Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 485 Old Acquaintances!
“That’s right,” Rowan laughed. “Here, eat your cake. After you’re full, we’ll go see your place, and I’ll help you tidy up. Tonight, we’ll have a proper celebration—you can finally say goodbye to that awful boss!”

Luo Shuang stopped crying and smiled, nodding vigorously.

This was the first time in over a year since she came to Donghai City that she felt so relaxed and happy. The gloom that had been weighing on her heart had finally dissipated.

All of this is because she has a good older brother.

"Brother, once I've established myself at the company," Luo Shuang said earnestly, "I will definitely repay you."

"What's there to repay?" Rowan waved his hand. "Your best way to repay me is to work hard and make yourself happy."

The two left the coffee shop chatting and laughing. Luo Wen accompanied Luo Shuang back to her rented apartment, helped her unpack, and then took her to see a few new apartments.

In the end, Luo Wen rented a nicely furnished one-bedroom apartment for Luo Shuang near the martial arts community. The environment was good, the security was high, and it was very close to the East China Sea branch of Virtual Universe Company, making it convenient for commuting.

"Brother, the rent for this house must be very expensive, right?" Luo Shuang asked worriedly.

“Don’t worry, I’ll pay,” Rowan said. “You can pay for it yourself once you have a stable job and can earn your own money.”

Luo Shuang was so moved that she didn't know what to say.

After settling into his accommodation, Luo Wen took out his phone and sent a message to the HR manager of the East China Sea branch of Virtual Universe Company.

As a member of the Virtual Universe Company, and especially as a student of Blood King Luo, Luo Wen held a certain position within the company. His recommendation would naturally be taken seriously.

The HR manager quickly replied: "Mr. Luo, we have received your recommendation. Your cousin can come for an interview at the company tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM. Rest assured, we will carefully evaluate her."

Luo Wen told Luo Shuang the news.

"Tomorrow at two o'clock in the afternoon," Luo Shuang took a deep breath, "Okay, I'll be ready!"

The next day.

At 1:30 p.m., Luo Wen accompanied Luo Shuang to the East China Sea branch of Virtual Universe Company.

This is a skyscraper located in the city center, standing eighty stories tall, entirely silver-white, shimmering with a metallic sheen in the sunlight. Suspended atop the building is the logo of Virtual Universe Corporation—a vortex composed of countless stars, slowly rotating, a breathtaking sight.

"How magnificent..." Luo Shuang looked up at the building, her eyes filled with anticipation. "Am I really going to work here?"

“Of course,” Rowan chuckled, “but whether you can stay depends on your own performance.”

"I will try my best!" Luo Shuang clenched her fist.

She wore a formal suit today, with light makeup and her hair up, looking capable and energetic. She was completely different from the haggard and tired waitress she was yesterday in her worn-out work clothes.

“Let’s go, I’ll take you up,” Rowan said.

The two entered the building. The first floor was a spacious lobby, luxuriously decorated yet dignified. Behind the reception desk stood several uniformed receptionists, all carefully selected, impeccable in both appearance and demeanor.

"Hello, do you have an appointment?" a receptionist asked with a smile.

“Yes, I am Luo Wen, and this is my cousin Luo Shuang,” Luo Wen showed his ID card. “She has an interview at 2 PM today.”

The receptionist scanned Rowan's ID card, her smile immediately becoming even more respectful: "So you're Mr. Rowan! Your cousin's interview is scheduled in the HR department on the thirty-second floor. Please follow me, I'll take you there."

"Thanks."

The receptionist led them to a private elevator, which quickly took them to the 32nd floor.

This floor houses the company's human resources department. The corridor is spacious and bright, with various company certificates of honor and promotional posters hanging on the walls.

"Manager Li from HR is already waiting in the conference room," the receptionist said. "This way, please."

Upon arriving at the door of a conference room, the receptionist knocked and then pushed the door open to enter.

"Manager Li, Mr. Rowan and his cousin have arrived."

"Please come in, please come in!" a cheerful voice came from inside.

Luo Wen and Luo Shuang entered the conference room. Inside sat a woman in her forties, dressed in professional attire, exuding a capable air. She was Ms. Li, the head of the human resources department.

“Mr. Luo Wen, I’ve heard so much about you,” Manager Li stood up and extended her hand. “I’m Li Wen, the head of the Human Resources Department.”

“Hello, Manager Li,” Luo Wen shook hands with her, “this is my cousin, Luo Shuang.”

