On the top floor of the hotel, in the buffet restaurant.

Nie Yuandao and Shan Lan walked in one after the other. Tang Muzhou immediately went forward to greet them: "Long time no see, you two. How come you are followed by reporters?"

"Maybe because there's an opening ceremony tonight, we were followed by reporters as soon as we came out of the Judgment Club." Shan Lan smiled apologetically and said, "Master drove a different route to get rid of the paparazzi. I'm really sorry to have kept everyone waiting for so long."

"Why are you being polite? Dinner hasn't started yet. Come in." Tang Muzhou invited the two to walk into the hall.

There were hundreds of people in the hall, which showed Tang Muzhou's influence in the alliance. When almost everyone had arrived, Tang Muzhou said loudly, "Thank you all for coming. I think everyone is hungry. Let's eat first. We must enjoy our meal today!"

"Thank you, Mr. Tang, for the treat!" "Then we won't be polite!"

The hungry people immediately took their plates and started to choose food, and the restaurant suddenly became very lively. Compared with the official dinner of the alliance, everyone liked this private gathering more. After all, there were no senior leaders of the alliance, and everyone could speak freely.

Tang Muzhou picked up the plate and was about to pick out some food when he saw Xue Linxiang walk into the hall with a complicated look on her face. Her face seemed a little pale, so Tang Muzhou walked up to her and asked with concern, "Sister Xue, you don't look well. What happened?"

Xue Linxiang took a deep breath, and seemed to be hesitating whether to tell the other party. After a moment, she made up her mind and said, "I just saw Chen Xiao."

Tang Muzhou's eyes suddenly narrowed and he lowered his voice: "Are you sure it's Chen Xiao?"

Xue Linxiang nodded: "Xiao Chen has changed a lot, but I still recognized him. I greeted him, but he said I recognized the wrong person..."

Tang Muzhou frowned slightly: "Where is he now?"

Xue Linxiang said, "He said he was going to the restaurant on the 16th floor to have dinner. Do you want to go find him?"

Tang Muzhou said calmly, "No need. From what I know about him, since he met you and knew that there was a league player gathering at the buffet restaurant today, he would definitely not stay in this hotel to avoid running into other acquaintances. I think he has already left."

Xue Linxiang was stunned, looking a little disappointed: "He pretended not to know me, maybe he doesn't want to see you..."

At this time Shen An ran over and said, "Master, Nie Shen and the others asked you to come over to chat."

Tang Muzhou patted Sister Xue's shoulder gently to comfort her, then turned around and left with Shen An.

***

In the elevator, Chen Xiao pressed the button for the next floor, obviously not wanting to continue eating on the 16th floor. He smiled and suggested as if nothing had happened: "I know there is a barbecue restaurant with a good environment nearby. Doesn't Xiaopang like to eat meat? Why don't we go there for barbecue?"

Xie Mingzhe knew that he was deliberately avoiding Xue Linxiang, and immediately let him down the stairs: "No problem, we will come to this buffet restaurant again later, let's go for barbecue today." Of course, the others had no objection.

Led by Chen Xiao, the group crossed the road and came to a barbecue restaurant across the street.

The environment of the shop is really good, and the decoration is very exquisite. Chen Xiao asked the waiter for a private room. There was a large round table with eight seats. There was a grill plate in front of each seat. It was intelligent and automatically heated without producing smoke. The grilled meat was delicious. After sprinkling it with secret spices, even Pang Yu, who was quite picky about food, praised it: "Delicious! Very delicious! Brother Chen, why haven't I heard you introduce such a good place before?"

Chen Xiao smiled and said, "I'm afraid that you, a foodie, will ask to come every day after knowing this."

Pang Yu coughed and said, "You really understand me!"

This is also the most upscale barbecue restaurant that Xie Mingzhe has ever been to. There is elegant light music playing in the store. Thin slices of meat are sizzling on the smart grill plate, and the rich aroma lingers in the nose, which is really mouth-watering. In addition to various meats, many vegetables can also be put on the grill. There are more than a dozen kinds of sauces alone. The self-service mode is also very considerate.

