Trafford's Trading Club

655: Chapter 68: Panic 655: Chapter 68: Panic Even though they were old classmates and long-time friends, when it came to business negotiations, the representative of the client company didn’t merely prefer the second short video recommended by Zhu Maolin.

Despite the second video having more appeal, Shao Fei had to consider the extra impact brought by the notoriety of the female lead in the first video and so on.

But after a round of negotiations, Shao Fei ultimately decided to purchase the second short video.

Since the cost of the second video was not high, it could even be described as cheap, and the quality was quite high, it could be broadcast on other slots on the TV as a complement, possibly resulting in a better advertising effect.

Overall, it was a pleasantly engaging meeting.

“Maolin, you’ve worked hard.”

After the meeting, Shao Fei approached Zhu Maolin.

They were close enough to exchange personal conversations.

Shao Fei offered a cigarette to Zhu Maolin, but Zhu Maolin shook his head, saying he had quit.

Shao Fei smoked by himself, the smoke was thick, so he opened the window.

The city outside was already lit up.

Looking at Zhu Maolin, he suddenly said, “Speaking of which, how long has it been since we really got together?”

Zhu Maolin thought for a while, then said, “More than half a year?

The last time seemed to be April or May?”

Shao Fei was a bit dazed, he chewed on it a bit, “Has it been that long?

Why do I feel like it was just two or three months?”

Zhu Maolin nodded, “It has been that long.

Last time I saw you, this belly wasn’t that big.”

Shao Fei touched his belly and laughed, “People say you gain weight in middle age, but I’m only turning thirty next year, it seems to have come early… Think about it, seven or eight years ago when we were still in college, I was in pretty good shape, right?”

“Thin.” Zhu Maolin said just one word.

Shao Fei suggested, “How about, when I’m done with this advertisement project, we have a weekend get-together?

Invite your wife, too.

It’s been a long time since I had a break—my wife and kids at home are almost unwelcoming me back.”

“No.” Zhu Maolin shook his head, “I have another project to work on, I’m afraid I can’t make the time.”

“Work is work, but you can’t let it enslave you, right?

I tell you Maolin, sometimes you should take a break, shouldn’t you?” Shao Fei frowned and suddenly said, “Maolin, you and your wife, are you still thinking about that issue?

It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

Zhu Maolin just lightly patted Shao Fei on the shoulder, “Let’s just leave it at that, I have to go back to the office to tidy up, let’s talk next time.”

“Alright then, as you wish.” Shao Fei nodded, not insisting too much.

After Zhu Maolin left, Shao Fei planned to finish his cigarette.

He continued watching the city outside, thinking about the time six or seven years ago after stepping out of campus and working tirelessly, just like that.

How many people also work tirelessly, those under the neon lights, people coming and going in haste… often, many things are overlooked.

He couldn’t measure clearly in this process, which had more weight, the gains or the losses.

He was just reasonably satisfied with his current life, though it was tiring, but there were always exciting things waiting to help him relax.

Overall, for Shao Fei, tomorrow was something still to be hoped for and cherished.

…

…

——Tomorrow is something still to be hoped for and cherished.

This is the slogan of a public service advertisement… located above the ad board at the bus stop, where Hou Chen Yuhuan has been looking at it for a long time while waiting for the bus.

She suddenly felt some curiosity, wondering if the person who came up with this slogan… really had such inner strength and optimism to face all hardships.

Or maybe it’s just an empty phrase pieced together from a vast accumulation of words.

Perhaps there are indeed people who are optimistic and positive, and can overcome all difficulties… After all, the population base of this world is so large.

The buses came and went in front of her, some were the ones she should take, and others were not.

Yet she just missed the ones she needed and watched the ones she didn’t need… unwilling to make her body move.

The pedestrians on the road seemed like fast-forwarded scenes, moving from left to right and from right to left.

How long has it been like this?

She didn’t even want to think about this question, even more wishing she could stop thinking.

If she could stop her brain cells from functioning… wouldn’t that prevent this uncontrollable recollection?

Hou Chen Yuhuan covered her face with her hands and started crying here at the bustling street corner… The passersby were still hurriedly coming and going, everything seemed like a silent mime to her, not knowing who was singing whose solo performance.

“Are you okay?”

There are still kind-hearted people out there.

Hou Chen Yuhuan heard a voice beside her ear, she suddenly looked up, it was a fifty-something auntie showing a concerned expression.

Hou Chen Yuhuan shook her head, stood up, said nothing as she lowered her head, quickly walked away from this kind auntie, and then wandered aimlessly on the street.

The above—these are the things she went through before coming to this place… these should be the things.

However, regarding how she walked into this place, Hou Chen Yuhuan had no impression at all.

