《Extreme Vigilance》


 Chapter 1 - 1 Section 1 Wake Up at Midnight

    ?1: Section 1 Wake Up at Midnight 1: Section 1 Wake Up at Midnight When the night of Deep City transitions from a vibrant bustle to a dimly lit desolation, occasional vehicles bellowing growls still rush through the streets under the streetlamps, seemingly unwilling to succumb to the darkness just yet¡­


    When Shen Yue suddenly sat up from the bed, his eyelids were still fluttering relentlessly.


    He didn¡¯t glance at the sporadic car lights that swept past his window, instead habitually checking his bedside smartphone.


    The cellphone, which looked like an archaic model, seemed solidly robust.


    Out of place in this intelligent new world, it blared an ill-timed, piercing ringtone at this moment!


    It would be more accurate to say that Shen Yue was awakened by his phone¡¯s ringtone rather than from a dream.


    Despite its persistent repetition, he had no intention of answering it because he knew it wasn¡¯t a call but his alarm clock.


    Only after the ringing finally stopped did he pick up his phone with a faintly bewildered look.


    He fumbled through the alarm settings with familiar ease, looking somewhat dazed at the alarm set for 2:33.


    This was an utterly unusual time for an alarm.


    Even widely recognized entrepreneurs, inspired life coaches, and successful people who praise their own diligence, integrity, and excellence tend to modestly set their waking hours around four or five in the morning.


    An earlier wake-up call would have others suspecting the night was not yet over in the bustling multi-player nightlife.


    Shen Yue was not a successful individual blessed with good fortune, nor did he exhibit any desire to become a wealthy businessman.


    So why was his phone set to this immodest, and one might even say, proud time?


    2:33?


    Why did he have to wake himself up at this bizarre time?


    Shen Yue had no answer.


    In fact, he had been waiting for the answer to this question ever since he came to this city.


    He had been waiting for all the answers!


    Sitting there quietly, Shen Yue slowly took in his surroundings.


    The room was extremely bare, with almost no sign of habitation other than a single bed for sleeping.


    The whole room felt as lonely as Shen Yue.


    Looking at the place where he usually slept, Shen Yue¡¯s expression seemed somewhat unfamiliar.


    When his phone alarm repeated again, Shen Yue finally turned it off.


    With a soft sigh, Shen Yue habitually got out of bed and headed towards the washroom.


    The washroom interior was simple, akin to a solitary bachelor detached from everyday life.


    Shen Yue turned on the faucet and casually washed his face, reaching out blindly to get the only towel in the room.


    However, as he wiped his face and looked into the mirror before him, he suddenly froze!


    His rigid movements were so sudden that the silence of the late night echoed with the creaking sound of his skeletal frame.


    The veins in his neck strained with tension, his face an image of horror, giving his rather thin and handsome countenance a savage look.


    At that moment, he could hear the thumping sound of his heart pounding in his chest.


    He knew all too well that everything about the current situation was abnormal, and he had been seeking answers.


    He had prepared himself for a shocking revelation, even if a disheveled ghost were to suddenly appear in the mirror, he wouldn¡¯t flinch or retreat.


    Still, the scene that unfolded before him was beyond his preparations, making him feel as if he had entered a nightmare.


    There was no ghost in the mirror!


    There was also no sign of him!


    All he saw was a mirror reflecting the washbasin in front of him and the pallid wall behind him.


    He himself was nowhere to be found between the mirror and the wall!


    The sudden turn of events left Shen Yue in a state of shock.


    His mind went blank, failing to notice the mosquito that had quietly landed on his neck and was sinking its sharp proboscis into his vein, greedily feasting on his sweet blood.


    After an indeterminable amount of time, Shen Yue finally snapped out of it, a folklore tale flashing through his mind¡ªghosts don¡¯t have reflections in mirrors.


    Was he a ghost?


    Confronted with such a strange and eerie spectacle, Shen Yue couldn¡¯t help but consider this answer.


    After taking a deep breath to calm down, he shut his eyes briefly before looking into the mirror again, his mouth twitching slightly.


    There was no ghost in the mirror, only a somewhat discolored reflection of him.


    Had everything before been just an illusion?


    Cold sweat trickled down his forehead, Shen Yue hesitated for a moment, then washed his face and wiped it again.


    He slowly opened his eyes and peered into the mirror.


    The him in the mirror looked anxious and somewhat anticipatory¡­


    The mosquito was disturbed by his odd behavior.


    Hovering in the air, it was reluctant to leave as it still yearned for that delicious blood.


    After repeating the same action for over ten times, Shen Yue saw the disappointment on his face in the mirror.


    He didn¡¯t disappear from the mirror again, and he appeared no different from any other person.


    What had happened earlier?


    Was he hallucinating?


    Was it an optical illusion?


    Was he still alive?


    Shen Yue did not know the answer but eventually gave up trying. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As he returned to the bed, he took a few deep breaths of the hot air that had seeped into his room from the fall night outside.


    He collapsed onto his pillow like a zombie and closed his eyes.


    The darkness of the autumn night silently engulfed him.


    He was quickly surrounded by darkness and sank into a dream-filled void, hence oblivious to the fact that the mosquito which had been feasting on his blood had now landed on the mirror.


    Unsatisfied with the modest appetizer it had consumed earlier, the mosquito awaited its main course after a brief period of digestion.


    Just as it was about to fly towards the sleeping man for a hearty meal, it suddenly halted in mid-air.


    On the long streets, some vehicles were still roaring reluctantly, challenging the austere silence of the night.


    Caught off guard by the roar of the engines, the airborne mosquito trembled mysteriously.


    Then, just like Shen Yue earlier, it stilled.


    In a blink, the mosquito lost its vitality and fell towards the ground.


    But before it could touch the ground, its rigid body burst open and dissipated into the darkness¡­


    ¡ª


    PS: Important note, this novel belongs to urban supernatural power genre, and it¡¯s not one about paranormal occurrences.


    ^_^

 Chapter 2 - 2 Section 2 The Strange Big Deal

    ?2: Section 2: The Strange Big Deal 2: Section 2: The Strange Big Deal The jarring ringtone sounded again.


    Shen Yue closed his eyes, basking in the soft morning sun streaming through his window.


    He answered the call without opening his eyes; he knew who was calling.


    ¡°Are you awake?¡± A voice filled with concern came from the other end of the phone.


    Shen Yue couldn¡¯t help but sigh.


    This question felt as dull as the mundane daily inquiry, ¡°Have you eaten yet?¡± ¡°How could I answer your call if I were still asleep?


    Sleepwalking?¡± He retorted.


    The person on the other end didn¡¯t mind Shen Yue¡¯s sarcastic tone and replied with even more enthusiasm, ¡°That¡¯s good, I¡¯ve been up for a while.


    I¡¯m driving, and I¡¯ll be downstairs soon.


    Wait for me.¡±


    Just when Shen Yue thought the conversation was over, the voice from the phone added, ¡°This time it¡¯s going to be a big deal!¡±


    Five minutes later, Shen Yue left his apartment.


    He lived in a single apartment near the roadside, which was very convenient for transportation, with the main road not far away.


    It was the morning rush hour.


    Most people were hurriedly carrying breakfast, following the fixed tracks of their lives.


    Shen Yue, however, walked leisurely towards a nearby breakfast shop, standing out amongst the busy crowd.


    From his experience, when Jin Xin said he would arrive soon, it usually meant about half an hour.


    Enough time for a leisurely breakfast or even to join a group of dancing aunts on the square.


    However, before he even reached the breakfast shop, the sound of a proud horn rang out from behind him.


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t bother to look back, as he recognized that the car was not one Jin Xin would be driving.


    Jin Xin drove a famous car ¨C a very famous one, the Wuling Hongguang.


    In this day and age, not all famous people belong to noble families, and famous cars could also be cheap.


    The honk of a cheap car was like the voice of a struggling singer, a broken tone mixed with reluctance.


    Unexpectedly, the arrogant honking continued relentlessly, like an overenthusiastic dog barking at strangers.


    Shen Yue frowned, turned his head to see who was being so annoying, and surprisingly, saw Jin Xin¡¯s broad, pancake-like face.


    ¡°Get in the car quickly.¡± Jin Xin¡¯s face was shiny with sweat.


    Seeing that the honking wasn¡¯t doing any good, Jin Xin had already stuck most of his body out the car window, waving wildly at Shen Yue while also flaunting the Rolex on his wrist.


    ¡°I¡¯ve bought your breakfast.


    Let¡¯s talk while we¡¯re on our way.¡±


    Shen Yue got in the car a little surprised, accepted the breakfast from Jin Xin, and couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Did you win the lottery?¡± He found himself sitting in a Mercedes.


    Jin Xin knew why Shen Yue was surprised, and explained, ¡°Don¡¯t you know about car rental services these days?


    In a bid to capture the market, these companies are offering huge discounts to new customers.


    Along with some connections, renting this car for a day is less than five hundred.¡±


    With a step on the gas pedal, Jin Xin spoke excitedly, ¡°If this deal goes through, we could have the latest Benz for the rest of our lives.¡±


    Shen Yue silently looked out of the window.


    He didn¡¯t ask anything more, knowing that Jin Xin would talk incessantly when he wanted to.


    Hearing about yet another deal, he didn¡¯t feel excited or even a bit interested.


    In fact, if it wasn¡¯t for Jin Xin, he would have no interest in doing any business.


    However, he knew that a major client should be involved if Jin Xin was going to such great lengths to rent a car and rushing to the meeting.


    Glancing at Shen Yue through the rearview mirror, Jin Xin asked with some concern, ¡°You look like you didn¡¯t sleep well again?¡±


    He quickly added, ¡°Are you still waiting?


    How could anyone who wakes up every night sleep well?


    Unlike me, the moment my head hits the pillow, I sleep like a log until morning.¡±


    Shen Yue glanced at the bags under Jin Xin¡¯s eyes and asked, ¡°Did you sleep well last night?¡± From Shen Yue¡¯s perspective, Jin Xin¡¯s puffy eyes were a sign of staying up late.


    ¡°Last night was an exception, I was busy with business.¡± Jin Xin replied, somewhat awkwardly.


    Shen Yue wanted to say something, but ended up saying nothing at all.


    Seeing no response from Shen Yue, Jin Xin switched back to the business topic, ¡°Have you ever thought that the alarm set at 2:33 on your phone might have been accidentally set by some naughty kid?¡±


    ¡°What exactly is the business?¡± Shen Yue changed the topic.


    Jin Xin, understanding Shen Yue¡¯s reluctance to discuss the alarm clock issue, replied tactfully, ¡°You must know about Giant Industries?¡±


    Shen Yue subtly nodded, then incredulously replied, ¡°Are you saying that Giant Industries has hired us for their security?¡±


    He finally understood why Jin Xin wanted to rent a car.


    Appearances indeed mattered while dealing with a business like Giant Industries.


    Simply driving a Wuling Hongguang would clearly not be enough.


    But even if Jin Xin could afford to drive a Mercedes, the security work at Giant Industries shouldn¡¯t be left to him.


    As far as Shen Yue knew, Jin Xin¡¯s security company consisted of just two people. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jin Xin himself, and Shen Yue, who was Jin Xin¡¯s special advisor.


    Their method of operation was to understand the needs of buyers and sellers through effective communication, ensuring the safety of their clients while maximizing mutual benefits.


    Put simply, Jin Xin¡¯s security company was a shell company, earning profit through smooth talking and negotiation tactics.


    When a company as large as Giant Industries calls for bids, it¡¯s as strict as a multinational corporation recruiting new employees.


    They definitely look for experience which Jin Xin¡¯s shell company wouldn¡¯t be able to offer.


    How could they possibly catch Giant Industries¡¯ attention?


    ¡°Don¡¯t believe it?


    I¡¯m still finding it hard to believe myself,¡± Jin Xin swallowed hard, ¡°At present, it¡¯s just an opportunity.


    Giant Industries is currently sending out a call for heroes, inviting all to gather at Mount Hua and compete for glory¡­¡±


    ¡°Speak clearly,¡± Shen Yue interrupted.


    Jin Xin chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t be so serious.


    We¡¯re not ghost hunting, so why the tense mood?¡±


    Pausing for a moment, Jin Xin explained further, ¡°Giant Industries has unexpectedly sent invitations to all security firms in the city.


    Those interested in their security contract should submit their company¡¯s information to the Giant Building today.


    They will choose a suitable candidate to undertake the security work.


    I initially didn¡¯t believe this good news, but we¡­¡±


    At this point, Jin Xin continued confidently, ¡°We do have some connections and know that what¡¯s happening is true.¡±


    ¡°What do they need protection for?


    People or goods?


    Can we bid for the building¡¯s intelligence system?


    Event venue security?


    Or perhaps¡­¡±


    Shen Yue was pondering.


    He knew that contemporary businesses often collaborated with multiple industries.


    Giant Industries¡¯ capital was spread across the globe, invested in countless industries where security was required.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    Jin Xin quickly replied, ¡°Giant Industries has kept all information confidential.


    But I do know that this is indeed an opportunity.¡±


    Seeing Shen Yue¡¯s furrowed brows, Jin Xin guessed his thoughts and explained, ¡°Shen Yue, I know you think I¡¯m playing out of my league.


    Given the scale of Giant Industries, it¡¯s probably too much for us to handle, but many things depend on our effort.


    You must have noticed that Giant Industries¡¯ unconventional bidding process is quite strange.


    When it comes to security, we may not rank highly, but if it involves unmasking trickery or dealing with unusual stuff, aren¡¯t we pretty good at it?¡± He ended with a mischievous smile.


    Shen Yue chuckled in agreement with Jin Xin¡¯s assessment.


    The bidding process of Giant Industries did seem suspicious.


    But he acknowledged that they were both skilled at handling unusual situations and trickery.


    Jin Xin laughed, ¡°Besides, even if I failed, there¡¯s still you.


    This is our opportunity to make a comeback, and maybe it¡¯s also a chance for you to find your identity.


    Just think about it¡­¡±


    Jin Xin subconsciously looked around and lowered his voice, ¡°We¡¯ve been trying in vain to find out who you were in the past.


    Once we get to Giant Industries, with its wide network of acquaintances, there might be someone who recognizes you.¡±


    Shen Yue fell silent.


    He felt that Jin Xin had a point.


    ¡°You still can¡¯t remember everything from before?¡± Jin Xin asked concerned.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t remember anything at all.


    I remember that this month¡¯s salary hasn¡¯t been paid yet,¡± replied Shen Yue after some thought.


    Jin Xin chuckled, ¡°You talk as if I were an irresponsible capitalist, neglecting employee wages and running away.


    Don¡¯t worry, once this deal is sealed, our company will probably go public soon.


    At that point, how about you own half of the shares?¡±


    In the meantime, he had driven into the bustling Giant Plaza up ahead.


    At the end of the plaza, a pagoda-like skyscraper soared towards the sky, as if it were about to puncture the blue expanse.


    The surrounding buildings, be they commercial buildings or residential towers, couldn¡¯t compare to the height of this pagoda-shaped skyscraper.


    The exterior of the pagoda-like skyscraper wasn¡¯t the usual color but was adorned with golden material from top to bottom.


    Under the blue sky, the golden exterior reflected sunlight, making it appear dazzling like a celestial structure.


    Shen Yue stared at the golden skyscraper ahead in a daze, and murmured, ¡°A royal grandeur that keeps all evils at bay.


    The layout of this building is quite interesting.¡±

 Chapter 3 - 3 Section 3 True Love

    ?3: Section 3 True Love 3: Section 3 True Love Jin Xin made a quick stop, avoiding a man at the front who was looking down at his phone, sounding his horn to express his dissatisfaction.


    Seeing the man disappear like a lost soul, Jin Xin helplessly said, ¡°Look at him, so engrossed in his phone like the ancients with their ancestral tablets.


    His death wouldn¡¯t be a big deal, but it endangers those of us who don¡¯t want to die.¡±


    Noting that Shen Yue was still looking at the golden building ahead, he carefully parked the car once he found a space, and finally said to Shen Yue, ¡°You¡¯ve heard of the saying ¡®Majesty of the King, a hundred evils retreat¡¯, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    Shen Yue nodded.


    Jin Xin couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°then do you know this place used to be a live-target shooting range?¡±


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t feel like nodding again, but he understood what Jin Xin meant by ¡°a live-target shooting range¡±¡ªhe was talking about the execution ground.


    Jin Xin spoke nonstop: ¡°Decades ago, this place was feared because so many people died here and a lot of strange things would occur as a result.


    When Giant Li of Giant Industries wanted to buy land and build a building here, many people said that he would be disturbed by the ghosts here, and it could even lead to his family¡¯s ruin.¡±


    Sighing, Jin Xin continued: ¡°But fate is really unpredictable; he hired a very famous feng shui architect, who designed a ¡®Majesty of the King, a hundred evils retreat¡¯ layout for the building.


    It¡¯s said that the placement of the building and surrounding business district covertly corresponds with the Purple Forbidden Enclosure in the sky, just like the ancient imperial palaces.


    This design secretly conforms to the Heaven and Man as One principle, drawing pure yang energy from the heavens.


    By doing this, Giant Li implied that the place was under heaven¡¯s domain and naturally could suppress all impure beings.


    As a result, Giant Li, thanks to this uniquely designed Golden Building, didn¡¯t ruin his family, but on the contrary became as rich as an emperor.¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be working in security, you should be a feng shui master,¡± Shen Yue retorted.


    Jin Xin laughed, ¡°Although I don¡¯t believe in this.


    But there are too many people in this world who do!


    Look at the businesses in our city, how many don¡¯t worship Guan Gong?


    Those that don¡¯t openly, they slip it in behind the scenes more than anyone else!


    What business inauguration doesn¡¯t cut a ribbon, invites the god of wealth for good luck, and doesn¡¯t believe in superstitions?


    What about hanging a spring couplet for good fortune, or setting off firecrackers to ward off evil spirits?


    The security industry these days, some of it is actually closely related to the old feng shui industry¡­¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you park in the underground parking lot and take the elevator up?¡± Shen Yue interrupted Jin Xin¡¯s lengthy monologue.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of going up from underground?


    The underground parking lot has such a heavy yin energy, it¡¯s really bad for the body.¡±


    Jin Xin shook his head, ¡°We, persons of our stature, must enter brightly and directly from the front door.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, the car you spent big bucks renting, needs to show off under broad daylight.


    Otherwise, it¡¯s like a gorgeous night journey, not showing the aura of success.¡±


    Shen Yue nailed the crux of the problem, and took the paper handed to him from Jin Xin before getting out of the car.


    The scent of perfume wafted toward them as two women, well-seasoned with makeup, swayed past the car.


    Seeing the robustly-built Jin Xin getting out of the Mercedes, they couldn¡¯t help but look.


    Jin Xin immediately straightened his shiny hair, propped his arm on the car, looked over at the two beauties with fiery, piercing eyes, and bluntly said, ¡°Hey beautiful, fancy a date?¡±


    The two women¡¯s faces changed instantly, one of them berating, ¡°Insane person,¡± as she hurriedly pulled her somewhat hesitant companion away.


    Seeing Shen Yue looking over, Jin Xin defensively retorted, ¡°It¡¯s definitely because you look like a cop fishing for trouble, not because I lack charm.¡±


    Shen Yue shook his head, ¡°The documents.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I give you your documents already?¡± Jin Xin said, not understanding.


    Seeing the somewhat helpless expression on Shen Yue¡¯s face, Jin Xin finally realized and got out the prepared tender documents from the car.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t even taken my documents yet,¡± Jin Xin then defended himself, ¡± Don¡¯t accuse me of being insensitive.


    We were running out of time.


    I spent all of last night renting the car and preparing the documents, I couldn¡¯t even manage to gather enough manpower.


    Actually, I was going to find another woman to make up the numbers.¡±


    ¡°For what?¡± Shen Yue asked casually.


    ¡°People like us, carrying our own documents for bidding is too lowly, right?


    We should at least have a vase-like secretary.


    Sometimes, we need to put up a bit of a show,¡± Jin Xin argued.


    ¡°So basically, while a newbie would appear to lower the overall team¡¯s experience level, it could also reduce our opposition¡¯s vigilance against us, making it easier for us to achieve an unexpected victory.


    That¡¯s why you wanted to hire a new female secretary, right?¡±


    As he walked, Shen Yue said, ¡°It seems like you really do take this job interview seriously.¡±


    Seeing Shen Yue was already walking towards the Giant Building, Jin Xin shouted, ¡°There¡¯s no rush, you still need to change your clothes.


    Look at you, you¡¯re dressed so casually.


    Let¡¯s first go to a nearby brand store and buy some designer clothes to spruce you up a bit, don¡¯t let those snobs look down on you¡­¡±


    Before he finished speaking, he noticed Shen Yue suddenly stopped walking, and he couldn¡¯t help but go over.


    There was a mirror not far from where Shen Yue passed by, reflecting Shen Yue¡¯s somewhat unpleasant complexion.


    In the car, Shen Yue kept an eye on his reflection in the rear-view mirror while listening to Jin Xin¡¯s chatter ¡ª he never disappeared in the mirror, what happened last night?


    Confused, he noticed the mirror not far away and again subconsciously took a look.


    However, he found that he had once again disappeared in the mirror, causing a shock to his heart.


    He had anticipated this scene, but when it actually happened, he couldn¡¯t help being utterly shocked.


    It was not an illusion ¨C he indeed did not see his own reflection in the mirror!


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?


    Did you see a ghost?¡± Jin Xin slapped Shen Yue¡¯s shoulder, noticed Shen Yue¡¯s somber face, and said seriously, ¡°It¡¯s now past 9 o¡¯clock. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    According to yin and yang theory, this is the time when yang energy is soaring, ghosts shouldn¡¯t appear at this time, right?¡±


    Shen Yue frowned and said: ¡°We are supposed to be a high-tech company, can¡¯t you stop talking about ghosts all the time?¡±


    ¡°Sure.


    So did your DNA mutate?


    Which nerve has gone abnormal?


    Are you under too much pressure and hallucinating?


    Is this scientific enough?¡± Jin Xin quickly changed his words.


    ¡°Could you see me in the mirror just now?¡± Shen Yue found his reflection reappeared in the mirror and rubbed his eyes and asked.


    Jin Xin put his arm around Shen Yue¡¯s shoulders, looked in the mirror for a while, and finally said, ¡°I see it, what¡¯s wrong?


    You are still as handsome and charming, just a bit shorter than me, quite a pity.¡±


    Even though his face isn¡¯t as fair as Shen Yue¡¯s, his eyes aren¡¯t as big, and his nose isn¡¯t as straight, being taller than Shen Yue by half a head was always something Jin Xin was proud of.


    Jin Xin consoled Shen Yue and said again: ¡°Nobody¡¯s perfect.


    Why hold such a long face?


    We¡¯re going to negotiate business, not attending a funeral.


    How about a smile?¡±


    While talking, Jin Xin grabbed Shen Yue¡¯s shoulder and earnestly advised him.


    He suddenly heard laughter, Jin Xin turned his head and saw some pedestrians looking at them.


    A couple was pointing at them not far away, and the guy even took out his phone to take a picture.


    ¡°What are you taking a picture of?¡± Jin Xin finally took his hand off, pointed at the guy and shouted: ¡°I hate people like you who have to take a picture of everything and upload it online.


    You¡¯re infringing my image rights, I¡¯ll smash your phone!¡±


    The man found Jin Xin a little intimidating and finally put his phone down.


    As he walked away with his partner, he said, ¡°In broad daylight, if you dare to show off, don¡¯t you dare to be photographed?¡±


    ¡°What are we showing off?¡± Jin Xin confusedly waved his fists and turned his head, then suddenly froze, ¡°¡®King Jazz True Love¡¯?


    Shen Yue, why are you standing here in a daze?¡±


    He finally understood why the pedestrians were so observant, it turned out that they were standing in front of a wedding photo studio called ¡°King Jazz True Love¡±, and the two men posing in front of a mirror outside the studio like in a melodrama was bound to cause a misunderstanding.


    ¡°Where else but here would place a mirror on the roadside?¡± Shen Yue looked at the shocked Jin Xin and said casually, ¡°Don¡¯t look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost, we¡¯re going to negotiate business, not attending a funeral.


    How about a smile?¡±


    Jin Xin didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry and punched Shen Yue jokingly, ¡°You always tease me when you find a chance.¡±


    Before their words had even died away, a voice arose beside them, ¡°Would you gentlemen like to come in and have a look?


    Qixi Festival is coming, there are big discounts.


    50% off on wedding photos.¡±


    Shen Yue and Jin Xin turned around and their eyes were instantly lit up.


    Under the sunlight, a young girl was smiling brightly at them.


    The girl was simply dressed, a white short-sleeved T-shirt paired with denim long pants.


    She had bright eyes and a delicate white face.


    A broken jade necklace was hanging around her neck, her youthful figure was well proportioned.


    The originally somewhat glaring autumn sun fell on the girl, and became somewhat soft.


    The girl¡¯s eyes wandered over the two astonished men and finally rested on Jin Xin.


    ¡°Life is fleeting, if it¡¯s true love, even if you can¡¯t give this life¡¯s promise to your lover, leaving the most beautiful moments of love is still worth it.


    Don¡¯t you agree, sir?¡±

 Chapter 4 - 4 Section 4 Eccentric Combination

    ?4: Section 4: Eccentric Combination 4: Section 4: Eccentric Combination Seeing the girl¡¯s straight-faced expression, Jin Xin really wanted to ask: ¡°Aunty, how nearsighted are you?


    Can you seriously see love between me and Shen Yue?¡±


    ¡°Miss, you¡¯ve misunderstood.


    You aren¡¯t suggesting we¡¯re¡­?¡± Jin Xin felt that while you can be careless with food, there are certain things you shouldn¡¯t say.


    Only then did he remember that he and Shen Yue had a tendency to talk nonsense with serious faces whenever they were together.


    ¡°No matter your relationship, there¡¯s no need to keep it a secret anymore,¡± the girl said with a smile that seemed to ¡®understand them completely¡¯.


    ¡°Our country has even legislated in some regions to protect true love.¡±


    ¡°Which region in our country is so open?¡± Jin Xin couldn¡¯t help but ask, catching on to the girl¡¯s insinuations.


    Spotting Jin Xin¡¯s anxious expression, the girl answered knowingly, ¡°Wan Island Province, of course.¡±


    Jin Xin understood, ¡°That¡¯s not what¡­¡± Then he shook his head, ¡°We were just talking about looking in a mirror.


    How did you manage to twist it into something entirely different?¡± Just as he prepared to seriously explain that he was a normal man, Shen Yue interrupted, ¡°Are you here to do business or to argue about the law?¡±


    Only then did Jin Xin remember his big business deal.


    ¡°It¡¯s all because of your weird obsession with mirrors.


    That¡¯s why I¡¯m here in the first place.¡±


    Seeing the expression on the girl¡¯s face that seemed to scream ¡®True love should always be understanding and supportive¡¯, Jin Xin wished he could poke two holes in those lovely eyes of hers.


    The situation seemed to be spiraling.


    As he tried to take leave with Shen Yue, the girl persisted, ¡°Sir, you can think it over.


    Here¡¯s my contact information.


    Call me when you¡¯ve made up your mind.¡±


    Jin Xin suddenly halted and turned back.


    The girl quickly asked, ¡°Sir, have you made up your mind?¡±


    Jin Xin sized up the girl, then abruptly asked, ¡°Miss, how much do you earn in a day working here in this studio?¡±


    Caught off guard, the girl hesitated, ¡°Well, it varies.


    When business is good, I can earn thousands or even over ten thousand in commission.


    But why do you ask, sir?¡±


    ¡°Does the photo studio also do part-time bank robberies?¡±


    Jin Xin didn¡¯t believe the girl¡¯s quoted earnings, and started bargaining, ¡°Eight hundred.


    For half a day!¡± He glanced at his gold watch, ¡°Until 9:30 tonight, twelve hours, how about I give you eight hundred yuan?¡±


    Showing a surprised expression, the girl took a step back reflexively, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m an honest person.¡±


    Laughing out loud, Jin Xin said, ¡°Where did your mind go?


    Our company has a proposal to bid at Giant Industries today.


    We need three people to make up the team.


    My full-time secretary is unwell today, and the second secretary is stuck in traffic.¡±


    Shen Yue glanced up at the floating clouds above, seemingly fully expecting Jin Xin¡¯s third and fourth secretaries to be on their way. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was familiar with Jin Xin¡¯s style of doing things.


    Besides Jin Xin¡¯s swanky Rolex watch, the rest of the company¡¯s tangible assets were pretty much non-existent.


    With an annoyed expression, Jin Xin said, ¡°The traffic situation in the city recently has been nothing short of a nightmare.


    It keeps delaying my big business deals.


    Looks like I¡¯ll need to buy a private jet soon.¡± Looking at his watch, rather he was just showing off his Rolex, he added, ¡°Do I look like someone who would be dishonest?


    Could I possibly be involved in something dishonest?¡±


    ¡°You might be.¡± The girl nodded seriously.


    Immediately, Jin Xin patted Shen Yue¡¯s shoulder, ¡°See, she truly thinks you¡¯re being sincere.¡±


    Knowing well how Jin Xin shifted the awkwardness onto others, Shen Yue finally relented, ¡°We¡¯re just meeting the head of Giant Industries.


    Once we meet them, you can leave.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± The girl seemed to trust Shen Yue more but was still a bit hesitant, ¡°Can such good things really happen?


    Even the hippo supermarket that just opened offers eight free eggs for fresh food only if you scan the code.¡±


    Jin Xin grabbed Shen Yue and started walking away, ¡°If you¡¯re not interested, forget it.¡±


    The girl hurriedly called after them, ¡°Wait, I didn¡¯t say I wasn¡¯t interested.¡± She followed them and quickly got into the role, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s your name, Boss?¡±


    ¡°My name is Jin Xin.¡± He took out a gold-embossed business card and handed it to the girl, ¡°Don¡¯t call me Boss, it¡¯s too old-fashioned.¡±


    ¡°So, what am I supposed to call you?¡± The girl asked, unsure.


    Jin Xin retorted, ¡°Are you the secretary, or am I?


    A secretary is supposed to solve problems, not ask questions.¡±


    The girl quickly answered, ¡°Okay, then can I call you Uncle?¡±


    Taken aback, Jin Xin couldn¡¯t help but doubt his own eyes, ¡°We¡¯re a legitimate company, and you are a university graduate, right¡­¡±


    Laughing, the girl said, ¡°I was just kidding with you.


    I should be calling you President Jin, right?¡±


    Jin Xin looked a little ill, and glanced at Shen Yue.


    Shen Yue was thinking that these two were quite a match, both funny enough to pull in a third person and play Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game).


    The girl continued, ¡°President Jin, you must be in serious need of money, right?


    Otherwise, why would you have such a name?


    A pile of gold squeezed together.¡± Seeing Jin Xin¡¯s unhappy face, she jokingly said, ¡°I¡¯m only kidding with you.


    Judging by your name, your family must be really rich.¡±


    Only then did Jin Xin cheer up, ¡°You should talk like this at Giant Industries.¡± He then casually asked, ¡°My secretary, what¡¯s your surname?¡±


    Shen Yue stood a bit further away from these two.


    He had a feeling that anyone overhearing the conversation between this boss and his secretary would think they were from a loony company.


    ¡°My name is Hai Mingzhu, I just graduated from university.¡± The girl introduced herself.


    Looking at Hai Mingzhu again, Jin Xin said, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have this name.¡±


    ¡°Huh?


    Then President Jin, what do you think I should be called?¡± Hai Mingzhu seemed completely invested in her role now ¨C taking even the boss¡¯s nonsense as valuable wisdom.


    ¡°There are many pearls in the sea, but how can they show your uniqueness?¡± Jin Xin said in a meaningful tone, ¡°You should be called Hai Huangjin (Sea Gold).


    There¡¯s a saying ¨C gold always shines, even in the sea it would still stand out.¡± With that, he burst out laughing.


    Hai Mingzhu looked at Jin Xin, feeling like he might need some brain supplements instead.


    She turned to Shen Yue and asked, ¡°And you, sir?


    What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Shen Yue.¡± Shen Yue answered simply.


    ¡°He¡¯s our company¡¯s chief advisor.


    You can address him as Advisor Shen.¡± Jin Xin introduced.


    ¡°Do you have any contact information?


    Business cards?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked seemingly casually.


    Jin Xin suddenly had a suspicion ¨C did this woman agree to join them because she took a fancy to Shen Yue?


    But he shook it off thinking it improbable ¨C though Shen Yue¡¯s looks weren¡¯t half bad, his lack of understanding for women¡¯s feelings made him rather wooden.


    Only a blind woman would be interested in him.


    However, maybe this Hai Mingzhu really was blind, thinking he and Shen Yue were a couple.


    Jin Xin shook his head, realizing they didn¡¯t have time to choose another secretary or buy Shen Yue new clothes.


    He handed the bid to Hai Mingzhu, and led the way to Giant Building.


    The bustling business district in front of Giant Building was already busy just after nine.


    However, the entrance to the main building was quite gloomy, and had two security guards standing at attention, carefully observing the incoming people.


    Feeling intimidated by the towering building, Hai Mingzhu stopped short, ¡°President Jin, Giant industries are known for their strict security.


    On a regular day, laypeople wouldn¡¯t be allowed in.


    Do you have an appointment?¡±


    ¡°Appointment?¡± Jin Xin seemed to have seen many such scenes, ¡°Just follow me!¡±

 Chapter 5 - 5 Section 5 With Great Background

    ?5: Section 5: With Great Background 5: Section 5: With Great Background Jin Xin led the way arrogantly towards the Giant Building.


    Arriving at the entrance, he deliberately checked the time.


    The two security guards didn¡¯t dare to question the three of them.


    Once inside, Jin Xin said, ¡°These guards are just for show, meant to ward off anyone who seems lowly or insignificant.


    If you act timid or overly polite, they will cause trouble for you.


    It¡¯s the so-called ¡®a dog¡¯s eye view of people.¡¯ We, acting like high-profile individuals, even as strangers, they won¡¯t dare to cause trouble.


    They fear we might complain, hindering their performance.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu looked at Jin Xin with a certain amount of admiration, ¡°President Jin, you¡¯re really insightful.¡±


    ¡°Follow me and you won¡¯t fear about not gaining insights,¡± Jin Xin proudly declared.


    Hai Mingzhu questioned, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just one day?


    How comes there¡¯s a future ahead?¡±


    Acting like he was preparing for a public offering, Jin Xin said, ¡°If we take this order, the company will be short of hands.


    If you¡¯re interested in joining our promising company, just reach out to me.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu hesitated, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that if a man is ugly, convincing people would describe him as charismatic.


    And, well, for a company that still lacks power¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s called having potential, right?¡±


    Jin Xin caught on to Hai Mingzhu¡¯s insinuations.


    He realized that, despite looking like a college student, Hai Mingzhu wasn¡¯t as naive as some other young women he¡¯d met.


    They had barely stepped into the building when Hai Mingzhu stopped.


    The ground floor lobby of the building was bright and clean, the floor tiles gleaming in a way that instilled a feeling of awe.


    Shen Yue looked at the ceiling overhead and muttered to himself, ¡°The central air conditioning is certainly cranked up.¡±


    With the coming of Qixi, the heat in Deep City remained relentless, even spicy hot.


    However, stepping into the Giant Building, one felt as if autumn had arrived.


    ¡°Ahead¡­.¡± Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help but point out.


    Not far within the lobby was a barrier similar to the dividers in subway stations, blocking the way to the elevators.


    Before you could take the elevator up, you had to pass through a few electronic gates, which obviously required an employee access card.


    Jin Xin smiled and took out three employee cards from his briefcase, placing one on himself.


    Shen Yue accepted his badge without a trace of emotion.


    Hai Mingzhu received her badge with surprise, ¡°Is our company a subsidiary of Giant Industries?¡±


    She was not foolish.


    It did not seem that Jin Xin could be part of Giant Industries ¡ª who from their own company would scout for bids from their own company while employing a secretary on the fly?


    ¡°Can this really work?¡± Hai Mingzhu felt unsure about the whole matter.


    Jin Xin and Shen Yue, however, entered smoothly as if returning to their own home.


    Hai Mingzhu tried swiping her card and, upon hearing the ¡°beep,¡± was granted unobstructed passage.


    Astonished and trailing behind Shen Yue and Jin Xin, Hai Mingzhu nervously asked, ¡°President Jin, Advisor Shen, are you two robbers?


    I¡¯ve seen bank robbers do this kind of thing in TV dramas.¡±


    ¡°Oh, look at this girl, acting like she doesn¡¯t get out much.¡±


    Jin Xin shook his head, ¡°We are a security company!


    This little thing is nothing.


    By the way, you as a secretary must remember our company¡¯s name, ¡®Gold Soup Security!''¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Gold Soup Pots and Bottoms Of The Sea both restaurants?


    When did they start doing security?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked, puzzled.


    Jin Xin could only sigh.


    He felt that if it weren¡¯t for the sudden turn of events and the urgent need for manpower, he would¡¯ve already fired this secretary who only knows how to eat.


    Jin Xin could only sigh, feeling that if not for the urgency of the situation, he would have fired this food-obsessed secretary.


    The trio headed towards the elevators and after a ride, they stepped in front of another elevator.


    Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°This building is really tall.


    I have never been to a building where you have to change elevators.¡±


    She turned to Shen Yue and tried to strike up a conversation, ¡°Advisor Shen, have you been in an elevator like this many times?¡±


    Although the three of them were together, Shen Yue had maintained such a low presence that it was almost as if he were invisible.


    Hai Mingzhu was clearly starting to adapt to her role as secretary and was trying to get closer to the advisor.


    ¡°The places he goes usually have broken elevators.¡± After Jin Xin answered for Shen Yue, he pressed the elevator¡¯s up button.


    A ¡°ding¡± sound signaled the arrival of the elevator.


    A charming elevator attendant made a welcoming gesture, then politely asked after the three of them entered, ¡°Which floor, please?¡±


    ¡°66,¡± replied Jin Xin without hesitation.


    The elevator attendant casually brushed her hair off her face, subtly touching the earpiece in her ear.


    After a moment, she smiled charmingly and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but there are currently no scheduled arrivals for the 66th floor.¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Yue knew that the Giant Building had 88 floors, and that from the 60th floor and up was reserved for the senior management of Giant Industries.


    To go to a specific floor¡ªlike the 66th or 88th¡ªyou would need to be confirmed by the elevator attendant.


    Jin Xin liked to brag, but Shen Yue knew that, in this case, Jin Xin wasn¡¯t completely full of it.


    There were indeed traces of Feng Shui alloyed throughout the Giant Building¡ªlike the fact that the offices of important managers were on floors with lucky numbers, the positioning of objects in corridors, and that the light for the 13th floor in the elevator was never on.


    He recalled the information Jin Xin had given him¡ªGoring, the most famous Feng Shui master from The Sun Never Sets Island.


    When Giant Li was building the tower years ago, he had paid a hefty sum to invite Goring to design the Giant Building and oversee the arrangement of the building¡¯s Feng Shui layout.


    Ever since entering this building, while most people may only feel slightly cold, Shen Yue had been continuously sensing an invisible pressure emanating from the building as a whole.


    ¡°Not there?


    Old Wang does have a poor memory.¡±


    Noticing the attendant¡¯s skepticism, Jin Xin didn¡¯t appear to be embarrassed at all.


    Instead, he looked doubtfully at the elevator attendant, ¡°You¡¯re new here, right?


    You know Old Wang, don¡¯t you?¡±


    The elevator attendant maintained her smile, ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve been here for ten years.¡±


    The implication was: there¡¯s no chance you¡¯re going to fool me.


    Not batting an eye, Jin Xin continued, ¡°Ten years and you still don¡¯t know Old Wang¡¯s character?


    I grew up sharing trousers with that guy.


    He likes two things¡ªdrinking is one of them.


    He got drunk with me last night and asked me to come over this morning.¡±


    The elevator attendant retained her professional smile, ¡°But I received no instructions.


    I¡¯m sorry, sir, without instructions, I won¡¯t escort you to any floor.¡±


    She had doubts about Jin Xin¡¯s words.


    She didn¡¯t think Jin Xin, who didn¡¯t look a day over thirty, could have grown up with Old Wang, who was well past fifty.


    It seemed hardly plausible that they would have even worn the same size pants.


    But due to her professional training, she would never badmouth a visitor.


    Also, she had no interest in taking the blame for bringing the wrong visitor.


    ¡°Don¡¯t apologize, this isn¡¯t about you.


    Old Wang knew he might forget after drinking.


    He asked me to come today and gave me an access card.¡±


    Jin Xin took out a black card with a mysterious half-concealed design on it that was difficult to discern.


    The card¡¯s aura combined with its unusual external appearance conveyed that it was both rare and that the holder was someone unique.


    Though the elevator attendant was polite, she wasn¡¯t easily fooled.


    From Jin Xin¡¯s chatter, she was initially convinced he was more like a sly sales conman trying to sneak in.


    But when she saw the black card, her eyes finally showed a hint of surprise.


    She recognized the card.


    There couldn¡¯t be more than ten people in Giant Industries authorized to hold such an access card.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see if this card works.¡± Jin Xin held the card up to the sensor as he spoke.


    After a ¡°beep,¡± an indicator light on the sensor turned green.


    Jin Xin immediately hit the button for the ¡°66th¡± floor before saying casually, ¡°Looks like it works!¡±

 Chapter 6 - 6 Section 6 Giving you two paths

    ?6: Section 6: Giving you two paths 6: Section 6: Giving you two paths The welcoming receptionist in the elevator noticed the elevator going up, a flash of surprise crossed her face, then she apologized, ¡°Sir, I¡¯m sorry, I did not know you have special access.¡±


    Those who held such black cards were all direct members of Giant Enterprises and individuals Giant Li trusted, the receptionist understood this.


    She handled this situation with caution.


    Jin Xin laughed it off, ¡°No problem.


    This is all Old Wang¡¯s mess, if anyone is to blame, it¡¯s him.¡±


    The receptionist didn¡¯t join in the conversation, it was apparent that she wouldn¡¯t casually comment on higher-ups.


    On the 66th floor, there¡¯s only one Old Wang, who can make many mistakes without blame, whereas a single wrong word from her could lead to her dismissal from Giant Enterprises.


    Hai Mingzhu¡¯s eyes were wide open, obviously not understanding what was going on.


    From the time they entered the building to the 66th floor of the Giant Building, Jin Xin seemed to be casual, but Hai Mingzhu clearly knew they had at least passed through three checkpoints, with Jin Xin using three completely different methods at each checkpoint.


    Is this how you conduct business?


    As soon as Jin Xin and the others left the elevator, the receptionist immediately reported through the intercom: ¡°Security manager, three people without any orders from the upper level, holding privileged access cards, have arrived on the 66th floor and are now heading towards Director Wang¡¯s room.¡±


    Standing next to the elevator, seeing Jin Xin glance back, the receptionist squeezed out a smile and bowed her head from a distance to show respect.


    Jin Xin waved his hand in goodwill, speaking as if in a battle mode, ¡°Shen Yue, what do you think she will do next?¡±


    While what he said is vague, when Hai Mingzhu was puzzled, Shen Yue said:¡±Considering the current situation, the receptionist is cautious.


    Although she let you go up, she clearly suspects your identity.


    To be safe, she¡¯ll notify the person in charge of security here.


    The security won¡¯t show up immediately, but if fail in your negotiation with Director Wang, the security officers might be behind us soon.


    Your time for negotiation is limited.¡±


    Shen Yue was not surprised by Jin Xin¡¯s tactics, he knew that booking an appointment with Old Wang, whom Jin Xin spoke of, would take at least a year in the usual process.


    By that time, things would have cooled down, let alone discussing business.


    ¡°Wait, is that special access card fake?¡± Hai Mingzhu finally grasped a bit.


    However, she obviously didn¡¯t understand.


    Given the strength of Giant Enterprises, how could there be fake special access cards?


    Jin Xin smiled and had approached an office door, politely knocking first.


    After a moment, an elegant woman came out, dressed impeccably, obviously a secretary.


    She looked at them with a furrowed brow, ¡°Who are you?


    What are you doing here without an appointment?¡±


    Jin Xin looked at her, ¡°Secretary Zhou, don¡¯t you remember me?¡±


    While she was thinking, Jin Xin already pushed the door open, went past the secretary¡¯s office, and directly opened the door inside.


    A man inside looked up in surprise, but quickly put on a stern face, waved to Secretary Zhou to leave temporarily, and asked Jin Xin, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    The man didn¡¯t look young, his balding head couldn¡¯t outshine the cold light in his narrow eyes.


    Seeing this man, Shen Yue instantly recalled some information on the paper Jin Xin gave him ¨C Wang Xinghai, director of the supervisory board of Giant Enterprises, in fact, was a servant of the Li Family.


    Wang Xinghai has been serving the Li Family even before Giant Li¡¯s eldest son, Li Jiye, was born, and has been with Li Jiye ever since Li Jiye was born.


    Giant Enterprises is a multinational corporation, but it practices family management.


    After establishing a vast business kingdom, Giant Li receded behind the scenes.


    Li Jiye, being the eldest son of the Li Family, would in ancient times be considered a crown prince, naturally the heir to the kingdom, and was currently the chairman and CEO of Giant Enterprises.


    With Wang Xinghai always by Li Jiye¡¯s side, he could definitely be said to be a person of substantial power within Giant Enterprises.


    ¡°Director Wang, don¡¯t you recognize me?¡± Jin Xin jovially spread his arms, as if ready to give Wang Xinghai a warm hug.


    After all, in his words, this Director Wang seems to be someone who is in the same boat as him.


    However, Director Wang seemed to be someone who would disavow once he put his pants on.


    He showed no emotional fluctuations or intentions of reciprocation in the face of Jin Xin¡¯s enthusiasm and asked again, ¡°How did you get in here?¡±


    ¡°Of course, by walking in.¡±


    Jin Xin finally pulled back his arm, knowing that time was pressing, ¡°Director Wang, since you do not recognize me, let me introduce myself.¡±


    Regardless of Hai Mingzhu¡¯s jaw nearly hitting her feet, Jin Xin quickly said, ¡°I am Jin Xin, general manager of Jintang Security Company in this city.¡±


    He pointed to Shen Yue, ¡°This is Shen Yue, a special advisor to Jintang Company.¡±


    He paused, then pointed to Hai Mingzhu, ¡°And this is our company¡¯s business manager for the Southeast Asia region, Hai Mingzhu.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu didn¡¯t expect her promotion to skyrocket.


    She looked almost dazed from the sudden happiness.


    Jin Xin continued, ¡°I understand that your esteemed company is currently inviting bids from security companies in this city.


    We have thus taken the liberty of making our bid.


    Here is the proposal from Jintang Company.¡±


    As soon as the word ¡°proposal¡± was out, Hai Mingzhu promptly passed the proposal.


    Jin Xin nodded in satisfaction and gently placed the proposal on the table.


    Director Wang didn¡¯t even look at the proposal, just looked at Jin Xin suspiciously.


    Having been in Giant Enterprises for many years, he was certainly shrewd.


    Giant Enterprises was no palace, but in recent years, only a few individuals could show up before him without an appointment, other than giants like Giant Li and Li Jiye.


    Sitting in his chair, Wang Xinghai surreptitiously pressed the red emergency button on the inside of the desk, and joked casually, ¡°Well¡­


    this bidding affair is handled by Manager Liao under my supervision.


    You will do well to follow the regular process.


    There¡¯s no need to give the proposal here.¡±


    Jin Xin also laughed, ¡°Director Wang, I feel like big things are going down in Giant Enterprises.¡±


    He noticed Wang Xinghai¡¯s eyelid twitch, confirming his guess, and then said, ¡°But Manager Liao doesn¡¯t seem to treat this as an important matter.


    Submitting a proposal is a regular process, but Manager Liao seems keen not to follow regular procedures.


    I¡¯m just afraid of delaying important affairs in Giant Enterprises.¡±


    Jin Xin¡¯s words were cryptic, but Wang Xinghai, the old fox, immediately understood that Manager Liao might be taking kickbacks from bidding companies.


    However, Manager Liao was Wang¡¯s cousin, so he didn¡¯t mind him reaping some benefits.


    ¡°Well¡­


    if there are employees in Giant Enterprises not following the rules, you can complain to the relevant department of our company.


    We will handle it impartially.¡± Wang Xinghai¡¯s evasion was second to none. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jin Xin frowned, thinking to himself that this old fox looks like Judge Bao, but who doesn¡¯t know that complaints will eventually gather here with you?


    Complain about the fool to his mother?


    That would just be too silly.


    Feeling that time was almost up, Wang Xinghai delicately picked up the proposal on the table using two fingers, as if dealing with a bug, and tossed it back to Jin Xin.


    Jin Xin didn¡¯t move at all, letting the proposal fall to the ground.


    Hai Mingzhu was dumbfounded, hurriedly bent down to pick up the proposal, not knowing what to do for a moment.


    Seeing that the security personnel had arrived outside the door, Wang Xinghai felt reassured and said with an insincere smile, ¡°Mr.


    Jin¡­


    is that right?


    Giant Enterprises is a legitimate business and we do not welcome sneaky behavior.


    If you truly wish to participate in the bid, please follow the usual process.


    Your unauthorized entry here, I can have you arrested.¡±


    After a moment, while feeling that there was no significant danger to him, Wang Xinghai sternly said, ¡°Now you have two choices, one is to be escorted by security to the police station, the other is to leave the Giant Building peacefully with the security.


    What is your choice?¡±


    Security personnel were already standing behind Jin Xin¡¯s trio!

 Chapter 7 - 7 Section 7 Im also helpless

    ?7: Section 7 I¡¯m also helpless 7: Section 7 I¡¯m also helpless Despite sensing that Jin Xin and his group were crafty, Wang Xinghai did not have the patience to engage with them.


    Upon noticing that the security personnel had arrived, Wang Xinghai immediately adopted the demeanor of a powerful figure who held life and death in his hands.


    Jin Xin suddenly laughed.


    Wang Xinghai was taken aback.


    He furrowed his brows and asked, ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Even with his vast experiences, he was utterly clueless as to what Jin Xin found amusing.


    Jin Xin clapped his hands and said to Shen Yue, ¡°I¡¯ve done my part for now.


    It¡¯s your turn.¡±


    Shen Yue helplessly shook his head and stepped forward.


    ¡°What are you trying to do?


    Behave yourself!


    Do you believe that I can have all of you thrown into the custody?


    ¡± Wang Xinghai, feeling that this group seemed to be about to take violent action, became slightly flustered.


    One of the security guards quickly stepped forward to restrain Shen Yue¡¯s arm.


    Shen Yue did not struggle, looking at Wang Xinghai and said: ¡°Director Wang, I want to discuss something privately with you.


    Could you please ask these security guards to leave?¡±


    ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± Before Wang Xinghai could say anything, a strong security guard scolded and was ready to get Shen Yue out.


    ¡°Tiffany,¡± Shen Yue suddenly said.


    Everyone was startled, most of them didn¡¯t understand what Shen Yue was talking about.


    However, these three words seemed to have a magical power, causing Wang Xinghai to pause momentarily, open his mouth as if about to say something, then suddenly told the security personnel, ¡°You guys leave first, and close the door.¡±


    The security chief hesitated, ¡°Director Wang¡­¡±


    He looked at Shen Yue and the others with a premonition of worry, clearly considering the safety of Director Wang.


    ¡°Get out!¡± Wang Xinghai said impatiently.


    After the security staff left, Wang Xinghai sat back in his office chair, curling up slightly like a porcupine facing danger, casting a suspicious look at Shen Yue, ¡°What is it that you want to say?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu perked up her ears, totally puzzled by how the tense situation was easily diffused by Shen Yue with just one sentence.


    She really wanted to hear what Shen Yue had to say.


    Jin Xin, however, leisurely took a seat, looking at Shen Yue with an inscrutable smile.


    After looking around, Shen Yue finally said, ¡°Tiffany was originally a diamond ring brand.


    It just started making perfumes in recent years.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was confused.


    Wang Xinghai frowned and demanded, ¡°Are you guys working on security or are you brand agents?


    You¡­ you trying to sell me diamond rings?


    You¡¯ve come to the wrong place.¡±


    Shen Yue flashed a rare smile, ¡°Director Wang doesn¡¯t use Tiffany perfume, right?¡±


    ¡°If you enjoy talking nonsense, please do it outside the Giant Building.¡± Wang Xinghai, losing his patience, was about to stand up and apparently ready to call the security.


    ¡°Director Wang doesn¡¯t use Tiffany perfume, but there is a scent of Tiffany¡¯s limited-edition perfume in this room,¡± Shen Yue calmly stated.


    Wang Xinghai raised an eyebrow, ¡°What are you trying to say?¡±


    It seemed that he thought of something and then spoke again, ¡°My secretary uses perfume, it¡¯s not unusual that my office smells like it.


    But, I have no idea what brand she uses.¡±


    Shen Yue stared at Wang Xinghai, with seemingly unspeakable implications in his eyes, ¡°I heard that Tiffany perfume is not cheap, some perfumes¡¯ prices are almost the same as diamond rings.


    Your company truly is wealthy, even Director Wang¡¯s secretary uses Tiffany¡¯s limited-edition perfume.


    It makes the rest of us feel quite inferior.¡±


    ¡°This all depends on the situation.


    Different places, same man might have different fates.¡± Jin Xin suddenly spoke up: ¡°Have you ever heard of Li Si¡¯s mouse theory?¡±


    ¡°What mouse theory?¡± Shen Yue retorted.


    He obviously knew what Jin Xin was about to say, but unless he went along, Jin Xin couldn¡¯t proceed.


    The two of them were like duet singers, speaking for an audience, and this audience was naturally Wang Xinghai.


    ¡°Li Si was the prime minister of the ancient Qin Dynasty.¡±


    Jin Xin sat with his legs crossed, reciting knowledge from both ancient and modern periods: ¡°He was formerly a destitute scholar.


    One day, he saw that the rats in the latrine were chased and beaten by everyone, while the rats in the national granary lived high above, fat and undisturbed.


    This gave him the insight that as a human, one should live like a rat, and if one were a rat, it should be a rat in the national granary.


    That was what prompted him to strive to become the prime minister of the Qin Dynasty.¡±


    ¡°But as I recall, Li Si didn¡¯t end well, did he?¡± murmured Shen Yue. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Yes, he was beheaded,¡± Jin Xin laughed.


    With a ¡°bang¡± noise, Wang Xinghai angrily slammed the table and stood up: ¡°Enough!


    Are you done spewing your nonsense?¡±


    But he didn¡¯t call for security guards, instead, he stared at Shen Yue and sneered, ¡°You think my secretary is problematic, then investigate my secretary.


    You think my accounts are wrong, go to the tax authorities.


    If you are adept at being cynical, then go ahead, I attained my position through my struggles.


    Do you think these vague acquisition can hurt me?¡±


    Shen Yue exclaimed, ¡°CEO Wang, you¡¯ve misunderstood.


    How could we control the affairs of the tax authority?


    I just want to say, do you really not know of Tiffany perfume, or perhaps the Tiffany diamond ring?


    You¡¯re saying you don¡¯t know, but I kinda don¡¯t believe that, since there¡¯s one inside your drawer.¡±


    Wang Xinghai was stunned, subconsciously looking at his drawer.


    The drawer was not fully closed, revealing a corner of a branded diamond ring box.


    He didn¡¯t expect Shen Yue to have such sharp eyes.


    ¡°Director Wang can certainly afford a diamond ring,¡± Hai Mingzhu said, somewhat puzzled.


    ¡°Men are generally nonchalant about such things.


    It¡¯s common for them to buy a diamond ring and not know the brand.¡±


    ¡°That does make sense.¡±


    Shen Yue looked at Wang Xinghai, whose face was ashen, ¡°It¡¯s normal for Director Wang not to know the brand of the diamond ring, but it¡¯s illogical for Secretary Zhou to not know.


    When I saw Secretary Zhou hurriedly leaving just now, she was wearing one.


    Interestingly, it happens to be a couple ring matching the one in your drawer.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu finally caught on, ¡°Oh, I see.¡±


    She would¡¯ve been better off not saying anything as her words made Wang Xinghai wear an expression that screamed murder.


    He didn¡¯t explode though but let out a cold laugh, choosing not to say anything further.


    As a cunning old fox, he knew that the more he spoke, the more likely he was to trip up.


    He thus willingly adopted a haughty demeanor, as if these allegations were beneath him.


    Shen Yue remained unperturbed, ¡°Seeing this scene, I can¡¯t help but admire your company.


    It¡¯s truly an international enterprise, where everyone abides by the principle of ¡®everyone for me and me for everyone¡¯.


    Even a female secretary with a not-so-high salary, on buying a Tiffany diamond ring, even buys one for her superior.


    Meanwhile¡­¡±


    ¡°Meanwhile what?¡± Hai Mingzhu interrupted, anxious.


    She was now certain that Wang Xinghai was involved with Secretary Zhou.


    ¡°Meanwhile, she even gifts some Tiffany perfume and lipstick,¡± Shen Yue gestured towards Wang Xinghai¡¯s right cheek.


    Wang Xinghai hastily wiped his right cheek and blushed slightly.


    He tried to maintain his facade, ¡°What are you babbling about?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering how Secretary Zhou manages to smear lipstick on Director Wang¡¯s face,¡± said Shen Yue, feigning confusion.


    ¡°This is pretty straightforward, miss.


    Why don¡¯t you demonstrate it for Director Wang?¡± Jin Xin said, sounding quite interested.


    Hai Mingzhu started, hadn¡¯t expected she¡¯d have to demonstrate?


    After glancing at a balding Wang Xinghai, then at Jin Xin, who was sitting and waiting for the demonstration ¡ª he even looked like he was ready to join in ¡ª Hai Mingzhu finally decided to walk towards Shen Yue.


    Seeing that Hai Mingzhu seemed like she was going to embrace him, mimicking the scene between Wang Xinghai and Secretary Zhou, Shen Yue quickly raised his hand to stop her, ¡°Stop!¡±


    Seeing Hai Mingzhu stop, Shen Yue sighed in relief, ¡°We don¡¯t need to reenact the specific scene.


    All I¡¯m saying is that Secretary Zhou gave Director Wang a couple¡¯s ring out of gratitude.


    In return, Director Wang was so grateful and disturbed that he even accepted Secretary Zhou¡¯s gift of lipstick, leaving the drawer open¡­¡±


    Jin Xin had an eccentric smile on his face, a look that only men would understand.


    Hai Mingzhu blushed slightly and bit her lip, choosing not to say anything.


    Wang Xinghai held his fist for a while, before slowly sitting down.


    He said word by word, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡±


    Shen Yue was not intimidated by Wang Xinghai¡¯s aura.


    He only chuckled, ¡°How dare we threaten you, Director Wang?


    Giant Industries is a legitimate business, and we are a serious company.


    If there is a formal process to follow, who¡¯d take a shortcut?


    Don¡¯t you agree, Director Wang?¡±

 Chapter 8 - 8 Section 8 My requirements are very simple

    ?8: Section 8 My requirements are very simple 8: Section 8 My requirements are very simple Listening to Shen Yue say ¡°decent¡± just made Wang Xinghai feel an indescribable sense of irony.


    In this world, there were many who spoke earnestly, but few who acted as such.


    His hand trembled slightly as he picked up the teacup on the table, feigning calm as he took a sip.


    He swiftly pondered his countermeasures, and by the time he put the teacup down, his hand had steadied.


    ¡°You are slandering my relationship with Secretary Zhou.


    Do you believe that I won¡¯t sue you for defamation?¡± said Wang Xinghai, trying to appear composed.


    Shen Yue was closely observing every tiny change in Wang Xinghai¡¯s facial expressions, and he denied, ¡°You won¡¯t do that!¡±


    Wang Xinghai¡¯s eyelids twitched unintentionally, but having been in a position of power for so long, his character had inevitably become suspicious and arrogant; naturally, he wasn¡¯t ready to concede defeat just yet.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re that sure?¡± he challenged.


    ¡°I am very sure.


    If you had decided to sue us, you would have already called security in here,¡± said Shen Yue, his tone always steady and unhurried.


    ¡°You¡¯re still probing, considering denying everything.


    If you can wipe the lipstick off your face, you can eliminate the scent of perfume from the office, and if necessary, you can even get rid of the diamond ring and fire Secretary Zhou.¡±


    Wang Xinghai felt a tremor in his heart, unwilling to admit that Shen Yue had laid out his next steps as clearly as if he had read them directly from Wang Xinghai¡¯s mind.


    ¡°You think that by erasing these, we won¡¯t have any evidence against you, that we will be powerless.


    You can also toss our proposal in the trash.


    You just can¡¯t swallow this humiliation,¡± Shen Yue continued evenly.


    Not only were Wang Xinghai¡¯s eyelids jumping, but his heart also started beating a bit faster.


    Having worked at Giant Industries for so many years, he felt he had consumed more salt than most people had eaten rice, and he viewed many younger individuals as mere kids.


    Experience always trumps youth, he firmly believed this.


    But facing Shen Yue, he realized that this man was more like ginger root¡ªspicy and choking him almost to the point of emitting smoke from his seven orifices, yet he could not deny that Shen Yue¡¯s analysis was spot on.


    The bidding was trivial, but he couldn¡¯t bear to lose to a couple of young upstarts.


    ¡°But do you think we would go to all this trouble if we didn¡¯t feel confident about our position?¡± Shen Yue pointed out a fact.


    ¡°You must be aware that getting to meet with you without an appointment isn¡¯t easy.¡±


    Wang Xinghai snorted.


    Shen Yue looked toward Jin Xin, who understood immediately and joined in saying, ¡°Exactly, without a three-on-three, who dares to ascend to Liangshan?


    Director Wang, since we dared to come here, of course we are well-prepared.¡±


    ¡°Prepared?¡± Wang Xinghai weighed the significance of the word ¡°prepared.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Jin Xin replied professionally.


    ¡°Director Wang might not be aware of our Jintang Company, or know about us three, but we know everything there is to know about you.¡±


    Wang Xinghai uttered an ¡°Oh,¡± squinting his eyes as he obviously waited to see Jin Xin¡¯s trump card.


    ¡°There was a slight issue with something Director Wang said earlier,¡± Jin Xin noted, sensing it was his turn to step up as Shen Yue stepped back.


    He and Shen Yue were always in sync, each understanding their respective roles clearly.


    If Shen Yue was like a sharp chisel that forced open a crack in a rigid situation, then he, Jin Xin, was the hammer ready to pound down into the fissure until the obstacle in front was completely cleared.


    Seeing Wang Xinghai remain silent, Jin Xin decided to press on and break through Wang Xinghai¡¯s last line of defense, ¡°You say you reached your position through hard work, but that¡¯s very problematic.¡±


    Wang Xinghai¡¯s expression grew colder.


    ¡°The first to rise to power in the Li Family was your respected wife!¡± Jin Xin finally played his trump card, ¡°Back then, Mrs.


    Wang was well-favored by the old lady.¡±


    Pausing, Jin Xin smiled and said, ¡°Director Wang surely must know who the old lady is, right?¡±


    Wang Xinghai¡¯s heart skipped a beat; he of course knew the old lady was Giant Li¡¯s lawful wife, and her influence over Giant Li was tremendous, both then and now.


    At present, Giant Industries appeared to be helmed by Li Jiye, but in reality, the mysterious Giant Li still pulled the strings from behind the scenes.


    ¡°Back in the day, Director Wang didn¡¯t seem to be up to par, prone to drinking and a bit lecherous.


    Due to these habits, you were scolded by the old lady on several occasions.


    It was only because Mrs.


    Wang was favored by the old lady, who took into account the bond between husband and wife, that she spoke up for you more than once, giving you a chance.


    And you, Director Wang, ultimately seized that opportunity.¡±


    Jin Xin, feeling confident of his winning hand, continued, ¡°Director Wang, you can erase all the evidence about Secretary Zhou that you have on hand, but if those intimate photos of you and Secretary Zhou end up with the respected wife, you know what the outcome will be.


    I presume Director Wang is well aware of the consequences when a woman is pushed too far.¡±


    Suddenly standing up, Wang Xinghai¡¯s voice was husky, ¡°Did you¡­


    take pictures of me?¡±


    Jin Xin chuckled, ¡°Have you forgotten that we are a security company?


    Not only can we ensure others¡¯ safety, but our photography skills are comparable to those of a bridal studio.


    If we went into the photography business, I¡¯m afraid King¡¯s Bridal wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu nodded repeatedly, looking relieved to have switched companies ahead of time.


    These days, it¡¯s all about¡ªthe fall has nothing to do with you.


    King¡¯s Bridal was too traditional, never imagining that true love could be replaced by BL (boys¡¯ love).


    Wang Xinghai slumped back into his seat, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and after a long while, he said, ¡°What exactly do you want?¡±


    Jin Xin smiled, ¡°I think Director Wang has taken too many detours and seems to have forgotten how the proper procedure goes.


    We¡¯re here to bid.¡±


    ¡°Is it really that simple?¡± Wang Xinghai looked up, skeptical.


    ¡°Of course it¡¯s that simple,¡± Jin Xin reassured, now relaxed with the situation resolved.


    ¡°You just need to submit the bid according to the procedure.


    As long as we get the opportunity, everything we¡¯ve discussed here can be as if it never happened.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When they left the Giant Building, the sun was shining brightly, but Hai Mingzhu¡¯s eyes sparkled as if they were glittering with little stars, giving Shen Yue and Jin Xin her utmost respect.


    Shen Yue, as usual, appeared indifferent, acting as if not even the scrutiny of others, were it transformed into flying knives or bullets, could affect him.


    However, Jin Xin was somewhat unnerved by Hai Mingzhu¡¯s gaze and finally couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°You need to watch where you¡¯re going.


    Why keep staring at us?¡±


    ¡°You guys are actually really capable,¡± said Hai Mingzhu with admiration.


    Only then did Jin Xin smile, but Hai Mingzhu¡¯s next comment nearly made him spit blood, ¡°You know, I always thought you were going to drag me into pyramid selling.¡±


    ¡°Do we really look like pyramid sellers to you?¡±


    ¡°Very much so,¡± Hai Mingzhu nodded, then said earnestly, ¡°President Jin, how did I do just now?¡±


    ¡°You could pass as a competent vase,¡± Jin Xin assessed.


    Hai Mingzhu felt a bit wronged, ¡°But I¡¯m just starting, you know.


    I need time to get familiar with how things work.¡±


    ¡°Starting?¡± Jin Xin asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t we contractors?


    We only signed a one-day contract.


    You didn¡¯t forget, did you?¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s President Jin who has forgotten,¡± Hai Mingzhu said, her eyes twinkling mischievously.