As they ate and chatted, Pang Yu, a simple-minded fat boy, thought that since Xie Mingzhe was good at making cards, he could also benefit from it. He looked at Xie Mingzhe with a smile and said, "Xiao Xie, you are amazing. You made ten original cards in a week. Where do you get all these weird ideas?"

Jin Yue followed up with a question: "Xiao Xie, the style of the cards you make is very unique. Have you studied art?"

Xie Mingzhe said: "I have been learning to paint since I was a child, and I just took the entrance exam to the Fine Arts School of Royal Capital University this year."

Pang Yu gave a thumbs up in admiration: "You have ideas and can draw. No wonder you can make so many original cards! In my opinion, you don't need to go to art school. The money you make from drawing cards alone is comparable to what many people earn in decades..."

Chen Xiao interrupted the fat man and looked at Xie Mingzhe: "Don't listen to what Xiaopang said. There is no rush to decide on this matter. In fact, I think a better way out for you is to become an original professional poker player. If you are interested in this, I will help you plan it slowly."

Brother Chen's words were exactly what Xie Mingzhe wanted. He nodded immediately and said, "Brother Chen, to be honest, I have indeed thought about becoming a professional poker player."

When everyone heard this, they all looked up at Xie Mingzhe.

Xie Mingzhe said calmly, "I was able to make so many instant death cards because I was lucky enough to get the upper hand. These cards can only be sold for a month at most, and the price will definitely fall. No matter how rich you are, one day you will run out of money. Why don't we plan what to do in the future?"

He paused, then continued, "Both the Judgement and the Hell have offered me good terms to be a card designer, but I don't want to work for them. I still have a lot of ideas for making cards in my head, so why don't we do it ourselves?" He turned around and looked at Chen Xiao, and asked seriously, "Brother Chen, if we set up our own club, do you think it's feasible?"

Chen Xiao was a little surprised, and after a moment he whispered, "Establishing a club is not as easy as you think."

Xie Mingzhe said: "I know this is definitely not easy, but I want to set a goal and work towards this direction first. If I can make a complete set of character cards, I will try it out in competitions. If the results are good, I will set up a club. If not, we can take a step back and specialize in selling cards to make money."

Chen Xiao smiled, eyes full of admiration: "You are quite ambitious. However, there have been precedents in the alliance for people like you who founded their own clubs. One is Tang Muzhou in the fifth season, who founded Fenghua. The other is Pei Jingshan, who debuted in the seventh season and founded Dark Night City. But both of these people have strong backing. The Tang family is a business tycoon, and the Pei family is very prestigious in the political world. They can easily attract investment, and they have also won championships. After establishing the club, they have developed very well. And you, I don't think you have such a strong backing, right?"

Xie Mingzhe said: "You are my backstage."

He said this very lightly, but it made everyone present stunned.

Xie Mingzhe smiled and continued, "It is indeed much easier for people with money and power to create a club, but I think most players come from ordinary families. Playing in competitions is not about family background, the key is still your own strength - as long as you have enough strength, everything will be easy."

This statement is indeed very accurate. If he is strong enough to win the championship, he won't have to worry about investment, and many players will come to him. However, the competition in the league is fierce. Does he really have such strength?

Chen Xiao looked at the boy in front of him carefully and asked in a low voice: "Xiao Xie, can you tell me what your parents do for a living? Where do you get these weird card-making ideas from?"

Xie Mingzhe was reborn with memories from the Earth era. If this were known to others, it would probably bring him countless troubles. Today, it was Chen Xiao who asked about it. There would definitely be many people who would curiously ask this question in the future. He had carefully thought about how to deal with it last night.

"Actually, I lied to everyone. I have no family. I am an orphan," Xie Mingzhe said calmly.

"Orphan?" Everyone stared, unable to believe that the cheerful guy was actually an orphan.

