The Daily Life Of A Cyberpunk Magician

Chapter 70 - 71: The Middleman Acclaims the Expert
Chapter 70: Chapter 71: The Middleman Acclaims the Expert”Huh?” Shen Xuwan was stunned, take a child?

What situation is this?

So soon?

”I have a student, she’s fifteen, with artistic cultivation... probably not so great,” Jiang Shu said helplessly, ”I am not up to par myself, so please could you help me mentor her, could you?”

”Of course, it’s the least I can do.” Shen Xuwan nodded subconsciously; she had just taken someone’s earrings and was worrying about how to repay them.

Jiang Shu felt relieved; for this apprentice, he had indeed racked his brains.

Although Shen Xuwan’s artistic cultivation was perhaps more reflected in her music, people with good artistic taste, like her, surely have a high level of appreciation and understanding of beauty.

When applied to magic, it could be of great use, such as in stage design or the aesthetics of magical effects.

”However, are you sure you can come to the Black Currant? Do you have a contract with New Moon Hall?” Jiang Shu thought of this.

Shen Xuwan shook her head, ”My contract with New Moon Hall was voided a long time ago. I just stayed because I had nowhere else to go, plus, I wanted to get my mother’s earrings back. I’ve been wanting to leave for a long time.”

”Hmm?” Jiang Shu was puzzled, ”Doesn’t the director treat you well?”

”No, he’s very good to me, taking care of everything,” replied Shen Xuwan, lowering her gaze, ”but that’s only because I’m a mainstay that brings him enough money.”

”Besides, I always feel that his and that man’s decadence has something to do with each other,” she said softly, ”but I have no evidence.”

”I must leave because I don’t want to live under the shadow of my mother anymore.” Shen Xuwan continued, her eyes now somewhat bewildered, ”The deeper I delve into this profession, the more I admire and love her, involuntarily mimicking her.”

”However, no matter how much I imitate her, I can never become a top T0 musician like her,” Shen Xuwan said softly, ”I’ve been stuck at T1 for a year now, with no progress over the year, I must leave New Moon Hall.”

Jiang Shu understood, ”So coming to Black Currant is exactly what you want?”

”Exactly, performing as my mother, I refused in front of the director; it was only after his repeated requests that I agreed. But that was the last time,” Shen Xuwan said as if a burden had been lifted, ”One of the conditions of performing as my mother was that I would leave New Moon Hall.”

”Now, this is the best option for me. I’ve gotten back the earrings and broken free from New Moon Hall. The blame will fall on the Deception Group, and it won’t involve me either.” Her lips curved slightly, and the smile brimming in her dimples was like a clear spring flowing from a mountain, ”Thank you, Jiang Shu.”

B: Deception Group: WDNMD!

D: The blame is yours to take, not mine to woo.

Jiang Shu said, ”I also got what I wanted.”

”So now I’m a free person,” Shen Xuwan went on, smiling coyly, ”How much are you guys prepared to offer to sign me?”

”...”

Jiang Shu’s forehead, cold sweat slipping down.

Damn, he bluffed without thinking. He had no idea if Sister Mei actually wanted to recruit anyone. A big shot of T1 level like that, just thinking about the fee to have her join wouldn’t be low.

”I need to discuss it with the director.” Jiang Shu decided to stall, to check with Sister Mei later.

Shen Xuwan seemed to sense his awkwardness, ”I don’t care about the money.”

”Hmm?”

”Provide room and board and a musical instrument, that’s all.” Shen Xuwan continued, ”All I really want now is the Black Silver, or rather, would you be willing to hire me with Black Silver?”

”Uh...” Jiang Shu looked visibly reluctant on his face.

Shen Xuwan understood his thoughts; she was just speaking rhetorically and simply smiled without saying more.

She picked up her bowl and took a sip of the water that had already gone cold.

”Are you the Key Master?” she asked, ”Yesterday you...”

”No,” Jiang Shu interrupted, ”that’s my secret.”

”Okay.” Shen Xuwan, understandingly, did not press further.

She stood up and said, ”I’m going to pack my things. You can discuss with the director. I have no other requests, but I want my room next to yours, which is...”

