Zhao Jianhua's cold rebuke left Zhao Ruoxi silent for a long while.
Zhao Ruoxi had never expected her second uncle, who had always doted on her, to say such things — to paint Shi Feng in such a terrible light. There had clearly been a serious misunderstanding; someone must have been stirring up trouble behind the scenes.
"Second Uncle, who told you this?" Zhao Ruoxi didn't immediately refute his words, wanting to understand exactly what was going on.
"It doesn't matter who said it. Ruoxi, from now on you are not to have any contact with the likes of Shi Feng. This is also your eldest uncle's wish." Zhao Jianhua knew that Ruoxi was completely smitten and wouldn't listen to anything he said, so he needed to cut through the mess decisively. After that, he would go have a word with Shi Feng and make him stay far away from Ruoxi.
Zhao Ruoxi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She knew her second uncle meant well, but her relationship with Shi Feng was nothing like what he imagined — they were just classmates. It was as if he thought she and Shi Feng were inseparable sweethearts. She couldn't help but smile: "Second Uncle, since when did you start covering for someone else? Let me guess… the person behind this must be Lin Feilong."
"That's right — it was indeed Lin Feilong." Since Zhao Ruoxi had already figured it out, Zhao Jianhua didn't deny it. Instead, he admitted it bluntly: "Shi Feng is nothing more than a mediocre nobody. I actually think Feilong is a fine young man — not only is he handsome and ambitious, but he's also skilled in combat. The Divine Realm is all the rage right now, and I hear Feilong has even become an executive in the Shadow Guild. He has a sharp eye for future prospects as well. A fine young man like that, and you'd rather chase after some loser? On this matter, even your second uncle stands on your eldest uncle's side."
"Second Uncle, you've really misunderstood. There's nothing going on between us." Zhao Ruoxi was caught between laughter and tears. Lin Feilong's actions actually made her angry, though she also felt a sense of relief. Thanks to Shi Feng's appearance, she had finally seen through Lin Feilong's true colors.
"Misunderstood? Your second uncle has eyes like a hawk — I see things clearly. In any case, there is absolutely no way I'm letting that kid in. I have that much authority at least." Zhao Jianhua had no intention of believing Ruoxi's words. He knew full well that she had been cunning and slippery since she was a child, and he wasn't about to fall for it again on this matter.
Zhao Jianhua was no shrewd businessman, nor did he manage the corporation. He was a martial arts fanatic and fighter who had later taken over the corporation's security division. The person who truly ran the entire group was Zhao Ruoxi's father, Zhao Jianxuan.
That was why Zhao Jianhua had always favored future fighters like Lin Feilong. Only a strong man could properly protect his woman. But what was Shi Feng? He had looked into it thoroughly — the boy was a complete pushover who got bullied all the time. Someone like that was far too unreliable, so this time Zhao Jianhua firmly stood in opposition.
While Zhao Jianhua and Zhao Ruoxi were talking, Lin Feilong eavesdropped outside the door, secretly rejoicing.
He couldn't beat Shi Feng out in the open. But in the shadows, he could absolutely destroy him. With Zhao Jianhua firmly opposing things — and having already tipped off Zhao Jianxuan about the matter in advance — both men would resist with all their might. Even if Shi Feng had bewitched Zhao Ruoxi body and soul, the two of them could never be together. All he had to do was wait until he had risen through the ranks of Shadow. Once he became a core figure, Zhao Jianxuan and Zhao Jianhua would likely both support him and Zhao Ruoxi getting together.
With the financial backing of the Zhao Corporation, he would be able to take full control of Shadow. And when that time came, what would Shi Feng matter? What would Zhang Luowei matter? What would Lan Hailong matter?
"Youcai, you did well this time. I'll put in a good word for you with Brother Zhang. Once you graduate, come join us at Shadow." Lin Feilong patted the deferential He Youcai on the shoulder, looking pleased.
"It was nothing — just a small thing. I'll be counting on your support in the future, Brother Long." He Youcai grinned.
The student council president was certainly a big shot at Jinhai University, but once you left the university, he was worth absolutely nothing — nobody gave him the time of day. It was for the sake of his own future that He Youcai had agreed to Lin Feilong's request, refusing to register Shi Feng for the event. And with Zhao Jianhua also issuing orders to bar Shi Feng from entering, it was killing two birds with one stone — why wouldn't he do it?
But He Youcai and Lin Feilong had no idea that outside the venue, things were already bursting with excitement. The Jinhai Social Mixer had always been famous in Jinhai City — plenty of journalists and media outlets would show up, not to mention the spectators.
But now it was even more lively, packed with so many people that passersby thought some world-famous celebrity had appeared. All kinds of people were lined up in long queues, and nobody really knew what was going on.
"Hey mister, what's going on up ahead? Why are so many people queuing up?"
"Oh, you don't know? Zero Wing is recruiting."
"Zero Wing? What's that?"
"It's the strongest and most mysterious guild in the Star Moon Kingdom, of course."
"The Star Moon Kingdom? What's that?"
"Damn, have you even played the Divine Realm? You don't know about this? What kind of country bumpkin are you?"
"......"
Most of the passersby were office workers, busy from nine to five, struggling to make ends meet. They had no time to play any games, so naturally they didn't know. However, seeing hundreds of people lining up, and the number growing, made many non-players deeply puzzled about the Divine Realm, wondering what kind of game could have such an impact.
It was just a game guild recruiting new members, yet hundreds had come to sign up, and the number was surging. It would likely surpass a thousand soon. What was even more incredible was that television reporters had arrived to broadcast the scene live.
What was going on?
"It's just a game guild hiring people. You don't earn a single cent and still have to line up so laboriously. What idiots." A passing white-collar Elite scoffed from the side.
The words spoken by this white-collar Elite instantly drew looks of contempt and pity from many in the queue.
"What an idiot, he doesn't even understand what it means for a Divine Realm guild to recruit. No wonder he's destined to toil his whole life."
"Why bother with him? How would he know? In the real world, guild recruitment is for professional gamers for the guild's studio. Such white-collar Elites earn four or five thousand a month, so naturally they look down on people like us who can make two or three thousand just working a night shift."
"Are you mistaken? Those are for peripheral members. For regular members, it's a guaranteed five thousand. For Elite members, it's a guaranteed ten thousand. But this recruitment is large—three hundred peripheral members, one hundred regular members, and twenty Elite members. We might actually have a chance."
"True. I heard core members get a guaranteed fifty thousand. I wonder what the salary is for those eight top players."
"I heard their annual salaries are in the tens of millions. A major financial consortium offered a staggering eight million, but not one of those eight was tempted. Zero Wing Guild's financial strength is simply unimaginable."
The queuing players chattered amongst themselves. However, that Elite white-collar began to feel uneasy. After going through so many rounds of interviews, spending who knows how much time, and grinding for two or three years, he had finally secured a monthly salary of five thousand. Yet now, he was worse off than a regular member in a recruitment with such low competition. Moreover, these people only needed to work a night shift. The urge to join the queue suddenly surged within him.
Just as Shi Feng was interviewing one player after another on the street, he also attracted the attention of guests attending the Social Mixer. This was especially true for large studios from Jinhai City, as well as some combat sports athletes planning to transition into the Divine Realm.
"Haha, Zero Wing Guild is actually here. Coming to this Social Mixer was truly worthwhile."
"Zero Wing Guild? Then let's go talk to that person first. This is a great opportunity for our studio. Countless people and major financial consortiums across the entire Star Moon Kingdom can't even get a meeting with Zero Wing's higher-ups. We've been incredibly lucky to run into them."