The Card Apprentice

Chen Mu then grabbed Copper and pulled him up out of his seat, saying, “I require that he acts as the head producer for this project.”

The buzz of discussion immediately surged in the room; they had been surrounded by wave after wave of peaks on a winding road, making it hard for anyone to keep up. No one had imagined that Chen Mu would drag Copper in.

Copper’s eyes widened, and he looked at the calm Chen Mu waiting for him to respond as though he’d been struck, while his nose started tickling with emotion. He lowered his head, so no-one could see his expression.

“Him?” Pei Hang hadn’t expected that, “And this gentleman is . . . “?

His gaze drifted over to the director of the low-grade fantasy card club, Wang Hao, to get his attention. He didn’t expect him to nod so vigorously!

Could it be another star?

Now it was Wu Tuan’s turn to sneer. Although he hadn’t been doing this kind of work for long, he knew the importance of a head producer to the overall project. That was why he had specifically rushed over to the Weier Card Play Company to dig out their creative director Hua Wei at such a high price. The look on his face relaxed quite a bit, as he looked on with detachment from the sidelines to see how Pei Hang would come down from the platform.

Pei Hang couldn’t help but show his indecision. He had been doing this kind of work for many years already, having gained what would be called rich experience, and he well understood the importance of a head producer. Even though he had seen Wang Hao give him the nod, he didn’t want to fool around with such an important issue.

Shrewd as he’d always been, Pei Hang quickly devised a bargain, “If you recommend this gentleman, then he presumably has superior qualities. Let’s say that if this gentleman can produce an outstanding production script within three days, then there won’t be any problem whatsoever.”

The meaning of what Pei Hang had said was self-evident, that if the production which ‘Blockhead’ proposed wasn’t sufficiently outstanding, then he would rather not bring Chen Mu in.

While Chen Mu was about to check with Copper about ‘within three days,’ Copper jerked up his head to firmly say, “OK, I’ll have a production script within three days.”

Hua Wei was sitting behind Wu Tuan. The serial misfortunes of the day had really opened his eyes, and he looked on with pleasure since in any case, they didn’t have anything to do with him. After Copper lifted his head, he suddenly felt that this person looked a little familiar, though he couldn’t remember where he had seen him right away.

Copper looked like a completely different person. He’d tossed away those two huge hoop earrings, and the clothes he was wearing weren’t so flamboyant. What he wore had become much simpler under Chen Mu’s influence, making him rather pleasant to look at. He also looked more self-confident, having nothing of that down and out look from before.

No wonder Hua Wei hadn’t recognized Copper at first glance.

Copper’s response was a relief to Pei Hang. If the other party couldn’t produce an outstanding production script, all the steps he had been taking would by no means be ruined by some card master.

That two-way meeting must have had the most mishaps ever for any two-way meeting.

Nobody was unhappier than the Aminia group, where no one had actually accepted any offers, since they’d been so overambitious at the outset. It was acknowledged by all the members that Chen Mu was the most outstanding card master in the entire low-grade fantasy card club, and since Chen Mu had refused, Aminia wasn’t going to say that they needed the second most awesome, or the third most awesome card master.

In their minds there would always be only one most awesome card master there, and that was Chen Mu!

Wu Tuan’s face was now strangely off-color, and there was no place for him to vent.

Without waiting for the meeting to end, Pei Hang couldn’t keep from finding Wang Hao, and asking him straight out, “what did you mean by nodding your head just now?”

Laughing, Wang Hao handed Pei Hang a glass of water, and said, “What else than to say yes! I say, you were really in the spotlight today, robbing Wu Tuan’s face, although I’m still not clear about why Chen Mu was suddenly so interested in you all.”

“Chen Mu? That guy who stood up first? He’s awesome?” Pei Hang asked in curiosity.

“Ah, so being able to sweep eight hundred points in a day isn’t awesome?” Wang Hao looked sideways at Pei Hang.

“Eight hundred points?” Pei Hang gave a shrug, “This guy is so tough? I really don’t see it.” Though he’d gotten interested, and quickly added, “Come on, tell me.”

At that point many across the floor were watching the two vulgar uncles huddling behind the glass, looking a little shady, which got the people wondering.

After hearing Wang Hao give an account of Chen Mu, Pei Hang clucked his cheek in admiration, “So he’s an inhuman freak. Kids these days, one fiercer than the next! Ai, and yes, what about that young fellow that Chen Mu recommended afterward? You nodded at me, and so he’s also awesome?”

“I’m telling you, those two have caught the eye of the president, and Chen Mu will soon take on responsibilities as technical director in the office. And as for Copper, he’ll be transferred to the commercial office. There’s really no telling what’s in that guy’s head!” Wang Hao couldn’t help showing his feelings when he thought about those two.

Pei Hang was still more surprised, “Your President Bai is interested in these two mop headed kids?”

“He is!” It’s been a long time since our old don has personally promoted anyone.” Wang Hao said casually.

“Hey, why didn’t you say so? If I had known, I would have immediately made the offer!” A look of regret lingered on Pei Hang’s face. He’d dealt with Bai Zheyuan and knew his vision. Those two certainly had real ability to be able to win his support and appreciation.

Seeing Pei Hang’s expression, Wang Hao laughed, and then quickly straightened himself out, “Old Pei, I must remind you to take good care of these two. The people at the Zuo household are accustomed to having their way, so don’t let anything happen, since I wouldn’t have any way to explain it to the president. If you are shorthanded, then I’ll come myself.”

Looking certain, Pei Hang said, “Don’t worry, while the Zuo household is surely powerful, our Pei household is no pushover.

“Good.” Wang Hao’s expression loosened up a bit.

As they were walking out of the club, Chen Mu was watching the long-silent Copper, and he couldn’t help asking, “Copper, is three days enough time?”

“Yes! Blockhead, stop worrying!” Copper lifted his head and smiled with an exaggerated look, “You scared me out of my wits today, guy! With no warning, this is what you pull off? You really freaked out this little coward, buddy!”

Chen Mu responded calmly, “Fake!”

“Ha ha, so I am! Who are we? We’re the Cop and Block dudes!” Copper spread his two hands to the sky in lofty pride.

Chen Mu avoided looking at him, as he said honestly, “It’s a little hard to take when you tell the truth!”

The two of them goofed off for a bit, when Copper said a little anxiously, “We really offended the Zuo family this time, so we’ll have to be careful!”

“Mmmm!” Chen Mu responded heavily, as he’d been having those same thoughts since refusing Wu Tuan and hadn’t come up with any simple solutions. Those powerhouses hadn’t slowed down with the dirty deeds they had always done in the dark.

It seemed that they would have to go out less often for a while, and Chen Mu thought to himself that he’d better put off the tailless shuttle card practice.