Trafford's Trading Club

605: Chapter 18: The Strongest Cage 605: Chapter 18: The Strongest Cage Xiaobao didn’t choose to go further; instead, he took advantage of the remaining time to rush back—although he habitually slacked off during work hours, it was his personal habit.

When he was needed, he had to be there—this was a matter of principle.

After all, without the section chief, much of the work naturally fell on his shoulders—returning by nine and then working continuously until nearly two in the afternoon, Xiaobao finally had the time to lean against the office wall like a zombie and return to his workstation. “Ugh… so nauseous.”

The result of continuously drinking several cans of energy drinks was that his stomach was constantly convulsing, persistently protesting its discomfort.

When Xiaobao opened the screen again, he didn’t see Qianxiu this time—he had rushed out the previous night, so he didn’t have time to shut down, and the game was left hanging like that. “Didn’t log off?” Xiaobao looked at Qianxiu’s avatar, but then thought that since he hadn’t logged off but just left, it meant… all his efforts throughout the night were futile. “Forget it, at least there’s nothing wrong.

After all, it’s a human life.” Xiaobao shook his head, yawning.

Only then did he realize that his messages were almost flooded—the messages were all from ‘Qian Yu Xian Rou.’

In every message, without exception, she asked if he was there.

Even when Xiaobao opened a private chat window to casually reply, the other party inquired again.

It seemed she had been trying to contact him continuously.

Xiaobao: Hey, what’s the matter that you are in such a hurry to find me?

Qian Yu Xian Rou: !!!

You finally appeared!

Where have you been?

Xiaobao: Just had something to do, AFK…

So, what’s up?

Qian Yu Xian Rou: Are you with Qianxiu now?

Xiaobao thought for a moment: Did you see the video link I sent you?

Have you watched it?

Qian Yu Xian Rou: Yes.

Tell me, where is he?!

Xiaobao: I don’t know either.

This big guy refuses to receive my messages and has even blocked his location.

I have no choice but to wander around the entire map aimlessly to find him.

Xiaobao explained to Qian Yu Xian Rou how he found Qianxiu, and then continued: It seems pretty hard to find him now.

I don’t think he will come back to this small town again.

Qian Yu Xian Rou: Is his character still there?

Xiaobao: It’s always lit up.

As long as I log in, he’s definitely there.

Or rather, I’ve never seen him log off in front of me.

It’s literally like the Transcendance Tribulation Stage!

Qian Yu Xian Rou: Next time you find him, you must tell me immediately, I beg you!

Xiaobao: That doesn’t seem right, does it?

To be honest, I feel like this big guy is avoiding you on purpose.

Even if you encounter him, what will you do?

After all, it’s just a game.

If he logs off, what can you do?

Qian Yu Xian Rou: I just need to tell him one thing in person!

Tell him, it’s just one thing, and if he insists afterward, I’ll stop looking for him!

So, please help me!

Xiaobao: Alright…

Somehow I feel like this big guy’s current state isn’t very good either.

System Announcement: Player Qian Yu Xian Rou has gifted you 1 million Diamonds.

Xiaobao blinked, calculated the ratio between diamonds and cash on his fingers, and almost fell out of his chair—damn it!

That’s worth a hundred thousand dollars, just giving it away like that!

System Announcement: Player Milk God Xiaobao has declined your gift, and 1 million Diamonds have been returned to your account.

Qian Yu Xian Rou: Please don’t refuse it!

Because this is the only way I know to repay you!

Xiaobao: Well, maybe you really are rich and see it as pocket change, or maybe you just want to express gratitude or something, but I really can’t accept it.

Firstly, it’s a matter of principle, and secondly, it’s a matter of principle in work.

I don’t accept these.

Qian Yu Xian Rou: You are a good person.

Xiaobao, it’s really nice that the blue sky can meet you.

Xiaobao: Boo hoo hoo, my heart is bleeding already.

Please stop teasing me with cards…

Xiaobao casually chatted a bit more nonsense with Qian Yu Xian Rou and then couldn’t bear it anymore, planning to take a nap.

As for Lanxiu’s matters in reality, he didn’t mention it nor did he ask if Qian Yu Xian Rou knew, let alone inquire about the other person’s past. “1 million Diamonds!!

Why didn’t I accept it!!