"Hello, Luo Shuang," Li Wen said, her eyes gentle. "Don't be nervous. We're just having a brief chat to get to know you."

"Thank you, Manager Li," Luo Shuang said somewhat nervously.

“Then I’ll wait outside,” Luo Wen said to Luo Shuang. “Relax, you can do it.”

Luo Shuang nodded vigorously.

Luo Wen walked out of the conference room and sat down in the lounge area outside. Through the glass windows, he could see the entire Donghai City, with its towering buildings arranged in a pleasing pattern and the azure sea stretching into the distance.

About forty minutes later, the conference room door opened. Luo Shuang walked out with a smile on her face.

"How is it?" Rowan immediately stood up.

"I passed!" Luo Shuang exclaimed excitedly. "Manager Li said I meet all the requirements and can start work next Monday!"

"That's great!" Rowan was happy for her too.

At this moment, Li Wen also came out: "Mr. Luo Wen, your cousin performed very well. Although she has no work experience in the martial arts industry, she has a good service mentality, a strong learning ability, and a very positive attitude. I believe she can handle the position of staff member in the mission hall."

“Thank you, Manager Li,” Luo Wen said.

“I should be thanking you,” Li Wen said with a smile, “for recommending a great employee to the company. By the way, Luo Shuang will have a week of training after starting work next Monday, mainly to familiarize herself with the company's rules and regulations, as well as the workflow of the task hall. She will officially start working after the training.”

“I understand,” Luo Shuang said. “I will definitely study hard!”

"That's settled then, see you next Monday," Li Wen said, shaking hands with the two of them to say goodbye.

As Luo Shuang left the Virtual Universe Company building, she was incredibly excited.

"Brother! I really did it!" she exclaimed excitedly. "I'm really going to become an employee of Virtual Universe Company!"

“Congratulations,” Rowan laughed, “but this is just the beginning. The real challenge is yet to come.”

"I know," Luo Shuang nodded earnestly, "I will do my best and never let my brother down!"

“Let’s go,” Rowan said. “Today is a good day, we should celebrate. I’ll treat you to dinner.” “No way!” Luo Shuang immediately objected. “I should be the one treating you! My brother has done so much for me, how can I let you spend money?”

"You just resigned, where did you get the money to treat us?" Luo Wen laughed.

“I have it!” Luo Shuang took out the wages she had received from Boss Wang yesterday. “It’s not much, but it’s enough to treat my brother to a meal. Besides, I got this wage back thanks to my brother. So, it has to be my treat today!”

Seeing his cousin's determined expression, Luo Wen smiled and said, "Alright, then you can treat me today."

"Great!" Luo Shuang said happily, "I know a nice restaurant nearby, let's go there!"

Luo Shuang led Luo Wen to a Sichuan restaurant that looked decent. The restaurant was elegantly decorated, had a pleasant ambiance, and while the prices weren't cheap, they were still within Luo Shuang's budget.

“This is the place,” Luo Shuang said. “I’ve passed by here several times before, always wanting to come in and try it, but I couldn’t bring myself to. Today I can finally come!”

The two entered the restaurant and found a seat by the window.

"Order whatever you want, it's on me today!" Luo Shuang said generously.

“Okay, then I won’t stand on ceremony,” Rowan said with a smile, flipping through the menu.

He ordered several of the local specialties—boiled fish, spicy chicken, Mapo tofu, garlic pork belly, and a hot and sour soup. Although he ordered quite a lot, Luo Wen kept it within Luo Shuang's tolerance.

"That's enough, that's enough. Can we possibly finish all of this?" Luo Shuang said.

“It’s okay, you can pack up the leftovers,” Rowan said. “You’re too thin right now, you need to eat more and get healthier.”

The dishes arrived quickly. They were indeed delicious, spicy, flavorful, and very authentic.

The two chatted and ate in a pleasant atmosphere. Luo Shuang talked about her expectations for her new job, while Luo Wen shared some stories about the martial arts world with her, giving her a preview.

Just as the two were enjoying their meal, a discordant voice rang out.

"Oh, isn't this Luo Shuang?"

A young man's voice, tinged with sarcasm.

Luo Shuang's smile froze instantly. She looked up, saw who it was, and her expression turned ugly.

Rowan also turned his head and saw the person who was speaking.

He was a young man in his mid-twenties, dressed in designer clothes, with slicked-back hair and a frivolous smile on his face. He was accompanied by two other young men who were also dressed in a fashionable manner.

“Zhao Ming…” Luo Shuang’s voice was very soft, clearly indicating that she did not want to deal with this person.

