Flame War Anthem: Beyond the Galactic River (GL) - Chapter 8

The moment she entered, the room full of burly men seemed to freeze in place, all sitting up straight with sudden formality.

The previously chaotic, explosive atmosphere dissipated like flames extinguished by a gale.

Wu Chen had unexpectedly pinned up her long hair today, with the perfectly styled side bangs adding a touch of sharp professionalism to her demeanor.

Her deep brown pupils resembled ancient, mysterious pools, their profound aura like thousand-year-old prayer beads—enigmatic and captivating.

Her straight, elegantly curved nose bridge resembled a meticulously carved artwork, adorned with a perfectly placed beauty mark.

Subtle makeup accentuated her delicate features, while her luscious red lips bloomed like a poppy in the night, exuding lethal allure.

Around her alabaster neck rested an exquisite monochrome necklace embedded with eight dazzling large diamonds and sixteen shimmering smaller ones.

Their radiant sparkle highlighted her seductive collarbones, enhancing her mesmerizing charm.

The off-shoulder black bodycon dress clung to her graceful, slender figure, showcasing every perfect curve without restraint.

On her feet were towering stilettos studded with glittering diamonds, each step she took seeming to tread directly on the hearts of everyone present.

Standing alone among this crowd of Westerners, she embodied the unique elegance of her Eastern heritage to perfection.

The effortless blend of cool poise and soft allure in her bearing was innate—every gesture radiating an irresistible, commanding presence that declared her the undisputed ruler of this space.

Facing these greedy wolves and scheming tigers with their predatory gazes, she subtly softened the sharpness in her eyes, offering only an inscrutable, faint smile.

One misstep in the coming negotiations could not only trigger a storm of violent conflict but also cost her Venos’s trust.

Today’s battle had to be concluded flawlessly.

Over the years, she had managed countless affairs, both large and small, across diverse and complex domains.

The focus today was the handover of NAS operations in North America.

Ever since Venos issued the order, those who had long coveted this lucrative territory had pounced like starving beasts, scrambling to take control.

Wu Chen was no fool to be manipulated. With shrewd precision, she divided North America’s NAS into six zones, allocating them meticulously based on each faction’s capabilities.

Fortunately, the distribution was relatively fair, though a few still grumbled in discontent.

Yet their roles were temporary—ultimate ownership remained firmly in the hands of Venos and Wu Chen.

As the meeting neared its end, Wu Chen’s expression remained serene as still water.

She rose gracefully, resting her arms naturally yet authoritatively on the conference table.

Her sweeping, regal gaze surveyed the room like a queen inspecting her subjects, her eyes radiating an intimidating authority none dared meet.

She raised her eyes, her voice cold yet clear and forceful, cutting through their insatiable greed: “NAS has garnered close attention from military forces worldwide in recent years. If you seek exorbitant profits, I won’t stand in your way. But should anyone dare to jeopardize NAS’s fundamental interests—don’t say I didn’t warn you…”

Her resolute words dropped like a bombshell into the calm waters, instantly plunging the slightly noisy conference room into a deathly silence.

They all knew Wu Chen’s ruthless methods, yet some couldn’t stomach being commanded so assertively by a woman of Chinese descent right before their eyes.

Though no one dared to openly oppose her, beneath their composed facades, each had already begun scheming their own ambitious plans.

A confrontation was brewing like an undercurrent, an invisible war about to unfold.

It would come down to who had the strategy and means to emerge victorious in this brutal struggle.

The meeting began promptly at two o’clock. The hands of the clock tirelessly circled until it finally concluded at eight in the evening—a grueling six hours.

Strangely, none of those who usually despised such lengthy formal meetings uttered a single complaint this time.

Perhaps they all harbored eager expectations, at least relieved they weren’t leaving empty-handed this round.

Wu Chen sat in the car on her way back, her nerves, taut as a bowstring for so long, finally loosening as her meticulously laid plans brought her a moment of respite.

