The Card Apprentice

Bu Qiangdong had pretty outstanding management capability. He rented a new office building, which had only had five stories and looked rather shabby among the surrounding buildings. But it was more than adequate for the sparse numbers of Heaven’s Wings employees. The building belonged to a card appliance company. They hadn’t wanted to rent it, but they immediately agreed when they heard the renter was the great Heaven’s Wings company. They anxiously begged Bu Qiangdong, hoping to get Heaven’s Wings to make them a fantasy card advertisement for a negotiable fee.

Bu Qiangdong didn’t originally have that sort of building in mind. Heaven’s Wings wasn’t just a small company anymore, so how could they stay in such a shabby place? They just couldn’t find any empty buildings over ten stories to rent. Actually, what he had in mind was something like the twin towers of the Central Island Firm, which would be tall enough to be bright and spacious and where he could rent two or three floors. That would be enough to make him happy.

But he nipped that in the bud after turning it over in his mind, being more concerned with the boss’s preferences. That boss of his didn’t like renting together with others. For Bu Qiangdong, there wasn’t anything more important than determining the boss’s preferences no matter what he was doing.

When Bu Qiangdong thought about the current Heaven’s Wings, he felt full of drive. The rest of his life’s happiness depended on it. He was perfectly thrilled that he had encountered the boss, even though the boss was younger than him.

Since the building had been kept up and was quite clean, they could move in right away. Bu Qiangdong immediately organized everyone to move into the building.

The first floor retained the convention of the exhibition hall, devoted exclusively to displaying the boss’s works. The Central Island Firm’s ad was naturally placed in the most prominent position. Everyone knew about it by then, and it had become the calling card of Heaven’s Wings. The second floor was the warehouse, and the third and fourth floors were offices. The top floor belonged to the boss.

After finishing all that, But Qiangdong sheepishly called in the boss. After a moment, the boss arrived at the building, bringing along that pretty secretary.

Chen Mu’s miserable look scared Bu Qiangdong half to death. He lowered his head and hung behind, not daring to breathe. He was muttering to himself about where he might have gone wrong. Then, glancing at the boss’s beautiful secretary and seeing that she also had a sheepish look, he immediately balanced out his thoughts. His movements became a little lighter.

The boss walked over with his gloomy look, with the director and secretary cowing silently like frozen cicadas. The entire building went silent.

Having returned to his own office, Chen Mu sat on the chair. He quickly sank into thought.

Greed is terrible! He had nearly fallen headlong into it, and his mind had only slightly relaxed when nothing happened along their way. He felt his resistance hadn’t been bad, never having imagined he could be nearly fooled when someone threw out that bait.

The other party kept calling along the way, so he finally took out the thousand kilometer card. Even without him opening the communications array, the other party could actually still connect with that card. It looked like the thousand kilometer card didn’t require pairing with the communications array to be used. Within short distances, two such cards seemed to be able to complete communications. But he didn’t really know what kind of card the other party had and how it might be different from the card in his hands.

Coming out of his thoughts, Chen Mu saw the nervous Bu Qiangdong in front of him. He relaxed his countenance and gave a few words of praise. “Mmmm, this building is nice. If you have something to do, you may go ahead and do it.”

A stone dropped from Bu Qiangdong’s heart as he submissively said, “Your subordinate has already pasted a notice of our move on the building that clearly indicates our current address. If anyone comes looking for us, they would be able to find us easily.

Bu Qiangdong was watertight in what he did, which pleased Chen Mu. He had just been wondering how Wei-ah would find the place when he returned. Now, he could relax.

“Very good. We’ve gotten quite a bit of work lately, and you’ll have to organize everyone to get it done. As for the orders you might take in, if they are below 3 million, it’s your decision.” Chen Mu muttered to himself for a moment. “Everyone has been working hard lately. Starting this month, everyone’s salary will be increased by 15 percent, and yours will be raised by 20. Let’s all do good work.”

Bu Qiangdong was overjoyed. “Thank you, Boss!”

Chen Mu waved his hand. “Get to work.”

After Bu Qiangdong left, Chen Mu sank into thought once again. He had never thought the thousand kilometer card could bring him so much danger. He was toying with it as he lowered his head in thought. After thinking about it, he put the card into his card wallet, thinking it better not to use it for a while.

He’d made the thousand kilometer card himself, and he was clear about its principle. He had never thought he would encounter such a situation, so there were quite a few aspects he hadn’t perfected. It was those holes that had caused him trouble.

The thousand kilometer card had lots of room for improvements, which were within his ability to do. But he didn’t intend to do that work now. The safest thing just then would be to do nothing.

Lu Xiaoru was off to the side. She had never imagined such fear and trepidation. Those last few days, she had begun to understand the temperament of that master in front of her. He didn’t like to anger anyone. She had overheard that day’s communication very clearly.