Not cool at all!!” … …

In the evening, around nine o’clock, at the Lan Corporation Building.

A woman, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, stepped out of the elevator and walked all the way to Lan Kai’s office—as the helm of the corporation, Lan Kai naturally didn’t have just one personal secretary.

Usually, in addition to assisting with office work, two other secretaries were there to serve.

At this moment, the receptionist secretary sitting at the desk in front of the office saw the woman approaching and quickly stood up to greet her, “Miss Xinyue!”

This woman, dressed simply and with an intellectual smile on her face…

Miss Xinyue gently waved her hand and said, “Is your General Lan in?”

The reception secretary quickly said, “Yes!

The driver just helped him back.

Today, the leadership came to inspect, so General Lan accompanied them for dinner.

I think he drank too much because when he returned, he couldn’t even open his eyes.” “Alright, I’ll go in and check on him.” Miss Xinyue nodded, “It’s already this time; you should be off work too.”

The reception secretary hesitated, “But General Lan is still inside…”

Miss Xinyue smiled slightly and said, “I’ll talk to him.

Besides, you’re just working for him, not being his babysitter.

As a young woman, you should give yourself some personal time too.”

The reception secretary was instantly delighted and said, “Ah!

With you saying that, Miss Xinyue, I feel at ease!

Thank you, Miss Xinyue!” “You’re welcome.”

Miss Xinyue pushed open the office door and entered.

She looked around and saw Lan Kai lying on the sofa, his suit off, tie loosened, his face flushed, with a strong smell of alcohol emanating from him. “Why did you drink so much?” Miss Xinyue hurriedly walked to the sofa, squatted down, and touched Lan Kai’s forehead, gently saying, “Lan Kai, are you okay?” “Xinyue… it’s you.” Lan Kai hadn’t actually passed out from intoxication; he slowly opened his eyes and rubbed his forehead, attempting to sit up.

But, seemingly due to excessive drinking, he appeared weak, like a patient, and directly rolled off the sofa onto the floor. …

Xinyue shook her head, helping Lan Kai as she sat down herself, gently placing Lan Kai’s head on her lap, and laid layers of wet tissues on his forehead, “Feeling any better?” “Not too bad.” Lan Kai pounded his forehead, “Sorry for letting you see me like this… disappointed?” “Got something on your mind?” Xinyue softly arranged Lan Kai’s hair, “You never let yourself get drunk like this.

You’ve said before that in this vanity fair, those who get drunk easily fail.” “I’ve already failed so much.” Lan Kai suddenly let out a bitter laugh.

Miss Xinyue was startled for a moment, then after a brief silence, she said, “Is it because of Xiao Rou?”

Lan Kai sighed, “A few days ago, she slashed her wrists in her room, blood everywhere.

Fortunately, we were in time.” “How is she now…”

Lan Kai said, “She woke up, came back to her senses at dawn today.

Today I couldn’t get away, couldn’t go see her.

But when I can get away, I hesitate to see her.

Xinyue, do you know?

Xiao Rou and I seem like we were entangled in a previous life, always fighting in this life, never having a good day.

I really don’t know how to make her smile.

Do you think I’m a failure?”

Miss Xinyue held Lan Kai’s hand, softly said, “You’ve already done enough, anymore would be too demanding…

It’s been so long, can you still not let it go?” “Let go?

How can I let it go?” Lan Kai opened his eyes, looking at the face so close to him, not beautiful, ordinary but pleasant, “If you were me, could you let it go?

Pretend not to know?” “I probably couldn’t accept it either.” Miss Xinyue also let out a bitter smile.

Lan Kai gazed absentmindedly at the lamp above his head, murmuring, “Sometimes I just can’t understand, why did things turn out this way.

One actually tried to commit suicide, the other… the other treats me like an enemy!

Did I do wrong?

I haven’t!

They are the ones who are wrong!

They shouldn’t have!

Absolutely not!

Lanxiu is truly the Devil Star in our fate.

Sometimes I think, if that day, my dad hadn’t brought him back, if it weren’t for him…”

Miss Xinyue said softly, “You’re not someone who holds grudges from the past.”

Lan Kai shook his head, closed his eyes, and after a long, long time, turned his body, burying his head into Miss Xinyue’s embrace.

This woman knew this man, and cried here.