    ¡°You said I would gain more insight if I followed you¡­¡± she looked appealingly at Shen Yue, ¡°and following Advisor Shen would expand my horizons even more!¡±

 Chapter 9 - 9 Section 9 The Companys Business is a Bit Unscrupulous

    ?9: Section 9: The Company¡¯s Business is a Bit Unscrupulous 9: Section 9: The Company¡¯s Business is a Bit Unscrupulous Watching Shen Yue unmoved and non-committal, Hai Mingzhu concluded that President Jin still had the ultimate decision-making power in the company, and quickly shifted her attention, ¡°President Jin, you said earlier that the company would be short-staffed if we take on this project.


    So, I only need to come to your company and find you for a position.


    As a man of his word, you can¡¯t deny what you said.¡±


    Jin Xin glanced at Shen Yue and shook his head, ¡°Unfortunately, we have potential, but we don¡¯t have enough resources.


    If you join a company like ours, it will jeopardize your future.¡± He clearly remembered that Hai Mingzhu had once refused to join the company.


    ¡°Some companies have both potential and resources, it¡¯s just that you¡¯ve been low-profile and never flaunt your strength.


    I was blind not to recognize it.


    Please forgive me, President Jin.¡± Hai Mingzhu clearly had the ability to sweet talk her way out of any situation.


    ¡°Advisor Shen, what do you think?¡± Jin Xin sighed, thinking that the young lady¡¯s eloquence might be useful for the company.


    However, he still placed great importance on Shen Yue¡¯s opinion.


    ¡°Advisor Shen ¡­¡± With pleading in her voice, Hai Mingzhu turned to look at Shen Yue, showing extreme fear of losing this job.


    Shen Yue was just looking at the mirrors around, casually saying, ¡°The business from the Giant Industries is a big piece of cake, and we¡¯re not the only ones bidding for it.


    There will be lots of competition.


    That will be a real test.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, Advisor Shen?¡± Hai Mingzhu was somewhat confused.


    ¡°What he means is that you can stick around for a few days until we secure this project from Giant Industries.¡± Jin Xin half-explained, half-declared, ¡°Firstly, you¡¯ll be an intern for a month.


    We¡¯ll see how you perform and then make a decision.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Hai Mingzhu smiled happily, showing no sign of concern about her probationary period after one month.


    Jin Xin looked somewhat puzzled, ¡°You¡¯re not curious about your salary and benefits?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it eight hundred a day, twenty-four thousand a month?¡± Hai Mingzhu replied without hesitation.


    ¡°You¡¯re pretty good at math.¡± Jin Xin sighed.


    ¡°My primary school teacher said the same thing.¡± Hai Mingzhu felt validated and happy.


    Jin Xin felt that he needed to keep the girl¡¯s focus, returning to a stern tone, ¡°But business doesn¡¯t work like this.


    Can the price be the same for individual and bulk sales?


    How about this, a month, eight thousand.


    Once you pass the probationary period, I can give you a raise.


    We can even consider meeting your expectations.¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡± Hai Mingzhu agreed instantly, proving she was good at bargaining.


    Jin Xin was surprised by her response and looked at Hai Mingzhu again.


    He seemed to want to say something, but ultimately held back.


    Finally, as he climbed into the driver¡¯s seat, he asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you planning to resign from the photo studio?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu, who was leaning back in her chair, made a ghostly face and laughed, ¡°So I really did fool you.¡±


    Jin Xin and Shen Yue were taken aback and asked in unison, ¡°What did you fool us about?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu let out a sly smile,¡±Actually, I came looking for work after I graduated from college.


    I saw the recruitment ad from the photo studio and thought I could use you two potential clients¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, Jin Xin realized, ¡°If you did manage to introduce us as clients, the photo studio couldn¡¯t afford not to hire you.


    Even if you failed, you would have proven your abilities at work to the photo studio.


    No wonder you were so quick to leave with me.


    You were playing both sides.¡±


    ¡°Bingo!¡± Hai Mingzhu laughed joyfully.


    ¡°I¡¯m smart, aren¡¯t I, President Jin?¡±


    Jin Xin muttered, ¡°That¡¯s what I like about you, your sense of humor.¡±


    He glanced at Shen Yue in the mirror.


    Shen Yue was also looking at him.


    They both nodded slightly.


    However, this detail was missed by Hai Mingzhu.


    The Mercedes stopped in front of the Golden Soup Hot Pot Shop.


    Hai Mingzhu followed Jin Xin and Shen Yue to the entrance and asked, ¡°Is this the address of our company?¡±


    Seeing Jin Xin¡¯s look of bewilderment, Hai Mingzhu quickly said, ¡°I was only joking, I know we¡¯re here for a work meal, right?¡±


    ¡°No need to remind us, we wouldn¡¯t make you pay the bill,¡± Jin Xin replied.


    The girl laughed awkwardly, having been caught out.


    But as soon as she sat down at the table, she was back on form, carrying out the duties of a secretary, ¡°Waiter, bring us your signature Golden Soup Beef Hot Pot, please.¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then she turned to Jin Xin and Shen Yue, ¡°Boss, Advisor, would you like some alcohol?¡±


    Seeing that Jin Xin and Shen Yue both shook their heads, Hai Mingzhu simply ordered, ¡°Also, a big bowl of rice and three side dishes.


    That¡¯s all for now.¡±


    After dismissing the waiter, Hai Mingzhu lowered her voice and said, ¡°The hot pot here is enough for four people.


    We don¡¯t need to order anything else to avoid waste.¡±


    Jin Xin was somewhat skeptical, ¡°You didn¡¯t apply for a job here, did you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Hai Mingzhu deftly took out her phone and launched an APP.


    ¡°It¡¯s a culinary guide.


    I¡¯ve had my eye on this place for a while.


    My plan is to save enough money from working over the next year to try all the delicacies in the world.


    Look, there are spicy crayfish and golden roast pig¡¯s trotters nearby¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Jin Xin worried that they might have hired a gourmand instead.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to go on.


    We know you are a food lover.¡±


    ¡°I have other skills too.


    Just wait and see, Boss.¡± Hai Mingzhu grinned, still holding her phone, ¡°Can I have your contact information?¡±


    Jin Xin took Hai Mingzhu¡¯s phone, dialed a number then handed it back to her.


    Hai Mingzhu took a look at the number and handed the phone to Shen Yue.


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t take it.


    Jin Xin explained, ¡°As long as you have my number, you can find him.¡±


    ¡°Advisor Shen is so mysterious, not even giving a phone number?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu looked curiously at Shen Yue, but she didn¡¯t insist and took back her phone, ¡°President Jin, am I an employee of Jintang Company now?¡±


    Seeing Jin Xin nod, Hai Mingzhu quickly added, ¡°I¡¯ve been holding back a question for a long time.¡±


    ¡°We will pay you for today¡¯s work.¡± Jin Xin quickly replied.


    ¡°It¡¯s not about today¡¯s salary.


    But you can pay me now.¡± Hai Mingzhu never missed an opportunity.


    Jin Xin straightforwardly took out his phone, tapped twice, and showed Hai Mingzhu a QR code, ¡°You can scan it.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was cautious and puzzled, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be scanning my QR code to pay me?¡±


    ¡°Are you afraid I¡¯ll cheat you out of your money?¡± Jin Xin spoke playfully.


    ¡°That¡¯s definitely not going to happen.


    I definitely have less than eight hundred in my account.¡±


    Though Hai Mingzhu said so, she checked carefully after scanning the code and confirmed the amount she received was correct.


    Only then did she put down her phone.


    Seeing Jin Xin glare at her, the young girl laughed awkwardly, ¡°I rarely see this kind of payment method.


    What I wanted to ask was ¨C are we a professional adultery detection firm?¡±


    Brimming with excitement, Hai Mingzhu added, ¡°So are we a professional adultery detection team then?¡±


    Shen Yue, who had just taken a sip of tea, almost spat it out at Hai Mingzhu.


    Jin Xin choked and coughed repeatedly.


    Seeing the waiter at a nearby table looking somewhat strange, he waved his hand, ¡°When the dishes come, you don¡¯t need to serve us.¡±


    Only after the waiter tactfully left did Jin Xin whisper, ¡°Mingzhu, while you can eat as much as you like, you need to watch what you say.¡±


    As Hai Mingzhu grabbed a large chunk of beef with her chopsticks, Jin Xin saw that they could not random about eating either.


    He whispered, ¡°Since we¡¯re all on the same side, there¡¯s no need to hide anything from you.


    Our company actually deals with ¡®dirty¡¯ things.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu paused with her chopsticks in the air.


    Jin Xin cleared his throat.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand, do you?¡±


    Setting her chopsticks down, she said, ¡°Are you saying we are ghostbusters?¡±

 Chapter 10 - 10 Lesson 10 This girl really dares to speak up

    ?10: Lesson 10 This girl really dares to speak up 10: Lesson 10 This girl really dares to speak up Jin Xin originally intended to explain things to Hai Mingzhu.


    However, upon seeing the girl utter the phrase ¡°catching ghosts¡± as nonchalantly as if she were remarking on the fact we ate hot pot for dinner, he felt that these superstitious beliefs were indeed deeply ingrained in people¡¯s hearts.


    After some thought, he gave up on his initial plan.


    Shen Yue, a man of few words and relatively small appetite, couldn¡¯t help but ask her upon seeing her calm demeanor, ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared?¡±


    ¡°Scared of what?


    Ghosts?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu didn¡¯t appear afraid at all.


    In fact, she seemed somewhat excited, ¡°I love horror movies ¡ª zombies, the undead, vampires, and even psychos with chainsaws¡­


    It¡¯s all such fun.¡±


    As she avidly chewed on a piece of beef, some spicy sauce traced a line down her cheek, making it look like blood dripping from flesh.


    If complemented with the right sound and lighting, she¡¯d make a fine horror movie actress herself.


    The waiter, despite being a distance away, had been all ears, his interest piqued by the conversation about ghost-capturing.


    But now, feeling a cold shiver run down his spine, he decided to keep a safer distance from the trio.


    ¡°But I have never seen a real ghost before.


    I didn¡¯t think life would present such an opportunity.¡± Hai Mingzhu continued eating while chatting.


    Once she finished her bite, she finally addressed the main topic, ¡°You said the Li Family¡¯s place is haunted?


    We¡¯re supposed to catch the ghost?¡±


    ¡°You could say that,¡± Jin Xin answered vaguely.


    Hai Mingzhu shot Jin Xin a look, ¡°President Jin, I am an employee of your company, you should at least let me know the truth if I¡¯m going to face a ghost, right?¡±


    ¡°Jin Xin is responsible for his employees,¡± Shen Yue suddenly cut in: ¡°Rest assured, if we were dealing with a ghost, we would definitely let you know first.¡±


    In her mind, the words of the serious Shen Yue carried more weight than those of Jin Xin.


    Hearing Shen Yue¡¯s assurance, Hai Mingzhu let her playful demeanor slip away and gave a thoughtful response, ¡°So, we don¡¯t know for certain whether there really is a ghost?¡±


    Seeing Shen Yue and Jin Xin both nodding, Hai Mingzhu lowered her voice, ¡°But can you two really catch ghosts?¡±


    They both responded with a knowing silence.


    After waiting for their response for a while, Hai Mingzhu finally lost her patience and complained: ¡°I have to do something, right?


    President Jin, did you hire me just to eat meals?¡±


    ¡°Not many recent college graduates are as proactive about work as you are,¡± Jin Xin praised.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Hai Mingzhu brimmed with enthusiasm for work, ¡°Then¡­


    why don¡¯t I take care of those intimate photos?¡±


    Jin Xin nearly spat out his tea.


    He began to doubt the upbringing of this girl.


    Shen Yue shook his head and said: ¡°There are no photos.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Hai Mingzhu was startled, ¡°But those are our strongest weapon, how can¡­


    how can they not exist?¡±


    ¡°Do you really want to see them?¡± Jin Xin asked, both annoyed and amused.


    ¡°If there were such photos, it would only be my duty to take care of them.¡±


    ¡°Then why did you make it sound so serious?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked, her face full of confusion.


    ¡°What did I say?


    I¡¯ve never mentioned having any intimate photos,¡± Jin Xin shrugged.


    Upon careful thought, Hai Mingzhu realized that this was true.


    Throughout the entire process, Director Wang had assumed that Jin Xin had compromising photos, but Jin Xin had only ever said that their company was good at taking photos.


    ¡°Then is there no secret relationship between Director Wang and Secretary Zhou?¡± Hai Mingzhu realized her mistake as soon as the words left her mouth, ¡°That can¡¯t be.


    Director Wang must be guilty, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t behave like that.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s definitely something going on between them,¡± Jin Xin confirmed without a doubt.


    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you take photos?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked with a furrowed brow.


    Jin Xin couldn¡¯t help but laugh: ¡°Young girl, we are a legitimate company, we wouldn¡¯t use those methods.


    If you¡¯re interested, you can try¡­


    sneaking.


    Also¡­¡±


    After glancing at Shen Yue, Jin Xin continued: ¡°Our initial research was not complete.


    We only found out about Wang Xinghai¡¯s affair with his secretary after we met him.¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°How so?¡± Hai Mingzhu wasn¡¯t shy about digging for more information.


    ¡°You should ask Advisor Shen about that,¡± Jin Xin deflected, feeling relief for the first time at Shen Yue¡¯s reticence.


    When Shen Yue saw Hai Mingzhu looking at him with expectancy, he finally spoke up: ¡°When we bumped into Secretary Zhou, her breathing was rushed, and her cheeks were slightly red.


    That¡¯s a reaction caused by the secretion of adrenal corticosteroids.¡±


    He paused and looked at Hai Mingzhu, ¡°Do you understand what I said?¡±


    ¡°I do!¡± Hai Mingzhu quickly replied, ¡°Adrenal corticosteroids include glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and small amounts of sex hormones.¡±


    After a pause, Hai Mingzhu added, ¡°Was Secretary Zhou secreting the third type of hormone at the time?¡±


    Both Shen Yue and Jin Xin exchanged surprised glances.


    Jin Xin couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°You really don¡¯t shy away from saying anything, do you?¡±


    ¡°Why should I?¡± Hai Mingzhu felt puzzled, ¡°If it can be taught openly, why can¡¯t it be discussed openly?¡±


    ¡°Who teaches this stuff?¡± Jin Xin asked curiously, ¡°Is this what you learned at university?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Hai Mingzhu said seriously.


    ¡°What did you study?¡± Jin Xin asked with surprise.


    He began to wonder if she had been studying in some exotic foreign land.


    ¡°Psychology,¡± Hai Mingzhu looked at Jin Xin with equal surprise.


    Realizing that Jin Xin seemed embarrassed, Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°President Jin, you really are old-fashioned, were you thinking about something inappropriate?


    Nowadays, psychology courses do cover this physiological knowledge.


    Although it¡¯s not as comprehensive as in medical studies, there¡¯s no reason not to teach about the human endocrine system.¡±


    Jin Xin started to cough repeatedly.


    Hai Mingzhu turned her gaze to Shen Yue, ¡°Advisor Shen, did you also study psychology?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Shen Yue shook his head.


    Hai Mingzhu was taken aback.


    She appeared lively, but she was also extremely smart, otherwise she would not have quickly gained the approval of Jin Xin and Shen Yue.


    In theory, her question should have only two possible answers: yes or no.


    But Shen Yue¡¯s response was clearly problematic.


    What does ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± mean?


    However, after some hesitation, she decided not to pursue the matter further, ¡°Advisor Shen seems more professional than me, despite my studying psychology.


    At least¡­


    I didn¡¯t notice anything unusual about Secretary Zhou at that time.¡±


    ¡°Of course he¡¯s more professional than you.


    That¡¯s why I hired him,¡± Jin Xin added.


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t reveal any hint of pride, instead he continued, ¡°When Secretary Zhou turned around, I noticed that the corner of her blouse on her right side was heavily creased, a sign that it hadn¡¯t been tucked in properly.


    When we got to Wang Xinghai¡¯s office and noticed that his chair was slightly askew, I concluded that they had just¡­¡±


    Pausing to gauge Hai Mingzhu¡¯s reaction, Shen Yue carefully chose his words, ¡°They must have just finished¡­


    being intimate.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was impressed.


    When Shen Yue¡¯s detailed observations were put together, it allowed her to quickly understand what had happened.


    People rarely approached Wang Xinghai¡¯s office unannounced, which allowed him to act however he pleased there.


    When the three of them visited, Wang Xinghai and Secretary Zhou must have been warming up.


    The disarranged position of the office chair was likely made to make room for their intimacy, his wandering hands had left her clothes in disarray.


    Secretary Zhou hastily leaving without her usual composure, unable to hide her physiological reaction, was what led Shen Yue to see through their pretense.


    In hindsight, it seems simple.


    However, without ample experience and sharp insight, how could one see through all of these clues in the moment and reconstruct the scene, thus penetrating old fox Wang Xinghai¡¯s defenses?

 Chapter 11 - 11 11 Jin Xins Tactics

    ?11: Chapter 11 Jin Xin¡¯s Tactics 11: Chapter 11 Jin Xin¡¯s Tactics Hai Mingzhu¡¯s admiration for Shen Yue and Jin Xin, which was initially to please them, seems utterly genuine now.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Advisor Shen actually see the lipstick on Wang Xinghai¡¯s face?¡± Hai Mingzhu asserted her opinion, ¡°My vision is fine.


    When I entered Wang Xinghai¡¯s room, the first thing I noticed was him, and I didn¡¯t see any lipstick on his face.¡±


    Shen Yue looked at Hai Mingzhu with slight surprise, ¡°You¡¯re right, I didn¡¯t see it either.¡±


    ¡°But the way they were seated, indeed, they could easily leave lipstick marks.¡± Hai Mingzhu analyzed, ¡°Did Advisor Shen exaggerate the lipstick detail to make Wang Xinghai believe that you had complete knowledge about their affair?


    Anyway, Wang Xinghai must have been confused then, not knowing exactly where Secretary Zhou had kissed him.¡±


    Shen Yue nodded his agreement.


    ¡°How did you see the diamond ring in Wang Xinghai¡¯s drawer?¡± Hai Mingzhu sincerely asked, ¡°Even if Wang Xinghai¡¯s drawer was not tightly shut, from our perspective at that time, we wouldn¡¯t be able to see inside.¡±


    ¡°The Giant Building is a bit eerie, a lot of its decorations have to do with Feng Shui,¡± Shen Yue suddenly said.


    ¡°And then?¡± Hai Mingzhu blinked curiously.


    ¡°Wang Xinghai¡¯s room is no exception, it includes at least three Feng Shui associated items ¨C the Wealth-attracting Fish, Wealthy Tree, and Wealth-gathering Mirror.¡± Shen Yue was quite familiar with these, ¡°The Wealth-gathering Mirror and Reflective Mirror are different, the latter repels negative energy, while the former attracts wealth to oneself.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu, who had no idea initially, began to understand, ¡°So to attract wealth, the mirror would have to reflect Wang Xinghai, and you saw the inside of his drawer through the mirror?


    But how did you¡­¡± She was both satisfied with the answer and left with more questions,¡±How did you deduce that it was a couple¡¯s ring?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a Tiffany Boutique in front of Wang Jue Wedding Photography Studio.


    When Jin Xin and I were in front of the studio, the man taking our picture had a phone in his hand, while the woman had a Tiffany flyer, and the biggest picture on the flyer was advertising Qixi Festival couple¡¯s rings, exactly the one from Wang Xinghai¡¯s drawer, which also happened to be the most expensive one.


    Presumably, Secretary Zhou, too fond of short distances, went straight to the nearest Tiffany Boutique to buy matching diamond engagement rings.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help but laugh, finding Shen Yue¡¯s description of expressing love rather peculiar.


    Jin Xin laughed, ¡°You have a sharp eye, to have noticed that!


    The hardest part is remembering all of this.


    It¡¯s not surprising that Secretary Zhou bought the diamond ring in a nearby boutique, and Wang Xinghai, for the sake of his image, wouldn¡¯t want this personal affair to get out.


    But with Mrs.


    Wang following Giant Li and his wife abroad in recent years, Secretary Zhou, feeling emboldened to mess around in the office, aimed to latch onto Wang Xinghai.


    Her possessiveness might have compelled her to show off her possession of Wang Xinghai to other employees at an early stage.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was awestruck, knowing that understanding these things was straightforward, but those who could actually apply them were very few.


    After some thought, Hai Mingzhu looked at Jin Xin, ¡°President Jin, you had already started investigating Wang Xinghai, and Advisor Shen has already breached his defense.


    You took advantage of the situation, making Wang Xinghai believe that you¡¯ve had him under surveillance for a considerable amount of time, thereby manipulating him into following the process?¡±


    Jin Xin praised, ¡°You¡¯re very smart, you¡¯ve figured out all the details so quickly, unlike some employees, who remain clueless no matter how many hints we give.


    You¡¯ll be a great asset after a few more years of refinement.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was somewhat disheartened, ¡°I just found out that all the knowledge I acquired thus far in psychology seems insignificant in comparison.


    After shadowing you guys for half a day, I¡¯ve learned far more than I did in my four years.¡±


    ¡°You must have picked up this bootlicking skill from your psychology program.¡± Jin Xin couldn¡¯t help himself.


    Hai Mingzhu let out a chuckle, ¡°You saw right through me.¡± But in a blink of an eye, she seemed more worried than Jin Xin and Shen Yue,¡± We can¡¯t let Wang Xinghai know about this.


    If he finds out we do not have an ace up our sleeves, he might stir up trouble.¡±


    ¡°He won¡¯t find out, thieves always have guilty consciences, Wang Xinghai would not gamble his future with us.¡± Jin Xindidn¡¯t seem to care much, ¡°Moreover, once our proposal reaches the layer above Wang Xinghai, many things will no longer be within his control.¡±


    While they were talking, Jin Xin¡¯s cell phone suddenly rang.


    He glanced at it and said, ¡°We have a result.


    Giant Industries has issued an invitation; tomorrow we will¡­¡± He took another look at the cellphone to confirm, ¡°Tomorrow evening at eight, we will go to Giant Building for the formal interview.¡±


    ¡°Wang Xinghai certainly operates efficiently.¡± Shen Yue murmured to himself.


    ¡°Why is it at eight in the evening?¡± Hai Mingzhu was rather incredulous.


    She snatched the cellphone, looked, and realized it was accurate.


    She sheepishly handed the phone back to Jin Xin, ¡°President Jin, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you, but this timing they¡¯ve scheduled seems rather odd.¡±


    You just don¡¯t trust me!


    Jin Xin thought to himself but didn¡¯t verbalize it.


    ¡°Do I meet you guys at eight in the morning tomorrow?¡± Hai Mingzhu volunteered.


    ¡°Not so early.


    Shen Yue and I have other matters to attend to.¡± This clearly implied that they didn¡¯t have the time to take on a new employee for now.


    After pondering for a moment, Jin Xin decided, ¡°Tomorrow evening at seven-thirty, meet us in front of the Photography Studio at the Giant Building complex.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu nodded repeatedly.


    When she noticed Jin Xin still looking at her, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°President Jin, any other instructions?¡±


    ¡°You full?¡± Jin Xin noticed that Hai Mingzhu ate about half of the four servings of beef pot, yet she kept up with the conversation without any interruptions.


    Hai Mingzhu responded by letting out a burp.


    Before she could say anything, Jin Xin said, ¡°You can go home now.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there still a few hours left?


    We agreed on a half-day today.¡± Hai Mingzhu proved herself as a dedicated employee.


    Jin Xin smiled, ¡°You can go worry-free, your wages won¡¯t be deducted.¡±


    Once the young girl left, looking pleased yet somewhat skeptical, Jin Xin picked up his phone and appeared to be surfing through something.


    Shen Yue was quietly eating. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When Jin Xin looked up, Shen Yue asked without raising his head, ¡°Did you find anything?¡±


    He seemed to have a natural intuition, knowing Jin Xin¡¯s movement almost without looking.


    Jin Xin feigned ignorance, ¡°Find what?¡±


    Shen Yue lifted his head, ¡°The way you voluntarily paid Hai Mingzhu for a half-day¡¯s work isn¡¯t your style.


    Did you take the opportunity to install a Trojan in her phone when you paid her?¡±


    Jin Xin laughed, ¡°I knew I couldn¡¯t fool you!¡±


    Navigating through the interface reflecting Hai Mingzhu¡¯s phone, Jin Xin went through a few program records and checked her album, muttering, ¡°It seems like this girl is not lying.


    Her contacts are all a bunch of local college students, and her album consists of pictures with classmates, most of which taken at the most famous university in this city.


    Her classmates all seem quite attractive, but there aren¡¯t any individual photos or call records with men.


    It seems like she¡¯s still single.¡±


    ¡°Do you suspect her?¡± Shen Yue quietly asked, looking at the teacup in front of him, ¡°Are you always this suspicious?¡±


    As lunchtime approached, the restaurant was noisy, but there was a moment of silence between the two.

 Chapter 12 - 12 Lesson 12 Shen Yues Secret

    ?12: Lesson 12: Shen Yue¡¯s Secret 12: Lesson 12: Shen Yue¡¯s Secret Jin Xin looked at Shen Yue, who had his head bowed.


    A bitter smile formed on the corners of his lips.


    ¡°Shen Yue,¡± he said sincerely, ¡°I know you¡¯ve always disapproved of my method of invading people¡¯s privacy, but you¡¯re right.


    I¡¯m always suspicious and I have to be sure that everyone around me is trustworthy.¡±


    Although Shen Yue did not lift up his head, Jin Xin showed him the screen of his phone, pressed the delete button, and placed the phone in front of Shen Yue.


    ¡°I¡¯ve deleted the trojan horse that was in Hai Mingzhu¡¯s phone.¡± He added, ¡°I just wanted to see if she was telling the truth.¡±


    ¡°Why do you doubt her?¡± Shen Yue finally lifted his head.


    The air conditioning in the shop was on full blast, yet Shen Yue¡¯s gaze was warm.


    Seeing Shen Yue¡¯s expression warmed Jin Xin¡¯s heart.


    He knew Shen Yue was no longer reproaching his actions and he confessed, ¡°I doubt her, but I can¡¯t really explain why.


    It must be what you always talk about: intuition, right?¡±


    After pausing for a moment, Jin Xin said, ¡°Actually, you¡¯ve suspected her all along too, haven¡¯t you?


    Both of us don¡¯t think she behaves like a typical college student.


    Nowadays, there aren¡¯t many college students who act like her, and even fewer with her kind of intelligence.¡±


    Shen Yue did not respond.


    ¡°There¡¯s another thing,¡± Jin Xin tapped his forehead, ¡°I almost forgot.


    In fact, both of us knew she was lying from the start.


    She¡¯s not an employee of the bridal shop at all.¡±


    ¡°When I saw the owner of the bridal shop open the shop, she didn¡¯t even greet him.


    The way the shop owner looked at her was no different from looking at a stranger.¡± Shen Yue chuckled and added, ¡°Hai Mingzhu, who is neither blind nor stupid, would not act this way.¡±


    ¡°I knew you would see through her.¡±


    Jin Xin agreed, ¡°When I saw that, I began to question her intentions.¡±


    ¡°Otherwise, when you left Giant Building, you wouldn¡¯t have intentionally reminded her to resign from the bridal shop,¡± Shen Yue recalled these details flawlessly.


    ¡°Yes, I was testing her.


    She seemed taken aback, but then she explained herself flawlessly,¡± Jin Xin said.


    ¡°Her explanation was perfect, but we¡¯re both well-versed in body language ¨C the change in one¡¯s eyes and facial expressions when lying.


    Although we weren¡¯t a hundred percent sure, we both had at least eighty percent confidence that she was lying at that moment.¡±


    Shen Yue put down his chopsticks and sipped his tea.


    ¡°Sometimes, I¡¯d rather not know these things.


    Because¡­¡± His expression turned pained.


    ¡°Because once a lie is planted, it¡¯s like a thorn.


    If you don¡¯t pull it out, it takes root in your heart and haunts you forever,¡± Jin Xin said, expressing his agreement.


    Shen Yue looked out the window at the bustling passersby and murmured, ¡°Some people have their reasons for doing what they do.¡±


    ¡°Is the job market really that bad nowadays?


    Do people really need to be this cunning just to find a job?¡± Jin Xin asked, as if seeking confirmation.


    Shen Yue fell silent again, clearly not wanting to discuss Hai Mingzhu¡¯s situation any further.


    Suddenly, Jin Xin declared, ¡°Shen Yue, even though I¡¯m suspicious and cautious of many people, if there¡¯s one person in this world I can trust, it has to be you!¡±


    It took a while for Shen Yue to lift his head.


    He said bitterly, ¡°In this world, you are currently my only friend.¡±


    Jin Xin got what Shen Yue implied.


    He frowned and said, ¡°I¡¯ve tried my best to investigate your background.


    It¡¯s deeply problematic.


    When I met you, all you had was an ID card and a mobile phone.¡±


    Shen Yue gazed blankly out of the window.


    Jin Xin knew that Shen Yue was listening to him and continued,¡± That phone of yours is really odd.


    It took me a lot of effort to allow my phone to call yours.


    When Hai Mingzhu asked for your phone number, I didn¡¯t give it to her.


    She thought you were mysterious but didn¡¯t know that your phone doesn¡¯t have a number¡­


    People I know all say that although your phone looks clumsy, it¡¯s actually sophisticated inside.


    After a simple teardown, they found many advanced and precise chips inside.


    They had no idea what those chips were used for.


    Everybody believed that it couldn¡¯t have been produced by any known mobile phone manufacturer ¨C the structure of the chips doesn¡¯t match any currently known communication protocol.¡±


    ¡°So I¡¯m not from this world?


    Am I an alien?¡± Shen Yue joked.


    ¡°But it doesn¡¯t seem like that either.


    I checked your ID number and found out that you own a property in this city. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It¡¯s the one you¡¯re currently living in.


    I went to the Housing Bureau and found out that the property title is indeed in your name, and it was bought ten years ago.¡±


    ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for you helping me find that house, I might still be homeless,¡± Shen Yue murmured.


    ¡°How could that be?¡± Jin Xin laughed, ¡°You¡¯re so capable, you wouldn¡¯t starve anywhere.


    I asked you to live at my place, but you insisted on staying in your own room.


    I know you did it because you were waiting for someone to find you, hoping to understand your past better.


    These past few days, I¡¯ve taken you almost everywhere in this city, but we haven¡¯t encountered anyone who recognizes you.


    By the way, has anyone in the apartment recognized you?¡±


    Shen Yue shook his head.


    ¡°That¡¯s even stranger,¡± Jin Xin furrowed his brows.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense that you¡¯ve been living in that apartment for ten years and there¡¯s no one who knows you.¡± He paused for a moment, then finally said, ¡°There might be another possibility.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Sitting amid the bustling eatery, Shen Yue felt as if he were alone on a desolate mountain peak.


    ¡°You may have been overseas all this time and only recently returned to this city, which is why no one recognizes you,¡± Jin Xin said helplessly.


    ¡°But the strange thing is, I couldn¡¯t find any records of you entering or leaving the country.¡±


    ¡°What are you suspecting?¡± Shen Yue seemed indifferent, but he could sense Jin Xin¡¯s hesitation.


    ¡°I suspect that you might have been on a secret mission, like a¡­


    spy?¡± Jin Xin lowered his voice.


    ¡°Your mission could have caused your amnesia.


    Didn¡¯t they make a movie about this?¡±


    Once he started, Jin Xin was no longer hesitant, continuing, ¡°Your ability to read people, deduce details is superb, I admit I¡¯m inferior.


    But your skills are exactly the kind of thing a high-level spy would possess.¡±


    Shen Yue suddenly turned to look at Jin Xin, ¡°Scared now?¡±


    ¡°Scared of what?¡± Jin Xin was taken aback.


    Shen Yue managed a smile, ¡°If I turn out to be a spy and regain my memory, I might have to eliminate you to keep my secret.¡±


    Jin Xin burst into laughter, ¡°You, who can analyze every minor detail but refrains from invading anyone¡¯s privacy unless absolutely necessary, how could you be a merciless spy?


    You must be a patriotic spy for our nation.


    The military might even be looking for you.¡±


    Shen Yue knew Jin Xin was trying to comfort him.


    If he really were a patriotic spy, considering he¡¯d been living in his own apartment in the city for so long with an active phone, wouldn¡¯t the military have found him by now?


    The situation was far more complicated than Jin Xin made it out to be!


    ¡°Actually, I think you¡¯re more likely to be a spy,¡± Shen Yue suddenly stated.


    Jin Xin¡¯s expression froze momentarily before he asked, ¡°Why would you say that?¡±


    Shen Yue did not look at Jin Xin¡¯s face, ¡°Making a fake staff card for Giant Industries isn¡¯t hard, but creating a duplicated special pass is far from easy.¡±


    After a long period of silence, Shen Yue spoke again, ¡°I don¡¯t want there to be a thorn between us.¡±


    Jin Xin kept his mouth shut for a while before asking, ¡°What do you want to ask?¡±


    ¡°According to what you said, Giant Industries only released the message seeking external assistance yesterday,¡± Shen Yue said leisurely, ¡°But judging by your actions today, the preparations you made to infiltrate Giant Industries were not done overnight.¡±

 Chapter 13 - 13 Section 13 Opportunity to Turn Over

    ?13: Section 13: Opportunity to Turn Over 13: Section 13: Opportunity to Turn Over At noon, the restaurant was bustling with customers.


    Shen Yue spoke slowly but very clearly and confidently.


    He was not a man of many words, but since he had asked, he expected an answer.


    Jin Xin stared at Shen Yue for a while before saying, ¡°I¡¯ve never shared my story with you.¡±


    Shen Yue nodded in response.


    ¡°You never asked.¡± Jin Xin added, ¡°I know you, you¡¯re the type of person who could see straight through others, but you¡¯d never pry into anyone¡¯s privacy unless necessary.¡± After a pause, Jin Xin sighed, ¡°But your intuitive analysis of people, like my own suspicion, makes you wonder if a girl like Hai Mingzhu shows up at your doorstep, whether she is genuinely friendly or has something else in mind.¡±


    ¡°That must be exhausting,¡± Shen Yue sympathized.


    ¡°Yes, it is, which is why I usually act nonchalantly, just to ease my own burden.¡± Jin Xin muttered, ¡°You must know that it takes time to nourish a habit or a character, and they are often influenced by the environment one lives in.¡±


    His hand gripped the chopsticks a bit tighter, and his usually jovial expression revealed a trace of pain, ¡°My previous survival situation forced me to be suspicious.


    If I hadn¡¯t been, I¡¯d probably be dead by now.¡±


    Shen Yue looked at Jin Xin for a moment, ¡°I understand, you don¡¯t have to continue.¡±


    ¡°I still want to continue,¡± Jin Xin insisted, ¡°You¡¯re my most trusted friend and I don¡¯t want any misunderstandings between us.


    So I promise you, that if the day comes, I will tell you everything.¡±


    ¡°The day?¡± Shen Yue wasn¡¯t sure when Jin Xin meant.


    ¡°The day I can finally hold my head high!¡± Jin Xin declared, looking straight at Shen Yue, ¡°I know for you, everything is subject to negotiation.


    But for people like me, it¡¯s either success or death!¡±


    Finally releasing his grip on the chopsticks, Jin Xin took a breath as if he had been suppressing something for years.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been waiting for an opportunity.


    Cooperation with the Li Family is an ideal opportunity I¡¯ve been preparing for, for years, it¡¯s a chance for me to turn my life around.¡±


    Seeing that Shen Yue was about to say something, Jin Xin added promptly, ¡°But I promise you I will not resort to any means, I want to turn things around fair and square.


    You know I make a living on my own merits.¡±


    Shen Yue nodded slightly.


    He believed what Jin Xin said.


    Even without deliberately prying, having spent enough time with Jin Xin, Shen Yue could sense the indignation hidden beneath his jovial demeanor.


    Did Jin Xin¡¯s family situation make him suspicious?


    Without his suspicion, would he be in constant danger?


    What exactly was the horrifying environment he was in?


    Did Jin Xin escape from something?


    Was he preparing for years to achieve success, or was it for revenge?


    Regarding these questions, Jin Xin remained silent.


    Was it because he thought the timing was not right, or did he consider them his own affairs he didn¡¯t want his friends to worry about?


    Shen Yue wondered quietly.


    After a moment of silence, Jin Xin continued, ¡°Actually, as early as six months ago, there was a crisis within the Li Clan, and I got wind of it at the time.¡±


    ¡°The Li Clan?¡± Shen Yue frowned, ¡°Not Giant Industries?¡± In his view, if it was related to Giant Industries, it meant Giant Li was having business trouble.


    If it was the Li Clan, it could possibly involve personal grudges.


    Despite Shen Yue¡¯s words being seemingly inapparent to others, Jin Xin would understand, ¡°Yes, the Li Clan!


    Apparently someone wants to take revenge on the Li Clan!¡±


    Shen Yue was somewhat surprised, ¡°Who would do such a thing?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Jin Xin replied with a bitter smile, ¡°I¡¯m afraid those who do know aren¡¯t many.


    Even my insider can¡¯t make heads or tails of this highly confidential matter.¡±


    ¡°Who is your informant?¡± Shen Yue inquired tentatively.


    Jin Xin shook his head, ¡°Shen Yue, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you, but I¡¯ve sworn not to disclose anything about my informant.¡±


    Shen Yue did not press further, he just muttered, ¡°Someone wants to take revenge on the Li family, and apparently the Li¡¯s couldn¡¯t handle this issue.


    If they could, there wouldn¡¯t be a tender today.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.


    A revenge that was to be taken half a year ago, yet has been delayed until now, clearly indicates a huge problem.¡± Jin Xin confirmed, ¡°Right after I received the tip-off, I never lost track of this case.


    I have been always ready for an opportunity since then.¡±


    ¡°Recruiting people by Giant Industries this time is different from before.


    Not only are they looking at records and procedures, but they¡¯re also looking for those who can really get things done.


    No wonder¡­¡± Shen Yue mused, ¡°I felt you were behaving a bit aggressively today.


    You could have easily bribed Manager Liao, instead of provoking Wang Xinghai.¡±


    ¡°The way I handled things today firstly, I have some grudges with Manager Liao from before, I don¡¯t fancy begging him with my tail between my legs.


    Second, just like you said, I want to show the Li¡¯s what we¡¯re capable of!¡±


    Jin Xin emphasized the word ¡°we¡± with strong self-confidence.


    He trusted his own abilities, and even more so in Shen Yue.


    Then he assuaged Shen Yue, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Wang Xinghai is a small fry.


    As long as we prove our worth and win the trust of the Li¡¯s, he¡¯d instead try to cozy up with us.


    He won¡¯t harbor a grudge over a minor conflict.


    In people like him, career prospects matter more.


    But if we fail¡­.¡±


    He didn¡¯t continue, but the implication was clear ¨C if we fail, we would obviously have nothing to do with Wang Xinghai anymore, and so, we don¡¯t need to be concerned about him.


    However, Shen Yue furrowed his brows, ¡°Have you thought about this?


    The Li family is wealthy and influential, money can get them anything.


    They have both official channels and private connections.


    If they could indeed find the person seeking revenge, they could solve 99% of their problems with these two methods.¡±


    ¡°The person seeking revenge against them must be extremely secretive, they may not be able to trace them down, living under the shadow of revenge every day, that¡¯s why they have to seek external help.¡± Jin Xin affirmed, ¡°There is no rich or noble family without some risk.


    Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡±


    Jin Xin was clear in distincting between ¡®I¡¯ and ¡®we¡¯.


    He knew Shen Yue would help, mostly because of their friendship.


    ¡°Right now, everything seems calm, but this is just the peace before the storm.


    I¡¯ve shared everything with you, and you must know that this is very dangerous.


    So, if you decide not to get involved, I won¡¯t blame you.¡± Jin Xin sincerely said.


    Shen Yue smiled and stood up, signaling the end of their conversation, ¡°Then you get ready, and we¡¯ll see each other tomorrow night.¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jin Xin knew that when Shen Yue said that, he would definitely help, and he felt deeply moved.


    As Shen Yue was about to leave, Jin Xin suddenly said, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I want to ask you.¡±


    Seeing that Shen Yue didn¡¯t turn around, Jin Xin hesitated, ¡°I noticed that you were slightly distracted today.


    You kept looking at reflective objects, like mirrors, glass panes, even shiny tiles..


    Can I ask why?


    And why did you ask me if you could be seen through a mirror this morning in front of the camera studio?¡±


    Shen Yue was silent for a moment, ¡°Let me observe for a while longer, then I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s a problem, you must tell me!¡± Jin Xin said with concern, ¡°While I may not be able to solve many problems, when it comes to you, I won¡¯t delay.¡±


    Shen Yue chuckled, ¡°You just prepare for your Li Family matter.


    I also want to tell you, there will be many opportunities in life, but there¡¯s only one life.


    You don¡¯t need to worry about me, you should be more careful yourself.¡± And with a wave of his hand, he left the restaurant.


    Jin Xin remained seated in the restaurant, a look of gratitude on his face.

 Chapter 14 - 14 Section 14 Luxury of Wealth

    ?14: Section 14: Luxury of Wealth 14: Section 14: Luxury of Wealth The daytime in Deep City seemed busy yet colorless, but when night fell, the neon lights made the city appear much more vibrant and colorful.


    In a pink tee-shirt paired with blue jeans and casual sneakers, Hai Mingzhu stood neatly under the neon lights outside a photography studio.


    Jade jewelry around her neck and left wrist added to her scholarly glow.


    However, the ponytail fluttering behind her as she looked around gave her a bit of a mischievous air.


    A girl as eye-catching as her naturally attracted the attention of many men.


    From a distance, a loud rumbling sound approached.


    Although it was muffled when it entered the square, the audacious vibe still provoked people¡¯s disdainful glances and disgust.


    However, while people may be disgusted, no one said anything.


    Everyone knew that those who behaved so audaciously usually had some powerful backing.


    Everyone had their small blessings, and it wasn¡¯t worth causing trouble for others.


    Hai Mingzhu glanced around and saw a burgundy Lamborghini slowly driving over.


    Understandably, she didn¡¯t pay it much attention.


    Despite lacking Shen Yue¡¯s deduction skills, the sight of the sports car was enough to tell her that it couldn¡¯t possibly be Shen Yue or Jin Xin, as it didn¡¯t align with their styles, let alone with Jin Xin¡¯s budget.


    Unexpectedly, the sports car stopped right in front of Hai Mingzhu.


    The car door rose upward like a guillotine, and a man emerged from beneath it, striding straight toward Hai Mingzhu.


    The approaching man wore a colorful leisure shirt, his waxed black hair was shiny and smooth¡ªso much so that a fly would struggle to land on it.


    He hadn¡¯t even reached her yet before the scent of his cologne arrived.


    Upon standing before Hai Mingzhu, the man began to scan her from head to toe.


    His smirk indicated his delight in spotting his prey.


    At first, Hai Mingzhu thought it would be Jin Xin or Shen Yue.


    But after a glimpse of the man, she showed a disgusted expression.


    To her, this man was evidently an ignorant, spoiled heir.


    The man made a show of leisurely taking out a cigarette, placing it into his mouth.


    Then a man in a black suit hastily rushed over, pulling out a diamond-encrusted lighter, and without a word, began to light his cigarette.


    After taking a puff, the man blew his smoke toward Hai Mingzhu.


    Hai Mingzhu sidestepped, allowing the smoke to disperse in the wind.


    Yet under the neon lights, she seemed to shine even brighter.


    The man¡¯s eyes gleamed, and he flirtatiously said, ¡°What¡¯s your name, miss?¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hai Mingzhu simply turned her head away.


    The man¡¯s black-suited companion, who seemed to be both bodyguard and babysitter, stepped forward and snapped, ¡°The Third Young Master was talking to you, are you deaf?¡±


    The Third Young Master immediately waved his hand to stop his subordinate, feigning annoyance, ¡°What¡¯re you doing?


    How many times have I told you to be gentle with ladies?¡±


    Taking a step forward, the Third Young Master lewdly eyed Hai Mingzhu, ¡°Miss, would you be interested in having dinner with me?¡± In his attempt to flaunt, his shaking cigarette made the gigantic diamond ring and limited-edition Patek Philippe watch on his wrist all the more noticeable.


    Hai Mingzhu¡¯s disgust deepened, she retorted coldly, ¡°Do I know you that well?¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t we get to know each other by talking?¡± Before the Third Young Master could place his hand on Hai Mingzhu¡¯s shoulder, Hai Mingzhu stepped back again, finally showing her anger, ¡°Get lost!¡±


    ¡°What if I don¡¯t?¡± The Third Young Master, having experienced many similar situations, appeared unperturbed.


    Usually, women would have thrown themselves at him once they saw his sports car, limited-edition watch, and ring set.


    But he had grown bored with these women and found Hai Mingzhu¡¯s rebellious nature far more challenging.


    ¡°If you won¡¯t, then we can help you.¡±


    A voice came from behind Hai Mingzhu.


    She turned around and was pleasantly surprised, ¡°President Jin, Advisor Shen.¡±


    It was Jin Xin who spoke.


    Although Shen Yue was with Jin Xin, he seemed invisible, standing in the shadows.


    Without Hai Mingzhu¡¯s mental preparation, it would be nearly impossible to detect Shen Yue¡¯s presence.


    But Jin Xin was impossible to ignore.


    His sturdy physique and towering 186 cm height gave the Third Young Master enough pressure to step back involuntarily.


    However, the black-suited bodyguard stepped forward, admonishing: ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± He thrust his arm toward Jin Xin, clearly indicating that Jin Xin should keep his distance.


    Unexpectedly, Jin Xin grabbed the bodyguard¡¯s wrist and shook lightly.


    Suddenly, the bodyguard felt a shot of pain coming from his wrist.


    Just to avoid getting his wrist broken, he stumbled to the side.


    Barely avoiding a fall, the bodyguard¡¯s face had lost colour and he was boiling up, ¡°Do you know who our young master is?¡±


    You know a professional when they step in.


    The Third Young Master¡¯s bodyguards were certainly not leeches.


    They had their skills.


    But within moments of the encounter, they realized that Jin Xin¡¯s speed and strength surpassed their own.


    The bodyguard, with a cold heart, didn¡¯t dare to fight further, and immediately switched tactics¡ªusing identity as leverage.


    ¡°Who is your young master?¡± Jin Xin asked back, a glint of light fleeting in his eyes.


    ¡°Our master is the third son of the Titan Industries.¡± The bodyguard replied arrogantly.


    Hai Mingzhu stared for a moment, seeming somewhat flustered.


    She knew that Jin Xin and Shen Yue were here tonight to bid for contracts from Titan Industries.


    Wasn¡¯t it asking for trouble to offend the son of Titan Industries?


    ¡°President Jin, let¡¯s go.


    This isn¡¯t a problem.¡± Hai Mingzhu was quick to offer.


    Jin Xin hesitated for a moment and turned to leave.


    The Third Young Master spat on the ground.


    Still, seeing Jin Xin¡¯s stature and the gesture of his bodyguard, he didn¡¯t dare initiate any further confrontation.


    At this moment, a Bentley car stopped beside them without uterring a sound.


    The car window scrolled down, revealing the half-face of a heavily made-up woman past her prime, ¡°Jizu, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    The emergence of the woman gave the Third Young Master a boost of confidence, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s nothing.


    I just ran into a lowly woman who wants to offer herself to me.


    I couldn¡¯t be bothered with her, but this pimp started causing me trouble.¡±


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Jin Xin¡¯s face changed dramatically, angered.


    Hai Mingzhu was also outraged, biting her lip, saying nothing.


    ¡°I said she is a whore.¡± Jizu, the Third Young Master, leaned on his mother¡¯s support, completely disregarding Jin Xin.


    ¡°I said you are a pimp.


    So what?


    You don¡¯t agree?


    Think I wronged you?


    Yes, I wronged you, so what?


    Bite me?¡±


    Jin Xin chuckled, his fist almost springing out when he felt his wrist get held back.


    Turning to look, it was Hai Mingzhu who had held him back.


    Her smile seemed forced, ¡°President Jin, let it go.


    It¡¯s not worth it.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, it¡¯s not worth it.¡± Shen Yue finally stepped forward and advised, ¡°If a dog bites you, you don¡¯t need to bite it back.¡±


    His single sentence left the initially-arrogant Jizu green-faced.


    Watching Shen Yue walking away with Jin Xin and Hai Mingzhu, Jizu shouted, ¡°Who did you call a dog?


    If you dare, don¡¯t run and say it again!¡±


    The woman from the Bentley car also stepped out.


    With obvious displeasure on her face, she huffed, ¡°Who are you, people?


    You dare publicly insult my child!


    Believe it or not, I can sue you?¡±


    Shen Yue stopped and turned around.


    He ignored the woman but calmly looked at Jizu and said, ¡°I said you¡¯re an unruly dog biting people.


    If more of your kind come out to protect you, I won¡¯t hesitate to break all your dog legs.


    Believe it or not?¡±


    After his words, the faces of everyone present changed.

 Chapter 15 - 15 15 Methods to Defuse Arrogance

    ?15: Chapter 15 Methods to Defuse Arrogance 15: Chapter 15 Methods to Defuse Arrogance Hai Mingzhu was surprised to see Shen Yue, who in her view, was a calm person.


    People who maintained their composure seldom acted on impulse, so what surprised her the most was seeing Shen Yue daring to stir up trouble.


    Shen Yue and Jin Xin were supposed to bid for Giant Industries, so how could they still proceed if they had offended the third son and his mother from the Li Clan?


    ¡°President Jin, please advise Advisor Shen.¡± Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t resist tugging Jin Xin¡¯s sleeve.


    Jin Xin stood by like a spectator.


    ¡°I won¡¯t advise him.


    He¡¯s actually advising me.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked in confusion.


    ¡°He stepped forward to prevent me from getting physical,¡± Jin Xin explained calmly.


    ¡°If I were the one confronting them, I wouldn¡¯t be dealing with it simply by reasoning.


    I¡¯d make Li Jizu look foolish.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± Hai Mingzhu was dumbfounded, wondering whether they were still serious about their business proposal.


    Meanwhile, Shen Yue¡¯s logical argument had already left Li Jizu and his mother fuming.


    But the woman, covered in heavy makeup, seemed more experienced.


    She scoffed and said, ¡°I won¡¯t waste my time arguing with a rogue like you.


    Old Wu!¡±


    Old Wu, the driver of the Bentley, instantly stood before her.


    ¡°Madam, what can I help with?¡±


    ¡°Who is in charge of this area?¡±


    ¡°It should be Chief Zhao,¡± Old Wu remembered well.


    The woman, still in heavy makeup, issued her directive.


    ¡°Tell him to arrive here within 15 minutes.¡± Old Wu promptly acknowledged her.


    The woman glared at Shen Yue and challenged, ¡°If you¡¯re daring enough, just stay here and wait for Chief Zhao.¡±


    Once again, Hai Mingzhu tugged at Jin Xin¡¯s sleeve.


    Regardless, Jin Xin acted as though nothing had happened, taking out his phone casually.


    Instead, her confusion towards Shen Yue and Jin Xin¡¯s relationship deepened.


    Upon hearing that Chief Zhao was arriving, Shen Yue remained cool.


    He just smiled and said, ¡°Could you hurry up?


    We still have business to discuss with Giant Industries.¡±


    Li Jizu and the woman were taken aback at first, but then both of them burst into laughter.


    Li Jizu laughed uproariously, pointing at Shen Yue.


    ¡°You want to do business with Giant Industries?


    Did you not just understand who I am?¡±


    The bodyguard added timely, ¡°This is the third son of Giant Industries.


    You offended him and still want to do business with Giant Industries?


    Are you dreaming?¡±


    Shen Yue¡¯s expression remained unchanged.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯ve heard.¡±


    The woman was the first to stop laughing.


    She found Shen Yue¡¯s calmness rather unsettling.


    ¡°The real authorities in the Li Family are Li Jiye and Li Jixian,¡± Shen Yue spoke casually.


    ¡°The so-called third son basically holds no actual power.


    He was even sent to study abroad in North America two years ago.


    And of course, it wasn¡¯t because he was studious, but rather because he got into some legal troubles.¡±


    Li Jizu stopped laughing too.


    He exchanged glances with the woman, surprised how Shen Yue had gotten to know them so well.


    Shen Yue cast a fleeting glance at Li Jizu¡¯s Lamborghini.


    ¡°This car has been modified, hasn¡¯t it?


    Lights, chassis, engine¡­


    Ah, and the exhaust too.


    With so many modifications, why don¡¯t you just build your own car since you¡¯re so capable?¡±


    Li Jizu was stunned, not expecting Shen Yue to say something like that out of the blue.


    Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh, finding that Shen Yue could be quite humorous at times.


    ¡°You do know that these modifications are illegal, right?¡± Shen Yue continued.


    Li Jizu asserted arrogantly.


    ¡°I thought you might bring up something remarkable to scare me.


    So what if I¡¯ve modified this car?


    You¡¯re not a traffic cop, are you?


    Even if you are, what can you do to me?


    A few thousand dollars in fines?


    I can afford that.¡± He knew the consequences of modifying a car ¨C fines and penalty points.


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re certainly not short of money.¡± Disgust finally appeared in Shen Yue¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°But your car, with its illegal modifications, has already had its license revoked.


    You¡¯ve been driving with a fake license plate ever since, and haven¡¯t been seized only because you have connections, right?¡±


    Li Jizu was taken aback, not knowing how Shen Yue found that out.


    The woman finally started to show signs of panic.


    Hai Mingzhu noticed a subtly pleased smile on Jin Xin¡¯s face while he was scrolling through his phone.


    Shen Yue stared at Li Jizu and casually touched his ear.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing remarkable about a modified car.


    Fines can¡¯t get to wealthy young masters like you.


    But driving without a license, using a fake plate, and causing a disability from racing in the middle of the night, then settling the matter just by paying some money¡­


    What do you think will happen if this story goes online?


    Will it cause a sensation?¡±


    As the night deepened, the daytime restlessness of the city finally began to dissipate.


    Li Jizu¡¯s forehead was beaded with sweat, realizing that Shen Yue was referring to a hit-and-run accident he had escaped from in the past.


    His mother had managed to settle it with money and he didn¡¯t know how Shen Yue uncovered it.


    The woman, realizing that Shen Yue was no ordinary citizen, was unsure of how to react.


    ¡°Times are changing and the power of the internet is infinite.


    Matters can¡¯t be suppressed just by wishing them to disappear.


    When the time comes, not to mention Chief Zhao, even the head of the bureau or the department head might struggle to contain the situation.


    Madam Qian, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Shen Yue suddenly turned to her.


    The woman was momentarily stunned as Shen Yue revealed her surname, which made her increasingly aware that Shen Yue knew everything about them.


    However, she knew nothing about him. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From ancient times, it was said that ordinary people should not fight against officials or the rich.


    The gap between them is not a simple numerical difference.


    Madame Qian had always had her way with the protection of her wealth and her network of connections in officialdom when raising her son¡¯s status.


    She never expected to encounter a tough customer this time.


    Shen Yue¡¯s words struck a nerve in her, causing some unrest in her heart.


    Suddenly, sirens wailed, and a police vehicle arrived quickly clearing traffic.


    Seeing the nearby pedestrians clustering around, the police vehicle stopped by the roadside without blocking traffic.


    A police officer hurriedly got off the vehicle and almost ran towards them.


    ¡°He might be Chief Zhao, right?


    He seems committed to his duties,¡± Shen Yue said with a smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m curious to see how he¡¯s going to handle this.¡±


    Chief Zhao, with his balding forehead, was wiping his sweat while greeting the woman enthusiastically.


    ¡°Madam Qian, what is the matter?¡±


    Madam Qian glanced at Chief Zhao and then at Shen Yue, before lightly saying, ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious.


    We haven¡¯t seen each other for some time, Chief Zhao.


    How about we meet up some day for a cup of tea?¡±


    Chief Zhao was a bit baffled and couldn¡¯t figure out what was going on.


    Since she had spoken, he immediately changed his tune.


    ¡°No problem, I am executing a task now.


    I came here thinking there might be some unlawful disruptions taking place.¡± He sensed that something was amiss and awaited Madam Qian¡¯s next move.


    However, Madam Qian simply waived her left hand, which was adorned with an extravagant diamond ring, as if to bid farewell, subtly flaunting her ring at the same time.


    Seeing this, Chief Zhao responded, ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡±


    She watched Chief Zhao leave, then abruptly yanked Li Jizu.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡± Li Jizu was still a little unwilling but did not dare to go against his mother.


    When they made it into the Giant Building and no longer had to see Shen Yue, Li Jizu complained, ¡°Mom, we can¡¯t just let this go.


    Didn¡¯t you hear him insulting you as well?¡±


    ¡°Of course we can¡¯t just let it go,¡± Madam Qian¡¯s slender eyebrows almost stood up.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear them say that they are here to talk business with Giant Industries?


    I¡¯ll let them gloat for now, but once their business proposal doesn¡¯t go through, they¡¯ll realize the consequences of clashing with us!¡±


    Li Jizu understood her plan and tried to please her.


    ¡°Mom, you care about me the most.


    I love you.¡±


    Madam Qian smiled smugly, then chided, ¡°If you understand how much I¡¯ve done for you, try to behave like a responsible adult and stop causing trouble for me.


    This is the best opportunity for you to make your mark.¡±

 Chapter 16 - 16 16 Mysterious Events

    ?16: Chapter 16: Mysterious Events 16: Chapter 16: Mysterious Events Watching Madam Qian and Li Jizu enter Giant Building, Shen Yue and Jin Xin simultaneously slowed their pace, walking towards the Giant Building.


    Of course, they weren¡¯t afraid, they just found it rather distasteful to share an elevator with these people.


    Hai Mingzhu obediently followed behind the two, finally whispering after a while: ¡°Advisor Shen, I¡¯ve caused you some trouble.¡± Seeing Jin Xin look over, she added: ¡°President Jin, I didn¡¯t want this, my mistake.¡±


    Jin Xin countered, ¡°What mistake have you made?¡± His question left Hai Mingzhu dumbfounded.


    Hai Mingzhu paused for a moment, ¡°I¡­


    it seems like I didn¡¯t make any mistake.


    But¡­


    are we still going to discuss the business?¡±


    ¡°Of course we are going to discuss it.¡± Jin Xin confidently said, ¡°We¡¯ve put so much effort into this; how could we give up halfway?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu didn¡¯t know how this business deal would continue.


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t turn around, but it seemed like he saw through her thoughts, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry, the turn to call the shots in the Li Family does not fall to Qian Qiaoqiao or Li Jizu.


    The business we are discussing is of significant importance, they should prioritize the overall situation.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was somewhat surprised, ¡°Qian Qiaoqiao is Madam Qian, right?¡± Seeing Shen Yue¡¯s nod, Hai Mingzhu tried to keep the conversation going, ¡°So, Madam Qian is Giant Li¡¯s wife?


    Giant Li must be over eighty years old?


    I didn¡¯t realize, Madam Qian seems quite young.¡±


    ¡°Qian Qiaoqiao can¡¯t be considered as Giant Li¡¯s wife, she is more like a¡­¡± While Shen Yue was pondering his choice of words, Jin Xin interjected, ¡°She¡¯s more like a mistress or a concubine.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t we have a monogamous system here?¡± Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help but retort.


    ¡°You are rather naive.¡± Jin Xin laughed, ¡°Those rules are made for the poor people.


    Isn¡¯t it normal for the rich to have three or four wives or concubines?


    Some even have multiple kept women without consequence.¡±


    Reflecting a bit, he continued: ¡°Our country¡¯s law indeed advocates monogamy, but where there are rules, there are loopholes.


    Rich people understand these rules very clearly.


    Giant Li has four wives¡ªhis original wife, Li Linping, was unable to bear children.


    Apparently, she was afraid of extinguishing the Li Family¡¯s bloodline and voluntarily divorced Giant Li.


    However, because Li Linping experienced hardship together with Li Giant and supported each other, she gained Giant Li¡¯s respect.


    Currently, she should be living together with him in seclusion at The Sun Never Sets.


    His second wife is named Cai Shuzhen and is Giant Li¡¯s legal wife according to the law.


    She gave birth to two sons, Li Jiye and Li Jixian.


    These two are very capable, currently openly controlling Giant Industry.¡±


    ¡°I heard that Li Jiye is already married, but Li Jixian is still a diamond bachelor.¡± Hai Mingzhu suddenly remarked.


    Jin Xin looked at Hai Mingzhu with a smile that was not quite a smile, ¡°I always feel that you didn¡¯t come to Jin Tang Security with pure intentions.


    You¡¯re not trying to snag a golden bachelor, are you?


    Otherwise why are you dressed as if you¡¯re about to go on a date?¡±


    ¡°No way.¡± Hai Mingzhu quickly clarified, ¡°I¡¯m broke, so I can¡¯t afford professional attire for an interview right now.


    I¡¯ve just temporarily put on my everyday clothes.


    I¡¯m not that vulgar.


    I don¡¯t want to ¡®fish¡¯ for any golden bachelor. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For women, isn¡¯t being a gossip quite normal?


    Actually, the kind of man I¡¯m looking for is quite simple¡­¡±


    ¡°Like someone similar to Advisor Shen?¡± Jin Xin casually interrupted.


    ¡°Not at all, I never thought about that!¡± Hai Mingzhu quickly denied, seeming to be startled by Jin Xin¡¯s words.


    There was a momentary tension in her expression, but it was not very noticeable under the dim lights.


    Shen Yue suddenly frowned.


    He detected a fleeting moment of rapid breathing from Hai Mingzhu, an indicator of unease and tension.


    Jin Xin curiously asked, ¡°You are not falling for my type, are you?¡±


    ¡°My eyes are perfectly fine.¡± Hai Mingzhu shot back, sharp and clean.


    Seeing Jin Xin fall silent, she knew there was some issue and smiled apologetically: ¡°President Jin, did I speak too bluntly?¡±


    Jin Xin didn¡¯t respond, instead continuing on the previous topic, ¡°Giant Li naturally has quite a few women, Qian Qiaoqiao counts as the third one whom he acknowledges having an emotional connection with.


    This woman was a woman of the street, who reportedly used tactics to get close to Giant Li and gave birth to his son¡ªthis son is the Li Jizu who we met earlier.


    The beam at the top is not straight, so the beam beneath it will be crooked.


    Qian Qiaoqiao lacks quality, so naturally, the son she births won¡¯t be any good.


    Li Jizu¡¯s abilities are far inferior compared to his two older brothers, classic prodigal son, complete with all sorts of vices.


    A person like him is as disgusting as a fly, and you need not feel a trace of unease because of a fly¡¯s depravity.¡±


    ¡°I feel sorry for you two.¡± Hai Mingzhu whispered, ¡°This is only my second day on the job, and I have almost ruined your major business deal.¡±


    Jin Xin and the others had already entered the Giant Building.


    Jin Xin stopped in his tracks, looking at Hai Mingzhu: ¡°Girl, you need to remember one thing, we¡¯re not beggars.


    We earn food with our abilities.


    We don¡¯t need to beg for business from anyone.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu stared at Jin Xin, somewhat astonished.


    She suddenly realized that this seemingly jolly man had a lot of pride hidden deep within him.


    A security guard quickly walked over, it was the one, who wanted to evict Jin Xin and the others in Wang Xinghai¡¯s office yesterday.


    Jin Xin proactively greeted, ¡°Manager Zhou, we are invited this time.¡±


    Manager Zhou huffed coldly, checked the invitation message as per protocol, and got down to business: ¡°Take the elevator transfer, to the conference room on the 44th floor.¡±


    While waiting for the elevator, Shen Yue suddenly said, ¡°According to your information, Qian Qiaoqiao is just a titular director, without any right to speak?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jin Xin knew Shen Yue had a purpose behind asking, they had entered the elevator area.


    ¡°What does it mean for her to bring her son here?¡± Shen Yue pondered.


    To him, Li Jizu did not seem like a man who would do any real work.


    What incident would make Li Jizu forget about his merry life to come to Giant Building?


    ¡°Who knows, maybe they are here to watch the show.¡± Jin Xin joked.


    The elevator door was about to close.


    A hand reached in and called out, ¡°Wait a minute.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu immediately pressed the open button for the elevator door.


    Seeing Hai Mingzhu¡¯s hand on the door open button, the man reflexively said, ¡°Thank you.¡± But then froze upon seeing the people inside the elevator, his face changing slightly.


    The man was in his forties and had a greasy face that middle-aged men often have, adorned with a few strategically placed moles, making him look like a freshly fried sesame ball.


    Seeing Jin Xin, the man twisted his head away awkwardly, but Jin Xin didn¡¯t even glance at him, instead remarking, ¡°Nowadays, all kinds of riff-raff can run a business.¡±


    The middle-aged man tensed up, hearing Jin Xin¡¯s sarcasm, but ended up saying nothing.


    When switching elevators, he didn¡¯t share an elevator with Shen Yue and the others again; instead, he took a different one.


    Hai Mingzhu sensed some oddity and asked in the elevator, ¡°President Jin, who was that?¡±


    Jin Xin scoffed, ¡°A man who¡¯s lost all his conscience.¡±


    Shen Yue wanted to say something but held his tongue, waiting until the elevator was almost at the 44th floor before saying, ¡°Manager Song is also here, seems like Giant Industry has truly sent invitations far and wide this time.¡±


    With a ¡®ding¡¯, the elevator doors opened, a wave of heat hit their faces.


    Jin Xin was about to step out of the elevator when he suddenly froze on the spot.


    Shen Yue and Hai Mingzhu also showed expressions of surprise.

 Chapter 17 - 17 17 Heartless Person

    ?17: Chapter 17: Heartless Person 17: Chapter 17: Heartless Person In Hai Mingzhu¡¯s opinion, the companies that could take on the deal, whose proposal had been delivered in almost a spy-like manner by Jin Xin, must be limited.


    She even imagined that the forthcoming situation would be like the bidding segment of a TV drama, with several serious examiners sitting in earnest behind a platform, thoughtfully asking some seemingly simplistic, but extremely skill-testing psychological questions, then awarding scores to the bidding companies and selecting the best for recruitment.


    This is indeed the style of multinational corporations, she thought.


    However, when the elevator door to the forty-fourth floor opened, she felt as though she had entered a farmer¡¯s market.


    Only, a farmer¡¯s market probably didn¡¯t have this many people.


    Though the meeting room on the forty-fourth floor should have been spacious, the hallways were packed with people.


    The normally super-cooling central air conditioning seemed to be devoid of coolness here. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In Deep City, approaching the midsummer festival, scorching heat waves were still rampant.


    If the central air conditioning wasn¡¯t cooling, it would maximize the greenhouse effect of the urban islands indoors.


    When Hai Mingzhu arrived at Giant Building, she regretted not wearing more for the sake of looking attractive.


    However, once she arrived on the forty-fourth floor, she was relieved to find that she was much smarter than those dressed in suits and leather shoes.


    The hallways were filled with security professionals, many of whom were in formal attire.


    Some could still manage to wipe their sweat while maintaining an outwardly calm demeanor despite the sweltering floor.


