Chapter 644

Calm down, Zhou Mingrui.

You can do it, Zhou Mingrui.

Everything is normal, Zhou Mingrui.

The other party is merely the de facto controller of a large corporation; even if the bidding negotiations fall through, there's no need to panic—she won't stuff me into a sack and bury me at a construction site to drive in piles.

Recalling how Su Yuling had just offered him a astronomical sum—enough to establish ten Huang Zong Company-level enterprises—and how he, ungrateful, had refused the acquisition, clearly upsetting her with that lingering gaze and smile.

As if he'd seen this expression too many times before, triggering a conditioned unease, he felt unsettled.

After flushing the toilet and washing his face with the sink's tap water, Zhou Mingrui gradually calmed down; he glanced at the time on his phone—it was exactly 18:00.

Time's up?

Zhou Mingrui calmly slipped his phone back into his pant pocket.

Ever since drinking that mysterious drink from the vending machine labeled "Assassin," every night he enters a state of crystal-clear thinking and emotional stability; thus, whenever the company calls for overtime, he always rushes to the front line, while during the day he slacks off and does nothing.

After tidying his clothes slightly, he stepped out of the restroom—Li Jiatu was waiting at the door.

"Passed?"

"?"

"I thought you'd entered Sage Mode—I get it, after all, facing off against General Su, such a stunning beauty."

"Shut up!"

Zhou Mingrui suddenly realized he'd broken his composure.

This was the first time—but there was no help for it, because General Su Yuling was stepping out of the men's restroom right behind him.

Do you have gender dysphoria, or are you one of those trendy gender-fluid types?

Fortunately, the restrooms here all have stalls; otherwise, I might've been startled—sure enough, these rich people all have strange quirks and personalities.

Take Li Jiatu, this top-tier Crown Prince—he's great in every way, except his mouth has no filter; he always says things without regard for context, while I speak as if walking on thin ice, careful and restrained.

"General Su, how about considering my buddy? He's shy—he can't bring himself to tell you the truth straight out," Li Jiatu said with a grin. "Even if the deal falls through, there's still friendship—could you at least spare some time for a meal together?"

I really want to sew his mouth shut.

Zhou Mingrui no longer felt like cursing; he noticed Su Yuling staring at him, her unfocused pupils flickering with a faint glimmer.

"Actually, from the very first moment I saw you, I felt something special," Su Yuling said, gazing at Zhou Mingrui, her eyes clear and her voice ethereal.

Zhou Mingrui thought he might be dreaming.

In fact, he hadn't yet returned from the Cycle Space mission—he'd merely been struck by the enemy Cycle User's Tsukuyomi Sharingan.

Li Jiatu beside him was also stunned; his mouth hung slightly open, his Adam's apple bobbed, then he excitedly pulled out his phone and turned on the camera.

"Mr. Zhou Mingrui," Su Yuling stepped forward two paces, standing extremely close to him, and said: "You are definitely a good person!"

"That's it?" Li Jiatu said, disappointed.

Zhou Mingrui blinked, noticing Su Yuling's signature warm smile had turned slightly mocking; one hand clenched into a fist, pressed against his chest, then—

"Alright, your heart rate's still normal," Su Yuling adjusted the black hair falling beside her ear, saying:

"I'm heading to Moon Heavy Industries for overtime later. Tomorrow at lunch, you and this waste of space come find me—we'll continue the bidding."

She then resumed her previous cold expression and left with Adam, the Deputy General who had been waiting for a long time.

"You call that contrast?" Zhou Mingrui couldn't help but complain.

"What else?" Li Jiatu asked.

This mischievous, teasing personality is practically demonic.

Why, the moment he saw her, had he felt trust toward her?

'Don't judge by appearances,' Zhou Mingrui silently warned himself, relieved that his job was still safe—at least he still had a chance to negotiate tomorrow.

"It's this late—why not skip dinner and go get some barbecue instead?" Li Jiatu said, checking the time.

Zhou Mingrui nodded; he'd been working overtime so often lately that he hadn't eaten such unhealthy food in a long time.

Ding dong—

The elevator doors slowly opened.

A group of people wearing Dan Alliance Pharmaceutical uniforms stepped out, brushing past Zhou Mingrui; one of them, wearing a monocle, gave him a chilling smile.

