Chapter 17: The Mask
Editor: TheSloth
However Ren Ziling was puzzled when she saw this card and whispered, “I don’t remember seeing this before…”
Luo Qiu knew the reason.
It was the item of the club. It would lie there, but few would be able to notice it.
People ignored it due to its appearance---just like the club.
Only those who needed it could see it.
“Yes, it’s always been there. Maybe you just didn’t notice it,” Zhang Qingrui looked at Luo Qiu and said without doubt. “Are you interested in this card? “
Of course Luo Qiu was interested, because every black card meant a potential customer to him.
But he thought it was inappropriate to show his interest.
So he shook his head. “No, I just think it’s weird.”
He looked at Zhang Qingrui. “This black card doesn't seem to be an antique. I just found it didn’t match the atmosphere of the shop.”
Zhang Qingrui smiled. “Some customers asked about it before, do you know what my answer was?”
Luo Qiu shook his head, it seemed like he didn’t care about the answer.
Zhang Qingrui was stunned, she felt that Luo Qiu really was a snotty guy.
“No comment.”
Zhang Qingrui gave him the answer.
Ren Ziling stared blankly, she knew Luo Qiu was a blockhead and had made his classmate angry, which was why she played a trick on him. After many years of experience as a journalist, she sensed that it was Zhang Qingrui’s polite way of dismissing them.
Ren Ziling pretended to look at the time, then showed a worried look. “It’s late. Thanks for your introduction. I have an interview later…by the way, don’t focus on these little things. Actually Luo Qiu is a good guy and…Hey, Luo Qiu, wait…”
F*ck…
Luo Qiu swore in his mind, sighing as he walked towards the door. Ren Ziling quickly finished the rest of the short conversation and ran to Luo Qiu in a hurry.
Afterwards, Zhang Qingrui---the classical beauty, finally let the smile on her face fade away. Frowning, she looked at the black card displayed in the show case. She had a sudden urge to touch the card. However, as her fingers strayed near the card, she hesitated for a second ,then abandoned the thought and closed the show case.
The young female manager had only worked for two years in the company, but had met a large amount of well renown people.
There were few people that paid attention to the black card in the collection. She was aware that the card was placed there intentionally by her grandmother. She had asked the reason, but her grandmother, Mrs. Zhang, shook her head and remained silent each time, as if avoiding something.
There might be something magical about this black card. If someone stopped by and set their eyes on it, they would have a desire to grab it. Zhang Qingrui was most likely the person, besides her grandmother, who had the most contact with this card. Therefore she probably had the strongest desire to possess it.
Furthermore, the customers who set their sights on the black card, would keep staring at it, unless they were woken up from their trance.
Some visitors had said that they would buy the black card at any price.
Except that it was not for sale…hence she was confused as to why her grandmother would set it on display.
“Qingrui.”
She got a fright upon hearing the familiar voice of her grandmother. She then turned back right away, walked to Mrs. Zhang quickly and held out her arms. “Grandma, why did you come to the collection chamber today?”
“I just come to have a look,” Mrs. Zhang replied slowly, then frowned. “I told you many times not to look at the black card.”
Zhang Qingrui stuck her tongue out, “I was too busy serving two customers, so I was careless…”
Mrs. Zhang suddenly sighed, and walked towards the black card. She stood in front of the show case and muttered to herself, “I shouldn’t have kept it till now.”
“Grandma?” Zhang Qingrui asked questioningly.
Mrs. Zhang shook her head. “Wrap it up and give it to me.”
It had been placed here ever since Gu Yue Zhai was established and had never been taken away. Zhang Qingrui was curious about the usage of the card, so she asked frankly, “Grandma, what happened? I saw Boss Zhong came to you, did he…”
Mrs. Zhang nodded, but then shook her head. “He is excellent but too scheming, don’t get too close to him.”