    Others could no longer stand it and untied their ties or collars, as if they would feel much more comfortable shirtless.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Jin Xin turned his head to look at Shen Yue, ¡°Are we on the right floor?


    Are they selling groceries here now?¡±


    Without a reply, Shen Yue maneuvered his way through the crowd to the meeting room first.


    Checking the time, it was still a few minutes before eight o¡¯clock.


    There were fewer people in the meeting room.


    Most had spilled to the hallways and the entrance to the staircase in search of a cool breeze.


    Very few wanted to stay in this sauna-like meeting room.


    Shen Yue wasn¡¯t in a hurry to find a seat.


    He walked underneath the central air conditioning and glanced up for a moment.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even bother,¡± someone sneered, ¡°Even if you guys were AC technicians, you wouldn¡¯t be able to fix this central air conditioning.¡±


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t look at the man who was sneering.


    Jin Xin traced the sound and saw a man sitting arrogantly, taking great joy in their predicament.


    The man¡¯s face seemed awkwardly assembled from a miscellany of features; with a conspicuous mole on his right cheek acting like the North Star, drawing his facial features towards it like the Big Dipper.


    Seeing the Big Dipper in the sky is quite a pleasing sight, but seeing it scattered on a human face is somewhat unpleasant.


    ¡°I thought I recognized you.


    It¡¯s the dog-faced president of the deceitful, untrustworthy Security,¡± Jin Xin remarked, a sarcastic grin on his face.


    The man who Jin Xin called ¡®dog-faced¡¯ abruptly stood up, ¡°My surname is Xun, can¡¯t you have some basic decency?¡±


    Jin Xin shrugged, ¡°I can¡¯t help it.


    I¡¯m a coarse man.


    I can¡¯t read much.


    I always feel your surname should be read as ¡®dog.¡¯ Am I wrong, ¡®Dog President¡¯?


    If so, please correct me.¡± Having said that, he rubbed his fists together, looking entirely unapologetic.


    President Xun knew that Jin Xin was provoking him but he didn¡¯t dare to strike, muttering coldly, ¡°Manager Song, go and check on the progress.


    If this air conditioning isn¡¯t going to be fixed, are they trying to roast us alive?¡±


    The middle-aged man who Hai Mingzhu had seen in the elevator confirmed and rushed out.


    When she noticed Shen Yue looking through a window, Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help but approach him, ¡°Advisor Shen?¡±


    Without turning, Shen Yue responded as he watched the silhouette of a young woman being reflected in the window, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on with them?


    It seems like there is bad blood between President Jin and¡­no, I mean President Xun,¡± Hai Mingzhu attempted to initiate a conversation.


    ¡°Indeed, there is some quarrel between them,¡± Shen Yue finally turned to look at her, looking up at the central air conditioning, ¡°It started when Xun Jiasheng, the manager of Anxin Security, took a case related to a divorce between a couple.¡±


    ¡°You mean Anxin Security?


    Not Deceitful, Untrustworthy Security?¡± Hai Mingzhu chuckled, ¡°President Jin really is a hoot.


    Someone calling him by the insulting nickname ¡®Fallen into Soup given to him by others and he retaliates by labeling them as ¡®deceitful, untrustworthy.¡¯ He refuses to bend an inch.


    But¡­¡± with understanding, she continued, ¡°President Jin might seem jovial, but he¡¯s very upright.


    If he says that the person is deceitful and untrustworthy, there¡¯s usually some issue with that person.


    What was the case?¡±


    As he laughed lightly, Shen Yue said, ¡°The woman was accusing the man of domestic abuse, demanding a divorce and a division of property.


    Deceitful¡­no, I mean Anxin Security took the woman¡¯s request, who¡¯s on the black market business¡­you know about the black market industry, right?¡±


    ¡°Advisor Shen, I¡¯m not a kid anymore.


    I¡¯m aware of many things.¡± Hai Mingzhu didn¡¯t know if it was the heat or something else, but her delicate face started to turn red again.


    As Jin Xin glanced towards them, he made no move to approach.


    Shen Yue responded, ¡°Anxin Security was able to get hold of some¡­evidence against the man, forcing him to be on the brink of bankruptcy.


    Still, it wasn¡¯t enough for them.


    They forced the man to agree to debts he couldn¡¯t pay back, driving him to the point of jumping off a bridge.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu looked pained, ¡°Did they have to be that ruthless?¡±


    Shen Yue remained noncommittal, ¡°President Jin and I were on the bridge at the time.¡± With a hint of amusement in his voice, Shen Yue stated, ¡°Even though we didn¡¯t know each other back then, we both jumped off the bridge to save the man.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu looked at Shen Yue, expressing her admiration.


    ¡°I knew it; you and President Jin are good people.


    I¡­


    I knew it the moment I laid my eyes on you.¡±


    Shen Yue glanced back at Hai Mingzhu, thoughtful.


    Noticing that she might have overstepped, Hai Mingzhu quickly laughed it off.


    ¡°Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have agreed to go bidding with you two burly men.


    What happened next?¡±


    ¡°After being pulled up, the man cried like a child, saying there was no way he could live anymore,¡± Shen Yue said, a hint of sympathy in his voice.


    Full of sympathy, Hai Mingzhu remarked, ¡°Men often have it harder than women.


    Women can shed tears when they¡¯re down, but when men have troubles they usually keep it to themselves, which isn¡¯t good either.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have such issues,¡± Shen Yue, perceiving the implication in Hai Mingzhu¡¯s words, casually said, ¡°I suffer from amnesia and have forgotten everything from the past.¡±


    With a look of astonishment on her face, Hai Mingzhu said, ¡°How¡¯s that possible?


    I¡­Advisor Shen, I¡¯m sorry.¡± She tried her best to stray away from this heavy topic, ¡± Did you and President Jin manage to vindicate the man?¡±


    ¡°President Jin found that the woman was also not so innocent,¡± Shen Yue continued calmly, ¡°She was part of a group specializing in elaborate fraud cases.


    They usually target men with issues and arrange for a sham marriage to ensnare them and later extort them.


    They refer to this method as ¡®Slaughtering Pigs.¡¯ Jin Xin also learned that President Xun was fully aware that this was a scam, but he nonetheless assisted the woman.


    Hence, the comments on him being a ¡®dog¡¯ and running a deceitful, untrustworthy security business.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu let out a sigh.


    For a moment, she didn¡¯t know what else to say.


    Noticing that Manager Song returned hurriedly, whispering something into President Xun¡¯s ear, she asked softly, ¡°Was Manager Song also involved?


    It looked like President Jin disliked him immensely.¡±


    After a brief moment of silence, Shen Yue said, ¡°Manager Song was likely manipulated into being part of it.


    Many people do things against their will for a living.


    Jin Xin despises evil and incidentally detests Manager Song.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you mediate between them?


    It won¡¯t be good if they start fighting here.¡± Seeing Jin Xin still standing in front of President Xun, looking ready to fight at any moment, Hai Mingzhu was worried.


    Laughing, Shen Yue said, ¡°Mediate?


    President Jin was known for being fearless and formidable in the security industry.


    President Xun may be detestable but he¡¯s not an idiot.


    He knows better than to carry an immediate loss.¡±


    While they continued to discuss the affairs of President Jin in low tones, they didn¡¯t realize that even though Jin Xin seemed to be keeping a close eye on President Xun and was geared up for a fight, he was actually observing the image of the two of them reflected in the window.


    The noisy and scorching meeting room was a stark contrast to the tranquil and naturally conversing pair reflected on the glass.


    Like a serene, cool and beautiful landscape amid a dark and chaotic night.

 Chapter 18 - 18 Winning 18th Bid

    ?18: Winning 18th Bid 18: Winning 18th Bid ¡°The indoor temperature was rising, and discontented voices were already heard in the corridor: ¡°What¡¯s going on?


    Is Titan Industries messing with us?


    Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be eight o¡¯clock?


    Why aren¡¯t they here yet?


    Are they planning to have us spend the night?¡±


    ¡°This floor is too hot; let¡¯s change to another one.¡± someone suggested, and quite a few people agreed.


    As the crowd was complaining and grumbling, Jin Xin finally walked over, asking in a low voice, ¡°Have you noticed anything?¡± Of course, he was asking Shen Yue.


    Hai Mingzhu was puzzled.


    ¡°Noticed what?¡±


    ¡°The central air conditioning is blowing warm air.¡± Shen Yue replied, ¡°If the central air conditioning on this floor were broken, it would only provide ventilation, not heat.


    Warm air is deliberately supplied.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu widened her eyes in surprise, saying: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with them?


    It¡¯s stingy enough not to provide cool air, why are they blowing warm air?¡±


    Jin Xin was unsurprised.


    ¡°I knew they were up to something.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s up to something?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked in a very low voice.


    It seemed that in just two days with Shen Yue and Jin Xin, she had become much more cautious and quickly realized that something was amiss.


    Shen Yue gestured toward the ceiling with his mouth, Hai Mingzhu was slightly taken aback and then exclaimed: ¡°Could this be¡­ a test?¡± She suddenly understood what Shen Yue meant ¨C the central air conditioning wasn¡¯t broken, rather, Titan Industries had deliberately changed it to warm air.


    So, what was Titan Industries¡¯ objective?


    While the trio was speaking in hushed tones, a receptionist walked into the conference room followed by four employees carrying several boxes of herbal iced tea.


    Seeing cold beverages, the overheated people in the corridor followed suit.


    Someone angrily said, ¡°Titan Industries is a big company; they need to be punctual.


    It¡¯s already ten past eight, why hasn¡¯t anyone come to meet us yet?¡±


    Someone felt it might be better to be more polite, asking gently, ¡°Excuse me, when will the person in charge arrive?¡±


    The receptionist apologized, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry.


    The president was supposed to be here today, but he was unexpectedly delayed.


    Please wait a little longer.


    Here are some cold drinks for those who can¡¯t stand the heat anymore.¡±


    Upon hearing that President Li would be personally coming, everyone stopped complaining.


    After all, he was the one paying; no one wanted to pick a fight with him.


    Xun Jiasheng laughed heartily, ¡°That such a minor matter requires President Li¡¯s personal attention, we¡¯re really flattered.


    We¡¯re fine with waiting, we can wait as long as necessary!


    Please reassure President Li, Anxin Security can wait as long as need be.¡±


    Everyone internally cursed Xun Jiasheng for making the first move, but outwardly echoed, ¡°Jiale Security can also wait.


    Fuquan Security can wait¡­¡± The crowd took turns mentioning their own companies like a chat group.


    The receptionist replied with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t remember so many names. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But I will do my best to convey your sentiments.¡±


    People nodded in agreement, forgetting the arrogance of big corporations.


    They privately praised the receptionist¡¯s beauty and professionalism, and they made sure their flattering comments were loud enough for her to hear.


    Hai Mingzhu initially wanted to join in, but seeing Shen Yue and Jin Xin standing there unmoved, she finally curbed her impulse.


    However, when she saw everyone grabbing the drinks, she felt that she shouldn¡¯t pass up the opportunity.


    She briskly went over and picked up three boxes of the drink, passing them to Jin Xin and Shen Yue first.


    When Jin Xin took the beverage, he noticed that Hai Mingzhu wasn¡¯t drinking, and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you hot?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu felt a bit embarrassed; she thought to herself that as a girl she couldn¡¯t drink anything too cold, but how could she say that to a man she barely knew?


    Once her words came out, however, they sounded different, ¡°As your subordinate, I should wait until both of you have had a drink before I do.¡±


    Seeing Jin Xin¡¯s slightly odd expression, a sudden insight dawned on Hai Mingzhu, ¡°This herbal tea¡­we shouldn¡¯t drink it.¡± She spoke up a bit louder and a few people nearby heard her, checked the expiry date on the box of the drink, and muttered, ¡°It hasn¡¯t expired yet.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu fiercely suppressed her excitement and stopped speaking.


    In this stuffy room, drinking an icy beverage was naturally a very pleasant experience, and those few people paid no more attention to Hai Mingzhu.


    They drank their beverages to the last drop.


    ¡°Is the drink poisoned?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked in a low voice, but the answer was earth-shattering.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go as far as saying it¡¯s poisoned.¡± Jin Xin murmured, ¡°But it¡¯s very likely there¡¯s something fishy with it.¡±


    ¡°Something fishy?¡± Hai Mingzhu was somewhat chilled.


    This ¡®something fishy¡¯ seemed very different from what she imagined.


    Within moments, everyone who had drunk the beverage suddenly clutched their stomachs and started grunting.


    Soon after, they couldn¡¯t bear it anymore and rushed out.


    Hai Mingzhu could sense the overpowering smell even through the corridor¡¯s wall.


    After a few minutes, those who had managed to run out began to return, their faces showed no signs of relief, but rather a hint of pain.


    Just as someone was about to go out again, a woman with two security guards walked in.


    The woman was tall, a pair of long, extremely white legs sticking out from under her professional skirt suit, wreaking havoc on the men¡¯s senses.


    Her slightly cold, pale complexion, however, gave men the opposite impression of keeping their distance.


    Her carefully applied professional makeup emphasized her refined competence, but it couldn¡¯t mask the fact that she was past her prime.


    Her eyes and eyebrows held an air of arrogance.


    Experienced men could tell upon meeting her that this woman was genuinely independent, even more so than most men.


    Everyone in the conference room, besides Hai Mingzhu, was male.


    The sight of such an exquisite woman all of a sudden made those holding their stomachs forget their pain momentarily.


    However, the moment she began to speak, their heads started to hurt.


    ¡°Those of you who drank the beverage and visited the restroom, you may leave now.


    I regret to inform you that the bidding assessment has ended, and you did not pass!¡±


    When those holding their stomachs heard the woman declare the bidding assessment over, someone shouted, ¡°What do you mean by the bidding assessment is over?


    When did it start?¡±


    Someone questioned, ¡°Who are you?


    What right do you have to make us leave?¡±


    ¡°She has the right to do so.¡±


    Wang Xinghai, with his balding head, walked into the meeting room from outside and introduced, ¡°This is Ms.


    Gao Jie, our newly appointed CIO.


    She is in charge of the bidding process!¡±


    There was a slight uproar among the crowd.


    While they didn¡¯t recognize the woman, many knew Wang Xinghai.


    Some people didn¡¯t even know what a CIO was, they heard of UFOs more often.


    But regardless of whether they understood or not, they couldn¡¯t help defending themselves, ¡°Just for going to the restroom, we failed the test?


    Is this how a big company conducts assessments?¡±


    ¡°Titan Industries is managing even the heavens and earth, are they also managing when people poop and fart?


    Isn¡¯t this bidding process a bit outrageous?¡± Someone indignantly said.


    Gao Jie indifferently replied, ¡°There was laxative in the beverage.¡±


    Most of the people were dumbfounded on the spot.


    Gao Jie coldly said, ¡°There was a problem with the beverage, but many people didn¡¯t notice.


    Titan Industries is looking to hire first-class security experts, not useless people who can¡¯t even protect themselves.


    If you can¡¯t even protect yourself, what use would you be to us?


    To eat meals?


    I hope this clarifies things for you.¡±

 Chapter 19 - 19 19 Shocking Contract

    ?19: Chapter 19 Shocking Contract 19: Chapter 19 Shocking Contract Gao Jie¡¯s expression was indifferent, and her words were even colder, causing many people to look embarrassed and at a loss.


    Shen Yue glanced at Jin Xin, as if asking a question.


    Jin Xin understood he was asking if they had information on this woman, and slowly shook his head.


    Jin Xin was efficient in his actions.


    Although he did not know everything about Giant Industry, he had certainly done some investigation into its top leaders.


    The CIO was the Chief Information Officer of a company, a definite figure among the top ranks.


    According to Jin Xin¡¯s knowledge, the CIO of Giant Industry was initially a man; it was quite a surprise for him when the position was suddenly taken over by a woman.


    Some people guiltily and awkwardly left to use the restroom.


    Some didn¡¯t want to lose this big deal and tried to save face, ¡°Miss Gao Jie, we are having drinks because it¡¯s too hot indoors.¡±


    ¡°We intentionally turned off the cooling system.¡± Gao Jie responded chilly: ¡°If you can¡¯t even handle this heat and need a place to cool off, I advise you to find other jobs.


    This business depends on risking life to protect the employer, it¡¯s not suitable for those who enjoy relaxation.¡±


    A few more people left.


    Hai Mingzhu admired Shen Yue and Jin Xin silently, considering their incredible ability to identify issues quickly.


    If she were bidding herself, she would have been eliminated already.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t here, right?


    Isn¡¯t it alright for us to go out to cool down when the situation calls for it?¡± someone argued uncomfortably.


    ¡°Are they paying you or are you paying them?¡± Gao Jie retorted, implying, ¡®Are you not supposed to work when the boss isn¡¯t around?¡¯


    The person who had asked the question left reluctantly.


    In the end, a few people remained.


    One of them still wasn¡¯t ready to give up, ¡°We drank the drinks you provided because we trust Giant Industry.


    Shouldn¡¯t a security company be rewarded for trusting its employer?¡±


    ¡°Trusting the employer is indeed a duty of a security company, you are correct,¡± Gao Jie replied, raising their spirits, but her next sentence sent them crashing down, ¡°But did you make sure the person serving the drinks was trustworthy?¡±


    The remaining few gave up their resistance, shaking their heads and moaning, ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you great?


    You have all the say in this!


    You must be going through menopause!¡±


    The last sentence was particularly damaging to many women, but Gao Jie wasn¡¯t bothered by his complaints.


    She didn¡¯t seem to be the type to waste her time on irrelevant people.


    She glanced at the people still seated in the meeting room and said coldly,¡±Congratulations to the ¡­ six security companies that passed the assessment.¡±


    When people heard her saying ¡°Congratulations,¡± they somehow felt like she was giving a funeral speech, and a silence fell in the room.


    Jin Xin said in a low voice: ¡°Including Jintang, only six remain.¡±


    Shen Yue nodded slightly.


    Hai Mingzhu got the feeling that Jin Xin and Shen Yue were looking for trouble whenever they discussed something.


    She didn¡¯t understand why Jin Xin was counting the remaining security companies.


    Could it be related to dividing the profits?


    ¡°Miss Gao, can we sign the contracts now?¡± Xun Jiasheng finally asked, ¡°How about discussing the specific partnership fees at this time.¡±


    The major profit to be gained by doing business with companies like Giant Industry was the key reason so many security companies had attended.


    With financial interests at stake, those remaining in the room nodded in agreement.


    Hai Mingzhu noticed that besides Jintang, one other company did not chime in immediately.


    Only after a large percentage of security companies had been filtered out by the assessment, did Hai Mingzhu begin to notice a unique security company in the meeting room.


    This company seemed to have brought only two people.


    One was a gray-haired man whose posture was as straight as a javelin.


    Beside the gray-haired man sat a young man in his twenties with a wholesome face.


    The young man was not tall but was extraordinarily robust and muscular.


    In the commotion of the meeting room, Hai Mingzhu recalled with amazement that these two gentlemen had remained still all along.


    Besides Jintang, the only other company that did not join in Xun Jiasheng¡¯s proposal was these two men.


    Jin Xin noticed Hai Mingzhu looking at the two men and said quietly, ¡°Those are from Tietai Security.


    They are quite competent.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu knew that a security company that earned praise from Jin Xin must hold real capability.


    Before she could ask why, Gao Jie looked over, causing Hai Mingzhu to quickly close her mouth.


    She was not afraid of Gao Jie but rather afraid that Gao Jie would find an excuse to kick Jintang Company out.


    Jin Xin unexpectedly grinned at Gao Jie.


    Gao Jie ignored Jin Xin¡¯s look, extended her hand, and a stack of contracts appeared in it.


    She said formally, ¡°There are six contracts here.


    Each contract comes in duplicate.


    Giant Industry has already affixed its seal.


    As long as the person in charge of each company signs and stamps it, the contract will take effect immediately.¡±


    Everyone waited for Gao Jie to mention the amount but kept silent when she didn¡¯t.


    Gao Jie put the contracts on the desk, and with a flick of her wrist, six checks appeared, ¡°These are the deposits, two million for each check.¡± This sparked more interest among them and relieved their countenances .


    They felt excited that things were finally getting tangible.


    The next sentence made them even more excited:¡±This two million is a ten percent deposit for one month¡¯s term.¡±


    A two million deposit for a deal that would earn twenty million in a month?


    Everyone there could do that math.


    However, Shen Yue frowned.


    His calculation was different from the others.


    He thought, two million for each, six companies would cost one hundred and twenty million.


    Giant Industry could afford it, but for a deal that such a tremendous amount was paid up front, there must be considerable expected return.


    What could the six security companies offer that could be worth over a hundred million?


    ¡°What do we need to invest?¡± someone asked.


    The man was thin with a dark complexion, obviously a rough-and-ready type.


    Gao Jie looked at the man and asked, ¡°You must be Zhou Dewei from Dewei Security, right?¡±


    The man was taken aback and appeared somewhat flattered; ¡°Yes, my name is Zhou Dewei.


    Miss Gao Jie, do you know me?¡±


    Gao Jie didn¡¯t answer directly but returned to the previous question,¡±You don¡¯t have to invest in equipment.


    If specialized equipment is required, Giant Industry could provide it.


    Of course, if you have your own tools that you¡¯d prefer to use, there is no problem whatsoever.¡±


    ¡°So, what is our assignment?¡± another man, slightly shorter and a bit chubby in stature, asked.


    ¡°Feng Jingye of Fuquan Security?¡± Gao Jie inquired.


    The man nodded in surprise.


    Although people were not used to Gao Jie¡¯s cold demeanor, they had to admit her extreme professionalism when they saw how well-informed she was about the people in the room.


    ¡°Your job is essentially that of bodyguards, with the specific task of protecting the people of Giant Industry,¡± Gao Jie disclosed the secret.


    ¡°Who exactly are we supposed to protect?¡± Feng Jingye asked further.


    ¡°That will be announced tomorrow,¡± Gao Jie replied.


    ¡°In that case, we would like to review the contracts first.


    Each company has different capabilities, and Giant Industry will divide the work according to each company¡¯s ability,¡± Xun Jiasheng amiably went to take the contract first.


    Seeing this, the others also went to get their contracts.


    Hai Mingzhu proactively took the contract and handed it to Jin Xin, who passed it to Shen Yue.


    The contract was five pages long, and it seemed like Shen Yue spent less than ten seconds looking through it before he asked, ¡°What does the additional indemnity clause mean at the end?


    Could you please explain, Miss Gao Jie?¡±


    Gao Jie seemed startled and looked at Shen Yue in surprise, ¡°The additional indemnity clause is quite simple.


    It means that once the contract takes effect, if anyone dies during this month-long protection assignment, Giant Industry will not bear any responsibility!¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 20 - 20 20 Deadly Contracts

    ?20: 20 Deadly Contracts 20: 20 Deadly Contracts Gao Jie¡¯s consternation was not without reason.


    She was exceedingly professional, not only had she thoroughly researched everyone present in advance, but she was also well acquainted with the contents of the contract.


    The contract was only five pages long, but it was densely packed with clauses.


    The larger the company, the more comprehensive their contracts¡ªmost of their clauses were put in place to safeguard their own company¡¯s interests.


    Gao Jie estimated that a normal person would take at least ten minutes to read through it before raising any questions, but to her surprise, Shen Yue had read straight to the end.


    What kind of reading was that?


    Despite her doubts, Gao Jie gave an honest explanation¡ªthis was the question she had prepared to answer.


    On hearing her words, everyone else¡¯s hearts sank.


    They all raised their heads and began whispering among one another, some already showing signs of worry.


    Feng Jingye was the first to speak: ¡°Is this mission very dangerous?¡± When he saw Gao Jie staring at him without speaking, Feng Jingye felt a chill run down his spine, ¡°Miss Gao Jie, did I say something wrong?¡±


    There was a touch of mockery at the corners of Gao Jie¡¯s mouth, ¡°As far as I know, Fuquan Security specializes in property management for high-end residential areas, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    Feng Jingye hesitated before admitting, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true.¡± He knew that Gao Jie¡¯s remark was hinting at doubt about their ability to handle bodyguard duties.


    A profit of 20 million a month was no small amount, and the total annual profit of Fuquan Security from managing high-end residential areas didn¡¯t even reach half that number.


    Feng Jingye couldn¡¯t resist the lure and added, ¡°But our security personnel are of high quality.


    They have all undergone Sanda special training, and their skills are excellent.¡±


    Gao Jie fixed her gaze on Feng Jingye, finally saying, ¡°I was surprised when your company made the shortlist.


    But it¡¯s not too late for you to back out now.


    All you have to do is put down the contract and walk out of here with your team.¡±


    A sudden chill went through Hai Mingzhu.


    Women often have a harder time with women and they pay closer attention to each other¡¯s actions.


    Gao Jie¡¯s mature demeanor made Hai Mingzhu wonder¡ªwould she one day become like Gao Jie?


    That¡¯s why she paid particular attention to Gao Jie¡¯s expression.


    When Gao Jie suggested that Feng Jingye withdrew from the decision, her attitude was indifferent, but her expression was strange¡ªas if it was pity or compassion.


    But it disappeared in a flash, making Hai Mingzhu think she might have been seeing things.


    Why did Gao Jie have that expression?


    The more Hai Mingzhu thought about it, the more frightened she became, even starting to feel a chill down her spine.


    She turned to look at Shen Yue, wanting to ask, but saw that he too was staring at Gao Jie. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°So, is this a contract with life-and-death stakes?¡± Shen Yue asked.


    ¡°120 million to buy at least twelve lives?¡±


    The meeting room fell suddenly silent.


    People glanced at each other, feeling that Shen Yue wasn¡¯t joking, and their eyes turned almost at the same time to Gao Jie.


    Surprise flickered in Gao Jie¡¯s eyes again, and she couldn¡¯t help taking a solemn look at Shen Yue.


    She clearly remembered that a clause on the third page of the contract was about the staffing commitment of the security company¡ªif they took the job, they would have to assign at least two people, or more, to follow the protected party 24/7.


    In other words, with an expenditure of 120 million, a minimum of twelve people would serve as bodyguards!


    And according to the additional terms at the end of the contract, it could indeed be interpreted that Giant Industries was prepared to spend 120 million for twelve lives!


    Gao Jie marveled not only at Shen Yue¡¯s acute understanding, spotting the bloody implications that others missed, but also at his astonishing reading speed¡ªit had taken him just ten seconds to get through the entire contract.


    Not just skimming, but pinpointing the key content among heaps of information.


    ¡°This gentleman is named Shen Yue, right?


    The special advisor to Jintang Company.¡± Gao Jie recalled the information in her mind, but found it hard to know more about him.


    Shen Yue nodded slightly.


    Gao Jie cleared her throat, ¡°If you perceive this as a death contract, you¡¯re not wrong because the mission is indeed extremely dangerous.


    For now, all we can do is warn you of the serious risk involved and give you the right to withdraw.


    I hope I¡¯ve made myself clear.¡±


    Most people in the room understood.


    I have money and I¡¯m willing to spend it on lives.


    If you consider it worth it, sign it.


    If you think it¡¯s not, you¡¯re free to withdraw.


    That¡¯s the nature of business in this world.


    Some remained silent, while others discussed with their companions, making it clear that making this decision was not easy.


    Xun Jiasheng spoke up from one side: ¡°Can we take the contract back and have a look at it?


    Can we sign it tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Gao Jie glanced at her watch.


    ¡°Actually, you have twenty more minutes to make up your minds.


    After twenty minutes, those who haven¡¯t signed will be considered to have withdrawn.¡±


    Upon hearing this, everyone felt a chill run down their spine.


    They all lowered their heads to look at the details of the contract, unwilling to just withdraw like that.


    Gao Jie watched their movements, her gaze lingering on the two individuals from the Tie Tai Security Company for half a minute.


    The older man was carefully reading the contract, whereas the younger man didn¡¯t bother looking at the contract at all, simply staring at the older man.


    Gao Jie quickly recalled their background¡ªTie Zheng, the legal person of Tie Tai Security Company.


    The employee named Tie Wa.


    The company was staffed by veterans.


    Finally, she turned her gaze onto Shen Yue and allowed her eyebrows to raise slightly.


    To her surprise, no one from Jintang Company was reading the contract.


    The three men were actually whispering to each other.


    Time was of the essence; studying the contract should have been their top priority.


    How could these three have time to chat?


    Gao Jie normally had no interest in overhearing others¡¯ conversations, but right then, she was dying to know what they were discussing.


    Had she heard, she probably would have kicked out Hai Mingzhu first.


    Hai Mingzhu looked pitifully at Jin Xin and Shen Yue, her first sentence was, ¡°President Jin, can my salary be calculated on a daily basis?¡±


    ¡°Are you afraid of dying?


    Want to quit?¡± Jin Xin got straight to the point.


    ¡°I am a bit scared.¡± Hai Mingzhu said in a small voice, ¡°I just want to earn some money to enjoy life.


    I really don¡¯t want to lose my life over it.


    I still need to support my dad.¡±


    ¡°Where does your father live now?¡± asked Jin Xin.


    ¡°President Jin, are you asking for the address to send the bereavement gold?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked suspiciously, ¡°He¡¯s working in America.¡±


    ¡°Digging for gold?¡± Jin Xin joked.


    He remembered that there wasn¡¯t any contact information of her parents on Hai Mingzhu¡¯s phone.


    ¡°You could say that.


    I can¡¯t even contact him right now.


    But I want to see my dad.¡± Hai Mingzhu appealed pityingly.


    Jin Xin wanted to say something else, but Shen Yue cut him off, ¡°Stop teasing her.


    Hai Mingzhu, you don¡¯t have to worry, Jin Xin and I will be the ones going out on the mission.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s just keep my salary calculated on a monthly basis.¡± A glint came to Hai Mingzhu¡¯s eyes, ¡°Advisor Shen is truly a good man.¡±


    ¡°Nowadays, the good men tend to end up as cannon fodder, just like the honest men end up picking up the tab.¡± Jin Xin said indifferently, glancing ahead, ¡°Shen Yue, who do you think will sign first?¡±


    Shen Yue¡¯s glance swept over everyone, ¡°Probably Xun Jiasheng.¡±


    Just as Hai Mingzhu was about to ask how he could be so sure, she saw Xun Jiasheng stand up over there, raise his contract and smile at Gao Jie, ¡°Miss Gao Jie, as for this contract, Anxin Security has decided to sign it!¡±

 Chapter 21 - 21 21st The Shamelessness of the Dog Boss

    ?21: 21st Chapter: The Shamelessness of the Dog Boss 21: 21st Chapter: The Shamelessness of the Dog Boss Hai Mingzhu looked admiringly at Shen Yue as if he was some sort of deity.


    If she could describe Shen Yue in a popular phrase, it would be ¨C this man is absolutely godlike!


    She really couldn¡¯t understand how Shen Yue managed to guess correctly every time.


    ¡°I would have never guessed that Xun Jiasheng would have the guts to do this!¡± Hai Mingzhu sighed.


    Jin Xin laughed: ¡°It¡¯s not bravery; it¡¯s shamelessness that he possesses more than anyone else here.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was once again puzzled.


    She originally thought she wasn¡¯t stupid, but now she realized that she might have been sold out by Jin Xin and Shen Yue, and might even willingly count the money for them.


    ¡°Why do you say that?¡±


    Just as Hai Mingzhu asked this, she felt a chill run down her spine, somewhat understanding Jin Xin¡¯s meaning.


    The contract must only be sealed with the fingerprints of the person in charge of the security company.


    To her surprise, it was the seemingly honest Manager Song who had offered his imprint for An Xin Security.


    ¡°The treaty stipulates that the person who leaves a fingerprint must carry out the task.¡± Shen Yue knowingly stated: ¡°Most leaders would hesitate to shirk their responsibilities and wouldn¡¯t want to provide their own fingerprints.


    But if someone is shameless enough, they could find a way to avoid the danger and wouldn¡¯t hesitate.¡±


    ¡°Xun Jiasheng rushed to sign the contract because he shamelessly thought he could make more money by hiring someone else to complete the task, while evading the risks himself.¡± Hai Mingzhu understood and quipped, ¡°He¡¯s truly shameless, no wonder you, President Jin, call him ¡®Dog President¡¯.


    But¡­


    would a giant corporation employ such an unethical person?¡±


    ¡°Did you just graduate from college?¡± Jin Xin glanced at Hai Mingzhu and said, ¡°Are you not aware that capitalists accumulate wealth on a bloody foundation?¡±


    A slightly aggrieved Hai Mingzhu replied: ¡°I did just graduate from college, haven¡¯t I mentioned this before to you, President Jin?¡±


    Jin Xin appeared slightly annoyed.


    Hai Mingzhu stole a glance at Gao Jie, ¡°Are you saying the Giant Corporation is also bad news?¡±


    Jin Xin didn¡¯t respond.


    While the three of them were talking, Feng Jingye and Zhou Dewei also left their fingerprints, formally signing the contract.


    These two people seemed to have some sense of shame, choosing to take the matter into their own hands.


    ¡°What¡¯s the name of that security company?¡± Shen Yue asked suddenly.


    Out of the six security companies, Shen Yue was familiar with five ¨C Jin Tang, An Xin, Tie Tai, Fu Quan, and De Wei.


    The sixth security company was comprised of three men who seemed quite ordinary and didn¡¯t talk much.


    They didn¡¯t even ask questions during the discussions.


    If it weren¡¯t for Shen Yue¡¯s mention, Hai Mingzhu would have almost not noticed them.


    Jin Xin shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m familiar with almost all the security companies in this city, but I¡¯ve never seen that one.¡± As he spoke, he noticed one person from that company move forward to leave his fingerprint.


    Jin Xin followed him to leave his fingerprint and took the opportunity to check their business information.


    Once back, he said, ¡°It¡¯s called Qi Family Security, and the signature by the imprint is Qi Xin.


    I¡¯ve never heard of them, it must be a newly-established company, right?¡± As he spoke, Jin Xin checked some information about the company online with his phone and frowned: ¡°I found their registration information.


    They are indeed a local security company, but haven¡¯t been established for long.¡±


    Shen Yue nodded in acknowledgment, while Hai Mingzhu marveled, ¡°President Jin, Xun Jiasheng may be shameless, but I believe you are the epitome of a true man.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to remind me purposefully; I won¡¯t let you take on the task,¡± Jin Xin replied indifferently, his gaze, however, was fixed on the last person to sign the contract.


    It was Tie Zheng, an elder representing Tietai Security, who was about to press his fingerprint.


    Suddenly, he was interrupted by Tie Wa.


    Looking sluggish and clumsy on the outside, Tie Wa¡¯s interference was as swift as a leopard pouncing on its prey.


    Tie Wa suddenly reached the table, startling Gao Jie who involuntarily stepped back.


    But Tie Wa was fixated on the imprint clay, ready to leave his mark on the contract.


    Suddenly, another hand reached out and grabbed Tie Wa¡¯s wrist!


    Despite Tie Wa¡¯s swift action, the person was not slow to react.


    The person who grabbed Tie Wa¡¯s wrist was none other than Tie Zheng.


    As Tie Wa tried to struggle, Tie Zheng yelled, ¡°If you can¡¯t obey me, then go back home, and never come here again!¡±


    Tie Wa paused, his struggling hand dropping down.


    The time it took for Tie Zheng to leave his fingerprints on the contract and neatly sign his name was astoundingly quick.


    Holding the contract with both hands, he handed it to Gao Jie with solemn respect as if pledging his solemn promise.


    An unexpected sense of melancholy filled Hai Mingzhu, making her nose tingle and her eyes teary.


    This was just a minor detail.


    Yet, without Shen Yue¡¯s analysis, she could understand what had happened.


    The person who pressed the fingerprints had to go on the task, which was undoubtedly fraught with danger.


    Despite Tie Wa¡¯s innocent exterior, he understood this principle and proactively took the danger onto himself.


    But Tie Zheng clearly cared more about Tie Wa¡¯s safety, which was why he insisted on pressing his fingerprints.


    Even the icy countenance of Gao Jie showed a glimmer of emotion.


    This, however, quickly disappeared as she efficiently organized the contracts and announced, ¡°Alright, the contracts are now officially in effect.


    Everyone, please leave and gather here at eight o¡¯clock tomorrow morning.


    At that time, the respective tasks will be assigned.¡±


    Everyone stood up from their seats, collected their cheques, and left the meeting room with some still discussing softly.


    Shen Yue, Jin Xin, and Hai Mingzhu left at a leisurely pace by taking the elevator.


    As they were about to change elevators, they noticed the previous group descending via an elevator, and Xun Jiasheng and Manager Song waiting at the elevator entrance.


    When Jin Xin walked past Xun Jiasheng, he taunted, ¡°President ¡®Dog¡¯, I suppose you feel too awkward to share an elevator with Tie Zheng, eh?¡±


    ¡°Enough!


    Can¡¯t you stop?!¡± Xun Jiasheng¡¯s face turned gaunt as he retorted indignantly.


    ¡°You did it; why shouldn¡¯t I mention it?¡± Jin Xin retorted with a smirk, ¡°Are you upset and fancy a fight?¡±


    Xun Jiasheng doesn¡¯t respond, and Manager Song also remained silent with his head down.


    As the elevator doors open, Jin Xin stepped in and sneered, ¡°I am sure you wouldn¡¯t want to share an elevator ride with me either, so you can wait for the next one.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng turned pale.


    Just before the elevator doors closed, he suddenly made an unexpected decision.


    He stuck his hand out, preventing the doors from closing, and squeezed in saying, ¡°Only cowards are scared!¡± Seeing this, Manager Song also quickly entered the elevator and pressed the button for the lobby.


    Jin Xin was a bit surprised, but he didn¡¯t forget to counter taunt: ¡°You¡¯re not scared, but you sure made Manager Song press the fingerprint.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng laughed, ¡°Jin Xin, you are still too petty and don¡¯t understand that the real leaders of big corporations are strategic.


    Furthermore, Manager Song volunteered to press his fingerprint; I didn¡¯t force him.


    Manager Song, right?¡±


    Manager Song merely responded with a grunt while clenching his shaking fist.


    ¡°If you want to fight injustice, you¡¯re in the wrong place.


    Why don¡¯t you go to Liangshan instead?¡± Xun Jiasheng boasted victoriously: ¡°President Jin, a good leader is one that their subordinates are willing to die for.


    It seems like you¡¯re not a good leader.¡±


    He was indeed shameless.


    In just a few sentences, he managed to turn the tables and seeing that Jin Xin had no retort, he felt all the more pleased.


    Just as he was about to speak again, he suddenly fell silent.


    The elevator suddenly became very quiet.


    So quiet, people could almost hear the sound of their own heartbeats.


    Seeing Jin Xin, Shen Yue, and Hai Mingzhu staring straight ahead as though witnessing something extremely strange, Xun Jiasheng sneered, ¡°Are you trying to scare me?


    Your act is rather pathetic.¡±


    Despite saying this, Xun Jiasheng felt that these three people were not acting and became uneasy.


    His throat felt dry and raspy, and the voice that came out didn¡¯t even sound like his own.


    The elevator stopped, as it should.


    It is only when the elevator stops that one would feel a sudden quietness.


    It¡¯s only natural for the elevator to stop, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be called an elevator.


    However, the expressions on the faces of Jin Xin and the others did not suggest that the elevator had stopped under normal circumstances!


    Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 22 - 22 Floor 22 doesnt exist

    ?22: Floor 22 doesn¡¯t exist 22: Floor 22 doesn¡¯t exist Xun Jiasheng tried to act calm as he slowly turned around and found nothing behind him, forced a laugh and said, ¡°You guys¡­¡± He doubted in his heart that the security team was collectively playing a trick on him.


    However, before he could finish speaking, his face changed.


    Along with Jin Xin and others, he looked up and found something utterly horrifying.


    The indicator light on the elevator showed that it had stopped on the 13th floor.


    Xun Jiasheng¡¯s heart pounded fiercely, one thought reverberating in his mind ¡ª the Giant Building never had a 13th floor!


    Struck by this idea, he was dumbstruck and speechless for a moment.


    The elevator was eerily silent.


    Everyone¡¯s attention was drawn to the number 13 on the indicator light.


    ¡°There is no 13th floor in the Giant Building, right?¡± Jin Xin finally broke the tension, his voice carrying a hint of strangeness.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu felt her heart jump.


    If it weren¡¯t for the stabilizing force of Shen Yue next to her, she would have screamed.


    Trying to suppress her fear, she rapidly added, ¡°Definitely no 13th floor in the Giant Building, I¡¯ve been here twice.


    I specially checked the floor display each time, it always indicated 12 and 14, never 13.


    I checked it twice, I couldn¡¯t be wrong.¡±


    With the three men in the elevator frozen in terrifying silence, Hai Mingzhu asked, her voice trembling, ¡°Can you guys say something?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to say?¡± Shen Yue finally spoke, his words adding little to the conversation.


    Hearing Shade Yue¡¯s consistent, calm tone, Hai Mingzhu mused that she had always found him lacking in emotional color.


    She now thought this must be the way a real man should respond.


    He¡¯s a man who can handle things!


    ¡°For example¡­.¡± Hai Mingzhu started brainstorming, ¡°Most commercial buildings are quite superstitious.


    Many consider 13 to be an unlucky number and intentionally omit the concept of a 13th floor.¡±


    ¡°Then?¡± Seeing Hai Mingzhu stop, Shen Yue urged her to continue.


    ¡°Then¡­ then¡­¡± Hai Mingzhu repeated numbly, ¡°So why did the elevator stop on the 13th floor?


    Advisor Shen, could you provide a professional opinion?


    You are an advisor, after all.¡±


    Shen Yue calmly replied, ¡°Architects can ignore the concept of a 13th floor, but that doesn¡¯t mean there isn¡¯t one.


    If there was no 13th floor, there wouldn¡¯t be a 14th one, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Upon reflection, Hai Mingzhu realized he was correct.


    Following Shen Yue¡¯s logic she asked, ¡°So, the 14th floor is actually the 13th floor?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Shen Yue shook his head.


    ¡°The 14th floor is still the 14th floor, and the 13th floor remains the 13th.¡±


    Frustrated, Hai Mingzhu pleaded, ¡°Advisor Shen, please don¡¯t talk in riddles.


    Can you explain in simpler terms?¡±


    Shen Yue considered for a moment and proposed, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to make it simpler.


    Above the 12th floor, there¡¯s the 13th, and above the 13th, there¡¯s the 14th.


    Is that simple enough?¡± He seemed a bit troubled, finally appreciating the challenges of teaching elementary school.


    Hai Mingzhu shook her head, ¡°I still don¡¯t understand it.


    My math teacher always said I was slow.¡±


    Jin Xin suddenly interjected, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that your elementary school teacher praised your math skills?¡±


    ¡°That was my PE teacher.¡± In this situation, Hai Mingzhu had no choice but to reveal the truth.


    Jin Xin was left speechless.


    Shen Yue looked at Hai Mingzhu¡¯s embarrassed expression and found himself amused.


    He extended his middle finger towards Hai Mingzhu.


    ¡°It¡¯s not my fault that I¡¯m bad at math. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Why are you looking down on me?¡± Hai Mingzhu felt affronted.


    Quickly, Shen Yue extended his index finger, ¡°I¡¯m trying to give you a more vivid example.


    An index finger has three knuckles, just like the floors 12, 13, and 14.


    The last two times you rode the elevator, the floor indicator showed 12 and 14, but that does not mean the 13th floor does not exist, and it doesn¡¯t mean we didn¡¯t pass it.¡±


    Finally, Hai Mingzhu understood, ¡°So you¡¯re saying the 13th floor has always been there.


    We just didn¡¯t see it because we¡¯ve always travelled from the 12th to the 14th floor without stopping at the 13th?


    That¡¯s why outsiders get the impression there is no 13th floor in this building?


    But the elevator still reaches it?!¡±


    Shen Yue nodded with a hidden sigh.


    It really was exhausting trying to explain such a simple thing to superstitious people.


    ¡°Impossible!¡± Xun Jiasheng was back to reality, having listened to the exchanges between Shen Yue and Hai Mingzhu.


    He suddenly objected to Shen Yue, ¡°That¡¯s not the case.


    There isn¡¯t an extra floor between the 12th and the 14th floors.


    The Giant Building never had a 13th floor.¡±


    Shen Yue smiled, ¡°Why are you so sure?¡±


    ¡°Because¡­ because¡­¡± Xun Jiasheng clenched his teeth, ¡°because there were numerous unidentified gravesites below this ground before.


    With numerous ghosts roaming around, when the Giant Building was constructed, the 13th floor was allocated to these spirits to prevent them from causing trouble.


    Only when turned into a ghost can you see the 13th floor!¡±


    Hai Mingzhu, having been relieved by Shen Yue¡¯s explanation, was startled by Xun Jiasheng¡¯s words.


    She cried, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?


    We¡¯re all alive and well.


    Look¡­¡± She pointed at the elevator¡¯s metallic wall, which could almost serve as a mirror, ¡°Look, there are four of¡­ Ah!¡±


    She suddenly screamed!


    In her fright, Hai Mingzhu stepped backward and almost fell into Shen Yue¡¯s arms.


    Everyone was startled and Jin Xin anxiously inquired, ¡°What happened?


    What did you see?¡±


    Feeling Shen Yue steady her, Hai Mingzhu immediately straightened up, ¡°No, I just saw five shadows.


    I didn¡¯t notice Manager Song was here too and thought something was wrong.


    Manager Song, why haven¡¯t you said a word this entire time?


    You scared me into thinking there are only four people in this elevator.¡±


    Everyone didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry, yet Manager Song still hadn¡¯t lifted his head.


    Given the changed atmosphere, everyone felt that Manager Song was acting a bit strange, and they looked at one another.


    Hai Mingzhu tentatively said, ¡°Manager Song?¡± She almost thought Manager Song was dead.


    Otherwise, why wouldn¡¯t he make a sound under such circumstances?


    Manager Song still kept his head down, apparently deep in thought.


    The elevator had stopped and the air system seemed to be operating as usual, continuously transmitting cold air.


    Everyone sensed eerie gusts of wind.


    Xun Jiasheng couldn¡¯t prevent himself from patting Manager Song¡¯s shoulder and said, somewhat displeased, ¡°Manager Song, stop playing around.


    It¡¯s not the time to create an atmosphere.¡±


    In Xun Jiasheng¡¯s mind, Manager Song had always been a pushover.


    He knew Manager Song¡¯s weaknesses and had always treated him disdainfully.


    Arrogance can become a habit, as can contempt.


    In Xun Jiasheng¡¯s eyes, Manager Song was a lackey that could be ordered around.


    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have let Manager Song press the fingerprint scanner.


    Had Manager Song even made a sound?


    As soon as Xun Jiasheng¡¯s hand touched Manager Song¡¯s shoulder, he felt something was wrong.


    Manager Song suddenly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, and shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡±


    Xun Jiasheng saw Manager Song¡¯s peculiar look, and was suddenly shouted at by him, he stepped back in shock, stumbling against the elevator wall.


    The impact was so hard that his back hurt.


    The elevator fell silent once more, and everyone could hear each other¡¯s slightly labored breathing.

 Chapter 23 - 23 Section 23 Abnormal Status

    ?23: Section 23 Abnormal Status 23: Section 23 Abnormal Status Hai Mingzhu was so startled by Manager Song¡¯s shout that she almost felt her heart leap out of her chest, involuntarily stepping back and lightly gripping Shen Yue¡¯s sleeve.


    Jin Xin took a slight step forward, positioning himself in front of Shen Yue and Hai Mingzhu, cautiously staring at Manager Song.


    He slowly said, ¡°Manager Song, what happened to you?¡±


    The elevator grew quiet for a few seconds.


    After shouting, Manager Song seemed to snap out of his daze, and then asked, ¡°What happened?


    What did I do just now?¡±


    ¡°You were yelling for a dog to get lost,¡± Jin Xin replied.


    Understanding something, Manager Song immediately looked at Xun Jiasheng, ¡°President Xun, did I yell at you?¡± By saying this, he unknowingly confirmed Jin Xin¡¯s implication that Xun Jiasheng was a dog.


    Hai Mingzhu was scared but found it a bit amusing.


    Xun Jiasheng¡¯s face showed displeasure, but looking at the bloodshot eyes of Manager Song, he felt unnerved.


    He cleared his throat and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay.


    You must be under a lot of work stress and haven¡¯t been sleeping well for a few nights, right?


    It¡¯s normal to vent.¡± Seeing Manager Song¡¯s confused expression, Xun Jiasheng probed, ¡°You¡­


    don¡¯t you remember what just happened?¡±


    Manager Song hesitated.


    ¡°I¡­


    just seemed to have spaced out for a moment.


    Then¡­


    I felt someone grabbing my shoulder, which scared me, and I reacted¡­¡± He immediately looked anxious and said, ¡°President Xun, I didn¡¯t mean to yell at you.


    Please don¡¯t blame me.¡±


    ¡°No worries at all.


    Why would I?¡± Xun Jiasheng cursed internally, but outwardly remained calm.


    He was not a fool, knowing that even a cornered rabbit will bite, and that the anger of a normally mild person can sometimes be scarier than a butcher.


    Why would he blame Manager Song now?


    After exchanging a glance with Shen Yue, Jin Xin felt that Manager Song seemed to be hiding something; but seeing that Manager Song did not want to continue, he did not further interrogate.


    The elevator room became quiet again.


    Hai Mingzhu felt the silence starting to frighten her, and she couldn¡¯t help but seek help from Shen Yue, ¡°Advisor Shen, what should we do now?


    We¡¯ve been stuck in the elevator for a long time.¡±


    ¡°The elevator might be broken,¡± Shen Yue said nonchalantly.


    Hai Mingzhu had an idea, ¡°Yeah, the elevator might be broken.


    We should just find someone.¡± Seeing that Manager Song was by the elevator buttons, Hai Mingzhu politely said, ¡°Manager Song, could you help me¡­¡± Seeing that Manager Song lowered his head again like a corpse, seemingly lost in thought, Hai Mingzhu simply said: ¡°I¡¯ll just press the emergency button myself.¡±


    She reached out to press the emergency button and swiftly retreated back to Shen Yue¡¯s side, still harboring doubts about the eerie Manager Song.


    Observing Hai Mingzhu¡¯s actions, Jin Xin secretly thought to himself that among all the people here, the person Hai Mingzhu trusted the most was undoubtedly Shen Yue.


    Her trust in Shen Yue was perplexing, considering that she and Shen Yue were not even familiar with each other.


    As soon as the thought crossed his mind, a sound came from the elevator¡¯s intercom, and Hai Mingzhu shouted, ¡°Hello, we¡¯re trapped in the elevator, can you come and fix it, please?¡±


    The intercom emitted a sudden harsh ¡°crackling¡± sound and then fell silent again.


    Stunned, Hai Mingzhu queried, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    No one was able to answer her.


    Jin Xin stepped forward and pressed the emergency button again, but to no avail.


    The intercom initially played connecting sounds, then emitted the same noises as before, and eventually shut off.


    After three attempts, Jin Xin gave up and said with resignation, ¡°I guess the elevator is broken, and the person in the control room is probably busy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s likely the case.¡± Hai Mingzhu nodded repeatedly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try again later.


    This is a big company, even if the maintenance personnel have a stomach upset, they wouldn¡¯t be indisposed for an entire night, right?¡± Although she felt something was strange, Hai Mingzhu chose to believe Jin Xin¡¯s explanation.


    ¡°President Jin, stop deceiving this young lady,¡± Xun Jiasheng suddenly sneered.


    Jin Xin coldly glared at Xun Jiasheng, ¡°What?


    Are you about to spin another ghost tale again?¡±


    Xun Jiasheng huffed coldly, ¡°You don¡¯t need to pretend to be calm; I know you¡¯re also frightened inside.¡±


    Jin Xin calmly retorted: ¡°You¡¯re quite perceptive, you¡¯ve seen right through me?¡±


    Shen Yue, not wishing to partake in the bickering, suddenly took out his phone. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His phone looked as bulky as half a brick.


    Seeing this, Hai Mingzhu had a sudden realization and smacked her forehead.


    ¡°I¡¯m such a fool, we can call for help on our phones.¡± She immediately took action and quickly pulled out her own phone, only to be taken aback by the signal.


    There was no signal on her phone at all.


    ¡°What kind of multinational company is this that mobile signal doesn¡¯t even cover the elevator?¡± While grumbling, Hai Mingzhu looked at Shen Yue with hope, ¡°Advisor Shen, your phone is so¡­


    unique, does it have a signal?¡±


    She knew some old-fashioned phones looked clunky but actually had better signal reception capability than smartphones.


    Shen Yue remained silent, merely lifting a finger to flip open the bottom of his phone.


    Hai Mingzhu nearly overcame her fears long enough to chuckle, ¡°Not only is your phone unique, but it¡¯s also quite advanced.


    It opens up like a flip phone.¡± She was obviously teasing him, as flip phones, though popular many years ago, were relatively obsolete now.


    Her playful smile faded, replaced by a look of doubt, ¡°Is this¡­


    a mobile phone?¡±


    When Shen Yue flipped open the phone, instead of revealing a button for making calls, it exposed a piece of metal that looked like a compass.


    It was engraved with many circles and faint inscriptions on it.


    Hai Mingzhu leaned forward to take a closer look and murmur, ¡°This¡­


    looks like a compass?¡±


    Being a modern person, she had some knowledge of ancient times, and as soon as she saw the eight words engraved within the inner circle of the metal disk: Qian, Kun, Kan, Li, Xun, Zhen, Gen, Dui, she recognized them as the symbols of the ¡°Book of Changes.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng caught a glimpse and scoffed, ¡°Jin Xin, you are stubborn, but you believe in ghosts too, don¡¯t you?


    Otherwise, your advisor wouldn¡¯t carry a compass with him.


    Your advisor doesn¡¯t seem very proficient.


    A compass is used for feng shui, but can it also be used for ghost hunting?


    Let me give you a tip; you should carry a crucifix!


    Western ghosts believe in crosses, and eastern ghosts are afraid of talismans.¡± He spoke confidently, apparently having investigated the subject of supernatural entities.


    Jin Xin, surprisingly, didn¡¯t retort.


    Shen Yue laid his phone flat in his hand.


    The compass needle in the middle of his phone¡¯s compass was not pointing south, but was spinning erratically.


    Watching this, Hai Mingzhu felt increasingly nervous.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a compass needle?¡± Aren¡¯t compass needles supposed to stabilize after identifying the north and south direction?


    Why is this one spinning like a gyroscope?


    After a while, the needle finally pointed forward, directly towards the direction of the elevator door.


    Shen Yue frowned and seemed to be contemplating something, after closing his phone.


    ¡°Did you find anything, master?¡± Xun Jiasheng¡¯s question was dripped with sarcasm, but it also carried a hint of expectation.


    Even though he loathed Jin Xin, there was no reason to joke with his own safety at this moment.


    Before Shen Yue could answer, the elevator ¡°dinged,¡± and astonishingly, it opened.


    Everyone was a bit surprised.


    Xun Jiasheng, not wanting to spend another second in the ghoulish elevator, moved to step out.


    But as he was about to do so, he immediately retracted his foot, his face filled with horror.


    Hai Mingzhu¡¯s body trembled.


    The elevator door opened to reveal another elevator directly in front of them, contrary to the expected hallway or lobby layout.


    This unexpected sight left everyone stunned.

 Chapter 24 - 24 Section 24 Is this a mobile phone

    ?24: Section 24 Is this a mobile phone?


    24: Section 24 Is this a mobile phone?


    Elevators are too common in today¡¯s society, and the structure of an elevator is commonplace in the eyes of the modern people.


    There was once a joke about elevators, telling the story of a country bumpkin who, upon seeing an old woman entering an elevator and a beautiful woman coming out, decided to bring his wife to try it out.


    If such a thing could actually happen, many men would surely be eager to try it.


    Xun Jiasheng wasn¡¯t a country bumpkin and wouldn¡¯t make the mistake in the joke, but when he saw an elevator in front of him, the sudden thought that came to his mind was ¨C this is a ghost elevator!


    Probably the soul cannot return once inside it.


    It wasn¡¯t just Xun Jiasheng, Manager Song and Hai Mingzhu thought alike.


    What appeared in front of them at this moment shouldn¡¯t have been an elevator!


    They had common sense, the elevator shaft was designed according to the size of the elevator, no matter how rich or spacious Giant Industries was, the elevator shaft could not be too small or too large.


    A spaced out elevator shaft could easily cause safety accidents, just like the outer space design of the subway station entrance, no one wants to step into the void the moment they step out of the door!


    But there was an elevator in front of them?


    How could the elevator shaft accommodate two elevators?


    Moreover, this is the 13th floor, where could it lead to?


    Hai Mingzhu and Xun Jiasheng found it unbelievable.


    Manager Song, although a bit obsessed, was also attracted by the strange event and was staring blankly ahead.


    Even President Jin looked puzzled, but Advisor Shen was as calm as ever, after a short thought, he was the first to step into the elevator, and President Jin followed suit.


    Although Hai Mingzhu was a bit intimidated, she felt that staying with Xun Jiasheng was even worse than seeing a ghost, so she quickly followed behind Jin Xin.


    As the elevator doors were about to close, Xun Jiasheng¡¯s eyelids were twitching violently.


    He suddenly reached out to hold the elevator door open and dragged Manager Song in without saying a word.


    President Jin mockingly said, ¡°Boss Xun, I feel like you still don¡¯t hate me.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng, who had watched ghost movies, knew that in such a bizarre environment, those who were left behind usually died first, and he would never go back because of President Jin¡¯s mockery, so he forced a smile and said, ¡°Yes, I just found out that I kind of like you, President Jin.¡±


    President Jin feigned surprise and said, ¡°That can¡¯t be, you have no principles, and can bend at any time, but I¡¯m always straight!¡±


    As the two were arguing, Advisor Shen was looking at the panel of the elevator in front of him.


    ¡°This elevator seems no different from the one earlier?¡± Hai Mingzhu tentatively asked.


    She had originally planned to go to bed after successfully bidding tonight, but that was no longer achievable given the current situation.


    Under such a bizarre environment, she felt like she would go crazy if she didn¡¯t speak.


    Speaking of the previous elevator, she couldn¡¯t help but look back, only to pause in shock.


    The door behind them had already closed, and it didn¡¯t look like there had ever been an elevator there.


    She considered whether to tell Advisor Shen about this, but was afraid to disturb his thoughts.


    After a while, Advisor Shen stretched out his hand and pressed the button for the first floor.


    Seeing this, Hai Mingzhu was afraid that the elevator would start moving abruptly and go straight through the floor to the first floor.


    The elevator didn¡¯t move at all.


    ¡°It seems this elevator is not just like the previous one, but also broken,¡± mumbled Advisor Shen. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hai Mingzhu wanted to laugh, but couldn¡¯t.


    Advisor Shen pressed the emergency button in the elevator again, but nothing happened.


    Although Xun Jiasheng was arguing with President Jin, he was always watching Advisor Shen.


    He understood now that punching and speaking were President Jin¡¯s jobs at Giant Safeguard, but the real work was done by Advisor Shen.


    Even President Jin followed Advisor Shen¡¯s instructions.


    Seeing that the elevator was not moving, Xun Jiasheng couldn¡¯t help but remind, ¡°Where do you hope this elevator goes?


    Up or down?¡± Neither was a good outcome!


    Xun Jiasheng had a sense of direction and knew that their current location in the elevator had already left the elevator shaft, both going up and going down were unimaginable.


    Advisor Shen muttered, ¡°It can¡¯t go up or down, so it can only go forward or backward.¡± He pushed the button to open the elevator and the door actually opened.


    Everyone was stunned, and Xun Jiasheng exclaimed, ¡°Again?¡± He wanted to say that there was another elevator in front of them and that they were trapped by ghosts.


    Because when the elevator door opened, another small space similar to the elevator appeared in front of them.


    But on closer inspection, he found that the space in front was quite different from the elevator.


    Although the area ahead was narrow, it didn¡¯t have the various buttons of a common elevator.


    In plain words, it was just a stretch of space surrounded by three walls.


    Advisor Shen slowly walked into the space.


    Everyone followed Advisor Shen into the area.


    The elevator door closed silently behind them and Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help but call out, ¡°Advisor Shen.¡± Seeing Advisor Shen turning around, Hai Mingzhu said, ¡°There¡¯s no way back.¡±


    Before the elevator door closed, Hai Mingzhu clearly saw that there were no buttons to open the elevator on this wall!


    Everyone was immediately engulfed in darkness.


    Hai Mingzhu quickly moved to where she recalled Advisor Shen was standing.


    She wanted to call out, but didn¡¯t dare to.


    She was afraid that if she called out, a ghost would answer.


    In the darkness, Advisor Shen asked, ¡°Is there a way back?¡± Hai Mingzhu was taken aback, thinking that what Advisor Shen said made sense, there were just two elevators behind them, which was a dead end as well.


    At the end of his remarks, a light came on.


    The light source was from President Jin¡¯s hand.


    In his hand was a small but powerful flashlight, and the light was strong enough to illuminate the whole space clearly.


    Advisor Shen calmly took out his phone and flipped it open.


    Aside from President Jin, the other three were taken aback, and Xun Jiasheng couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°How many phones have you prepared?¡±


    This was also what Hai Mingzhu wanted to ask, because when the phone was opened, what appeared was not the metal disk from last time but a crystal panel.


    The crystal panel was definitely not the LCD panel of a smartphone, but looked like diamond material, very sturdy and durable.


    There were seven colored lines on the panel, but Advisor Shen did not answer Jiasheng¡¯s question, instead, he turned the phone and the seven colored lines on it flickered.


    Suddenly, the purple light line swelled and stretched out a bit, Advisor Shen looked to his left hand side, feeling the wall on the left with his hand and suddenly pushed, the whole wall slid to one side like a sliding door, and not only did a cold air flow in from the front, but also the light flickered through.


    Xun Jiasheng was very nervous and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Where are we?¡±


    A new space appeared in front of them, but this space was much larger than the elevator, it looked about the same size as an ordinary bedroom, with a large bed occupying one-third of the space.


    There were dark purple stains on the bed, which looked quite terrifying.


    There was a dusty bedside table next to the bed, and the walls were dilapidated and covered with dust and cobwebs in the corners and the ceiling.


    Needless to say Xun Jiasheng, everyone present was wondering, where were they?


    It looked like a simple bedroom.


    But how did they end up in an old bedroom after crossing through the extremely modern Giant Building with two elevators, and a narrow space?

 Chapter 25 - 25 25 Verses of Midnight Song

    ?25: 25 Verses of Midnight Song 25: 25 Verses of Midnight Song The roof of the room was hung with an old incandescent bulb that was flickering on and off, casting everyone¡¯s faces in an unpredictable mixture of light and shadow.


    Xun Jiasheng couldn¡¯t help but ask again, ¡°Where are we?¡±


    ¡°Are you asking me?¡± Shen Yue finally responded.


    Xun Jiasheng held back his anger and said, ¡°I am asking you, Advisor Shen.¡± The word ¡°Advisor¡± came out exceptionally loud as a way of implicitly reminding Shen of the responsibilities of his role.


    Shen Yue responded indifferently, ¡°If I don¡¯t ask you, then who should I ask?¡±


    Xun Jiasheng almost passed out from anger.


    Jin Xin chuckled, fearing Xun Jiasheng hadn¡¯t been angered enough and added, ¡°President Xun, you seem to have forgotten.


    This is a special advisor hired by jintong Security with my own money.


    You are not prohibited from asking questions, but you must hand over the check you received today.


    Ask any questions you wish then.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng¡¯s heart skipped a beat and, with a very wary expression, he couldn¡¯t help but grip his wallet tighter.


    In such a spooky place, it wouldn¡¯t be anything big if someone died.


    He and Manager Song were clearly no match for Jin Xin.


    If Jin Xin killed them off and snatched their checks, what then?


    The check was payable to the bearer, it didn¡¯t matter who the beneficiary was.


    Considering this, Xun Jiasheng couldn¡¯t resist taking a few steps back from Jin Xin.


    Jin Xin saw through Xun Jiasheng¡¯s fear and sneered, ¡°Are you afraid that I¡¯ll steal your check?


    President Xun, rest assured, I am not as shameless as you.


    The money I spent is earned by my own abilities.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, indeed.


    President Jin is a model of morality for the new era.¡± As Xun Jiasheng reluctantly acknowledged Jin Xin¡¯s moral line, he didn¡¯t forget to insult Jin Xin.


    Bang!


    Everyone was startled by a sudden loud noise from above, followed by a ¡°crackling¡± sound.


    Sparks flew and the room promptly fell into darkness.


    Everyone scrambled away, in the hasty commotion Shen Yue had managed to pull Hai Mingzhu away.


    In her panic, Hai Mingzhu felt somewhat reassured, she looked up and asked, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°The light bulb exploded.¡± Shen Yue replied.


    ¡°Could it be¡­¡± Hai Mingzhu had a terrifying answer in mind, but was too afraid to voice it.


    In the movies, such a phenomenon usually hinted at the presence of a ghost.


    ¡°It¡¯s probably due to the aging of the electrical wires.


    Can¡¯t you smell the burnt rubber scent?¡± Seeming to know what Hai Mingzhu wanted to ask, Shen Yue quickly provided an answer.


    Then it wasn¡¯t the doing of a ghost.


    Hai Mingzhu indeed smelled the unpleasant odor of burnt rubber.


    She felt somewhat relieved and decided to trust Shen Yue¡¯s professional judgment.


    After all, as a modern college-educated woman, she shouldn¡¯t be influenced by feudal superstitions.


    As the crackling sound gradually subsided and the room descended into darkness again, Jin Xin reactivated his flashlight.


    Suddenly, Hai Mingzhu said, ¡°Can you hear that?¡± She had just heard the faint sound of music.


    Manager Song had been silent all along, but now, he quickly replied, ¡°You heard it too?¡± His voice slightly trembling.


    Xun Jiasheng, who was more preoccupied by the strange occurrences than Manager Song¡¯s emotional state, was suddenly startled by Manager Song¡¯s trembling voice. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He shivered, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t we hear it?¡± At this point, he too could hear the faint music.


    Seeing Manager Song¡¯s pallid face and his sweaty, greasy skin, he was startled, took a few steps back, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?


    Are you sick?¡±


    Manager Song shook his head, ¡°President Xun, I¡­


    I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Everyone looked at each other, realizing that there was definitely something seriously wrong with Manager Song!


    ¡°You¡¯re not possessed by a ghost, are you?¡± There was something strange in Xun Jiasheng¡¯s voice.


    He had finally noticed that there was something off about Manager Song since they had entered the elevator.


    Manager Song forced a smile, ¡°No, I just heard a song.


    I thought you couldn¡¯t hear it, and that scared me.¡±


    Shen Yue looked thoughtfully at Manager Song, ¡°Did you just hear the song too?¡±


    Manager Song¡¯s body shook slightly, then he replied, ¡°Yes¡­


    yes.


