Chapter 96: Who You Know

Warning: This chapter contains the author's personal enjoyment involving three-books references. It will not inhibit the agenda of protagonist or reading at all, but it depends on your perspective lol.

The culmination of the conversation ended quickly—he thought he would get a deduction of points, but Ying Yue He only nodded when Taiga mentioned she would indeed be a tad uncomfortable seeing them caged even while they were well-accounted for. In her words, 'Taiga would either set them free or eat them. It's one or the other, Bossman.' that settled the idea of not bringing her to the zoo.

Either way, Li Yang had other places to be.

As promised, he left the office and found himself outside of the Heavenly Jade Pavilion. He stepped out of his car and approached the traditional-looking building. Two young women immediately greeted the CEO. They wore long-sleeved robes that Bo Lifen herself once wore when she served him tea. 

"Good afternoon sir, will you be dining with us today?" One woman greeted him with a bow and a smile. The other doing the same. "Shall we get you a private room or would you like to stay in the great hall, sir?"

[ You Have Gained 25 Charm Points ]

He shook his head. "No, I'm here to pick up, Miss Lifen."

"Elder Sister—" the woman blinked and then turned to the other one with a surprised look. She turned back to him with an embarrassed look, "Ah, would you like me to bring you to her office, sir?"

"May we confirm your name and identity first, sir?" the second one asked.

"—there's no need to bring him to my office, Suyin." 

Bo Lifen stepped outside of the entrance and tossed them a look and then glanced at him. "Shall we get going? It's not actually that far. You can follow after me and my ride." She had a leather jacket on and her helmet tucked in her arm. 

"Someone likes unrestrictive clothes, huh?" Bao the Panda… the creature appeared out of thin air. "She's really got those nice legs working out for her, eh?"

[ Some 'Observers' Agree With The Sentiment ]

[ The 'Observer' Seafoam Disagrees ]

[ A Debate On The Fairest Of The Universe Spurs On The Moment ]

"Ah, I wasn't aware that you drove a motorcycle," he said. 

She rolled her eyes and managed a snort, "It's not like we've only met each other for a couple days now, have we?" She then ended it with a smile.

Her tongue was still razor sharp.

"Fair point." He returned her smile with one of his own.

The woman momentarily introduced her ride called 'Frag' and he would take note of its old but known model. She seemed particularly proud of it, and he didn't question any of it and let her be—until they reached their destination and he blinked at the somewhat old building standing in front of him.

"Why does this place seem awfully familiar..." the Panda muttered to him.

"This is my secretary's apartment, and she shares it with Bo Lifen's supplier," he said and got out of the car. The likelihood of it happening seemed strange, but the chances of Mou Gu's diner just being on the next street also made it like this was a community full of people involved in the world of cultivation.

Ying Yue He was the latest addition.

People connected with one another. That was normal. He glanced at Miss Lifen, who took off her helmet and shook her head. She fixed her ponytail. "I know it looks a little rundown, but the supplier is the real deal. You've had the tea I brewed for twice now and it does wonders for one's health."

"Unless the supplier is an undine from the oceans, I ain't believing anything." the creature clapped its paws together. "What do you think we'll meet up there? Some octopus tentacled mind freak?"

Li Yang narrowed his eyes at the creature but chose not to say anything else. "Perhaps to see is to believe, Miss Lifen. After you."

He didn't want to imagine that what would greet him would be something like that—he would simply consider it as another one of the creature's over exaggeration. And indeed, when they reached the third floor of the apartment and Bo Lifen knocked on the door, it opened to reveal a normal young man.

"Hey, hey—oh, Lifen, you're here and you brought someone. Pleasant surprise."

Bo Lifen clicked her tongue. "Didn't I message you?"

"Have you?" the man scratched the back of his head.

There was nothing for the CEO to worry about this situation.

'Assess Individual—'

[ Evaluation ]

Individual is a being in the earthly realm. Known as ROEHSC001. Other information made unavailable. Consult Moderator 'Peach' for further access also identified as 'Dat Peach' from interaction.

Li Yang stared at the screen until Bo Lifen cleared her throat, "This is CEO Li Yang—and Li Yang, this is Han Jing, my pearl supplier."

