Chapter Two: One Black Badge for One Fallen Genius

Lu Jiming chose a noodle shop behind the courthouse that stayed open past midnight. When Yanqiu arrived, two men had him pinned near the alley wall. His suit was too wrinkled to reveal what it had once cost, a fresh cut crossed his right eyebrow, and restructuring papers lay scattered at his feet. “When will you pay our consulting fees, President Lu?” the taller man asked, tapping his cheek. “Weren't you supposed to turn stones into gold?” Jiming turned his head aside. “That requires stones. All you have are stones where your brains should be.” Before the punch landed, Yanqiu spoke. “How much does he owe?” The men recognized her soaked evening gown. “Isn't this the young lady the Shen family just threw out? Are you going to pay for him?”