    Why?¡±


    Seeing that Shen Yue wanted to move forward, Hai Mingzhu tugged at Shen Yue¡¯s clothes, ¡°Advisor Shen, where are you going?¡±


    ¡°What are you staying here for?¡± Shen Yue retorted.


    ¡°Yes, why am I staying here?¡± Hai Mingzhu repeated her thoughts and realized that being in a horror movie and watching a horror movie are two very different things.


    In horror movies, there are always characters acting foolishly.


    Outside the movie, such behaviour may seem incomprehensible to Hai Mingzhu, but now she understood ¨C they were scared senseless.


    In situations of fear, people can easily lose their ability to think rationally.


    The group continued to move forward in their previous formation ¨C Shen Yue in front, Hai Mingzhu closely behind him and Jin Xin taking up the rear.


    The sound of the music became clearer, and they could even faintly hear the sound of singing.


    It was a woman¡¯s singing!


    Xun Jiasheng¡¯s legs weakened with each step he took.


    Suddenly, he quickly moved to the front of the group and spread his arms out to stop everyone.


    He shouted, ¡°Stop.


    Don¡¯t go any further.¡±


    Everyone stopped.


    The singing didn¡¯t cease, its graceful melody echoing all around, had an indescribable sense of thrill.


    Shen Yue was still able to calmly look at the somewhat sweating Xun Jiasheng, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t go ahead any more.¡± Xun Jiasheng said hurriedly, ¡°That¡¯s a ghost singing.


    This is a place where ghosts dwell.


    If we move forward and encounter a ghost, we¡¯ll never make it out of here!¡±


    With the melodious singing, the eerie yells and gusts of chilly wind, Hai Mingzhu felt a wave of cold washing over her.


    She chimed in, ¡°Yes, we shouldn¡¯t go there, alright?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Shen Yue retorted.


    Hai Mingzhu muttered, ¡°According to my experience watching horror movies, the people who die first are always the ones who are drawn by curiosity to investigate.


    Curiosity killed the cat, can we stop being curious?¡±


    A corner of Shen Yue¡¯s mouth curved into a smile, ¡°Then where do you think we should go now?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu fell silent.


    She had no idea.


    She suddenly realized that many people are not drawn to ghost encounters out of sheer curiosity.


    Rather, when the only way out is to encounter a ghost, they really have no other choice.


    Shen Yue turned to Xun Jiasheng and asked, ¡°President Xun, since we arrived on the 13th floor, you¡¯ve been insisting that this floor shouldn¡¯t exist.


    Can you tell me how are you so sure?¡±


    Xun Jiasheng stubbornly retorted, ¡°Why should I tell you?¡±


    Shen Yue chuckled, ¡°You don¡¯t have to answer, but you can¡¯t prevent me from going, right?


    Please let me through!¡± Seeing that Xun Jiasheng remained motionless, Jin Xin began popping his knuckles, making a ¡°cracking¡± sound, ¡°Do you need me to make you move?¡±


    Xun Jiasheng was sweating profusely, his face already distorted.


    Realizing he couldn¡¯t stop Shen Yue and Jin Xin, he finally said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll tell you the truth.


    In fact, we knew that this building was evil long before.


    We had investigated the Giant Building and personally verified that there was no 13th floor.¡±


    ¡°How did you confirm?


    By taking the elevator?¡± Shen Yue suddenly became interested.


    ¡°No, by walking.


    We followed the fire escape stairways.


    We proved that there is no 13th floor, the stairs went straight from the 12th to the 14th.¡±


    ¡°So, where are we now?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked, her teeth chattering.


    ¡°We are now on the ¡®Ghost Gathering Floor¡¯ of the Giant Building!


    It doesn¡¯t exist and is not a place for humans to be in.


    Manager Song was one of those who personally proved the nonexistence of the 13th floor during that time.¡± Xun Jiasheng confirmed.


    To prove he wasn¡¯t wrong, he turned to ask Manager Song, but froze in shock.


    Somehow, Song had silently moved in front of him, his pale face almost touching Xun Jiasheng¡¯s!

 Chapter 26 - 26 Section 26 Are you scared

    ?26: Section 26: Are you scared?


    26: Section 26: Are you scared?


    A face suddenly appearing in front of you would startle anyone, even in broad daylight, let alone in such a late hour and a strange environment.


    Xun Jiasheng was on the verge of freaking out.


    He shrieked in fear and jumped away, crashing into a nearby wall.


    Dust flew, and old pieces of the wall broke off under the impact of hitting Xun Jiasheng.


    ¡°So¡­¡± Xun Jiasheng wanted to yell, but the sight of Manager Song¡¯s ghostly pallor made his voice die in his throat.


    Manager Song paid no attention to Xun Jiasheng¡¯s reaction and kept walking in the direction from which the woman¡¯s singing was coming.


    Xun Jiasheng dared to stop Shen Yue and Jin Xin because he knew they would be reasonable, yet he didn¡¯t dare to stop the ghost-like Manager Song.


    Instead, he called out for others, ¡°Stop him!¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Neither Shen Yue nor Jin Xin made a move.


    They followed Manager Song instead.


    Watching the others walk away, Xun Jiasheng stomped his foot in frustration, but he had no choice but to follow them.


    He might be shameless, but he absolutely wouldn¡¯t dare to stay alone in such an incredibly strange place.


    Manager Song was not walking quickly, but there was no hesitation in his steps.


    In no time he arrived at a door.


    There was a beam of light coming from the room mingled with the woman¡¯s song.


    At such a moment, a normal person would hesitate to enter, but Manager Song simply walked in.


    The room was spacious, and the decorations suggested that it was a living room.


    Strangely, there was a large, old, western-style fireplace against the opposite wall, but no fire was burning.


    In a corner of the living room was a set of old, dark brown tables and chairs with tea sets and a bronze telephone on top.


    However, everything was covered in a thick layer of dust as if they hadn¡¯t been used for a long time.


    A lotus-style wrought iron chandelier with inlaid glass was hung from the ceiling, casting a dim light.


    Moths were circling ceaselessly around the light, their shadows dancing on the worn-out wooden floor.


    A gramophone, seemingly a product of the last century, was placed against the wall.


    The record was spinning evenly, emitting the woman¡¯s song they had heard.


    ¡°What kind of place is this?¡± Hai Mingzhu saw the style and layout of the interior and couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t respond immediately but kept his eye on Manager Song¡¯s movements.


    Upon entering the room, Manager Song acted very familiar with the surroundings, walking straight towards the gramphone.


    As he listened to the song playing, a faint smile spread across his lips.


    This smile seemed quite eerie under such surroundings.


    After the farewell tonight,


    When will you return?


    After finishing this cup,


    Please enjoy some side dishes¡­


    The tender song was not ceasing, but under these circumstances, it aroused a sense of alarm instead.


    When Hai Mingzhu heard the lyrics about enjoying some side dishes, her stomach growled unexpectedly.


    Seeing Shen Yue glance at her, she awkwardly explained, ¡°I usually have a late-night snack.


    It¡¯s a conditioned response, don¡¯t be surprised.¡±


    Shen Yue thought to himself, you are a unique character to be thinking about eating at a time like this.


    Seeing Manager Song still engrossed in the song, Shen Yue didn¡¯t interrupt him and took the opportunity to examine his surroundings in the dim light.


    ¡°It turns out, not only the female ghost can sing, but the gramophone can sing too,¡± Jin Xin clearly was mocking Xun Jiasheng¡¯s theory of a singing female ghost.


    Xun Jiasheng saw the gramophone and stuttered, ¡°Who knows¡­


    Maybe the female ghost is making the phonograph play the song.


    Why else would the phonograph ring?¡± As he said this, he seemed to convince himself.


    ¡°This ghost has quite a bit of power, even knows how to play this thing.


    And the gramophone?


    The furniture?


    Did the ghost move them all up here?


    And these are all solid wood!¡± Jin Xin¡¯s sarcasm was even stronger.


    Xun Jiasheng was about to retort but then scoffed dismissively, ¡°Believe it or not!¡±


    Hai Mingzhu¡¯s gaze had been following Shen Yue, and her steps matched his.


    Suddenly, she saw Shen Yue stop, almost crashing into him, and nervously asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?


    Did you find something?¡±


    Shen Yue picked up a hand-width photo frame from a table against the wall and stared at it silently.


    Hai Mingzhu peeked over his shoulder and saw that the photo was of a woman in a red cheongsam.


    The woman had a pair of phoenix eyes and gently sloping eyebrows, her lips a shocking red.


    Dimples on her cheeks added to her charm.


    The woman had a curvy figure, which was accentuated by the tight-fitting cheongsam.


    Based on her makeup and appearance, she carried an old-world allure reminiscent of women in the Republic of China period.


    ¡°This ghost must be the owner of this room,¡± Xun Jiasheng¡¯s voice came from behind Shen Yue.


    He couldn¡¯t resist coming over when he saw that the woman was wearing red, his face turned even paler, ¡°Legend has it, red-clad female ghosts have more power ¡­


    or should I say, ghostly prowess!¡±


    Jin Xin couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, ¡°Can you just stop talking about ghosts all the time?¡±


    ¡°Are you scared?¡± Xun Jiasheng felt that if he defended himself, his fear would lessen somewhat.


    ¡°Scared?¡± Jin Xin pointed to his nose, ¡°In my life, I¡¯ve never been afraid of anything!


    You say there¡¯s a ghost, summon it for me to see, I¡¯ll catch it for you for free.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng shivered, hurriedly interjected, ¡°You can¡¯t say things like that lightly.¡± He performed some polite gestures towards the photograph, muttering quietly, ¡°He¡¯s too young to understand, please don¡¯t take it to heart, please don¡¯t come out.¡±


    Jin Xin couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and grabbed Xun Jiasheng by his collar, ¡°If you keep pretending to see ghosts, believe it or not, I¡¯ll beat the soul out of you?¡±


    Xun Jiasheng has always been shameless and timid, but surprisingly, he didn¡¯t fear Jin Xin¡¯s fist this time, only scoffed, ¡°You¡¯re scared too, aren¡¯t you?


    I¡¯ve seen lots of people like you.¡±


    Jin Xin laughed in fury, ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°People like you look brave, but in reality, they¡¯re more timid than anyone else.


    They¡¯re more scared in situations like this, but they always try to cover their fear with rage.¡± Xun Jiasheng¡¯s analysis seemed well put.


    Hai Mingzhu was worried that Jin Xin might lose his temper and beat Xun Jiasheng badly, but she didn¡¯t expect Jin Xin to freeze for a moment, then slowly loosen his grip on Xun Jiasheng¡¯s collar.


    He turned to Shen Yue, ¡°Shen Yue, I feel a bit off.


    I shouldn¡¯t be easily provoked by this fool.


    Something is really wrong here.¡±


    After saying this, he took a deep breath and quickly calmed his emotions.


    Finally, Shen Yue put down the photo frame and said with a heavy face, ¡°You¡¯re right, there¡¯s a problem here.¡± He stepped forward to Xun Jiasheng and asked solemnly, ¡°You said you sent Manager Song to personally test that there¡¯s no thirteenth floor in the Giant Building?¡±


    As he spoke, he glanced at Manager Song, who was still entranced by the song, ignoring everything happening around him.


    ¡°You finally noticed what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xun Jiasheng sighed, sneering at Jin Xin, ¡°Unlike some people who always think with their feet.¡±


    Jin Xin smirked but finally managed to suppress his inner impulse, causing him to sober up somewhat.


    Even though he appeared carefree and jovial, he had always been extremely disciplined.


    Disciplined people are better at controlling their temper, and will not easily be led astray by others.


    However, after coming here, he found his emotions fluctuating greatly.


    After realizing this, he knew that the top priority was not to quarrel but to stabilize his own emotions.


    Feeling that he had successfully diverted the attention, Xun Jiasheng said in a mysterious tone, ¡°I think Manager Song might have really been bewitched by the ghost.¡±

 Chapter 27 - 27 27th Episode The Footsteps in the Dark Night

    ?27: 27th Episode: The Footsteps in the Dark Night 27: 27th Episode: The Footsteps in the Dark Night Hai Mingzhu shuddered inwardly, having observed Manager Song¡¯s behavior all this time, she had been inclined to believe in the idea of ghostly possession.


    Yet, not wanting to seem superstitious, she had always reminded herself to believe in science.


    But given their current circumstances, and after hearing Xun Jiasheng¡¯s words, she was now almost completely convinced of Manager Song¡¯s ghostly affliction.


    ¡°You think that the seeds of his misfortune were sown when he personally verified the non-existence of the 13th floor, and that they are just now coming to fruition?¡± Shen Yue thought for a moment before asking.


    ¡°So you¡¯ve had the same thought!¡± Xun Jiasheng brightened, as if having found a like-minded person, ¡°I felt it too when we were in the elevator, thinking then just as you are now!¡±


    Desperate to vindicate himself as a prescient, Xun Jiasheng added, ¡°Let me share another detail with you.¡±


    ¡°Please do.¡± said Shen Yue courteously.


    In a low voice, Xun Jiasheng said, ¡°We¡¯ve all been within each other¡¯s sight, haven¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°Indeed we have.¡± Shen Yue agreed without hesitation.


    ¡°Then who started this gramophone?¡± Xun Jiasheng asked in an ominous tone, ¡°Other than a ghost, who would do something so pointless?¡±


    Just as Hai Mingzhu was starting to consider that what Xun Jiasheng said might have some merit, the gramophone suddenly stopped!


    Everyone had grown accustomed to the melodious yet somewhat eerie songs played by the gramophone.


    But with it suddenly going silent, the music disappearing, leaving the room in hushed silence, Xun Jiasheng snapped his mouth shut midway during his sentence out of shock.


    Jin Xin abruptly turned off his flashlight.


    ¡°You-!¡± began Xun Jiasheng, just about to question what Jin Xin intended to do, when he was cut off by the ¡°shush¡± Jin Xin made.


    He wasn¡¯t afraid of Jin Xin but feared that a ghost might have appeared.


    Meanwhile, Shen Yue moved towards the wall and reached out to switch off the room light.


    The room was immediately engulfed in total darkness.


    The abrupt switch from glaring brightness to pitch darkness left Xun Jiasheng and Hai Mingzhu breathless with fear.


    The room was absolutely dark, but not absolutely silent.


    All that was heard was the soft whirr of the spinning record on the gramophone as the last traces of the song died out.


    As the sound of the spinning record faded away, Hai Mingzhu suddenly heard footsteps.


    The footsteps were coming from outside the living room.


    At the sound, Hai Mingzhu¡¯s heart climbed into her throat; she wanted to shout but dared not.


    She could not fathom why there would be footsteps outside the room at this time.


    Could it be that the red-dressed ghost discovered visitors and was keen on giving them a warm welcome?


    She might¡¯ve considered such a scenario amusing if she were watching a horror movie, but being in the situation left her only with a deep sense of dread.


    Jin Xin¡¯s heart also tightened.


    He had heard the footsteps almost at the same time as Shen Yue.


    Upon switching off his flashlight, he had quickly positioned himself near the entrance of the living room, silently crouching like a cheetah ready to pounce on its prey.


    He couldn¡¯t be sure who was coming.


    But being a risk-taker in the security industry, he understood the importance of having the upper hand.


    He was confident he could handle whoever entered the room.


    But if it were a ghost?


    Could he handle that?


    Jin Xin had no idea.


    He could feel cold sweat trickling gradually down his back, which rarely happened to him.


    What vexed him most was ¨C the footsteps had stopped outside the living room.


    The gramophone stopped whirring as well.


    After what felt like an eternity, Jin Xin found his heart beats becoming increasingly rapid.


    When he could no longer hold patience and felt an urge to rush out, whether it was a human or a ghost, the room light suddenly switched on.


    Jin Xin jumped in surprise and looked over at Shen Yue, who was standing by the wall.


    He knew it was Shen Yue who had turned the lights on, and was perplexed.


    He had been working with Shen Yue for a long time and they were usually in sync, so he didn¡¯t understand why Shen Yue would change their advantageous situation to a less favorable one.


    Shen Yue waved at Jin Xin, indicating it was okay, and then loudly said, ¡°Mr.


    Tie Zheng from Tie Tai Security, right?¡±


    Jin Xin was taken aback, but he straightened his body as he didn¡¯t know that it was Tie Zheng hiding outside.


    However, he trusted Shen Yue¡¯s judgement.


    There was no sound from outside the room.


    Shen Yue wasn¡¯t surprised and continued, ¡°We have Jin Tang Security¡¯s Jin Xin and Hai Mingzhu here.


    I¡¯m Shen Yue, an advisor with Jin Tang Security.


    Oh yes, and President Xun of Anxin Security along with Manager Song.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The footsteps finally resumed, and Tie Zheng appeared at the entrance of the room.


    He first glanced at Jin Xin, with an expression of surprise on his face.


    After closely observing the situation in the room, he greeted Jin Xin with a salute, ¡± President Jin, impressive reflexes there.¡±


    Jin Xin politely responded, ¡± Seasoned fighter like you have skills worth admiring.


    Truly impressive.¡±


    As their eyes met, they seemed to share an unspoken understanding, rather like characters of the martial world with mutual esteem and respect.


    Jin Xin was usually hard to impress, but his respect for Tie Zheng was genuine.


    Despite not having physically clashed, the situation earlier had been extremely tense.


    A real expert not only needed good physical agility but also an understanding of the situation.


    Jin Xin had made the first move by waiting at the door followed by Tie Zheng¡¯s arrival.


    However, Tie Zheng¡¯s alertness was clearly high.


    Sensing something unusual in the room, he decided not to confront it.


    For his patience and deep alertness, he was a rare piece in Jin Xin¡¯s eyes.


    With unhurried steps, Tie Zheng entered the room, ¡± So, you too have arrived at this godforsaken place?¡±


    Reading the unspoken question in Tie Zheng¡¯s words, Shen Yue asked with concern, ¡°Where is Tie Wa?


    Did he also end up in this creepy 13th floor?¡± He seemed puzzled, because back in the 44th floor conference room, he noticed that Tie Zheng cared deeply for Tie Wa and shouldn¡¯t have left him unattended.


    ¡°Tie Wa is with President Feng.¡± Tie Zheng coughed lightly, looking a bit uneasy.


    While speaking, he was constantly observing the room, taking note of the dazed Manager Song, and asked with a furrowed brow, ¡°What happened to him?¡±


    Shen Yue paused a moment before saying, ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain in such a short time.¡±


    ¡°Has he been possessed by a ghost?¡± Tie Zheng asked bluntly.


    ¡°Truly, few are as experienced and knowledgeable as you,¡± Xun Jiasheng chimed in, ¡°You spotted the problem right away.¡±


    Tie Zheng looked a bit uncomfortable, as if he wasn¡¯t fond of Xun Jiasheng either, then turned to Shen Yue and said, ¡°Advisor Shen, right?¡± When Shen Yue nodded his affirmation, Tie Zheng said gravely, ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind, but I have a presumptuous question to ask.¡±


    ¡°Please, go ahead.¡± Shen Yue answered politely.


    ¡°I¡¯m an old man now, my hearing and mobility aren¡¯t as good as they used to be.¡± Tie Zheng confessed, ¡°Earlier when I was outside, I could hear a noise from inside the room but just couldn¡¯t judge whether it was human or a ghost.¡± Laughing at himself, Tie Zheng muttered, ¡°I¡¯ve gotten old, starting to suspect everything, I hope you all don¡¯t mind.¡±


    From the side Hai Mingzhu added in, ¡°Given the circumstances, being scared is quite normal.¡±


    Regardless of Hai Mingzhu¡¯s comment, Tie Zheng focused solely on Shen Yue, asking, ¡°Yes, being scared is normal but Advisor Shen¡­


    seems a bit not normal.


    You didn¡¯t suspect that the one outside the room could be a ghost, why were you so sure it was me?¡±


    Everyone in the room was curious and wanted to ask the same question.


    Shen Yue smiled, ¡°It¡¯s quite simple.


    If it had been anyone else, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to guess.


    You¡¯re quite distinctive and that made it easy for me to figure out.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Tie Zheng still seemed confused.


    ¡°Just like you said, you¡¯re older, clearly strong but suffering from rheumatism is inevitable.¡± Shen Yue clarified, ¡°Back in the 44th floor conference room, I smelled a strong scent of plaster on you.


    Did you apply something like a tiger bone rheumatic cream?¡±


    With understanding dawning on him, Tie Zheng said, ¡°So you guessed it was me after catching the scent of the plaster from my body in the room?¡±

 Chapter 28 - 28 Section 28 Suddenly a person disappears

    ?28: Section 28 Suddenly, a person disappears 28: Section 28 Suddenly, a person disappears Everybody exclaimed in realization.


    After Shen Yue and Tie Zheng¡¯s explanation, they also smelled the distinctive scent of Chinese herbs in the hall.


    ¡°A lot of things seem mysterious, but when explained, they¡¯re worth nothing.¡± said Shen Yue, cryptically.


    Tie Zheng didn¡¯t catch Shen Yue¡¯s underlying meaning, he just felt Shen Yue was being modest, and therefore gave him a thumbs up, saying, ¡°Advisor Shen sure is a man of knowledge.


    Recognizing the old man is no small feat.


    In such strange circumstances, you were able to notice such details.


    Truly remarkable!¡±


    Hai Mingzhu heartily agreed, thinking to herself that during that moment, her soul was frightened away, yet Shen Yue still noticed the ¡®ghostly¡¯ smell, how strong must his nerve be?


    She had assumed a ghost had arrived!


    Shen Yue smiled slightly, changing the subject, ¡°The old man already determined that Manager Song was ensnared by a ghost, did something unexpected happen on your end too?


    Did someone else get haunted?¡± He used an inference.


    Tie Zheng¡¯s face immediately darkened, after a moment of silence, he finally spoke: ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m even saying this, but reality forced me to!¡±


    After another pause, Tie Zheng sighed, ¡°Not only were we haunted, we also genuinely saw a ghost.


    Not only did we see a ghost, we even lost two people!¡±


    The news sent a jolt through everyone¡¯s hearts, Xun Jiasheng was the first to ask, ¡°Was it the red-dressed female ghost?¡±


    ¡°Did you see it too?¡± Tie Zheng asked back.


    Before anyone could respond, Xun Jiasheng quickly added, ¡°We didn¡¯t see it, but I can affirm that there¡¯s a ghost in red living here.


    She enjoys listening to records and she¡¯s a ghost from the old society.¡±


    ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Tie Zheng felt Xun Jiasheng¡¯s explanation was confusing, he frowned, ¡°Advisor Shen, can you detail it further?¡±


    That¡¯s when Xun Jiasheng realized that Tie Zheng was somewhat annoyed with him, leaving him slightly embarrassed.


    Shen Yue finally gave a brief overview of the events that had occurred, then he asked, ¡°Old man, when you said you lost two people, did they die?¡±


    A chill ran through everyone¡¯s hearts.


    Tie Zheng went silent for a moment, ¡°I can¡¯t confirm, but they suddenly disappeared, they were from the Qi family security team.¡±


    Noticing the concern on Tie Zheng¡¯s face, Shen Yue understood the old man¡¯s worries, ¡°Old man, are you worried that if we split up, an accident will happen again?


    Is that why you had Tie Wa¡­


    and President Feng stick together?


    And you came here to check things out yourself?¡±


    Tie Zheng sighed at Shen Yue¡¯s accurate deduction, and nodded, ¡°Exactly, this place is so confusing, I was afraid if we scattered about, we¡¯d get more confused.


    So I came up with this idea.¡±


    ¡°What about inviting them here?


    We can discuss it together.¡± Shen Yue suggested.


    Tie Zheng was still worried about Tie Wa, so he agreed, ¡°Alright, once everyone has arrived, we can discuss it.


    I¡¯ll go get them.¡± He was decisive, and quickly disappeared out of the parlour.


    While they waited, Shen Yue approached Manager Song and called out, ¡°Manager Song?¡±


    There was no reaction from Manager Song.


    From the side, Xun Jiasheng shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that if someone is enchanted by a ghost and wants to break the enchantment, they need to get a monk to chant scriptures, or use something like child urine, black dog blood, or garlic.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I¡¯ve heard as well,¡± Hai Mingzhu chimed in.


    Seeing Shen Yue¡¯s pointed gaze, she defensively said, ¡°That¡¯s what they say in the movies, I learnt it from watching movies.¡±


    ¡°Did you prepare any garlic?¡± Shen Yue asked Xun Jiasheng, seeming to think this method was worth a try.


    Xun Jiasheng gave a bitter smile, ¡°I knew the Giant Building was eerie, but didn¡¯t expect to encounter evil so quickly.


    I didn¡¯t have the time to prepare anything.


    However¡­¡± After hesitating for a moment, Xun Jiasheng gritted his teeth and pulled out a cross pendant from his chest, ¡°Would this work?


    It¡¯s been blessed by a monk.¡±


    ¡°You certainly know how to blend Eastern and Western practices.¡± Jin Xin couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°The cross is a western article, and blessing is an eastern term.


    You¡¯ve combined the essences of both East and West.


    No wonder the ghosts don¡¯t dare to enchant you.


    Admirable, truly admirable!¡±


    Xun Jiasheng knew Jin Xin was mocking him and didn¡¯t respond.


    Shen Yue appeared uninterested in the cross, so he carefully put it back on his chest, clearly believing that it could ward off evil.


    Shen Yue took out his phone and flipped it open.


    Hai Mingzhu and Xun Jiasheng were taken aback once again.


    They saw that after flipping it open, a row of buttons was revealed, which was completely different from the previous two times.


    Xun Jiasheng was muttering in his mind, are you selling phones or what?


    Just how many phones have you got?


    Holding his phone, Shen Yue faced Manager Song, murmuring, ¡°Heaven¡¯s spirit, earth¡¯s spirit, reveal the phantoms and spirits!¡± The moment he finished speaking, Manager Song suddenly shivered.


    He slowly turned his head and uttered in astonishment, ¡°I¡­


    Where is this?


    How did I get here?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu and Xun Jiasheng were both dumbfounded!


    They could never have dreamed that Shen Yue¡¯s phone would be more effective than garlic, black dog blood, and so forth, and awaken Manager Song like this?


    ¡°What is this phone exactly?¡± Xun Jiasheng asked a little jealously, ¡°Advisor Shen, where did you buy it?¡±


    ¡°Are you planning to buy one?¡± Shen Yue asked back.


    Xun Jiasheng nodded vigorously, ¡°Yes, yes.


    Even if it¡¯s expensive, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, they aren¡¯t available in the market.¡± Shen Yue sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve been unable to find a second one myself.¡±


    You¡¯re lying!


    I clearly saw you take out three! Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xun Jiasheng felt Shen Yue must be hiding good stuff for himself.


    He frowned resentfully, but didn¡¯t expose him.


    Footsteps sounded from outside the parlour, and Tie Zheng arrived with Tie Wa, Feng Jingye, Zhou Dewei, and Qi Xin from the Qi family security team.


    Feng Jingye and Zhou Dewei were pleasantly surprised to see Shen Yue and the others.


    They didn¡¯t interact with Shen Yue¡¯s group much on regular days and naturally didn¡¯t have any attachments, but at this moment, they clearly felt more confident with more people around.


    Tie Wa still looked naive as ever, while Qi Xin was pallid.


    He must¡¯ve been irritated after losing his two brothers.


    Tie Zheng got straight to the point, ¡°Advisor Shen, let me first talk about what happened to us.¡± He trusted Shen Yue completely and carried on, ¡°What we experienced was similar to what you just explained.


    We took the elevator, it broke, another one arrived, we courageously got in, passed through a narrow space and finally made it here.¡±


    Shen Yue nodded slightly, seemingly thinking about something.


    Tie Zheng carried on, ¡°What happened next was pretty confusing, we don¡¯t know where we ended up.


    President Feng said this is a hub for ghosts and that the Giant Building has always been suspiciously odd.¡±


    Feng Jingye¡¯s face was awkward, ¡°I just heard it from someone else.¡±


    Tie Zheng continued, ¡°The path we took was very dark, with no lights.


    Some people used their phones for illumination, to save power, we only used one phone to light the way, and the three brothers from the Qi family were at the back.¡±


    Tie Zheng was very detailed, and Shen Yue knew the old man must have a purpose.


    Sure enough, Tie Zheng moved on to the main point, ¡°We all heard Qi Li, the youngest brother from the Qi family, shout out ¡ª Who is it?


    And then he and Qi Tai turned and ran towards the back.


    Then I heard Qi Xin say ¡ª Wait a moment.¡± At this point, Tie Zheng turned to the green-faced Qi Xin and said, ¡°Your turn, tell us.¡±


    Qi Xin¡¯s voice was a bit hoarse, ¡°It seemed like both my brothers saw something abnormal and chased after it.


    I was a step late and chased after them, after no more than thirty feet, my brothers disappeared.


    Then I saw a female ghost floating in the air beckoning to me¡­I hesitated for a moment, and she disappeared through the wall!¡±


    There was a breeze in the parlour, Qi Xin said it simply, but everyone who heard it couldn¡¯t help, but shiver.

 Chapter 29 - 29 Article 29 Deeply Terrifying Upon Reflection

    ?29: Article 29 Deeply Terrifying Upon Reflection 29: Article 29 Deeply Terrifying Upon Reflection The ghost passed through the wall and left?


    Jin Xin and Hai Mingzhu found this hard to believe when they heard it. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, Xun Jiasheng¡¯s expression suggested that this was just as it should be¡ªa ghost should have some supernatural abilities.


    Otherwise, how could it be called a ghost?


    Qi Xin was speaking of this strange event with clenched fists and gritted teeth, ¡°I know you probably won¡¯t believe me when I tell you this.


    But¡­


    most of us have seen the female ghost, and also seen her disappear through the wall!¡±


    Shen Yue frowned and asked, ¡°Who all saw the female ghost disappear?¡±


    ¡°An old man like me, and Tie Wa,¡± Tie Zheng replied, ¡°We moved faster.


    By the time President Feng and President Zhou arrived, all they could hear was the female ghost¡¯s laughter.¡±


    Feng Jingye and Zhou Dewei nodded slightly, looking somewhat embarrassed.


    Shen Yue knew that Tie Zheng was putting it mildly.


    Actually, Tie Zheng and Tie Wa were not only quick-footed, but also brave enough to chase after Qi Xin.


    Feng Jingye and Zhou Dewei probably hesitated, which caused them to be late.


    ¡°So, three people actually saw the female ghost?


    What did she look like?¡± Shen Yue inquired again.


    ¡°Exactly like the one in this photo frame.¡± Tie Zheng pointed at the photo frame on the table that held the picture of the woman in red.


    It was then that Qi Xin noticed the picture.


    His face paled and he said in a hoarse voice, ¡°It¡¯s her, the one I saw!


    Her outfit and appearance are exactly the same!


    There¡¯s no mistake, could this place be her¡­


    lair?¡± After speaking, he looked around with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°Did you just realise this?¡± Xun Jiasheng responded with foresight, ¡°I¡¯ve already mentioned this to some people a while ago, but unfortunately some people simply didn¡¯t believe.¡±


    Jin Xin¡¯s face changed slightly.


    He was generally fearless, but this situation was simply too bizarre.


    Even he couldn¡¯t help but feel hesitant and didn¡¯t counter Xun Jiasheng.


    Shen Yue pondered for a moment before asking, ¡°Did any of you see the female ghost grabbing Qi Li and Qi Tai?¡±


    Qi Xin shook his head, ¡°Although I didn¡¯t see it firsthand, if it wasn¡¯t the female ghost who took them, how else could they have disappeared?


    Why wouldn¡¯t they answer me when I called out to them?¡±


    Everyone concurred.


    ¡°Are you sure the female ghost passed through the wall?¡± Shen Yue asked in detail.


    Xun Jiasheng looked impatient and wondered why such a simple thing was being questioned.


    Haven¡¯t they seen a ghost movie before?


    They say that movies reflect and exaggerate real life, so the supernatural powers of ghosts portrayed in films aren¡¯t all made up!


    Isn¡¯t it normal for ghosts to pass through walls?


    However, Tie Zheng seriously replied, ¡°Advisor Shen, I know what you¡¯re asking.


    I¡¯ve also encountered people who¡¯ve tried to trick me before, but this time it¡¯s definitely not one of those cases!¡± He then added solemnly, ¡°I saw the female ghost pass through the wall with my own eyes.


    I checked to that wall closely, suspecting that something was not right with it.


    Since I¡¯m quite experienced, I knew after checking that the wall was definitely solid!¡±


    Qi Xin added, ¡°I also smashed the wall for quite a while but didn¡¯t feel anything amiss.¡±


    Everyone looked at each other, feeling that the circumstance was beyond comprehension.


    Xun Jiasheng, however, didn¡¯t find it peculiar and thought to himself, ¡°The woman in red is an extraordinarily powerful ghost.


    Shen Yue, do you think she is performing magic tricks?¡±


    ¡°So what happened next?


    Old man, did you end up here then?¡± Shen Yue asked again.


    ¡°That¡¯s not how it went.¡± Tie Zheng shook his head, ¡°At that moment, we hadn¡¯t yet heard the singing, but we encountered something even stranger.¡±


    ¡°What was it?¡±


    Tie Zheng¡¯s face changed slightly, as if he still felt somewhat fearful, ¡°We naturally didn¡¯t want to stay after encountering such an eerie event.


    While it¡¯s understandable that Qi Xin was desperate to find his brother, however¡­¡± He glanced at Feng Jingye.


    Feng Jingye felt rather uncomfortable and suddenly said loudly, ¡°But ultimately, there was no need for us to risk our lives.¡±


    Although his words were somewhat unpleasant, they were justified.


    In times of crisis, each one fends for themselves.


    Everyone and the security personnel from the Qi family had only just met.


    It was kind to help him search for his brother, and nothing wrong with not doing so either.


    Qi Xin responded coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t blame you for anything.¡±


    Feng Jingye shivered at Qi Xin¡¯s unwelcoming tone and didn¡¯t say any more.


    Tie Zheng continued, ¡°Then, Tie Wa and I continued helping Qi Xin look for his brothers, while President Feng and President Zhou went back the way they came to see if the elevator was fixed.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu had been listening to the story as if it were a ghost tale.


    At this point, her expression seemed a bit strange.


    She remembered having tried to retreat, realising there was no button on this side.


    How could they have gone back to the elevator?


    Sure enough, Tie Zheng said, ¡°Unexpectedly, when President Feng and President Zhou returned, they both looked unhappy, saying that they couldn¡¯t get back to where the elevator was.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Hai Mingzhu exclaimed loudly, ¡°This side lacks buttons, making it impossible to enter that door.¡±


    Tie Zheng shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not like that.


    How could that be considered strange then?


    You have to know, when we saw that there were no buttons on this side, we used a stick to keep the elevator open.¡±


    The old ones are always smarter.


    Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help but admire that these people had so much experience.


    She had thought about her escape route earlier, but didn¡¯t have a stick to use.


    Tie Zheng then explained, ¡°As an old man, I like to play with a three-section staff made of flexible steel, which I usually wear around my waist as a belt.


    Now, none of its sections are left.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu thought it over and realised he was right.


    They had passed through three doors and this old man was quite cunning.


    He had used the staff to keep each door open.


    ¡°But when President Feng and President Zhou came back, they told us that not only was the staff gone, but the door was also missing,¡± Tie Zheng said, his face as frosty as ever.


    ¡°Old man, what do you mean by this?¡± Shen Yue asked hesitantly.


    ¡°The door where the staff was placed ¨C it was as if it never existed!¡± Tie Zheng said coldly, ¡°I checked carefully.


    I couldn¡¯t find any empty space at all!¡±


    Shen Yue raised an eyebrow and looked toward the direction they had come from.


    Tie Zheng guessed what he was thinking and slowly said, ¡°The situation with your exit route is probably exactly the same!¡±


    Shen Yue wanted to go and see for himself but ultimately held back, murmuring, ¡°And then you found Qi Xin again, heard the singing, and arrived here?¡±


    Tie Zheng nodded, ¡°That¡¯s what happened.¡±


    The crowd fell silent.


    For a moment, everyone felt helpless and didn¡¯t know what to do next.


    ¡°This is a ghost casting an illusion.


    The ghost is casting an illusion,¡± Xun Jiasheng said, trying to showcase his extensive knowledge, even though he was scared, ¡°This is exactly how a ghost casting an illusion behaves in legends!¡±


    Everyone present was modern.


    Although they knew more or less that a ¡®ghost casting an illusion¡¯ referred to a phenomenon where a ghost uses a trick to lead a person around in circles endlessly, making them lose their way.


    After listening to Xun Jiasheng¡¯s explanation, everyone felt that his words made sense.


    ¡°What is the objective of this female ghost doing this?¡± Xun Jiasheng asked courageously, ¡°We must figure this out first.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Feng Jingye asked involuntarily.


    ¡°Usually, the main reason ghosts refuse to reincarnate is because of unfulfilled desires,¡± Xun Jiasheng, who had extensive knowledge of ¡®ghost studies¡¯ but not of science, explained, ¡°What if we could help her fulfill her desire?


    She might stop harming us, right?¡±


    Feng Jingye and Zhou Dewei looked at each other, as though considering the idea.


    Even Tie Zheng was unsure.


    Hai Mingzhu nodded repeatedly.


    She thought that low-quality horror films relied solely on shock value, exploiting blood and sound effects for scares, while the best ones helped ghosts realise their desires.


    Xun Jiasheng was a detestable person, but what she said made sense.


    Qi Xin suddenly said coldly, ¡°I think we should first find out the purpose of Titan Corporation!¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Xun Jiasheng asked, clearly perplexed, ¡°It was the ghost who took your brother, not someone from Titan Corporation.¡±


    Qi Xin stated firmly, ¡°There¡¯s a great possibility that the red-dressed female ghost took my brothers, but was the elevator also built by ghosts?


    Is it a coincidence that we stopped exactly on the 13th floor?


    Haven¡¯t you ever thought, while we were going downstairs and ended up here, was this the ghost¡¯s idea, or was it Titan Corporation¡¯s idea?¡±


    Everyone looked at each other and suddenly realised that Qi Xin¡¯s words had profound implications.


    A cold wind blew at that moment, sending chills down everyone¡¯s spines.

 Chapter 30 - 30 Plot 30 A Premeditated Trap

    ?30: Plot 30: A Premeditated Trap 30: Plot 30: A Premeditated Trap Xun Jiasheng was somewhat displeased by Qi Xin¡¯s questioning of his expertise, he said, ¡°What does this have to do with Giant Industries?¡± He was well-versed in matters of the supernatural, but when it came to people, he was a bit confused.


    Tie Zheng spoke in a deep voice, ¡°You mean we¡¯re here because someone meticulously arranged it, Qi Xin?¡±


    Qi Xin clenched his fists, ¡°I have felt for a while that something is amiss.


    When have you ever heard of a company scheduling interviews at 8 in the night?


    Moreover,¡± Qi Xin glanced at everyone before adding, ¡°We¡¯ve already signed the death contract, it¡¯s effective immediately.


    Whether we live or die or disappear, even if our relatives reported us missing, as of now, Giant Industries holds the contract that can absolve them of any relation to us.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng eventually fell silent, his face betraying a sense of dread.


    He quickly understood the gravity of the situation as it pertained to him personally.


    The more Hai Mingzhu thought about it, the colder she felt.


    It¡¯s as if she had fallen into a gigantic trap!


    Despite not wanting to provoke Qi Xin, Feng Jingye couldn¡¯t help but interject at this point, ¡°So you¡¯re saying that Giant Industries intentionally sent us here?¡±


    Qi Xin grunted coldly and didn¡¯t respond, probably bearing a grudge because Feng Jingye was unwilling to help find his brothers.


    While swallowing hard, Feng Jingye asked, ¡°Why would they do this?


    We¡¯ve done nothing to offend them.¡±


    Qi Xin still didn¡¯t respond.


    Tie Zheng broke the silence, ¡°Qi Xin, we are all in the same boat right now.


    If the boat capsizes, it won¡¯t do anyone good.


    We¡¯re also worried about your missing brother.


    If there¡¯s any way to save him, I swear to God, I won¡¯t stand back and do nothing.¡± After his declaration, he patted his chest.


    Qi Xin seemed to feel Tie Zheng¡¯s sincerity and sighed, ¡°Thank you, old man.¡± He knew the importance of unity in a crisis, so he set aside his anger, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to mention this initially, because it would only make everyone more confused.¡±


    We would¡¯ve been more panicked if you hadn¡¯t said anything, Feng Jingye muttered mentally.


    Qi Xin remained silent for a while, finally revealing the mystery, ¡°Have you ever heard of people nurturing little ghosts?¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Xun Jiasheng never passed up an opportunity to show off his knowledge, having realized that the most critical individuals would be the ones to survive in such a bizarre situation.


    ¡°It¡¯s a custom brought up in Siam¡­


    The belief is that if a stillborn child is nurtured with a specific ritual and then kept close by, one¡¯s every wish can be fulfilled, and their business will prosper.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve been nurturing quite a few little ghosts to fuel your booming business?¡± Jin Xin tried to poke at Xun Jiasheng again.


    Xun Jiasheng glared coldly at Jin Xin, ¡°This is a conversation between professionals, if you don¡¯t want to listen, you don¡¯t have to.¡± His implication was clear: he didn¡¯t charge for sharing these profound insights, and Jin Xin shouldn¡¯t presume to overstep.


    Jin Xin smirked mockingly but said nothing more.


    Tie Zheng nodded slightly, ¡°I¡¯ve heard the same thing too.


    However, I¡¯d advise against engaging in such things.


    After all, it is morally wrong, and there¡¯s a risk of being devoured by the little ghosts.¡±


    ¡°I guess that¡¯s why Giant Industries brought us here, they¡¯re afraid of being devoured by malicious spirits.¡± Qi Xin said word by word.


    Everyone felt a chill run down their spines.


    Many simply couldn¡¯t understand what he meant.


    Hai Mingzhu, having much experience from watching ghost movies, was one of the first to grasp the meaning, ¡°You mean, Giant Industries nurtured many ghosts on the thirteenth floor for their business success, and we¡­¡± she said, shaking slightly, ¡°We¡¯re here to¡­


    feed them?¡±


    Her words hung in the air, changing the expressions of everyone present.


    They were all aware of what it took to feed a little ghost.


    It required human blood!


    Everyone present had heard the story of Giant Industries¡¯ rise to fame.


    This place used to be teeming with floating spirits and lost souls.


    It was Giant Li who chose to build this tower here, and people doubted him, only to see his business thrive to global eminence after the completion of the tower. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Those stories intrigued everyone, making them marvel at Giant Li¡¯s choices.


    Some people said that Giant Li owed his success to renowned foreign Feng Shui masters who helped design the building in such a way that ghosts got settled here, turning his failing fortune around.


    Who would have thought that they weren¡¯t taming the ghosts, but nurturing them!


    Today when some female celebrities are rumored to be nurturing little ghosts for their success, Giant Li was nurturing an immensely powerful female ghost!


    The person who nurtures little ghosts needs to supply fresh blood.


    Nurturing a massive female ghost would require much more.


    This mass influx of people was probably to feed the ghosts.


    The reason why rumors were prevalent about the haunted thirteenth floor of the Giant Building, and people were continuously disappearing, was because there truly was a ghost present.


    The disappearance of two of Qi Xin¡¯s brothers could only mean one thing ¨C they were captured by the ghost and slowly devoured.


    The reason Giant Industries gathered so many people at night became clear ¨C surely the female ghost slept during the daytime.


    Giant Industries acted cunningly, using large sums of money to lure many to sign the death contracts; if they died, nobody would cash the checks.


    It turns out that Giant Industries wouldn¡¯t have to spend a penny.


    The check would require going to a bank, but the banks wouldn¡¯t open till morning, by which time they¡¯d have been long gone.


    No one spoke, but thanks to Qi Xin and Hai Mingzhu¡¯s explanations, everyone started to understand as these thoughts kept spinning in their heads.


    Xun Jiasheng looked as pale as a sheet, as if the female ghost had already drained his blood.


    Suddenly, he asked, ¡°Any idea how long a single man could satisfy a female ghost¡¯s hunger?¡±


    His sudden question startled many, but most of them quickly grasped the implications.


    The current calmness was because the female ghost had already had her fill by capturing two of Qi Xin¡¯s brothers.


    However, there would come a time when she would get hungry again, and when she did, that would spell their doom!


    Qi Xin shot a fierce glare at Xun Jiasheng, who retorted, ¡°Why are you glaring at me?


    We need to face the reality!¡± Just then, the sound of music began to play abruptly.


    Xun Jiasheng, high-strung as he was, jumped and turned towards the gramophone, shouting, ¡°The ghost is back!¡±


    The music played, and a song began to blare!


    After we part tonight,


    When will we meet again?


    The heavenly clock ticks incessantly,


    And the good times do not return.


    Most people there were caught up in the panic induced by Xun Jiasheng and waited nervously.


    Only Shen Yue walked up to the gramophone and turned it off.


    ¡°It must be Manager Song turning on the gramophone,¡± Shen Yue suggested, though he hadn¡¯t seen it happen.


    ¡°Did you witness it?¡± Xun Jiasheng regained his composure and instantly doubted him, convinced that the female ghost returned to enjoy her music and noticed that Manager Song seemed a bit too mesmerized.


    Throughout everything, Zhou Dewei hadn¡¯t said a word.


    The song had initially unnerved him, but he quickly recovered his composure.


    His eyes gleamed briefly as he walked up to the gramophone and murmured to himself.


    Noticing his reaction, Shen Yue immediately asked, ¡°Zhou, did you notice something?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± After a pause, Zhou Dewei hesitantly expressed, ¡°I think I recognize this gramophone.¡±


    Everyone gathered around the gramophone in surprise.


    The gramophone, after all, was a product of the last century, popular for a while, but now mostly found in antique stores.


    Nobody expected Zhou Dewei to recognize one.¡±


    Regaining his enthusiasm, Xun Jiasheng said, ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re saying you recognise the ghost?


    Are you related to her, by any chance?¡±

 Chapter 31 - 31 Article 31 Identity Disclosure

    ?31: Article 31 Identity Disclosure 31: Article 31 Identity Disclosure Xun Jiasheng¡¯s presumptuous conjecture made Zhou Dewei somewhat displeased.


    However, Zhou Dewei appeared to be very patient and didn¡¯t get angry.


    Instead, he just shook his head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know any female ghost, and am not a relative of any female ghost.


    I only know this gramophone.¡±


    Seeing everyone¡¯s anticipation, Zhou Dewei didn¡¯t hesitate to reveal, ¡°My family used to run an antique business, and it wasn¡¯t until my generation that we switched to security.


    The pressure in the antique business is considerable, sometimes even leading to bankruptcy, and occasionally, even to sacrifice one¡¯s own life.¡±


    ¡°Your eyes seem fine to me,¡± Xun Jiasheng interjected.


    Jin Xin couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Not only did you ¡®lose sight¡¯, you also offended.¡±


    At a loss about Jin Xin¡¯s meaning, Zhou Dewei clarified with a smile, ¡°When one speaks of ¡®losing sight¡¯ in the antique business, it means they have misjudged the value of an antique, not that they¡¯re blind.¡±


    Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Xun Jiasheng felt his ignorance was showing.


    Zhou Dewei then added, ¡°My ancestors deemed the antique business too dangerous which is why they didn¡¯t let me take it over and made me switch to security instead.¡± He revealed this with a bitter smile.


    Upon hearing this, everyone understood Zhou Dewei¡¯s predicament ¡ª no one could have anticipated that the security field would also bring life-threatening situations!


    It seemed that certain things were indeed predestined.


    Shaking his head to dispel stray thoughts, Zhou Dewei shifted the focus back to the matter at hand, ¡°Due to my family¡¯s background, I do have some understanding of antiques.


    The gramophone was mass-produced over 100 years ago, so it isn¡¯t a valuable item.¡±


    Someone thought to themselves, ¡®He¡¯s correct.


    If it was an artifact from 200 years ago, now that would be worth some money.


    Gramophones didn¡¯t even exist at that time!


    If one appeared, it would be a ghost¡¯s work!¡¯ However, everyone was more concerned about the origination of the gramophone than nitpicking over the details, and they listened attentively.


    ¡°But there is something special about this gramophone, and if taken to the market, it would definitely fetch a high price.¡± Zhou Dewei carefully examined the gramophone, treating it as one would a beautiful painting, ¡°This gramophone was produced about 80-90 years ago by the Sonora Company,¡± pointing towards a spot on the base of the gramophone.


    People leaned in closer and saw a somewhat blurry ¡°Sonora¡± badge on the base.


    Everyone was unfamiliar with this company and couldn¡¯t care less about it as they were more curious about the relationship between the gramophone and the ghost.


    Zhou Dewei noticed this and clarified, ¡°This company has high standards for their sound quality.


    They claim Sonora can produce true woody sounds, hence the tonearm¡­¡± pointing to the elongated component on the gramophone, ¡°is made of wood.


    This fact alone makes it extremely rare and valuable.


    Despite its slight volume, it emits a mesmerizing sound.¡±


    Seeing the blank expressions of those around him, Zhou Dewei further elucidated, ¡°I digressed a bit due to habit.


    Although Sonora gramophones are excellent, this particular gramophone¡¯s true attraction lies not in the device itself but in the material it¡¯s made of.


    This gramophone is made from authentic small leaf red sandalwood.¡±


    After a pause, although it seemed irrelevant, Zhou Dewei still felt the need to explain, ¡°Authentic top-quality red sandalwood all grow in the wild and are at least 800 years old.


    Judging from this piece¡¯s appearance, it should indeed be made of top-quality red sandalwood.¡±


    ¡°So it must be extremely valuable?


    There couldn¡¯t have been many people who could afford it 80-90 years ago,¡± Shen Yue hit the nail on the head.


    Caught off guard, Zhou Dewei also agreed, ¡°Yes, from what I know, the value of this type of red sandalwood far exceeds that of the gramophone.


    In the era I¡¯m speaking of, rumor has it that only one of these gramophones was imported and was purchased by an extremely influential individual.¡± He mentioned a name that everyone recognized because this person was incredibly famous, a man who held sway back in the day.


    ¡°Moreover, as far as I know, this influential individual bought this gramophone to gift to a woman.


    He believed that only the bewitching sound quality of this gramophone could match the woman¡¯s allure.


    The woman was a courtesan, and we can refer to this woman as Butterfly.¡±


    Everyone was unfamiliar with the name Butterfly, but they understood some of the backstory.


    Xun Jiasheng was the first to ask, ¡°Are you saying that the woman in the picture is Butterfly?¡±


    Zhou Dewei shook his head, ¡°I didn¡¯t say that.


    I have never seen Butterfly. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I only know of such a woman who used this kind of gramophone.


    As for the rest, I do not know.¡±


    Looking at everyone, Zhou Dewei sincerely stated, ¡°I am not withholding any information.


    It¡¯s just that the current situation seems a bit dangerous and I don¡¯t want to create any misunderstandings among you.


    I can only speak about what I know, and I can¡¯t speculate on what I don¡¯t, isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    With everyone hearing Zhou Dewei¡¯s words, they felt that Zhou Dewei was indeed a responsible person.


    However, Xun Jiasheng wasn¡¯t satisfied and muttered discontentedly, ¡°It¡¯s another unsolved mystery.


    What use is it?


    We still can¡¯t identify the ghost woman¡¯s identity, so we can¡¯t discover her motive!¡±


    ¡°The woman in the picture is Butterfly,¡± a chilling, eerie voice announced.


    Startled, Xun Jiasheng felt the ultrasonic voice which he had never heard before and instinctively assumed it belonged to the ghost.


    He immediately retreated a few steps away from the direction of the voice before turning to look back.


    Nobody paid Xun Jiasheng any attention.


    Instead, they were all focused on Manager Song, their faces showing strange expressions.


    Xun Jiasheng felt odd, wondering why no one else was looking for the ghost.


    However, he quickly understood why when he saw Manager Song address Zhou Dewei in a high-pitched voice, ¡°It¡¯s amazing that Mr.


    Zhou can identify something from so many years ago.


    Your eyesight is indeed exceptional.¡±


    Zhou Dewei¡¯s eyelids twitched suddenly.


    Xun Jiasheng¡¯s face also turned sour once he realized that the voice he originally heard actually belonged to Manager Song.


    At that moment, Manager Song appeared very bizarre, leaning sideways against the desk with his arm supporting his cheek, a pose eerily similar to that of a courtesan chatting with a client in the old days.


    This pose should have accentuated a woman¡¯s allure and figure.


    However, it seemed incredibly awkward when seen on Manager Song.


    ¡°You¡¯re not¡­¡± Xun Jiasheng felt like his throat was drying up, and the words ¡°You¡¯re not Manager Song¡± only came out halfway.


    It¡¯s a ghost possession!


    It must be a ghost possession!


    Xun Jiasheng was sure of this.


    Normally, he would be the first to announce such findings to show off his knowledge, but at this moment, he was too scared to speak the truth.


    Not just him, everyone who saw the situation knew something was wrong with Manager Song.


    It appeared as though he had suddenly become a different person.


    ¡°Manager Song¡± looked slowly around at everyone, then in a hair-raising voice, ¡°You¡¯re right, I¡¯m not Manager Song.


    I am Butterfly!¡±


    Everyone immediately retreated, truly shaken.


    Even Tie Zheng retreated a step, pulling Tie Wa back and positioning himself protectively in front of him.


    However, someone took a step forward and asked, ¡°Are you really Butterfly?¡±


    That person was Shen Yue!


    While everyone else backed away, only Shen Yue came forward, his eyes devoid of fear, only flashing with determination.


    ¡°Manager Song¡± slowly stood upright with grace and looked around at the surroundings as if in reminiscence, then with a touch of sorrow, ¡°It seems that not many people remember me after all these years.


    But back then, hardly anyone could forget me.¡± After speaking, he revealed a coquettish smile.


    The sight of ¡°Manager Song¡¯s¡± provocative demeanor only filled everyone with horror.


    The only one who remained calm was Shen Yue who asked, ¡°What¡¯s your purpose for meeting us?¡±

 Chapter 32 - 32 32 Old Love Old Hatred

    ?32: Chapter 32 Old Love, Old Hatred 32: Chapter 32 Old Love, Old Hatred Some people often talk about ghosts to show their bravery, but when they truly encounter a ghost, they often become terrified and run for their lives, much like Ye Gong¡¯s love for dragons.


    Some people seldom mention ¡°ghosts,¡± yet when face with danger, they can still stand brave, because they are truly fearless.


    Shen Yue seems fearless, he was waiting for Butterfly¡¯s answer.


    Hai Mingzhu was watching Shen Yue, and suddenly she felt not scared anymore.


    Initially, when she heard Jin Xin mentioned ¡°handling uncleaned things¡±, she acted as if she was very experienced, but it was only when she was in the situation herself, she realized how terrifying it was.


    But being beside Shen Yue, she suddenly had a feeling that if there was such a man beside you, you would never have to be afraid.


    Manager Song looked at Shen Yue, quietly admiring him: ¡°You do have a man¡¯s spirit.


    If you were in my era, you would without doubt be a remarkable individual.


    But from the way you dressed now, it seems you probably aren¡¯t as fortunate.¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Yue kept calm, ¡°Did you meet us just to have a small talk?¡±


    Manager Song sighed, glanced around and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been here alone for years, whilst small talks happen every day for you, for me it is a rare occasion.¡±


    Everyone thought ¨C of course, all those who could chat with you were eaten by you, naturally, nobody would keep you company.


    ¡°Where is my brother?¡± Qi Xin, seeing the ghost woman hadn¡¯t attacked yet, mustered the courage to ask out of concern for his brother¡¯s safety.


    ¡°Your brother?¡±


    Manager Song smiled slightly: ¡°Let¡¯s not rush to talk about them, I would very much like to tell you about my story.¡±


    Qi Xin seemed to hesitate to step forward.


    He and his two brothers seemed capable, otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have ventured into the dark to look for strange things.


    But while he could handle people, he was clearly incompetent when it came to exorcising ghosts.


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s hear Miss Butterfly¡¯s story first.¡± Xun Jiasheng chimed in as the self-appointed mediator.


    Hai Mingzhu actually agreed with Xun Jiasheng¡¯s suggestion, according to her experience with ghosts, ghosts usually don¡¯t randomly choose someone as their target.


    Everyone has their reason, many ghosts are reasonable.


    As long as you can satisfy the emotional demands of the ghosts, it is possible to move the ghosts and make them let go of their grudges.


    Of course, her experience is from ghost movies.


    Manager Song glanced at Xun Jiasheng and said gently, ¡°This gentleman looks very familiar.¡±


    This was the first time Xun Jiasheng had ever heard someone describe him in this way, he felt somewhat flattered and proudly straightened up and said: ¡°Miss Butterfly, you flatter me.¡±


    Manager Song sighed, ¡°I have met someone who looked a lot like this gentleman.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Xun Jiasheng felt a bit unusual, but looked at Manager Song¡¯s greasy middle-aged uncle face, didn¡¯t have any weird thoughts after all.


    ¡°I used to know a lot of men.¡±


    Manager Song spoke in a melancholic way and soon fell into her past: ¡°Back then, I was said to be the most beautiful woman of that era.¡±


    Without looking at Manager Song, everyone gazed at the woman in the photo frame.


    The photo was already yellow and old, but could not hide the charms of the beautiful woman.


    Everyone may have their own definition of beauty, this woman named Butterfly might not be innocent, but she was undoubtedly the type of woman that attracted adult men.


    ¡°But regardless of how beautiful a woman is, deep down, she still wants a man to lean on, and I¡¯m no exception¡±


    Manager Song lightly tipped at her temple, making everyone feel uncomfortable.


    But those who understood knew that women love to play with their hair to show their beauty.


    At this moment, Manager Song was no longer Manager Song, he was that woman called Butterfly!


    ¡°I met a man that I fell for.


    He was very handsome, just like this gentleman right here.¡± After that, Manager Song pointed at Xun Jiasheng.


    Everyone was stunned, secretly wondering if Butterfly was blind in the past?


    We could have agreed if you had pointed at Shen Yue, albeit quiet, Shen Yue was undeniably good-looking.


    But how could you describe Xun Jiasheng as handsome?


    Xun Jiasheng is a man, true, but if we were to describe, wouldn¡¯t ¡®ugly¡¯ be more fitting?


    Even Xun Jiasheng was surprised, shortly, he thought, the saying beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, could it be that this female ghost likes me?


    Thinking of this, he became uncertain whether he should be surprised or joyful.


    ¡°Although I had many suitors, I soon married the man who I had given my heart to.¡±


    Manager Song recalled the past and said softly, ¡°He wasn¡¯t the most outstanding among the many men I¡¯ve known.


    In fact, he could even be considered mediocre.


    But he told me all the things I wanted to hear, and I really wanted to listen to it for the rest of my life until I grow old.¡±


    The hall was silent.


    Everyone felt that the female ghost seemed a little self-absorbed, but they didn¡¯t want to interrupt the ghost¡¯s memories.


    Provoking the anger of a ghost was not fun.


    Besides, everyone thought similarly to Hai Mingzhu, that they had to get to the root cause of the ghost problem in order to solve it.


    ¡°But unfortunately, life is full of uncertainties, the invaders came and disturbed my peaceful life.¡±


    Manager Song frowned and said in disgust, ¡°They looted and killed everywhere they went.


    When they found out about my reputation, they actually proposed to cooperate with me.¡±


    Cooperate with you?


    Everyone was puzzled, wondering what those murderous invaders could cooperate with this woman on?


    ¡°You probably don¡¯t know yet¡­¡±


    Manager Song said somewhat proudly, ¡°I was very famous back then, I even made a movie.


    Not many people didn¡¯t know about me.


    The invaders wanted to use my influence to promote their deeds.¡±


    Zhou Dewei knew about these past events and said, ¡°At that time, the movie you played was a story with a general, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°It seems there are people who know about it.¡± Manager Song smiled slightly, feeling relieved.


    Zhou Dewei looked suspicious.


    He knew about the past story of the gramophone, naturally, he knew what happened related to the gramophone.


    He had heard many supernatural stories from the older generation, but today was his first time encountering a ghost.


    What Manager Song described about the past was no different from what he heard.


    He couldn¡¯t help but wonder, whether this ghost is Butterfly is not a question, but what is her purpose in talking about the past?


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to cooperate with the invaders.¡± With a sigh, Manager Song frowned and said, ¡°I heard those people were devils and capable of all manner of wicked deeds.


    On one hand, I knew that cooperating with them would violate the righteousness, and on the other hand, I knew that to work with the invaders was like seeking a tiger¡¯s skin, so out of fear, I wanted to flee to Hongkong.¡±


    Everyone nodded, knowing Hongkong was a haven for refugees during those tumultuous times.


    Hongkong was nearby the city, because of its proximity to the sea and the convenience of shipping, it was occupied by foreigners.


    ¡°Blossoms meet harsh weather.¡± Her tone suddenly turned cold, Manager Song said with resentment: ¡°On the way to escape, my husband and I ran into three bandits who looted all of our money and belongings.


    And they insulted me with their nasty words.¡±


    ¡°Those bandits are indeed detestable.¡± Xun Jiasheng went along with the ghost¡¯s tone.


    Thinking silently to himself, not to offend others without provocation, perhaps by complying with your intentions as much as possible, you wouldn¡¯t harm me, right?


    Seeing the ghost silent, Xun Jiasheng asked, ¡°Was the money recovered?¡±


    ¡°The money cannot be recovered.¡±


    Manager Song¡¯s eyes were rolling over everyone, ¡°But I remember a slogan said frequently by those three bandits, I have never forgotten it.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the slogan?¡± Xun Jiasheng asked curiously.


    ¡°With combined willpower, even Mt.


    Tai can be moved.¡±


    After the ghost lady uttered these six words, the hall abruptly went silent, everyone¡¯s gaze fell on one person!

 Chapter 33 - 33 33rd - The Mindset of a Big Shot

    ?33: 33rd Chapter ¨C The Mindset of a Big Shot 33: 33rd Chapter ¨C The Mindset of a Big Shot Everyone was looking at Qi Xin, the security officer from the Qi family, their expressions a mixture of surprise, realization, and suspicion¡­


    Qi Xin, startled and angry upon seeing everyone¡¯s gaze on him, blurted out, ¡°What are you doing?


    You can¡¯t possibly suspect me¡­


    You don¡¯t think I¡¯m one of those three robbers, do you?!¡±


    Exactly, that¡¯s what everyone else was thinking.


    Iniquities have origins, and debts have debtors.


    Everyone somewhat believed that the female ghost was now reasonable¡ªa female ghost who could tell right from wrong.


    If so, listening to the female ghost speak about the past and helping her fulfill her wishes might be the key.


    If the female ghost¡¯s mood improved, perhaps she would move on¡ª and then they would be safe.


    The female ghost clung desperately to the past, adamant about sharing her story.


    Without doubt, her past was filled with resentment that needed to be resolved.


    The common slogan amongst the three robbers was¡ª solidarity of heart, move mountains.


    Coincidentally, the three brothers in Qi family¡¯s security team were named Qi Xin, Qi Li, and Qi Tai.


    Such a coincidence inevitably led people to associate the three robbers with Qi Xin.


    Xun Jiasheng especially believed¡ª no wonder the female ghost didn¡¯t go after anyone else, but she caught your two brothers, Qi Li and Qi Tai first.


    ¡°Miss Butterfly, are you seeking revenge on those three robbers?¡± Xun Jiasheng asked meaningfully.


    ¡°That would naturally be ideal!¡±


    Once the female ghost said this, Qi Xin noticed the malicious looks everyone was giving him.


    He stepped back and barked, ¡°Are you all enchanted by the ghost?


    I wasn¡¯t even born then!¡±


    ¡°Maybe your ancestors were involved, or maybe you¡¯re the one who reincarnated from the robbers.¡± Xun Jiasheng strongly believed that the female ghost was seeking revenge on the three brothers.


    As for the others, they were simply caught in the crossfire.


    Feng Jingye chimed in: ¡°Iniquities have origins, debts have debtors.


    One should be responsible for one¡¯s actions, shouldn¡¯t they?¡± Besides Xun Jiasheng, none of the others uttered a word.


    Qi Xin retreated a few more steps, leaning against the wall, he laughed coldly, ¡°I¡¯ve never been involved in this female ghost¡¯s affairs, nor do I have any relevance to her past.


    Just because the robbers¡¯ slogan is related to our names, you assume that I am one of the robbers?


    It¡¯s ludicrous!


    I know you all don¡¯t care about the truth.


    You just want to sacrifice me to the ghost in order to save yourselves.¡±


    Feng Jingye looked awkward, for he indeed imagined such a thing.


    Qi Xin was already perspiring, but he wasn¡¯t going to surrender.


    He yelled, ¡°If you are shameless, don¡¯t wrong me.


    Come on, if you dare, know that even if I die, I will take some of you with me.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng and Feng Jingye glanced at each other, both were visibly hesitant.


    They knew that Qi Xin, lean and strong, was not to be underestimated.


    As executives, they were not accustomed to physical confrontations.


    Even together, they might not be a match for him.


    Tie Zheng stepped forward, Qi Xin looked stern, knowing that the old man would not be easy to deal with.


    However, Tie Zheng sighed, ¡°Mr.


    Qi, don¡¯t be like this.


    No one has accused you of being that robber, not even Miss Butterfly, right?¡±


    ¡°Manager Song¡± remained silent.


    Tie Zheng continued, ¡°Can we just listen to Miss Butterfly for now?


    These things happened a long time ago, how could they be attributed to you?¡±


    Upon hearing Tie Zheng¡¯s reasonable words, Qi Xin slightly relaxed.


    ¡°Manager Song¡± said softly, ¡°For you, it may have been a long time ago, but for me, it feels like it was just yesterday.


    My belongings were completely plundered, leaving me stranded.


    Fortunately, I soon met a certain person of great importance.¡±


    Seeing that the female ghost was not in a hurry for revenge and was continuing her story, Xun Jiasheng interjected awkwardly, ¡°That person of great importance is the one who gave you the gramophone, right?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Manager Song recalled: ¡°That important person had heard of my reputation long before and had always wanted to meet me, but he never had the opportunity.


    As fate would have it, when he finally met me, he naturally couldn¡¯t miss the chance and invited me to visit his territory.


    At that time, my husband and I were at a dead end.


    Seeing the sincerity of this important person, we accepted his invitation.¡±


    Everyone knew the past of that important person, knowing that he was a scheming, ruthless person.


    They thought, you believe that¡¯s kindness?


    Not likely, that man has motives beyond his open courtesies.


    The room became silent.


    To lighten up the atmosphere, ¡°Manager Song¡± walked to the gramophone and started playing the records again.


    The sound of music filled the room, spilling into the distant darkness.


    If Manager Song had done this, Xun Jiasheng would have been the first to scold him.


