Joining the Club

Ye Jinghong searched all day and actually found Fang Moqi's residence.

Moreover, he had intelligence indicating that Fang Moqi had recently returned to the country and was in Modu!

So, disregarding the fact that it was already night, he directly took a trusted subordinate police officer and drove to Fang Moqi's house.

Two hours later, he drove to Sheshan. This area was filled with high-end residences, and he found one of the villas.

"This is Fang Moqi's house? Director, are you sure? How could he be a murderer if he's this rich?" Ye Jinghong's subordinate, Li Han, stared dumbfounded at the garden villa after getting out of the car. He knew the Royal Garden area; it was an internationally renowned super-luxury residential zone.

He couldn't imagine a homicide suspect living in such a lavish place.

Ye Jinghong was also a little shocked, but he trusted his intuition and wasn't intimidated.

"Li Han, a person's suspicion has nothing to do with how much money they have! When people have money and capability, they have everything. Such individuals often pursue thrills, and no one can figure out what they're thinking! They might even play out scenarios of punishing evil and upholding good, treating it as a game. People like that do exist!"

As Ye Jinghong enlightened Li Han, he seemed to become even more certain of his own intuition.

"Ding dong! Ding dong!"

After pressing the doorbell twice, Ye Jinghong waited outside the garden.

He waited for a full three minutes, but there was no response. Ye Jinghong pressed the doorbell again.

"Ding dong! Ding dong!"

After another minute, a display screen outside the iron gate suddenly lit up, showing a man with deep-set eyes, wearing only a black undershirt that his taut muscles strained against.

Ye Jinghong showed his badge and said, "I am Ye Jinghong, Director of Public Security for Modu City. You must be Fang Moqi? We need to ask you some questions about a case. We hope for your cooperation."

Seeing two police officers looking for him and mentioning a case, the man on the screen immediately frowned.

"I haven't been back to Modu in half a year. What case involves me?"

Ye Jinghong said, "There was a premeditated murder early this morning in Hongshan District. The murder weapon was a bow and arrow, so we wanted to ask Mr. Fang about your..."

Before he could finish, Fang Moqi, upon hearing it was yesterday, immediately interrupted, "It has nothing to do with me. Also, I'm very tired, don't disturb me."

Ye Jinghong was taken aback, his suspicion of Fang Moqi growing.

"Mr. Fang, please cooperate! I haven't said this was you..."

Fang Moqi said tiredly, "I don't know who did it, and it has absolutely nothing to do with me."

With that, he directly turned off the display screen, leaving the Director of Public Security out in the cold at the gate.

Ye Jinghong stared blankly at the iron gate. He had never encountered such an arrogant person.

He chuckled in anger and said, "Perhaps only someone like this would disregard the law and provoke the police?"

After witnessing Fang Moqi's personality, Ye Jinghong became even more convinced that he was the one responsible for Heaven's Punishment. He fit his mental image of the culprit perfectly.

"Ding dong! Ding dong!"

Fang Moqi lay on the sofa, tired, listening to the incessant ringing of the doorbell, his expression impatient.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number.

The call was answered shortly after. "Old Fang? I heard you're back in Modu? Why haven't you come to the club to see me?"

"I'll see... I'm very tired. I haven't slept well in months," Fang Moqi said lazily.

The person on the other end said, "Alright, alright, you're always like this when you come back. You're completely different from when you're out. By the way, where have you been?"

Fang Moqi said, "Venezuela, the Guiana Highlands. Old Bi, don't ask. I need something from you."

"Oh, oh, oh, what is it?" Old Bi asked.

"As soon as I got back, the police showed up, asking about a murder case. I'm so annoyed. Can you handle this for me?" Fang Moqi said with his eyes closed.

Old Bi chuckled and asked, "There does seem to be something like that. Is this case related to you?"

"No, I only got back yesterday. You know I sleep for two days straight when I return, and they woke me up." Fang Moqi said, annoyed.

"I see, I understand. Alright, I'll take care of it for you. But since you're back, why don't you coach the club members? They've been eagerly anticipating your arrival."

Fang Moqi sighed and said, "Do I have to go? Why does your club always make me work?"

Old Bi chuckled, "Hehehe, just tell me if you'll help or not!"

