Xavi habitually observed his first customer. <br><br>This man had a slightly weary appearance, trying his best to maintain basic courtesy by not darting his eyes around, yet revealing a hint of unease. He wore a black suit with no tie, and the top button of his shirt remained undone. <br><br>Additionally, the suit showed signs of creasing, faint stubble shadowed his face, and his eyes were bloodshot—clear indications of insufficient rest. <br><br>Overall, the impression this customer gave Xavi was that of someone who hadn’t slept well or even at all, burdened by considerable distress. <br><br>His accent suggested he was a local. <br><br>Hmm… That was all Xavi could discern for now. He nodded slightly to himself. And then… nothing else came to mind. <br><br>—Let’s take a look at the situation on-site. <br><br>The customer had entered, holding the club’s credential, which clearly indicated that he had some awareness of the "Buyers Club 66." <br><br>Xavi, as the new owner, remained silent while scrutinizing the customer. Afterward, he continued maintaining his silence. He genuinely had no idea what to do next. <br><br>Should he… greet the customer? But how exactly should one greet someone? Should he emulate the previous owner’s stylish entrance? The problem was, the man had already come in while he was seated. Alternatively, should he introduce some mysterious and unknown items here to elevate his own prestige? Yet apart from having a bit of knowledge about the "Crimson Moon," he could only offer a hollow laugh. <br><br>So was he supposed to discuss with this man, at least a decade older than him, how the "Crimson Moon" was actually a pair of stylish monocles? <br><br>That would be hilariously awkward. <br><br>He had no clue what to do next… But the man was still waiting, glancing nervously at Xavi, which only made Xavi feel even more uncomfortable. <br><br>“You… is there something you’re looking for?” <br><br>After a long internal struggle, Xavi finally broke the silence. <br><br>“You’re…” the middle-aged man asked, puzzled. <br><br>“This is the owner of the club. Please, have a seat, guest,” You Ye suddenly interjected. <br><br>Although just a doll, in every aspect, she was impeccable—so much so that she was capable of easing her master’s troubles. At that moment, Xavi found himself thinking that the most useless thing left by the previous owner was that tedious manual, while the most practical was undoubtedly You Ye, this capable maid. <br><br>Alas, she was just a doll—merely a doll, after all. <br><br>You Ye guided the uneasy middle-aged man to the reception area to sit down—which was essentially just a round table near the display window. <br><br>After the guest was seated, You Ye approached Xavi and softly said, “Master, just listen to the guest’s request and assess whether it's worth negotiating. If you think the Trade Coin offered isn’t enough, rejecting it is completely fine.” <br><br>It could be considered a reminder of sorts. What a thoughtful maid doll. <br><br>Xavi nodded. Although he felt as nervous as any ordinary person might, he didn’t show his emotions too overtly. Perhaps it was just his nature. Xavi calmly walked to the middle-aged man and sat opposite him. <br><br>“Are you… really the owner of this club?” The middle-aged man scrutinized Xavi from head to toe. <br><br>“Is that strange?” Xavi countered. <br><br>The middle-aged man quickly shook his head, as if afraid of causing offense, and explained, “No, no… It’s just… It’s different from what I imagined.” <br><br>Curiosity had always been one of Xavi’s strong traits, so he immediately asked, “What exactly did you imagine?” <br><br>The middle-aged man replied, “I’ve heard legends about this club from my ancestors. Even my grandfather didn’t know how long this club has been around.” <br><br>He gazed at Xavi again and continued, “According to my grandfather, he visited this club three times in his lifetime. Each time, the owner he met looked exactly the same… yet didn’t seem like a young man.” <br><br>“Let’s discuss what you, sir, are looking for,” Xavi said calmly. <br><br>He wanted to leave the other party with a sense of mystery. Honestly, he wasn’t certain if such an approach would help with the upcoming transaction. It was simply because the previous owner gave him a similar mysterious impression, so he thought he should replicate it. <br><br>Hearing this, the middle-aged man hastily placed the black card he was gripping tightly on the table. <br><br>He must have valued the card greatly because he had been clutching it with both hands since stepping into the store. “This, this! I… I want to buy