November 15, 2017
After leaving the Yun ng Grand Theater, Yu Zishen felt a bit dejected, but soon straightened his back and regained his composure.
Indeed, losing the sparring match with Wang Jiu was unexpected, but on the other hand... looking at it positively, one could consider that perhaps that man wasn't as bad as he seed, and Shen Qingming might not be living that terribly under his guidance.
Just like before entering the backstage door, the absurd and obscene conversation he overheard might just be a misunderstanding...
While comforting himself, Yu Zishen absentmindedly walked along the street, only to realize shortly after that soone was watching him. Turning around, he saw a pretty-faced young girl trailing behind him, looking about fourteen or fifteen, though her voluptuous curves didn't match her petite fra.
"Hello, Mr. Yu." The young girl, upon being noticed, quickly approached and respectfully bowed before introducing herself, "I am Zhang Zhixi, an employee of Jiulinglu Company— that's the Spirit Cat Idol Company."
"Hmm, hello." Yu Zishen was sowhat surprised by her frank deanor, "Is there sothing you need?"
"It's like this, I happened to hear your conversation backstage outside just now, about Miss Qingming. I would like to discuss this with you privately."
Yu Zishen observed the girl in front of him for a mont, light flickering in his eyes, but seeing Zhang Zhixi's straightforward expression, he smiled and nodded, "Sure."
——
Before long, the two sat in a private room at the Drunken Immortal Tower.
Yu Zishen generously ordered two sets of the VIP nu, then got straight to the point, "What do you have to say about Shen Qingming?"
Zhang Zhixi took a light breath, once again rehearsing the prepared words in her mind, also recalling the strategy Li Wanqing had explained not long ago.
Although Yu Zishen is an obsessed fan, he is undoubtedly an obsessed fan with remarkable cultivation skills. Even though he quickly lost the sword fight with Wang Jiu, with Li Wanqing's keen eye, it's easy to see that Yu Zishen's true strength is quite astonishing. In front of soone like him, words need careful consideration.
First, you must not lie. Although, generally speaking, by today's moral standards, cultivators don't use magic to casually pry into others' thoughts, when there's a significant cultivation gap, lies are easily seen through.
Zhang Zhixi collected her emotions and said solemnly, "Her current situation isn't as optimistic as it seems. One might even say it's dire."
Yu Zishen's expression imdiately beca serious, "What do you an?"
Zhang Zhixi thought to herself, being in seclusion training with Li Wanqing, it wouldn't be surprising if it were dire...
But on the other hand, the girl brought up another person.
"That Mr. Wang Jiu." Zhang Zhixi paused, carefully organizing her words, "Of course, I can't say he has no strengths. His swordsmanship, especially theoretically, is highly regarded even by the Li Family Patriarch, and Miss Qingming has benefited greatly from it. Also, I can't say there's a flaw in his character... but, honestly, I don't think it's good for Miss Qingming to keep being around him."
Objectively speaking, this is entirely diverting the topic, but to the listener, the words seed coherent and hit right to the heart.
After sparring with Wang Jiu, despite still feeling unconvinced, Yu Zishen had to admit his opponent's strength, but regardless, there was an indescribable oddness about Wang Jiu that was repulsive.
Now, after hearing Zhang Zhixi, Yu Zishen imdiately felt a sense of kinship, leaning forward slightly, "Specifically, what's wrong with him?"
Zhang Zhixi earnestly replied, "As a company employee, I've signed a confidentiality agreent, so I can't divulge too much personal information about Mr. Wang Jiu, especially negative information."
Yu Zishen was montarily stunned, then realized. Zhang Zhixi had just said, "She can't say Wang Jiu has no strengths, nor that his character has flaws..." it turned out there was another layer of aning there.
Zhang Zhixi glanced at Yu Zishen, thinking, the catch is about to take the bait.
The second key point Li Wanqing explained about conversing with Yu Zishen.
Make full use of the other party's subjectivity. Many tis, you don't have to say much; obsessive fans will twist things themselves.
Thus, Zhang Zhixi spoke even more seriously, "Although there are many things I can't say, I won't stop you from using your imagination."
Yu Zishen's face imdiately turned ashen.
If given free rein to imagine, the scenarios could indeed be as insane as possible. A single man and woman living together in Shen Garden — this really is a stage for dreams to soar! From erotic to romantic, what kind of scenarios can't be imagined? Even if Yu Zishen used the tiniest part of his brain, he could conjure up ten thousand indecent scenes!
Alright, theoretically, the two shouldn't have any illicit relationship; Shen Qingming, being such a pure and adorable spirit cat girl, wouldn't possibly cheapen herself for any man. But then again, thinking about Wang Jiu's face...
"It's outrageous! Even, even if thinking optimistically, shouldn't such potentially scandalous matters be avoided?!"
Zhang Zhixi smiled, "Well, soone did bring up the idea of replacing him with a woman from the family. However, at least from Miss Qingming's perspective, she's firmly opposed to it."
This was absolutely true. Previously, several tis, when Li Wanqing suggested replacing Wang Jiu with herself to cohabitate with Shen Qingming, Shen Qingming firmly rejected it.
Yet Yu Zishen's face seed to drip ink, "Qingming's firmly opposed?! Well, also, she's only 14, at the age of first love, inexperienced, and easily deceived by so people's sweet words or good looks. Her opposition is quite normal. But Qingming is a child; is Wang Jiu also a child?! Can't he think of the inconveniences and rumors living as a man in Shen Garden would bring?!"
Zhang Zhixi said, "Indeed, in the city, there has been quite a bit of discussion about the two's cohabitation issue."
