Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Dad, Mom, I’m back!” Tang Muxin greeted as she arrived at her doorstep after taking a ride on Hong Dali’s Soaring Angel. She then removed her little leather boots and bolted into the house. She hugged her Dad Tang Ruisi’s neck from behind and asked grinningly, “Dad, was your work today tiring? Want me to help you massage your shoulders?”
At home, Tang Ruisi was the pillar of support and had great ability. He was the idol of Tang Muxin ever since she was young. As she reached home, the first thing she thought of was to help her Dad relief some of his fatigue.
“Hehe, I’m not tired, go get some rest, Xinxin.” Tang Ruisi was still wearing that greenish-gray vest and holding a copper tobacco pipe. He took a puff, smiled and asked, “Xinxin, how was your day? Are you happy?”
“It’s fine. That prodigal, Dali, sure knows how to spend.” Tang Muxin held up the Terrier, Xiao Xiaobai, which walked up to her. She was about to stroke its short white fur when she suddenly frowned and scrutinized Tang Ruisi. She then asked, “Dad, you don’t seem to be in a good mental state today. Why are your eyes bloodshot? Is there something wrong with the company?”
“Ah, no, no.” Tang Ruisi paused for a while and hurriedly said, “What can go wrong in the company? Don’t worry. Ah, your mom asked. How have you been for the past couple of days in school? Did Liu Mingcheng go and harass you again?”
“As a matter of fact, no. He was totally defeated by Dali.” Seemingly distracted, Tang Muxin replied and then held Xiao Xiaobai and ran into her room. She continued, “Dad, I’m going to bed. I’ve school tomorrow morning.”
“Go get some rest, little girl, hehe.” Tang Ruisi smiled and replied before continuing to smoke.
Tang Muxin held Xiao Xiaobai and lay on her bed feeling upset. “Seeing Dad’s bloodshot eyes, something must have gone wrong with his business. If he doesn’t tell me, that definitely means he is afraid I will worry. But am I not worried already?” Having thought so, Tang Muxin gave a deep sigh and continued thinking, “But what could go wrong with Dad’s company? I don’t know for sure. Even if I know, I won’t be of any help. What should I do? This is so worrisome.”
She lay on her bed, too restless to fall asleep. Finally, she thought of Hong Dali and blushed. She thought to herself, “Strange, why did I even think of this prodigal, Dali. But… but…” She thought for a while and continued, “But Dali’s luck has always been great. Maybe he could have a solution?” She shook her head and continued, “He doesn’t even know what issue my Dad’s company is facing, how would he even know what to do? But Unexpectedly! does have the slogan from my Dad’s company, maybe that might be of some use?”
At last, Tang Muxin clasped her hands together while laying in her bed and prayed. “Goddess, please bless Unexpectedly! so that it’ll be a big hit. Maybe this will boost my Dad’s company’s pharmaceuticals sales. Please bless him…”
Soon after, she gradually fell asleep.
…
South, Shanghai Tianhai City.
Inside a private clubhouse along Kelan Road.
This private clubhouse did not seem luxurious on the surface, but it was a typical Hui-style architecture with a huge area of glass at its rooftop, and in the center was an atrium with a deep blue pool. There was even a huge clump of bamboo plants beside the pool. In the pool, there were tens of red carps leisurely swimming.
Among the four walls, one was filled with various types of top-grade Longjing tea—one was filled with a superb collection of antiques, one was filled with books, and the remaining one was a wall painting of Dunhuang City’s Fairy Scattering Flower Mural.
And at this time, within this atrium, which did not exude a single bit of tackiness, two people were sitting and having tea face to face with each other.
One was a middle-aged man of about 40 years old, big-bellied and partially balding. Sitting opposite him was a young man of about 25 or 26 years old, wearing a fitting suit. Although the brand wasn’t noticeable, it was definitely not something cheap. He had dashing brows, thin lips, red phoenix eyes, and the most impressionable feature was his forehead. He had a red birthmark right at the center of his forehead, like the legendary Erlang Shen’s 1 third eye.
Although both men were having tea, their statuses were not the same.
The big-bellied middle-aged man was in cold sweat sitting there, and he did not dare to move an inch. Conversely, the young man was sitting at will and even grabbed a handful of peanuts to toss into his mouth every now and then.
“Director Zhao, this appointment isn’t just for me to look at you tremble, is it?” Both men sat for a while more, and the young man grabbed a handful of peanuts and tossed them into his mouth yet again. He casually munched on them, took a sip of tea, and continued, “What do you have for me? My patience is limited.”
“Yes… yes…” The big-bellied Director Zhao retrieved a white handkerchief from his shirt pocket to wipe the cold sweat off his forehead and continued, “Sir Mu, I’m here to speak with you regarding Li Nianwei…”
“Oh?” Sir Mu exclaimed and suddenly started laughing. “Are you talking about the female singer who rose to fame in the entertainment business in the past few days? The goddess Li Nianwei?”
“Yes… yes.” Director Zhao clenched his teeth and continued, “She was in our company previously. But she got scouted and poached by Young Master Hong Dali of the Hong Family from the capital city. Regarding this issue, I cannot take this lying down, so I would like to request for your assistance. Even if our company cannot have her, neither can other companies!”
“Ptui!” Sir Mu sneered and continued, “Trying to use me? I’m not afraid of the Hong Family, but did you really think I would agree to create such a great enemy for such a thing? I do love women, but not as crazily as you do!” He sneered again and continued, “Trying to sound pitiful? Isn’t it just because you’d always wanted to get your oily body on top of Li Nianwei’s but did not manage to, and so, in the end, you just decided to let her go? Do you think I am dumb? Given Miss Nianwei’s talent, if you hadn’t had such a selfish desire, she would have made it big long ago. Regretting it only now, you pig?”
“Yes… I’m dumb.” Director Zhao viciously gave himself two big slaps and continued, “I just cannot take this lying down. Every time I see her being so successful, my heart feels like it’s bleeding! Tens of millions of worth, just gone!”
“Don’t blame others for your stupidity,” Sir Mu eerily said. “Had you not treated my Dad to a meal when you were young, I would have ordered for someone to beat you up till all the oil in your stomach is out of you! Fear not the enemy but the stupid ally. This saying is made for you.”
“Sir Mu, I… I…” Director Zhao was about to say something when Sir Mu sneered and interrupted. “Fine, the favor my dad owed you, I will repay it for him. Piss off, as far away from my sight as you can. After a few days, if I’m free, I’ll head down to the capital to have a look.”
“Yes, yes, then… I’ll take my leave, I’ll leave now!”
After leaving the clubhouse, Director Zhao’s lips formed a faint, cruel smile as he said, “No one gets what I can’t have!”
Meanwhile, Sir Mu, who was still inside the clubhouse, with a huge slap, actually broke a small wooden stool into two, as he smiled and said, “Hong Dali, for the sake of squandering, you actually helped such a star rise to fame, interesting indeed. Fine, since I’m quite free, I shall see how capable you really are!”