"What's wrong? Why are you so unhappy to see me?" The man named Zhao Ming walked over and looked Luo Shuang up and down. "Tsk tsk, it's rare to see you actually willing to eat at a place like this. I remember you used to be so reluctant to even afford a decent meal."

Luo Wen frowned. Judging from the man's tone and Luo Shuang's reaction, this must be Luo Shuang's ex-boyfriend.

“Whether I can afford it or not is none of your business,” Luo Shuang said coldly.

"Don't be so cold," Zhao Ming said with a grin, then turned his gaze to Luo Wen, "Oh, you brought a man with you? Is this your new boyfriend?"

“He is my brother,” Luo Shuang said.

"Brother?" Zhao Ming looked Luo Wen up and down, his tone dismissive. "I've never heard you mention having an older brother. Could he be someone you hired at the last minute to act?"

Rowan didn't speak, he just quietly looked at the man.

He could tell that Zhao Ming was a typical spoiled brat. He wore designer clothes, but his whole demeanor exuded frivolity and shallowness. Moreover, the way he looked at Luo Shuang was full of amusement and disdain.

“Zhao Ming, you can leave. I don’t want to talk to you,” Luo Shuang said, her tone filled with disgust.

“I’m not leaving,” Zhao Ming laughed, then pulled up a chair and sat down. “What, we’re old acquaintances, can’t we chat when we bump into each other?”

“We have nothing to talk about,” Luo Shuang said. “You should leave.”

"Hey, don't be so heartless," Zhao Ming said, then looked at Luo Wen, "Brother, you're Luo Shuang's brother? You look quite young. What do you do for a living?"

Rowan said calmly, "You don't need to know that."

"Oh, you're pretty cocky," Zhao Ming squinted. "Judging by your attitude, you don't seem like anyone important. Isn't Luo Shuang's family very poor? How come she suddenly has a brother?"

"Zhao Ming! Don't go too far!" Luo Shuang said angrily.

"I'm being unreasonable?" Zhao Ming sneered. "You're just too vain, aren't you? When you got together with me, wasn't it just because you were after my family's wealth? And what happened? My parents disapproved of our relationship because of your humble background, and you cried and begged to break up. Now what? You've found a new sugar daddy?"

"You're talking nonsense!" Luo Shuang trembled with anger. "It was your parents who thought I wasn't good enough for you and forced you to break up with me! When have I ever coveted your family's money?"

"Yes, yes, it's all our fault," Zhao Ming said sarcastically. "But seriously, you don't seem to be doing so well these days. I heard you're working as a waiter in a restaurant? Tsk tsk, a college graduate reduced to working as a waiter, how pathetic."

Luo Shuang was so angry that she couldn't speak, and her eyes were red.

Luo Wen couldn't stand it anymore. He put down his chopsticks, looked at Zhao Ming, and said coldly, "Are you done? If you're done, leave."

"Oh, so this 'brother' is going to stand up for his sister?" Zhao Ming sneered. "Fine, I'll see what you're capable of."

He stood up, looking down at Luo Wen: "Kid, if you know what's good for you, don't meddle. Luo Shuang used to be my girlfriend. We've broken up, but I want to have a chat with her. Is that too much to ask?"

“She clearly doesn’t want to talk to you,” Rowan said. “Please leave.”

"What if I don't leave?" Zhao Ming challenged.

Luo Wen didn't speak, he just looked at him. His gaze was calm, but it made Zhao Ming feel inexplicably uneasy.

"What, you want to fight?" one of Zhao Ming's companions said. "Brother Zhao, this kid doesn't know what's good for him, should we teach him a lesson?"

“Fine,” Zhao Ming sneered, “It’ll let him know that there are some people he can’t afford to offend.”

Luo Wen sighed. He hadn't wanted to cause trouble, after all, today was Luo Shuang's special day, and he didn't want to make things unpleasant. But this Zhao Ming had really gone too far.

"How do you want to teach me a lesson?" Rowan asked calmly.

"Kid, you're pretty arrogant," Zhao Ming sneered. "Fine, you've got guts. I won't bully you, let's go outside and talk."

"Zhao Ming, what are you trying to do?" Luo Shuang said nervously. "My brother isn't a martial artist; you can't bully him!"

"Not a martial artist?" Zhao Ming's eyes lit up. "That makes things easier. Kid, I'm not a martial artist either. Let's just have a pure fistfight, how about it? You dare?"

(End of this chapter)