Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 909: Chapter 53: Melted Wings

Slightly opening the curtain, her finger touched a ray of sunlight; Zhong Luoyue immediately felt the fire-like burn and pulled it back.

Daytime was supposed to be when energy is at its peak, yet without a doubt, she was feeling incredibly weary now. Zhong Luoyue yawned, her mind somewhat fogged, then glanced at the wardrobe.

Elizabeth was inside the wardrobe, having fallen asleep early—they had quietly left the hospital before dawn, evading government and military personnel’s blockade, and randomly found a decent hotel to stay in.

“Luo Yue? Luo Yue?”

At this moment, Zhong Luoyue was making an international call, and the other end was located in the capital of Hua Country. Due to the time difference, her grandfather had retired early, and the one answering the phone was Grandfather Luo, a comrade who had shared life and death with grandfather for half a century.

“I’m listening, Grandfather Luo.” Zhong Luoyue rubbed her brow and replied, “It’s just that I’m feeling a bit dazed, my thoughts are scattered.”

There were many reasons to make a phone call home. In fact, upon arriving in this city, before attending the Tu Shenyi Winery banquet, her bodyguards had been intercepted by the Song Family. When the bodyguards were sent to the hospital, their family in the capital already received the news. Later, the manor castle collapsed, and the zombie crisis in the hospital—these events couldn’t be hidden.

“Your scattered thoughts are normal,” Grandfather Luo’s voice was kind, “Anyone encountering these matters would feel uncomfortable. Luo Yue, don’t worry, I’ll arrange someone to fetch you back immediately… This time the Song Family has gone overboard. It’s time for a bit of a knockdown.”

“Grandfather Luo, this incident isn’t much related to the Song Family.” Zhong Luoyue rallied her spirits: “Song Ying was only joking with me, now the Song Family is already frantic… We should just watch.”

The grandfather calmly replied, “In the trade battles between families, whether conspiracy or overt scheme, some recognized rules exist. Directly acting against the descendants of tomb-robbing families breaks these rules. Boss Zhong and Song Family have no business feuds, at most clashes only occurred in gambling. Originally, river water does not taint well water… Rest assured, Boss Zhong isn’t without resources. Since you’ve experienced it, once you return, grandfather might tell you some things.”

Indeed, it seems Boss Zhong is hiding some unknown secrets, perhaps a form of mighty power, yet Zhong Luoyue wasn’t optimistic—since the Song Family still had that incredibly mysterious figure.

She was utterly exhausted, barely able to hear what Grandfather Luo said on the call, only responding briefly after, before finally ending the call, and fell asleep at the desk.

She dreamed again of the time she trained with the troops, lost in the mountain forest, curled terrified inside a tree hollow.

The forest sometimes echoed the cries of beasts.

This recollection was always somewhat blurry for Zhong Luoyue, perhaps because she desperately wished to forget this terrifying experience.

“Are you lost too?”

Suddenly, she heard a childish voice, and a small head peeked out before the tree hole, along with light… firelight.

“I’m also lost, leaves obscured the sky, I can’t find the Pole Star, could I hide here too? My dad said it’s safer to hide at night.”

It was a young boy, not much older, perhaps younger, holding a torch.

Can’t recall… Can’t recall.

…

…

Forty-eight hours had passed since the incident, amounting to two days.

According to crisis PR claims, 48 hours post-incident is the crucial handling time.

Recently, a patient consuming the dangerous drug ‘Zombie Bath Salts’ suddenly went berserk inside a hospital, unlike common versions, it has terrifying infection and leads to insanity, bloodlust, severe violence tendencies, and is of great danger.

Ouyang Jie lay on the hospital bed, watching local news reports, feeling the explanation seemed unreasonable… vaguely sensing the matter wasn’t that simple.

The government controlled public opinion, while civilian discussions varied, each hospital signed confidentiality agreements—obtaining some material compensation, yet rumors still spread about.

These issues also troubled crisis PR, the responsibility shoved off to the so-called ‘Zombie Bath Salts’.

The government’s drug control department urged society to resist the spread of such illegal drugs, not to cause life and property loss for quick thrills.

Post consumption of ‘Zombie Bath Salts’ went berserk and attacked people incidents increased, the circulated images of drug users bore resemblance to zombies from the occurrence—people preferred thinking it as a ‘drug’ rather than movie-style panic… right.

Ouyang Jie turned off the television.

After that night, he was assigned to an independent hospital room for various checks, now awaiting results before leaving wasn’t allowed… Regarding so-called human rights—he wasn’t a citizen of this country anyway.

Upon departing for Tu Shenyi, Uncle Jin arranged for him to acquire U.S. citizenship—his detainment issue now engaged in negotiations between the U.S. embassy and local government.

Zhong Luoyue later reached out to him, mentioning her temporary inability to intervene, Ouyang Jie expressed understanding. However, a tad dissatisfied with Zhong Luoyue for leaving the hospital earlier.

Considering the hospital’s chaos and danger, her choosing to withdraw initially seemed understandable… Tomb-robbing family descendants remained such, prioritizing self-preservation taught from a young age.

Nonetheless, he lacked the energy to dwell on Zhong Luoyue’s actions anymore, as his more pressing concern was the manor issue.

With time, the buried individuals could become increasingly dangerous… yet excavating immensely challenging, many lost hope. He himself prepared for the worst too.

This homecoming trip, thoughts brimming initially, now Ouyang Jie felt emptiness. If life were a gamble’s stake, he showed signs of losing.

Unkempt for days, filled with questions and anxiety; beard unshaven, he appeared desolate.

But just then he received a call from an insurance company.