"She won't try to acquire Dan Alliance Pharmaceutical too, will she?" Zhou Mingrui turned back, chilled to the bone.

Although mergers and restructurings between big corporations are normal, Dan Alliance has Ye Zhetian Trading as a shareholder—its capital is not inferior to Tai Chu Group, and even exceeds it by several folds.

"Probably just buying out patents," Li Jiatu said, unfazed.

"Buy out patents?" Zhou Mingrui frowned. "I never heard Tai Chu Group has any pharmaceutical business."

Li Jiatu shook his head. "No—she likes acquiring medical patents and then releasing them for free, while also providing free medical care to this city."

The elevator was still ascending to pick someone up, but Zhou Mingrui froze—he suddenly remembered that this city had implemented universal free healthcare for years, along with free medications developed by Dan Alliance.

Thanks to this, there were virtually no patients left in this city.

"Did Tai Chu Group do this?"

"Who else but her would be so idle as to grant widespread divine grace—oops, provide widespread free treatment?"

"Why?"

"The world is actually fascinating, but most people are trapped by birth, aging, sickness, death, and work—they can't enjoy it."

Li Jiatu thought for a moment, then confirmed: "That's what she said."

Ding dong!

The elevator doors opened again.

"She really does have contrast," Zhou Mingrui muttered involuntarily.

"You've gathered so many weapons—are you planning to storm the Astronomical Society and fight your way in and out seven times?"

The elusive Traveling Crow had returned again, its claws clutching a jade tablet, upon which the shadow of a golden crow rippled like water.

"Where did you get this one?" Huai Shi asked.

"What do you mean 'get'?" The crow tilted his chin upward, haughtily saying, "I advised my half-sister from another father, another mother, another world—encouraged her to be brave. In mystical terms, that's called—"

"Oh, Dao Heart Pure and Clear."

"Yikes! A disobedient Taiyi should be locked in the basement to force him to face reality!"

A mountain spirit like himself didn't understand these mythological terms.

Probably this bitch was back to playing matchmaker again—the key was one dared to speak, the other dared to listen; some myths might fall into chaos.

Huai Shi bent down and resumed cleaning up; the points he'd snatched through chaos and luck had bought him plenty of good stuff.

Add in a few gadgets, and with full firepower, he might just send a fifth-rank Transcendent to meet Jesus—or Buddha.

"My connections are wide open now, right?" Huai Shi grinned proudly.

The crow tilted his head, perched on his shoulder, crimson eyes fixed on him: "Necessary?"

"I don't want to go through the formalities—you know every volume follows the ritual of name interrogation. Wouldn't that make me look stupid?" Huai Shi smirked.

"So I'm wondering—what if I really took Ai Qing right from under the Astral Society's nose?"

"She deserves a chance to choose for herself. Otherwise, what's the point of foreseeing the future?"

"Smashing the wedding carriage's axle is cliché, but still popular."

He was explaining to the crow, or perhaps to himself—in short, he intended to stir up trouble.

"Saving the world is too far off, but rescuing a confused ice queen boss from criminal charges? I can do that right now." Huai Shi zipped up his backpack.

The crow rubbed his chin with a wing and asked: "Then you two enjoy the taboo thrill of elopement, riding on hellfire steeds, kissing your female superior while pulling out silk?"

"This isn't a kindergarten bus!" Huai Shi stared, dumbfounded.

"Do as you please," the crow glanced at him. "Remember male virtue—stay away from that joker god!"

Like you're not a joker yourself.

The crow picked up the jade tablet with his beak and vanished—he had other plans, but had no intention of explaining them to Huai Shi.

"Time to head back."

Besides a mess of random serums and potions, his cooking skills had improved too—maybe opening a private kitchen stall at the border wouldn't be so bad?

Just kidding.

Much remains to be done. Like Ke Zong, still asleep, everyone has a bright future ahead—the flower of hope waits just beyond.

So don't stop!

Huai Shi slung the sack over his shoulder and prepared to return first.

"By the way, is Ke Zong okay? Seems he's having trouble waking up."

Logically, since Yuanshi Tianzun had become his divinity, fusion was complete—he should've awakened as the Old One by now.

But something seemed off—Miss Kelaien hadn't awakened, and his dream world had changed.

Strange—wasn't the Fallen Mother Goddess already blown to bits?

