time.
A faint smile touched Nan Mu’s eyes. “Of course. But without hearing you confirm it yourself, we didn’t dare believe it too readily. The dream was so wonderful that we feared how disappointed we’d be if it shattered.”
Dvain laughed. “President Nan is always so cautious.”
But if Dvain had already decided to join Nan Huan, why was he visiting Wisdom Biotech Company?
Wang Zheng could not understand, so he asked curiously, “You and President Huangfu seemed quite close yesterday.”
Dvain did not conceal anything. He explained directly, “Actually, before I returned, President Huangfu had someone contact me and invite me to join his company.”
“Then…” Wang Zheng wondered why Dvain had dismissed that offer and so quickly decided to join Nan Huan instead.
Nan Huan might be formidable, but it had only been founded ten years ago. Wisdom Biotechnology had a far deeper foundation. In scale and market presence, it was not a company Nan Huan could catch overnight.
Dvain offered no direct explanation. He merely said meaningfully, “While I was overseas, I had some dealings with Wisdom Biotech Company… That company is not simple. I’m already in my forties and have lived more than half my life. All I want is a stable place where I can focus seriously on research. As for everything else, I’d rather stay out of it.”
His words were puzzling, but he clearly did not want to continue the subject. Naturally, Nan Mu did not pry. Instead, he changed the topic with a joke. “You don’t know how disappointed I was yesterday when you said you wanted to visit Wisdom Biotechnology. I thought my hospitality hadn’t been good enough.”
Dvain made a disapproving face. “Yesterday’s banquet was the finest I’ve ever seen. It couldn’t have been better. But President Huangfu isn’t an easy man to refuse. Since he asked me to consider his offer, I can hardly avoid visiting his company. Later, I’ll find an excuse to decline. That will preserve his dignity.”