She only felt that the decorative style here had an indescribable taste… like being caught in the crevice of new and old time, having a sense of tranquility that calmed her down.

Under the flickering candlelight, a young man was smiling at her, and next to him stood another woman as beautiful as a dream.

Everything can be bought.

This is a place where people can get what they want… The mysterious boss explained the meaning of this place’s existence to her.

She naturally believed it, as if in her whole cognition, there was no denial of the illogical power of this place.

“Do you want a child?” Luo Qiu looked at Hou Chen Yuhuan.

This is the request she made in line with her current innermost thoughts.

The club’s negotiations have always been this way; customers always express what they want at this very moment—the thoughts in their hearts at this moment, whether they are correct or worthwhile, that is also up to the customers to measure—even if they will regret it later.

Boss Luo thought for a while and said, “If you just want a child, why not consider adopting one?

If it’s just emotional support, there should be examples of deep support even without blood ties.

In that case, I feel that the customer might not need to get it from us.”

If it’s about doing business, Hou Chen Yuhuan found this boss quite strange… it felt like he was advising the customer to think again.

She couldn’t distinguish whether this young man was being kind or hypocritical.

“No… if it’s not a child of mine and his, no way.” Hou Chen Yuhuan shook her head, her gaze more determined now than a few minutes ago, and even more obstinate.

“Then I understand.” Luo Qiu nodded, “We really have no reason to refuse a persistent customer… However, I’ll ask once more; we can give you a child belonging to you and your husband, but regarding the cost…”

The boss waved his hand in front of Hou Chen Yuhuan, and a stack of cards appeared before her—these were the things she could use for payment.

“As long as it’s not selected, you can still withdraw this request.” Luo Qiu said one last thing, “Similarly, once a decision is made, it cannot be changed.

So we hope you think carefully over it.

After all, we do not wish for you to have any resentment while paying this cost.”

After looking through the stack of cards, Hou Chen Yuhuan regarded Luo Qiu with a complex expression, seemingly becoming hesitant… the marked costs on these cards formed a wobbling scale in her heart.

It is normal to have hesitations when making the final decision… or to have room for hesitation.

The boss had great patience, waiting calmly for Hou Chen Yuhuan’s decision.

He neither urged nor gave her any suggestions, remaining as calm as if fused with the quietly burning candle flames around.

“Can I… consider it a little more?” Ultimately, Hou Chen Yuhuan didn’t have the courage to choose any card from the stack.

“Of course.” Boss Luo smiled, “We won’t force you.

Besides, you need not worry about missing the opportunity this time.

Because, strictly speaking, we are always on your side.

As long as you remember this, then you can always…”

Like the whispers of an angel, yet also like the murmurs of a devil.

When Hou Chen Yuhuan came back to her senses, she was still surrounded by people rushing home after work.

Everyone was hurrying because there was always somewhere to go…

Hou Chen Yuhuan realized she suddenly couldn’t remember what that mysterious boss looked like.

Hou Chen Yuhuan subconsciously took out her phone, hesitating for a moment.

Hou Chen Yuhuan: Are you working overtime again tonight?

Husband: Just finished a meeting at Shao Fei’s company, heading back to the office now.

If things go well, I should be back earlier.

Anything wrong?

I just ran into…

But she quickly deleted those words and instead typed: We’ll talk when you get back.

Husband: If it’s too late, you don’t have to wait up for me.

Hou Chen Yuhuan didn’t respond to this message.

…

…

When the elevator reached the lobby of the building, Zhu Maolin waited for a while but didn’t receive a message from his wife.

He shook his head, recalling what Shao Fei had told him.

So he typed: Shao Fei said, how about a family gathering…

But he quickly deleted these words too, eventually not sending any message… Better go back to the company, he told himself.

Zhu Maolin was driving when he stopped near the company, planning to grab some food to eat as his dinner before continuing to work overtime… To him, food was merely something to stave off hunger.

“Help!”

A disheveled figure suddenly crashed into Zhu Maolin, accompanied by a man whose eyes were full of murderous intent.

Just a glance at the man gave Zhu Maolin the feeling of being watched by a lion.

“Help me… please.”

It should be a woman, now hiding behind him.

Zhu Maolin frowned… He wasn’t particularly righteous and wouldn’t get himself involved in unnecessary trouble just because the person was a woman — especially when he didn’t know who was right or wrong.

Zhu Maolin instinctively glanced at this panicked woman hiding behind him, then he was taken aback: “It’s you?”

This was… that entry-level model, Xiao Lu.

“Ah… Manager Zhu!” Xiao Lu’s expression lit up as if she had found a lifeline, “Manager Zhu, help me… this guy is a bad person!”

