Taboo Mage - Chapter 231 - Li Mi's Story

In Li Mi’s tale, the man was portrayed as gentle and responsible. Despite having a family and children, he treated Li Mi fairly well, at least financially. Li Mi was in need of money; otherwise, she wouldn’t be doing this kind of work. Naturally, this man became her intimate companion.

He kept Li Mi as a mistress, but last month, his wife discovered the affair. Initially, his business success relied heavily on support from his father-in-law. Once discovered, his father-in-law cut off all financial backing. The man’s business plummeted overnight, and even Li Mi was affected, forced to leave her job.

This time, Li Mi came to me hoping I could help the man make a comeback.

After hearing her out, I scoffed, tossing my spoon onto the plate with a clatter. “So you think I’d help you?”

“I don’t know.” Li Mi lowered her head, her expression hidden, but her tone was filled with indescribable desolation.

Looking at her, I suddenly realized that Li Mi wasn’t trying to help the man out of kindness; she wanted to continue enjoying the luxury he provided. If I had thought she had become vain when I first saw her again, it was now clear she had fundamentally changed.

“Brother Gu, will you help me?”

Li Mi suddenly looked up, her makeup-free face streaked with tears, reminding me of the innocent face I first met. But then her red-painted nails caught my eye, snapping me back to reality. I firmly said, “Sorry, I can’t help with this.”

The disappointment and sadness in her eyes were unmistakable. I stood up and said, “I’m heading upstairs. Whoever wants to wash the dishes can stay. If anyone wants to leave with Li Mi, now’s the time.”

With that, I turned and headed for the stairs. As I stepped onto the first stair, I heard a chair scrape and footsteps following me. If I guessed right, it was Jue Chi.

“What price are you willing to pay to help your lover rise again?”

Behind me, Zhou Qifang’s cold voice echoed in the spacious living room. I paused, hesitated, and finally turned back.

Zhou Qifang sat at the dining table, Lin Huan clearing the dishes beside him, while Li Mi’s eyes lit up at his words.

“You’d help me? Who… who are you?” Li Mi asked Zhou Qifang, as if grasping at a lifeline.

I shook my head helplessly. Li Mi was truly desperate, accepting help without knowing who Zhou Qifang was. His assistance always came at a high price, either in money or something extremely valuable.

I had heard that Du Jun once paid Zhou Qifang a seven-figure sum to make a Buddha amulet. But neither Li Mi nor her lover had the resources to tempt Zhou Qifang.

“I’m just a friend of Gu Qingshu, with some unique skills. I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll try my best,” Zhou Qifang said modestly.

Li Mi thought for a moment, then looked at Zhou Qifang again. “We only have a few hundred thousand in liquid assets, and that money is needed for daily business expenses.”

“A few hundred thousand… anything else?” Zhou Qifang crossed his arms, scrutinizing her coldly.

Li Mi gritted her teeth and added, “There’s a property he gave me. I can transfer it to you!”

I raised an eyebrow. Li Mi was clever. Property might be a dream for ordinary people, but not for her lover. If Zhou Qifang could help him recover, a villa would be easy to acquire.

But clearly, what I thought of, Zhou Qifang had already considered. He wasn’t interested in just any apartment, especially when he found my place lacking.

Zhou Qifang didn’t respond, but his expression made it clear he wasn’t impressed.

Sometimes, people are strange. When something is priced low, they suspect it’s flawed or a scam. But when it’s expensive, they feel it’s reliable and even feel a sense of pride.

Zhou Qifang understood this well. When Li Mi saw his reaction, her expression became unreadable, and she asked to make a call.

Zhou Qifang agreed, and after Li Mi left with her phone, he raised an eyebrow at me.

I scoffed, and Jue Chi, standing behind me, chuckled, shaking his head silently. I glared at him, realizing these two had been ganging up on me lately.

I glanced at Li Mi by the door, animatedly talking on her phone. Her gestures and expressions showed she was agitated.

I reconsidered and returned to the sofa, curious about Zhou Qifang’s intentions.

“So, you said you wouldn’t take this job?” Zhou Qifang wasn’t surprised to see me back, instead smiling as he asked.

I huffed, “I’m not taking it, but that doesn’t mean I can’t watch. I’m curious, okay? I’ve never seen Master Taka in action. It’s a rare chance to learn, isn’t it?”

“Sure, but you’ll have to pay the tuition,” Zhou Qifang shrugged, looking indifferent.