Lin Xi: "Is our Ghost-Taming Society held in such low regard?"
Feng Mingyu: "Didn't you go to the meeting?"
Lin Xi: "Yeah, I came..."
Yun Ling: "What do you mean, low regard?"
Lin Xi: "I wanted to go to the second floor. Is that not allowed?"
Feng Mingyu: "What are you thinking? That floor's not for people like you."
Yun Ling: "Members of the Ghost-Taming Society aren't qualified to go upstairs."
Hearing this, Lin Xi was dumbfounded.
Lin Xi: "But I just wanted to try the food made by the state banquet chef on the second floor…"
Feng Mingyu: "罒ω罒 You're not qualified to go up there. You can only help yourself to the buffet downstairs."
Lin Xi: "o(╥﹏╥)o..."
Yun Ling: "罒ω罒 Starting to sweat, aren't you?"
Lin Xi's expression froze.
At this moment, she finally understood why everyone had advised her not to come to this meeting.
It was mortifying.
Yun Ling: "I seem to recall... your seating is arranged last, isn't it?"
Lin Xi: "What do you mean?"
Yun Ling: "It means your seats are only assigned after all the other guests are seated."
Lin Xi: "Why?"
Feng Mingyu: "Because you have no status."
Lin Xi: "I kind of regret coming. Is it too late to leave now?"
She really did regret it.
She'd planned to mooch a meal prepared by a state banquet chef, and ended up stuck with the buffet instead.
Shi Fei slowly turned to her and said, "Do you believe me now? We're not qualified to go to the second floor."
He spoke from experience—he'd attended the conference last year too.
And had been completely ignored the whole time.
"Everyone here is a business elite. We're brought along under the guise of a 'meeting' for one real reason—security."
Shi Fei continued, "They invite us as a precaution in case something goes wrong. If trouble arises, we're expected to step in."
"And you still want the state banquet chef's cooking? Dream on."
Lin Xi frowned more deeply. The more she looked at Shi Fei, the more annoying he seemed.
While he was talking, Mo Lin casually found a spot to rest for a while.
Shi Fei saw this and immediately complained, "Control your newbie. The seats here aren't for just anyone."
"Look around—everyone else has a number. You need a number to be seated."
Lin Xi glanced around and saw he was right. Everyone was holding a number, searching for their assigned place.
As for why they didn't have one, Lin Xi had already guessed.
They'd be seated only if there were leftover spots after everyone else was placed.
If there weren't any?
They'd be standing.
"What's it to you if I sit a bit?" Mo Lin snapped at Shi Fei, clearly irritated.
This guy just wouldn't stop nagging. It was beyond annoying.
Lin Xi nodded and chimed in, "Yeah, you really do talk too much."
Shi Fei crossed his arms and snorted coldly, "Fine... I'll shut up."
Just then, he noticed an elegantly dressed woman walking toward Mo Lin.
She wore crystal heels and had long, striking legs that immediately drew the eye.
"Oh, this'll be good."
Shi Fei smirked. He was sure she was coming to kick Mo Lin out of the seat.
When Mo Lin didn't even flinch, making no effort to get up, Shi Fei sneered, "Can't you see someone's coming for that seat? Still sitting there? Don't know how to show courtesy?"
"Mind your own damn business." Mo Lin replied coolly.
"Fine…" Shi Fei fumed, his face growing darker. He couldn't wait to watch Mo Lin make a fool of himself.
"Mo-ge, you're here too?" Xian Yun walked up and greeted Mo Lin warmly.
"It's been so long since I last saw you."
"I came with a friend," Mo Lin replied calmly.
Shi Fei's expression froze.
They knew each other?
Mo Lin actually knew the Xian family's young lady?
Now he looked like the clown.
A flicker of surprise danced in Lin Xi's eyes.
She hadn't expected Mo Lin to have such impressive connections.
"Shi Fei, maybe stop judging others so blindly—it only makes you look foolish," Lin Xi took the opportunity to mock him mercilessly.
Shi Fei lowered his head in shame.
People were still pouring in from outside.
And those coming in now? All well-known figures in Yunchuan.
"Mo-ge… Mo-ge…"
Before the man even appeared, a boisterous voice rang out.
The sound arrived before the person did.
Wang Bing burst through the door and immediately spotted Mo Lin, calling out to him with enthusiasm.
He hurried over.
"It's been so long—I've missed you, Mo-ge." Wang Bing gushed flatteringly.
Shi Fei's face, already unpleasant, darkened even further.
Wang Bing—young master of the Wang family.
A man whose status rivaled even that of Xian Yun.
And Wang Bing wasn't just anyone—he was a third-rank ghost tamer.
"I came with a friend," Mo Lin said, nodding toward Lin Xi. "Can we go up to the second floor?"
"Of course! Make yourself at home," Wang Bing replied without hesitation.
"I was told I'm not allowed upstairs," Mo Lin said mildly.
"Who said that?" Wang Bing asked.
Mo Lin pointed at Shi Fei. "He did."
Wang Bing glanced at Shi Fei, then turned back to Mo Lin.
"He can't go up. You can."
"He's nothing compared to you."
Shi Fei's face turned an ugly shade of purple.
The blow was brutal.
"You two aren't even in the same league. He's not worthy of comparison," Wang Bing added with blunt honesty.
And it was the truth.
What was Shi Fei, really?
Just a low-level employee of the Zilong Society.
Mo Lin, on the other hand, had close ties with both Wang Bing and Xian Yun.
That alone made him untouchable.
Lin Xi couldn't help but laugh.
Shi Fei was utterly humiliated.
He couldn't have lost face any worse if he tried.
"Heading up?" Mo Lin asked.
"Please," Wang Bing said, gesturing for him to proceed.
Mo Lin headed toward the stairs.
"Wait... I'm going too?" Lin Xi pointed at herself, visibly surprised.
"Of course! You're Mo-ge's friend. Let's go," Xian Yun said with a smile.
"Alrighty then..."
Lin Xi beamed. "I'm riding his coattails. Truly riding them this time."
The second floor was luxuriously decorated.
A stark contrast to the first floor.
Fine liquor was arranged neatly on every table.
"Mo-ge, it's really been a while. Have you been very busy lately?" Xian Yun asked curiously.
"A bit. I've been occupied with ghost-hunting," Mo Lin replied.
"Is there anything I can help with?" she asked again.
Mo Lin paused—there actually was something.
"I promised a ghost I'd help her find a pair of shoes and a silk coat."
Xian Yun's eyes lit up. "I know about that. I know exactly what you're talking about."
"A pair of embroidered shoes and a silk overcoat, right?"
Any other request, she might not have known about. But this one, she did.
"Where can I find them?" Mo Lin asked.
"There's an auction tomorrow. Those items will be up for bid. I'll take you there," she said.
"Alright," Mo Lin nodded in agreement.