    But as the female ghost was doing so, Xun Jiasheng praised, ¡°Miss Butterfly must really like this song, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I do.


    This song is my favorite.


    It¡¯s called ¡®When Will You Come Again?''¡±


    As ¡°Manager Song¡± explained, she murmured, ¡°Over these years, I¡¯ve been waiting for someone to come.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng couldn¡¯t help but glance at Qi Xin, who returned his look with a cold smirk without showing any fear.


    ¡°That important person was very polite to my husband and me.


    After understanding that I was robbed, he surprisingly purchased new items for me according to the list I provided.


    I was really grateful to him at that time.¡±


    Tie Zheng reminded her instinctively, ¡°A man won¡¯t just please a woman for nothing, girl, you should be careful.¡±


    ¡°Manager Song¡± glanced at Tie Zheng, her response was full of charm, ¡°Thank you for your concern, old sir.


    I knew it at the time, but there wasn¡¯t much else I could do.¡±


    She sighed sadly, ¡°Manager Song¡± muttered, ¡°People often say that a beauty brings disasters, but being pretty should not be a sin, should it?¡±


    Tie Zheng remained silent.


    ¡°I used to hope that I could live a peaceful life thereafter, but unintended incidents always seemed to follow me.¡±


    ¡°Manager Song¡± continued to reminisce: ¡°One day, my husband was suddenly arrested.


    The charge was the illegal possession of firearms, punishable by death.


    When I went to see my husband, he told me to plead with the important person.


    He said that at the moment, only the important man could save his life.


    For the sake of my husband, I had no choice but to plead.


    But I didn¡¯t have much of a connection with the important person, and pleading with him would require a price.


    My price was¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t continue, but everyone understood implicitly.


    Zhou Dewei thought¡ªaccording to historical records and later speculation, the arrest and the execution of Butterfly¡¯s husband was orchestrated by that important person.


    And that important person was also after Butterfly¡¯s beauty.


    ¡°After that incident, my husband didn¡¯t stay.


    The important person gave him money to start a business.


    My husband couldn¡¯t bear to say goodbye to me, but in the end, he still left.


    He was helpless too, promising that we would meet again.¡±


    Everyone shook their heads secretly, thinking, with that important person around, how could he let you go?


    Your husband probably knew better and decided that the further he ran, the safer he would be.


    ¡°Manager Song¡± sighed softly, ¡°At that time, I had resigned myself to my fate, thinking that I was maybe a bringer of disasters.


    But later, I found out that everything wasn¡¯t a matter of fate, but someone¡¯s manipulation!¡±


    ¡°Who was manipulating things?¡± Xun Jiasheng asked, even though he had already guessed the answer. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a long silence, ¡°Manager Song¡± finally revealed the truth, ¡°I accidentally saw those three robbers reporting to the important person, and realized that those robbers were also sent by the important man.¡±


    A cold gust swept through the silent room.


    Immersed in the desolate melody, everyone couldn¡¯t help but shiver, suddenly realizing¡ª although ghosts might be terrifying, human hearts can be even more horrifying indeed!

 Chapter 34 - 34 Lesson 34 Finally Ive Been Waiting For You

    ?34: Lesson 34: Finally, I¡¯ve Been Waiting For You 34: Lesson 34: Finally, I¡¯ve Been Waiting For You The female ghost narrated her story in a roundabout way, vaguely brushing past some details.


    Still, everyone listening to her got a clear picture from the clues she gave.


    Miss Butterfly¡¯s destiny had always been manipulated by powerful people.


    Butterfly was once a renowned woman.


    The powerful ones idolized her for a long time but did not have any opportunity to approach her.


    The opportunity, however, could be construed.


    So, the influential figure behind this hired three robbers to plunder Butterfly and her husband, and then he would appear as the knight in shining armor.


    Butterfly was very fond of her husband, so this influential figured devised another strategy to drive him away, leaving Butterfly without any protection, which inescapably bonded her to him.


    The skillful manipulation was nothing more than a leisure activity for such powerful people. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Perhaps the ghost was not waiting for a robber, but a powerful figure?


    Xun Jiasheng, fully aware that he was still in danger, was racking his brains to figure out the possible explanation of this spooky incident.


    Manager Song, enraptured by the singing, hummed along to the lyrics.


    When the verse ¡°Life is rarely drunken.


    What¡¯s the point of discontent?¡± played, he finally said, ¡°Life is as the song describes, and being content is all that matters.


    Despite knowing the truth behind all this, I harbor no resentment against them; because I know they genuinely loved me.


    A man using some strategies due to his fondness for a woman hardly seems troubling.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu had been listening to Butterfly¡¯s situation all along.


    At first, she felt sympathetic towards the woman, but upon hearing this, she disapproved.


    She perceived that Butterfly¡¯s values were somewhat skewed ¨C does liking someone justify any crime, even murder or arson?


    She sneakily glanced at Shen Yue, curious about his stance on the matter, only to find him fiddling with his phone, seemingly lost in thought, as if he hadn¡¯t paid attention to Butterfly¡¯s words at all.


    As for Jin Xin, he was stationed by the door of the hall, observing the people present more than the female ghost.


    What were they up to?


    Hai Mingzhu sensed something was off and decided to keep a closer eye on Shen Yue and Jin Xin.


    ¡°He truly cared for me.


    He brought me a Sonora phonograph made of small Rosewood from abroad because of my fondness for music.


    When I lost my appetite, he would go out of his way and even cook for me; if I ever needed a change of scenery, he would take me on trips¡­¡±


    Manager Song, as he reminisced about the past, not without a hint of nostalgia said, ¡°Having a man who cares about you so much should be enough.


    Despite my longing for my husband, I couldn¡¯t leave the influential figure.¡±


    At this point, Hai Mingzhu shook her head in disbelief, unable to comprehend Butterfly¡¯s mindset.


    To her, one cannot be in love and still be so indecisive, vacillating between two individuals.


    Xun Jiasheng, meanwhile, was thinking ¨C Why do you keep thinking about your deceased husband when you have a powerful person supporting you?


    ¡°But things hardly go as planned,¡± warned Manager Song.


    Despite his power and influence, he couldn¡¯t escape fate.


    He had promised to marry me but died in a plane crash a few days before the wedding.¡±


    The people present knew about this influential figure who was quite famous.


    Those who were familiar with the historical facts recognized that he indeed met such an unfortunate end, leaving them all in a state of shock.


    ¡°Although he seized me by crooked means, I realized his genuineness.


    When he passed, I felt heartbroken but did not resent him.


    The grievances of the past should be left in the past.¡±


    The listeners found this to be the most comforting statement, leading them to agree, ¡°Yes, let¡¯s leave all the past unpleasantness behind.¡± At the same time, they wondered why she lured them here if she held such a view.


    ¡°After the influential figure died, I had no choice but to leave.


    My husband, after making some money from small business ventures funded by the influential figure, had been fretting about me throughout.


    He occasionally sent me letters discreetly, leaving behind his address, hoping I would find him.


    Consequently, I decided to find him.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng thought to himself ¨C Ah, women and their fickleness!


    Had you decided to do so when you had someone looking after you?


    ¡°However, when I found my husband after a great deal of hardship, he was a bit surprised.


    There was some semblance of joy, but I quickly realized it was all an act.¡±


    She added, with a bitter smile, ¡°It¡¯s always easy for us women to see through men when they change their hearts.¡±


    Manager Song, who up until now had been recounting her story in a languid, romantic tone, noticeably darkened her tone hereafter.


    The listeners, sensing this change, began to feel apprehensive, suspecting that the events from hereon might be the cause of the ghost¡¯s resentment.


    ¡°I thought we should cherish the second chance we got after overcoming numerous hardships together, but my husband didn¡¯t share this happiness.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xun Jiasheng inwardly shook his head, thinking to himself ¨C Of course, you were happy, because you found someone to lean on once again.


    But your man, who had a vast steppe of troubles above his head, couldn¡¯t possibly feel the same joy, could he?


    ¡°My husband always seemed troubled when he was with me.


    Over time, I grasped the root of his worries: the rumors about us.


    Despite it being a small village, people were aware of my past.


    After my return, gossip concerning me became a hot topic.¡±


    Zhou Dewei knew about Butterfly¡¯s illicit connection with that influential figure.


    However, the particulars of Butterfly¡¯s death were clouded in many speculations, making Zhou Dewei curious if her husband had done something immoral afraid of the rumors.


    ¡°My husband¡¯s unhappiness grew by the day.


    Every single time he felt down, I would reassure him that as long as our conscience was clear, we shouldn¡¯t worry about what others thought of us.


    But then¡­he suddenly disappeared.¡±


    The listeners were taken aback by this information.


    Zhou Dewei was particularly surprised and interjected, ¡°So, what did you do then?¡±


    ¡°What could I have done?¡±


    Manager Song appeared stark and fierce.


    ¡°He disappeared, leaving behind a large pool of fresh blood on the bed.


    That same bloody stain you saw on the bed when you arrived is still there!¡± she said, looking at Shen Yue.


    Shen Yue furrowed his brows, while Hai Mingzhu almost screamed out loud.


    On her arrival at this spooky place, she had seen the dark-purple stain on the bed and felt that it was blood, she never thought it would be Butterfly¡¯s husband¡¯s.


    Everyone found this chilling.


    Tie Zheng, being a savvy individual, knew what the customs of that time entailed.


    He coughed and said, ¡°With these circumstances, it seems that things have taken a turn for the worst for you.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, my husband¡¯s sudden disappearance, on top of that, a massive bloodstain on the bed and scathing rumors put me in a dire situation.


    The police, naturally, assumed me a disloyal wife who killed her husband out of greed.


    Adding to the fueI, the ignorant public instigated the police to submerge me in a cage and drown me.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng shuddered to note how coldly Butterfly delivered this part of her story.


    Her stern gaze fixated on him the entire time, so he felt the urge to speak in her defense, ¡°Miss Butterfly, your death was in grave injustice; we will do everything we can to avenge you.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡±


    When Xun Jiasheng heard Butterfly refuse, he was astonished.


    Just as he was about to ask her why, she said with crystal clarity: ¡°Hu Jiasheng, I¡¯ve been waiting for you to arrive!¡±

 Chapter 35 - 35 35th section Difficult to distinguish between true and false

    ?35: 35th section: Difficult to distinguish between true and false 35: 35th section: Difficult to distinguish between true and false Hu Jiasheng, I¡¯ve been waiting for your arrival!


    With that crisp and sharp voice echoing, ¡°Manager Song¡± suddenly lunged at Xun Jiasheng.


    Xun Jiasheng was frozen in fear.


    When he heard the name ¡°Hu Jiasheng¡±, he thought the ghost woman had mispronounced his family name.


    He didn¡¯t realize the ghost was attacking him until he saw ¡°Manager Song¡± lunging at him.


    He didn¡¯t take anything from the ghost woman¡¯s household!


    On the contrary, he had always been protecting the ghost woman, doing everything he could to ease her troubles.


    He never thought that she would suddenly attack him, and that he would be her target.


    The ghost woman was waiting for him?


    Why was she waiting for him?


    Had she been playing the song ¡°When Will You Return?¡± all these years, just waiting for his arrival?


    It wasn¡¯t until he was knocked down by ¡°Manager Song¡± and saw her wrathful hand reaching for his neck, that Xun Jiasheng realized what was happening in this life or death situation.


    He quickly grabbed ¡°Manager Song¡¯s¡± hands and struggled, ¡°Butterfly, you¡¯ve got the wrong person, I am Xun Jiasheng.¡±


    The crowd was stunned by the bizarre scene before them.


    Initially shocked, they then saw Xun Jiasheng in danger and subconsciously stepped forward.


    After all, they were all in the same boat.


    Qi Xin suddenly said, ¡°The ghost woman needs to reincarnate.


    She must resolve old grudges.


    We should hear her out.¡±


    The crowd was stunned.


    They saw Xun Jiasheng forcefully holding ¡°Manager Song¡¯s¡± hands.


    Although the situation was dangerous, he wasn¡¯t in immediate danger of losing his life, so they all hesitated.


    Sweat was pouring from Xun Jiasheng¡¯s forehead, and his face was flushed with effort.


    He realized that he had offended Qi Xin before, and now Qi Xin was kicking him when he¡¯s down.


    But at this moment, he didn¡¯t have the energy to hold a grudge.


    ¡°Butterfly, I am Xun Jiasheng, look closely, I am Xun Jiasheng, not your husband!¡±


    ¡°You are Xun Jiasheng, but you are also Hu Jiasheng!¡±


    ¡°Manager Song¡¯s¡± eyes shone brightly, as if she could see through Xun Jiasheng¡¯s flesh and soul, ¡°The moment you stepped in here, I knew you were my husband!¡±


    For the first time, Xun Jiasheng felt the pain of being targeted by a ghost woman.


    He felt that her power was growing stronger.


    He was struggling to hold her hands apart and couldn¡¯t speak anymore.


    Sweat was pouring down ¡°Manager Song¡¯s¡± forehead.


    She cackled, ¡°Do you see?


    These are the same drops of water from when I was drowned.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­


    harm you.¡± Xun Jiasheng managed to croak out.


    The people watching were also confused.


    Even if Xun Jiasheng really was Miss Butterfly¡¯s husband, he just disappeared.


    There was no reason for Miss Butterfly to seek revenge on her husband.


    ¡°Manager Song¡¯s¡± explanation enlightened them.


    ¡°Do you really think I don¡¯t know?


    You have always felt guilty towards me and wanted to get rid of me, but you didn¡¯t want the world to see you as a fickle person.


    You used to sweetly call me ¡®little Butterfly¡¯ and spoil me.


    You even vowed under the bright moon that we would grow old together and never part.


    But you still changed, you wanted to survive, so you instigated me to sell myself to that big shot.


    After I had sacrificed myself for you, you felt that I was dirty and unworthy of you.


    Although you left me an address, it was all pretense.


    You never thought that I would remember our vows and come looking for you one day.


    You despised me and wanted to leave me, but you feared my entanglement.


    You were afraid that if you left me, and if I came looking for you again, it would make you even more uncomfortable.


    So, you thought of a murderous one-off solution.


    You intentionally stained the bed with blood and pretended to disappear.


    You knew that those foolish villagers would assume I had committed adultery and harmed my own husband, and you wanted me dead!¡±


    ¡°Manager Song¡¯s¡± words tumbled out rapidly, without pause.


    She had undoubtedly turned over this thought in her mind many times over the years.


    Upon hearing this, the crowd felt a chilling disgust ¨C Xun Jiasheng was detestable enough as it was, let alone his previous life.


    Tie Zheng, seeing Xun Jiasheng going white-eyed and gasping for breath under the ghost woman¡¯s strangulation, hesitated and said, ¡°Miss Butterfly, your husband Hu Jiasheng is despicable, but we are not entirely sure if President Xun is the reincarnate of your husband, are we?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for certainty.¡± The one who spoke was actually Jin Xin, who crossed his arms with deep disgust in his eyes.


    ¡°People like him are harmful to others no matter who they are.


    Miss Butterfly is just executing justice on behalf of the heavens!¡±


    ¡°Well said.¡± Qi Xin clapped his hands and said, ¡°I fully agree with President Jin.


    Besides¡­


    if we want to leave this place, should we not let Miss Butterfly fulfill her wish?¡±


    His words were extremely persuasive, and Feng Jingye and Zhou Dewei, who had been hesitating, did not move anymore.


    Hai Mingzhu thought of Shen Yue¡¯s comments about how despicable Xun Jiasheng was and felt that what Jin Xin and Qi Xin said made a lot of sense ¨C why keep a person like that alive just to waste resources?


    But watching Xun Jiasheng being choked by the ghost woman made her feel uncomfortable.


    She decided to turn to Shen Yue for advice, ¡°Advisor Shen, what do you think?¡±


    Shen Yue had been frowning all this while.


    Upon hearing this, he stepped forward as if preparing to act.


    Suddenly, Xun Jiasheng struggled and called out, ¡°Little Butterfly.¡±


    Upon hearing this, ¡°Manager Song¡¯s¡± eyes flickered, seemingly touched by the familiar term of endearment.


    Her grip on Xun Jiasheng¡¯s neck loosened a bit, and seizing this rare opportunity, Xun Jiasheng, with tears streaming down his face, choked out, ¡°Little Butterfly, I know I¡¯ve wronged you.¡±


    ¡°Manager Song¡¯s¡± grip loosened somewhat more, her voice still frosty, ¡°You now know that you have wronged me?¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault.¡±


    Tears streamed down ¡°Xun Jiasheng¡¯s¡± face like a faucet turned on full blast.


    ¡°I¡¯m not human, I¡¯m a beast!


    For my own life, I shouldn¡¯t have asked you to sacrifice yourself.


    When you sacrificed yourself for me, I was for a while unable to accept it and blamed you for not maintaining your chastity.


    When you came to find me after much hardship, I was truly afraid.


    I was not afraid of the rumors and slander, but because I knew I wasn¡¯t worthy of being with you.


    I was afraid you would see through my despicable nature and then leave me.¡±


    The hall was filled with a cold, eerie wind.


    The singing had stopped, and ¡°Xun Jiasheng¡¯s¡± voice of repentance echoed through the hall, astonishing everyone.


    Most of the people in the hall had already accepted that Xun Jiasheng was the reincarnation of Hu Jiasheng, Miss Butterfly¡¯s husband.


    But witnessing Xun Jiasheng¡¯s moment of repentance and transformation still took them by surprise.


    ¡°Manager Song¡± gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Then why did you harm me?¡±


    ¡°I had no choice, listen to me!¡±


    As Xun Jiasheng spoke, he felt the hand that was strangling his neck loosening its grip.


    All at once, he pushed ¡°Manager Song¡± away and, rolling and crawling to one side, he croaked out, ¡°Hold her down!


    She¡¯s a vengeful, venomous woman.


    Even if I die, none of you will be spared!¡±


    ¡°Manager Song¡± was furious.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Xun Jiasheng to be so cunning.


    As she regained her footing and was about to pounce on Xun Jiasheng again, Shen Yue suddenly stepped forward and pressed a button on his phone aimed at ¡°Manager Song¡¯s¡± temple.


    ¡°Manager Song¡± paused for a moment, her eyes rolled back, and she slowly collapsed.


    The next moment, a shrill scream came from outside the hall.

 Chapter 36 - 36 Section 36 Trapped in a Desperate Situation

    ?36: Section 36: Trapped in a Desperate Situation 36: Section 36: Trapped in a Desperate Situation Everyone sighed in relief as Manager Song fainted, only to have their hearts jump to their throats at the sound of a shrill cry from outside the hall.


    Jin Xin stood near the entrance, in time to see a faint glimmer of light in the distance before it disappeared.


    At the same time, Qi Xin shouted, ¡°The Butterfly left Manager Song and went outside the hall.¡±


    Shen Yue had been quiet and still as the Butterfly recounted the past, but now, he sprang to action, hurrying outside.


    His phone screen displayed a seven-line panel, and he dashed off in the direction of the vanished light, focusing on the changing lines on the screen.


    Jin Xin and Hai Mingzhu didn¡¯t need an order; they followed almost without hesitation.


    Xun Jiasheng croaked, ¡°Catch up, we must destroy her, or we will all be killed by the ghost one by one.¡±


    To nip the problem in the bud and catch the ghost was his fear.


    He privately thought Shen Yue was a skilled exorcist, and only Shen Yue seemed a match for the ghost.


    Now was not the time for them to scatter.


    Although everyone despised Xun Jiasheng, there was no denying the inciting power of his words, and many of them followed.


    ¡°President Jin, how can Advisor Shen track the ghost¡¯s path?¡± Hai Mingzhu pantingly asked while jogging, always present-minded in asking questions.


    ¡°At a time like this, we must believe in the judgements of the leadership,¡± Jin Xin responded vaguely, focusing on not losing Shen Yue¡¯s figure.


    All was silent except for the eerie sound of footsteps echoing back and forth.


    After a while, Jin Xin suddenly stopped, noting that Shen Yue had stopped in front and was staring at the colorful lines on his phone screen, deeply immersed in thought.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Jin Xin asked quietly.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the Butterfly?¡± Hai Mingzhu concurrently, finding herself in a cul-de-sac with walls on all three sides.


    The overhead lamp was old and flickered a green light, casting a bizarre hue on the faces of the three.


    Shen Yue remained silent.


    The sounds of footsteps caught up, and the others, including Tie Zheng and Xun Jiasheng, arrived to see the three still standing there and simultaneously asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the ghost?


    Where has it gone?¡±


    Xun Jiasheng was the most anxious, ¡°Master, did you lose her?¡±


    ¡°Even if the Master loses her, it¡¯s okay ¨C the ghost is not after us anyway,¡± Jin Xin remembered to rake Xun Jiasheng over the coals.


    Xun Jiasheng rasped, ¡°The ghost¡¯s target for revenge is not me.¡±


    Qi Xin scoffed, ¡°If you have unresolved grudges from your past life with her, she won¡¯t let it go until she finds hers.¡±


    ¡°I have no connection with her.


    I¡¯m Xun Jiasheng, not Hu Jiasheng!¡± Xun Jiasheng insisted.


    ¡°So why did you act as Hu Jiasheng just now?¡± Feng Jingye questioned.


    ¡°If you guys hadn¡¯t come to help, would the ghost have let me go if I didn¡¯t say that?¡± Xun Jiasheng retorted angrily.


    Everyone had a realization, thinking that this guy does actually have some idea about the supernatural world.


    Tie Zheng, seeing Shen Yue lost in thought, asked anxiously, ¡°Advisor Shen, what should we do now?¡± The old man could distinguish the urgency of the situation, and knew that among everyone present, Shen Yue was the most reliable.


    Shen Yue glanced at Tie Wa, seeing him carrying Manager Song.


    Tie Zheng explained, ¡°We couldn¡¯t leave him alone there in your haste.


    He¡¯s been possessed by a ghost, but after all, he¡¯s still a living person.


    We can¡¯t just watch him die here.¡±


    Shen Yue nodded slightly.


    ¡°Would it be better to return and wait for the ghost in our lair since we¡¯re not familiar with this place?¡± Xun Jiasheng suggested.


    During this critical moment of life and death, he could not afford to not work his mind.


    ¡°The exit is gone!¡± Zhou Dewei suddenly exclaimed.


    Everyone turned back in surprise, and saw a wall where they had come from.


    In such a situation, they naturally walked towards the opening, never expecting the exit to become a wall without reason.


    ¡°It¡¯s similar to the disappearing elevator,¡± Tie Zheng replied, his lip twitching as he realized the severity of the situation.


    ¡°We¡¯re trapped between four walls by the ghost!¡± Feng Jingye rasped out, his face filled with terror, ¡°What does the ghost intend to do?¡±


    ¡°Shen Yue, why did you bring us to a dead-end?¡± Xun Jiasheng reprimanded.


    Jin Xin immediately retorted, ¡°We didn¡¯t ask you to come along!¡±


    Before Xun Jiasheng could retort, he rushed back to the entrance and threw his shoulder against the wall.


    Everyone heard a dull thud, Xun Jiasheng stepping back, the wall unmoved.


    Tie Zheng stepped forward and examined the wall, speculating, ¡°There should be a sliding door here, but it¡¯s locked.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the ghost¡¯s doing.¡± The most frenzied Xun Jiasheng went around the four walls before shouting in despair, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t followed the ghost, we wouldn¡¯t have either.


    It¡¯s you Jin Tang people who¡¯ve brought death upon us all.¡±


    Qi Xin scoffed, ¡°Isn¡¯t it you, Hu Jiasheng, who¡¯ve brought death upon us all?¡±


    Xun Jiasheng glared at Qi Xin, ¡°I¡¯ve told you, I¡¯m not the ghost¡¯s husband, why won¡¯t any of you believe me?¡±


    Qi Xin dismissively stated, ¡°I also said we brothers weren¡¯t robbers, but you didn¡¯t seem to believe that.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng was silent, rendered speechless.


    ¡°Stop arguing, what¡¯s the point at this stage?¡± Tie Zheng, being the steadier one at critical moments, said, ¡°Even if we were back there, the ghost has powerful magic, and she might have trapped us there too.


    Now is not the time to shift blame, but to think of getting out.


    Advisor Shen ¡­


    should we find a way to break down the wall?¡±


    Tie Zheng felt that being trapped here was not the solution.


    Breaking through the ghost¡¯s barrier was the most important thing.


    Before Shen Yue could respond, Hai Mingzhu shrieked, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Amid the cacophony, Hai Mingzhu felt that Jin Xin and Shen Yue remained resolute, giving her the impression they had a plan.


    Suddenly, she felt something move against her foot, a coldness suggesting a bug crawling over her skin, causing her to jump and scream.


    Water splashed up!


    When she landed, Hai Mingzhu realized that water had inundated her foot.


    She looked slightly embarrassed, ¡°I thought it was a bug.


    Hey, where did the water come from?¡±


    Everyone else noticed the abnormality of the water, and they all exclaimed, ¡°Why¡¯s there water on the ground?¡±


    Except for Hai Mingzhu, everyone else was wearing leather shoes ¨C because Hai Mingzhu was wearing athletic mesh shoes, she was the first to sense the water.


    The water flooded in, silently!


    ¡°Where is the water coming from?¡± Feng Jingye asked first.


    Everyone else was likewise puzzled, wondering where the water could be coming from with walls on all four sides and no falling water from above.


    Shen Yue crouched down and felt the ground, frowning, ¡°The water is seeping up from the ground.¡±


    ¡°How ¡­ S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    how is that possible?¡± Zhou Dewei exclaimed, ¡°Aren¡¯t we on the thirteenth floor?¡± If they had been on flat ground, it would have made sense for water to spring from the ground, but they were on the thirteenth floor, how could water possibly seep up from their feet?


    ¡°This is not the thirteenth floor, this is the ghost¡¯s realm,¡± Xun Jiasheng said, his body trembling violently.


    ¡°The water is rising!¡± Shen Yue suddenly announced.


    Initially, the water had just covered their soles, which is why Hai Mingzhu had felt it first.


    However, while they were talking, the water had covered everyone¡¯s feet.


    ¡°I know what the ghost intends to do,¡± Xun Jiasheng, brimming with desperation, said fearfully, ¡°She died by drowning in a pig cage, she will drown us the same way!¡±

 Chapter 37 - 37 Episode 37 The Real Behind the Scenes!

    ?37: Episode 37 ¡°The Real¡± Behind the Scenes!


    37: Episode 37 ¡°The Real¡± Behind the Scenes!


    Butterfly was drowned in a pig¡¯s cage, and she wanted to seek revenge in the same way, drowning all the people present!


    Everyone trembled at this thought, believing Xun Jiasheng¡¯s speculation made a lot of sense.


    Even Tie Zheng full of despair after hearing it.


    He could break the wall with everyone¡¯s help, but that would take time, and at the rate the water was rising, they wouldn¡¯t be able to break the wall!


    ¡°We still have a way to survive.¡± Qi Xin suddenly said.


    Everyone cheered up at his words, asking in unison, ¡°What is it?¡± Shen Yue also listened intently, apparently without any idea of his own.


    A look of terror appeared suddenly on Xun Jiasheng¡¯s face.


    Qi Xin stared at Xun Jiasheng and said, ¡°A ghost has its enemy, a debt has its debtor.


    The woman ghost hated only her husband, if her husband, Hu Jiasheng, died, the woman ghost might not harm us anymore.¡±


    Everyone was taken aback, realising what Qi Xin meant ¨C the only chance for everyone to survive was by killing Xun Jiasheng!


    Xun Jiasheng had been cunning all his life, otherwise, he would not have made Manager Song serve as his scapegoat and given his fingerprints to the death contract.


    Before Qi Xin¡¯s suggestion, he had already guessed what Qi Xin was going to say.


    Knowing the crisis of life and death, Xun Jiasheng quickly countered, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t think that by killing me, the female ghost will let you go.


    The female ghost was also humiliated by the bandit, and the bandit is right in front of you.¡±


    ¡°Butterfly wanted to strangle someone in the living room, but it was not me.¡± Qi Xin retorted, ¡°Well, even if you insist I am the bandit, Butterfly always plays ¡®When will you come back¡¯, and naturally, she is not waiting for me!¡±


    Xun Jiasheng was momentarily speechless. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    While they were speaking, the water had already reached their calves.


    Qi Xin also felt tense, ¡°I think we don¡¯t have much time left.


    This matter concerns everyone¡¯s life, so it should be decided by a vote.


    I agree that the female ghost should seek revenge from the real culprit!


    If the female ghost doesn¡¯t come, we will do it for her.¡± He then raised his hand.


    His unspoken meaning was clear ¨C as long as more than half agreed, he could take the initiative to kill Xun Jiasheng.


    In the green light, Xun Jiasheng¡¯s face looked more terrifying than a ghost¡¯s, just staring fiercely at Qi Xin.


    Qi Xin averted his gaze, ¡°What about President Feng?¡±


    Feng Jingye is relatively short, the rising water had reached Jin Xin¡¯s calves, but soon it would reach his mid-thighs.


    Fear overwhelmed him, and Feng Jingye shakily raised his hand.


    ¡°President Jin?¡± Qi Xin¡¯s gaze was sharp, aware of the tensions among the people present.


    Jin Xin and Xun Jiasheng had always been at odds, which Qi Xin noticed.


    ¡°I have no objections.¡± Jin Xin raised his hand with a smile.


    ¡°What about Ms.


    Hai Mingzhu?¡± Qi Xin¡¯s calculations seemed accurate.


    Hai Mingzhu¡¯s lips trembled.


    She wanted to say that she, a secretary, would have to listen to her boss, right?


    However, she knew that such expression was to decide a person¡¯s life or death.


    Seeing Xun Jiasheng¡¯s almost bulging eyes, she finally remained silent.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t speak, I won¡¯t take it as consent, just as abstention.¡± Seeing time was running out, Qi Xin quickly concluded, ¡°What about the rest of you?


    No speaking equals abstention.¡±


    The space here is not small, but the speed of water overflow from the ground is very fast.


    At this moment, the water had reached some people¡¯s thighs, and Feng Jingye, already half submerged in the water.


    Xun Jiasheng suddenly burst into laughter, ¡°If I die, I will be like Butterfly, a pair of ghostly sweethearts, haunting this place together.


    Don¡¯t forget, I, Hu Jiasheng, have a sweet tongue.


    As long as I sweet-talk Butterfly, she will not let you escape?


    If you want me to die, it won¡¯t be that simple!¡±


    The words frightened Feng Jingye, whose body trembled.


    Qi Xin scoffed, ¡°Butterfly¡¯s husband is Hu Jiasheng!


    You are Xun Jiasheng!¡±


    ¡°I am Hu Jiasheng!¡±


    Just as the two were about to argue, a sharp bell rang suddenly in the hall.


    The sound came very suddenly, everyone was first stunned, and then they found that the bell sound was coming from Shen Yue¡¯s hand-held device, they all said, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?


    Got the signal?


    Call for help quickly!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the alarm.¡± Shen Yue explained, ¡°I have an alarm on my phone at this time.¡±


    Everyone couldn¡¯t help but check the time on their own phones, only to find out it was already 2:33 in the morning.


    They wondered why Shen Yue would set an alarm at a time when he should be asleep?


    Xun Jiasheng¡¯s eyes darted around, and all of a sudden, like a drowning man who had caught a life-saving straw, he exclaimed, ¡°I¡¯ve got it.


    You¡¯re in contact with the female ghost!¡±


    Shen Yue was taken aback, and Hai Mingzhu even more indignantly said, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?


    How could Advisor Shen have anything to do with the female ghost?¡±


    ¡°Well then, you tell me, why did you set your phone clock at such an unreasonable time?¡± Xun Jiasheng challenged.


    The rising water didn¡¯t stop for Xun Jiasheng¡¯s challenges.


    Xun Jiasheng cared nothing about that ¨C if he was going to die, everyone should die, if he could delay for a moment, it was one moment longer.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Shen Yue shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know why I set the alarm at this time.¡±


    Except for Jin Xin who knew Shen Yue was telling the truth, the others looked at each other, feeling something was wrong with Shen Yue¡¯s answer.


    ¡°The phone is your phone, and you don¡¯t know why you set this alarm?


    Who would believe such a story?¡±


    Xun Jiasheng¡¯s eyes darted, ¡°You suddenly can¡¯t find an excuse, can you?


    You don¡¯t know the answer to the phone setting time, I can tell you.¡±


    Shen Yue laughed, ¡°Okay, please tell me.¡± He really wanted to know the answer, but he knew it would be a marvel if Xun Jiasheng knew the answer.


    ¡°This time is precisely when the Yin energy in the world is at its strongest, you deliberately set this time so as to communicate with ghosts easily, you¡¯ve been in touch with the female ghost, that¡¯s why you brought us here.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng originally intended just to muddle through, but as he spoke, he almost believed what he said himself.


    ¡°Otherwise, it¡¯s impossible to explain why you could drive the female ghost away with a simple cellphone.


    Who of you have ever seen someone driving out a ghost with a cellphone?¡±


    Upon hearing Xun Jiasheng¡¯s words, everyone present looked at each other with suspicion.


    Xun Jiasheng sneered coldly, ¡°The female ghost had agreed with you ahead of time, you just made a move, and the female ghost left Manager Song¡¯s body in accordance with you.


    Everything was just a play you and the female ghost put on.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense.¡± Shen Yue couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°You¡¯re a real genius, what you said almost made me believe it.¡±


    ¡°What I said is the truth.¡±


    At the critical moment of life and death, Xun Jiasheng was not confused, and his mind was extraordinarily clear, ¡°I have many doubts which can prove you are in collusion with the ghost.


    As soon as Manager Song entered the elevator, he was lost, that¡¯s your doing.


    You didn¡¯t smell the ointment on Tie Zheng¡¯s body, but the female ghost told you Tie Zheng was coming.


    I can¡¯t believe your nose is so sensitive, we all couldn¡¯t smell the ointment on Tie Zheng¡¯s body from such a distance, only you could?


    You might fool Tie Zheng, but not me!


    We were originally on the path of survival but you and the ghost put on a show, pretended to drive the ghost away, in fact, you led us to this deadly trap because only here is the ended road, only here we are really going to die!¡±


    Listening to Xun Jiasheng, everyone was more and more scared, feeling that what Xun Jiasheng said was by no means nonsense, but more like a meticulous web woven by point-by-point details.


    Under the flickering light tube, the green light shone on Shen Yue¡¯s face, giving him a grim and terrible look.


    ¡°Why would I do that?¡± Shen Yue sighed.


    At the critical moment of life and death, Xun Jiasheng¡¯s mind was extremely clear, a shocking idea suddenly occurred to him.


    ¡°I understand now, I get it, it all makes sense!¡± Pointing at Shen Yue, Xun Jiasheng shouted, ¡°You are the important person mentioned in Butterfly¡¯s story!¡±

 Chapter 38 - 38 38 Escape Against the Odds

    ?38: Chapter 38: Escape Against the Odds 38: Chapter 38: Escape Against the Odds When Xun Jiasheng¡¯s words fell, everyone became quiet, looking at Shen Yue with astonishment.


    What Xun Jiasheng said sounded preposterous, but when taken together, it was quite convincing.


    The least thing they know was that they were trapped in a deadly situation because they followed Shen Yue!


    The water was almost up to their navels.


    Everyone was agitated and desperate.


    But of all people, Shen Yue was the most composed.


    How could a person remain so calm at such a life-and-death moment if he didn¡¯t have a connection with the female ghost?


    ¡°You have nothing to say now, do you?¡± Xun Jiasheng was ninety percent sure about his deduction.


    Shen Yue slowly said, ¡°Why would I want to harm people?¡± At that moment, he indeed displayed the composure of a powerful figure, maintaining his calm even when his secrets were exposed.


    ¡°Because you love Butterfly!¡±


    Xun Jiasheng blurted out the answer that unraveled the mystery, ¡°As Butterfly has said, even though you obtained her by unscrupulous means, you still love her.


    Out of this love, you refused to be reincarnated and knew that Butterfly was killed unjustly.


    Therefore, you sought to avenge her.


    You were a capable man while alive, and remain so in death.


    Despite Butterfly being a fierce ghost, only you, a highly capable evil ghost, could have orchestrated the bidding process at the Giant Building, brought everyone here, and had the audacity and cunning to avenge Butterfly.¡±


    ¡°If I wanted to avenge Butterfly, I would just need to bring you, Hu Jiasheng.


    Why involve others?¡± Shen Yue seemed to doubt that Xun Jiasheng knew all the answers.


    Xun Jiasheng¡¯s mind was extremely clear, ¡°The kidnappers are your minions.


    You hate them for disrespecting Butterfly, so you had planned to kill them all.¡±


    Qi Xin¡¯s expression became extremely weird.


    ¡°As for the rest¡­


    besides me, Hu Jiasheng, they probably have something to do with the people who unjustly killed Butterfly.


    They could be the police officers who handled the case at that time, or the ignorant folks in the village.


    They were either killers or accomplices in Butterfly¡¯s death.¡± Xun Jiasheng said with certainty.


    Hai Mingzhu was so stunned that she stared at Shen Yue, seemingly not believing this answer, because the hand that was holding Shen Yue¡¯s sleeve did not let go.


    Shen Yue suddenly laughed.


    His smile looked eerily terrifying under the green light.


    ¡°Jin Xin, do you also believe what President Xun said?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe a word he¡¯s saying,¡± Jin Xin still managed to laugh, ¡°We¡¯ve heard enough.


    Let¡¯s get out of here quickly.


    I don¡¯t want to take a bath here.¡±


    Everyone was taken aback.


    They detected a relaxed tone in Jin Xin¡¯s voice and didn¡¯t understand how Jin Xin and Shen Yue could get out of here?


    After putting away his phone, Shen Yue walked over to Jin Xin.


    Joining hands, Jin Xin boosted Shen Yue onto his shoulders.


    Jin Xin appeared to be in pain, ¡°My clothes are expensive.


    I should be stepping on you.¡±


    Without time to listen to Jin Xin¡¯s complaints, Shen Yue extended his hand and pulled at the ceiling.


    A gust of cold wind blew in, chilling everyone immersed in water to the bone.


    ¡°How is there a hole in the ceiling?¡± Zhou Dewei said in surprise.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Tie Zheng smacked his head as if remembering something, muttering to himself: ¡°I really am getting old and senile, how could I not think of this?¡±


    Shen Yue braced the edge of the hole and quickly climbed in.


    ¡°He is the mastermind behind the scenes, we can¡¯t¡­¡± Xun Jiasheng became anxious when he saw this, but before he could finish his sentence, Shen Yue poked his head out of the hole and said, ¡°Fortunately.


    There is actually a rope here.¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As he spoke, he actually let down a rope to the top of Jin Xin¡¯s head.


    Jin Xin turned to Hai Mingzhu and said, ¡°Ladies first.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu took advantage of the opportunity and grabbed the rope without hesitation.


    With a little clumsiness, she attempted to climb up when Jin Xin supported her waist and Shen Yue extended his hand from above the hole, pulling her easily into the hole.


    ¡°Those who want to leave can hurry up and climb up.


    Those who still have feelings for the female ghost can stay.


    We won¡¯t force you.¡± Jin Xin joked.


    Feng Jingye felt the water was about to flood his chest as he struggled over to Jin Xin.


    With the help of Jin Xin and Shen Yue, he was able to climb into the hole.


    One by one, people came and climbed up the rope, but they were all a bit curious ¨C how come there was a hole here?


    And why was there a rope conveniently there?


    Did Shen Yue prepare the rope?


    This was bewildering.


    Why would he prepare a rope here, just enough to let people escape?


    Although everyone dared to think, they dared not ask, for fear that in the end, Shen Yue would say something like ¨C Yes, I prepared it.


    I am the big guy.


    What can¡¯t I think of?


    What can you do about it?


    They first needed to escape from this life-threatening place!


    In the end, only Jin Xin and Xun Jiasheng were left in the water.


    Xun Jiasheng had a livid face.


    Even though he was shameless, he had just implicated Shen Yue as the mastermind.


    How could he have the audacity to escape first using the route Shen Yue discovered?


    Watching Jin Xin climbing the rope, Xun Jiasheng could no longer restrain himself and rushed over, saying, ¡°President Jin, I know you are generous and righteous.


    May I go up first?¡± He was worried that Shen Yue would cut the rope after Jin Xin was up, and he would be left alone with no help.


    ¡°Who are you?


    Do I know you?¡± Jin Xin still seemed unfazed.


    ¡°I am President Dog.¡± Xun Jiasheng lowered his stance and flattered, ¡°The one from Black Heart Security!


    You haven¡¯t forgotten me, have you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not President Dog.¡± Jin Xin replied seriously, ¡°You are Hu Jiasheng.


    You confessed it yourself just now.


    You said you felt guilty towards Butterfly, and planned to stay with her to harm us all.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng defended himself, ¡°I am not Hu Jiasheng, I really am Xun Jiasheng.


    I was just talking nonsense.


    President Jin, please exercise magnanimity, let me go as an act of grace?¡±


    Survival was within reach.


    He could not beat Jin Xin physically and had to turn to pleading for mercy, almost on the verge of kneeling, if it were not for the water that had risen up to his chest.


    Jin Xin sighed and ultimately handed the rope to Xun Jiasheng.


    In this life-or-death moment, Xun Jiasheng mustered all his strength and, without any assistance from Jin Xin, climbed up the rope and reached the hole in the ceiling.


    Jin Xin entered the hole quickly and neatly.


    Shen Yue then said, ¡°Follow me.¡± The space they were in was flattened, so they could only crawl forward with a tiny bit of room to spare.


    The hole was pitch dark.


    Yet, Shen Yue seemed to be able to discern the direction and led the way.


    Regardless of their status in their normal lives, everyone started crawling after him.


    As they crawled, they felt a cold wind blowing, chilling their whole bodies.


    From time to time, they could hear a rumbling noise all around, not knowing what was rotating.


    Some felt colder the more they crawled ¨C were they heading toward Hell?


    Not long after, Shen Yue suddenly said, ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± As he spoke, he pried open the floor in front of him, revealing another hole, and jumped down.


    Hai Mingzhu felt a sense of dread, worrying about Shen Yue¡¯s safety.


    Then she heard Shen Yue say, ¡°Come down.


    I¡¯ll catch you.


    It¡¯s not high.¡± Gathering her courage, Hai Mingzhu closed her eyes and jumped, to be caught by Shen Yue and gently lowered to the ground.


    In the darkness, Hai Mingzhu felt her face flushing and her breathing quickening.


    Then she heard others taking turns jumping down, all asking in a chatter, ¡°Where are we?¡±


    Someone lit up a phone, and Hai Mingzhu exclaimed, ¡°This is an elevator!


    It seems to be the one we took before!¡± Before she could finish her sentence, lights came on behind them.


    From darkness to light, everyone shielded their foreheads with their hands, squinting their eyes towards the front.


    They saw a woman standing in front of the elevator door!

 Chapter 39 - 39 Section 39 Unexpected Surprises

    ?39: Section 39 Unexpected Surprises 39: Section 39 Unexpected Surprises When everyone was crawling after Shen Yue, they all felt dizzy.


    When they had to jump down again, they didn¡¯t have any confidence, they had no idea where they were.


    When they heard Hai Mingzhu say it was the elevator they had taken, they almost thought it was a nightmare.


    Could it be that they had just dreamt everything while they were in the elevator?


    When the elevator doors opened, they saw a blurry figure of a woman standing at the elevator¡¯s entry way and another elevator.


    Hai Mingzhu immediately remembered, it was the same scenario when they first entered, were they back at the entrance?


    Most people were dazed, they all stood closely to the elevator wall, alert.


    Xun Jiasheng was the first to snap back to reality, shouting ¡°Butterfly!


    I knew¡­¡±.


    He felt like he couldn¡¯t escape Butterfly¡¯s grasp in this lifetime.


    Upon regaining his focus he stopped himself from saying ¡°you must be here¡±, hesitated, and then said, ¡°Miss Gao Jie?


    How are you here?¡±


    This woman was tall, her facial expression telling people to stay away.


    It was the new CIO of Giant Industries, Gao Jie.


    Everyone was more shocked to see Gao Jie than if they had seen Jesus himself.


    They didn¡¯t understand why Gao Jie would suddenly appear here?


    Xun Jiasheng sneakily looked out of the elevator, seeing only Gao Jie was there, but he didn¡¯t dare to get out of the elevator.


    Maybe, Butterfly had taken over Gao Jie¡¯s body now!


    Everyone was peering at each other inside and outside the elevator.


    Gao Jie showed no emotion, while those inside the elevator were nervous.


    As the elevator doors were about to close, Shen Yue made the move to keep the doors open and was the first one to step in saying, ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming?


    There¡¯s no other way down, if you wait for the next one it¡¯s going to take a while.¡±


    Everyone hurriedly squeezed in, surprisingly the elevator didn¡¯t overload.


    Though everyone kept their distance from Gao Jie, and stood around the elevator walls.


    Gao Jie stood alone in the center, making the spectacle extremely strange.


    ¡°Ms.


    Gao Jie, don¡¯t you think you owe us an explanation?¡± Zhou Dewei was the one to confront her first.


    ¡°About what?¡± Gao Jie retorted, with an icy tone.


    Zhou Dewei was left stammering, not knowing what to make Gao Jie explain.


    Everything felt like a dream, baffling and somewhat surreal.


    Feng Jingye, full of fear, was looking at Gao Jie and said quietly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to explain.¡± He suspected Giant Industries may have connections with the ghost, he thought wouldn¡¯t it be better to leave this place first?


    Tie Zheng had the courage to say, ¡°Ms.


    Gao Jie, looking at our condition, aren¡¯t you surprised?


    Don¡¯t you want to know what exactly happened?¡±


    The crowd looked like they had just been soaked in water.


    Gao Jie turned a blind eye to this, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not curious at all.


    I don¡¯t want to know what happened.


    I only know the elevator broke down here and I was responsible for picking you all up.


    After all, we paid for you to be our security company, didn¡¯t we?¡±


    Her last retort had an unspeakable sharpness to it, leaving everyone speechless.


    ¡°The elevator seems to not have repaired itself yet, why isn¡¯t it moving?¡± Hai Mingzhu, who initially felt cold, now found the elevator uncomfortably stuffy due to the number of people in it.


    ¡°The elevator isn¡¯t moving because you didn¡¯t press anything.¡± Gao Jie coldly looked at Xun Jiasheng, who was standing right in front of the elevator buttons, and said, ¡°If you¡¯re not capable of pressing the buttons, then please allow me.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng didn¡¯t dare to press the elevator buttons, who knows where the elevator would go next?


    He squeezed to the side to make room for Gao Jie.


    Gao Jie reached out and pressed the button for the first floor.


    They started descending, and everyone suddenly found the elevator moving to be a surprisingly lovely thing.


    But would the elevator really reach the first floor?


    No one could say for certain.


    A ¡°ding¡± sounded, and when the elevator doors opened, seeing the familiar lobby everyone breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°How is the lobby so empty, there¡¯s no one here?¡± Xun Jiasheng, though fearful, couldn¡¯t help but remind others.


    He remembered, there was another situation that could occur with the ghost causing hallucinations.


    That was just when you thought you were about to get out, you were still on the thirteenth floor.


    He was genuinely scared that Gao Jie would suddenly smile at him and reveal two sharp teeth, saying ¨C Hu Jiasheng, let¡¯s go for another round!


    Gao Jie didn¡¯t smile, indifferently she said, ¡°Do you know what time it is now?


    It¡¯s three o¡¯clock in the morning!


    Do you really think this place should be bustling with people?¡±


    Xun Jiasheng stayed silent.


    Shen Yue suddenly said: ¡°I think there should be an ambulance here.¡±


    Gao Jie looked at him, ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right!¡±


    As soon as she finished her sentence, everyone heard the sirens of an ambulance from outside the Giant Building.


    It didn¡¯t take long before they saw the ambulance parked right in front of the Giant Building. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It appeared some security guards had been informed in advance as they had already opened the side door, two paramedics carrying a stretcher were quickly approaching them.


    Gao Jie pointed at Manager Song, who was still being held by Tie Wa.


    The two paramedics understood, placed the unconscious Song Shiren on the stretcher, and then quickly left.


    Everyone was taken aback.


    Gao Jie looked seriously at Xun Jiasheng and said: ¡°President Xun, Giant Industries believes that Manager Song Shiren from Peaceful Security, with whom we signed a contract, has serious mental issues.


    He is not capable of fulfilling the contract.


    According to the terms of our contract, our agreement with your company should be terminated immediately.


    What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Mental issues?¡± Xun Jiasheng looked at Gao Jie with some fear, ¡°Are you saying that Manager Song has mental issues?¡±


    Gao Jie nodded affirmatively.


    Xun Jiasheng, unable to argue as he felt Gao Jie and Butterfly must be on the same side, said, ¡°Whatever you say.¡±


    ¡°Since the contract has been cancelled, President Xun, you should return the check.¡± Gao Jie reminded.


    Xun Jiasheng gave a start, and though he was reluctant, he took out the now soaked check and handed it over.


    Gao Jie accepted the check and walked directly back to the elevator.


    Just before the elevator door closed, Gao Jie added, ¡°Tomorrow¡­


    no, the meeting scheduled for today is now at two p.m.


    Please be punctual.¡±


    The elevator doors closed, and it started to move up.


    It did not stop at the thirteenth floor, but went straight to the top before the sound of movement ceased.


    Everyone looked at the blinking lights indicating the elevator levels, feeling a sense of absurdity.


    Shen Yue and Jin Xin exchanged a glance but didn¡¯t say anything.


    They left the building shoulder to shoulder.


    Seeing their action, everyone followed their lead, feeling safer outside than inside the building.


    Once Jin Xin stepped outside the building, he took a deep breath of the fresh and slightly cool air.


    He sincerely said, ¡°The air here is much better.¡± Looking around at the lonely street lights and the deserted scene, he commented, ¡°The scenery of the city at three in the morning seems even more beautiful, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Shen Yue and Jin Xin stood side by side looking at the quiet around them, Shen Yue smiled and said, ¡°You lose the sense of novelty when you see it often.¡±


    Jin Xin laughed wryly and said, ¡°I almost forgot, your alarm is set at 2:33.


    If you always wake up at that time, and cannot fall back asleep you would regularly see what the city looks like at three in the morning.¡±


    He thought of Shen Yue sitting alone by the window waiting for dawn, and felt a surge of sympathy, but he did not express it.


    ¡°President Jin, Advisor Shen.¡± Hai Mingzhu, who had been following the two, finding them behaving like nothing had happened, finally couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°Do you guys have nothing to say?¡±


    ¡°Say what?¡± Both of them asked back in unison.


    Hai Mingzhu cast her eyes between the two men, eventually landing her gaze on Shen Yue, ¡°Advisor Shen, at this point, are you still going to insist that everything started because of an anomaly with Manager Song Shiren¡¯s mental state?¡±

 Chapter 40 - 40 40 Section Answers

    ?40: 40 Section Answers 40: 40 Section Answers Hai Mingzhu simply couldn¡¯t understand why Jin Xin and Shen Yue seemed indifferent.


    After starting the competitive hiring process at 8 p.m.


    the night before, they encountered all strange and spooky events, went through all hardship till three in the morning on the next day.


    They almost drowned on the thirteenth floor of the Giant Building.


    At that time, she was praying for survival and promised to value life more than ever.


    But the result suddenly took a 180-degree turn.


    It ended just like that?


    Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t accept this outcome.


    Seeing Hai Mingzhu¡¯s stubbornness, Shen Yue finally spoke, ¡°Do you have another explanation?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu looked at Shen Yue who was still concealing, and complained, ¡°You both still treat me as an outsider.¡±


    Jin Xin couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°If Shen Yue doesn¡¯t treat you like an outsider, should he treat you like an insider?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu¡¯s face turned slightly red.


    She knew that in ancient times, being an insider meant being a wife.


    Pretending not to understand, she said, ¡°You don¡¯t consider me one of your own.


    The facts are obvious, I don¡¯t understand why you are not willing to face reality?¡±


    ¡°What is reality?¡± Shen Yue retorted.


    ¡°The reality is the Giant Building really has a non-existent thirteenth floor!¡± Hai Mingzhu blurted out, ¡°I suspect there is indeed a connection between the Giant Corporation and the Butterfly.


    They intentionally sent us to the bizarre thirteenth floor to feed the ghosts.


    Fortunately, we had Advisor Shen and were able to find an escape route.


    They thought we were doomed but we managed to escape.


    To cover up the truth, they sent Gao Jie to play it down, blaming everything on Manager Song¡¯s mental issues.¡±


    Seething with anger, Hai Mingzhu gravely said, ¡°This was premeditated murder.


    Since we really did encounter a ghost, we should not be too weak to pretend that nothing happened for the sake of money.


    We should report it to the police and expose the dirty business that the Giant Corporation has been doing with ghosts over the years.


    Perhaps many people have died on the thirteenth floor.


    We should seek justice for them.¡±


    Seeing Shen Yue and Jin Xin¡¯s indifference, Hai Mingzhu was provoked, ¡°You two really disappoint me.


    I never expected that you¡¯d lose your conscience for money and make a shameful deal of silence with Giant Corporation!¡±


    She thought Shen Yue would be discontented but he burst into laughter, ¡°How shall we report to the police?


    Tell them we saw a ghost?


    Where is the ghost?


    Have they murdered anyone?


    Who¡¯s dead?


    Do you know that?


    Have you seen the body?¡±


    Flabbergasted by Shen Yue¡¯s rapid-fire questions, Hai Mingzhu was slightly taken aback and stuttered, ¡°Wait, I¡­¡± only to realize that she had no answer to any of his questions.


    Shen Yue pulled out two small bottles of medicine from his pocket and handed them to Hai Mingzhu.


    Accepting the bottles in a daze, Hai Mingzhu frowned developing a sense of bewilderment, ¡°Vistrol, Midazolam?


    Why are you giving me this?


    I don¡¯t have any mental problems, nor am I depressed.¡±


    Graduating in psychology, Hai Mingzhu was familiar with the two medicines, which were used for psychiatric symptoms and anti-depression.


    ¡°These two bottles of medicine were dropped by Manager Song.¡± Shen Yue revealed the truth straightaway.


    ¡°When did he drop these?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked puzzledly.


    ¡°When you all were watching Manager Song being possessed by the female ghost, trying to strangle Xun Jiasheng.¡± Shen Yue explained.


    Hai Mingzhu was taken aback.


    She remembered that Xun Jiasheng and Manager Song were rolling on the ground, and Shen Yue stepped forward to intervene.


    She thought Shen Yue was going to mediate, but all he did was pick up the medicine.


    ¡°Jin Xin, it¡¯s your turn to say something,¡± Shen Yue said.


    Jin Xin coughed, clearing his throat, ¡°According to our previous investigation, Manager Song¡¯s wife had a car accident a while ago and is currently in the ICU for observation.


    She is an actress in a drama troupe, primarily performing old plays set in the Republic of China period.


    The screenplay is written by a third-rate writer who likes to fabricate stories.


    With a limited audience, the old dramas are not popular, so Manager Song¡¯s wife¡¯s salary is not high.


    ICU hospitalization is very expensive and the financial pressure is all on Manager Song.


    He seems to love his wife very much and is enduring this hardship.¡±


    ¡°Hold on, we were talking about ghosts, why do you suddenly mention Manager Song¡¯s wife?¡± Hai Mingzhu interrupted.


    Jin Xin chuckled, ¡°This is some of the information I gathered before and didn¡¯t seem useful.


    But when Shen Yue handed me the medicine, we felt we were getting closer to the truth.


    You studied psychology; you should know that under tremendous pressure, a person may develop symptoms of mental disturbance, schizophrenia, or depression.¡±


    ¡°You are suggesting that¡­Manager Song is genuinely schizophrenic?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked, finding it hard to believe.


    ¡°It appears so.¡±


    Jin Xin sighed, ¡°Until Shen Yue showed me the medication, I had no idea that Manager Song was taking anti-depressants.


    If I had known about his condition earlier, I would not have provoked him during our initial meeting.¡± He finished, looking somewhat regretful.


    Hai Mingzhu looked at the two men in front of her, still dubious, ¡°So you¡¯re saying that Manager Song was schizophrenic and when he entered the thirteenth floor, he thought he was the Butterfly, and that¡¯s why he staged a play?¡±


    Shen Yue nodded, ¡°I think Manager Song¡¯s mental breakdown could also be related to his long-term working environment.


    He¡¯s a conscientious person, but he often had to act against his conscience when working under Xun Jiasheng.


    Coupled with the fact that Jiasheng showed him no respect and the peculiar environment of the thirteenth floor due to the death contract this time, induced his complete collapse, making him believe he was the Butterfly.¡±


    Jin Xin nodded slightly in agreement.


    Hai Mingzhu stared at the two men, who played off each other.


    Once the haziness in her mind cleared, she sorted out her thoughts and muttered, ¡°There are still questions I don¡¯t believe.


    Firstly, the thirteenth floor doesn¡¯t exist in reality, we entered an alternate spatial dimension.¡±


    Shen Yue couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Can¡¯t deny you have a good imagination, but the thirteenth floor indeed exists.¡±


    ¡°Manager Xun said there is no thirteenth floor, they sent Manager Song to personally confirm it,¡± Hai Mingzhu recalled very clearly.


    Jin Xin discussed with me earlier about the existence of the thirteenth floor.


    Therefore, while riding the elevator, I counted the time in my heart.


    The time taken by the elevator from the twelfth to the fourteenth floor is approximately twice the normal time it takes to traverse one floor.


    This indicates that there is indeed a floor between the twelfth and fourteenth floors,¡± Shen Yue explained, noticing Hai Mingzhu¡¯s astonished gaze, ¡°Didn¡¯t you feel the cold breeze when we entered the thirteenth floor through the ventilation duct?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, so what?¡±


    ¡°The breeze indicates the ventilation system is functioning normally,¡± Shen Yue explained, ¡°The floor is indeed unusual, but the ventilation system is no different from other floors.


    I just climbed out following the usual direction of the ventilation duct.


    Does an alternate spatial dimension also need a ventilation system?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu fell silent for a while and then asked, ¡°But how did Manager Song know the story?¡±


    ¡°His wife is a drama troupe actress who often performs in Republic of China period dramas.


    She must know some old stories about performers,¡± Jin Xin prompted.


    ¡°You are saying he was influenced by his wife¡¯s job and knew about the Butterfly?¡± Being a psychology major, Hai Mingzhu argued, ¡°But why was he able to speak of the truth from that time?¡±


    ¡°You think that¡¯s the truth?¡± Shen Yue countered, ¡°Do you really know what the truth was back then?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu stopped talking.


    She understood what Shen Yue was implying: even if Manager Song made up the story about the Butterfly, no one could confirm whether it was true or not. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fuming, Hai Mingzhu questioned them again, ¡°So, from the start, you both assumed that Manager Song was schizophrenic.


    You didn¡¯t actually believe in ghosts, did you?


    Then why did you say your company handled unclean matters?¡±


    Shen Yue looked into the distant night.


    The night sky was vibrant.


    The night before dawn seemed somewhat lonely.


    ¡°For a rookie, you¡¯re bound to make mistakes and even misjudgments when you first start, because everyone grows from their mistakes.


    As long as you learn from them and rectify your errors, you¡¯ll be fine!


    But I want to tell you one thing for sure,¡± said Shen Yue pensively: ¡°Remember, if there are ghosts in this world, they definitely exist in people¡¯s hearts, not wandering around in the world!¡±

 Chapter 41 - 41 Section 41 Holographic Projection

    ?41: Section 41 Holographic Projection 41: Section 41 Holographic Projection Wu Hour.


    The height of yang energy.


    The time of execution of death sentences in ancient times usually fell this hour.


    It was said to prevent the hitchback of yin energy from souls and ghosts wandering at night.


    When Hai Mingzhu saw the sun hanging high overhead, she was considering the yang energy at Wu Hour.


    She felt confident she was not haunted, but she was falling into a trance.


    Although she¡¯d listened to Shen Yue and Jin Xin¡¯s explanations, she was still puzzled as she couldn¡¯t quite comprehend certain things.


    Noticing Shen Yue seemed tired last night, she decided not to question him further.


    The meeting with JuAn Insurance company was set for two o¡¯clock in the afternoon, but she couldn¡¯t help but arrive at the bridal shop at noon.


    Last night¡­


    or rather, this morning, she tossed and turned in her bed, unable to sleep.


    While looking around, she noticed that the person she was waiting for was heading towards the mall so Hai Mingzhu quietly followed behind Shen Yue.


    Shen Yue was alone, without Jin Xin.


    Hearing always about Shen Yue and Jin Xin hanging out together, Hai Mingzhu had an impression that they are a couple.


    Seeing Shen Yue alone was a surprise to her.


    Shen Yue walked leisurely towards a glass panoramic elevator at the mall, getting off at the third floor.


    Hai Mingzhu had been watching Shen Yue in the elevator, making sure he got off on the third floor before she rushed up the escalator.


    She was still wary of elevators and didn¡¯t understand why Shen Yue could be so audacious.


    The third floor was the electronics section.


    As soon as Hai Mingzhu reached the floor, she saw Shen Yue hovering by a counter near the elevator.


    She quietly moved sideways to get a better view of what Shen Yue was up to.


    ¡°What are you doing, following me around like a ghost?¡± Shen Yue suddenly broke the silence.


    Startled, Hai Mingzhu joined Shen Yue, saying, ¡°I just wanted to see what Advisor Shen is up to, looking so mysterious at the mall.¡±


    Shen Yue gave Hai Mingzhu a strange look, ¡°I used the elevator, what¡¯s so strange about it?


    It¡¯s those who deliberately avoid the elevator and run on the escalators who are peculiar.¡±


    ¡°You knew I was following you all along?


    Why didn¡¯t you say hello?¡± Hai Mingzhu questioned in disappointment.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not work time yet.¡± Shen Yue sighed, ¡°Jin Xin and I have always worked flexibly.


    Ever since you joined us, I¡¯ve finally had a feeling of working regular hours.


    Do you want to ask me something?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Hai Mingzhu said realizing Shen Yue¡¯s drift and laughingly added, ¡°I am just concerned about your wellbeing.


    Did you sleep well last¡­


    or rather, this morning?¡±


    ¡°I slept well indeed,¡± Shen Yue responded casually.


    ¡°With your irregular work schedule, doesn¡¯t your girlfriend complain?¡± Hai Mingzhu tried to sound casual.


    ¡°Do I have a girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°How can you ask me that?¡± Hai Mingzhu widened her eyes, ¡°Don¡¯t you know whether you have a girlfriend or not?¡±


    Shen Yue contemplated for a while, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you that I have amnesia?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu saw the calm expression on Shen Yue¡¯s face, a lump formed in her throat, this time she did not sidestep the question, ¡°So, you don¡¯t remember any of your relatives or whether you have a girlfriend?¡±


    Shen Yue nodded slightly.


    ¡°That means you don¡¯t have a girlfriend,¡± Hai Mingzhu stated confidently.


    Shen Yue looked slightly surprised at Hai Mingzhu¡¯s conclusion, ¡°Why do you say that?¡±


    ¡°If your girlfriend truly loves you, no matter what happens to you, she will do everything possible to find you,¡± Hai Mingzhu reasoned, ¡°If no one is looking for you, even if you had a girlfriend, we can consider it as not having one.¡±


    Her explanation was diplomatic with profound implication.


    Shen Yue listened attentively, then replied, ¡°You make a good point.¡± He chuckled.


    Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t interpret whether the look behind Shen Yue¡¯s laughter was loneliness or not, ¡°What are you doing here? S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wait, don¡¯t tell me, let me guess.


    You came to the mall, because you wanted to buy something, right?¡±


    Shen Yue¡¯s look resembled Li Yuanfang viewing Di Renjie.


    ¡°What are you buying?¡± asked Hai Mingzhu, who had already identified the items in the showcase, ¡°You are probably buying an electronic product, like a holographic projector.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve guessed correctly,¡± Shen Yue responded ¡°astonishedly¡±.


    Seeing the dramatic way Shen Yue was behaving, Hai Mingzhu suppressed her laughter, ¡°What will you do with the holographic projector?


    Allow me to guess once more, it surely isn¡¯t for a wedding ceremony because you don¡¯t have a girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°Your thinking really is meticulous and leaves no stone unturned,¡± Shen Yue looked a little overwhelmed.


    ¡°So it must mean you are too lonely and want to buy a holographic projector to watch movies.


    Am I right?¡± Hai Mingzhu continued, suddenly realizing she and Shen Yue had a shared interest, ¡°I also like to watch movies, any kind is fine, especially horror movies.


    When you¡¯re scared watching them, I can provide you with some courage.¡±


    You were the one who was scared when we encountered the apparition yesterday, right?


    Shen Yue remembered Hai Mingzhu¡¯s fright, but didn¡¯t embarrass her, only sighed, ¡°I don¡¯t have money.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Hai Mingzhu quickly realized what Shen Yue was referring to, ¡°If you¡¯re out of cash, you can swipe your phone.


    It¡¯s a modern era, who still carries cash?¡±


    ¡°You think my phone can be used for payment?¡± Shen Yue took out his phone.


    Hai Mingzhu picked up Shen Yue¡¯s phone to take a look, ¡°It might actually work.¡± She tried flipping open the cover like Shen Yue, but it didn¡¯t budge.


    Just as she was about to feel embarrassed, Shen Yue reached out and took the phone back, flipping open the cover easily to reveal the seven-line panel.


    ¡°Advisor Shen, why can¡¯t I open your phone?¡± Hai Mingzhu watched Shen Yue¡¯s every move closely, certain that he hadn¡¯t made any additional actions.


    ¡°If you set a lock on your smartphone, I wouldn¡¯t be able to open it either,¡± Shen Yue said indifferently.


    Looking puzzled at Shen Yue¡¯s old device, Hai Mingzhu suddenly caught on, ¡°Your lousy¡­ old phone has a fingerprint verification function?


    That¡¯s amazing.¡±


    Without offering an explanation, Shen Yue suddenly said, ¡°Did you know that holographic projection technology uses the principles of lasers?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Hai Mingzhu felt that Shen Yue¡¯s thinking was too unfathomable and jumpy.


    ¡°A laser is a unique type of light with many special properties.


    For example, a laser is a coherent light, and all its light waves are synchronized, and this differs greatly from ordinary light.¡±


    While Shen Yue was talking, he was looking at the screen of his own phone.


    When Hai Mingzhu came closer to take a look, she saw a red line on the screen pulsating rhythmically, quite similar to an ECG.


    Hai Mingzhu watched the phone, suddenly had a thought, and turned to look at the holographic projector on the counter.


    The projector was displaying an advertisement which wasn¡¯t on a screen but appeared in mid-air, seeming perfectly three-dimensional.


    ¡°Are you saying¡­¡± Hai Mingzhu felt a fuzzy concept in her mind taking shape, ¡°Your phone can detect the signal emitted by the laser?¡±


    Shen Yue sighed silently, ¡°You¡¯re really smart to have thought of that.