Most of the discussion, however, was: What virtue and ability does that little girl Shen Qingming have to cohabit with Mr. Wang Jiu!?
Yu Zishen slamd the table and said, "I knew it!"
"Miss Qingming is suffering deeply, but there is hope for escape," Zhang Zhixi took advantage of the montum and directly introduced today's topic, "but all of this requires money."
"Money?" Yu Zishen was montarily stunned, "Can it be solved just by money?"
Zhang Zhixi said, "Money can't solve all problems, but the root of the current issue is actually due to lack of money."
"Lack of money... Could it be that Qingming beca an idol because of lack of money? And because she beca an idol, she has no choice but to be at others' rcy!?" Yu Zishen spoke while furrowing his brow deeply, trembling as he spoke, "That makes sense, but why did she suddenly run out of money? Did the Li Family go bankrupt?"
Zhang Zhixi said, "The Li Family's industry is prosperous, certainly not bankrupt, but Qingming... at least in recent years, her life in the Li Family wasn't very good."
"What!?"
The next mont, Yu Zishen reacted even more strongly than Zhang Zhixi had expected. His eyes glared and brow furrowed, instantly releasing a powerful pressure that made Zhang Zhixi struggle to breathe.
Fortunately, he withdrew it imdiately.
"Sorry, I got a little too excited, but..." Yu Zishen angrily said, "The Li Family actually abused Qingming!? Isn't she Li Fengyun's daughter!?"
Zhang Zhixi weighed her words and said, "I'm not at liberty to explain the specifics, but in past years, Shen Qingming's life was so frugal... she could only eat greens and radishes for each al."
"It's outrageous!"
Yu Zishen slamd the dining table into pieces, but tily reacted to use True Essence to suspend all the dishes and bowls in mid-air before the food and soup spilled over.
Yet he still couldn't quell his residual anger, Yu Zishen gritted his teeth and said, "Regardless of any reason, could he dare to abuse Qingming!? Making her have to fend for herself at such a young age and being bullied by a pervert! This is simply outrageous!"
Zhang Zhixi was secretly alard—this pervert indeed has a formidable energy when he loses his mind. Fortunately, Li Wanqing gave her a protective talisman when she entrusted her, otherwise she constantly felt a threat to her personal safety...
anwhile, Zhang Zhixi seized the opportunity and said, "But now there's a chance to change everything. Miss Qingming has accumulated considerable assets through effort over the past months, and she has a certain voice within the company. But the problem is, the company doesn't belong to her; she is just one of the partners. The actual person in control is Mr. Wang Jiu. Every Spirit Stone Qingming earns sees a majority go into Wang Jiu's pocket. The harder she works, the greater the wealth gap with Mr. Wang Jiu, and the more diluted her voice in the company becos."
Indeed, now the company has another high-profile idol Li Wanqing, and Shen Qingming, who already dislikes speaking, naturally has her voice diluted even further...
"Utterly shaless!" Yu Zishen, furious, wished to imdiately rise and challenge Wang Jiu to a life-and-death duel.
Though he lost the sword fight, it was just because he didn't master swordsmanship and failed to use True Essence and Primordial Spirit. If he fought with full strength, that pretty face wouldn't withstand three moves!
Zhang Zhixi hurriedly said, "But on the other hand, there's now a reversal opportunity. A shareholder wants to cash out their shares. If Miss Qingming can acquire these shares, with help from other allies, there's hope to break Mr. Wang Jiu's solo rule. Thus, she might have the chance for independent developnt within the company!"
Yu Zishen frowned and said, "Are you sure?"
Zhang Zhixi said, "I can't give you a definite answer, but... in my view, it's Miss Qingming's only chance."
Yu Zishen pondered for a mont and asked, "I mostly understand your point, but why tell this?"
"Because Miss Qingming has done a great favor. If it weren't for her involvent, I'm afraid I would still be worrying about my livelihood now." Zhang Zhixi spoke sincerely, making eye contact with Yu Zishen without the slightest trace of panic, "I can't say my personal relationship with her is great, but I do know the importance of gratitude."
Yu Zishen examined Zhang Zhixi seriously for a long ti, then nodded: "How much does Qingming need now?"
"If it were a few months ago, when the company was just established, a few hundred Spirit Stones would have sufficed. But now... the company has grown so fast, she needs at least fifty thousand Spirit Stones."
While she spoke, Zhang Zhixi felt a bit anxious.
This number, compared to a lion's demand, was even more fierce, higher than originally planned with Li Wanqing by several folds.
Fifty thousand Spirit Stones, this is really no small amount. Many small Cultivation Clans couldn't scrape together this amount even if they go bankrupt. Even when Lu Xin established a foundation for Shen Qingming, it had a limit of only one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Asking for fifty thousand Spirit Stones now is truly aggressive.
But just as she finished speaking, she saw Yu Zishen, without hesitation, take out five Holy Seals from his Storage Bag.
"Take them, help Qingming win her freedom."
Zhang Zhixi was montarily surprised and said, "No, I ant borrowing a sum temporarily; once Miss Qingming secures company control..."
"No need for such hassle." Yu Zishen magnanimously waved his hand, "Just take them directly, it's rely the equivalent of five hundred Spirit Cat Golden Swords, I can afford that amount."
"But..."
Yu Zishen stood up directly: "Alright, as long as Spirit Cat Qingming can win her freedom and happiness, as a fan, I ask for nothing more, so take this money to Miss Qingming, and use it properly... you can do that, right?"
Zhang Zhixi nodded: "Definitely."
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