"That's right." Xie Mingzhe explained calmly, "I grew up in an orphanage since I was a child. Fortunately, the director of the orphanage took good care of me and allowed me to learn painting. In June this year, I took the exam and was admitted to the Department of Fine Arts of Imperial Capital University. I came to Imperial Capital to work, hoping to save some living expenses for college, but when I went for a job interview, I accidentally fell from the third floor and broke my head, becoming a vegetable. I stayed in the Imperial Capital University's affiliated hospital for a whole month. I didn't tell you the truth before because I didn't want your sympathy."

So far, he had told the truth. But this experience was so mysterious that everyone was skeptical.

Chen Xiao found it incredible: "So, the hospitalization you mentioned earlier means that you broke your head and became a vegetable?"

"Yes." Xie Mingzhe added, "I have loved fantasy since I was a child. Whenever I think of something interesting, I draw it down as practice. This time I was in a coma for a whole month in the hospital. After waking up, my mental strength is stronger than before, and the inspiration for painting has never stopped in my mind."

If he became famous in the future, his origins and background would definitely be exposed - he loved fantasy and painting since he was a child, and his inspiration became richer after waking up from a vegetative state. This reason was the best shield he gave himself. He combined the true and false and said that the records of his hospitalization as a vegetative state were clear and traceable, and that the identities of an orphan and a student of the Department of Fine Arts at the Imperial Capital University were all true. Even if others were suspicious, they would not be able to find any loopholes.

Chen Xiao couldn't find any obvious faults in his words, so he looked at Chi Yingying, who immediately spoke up: "I heard from my husband that there is indeed a vegetative patient named Xie in the neurosurgery department of their hospital. He was in a coma for a whole month, and suddenly woke up and was discharged from the hospital a few days ago. He also said that this is a medical miracle. Could that person be you?"

Xie Mingzhe smiled and said, "Is it such a coincidence? Your husband is a doctor at the affiliated hospital?"

Chi Yingying said, "He is in the cardiology department, just upstairs from the neurology department. It is said that it is extremely rare for a vegetative patient to wake up. Many doctors know that you have been discharged from the hospital. The doctors said that maybe this is God's blessing, otherwise the probability of a patient like you who is in a deep coma waking up is less than 1%."

Chi Yingying's husband happened to be a doctor in that hospital. So he didn't need to explain much. Chi Yingying was his indirect witness.

After Yingying said this, everyone present immediately dispelled their doubts and said that Xiao Xie was really lucky. After falling and becoming a vegetable, he not only woke up, but did not become a fool. Instead, he became smarter than before. Isn't this God's blessing?

Chen Xiao patted Xie Mingzhe on the shoulder and sighed, "It's not easy for you to be an orphan for so many years. Don't worry, we will treat you as a family member when we are with you in the future."

Xie Mingzhe has no friends in this world, and he certainly cannot fight alone in the later stages. Brother Chen is the one he has the most contact with and the one he can trust. His talent is so terrifying that normal people would have doubts. Now that Chen Xiao and the others have dispelled their doubts, they can truly help him in the future.

Xie Mingzhe raised his glass and said sincerely, "It is my luck to meet you all. If it weren't for Brother Chen giving me the opportunity, I would never have come into contact with the game "Star Card Storm", let alone discovered my talent for card making. Brother Chen, you are my noble people, I toast to you all!"

Chen Xiao raised his cup cheerfully: "Okay, since you said so, from today on, we are all family. I hate people who are traitors. Whether we set up a club or open a store to sell cards in the future, I hope everyone will work together and do their best to help Xiao Xie!"

Everyone excitedly raised their glasses and drank them all in one gulp.

After finishing his glass of red wine, Hsieh Ming-che immediately got to the point: "Since we have decided to form a partnership, let's discuss the profit sharing today. Brother Chen said before that everyone will get 2% commission of the store's revenue. What do you think?"

Pang Yu's eyes lit up when he heard this: "If I remember correctly, the store's revenue this afternoon alone was 6 million gold coins. If you give me 2%, that's 120,000 gold coins, which is equivalent to half a month's income before. Isn't this too high?"

Chen Xiao said: "Xiao Pang is right, the 2% commission is indeed high."

