The meeting went smoothly and the atmosphere was very harmonious. Although Ke Jin had already introduced the situation of his card pool, there were still many people who asked him questions during the free communication time, especially the luck master who helped Ke Jin with the first draw. Everyone was very curious.
But Ounuo had already stressed that the information must not be disclosed. Ke Jin could not break his promise and could only apologize and say that the other party did not want to disclose his identity. This kind of thing is normal. The more powerful the fortune teller, the more strange rules there are. Although it is regrettable, everyone also stopped asking and turned to ask other questions.
Ke Jin discovered that Su Yufeng, who was sitting next to him, hadn't said a word from beginning to end. Even during the speaking session just now, he didn't say anything. The others also skipped him tacitly. No one talked to him during the free exchange. It seemed that everyone had tacitly ignored this person.
The two and a half hour exchange seminar ended quickly and everyone left the venue one after another. When Ke Jin stood up, he saw Su Yufeng deliberately lingering in his seat, as if he wanted to avoid going out with everyone.
For some reason, Ke Jin's brain suddenly got hot and he blurted out.
"Um...if it's convenient, could you exchange contact information with me?"
Su Yufeng was obviously stunned for a moment, then he raised his head slightly, stared at Ke Jin with a look as if he had seen a ghost, and did not speak for a long time.
"I, I was thinking, we are both SSR first draw card pool card users." Being stared at by the other party with that exposed eye was a little frightened, Ke Jin laughed dryly and explained, "I... I have a lot of things I want to ask you, so... leave me a contact number for easy communication."
Su Yufeng's eyes were similar to his hair color, both were brownish, with a warm feeling. But when he stared at Ke Jin without blinking, Ke Jin felt an inexplicable chill on his back. After a long time, he turned his head back, still without saying anything.
Is this... am I being rejected again?
"Xiao Ke! Are you done packing?" Secretary Xiao Bai suddenly called out from the front, "Come and help me move some things!"
Ke Jin responded, but after taking a few steps, Secretary Xiao Bai grabbed his arm and dragged him out the door: "This way, this way, please~!"
The two of them walked all the way to the door before Secretary Xiaobai let go of Ke Jin's arm and whispered.
"Xiao Ke, don't bother talking to Yu Feng."
"Huh?" Ke Jin was stunned for a moment, then realized that Secretary Xiao Bai's "moving things" was just an excuse to pull him out alone, "Why? Doesn't he like being talked to?"
"It's my fault. I arranged your seats together and forgot to tell you about him." Secretary Xiaobai clasped his hands together, looking apologetic, and lowered his voice even more.
"Yufeng, he can't speak."
Ke Jin didn't react for a moment: "What? Can't speak means...?"
"It means exactly what it says. He can't speak." Secretary Xiaobai pointed to the location of his throat. "A few years ago, when he and his family were out, they encountered a serious traffic accident. Both his parents died, and he was severely burned. His throat was also injured. He will never be able to speak again in his life."
"This incident dealt him a heavy blow, and his temper has become a little strange. Everyone tries to avoid talking to him for fear of hurting him - because this will only make him more aware that he can no longer communicate with others through language, so...you should stop talking to him."
Ke Jin was very surprised. He thought that the other party was still dressed so tightly in such hot weather, probably to cover up the burn scars on his body... He was so young and had to encounter such a misfortune. If it were him, he would probably not even want to go out and see people.
"I understand." Ke Jin sighed and nodded, "If I have the chance to meet him again in the future, I will pay attention."
***
After being informed of Su Yufeng's situation by Secretary Xiaobai, Ke Jin felt a little heavy-hearted. Secretary Xiaobai also looked listless. When the two were waiting for the elevator to go downstairs, no one spoke.
After waiting for a while, Ke Jin subconsciously opened the system in his brain and took a look, then he was stunned.
In the past few days, he would check the "Influence Index" from time to time, hoping to find the growth pattern of this index. Before the meeting, he remembered that the value was still "812", but now it has suddenly increased to "935"! It has increased by more than 100 points!