    I came here to check out this holographic projector.


    Since I can¡¯t afford it, let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that!¡±


    The clouds in Hai Mingzhu¡¯s mind seemed to be split by a flash of lightning, revealing the truth behind.


    She held Shen Yue back, saying excitedly, ¡°Holography, it¡¯s holography.


    The ghost woman we saw on the thirteenth floor was actually just a holographic projection!¡±

 Chapter 42 - 42 42nd Episode Playing the Fool

    ?42: 42nd Episode: Playing the Fool 42: 42nd Episode: Playing the Fool Hai Mingzhu was so excited she didn¡¯t pay attention to her loud voice, which attracted several side glances.


    The salesperson in charge of their area saw the two lingering in front of the display case and assumed they were interested buyers.


    As the salesperson approached, Hai Mingzhu shouted about seeing a ghost, so the salesperson quickly retreated.


    They were willing to negotiate a deal with a well-mannered customer, but they refused to conduct business with a maniac!


    Shen Yue¡¯s eyes sparkled with amusement, ¡°You¡¯re really smart to figure out that the ghost girl is a hologram.¡±


    ¡°Wait a second!¡±


    Hai Mingzhu felt the pieces in her mind falling into place, ¡°¡­


    the 13th floor doesn¡¯t have a ghost, Manager Song had a split personality due to stress and believed he was a ¡®butterfly¡¯.


    I initially didn¡¯t believe your explanation because I always had a question in my mind.


    I couldn¡¯t figure out what it was until today.


    But it¡¯s not just Manager Song who saw a ghost ¡ª others did too.


    We can assume Xun Jiasheng was pretending to be possessed by the spirit of Hu Jiasheng to escape.


    But¡­


    Tie Zheng and Qi Xin, they clearly saw a ghost.¡±


    She stared at Shen Yue, saying excitedly, ¡°I came to see you today to ask about this; and you knew I would.


    Is that why you brought me here?¡±


    Shen Yue merely smiled, offering no answer.


    ¡°You¡¯re implying that with modern technology, holography can create ghost-like images in thin air, and the female ghost that Tie Zheng and Qi Xin saw might be a holographic projection by someone.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu caught on quickly, ¡°You had your phone out the whole time on the 13th floor and nobody knew what you were looking at.


    Now I know, you must have detected the coherence of the laser¡¯s light, which made you suspect that someone was creating a ghost using a hologram.¡±


    This elicited an appreciative expression from Shen Yue.


    Though Hai Mingzhu seemed somewhat confused, she was able to connect all the dots with a single hint and did not persist with her initial assumptions.


    Shen Yue realized that her intelligence was not to be underestimated.


    ¡°With your suspicion, you pretended to exorcize the ghost¡­


    Wait, I saw you wake up Manager Song for a brief moment.


    How did you do that?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked with a hint of hesitation.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­


    a trade secret I can¡¯t reveal,¡± Shen Yue responded seriously.


    Hai Mingzhu pouted, ¡°Is it really that mysterious?¡± But she did not press further and continued, ¡°The hologram we see here is stationary.


    If we wanted it to float around like the ghost on the 13th floor, someone has to be moving the projector!¡±


    Shen Yue nodded in agreement.


    ¡°You knew early on that someone was causing mischief.¡± Hai Mingzhu¡¯s thoughts flowed like a geyser, ¡°So when you pretended to exorcise the ¡°ghost¡±, you figured there¡¯d be another sighting.


    The prankster knew the layout of the 13th floor well, ensuring nobody could spot him.


    If you tracked the signal, you¡¯d track the prankster, and with it find the way out?


    You indeed discovered the exit path.


    The rope used must have been left behind by the prankster.¡±


    She paused, then confessed, ¡°Advisor Shen, you truly are brilliant.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I intended to say about you, but you¡¯ve beat me to it,¡± Shen Yue said, smiling.


    Hai Mingzhu bit her lip, ¡°You¡¯re truly brilliant, I¡¯m just pretending to be.¡± She suddenly thought of a question, ¡°Who was playing tricks on the 13th floor?¡±


    Before Shen Yue could answer, Hai Mingzhu posited, ¡°Now we are sure there isn¡¯t a ghost on the 13th floor.¡± Shen Yue¡¯s eyes subtly hinted at something unusual, but Hai Mingzhu, not noticing, continued, ¡°The person responsible for projecting the ghost with the hologram tunred out to be human.


    If they weren¡¯t from the Giant Corporation, then they were most likely among us.


    Whoever was missing from the scene at the time is the prime suspect, correct?¡±


    ¡°It seems like everyone was present,¡± Shen Yue offered with a smile.


    ¡°No!¡±


    Hai Mingzhu disagreed outright, ¡°To my knowledge, at least two people were unaccounted for.¡± Before she could finish, someone interjected, ¡°You seem caught up in a great discussion, but it¡¯s about time we got to work.¡±


    Turning her head, she saw was Jin Xin.


    Hai Mingzhu seemed somewhat surprised, ¡°How did you find us?¡±


    ¡°Trade secret,¡± Jin Xin replied.


    Hearing those two words from Jin Xin, it seemed he had been there awhile since Shen Yue used the same words earlier.


    ¡°President Jin, don¡¯t you want to know who¡¯s playing ghost?¡± As if suddenly realizing something, she added, ¡°You must¡¯ve known about the prankster, too, along with Advisor Shen, but you didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    Jin Xin shook his head, ¡°What did I know?


    I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.


    It¡¯s almost time, let¡¯s go.¡±


    He got on the escalator and went downstairs first.


    Hai Mingzhu stuck out her tongue at Jin Xin¡¯s retreating figure, then approached Shen Yue in a friendly manner, ¡°Let¡¯s go Advisor Shen.


    As employees, we have to obey the boss¡¯s orders.¡±


    The trio left the mall and headed for the Giant Building.


    Upon reaching the elevator lobby, Hai Mingzhu murmured, ¡°I hope we don¡¯t get stuck on the 13th floor again.¡±


    Sensing someone approaching, she turned and her expression shifted upon recognizing Qi Xin and his brothers from Qi Family Security.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you guys missing?¡± Hai Mingzhu unexpectedly initiated a conversation, asking Qi Li and Qi Tai, ¡°How did you get out?


    Did anything happen to you?¡±


    Qi Li and Qi Tai exchanged glances but stayed silent.


    Qi Xin finally replied on their behalf, ¡°They¡¯re both fine, thank you for asking.


    They¡¯re not sure how they got out.


    They¡¯re still a bit confused.


    A lot of weird stuff happened last night.¡±


    ¡°I found it odd as well.¡± Hai Mingzhu ignored Shen Yue¡¯s warning look, and hinted at Qi Xin, ¡°You seemed particularly concerned about your brothers¡¯ whereabouts on the 13th floor last night.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Qi Xin frowned, ¡°Our brotherhood is strong. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When they went missing, I was naturally anxious.


    I wouldn¡¯t have thrown such a fit otherwise¡­¡± He shook his head, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Manager Song¡¯s mental state to be so unstable.


    It was all due to him, I was actually frightened out of my wits.¡±


    ¡°But when we took the elevator down, your brothers hadn¡¯t reappeared, and you didn¡¯t even ask Gao Jie about them.


    It seemed you weren¡¯t too worried about them,¡± Hai Mingzhu said staring at Qi Xin.


    His expression seemed frozen as he finally awkwardly responded, ¡°Really?


    I don¡¯t remember.¡±


    ¡°Mr.


    Qi, did you know your brothers would be okay, and that¡¯s why you weren¡¯t worried?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked, not letting it go.


    At the sound of a ¡®Ding¡¯, the elevator doors opened.


    Qi Xin coughed, ¡°The elevator¡¯s here, let¡¯s go.¡± Inside the elevator, he noticed Hai Mingzhu didn¡¯t seem ready to get in with Shen Yue and Jin Xin, ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys taking the elevator?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll take the next one,¡± Hai Mingzhu responded with a straight face, ¡°We¡¯re afraid of someone playing ghostly pranks on us!¡±


    As the elevator doors slowly closed, through the narrowing gap, they could still see the stern expression on Qi Xin¡¯s face!

 Chapter 43 - 43 Section 43 Questioning

    ?43: Section 43 Questioning 43: Section 43 Questioning As soon as the elevator doors finally closed, and Hai Mingzhu felt confident Qi Xin couldn¡¯t hear her, she turned to Shen Yue and said immediately, ¡°The Qi brothers are the ones behind the deception on the thirteenth floor.


    Qi Xin keeps creating this ghostly atmosphere while Qi Li and Qi Tai pretended to be kidnapped by a ghost, hiding and projecting holographs to pretend as if there were actual ghosts.¡±


    Clearing her throat, Hai Mingzhu started analyzing, ¡°Otherwise, how could these brothers vanish in the blink of an eye, not even Tie Zheng, despite his agility, seeing them disappear?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wasted at Jin Tang Security.¡± Jin Xin regretfully said, ¡°You¡¯re clearly a modern female Holmes.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I dare not.¡± Hai Mingzhu immediately played down her efforts, ¡°The credit for all of this goes to President Jin and Advisor Shen¡¯s leadership.¡±


    Once inside the elevator, Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°But why would Qi Family Security do this?¡±


    Jin Xin and Shen Yue exchanged looks, their faces filled with surprise.


    They had underestimated Hai Mingzhu¡ªthey were coming to realize that given a clue, she could uncover the secrets buried in someone¡¯s past.


    Her brain working rapidly, Hai Mingzhu added, ¡°There must be a benefit to it, Qi Family Security must have plotte this in collusion with Giant Corporation.¡±


    Shen Yue and Jin Xin simply nodded, neither denying her speculation this time.


    Hai Mingzhu, pleased to have the acknowledgment of the two leaders, excitedly continued, ¡°Or perhaps we should ask¡ª what was Giant Corporation¡¯s motivation?


    Why did they send us to the eerie thirteenth floor and have Qi Xin and his brothers scare us?¡±


    Both Shen Yue and Jin Xin shook their heads.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know or you just don¡¯t want to say?¡± Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help asking.


    Jin Xin sighed and responded, ¡°My girl, you may be a female Holmes, but we¡¯re not Di Renjie.


    There¡¯s still a lot we don¡¯t know.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu didn¡¯t believe it and argued, ¡°You¡¯re still playing dumb.


    At the very least, you knew there was something suspicious about the Qi brothers.


    You can¡¯t deny that, can you?¡±


    ¡°Well, Shen Yue is the one who discovered that,¡± Jin Xin passed the buck.


    ¡°But why didn¡¯t you expose them?¡± Clearly, Hai Mingzhu was the type to hold grudges.


    Jin Xin sighed and said, ¡°My dear, we¡¯re in business for money, not trouble.


    Business isn¡¯t as straightforward as you think, and neither are personal relationships.


    Sometimes, it¡¯s better to feign ignorance and keep everyone happy.


    Knowing the truth can spoil things, aren¡¯t you often unhappy once you know the truth?


    Sometimes, Ignorance is better than knowledge, unless necessary.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu fell silent before eventually asking, ¡°So, have I done something wrong again?¡± She asked, seeming a bit puzzled and awkward, ¡°Why should we good people care about the wrongdoers?


    Being good is so difficult; no wonder people are reluctant to be good.¡±


    Jin Xin was taken aback; he had tried to offer guidance to Hai Mingzhu based on his experience but felt a bit unsure after hearing her response.


    Shen Yue, on the other hand, chuckled and said to Hai Mingzhu, ¡°Looks to me like you¡¯re doing a pretty good job being a good person.¡±


    During their conversation, they finally reached the 44th floor meeting room.


    The representatives of the other four firms, except for the dismissed Anxin security, were already present.


    Upon seeing Shen Yue and the others enter, everyone, except Qi Security, greeted Shen Yue with a nod.


    Tie Zheng even said, ¡°Advisor Shen, we really must thank you for your help.¡± Afterwards, he glanced at Tie Wa.


    Tie Wa stood up and bowed to the three of them, reminiscent of a bereavement visit.


    The three returned the gesture, resembling their condolences to the family of the deceased.


    Zhou Dewei, clearly angry, said, ¡°We were all confused yesterday, but today we must get some answers from Giant Corporation!¡±


    ¡°What do you want to know?¡± Gao Jie stood coldly by the conference room door; her demeanor silenced everyone in the room.


    Zou Dewei was not intimidated by Gao Jie¡¯s arrogance.


    Infuriated, he stood and said, ¡°We want to know exactly what happened last night.


    Gao Jie, don¡¯t try to brush us off like you did yesterday.


    Are you telling us that you had no idea about what happened on the thirteenth floor?


    Who are you trying to deceive?¡±


    He felt more wronged the more he thought about last night.


    He decided it didn¡¯t matter if he lost the business; he had to demand justice.


    Gao Jie slowly walked to the front of the conference room and said coldly, ¡°You all probably think that Giant Corporation was the one who sent you to the thirteenth floor.¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it?¡± Zhou Dewei retorted defiantly.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she responded.


    Gao Jie¡¯s affirmation stunned Zhou Dewei.


    Then she added, ¡°I could see that most of you were very agitated in the early hours, so I left it until now to let you calm down.


    Now it seems you are more settled, so I can tell you that sending you to the thirteenth floor was, in fact, a test.¡±


    ¡°A test?


    Testing what?¡± Hai Mingzhu felt that Zhou Dewei¡¯s call for action hadn¡¯t received much support, so she chimed in, ¡°A psychological test for Manager Song?¡±


    Gao Jie stared coldly at Hai Mingzhu, ¡°Are you convinced that Giant Corporation tried to harm you?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu had already told herself to be patient, but seeing Gao Jie appearing so arrogant after her wrongdoing, she lost her patience and exploded, ¡°Yes, I do think you guys are trying to harm us!


    Not only harming us but also hiring those three brothers to scare us to death with ghost pranks!


    Qi Xin, dare you swear here in front of everyone that the ghost on the thirteenth floor wasn¡¯t your brothers¡¯ doing?¡±


    The meeting room went silent! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Everyone was taken aback.


    Tie Zheng¡¯s expression shifted slightly, showing signs of realization as he turned to look at the Qi brothers.


    With his vast experience, he didn¡¯t limit his thoughts to sleep after returning from the thirteenth floor; instead, he contemplated the events that took place there.


    Now, after hearing Hai Mingzhu spill this fact, he came to understand even more.


    Hai Mingzhu regretted it a bit, instantly after stating it out loud.


    She inferred from Jin Xin¡¯s words that he was trying to tell her not to expose this matter, but she was unable to hide it.


    She had to see things made clear.


    Hai Mingzhu didn¡¯t even dare to look at the expressions of Jin Xin or Shen Yue after her outburst.


    Strangely, both Jin Xin and Shen Yue neither stopped the argument nor tried to defuse the situation; they simply exchanged a look.


    There was even a trace of amusement in Jin Xin¡¯s eyes as he seemed to grow more interested in Hai Mingzhu.


    Gao Jie¡¯s gaze flashed strangely as if she was re-evaluating Hai Mingzhu.


    After a long pause, Gao Jie finally said slowly, ¡°It¡¯s true that Qi Family Security collaborated with Giant Corporation on this test.¡±


    Her sudden admission sent the room into an uproar.


    Despite this, the Qi brothers sat there unfazed.


    Seeing this, the crowd¡¯s attitude towards the brothers began to sour.


    ¡°But everything was done with your best interests in mind.¡± Gao Jie added solemnly.


    ¡°So, your idea of looking out for our interests involves sending us to the thirteenth floor, scaring Manager Song into a mental breakdown with ghost pranks, and even trying to drown us?¡± Hai Mingzhu questioned, realizing that the water flooded in the hidden chamber was probably set off by Giant Corporation¡¯s schemers.


    ¡°Yes, Giant Corporation was indeed trying to act in your best interests!¡±


    Gao Jie responded to these challenging questions with a calm demeanor, staring coldly at the dissatisfied attendees, ¡°Even though Giant Corporation signed a contract implying a risk to your lives, it doesn¡¯t mean the company wants you to die.


    The enemies your security firms will face are more bizarre and mysterious than what you encountered on the thirteenth floor.


    If you can¡¯t even pass a test like that, I advise you all to gracefully quit now!¡±

 Chapter 44 - 44 44 Unexpected Exclusion Five updates asking for recommendation votes

    ?44: Chapter 44: Unexpected Exclusion (Five updates asking for recommendation votes) 44: Chapter 44: Unexpected Exclusion (Five updates asking for recommendation votes) Gao Jie was by no means an easy woman to get along with, and now that she had started speaking, her expression became even more serious.


    Staring at Hai Mingzhu, Gao Jie said, ¡°We indeed played tricks, and it¡¯s also true that we filled the secret room with water.


    We were testing your responses in a crisis situation.


    You might think we were trying to harm you.


    But in the end, none of you were harmed.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°That¡¯s because Advisor Shen found the way out,¡± retorted Hai Mingzhu.


    ¡°That¡¯s only because it was a test.¡±


    Gao Jie was unapologetic, ¡°We didn¡¯t want any of you to die, so we slowed the rate at which the water was entering the room; we didn¡¯t want you to die, so even though we let Qi Li and Qi Tai create a terrifying atmosphere, we allowed Qi Xin to stay with you to prevent any accident.


    None of you have died, right?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was left speechless.


    She had been asked the same question by Shen Yue before, and she couldn¡¯t answer him then, and she still couldn¡¯t answer now.


    ¡°But in your future security work, any neglect may result in death, not like Manager Song, who at least had someone to send him to the mental hospital.¡±


    Gao Jie didn¡¯t seem to be making empty threats; ¡°I am the new CIO of the company, and I still can¡¯t find any traces of our enemies.


    This test was to warn you not to underestimate the difficulties you will face.


    Do you understand my explanation?¡±


    People remained silent.


    Although they all felt a little uncomfortable, Gao Jie¡¯s explanation seemed to make sense.


    Even Zhou Dewei, who wanted to make a big fuss, reluctantly sat back down.


    ¡°Do you have any other questions?¡± Gao Jie asked again.


    Everyone exchanged glances; Hai Mingzhu now found Gao Jie more difficult to deal with than a ghost.


    ¡°If there are no other questions, President Li would like to see you.


    Please follow me.¡± After saying this, Gao Jie left the conference room.


    Feng Jingye had been silent all this time.


    Now he stood up to defuse the situation: ¡°It seems that there¡¯s been a misunderstanding.


    Giant Enterprises is really looking out for us.


    There aren¡¯t many companies these days that are as conscientious.¡± As he spoke, he walked out and everyone else followed with some embarrassment.


    Truth often sides with the minority, while reason typically sides with the wealthy.


    After all, they are businessmen, and making money is their primary consideration.


    Hai Mingzhu almost didn¡¯t dare to glance at Jin Xin¡¯s expression, fearing he might fire her on the spot.


    She hung her head and followed behind the two men back into the elevator, which this time went directly to the 88th floor.


    When everyone arrived on the 88th floor, Gao Jie expressionlessly said, ¡°The personnel of Qi¡¯s security and Tie Tai Security, please come with me to see the president.


    The rest of you, please wait outside.¡±


    After saying that, she took Qi Xin, Tie Zheng, and others into the president¡¯s office.


    After the massive door had been open for only a moment, it closed behind them, and no one outside could see what was happening inside.


    Hai Mingzhu was a little uneasy.


    She finally walked up to Jin Xin and said, ¡°President Jin, I¡¯ve caused trouble for you again.¡± She was straightforward and felt that she should take responsibility for her mistakes.


    Jin Xin just smiled, contrary to her expectation of a stern rebuke, ¡°Our company needs people like you who can play the ¡®good cop¡¯.¡±


    Hearing that Jin Xin had no intention of blaming her, Hai Mingzhu looked up cheerfully, ¡°President Jin is right, I am the treacherous minister who ¡®plays the good cop¡¯, President Jin is the loyal minister ¡®playing the tough cop¡¯, then what about Advisor Shen?¡±


    ¡°Can I just buy a ticket and watch the drama?¡± Shen Yue quickly found his position in the scenario.


    Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    ¡°The work pressure is now too much.¡± Jin Xin shook his head as he spoke to Shen Yue; ¡°Look at what the job pressure has done to these college students, they even look happy playing the part of the villain.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu, cheerful and not defensive, realized that these two men were the real gentlemen.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to come today.¡± remarked Jin Xin casually; ¡°After experiencing such a dangerous situation on the thirteenth floor, a normal girl would definitely quit her job, right?


    But you were afraid of losing the job?¡±


    Playing it cheerfully, Hai Mingzhu said, ¡°I find this job very meaningful.


    It pays well and it¡¯s interesting, such jobs are hard to come by, how could I quit?¡±


    Now that she was no longer worried, Hai Mingzhu regained her detective¡¯s demeanor, ¡°Why is President Li meeting with the people from Qi¡¯s security and Tie Tai Security first?


    Could there be some ulterior motive?¡±


    ¡°If President Li met us first, wouldn¡¯t you think there¡¯s something wrong as well?¡± Shen Yue was quite direct, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.


    Giant Enterprises has its own way of doing things, it¡¯s not something any one of us can decide.


    We just need to calmly wait for the result.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu laughed awkwardly.


    In the midst of their conversation, the doors to the president¡¯s office opened, and Tie Zheng and Qi Xin, among others, filed out.


    The Qi brothers showed no expression as they left while Tie Zheng, who held an envelope, seemed a little off.


    He appeared to want to say something to Shen Yue and the others, but in the end, he just nodded and departed.


    Gao Jie appeared in the doorway and said, ¡°Please have the leaders of Fuquan and Dewei come forward to meet the president.¡±


    Feng Jingye and Zhou Dewei looked at each other; both feeling a bit surprised, but they entered the president¡¯s office nonetheless.


    Hai Mingzhu was somewhat nervous, but still reassured Jin Xin and Shen Yue by saying, ¡°The worst is yet to come; the most significant character always makes the last appearance.


    Don¡¯t we always see that in dramas?¡±


    Shen Yue furrowed his brow and murmured, ¡°Something doesn¡¯t seem right.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jin Xin looked equally perplexed.


    ¡°In a big scene, the important characters usually make the last appearance, but for job interviews, priority is generally given to the prime candidates.¡± Shen Yue looked at Jin Xin, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the rule in the corporate world?¡±


    Jin Xin nodded, ¡°It seems that way, corporations usually focus their energy on confirming the prime candidates first, and the rest are not critical; after all, there are plenty of other candidates to fill the ranks.¡±


    Hearing that the situation may not be in their favor, Hai Mingzhu still reassured them, ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily true.


    We¡¯re here and not going anywhere.


    Does it make a difference whether we are met with earlier or later?¡±


    After waiting for some time, Feng Jingye and Zhou Dewei came out, each holding an envelope, giving the trio a perplexed look before leaving without a word.


    Gao Jie appeared once again, beckoning the last remaining trio of Shen Yue to follow her inside.


    As Shen Yue entered the door, he glanced back behind him; Hai Mingzhu, however, was marveling at the extravagant life of the wealthy.


    The entire 88th floor seemed to be President Li¡¯s office except for the waiting area.


    The spacious office was beyond imagination and gave a sense of having the entire city under control as they looked down on it from the highrise.


    Jin Xin didn¡¯t look at the security or the scenery; his first glance was at the man sitting behind the desk.


    That man was of course, Li Jiye!


    The current helm of Giant Enterprises!


    Giant Enterprises was founded by Giant Li, but he had receded behind the scenes more than a decade ago.


    Now, Li Jiye was at the helm of the giant aircraft carrier that is Giant Enterprises.


    With such power in his hands, Li Jiye was a very dignified man, but Jin Xin noticed the deep ¡®river¡¯ character lines etched between Li Jiye¡¯s brows.


    People with such profound wrinkles were always those with concerns, as well as schemes.


    Li Jiye was also looking at Jin Xin, and opened the conversation without any small talk; ¡°President Jin, we at Giant Enterprises regret to inform you that our contract can now come to an end.¡±

 Chapter 45 - 45 45 - Pride and Right View

    ?45: 45 ¨C Pride and Right View 45: 45 ¨C Pride and Right View Despite having suspicions, when Hai Mingzhu heard Li Jiye utter the words ¡°contract termination¡± she still couldn¡¯t believe her ears.


    Why?


    The best gets eliminated while the incompetent and deceitful get promoted?


    What kind of a damn CEO is this?


    What are these bullshit game rules?


    Hai Mingzhu felt entirely unconvinced.


    The thought that she might have offended Gao Jie even crossed her mind, but she also knew that such discussions at this level were not influenced by emotions or opinions.


    In crucial times, Shen Yue and Jin Xin were the ones to watch.


    Shen Yue seemed as calm as if he¡¯d just been asked: ¡°have you eaten already?¡±, Jin Xin also showed no signs of surprise, he could only cough lightly and say: ¡°I don¡¯t know if President Li has seen our contract signed with the Giant Corporation?¡±


    Having been engaged in the business world for many years, Li Jiye understood the implications of Jin Xin¡¯s words, ¡°if we terminate the contract unilaterally without your wrongdoing, we will pay double the deposit as compensation.¡±


    Jin Xin¡¯s smile remained as he asked, ¡°Has Jin¡¯s Security made any mistakes?¡±


    ¡°No mistakes,¡± Li Jiye casually glanced at Gao Jie standing next to the door, ¡°on the contrary, I think you all are doing an excellent job.¡±


    ¡°The Giant Corporation does indeed have a peculiar hiring process.¡± Jin Xin remarked sarcastically.


    Li Jiye was silent for a moment.


    He took out his checkbook, wrote a sum on the topmost page, then tore it out and put it on the desk, ¡°Take these two million, from now on Giant Corporation and Jin¡¯s Security have no relation anymore, and the contract is rendered null and void immediately.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu¡¯s eyes widened, and she wanted to question him¡ªhow could you do this out of the blue?


    Because you¡¯re rich you think you can do anything?


    However, she didn¡¯t speak out in the end because even after just graduating from university, she knew that the rich could indeed do as they pleased.


    In the eyes of the wealthy, a contract is nothing more than a piece of paper that can be exchanged for money.


    Jin Xin came forward and carefully checked the amount on the check.


    He pulled out his wallet and carefully stored the check, then nodded to Li Jiye with a smile, and left without even uttering a word of thanks.


    After the solid door of the office was closed, Li Jiye couldn¡¯t see Jin Xin and the others leaving, yet he was still staring at the door, ¡°Madam Gao, I¡¯ve always thought that your proposal was not particularly good, but I respect your professional ethics.¡±


    Gao Jie remained silent, a thoughtful expression visible in her eyes.


    Arriving at the elevator, Hai Mingzhu could no longer hold back: ¡°President Jin, we¡¯re just leaving like that?¡±


    Jin Xin counter-questioned: ¡°How do you plan on leaving then?


    Jumping out of the window to express your discontent?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu did have resentment, however, she had no intention of jumping from the window, ¡°Why did they treat us like this?


    If level 13 was a test, then Jin¡¯s Security surely got the highest score.


    The best gets eliminated?


    I would definitely demand an explanation if I were in that situation.


    I¡¯m fuming!


    This is hard to swallow!¡±


    Shen Yue suddenly interjected: ¡°It¡¯s President Jin who distributes the money.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Hai Mingzhu had a sudden realization.


    ¡°If he has no money, how would he distribute it to us?


    Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Shen Yue asked.


    ¡°How will we split these four million?¡± Hai Mingzhu understood.


    ¡°I plan to take you all on a vacation to Southeast Asia using these company funds.


    We will go sightseeing, watch the sea, take in the radiance of the sun, and relax for a few days.


    What do you all think?¡± Jin Xin suggested.


    ¡°Great!¡± Hai Mingzhu immediately put her grievances to the back of her mind.


    Indeed, it seems like there aren¡¯t any problems in this world that money can¡¯t solve.


    If there is such a problem, then it just means you don¡¯t have enough money.


    As the elevator doors opened, Hai Mingzhu¡¯s smile suddenly faded.


    Three people emerged, and if there were people in this world that Hai Mingzhu truly resented, all of them had just gotten out of the elevator.


    The person bowing and nodding at the elevator door was none other than Xun Jiasheng, and Madam Qian, with her arrogant son Li Jizu, was staring at them condescendingly.


    Jin Xin and Shen Yue exchanged glances, seemingly not having expected that Xun Jiasheng would be cozying up with Madam Qian and her son.


    Xun Jiasheng looked quite smug as he looked at Jin Xin, ¡°President Jin, I didn¡¯t expect to run into you here.


    What happened?


    Did you get fired?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was taken aback.


    They had only been fired a few minutes ago.


    How did Xun Jiasheng know about this already?


    Jin Xin instantly struck back, ¡°Indeed, Manager Xun, I didn¡¯t expect to see you here either.


    I thought that¡­


    back on level thirteen, had I not thrown the rope to you, we would not have met again.¡±


    Xun Jiasheng replied with a cold laugh, ¡°That was just a test, I would have been fine even without you.


    But¡­¡± He glared at the three of them, his gaze fierce, ¡°when Manager Song was choking me, none of you helped.


    I¡¯ll always remember that!¡±


    His gritted teeth conveyed an ominous threat.


    Hai Mingzhu, who originally thought Jin Xin should not always refer to Xun Jiasheng as ¡°Dog Manager,¡± now felt that the title was perfectly suitable.


    What an ungrateful, petty man.


    The kind who never appreciates help from others and instead harbours resentment for the smallest things and holds grudges forever. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Exactly, I am very afraid¡±} Jin Xin replied with a chuckle, seemingly unconcerned about Xun Jiasheng¡¯s threatening words.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point in wasting words on such people.¡± Madam Qian finally spoke.


    She stared at the three of them disdainfully, ¡°Remember this, this is not a place for people like you.


    You have no business interfering in Giant Corporation¡¯s affair.


    As long as I, Qian Qiaoqiao, am here, you won¡¯t be getting any business from Giant Corporation.


    Let¡¯s go.¡±


    She arrogantly tossed her hair and stomped off towards the CEO¡¯s office.


    Li Jizu, with a fake smile on his face, couldn¡¯t resist adding, ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel good to be fired, does it?¡±


    ¡°Madam Qian!¡± Jin Xin suddenly called out.


    Madam Qian stopped in her tracks but didn¡¯t turn around, saying coldly, ¡°If you beg me now, I might consider it.¡± Her implication was clear.


    Jin Xin continued to smile, ¡°I must thank Madam Qian for her help this time.


    The breach of contract was by Giant Corporation, and President Li has already paid the penalty.


    Between a two-day deal with 4 million profit and a nerve-wracking deal of only 20 million in a month where you may even risk your life, anyone with brains and not mud can tell which is the more profitable option.¡±


    Madam Qian halted, she had indeed instigated the dismissal of Jin¡¯s Security, but she had never anticipated such an outcome.


    Xun Jiasheng¡¯s face turned green with envy, he hadn¡¯t expected Jin Xin and Shen Yue to turn the tables once again.


    ¡°We are very grateful to Madam Qian for helping Jin¡¯s Security make the best choice,¡± Jin Xin said, his mouth wide open in a big smile, ¡°If such situations arise in the future, we still hope for Madam to stir things up.


    Please rest assured, Jin¡¯s Security opens its doors for business in good faith, unlike some despicable people who stab others in the back and gossip behind their backs.


    If Madam is interested in long-term cooperation, I would consider giving a 20% commission.


    Please give it some serious thought.¡±


    Madam Qian gave no consideration, she was already livid from Jin Xin¡¯s words.


    Angrily stomping her foot she stormed off in silence.

 Chapter 46 - 46 Section 46 Other Tasks

    ?46: Section 46 Other Tasks 46: Section 46 Other Tasks Looking at Madam Qian among others, who were ready to burst in anger, Jin Xin promptly stepped into the elevator feeling smug.


    Hai Mingzhu, holding back her laughter, burst out in peals of laughter inside the elevator.


    She gave Jin Xin a thumbs up and said, ¡°President Jin, you¡¯re really manly!¡±


    Not until the elevator doors opened again did Hai Mingzhu stop her laughter.


    For a moment, all three of them did not step out of the elevator.


    It wasn¡¯t because they were trapped on the eerie thirteenth floor, but because a man was standing in front of the elevator doors.


    The person was blocking the door like a plank.


    Hai Mingzhu looked at the man.


    He was in a neat suit, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and exuded an elegant demeanor.


    She did not understand why someone like him would have a bad habit of blocking the doors.


    Both Shen Yue and Jin Xin seemed to have changed expressions slightly.


    Seeing the three of them, the man politely introduced himself, ¡°My name is Li Jixian, the executive vice president of Giant Industries.¡± He seemed to recognize all three of them, ¡°President Jin, Advisor Shen, and Miss Hai, am I correct?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was left speechless.


    Li Jixian?


    The man holding the real power in Giant Industries, just behind Li Jiye.


    And he has been waiting at the elevator for them for quite some time?


    The expressions of Jin Xin and Shen Yue seemed a bit surprised, but Jin Xin instantly put on his businessman¡¯s demeanor.


    ¡°I wonder what you might need from us, President Li?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not an order.¡± Li Jixian seemed to have a completely different personality from his older brother: he was quite affable.


    ¡°I just have some personal matters to discuss with you three.


    Would it be convenient for you to come to my office?


    It¡¯s on the seventy-seventh floor.¡±


    Right, this elevator is going to be smoking from excessive use.


    Do you folks from the Li Family enjoy keeping people running up and down?


    Hai Mingzhu could not understand why they would do such thing.


    Li Jiye had just terminated the contract with Golden Soup Security, and now Li Jixian came to discuss another agreement.


    Could it be that he is planning to sign a new contract?


    Jin Xin smiled and said, ¡°President Li, you¡¯re really polite.


    It¡¯s not mealtime now, so we are quite free.¡±


    Li Jixian chuckled, seemingly laughing at Jin Xin¡¯s humor.


    He then led them to the seventy-seventh floor and into his office.


    The office, more than a hundred square meters in size, does not have any semblance of a modern workplace.


    The room was filled with a faint sandalwood aroma.


    There was no traditional boss¡¯s table, but instead a solid wooden writing desk.


    It had sheets of rice paper, a brush holder, and an inkstone on it.


    There was a stone tea table by the window with several root-carved stools.


    On the wall hung a landscape painting with a profound meaning.


    A row of bookshelves stood opposite to the door, filled mostly with old books.


    His office didn¡¯t look like a place for work, but rather a refined study room.


    Li Jixian invited everyone to sit down and ordered his secretary to serve tea.


    After his secretary left and all the necessary arrangements had been made, Li Jixian finally addressed the guests: ¡°You might find it abrupt as I have never met you before and suddenly asked for a meeting.


    It really is somewhat presumptuous.¡±


    Jin Xin was definitely skilled at handling such situations, ¡°President Li, just get straight to the point.


    We are tight-lipped.¡±


    Li Jixian gave a forced laugh and kept beating around the bush.


    ¡°I know that my elder brother, President Li, decided to terminate the contract with your company.


    I am a bit upset on behalf of Golden Soup Security.


    Among the six security agencies, Golden Soup Security is undoubtedly the most outstanding.¡±


    Shen Yue suddenly asked, ¡°Has President Li seen our performance?¡±


    Li Jixian looked at Shen Yue in admiration, ¡°Not only have I seen it, but I¡¯m also very impressed.


    Given that kind of situation, Advisor Shen performed brilliantly and is simply the best partner for President Jin in the security industry.¡±


    ¡°Qi Family Security not only put on a show but also secretly recorded the scene?¡± Hai Mingzhu guessed.


    Li Jixian looked at Hai Mingzhu and praised her as well: ¡°That¡¯s essentially it.


    Miss Hai is very smart to have guessed it.¡±


    From the moment she entered the office, Hai Mingzhu realized that Li Jixian was following the refined businessman model, which is in stark contrast to Li Jiye¡¯s domineering CEO persona.


    Hearing Li Jixian praising her and feeling that this second son of the Li Family is very affable and likeable, Hai Mingzhu happily replied, ¡°Thank you for your compliment, President Li.


    You are so different from your elder brother.¡±


    Li Jixian laughed a bit shyly, finally getting to the point: ¡°At that time, we were actually watching the broadcast of the thirteenth floor.


    Given the current troubles of the Li Family, after watching the video, my two brothers and I decided to choose some security personnel for our personal safety.


    The test on the thirteenth floor, on one hand, was to evaluate the overall performances, and on the other hand, to provide us with some references for our decision.¡±


    ¡°All three of you need protection?


    All three sons of the Li Family?¡± Jin Xin¡¯s eyes slightly shone, giving Li Jixian a questioning look, who then nodded, ¡°Then the Li Family must be in trouble, right?¡± He subtly hinted that whoever dared to pick on the Li Family must be quite a formidable opponent!


    Li Jixian picked up the teacup and took a sip.


    His expression showed a hint of unease.


    Setting down the cup, he apologized, ¡°I¡¯d love to discuss some things about the Li Family with you all.


    However, since my elder brother has made his decision, I cannot leak this to unrelated people anymore.


    I hope you can understand.¡±


    ¡°Then why did you call us here?¡± Hai Mingzhu felt that Li Jixian was fine in every other aspect, except that he was overly indecisive.


    He had talked for a long time, yet she did not have any idea about his true intentions.


    Li Jixian noticed Hai Mingzhu¡¯s dissatisfaction and said apologetically: ¡°I didn¡¯t put it well.


    I¡¯m in a bind because I want to hire you to protect someone, and it¡¯s related to the Li Family.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was almost ready to splash the tea in front of her on Li Jixian¡¯s face to wake him up.


    Shen Yue beside her said, ¡°So you¡¯re saying there are two issues within the Li Family.


    One is the issue handled by President Li, related to you three brothers, and the other is related to the Li Family, not involving you three brothers.


    Hence, you think you can ignore your elder brother¡¯s orders.


    You appreciate our performance on the thirteenth floor and think we are competent.


    That¡¯s why you would like to hire us for this job?¡±


    Li Jixian sighed in relief, ¡°Advisor Shen is truly Advisor Shen, much clearer than me.¡±


    ¡°So, who does President Li want us to protect?¡± Shen Yue felt that if Li Jixian continued to go around in circles, they might have to spend the night in the Giant Building.


    So, he took over the conversation.


    Li Jixian took a photo from the drawer of his desk and handed it to Jin Xin.


    The photo was of a very pure-looking girl who appeared to be a high school student.


    She had a bright smile, and her eyes curved like crescents when she smiled.


    ¡°Who is this?¡± asked Jin Xin with a frown.


    ¡°This is my Aunt Cui¡¯s daughter, her name is Li Yawei.¡± Li Jixian looked at Jin Xin, ¡°President Jin should have done some research on the Li Family.


    Do you know that our father had four¡­.¡± he cut himself off.


    Jin Xin caught on immediately, ¡°So the late Mr.


    Giant Li had four acknowledged romantic relationships, and I heard the woman he was involved with in the fourth relationship was named Cui Xin¡¯ai.


    They had a daughter named Li Yawei. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Is President Li referring to this mother and daughter?¡±


    Li Jixian heaved a sigh of relief and seemed relieved to see that Jin Xin had understood the situation, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s basically the situation.


    For some reasons, Ya Wei has been studying in Australia.


    Recently, she had some issues and is returning home tomorrow.


    So, if you decide to take the job, I will send the details of her flight to your phone, President Jin.¡±


    ¡°Li Yawei had some issues?¡± Shen Yue caught on to the subtle details that others may have missed.


    Li Jixian hesitated for a moment before saying: ¡°I¡¯m really not sure about the specifics.¡± Looking at the three, he solemnly added: ¡°This I truly do not know.


    It¡¯s not that I¡¯m hiding anything, but I could tell there was something wrong from Aunt Cui¡¯s tone.


    While she did not make it clear, she seemed very anxious.


    So I hope that while you guys are protecting Ya Wei, you can also investigate what exactly is going on.¡±

 Chapter 47 - 47 Section 47 Hidden Crisis

    ?47: Section 47: Hidden Crisis 47: Section 47: Hidden Crisis The office fell silent. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hai Mingzhu finally figured out the sequence of events ¨C Li Yawei appeared to be Li Jixian¡¯s half-sister with the same father but a different mother, who had returned to the country due to some trouble in Australia.


    Li Jixian seemed not only refined but also pretty good towards his family members.


    He wanted to help his aunt out with her problem, and it had occurred to him to use the Jintang security service, which had failed the selection process.


    What could have happened to Li Yawei?


    She¡¯s just a high school girl, it must be some teenage rebellious phase.


    When luck comes, you cannot tell which cloud brings rain!


    Hai Mingzhu thought to herself, this task seems so easy, compared to the last one that could cost them their lives at any moment, it should be a lot easier.


    Of course, whether or not to take on this business is mainly up to President Jin, who has already mentioned a company trip to Southeast Asia.


    Hai Mingzhu hesitated a bit, she was quite looking forward to the pleasure of sunbathing on the beach.


    ¡°I discussed it with the employees just now.


    Our cooperation with the Giant Corporation was not very pleasant.


    I was planning to take a trip to Europe to unwind.¡± Jin Xin said with a troubled look on his face.


    Hai Mingzhu noticed that the destination for their trip seemed to have suddenly risen by two levels.


    A trip to Europe and a trip to Southeast Asia cost very different amounts of money!


    Li Jixian smiled and, just like his older brother, took out a checkbook, wrote down an amount with a few strokes, tore it off, and handed it to Jin Xin.


    ¡°This is a 20% advance payment.


    As long as President Jin¡¯s firm can solve Yawei¡¯s problem for Aunt Cui, I¡¯ll promptly pay the rest.


    Jin Xin took a quick glance at the amount on the check and a subtle smile game to his lips.


    ¡°The trip can be taken any time, but the client¡¯s task can¡¯t be delayed.


    After all, our company¡¯s motto is ¡®Everyone is for me, and I am for everyone¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Good motto.¡± Li Jixian stood up and extended his hand, indicating that the deal had been officially reached and the conversation was over.


    ¡°As for the rest, I¡¯ll leave it to President Jin and Advisor Shen.¡±


    Coming down from the building to the square, Hai Mingzhu finally held back and asked, ¡°President Jin, how much is a 20% advance payment?¡± She had not seen clearly the number on the check and quite naturally her curiosity was piqued.


    She was not the one receiving the money, but just like admiring a menu without getting to taste the dishes, it felt good.


    ¡°Not much, much less than the last assignment.¡± Jin Xin sighed, ¡°It¡¯s hard being the boss.¡±


    ¡°Of course it¡¯s going to be less, this is just a simple task.¡± Hai Mingzhu wasn¡¯t clueless.


    Jin Xin fiddled with his phone in silence, and a ¡°whirl¡± sound indicated notifications on Hai Mingzhu¡¯s cellphone.


    She checked it and excitedly said, ¡°Twenty thousand?


    It¡¯s transferred to me?


    President Jin, you are a truly man.¡±


    Jin Xin felt like his gender was not determined by genes, but by Hai Mingzhu.


    ¡°This must be a bonus from the last task, right?¡± Hai Mingzhu quickly sobered up from her thrill, trying to negotiate for more bonus money.


    Jin Xin¡¯s face fell, ¡°This is the advance payment for Li Yawei¡¯s task this time.


    Go buy some nice clothes.


    You must be not much older than Li Yawei, both of you are youngsters, you should be able to get close to Li Yawei.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu pouted her lips, ¡°President Jin, you¡¯re not a generous man.¡±


    Looking at Hai Mingzhu finally leaving cheerfully, Jin Xin stared at her receding figure and said, ¡°She seems to be quite nice, don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    Shen Yue gave a faint smile, ¡°It¡¯s up to the president.¡±


    Jin Xin took out a bank card and handed it to Shen Yue, ¡°There¡¯s five hundred thousand on it, the password is the time when we met.


    Take it, go buy some new clothes, don¡¯t always wear the same outfit until it¡¯s worn out.¡±


    ¡°How about Manager Song?¡± Shen Yue didn¡¯t take the card, ¡°You said you would go check on him.¡±


    ¡°I went to see in the morning.


    Manager Song¡¯s wife has regained consciousness, she should be able to leave the ICU soon.¡± Jin Xin sighed as he spoke, ¡°Who could have thought that Manager Song would have another issue.


    I asked the doctor, and it¡¯s not looking good.


    If thing go well, Manager Song might recover in a few days.


    If not, it¡¯s going to be tough.¡±


    ¡°They¡­.¡± Shen Yue hesitated, which was rare.


    Jin knew what Shen Yue wanted to say, and added, ¡°Luckily, the death contract initially covered a casualty insurance, it takes effect immediately, so the insurance company will cover Manager Song¡¯s hospital expenses.


    You can¡¯t deny it that, though Giant Corporation seems cold-hearted, everything is perfectly arranged.


    Manager Song¡¯s wife has company insurance, I transferred some money into her medical account, there should not be any big issues.¡±


    Shen Yue sighed with relief, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°I know you look cold, but you¡¯re warmer at heart than anyone.


    Don¡¯t worry, I will arrange everything, and you don¡¯t need to worry about all the miscellaneous issues.¡± Jin Xin forcefully put the bank card into Shen Yue¡¯s hands, ¡°Not only that we made a profit, it was quite a significant one.


    I told you before, as long as you join the Jintang Company, the company will be half yours.


    This is your dividend.


    When our company grows bigger in the future, I will not forget about my brothers like some people.¡±


    Shen Yue held the bank card in his hand, ¡°You really want to accept the next deal.¡±


    Jin Xin remained silent.


    ¡°The deal didn¡¯t go through, but you seemed calmer than I expected.¡± Shen Yue slowly said, ¡°And when you met Li Jixian, you didn¡¯t seem too surprised.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain to you later.¡± Jin Xin cut off Shen Yue¡¯s next words.


    Shen Yue secretly thought, Jin Xin seemed careless, but he was actually very meticulous.


    The deal not going through, and other twists appearing, were those all within his calculations?


    Shen Yue had this concern, and seeing that Jin Xin didn¡¯t want to discuss it, he respected Jin Xin¡¯s choice.


    ¡°The Giant Building is haunted!¡± he suddenly said, and the previously warm atmosphere turned a bit cold.


    ¡°Did you find something?¡± Jin Xin was intrigued.


    ¡°There¡¯s a strong electromagnetic conversion on the thirteenth floor.¡± Shen Yue frowned and said, ¡°During the time when we were trapped on the thirteenth floor, that kind of electromagnetic conversion never stopped.¡±


    ¡°How could it be that?¡± Jin Xin wondered.


    Shen Yue shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know.


    The place where we walked appeared winding, but according to my calculations, it was only one quarter of the area of the thirteenth floor.


    We didn¡¯t approach the center of the thirteenth floor, which must be where the core of the electromagnetic conversion is.¡±


    Jin Xin believed Shen Yue¡¯s professional judgment, and asked confusedly, ¡°What could be there?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, we didn¡¯t get a chance to access that area, and we don¡¯t have the proper means to explore it.¡± Shen Yue thought and said, ¡°There¡¯s a metal ring rotating around the perimeter of the thirteenth floor.


    It¡¯s like a circular wall.


    The metal ring is thick, at least two meters.¡±


    ¡°You estimated the thickness based on the space that the metal ringed wall still needs to build an elevator room, which needs to be connected to the real elevator?¡± Seeing Shen Yue nodding, Jin Xin felt more and more strange because he had never seen such a peculiar building floor ¨C they could suddenly lose their way on the thirteenth floor because the door was rotating.


    ¡°Yes.


    Because the metal ring always rotates, we occasionally hear low rumbling sounds, and the way back is elusive.¡± Shen Yue analyzed, ¡°The building must have been designed in this way when it was built.


    I am afraid that only the designer Goring and Giant Li would know the truth.¡±


    Glancing at Jin Xin, Shen Yue asked suspiciously.


    ¡°Did you come for this?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Jin Xin denied it immediately.


    Shen Yue knew Jin Xin was not lying, and he breathed a sigh of relief, because he vaguely felt in his heart that if Jin Xin had come for the thirteenth floor, the trouble they were facing might be even greater than the crisis of the Li family!

 Chapter 48 - 48 48 Sections of Amateur and Professional

    ?48: 48 Sections of Amateur and Professional 48: 48 Sections of Amateur and Professional Deep City Airport.


    The bustling stream of people never ceases.


    When Hai Mingzhu arrived at the international terminal of the airport, she found that only Shen Yue was standing at the designated location.


    She found it odd and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s President Jin?


    Why didn¡¯t he come?¡±


    Shen Yue stretched out his hand, presenting Hai Mingzhu with something the size of a soybean.


    Hai Mingzhu laughed, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, no need.


    Besides, this thing is too small to eat anyway.¡±


    ¡°You know there¡¯s such a thing as a mini wireless intercom receiver, right?¡± Shen Yue asked.


    ¡°Hehe.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu accepted the tiny object, ¡°I see your face is always stern, so I was just teasing you.


    How could I not know that this is a walkie-talkie?¡± Although she genuinely seemed clueless, she immediately seemed excited, ¡°Our Jin-Tang security seems very professional.¡±


    Holding the bean-sized walkie-talkie, Hai Mingzhu fumbled with it for quite a while, then asked amateurishly, ¡°Where do I put this thing?¡± Seeing Shen Yue pointing to his ear, Hai Mingzhu tried it on hesitantly, ¡°You put it on me.


    I¡¯m scared it will hurt.¡± Saying this, she boldly lifted up her long hair by her ear.


    Shen Yue hesitated for a moment, but still gently placed the mini intercom in Hai Mingzhu¡¯s ear.


    Hai Mingzhu watched Shen Yue¡¯s every move with wide open eyes, feeling her heart beating a bit violently.


    Once Shen Yue moved away, Hai Mingzhu, with a touch of anxiety and concealment, gently touched her ear, suddenly recalling something, she exclaimed, ¡°When we first encountered Li Jizu and his gang, you were wearing this mini receiver, weren¡¯t you?¡± She remembered Shen Yue had carried out the same action back then.


    ¡°Lass, you got it.¡± Jin Xin¡¯s voice suddenly came through the intercom.


    Hai Mingzhu was a bit startled, ¡°President Jin, where are you?


    Have you taken a leave to Europe?¡±


    Inside the receiver, Jin Xin¡¯s voice was quite firm, ¡°Keep it professional, we¡¯ve got serious business at hand.


    Li Yawei¡¯s flight has arrived on schedule and landed punctually at the airport.


    Given today¡¯s crowd, as well as the security check conditions, combined with the distance to the arrival gate, Li Yawei should appear in about twenty minutes.


    You should wait at the normal arrival gate with a sign.¡±


    Shen Yue took out a pre-prepared reception sign from the pillar and handed it to Hai Mingzhu.


    On the sign were written two lines ¡°Miss Li Yawei, your family is waiting for you.¡±


    Holding the reception sign, Hai Mingzhu felt it obscured her glamorous outfit and expressed her dissatisfaction, ¡°Why am I the one holding up the sign?


    This is rough work, isn¡¯t it what men should do?


    President Jin, you are a real man¡­¡±


    ¡°Based on the data we sorted out yesterday, Li Yawei is not the obedient girl she appears to be in the photographs but is a downright rebellious girl.


    Despite Li Jixian¡¯s phone call telling her there would be someone to pick her up at the airport, it¡¯s likely that she will avoid the airport pickup staff.


    In addition to the normal arrival gate, I am also monitoring the VIP passage and several other possible exits at the same time.


    Shen Yue will move between these exits to provide support when needed.


    This is the division of labour for the two of us.


    But if you like, we can switch roles.¡±


    Listening to this made Hai Mingzhu feel overwhelmed, she quickly replied, ¡°I would rather hold the sign and wait for her.¡±


    This job was simple and required no thinking.


    Besides, if Li Yawei didn¡¯t show up, it wouldn¡¯t be her fault.


    Feeling pleased, she turned her head and saw Shen Yue sitting on the waiting chair with his eyes closed, seemingly about to sleep.


    She felt like she¡¯d been had once again ¨C Jin Xin was probably also sitting comfortably somewhere, and the only person standing and working was herself!


    Twenty minutes flew by, and from Hai Mingzhu¡¯s experience, passengers from the Australian flights should start passing through customs.


    She kept her eyes wide open, scanning each arriving passenger.


    She had not skipped doing her homework either.


    Yesterday, she carefully took pictures of Li Yawei¡¯s photos and became familiar with Li Yawei¡¯s face in an attempt to make an amazing performance on the spot.


    Just when she was starting to worry that her eyes might pop out from staring so hard, she still hadn¡¯t caught sight of Li Yawei, and she began to doubt, ¡°Did Li Yawei take another exit?¡±


    ¡°Probably not.¡± Jin Xin answered calmly, ¡°I haven¡¯t found anything on my end yet, be patient.¡±


    Well, if she slipped out from another exit, he better not blame me.


    As Hai Mingzhu was worrying, she suddenly spotted a woman in a hurry with her luggage.


    Despite the heat, the woman was wearing a hat to cover her long hair.


    Yet this wasn¡¯t enough, as she also wore sunglasses and a face mask to completely cover her face.


    However, it seemed that the shape of her chin beneath the mask matched the facial features of Li Yawei in the photo.


    ¡°Found her.¡± Hai Mingzhu was extremely cheered as she felt like she finally got to perform in front of these two men.


    She put down the sign, quickly walked up to the woman, smiled politely, and was about to speak when Shen Yue¡¯s voice suddenly came, ¡°Not her!¡±


    ¡°Not?


    But the features match.¡± As Hai Mingzhu hesitated a bit, the woman impatiently said, ¡°Alright, I knew I couldn¡¯t hide from you guys.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu came to her senses, thinking that Shen Yue¡¯s judgement might have been wrong this time.


    The woman stretched out her hand, ¡°Give it to me.¡±


    Huh, something¡¯s wrong.


    According to the normal procedure, the woman should pass her luggage to her.


    What does Li Yawei want her to give her?


    ¡°What do I need to give you?¡± Hai Mingzhu remained polite.


    ¡°You want me to sign, you wouldn¡¯t come without a pen, would you?¡± The woman impatiently took off her mask and asked.


    Hai Mingzhu was stunned, looking at the woman¡¯s face filled with Hyaluronic acid injections, quite different from the Li Yawei in the photos.


    Subconsciously, she questioned, ¡°Miss Li, did you have plastic surgery in Korea?¡±


    ¡°Can you guys please not act like a paparazzi?


    My face is naturally this gorgeous, I absolutely have not undergone plastic surgery.¡± The woman was slightly irritated.


    ¡°Are you Li Yawei?¡± Hai Mingzhu finally realized something was amiss.


    The woman removed her sunglasses as well, ¡°What did you say?


    You don¡¯t recognize me?


    Aren¡¯t you here to get my autograph?


    Are you joking?


    I have more than two million fans.¡±


    I don¡¯t know who you are.


    Hai Mingzhu recognized this woman¡¯s standard streamer copy-paste face, realizing this was probably an influencer who¡¯d sprung to fame recently, she couldn¡¯t help but hastily retreat.


    But the woman was not willing to let the matter drop and incredulously said, ¡°You really don¡¯t recognize me?


    Wait, I don¡¯t believe it, I¡¯m so popular¡­¡± She actually grabbed onto Hai Mingzhu so she couldn¡¯t get away.


    ¡°Advisor Shen, help.¡± Hai Mingzhu saw Shen Yue walking over, and immediately called for rescue.


    ¡°You deal with it yourself.¡±


    Shen Yue laughed and said, ignoring the trouble on Hai Mingzhu¡¯s side.


    As he spoke, he quickly walked over to another woman.


    The woman had hair of multiple colors, adorned with fancy gold headpieces on both sides, wearing a frilly Lolita dress with purple lace trim at the hem.


    Despite her Lolita look, her makeup was exceptionally heavy, completely concealing her actual face. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Earlier, she had been dragging her suitcase and watching the commotion.


    Seeing Shen Yue walking over, her face expressed shock, and she turned to leave.


    But Shen Yue had already stood in front of her, courteously saying, ¡°Miss Li Yawei, we have been waiting for you for quite some time.¡±

 Chapter 49 - 49 49 Cosplay Sessions

    ?49: 49 Cosplay Sessions 49: 49 Cosplay Sessions Hai Mingzhu, stuck beside the internet celebrity woman, hastily alerted Shen Yue at his actions.


    ¡°Advisor Shen, the woman in front of you is not Li Yawei.¡±


    She was judgmental.


    Women with such makeup would hardly pass immigration checks.


    Immigration officials would ask women like her to wash off their makeup.


    Shen Yue might seem capable, but he seemed to severely misunderstand young people.


    According to Hai Mingzhu¡¯s judgment, this woman was just a passerby who loved trendy COSPLAY.


    As expected, the woman dressed as a Lolita coldly said, ¡°You got the wrong person.¡±


    Shen Yue smiled and said, ¡°No mistake.


    Miss Li came out late, perhaps she went to the washroom to touch up her makeup?


    However, Miss Li must have forgotten to remove the tag on her luggage.¡±


    He pointed to the check-in tag pasted on the suitcase.


    The pinyin on it spelled out the name ¡°Li Yawei¡± in small font.


    The woman seemed somewhat surprised.


    Finally escaping the internet celebrity woman, Hai Mingzhu rushed over, panting.


    She saw fewer sheep in the pen but replenished some in.


    ¡°Hi Ya Wei, my name is Hai Mingzhu, and I work with Shen Yue.¡± Seeing Li Yawei¡¯s more rejecting demeanor, Hai Mingzhu suddenly had an idea, ¡°You like COSPLAY?


    So do I.¡±


    Finding common ground was a possible way to close the distance.


    Hai Mingzhu¡¯s knowledge in psychology was indeed not taught by a gym teacher.


    ¡°You like cosplay?¡± Li Yawei finally responded.


    ¡°Your outfit is cosplaying as¡­¡± Hai Mingzhu, although familiar with the anime world, had only scratched the surface.


    Looking at Li Yawei¡¯s multi-colored hair, she doubted that this rebellious woman was cosplaying as a parrot.


    Just as the words came to her lips, she asked, ¡°Are you cosplaying Mai Shiranui?¡±


    Li Yawei snorted and walked away, dragging her suitcase.


    Hai Mingzhu¡¯s effort to fill the sheep pen failed, and she looked at Shen Yue for help.


    ¡°Advisor Shen, say something.¡± In her mind, as long as Shen Yue stepped in, nothing was impossible.


    Shen Yue spread his hands helplessly.


    ¡°President Jin, could you give some advice?¡± Hai Mingzhu pleaded.


    Words from Jin Xin finally came through, ¡°The only people I know who are related to ¡®Wu¡¯ are Wu Dalang and Wu Erlang, she isn¡¯t cosplaying these two, is she?¡±


    Having given up on the high expectations of finding a common topic, Hai Mingzhu asked, ¡°What do we do now?¡±


    ¡°Of course, follow her,¡± Jin Xin suggested.


    Even before Jin Xin¡¯s suggestion, Shen Yue was already walking behind Li Yawei.


    Li Yawei, pulling her suitcase, abruptly turned around to warn Shen Yue, ¡°I warn you, stop following me, or I¡¯ll report you for sexual harassment.¡±


    Shen Yue remained calm and said, ¡°Ms.


    Li, there is only one way out no matter what transport you are taking.


    I can¡¯t fly, so I can only take this path.¡±


    Li Yawei glared at Shen Yue, then suddenly turned around and walked in the completely opposite direction.


    Hai Mingzhu was curious about how Shen Yue would find another excuse to follow her.


    However, Shen Yue unexpectedly continued to walk outwards.


    Feeling confused about whom to follow, Hai Mingzhu finally followed Shen Yue, ¡°Advisor Shen, are we just leaving like this?¡±


    Before she had finished speaking, Li Yawei suddenly rushed back with her suitcase, asking Shen Yue, ¡°Where is your car?


    Where?¡±


    Shen Yue looked surprised, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Take me to your car!¡± Li Yawei sounded a little desperate, glancing back once more.


    Hai Mingzhu followed Li Yawei¡¯s gaze and saw two men in suits and sunglasses asking pedestrians with a photo in hand.


    One of the men instinctively glanced in their direction and started walking towards Li Yawei.


    Li Yawei¡¯s heavy makeup couldn¡¯t hide her fear.


    ¡°Aside from us, is someone else looking for you?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked involuntarily, instinctively feeling that these two men in sunglasses were also looking for Li Yawei.


    ¡°Are you going or not?


    If not, I¡¯m asking someone else!¡± Li Yawei stomped her feet.


    Shen Yue responded with a nonchalant nod, ¡°Miss Li, follow me.¡± He quickly descended the escalator, heading straight to the underground parking lot.


    Pressing the car key, the vehicle¡¯s lights flashed.


    Shen Yue headed over and even opened the car door for Li Yawei.


    Li Yawei kept looking back, then quickly ducked into the car, crouching lower, and urged, ¡°Drive quickly, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Shen Yue, however, was in no hurry.


    He put Li Yawei¡¯s suitcase into the trunk, then got into the driver¡¯s seat and started the car.


    When they drove out of the parking lot, the two men in sunglasses just dashed in. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They pointed in their direction, seemingly discussing something.


    Through the rear window, Li Yawei quietly watched this scene while slowly exhaling a sigh of relief and patting her chest when she saw the men in sunglasses didn¡¯t catch up.


    Sitting in the passenger seat, Hai Mingzhu was full of surprise ¨C she originally thought Jin Xin was in control of the situation, but apparently, Jin Xin might be miles away.


    Why didn¡¯t Jin Xin ever show up?


    Hai Mingzhu was perplexed but grateful that fate had sent two men in sunglasses to make Li Yawei stand more firmly with them.


    ¡°Ya Wei, who are those people chasing you?¡± Hai Mingzhu felt it would be advantageous to use those two men to make Li Yawei bond with them more.


    ¡°Who¡¯s chasing me?


    What are you talking about?¡± Now free from danger, Li Yawei reverted to her resistant behavior.


    You think we¡¯re blind!


    Hai Mingzhu felt resentful inside but politely said, ¡°Ya Wei, you can talk to us if something is bothering you.


    Your mother hired us to help you solve problems.¡±


    Through the rearview mirror, Li Yawei glanced at Shen Yue and said coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t have a mother.¡±


    So heavenly pity brought us to take care of you?!


    Though mumbling inside, Hai Mingzhu understood the thinking of rebellious kids ¨C they viewed their parents as strangers over some dispute.


    Poor parents in the world still tirelessly devoted themselves to their children.


    ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Li Yawei asked Shen Yue through the rearview mirror.


    Shen Yue kept his eyes on the road and answered, ¡°If Miss Li allows me, I plan to take you to your house in Qianhai according to Ms.


    Li¡¯s arrangement.


    Your¡­


    someone is waiting for you.¡±


    He wanted to say that her mother was waiting for her, but seeing Li Yawei¡¯s resentment towards her mother, he thought better of it.


    ¡°In Qianhai, there is only a house, not a home.¡± Li Yawei bit her lip and said, ¡°If you plan to take me there, please let me get off the car halfway.¡±


    Maybe because Shen Yue had been tolerable all along, Li Yawei was considerably more polite.


    ¡°Where does Miss Li plan to go after getting off halfway?¡± Shen Yue, seeming taciturn, managed to hit the nail on the head, ¡°We can take you there too.¡±


    For a moment, Li Yawei¡¯s eyes became extremely hollow.


    She had no mother, no home, and it seemed like there was nowhere for her to go.


    Looking at this wealthy girl, Hai Mingzhu didn¡¯t feel sorry for her at all.


    Rather, she felt that all of this was Li Yawei¡¯s own making.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Li Yawei finally said, ¡°Your name is Shen Yue, right?


    Can you take me to your favorite restaurant and buy me dinner?¡±

 Chapter 50 - 50 50th episode - Living off a woman

    ?50: 50th episode ¨C Living off a woman 50: 50th episode ¨C Living off a woman Are you asking him out?


    Hai Mingzhu was surprised by Li Yawei¡¯s request.


    It was normal to eat when hungry, and it wasn¡¯t unreasonable for Li Yawei to request them to accompany her to eat.


    However, choosing a restaurant that Shen Yue liked, what was that all about?


    Hai Mingzhu was confused, finding the thoughts of this young girl in front of her even more complex than those of an older woman.


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t bother to guess her motives and simply agreed as he turned the steering wheel: ¡°Sure.¡±


    Finally, the car came to a stop by the side of the road.


    When Li Yawei got out of the car, she noticed the scattered trash bags by the side of the road and her face darkened, clearly displeased with their surroundings.


    ¡°I live nearby,¡± Shen Yue noticed Li Yawei¡¯s disgusted expression.


    ¡°The food here is cheap.


    The restaurants I like are the inexpensive ones.


    Are you sure you want to eat here?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Advisor Shen, where do you live?¡±


    Shen Yue pointed to a single apartment not far from them.


    Hai Mingzhu looked like she wanted to ask him more about the exact location, but seeing that Li Yawei had already headed to a nearby shop, Hai Mingzhu hurried to follow her.


    After looking for a while, they finally chose a somewhat decent, two-story restaurant.


    Despite it being dinner time, before the waitress had time to welcome them, Li Yawei had already asked: ¡°Do you have private rooms?


    We want a private room!¡±


    ¡°Please follow me upstairs,¡± the waitress directed.


    Li Yawei sat by the window in the private room, still looking displeased, ¡°Is this even a place fit for people to dine?¡±


    Failed at picking up Li Yawei at the airport and now hearing her speak so demeaningly of the place, Hai Mingzhu¡¯s anger flared up at this unfairness towards Shen Yue, ¡°It was you who asked Advisor Shen to bring you here, not us begging you.


    Just because you¡¯re rich enough to eat luxuries such as shark fin and abalones, doesn¡¯t mean you can look down at places like this.


    Please, don¡¯t look down on the people who eat here at the same time!¡±


    Li Yawei was taken aback and apologized with remorse: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s a habit.


    I¡¯ll make sure to correct it next time.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was stunned.


    Just then she was infuriated hearing Li Yawei casually insult this place, which indirectly belittled Shen Yue.


    But hearing Li Yawei apologize, Hai Mingzhu was taken aback.


    She knew that apologies from rich girls like her were rare, ¡°I might have been a bit too harsh myself,¡± Hai Mingzhu admitted.


    Feeling a bit guilty, she added, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the heat, my head isn¡¯t clear.¡±


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t comment and just quietly took a seat.


    Once seated, Shen Yue passed the menu to Li Yawei, who turned to Hai Mingzhu and said, ¡°Miss Hai, what do you like to eat?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu found Li Yawei¡¯s sudden change in demeanor strange, as if she had shed her cold exterior and become more personable.


    Finding it hard to adjust, she felt remorseful for her earlier outburst, ¡°I¡¯m generally easygoing when it comes to food.


    You¡¯re the guest, so the menu should be decided by you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m paying today.¡± Li Yawei stated categorically: ¡°No one argue with me about this, or else I¡¯ll be angry.¡±


    Shen Yue chuckled and said, ¡°It¡¯s rare for a woman to offer to pick up the check.