Xie Mingzhe smiled and said, "You can't hire a team with true unity just by having money. Let's do as Brother Chen said." He wanted to find a few partners who were willing to help him sincerely. No matter what happened in the future, at least he would have these people behind him who were willing to support him. Money can be earned, but trustworthy partners are hard to find.

After hearing this, Chen Xiao looked at Xie Mingzhe seriously and said, "The store's revenue will increase in the future. Are you really willing to share such a large profit with us?"

"Why not?" Xie Mingzhe said straightforwardly, "If we give everyone a share of the profits, everyone will be more motivated. Although our store has just opened, I am quite confident."

The key is that he has confidence in his own imagination. Daiyu and Wu Song were lucky accidents, but his ideas for the cards of Xue Baochai, Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, Cao Chong, etc. were fully presented. His talent was also recognized by masters such as Nie Yuandao and Zheng Feng, who took the initiative to invite him to join the club, which shows that he is not self-righteous, but he really has the ability to go the path of "original cards".

A huge amount of character materials are stored in his mind. In the future, he will definitely make more cards. Why can't he take a longer-term view? Why not start his own business?

When he was an orphan, he had experienced the worst situations before. What was there to be afraid of?

Chen Xiao was shocked when he saw the calm and confident look of the young man in front of him. Since Xie Mingzhe was so confident and had the talent to create original cards, it seemed that his plan should be put on the agenda...

Chen Xiao lowered his head and began to think.

***

Everyone played outside excitedly for the whole afternoon and didn't go back until it got dark.

Xiaopang and Jinyue were drunk and went straight back to the dormitory to lie down. Chi Qing sent Chi Yingying home. Xie Mingzhe and Brother Chen were quite sober. After taking a shower, he came to the balcony on the second floor and saw Chen Xiao standing on the balcony smoking. Guessing that Brother Chen had something to say, he pushed open the door and walked in: "Brother Chen, aren't you going to sleep yet?"

Chen Xiao turned around and stared into Xie Mingzhe's eyes seriously.

The usually lazy and decadent young man now had a serious expression on his face.

The man's eyes were particularly deep, and he asked in a unique hoarse voice: "Xiao Xie, since you really plan to go down the path of original card creation, then I want to help you with something. Or, you can say, I want you to help me."

"You help me, and you also said you want me to help you?" Xie Mingzhe was confused by what he said, "What's the matter, Brother Chen?"

"I want to take you to see someone." Chen Xiao paused and said, "Originally... I shouldn't alarm him, but I think he can definitely help you."

I was just accompanying him to meet someone, but Brother Chen's attitude was so cautious. It was obvious that he was a very important person.

Xie Mingzhe nodded and agreed: "No problem, who are you going to see?"

Chen Xiao was silent for a moment, then he said with a hint of nostalgia: "My brother, Chen Qianlin."

Xie Mingzhe: “…”

Your brother is not dead? Xie Mingzhe thought his brother was gone...

Wait, why does the name Qianlin sound familiar?

Qianlin Restaurant?

Xie Mingzhe suddenly remembered that the restaurant opened by Tang Muzhou in the game was called Qianlin Restaurant. Could it be related to Chen Qianlin? Sister Xue clearly knew Chen Xiao today. So it seems that the probability that Chen Xiao's brother is related to Tang Muzhou is very high.

Xie Mingzhe suppressed his curiosity and asked, "When are you going to see your brother?"

"Let's do it tomorrow. We can't put it off any longer." Chen Xiao walked over, patted Xie Mingzhe's shoulder encouragingly, and whispered, "My brother is a very powerful person. He is a true card-making genius. If he is willing to teach you, you will definitely be able to master the skills of making battle cards faster. It's just that he has been away from the alliance for a long time and doesn't... like seeing me very much." At this point, Chen Xiao's eyes flashed with a hint of loss, but he quickly cheered up and said with a smile, "I will try my best to convince him to accept you as his apprentice. You should rest first. Get up early tomorrow. We will set out at nine o'clock."

Seeing the complicated expression on the man's face, Xie Mingzhe was smart enough not to ask any more questions and nodded: "Okay, good night, Brother Chen."