To tell the truth, she was blindfolded at the time. During the last huge battle and before today, she had been a little muddled. She didn’t understand why the sides were fighting to such a terrifying extent. When listening to what Chen Mu and the other party were saying today, it finally dawned on her.

It turns out this gizmo is that valuable! At the time, she couldn’t wait for Chen Mu to agree. How much money would billions be? It seemed as though there was still room for negotiation in the other party’s thinking. Her brain had been buzzed silly.

Afterward, when Chen Mu had shut off his apparatus, she didn’t quite understand. She had been about to persuade him, but seeing his miserable look, her remaining trace of sanity made her shut her mouth.

Now, thinking about it calmly, she realized behind the tempting fruit was hidden some terrifying danger. She had still more admiration for Chen Mu when she thought of that. It was really stunning for that youth, who didn’t look like much, to be able to keep his composure in front of such temptation.

By comparison, Lu Xiaoru didn’t care as much about the superb flying skills he showed afterward. Compared with skill, qualities of the spirit were still rarer. She had opened her mind. Since changing masters, there were more benefits to her from how much stronger he was.

From any point of view, he was a fine master. He didn’t have any strange habits, and across so many days, he had never made her into his bed servant. That had rather surprised her. If it hadn’t been for their battling that day, when Chen Mu’s coarse breathing had made her certain he was an ordinary male, she would almost have thought there was something wrong with him.

But Chen Mu hadn’t shown the slightest sign of any interest in her those last few days. Could she have lost her charm?

She was beating her brains out.

Of course, Chen Mu didn’t know Lu Xiaoru had such matters in her head, being much more concerned with a different issue.

Bu Qiangdong knocked on his office door and had a stranger with him.

“This is Mr. Fei from the Central Island Firm, Boss.”

Hearing Bo Qiangdong’s introduction, Chen Mu slightly narrowed his eyes. Lu Xiaoru, who was standing so pretty behind him, was slightly shocked. Chen Mu carefully sized him up to find an ordinary youth of about 20, wearing a proper business suit and a respectful aspect.

Mr. Fei saluted Chen Mu. “Greetings, Boss Cao. Our director general, Mr. Ren, will be holding a banquet in three days. The director general says he has been fortunate to have Boss Cao’s help this time, without which the consequences would be hard to estimate. The general manager hopes to be able to thank Boss Cao face to face and invites Boss Cao to honor him if you can find the time.”

He then pulled out a light blue invitation and presented it respectfully in front of Chen Mu with both hands.

An invitation from the Central Island Firm? Chen Mu found the world so full of strangeness. By rights, he should have been resentful of the Central Island Firm. How could he have thought that not only would he help them to make the fantasy card advertisement, but that he would now receive an invitation from them? That had to make him feel the wonders of the world.

After Chen Mu received the invitation, the youth named Fei bid farewell, and Bu Qiangdong sent him on his way.

Without turning around, Chen Mu said calmly, “Did he recognize you?”

Lu Xiaoru’s response was quite certain. “Definitely not. He’s unfamiliar. I think he must be one of Central Island’s peripheral staff. Our existence was known to very few. In any case, with my face disguised, even in front of Qian Mingyi, I figure he wouldn’t necessarily recognize me.” In what she said, she showed some confidence in her skill with makeup.

Nodding, Chen Mu waved the invitation in his hand. “What do you think about this?” The light blue invitation was utterly elegant and had a nice feel to it. There were designs like watermarks on it, which showed how expensive it was.

Lu Xiaoru didn’t immediately reply. She knew what a great opportunity that was. She needed to demonstrate her ability since only then would she be able to get better treatment and a better position.

She said thoughtfully, “I don’t think they have malicious intentions. Ren Wenzhou gives a banquet once or twice a year, and those invited are all people in Pomelo with gravitas. He’s accustomed to pulling in all sorts relationships that way. I believe Heaven’s Wings’ performance this time made him feel you have already started to have the qualifications to join his circles. That is to say you have potential.”

Chen Mu seemed to be thinking about something. He looked at Lu Xiaoru with appreciation and said, “Continue.”

Having been encouraged, Lu Xiaoru said, “Heaven’s Wings has gained quite a bit this time and is a lot better known than before. But those things aren’t enough. We still need to expand our business, and the other powers in Pomelo would be useful for our further development. I don’t think you have much to worry about regarding your identity. Except for me, no one has seen you.” Looking at Chen Mu, she added, “The more elevated your identity becomes, the more powerful people you will know, and the safer you will be.”

She closed her mouth, feeling a bit of regret. Some of what she had said were things she shouldn’t have laid bare. But since she’d said it, she could only steel herself and wait for Chen Mu’s response.

Chen Mu was tapping his fingers on the table without any rhythm, looking deep in thought. It seemed he was digesting what Lu Xiaoru had said, as though he were reviewing some other matter.