“Is this Mr. Ouyang Jie? A Mr. Jin Wucheng purchased insurance from us, designating you as beneficiary. We understand Mr. Jin Wucheng’s unfortunate incident, though we can’t confirm his survival yet, we intend quick contact with you, plus preparation is advised. Of course, if Mr. Jin survives, all the better.”

“Insurance… what insurance?” Ouyang Jie felt a jolt.

“Mr. Jin stored items in a bank vault, per agreement, should he perish, only you could access it.”

“Uncle Jin… left for me?”

Ouyang Jie instinctively glanced outside, suddenly feeling the sunlight too blinding.

…

…

Being stuck in the hospital is a depressing thing, and all the limitations make it an unhappy thing… probably.

“Why does this guy look completely unfazed by it?”

Faced with Miss Song Ying’s question, Su Mei found herself at a loss for how to respond—truth be told, Su Mei considered herself a fortunate person.

Surviving the collapse of the castle, no zombies on her, escaping hospital disaster unscathed, though the bodyguard assigned to look after her wasn’t as lucky—all in all, as people often say, great survival must bring good luck afterward, right?

A chance to accompany Song Ying, something many people dream of obtaining.

Due to the requirement to stay hospitalized, Song Ying, bored to the verge of explosion, could only find Su Mei as company… she glanced at Mr. Luo Qiu in the pavilion below the inpatient department.

They all called him Young Master Qiu, seemingly being someone equivalent to Miss Song Ying in the Song family.

“Maybe Young Master Qiu is just a cheerful person?” Su Mei said cautiously.

“Even you’re calling that guy Young Master?” Song Ying looked at Su Mei with some dissatisfaction, making Su Mei’s face slightly unpleasant.

“Forget it, not blaming you.” Song Ying shook her head and continued looking at the tablet in her hands—filled with files sent by the group. Unable to work at the office, Song Ying could only handle some affairs here. Due to too much free time, she started reviewing the Song Dynasty’s accounting for the whole last year.

Not even sparing the electricity bill.

Why am I working here while that guy joyfully tells stories to kids in the pavilion?

Indeed, in the pavilion, alongside Luo Qiu and his companion Gan Hong, were several kids from the inpatient department.

Quite good at entertaining kids… Song Ying muttered casually, suddenly frowning, “Su Mei, what’s with the expenditure on Zhonghua Street from last June?”

Secretary Su Mei was startled, quickly looking over the tablet, but after a while, couldn’t find anything strange, “This… seems there’s nothing wrong, Miss Ying.”

“The numbers are off by seven hundred thousand.” Song Ying frowned, “The total numbers are correct, but adding up all the expenditures, they are short by seven hundred thousand.”

Such a big accounting document… mentally calculated? Su Mei looked at Song Ying in astonishment.

Song Ying frowned, took the tablet over, slid her fingers quickly, and marked six locations on the document.

“This… this financial handling is a bit careless.” Su Mei shook her head.

Song Ying suddenly said, “It’s not them being careless… someone is falsifying accounts.”

“Falsifying accounts?!” Su Mei exclaimed.

Song Ying suddenly stood up, “Let’s talk back in the room, get me the accounts of the last three years, especially regarding Zhonghua Street.”

“Understood.”

The two hurriedly left.

In the pavilion, Luo Qiu thoughtfully looked up, watching the departing backs of Song Ying and Su Mei, and paused.

“Young Master, is there something wrong?” Gan Hong asked urgently.

“Nothing.” Luo Qiu smiled, “Where did I stop?”

A kid in the pavilion quickly said, “Big Brother, you just stopped when Icarus was about to fly towards the sun, ignoring his father’s advice. What happened next?”

Luo Qiu softly spoke, “Icarus was too arrogant, he thought he could fly higher, but the wax on his wings melted due to the sun’s heat, and feathers fell from him one by one. When all the feathers disappeared, Icarus could no longer fly in the sky, and he eventually fell into the sea. The waves swallowed him, leaving only feathers floating on the water’s surface.”

“Ah… what happened to Icarus next, did he die?” The children asked in fear.

Luo Qiu slowly said, “Do you wish for him to die, then?”

The children shook their heads together.

Luo Qiu then said, “Then you all continue the story. How should it go on?”

“His father Daedalus saved him! If I’m in danger, my dad would definitely save me!” a little girl said.

“Hmm… he could swim, so he swam to the shore and found his father Daedalus. Afterwards, they lived happily ever after!” a little boy raised his hand and said.

“The whales in the sea saved him and took him to the shore!” the little boy said.

“He met the mermaid princess and became good friends!” the little girl said.

Luo Qiu quietly listened, the story had been connected in strange ways but was becoming more interesting.

Later, a nurse came to lead the children away, saying it was time for meds and injections, leaving only Luo Qiu and Gan Hong in the pavilion.

Gan Hong suddenly asked, “Young Master, Icarus actually died, right?”

Luo Qiu nodded, “The sea buried him, washed his body ashore. His father Daedalus found Icarus’s body. Later, Daedalus and his people flew to a new place, living well. But Daedalus never felt joy in his life.”

“But… why not tell these kids?” Gan Hong asked puzzled, “Isn’t the myth’s moral that pride surely leads to death?”

“There’s actually another moral about destiny.” Luo Qiu suddenly said, “Daedalus framed Talos, was convicted, but escaped penalty, yet Icarus died instead.”

“This…”

“Don’t you think it’s too heavy for those kids?”

“They’ll grow up someday and realize it, right?”

“Why not wait until they grow up?” Luo Qiu smiled, “If they learned now, there wouldn’t be so many interesting, beautiful continuations… right?”