But there was no sound. “Tomorrow, I’ll go with you to see Xiao Rou.”

Lan Kai took a deep breath and said, “Aren’t you afraid she’ll cause you trouble?”

Miss Xinyue shook her head, “As long as you’re not afraid, I won’t be either.”

As she spoke, Miss Xinyue helped Lan Kai to sit up, “Let’s not talk about it now, I’ll take you back, you can’t stay like this till tomorrow.”

Lan Kai, drunk and dazed, held Miss Xinyue’s hand dominantly yet gently, “Tonight, don’t go anywhere, stay here with me.” … …

By the lakeside at night, a staggering silhouette approached.

Qianxiu’s hazy gaze saw a familiar figure at the lakeside bridge—the little mage fishing.

Leaning on the wooden post at the edge of the bridge, Qianxiu approached step by step, finally standing behind the little mage, his voice a bit muddled, “How come you’re still level four after so long?

Are you sick?”

The little mage turned his head slightly, casually said, “It seems fishing doesn’t increase experience points.”

Qianxiu frowned… the alcohol was getting to him, making him uncomfortable.

Leaning on the post, his legs slipped as he plopped down on the ground, simply laying there, “You…

Haven’t you been fishing from day to night?”

The little mage laughed, “Not quite, I’ve been fishing during the day these past few days, now switched to night.

Seeing if night fishing yields anything.

Didn’t you say you wouldn’t come here anymore?”

Qianxiu held his forehead, “I’ve found I’ve nowhere to go again… Even here, it turns out there’s nowhere to go… like being that monkey trapped on an isolated island.”

He suddenly looked at the little mage, “Do you have anywhere to go?” “Me?” The little mage looked at the fish bait in the basket, smiled slightly, “Three left, once I’m done fishing them, I’ll head back.

So I won’t bother you long, but if you still don’t want me here, I can leave now without any issues.”

Qianxiu shook his head, drinking alone.

A while later, watching the little mage cast out the third bait, Qianxiu suddenly asked, “LQ, do you have family?” “Yes.” The little mage said softly, “By now they should almost be home.” “Do you… love your family?” “Do you not love your family?” The little mage countered. “Love?” Qianxiu’s expression was complex as he lowered his head, then suddenly raised it, pointing at himself, “Do you know, I directly angered my father to death…

He was old, with a weak heart, and right in front of me, he was infuriated to death by me.”

Qianxiu pointed at his eyes with his fingers, his eyes wide open, “Just like this, looking at me… looking at me, and then he collapsed.”

He laughed heartily, spreading his arms as if to embrace something, his voice then sank into a lifeless murmur, “And then I had no father.” “I see…” The little mage nodded, reeling in the fishing line, the last bait still yielded nothing. “You know, for the first time in my life, I regretted it, for the first time, felt I was wrong… no no no, from the beginning I knew I was wrong.” Qianxiu forcefully hit his head against the post, “Why can’t I just die?

I guess God feels my punishment isn’t enough, it wants me to… live like garbage.” “So that’s why there’s the Isolated Island Monkey problem?” The little mage adeptly reeled in the line, glancing at Qianxiu. “Maybe.” Qianxiu looked at the night sky of this fantasy world.

The little mage, having packed his tools, stood up with the basket, walking past Qianxiu, suddenly said, “I’ve been thinking again about that problem.

If another monkey was thrown onto the island, will the trapped one perhaps come out?”

Qianxiu dizzily said, “Who would be so boring to throw one monkey… and then another…”

The little mage had already walked far away, disappeared, and Qianxiu, heavy-eyed, dozed off on this little bridge. …

When Qianxiu woke up, an entire night had passed.

He massaged his forehead, finding himself on this little bridge again, and last night, seemed to have met that fishing guy again.

Not remembering what was said last night, Qianxiu only felt his head ached unbearably, without any impression…

Suddenly he felt a strong urge to vomit, and directly threw up there.

It seems he really drank too much.

After a good while, Qianxiu struggled to stand up…

Why am I waking up again?

Where can I go now?

Player Milk God Xiao Bao used a server-wide megaphone: Big shot!

Come quickly to save me!!

I’ve been maliciously PKed!

Help me!!!!

They said they’ll kill me back to level zero every time they see me!

Come quick!!!!!!!

Qianxiu couldn’t help but furrow his brows.