Chapter 24: The Mystical East

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Chapter 24: The Mystical East

After Garfield the fat cat let out that meow at Lin You the parrot, Young Master Mu, who had originally planned to leave with particular poise, could only stop in frustration. His guide parrot had actually flown away without a shred of dignity, and judging by the sound, he had flown right over to that fat Garfield.

Boss Mu felt that this was a little embarrassing. However, Grandpa Albert’s cheerful yet amazed voice soon rang out, conveniently giving Mu Yanxiao a solid way out.

“Oh! Mu! Look, the two of them really get along well! Since our family members get along so well, why don’t we have a meal together? Even if my joke just now was impolite, we can still discuss other business, can’t we? I believe we’ll have quite a lot in common.”

Mu Yanxiao paused for a moment upon hearing this, then nodded. In fact, if Albert’s words hadn’t genuinely touched a nerve, doing business with this cunning old man would still be quite a good thing.

Thus, amidst the crowd’s various strange and astonished expressions, the two people who had just seemed to have fallen out actually walked away amicably together, each taking their own pet with them.

As they left, the fat cat perched on Albert’s left shoulder continued purring as he told Lin You about the delicious feasts he ate every day. Lin You, in turn, occasionally chirped to show that he was listening. Of course, deep down, the parrot was still quite proud of himself. Compared to Garfield’s expensive fresh seafood, Lin You felt that this parrot, who had even shared a Manchu-Han Imperial Feast with his master, could definitely look down on all other pampered pets when it came to food.

After all, well, no matter how much other pets were pampered, they couldn’t just eat whatever they wanted, right?

“…I’m utterly hopeless about this business world where even pets can be used to negotiate business.” Watching Mu Yanxiao and Albert’s departing figures, one of the businessmen at the luncheon fiercely wiped his face. “Damn it, I’m going to get myself a smart and obedient pet this afternoon! Maybe someday it’ll attract a huge God of Wealth for me!!”

Although people who had reached their current status were already seen as walking Gods of Wealth in the eyes of others, who didn’t want to climb even higher? Moreover, the deal Albert had just offered seemed like a windfall to all the other businessmen, practically free money. It was simply impossible not to be tempted.

“…Tsk, Brother Mu’s parrot is just too… I could tell he was different a long time ago! Sure enough, this young master has a discerning eye!” Second Young Master Wang shamelessly praised himself. After enjoying his own praise for a moment, however, he sighed dejectedly and said to his close friends and followers beside him, “You know, I’ve searched all the flower and bird markets throughout Cities A, B, and C, so how come I couldn’t find a single parrot that can compare to that one?! They’re either terrible at speaking or far too disobedient! Tsk, if only that parrot were female…”

At this moment, Young Master Lin You shuddered violently, feeling a chill rise from his claws. However, compared to the sighs and jealousy of Second Young Master Wang and the other businessmen, even Zheng Yuhu, the eldest young master of the Zheng Family, who was usually impossible to read, had completely darkened his expression.

He simply couldn’t understand why a fat cat and a parrot had completely ruined the situation he had painstakingly created in an instant, not only causing him to lose an important opportunity, but even handing that opportunity directly to Mu Yanxiao?! No matter how hard Zheng Yuhu tried to calm himself down, it was difficult for him to truly do so.

“Cousin!” Chen Yuhe’s even more agitated and exasperated voice rang beside him. “Cousin! That Mu Yanxiao is way too lucky! Just because of that cat and that unlucky parrot!! He actually got Mr. Albert to take the initiative and speak to him? What are we going to do next?”

Zheng Yuhu looked down on this useless rich kid who knew nothing except how to shout and put on airs. But right now, he still needed the Chen Family’s strength to help him defeat Mu Yanxiao, so he had to endure it.

“There’s nothing we can do. Since Albert’s route isn’t going to work, we can only join forces with a few other people on the shady side of things here in the country… Although the price will be higher, it’s still better than doing nothing,” Zheng Yuhu replied coldly.

“In addition, I’ll have A’yuan speed up his actions. Since A’yuan said that Mu Yanxiao has neither any particular fondness nor hostility toward him, it’ll be difficult to leave a deep impression on Mu Yanxiao in a short period of time. Then we’ll simply create an opportunity that will leave a ‘deep impression’ on Mu Yanxiao and make him personally bring his own enemy into his camp.”

Zheng Yuhu’s answer left Chen Yuhe somewhat confused. However, seeing the extremely ruthless smile on Zheng Yuhu’s face, Chen Yuhe knew he didn’t need to ask. All he had to do was sit back and enjoy the show.

His older cousin was someone who had never lost a battle since childhood. Of course, his only defeat had been several years ago, during the struggle over their grandfather’s inheritance. Therefore, Chen Yuhe firmly believed that there was nothing Zheng Yuhu couldn’t accomplish, only things he didn’t want to do.

……

At this moment, on a garden island in the center of a quiet lake in the suburbs of City A, there was a seafood restaurant built entirely from transparent tempered glass.

From the outside, the restaurant looked like a beautiful work of art. Glass sculpted and polished at different angles reflected multicolored light, creating a dreamlike scene.

There was only this one restaurant on the entire island, surrounded by a large stretch of grass and neatly arranged vegetation. The restaurant was divided into indoor and outdoor sections, with only ten tables in total. It was a famous and notoriously difficult-to-enter upscale restaurant in City A.

At this moment, Mu Yanxiao and Albert were having a pleasant conversation at one of the outdoor tables. Albert had only learned half an hour ago that Mu Yanxiao had been blind for almost a month. Although he had heard about it before, when he first began talking with Mu Yanxiao, he genuinely hadn’t realized that the man who appeared to be merely resting with his eyes closed couldn’t see at all.