"Wait, a sec—this is the multi… I'm honored to meet you!" Han Jing offered a hand out, "If Lifen told me that someone important was coming, then I would have cleaned up a little."

Bo Lifen sighed, "I did message you."

He quirked a brow, but shook the younger man's hand. 

—

"Out of curiosity, do you collect the pearls yourself?" he asked. The man was alone in his apartment and claimed that both his 'sister' and 'mother' was out.

"No, I know a really great diver." Han Jing said. "Like you would think that she breathes underwater with how well she gets them."

"I see, that is interesting."

He had to admit that what the System showed him was enough to make him wary, and the words of the creature even more hesitant to believe what he was seeing in front of him right now. But he had already affirmed that this was a human and nothing strange.

If it wasn't this person in front of him, then it was the one he knew. Either way, whoever this man was—at least for now, as long as he wasn't dangerous, he wouldn't dig into it. There was wisdom in letting some stones remain unturned. "I'd like to purchase a bulk order of the black pearls."

"O-oh, bulk? I think I have to consult with my pearl collector about that since it's a rare material. I could set you up to purchase my current stock though, Lifen bought ten pieces of pearls. You could boil it with water and—"

"I need a higher concentration," he said. "And I'd also like to give enough pearls to Grandma Lanfen to fit a jewelry box as a thank you. If you could give me an initial of a hundred pieces, then I'll purchase anything else you're selling right now."

Bo Lifen seated in between them gave him a look, "Do you know how many pieces could fill a—"

"You didn't even ask how much one pearl is, CEO Li."

"Money is not an object," he said.

"I wish I could say that," Han Jing sighed wistfully. "I'll check my inventory, I don't think I have a hundred pieces… maybe fifty? It'll take a while to get to that number."

"That's fine, I'll have the rest collected on a later date."

"Okay then, sir." the man stood up and prepared the order.

Bo Lifen gave him a concerned look, "You don't have to give us that much when we can also buy our own supply. It's simply a waste for you to buy that much, you can use a pearl for already a big batch of tea when you pulverize the pearl."

Li Yang stayed silent for a moment and then said it, "Twenty four."

"Twenty four?"

"If one pearl is already helpful then more would be better, don't you think? Take twenty-five pieces and I'll get the other half. Don't hesitate on using it—it's for your matriarch. I would like to see her happy for a long time and I expect you do as well."

He hoped she would listen to him.

[ Black Pearl Tea ]

Consume 24 pieces to increase lifespan by 3%

Consumption: 0.2 / 24

Current Lifespan: Average Human

"Alright, I'll repay you next time," she sighed. "Perhaps you can come to my shop and I'll serve you Da Hong Pao or other teas available to compensate. I don't like owing people for their generosity because this is too much for the bamboo qi."

"You don't owe me anything."

She pursed her lips, "You better remember yourself saying that."

"If I could interrupt this little banter between the two of you, here are the pearls." Han Jing presented a small treasure chest and opened the lid to present it filled with black pearls.

He assessed the item.

[ Evaluation ]

A small treasure chest containing fifty-five pieces of black ocean pearls of highest purity. Cultivated and found in the trenches and depths of the ocean, most likely of Undine Origins.

He wrinkled a brow, "Thank you for the extra pieces, I'd still like to pay for them though."

"How did you count that—dang, superb estimation skills? Did you measure the box and then the size of the pearl, then computed it with a glance?"

Bo Lifen stifled a snort, "Don't try to scare away the man, Han Jing." 

"It was a guess." He stood up and accepted the box from him and then gave it to Bo Lifen. "I'll send the payment through your bank account details if you give them to me. Or perhaps through another method?"

"I got a QR Code here, feels kinda funny since it's your company's payment platform." Han Jing pulled out his phone, typed something and then showed it to him. "Quick response, eh?"

"..." Li Yang took out his phone and transferred the amount.

"Yeah that was a terrible joke."

Bo Lifen had a hand on her face, shaking her head.

"It's fine, I appreciate doing business with you." he nodded and watched the screen hover behind the man's shoulder. It showed the accomplishment of his prime aim.

[ Achievement Unlocked! ]

[ Who You Know - I ]

Meet a total of three influential individuals.

[ You Have Received 3000 Charm Points ]

He almost expected a little more.