Chapter 48: Starting Work
Nan Yun and the others didn't spend much time on the star network. Instead, they focused on the information regarding the families whose requests Nan Yu would be accepting in the future.
Nan Yun took out the business card from the first family.
Nan Yu picked it up and glanced at it.
The name written on it was Zhou Yunmei.
She was a woman, and Nan Yu knew of her.
Although the Zhou family wasn't particularly powerful on the Capital Star, Zhou Yunmei herself was quite formidable.
Not because she was especially strong—she was an Ability User—but because through her own abilities and achievements, she had obtained a position at the Capital Star Trade Center, where she was specifically responsible for inspecting imports and exports.
At first glance, it seemed like an unremarkable position and didn't sound very impressive.
But in reality, it was an extremely influential one.
Her network of connections was vast.
After all, everyone engaged in that line of work had to go through her. Otherwise, it would be difficult to even complete business deals.
Over time, anyone with a brain understood just how extensive Zhou Yunmei's connections were.
Those who initially hadn't taken her seriously were now trying to curry favor with her.
And they couldn't touch her either.
Her performance had been outstanding, and she had already come to the attention of the royal family.
In other words, if someone wanted to remove her from her position, the person sitting on the throne would have to approve it.
Although the Empire no longer emphasized imperial authority, the Emperor still possessed the status, power, and privileges appropriate to the position.
It's just that the royal family had become much more low-profile and approachable than before.
Unlike the old days, they no longer stood above everyone else and held the power to kill at will.
Nan Yu said, "It's her son, right? He had a falling out with his family and secretly left the Capital Star to join an extremely unprofessional adventure team to hunt Ability Beasts. In the end, they didn't know his identity and used the rookie as cannon fodder. If Zhou Yunmei hadn't discovered it in time and spent a huge amount of money to send people after him, he probably wouldn't even have been brought back alive."
But even though he was brought back alive, her son ended up like this.
He was only one step away from reaching S-rank mental contamination.
If they could invite a High-Tier Mental Power User to remove it, he could still be saved.
But how could Zhou Yunmei possess that kind of influence?
Nor had she contributed enough to the Empire for it to open a special channel for her.
Unable to invite a High-Tier Mental Power User, she had no choice but to seek Mid-Tier Mental Power Users.
Yet she had invited countless renowned and capable Mid-Tier Mental Power Users, and after seeing her son, every single one of them had shaken their heads.
Thus, Zhou Yunmei's son had spent several years confined in a muddled and half-conscious state.
Only two years ago had Nan Yu suddenly risen to prominence.
Actually, Zhou Yunmei had previously approached the Nan family.
However, Nan Yu had still been young back then and his abilities weren't sufficient.
Moreover, all his thoughts had been occupied by Bai Zhouyun.
Perhaps Zhou Yunmei herself had also had concerns. After one unsuccessful visit, she had never come again.
But things were different this time.
Nan Yu had returned after completing a secret military mission.
Even if Zhou Yunmei didn't know the details, she could guess roughly what it meant.
Thus, the moment Nan Yun and Nan Zhen released the news, she had hurried over immediately.
Nan Yun blinked.
"You know about them?"
Nan Yu nodded.
"This incident caused quite a stir back then. I heard many people talking about it. It's just that after several years, my memory became a bit fuzzy. If you hadn't brought it up, I wouldn't have remembered."
"I didn't expect Zhou Kunyao to be this lucky. It's been three or four years already, right? And he's still maintained that condition?"
Nan Yun replied, "That's not strange. They say Zhou Kunyao's potential as an Ability User was pretty good. He'd always been rebellious and hated being controlled by his elders. He wanted to prove his own strength. He was overly confident, which led to what happened afterward."
Nan Yu nodded.
"Then let's prepare. Tomorrow, we'll visit the Zhou family."
Although Nan Yun was still worried, he would quietly support his little brother.
"When you get there, make sure to examine him first. If you think it'll be too difficult, don't force yourself, understand? As a Mental Power User, I think you understand better than your big brother what happens when mental power is overdrawn."
Nan Zhen also nodded solemnly.
"That's right."
Nan Yu smiled.
"Don't worry. Am I someone who doesn't know his limits? I'll definitely judge the situation first."
Meanwhile, Bai Zhouyun lay bored on his bed.
These days, aside from his room, the villa, and the courtyard, he wasn't allowed anywhere.
He had tried sneaking out.
He had attempted disguises °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° and even climbing over walls in secret.
Every time, he had been caught and dragged back.
After learning about it, his grandfather had ruthlessly scolded him over a communication call.
And the final sentence still remained fresh in his mind.
Back then, Old Master Bai had worn a ferocious expression as he roared:
"If you dare take one step outside this door, then from that day on, you are no longer a member of the Bai family!"
Those words were severe.
He had always acted so recklessly precisely because he was a member of the Bai family.
Without the Bai family's protection, Bai Zhouyun would truly be nothing.
Although his parents wouldn't just watch him get bullied, the person with the highest status in the Bai family was still Old Master Bai.
Therefore, after hearing those words, he completely gave up.
Now he simply lay weakly on his bed, bored, watching his favorite videos and movies.
From time to time, he would call Nan Yu.
Although none of the calls ever connected, he had gone from anger and shock at the beginning to complete numbness.
After another unanswered call, Bai Zhouyun sprawled dejectedly across the bed.
But before long, another communication request arrived.
He abruptly raised his head.
Disappointment flashed through his eyes, but he still accepted it.
Yun Feiyu appeared on the screen.
"Zhouyun, I heard... well, are you okay? If you're feeling bored, I can chat with you."
Bai Zhouyun was irritated to death right now.
But Yun Feiyu was the person he currently liked, so naturally he couldn't vent his anger on him.
He could only sulk and complain.
"Grandpa's gone too far. Why is he treating me like this? Was this really my fault? I just went to Floating Colors for a drink. Sure, I got drunk, but I didn't do anything."
Of course, Yun Feiyu knew he hadn't done anything.
He even knew the person who had accompanied Bai Zhouyun while drinking at Floating Colors.
After all, he had followed Bai Zhouyun there many times.
That person actually lived very cleanly.
He only drank with customers and never slept with them.
So Bai Zhouyun really had been wronged this time.
Yun Feiyu had even defended him online before, but unfortunately it had accomplished nothing.
Instead, he had been startled by the countless abusive private messages sent to him by angry netizens.
"I know. I believe you, Zhouyun. You're not that kind of person at all. Someone as devoted as you could never do such things. It's all those people online. They don't use their brains and just believe rumors and slander you."
Hearing that, Bai Zhouyun immediately understood that Yun Feiyu stood completely on his side.
Sure enough, someone who truly liked him was completely different from Nan Yu.
"You're the one who understands me best. Meeting you really was the best thing that ever happened to me."
When Yun Feiyu heard those words, he was stunned as well.
Although he didn't understand why Bai Zhouyun had suddenly said such a thing, it was clearly moving in a favorable direction.
So he didn't deny it.