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The unbelievable events unfolding before him were impacting Cao Ziqian's understanding of reality to the greatest extent.

But he had weathered storms before and was concerned about the children at home. He didn't want to end up like Jin Zifu, but what should he do?

"No need to be nervous," Luo Qiu said slowly. "My transaction is only with your father-in-law; it has nothing to do with you."

Cao Ziqian steadied himself and looked at Jin Zifu, who lay motionless on the ground. He didn't know the specifics of the transaction they had been discussing, only that he had encountered something utterly fantastical.

"My dad... Jin Zifu, is he... dead?" Cao Ziqian asked nervously.

You Ye answered on his behalf, "No, Mr. Jin is merely asleep."

"Asleep..."

You Ye nodded and smiled, "Yes, asleep. It's just that this sleep will last for thirty-three years, one month, and fifteen days. After waking up, Mr. Jin will still be able to enjoy the time he has left."

"How could..."

Cao Ziqian wanted to disbelieve these words. However, the incredible events that had just transpired all told him that they were real.

After a moment of silence, Cao Ziqian suddenly looked at Luo Qiu and asked, "I don't know you... but why are you helping me?"

If Jin Zifu were to be in a coma for thirty-three years, he wouldn't have been able to open the file bag thrown in front of him. Even if, in name, Jin Zifu had retrieved the file, Cao Ziqian could still have easily taken it back.

Not only did he regain his senses in time, avoiding a grave mistake made in impulse, but he also solved Jin Zifu's problem. From another perspective, it was clear that Cao Ziqian had gained the most from this.

Luo Qiu looked at the motionless Jin Zifu on the ground and suddenly said, "This afternoon, I went to the developer who planned to cooperate with you on the factory site. Although they intended to build a luxury residential area, they also planned to construct two ordinary apartment buildings for the old employees who had served the factory for many years."

Luo Qiu smiled, "Go live a good life with your children from now on. The money from selling the land and settling the factory accounts will be enough for you to repay the bank's debts."

Cao Ziqian suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

He stared blankly at the mysterious young man, his throat instantly catching.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Luo Qiu walked up to Cao Ziqian and raised the Black Card in his hand.

At this moment, the front and back of the Black Card simultaneously showed the vanished imprints. As Cao Ziqian looked on in confusion, Luo Qiu directly placed the Black Card in Cao Ziqian's suit pocket.

He said softly.

"When you need something, you can find us through this," Luo Qiu said softly. "With it, you are a member of the Trafford Buyers Club."

"Whatever you need, we can provide it. Dreams, wealth, wisdom, a lover, health... or lifespan. As long as you can provide sufficient transaction value. One last point, our transaction value is not money."

"Then, we look forward to your visit."

With that, Luo Qiu began to disappear from Cao Ziqian's sight, retreating bit by bit, enveloping You Ye as they both faded away.

"Wait! What's your name!" Cao Ziqian instinctively wanted to hold onto them for a moment, "How do you know I need to spend my child's birthday with them?"

But Luo Qiu and You Ye had already vanished into thin air.

Cao Ziqian felt a wave of powerlessness and slumped down, realizing his back was drenched in sweat from nervousness and fear.

Just then, the scene before Cao Ziqian flickered, and Luo Qiu reappeared before him.

This startled him greatly.

Luo Qiu said nothing, merely turned the desk calendar around, gave a slight smile, and then disappeared again.

This time, he was truly gone.

Cao Ziqian was lost in thought, staring blankly at the desk calendar. A certain date was circled with a large red circle, and next to it were the words "Gift."

He couldn't help but burst into tears.

Following the method You Ye had described, Luo Qiu walked to the altar on the third basement level of the Club.

He opened his hands before the altar, and a wisp of hazy gray mist gradually formed between them, slowly drifting into the altar.

There was nothing special about it; it simply dispersed naturally, the gray mist vanishing before Luo Qiu's eyes.

But at that moment, he heard a voice echo in his mind.

"Sacrifice complete, lifespan increased by thirty days."

Perhaps it wasn't a voice... but information flowing into his mind.

As for the hourglass he had deliberately brought, the sand in the upper chamber seemed to have increased slightly, and its falling speed had slowed down.

He would not die of illness, be shot, or even age.

If anything could harm him, it would likely be the moment when all the sand in the hourglass had fallen.

After waiting for a moment, the altar showed no further changes. Luo Qiu scratched his head, "Trading thirty-three years of Jin Zifu's life for only thirty days of my lifespan... that's a rip-off."

"Because it's a life, not the lifespan one was supposed to have. The quality naturally isn't that high," You Ye said from the side, cutting to the chase. "Also, previous Club Masters never used the entire transaction value for sacrifice; they would keep a portion."

"..."

"Everything will get better."

Luo Qiu took a deep breath. He didn't intend to blame the maid automaton for reminding him afterward. Instead, he said with sudden realization, "No wonder there are so many strange things in here. Could it be that the previous owner withheld them?"

You Ye nodded.

Luo Qiu didn't want to stay any longer in front of the gloomy altar, so he led You Ye back to the store. He suddenly stretched and said, "You Ye, can you make Braised Lion's Head meatballs? It seems I haven't eaten anything for most of the day. I'm starving now."

You Ye nodded. "I've learned the cuisine of this country before and still remember how to make it. I'll prepare it for you right away, Master."

"It'll be slow if I do it alone, so I'll help too," Luo Qiu said with a smile. "And, please guide me more in the future."

You Ye's beautiful, sapphire-like deep blue eyes seemed to flicker, and she nodded gently.

Late at night.

The bustling commercial street had become quiet.

Only the homeless people on the street, or those who had lost their way after getting drunk, were either sleeping on the spot or staggering along.

But they didn't notice that on this dim street, a very old European-style lantern was lit, and there was also a sign hanging on the ancient wooden door that read OPEN.

Legend has it that only those who have a need can see its existence.

So, when you see the lantern in front of its door flickering, do you... have a need?

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PS: I'll post a chapter after midnight. If any of you esteemed patrons are still awake, feel free to cast your recommendation votes.