Chapter 109: Swordsman Online 3 BL (III)

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Chapter 109: Swordsman Online 3 BL (III)

As dawn broke, a luxury car pulled up in front of Miao Lichen’s psychiatric hospital. A man and a woman stepped out. The woman was dressed in a standard business suit that perfectly outlined her graceful figure. A faint smile rested on her lips, but there was an unmistakable sense of distance to it. Her cool, detached demeanor was enough to stop the men eager to curry favor with her in their tracks. Mu Kuiqiu—her aloofness rivaled her brilliance. No one could understand why a woman like her would personally visit such a small mental hospital to discuss charitable sponsorship.

Ignoring the thoughts of the assistant beside her, Mu Kuiqiu stepped out of the car and looked up at the hospital’s ivory-white walls, as spotless as the white medical coat that never seemed to leave Miao Lichen’s side. Among high society, Miao Lichen rarely lingered, yet he left behind one legend after another. It was often said that doctors made friends more easily than anyone else, and Miao Lichen embodied that saying perfectly.

For many people of distinguished status, psychological burdens were often heavier than those of ordinary people. Moreover, there were rumors that his medical expertise in other fields ranked among the nation’s best, though no one had ever actually seen him demonstrate them. Just as he always said, he was merely a psychiatrist.

Pushing open the hospital doors, the noisy atmosphere immediately made her frown. A doctor nearby noticed her arrival and promptly greeted her, asking about the purpose of her visit. Adjusting her sunglasses, she simply requested to be taken to the director’s office. Mental hospitals also required funding to survive, and as long as the words “charitable sponsorship” were attached, she could naturally achieve her goal of meeting him.

“Director, there’s a young lady here to discuss charitable sponsorship with you.” The doctor knocked cautiously before stating his purpose from outside the office. Calling someone “young lady” felt somewhat outdated nowadays, but “Miss” had taken on entirely different connotations in current Chinese society. As a psychologist, he naturally avoided using it whenever possible.

He knew very well that his boss disliked being interrupted while working. No matter how gentle someone was, everyone had their own bottom line. In his opinion, their director’s bottom line was a blessing for the hospital. It was just a pity that someone so young had tied himself to such a modest hospital. If he chose to develop elsewhere, he would undoubtedly achieve even greater success.

“Please come in.” Only after a long pause did Miao Lichen’s voice sound from inside. Mu Kuiqiu removed the oversized sunglasses covering her face, revealing her delicate features. At some point, her palms had already become damp with sweat. The man who had stolen away all of her youthful feelings with nothing more than a brief encounter.

Could she finally see him again? For someone who had been reborn, they hadn’t truly been apart for that long. Yet the last time she had seen him, he had been sitting comfortably within another man’s embrace. Now, however, it felt as though countless years had passed. He was the man she had fallen in love with, and the only man she ever would. No one could surpass him, no one could be gentler than him, and no one could captivate her heart more completely.

She pushed open the door. The man seated behind the desk was nothing like the immortal-like figure in white she had imagined. His white medical coat had been casually draped over the back of his chair. Instead, he wore a red shirt. Unlike other wealthy young masters she had known, who somehow managed to make red clothing look vulgar, Miao Lichen wore it so flawlessly that even someone as critical as she was could find no fault.

The top two buttons of his red shirt had been left casually undone, exposing fair skin made even more striking by the vivid fabric. He was like a pure, enchanting spirit who bewitched the world. His bearing remained refined and detached, yet both his appearance and attire possessed the seductive beauty of the legendary temptresses who stole men’s hearts.

This was a side of him she had never seen in her previous life. Back then, MMiao Lichen rarely wore red. Or perhaps… it was simply a side of him she had never been allowed to witness—the side of him closest to his everyday life.

“My apologies for keeping you waiting.” Miao Lichen stood and greeted her with a gentle smile.

Ever since the first day after her rebirth, she had imagined countless scenarios for their reunion. Never had she expected to meet a Miao Lichen so different from the one in her memories. Yet he was still so perfect that she couldn’t look away. Her gaze lowered to his slender, fair fingers resting upon the desk. Even at the end of the document, his signature still carried that same carefree elegance. People often said one’s handwriting reflected the person. They had been right.

“It’s no problem. Director Miao, hello. This is my business card.”

‘ Hello, A’chen. This is our first meeting in this lifetime. A completely different place. A completely different time. And I want a completely different ending. Only if everything changes… will you finally become mine.’

“President Mu, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I never expected the president of such an enormous corporation as Mu Group to be so young. I’ve attended very few banquets these past years. It seems I’ve missed quite a bit of noteworthy news.” Miao Lichen placed his hand lightly against the one she offered in a polite handshake before withdrawing immediately, his etiquette impeccable.

Mu Kuiqiu withdrew her hand as well, concealing the trace of disappointment in her eyes. Right now, this was only their first meeting, not the close friendship they had shared in her previous life. Let alone something as intimate as interlocking fingers—a gesture even close friends seldom made. But this was only the beginning. She would become the most important person in Miao Lichen’s life, and the closest.

Maintaining a graceful smile, Mu Kuiqiu took the seat Miao Lichen had offered and began discussing the details of the charitable sponsorship. Charitable sponsorship wasn’t simply handing over money. If a major corporation engaged in charity without receiving any benefit in return, it would instead arouse suspicion. This sponsorship wasn’t limited to Miao Lichen’s mental hospital either. It also covered other psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, and orphanages. Under the banner of supporting vulnerable groups, it would naturally increase public recognition of Mu Group as well.

