HLM – Chapter 87 The Third Visit to the Thatched Cottage

The short-tempered Auditor lived in a small apartment. When Wang Bo knocked on the door, a woman wearing an apron opened it and asked, “And you are?”

“Hello, ma’am. We’re here to see Mr. Carlisle Hani,” Wang Bo replied politely.

The woman suddenly understood and turned her head to shout, “Hey, Old Freak Hani, someone’s here to see you!”

“Who?!”

A thunderous roar echoed from the second floor, its force practically shaking the air.

Soon, a man in his forties came down the stairs. He was about 1.8 meters tall, about the same height as Wang Bo. Slender and wiry, he wore glasses, and his messy blond hair gave him the look of a homeless man.

From physique alone, Wang Bo couldn’t associate him with the hot-tempered brute he’d spoken to over the phone. But from the way he carried himself—now that was another story. His facial features were tense and rigid, lips always tightly pressed together, and his presence was loud and unrestrained.

“Hello, Mr. Carlisle Hani? I’m Wang—the one who contacted you yesterday,” Wang Bo said, smiling widely, radiating friendliness +10086, switching into full diplomatic mode.

It was rather ironic, really. “Hani” was a sweet-sounding surname, often used affectionately between lovers, yet this Auditor’s temperament was anything but sweet.

Hearing Wang Bo’s greeting, Hani didn’t reply. Instead, he swept his sharp gaze across the group, a look that reminded Wang Bo of his middle school principal—specifically, the look he got when caught secretly smoking in the bathroom.

The woman in the apron shot him a glance and said, “What are you standing around for? Guests have come all the way here, why aren’t you inviting them in to sit?”

Wang Bo immediately turned his smile to her, while Bowen beside him muttered under his breath, “Back in Texas, we have a saying: ugly-faced women have kind hearts…”

“Shut up!” Wang Bo jumped. If she heard that, she’d probably chase them out with a broom.

Once seated, Charlie introduced Wang Bo and the others. Hani didn’t react at all. He waited for the introductions to finish, then suddenly turned to Charlie and asked, “And you? What’s your role?”

Charlie gave an awkward chuckle. “I have two roles—one as Assistant to Mayor Wang, and the other as a China analyst at the Foreign Ministry.”

Hani let out a cold snort and fell silent. The air in the living room quickly turned heavy.

Wang Bo gave a subtle signal to his two assistants. Juan nodded and flashed a brilliant smile. “Auditor, I’m also an intern auditor from Sunset Town. I’m new to the field, and I look forward to learning from you.”

Without looking up, Hani replied, “No need. I’m not a teacher.”

Bowen chimed in with a grin, “Haha, buddy, you’re funny. I like you…”

“Sorry, I don’t like Americans. Especially Texans,” Hani added.

Well, that killed the conversation.

Wang Bo had come hoping to recruit a talent, but he wasn’t about to play the clown to win someone over—especially not someone who was insulting his men. That was intolerable.

If there was no point talking, then fine, they wouldn’t talk. Wang Bo stood up, ready to leave, when Hani suddenly made a move.

He looked at Wang Bo, rolled up his sleeve, and pointed at a scar on his arm. “A Texan immigrant gave me this. That’s why I don’t like Americans.”

Then, lowering his sleeve, he lifted his leg and pointed at his calf. “Last year, a Mexican bastard set his dog on me. See those bite marks? That’s why I don’t like Mexicans either.”

“What about Chinese people?”

“My face and arms were once scratched by a Chinese woman’s fingernails. The wounds have healed, of course,” Hani said coldly. “So what do you think?”

Charlie chuckled dryly. “My God, how did you manage to offend so many people?”

Hani snorted. “Are you all idiots? Isn’t it obvious? It’s because I’m an Auditor.”

“But from what I know, other Auditors haven’t been attacked this much,” said Juan.

Hani shot him a sideways glance. “I’m not other Auditors. I’m Carlisle Hani.”

At this, Wang Bo rubbed his nose and sat back down.

Now he understood why Sheriff Smith had said recruiting Hani would be a huge help to Sunset Town—because he was an upright Auditor. Maybe not many liked him, but even more surely respected him.

Clearly, having such a man stationed in Sunset Town would do wonders for its moral character.

So Wang Bo said sincerely, “Mr. Hani, to be honest—I don’t like you. I hate your voice, and I hate your personality…”

He was about to shift gears and turn the tone around when Hani exploded.

“Then what the hell are you doing here? You into self-torture or something? Are you all masochists? Goodbye! And to be honest, I don’t like any of you either!”

As he spoke, he got up and walked over to the door to throw them out.

Wang Bo panicked. “Hey, let me finish! I wasn’t done—there’s more to that sentence!”

“Goodbye! Sit here all you want. I’m going to work!” Hani interrupted again, grabbing an umbrella and storming out without even bothering to fix his hair.

The four of them chased after him out of the building. Charlie complained, “Fine if you don’t like him, but why’d you say it to his face?”

Wang Bo looked aggrieved. “I wanted to lower the tension before lifting it up again—like, follow with something respectful. I hadn’t even gotten to the part where I say I admire him! But that guy doesn’t play by any script—he flipped out before I could finish!”

“You wanted to play the long game with someone so hot-tempered?” Bowen shook his head. “Boss, how are you still so naïve?”

“Not just naïve—innocent!”

“Fuck off, shut up!”

Wang Bo looked at Hani’s retreating back and shook his head helplessly. This was the most difficult person he’d ever tried to talk to.

Juan said, “Boss, next time we come…”

Seeing that he trailed off, Wang Bo guessed what he meant and smiled confidently. “Be patient. This is only our second visit. True talent doesn’t come easily. We Chinese have a saying—‘The Third Visit to the Thatched Cottage’…”

“No, Boss, I meant—next time, should we bring gifts? We’ve shown up empty-handed both times. He probably thinks we’re rude and not sincere.”

Damn. That actually made sense. The four looked at each other, all with empty hands.

“Would an upright Auditor even accept gifts?” Wang Bo asked weakly.

“We’ll only know if we try.”

“So do we stay here?”

“Of course! I’m getting that stubborn old mule to Sunset Town no matter what!” Wang Bo declared with confidence.

But that evening, they had no choice but to leave. Charlie got a call from Kobe—he was in trouble and needed help urgently.

Seeing Charlie’s anxious face, Wang Bo followed along to assist. After all, he’d eaten a lot of Kobe’s food—it was only right to return the favor.