A Beauty Full of Melancholy

Pingjiang Chamber of Commerce.

Aside from the association's upper ranks, Mao Lin sat at the head of the table, his face frighteningly gloomy.

"President, hurry and think of a solution!"

At that moment, one of the executives finally could not sit still any longer and stepped forward. "As everyone knows, a single city can only have one first-tier merchant association. And we happen to be at the critical juncture of the association rankings!"

"Yes, President."

Another executive stepped forward and said, "Our competition with the Baofeng Merchant Association had originally been evenly matched. We had even surpassed them in expanding the markets for gold, silver, and cultivator goods. But now, relying on a single book, the Baofeng Merchant Association's revenue this month has forcibly exceeded that of our Pingjiang Chamber of Commerce by twenty percent. If it remains like this next month, we can only hand over the title of first-tier merchant association with both hands."

"That's right. From then on, we'll only be able to act according to the Baofeng Merchant Association's mood. They'll even have priority over us in pricing goods and choosing markets," someone else stepped forward and said.

For a time, everyone in the grand meeting hall was heavy with worry.

Mao Lin's expression darkened even further as he sat at the head of the room, his hand gripping the armrest until it creaked.

He had thought that Yi Feng's lousy book had only managed to sell two copies because of his help. Who could have expected it to become wildly popular at the Baofeng Merchant Association in the blink of an eye?

Not only that, it had allowed the Baofeng Merchant Association to use that book to surpass the Pingjiang Chamber of Commerce's profits by a full twenty percent.

"President, I heard that the book's original author came to see you before?" At that moment, an executive asked Mao Lin.

Mao Lin's brows rose.

It would have been better if no one had mentioned it. The moment they did, he nearly had a heart attack.

Yes, Yi Feng had clearly come to him first, yet he had handed over this road to riches with both hands. It hurt worse than losing his wife.

His face immediately turned incomparably awkward. After coughing twice, he waved his hand and said, "Everyone, stay calm. What trouble has our Pingjiang Chamber of Commerce not encountered since it was founded? I will handle this matter."

"May I ask how the President plans to handle it?"

Someone asked.

Clearly, although Mao Lin was the association president, the chamber did not belong to him alone. This matter had already stirred up everyone's doubts.

"I have some acquaintance with that author. At worst, I'll go speak with him again and have him return to publish through our Pingjiang Chamber of Commerce," Mao Lin said with an ugly expression.

"President, he came to our chamber seeking cooperation at the beginning, but we did not want him. Now we're asking him to come back—will it really be that easy?" one person asked.

At those words, worry also surfaced on everyone else's faces.

With that said, Mao Lin's expression did not look good either. But now that things had come to this, even if it was difficult, he had to find a way to pull Yi Feng back. Otherwise, with the chamber's executives questioning him, even he would not be able to hold his position as president!

Thinking of this, he waved his hand and said, "You don't need to worry about that. I said I have some acquaintance with him. I will definitely bring him back, so rest assured!"

"Let us hope so."

Since Mao Lin had already said so, everyone in the chamber could only choose to believe him for the time being. Only then did the meeting adjourn.

Behind Pingjiang City lay Mufu Mountain.

At the highest peak on its outskirts stood a courtyard. Beside it, a hundred-zhang waterfall plunged down, its force gathering into a crystal-clear pool. Green mist curled beside the pool, and there was another garden nearby.

Upon a jade stone, a white-robed woman caressed a zither, its music winding through the air and drawing birdsong and blooming flowers, as though this were an earthly paradise.

"Miss, Miss, wonderful news!"

Just then, a maid ran over, her face filled with delight.

"Maomao, haven't I told you not to be so impatient when doing things?" The white-robed woman looked at the approaching maid with displeasure and gently scolded her.

"Miss, he has released a new book!" Maomao waved an arm and shouted, holding a book in her hand.

"He?"

"The author of Dream of the Red Chamber?"

Hearing this, the white-robed woman hurriedly rose and walked toward Maomao. "Quick, Maomao, let me see it."

"Hmph, Miss, you said I was impatient. But look at you—aren't you even more anxious than I am?" Maomao pouted her little red lips and complained coquettishly.

"You still dare to talk back? Quick, prepare a seat and tea for me. And don't disturb me unless it's important," the white-robed woman hurriedly instructed Maomao.

With a cup of tea and a seat, the white-robed woman picked up the book and spent the entire day reading it, from morning straight until evening.

By then, she had long since finished it.

Yet she hugged the book and remained unable to recover for a long while, her gaze vacant, as though she had yet to emerge from the love between Supreme Treasure and his beloved.

"If I were given one more chance, I would tell you: I love you. If I had to add a time limit, I hope it would be ten thousand years..."

"Words like these..."

"What kind of person could possibly write them?" the white-robed woman murmured softly.

Seeing this, Maomao pouted and said, "Miss, you're like this again. Dream of the Red Chamber made you forget food and sleep last time. This time is even worse—you're staring so blankly that your eyes have gone dull."

"You little girl, you still dare to talk back." The white-robed woman gave a soft rebuke, carefully holding Supreme Treasure in her hands. Her red lips moved as she said, "One Dream of the Red Chamber, one Supreme Treasure. Maomao, tell me, this gentleman must be a very gentle person, right? What do you think he looks like?"

After saying that, her crystal-bright eyes shimmered, and her face filled with longing.

"I don't know either."

Maomao shook her head in distress.

"Ah!"

A soft sigh, brimming with melancholy.

Knock, knock, knock!

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

"Hm?"

The white-robed woman frowned.

Maomao was also full of confusion. No one had ever come to this place...