As the door of the Mingyue Tea House closed, Xu Lai’s figure was swallowed by the darkness, vanishing from Ruan Tang’s sight. Worry was written all over her face.
"Ruan Tang, Xu Lai abandoned you while you were pregnant and disappeared for five years. Are you sure you want to marry him?" Xu Yaoyao huffed. "There are plenty of excellent men pursuing you, so why pick that scumbag?"
She actually held a deep-seated bias against Xu Lai but had always hidden it when he was around.
"I know, I know, but I can guess why," Xu Yaoyao said helplessly. "You don’t want Yiyi to grow up in a single-parent family, so you’re getting back together with him to give her a complete home, right?"
"Xu Lai is as good as dead!"
Li Jie’s voice suddenly cut in. After being thrown out of the Mingyue Tea House by security, he had been waiting outside the whole time. Li Jie was thrilled to hear from Song Qin and Zhu Fang that Xu Lai had been held back by Miss Su. His guess had been right! Let alone the terrifying power behind the owner of Mingyue, just provoking Eighth Master was enough to ensure he wouldn’t escape unscathed. Xu Lai had to be inside on his knees, begging Eighth Master for mercy, but the ruthless Eighth Master would surely torture him to death.
"Shut your mouth," Ruan Tang said coldly. "Xu Lai will be fine."
"Everyone who has ever offended Eighth Master has been nailed into a coffin. No exceptions," Li Jie retorted.
Song Qin, clutching his still-bleeding forehead, gloated, "It’s a good thing you’re waiting here. Maybe you’ll get to see him one last time."
Ruan Tang bit her lip, her worried gaze fixed on the tea house.
「In the private room.」
Old Jiang Ba knelt before Xu Lai and said in a trembling voice, "Mr. Xu, I was unaware of your identity and acted rashly. Please forgive me."
If anyone were to witness this scene, they would be terrified beyond belief. The funeral industry tycoon of Liu City, known as ’King Yama’ to some and Eighth Master to others, was kneeling at the feet of a young man, begging for forgiveness.
Xu Lai’s expression remained calm as he said nothing.
As time ticked by, Old Jiang Ba felt himself drenched in cold sweat, with beads of it rolling down his cheeks and hitting the floor. Each drop felt like a heavy hammer striking his heart. Yet the renowned Eighth Master of Liu City remained in his kneeling posture, not daring to move a muscle. The very air seemed to have frozen solid.
After a full ten minutes, Xu Lai finally spoke in an unhurried tone. "It’s nothing."
Old Jiang Ba let out a long sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Su Daiyi bowed her head slightly, her expression respectful. "Mr. Xu, Mingyue Tea House is one of the Su Family’s properties. I apologize for not welcoming you properly upon your unforeseen arrival."
The downfall of the Ye Family yesterday had sent shockwaves through Hangcheng. The city’s elites and dignitaries were all feigning illness, hiding at home and refusing to see anyone. Naturally, the identity of the Martial Dao expert who had annihilated the Ye Family became a mystery.
Su Daiyi’s primary purpose in coming to the East Sea was for Xu Lai. The Ye Family’s rise from a minor wealthy family to the number one clan in Hangcheng was largely due to their association with Martial Artists. First, there was Han Buming, their Venerate, who expanded their territory. Then came Ye Wuxuan, whose overwhelming power crushed the other wealthy families of Hangcheng. If they could win Xu Lai over, what would the future hold for the Su Family? The possibilities were unimaginable!
"Get to the point," Xu Lai said, looking at Su Daiyi with a faint smile. This "ghost-fearing" woman had left a deep impression on him.
"Mr. Xu, I would like to invite you to become a Venerate for the Su Family for an annual salary of thirty million!" Su Daiyi said, adopting an extremely humble posture. "We won’t ask you to reside with the Su Family permanently. We only ask that you intervene when the Su Family faces a crisis, to protect our family line."
Thirty million?! Old Jiang Ba gasped. The Su Family was involved in catering, medicine, and education. While they seemed prosperous, a family of their size made a net profit of one hundred million a year at most. He had heard from Su Daiyi that Xu Lai was powerful, but he never expected him to be so strong that the Su Family would be willing to pay such an enormous price to recruit him.
But what stunned Old Jiang Ba even more was Xu Lai’s response. He pondered for a moment before saying, "You kept me here for such a trivial matter?"
Thirty million... a trivial matter? Old Jiang Ba felt like his brain couldn’t keep up. Then, a sudden realization hit him. After all, this was the Martial Dao expert who had crushed Ye Wuxuan, a prodigy blessed by the heavens. Money probably held no attraction for him at all. Now *this* is a true master, he thought. Someone who treats money as if it’s worthless, completely unmoved by fame or fortune!
"Then, Mr. Xu, you mean...?" Su Daiyi asked cautiously, trying her best not to let her disappointment show. She was already prepared for rejection.
"Transfer the money to my wife’s card."
Old Jiang Ba was speechless.
"Right, you can’t call it a protection fee. Call it an investment... yes, an investment, understand? Her company is having a few small problems lately." Xu Lai thought for a moment before adding another instruction. "Don’t give it to her all at once. Pay it in installments, and don’t let her find out it’s connected to me."
"I understand, Mr. Xu," Su Daiyi replied, her beautiful eyes sparkling with excitement.
With Xu Lai as their trump card, the Su Family could rapidly expand into business domains they would never have dared to touch before. The returns would absolutely exceed thirty million—perhaps by a great deal more!
Old Jiang Ba’s mind started racing with ideas as well. He was in the funeral business, and after so many years, he was bound to run into some... unclean things. He began hesitantly, "Mr. Xu, I..."
"Don’t even ask. The answer is to transfer money to my wife’s card."
Jiang Ba fell silent.
"It’s only right to get paid for services rendered," Xu Lai said. "But for thirty million, I’ll only act once. Think it over carefully before you come to me."
"Understood, Mr. Xu." A smile bloomed on Su Daiyi’s face. "Mr. Xu, Mingyue Tea House has some supreme Imperial Longjing tea. Please stay and have a taste."
"No, thanks. My wife is still waiting for me outside." Xu Lai refused. "Besides, I have to look for a job this afternoon. She’s quite fierce and has made it clear she won’t support an idler."
Old Jiang Ba and Su Daiyi were at a loss for words. Perhaps this was the eccentric nature of a true expert.
Su Daiyi ventured, "Mr. Xu, what kind of job are you looking for?" For more chapters visit novel•fire.net
"It can’t have grueling hours, preferably a nine-to-five with a light workload. After all, I have to take care of my daughter." His face softened into a tender, fatherly smile as he mentioned Yiyi.
"A teacher, then?" Su Daiyi asked.
"Hmm?" Xu Lai raised an eyebrow.
"To be precise, a school doctor," Su Daiyi explained. "The Su Family owns a private, aristocratic university in East Sea City, and they happen to be hiring a school doctor. Would you..."
"A university?" Xu Lai’s eyes lit up.
"Yes, but if you’re not interested, Mr. Xu..."
"I’m interested! That’s perfect!" Xu Lai slapped his forehead in frustration. Why didn’t I think of that? A university is a great idea!
"Huh?" Su Daiyi was a bit bewildered. It was a good job, but what was so great about it?
"I don’t have to worry about her dating too early in kindergarten, elementary, middle, or high school, but university is a different story. If I’m the school doctor at the university, then it would be perfectly natural for Yiyi to enroll here, wouldn’t it?"
Xu Lai couldn’t help but marvel at his own genius.
Far away at her kindergarten, Xu Yiyi sneezed several times in a row. The dazed little girl had no idea that her entire future had just been meticulously planned out for her.