    Miss Li, rest assured, I won¡¯t miss such an opportunity.¡±


    Li Yawei, who had appeared cold as ice when she first arrived at the airport, now seemed to be more lively in the company of Shen Yue and Hai Mingzhu, remarking playfully, ¡°I like straightforward men like you.¡±


    What¡¯s wrong with your eyes?


    Letting a woman pick up the bill is being straightforward?


    By that logic, men who are taken care of by women should all be considered manly.


    Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help but grumble at the ridiculousness of it all.


    Li Yawei reached for her wallet, but she paused.


    She couldn¡¯t just be acting courteously, could she?


    This wouldn¡¯t be the classic ¡®I left my wallet at home¡¯ situation.


    Hai Mingzhu thought to herself.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t bring my wallet.¡± Li Yawei confirmed Hai Mingzhu¡¯s prediction. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But then she added something that truly surprised Hai Mingzhu, ¡°Shen Yue, could I trouble you to get my suitcase?


    When I was doing my makeup in the airport bathroom, I left my wallet in my handbag, which is in my suitcase.¡±


    Well, that¡¯s a creative excuse.


    Hai Mingzhu thought.


    Deciding to take on the responsibility of the situation, she offered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, I¡¯ll pay.


    I¡¯ve never invited¡­


    Ya Wei to dinner.¡±


    Li Yawei insisted: ¡°No, when I say I¡¯ll pay, I¡¯ll pay.


    Shen Yue, could you please bring in my suitcase?


    Besides my wallet, I also need to get some personal items.¡± She finished her sentence with a rare blush on her face.


    Without further ado, Shen Yue stood up and left to fetch the suitcase.


    With a giggled, Li Yawei whispered to Hai Mingzhu, ¡°I need some ¡®bread¡¯ because I¡¯m having stomach pain.¡±


    This time Hai Mingzhu understood immediately that the ¡®bread¡¯ was not for eating.


    She realized, ¡°So we really do need to get your suitcase.¡± Seeing Li Yawei clutching her stomach, Hai Mingzhu asked with concern, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Feels like ¡®it¡¯ is coming.¡± Li Yawei hinted ambiguously, but Hai Mingzhu, being a woman herself, understood immediately, becoming anxious for her, ¡°Where is Shen Yue?


    How is he not back yet?¡±


    ¡°He can¡¯t be that fast.¡± Li Yawei suddenly shot a sly smile at Hai Mingzhu, ¡°Miss Hai, you like Shen Yue, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu jumped at this question, ¡°Impossible!


    I¡¯ve never had such thoughts!¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t fool me.¡± With an impish glitter in her eyes, Li Yawei chided, ¡°You initially wanted to say, ¡®I¡¯ve never treated Shen Yue to a meal,¡¯ didn¡¯t you?


    You didn¡¯t really want to treat me, Li Yawei, to dinner.


    I can tell.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was taken aback, surprised at Li Yawei¡¯s perceptive intuition.


    Truthfully, that¡¯s what she had meant at first, but she altered her phrasing at the last minute to avoid embarrassing Li Yawei.


    ¡°Subconscious reactions are the most revealing of true emotions,¡± Li Yawei spoke with an air of wisdom, sounding more like a psychologist than Hai Mingzhu.


    ¡°But it¡¯s clear that your relationship is still simply budding.¡±


    Do I like Shen Yue?


    Impossible, right?!


    We¡¯ve only just met!


    Hai Mingzhu got a little dizzy because she¡¯d never considered such a thing before.


    ¡°Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have asked Shen Yue where he lives, right?¡± Li Yawei added knowingly, ¡°When a woman likes a man, she would want to know everything about him.


    If she doesn¡¯t care about the man, it wouldn¡¯t matter to her even if he was homeless.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu found Li Yawei¡¯s analysis to be somewhat overwhelming.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go and see where Shen Yue is¡­¡± She got up, flustered, only to hear footsteps on the stairs.


    Shen Yue appeared, dragging the suitcase with him.


    Upon seeing Shen Yue, Li Yawei promptly stood up to take the suitcase, turning her back to them as she unlocked the advanced electronic combination lock.


    She clearly valued the contents of her suitcase and remained cautious of others.


    Hai Mingzhu watched this unfold and thought about how affluent people lived with such extravagant caution, even their luggage locks were different from those of ordinary people.


    With her back to them, Li Yawei swiftly stuffed a few pieces of ¡°bread¡± into her purse.


    Then, looking more at ease, she hoisted her handbag over her shoulder, turned to Shen Yue and Hai Mingzhu, and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.


    You guys can go ahead and order.


    You don¡¯t need to wait for me, this might take a while.¡± With a cheeky wink at Hai Mingzhu, she walked out of the room.


    Hai Mingzhu, having caught a glimpse of Li Yawei¡¯s swift movement to grab the ¡®bread¡¯, winked back knowingly, suddenly finding Li Yawei a bit endearing.


    Shen Yue asked, ¡°Do you need any help?¡±


    ¡°What assistance could you provide in a women¡¯s restroom?¡± Hai Mingzhu cut him off sharply.


    Acknowledging her point, Shen Yue simply responded, ¡°Oh,¡± then sat back down and began to browse the menu again.


    Hai Mingzhu glanced at the precious locked suitcase and took a seat next to Shen Yue, offering: ¡°What would you like to eat?


    Dinner¡¯s on me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been having some trouble with my appetite lately¡­¡± Shen Yue said as he signaled a waiter over, ¡°How¡¯s the rice here?


    Is it good quality?


    I feel like eating some porridge.¡±

 Chapter 51 - 51 Episode 51 Thief Meets Ancestor

    ?51: Episode 51: Thief Meets Ancestor 51: Episode 51: Thief Meets Ancestor Hai Mingzhu originally thought Li Yawei¡¯s immediate request for a meeting was outrageous, and now hearing Shen Yue unabashedly living off women, she had to turn her head and ardently hoped the waiter would not consider them together.


    The waiter, for the first time, heard a man talking so brazenly about his freeloading.


    Stiffly he replied: ¡°Our rice is two Yuan a bowl.


    You say it¡¯s soft?¡± He then intentionally highlighted, ¡°It makes you more of a man to eat some hard food.¡±


    The waiter had been looking at Shen Yue critically for a while; he was a soft actor, ate soft meals, a man being treated by two women to a meal, was truly an embarrassment to all men!


    ¡°Well, it seems we can¡¯t have an soft meal here.¡± Shen Yue didn¡¯t consider the waiter¡¯s hint and regretfully said: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we will have to go somewhere else!¡±


    He picked up his suitcase to leave, which somewhat confused Hai Mingzhu, ¡°Advisor Shen, we had agreed to have a meal here with Ya Wei.


    Even if we need to go somewhere else, shouldn¡¯t we wait until Ya Wei comes back from the bathroom?¡±


    Shen Yue turned his head and glanced at Hai Mingzhu, and positively said: ¡°If Li Yawei is in the bathroom now, I can offer you free meals for a lifetime!¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was stunned at first, then understood: ¡°You mean she slipped out secretly?¡±


    Even though she says this, she was still in disbelief.


    Hai Mingzhu was the first to run downstairs, went to the restaurant bathroom to look, and turned his head back to Shen Yue who was descending the stairs and said: ¡°She really ran away.¡±


    Shen Yue ¡°hmm¡± a sound, surprisingly still unhurriedly put his suitcase in the trunk, and leisurely sat in the driver¡¯s seat.


    Hai Mingzhu quickly go into the co-driver¡¯s seat, seeing Shen Yue still not starting the engine, anxiously said: ¡± Advisor Shen, drive!¡±


    ¡°Where do you want to go?¡± Shen Yue asked back.


    Hai Mingzhu paused, realizing this was indeed a problem, ¡°Her hair is very bright, an eye-catching woman, I will ask passers-by if they know where she ran away.¡±


    When she finished speaking, she was about to get out of the car, but seeing Shen Yue still sitting motionless, Hai Mingzhu realized something was wrong, ¡°Advisor Shen, did you know beforehand she was going to escape?


    Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have left using the restaurant¡¯s lack of a soft meal as an excuse?!¡±


    Shen Yue laughed distantly, ¡°You¡¯re becoming smarter.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu took a breath, trying to calm herself down as much as possible, but still couldn¡¯t help but feel aggrieved: ¡°Since you knew it earlier, why didn¡¯t you stop her?¡±


    ¡°I would have stopped her.¡± Shen Yue reminded: ¡°When Li Yawei went downstairs, I said I would help, but you stopped me.¡±


    ¡°So, you listen to me.¡± Hai Mingzhu became anxious again, ¡°I didn¡¯t know she was going to run away, you knew, you should have told me.


    What to do now.¡± She was truly flustered, her eyes began to turn red.


    Shen Yue suddenly laughed, ¡°Jin Xin, forget it, don¡¯t make it harder for her, after all, she is a newcomer in this business.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Hai Mingzhu realized something, ¡°Is President Jin also nearby?¡±


    ¡°I knew you would let up.¡± Jin Xin¡¯s voice came over: ¡°I originally wanted to teach the girl a lesson, to not believe in others so easily.¡±


    ¡°You guys¡­


    heard all of that?¡± Hai Mingzhu instinctively touched her earlobe, finally remembering the walkie-talkie receiver has been turned on this whole time.


    ¡± From the moment when Li Yawei wanted to go to the private room on the second floor, Shen Yue knew she was going to find an opportunity to slip away.¡± Jin Xin¡¯s voice was indifferent in tone.


    Shen Yue laughed, ¡°President Jin guessed it a long time ago.


    According to President Jin¡¯s information, this Li Yawei is definitely not a good girl, why would she listen to our arrangement and obediently come with us?¡±


    ¡°Your skills are superior.¡± Hai Mingzhu said awkwardly: ¡°But since you all figured it out, why don¡¯t you let Li Yawei run away.¡±


    ¡°President Jin let her run away.¡± Shen Yue explained.


    Hai Mingzhu was confused: ¡°You knew she wanted to escape, and still let her run away on purpose?


    I really can¡¯t understand what you two bosses are thinking.¡±


    ¡°If you understand everything, then you can take my seat.¡± Jin Xin¡¯s voice sounded like he was doing something, suddenly he said: ¡°Li Yawei has gone to the city.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu felt her phone ¡°ding¡± sounds, she opened the phone and saw it was a location marker.


    ¡°President Jin, are we going to this location to find you?


    You seem to be moving?¡±


    Shen Yue glanced at the location on the phone, ¡°That is Li Yawei¡¯s location, she should be somewhere along the back street catching a taxi into the city?


    I saw her paying close attention to the movement in the back street from the window.¡±


    ¡°Bingo!¡± Jin Xin said: ¡°I¡¯m following her, you guys better hurry.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu listened clearly, but was still confused, ¡°Are you guys tracking Li Yawei?


    President Jin can only resend his own location, how can he resend Li Yawei¡¯s location?


    Did you guys put a tracker on Li Yawei?¡±


    Seeing Shen Yue nod his head, Hai Mingzhu was surprised: ¡°When?


    How did I not know?¡± She has been tracking Shen Yue and Li Yawei, and was sure the two were always a good distance apart.


    ¡°The tracker is in her handbag.¡± Shen Yue explained.


    Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t believe it: ¡°Wait, I saw Li Yawei take out her handbag from the suitcase with my own eyes, and the suitcase has an electronic password lock, how could you of placed a tracker in her handbag?¡±


    ¡°For Jin Xin, it will only take three seconds to crack that so-called smart electronic lock.¡± Shen Yue laughed: ¡°If it was a mechanical lock, It would be more troublesome.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu understood: ¡°So, Jin Xin also followed us as soon as we entered the restaurant, he opened the trunk, cracked the password lock, and placed a tracker in Li Yawei¡¯s handbag?¡±


    ¡°Exactly like that.¡± Shen Yue took Hai Mingzhu¡¯s phone and confirmed the new location information.


    ¡°You guys are really smart.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu awkwardly laughed: ¡°From the beginning, Li Yawei deliberately chose such a place to eat, and deceived our trust¡­¡±


    ¡°She deceived your trust.¡± Jin Xin corrected.


    Hai Mingzhu blushed saying: ¡°Okay, I was foolish.


    She deceived my trust and specifically took the ¡®bread¡¯, leaving behind the suitcase, to numb me and to make me feel sympathy.¡±


    ¡± She was trying to numb us, too.


    She thought that by leaving the suitcase behind, we would never expect her to slip away.¡± Jin Xin added.


    ¡°But she never dreamt that she, a petty thief, was dealing with the master of the thieves.¡± Hai Mingzhu was filled with understanding and resentment towards Li Yawei, ¡°You guys never trusted her!


    Therefore, when she went upstairs, Jin Xin slipped to where we parked the car, and sneakily installed a tracker.


    Conveniently, Li Yawei cooperated very well and wanted to get her handbag, Shen Yue deliberately brought the suitcase over.


    But if Li Yawei didn¡¯t cooperate so conveniently, wouldn¡¯t your tracking plan have fallen through?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s eighty percent certain that Li Yawei would take her handbag.¡± Jin Xin said confidently: ¡°Australia¡¯s payment system is different than back home, she has a mobile phone, but no money and credit cards, it¡¯s very hard to get around in the city.¡±


    ¡± That is if she isn¡¯t stupid and doesn¡¯t take her handbag.¡± Hai Mingzhu was still a little unconvinced: ¡°I think you guys were still a little lucky this time.¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jin Xin wasn¡¯t annoyed, it seemed he felt the one missing the point was someone else, ¡°If she didn¡¯t take her handbag, we would think of another way to track her.


    Do you think we would let her go without being sure we could track her?


    If there wasn¡¯t complete certainty, do you really think Shen Yue would forget about the purpose of the action and be easily stopped by you?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu didn¡¯t have anything to say anymore.

 Chapter 52 - 52 52 Sections Mini Test

    ?52: 52 Sections Mini Test 52: 52 Sections Mini Test Hai Mingzhu had always thought she was clever and wanted to show off her ingenuity today.


    However, after listening to Jin Xin¡¯s explanation, she realized her intelligence was probably on par with an early hominid from a million years ago.


    Leaning against the co-pilot seat, Hai Mingzhu closed her eyes, ¡°When we arrive, please let me know.¡± She wasn¡¯t sleepy, she just needed a moment to cool off from her anger.


    It was clear to everyone else how naive and foolish she had been, showing sympathy and concern to everyone.


    Shen Yue glanced at Hai Mingzhu through the rear-view mirror and suddenly said, ¡°Actually, caring for people is not wrong, neither is showing sympathy.


    What¡¯s condemnable are those who take advantage of others¡¯ kindness.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu felt slightly better.


    ¡°Advisor Shen, I am not that stupid, actually.


    Could you clue me in on your plans next time so I can react accordingly?¡±


    Shen Yue wore an expression of doubt.


    ¡°No can do.¡± Jin Xin immediately denied, ¡°Initially, you ignored Shen Yue¡¯s hints and insisted on revealing the secrets of the Qi family¡¯s security.


    At that time, I decided to share less with you since you¡¯re not good at keeping secrets.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu had nothing to say in defense.


    She realized the root of the problem was planted back then.


    ¡°Not telling you the truth did have its advantages,¡± Jin Xin added.


    Hai Mingzhu had a moment of clarity while resting her eyes, ¡°You guys needed me to play the role of someone who¡¯s been duped by Li Yawei, so that you could fool Li Yawei, right?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Jin Xin didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°Li Yawei is no pushover.


    We need someone with genuine reactions, you fit the bill just fine.¡±


    You might as well just say I¡¯m dumb and likely to get fooled.


    Hai Mingzhu mumbled inwardly.


    The car was speeding along, with Shen Yue following continuous updates on their destination.


    After about half an hour, it was nighttime.


    Shen Yue said, ¡°It seems we are getting closer to the recreation area of our city.¡±


    ¡°We should be there soon.¡± Jin Xin got a message on his end, ¡°Li Yawei seems to be going in circles.


    She doesn¡¯t seem to have noticed our surveillance, she looks like she¡¯s looking for some place.


    Her car has stopped in front of a bar¡­¡±


    A moment later, Jin Xin confirmed, ¡°The bar is Suiyuan Bar.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was somewhat curious how Jin Xin managed all this ¨C At the airport, Jin Xin single-handedly seemed to monitor multiple exits, he looked every bit like a professional agent in a spy film.


    ¡°Suiyuan Bar, quite poetic.


    What is Li Yawei doing there?


    It doesn¡¯t exactly match her personality, I thought she would go to someplace like Wild Bar nearby.¡± Shen Yue turned the steering wheel towards the direction of the bar.


    Hai Mingzhu was feeling dazed for a moment, now she¡¯s more clear headed and thought of a crucial question, ¡°President Jin, Advisor Shen, why are we following her?


    Are we going to join her for a drink?¡±


    Jin Xin didn¡¯t respond.


    Once Shen Yue found a parking spot near the bar, he got out of the car and whispered an explanation, ¡°You remember when Li Jixian said Li Yawei is a bit of a hassle, right?¡±


    ¡°So we¡¯re following her to see what she¡¯s planning to do because she won¡¯t tell us?¡± Hai Mingzhu finally understood.


    She was always confused while Shen Yue and Jin Xin were always clear about things.


    ¡°So now you know the truth, take a close look at what trouble she¡¯s actually in, instead of looking flustered once others reveal the truth.¡± Jin Xin spoke again.


    Hai Mingzhu blushed, feeling a bit at a loss.


    When Li Yawei and her had discussed Shen Yue, she had completely forgotten that her walkie-talkie was still on.


    Thinking back ¨C Jin Xin and Shen Yue had been listening to their conversation.


    Didn¡¯t they hear everything then?


    The thought of it made Hai Mingzhu want to hide underground.


    All of a sudden, Shen Yue stopped, looking Hai Mingzhu up and down, ¡°Babe, want to hang out?¡±


    ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?


    You¡¯re not actually thinking that I like you, right?¡± Hai Mingzhu stepped back, ¡°I never thought about it!


    Don¡¯t assume I like you just because Li Yawei said so, she was talking rubbish!¡±


    Jin Xin laughed from the other end of the walkie-talkie, ¡°We may have to find another professional woman to blend in here.


    She doesn¡¯t look like she visits bars often.


    She can pose as our secretary or marketing manager, but if we go somewhere rowdier, it could be troublesome.


    People might mistake us for undercover cops.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu quickly regained her composure, realizing it was a small test.


    She said immediately, ¡°I can do it.¡± Noticing Shen Yue¡¯s gaze, Hai Mingzhu stepped forward and imitating what she had seen on TV dramas, she struck a pose with a hand on her hip and the other supporting her chin.


    She made an exaggerated twist with her narrow waist and said, ¡°Handsome, I can really do it.


    Shall we have a drink?¡±


    Shen Yue laughed, ¡°Why don¡¯t you unbutton your shirt for me to see?¡±


    ¡°What do you want to see?¡± Hai Mingzhu stepped back, panic written on her face, ¡°What are you trying to do now?¡±


    Shen Yue had already unbuttoned the top three buttons of his shirt and ruffled his hair, looking a little disheveled yet somewhat manly.


    Even though he wasn¡¯t as tall as Jin Xin, Shen Yue had an excellent physique.


    With some buttons undone, you could see his pectoral muscles.


    Seeing that Shen Yue was demonstrating, Hai Mingzhu understood.


    Hearing Jin Xin sigh on the other end, she gritted her teeth and undid the two buttons near her waist.


    Even if she hadn¡¯t eaten pork, she had seen pigs run.


    She knew that women often showed their chest when they wanted to look sexy.


    However, not daring to reveal that much, Hai Mingzhu revealed some of her slender waist instead.


    Shen Yue nodded slightly, ¡°That¡¯ll do.


    Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The two listed the door of Suiyuan Bar, soft music floated over, the dim lights in the bar suggested it was suitable for a date.


    There were couples in small groups sitting in dim corners, whispering to each other.


    Hai Mingzhu wondered to herself, was Li Yawei here to meet her lover?


    She quickly scanned the bar, but didn¡¯t see Li Yawei.


    Where had Li Yawei gone?


    Shen Yue appeared to have seen many things in his time.


    When he came to the bar counter, without looking at the price list, he directly ordered, ¡°Two Gin Tonics.¡±


    The bartender eyed the two and Shen Yue added in a low voice while pretending to avoid Hai Mingzhu¡¯s line of sight, ¡°Make it strong.¡± The bartender shared a knowing smile, glanced at Hai Mingzhu once more, then retrieved a few bottles of alcohol and two glasses from behind the counter. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Glasses were tossed, liquor swirled, and in no time two transparent glasses of aromatic Gin Tonic, topped with a lemon slice, were placed in front of them.


    Gin Tonic ¨C a drink with a nice taste, a mixture of gin and soda water, very suitable for ladies.


    However, a stronger Gin Tonic seemed to reflect a man¡¯s sneaky intentions.


    Shen Yue picked up his drink and handed one to Hai Mingzhu.


    Hai Mingzhu took it as if she was being handed a bomb, she was afraid that any misstep would give her away.


    The bartender gave another somewhat enigmatic smile.


    When Shen Yue picked up his drink, he casually dropped four bills and casually asked, ¡°I am also meeting a friend here, a woman.


    She has colorful hair like a ghost, has she arrived?¡±

 Chapter 53 - 53 Episode 53 Unwritten Rules

    ?53: Episode 53: Unwritten Rules 53: Episode 53: Unwritten Rules Hai Mingzhu had already scoured the bar, but found no sign of Li Yawei.


    Upon hearing Shen Yue inquiring about Li Yawei¡¯s whereabouts, her spirits lifted immediately.


    When the bartender collected the payment, the slick move swept four greenbacks under the counter.


    Each drink cost less than one greenback, the rest was all tip.


    Although Shen Yue wasn¡¯t untypically lavish, his tip far exceeded that of those who had just arrived at the bar.


    Gesturing towards the secluded side corridor of the bar, the bartender dismissed Shen Yue.


    Shen Yue, however, understood, and, with drink in hand and arm around Hai Mingzhu¡¯s waist, started walking towards the quiet passageway.


    The passageway was somewhat long, tranquility and darkness disconcerting enough to create unease.


    Stopping abruptly in the quiet corridor, Shen Yue, like a cheetah, swiftly glanced back to find that the bartender¡¯s gaze was shifting away from this area while he was speaking into a walkie-talkie.


    ¡°Why are you watching him?¡± Hai Mingzhu, hugged by Shen Yue, felt a bit hot, but she couldn¡¯t push Shen Yue away.


    It¡¯s all an act, we¡¯re acting, we need to uphold the professional demeanour of an actor.


    Hai Mingzhu tried to reassure herself, ¡°Do you suspect he¡¯s linked to Li Yawei?¡± Feeling the heat and getting a bit thirsty, Hai Mingzhu got a whiff of the aromatic liquor and couldn¡¯t resist taking a sip.


    ¡°The drink is spiked,¡± Shen Yue whispered in Hai Mingzhu¡¯s ear, ¡°How well can you hold your liquor?¡±


    ¡°Pretty well,¡± Hai Mingzhu didn¡¯t want Shen Yue to belittle her, and asserted, ¡°How about we have a drinking competition some time?¡± Immediately after, in order to prove her capacity for liquor, she wanted to down the whole drink.


    Snatching the drink away, Shen Yue said, ¡°A drink costing two hundred dollars isn¡¯t meant to be downed like that.¡±


    ¡°Then how is it supposed to be drunk?¡± asked Hai Mingzhu in curiosity.


    It was her first time in such a place, and she knew that bars had their unspoken rules. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Open your hand,¡± Shen Yue quietly instructed, simultaneously pushing Hai Mingzhu into a darker corner of the passage.


    The bartender cast a glance their way.


    From his vantage point, he could see Shen Yue¡¯s silhouette and also that Shen Yue was very close to Hai Mingzhu.


    The posture suggested their likely activity and, upon realising, the bartender creased his mouth in an understanding smile.


    ¡°Drink with your hand?¡± This was the first time Hai Mingzhu had ever heard such a method, she couldn¡¯t believe it, but still stretched out her hands as instructed.


    Shen Yue poured half of the drink onto Hai Mingzhu¡¯s hands and then, all of a sudden, forced her hands towards her face which doused her face with the drink.


    Although prepared, Hai Mingzhu was taken aback by Shen Yue¡¯s action and exclaimed, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Unfazed, Shen Yue continued his actions and, in an instant, splashed the remaining half of the drink onto Hai Mingzhu¡¯s chest.


    At this instance, Hai Mingzhu felt like she was in a nightmare.


    She had never imagined the usually silent and courteous Shen Yue capable of such madness.


    Appalled and shocked, Hai Mingzhu slapped Shen Yue, asking, ¡°Are you insane, what are you doing?¡±


    Shen Yue caught Hai Mingzhu¡¯s hand and pushed her against the wall.


    Scared and resisting hard, Hai Mingzhu said, ¡°Shen Yue, sober up!¡±


    ¡°I am sober,¡± Shen Yue murmured in Hai Mingzhu¡¯s ear, ¡°If Li Yawei isn¡¯t here, she must be somewhere else.¡±


    Upon hearing ¡°Li Yawei¡±, Hai Mingzhu felt relief knowing that Shen Yue had not forgotten their mission.


    In the darkness, she noticed Shen Yue¡¯s glare was still intense, his sanity intact.


    Seeing that Shen Yue wasn¡¯t making any further moves, Hai Mingzhu eased her struggle for the moment.


    But with their faces so close, Hai Mingzhu felt a bit flustered.


    She whispered, ¡°Could you keep some distance while speaking?¡±


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t step back and whispered, ¡°Suiyuan Bar and the nearby Wild Bar are owned by the same person.


    There¡¯s a modified path connecting the two.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying Li Yawei went to the Wild Bar?¡± Hai Mingzhu began to understand.


    ¡°I suspect so, because Jin Xin hasn¡¯t sent any message to indicate Li Yawei¡¯s departure.¡± said Shen Yue, ¡°In that case, we must also go to the Wild Bar to look for Li Yawei.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go.


    What are we doing here?¡± Hai Mingzhu, seeing Shen Yue so lucid, felt less fearful and apprehensive.


    A composed Shen Yue reassured her, which was the reason she had decided to accompany him here, despite never having been to a bar before.


    If it were Jin Xin, she would never step foot here.


    As Hai Mingzhu puzzled over this contrast, Shen Yue explained, ¡°The Wild Bar has a membership system and strictly monitors incoming persons.


    We wouldn¡¯t be able to enter from the front door.


    Furthermore, if we make a ruckus, it would make our mission impossible.¡±


    ¡°So, we enter through this shortcut?¡± Hai Mingzhu understood the complexity now.


    Shen Yue nodded, ¡°Suiyuan Bar caters to women new to socialising.


    But sometimes, when some men want to take things to the next level and the women are unwilling, these men would try to bribe the bartenders to spike a woman¡¯s drink.


    Gin Tonic is primarily consumed by women, and they tend to be less vigilant when consuming it.


    That¡¯s why a spiked drink can easily make a woman with low alcohol tolerance pass out.


    Afterwards, these men would lead the woman to the Wild Bar.


    In such an atmosphere¡­


    the likelihood of these men succeeding is close to 99 percent.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu grimly understood, ¡°The Wild Bar is shady, right?¡± then angrily retorted, ¡°The men who trick women in this manner are the absolute scum!¡±


    A hint of humour appeared on Shen Yue¡¯s face as he responded, ¡°Are you a recent graduate?


    How many people do you think come here just for a drink?¡±


    ¡°I am a recent graduate.¡± Hai Mingzhu bit her lip, ¡°Then what are we waiting for?¡± Finally, she understood the act Shen Yue was pulling off ¨C Shen Yue was playing the part of a disreputable man who intended to get her drunk!


    He intentionally poured the drink all over her to mimic the usual reaction of women who are new to society in this situation.


    Now, loaded with the smell of alcohol, she seemed all set to play the part of a drunk woman.


    ¡°The effects of the alcohol need time and we also need to give the bartender some time¡± Shen Yue whispered, ¡°This bartender isn¡¯t a good lot; he¡¯s responsible for selecting eligible men and women here.¡±


    ¡°What does ¡®eligible¡¯ mean?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked.


    ¡°Most of the people in there are wealthy individuals looking for excitement.


    Women new to socialising are always welcome.


    Seeing that you¡¯re new to this and that I fit the scum¡¯s characteristics, the bartender probably notified the patroller through his walkie-talkie that a sheep¡¯s heading towards the tiger¡¯s mouth.


    The membership restriction is to keep police out.


    They won¡¯t mind us ¡®sheep¡¯ but in fact welcome us because we bring along unexpected variables.¡±


    That word, ¡°variables¡±, sent a shiver down Hai Mingzhu¡¯s spine.


    With fear at the fore, she asked, ¡°You¡¯ll protect me, won¡¯t you?¡±


    A silence prevailed.


    In the quiet corridor, Shen Yue calmly responded, ¡°As long as you don¡¯t talk carelessly and keep a low profile, with me around, there¡¯ll be no danger.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu felt relieved.


    Shen Yue had a way of putting her at ease.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to know so much about this,¡± Hai Mingzhu, well aware of Shen Yue being trustworthy, still couldn¡¯t help but question him.


    After a moment of silence, Shen Yue responded, ¡°In the past, Jin Xin and I took up a case related to a bar.


    This is pretty much how it works.¡± Not wishing to elaborate any further, Shen Yue said, ¡°It¡¯s about time, let¡¯s go.¡±


    He assisted Hai Mingzhu through the dark corridor and advanced.


    Hai Mingzhu leaned on Shen Yue, acting drunk with unsteady steps, as if walking on clouds.

 Chapter 54 - 54 Section 54 You Just Need to Get Drunk

    ?54: Section 54: You Just Need to Get Drunk 54: Section 54: You Just Need to Get Drunk Hai Mingzhu didn¡¯t know whether she was genuinely weak in the knees or just pretending to be.


    As she half-leaned on Shen Yue, walking down a dim hallway that would normally intimidate women, she felt a strange sense of anticipation.


    She yearned for the path to be a bit longer.


    Disappointingly, they had reached the end within a few steps, affording her no time to savor the experience.


    Stealing a glance at Shen Yue¡¯s handsome face under his wild tousled hair, Hai Mingzhu finally said, ¡°Does your face still hurt?¡±


    She regretted the severity of the slap she had given him earlier.


    Only under normal lighting, she noticed five red handprints on Shen Yue¡¯s cheek.


    How much force had she used to cause that much damage?


    Shen Yue had not shown any anger, but Hai Mingzhu felt a sense of guilt.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± Shen Yue murmured.


    The path they had taken appeared as an ordinary emergency exit, with two diverging routes ahead.


    Steps echoed from a distance as two hulking men emerged silently from one of the corridors before slowing down as they approached Shen Yue.


    ¡°Where¡­ where are we?¡± Hai Mingzhu feigned drunken confusion, genuinely curious whether Shen Yue had gotten them lost.


    This is just a normal hallway, isn¡¯t it?


    ¡°We¡¯re almost home,¡± Shen Yue assured, ¡°Just hang on a bit longer and I¡¯ll get you home safely.¡±


    His response drew an understanding smile from the two vigilant men.


    Without asking anything further, they headed towards the Suiyuan Bar.


    One of them commented, ¡°This chick doesn¡¯t come here often.¡±


    The other replied, ¡°These types of guys are common.


    Did you see the handprint on his face?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s had his share, he¡¯ll get a tenfold return tonight.


    Women are soft-hearted, you see.


    They slap a man and feel guilty about it.


    A few sweet words from the right man and they willingly reconcile,¡± another man directed lewdly.


    A chill ran down Hai Mingzhu¡¯s spine and from that simple conversation, it was clear these types of incidents were common, and the bouncers were no longer phased by it.


    Shen Yue opened a door ahead, followed by another, to a heavy curtain.


    Pulling back the curtain, a blast of cold air and piercing music hit them.


    Even though Shen Yue had briefed her on the Wild Bar, the heart-wrenching music shook her to the point of bewilderment.


    It was a completely different world altogether.


    As if it represented the flip-side of humanity.


    They were in a massive dance club filled with strobe lights.


    The blue sky-like ceiling glowed with shooting stars, illuminating the underworld-like atmosphere.


    Bathed in an mismatched glow, everyone looked distorted and off-colored.


    The young female DJ, drenched in sweat, swayed her hips and her fiery red hair danced like flames.


    Despite the heat, she passionately maintained the high-energy atmosphere with ear-splitting music.


    And the dancers ¨C men and women alike, moved their bodies in primal movements, screaming unintelligible yet ecstatic shrieks.


    While Shen Yue and Hai Mingzhu were disheveled and reeked of alcohol, compared to the crowd here, they seemed like perfect straight-A students.


    Every so often, men with shifty glances lurked in and out of sight around the dance club, blatantly leering at a ¡°drunken¡± Hai Mingzhu with unhidden wild ambition in their eyes.


    Feeling the wolfish gazes around her, Hai Mingzhu clutched Shen Yue¡¯s arm, her heart thumping like a hammer.


    ¡°Relax, when you¡¯re drunk you tend to lose control over your movements.


    You won¡¯t have such a purposeful grip,¡± Shen Yue whispered in Hai Mingzhu¡¯s ear, ¡°Most of these guys are into ¡®dead bodies.¡¯ As long as you¡¯re seen with a man, these men, hollowed out by alcohol and stimulants, find interest only in ¡®female corpses.¡¯ They won¡¯t purposely pick a fight with another man.¡±


    ¡®Bodies?¡¯ Hai Mingzhu shivered understandingly.


    In places like this, there always are thrill-seeking women getting dead drunk, leaving them defenseless to be led away by these men.


    She had heard about it in the news, but didn¡¯t realize why a woman would willingly lower themselves to this point.


    She now sees why there were, in fact, not a few women drunk to stupor here.


    Doing her best to appear normal, Hai Mingzhu followed Shen Yue to a darker corner of the dance club. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The indecent sounds echoing around her caused Hai Mingzhu to abruptly throw her arms around Shen Yue¡¯s neck, pressing her face against his.


    Shen Yue froze, he had not anticipated such a move from Hai Mingzhu.


    ¡°Advisor Shen,¡± Hai Mingzhu¡¯s breathing grew rapid, ¡°how can we find Li Yawei?


    Let¡¯s find Li Yawei quickly and leave this place as soon as possible.¡± She had initially thought she could infuse some fun into her fear, but the dread was too overwhelming.


    If Shen Yue wasn¡¯t by her side, she wouldn¡¯t spend another second in here.


    For those who were drunk and high, this place was heaven.


    But to people like her, it was a living hell!


    ¡°Li Yawei¡¯s not in the dance club,¡± Shen Yue said with a grimace.


    ¡°How do you know?¡± Hai Mingzhu leaned closer into Shen Yue, distancing herself from the fear, ¡°President Jin hasn¡¯t given us any updates, we can¡¯t locate Li Yawei¡­¡±


    ¡°Jin Xin is unable to pin down Li Yawei¡¯s location now,¡± Shen Yue¡¯s gaze swept across the dance club, remaining keenly aware of his surroundings.


    ¡°Why?¡± Hai Mingzhu questioned, before she realized her impropriety and tried to distance herself from Shen Yue.


    The dim lighting encourages uninhibited behavior, but if Jin Xin had been listening all along, that was a different story.


    ¡°You think they need signal here?¡± Shen Yue retorted, ¡°The people here just want to vent, they don¡¯t want to stay in touch with the outside world.


    Because of that, signal jamming devices are installed nearby.


    Moreover, the walls are really thick here, locator signals can¡¯t penetrate them.


    Jin Xin hasn¡¯t been able to contact us for a long time, haven¡¯t you noticed?¡±


    When Hai Mingzhu heard that Jin Xin wasn¡¯t able to contact them, she heaved a sigh of relief and confidently said, ¡°So he can¡¯t hear our conversation.¡± Pretending to conceal her relief, she asked, ¡°Are you sure he can¡¯t detect the tracking device?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s how it is.


    Once we¡¯re here, we¡¯re on our own.


    Jin Xin knew about this from the start.¡±


    ¡°So how do you know Li Yawei¡¯s not here?¡± Hai Mingzhu returned to her previous question, ¡°I can¡¯t see the people clearly here.


    The lighting¡¯s so chaotic, it hinders me from identifying faces effectively.


    Plus, everybody looks so similar¡­¡±


    Shen Yue on the contrary, gave a slight chuckle, ¡°You don¡¯t have to look for her, you just play the part of being drunk, that¡¯s it.¡± It seemed like he was about to get up, but then he suddenly sat even heavier, pulling Hai Mingzhu closer to him.


    Hai Mingzhu, sensing trouble, act like a deadweight leaning against Shen Yue.


    Her eyes were nearly shut, but she left a sliver of space to watch the changes ahead.


    ¡°I thought you looked familiar, so I came to check it out,¡± an irritating voice drawled, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to find upright Advisor Shen and the ¡®innocent¡¯ Miss Hai here ¡ª what a surprise.¡± The man exaggerated, putting particular emphasis on the word ¡®innocent¡¯.


    A furrow formed in Hai Mingzhu¡¯s brow, it was none other than Xun Jiasheng who had arrived and to make things worse, the infamous playboy heir to a large business empire, Li Jizu, was standing right behind him!

 Chapter 55 - 55 Go away dont bother me anymore

    ?55: Go away, don¡¯t bother me anymore.


    55: Go away, don¡¯t bother me anymore.


    After the pounding music in the discotheque paused briefly, it was immediately replaced by even more exhilarating tunes, as if designed to stimulate every ounce of energy from the human body, and consequently reveal all human craziness.


    Li Jizu appeared to be even crazier than when he was drag racing.


    His shirt was already wide open and none of his hands were idle.


    With a cigarette in his mouth, he was holding two scantily-clad women and gazing at Hai Mingzhu in Shen Yue¡¯s arms with a lustful and heated gaze.


    ¡°Advisor Shen, it¡¯s been a long time,¡± he said.


    Shen Yue frowned slightly, ¡°It hasn¡¯t been that long.¡± He could tell that Li Jizu had intentionally come to stir up trouble.


    Unless he dealt with this nuisance, he wouldn¡¯t be able to leave the discotheque.


    Where was Li Yawei now?


    She had come here through a secret passage from the Suiyuan Bar.


    According to the information from Jin Xin, Li Yawei had been living in Australia for many years and had only just returned.


    How could she have made her way here so seamlessly?


    Having not seen Li Yawei for some time, could something have happened to her?


    A series of thoughts flitted through Shen Yue¡¯s mind as quick as lightning, but he remained as still as a stone, maintaining his composure on the couch.


    ¡°Really?


    It feels like a long time to me,¡± Li Jizu grasped at a meaningless topic, noting that there was no need for meaningful conversation here.


    Everyone was not here for a chat.


    Pushing away one of the women beside him, Li Jizu squeezed onto the couch, draping an arm around another scantily clad woman.


    ¡°Advisor Shen, I always thought you were a straight-laced man, but who would have thought¡­¡± As he spoke, he reached out to touch Hai Mingzhu¡¯s thigh in the darkness¡­


    Hai Mingzhu was very nervous.


    From the moment Li Jizu sat down, she knew he had bad intentions.


    However, she couldn¡¯t resist, because if she did, it would blow her cover and disrupt Shen Yue¡¯s plan.


    The lecherous hand was just a fist¡¯s distance away from Hai Mingzhu, when another hand swiftly grabbed it.


    Shen Yue gripped Li Jizu¡¯s wrist, squinting at him, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡±


    Li Jizu spit out his cigarette and burst into laughter, ¡°Advisor Shen, we are all men here.


    Don¡¯t you know what I¡¯m trying to do?¡± Feeling Shen Yue¡¯s rather forceful grip on his wrist, Li Jizu grew somewhat wary and slowly retreated his hand, gazing at the drunkenly supine Hai Mingzhu with bloodshot eyes. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Under the blurred lights, Hai Mingzhu stood out distinctly from the other women on the dance floor, which was exactly what attracted Li Jizu to her.


    Wild, loose women were aplenty here.


    Pure and innocent women were a rare commodity.


    Without receiving a reply from Shen Yue, Li Jizu finally said, ¡°Seeing as you¡¯ve gotten Miss Hai so drunk and brought her here, it¡¯s clear to everyone what you¡¯re planning.¡±


    ¡°What I¡¯m planning is my business,¡± Shen Yue responded casually, ¡°and the things I¡¯m going to do have nothing to do with you, Li Jizu.¡± He then made a move as if to stand up.


    He knew that Li Jizu wouldn¡¯t let him leave easily.


    As expected, Li Jizu quickly stood up to block Shen Yue¡¯s path, cracking a lewd smile, ¡°We all come here to have fun and let loose.


    Isn¡¯t the next thing you want to do just to release some pent-up energy?


    Let¡¯s be honest here!¡± With that, he pushed the woman he was holding towards Shen Yue.


    The woman, laughing provocatively, intended to sit on Shen Yue¡¯s lap.


    Such actions had become second nature to her in her line of work in the discotheque.


    To her surprise, she ended up sitting on the couch next to Shen Yue, looking rather stunned and puzzled about what just happened.


    ¡°One is not enough?¡± Promptly, Li Jizu pulled over another woman and shoved her towards Shen Yue, upping his previous offer, ¡°I¡¯ll swap these two for a night with Miss Hai.


    Once the deal is settled, I¡¯ll give you five million.¡±


    As the other woman tried to sit down, she found herself sitting on the previous woman¡¯s lap.


    The two women looked at each other with a ghastly expression on their faces.


    Xun Jiasheng swallowed nervously.


    The prospect of gaining five million for a night was enticing enough for him to consider selling his own mother.


    Hai Mingzhu kept her eyes closed, though she heard everything around her perfectly.


    She couldn¡¯t help but shudder slightly.


    She trusted Shen Yue not to sell her out, but she also knew that these were the kind of exciting games that the rich liked to play, and such games were happening here every day!


    Shen Yue stroked his chin, seemingly pondering over something.


    Li Jizu pulled out another cigarette and put it in his mouth.


    Xun Jiasheng was quick to take the hint and light it for him, not forgetting to remind Li Jizu in a low voice, ¡°Are you sure about the five million?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure!¡± Li Jizu showed no sign of regret.


    He¡¯d already made up his mind¡ªFive million afterwards?


    Dream on.


    Let¡¯s see how you, Shen Yue, can ask me for it later.


    Seeing that Shen Yue was still hesitating, Li Jizu tried to persuade him with a common trick, ¡°Advisor Shen, you¡¯re working your fingers to the bone, but how much can you get from Jin Xin in a year?


    Maybe just over a hundred million at most, right?


    You can get five million in just one night from me.


    Besides¡­¡± He smirked lasciviously at Hai Mingzhu, ¡°She¡¯s so drunk, she won¡¯t remember anything once I¡¯m done with her.


    I won¡¯t say anything and give her back to you in the morning, and she won¡¯t know anything.


    You lose nothing, and even if she learns about everything and leaves you, you¡¯ll still have the five million.


    With five million, I believe many women like her would throw themselves at you.¡±


    Although Hai Mingzhu was inwardly cursing Li Jizu for his shamelessness, she couldn¡¯t deny that such people were born to cause mischief.


    Their actions, although utterly despicable, were often irresistible to many men.


    ¡°Get me a bottle of beer,¡± Shen Yue suddenly beckoned to a passing waiter.


    Li Jizu laughed in satisfaction, ¡°Yes, making such a decision does require some liquid courage.


    But not beer¡­¡± He switched his order to the waiter, ¡°Bring over a bottle of XO, and put it on my tab.¡±


    The XO arrived quickly.


    As Shen Yue reached for the bottle, Li Jizu promptly scolded the waiter, ¡°Can¡¯t you do your job?


    Why haven¡¯t you opened it?


    Fill it up for me and Advisor Shen.¡±


    Shen Yue stopped the waiter from stepping forward, shooting a cold stare at Li Jizu, ¡°I don¡¯t drink.


    This is meant to help sober you up.¡±


    Li Jizu looked at the bottle in Shen Yue¡¯s hand and finally noticed the fierce look in his eyes.


    He took a step back and stammered, ¡°What are you trying to do?


    Don¡¯t mess around.¡±


    Seeing that things were taking a wrong turn, Xun Jiasheng stepped in front of Li Jizu, ¡°Shen Yue, if you dare to lay a finger on Li Jizu, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re sorry.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t lay a finger on Li Jizu.


    I¡¯m just going to perform a magic trick.¡± As Shen Yue spoke, his left hand held the bottle, and his right hand swung across it sharply.


    The mouth of the XO bottle, being thicker than a beer bottle, was cleanly cut away by Shen Yue¡¯s hand.


    The severed part of the bottle landed on Xun Jiasheng¡¯s face, causing a burning pain.


    Xun Jiasheng took a step back, his eyes reflecting disbelief.


    Although he had seen quite a few people with some sort of skill given his role in security, Shen Yue¡¯s actions were something he had never encountered before.


    Caught sight of the cut-off bottle, Li Jizu became agitated, and the alcohol in his system seemed to have sobered him up a bit.


    Seeing Shen Yue step up in front of him, his legs buckled, and for a moment he forgot to dodge.


    Shen Yue slowly poured the liquor from the bottle onto Li Jizu¡¯s head.


    Looking at the stunned Li Jizu, Shen Yue calmly said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want your neck to be cut off like this bottle, remember not to disturb me again, and don¡¯t think about Miss Hai.


    If anything happens to her because of you, then you can consider your lives over.¡±

 Chapter 56 - 56 56 Lessons on Anger Management

    ?56: 56 Lessons on Anger Management 56: 56 Lessons on Anger Management It seemed that Li Jizu¡¯s understanding of words was not very good, as he was still trying to figure out what Shen Yue¡¯s warning meant.


    Shen Yue stooped to pick up Hai Mingzhu from the sofa, glared fiercely at Xun Jiasheng, turned and walked away, reminding as he left, ¡°Mr.


    Li, you invited us to these drinks, don¡¯t forget to pay up!¡±


    Watching Shen Yue disappear into the crowd, Li Jizu finally came to his senses, pointing at Xun Jiasheng¡¯s nose and said: ¡°What does he mean by that?


    Is he implying he wants to kill me?


    He dared to threaten me? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He actually dared to threaten me?


    Tell me, was he threatening me?¡±


    His anger was boiling over, the barrage of questions asked in clear layers.


    Xun Jiasheng was at a loss as to which question to reply to, after a while he finally said: ¡°He was indeed threatening you, sir!¡±


    Li Jizu snapped back angrily: ¡°And you just stood there watching him threaten me?


    Did my mother invite you to enjoy the damn show?¡±


    Recently, the Li Family had been troubled, and the performance of the security from six houses on the thirteenth floor was witnessed by key individuals of the Li Family.


    Under Li Jiye¡¯s orders, they planned to have four security houses tasked to protect the Li Family.


    Qian Qiaoqiao did not need any, covertly, however, Xun Jiasheng was brought in to accompany Li Jizu.


    Li Jizu did not understand his mother¡¯s intentions, but he and Xun Jiasheng had a common distaste, therefore, shortly after meeting, they brought Xun Jiasheng here.


    Xun Jiasheng knew well the four unshakeable friendships between men.


    It was mandatory to eat and share together, coupled with his own preferences, he followed willingly.


    He saw Shen Yue hugging Hai Mingzhu when they walked in, reminiscent of being betrayed by Shen Yue and Hai Mingzhu in the past ¨C everybody wanted him dead, Shen Yue and Hai Mingzhu never tried to defend him.


    Due to this, he let Li Jizu take the lead to humiliate Shen Yue; he didn¡¯t expect that Shen Yue seemed to be a better fighter than Jin Xin, this was beyond his expectations.


    However, Xun Jiasheng was not a fool, listening to Li Jizu¡¯s incoherent curses, he murmured: ¡°The third son of the Li Family, smart people do not seek profit in the sight of danger.


    You are the highest-ranking VIP here, don¡¯t forget, Brother Leopard from this place has to give you respect.¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡± Li Jizu¡¯s eyes brightened.


    ¡°We don¡¯t need to confront it ourselves.


    You are indeed cunning.¡±


    This was a derogatory remark, but to Xun Jiasheng, it came as praise, ¡°Third son, you flatter me.¡±


    ¡°But I like people like you.¡± Li Jizu and Xun Jiasheng¡¯s stench displayed the same taste.


    They angrily glanced at the direction Shen Yue had left in, ¡°You are ending my life?


    I will fill your life with question marks!¡± Pleased with his witty humor, Li Jizu saw the two women on the sofa getting closer to him, he waved in disgust, ¡°President Xun, where is the one Wang Quan introduced to me?


    How did she disappear in the blink of an eye?


    Go find her for me.¡±


    Shen Yue walked into the dance floor with Hai Mingzhu in his arms.


    Amid the deafening music, Hai Mingzhu could hear her intense heartbeat.


    Hugging Shen Yue¡¯s neck to prevent herself from falling, Hai Mingzhu murmured: ¡°Where are we going?¡± Surprisingly, she was fascinated by Shen Yue¡¯s skills.


    It turned out that Jin Xin wasn¡¯t the only one from Jin Tang security who could fight.


    No wonder Shen Yue told her ¨C all she would do was be cautious, and she would be safe.


    Holding Shen Yue¡¯s neck, Hai Mingzhu felt a deep sense of safety.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get a room!¡± The words Shen Yue said gave Hai Mingzhu quite a shock, ¡°What kind of joke is this?


    I¡¯m not drunk!¡±


    ¡°If you were drunk, if you didn¡¯t leave this place, if you had other things to do, then you would need to rent a room.¡±


    While Shen Yue was speaking, he had crossed the dance floor and arrived at the opposite position.


    In front of them was a quiet path with a red carpet laid and a male attendant standing at the reception desk.


    Seeing Shen Yue walk in, he said: ¡°Sir, this is a place for VIPs to rest.¡±


    Whether a patrol man or a receptionist, their eyes were sharper than ordinary salesmen.


    The male attendant could tell at a glance that Shen Yue was not a VIP guest of the venue.


    Shen Yue frowned, ¡°I¡¯m acquainted with Mr.


    Li.¡±


    ¡°Which Mr.


    Li?¡± The male attendant¡¯s attitude was even colder, he had seen too many guests taking advantage of others.


    Shen Yue grabbed the neck of the male attendant and asked angrily: ¡°Don¡¯t you know the third son of the Li family, Li Jizu?


    Don¡¯t you know the young master who came with President Xun?


    Are you standing here just for show?


    How did Brother Leopard train you guys?¡±


    His series of questions highlighted a key issue; he and Li Jizu, Brother Leopard are all on the same side.


    ¡°Li Jizu said his name would get rooms here, seems like it doesn¡¯t work.


    Do you want to go ask him?


    You fucking go, why are you delaying?


    Don¡¯t you know how urgently I need the room?¡± Shen Yue continued to press.


    If Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t see Shen Yue, she would almost have mistaken the person holding her for another man.


    She suddenly discovered that Shen Yue can act out any role perfectly.


    In Suiyuan Bar, he was completely a scumbag.


    Here, he was almost like a gangster.


    The male attendant was sprayed with a face full of strong alcohol breath from Shen Yue, his attitude instantly softened up, ¡°Sir, please don¡¯t rush.¡± He glanced at the woman in Shen Yue¡¯s arms, knew the reason for Shen Yue¡¯s anxiety, and the attendant signaled, ¡°Follow me.¡±


    Li Jizu was a major client of the Wild Bar and could be considered the P in the VIP, normally he acted arrogantly, and his friends were naturally the same.


    They say the soft fear the hard, and the hard fear the aggressive.


    The male attendant initially thought Shen Yue didn¡¯t know Li Jizu, but seeing Shen Yue¡¯s ¡°true nature¡± emerge, he immediately felt that this man was with Li Jizu.


    Even if it wasn¡¯t the case, with this man¡¯s explosive hormones, he didn¡¯t want to step in blindly and incite trouble.


    It would be better to first calm this customer and then circuitously inquire with Li Jizu.


    The male attendant decided in a few short moments, signaled another attendant to keep an eye on the entrance temporarily, and led Shen Yue to walk deep into the corridor.


    Blinking hazily, Hai Mingzhu saw there were quite a few dark rooms on both sides, yet it was extremely quiet.


    She thought the soundproofing effect here should be quite impressive.


    Suddenly, a door up front made a noise, a woman ran out, bowing her head as she rushed past Shen Yue.


    Hai Mingzhu noticed that the woman was not Li Yawei, feeling a slight disappointment.


    The male attendant finally stopped before a door with Shen Yue, took out a card, swiped it to unlock the door, then said, ¡°Please rest in this room, sir.


    The door will lock immediately when closed, you don¡¯t need to worry, but also be careful not to lock yourself out.¡±


    He played it safe, hinting sideways for Shen Yue to handle his affairs in the room and not to venture outside.


    In this way, even if Shen Yue caused a scene, it would not disturb other guests, and he could find Li Jizu to confirm it later.


    ¡°Get out.¡± Shen Yue said brusquely: ¡°What is there for me outside?


    At least I won¡¯t come out for the next two hours.¡±


    You think you can handle it?


    The male attendant cast a glance at Shen Yue¡¯s exposed abs, gently closed the door.


    Finally, Shen Yue put Hai Mingzhu down, listened at the door for a moment, then whispered, ¡°He¡¯s gone.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu lowered her head, her eyes not knowing where to look.


    The room¡¯s decoration was luxurious and bizarre, the items inside, Hai Mingzhu had only heard about them in stories, even a single glance made her heart tremble.


    Being in this kind of interesting room with Shen Yue, she barely uttered a word.


    Listening to Shen Yue talk, Hai Mingzhu came back to her senses, ¡°We are here to find Li Yawei, aren¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°Or what?¡± Shen Yue replied.


    Hai Mingzhu blushed, ¡°Where is she?


    Is she in one of the rooms nearby?¡±

 Chapter 57 - 57 Section 57 Rescue

    ?57: Section 57 Rescue 57: Section 57 Rescue Hai Mingzhu felt a little strange inside.


    In less than half a night, she had seen things she had never seen or even dared to think about in her previous twenty years.


    The bizarre and unruly atmosphere made her a bit restless, but sitting in this room, her thinking began to clear and the wild music of the disco did not even transmit a note here, nor did the sound from here reach outside.


    The owner of the store had evidently planned very thoroughly.


    ¡°You¡¯re afraid that Li Yawei, being inexperienced, will be taken into one of the rooms after being drunk?¡± Hai Mingzhu had fully understood why Shen Yue wanted to book a room.


    ¡°She is inexperienced?¡± Shen Yue muttered, a strange glint in his eyes.


    Hai Mingzhu, who didn¡¯t notice, said with worry, ¡°Then we have to rescue her.¡± She found that there were dangers everywhere for an inexperienced woman like her.


    If it weren¡¯t for Shen Yue, she might not have been able to get out of here.


    Not hearing Shen Yue¡¯s response, Hai Mingzhu said, ¡°But every room here looks the same, we can¡¯t see or hear anything from the outside, so how do we find her?¡± Suddenly, an idea struck her, ¡°Your cell phone can detect signals, can it detect the location of Li Yawei¡¯s tracker?¡±


    ¡°The walls here are specially made, and the decorative soundproof panels and sound-absorbing carpets can interfere with signal propagation.


    I didn¡¯t feel any response from the phone when I passed by just now.¡± Shen Yue had thought far more ahead than Hai Mingzhu and had already started the detection.


    ¡°What should we do then?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked anxiously.


    Shen Yue walked to the door and opened a gap, made sure that there was no one in the hallway, and said in a low voice, ¡°Follow me.


    This is not a place anyone can come in.


    The attendant doesn¡¯t want to take responsibility, he will definitely notify the floor manager.


    The floor manager won¡¯t be so easy to deal with, so¡­we don¡¯t have much time.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu, realizing the urgency, immediately followed Shen Yue, glanced back at the silently locked door, and blushed at the reminder of the male attendant.


    However, Shen Yue was fully focused on looking ahead and quickly stopped in front of a room, turning to look at Hai Mingzhu.


    Hai Mingzhu looked surprised and whispered, ¡°Isn¡¯t this¡­?¡±


    She remembered that a woman seemed to have come out of this room just now, but they were far from here at that time, and Shen Yue¡¯s line of sight couldn¡¯t curve around, and there were no mirrors here. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Yue shouldn¡¯t be able to see the situation in the room, but Shen Yue had already determined that Li Yawei was here.


    Shen Yue stared at the doorknob, silent as if contemplating something.


    Hai Mingzhu regretted that Jin Xin hadn¡¯t come.


    It was an electronic door lock, and Jin Xin should be able to open it.


    After all, Shen Yue was not omnipotent and couldn¡¯t crack the lock here.


    Shen Yue, unexpectedly, pulled a small stick about half a foot long from his waist.


    The shape of the stick was not cylindrical, one end was thin, the other end was much thicker.


    Shen Yue twisted his wrist, and a sharp cone tip appeared at the thin end of the stick.


    The cone tip looked transparent.


    Shen Yue gently placed the cone tip at the center of the door lock, clenched his hand, and the tip of the cone rotated rapidly.


    The stick pierced into the door board as easily as a red-hot iron stick piercing into butter.


    Then Shen Yue slapped the bottom of the stick with force¡­


    Hai Mingzhu only heard a slight explosion, and saw a hole appear in the door panel.


    Shen Yue put away the tool, twisted the doorknob, and the door was already open.


    Shen Yue¡¯s movements were clean and quick, the time used to break into the door was very short.


    But the people inside had apparently sensed something wrong, and someone shouted, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±


    The man who shouted was sitting in the room on the sofa, the first one to turn his head with a strand of blonde hair.


    Another man abruptly turned from the edge of the bed, subconsciously pulling up his pants.


    There was a woman on the bed, lying face up and curled up, not moving.


    Her colorful hair looked exceptionally glaring.


    Even though the room was dimly lit, Hai Mingzhu looked over and recognized that the woman on the bed was Li Yawei.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± The man on the bed was only in his early twenties, one side of his hair was short as stubble, and the other side was long and standing up, looking like a rooster¡¯s tail.


    He was just about to start his foreplay when he was interrupted, and he was extremely unhappy.


    Seeing that it was a man and a woman coming in, he frowned even more, ¡°Where¡¯s Brother Leopard?


    Call Brother Leopard, how does he run his business?¡±


    The blonde on the sofa reached out and touched an inconspicuous button on the wall and stood up, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu knew that the blonde was calling for help ¨C that button was most likely a call device.


    She quickly warned, ¡°Shen Yue, stop him, he¡¯s calling for help.¡± Her reaction was notably late.


    Shen Yue, however, was calm and composed, ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to call everyone here and see who is involved?¡± He pointed at the rooster-head by the bed, ¡°You, come over here and stand against the wall!¡±


    The rooster-head was both shocked and furious, ¡°Who the fuck do you think you are, telling me to stand against the wall?¡±


    ¡°Can an undercover police officer work for you?¡± Shen Yue took out a credential with the police emblem from his pocket and flashed it, then immediately closed it.


    He pointed at the blonde and said, ¡°You same as him, both stand against the wall.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu hadn¡¯t expected that Shen Yue also had the identity of a police officer.


    She was amazed at how fast he changed his identity ¨C from scumbag to social outcast, then from social outcast to undercover police, Shen Yue changed three identities in less than two hours.


    The speed with which he switched roles would make even an Oscar-winning actor feel inferior.


    ¡°Fuck your grandpa, I thought you were sent by Master Tao!¡±


    The blond man was obviously more afraid of some Master Tao than the police.


    He reached behind his back, took out a spring knife, stride to Shen Yue, and stabbed at Shen Yue¡¯s right chest.


    Judging by his viciousness, he¡¯s obviously been in the underworld for a long time and is certainly ruthless!


    Hai Mingzhu screamed, ¡°Be careful!¡±


    Before her words had even fallen, there were three sounds of ¡°snap,¡± ¡°bang,¡± and ¡°pop.¡± The blond was juggling with both his hands, holding one dislocated hand with the other, clutching his crotch and jumping around, sweat dripping down his forehead in an instant.


    Shen Yue swiftly disabled the blond¡¯s knife-wielding wrist and kneed the blond in the groin while his knife was still in the air.


    After the knife dropped with a ¡°pop,¡± he didn¡¯t move a muscle when the cock-head that had dodged in front of him was about to throw a punch.


    He just asked disdainfully, ¡°Do you want to try that too?¡±


    The rooster-head stopped his fist in midair, looked at the blond sobbing with snot and tears, and slowly pulled back his fist.


    He had seen some tough guys before, but Shen Yue was the calmest tough guy he had ever seen.


    ¡°Face the wall.¡± Shen Yue ordered the rooster-head and the blond, and gestured to Hai Mingzhu with his eyes.


    Hai Mingzhu thought, I don¡¯t have handcuffs.


    When she saw Shen Yue gesturing towards Li Yawei, she suddenly understood and ran over.


    Then she said, ¡°It seems she¡¯s pretty drunk, but she doesn¡¯t seem to have been¡­¡± She didn¡¯t finish her sentence, but her intention was obvious.

 Chapter 58 - 58 Episode 58 Undercover

    ?58: Episode 58 Undercover 58: Episode 58 Undercover Hai Mingzhu was disgusted by Li Yawei¡¯s lack of self-respect, yet relieved that Shen Yue arrived just in time, as it seemed that Li Yawei hadn¡¯t been violated.


    Even though Li Yawei was unconscious, her clothes were still in order.


    Upon hearing Hai Mingzhu¡¯s words, Roosterhead immediately defended himself to Shen Yue, ¡°What are you accusing me of?


    I didn¡¯t touch her.


    You can¡¯t be accused in court for having a drink and chat among friends, can you?¡±


    ¡°Are you close to her huh?


    You should know her name then.¡± Shen Yue looked far more successful than Li Yawei in his cosplay.


    Most people only scratch the surface of cosplay, but he truly captures the essence of the character.


    This question stymied Roosterhead.


    It¡¯s a simple yet difficult question to answer.


    Blinded by his lust, would he have bothered to ask for the name of a woman presented to him?


    He glanced at Blondie, but before Blondie could speak, Shen Yue interjected, ¡°You know this woman?


    Did you introduce her to him?¡±


    Blondie immediately shut his mouth, weighing the severity of the situation.


    Hai Mingzhu was throwing knowing glances at Shen Yue.


    She was convinced Shen Yue was pretending to be an officer, which would be problematic if exposed.


    Plus, Blondie had called for backup, and the guards might be arriving soon.


    She couldn¡¯t understand why someone as smart as Shen Yue would make such a childish mistake in such a critical situation.


    With a loud ¡°bang,¡± the door was kicked open and a few men stormed in.


    The man at the forefront had a bald head and a scarred face, a thick gold chain draped around his neck.


    He was shirtless, wearing only shorts, with a prominent bulge.


    The dark blue tattoo of a leopard on his chest, with sharpened teeth, was all very vivid.


    Brother Leopard brought two muscular men, clearly guards, and in the back was the male waiter.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± The bald, scarred man asked abruptly after assessing the situation in the room.


    ¡°Brother Leopard, cops are raiding the place,¡± Blondie, gritting his teeth in pain, managed to explain the situation.


    Brother Leopard sneered, staring at Shen Yue, ¡°When did a security consultant become an undercover cop?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu¡¯s heart sank.


    The only ones who knew their identities here were Li Jizu and Xun Jiasheng, and now that Brother Leopard had exposed Shen Yue¡¯s occupation, it seemed they had been in communication with them.


    ¡°You think Li Jizu knows everything?¡± Shen Yue didn¡¯t even blink, ¡°If he knew my identity, why would I still be in disguise?


    Brother Leopard, you just got out of bed and may not know a lot of things.


    Don¡¯t think you¡¯re invincible just because you have Superintendent Hu¡¯s protection.¡±


    Brother Leopard¡¯s eyes twitched, unsure how Shen Yue knew the name of his backstage patron, and more confused as to how Shen Yue knew he just got out of bed.


    You¡¯re still sporting a hard-on in your shorts, so considering your hasty dressing, I¡¯d bet that your rush from the bed was so hurried that you didn¡¯t even wear your underwear.


    Of course, Shen Yue didn¡¯t explain any of these assumptions to Brother Leopard, he also didn¡¯t miss Leopard¡¯s subtle reactions, and casually dropped a bomb, ¡°Bypassing Superintendent Hu, this operation was ordered directly from the top by our comrades from other areas.


    Brother Leopard, some of the things you do, like facilitating the reemployment opportunities for fallen women or minor involvements with narcotics, those can be overlooked.


    But this time it¡¯s different.


    Do you know who the woman on the bed is?


    She is Li Jizu¡¯s sister, the heiress of Li Corporation!¡±


    At the corner of Brother Leopard¡¯s mouth twitched, he responded with disbelief, ¡°No way!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so impossible about it?¡± The way Shen Yue framed it, anything seemed possible, ¡°In the past, the victims couldn¡¯t deal with you, but now that Titan Industries are involved, you think you can escape?¡±


    ¡°So you¡¯re trying to scare me?¡± Brother Leopard clenched his fists and took a step forward.


    Hai Mingzhu¡¯s heart sank again.


    ¡°You are neither from Xiamen University nor from Shenzhen University.


    With your level of knowledge, it will be difficult even for you to get into high school,¡± Shen Yue¡¯s words left Brother Leopard confused, but then he went on, ¡°Earlier, I could have walked away.


    What do you think I was waiting for?¡±


    As soon as Shen Yue finished speaking, Brother Leopard spun around abruptly, ¡°What¡¯s going on outside?


    Are you all made of wood?


    Go check it out!¡± The door was open, Brother Leopard had his ears pricked, he heard that the music from the disco had stopped and there seemed to be a commotion.


    The male waiter hurried out, and returned shortly after, looking somewhat panicked, ¡°Brother Leopard, sirens are heard, the disco is in chaos.


    It seems like the cops have stormed in.¡±


    Brother Leopard paused, muttering in his heart, Sirens?


    Police cars drove into the disco?


    Nonsense!


    Shen Yue sighed, ¡°Yongren, haven¡¯t you delivered the message yet?


    I¡¯ve been running my mouth just to wait for you to signal to our comrades.¡±


    The waiter was taken aback.


    ¡°Chen Yongren, how does he know your name?¡± Brother Leopard¡¯s gaze fell upon the waiter, sharper than a knife.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know?¡± The waiter was befuddled, having no idea what Shen Yue was talking about.


    Shen Yue added, ¡°What are you afraid of him?


    With Titan Industries as a witness against him, he won¡¯t be out in ten years.


    By that time, when you return to the police force, you might be promoted to police sergeant.¡±


    ¡°You betrayed me!¡± Brother Leopard knocked over the waiter with a kick, shouting, ¡°I¡¯ve always suspected you of being a traitor.


    How can a simple waiter be named Chen Yongren?¡±


    The waiter was puzzled, not understanding what the problem was with his name being ¡°Chen Yongren.¡±


    Listening to the growing commotion outside, Brother Leopard, unable to understand the situation, didn¡¯t dare to delay any longer.


    Without caring about the situation in the room, he ran outside, disappearing before they knew it.


