Zhu Ning looked at the chessboard in front of her, then met the sharp, elderly eyes of Kang Yuanshan, which carried a veiled warning.
Suddenly, she smiled.
"Did you invite me here just to talk about this, Mr. Kang?"
Kang Yuanshan also smiled. "Of course not."
He raised his hand, and someone beside him presented a business card. "Miss Zhu, we humans are social animals. Banding together for warmth is an innate biological instinct.
"Out there, the battle drums are pounding, and danger lurks everywhere. You're right in the middle of the whirlpool. One wrong move, and you'll be in too deep to get out. As an elder, I really can't bear to see you like this.
"This is my private contact information. If you need help, you can reach out to me."
The business card was within easy reach. Zhu Ning reached out and took it. The card felt extremely high - quality, a manifestation of the old man's decades - long taste.
"Mr. Kang wants to recruit me?" she said with a smile. "Does Li Qingli know about this?"
Kang Yuanshan's expression remained unchanged. "In the business world, moves change in an instant. One has to be adaptable and seize the moment when dealing with people and matters."
This old man made breaking an agreement sound so refined. Zhu Ning almost wanted to clap for him.
She propped her hands on the armrests of the chair and spoke with a teasing smile. "Mr. Kang is truly a master strategist who can see fifty steps ahead with one move. Not long after forming an alliance with someone, you're already thinking about the future situation and trying to recruit me.
"But unfortunately."
She pinched the business card between two fingers and smiled faintly. "I don't like forming factions."
As she said this, she bent her knuckles slightly and flicked the card with her middle finger. In an instant, the stiff business card whistled through the air like an arc of light.
Kang Yuanshan's face instantly changed.
The people around him also looked displeased.
The young girl named Xiaomei straightened her body slightly.
Kang Yuanshan said, "Miss Zhu is really young."
Zhu Ning replied, "Yes, but isn't this the era of us young people now?"
Kang Yuanshan gave her a deep look.
"Miss Zhu, I cherish talent. As an old man, I have enough patience. I'm even willing to make three visits to your thatched cottage.
"The business world can't be conquered by brute force alone. Those who aren't good at planning and strategizing will eventually be completely defeated."
He reached out his hand, and someone behind him handed him another business card. He pushed it in front of Zhu Ning. "If you need help, I'll always welcome you."
The business card was pushed in front of her. Zhu Ning let out a short breath from her throat, curled her lips, and stood up. Her graceful and straight figure cast a long shadow over the aging old man. Kang Yuanshan looked up at her with his old eyes. She stood in front of him, looking down with a sideways glance and slowly said, "Mr. Kang, it seems you don't know me well. I don't know how to play chess.
"But I know how to overturn the chessboard.
"Just like this..."
She lifted her finger, and in the instant that Kang Yuanshan's pupils dilated, the chessboard on the table suddenly fell. The black and white jade chess pieces tumbled down like a shower of rain, scattering all over the ground.
The black and white pieces rolled around everywhere. All the talk of victory, defeat, and strategy was now in a complete mess, reduced to a battlefield of broken pieces.
"Zhu Ning!"
Kang Yuanshan's eyes were deep, while Zhu Ning looked down at him from above.
"Mr. Kang, at your age, it's better not to stir up trouble. If you get injured again, how many more hundred - day recoveries do you have?"
Kang Yuanshan's gaze was gloomy.
She reached out her hand, and Cen Shen respectfully handed her a handkerchief. She gently wiped her round, delicate fingertips with the fine and luxurious silk handkerchief. "Did you just say you cherish talent, Mr. Kang?" she chuckled a few times, as if savoring a particularly ridiculous word. Her eyes glanced down, and her red lips twitched.
"You're not in a position to cherish me."
Kang Yuanshan looked ugly. Zhu Ning turned around. "My butler will discuss the compensation for the chessboard with you." Then she waved her hand and casually tossed the handkerchief away, an action full of disdain.
After Zhu Ning left, Cen Shen stepped forward, took out a business card from his pocket, and said, "Mr. Kang, this is my business card."