Zhang Qingrui didn’t say a word. However, she wouldn’t talked to Ren Ziling and Luo Qiu personally if it wasn’t for avoiding that annoying guy.
Soon, Zhang Qingrui brought the card to her grandmother.
Mrs. Zhang said, “Give it to Boss Zhong the next time he comes, and tell him to use it only once, then return it as soon as possible, or he risks facing his own demise.”
Zhang Qingrui nodded without saying a word about the black card, though she was still curious.
Actually it wasn’t a big deal.
……
……
“Master, what’s this?”
At noon, Luo Qiu decided the skip afternoon classes and head to the club. He was reading the photo album from Gu Yue Zhai.
“Well, there are still many things that I don’t know,” Luo Qiu replied airily.
But then he remembered something. While looking at You Ye, he asked, “By the way, bring the masks from the warehouse from first floor of the basement to me, please.”
As per the rule, he could freely use everything in the club. However, the items which had been sent to the warehouse couldn’t be used as tributes.
Which meant, the transaction fees placed in the warehouse couldn’t be used as tributes, the more serious matter was that he had to pay a part of his lifespan as compensation.
It was disgusting, eh?
Actually, there was a certain period of protection after receiving the transaction fee. During this period, the transaction fee could not be used, and could only be placed in the warehouse or used as tribute.
“OK, just one minute.” You Ye didn’t ask the reason.
As a servant girl, You Ye had to obey the boss’s order unconditionally, just like how Luo Qiu had to follow the rules of the club.
After that, Luo Qiu touched his face and said to himself, “It might be a hassle since Zhang Qingrui has the black card. What if she comes here some day…”
Thinking further, Luo Qiu couldn’t use his current name ‘Luo Qiu’ then when he showed up as the boss.
He wanted to come up with a cool name.
Chapter 18: The Clown with a Black Cane
Editor: TheSloth
Not long after that, You Ye brought the mask to him.
The three masks were leftovers from the former boss-. Next, it was time for him to make a difficult choice.
The original function of these masks were for hiding the boss’s face and to conceal their identities. They were all pretty well made.
Luo Qiu grabbed one and touched the decorations on it. The decorations showed that it was a Venice mask--- ‘Bauta’ that hid half of face. Luo Qiu tried it on.
He felt the mask stick to his face quickly, then disappeared. Now it felt just like his own skin. He didn’t feel stuffy and, more amazingly, it seemed that the mask became weightless.
‘You can become invisible after wearing the mask.’
He felt the information flow into his mind. He then looked at You Ye in curiosity. “Can you see me? “
“Not visually,” You Ye answered. “However I’m conscious of the presence of the master.”
Luo Qiu was stunned and took a mirror, but nothing could be seen in it. After a while, he took off ‘Bauta’.
He was just unwilling to reveal his identity to the customers, not becoming invisible.
It was but a mere toy to him.
Next, Luo Qiu picked up the second mask---a mask made from paper pulp. It had golden eyes and cracked lips painted red…actually it was just a Japanese style fox mask.
Luo Qiu tried it on.
‘It’s Inari’s face, used to pray for good harvest.’
Yeap…it might be useful in areas that were poor or without farming technology. The mask also didn’t match Luo Qiu’s suit which You Ye chose.
The third one---a clown mask.
He felt comfortable wearing this one. As it coalesced on his face, information also flowed into his mind.
‘It’s a real clown, who has the ability to see through all magic.’
The magic stated here was the sleight-of-hand kind, not the supernatural one.
“I’m lucky it’s a white face mask, instead of a colorful one.” Luo Qiu joked, “Nobody would want to meet Ronald McDonald in this serious place.”
You Ye didn’t know what he was talking about.
“I’ll grab this one, it goes better with the suit. Though the ability is useless.” Luo Qiu then stood up.
He didn’t seem funny wearing the clown mask with his suit. Instead it gave him a mysterious feel…but something felt wrong.