The negotiation concluded smoothly. Resisting the urge to agree, Mu Kuiqiu politely declined Miao Lichen’s invitation to dine together. She didn’t know what kind of woman Miao Lichen liked. But she knew exactly what kind of woman men disliked. Precisely because she loved him, she refused to let herself become someone frivolous in his eyes.

Escorted personally by Miao Lichen, Mu Kuiqiu boarded her luxury car once more. She couldn’t help turning back to look at the figure standing before the hospital. The man dressed in red seemed outlined in gold beneath the sunlight. Her heartbeat quickened unconsciously. This was the feeling, the feeling of falling in love. The corners of her lips curved upward as her fingers gently traced the business card she kept turning over in her hand.

‘Miao Lichen. Miao Lichen. Miao Lichen…’

Watching the scene unfold, her assistant immediately understood. His president’s thousand-year-old iceberg had finally melted. And judging by the situation, it seemed to be entirely one-sided. Those wealthy young heirs constantly trying to court President Mu had all been wasting their efforts. He was already calculating how to profit from the situation, but apart from serving this young lady even more diligently, he couldn’t think of any better approach.

He had also read Miao Lichen’s file. Between those calm and understated lines, all he saw was an impenetrable steel wall. As expected of someone worthy of being called a legend. A flourishing illegitimate son was far more remarkable than all those gifted heirs born into wealthy families.

Leaving the hospital behind, Miao Lichen returned to his villa and casually uncorked a bottle of red wine from the wine rack. He sipped the wine while reading the book in his hands. Only after the Beauty Album flipped to its final page and he finished memorizing the Tao Te Ching did he finally sit down before his computer and log into FirstRayofDawn.

The moment he logged in, he heard the sound of a private message.

[Whisper] ThisLifeisPureCold: Master, good afternoon.

[Whisper] FirstRayofDawn: Good afternoon.

[Whisper] ThisLifeisPureCold: Master, I’ve reached max level.

[Whisper] FirstRayofDawn: ……Used a leveling service?

[Whisper] ThisLifeisPureCold: Mm. My Five Poison master said we could only enjoy playing together after I reached max level.

[Whisper] FirstRayofDawn: That’s true. Go pick up the quests in the main city. I’ll take you through the daily challenge dungeons. Since you’ve just reached max level, it’s best to clear your dailies every day.

[Whisper] ThisLifeisPureCold: Ok!

Miao Lichen casually invited Rong Hansheng into a party. As expected of a wealthy player, there was no way he’d grind to max level normally. Even newcomers to Swordsman Online III with deep pockets rarely had the patience to grind to max level step by step. Miao Lichen, however, was an exception. He disliked anyone touching his belongings. His Qixiu had been raised entirely by his own hands. Forget leveling services, even letting a friend log onto his account had never happened once.

Seeing Miao Lichen’s reply, Rong Hansheng smiled. He had to admit that after logging in and discovering the Qixiu icon in his friends list had been grayed out, he had actually felt a trace of disappointment. That wasn’t like him. She was only an online friend he might never meet in person. Still, the feeling was rather novel.

Meanwhile, the voice of his other master, MoonisColdHeartisCruel, echoed through voice chat. The young woman was enthusiastically explaining Cangjian PvP techniques and the many advantages of pairing a Cangjian with a healer. Her voice was extremely pleasant, though it still retained a hint of youthful innocence. She sounded like a girl who had never truly experienced society. Unfortunately, Rong Hansheng would never become a qualified tank. Wasn’t the relationship between a healer and a DPS simply one of protecting and being protected?

“Master, Master Dawn is taking me to do the daily challenge dungeons.” The moment the girl finally paused, Rong Hansheng seized the opportunity to speak. His youthful face matched his equally youthful voice. It wasn’t exactly the voice of a young boy, but compared to the deep voice of an adult man, it leaned toward an androgynous softness. Exactly the type of voice that made fujoshi hearts flutter.

“You haven’t done them yet? I’ve already cleared mine. Want me to reset and go again with you? Your master here is a healer with absolutely no blind spots!” The girl’s voice rose proudly, her confidence stopping just short of becoming annoying.

“You probably have things of your own to do, Master. I’ll just run them with Master Dawn. After that, I’ll go join a guild.” Rong Hansheng accepted Miao Lichen’s party invitation and followed the peerlessly elegant Qixiu to the daily challenge quest board. After accepting the quest, he immediately sat cross-legged before her character, waiting obediently for further instructions.

[Whisper] ThisLifeisPureCold: Master, aren’t you coming to the guild vc? My Five Poison master is teaching me how to play.

[Whisper] FirstRayofDawn: Just let her teach you. I don’t know how to teach disciples.

[Whisper] ThisLifeisPureCold: ……

“Disciple, are you getting stolen away by Master Dawn?!” The girl’s voice in voice chat carried a hint of exaggerated grievance, but it made Rong Hansheng’s heart skip a beat. At least to him, FirstRayofDawn already held a more important place than MoonisColdHeartisCruel. But stolen away? Impossible. In Rong Hansheng’s eyes, he had only ever belonged to himself.

“Of course not.”

[Whisper] FirstRayofDawn: Fly to Huaqing Palace. It’s next to the Chang’an Battlefield map.

[Whisper] ThisLifeisPureCold: Ok.

He activated the Divine Travel skill from his skill bar. During the casting time, he continued reading a strategy guide for the daily challenge dungeon on the side. Even as a newcomer, Rong Hansheng disliked making mistakes. He had always been a perfectionist, whether at work or in the way he judged people. It was simply that very few people knew that about him.

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