He said in a low voice, "If you need help, please contact me."
Then he also turned around and left.
"Outrageous!"
One of the people beside Kang Yuanshan immediately shouted angrily, "In the entire Modu, which of the powerful and famous people doesn't show deference to you, sir? Who does this Zhu Ning think she is to dare to defy your face? We're doing her a favor by approaching her. She's so ungrateful. Sooner or later, she'll be devoured by others!"
Kang Yuanshan didn't say a word. He reached out and picked up the business card with Cen Shen's contact information on the table. His eyes were deep, and he let out a meaningful sigh. "Interesting."
He turned to look at his angry subordinate beside him. "How many times have I told you not to be controlled by your emotions?"
The subordinate lowered his head. "You're right, sir, but I just couldn't help it when she offended you like that."
Kang Yuanshan let out a cold laugh and walked towards the pavilion.
"She's just a pawn. Why bother caring?"
From his perspective, the black and white chess pieces scattered on the ground formed a new chess game.
As they walked out of the garden, Zhu Ning instructed, "Tell Song Ya to collect more information about the financial groups in Modu, especially those related to Kang Yuanshan."
She curled her lips into a smile. "We're going to play a big game."
Cen Shen was shocked. He seemed to have a vague premonition.
He noted it down. "Yes!"
Zhu Ning gave a few more instructions, then turned and saw Xiaomei staring at her with bright eyes.
She stopped. "What's wrong?"
Xiaomei stared at her. "Do you want to learn how to throw flying knives?"
Zhu Ning:??
Without saying much, Xiaomei directly reached into Cen Shen's inner pocket and took out a stack of business cards.
Cen Shen:...
Just ask if you need something. You're pinching my flesh!
Xiaomei pinched a business card between two fingers, flicked her wrist, and the paper card spun out like a silver - edged blade.
"Shua!"
The stem of the rose in front was cut in half. The paper business card passed through the leaves and one - third of it was embedded in the wooden stake!
Cen Shen held his breath. He quickly stepped forward, took out the business card from the wooden stake, and looked closely. There were even cracks on the surface of the stake!
He turned around, his eyes wide with shock. Zhu Ning got goosebumps all over.
Xiaomei said, "So, do you want to learn?"
"I guarantee to teach you until you master it."
Cen Shen swallowed hard beside them. "I want to learn."
Xiaomei gave him a sideways look. "You don't have the talent."
Cen Shen suspected she was just being biased.
Of course.
He was also biased towards Miss Zhu.
Zhu Ning asked, "Can I learn?"
Xiaomei replied, "You have the talent, and with me teaching you, you definitely can."
Xiaomei added, "Moreover, it's a good self - defense skill. Learning it will only do you good."
Zhu Ning looked at the business card in Cen Shen's hand, then at the cracks on the wooden stake, and finally turned to meet Xiaomei's cold face and big eyes.
She was extremely tempted.
"I'll learn. Teach me, Xiaoman!"
Xiaomei curled her lips into a smile. "Okay."
She handed the business card to Zhu Ning. "Come on, hold the business card diagonally between two fingers, use your wrist strength, aim at the target, and throw it."
Zhu Ning followed her instructions. Cen Shen stood beside them with his hands behind his back, his two fingers secretly moving along.
"Your aim is off. Watch me."
"Shu!"
"Use a bit more force. It's the wrist that should exert the force, not the arm."
"Pa..."
"Use your wrist strength..."
The three of them practiced in the garden, ruining the flowers.
Zhu Ning couldn't even kill one flower all night and worked up a sweat.
She wiped the sweat off her forehead, looking satisfied as if she had learned a lot. "Let's stop here for today. Biting off more than you can chew won't do any good."
Xiaomei said, "Makes sense."
The two of them smiled and turned to leave.
After hesitating for a moment, Cen Shen stepped forward and silently picked up all the business cards on the ground and put them in his pocket.
(The next day, Ruan Xiangqian looked at the "bare - stemmed soldiers" in the garden and felt like she was in a daze.
Which ill - mannered person killed all her flowers?!)