Luo Qiu tried to find out what was wrong as he looked in the mirror. At this moment, You Ye came up with a top hat, a black cane and a pair of white gloves from the cloakroom.
Luo Qiu wore the hat and gloves, and brandished the cane experimentally. It gave him a good feel.
“Good, call me Mr. Clown from now on,” Luo Qiu joked. “Well, a clown would lighten the mood in this place seeped with strong desires.”
“Master, as long as you’re happy.”
Right as Luo Qiu wanted to complain about the overuse of this reply, the club’s bell rang.
Luo Qiu had no time to enjoy his new costume. He walked down to the hall and prepared to serve the customer.
It was a young man standing at the entrance, looking around nervously.
He should be several years older than Luo Qiu.
Besides, he looked like a successful man, either a rich second generation or socialite.
“Welcome to Trafford’s Trading Club, what can I do for you?”
Luo Qiu grabbed the cane and walked downstairs step by step, observing the youth’s further reaction.
“Who are you?” The young man held still and stayed at the entrance, with a vigilant expression.
“Me?” Luo Qiu wanted to smile…but he figured out he was wearing the mask, so just answered, “I’m the boss of this club, you can call me boss or…Mr. Clown.
Luo Qiu then walked to him, then he ‘smelled’ a familiar scent…the scent of a black card.
Well, this was the third customer that had the black card. Only Dance was the exception, who came here by coincidence.
While he was thinking of the amount of black cards handed out, Luo Qiu didn’t stop conversing with the customer. “Please come in and take a seat.”
“Is this the place that can help people achieve their desires?” the man frowned and asked.
Suddenly Luo Qiu snapped his fingers, then opened his palm. A black card was floating above it. He said with a smile, “As a cardholder, you should trust the club, right?”
The young man touched his chest, even unbuttoning his suit to check the pocket inside, only to find that his card had disappeared.
He breathed in deeply and calmed down before introducing himself in a deep voice, “Hi, Mr. Clown, I’m Zhong Luochen, today I come to make a deal with you.”
One should never refuse business that knocks on your door. Luo Qiu made a gesture, inviting the customer to come in, saying with pleasure, “You Ye, entertain the guest please.”
……
……
In the bedroom, Cheng Yun lighted a cigarette, looking at the enchanting woman lying in bed contentedly.
She was a receptionist of Gu Yue Zhai.
She didn’t have powerful connections, but was pretty and clever. She had chose the most efficient and fastest way to get promoted---seducing the assistant of Zhong Luochen.
Cheng Yun knew women. He had gotten the receptionist before his boss got Zhang Qingrui.
But it was true that this girl couldn’t be compared to Zhang Qingrui, neither in family background nor ability.
Cheng Yun was aware what kind of women he could get.
“Why are you available today? You didn’t follow your young boss?” The girl looked at Cheng Yun with an obsequious smile.
Cheng Yun felt puzzled as well, wondering where his boss had gone to ever since they came back from Gu Yue Zhai.
He had always followed his boss, helping him in various ways. He thought the reason his boss left him was due to the words of that old woman.
Damn it! He was quite clear about his situation. If he lost the recognition of his boss, even his job, and this scheming woman would leave him.
However, she was good in bed, plus he wanted to enjoy her for a few more days--- above all, he’d like to stand beside Zhong Luochen, to get a higher status at the capital.
“Who were the two guys Ms. Zhang led to the collection chamber this morning?”
The girl didn’t mind selling out Zhang Qingrui to gain the favor of Cheng Yun. She knew if his boss got Zhang Qingrui, then she would be able to get what she wanted from her man---Cheng Yun, the boss’s assistant.
“She was the subeditor of a local newspaper office and had came by twice.”The girl recalled. “She knew our manager since then. As to the man following Ren Ziling, I don’t know him. Maybe a close friend or a brother as can be seen from their intimate relationship.”
Cheng Yun inhaled a smoke hard, breathing it out slowly. “A subeditor? Um…”
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