Volume One: The Hidden One Unmet

Chapter One: Maple Leaf

‘The recluse hides in the mountains, the true recluse hides in the city.’ In this world, there are many ways to categorize people, most of which are oppositional: there are men because there are women; leaders exist for a reason, and subordinates are indispensable; the rich look down on beggars; the mistress’s counterpart is the “rabbit lord.” But there is also a kind of person who calls themselves a recluse, yet there’s no corresponding term for them.

Perhaps it’s because recluses themselves go unnoticed, or perhaps, the only challenge left for a recluse is themselves!

……

Edward Clark is as ordinary a working man as can be. “Leaf” as in leaf, “Maple” as in maple tree—he is as unremarkable as a maple leaf, blown by the merciless autumn wind, like chickens and ducks being herded to slaughter, noisily arriving in a relatively open southern city. Of course, we can use a more common term for it: it’s called a Special Economic Zone, or S City.

Though his name is ordinary, Edward Clark is actually quite good-looking. If it weren’t for those wide black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, if it weren’t for the frayed leather shoes on his feet, if it weren’t for the collar of his once-white-now-yellowing shirt betraying his status, he could be considered an ideal everyman’s lover among women…

But ifs are just ifs, and life is life. In life, there are no ideal “ifs,” only harsh reality. The current reality is that Edward Clark is slumped over his desk, sitting in what is considered the dead zone of the company!

S City is big on feng shui, and of course, the office is no exception. Most people worship Lord Guan, and there are some other unofficial beliefs as well. Naturally, everyone wants the window seat, which is currently occupied by the boss’s wife, shielded by dark glass—supposedly to block the bad view and ward off evil spirits. The office also needs some large leafy plants to purify the air and attract wealth; that spot is taken by the finance department. No one fights for the seat facing the door and corridor, as it’s considered full of negative energy!

Edward Clark was assigned to the dead zone as soon as he arrived. To his left is a wall, in front is the corridor, and to his right is a huge copier that clatters all day long. That copier has been dubbed the office’s number one killer by the white-collar workers; aside from copying documents, few dare approach it.

Sitting here, Edward Clark is surrounded by bad luck, negative energy, and killing aura, but there’s nothing he can do. The newcomer’s “gate of hell” is not so easy to pass!

At this moment, his hands are propped on the desk, his eyes no farther from the paper than the tip of a pen is from the page, making one wonder if he’s filling out a form or just taking the opportunity to slack off and nap!

Suddenly, the phone rang with a “dong.” Edward Clark rubbed his head, pushed up his glasses, and turned around in confusion.

“Edward Clark, your call.” A big-eyed beauty looked at Edward Clark with a mix of mock annoyance and complaint. “Slacking off again.”

These days, the definition of beauty has been greatly diluted. Anyone who sticks out their chest and shows some leg can be considered a beauty, and if she sways her slim waist a bit, she’s a beauty among beauties!

By that standard, Julia Cooper would definitely not make the cut. She wore a black business suit, neither revealing her chest nor her legs, but looked all the more dignified and elegant for it. Her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, black and glossy, drawing the involuntary gaze—and a gulp—from several young men in the office.

Edward Clark looked at Julia Cooper with the same expression he’d give a piece of wood, only with a hint more confusion. “Looking for me?”

“If not you, then who?” Julia Cooper nearly threw the phone at him. It wasn’t that Edward Clark didn’t have a phone on his desk, but it had broken a few days ago, and finance hadn’t fixed it yet. His position was sales manager, but only as an intern. These days, if you go out for sales and your business card doesn’t say “manager,” people toss it straight in the trash. As sales manager, he was responsible for two provinces—both remote and underdeveloped. He could also develop business in Southeast Asia, but the company didn’t seem interested in that market for now.

“Oh.” Edward Clark replied, slowly stood up as if early-onset dementia had set in, took the phone, and ignored Julia Cooper’s eye roll. “Who is it? Mr. Brooks? Okay, I’ll be right there.”

He said he’d go right away, but first tidied up his desk, glanced at the form on it, shook his head, crumpled it up, and tossed it in the trash. Julia Cooper was momentarily stunned and glanced at him—that was a job application form!

By the time he reached Mr. Brooks’s office, five minutes had passed. As the door opened, a young woman came out in tears, glanced at Edward Clark, and whispered, “Edward Clark, take care.”

The girl had a few cute freckles on her face, but it didn’t affect her looks. Her name was Diana Harris, and plenty of people in the office had a crush on her—including Mr. Brooks, who was sitting inside.

“Got fired?” Edward Clark smiled faintly. “Wait for me, I might be next.”