Taboo Mage - Chapter 46 - A Change of Mind

ter screen, then handed the computer back to him, telling Lin Huan to prepare for the reopening; business must go on as usual.

Lin Huan looked at me in surprise, marveling at how even after spending so many days at Chan Guang Monastery receiving teachings from the Buddha, the mercantile air hadn’t been scrubbed off me.

What does “mercantile air” mean! Was my previous effort to make money mercantile? Though I hate to admit it, I was also striving to improve everyone’s living standards!

Lin Huan seemed to see through my thoughts and scoffed, rolling his eyes at me before climbing out of bed to do the quarterly summary in the living room.

After a series of recent events, I deeply felt the truth in the Cycle of Cause and Effect that Grandfather had spoken of. This powerful backlash could only be considered lucky since I encountered Chen Qi.

But as the letter stated, Chen Qi would only help me this once; after that, he and our Gu Family would be even.

Whether it’s out of fear of death or a sudden enlightenment, at least I now understand that as a yin-yang life amulet master, making money is never the most important thing.

In the afternoon, Lin Huan and I did a simple task summary. Lin Huan was responsible for spreading the new business philosophy, and I was in charge of… lying down to rest.

Half-asleep, I seemed to see Grandfather again. He looked the same as always, his hair white and his face kindly, holding a cane, his eyes full of tender love as he looked at me.

Grandfather told me that Chen Qi was a very mysterious person, so mysterious that no one knew how old he really was. He was like the wind, coming and going without a trace.

I secretly wondered if Grandfather had been following his old friends reading martial arts novels again, otherwise, how could he speak so elegantly.

The old man rambled on and on, essentially warning that Chen Qi was not someone I should provoke and that I should act as if this person had never existed, nor should I attempt to find him.

Little did Grandfather know, I was planning to find some time to look for Chen Qi.

I was half-asleep in a dream when my grandfather kicked me awake. Lin Huan was holding a computer, his face blooming into a smile like a chrysanthemum.

His big face looming close to mine startled me. Lately, Lin Huan had been going too far, first with watching pornographic websites and now getting so close to my face.

Could he be confused about his sexual orientation…

I quickly reached out, pushed the person in front of me away, and stared at him warily, “What are you doing? Got a crush on me?”

“Look at the way you talk. I wouldn’t fancy you of all people,” Lin Huan snorted with his nose in the air, then proudly placed the laptop on my legs like he was presenting a treasure. “Check this out! There’s good news!”

My eyes scanned the screen where a news page was open, a headline declaring that a state enterprise female manager had been exonerated and released in court.

Despite the thick mosaic over her face in the embedded photo, I immediately recognized the woman as Yang Shuo, who had visited me before.

Yang Shuo had been released… Indeed, this was good news for me.

Lin Huan stood aside, counting on his fingers. The fates of the people involved seemed to be taking a turn for the better. He joyfully claimed it was Buddha showing his might and my luck changing.

But I knew deep down that all this was thanks to Chen Qi.

That evening, Yang Shuo called, wanting to take me out to dinner. She had just come out and instead of taking time to settle herself, she was inviting me to eat.

Although I was skeptical, feeling somewhat guilty about the life amulet, I accepted her invitation.

The restaurant Yang Shuo had booked was not far from my place. As was my habit, I arrived half an hour early, only to find Yang Shuo already waiting in the private room.

I felt uneasy keeping such a beautiful woman waiting. When Yang Shuo saw me, she immediately stood up, her face adorned with a gentle smile.

I rushed over to insist Yang Shuo sit down again as she called for the dishes to be served. I took the opportunity to quietly observe her.

Yang Shuo is the epitome of a strong woman. Although she had been through a tough few days and looked somewhat haggard, her meticulous makeup somewhat masked it. Her radiance wasn’t what it once was, but she had certainly regained some of her vigor.

Dinners with businesspeople usually fall into two categories: discussing business or building relationships.

Our dinner, after I shoveled a third helping of shredded pork with garlic sauce into my mouth, finally got on track.

“Boss Gu, I was actually planning to dine at home today, but there’s something urgent that I really need your help with, so I specifically asked you to come out,” Yang Shuo said, her words overly circumspect, which was exhausting to follow. I put down my chopsticks and asked directly, “Miss Yang, please just tell me what you need. If you hint around, I might not catch on quickly.”

Yang Shuo chuckled sheepishly, shyly pursing her lips. “Boss Gu, I need you to make another life amulet for me.”

“Hmm?” I frowned.

“It’s like this: the life amulet I had before was stolen while I was inside. I’ve heard that the company, feeling guilty, plans to promote me significantly to prevent any mishaps…”

“So, you want a new life amulet to secure your future.” I nodded, understanding her career-driven focus.

Yang Shuo nodded eagerly, her eyes filled with hope as she looked at me.

I chuckled softly. I indeed planned to continue as a life amulet master, but not in the way I had before.

“What’s the matter? Boss Gu, you don’t want to do it? Money is no object, I can pay whatever it takes!”

Seeing the expression on my face, Yang Shuo quickly stood up, pulling out a thick stack of money from her bag and piling it on the table in front of me, her big eyes fluttering with anticipation.

The sight of the cash piled up like a small mountain made my hand under the table tremble involuntarily, as a sensation named desire spread from my brain into my palm.

I pinched the back of my right hand hard with my left, shivering uncontrollably, then looked up and sternly gestured to Yang Shuo.

“I’m sorry, I can’t make this life amulet.”