Because of this, Albert’s originally casual attitude changed completely. Even the way he looked at Mu Yanxiao now contained a hint of caution and undisguised admiration. Someone who could remain calm in the face of adversity and patiently raise a pet was truly a very suitable business partner. And in the conversation that followed, Albert confirmed his judgment.

“Haha, Mu, I think that meeting you in City A was the best choice I made during my trip to China this time. I hope we’ll have a pleasant cooperation in the future… You’re welcome to come to Europe anytime. Oh, of course, you have to bring your Linlin.”

Mu Yanxiao’s expression was still somewhat indifferent, but he was smiling. “Don’t worry. We’ll definitely go take a look when we have the time. Linlin always wants to see different places.”

Albert laughed heartily at this and glanced at the fat cat and parrot chasing each other across the grass. He suddenly leaned toward Mu Yanxiao with a mysterious expression.

“Be honest, Mu. You have to tell me where you found your Linlin! Before, I thought he was merely as intelligent and lively as my Garfield, but he can even help guide you! Oh! Believe me, even if I searched all of Europe, I wouldn’t be able to find a parrot like this!”

Mu Yanxiao’s lips twitched slightly before he suddenly spoke with a hint of mischief. “Of course. Linlin is one of a kind. His hometown is the Qinling Mountains, a mountain range in our Central Plains that is full of legends. My grandfather found him. It’s said that when he found him, the sky, which had originally been filled with thunder and lightning, suddenly cleared up. A moment later, the entire sky was filled with brilliant light. So my grandfather told me to treat him well.”

Albert was immediately stunned by this “high-class” background. He let out several consecutive “oohs,” and the expression he gave Lin You could practically be described as worshipful.

“My goodness, I knew it, Mu! I’ve heard that the mystical East is always full of wondrous beings, and they always come to repay people for their kindness, don’t they? Maybe your Linlin is one of them! Oh! This is truly amazing and enviable!!”

Upon hearing this, the smile on Mu Yanxiao’s face became even more obvious, while Mu One, standing behind him, rolled his eyes dramatically. Boss, do you really not feel the slightest bit guilty about fooling an old man like this? Especially when you just closed such a huge deal with him? Of course, Boss Mu himself didn’t feel the slightest bit guilty.

“Meowwww!!”

Suddenly, the cat and parrot, who had been happily playing, came running over. Young Master Lin You landed directly on his blind master’s shoulder, while Garfield pounced into Grandpa Albert’s arms. Stretching out his fat paw, he pointed at Lin You while howling at Albert.

“Oh, my sweet baby, what’s wrong? Do you want something to eat? Or do you want to play?”

Garfield howled even more loudly at this, but unfortunately, Grandpa Albert didn’t understand animal language. He could only look up at the light gray-blue Congo Grey Parrot in confusion, completely unable to figure out what had happened between his cat and the parrot.

In the end, Lin You couldn’t stand the fat cat’s pitiful howling any longer. He impatiently flapped his wings twice and squawked, “Little bag! Cloth bag!”

Albert’s eyes immediately locked onto the rabbit-fur cloth pouch hanging around Lin You’s neck.

“Dear Mu, can you tell me what’s inside Linlin’s bag?” Although he could make a rough guess from its shape, surely it couldn’t be what he thought?

Mu Yanxiao answered particularly calmly. “A gold card… There might be a phone in there in the future too, but we’ll need to prepare a backpack by then.”

Albert, “…”

After a long while, he looked at Garfield in his arms and said somewhat speechlessly, “Garfield, you don’t want a bag with a gold card in it too, do you?”

Garfield the fat cat nodded extremely quickly, then let out a meow. How could Meow Lord possibly be outdone by that detestable parrot?! Meow Lord also wanted his own gold card and… what was that thing again?

Albert was rendered quite speechless by his cat’s demand. Then he looked at Lin You with a hint of resentment. They had only just met, so how had he already started demanding a gold card?! This was not a good habit!!

“Garfield, look. You’re different from Linlin. He’s a parrot, so he can fly. Almost no one can steal his little bag, but you’re different. If someone catches you, your little bag won’t be safe. So let’s not get one, okay?”

Garfield the fat cat immediately became unhappy. “Meowwww—!”

“Are you looking down on your good cat’s mobility?! Tonight, Meow Lord is giving you the silent treatment!!”

Albert watched Garfield roll around and act cute, his lips twitching helplessly. Garfield hadn’t been this shameless in a long time. Just as Albert was preparing to give in and get his cat some random card to pacify him, Young Master Lin You suddenly spoke up.

“No matter how much you roll around, it’s useless~ Because~ squawk squawk~ you can’t speak, can’t read, and can’t even write your password~~ Squawk squawk squawk~”

What was so great about tuna?! What was so great about casually catching a fish?! Could such an old-fashioned fishing technique compare to Young Master Lin You using gold cards, computers, and phones?! And besides, that guy was illiterate!!

Albert suddenly saw the fat cat, who had still been rolling around and acting cute, let out a miserable cry before angrily… pouncing straight toward Mu Yanxiao’s shoulder.

This time, Young Master Lin You had gotten carried away with his victory and was pounced on fair and square by the fat cat.

“Meow—!!”

“ Meow Lord is going to eat you!!”

“Chirp chirp… squawk!”

“Think I won’t peck you blind?!”

“Meow~~”

“Then let Meow Lord live at your house?”

“Squawk!”

“Don’t even think about it! The blind master belongs to this lord alone! Squawk squawk! But this lord can teach you how to use a gold card to buy things. Want to learn?”

“Meow~~”

“Yes~~~”

The two owners, who had originally been worried that their pets were fighting and were about to intervene, were suddenly stunned to discover that their pets had made up again.

…Well, forgive them. They really don’t understand the world of pets.

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