【Meng Qi: "Anyone free in the group right now?"】

Tonight, the Primordial God joins the hunt.

The target is Gelmann.

He'd planned to say this line, then use the link through the Chaotic Sea and the Primordial Creator to have Meng Qi send him over.

But what was this situation?

"Probably just wants to see which goddess rivals my beauty?" Huiye smiled pleasantly, her tone layered with meaning. "I'm quite curious."

As expected, when in Belobog, this NEET saw everything.

Given that this informant kept silent and couldn't be killed, Su Lin temporarily ignored her—but what about the others?

Meng Qi sighed: "After Adam and Amon's cooperation, I confirmed—ordinary methods cannot enter Miss Kelaien's dream world."

But his dream world has a craving for Source Matter, so spiritual transfer via Source Matter is possible—though during the process, a layer of mental blindness and foolishness inevitably covers the mind."

Adam has already merged into the dream world; his World-Connect Token was rejected."

So?

"That layer of mental blindness blankets the innate spiritual light. It's not dangerous, but it prevents clarity—perhaps only the Chat Group can serve as a mental sanctuary," Meng Qi explained.

"My god, Azathoth," Su Lin grimaced.

"This is Season Two's plot—perfect for a cameo in the Weirdness Forecast. Er—wrong." Huai Shi blushed slightly. "I'll go wake Ke Zong up."

"Zhou Ge helped me. More people means more backup," Li Huowang said.

Lu Mingfei covered his eyes as if unable to bear it and sighed: "You don't have to come—just me and Su Lin will do."

"What kind of talk is that?!" Xiao Yan declared solemnly, then lowered his voice: "Besides, aren't you curious about that mysterious black-haired woman?"

So that's it.

These reasons make sense.

Su Lin smiled, glancing around, then nodded slightly: "Anyone else want to get off?"

Everyone was baffled.

At that moment, Meng Qi summoned the ancient bronze lantern; the Cause of All Fruits began to swirl in his hands.

Peanuts, beer, and barbecue—stealing half a day of idle ease.

After a long day's work, he returned home, listless. Originally planning to wash and sleep, he'd eaten too much, so he got up and turned on the computer beside his bed.

Zhou Mingrui remembered the last time he'd accidentally joined a cringy cosplay group.

Those people used IDs from various films and shows, their otaku intensity making even him shudder.

Some even had verbal tics!

"Where did that group go..."

It was strange—yesterday they were still visible in my chat list, but today they were gone.

Did I kick him out?

Whatever, as the only sober person, I didn't fit in with them anyway; getting kicked out was normal.

Knock knock knock!

Zhou Mingrui glanced at the time; who would be knocking on his door at this hour?

He frowned, walked to the door, and peered through the peephole—a man with a high hairline, wearing a police uniform.

Zhou Mingrui opened the security door and said, "Hello."

"Sorry to disturb you, we're checking temporary residence permits." The officer's voice was deep as he showed his credentials: "I'm Deng En, badge number—"

Time passed second by second, until everything was settled.

Officer Deng En took his leave.

Zhou Mingrui couldn't help asking, "Has something happened?"

"... Yes." Deng En hesitated, then said, "You know the Tai Chu Group, right?"

Of course I do—I had dinner with their chairman today.

"Their chairman was murdered tonight."

It was like a bolt from the blue.

Zhou Mingrui stared blankly at the metal door, as if he'd already forgotten when Officer Deng En had left.

Su Yuling died?

He quickly picked up his still-charging phone and called Li Jiatu to tell him.

"Huh?" Li Jiatu replied upon hearing the news, "Fake! Did you get scammed?"

"But the police—"

"You met a fake cop."

"Why do you say that?"

"If Su Yuling is dead, then who's standing in front of me?"

Li Jiatu smirked, hung up the phone, and said, "Beauty, it's late at night—no overtime? What are you doing here?"

The black-haired woman smiled.

The next day

Zhou Mingrui woke from his dream.

He still found last night's events absurd—how could anyone pull such a prank?

He picked up his phone, turned off the default alarm, and cleared all ads—but then a notification appeared before him:

【Nidhogg Group heir, Li Jiatu, was attacked by unknown parties and killed at home. Former mysterious idol, the Catastrophe Witch Lu Mingfei, has been exposed as the Nidhogg Group's second-line heir.】