Obviously, this forum is very useful for improving the "influence index", but what kind of way is it? Is it a peer exchange? Is it necessary to exchange and communicate with peer card users to improve the index?
Ke Jin wasn't quite sure about his guess, but he had finally found a breakthrough, so he had to give it a try even if it was useless!
"Secretary Xiaobai," Ke Jin immediately looked at the "insider" beside him, "Besides this kind of exchange seminar, what other activities does the Card Pool Bureau have on a regular basis that allow card users to exchange and learn from each other?"
"Hmm?" Secretary Xiaobai was stunned for a moment and shook his head. "There is nothing else at the moment. In fact, our card pool bureau advocates that everyone develops freely, and we try not to interfere too much in normal times. As for whether the card users spontaneously organize regular meetings... I am not sure about this."
"So are there any competitions or something like that?" Ke Jin asked. Apart from ordinary exchange meetings, only "competitions" can bring colleagues together.
Secretary Xiaobai's eyes lit up. "That's true. At the end of every year, the Chikongzhou Card Pool Bureau will conduct an annual selection for the card pool system. Each city will recommend excellent card pools, card users, and cards to submit. Finally, the successfully selected card users will be invited to the General Bureau to participate in the award ceremony. The media will also follow up and report on it every year. It is considered an annual event for the Chikongzhou Card Pool System."
As soon as Ke Jin heard it, he thought it was very reliable - if he could be selected and become the annual honoree, it would obviously be a good opportunity to greatly increase his "influence". This is the right way to increase influence!
"When will this annual selection be held?" Ke Jin asked expectantly, "Is there a specific date?"
"Usually it's in the middle of the last month of the year," said Secretary Xiao Bai, "It will start in about three months."
Three months... My mission is due to be completed within three months. It's simply too late!
The most promising path was unexpectedly blocked. Ke Jin choked, but continued to ask without giving up.
"Besides this kind of official event, are there any other competitions? For example, those organized by private organizations?"
"Hmm..." Secretary Xiaobai frowned and thought for a while, "You know the situation in Qixing City. This kind of competition is simply impossible to hold. Other cities may have it, but it is generally limited to the city's card pool. They probably won't accept applications from outsiders."
"Then...are there any exhibitions or something like that?" Ke Jin thought of the kind of trade fairs that were very common in his world. "As long as it's an event that can gather many card users, whether it's for communication or competition, it's fine!"
Although he didn't understand why Ke Jin was so eager to attend this kind of peer meeting, Secretary Xiaobai still thought about it carefully: "The capital of Chikongzhou does hold such exhibitions, but I haven't heard of any recently. However... if you want to make friends with more card users and expand the popularity of your card pool and cards, I suddenly thought of a project that might be suitable for you."
"Oh?" Ke Jin perked up, "What is it?"
Secretary Xiaobai stared at Ke Jin for a while, then suddenly raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a sly smile.
"Xiao Ke, do you usually watch variety shows?"
……Um? ?
***
That night, Ke Jin announced it at the dinner table.
"I'm going to participate in a talent show." He said seriously, then put his hands together and bowed, "I'll start preparing from tomorrow. I need your help, please!"
Qi almost spilled the bowl of soup, Oloy bit his tongue, and even Xiaochu, who was "chewing" the SSR card on the table, stopped and looked up at the black-haired young man.
"I'm serious... Can you please stop looking at me like I'm an idiot?"
"No, no." The silver-haired young man was the first to regain his composure and smiled gently at Ke Jin. "Xiao Jin, you are indeed quite qualified. It is normal for you to start a side business besides being a card operator. It is very... uh, very normal. I fully agree."
"Didn't you just attend that card master symposium during the day?" Ouloi looked at Ke Jin several times, still with a look of confusion on his face, "So you sat together and talked for a long time, and the conclusion was to let you participate in the talent show?? Is it their brains that are out of control or yours?"