An overwhelming fatigue surged over her, and soon, she sank into a deep slumber in the car’s soothing ambiance.

Sen Jie sat in the passenger seat, his gaze frequently flickering to the rearview mirror, watching her sleep with concern and tenderness in his eyes.

She once asked why he never questioned her motives. Deep down, he had his doubts too.

After all, few in the world would dare to conceive, let alone execute, such a decision. Yet she had resolutely chosen this path—something truly hard to comprehend.

But this was Wu Chen. Once she set her mind to something, it was like an arrow loosed from the bow, unstoppable by anyone.

On the surface, Venos trusted her to excel in this daunting and perilous task.

Yet one couldn’t help suspecting this was merely his clever ploy to weaken Wu Chen’s influence.

Regardless of the outcome, failure would bring unimaginably dire consequences.

After all, she now controlled nearly 15% of NAS Group’s shares—a substantial stake that undoubtedly unsettled many.

Moreover, she was still so young, with boundless potential ahead. That alone was enough to keep Venos tossing and turning at night.

Wu Chen was well aware of the stakes and the underlying schemes.

She never asked questions, never offered explanations, and without hesitation, she agreed to Venos’s proposal.

Drowsy, she closed her eyes to rest. At least the most critical step was behind her—what came next would be much simpler.

In her dream, Wu Chen transformed back into An Jingxi, vaguely returning home where everything remained unchanged from before.

She called out loudly for her parents and Xiaxia, but no one answered.

Continuing upstairs, she noticed the bedroom door slightly ajar. Quietly approaching, she gently pushed it open and saw someone lying on the bed.

She seemed to guess who it was. Cautiously stepping closer, she confirmed it was indeed Yanyan, sleeping soundly.

Ripples of emotion stirred in An Jingxi’s heart as she sat by the bed, gazing intently at her.

Sunlight streamed brightly outside the window, the curtains mostly drawn but leaving a small gap where light softly filtered in.

Slowly, she reached out, wanting to touch Yanyan’s fair cheek, but her hand hovered mid-air, never quite landing.

She was sleeping so peacefully—if her sweet dreams were disturbed, she might get upset.

Wu Chen could only withdraw her hand and stand to close the curtains completely.

The room plunged into darkness.

“Xiao Xi, you’re back…”

Yanyan, easily roused, had woken up anyway.

Feeling a little guilty, An Jingxi sat back down on the edge of the bed and asked softly, “Did you sleep well?”

Yanyan stretched lazily. “Mmm, very well. Your bed is so comfortable.”

“Do you want to sleep a little longer?”

“Will you stay and sleep with me…?”

She cooed, reaching out to grasp her hand.

An Jingxi couldn’t have wished for anything more. She quickly took off her shoes, jacket, and pants, then lay down beside her.

Yanyan immediately wrapped her arms around her, nestling into the crook of her arm, nuzzling her neck, and whispering in her ear, “Xiao Xi, let’s sleep together forever, okay…?”

Holding her close in return, breathing in her sweet scent, An Jingxi’s heart raced wildly. “Forever…”

“Yes, forever. I want to be with Xiao Xi for a lifetime.”

Overwhelmed with emotion, she finally voiced the love she had kept hidden for so long: “Me too. I want to be with Yanyan forever, never apart.”

Delighted, Yanyan suddenly kissed her ear and spoke the most beautiful words: “Xiao Xi, I love you… forever…”

Just as she was about to solemnly confess her feelings in return, she was abruptly startled awake, opening her eyes to only the pitch-black night. The gentle, lovely Yanyan had vanished along with the dream.

In an instant, a crushing sense of loss overwhelmed her, leaving her heartbroken and inconsolable.

She missed Yanyan so, so much—longing to return to her side immediately, to hold her tight and pour out her feelings and endless yearning.

But it was all just a futile wish. She wasn’t An Jingxi now. She was only Wu Chen…