Era of Mist

Chapter 231 -230: Pleased and Complacent, and a Sudden Calm (Middle)

A moment later, in the fourth-floor office.

Shi Tiexin discreetly checked the room. No listening devices, no cameras, and no one eavesdropping through the walls.

‘This madam’s hands were clean enough. At least she knows who she can pull petty tricks on and who she can’t. That alone is a valuable trait.’

‘The madam is quite a character, in her own way.’

“Hello, Brother Zun.” Xiaowei arrived, looking timid. When she saw Ah D, she shyly lowered her head. “Hello, Brother D.”

Ah D scrambled to his feet to greet her, stammering without saying a word—a complete contrast to his usual aggressive demeanor.

“Have a seat.” Shi Tiexin gestured for Xiaowei to sit. “Xiaowei, no need to be nervous. I came today because there’s something I wanted to ask you. I heard you’re studying finance at Tokyo University, is that right?”

“H-Hai… uh, yes.”

“Have you considered changing jobs?”

“Ch-changing jobs?”

“That’s right. Change jobs, leave this entertainment complex, and use your real talents. The madam here is decent enough and can protect her staff, but at the end of the day, a place like this can never be completely clean. Making a hard living by smiling, chatting, and drinking with customers takes a toll on your body, not to mention it’s a waste of your abilities. Besides, Ah D wouldn’t be at ease either.”

Shi Tiexin glanced at Ah D. The two of them then glanced at each other and, surprisingly, both blushed at the same time.

‘Yo, look at this highly synchronized bashfulness! They’re like a match made in heaven—a pair of damn lovebirds…’

Ah D hadn’t known the reason for Shi Tiexin’s visit beforehand. Hearing this, he belatedly scratched his head, then suddenly said with excitement, “Boss, you mean…”

“I want Xiaowei to leave this place and come work for us. To help me with my business, help me run things, help me manage.” Shi Tiexin looked at Xiaowei. “It’s a small, humble operation, so there’s no high-flying position. We’ll start you off as a financial supervisor. Are you willing?”

Across from him, Xiaowei was stunned. It was as if a huge prize had fallen from the sky and knocked her senseless. She remained in a daze for a moment before an immense joy erupted from within her.

“I… I!” Xiaowei and Ah D glanced at each other again, their expressions once more perfectly synchronized in a mix of shyness and elation. Her face was flushed with excitement. Finally, with great resolve, she gave a firm nod and said in a voice that was soft but resolute, “Hai, Black Venerable Samma, I am willing.”

“Very good.” Shi Tiexin waved a hand at Ah D. “Go on, take Xiaowei to the madam and sort out the formalities. You’re taking her with you today. If the madam doesn’t want to part with her, come back and get me.” 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

“Don’t you worry, Boss! Whoever the fuck dares to stop us, I’ll, I’ll—” Ah D’s face was a ferocious mask, his forehead looking like it was about to burst a blood vessel.

“Alright, alright, don’t get so worked up. Go on.”

The shameless couple immediately got up and ran out. As she was leaving, Xiaowei gave Shi Tiexin a deep bow before being excitedly dragged away by Ah D.

‘That damn Ah D, gets so worked up over the smallest thing. At least Xiaowei has some manners.’

Shi Tiexin also stood up and walked out of the office.

When he had the chance, he was willing to lend a hand to his own people. You help me, I help you. Although the world wasn’t short on ungrateful bastards who’d bite the hand that feeds, Shi Tiexin chose to believe in his men, to believe they were good guys who knew how to repay both debts and favors.

They were all fellow idiots who had headbanged in the same car under the moonlight. Shi Tiexin didn’t want to assume the worst of them.

Besides, the financial supervisor position was both important and unimportant. It didn’t require exceptional ability. But it was also extremely important. As long as she audited the books properly, it would be difficult for any hired professional managers to play tricks, no matter how smart they were.

Placing Xiaowei as the financial supervisor was making the best use of her talents; it was a perfectly fitting role.

The shameless couple went flying down the stairs, and Shi Tiexin followed at a leisurely pace. He descended from the fourth floor to the third, where he happened to see a familiar figure practicing at a pool table. Miss Red Skirt wasn’t wearing her red skirt today. Instead, she had on a form-fitting black leather outfit with a red pattern, making her look dashing, gorgeous, and mysterious.

This woman definitely had a certain indescribable quality that the so-called beauties in pageants lacked. And that one quality made a world of difference.

Shi Tiexin looked at her leather outfit, then at his own perpetually-unchanged leather jacket, and felt their synchronization rate wasn’t low at all. He started walking over to say hello.

But at that moment, someone else had already beaten him to it.

A man approached with five or six underlings. Some of his men were playing trumpets, others were playing violins, and two were holding candles, creating a very “artsy” scene.

The man himself was dressed in a suit and tie, his hair slicked with gel. He moonwalked backward until he reached Miss Red Skirt. Without even turning around, he raised a hand behind him, and a huge bouquet of roses blocked her view.

The roses moved aside, bit by bit, revealing the man’s face behind them. He tossed his head, raised an eyebrow, and spoke in a voice that sounded like it had a magnet attached to its vocal cords. “Hello, baby. I’m a simple and straightforward guy, so I won’t waste words—I want to discuss the great matter of our marriage~~”

Miss Red Skirt didn’t look at him. She simply leaned over to break, remarking casually, “I’m not your mother. You don’t need to discuss it with me.”

“I…” The man choked, then regrouped and shouted, “I want to sleep with you!”

“You want to get in line?” Judging from Miss Red Skirt’s posture, it looked like she was about to pull out a Butterfly Knife.

“I don’t want to get in line, I want to cut straight to the front!” While still holding the bouquet in his left hand, the man smoothed his hair gel with the same hand, and then with a WHOOSH, his right hand produced a small box. He flicked it open with a SNAP, revealing a large, sparkling diamond ring. “Darling, marry me~~~”

“Heh!” Miss Red Skirt laughed, but it wasn’t a happy laugh. It was a wry, amused smile. She glanced at the big diamond, then spoke slowly, “You want to cut in line?”

“All… the… way… in!”

“Putting aside my feelings on the matter, you should first ask if the others in line agree.”

“What other people in line? Who the fuck else would dare to be in line? With my status, who would dare to run their mouth? I’d tear them and their ticket number to shreds!” This guy seemed even more hot-tempered than Ah D, thumping his chest with loud THWACKS as if he were invincible.

Miss Red Skirt glanced at Shi Tiexin. “Well, there’s one right there.”

“Holy shit, don’t test my temper!” The greasy-haired man spun around, scowling as he advanced on Shi Tiexin. His lackeys all put down their instruments, rolled up their sleeves, and closed in, flexing their tattoos.

Shi Tiexin remained unmoved, standing there casually as the greasy-haired man got closer and closer, his face a ferocious snarl.

“Punk, what are you looking at? Don’t you know who I am? Don’t think you’re tough just ’cause you’re big, I’ll—” The greasy-haired man raised his hand to poke Shi Tiexin in the chest, but his fingertip stopped an inch away and then pulled back.

“Uh…”