Trafford's Trading Club

Ciping, Jinggang Mountain.

As per the ability of the Black Soul Envoy, it was not difficult to get anywhere---Even Tai Yinzi knew how to go through a wall, let alone No. 9, who had been being an envoy for years.

Boss asked Black Soul No.9 to go straight on without stopping, so he came to the place marked on the map by the boss.

But what puzzled Black Soul No.9 was that he hadnʼt gotten any further hints even though he had reached the place.

The red mark was still flashing on the map... but he didnʼt know what to do next.

According to Bossʼs words, he needed Black Soul No. 9 to find something for him---Obviously, it was not easy to find it because when he spoke to Black Soul No. 9 about this, it seemed that he was not quite sure what exactly it was.

Was there anything that even the club boss wasnʼt sure about?

.

Black Soul No.9 didnʼt think so.

But Black Soul No.9 was very patient. Besides, the new boss would not let the map show him such a hint for no reason --- Perhaps, he still needed to find out some clues here.

So he came to Ciping---But he didnʼt know why he decided to stop and wait here.

Just because---When he came to Jinggang Mountain, ʼCipingʼ came to his mind involuntarily.

Black Soul No.9 thought it was another kind of hint from his boss.

Everywhere here was filled with a historical atmosphere here.

There were many museums and memorial halls along the street. Black Soul No.9 stood under an old tree, looking at an old house in a lane.

Why did he look at that?

He didnʼt know the reason.

…

…

San Erʼs life seemed to have changed a little... but not too much.

She was still running the tofu shop, taking care of her daughter, Xiao Zhiʼs daily life, and working as usual.

San Er felt that her life was just like the soya-bean milk which was cooling down. It was a shallow milky yellow and very calm, only with a slight hint of water vapor rising up.

But the surface of the soya-bean milk would soon solidify. As long as you picked it with a bamboo stick, it was easy to get another thing that was full of wrinkles---Yuba.

Was Mark a piece of Yuba, which was condensed from her life?

”Is it alright to put it here?”

While San Er was thinking about this in front of the stone mill, she suddenly heard Markʼs voice behind her. She almost jumped up from shocked and turned back quickly.

Mark wore a simple old shirt... It was a white shirt, but some places were already yellowed. There were a lot of moulds next to Mark ---These were the tools for moulding tofu.

The yellowed shirt, the pants with bottom rolled up, and the cracked leather shoes... At that moment, San Er seemed to see a familiar figure that had already passed early.

Why…Why did he wear such clothes and shoes?

”Oh…Itʼs alright now.”

San Er nodded, ”Sorry for bothering you, you donʼt have to do this…”

Mark said indifferently, ”It doesnʼt matter, I am free anyway. I will put it here and you can go on working.”

Mark didnʼt stay for long---San Er found that Mark was a silent person most of the time. He wouldnʼt communicate with her too much but sometimes he might talk with Xiao Zhi about something --- Maybe it was just because of the pestering of the little girl?

Mark didnʼt say how long he would stay and San Er didnʼt ask him how long he would stay either. It seemed that there was no such topic or that both of them deliberately avoided this topic.

San Er continued working.

On that day, Zhang Kun came here and left after seeing Mark. The next day, he came and made trouble again. Mark didnʼt show up that time. He didnʼt even leave the small room where he lived. Neighbors helped San Er out that day.

But that night, Zhang Kun fell into a pit and broke his arms and legs for some reason, maybe due to being drunk... He was still lying in the bed of the school hospital in the town and had to stay in bed for one or two months at least.

Sometimes San Er wondered... did Zhang Kun really get into an accident? But that night, Mark didnʼt seem to leave the room.

But she still didnʼt know the reason.

She just knew that her tofu shop had another man---He had nothing to do with her and she fished him out of the river by accident.

The man said that he had lost his memory.

Then he said that his name was Mark and would live here temporarily.

The steam simmered, and San Er picked up a thin curdled piece of skin before drying it up. After it was cold, it would turn into Yuba.

…

…

Cheng Yiran had been busy for the whole day as usual... Of course, he had made progress. After all, he enjoyed so many resources.

Cheng Yiran could feel that the company had started to pay even more attention to him---because Cheng Yun took more time to watch him these days compared to before. He also had the politeness that made Cheng Yiran feel surprised.

But he still remembered that he met Mr. Zhong at K&C that night... and the words Mr. Zhong said at last.

Cheng Yiran was a little tired after the whole dayʼs course. When he returned to his apartment, he found that Li Zifeng had been there for a long time and was reading a magazine.

This person could always arrange the time and what they needed very well.

”Oh, you came back.” Li Zifeng put down the magazine quickly and smiled, saying, ”How are you feeling today?”

”Alright.” Cheng Yiran sat down tiredly, with his head leaning against the sofa. He looked at the ceiling and seemed to be lost in his thoughts.

Li Zifeng smiled at this time, ”Come here, I will tell you some good news. The date for the first show has been confirmed. There is a program during the golden time and you will have time to sing a song while interacting with the host!”

”That really is good news.” Cheng Yiran recovered a little spirit and nodded.

Li Zifeng said, ”Work hard, I am waiting for your success in the first battle!”

Of course, Cheng Yiran was full of confidence.

Li Zifeng suddenly said, ”Yiran, I found Hong Guan yesterday.”

”Oh did you...” Cheng Yiran nodded, ”What did he say?”

”He...” Li Zifeng paused and shook his head, ”He refused me and didnʼt want the work of the TV station.”

”Why?” Cheng Yiran said with amazement, ”Isnʼt... isnʼt it good?”

Li Zifeng smiled bitterly, ”Itʼs good in fact, but he said something to me... Yiran, you tell me honestly, are you hiding anything from the company?”

Cheng Yiran gave a start and he was reminded about the thing with the guitar subconsciously... Was it revealed? Cheng Yiran couldnʼt help but recall that he played it in front of the big boss.

That night, he conquered all the guests but he didnʼt see any difference in the big boss, Mr. Zhong. The boss wasnʼt affected by the guitar and finally told him some words which had an unclear meaning.

So far, Cheng Yiran still felt that those words had another hidden meaning which made him uneasy.

Cheng Yiran was unable to conceal the uneasiness in his heart at this time and he said to Li Zifeng, ”I donʼt know what you want to say.”

Li Zifeng took a deep breath, ”Yiran, Hong Guan told me about your past... about drifting in Beijing.”

”Hong Guan…” Li Zifeng gave a start, and said subconsciously, ”It wonʼt…”

It was not about the guitar... but if it was the thing about drifting in Beijing, then...

Li Zifeng nodded, ”Yes, he told me that you have done something wrong and stayed in the detention center for a few months...”

”He actually told you! He...” Cheng Yiran suddenly interrupted Li Zifengʼs words, ”He actually... actually did this! Why?!”

There was a trace of anger on Cheng Yiranʼs face.

He was unwilling to think about the past, and they had confirmed with each other that they would not mention it, but the agreement... was broken!

ʼHong Guan… Hong Guan... Was it because I had the opportunity to realize my dream? So you regarded the former agreement as nonsense?ʼ

A feeling of being betrayed made Cheng Yiran clenched his fist.