"Little sister, talk to this delivery guy about whatever it is," Duan Chen said, tapping his temple and waving dismissively as he turned to leave.
Michelle watched his retreating figure, a sense of loss welling up in her heart. She hadn't even gotten the agent's WeChat. Would she never have a chance to meet him again...?
"Duan Chen! Come visit again～～" Jia Yunlian shouted after him, simultaneously casting a wary glance at Michelle.
A gentle breeze rustled through the air as the sun began to set, its lingering rays casting a golden, sacred glow upon the land.
Wu Suowei stood at the intersection, calmly taking out his phone. He opened his contacts and dialed a number without a name. The other side remained silent.
Wu Suowei smiled slightly and said, "Old Zhang, thank you for making the connection this time."
An old man's voice finally spoke from the other end, "You're too kind. By the way, did that kid Duan Chen suspect anything?"
"No."
"Have you... finished your evaluation?"
"Mmm. Just as outstanding as ten years ago, and more mature and steady."
"Haha! I told you that kid was a good prospect," Old Zhang's initially tense voice relaxed with pleasure. "Honestly, why go through all this trouble when you could have just revealed your identity?"
"Heh... Before the authority is fully delegated, guidance is still needed."
Wu Suowei watched the Corolla drive away, his expression serene and detached, that of someone in a high position. He toyed with a pure white chess piece radiating a sacred light in his hand. It was chess-piece shaped, an inch long, exquisitely crafted, with intricate crown-like patterns adorning its tip. It was a white King piece.
...
The evening breeze whispered, insects chirped, and the surface appeared peaceful and prosperous.
Duan Chen styled his hair to look dashing and arrived precisely on time at Room 666 of the Oriental Pearl Hotel for his appointment. Before coming, knowing that "＊Mars☆Fish Lover＊" was a lady, he had very gentlemanly bought a bouquet of flowers.
*Knock, knock, knock!*
Duan Chen knocked on the door. Soon, it was opened inward, and the brilliant, ornate chandelier almost blinded him. Seated at a table was a middle-aged woman dressed in luxurious attire, exuding an extraordinary aura. She looked her age, but was very well-maintained. However, she wore five oversized gemstone rings on her hands and a large string of bracelets on her wrists, as if undergoing weight training.
Upon seeing Duan Chen enter, the woman's eyes lit up. "Are you 'A Better Tomorrow'?"
"It's me, Duan Chen. Are you '＊Mars☆Fish Lover＊'? A pleasure to meet you."
"Yes, just call me Sister Yu'er."
Duan Chen elegantly and gentlemanly handed her the bouquet, though the name "Sister Yu'er" was genuinely difficult for him to utter. The woman nodded demurely, a hint of shyness in her eyes. She hadn't expected him to be such a handsome young man in a suit.
"You're not quite what I imagined. I thought you'd be a cool, bald middle-aged man. Instead, you're dignified, handsome, and dashing, with a look that rivals those young idols on television. Truly a man of talent!"
"You flatter me. Please don't praise me too highly," Duan Chen chuckled. He wasn't particularly surprised by Sister Yu'er's middle-aged identity; after all, "Mars text" had a timeless feel.
"Tell the chef to serve the food," she instructed a bodyguard wearing sunglasses behind her.
Soon, exquisite dishes were laid out on the table: king crab, lobster, Buddha's Temptation, caviar chocolate pudding, gold-leaf sundae, white truffle golden tart...
"Do you find them to your liking?"
Looking at the table full of seafood, Duan Chen's mind was filled with the grotesque faces of the Mirror City sea monsters, and his appetite vanished. "I'll pass on the seafood. Just a bowl of ramen for me." These things were flashy but insubstantial. What could compare to the deliciousness of carbohydrates? Besides, Duan Chen was here to trade for the pearl necklace and didn't want to waste time eating.
To his surprise, the head chef standing nearby immediately showed a look of disdain, his downcast eyes looking at Duan Chen with contempt. *Where did this uncultured brat come from? He's dressed so well, yet he wants ramen at a five-star hotel? He's probably a bumpkin, unfamiliar with these high-class ingredients, and doesn't know how to eat them.*
Sister Yu'er arrogantly turned her head. "What are you waiting for? Go get our little Duan a bowl of ramen."
The head chef stood tall, hands behind his back, and shook his head in refusal. "I'm sorry, madam. I am a national-level special chef. I cannot make trash like ramen."
Sister Yu'er's brow furrowed. She glanced sideways at the chef. "What's wrong with ramen? If you can't even make ramen, aren't you trash of the trash? What use do I have for you in my hotel?"
The head chef puffed out his beard, his eyes darting aside, his head shaking. But his pride kept him from bowing his head stubbornly.
Sister Yu'er's face tightened. She casually reached into her bag and presented a gold card to the chef. "There's 100,000 in here. I want to see ramen within ten minutes, or you can get out of here and never set foot in my Oriental Pearl Hotel again!"
The head chef's face darkened. His gaze towards Duan Chen instantly changed. He immediately bowed, took the gold card, and scurried away.
"Little Duan, please don't be offended. These people aren't very sensible," Sister Yu'er said, pouring Duan Chen a cup of tea herself. The inlaid diamonds on her nails made his eyes ache a little.
"The meal is secondary. The main thing is the transaction."
As he spoke, Duan Chen reached for the necklace, but his arm was gently restrained by Sister Yu'er's soft, delicate hand.
"No rush for the necklace."
???
Duan Chen's eyes were filled with question marks. Sister Yu'er sighed, sat up straight, and slowly began to speak:
"I know this necklace is no ordinary item. It originates from a mysterious alien race, from the abyssal realms. Those are extremely dangerous places, realms that ordinary people like us cannot touch. Although my family is wealthy, I lack the talent to appreciate the flowers that bloom at the bottom of a precipice. I envy spirit hunters, but alas..."
Sister Yu'er lowered her eyes slightly, as if recalling something from the past. She didn't continue. When she looked up again, her demeanor had changed.
"To be able to obtain this necklace, Little Duan, you must be no ordinary person. The moment I saw you, I was captivated by your unparalleled aura. You exude a sense of peace that makes me feel as though I can completely and unreservedly trust you. It's been a long time since I've felt this way."
????
While your praise is quite pleasant, Sister, what exactly do you want? As Sister Yu'er spoke, she leaned towards Duan Chen, placing her hand on his firm arm. With a slight squeeze from her fingertips, a tingly, slightly itchy sensation spread where our skin touched, like a soft feather brushing against it.
She smiled enchantingly. "Little Duan, have you ever considered changing your job, changing your lifestyle?"
What's going on? This is a different ballgame. Just as Duan Chen was about to use his mind-reading ability to find out what she was up to, Sister Yu'er's red lips parted, and she spoke with a fragrant breath:
"I'll buy you. What do you say?"