Chapter Two: One Black Badge for One Fallen Genius

Jiming leaned back. “Miss Shen, you're not recruiting a partner. You're recruiting someone to be buried beside you.” “A corpse lies still. I need someone who can sell the coffin lid to our opponent.” The owner brought a bowl of plain noodles—the only one Yanqiu could afford. She pushed it between them and took out two pairs of chopsticks. Jiming laughed under his breath. “Equity split?” “When Xuanheng is restored, seventy-thirty. The company buys your old debt at a discount; I don't repay it personally.” “Fifty-fifty.” “You cannot have sixty-five, let alone fifty-fifty. The ability is mine, and the life at risk is mine.” “Do you understand arithmetic?” “I understand control.”