Shen Xuwan thought for a moment, ”402.”

”This, I can do,” Jiang Shu agreed on his own. Several offices starting with 401 on this floor were all unused; there were plenty of empty offices.

After receiving a positive response, Shen Xuwan left the Magic House.

As for Jiang Shu, he leaned back in his lounge chair, hands resting on his stomach, and began pondering certain matters.

About the Key Master.

Knock knock knock—the sound of knocking came from outside the door.

Jiang Shu opened the door and found Sister Mei standing outside.

”Sister Mei?” Jiang Shu asked, ”What’s going on?”

”It’s Friday today, and everyone happens to be free, so we’re getting together. Why don’t you join us? It’s a good chance to meet everyone,” Sister Mei said with a smile.

Jiang Shu nodded, ”Where?”

”Right downstairs, in the small theater hall,” Sister Mei replied.

Black Currant Theater has two halls, one is the main hall used for regular performances, which can accommodate an audience of nearly three thousand across three floors; the other is a side hall, not very big, only capable of holding approximately seven hundred people, which is rarely used most of the time.

Suddenly, Sister Mei glanced around mysteriously and asked in a low voice, ”That woman just now... was it Shen Xuwan?”

”Uh, yes,” Jiang Shu answered.

Sister Mei blinked in surprise, ”How do you know her? Are you...close? Is she... your second girlfriend?”

Jiang Shu: ”...”

”I don’t even have one, how could there be a second?” he said helplessly.

”The cute girl last time...” Sister Mei continued absentmindedly.

”She’s from the police station, she had some business with me,” Jiang Shu said with a thick face as if someone else came to him, ”But, Sister Mei, are you interested in Shen Xuwan?”

”Interested in what?” Sister Mei asked, puzzled, ”I’m already married.”

Jiang Shu explained, ”No, I mean she’s currently free and looking for a new position. Does our theater have the funds to hire a resident musician?”

”You sure?” Sister Mei immediately became excited upon hearing this, ”She’s really willing to come here? How much is she asking for?”

”Yes, she’s willing to come here,” Jiang Shu nodded. ”As for her rate, what do you think we can offer?”

”This...” Sister Mei pondered, a T1-level musician was indeed very tempting; it all depended on whether the theater had enough money to afford one.

In the long run, they would certainly make the money back, but the risk of short-term investment could potentially drag down Black Currant.

After all, Black Currant Theater was not one of the top theaters; on the contrary, it was barely making ends meet all year round. Otherwise, the offices on the fourth floor would not all be empty. Otherwise, T3-level Maggie wouldn’t be a mainstay.

”Sign a contract with a 30% share of the profits,” Sister Mei bit the bullet and decided to offer full sincerity, ”plus an annual guarantee fund of one million.”

Jiang Shu did a quick calculation for Shen Xuwan. Clearly, the contract was very sincere; the theater was barely making any profit, and in case of any accidents, it could even result in a big loss.

”Alright, she’ll be back tomorrow, we can discuss it in person then,” he continued.

Sister Mei agreed repeatedly, leaving the Magic House with a smile on her face. Before she left, she didn’t forget to remind him, ”Six o’clock tonight, don’t forget.”

Walking into the bathroom, Jiang Shu checked his reflection in the mirror; not bad.

He had groomed himself before Shen Xuwan’s arrival, and for the evening gathering, a slightly more formal suit would suffice.

”Hello? Shen Xuwan?” Jiang Shu dialed her number, ”Moving into Black...”

”It’s fine, you decide. You can have my salary, I don’t care about money,” Shen Xuwan answered from the other end, ”Just take care of my food and accommodation, that’s enough for me.”

After she spoke, the call was disconnected, leaving a contemplative Jiang Shu behind.

”Keep the money for myself; as long as I take care of her food and accommodation, it’s good.” He stroked his chin. ”As for accommodation, Sister Mei is taking care of it; as for food, I was going to cook anyway, it’s just a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks,”

”This middleman job... is kind of ruthless.”

Ding: The capitalist knows the trade well.