"Is this weird?" Ke Jin was also a little confused. After all, Secretary Xiaobai didn't say that when she introduced him to him. "Secretary Xiaobai told me that there is a famous card talent show in Chikongzhou. I plan to take the cards in my card pool to participate."
Qi & Oloy: "..."
……oh.
"So that's why you said you need our help?" Qi said with a smile, "Do you want me to make some special cards?"
"That's not necessary. I plan to select four ready-made cards from the card pool, plus the one you are currently making, so that I can bring a total of five to the auditions." When mentioning this, Ke Jin looked at Qi with eager eyes, "How is the set of cards you are making going?"
A few days ago, after the system generated the card formula for "Spicy Duck Neck", Ke Jin immediately handed it over to Qi, entrusting him to make a complete set and put it into the card pool. Now four or five days have passed, and it should be almost done.
"It will be done the day after tomorrow." Qi said confidently, "But... are you sure that thing can really be eaten as a snack?"
Qi has been to many places over the years and has seen all kinds of snack cards, but this is the first time I've heard of someone using "duck neck" as a snack...
Even when humans cook, they rarely use this kind of food, right? Can something that is so tasteless and hard to chew really become a popular snack like "cookies", "bread" and "toffees"?
"Of course it's a snack. You'll know when you make it and try it." Ke Jin said with a smile.
The card talent show he was going to participate in was called "This Card is Not Ordinary!" Whether the taste of the spicy duck neck could be accepted by the public was one thing, but the variety was at least very rare at the moment, so it should be qualified as "not ordinary"... In short, he was definitely going to bring this new card to the audition!
After finishing the communication with Qi, Ke Jin turned his attention to the other person at the table.
"Ouno..."
The boy was not surprised by Ke Jin's "flattery" at all. He raised his eyebrows and said, "Hmph, let me guess... You want me to help you draw an SSR circulation card, right?"
The cards brought to the competition must be circulating cards, and it is best to use SSR cards of the highest quality possible. Ke Jin's luck is limited, and he may not be able to get the cards even if he draws tens of thousands of times. At times like this, of course he has to cling to the European Emperor!
"Ounuo, please state your conditions." Ke Jin knew that this young ancestor would definitely not help for free, so he asked directly for the price.
Seeing the boy's gaze towards Qi, Ke Jin quickly added: "You and Qi have already made the bet. If you ask me to drive him away now, it will violate your previous agreement."
The boy immediately showed a very regretful expression. He tilted his head and thought for a while, then said casually.
"Then pay me another 100 million." He said it with little interest, as if nothing else except driving Qi away was worth getting excited about, so the conditions he proposed were also very casual, "Counting the 100 million from the first draw, you can just pay me 200 million when the time comes."
Ke Jin: “…”
It was also the first time that Qi heard that Ke Jin actually owed Ounuo 100 million yuan. He stared at Ke Jin in amazement for a long time and said reluctantly.
"Xiao Jin, you...you have to be careful. You just casually owe another 100 million. What if it happens eight or ten times in the future? How many times will you have to sell yourself to pay it back?"
Before Ke Jin could say anything, Ou Luoyi glared at Qi fiercely with dissatisfaction.
"It's only 100 million. What the hell are you yelling about? Why are you selling yourself to me?! If he really sells himself to me...if...if..."
The boy didn't know what he was thinking about, and suddenly he got stuck. In the end, he couldn't even speak, as if his brain had suddenly crashed.
"Ounuo?" Ke Jin called out worriedly - what happened to this child? Why did it suddenly seem like the repeater was malfunctioning?
"...I, I'm fine!" The boy suddenly came to his senses. Perhaps he felt that his previous behavior was a bit embarrassing, and his fair face turned slightly red.
"Anyway, that's it! One hundred million or selling myself, which one do you choose? I, I can do both!"
Qi & Ke Jin: "..."
Why are there suddenly some weird options? And what does it matter if I choose one or not?
Ke Jin: "Well... I'll choose 100 million then."
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