He knocked for a long time before the door finally opened from the inside; a man wearing old pajamas with slightly long hair and a full beard appeared at the doorway.
Upon seeing Guo Zongbao and Mu Lingyun, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.
Quickly, he resumed his languid demeanor, "Zongbao, you really brought her here? Why bother?"
After he spoke, he turned and walked back inside, leaving the door open.
Guo Zongbao turned to Mu Lingyun and said, "Miss Mu, why don't you wait here at the door for a moment before coming in? I'll help him clean up!"
Mu Lingyun shook her head and stepped into the house.
The pungent smell of tobacco and alcohol hit her; the two odors mixed together were choking and foul.
Then there were cigarette butts and liquor bottles all over the floor, leaving no place to step in the sprawling living room.
Mu Lingyun frowned.
She hadn't expected this man to have fallen into such a state.
"This lady, if you can't endure it, why bother coming here under false pretenses? I'm curious, what do you want with a worthless person like me?" Zhai Yuewen turned to look at Mu Lingyun, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"I like doing charity. Is that a problem?" retorted Mu Lingyun, her lips curling up slowly.
Zhai Yuewen: ...
Mu Lingyun looked around the room and decided not to go further.
"Good grief... to think someone could live in this house; you are indeed impressive. How is this different from living next to a septic tank?" Mu Lingyun commented sarcastically.
Zhai Yuewen: ...
Guo Zongbao: ...
Lady, are you sure you came here to make him your agent?
"I really don't understand, what's the reason for turning yourself into such a mess?" Mu Lingyun folded her arms and spoke leisurely, "Is it to please Li Xianghong and Lin Shuo? Li Xianghong and Lin Shuo live in high-end apartments—clean, well-maintained, with good security and privacy... If they knew you were living in a... um... pigsty like this, they'd be thrilled."
"You..." Zhai Yuewen was displeased.
It had been a long time since anyone had dared to mention those two names in front of him.
But Mu Lingyun didn't care whether he was happy or not and continued, "Your current life really hasn't let down Li Xianghong and Lin Shuo's expectations. They collaborated to set you up, intending for you to become the junk you are now, right? I want to interview you, how does it feel to live up to the expectations of such scum?"
"You... shut up!" Zhai Yuewen clenched his fists in a mix of anger and embarrassment.
"Heh, angry?" Mu Lingyun spoke with a smile brimming in her voice, "I'm not done yet. I also want to ask you, how does it feel to help people only to be bitten in return? To end up powerless to defend yourself, not only unable to change your slandered situation but also to live as a waste?"
Zhai Yuewen gritted his teeth, "Don't think just because you're a girl, I won't hit you!"
Guo Zongbao: ...
Lady, please shut up. At this rate, not only will you fail in recruiting him, but you might also end up getting beaten.
And Yuewen, please calm down. This lady was personally assigned by the higher-ups; though her exact status is unknown, she's definitely not someone we can afford to offend.
Mu Lingyun, however, chuckled disdainfully, "You, a waste like this, think you can hit me?"
Hearing this, Zhai Yuewen, livid, suddenly threw a punch toward Mu Lingyun.
"Yuewen, stop!" Guo Zongbao was nearly scared to death.
He tried to intervene, but it was too late.
Zhai Yuewen's fist was about to strike Mu Lingyun.