back my factory!” <br><br>The middle-aged man began to recount his story. <br><br>His name was Gold Fortune, coming from a family that had operated a large machine tool manufacturing factory for generations—a name familiar to the local community. Of course, for someone like Xavi, who barely cared about the business world, it was his first time hearing the name. <br><br>Recently, Gold Fortune's factory had faced a crisis. Unawares, the ownership of the factory had transferred, now belonging to his son-in-law. <br><br>Over the past few years, his son-in-law would occasionally ask him to sign some documents. Trusting the man, Gold Fortune hadn’t paid much attention. By the time he realized it, the factory had already changed hands. More shockingly, even his personal assets had become his son-in-law’s property. <br><br>Gold Fortune’s daughter had died in a car accident years ago, but his son-in-law never remarried. He diligently worked at the factory every day, raising their child, who was just a year old at the time, as both father and mother. <br><br>It was this dedication that earned Gold Fortune’s increasing trust in his son-in-law, which ultimately led to him unknowingly losing everything. <br><br>“Zi Qian, that… that scoundrel, is planning to tear down the factory and collaborate with a developer to build luxury residential areas on the land! The workers will only receive a meager severance package! Dozens of families—some have dedicated half their lives to my factory… I can’t let this happen!” <br><br>… <br><br>Looking at the card on the table, completely black with a golden insignia engraved on one side, Xavi noted its resemblance to the contour of the Sacrificial Stand on the negative third floor of the club. <br><br>So… was this card meant as the Trade Coin? <br><br>Having no concept of the card’s value, Xavi started feeling awkward again. <br><br>“We understand your request, sir,” You Ye said as she appeared with a delicate tea set. After placing the tray down, she picked up the card and smiled, “There remains a single emblem. After completing this transaction, it will vanish. According to the rules, you’ll enjoy a ten-percent discount on your Trade Coin… Are you certain you wish to proceed? If so, please state the amount of Trade Coin you believe appropriate for the transaction. Of course, the final judgment on the Trade Coin’s adequacy lies with our owner.” <br><br>You Ye was amazing! <br><br>“I… I know the rules,” Gold Fortune said, taking a deep breath. “My grandfather told me about them before he passed.” <br><br>At this point, Gold Fortune fell silent. Xavi observed him closely—it was clear he had resolved to come here, but he hadn’t firmly decided to go through with the transaction. <br><br>“With… half of my remaining Years of Life,” Gold Fortune finally said, leaving Xavi quite shocked. <br><br>Although he had skimmed the so-called “owner’s manual,” Xavi still had no solid grasp on the club’s operations. Everything felt incredibly novel. Interacting with that Sacrificial Stand alone had already seemed mysterious enough. <br><br>Years of Life? <br><br>He forced himself to play the role of an observer, eager to see how You Ye would handle the situation and witness this seemingly absurd yet tangible scene. <br><br>“I understand,” You Ye nodded. “For humans, Years of Life are among the most precious Trade Coin. Please hold on for a moment and also close your eyes, guest.” <br><br>You Ye extended a finger and gently touched Gold Fortune’s forehead. <br><br>Shortly after, she withdrew her arm and put back on—or rather, never removed—her black gloves. <br><br>“Sir, based on your physical condition, your remaining Years of Life are estimated at thirty-seven years. Half of that is eighteen years and six months.” <br><br>“Eighteen years…” A look of fear flashed through Gold Fortune’s eyes, but he gritted his teeth and said, “Eighteen years is fine. I can’t let my employees suffer with me. They have families depending on them. Without this factory… I’ve decided. I’ll exchange my eighteen years and six months for my factory!” <br><br>“Sorry, sir. The transaction’s completion still requires the owner to determine whether your Trade Coin is sufficient.” <br><br>“This… This…” <br><br>Watching Gold Fortune glance at him nervously again, Xavi found himself in yet another awkward predicament… Judging? How? <br><br>“Perhaps our owner needs some time to consider,” You Ye said with a smile. “Guest, you may return for now. Once there’s news, the card in your possession will provide guidance… Thank you for visiting the ‘Buyers Club 66.’” <br><br>You Ye was truly incredible…)