You’re the worst one here…

Da Zhe didn’t know where to begin his rant, but at least his performance was true to character, and he managed not to laugh.

“Hey!

Bro, you’d better not meddle.” Da Zhe spoke in a composed voice, neither cold nor warm, yet it felt like a knife, “This woman owes us a lot of money and hasn’t paid back… you know what to do, right?”

Zhu Maolin frowned… He’d heard recently that quite a few university students, especially female students, have been doing ridiculous things, like nude loans and such.

The modeling industry is chaotic, the girls involved are of mixed moral character… Although Xiao Lu had a chance to collaborate once, they hadn’t interacted much, so he wasn’t confident in judging what might lie beneath her pure and charming exterior.

“Since it’s a financial dispute, it’s inconvenient for me to interfere.” Zhu Maolin shook his head, “Besides, I’m not familiar with you.”

“Did you hear that!

He’s got no interest in helping you, you bitch!” Da Zhe snorted coldly, stepping forward to swiftly grab ‘Xiao Lu’s’ forearm, yanking her up, and looked at Zhu Maolin, saying, “Bro, this is none of your business, just leave.

We don’t want any trouble.”

“Let me go!

What are you doing!

Let go!!

Who allowed you to touch me!

Let me go!” ‘Xiao Lu’ screamed in panic.

Her face turned pale, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.

Looking at ‘Xiao Lu’s’ state, Da Zhe truly felt that if he didn’t know the truth, he would have thought she was really terrified.

Sister Number 18, if you don’t go get an Oscar for your acting, it’s a real waste.

“Let…

let me go!!”

No need to over-act… Da Zhe frowned, though it seemed Zhu Maolin had no intention of getting involved, meaning this trick simply wasn’t working on him.

Da Zhe could only coldly laugh and say, “Hmph, blame your good-for-nothing gambler dad for this!

Father’s debts are paid by the children.

Since your dad ran off, you have to pay!

Do you think you can escape?”

“Let, let go of me!

Don’t… don’t touch me!”

But Da Zhe seemed deaf to her pleas, dragging her along forcefully.

“Let her go.” Zhu Maolin suddenly grabbed Da Zhe’s arm, saying calmly, “Or I’ll call the police.”

“Huh?

You just said you weren’t getting involved because of unfamiliarity… are you trying to make waves now?” Da Zhe sneered, staring back at him, “Bro, messing with you wouldn’t be hard for us either!”

Zhu Maolin replied unhurriedly, “This is a busy street with witnesses everywhere.

Even if not me, someone with a strong sense of justice might intervene.

If she screams along the way, you’ll find yourself in trouble, too.

Besides, if it’s just about money, why not handle it differently?”

Da Zhe continued to sneer, “From the way you’re talking, are you intending to pay her debt?”

Zhu Maolin shook his head, “I have no such intention.

She can repay it herself; no need for others.”

Da Zhe hesitated, scowling, “If she could repay it, she wouldn’t run at the sight of us!

She’s purely skipping out on it!”

Zhu Maolin calmly said, “Just because she can’t now, doesn’t mean she can’t in the future.

You’re here for money, no need to push her to the extremes.

She has the ability to earn, given the time she’ll want to settle this debt and sever ties with you.

What’s in it for you when you push someone to desperation?

Bro, being too ruthless doesn’t lead to long-term survival.”

Da Zhe clucked his tongue and laughed coldly, suddenly jerking Zhu Maolin by the collar close to him, “Kid, you’ve got guts, talking to me like this?”

Zhu Maolin’s expression remained calm, faced with Da Zhe’s scrutiny.

Da Zhe’s gaze briefly caught something at Zhu Maolin’s exposed collar… beneath the neck, he saw something.

If he wasn’t mistaken, it was a tattoo, a very large tattoo—not the kind young men and women get for each other out of petty sentimentality.

Usually… only those who’ve been around the block would have such tattoos.

“So you’re mixed up with the underworld too?” Da Zhe suddenly spat out.

Zhu Maolin calmly replied, “Let go.

I don’t want trouble either, and I’ve said she can repay; she just needs time, she’ll find a job and pay it off.

Don’t push her to a dead end, it’s bad for everyone.”

Da Zhe forcefully patted Zhu Maolin’s chest twice, “Fine, I’ll give you face this time, but it won’t just end here… make sure she pays up, I don’t care what connections you’ve got!”

…

“Alright, they’re gone.” Zhu Maolin exhaled, looking at Xiao Lu, “You should go home too.”

But Xiao Lu crouched down on the ground, her body curled, still looking panicked.

Zhu Maolin frowned and patted her shoulder, “Are you okay?

Are you hurt?”

“No… don’t touch me!” she responded, even more startled.