"I'll help! Hurry up and get rid of those two cops outside, they're so loud!" Fang Moqi agreed quickly upon hearing the doorbell still ringing.

"Old Fang, don't be so impatient. You have shares in the club, don't you?" Old Bi chuckled.

"I'll come to the club after I've slept. Also, I can only coach for ten days. I have something else on the third of next month..." Fang Moqi was almost asleep as he spoke.

Old Bi asked curiously, "Something else? Where are you going?"

"Shennongjia..."

"Oh? Going with that group from the capital again? Hello? Hello?"

"Hoo... hoo..."

Fang Moqi had fallen asleep, leaving his phone on the sofa.

Old Bi called out a few times, knowing his situation, and finally hung up.

"Tsk, every time he comes back, he's like a dead pig..."

Old Bi muttered to himself, "Shennongjia? That run-down place, and they still haven't explored it thoroughly after all these years?"

"Ding dong! Ding dong!"

Ye Jinghong was frantically pressing the doorbell outside, but it was clear that Fang Moqi had no intention of acknowledging him. He waited for a full ten minutes with no response.

"Director, perhaps we should head back? He's clearly not cooperating!" Li Han said cautiously.

Ye Jinghong was also extremely frustrated. He'd never encountered anyone like this before.

Just then, his phone rang. Ye Jinghong answered it, his expression changing. After listening for a few sentences, he said, "Whether it's relevant or not still needs to be investigated. He meets all the criteria..."

"This... How can they do this?"

"Yes..."

Ye Jinghong's face darkened, and he hung up the phone.

Li Han, watching from the side, understood. It was likely someone from higher up who had called. Otherwise, Ye Jinghong's temper wouldn't have been so subdued.

"Director... this matter..."

"Let's go!" Ye Jinghong abruptly turned and got into the car.

Li Han quickly followed him into the car and asked, "Director, where are we going?"

Ye Jinghong gritted his teeth and spat out two words: "Off work!"

The next day, Lan Mu started moving early in the morning. He didn't do much himself, mainly packing the things he needed to keep. The rest was left to the moving company.

Just as he was sending Su Yue to the new apartment, he received a call from Du Yu.

Hearing the familiar voice on the phone, Lan Mu angrily exclaimed, "How do you even know my phone number?"

"Cough cough... Don't worry about the details."

Du Yu continued, "I've already spoken with the club manager and finalized everything. You can just come directly to the Forest Club. Or would you like me to pick you up?"

"So fast? Did you buy the club?" Lan Mu was surprised by Du Yu's speed. A person like him, without any certificates, and the club dared to let him lead an outdoor survival activity?

"Yep! My brother owns it," Du Yu admitted nonchalantly.

"..."

Lan Mu fell silent for a moment, then said, "Alright, come pick me up. I'm at..."

After hanging up, Lan Mu looked at the empty studio that hadn't been set up yet and called Cheng Ming.

"Brother Mu, what's up?"

"Are you busy with work? If not, come help me out. The studio is in Songjiang, the specific location is..."

"Oh, oh, oh, you actually rented a studio? I really thought you were going to set it up in that rundown place of yours," Cheng Ming said.

"Uh... Enough with the nonsense. The studio will officially open soon."

About half an hour after hanging up, Cheng Ming arrived.

"You came fast. See what I've written?"

When Cheng Ming arrived, Lan Mu directly threw him the keys and handed him the promotional text he had written on his laptop.

"With many years of television production experience, I am now assembling a professional team to undertake pre- and post-production for various television programs. Timely delivery and reasonable prices. We look forward to your cooperation. Professional production of product VCRs for TV shopping."

"Undertaking documentary production, advertisement production, corporate promotional videos, year-end reports, product videos, micro-movies, event recording, meeting minutes, etc. Offering pre-production planning, photography and videography, post-production packaging, voiceovers, music, and subtitles."

"Work phone... Company address... Contact person..."

After reading the promotional text, Cheng Ming thought it was okay, though it felt a bit like a small advertisement...

However, he couldn't write anything better, so he said, "It's good, but where do we get a professional team?"

"I'm not asking you to take on jobs now. I need to go out and make some money recently. Once I'm back, we'll officially open for business."

"I'll transfer 30,000 yuan to you. This is all the assets I have left."

"Decorate the studio, put up the sign, and buy some furniture, appliances, and such. Also, contact all our old classmates. If anyone is interested in joining our team, invite them over."

Cheng Ming listened, stunned. Realizing there was so much to do, he finally said after listening, "Alright, leave it to me!"

"I'm not going to work anymore. Anyway, they know I've submitted my resignation, so the newspaper isn't assigning me much work. I don't want the rest of my salary either. We're officially quitting! Haha!"

Just then, a low honk sounded from downstairs.

Lan Mu looked out the window and saw that it was indeed Du Yu, leaning out of the window of a Ford E350.

Cheng Ming was still wondering when he saw Lan Mu make a gesture and then sling a bag over his shoulder, heading out.

"Brother Mu, where are you going to make money?"

"Not sure. Not necessarily leaving today, just going to take a look."

"Oh, right." Before leaving, Lan Mu introduced Su Yue to Cheng Ming and then said to Su Yue, "This is my good friend, Cheng Ming. You'll be colleagues from now on."

Su Yue couldn't see Cheng Ming, but she could hear his approximate location. She politely bowed slightly and said, "Mr. Cheng, my name is Su Yue."

Cheng Ming was completely bewildered, thinking to himself, Why would she be blind? Before he could ask further, he heard Lan Mu say, "I'm leaving first. Take good care of Su Yue. She's the cleaner I hired, and our meals are her responsibility too. You better be attentive."

With that, Lan Mu went straight downstairs, leaving Cheng Ming standing there, utterly flustered.

Getting into Du Yu's car, Lan Mu couldn't help but say, "You're quite well-off, aren't you? Got a new car?"

Du Yu laughed, "This car is awesome! To pick up a master like you, how could I drive a delicate sports car?"

Initially, Lan Mu felt quite pleased hearing this, but Du Yu suddenly added, "Oh, I didn't mean your face looks delicate!"

"..."

Lan Mu, for the sake of the money, endured it again.

Calculating the time, today was the seventh day since he transformed into an Elf. If his guess was correct, he would be able to turn back into a human at 3 AM tomorrow.

About twenty minutes later, Du Yu drove the car to Jinkou District.

They didn't go to the Forest Club in the city but headed directly to the outdoor venue purchased by the Forest Club, which was the so-called VIP Training Ground.

The environment here was excellent, with buildings nestled amidst lush green grass, forming a garden-like complex, somewhat resembling a resort.

Inside the training ground, there were only about ten people, each moving around with their bows and arrows on their backs.

Some were practicing shooting the most basic bullseyes, others were shooting moving targets like balloons, and some were just gathered together chatting.

Du Yu parked the car and led Lan Mu over.

A middle-aged man immediately came forward, smiling and saying, "Little Yu!"

"And this must be the Mr. Lan you introduced?"

The middle-aged man was first stunned by Lan Mu's handsome appearance but quickly regained his composure and introduced himself.

"My name is Wang Ling. I wonder if Mr. Lan would be willing to join the Forest Club?"

Lan Mu replied without thinking, "No, thank you."

"Uh..."

Du Yu chimed in from the side, "Brother Mu said no, so it's a no! We're just treating him as an external support."

Wang Ling said with a wry smile, "Little Yu, even if you're bringing in external support, shouldn't there be some qualifications? The club members might not give us face..."

"Moreover, I heard that Mr. Lan, you have no wilderness survival experience, nor are you a member of the Hunter Association... Perhaps you don't have a hunting license yet?"

Lan Mu nodded and answered directly, "That's right. My only work experience is as a journalist."

Wang Ling looked troubled. Du Yu quickly said, "Manager Wang, didn't we agree on this?"

"I agreed, but if Mr. Lan is unwilling to join the club, there are many things I can't operate!"

"If Mr. Lan joins the Forest Club and becomes a member, according to the VIP benefits, he can participate in any outdoor activity with the team. This way, I can arrange for a qualified person to lead the team together, serving as a nominal leader."

"We've had situations with two leaders before. As long as they coordinate well, leading the team can actually be easier. What do you think, Mr. Lan?"

Lan Mu listened and began to ponder.

Finally, under Du Yu's eager gaze and considering the money, Lan Mu agreed.

"I can join the Forest Club, but..."

"He'll pay the annual fee!"