    The two burly men looked strong, but they indeed ran incredibly fast.


    Shen Yue grabbed Roosterhead, pushed him against the wall, and dug a wallet out of his pocket, throwing it to Hai Mingzhu, ¡°Check his identity and contact his family to pick him up.¡±


    As Shen Yue turned around, Roosterhead, hearing that they were about to contact his family, exerted all his strength and rammed his body backward, freeing himself from Shen Yue¡¯s clutches.


    Recognizing their chance, Blondie flipped the sofa to prevent Shen Yue from catching up.


    They coordinated seamlessly, and in an instant they cut off the distance from Shen Yue, and disappeared outside the door in a flash.


    ¡°Advisor Shen, are you okay?¡± Hai Mingzhu was a little panicked seeing Shen Yue staggering. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Yue waved his hand to show that he was fine.


    ¡°Should we chase them?¡± Hai Mingzhu immediately asked, her concerns put aside.


    ¡°What do we chase for?


    Do you think we¡¯re really undercover vice cops?¡± Shen Yue glared at Hai Mingzhu, then walked to the bed and hoisted the drugged and unconscious Li Yawei onto his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, ¡°Now their security system is in total chaos, it¡¯s time for us to get out.¡±


    Having said that, Shen Yue strolled out as if he was simply taking a leisurely walk in his own yard.

 Chapter 59 - 59 59 Sudden Change!

    ?59: Chapter 59: Sudden Change!


    59: Chapter 59: Sudden Change!


    Shen Yue carried the drunk Li Yawei out, and as he looked up, he saw Li Jizu and Xun Jiasheng in the hallway.


    Upon seeing Shen Yue appear, Li Jizu shivered, and Xun Jiasheng¡¯s face turned somewhat green.


    Indeed, as Hai Mingzhu had guessed, just as Xun Jiasheng was going to contact Brother Leopard, Brother Leopard hurriedly arrived on the scene.


    Having heard Xun Jiasheng¡¯s introduction of Shen Yue, Brother Leopard immediately took two henchmen to seek trouble with Shen Yue.


    Li Jizu, clearly more interested in Shen Yue¡¯s fate, neglected the recent arrivals and followed Brother Leopard.


    Xun Jiasheng, nonetheless an experienced man, suggested that Li Jizu should wait for Brother Leopard to settle Shen Yue first before showing up.


    Li Jizu, who wasn¡¯t a complete fool, thought this was a good idea ¨C he was also uncertain whether Brother Leopard could deal with Shen Yue, the bottle-cutter.


    But perhaps he might profit from their struggle?


    Just when Li Jizu was appreciating his increasing wisdom, the disturbance outside calmed down.


    He was there to see the climax, and no matter what, he wouldn¡¯t leave before the show was over.


    Who would have thought that he would then see Brother Leopard rush out, giving him a harsh glare as he passed by, muttering, ¡°Screw you!¡± before storming off without looking back.


    Unable to understand why Brother Leopard suddenly turned against him, even less so why Brother Leopard started cursing straight away, Li Jizu then saw a punk and a mohawked man running out in panic, the latter¡¯s pants were not properly buckled, and he stumbled over his belt.


    What on earth was going on?


    Despite being familiar with island country films, Li Jizu could not deduce the situation within the room.


    Xun Jiasheng was mindful of the situation on the thirteenth floor, choosing to attribute everything to supernatural occurrences and believed that there must be a ghost in the room Shen Yue was in.


    How else to explain this situation?


    He pulled Li Jizu and tried to leave ¨C he never trusted Gao Jie¡¯s explanation, insisting that the thirteenth floor of the Giant Building was haunted.


    He believed Gao Jie claimed Manager Song was mentally unstable just to cover things up!


    Just then, Shen Yue walked out carrying a woman, with another woman by his side.


    Xun Jiasheng could not figure out the complicated relationship within the room, but he knew something was wrong.


    Luckily, Shen Yue paid him no mind and stopped next to Li Jizu.


    ¡°What are you doing here?


    Harassing me?¡±


    Li Jizu felt a chill on his neck, worried it might suddenly break off.


    He hastily said, ¡°No, no.


    I saw Brother Leopard come this way and I was afraid he was coming for you, and I also didn¡¯t want Miss Hai to lose hair¡­¡±


    Upon suddenly noticing a sober Hai Mingzhu standing there, Li Jizu didn¡¯t understand how she sobered up so quickly.


    He quickly tried to flatter her, ¡°I was just worried that something might have happened to you guys, so I came to check.¡±


    ¡°Well done.


    You¡¯re making progress.


    Do more good deeds in the future.¡± Shen Yue praised Li Jizu, gave Hai Mingzhu a wink, and left quickly with her.


    Li Jizu finally breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.


    Never missing an opportunity to curry favor, Xun Jiasheng said, ¡°The Young Master is both flexible and clever.


    Truly a smart man.¡±


    ¡°Why did he come out like nothing happened?


    What exactly happened?


    Didn¡¯t you say Brother Leopard was a great fighter?


    Wasn¡¯t he the one who fought all the way from Hung Hom to Tsim Sha Tsui with just a watermelon knife?¡± Li Jizu couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the truth either.¡± Xun Jiasheng shook his head, ¡°Shen Yue is very tricky, we should try to get others to deal with him, instead of doing it ourselves.¡±


    Li Jizu thought this was definitely a great idea, and inquired, ¡°Who is that parrot-like woman he carried out?¡± He hadn¡¯t seen Li Yawei for a long time, so he had no idea she was his sister.


    The phrase ¡°your sis¡± from Brother Leopard wasn¡¯t a curse, but more of a question ¨C why was your sister here?


    Xun Jiasheng shook his head, swallowing a bit enviously, ¡°This guy looks serious, but it¡¯s all an act.


    You see, he¡¯s more familiar with this place than anyone else.


    It¡¯s obvious he hangs out here a lot.


    And men who frequent this place aren¡¯t here to drink.¡± After that, he laughed knowingly.


    Li Jizu nodded, fully agreeing ¨C a bar is certainly not for drinking, just like Starbucks is never truly a place for coffee.


    ¡°Shen Yue is a master in the dating field. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He got one drunk, and hooked up with another, it seems he will be busy tonight.¡±


    Feeling a little hot, Xun Jiasheng heard the noise outside slowly dying down, sensing that the nightclub probably hadn¡¯t encountered any major issues.


    ¡°But Shen Yue is no match for the Young Master.


    With just the slightest gesture, countless women will flock to you, unlike him who has to make such an effort,¡± he said.


    A triumphant smile appeared on Li Jizu¡¯s face.


    Seeing this, Xun Jiasheng whispered, ¡°I still have that internet-famous model waiting, should we continue?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Li Jizu briefly forgot about the annoyance from Shen Yue, ¡°You and I together¡­¡±


    Before he could finish his sentence, Li Jizu wobbled and suddenly reached out to brace himself on Xun Jiasheng.


    Xun Jiasheng quickly propped up Li Jizu, asking, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xun Jiasheng wasn¡¯t concerned about Li Jizu¡¯s wellbeing, but rather because he knew that this was his golden goose, and he was counting on Li Jizu to live for his future.


    ¡°I feel a bit dizzy, not sure why.¡± Li Jizu¡¯s voice was a little low, lacking its usual vigor.


    ¡°Did you take that blue pill?¡± Xun Jiasheng quickly guessed, ¡°That stuff can make your head dizzy.


    You didn¡¯t swallow too many at once, did you?¡± he chuckled, ¡°You haven¡¯t even started yet, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re already done for.


    You¡­¡±


    He was about to make some jocose remark, but his words caught in his throat, a look of surprise spreading across his face.


    Under the dim lights, twin crescents of blue suddenly appeared under Li Jizu¡¯s eyes.


    Xun Jiasheng remembered, just a moment ago, there had been no such symptom on Li Jizu¡¯s face.


    What was going on?


    Even though people get dark circles under their eyes due to fatigue, why would Li Jizu exhibit signs of these blue symptoms?


    The thought crossed Xun Jiasheng¡¯s mind, and he took a step back just in time to witness Li Jizu¡¯s complexion turned crimson red at a speed visible to the naked eye.


    The fierce red of blood!


    Even a ghost couldn¡¯t change as horrifyingly as Li Jizu did, and Xun Jiasheng, frightened, stepped back again and again, pointing at Li Jizu, ¡°Young Master, Young Master¡­


    What on earth happened to you?¡±


    ¡°Help¡­ save me!¡± Obviously, Li Jizu realized something was wrong with him too, stumbling towards Xun Jiasheng, seeking support.


    Under the dim lamp light, Xun Jiasheng saw Li Jizu looking like a fierce ghost, and at that moment, he didn¡¯t dare to let Li Jizu come any closer, ¡°Don¡¯t scare me!


    Stay away, stay away!¡± He wanted to turn and run, but his legs softened from fear and he couldn¡¯t move a step.


    Li Jizu stared desperately at Xun Jiasheng, seemingly unable to walk forward even one more step, then suddenly his mouth opened wide, and a burst of dazzling blood filled the air, along with Xun Jiasheng¡¯s piercing scream, resounding for ages!

 Chapter 60 - 60 60 Mysterious Internet Celebrity Girl

    ?60: Chapter 60 Mysterious Internet Celebrity Girl 60: Chapter 60 Mysterious Internet Celebrity Girl Shen Yue and Hai Mingzhu had already arrived outside the Wild Bar.


    A cold wind blew through the night, and Hai Mingzhu sighed, feeling as though she had just run a lap in the Netherworld.


    Luckily for her, she had Shen Yue beside her, who was able to bring her back to the world of the living.


    Seeing Shen Yue bearing Li Yawei on his shoulders like a sack of potatoes, with her loose limbs hanging like that of a corpse, a wave of envy came over the gawkers littering the scene.


    Relieved to have escaped the dingy and unpleasant place, Hai Mingzhu suggested, ¡°It must be uncomfortable for her to be carried like this.¡±


    ¡°Then how should I carry her?¡± Shen Yue looked like he was considering handing Li Yawei over to Hai Mingzhu.


    Hai Mingzhu hastily waved her hands in refusal, ¡°I think she¡¯s quite comfortable.


    Please, do continue.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s the one comfortable here?¡± Jin Xin¡¯s voice suddenly came through their communication device.


    Knowing that the three of them had resumed contact, Hai Mingzhu responded irritably, ¡°President Jin, you must be nice and restful, doing nothing.


    You don¡¯t know how occupied Shen Yue and I have been.¡±


    ¡°What exactly are you two busy with?


    Do tell.¡± Jin Xin asked out of curiosity.


    Hai Mingzhu flushed, finding it difficult to recount everything that transpired during their time at the Suiyuan and Wild Bars.


    ¡°One of them has a bright yellow tuft of hair, the other a rooster-like hairstyle.


    They are very recognizable.¡± Shen Yue suddenly stated, ¡°Both are linked to Li Yawei, with the one with yellow hair seeming to be more in the know.


    I¡¯ve done my part, now it¡¯s your turn.¡±


    Jin Xin on the other end responded casually, ¡°All right, I¡¯m tracking them.¡±


    The two men were in sync, their communication minimal and effective.


    Hai Mingzhu had to think for a while before she understood.


    ¡°When you were searching for the man with the rooster head, you put a¡­¡±


    Glancing at Li Yawei, who lay as still as the dead from drinking, Hai Mingzhu added, ¡°You placed a tracker on him?¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t be long before you¡¯re a qualified employee of Jin¡¯s security.¡± Shen Yue¡¯s answer undoubtedly confirmed Hai Mingzhu¡¯s suspicion.


    Secretly sighing, Hai Mingzhu marveled at how Shen Yue had seamlessly executed the plan, leaving no stone unturned.


    His actions and his invincibility was startling.


    Having experienced the events on the thirteenth floor, Hai Mingzhu speculated, ¡°You intentionally let go of the man with the rooster head so that Jin Xin could intercept him on the outside to further question him about his objectives in meeting Li Yawei?¡±


    Shen Yue only grunted in response.


    ¡°The chaos at the club was also caused by Jin Xin?¡± Hai Mingzhu probed.


    ¡°He must have set off the fire alarm, followed by the activation of the police sirens from outside the club.¡± Shen Yue said flatly.


    ¡°You must remember, those who are out to commit crimes are always on edge. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The people in the club may appear carefree, but that¡¯s only within this setting.


    Once the police sirens came on, they panicked more than anyone else.


    Because they cannot do what they do here out in the sunlight, and they ultimately need to return to a life beneath it.


    When they panic, our opportunity presents itself.¡±


    ¡°How could Jin Xin contact you?


    Didn¡¯t you say there¡¯s no signal?¡± Whenever Hai Mingzhu was out with Shen Yue, a ton of questions would arise.


    She figured this might be the experience needed for growth.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t need to contact me.¡± Shen Yue smiled.


    ¡°He knows my modus operandi and I know his.


    Not finding Li Yawei in Suiyuan Bar, he knew I would search for her in Wild Bar.


    It doesn¡¯t take long to find someone in such a tiny place, and if I exceeded the expected time, he knew something had gone wrong, and then he would stir up trouble.¡±


    With a knowing smile, Shen Yue looked at Hai Mingzhu and said, ¡°For outsiders, it¡¯s an accident.


    But for us, we¡¯re waiting for that accident.¡±


    When Shen Yue looked at her, Hai Mingzhu purposefully averted her gaze, which had been locked on Shen Yue¡¯s side profile for a while now.


    The lights were brilliant, making the starry sky appear dull in comparison.


    Perhaps all the starlight was concentrated in Hai Mingzhu¡¯s attentive eyes.


    ¡°When the accident occurred, did you act on the spot, or did you step back?


    You didn¡¯t rush to leave with Li Yawei when you first saw her.


    That¡¯s because you knew if you left then, a bunch of people would block you?


    You scared off Brother Leopard and intimidated the others in the club, and after that, you could leave without trouble?¡± Hai Mingzhu, staring at a distant street light, could feel Shen Yue looking at her.


    She didn¡¯t want to look at Shen Yue, because she knew if she turned her head and looked, Shen Yue would also ¡°coincidentally¡± look away, just like she had done earlier.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got it right.¡± Contemplating Hai Mingzhu¡¯s pretty side profile, Shen Yue noticed that this seemingly eccentric girl exuded a certain inexplicable beauty when focused.


    While all women wish to be seen as beautiful, Hai Mingzhu seemed not to care about this aspect?


    The two fell silent momentarily.


    Suddenly, Hai Mingzhu¡¯s eyes lit up.


    ¡°I figured out how you knew the waiter¡¯s name.¡± Smiling coyly, she said, ¡°It was your first time seeing him, but his name was embroidered in Pinyin on his uniform.


    You saw the Pinyin and remembered his name.¡±


    ¡°When put that way, it indeed does sound rather simple.¡± Shen Yue¡¯s response had a crafty smile.


    It might sound simple, but the execution was far from it.


    Hai Mingzhu pondered, plenty of people instantly forget someone¡¯s name as soon as it¡¯s mentioned, while Shen Yue could remember the name of a random bystander just from a quick glance.


    Training must have been strenuous for him to achieve this skill.


    ¡°There¡¯s one thing I can¡¯t figure out.¡± Hai Mingzhu laid out her biggest dilemma, ¡°There were so many rooms to choose from, all seemingly identical.


    How could you be certain that Li Yawei was in the room you picked?¡±


    Shen Yue furrowed his eyebrows involuntarily, ¡°Do you remember the woman who ran past us in the hallway when we went to find Li Yawei?¡±


    ¡°Yes, what about her?


    Do you know her?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked in reply.


    ¡°You should recognize her too,¡± Shen Yue hinted, ¡°Today at the airport, she pestered you for quite a while.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu halted, a look of surprise on her face.


    ¡°Are you referring to that self-obsessed internet celebrity?¡± She recollected the events at the airport and exclaimed, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s her!


    She changed her look, but it was definitely her.


    She was just keeping her head down at the time¡ª¡±


    ¡°Perhaps she was trying to avoid being recognized by you.¡± Shen Yue stated softly.


    ¡°Why?¡± As Hai Mingzhu asked this, thoughts began to whirl in her mind.


    ¡°She came running out of Li Yawei¡¯s room.


    Could she and Li Yawei have arranged to meet at the Wild Bar?¡±


    The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became.


    ¡°Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that I saw the two of them in the airport during the day and then happened to run into them again in a club?


    You thought it was too coincidental and thus assumed that Li Yawei must be in the same room the internet celebrity ran out of.¡±


    ¡°They must have known each other before the encounter at the airport, otherwise, the internet celebrity wouldn¡¯t have deliberately disguised herself to attract your attention, thereby buying time for Li Yawei,¡± Shen Yue concluded.


    ¡°Li Yawei instructed the internet celebrity to pester me?¡± Hearing this, Hai Mingzhu first felt skeptical, but soon it dawned on her, ¡°That¡¯s right, it must be so.


    Otherwise, even a hapless internet celebrity wouldn¡¯t be so overconfident as to stalk me.


    She clearly did that intentionally!¡±

 Chapter 61 - 61 61 Hidden Truth

    ?61: Chapter 61: Hidden Truth 61: Chapter 61: Hidden Truth Hai Mingzhu understood a lot, but with that arose even more questions.


    Li Yawei and the internet celebrity girl had known each other for a long time.


    At the airport, the internet celebrity girl helped Li Yawei by distracting Hai Mingzhu.


    Afterward, the celebrity and Li Yawei agreed to meet at a bar.


    Since Li Yawei wasn¡¯t familiar with the area after returning from Australia, it was the internet celebrity girl who led her into various venues¡­


    and eventually into the rooster-head guy¡¯s room¡­


    ¡°That internet celebrity girl isn¡¯t a food delivery person, is she?¡± As soon as Hai Mingzhu finished speaking, she felt somewhat embarrassed for jumping to such conclusions.


    Shen Yue did not seem embarrassed at all and simply shook his head.


    ¡°You either don¡¯t know or don¡¯t think so.¡± Hai Mingzhu felt that Shen Yue and Jin Xin, despite their apparent differences, shared one major thing in common ¨C they would both play dumb despite clearly understanding the situation.


    ¡°I can¡¯t confirm whether what you¡¯re saying is true because there¡¯s currently not enough evidence to support it,¡± Shen Yue said, frowning.


    ¡°The situation is already pretty clear to me.¡± Hai Mingzhu did not plan her ideas as meticulously as Shen Yue, but she assumed: ¡°The internet celebrity girl and Li Yawei met in Australia, or perhaps on the flight.


    Li Yawei is naive, and the internet celebrity girl was most likely there to deliver some food.¡±


    Feeling embarrassed about her understanding of these things, Hai Mingzhu looked to Shen Yue for his reaction and then continued: ¡°The internet celebrity girl then deceived Li Yawei, intending to pull her into this delivery work as well.


    The exchange students in Australia tend to be more open-minded, so Li Yawei was either open herself to begin with, or she was searching for a thrill.


    She came to the bar at the urging of the internet celebrity girl.¡±


    After a moment, Hai Mingzhu added more details: ¡°Knowing that someone would pick her up, the internet celebrity girl voluntarily distracted the person the Li Family sent to fetch her¡­ which happened to be me.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu pointed to her own nose, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that the astute Advisor Shen had seen through their tricks from the beginning, forcefully changing the course of events.


    Li Yawei didn¡¯t give up.


    She escaped halfway through and met up with the internet celebrity girl at the Suiyuan Bar.


    From there, they entered the Wild Bar through the same path we had used, meeting up with Rooster-head and Blondie.


    Those men were clearly looking for a thrill and the internet celebrity girl handed Li Yawei over to them.


    They used sleazy tactics to get Li Yawei drunk and took her to a hotel room¡­


    Afterward, we arrived on scene.


    The internet celebrity girl had seen us coming and fearing that we would recognize her and get rid of Li Yawei, kept a low profile and ran away.


    You already know what happened after that, so there¡¯s no need to say more.¡±


    Upon saying all this, Hai Mingzhu let out a sigh of relief, looking at Shen Yue triumphantly.


    It could not be more obvious.


    Having finally gotten it all out, she was the first to believe her own story.


    Unexpectedly, Shen Yue¡¯s response nearly caused her to faint with shock, ¡°Your first assumption is probably wrong.¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What did I say first?¡± Hai Mingzhu tried her best to recall.


    ¡°You said they met each other in Australia or on the plane.¡± Shen Yue shook his head, ¡°They definitely did not meet on the plane because they were not on the same flight.¡±


    ¡°How could you possibly know that?¡± Hai Mingzhu responded with suspicion.


    ¡°I do know.¡± Shen Yue calmly replied, ¡°The tag on the internet celebrity girl¡¯s luggage was clearly domestic.


    It¡¯s easy to see that.¡±


    Stunned, Hai Mingzhu realized that even though she thought she had keen eyes, compared to Shen Yue, she was as blind as a bat.


    As Shen Yue looked out towards the streetlight in the distance, he pondered, ¡°If this was a mistake they unintentionally left behind, then the internet celebrity girl must have flown from somewhere within the country, taken the escalator from the domestic airport exit down to the underground level and then blended into the crowd exiting the international airport to meet up with Li Yawei.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu knew that after going through customs, there¡¯s a path connecting the domestic and international exits.


    She admired Shen Yue¡¯s attention to detail but she didn¡¯t understand why he wouldn¡¯t let go of this detail.


    Shen Yue instantly revealed the answer, ¡°The two of them meeting up like this clearly indicates that they had planned it in advance.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true.


    Regardless of how they got to know each other, they definitely had agreed to meet up.


    What followed after is pretty much as I had thought.¡± Hai Mingzhu said excitedly.


    ¡°Indeed, your later deductions do make quite some sense.¡± Shen Yue reassured Hai Mingzhu, ¡°It¡¯s certain that they know each other and that they had agreed to meet up here¡­ But yet, whether Li Yawei is indeed working in food delivery service is something that still needs to be verified.¡±


    What else needs to be confirmed?


    Do you feel as if you know her just because you¡¯ve spent time with her close up?


    Hai Mingzhu felt somewhat unsatisfied.


    Seeing Shen Yue continuing to hold onto Li Yawei, Hai Mingzhu couldn¡¯t help but feel there was something wrong, even though she did not want to obviously caution Shen Yue to let go of Li Yawei.


    For people pretending to be asleep, you can¡¯t wake them.


    ¡°According to the information we have, she doesn¡¯t seem like such a good girl in Australia?¡± Seeing Shen Yue nod, Hai Mingzhu pointed out, ¡°She frequents many such places and still gets easily intoxicated and taken to bed, what does that tell you?¡±


    Before Shen Yue could reply, he suddenly let go of Li Yawei, gently leaned her against a stone bench, took a plastic bag out of his pocket, and handed it to her.


    You¡¯re very thoughtful, huh?


    Just when Hai Mingzhu was about to speak, she saw Shen Yue unkindly give Li Yawei a punch in the back.


    Li Yawei¡¯s mouth opened, and she vomited into the bag.


    Shen Yue, having seen this kind of scenario before, patiently sealed the bag of vomit and threw it into a nearby trash bin, then pulled out a packet of tissues to hand to her.


    Li Yawei slapped away Shen Yue¡¯s kindness, finally opening her bleary, drunken eyes.


    ¡°Who are you?


    What do you want with me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Shen Yue.


    Your mother asked us to¡­


    bring you home.


    It¡¯s time for us to go back,¡± Shen Yue responded, staring at Li Yawei.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have a home!


    I don¡¯t have a mother!¡±


    With a wave of her hand as if to cast away these thoughts, Li Yawei clumsily stood up; ¡°Where is that wizard?


    That Taoist?


    Where are they?¡±


    ¡°What is she talking about?¡± Hai Mingzhu suddenly felt like Li Yawei didn¡¯t just have too much to drink, but maybe overdosed on pills.


    Where did this wizard and Taoist come from?


    ¡°I drove them away,¡± Shen Yue went along with Li Yawei¡¯s train of thought.


    Li Yawei suddenly exploded with anger and stormed over, clutching Shen Yue by the collar, ¡°How could you do that?


    Why did you do that?


    Are you trying to kill me?¡±


    As her agitation increased, she suddenly swung her hand to slap Shen Yue across the face.


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t move, but Hai Mingzhu was well-prepared, catching Li Yawei¡¯s hand in time and forcibly pushing her away.


    Li Yawei, caught off guard, staggered backward and fell down on the bench once again.


    ¡°Have you calmed down yet?¡±


    If Shen Yue hadn¡¯t restrained her, Hai Mingzhu would¡¯ve slapped Li Yawei, ¡°Li Yawei, do you realize what we have been through to find you?


    Do you have any idea the danger we went through trying to rescue you?


    Just because you¡¯re rich, you think you¡¯re on top of the world?


    Well, I¡¯m telling you, the woman paying the money is the mother you refuse to acknowledge, and the home you refuse to go back to is the one constantly waiting for you!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know, you don¡¯t know anything.¡± Li Yawei, voice lowered, buried her hands in her hair, looking truly pained.


    ¡°If I don¡¯t understand, then tell me,¡± Hai Mingzhu initially blurted it out in a fit of rage, but now thought it might be a good strategy.


    Shen Yue did not interrupt.


    Li Yawei murmured, ¡°The ghost¡­


    the ghost is coming, so many ghosts are coming, I¡¯m going to die!¡± She abruptly looked up at Shen Yue and Hai Mingzhu.


    Hai Mingzhu was initially startled by the sight of Li Yawei, her makeup ruined by alcohol and vomit, resembling a specter.


    But even more than that, she was stunned to see genuine terror in Li Yawei¡¯s eyes.


    Suddenly standing up, Li Yawei screamed hysterically, ¡°Come and kill me!


    I¡¯m not afraid of you!¡±


    While Hai Mingzhu backed away, Shen Yue stepped forward as Li Yawei¡¯s screaming stopped and her body slumped down.

 Chapter 62 - 62 62 Huang Xiaoxian

    ?62: Chapter 62 Huang Xiaoxian 62: Chapter 62 Huang Xiaoxian Even in the most prosperous places, there are hidden darkness.


    Much like how the night sky of Deep City appears to be brilliantly illuminated from an airplane, but between each pinprick of light, darkness connects them all.


    Two men hurried through the darkness, constantly looking over their shoulders.


    Once they confirmed no one was following, they stopped and took a breath.


    One of them panted, ¡°He took my wallet, knows my background, and is definitely going to inform my dad.


    My dad has been keeping a close eye on me lately, he¡¯d probably beat me to death if he found out about this.¡±


    ¡°What are you afraid of?


    Don¡¯t you still have your mom?¡± The other man said, ¡°You plead with your mom, your mom then persuades your dad, then a big deal becomes a small one, and a small matter disappears.¡±


    ¡°This time is different.¡± The face of the previous man finally came into the light, it turned out to be the rooster-headed man from the Wild Bar.


    The other, unquestionably, would be the blondie.


    ¡°This time we messed with Giant Li¡¯s daughter.


    The police won¡¯t suppress it, they will definitely inform Giant Industries.


    How could Giant Industries let us off the hook?


    My dad still relies on Giant Industries for food.


    If he finds out, I definitely won¡¯t survive.¡± The rooster-headed man anxiously said, ¡°Are there still flights now?


    I want to go to the airport and get out of here.


    Give me some money.¡±


    The two of them took a breather and promptly got up, ready to cross the alley, when they suddenly halted.


    There was a person standing at the entrance of the alley, backlit and only a long shadow was cast, making it impossible to see his face.


    The rooster-headed man and the blondie were already like frightened birds.


    At this moment, they suddenly saw a man blocking the alleyway, and couldn¡¯t help feeling suspicious.


    ¡°Is it a cop?¡±


    ¡°No, he¡¯s not dressed in uniform.¡±


    ¡°Is it that undercover guy?¡±


    ¡°No, that guy isn¡¯t this tall.¡±


    Blondie had good eyes and figured out that the man at the entrance of the alley was a bit taller than Shen Yue.


    The man slowly approached the two men.


    When he got in front of the blondie and the rooster-headed man, they still couldn¡¯t make out his real appearance, because he was wearing an eye mask like Zorro.


    The rooster-headed man and blondie had seen all kinds of cosplays at parties, but they were a bit spooked by this ranger-like cosplay.


    They stepped up their pace and thought to themselves ¡®One may know a man¡¯s face but not his heart¡¯, and when they were about to pass him, the man suddenly seized their wrists.


    Although the two men were prepared, the man¡¯s move was very fast.


    The blondie¡¯s hand, that had just been dislocated, was grabbed.


    He screamed in pain, but before he could let out a cry, he was forcefully dragged and collided with rooster-headed man.


    The rooster-headed man fell to the ground, and before he could steady himself, the man stepped on his chest.


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡±


    Rooster-headed man was almost coughing up blood by that kick, feeling the man was oozing off the legendary killing intent.


    He saw the man reaching for his waist and instantly thought he was going to draw a knife.


    Observing that the man¡¯s arm had stopped moving, he couldn¡¯t help but beg: ¡°The money is all on Huang Fei, if you want to rob, you can get it from him.¡±


    Being injured twice, Huang Fei were in too much pain to run, hearing the rooster-headed man say this, he immediately took out his wallet with his uninjured hand and threw it over, ¡°All our money is here, you can take it all.¡±


    This man¡¯s appearance was too sudden, his manner was both swift and fierce, he didn¡¯t even speak.


    Just coming from the Wild Bar, and finding themselves in such bad luck, they thought they had run into someone ready to kill for their spoils, both were slightly panicked.


    Masked man flipped the wallet, ¡°Just a few hundred?¡±


    ¡°We were just robbed once.¡± The rooster-headed man pleaded, ¡°This is all that¡¯s left.


    If you don¡¯t believe, look at Huang Fei¡¯s wrist, it was just dislocated by the robber.¡±


    ¡°Why did the robber hit you?¡± the masked man asked.


    The rooster-headed man gave a bitter laugh, ¡°This, we don¡¯t know either.


    Some people want to beat up people with no reason.


    Don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    ¡°You got a point.¡± The masked man agreed, ¡°Sometimes when I slaughter people, I don¡¯t have a reason either, I just want to kill.¡±


    The rooster-headed man and Blondie were astounded, not knowing why they kept running into ruthless figures today.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling stifled today, came out wanting to slaughter someone.¡± The masked man¡¯s eyes scanned over the two men, ¡°Which one of you wishes to die?¡±


    Rooster-headed man and the blondie looked at each other, feeling that this question was impossible to answer.


    The masked man leisurely said, ¡°If one of you must die, who should it be?¡±


    ¡°Him!¡± This time, the rooster-headed man and blondie simultaneously pointed at each other.


    A trace of imperceptible laughter appeared in the masked man¡¯s eyes, ¡°Very good.


    You two are quite loyal, which makes it hard for me to choose.


    So, I¡¯ll ask you a couple of questions, whoever answers well, I¡¯ll let him go.¡±


    Without giving them a chance to choose, the masked man asked, ¡°What were you planning to do with Li Ya Wei?¡±


    ¡°Who is Li Ya Wei?¡± The rooster-headed man, confused, asked.


    His question was answered with a loud slap. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The masked man spanked the rooster-headed man¡¯s face leaving a five-finger imprint, then turned to the blondie and said, ¡°Your turn.¡±


    Blondie wasn¡¯t pinned down, but seeing how the masked man was ready to leap into action, he didn¡¯t dare to escape, ¡°I¡­¡± He originally wanted to say ¡®I don¡¯t know¡¯, but the outcome of not knowing had already been shown.


    How could he make the same mistake?


    In a critical situation, a light bulb instantly lit up in blondie¡¯s mind, ¡°Are you talking about the Australian woman who came with the escort lady tonight?¡±


    ¡°Your answer is quite good.¡± The masked man had a mild smirk, ¡°Now, you can tell me why you arranged the meeting with Li Ya Wei, right?¡±


    ¡°We truly didn¡¯t know she was Li Ya Wei.¡± The rooster-headed man defended himself.


    The masked man threw another slap.


    The rooster-headed man¡¯s face swelled from two repeated slaps, his teeth becoming bloody.


    The blondie noticed the masked man looking at him.


    Even though he had the same answer, he immediately changed his way of answering, ¡°Listen to my explanation, sir.


    When the escort lady was searching for a girl for us, she didn¡¯t tell us she was Giant Li¡¯s daughter.


    If we had known, we wouldn¡¯t dare to do it.


    Are we courting death by opposing Giant Industries?¡±


    ¡°Who is the escort lady?¡± The masked man asked again.


    The rooster-headed man finally got smarter, and no longer said ¡®I don¡¯t know¡¯, ¡°It was all handled by Huang Fei, he knows!¡±


    Seeing the masked man look at him, Huang Fei immediately said, ¡°She said her name was Andi, she didn¡¯t mention her real name.¡± Noticing the masked man¡¯s potential aggression, Huang Fei hastily explained, ¡°In this line of work, except for people whose backgrounds we know root and branch, who would use their real name!¡±


    The masked man let out a cold ¡®humph¡¯ as a response.


    Huang Fei tried to answer in a way that would satisfy the masked man.


    He explained in minute detail, ¡°She provided us service a few times, always high-class girls.


    We had a good working relationship.


    One day, Andi suddenly messaged me, asking me if I could really perform exorcisms¡±


    ¡°You can perform an exorcism?¡± The masked man was taken aback.


    Huang Fei hurriedly said, ¡°It¡¯s just a small trick.


    I have a nickname in my industry, called Huang Xiaoxian.


    Sir, you might not know this, but many people in our circle believe in supernatural things, and I am someone who specializes in exorcising these dirty things.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you were quite talented.¡± The masked man sarcastically praised.


    Yet in his mind, he wondered ¨C could it be that Li Ya Wei was possessed, and looked for these men for an exorcism?


    Of course, the masked man was Jin Xin.

 Chapter 63 - 63 Lesson 63 The Game Gets Serious

    ?63: Lesson 63: The Game Gets Serious 63: Lesson 63: The Game Gets Serious Jin Xin was also involved in peripheral tasks, though his concept of ¡®peripheral¡¯ was quite different from Huang Fei¡¯s.


    Shen Yue specialized in cracking seemingly unsolvable cases, utilizing his distinctive expertise, while Jin Xin primarily dealt with gathering initial intelligence and then followed up on leads provided by Shen Yue.


    Knowing that Shen Yue had placed a tracker on the Rooster Head, Jin Xin had no trouble tracing the positions of Rooster Head and Huang Fei.


    Shen Yue had let these two go specifically for Jin Xin to interrogate!


    The poor fear poverty while the rich fear death; this has been an unchanging rule since time immemorial.


    Jin Xin, hearing that Rooster Head planned to flee by plane, knew that the man was scared of death.


    Given that, Jin Xin wouldn¡¯t bother devising any other methods and went straight into torture for information.


    Seeing the two still deny knowing Li Yawei, even in their panicked state, Jin Xin felt they were speaking the truth.


    Simultaneously, he began suspecting that Li Yawei¡¯s case might be related to supernatural entities.


    Huang Fei was confused whether Jin Xin was complimenting or mocking him, so he replied, ¡°If you need anything in the future, just look for me.¡±


    ¡°Are you hoping I¡¯ll be cursed?¡± Jin Xin asked, his tone chilling.


    ¡°No, no!¡± Huang Fei quickly shook his head.


    ¡°Keep talking, why did Andi approach you?¡± Jin Xin observed the matter was getting a bit complicated.


    ¡°She said an Australian woman had been cursed and was looking for someone to exorcise it.


    She asked me if I could help and also sent me a photo of the woman.¡± Huang Fei swallowed before continuing, ¡°The woman in the picture was quite attractive, so I just¡­just¡­¡±


    Jin Xin snorted coldly, unholstered a dagger from his belt, pressed the spring lock, and the blade sprang out with a menacing glare.


    ¡°I was seduced by her.¡± Huang Fei yelled in fright, ¡°Sir, I¡­I¡­If I knew she was from the Li Family I wouldn¡¯t have dared do this.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re all men, and given your profession, it would be strange if you didn¡¯t do this.¡± Jin Xin tested the blade with his finger, as if checking its piercing speed, ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°I told her dealing with ghosts is tricky and arranged a face-to-face meeting to understand the situation.


    If possible, I would find a powerful Taoist to help her dispel the curse.¡± Huang Fei said this while glancing at Rooster Head.


    Jin Xin, being familiar with these schemes, looked at Rooster Head and said: ¡°So this is the powerful Taoist?¡±


    Rooster Head didn¡¯t dare to nod or shake his head.


    Huang Fei, feigning mystery, replied: ¡°Sir, you don¡¯t know this.


    Roosters are considered to be very yang, and Wang Quan was born in the year of the rooster.


    Plus, with his rooster haircut, he can truly break a ghostly body formed from yin.


    When he is with a woman, he can not only exorcise her ghosts, but also change her fortune.


    This is a fact, and we don¡¯t deceive.¡±


    He then added, ¡°You know about the ¡®Golden Ding¡¯, right?


    Wang Quan is considered a ¡®Golden Ding¡¯ in our industry.¡±


    I don¡¯t believe your utter nonsense.


    Jin Xin, aware of the so-called ¡®Golden Ding¡¯, knew it as a term for men who could magically alter a woman¡¯s fate or even help her marry a wealthy man through some unique method.


    ¡°If he¡¯s a ¡®Golden Ding¡¯, why doesn¡¯t he change his own fate?


    Couldn¡¯t he foresee that he would be in trouble twice today?¡± Jin Xin asked derisively.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t work like that.¡± Faced with his professional expertise, Huang Fei maintained his professional demeanor, ¡°A ¡®Golden Ding¡¯ can only change a woman¡¯s fate and can¡¯t alter the fate of men or their own.¡±


    Jin Xin scoffed at such superstitions, though he knew many foolish women believed them.


    ¡°So you then waited for Li Yawei and Andi?¡±


    Seeing Huang Fei¡¯s hesitation, Jin Xin quickly asked, ¡°Did I say anything wrong?¡±


    ¡°No, no.¡± Seeing Jin Xin¡¯s glaring eyes, Huang Fei quickly added, ¡°Andi wanted us, seeing as we knew each other for a while, to introduce some high-profile customers to her.


    Knowing that we know Li Jizu, who is willing to spend money on women, she asked us to introduce her to him.


    Andi said she could repay us with a bit of the water she drew.


    You know, it¡¯s only natural for women like her to look for more ways to earn money.¡±


    Jin Xin¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Though to others, it may seem unimportant, Jin Xin quickly noticed something unusual.


    Andi knew Li Yawei and wanted to meet Li Jizu.


    Why was Andi so interested in the Li family members?


    Seeing Jin Xin not responding, Huang Fei assumed Jin Xin wasn¡¯t interested and immediately continued, ¡°Seeing as we knew Li Jizu, we agreed to invite him along.


    After all, it was only a minor contribution.¡±


    ¡°You know Li Jizu?¡± Jin Xin gasped slightly, a thought flashing across his mind.


    All matters seemed to revolve around the Li family; even these two insignificant rascals had connections with the Lis! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Pulling a thought from the back of his mind, Jin Xin turned to Rooster Head, ¡°Your name is Wang Quan?¡± Huang Fei had earlier mentioned the name of this ¡®Golden Ding¡¯ man, but Jin Xin did not pay it much attention at the time.


    A potentially crucial connection struck him now, ¡°The Wang Xinghai from Titan Industries, is he your father?¡±


    Wang Quan nodded hesitantly, puzzled as to how Jin Xin had learned all this, ¡°Are you a cop?¡± He was more afraid of the police telling his father, Wang Xinghai, about his debauchery.


    ¡°Am I questioning you, or are you questioning me?¡± Jin Xin prepared to give Wang Quan another slap.


    Wang Quan quickly covered his face.


    Jin Xin¡¯s hand halted mid-air, and he thought for a moment: ¡°Was Li Jizu also at the Wild Bar tonight?¡±


    Huang Fei was greatly surprised, feeling as if the man standing before him knew a lot of insider information.


    ¡°He was indeed at the Wild Bar.¡±


    ¡°And now?¡± Jin Xin had no idea what had happened inside the bar.


    Huang Fei shook his head, ¡°We hurried out without knowing his whereabouts.¡± Sensing Jin Xin¡¯s piercing gaze, Huang Fei quickly added, ¡°He saw Andi, and Andi saw him, too.


    But Andi was busy getting¡­getting the Australian Li Yawei exorcised first, so she came to the VIP room with us.


    During our process of exorcism, she left on her own, probably to look for Li Jizu.


    We haven¡¯t seen Andi since then.¡±


    ¡°Did Li Yawei say she was possessed?¡± On the orders of Li Jixian to solve Li Yawei¡¯s trouble, Jin Xin felt this question was crucial.


    ¡°She isn¡¯t possessed; she has drawn the attention of a ghost.¡± Huang Fei shook his head, a flicker of terror evident in his eyes.


    ¡°Even you professionals are afraid?¡± Jin Xin asked in a cold tone.


    Huang Fei and Wang Quan exchanged looks, seemingly reluctant to speak more.


    Seeing Jin Xin about to act, Wang Quan preempted him.


    ¡°As soon as we entered the room, she willingly started to drink.


    We are professionals¡­¡±


    ¡°Professional conmen?¡± Jin Xin retorted.


    Wang Quan looked embarrassed.


    ¡°We don¡¯t force women.


    They participate voluntarily.


    We don¡¯t partake in coercion.¡±


    ¡°So Li Yawei voluntarily slept with you?¡± Jin Xin unabashedly asked.


    ¡°She didn¡¯t sleep with Wang Quan.


    After she started drinking, she began spouting nonsense.¡± Huang Fei explained, ¡°She said she played a game that resulted in her becoming haunted by many vengeful spirits that want her dead.¡±


    ¡°What game did she play?¡± Jin Xin asked seriously.


    Huang Fei and Wang Quan looked at each other.


    Huang Fei hesitated then said, ¡°I think it¡¯s called ¡®Ghost Night¡¯.¡± Wang Quan remembered more clearly, ¡°No that¡¯s not it, the game is called ¡®Hundred Ghosts Night Parade¡¯!¡±


    Jin Xin¡¯s heart sank, suddenly feeling a chill at his back.

 Chapter 64 - 64 64 Episodes of Deadly Crisis

    ?64: 64 Episodes of Deadly Crisis 64: 64 Episodes of Deadly Crisis A night of a hundred demons?


    What kind of game is this?


    Jin Xin did not know.


    The cold chill down his spine wasn¡¯t due to the game, but rather, he senses a looming crisis.


    The crisis was coming from behind!


    A slight ¡°click¡± resounded, sounding eerily distant in the ghost-ridden night sky.


    But to Jin Xin, it was crystal clear¡ªsomeone¡¯s just pulled the trigger, but who was their target?


    As the thought crossed his mind, Jin Xin immediately rolled on the spot.


    He was quick, but his attacker was even faster.


    With a ¡°thud¡±, a bullet was fired, striking the spot on Jin Xin¡¯s back where he was just a moment ago!


    Silver light scattered in all directions.


    The scattered silver light in the dark night portrayed a chilling yet beautiful picture that concealed a fatal assassination attempt.


    With a painful sensation piercing through his back, Jin Xin assessed the direction from which the bullet came and found a blind spot in the attacker¡¯s aim to hide.


    Another ¡°thud¡± echoed.


    A spray of blood erupted as Wang Quan opened his mouth wide, unable to utter a word.


    A bullet had penetrated his heart.


    As Wang Quan¡¯s chest exploded with a fountain of blood, Huang Fei¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Upon turning his gaze to the entrance of a distant alley, he saw a figure standing with guns in hand, their gunmetal bodies gleaming under the moonlight.


    The next target they were aiming at was him, Huang Fei.


    In an instant, Huang Fei bolted away¡ªhe realized that Jin Xin may not intend to kill him, but the gunman seemed intent on killing everyone present.


    No!


    Jin Xin cried out inwardly, his voice trapped within.


    He made a sudden movement to his waist.


    As he watched Huang Fei in his escape, Jin Xin¡¯s eyes filled with helplessness.


    Yet another ¡°thud¡± resounded!


    Despite being on the run, Huang Fei was reenergized by the adrenaline rush.


    He planned to sprint to the end of the alley, take a turn that would lead him to the streets where the crowd would ensure his safety.


    Or so Huang Fei thought.


    Next, he saw a spreading reddish haze that clouded his vision.


    He didn¡¯t know why this deadly red fog appeared in his vision, and as he stretched out his hand to wave it away, suddenly everything went dark.


    ¡ª-


    ¡°What should we do?¡±


    Staring at Li Yawei, who had once again passed out drunk, Hai Mingzhu looked helplessly at Shen Yue.


    Recalling everything Li Yawei said, Shen Yue mumbled, ¡°Someone wants to kill her?


    Why?


    What does she mean by ¡®many ghosts¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Do you believe everything she said?¡± Hai Mingzhu¡¯s trust was betrayed, and her patience for Li Yawei had worn thin.


    ¡°She¡¯s drunk and talking nonsense.


    While she¡¯s unconscious, let¡¯s quickly get her to her mom.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu felt that the money for this job wasn¡¯t worth the effort.


    ¡°What about President Jin?


    Is he coming with us?


    He¡¯s been quiet for a while.¡±


    ¡°When he¡¯s working, he tends to turn off his communicator,¡± Shen Yue explained.


    ¡°He has this habit.


    He says it helps him focus.¡±


    In the midst of their conversation, Shen Yue¡¯s expression suddenly changed.


    ¡°It seems like President Jin has turned on his communicator.¡± Hai Mingzhu heard a peculiar third voice in the communicator that sounded a lot like the soft beating of a drum.


    Thump¡­


    Thump!


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?


    Is President Jin playing drums over there?¡± Hai Mingzhu suddenly asked.


    Shen Yue¡¯s face turned grave.


    Rushing over to Li Yawei, he hoisted her across his shoulders and started running.


    Hai Mingzhu was genuinely shocked; it was her first time witnessing Shen Yue so perturbed.


    ¡°There¡¯s a sentry post 200 meters ahead.


    You and Li Yawei go there and seek help from the police, stay there.¡± Shen Yue commanded on the run, but then he abruptly stopped.


    ¡°No, you must stick with us.


    I can¡¯t leave you and Li Yawei behind.¡±


    ¡°What on earth is happening?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked, her voice laced with anxiety and confusion.


    ¡°Jin Xin is in danger!¡± After uttering these words, Shen Yue immediately gestured out a ¡°hush¡± and focused intently on the sounds echoing from the communicator.


    Then, he cried, ¡°Follow me!¡± before breaking into a run.


    ¡ª-


    Jin Xin watched as a silver bullet drilled into Huang Fei¡¯s brain.


    It did not penetrate through the front but blood spurted from Huang Fei¡¯s head.


    The scene was akin to immense pressure suddenly enveloping a ripe watermelon causing the juices to seep out without causing the melon to shatter.


    As his eyelids twitched, Jin Xin heard Shen Yue¡¯s slightly ragged breathing, then abruptly he shut off the receiver.


    When the receiver was on, he didn¡¯t dare to speak.


    He could only use the secret code to communicate the fatal danger to Shen Yue.


    Now, the danger was not only from his side.


    Shen Yue may also be in trouble.


    He knocked his ear gently with his finger transmitting a drum-like sound within the earpiece.


    It was all the communication he could manage.


    He was using Morse code, knowing Shen Yue would understand.


    He couldn¡¯t wait for Shen Yue to arrive.


    He didn¡¯t want Shen Yue to come, but he needed to inform Shen Yue about the situation.


    He didn¡¯t want to die without a clue.


    The word ¡°die¡± flashed across his mind only to be instantly banished from his thoughts. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had to survive.


    He must survive!


    Vociferous voices screamed in his mind, making him inhale slightly and start gathering all his focus.


    In the dark alley, the sound of steps echoed, stopping around ten meters from where Jin Xin was hiding.


    It¡¯s a professional killer!


    Jin Xin didn¡¯t dare to peek as he knew the slightest movement from him could result in his head exploding like a watermelon.


    The assassin was highly proficient and the distance worked in his favor.


    However, for Jin Xin, the distance was a major obstacle if he wanted to engage in close combat.


    The killer didn¡¯t get any closer.


    He knew Jin Xin was a tough opponent.


    He didn¡¯t want to give Jin Xin an opportunity to fight back.


    He saw the bullet hit Jin Xin and decided to wait for Jin Xin to bleed out¡ªa perfect course of action for him.


    The standoff continued.


    Suddenly, a piercing car horn blared from the distance.


    The gunman staggered for a moment, detecting a peculiarity in the sound.


    Suddenly he took a half step forward, providing him with a view of Jin Xin.


    Simultaneously, a blaze of light first shone on the gunman and then soared high into the sky.


    Jin Xin suddenly sprang into action.


    Instead of running towards the exit of the alley like Huang Fei, he decided to attack, knowing he wouldn¡¯t be able to outrun the silver bullet.


    The blinding flashlight was waved wildly while a dagger was thrown straight at the gunman¡¯s throat, hidden beneath the brilliant light!


    In such a situation, most people would shield their eyes and panic but the gunman instantly closed his eyes and retreated while pulling the trigger, maintaining his distance from Jin Xin.


    At the moment Jin Xin threw his dagger, he swiftly evaded to one side, feeling the bullet just barely grazing his ribs.


    He was stricken by the opponent¡¯s calm judgment.


    Seeing a garbage can ahead as he darted out, he exerted all his force to lift it and threw it in mid-air.


    He didn¡¯t expect to hit the gunman with it.


    However, he hoped the garbage falling out of the can could obstruct the gunman¡¯s vision.


    Then he turned and dashed towards the exit of the alley.


    Despite the short distance of ten steps, he first feigned towards the left.


    Only after hearing the ¡°thud¡± of a bullet shooting past did he veer to the right.


    A silver bullet exploded on the ground where Jin Xin had been a second ago.


    Immediately following this, the roaring sound of a car engine echoed, and in the next moment, a streak of intense light shot into the alley.


    Both the gunman and Jin Xin shut their eyes instinctively.


    The gunman was clueless about this foreign source of light, but Jin Xin suddenly leaped into it.


    This was the light of his rescue.


    Shen Yue was here.


    Shen Yue showed him the way!

 Chapter 65 - 65 Section 65 Glass Assassin

    ?65: Section 65: Glass Assassin 65: Section 65: Glass Assassin Jin Xin sprang up, heading straight for the light.


    The light was coming from Shen Yue¡¯s hand.


    As the thought that Shen Yue had arrived in a car crossed Jin Xin¡¯s mind, he plunged headlong into the car window, leaving most of his body hanging outside the vehicle.


    Shen Yue floored the gas pedal without hesitation, and the car sped away.


    Hai Mingzhu was stunned.


    She had thought the night was over, but it was just beginning.


    Upon learning that Jin Xin was in danger, Shen Yue, carrying Li Yawei, ran to an off-road vehicle parked by the roadside.


    With one elbow, he shattered the car¡¯s window, opened the door, and tossed Li Yawei into the back seat.


    Five seconds later, he started the car and had driven far away before the car¡¯s alarm could summon its owner.


    This was a skill that could rival professional car thieves, right?


    As Hai Mingzhu marveled, she was also worried about how Shen Yue could find Jin Xin.


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t even use a GPS.


    After driving for several minutes, he started circling a particular area, constantly sticking his head out to look at the sky and occasionally honking the car horn in rhythms that seemed like he was sending a coded message.


    He must be sending a coded message!


    The drumming sounds that Jin Xin was making were similar to the rhythms Shen Yue was sending, and Hai Mingzhu quickly picked up on this.


    Suddenly she saw a beam of light shoot up into the sky and disappear.


    Knowing that this was a signal from Jin Xin, Shen Yue violently turned the steering wheel, took a side road, and quickly drove to an alley, ignoring the pedestrians who were looking at him.


    Then he took out a powerful flashlight and shone it down the alley.


    All his actions, as swift as a whirlwind, were carried out systematically and methodically.


    Meanwhile, Jin Xin was sprinting out of the alley, lunging straight into the backseat window.


    Just as Hai Mingzhu was struggling to understand the tacit understanding between these two men, Shen Yue had already parked the car around the corner.


    Seeing this, Jin Xin quickly pulled himself out of the vehicle, opened the door and got in.


    He immediately said, ¡°To Qianhai!¡±


    Shen Yue¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he floored the gas pedal.


    The off-road vehicle roared onto the main road, heading straight in the direction of Qianhai.


    There was a moment of silence in the car.


    Jin Xin looked at Li Yawei, who was still unconscious in the back seat.


    ¡°Is she high or just drunk?


    How long until she wakes up?¡±


    Shen Yue kept his eyes on the road ahead: ¡°There was no smell of narcotics in her vomit, so she¡¯s probably just drunk.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was surprised.


    Shen Yue had made Li Yawei throw up and promptly thrown the vomit into a trash can.


    But while everyone else was holding their noses, he had been able to smell whether the vomit contained narcotics?


    Recalling how Shen Yue had detected the scent of perfume in the air at the Giant Building, and moreover identified the perfume¡¯s brand, Hai Mingzhu could only marvel at the potency of his sense of smell.


    ¡°Waking up from being drunk varies with individual constitution,¡± Shen Yue saw Jin Xin¡¯s serious expression and asked: ¡°You need her urgently?¡±


    The two men had a knack for banter, but in crucial moments, they knew what the other wanted to do just by their questions.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been shot,¡± said Jin Xin, taking a deep breath and moving his shoulder.


    ¡°You were shot and you¡¯re still running so fast?¡± Hai Mingzhu was astonished.


    She found Shen Yue surprising, but Jin Xin was even more shocking¡ªJin Xin was practically a man of steel.


    ¡°I wore a bulletproof vest,¡± Jin Xin explained.


    Hai Mingzhu gave a small ¡°oh¡± and, seeing the two men fall silent again, said spontaneously: ¡°President Jin, you knew that this mission would be dangerous, which is why you wore a bulletproof vest.


    Why didn¡¯t you think to provide Shen Yue and me with vests as well?¡±


    Jin Xin remained silent.


    Shen Yue explained: ¡°President Jin habitually wears a bulletproof vest.


    He did plan to buy one for me, but I didn¡¯t think it was necessary.¡± He paused for a moment, then added, ¡°Nobody could have imagined this simple mission would become so dangerous.


    If Jin Xin had known, he wouldn¡¯t have let you get involved.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu bit her lip and accepted Shen Yue¡¯s explanation, but another question lingered in her mind¡ªWhy would Jin Xin wear a bulletproof vest all the time?


    What was he afraid of?


    Was he worried that someone would try to kill him?


    Jin Xin looked at Shen Yue with gratitude.


    Not for his explanation, but for the understanding between them as companions.


    ¡°The assassin seemed professional. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Could you tell what his skills were?¡±


    Jin Xin knew if the assassin wasn¡¯t a professional, he wouldn¡¯t have been forced to send a Morse code signal for help.


    And without being one of the top-ranking professional assassins, that man wouldn¡¯t have made Jin Xin so distressed.


    Jin Xin wasn¡¯t someone who would run away easily.


    If he had a chance, he would counterattack.


    Given that Shen Yue had picked him up, they should have returned and attacked, catching the assassin if they could and if not, at least getting a sense of the killer¡¯s strength.


    But Jin Xin hadn¡¯t done that.


    It suggested something serious was happening.


    The assassin was difficult to contend with and Jin Xin knew he didn¡¯t stand a chance against him.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell,¡± Jin Xin shook his head.


    ¡°I only know he is a Glass Assassin.¡±


    He could tell that?


    President Jin was impressive.


    Hai Mingzhu was repeatedly shocked.


    She certainly knew the meaning of the term ¡°glass.¡± In modern parlance, a multitude of words had developed nuanced meanings.


    To describe an assassin as ¡°glass¡± meant that the assassin was gay.


    Shen Yue¡¯s driving skills were as good as a professional racer¡¯s.


    Frowning, he said, ¡°You mean¡­


    he used glass bullets?¡±


    Jin Xin made an affirmative sound and then fell silent again.


    Hai Mingzhu blushed a little, feeling that she should keep her questions to herself in the future.


    Reflecting on the scene of silver light exploding in the air, Jin Xin finally started to feel a sense of fear.


    Glass Bullets¡ªlike the name suggested, these are made of glass and have a copper fuse inside.


    Though they sound easy to make, they are not.


    The glass used in these bullets is composed of a special compound.


    It¡¯s not only very hard but also brittle.


    When it hits a person, it breaks apart rapidly, and the glass fragments can bleed into the bloodstream and cause extensive damage to the body¡¯s internal organs due to the rapid expansion.


    The destruction caused by glass bullets is worse than the internationally banned Dum-Dum bullets, earning them the title of the king of bullets.


    Tests have proven that glass bullets can easily penetrate some types of soft body armor and even enter the human body!


    Jin Xin¡¯s bulletproof vest was soft, but it was expensive and of superior quality.


    That¡¯s what saved him from a fatal shot.


    All this information passed through his mind, and Jin Xin simply said: ¡°Glass bullets are banned internationally.¡± Then he added: ¡°Since I couldn¡¯t look back, did you see any sign of the assassin?¡±


    Shen Yue shook his head, ¡°When the lights went out, all I saw was the assassin wearing a ghoulish mask at the alley entrance.¡±


    Jin Xin merely grunted, clearly a little disappointed, but he didn¡¯t say anything else.


    He knew that under those circumstances, Shen Yue had used his flashlight to confuse the assassin¡¯s sight and point out the direction of the car while operating the vehicle and listening for the assassin¡¯s movements behind him.


    It was already impressive that he was able to see the killer¡¯s ghoulish mask.

 Chapter 66 - 66 Episode 66 Regular Customer

    ?66: Episode 66: Regular Customer 66: Episode 66: Regular Customer The SUV drove smoothly on the road.


    Jin Xin racked his brains for a moment and said, ¡°When you have time, draw that ghost mask¡­


    We¡¯ll check it out¡­¡±


    Jin Xin felt that the hope of finding the killer¡¯s traces from a ghost mask was slim, but he had to try.


    The killer had murdered two people and also wanted to get rid of him, Jin Xin, which was not a whim but a purposeful murder.


    If he didn¡¯t solve the problem of the killer, he could only wait for the killer to solve him.


    Before he finished speaking, the car suddenly braked gently, and the passengers involuntarily leaned forward.


    They soon realized that there was no roadblock ahead.


    Jin Xin and Hai Mingzhu both found that Shen Yue¡¯s face was rather pale.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The two asked in unison.


    From the rear-view mirror, Jin Xin noticed that Shen Yue¡¯s eyelids were still twitching uncontrollably.


    This tended to happen when Shen Yue was nervous.


    Jin Xin glanced back at the road for a moment and noticed no suspicious cars following them.


    He hesitated to ask, as both he and Shen Yue understood each other¡¯s character ¨C only speak when necessary, silence meant they had their reasons!


    Having such a friend who understood unspoken agreements, Jin Xin greatly valued.


    After a while, Shen Yue finally spoke, his voice sounding a bit strange, ¡°I seem to recall more about the killer.


    He should be between 181-183 cm tall, the ghost mask has a Western style, and in his hand was a shotgun.


    Yes, it was a shotgun, because the glass bullets are fragile, they must be fired from a shotgun.¡±


    After another pause, Shen Yue added, ¡°The killer had a small braid, and the hair was gold in color.¡±


    Jin Xin casually raised his eyebrow as if he had realized something, but he didn¡¯t ask.


    ¡°Is the killer a woman?¡± Hai Mingzhu speculated.


    Shen Yue shook his head, sensing Hai Mingzhu¡¯s stare.


    Knowing what Hai Mingzhu was thinking, he explained, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.


    When I¡¯m not sure, I won¡¯t give a conclusion, because it can affect others¡¯ judgment.¡± His lips curled up slightly as if he wanted to smile, ¡°It¡¯s a habit, one I rarely change.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu keenly felt that Shen Yue¡¯s smile was somewhat forced, as if he had a great weight on his mind.


    ¡°Why did you suddenly brake just now?¡± Hai Mingzhu felt something was strange.


    Given Shen Yue¡¯s driving skills, he shouldn¡¯t have made such a sudden move.


    The reasonable explanation could be ¨C Shen Yue must have encountered something unexpected or seen something strange at that time.


    Shen Yue was silent, ¡°I saw something unexpected.¡±


    ¡°Do you have Yin and Yang eyes?¡± Hai Mingzhu immediately reminded of many horror movies, where the protagonist would suddenly see ghost faces or spooky phenomena while driving.


    When the male protagonist tells the person next to him, the response would be ¨C you¡¯re under too much mental pressure, you¡¯re seeing things.


    Anyway, there are rarely times when the people by the male protagonist¡¯s side trust him.


    She really couldn¡¯t understand why the male protagonist always had such bad relationships.


    But Hai Mingzhu was different.


    If Shen Yue said he saw a ghost, she would definitely believe him.


    Shen Yue shook his head in a way that didn¡¯t follow the script, ¡°No.


    How could I have Ying and Yang eyes?


    Is there anyone in this world with such eyes?


    I¡¯ve never seen it!¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was very disappointed.


    ¡°Is the killer a foreigner?¡± Jin Xin mumbled to himself.


    Considering the ghost mask and the golden hair, it seemed more like a foreigner¡¯s features.


    One key factor in his assumption that the killer was a foreigner was the killer¡¯s disciplined training, which was very rare in his country.


    He didn¡¯t expect Shen Yue to answer his question, and indeed Shen Yue didn¡¯t.


    But Shen Yue¡¯s gaze wandered from time to time, and his expression seemed somewhat dreamy.


    The car finally arrived in Qianhai District.


    Jin Xin seemed to have some knowledge of this area, as he guided Shen Yue into a high-end residential community without the use of navigation.


    Qianhai is a newly developed area near the sea in Deep City, where the land prices are extremely high and any property can cost tens of millions.


    Naturally, the security was very strict.


    As they reached the gate of the community, where a security guard was coming over to salute them, Shen Yue remained seated, but Jin Xin gave him a card.


    The security guard swiped the card, saluted, and let them in.


    ¡°High-class area security guards have high standards.¡± Hai Mingzhu exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s not like where I live, every time I go in, they look at you like they¡¯re looking at an enemy.¡±


    ¡°What good is high standard?


    This kind of superficial security system seems safe but is full of loopholes.


    Living here doesn¡¯t necessarily mean it is safe.¡± Jin Xin murmured to himself as if implying something.


    After Shen Yue found a parking spot, Jin Xin surprisingly volunteered to carry Li Yawei and led them to a high-end residential building.


    Hai Mingzhu quietly scoffed, thinking that President Jin usually picked light work, but now he actively took on this kind of physical labor, perhaps it was a man¡¯s mentality at work? sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jin Xin¡¯s card seemed to be a master key, swiping through the gate, building door, and elevator.


    After they got off at the top floor, there were two apartments per floor.


    Jin Xin finally stopped swiping his card and rang the doorbell of the apartment on the left.


    After a while, the door opened, and an elderly maid at the door politely said, ¡°Mr.


    Jin, please come in.


    I will get the lady.¡±


    The floor of the duplex was not lavishly decorated, it could even be said to be somewhat simple.


    Hai Mingzhu estimated the area of the lower floor, multiplied it by 2, and felt that given the land price of Qianhai, this house must be worth at least 50 million.


    She couldn¡¯t help but stick out her tongue.


    Jin Xin tossed Li Yawei on the couch, seemingly devoid of any tender-heartedness.


    The three of them sat down, and Jin Xin saw a teapot in front of him.


    He picked it up and shook it, felt the side wall of the teapot, and sensed the tea had steeped well.


    He poured three cups of tea, one for each person.


    Hai Mingzhu noticed these trivial details and suddenly said, ¡°President Jin, do you come here often?¡±


    Jin Xin paused with his tea in hand, his expression a bit strange.


    After a while, he said, ¡°Girl, you can handle things on your own now.¡± He then took a sip of tea and said no more.


    With a woman¡¯s sixth sense, Hai Mingzhu keenly sensed that this was definitely not Jin Xin¡¯s first time here, but rather many times.


    Even some of his actions seemed to have crossed the line of a guest.


    Jin Xin took this job not long ago, but he and the homeowner had known each other for a long time.


    What was going on?


    Shen Yue was just quietly drinking his tea.


    There was the sound of high heels coming from the duplex stairs, and a woman slowly descended the stairs.


    The woman, with delicate thin eyebrows unable to conceal the passage of time, had slightly reddened eyes as if she had just cried.


    The woman was Cui Xin¡¯ai?


    Although the woman was well-preserved, Cui Xin¡¯ai should be over forty, regardless of Giant Li¡¯s perspective or considering her daughter.


    Hai Mingzhu calculated in her heart.


    The woman nodded slightly to Jin Xin as a sign of gratitude.


    Her eyes scanned Shen Yue and Hai Mingzhu and finally landed on Li Yawei who was on the sofa.


    The woman¡¯s lips and hand were trembling, her eyes were moist again, she slowly walked towards Li Yawei.


    This was Cui Xin¡¯ai.


    Hai Mingzhu was now completely certain because she saw the unmistakable love of a mother in the woman¡¯s eyes!

 Chapter 67 - 67 Section 67 Saw the Killer in the Mirror

    ?67: Section 67: Saw the Killer in the Mirror 67: Section 67: Saw the Killer in the Mirror There are many forms of love in the world that have become ostentatious and showy, existing solely to attract attention.


    However, a mother¡¯s deep love comes from the heart and is hard to fake.


    Despite her numerous complaints about Li Yawei, Hai Mingzhu felt a tad happy for her upon seeing that she had a mother who loved her so much.


    She wished that Li Yawei could cherish this opportunity.


    She got up and went to the spacious balcony, not wanting to disturb the rare moment of a mother quietly looking at her daughter.


    It appeared that Cui Xin¡¯ai hadn¡¯t seen her daughter for a while.


    Jin Xin and Shen Yue had also followed her out.


    Jin Xin took out a cigarette, lit it with familiarity and puffed on it, saying, ¡°Shen Yue, remember you asked me why I approached the Li family?¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Yue hummed in affirmation.


    ¡°One reason was my desire to turn over a new leaf and the other was because Cui Xin¡¯ai approached me.¡± Jin Xin finally explained.


    Shen Yue gazed at the distant night.


    ¡°Even Hai Mingzhu could see that this was not my first time here, you obviously figured it out as soon as we arrived.¡± Jin Xin shook his head with a bitter smile, ¡°I knew Cui Xin¡¯ai before¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Shen Yue suddenly interjected.


    ¡°Enough?¡± Jin Xin was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.


    ¡°Helping a mother to solve her daughter¡¯s problems is nothing to be ashamed of.¡± Shen Yue said to Jin Xin, ¡°But you insisted on taking a roundabout route.


    You must have your reasons.


    All I need to know is that you have some kind of agreement with others, no need to get into the details.¡±


    Jin Xin showed gratitude in his eyes but said nothing more.


    He took one last puff and extinguished his cigarette.


    He liked to smoke when making important decisions, and since he didn¡¯t have to make a decision now, there was no need to harm himself or others.


    After all, smoking was bad for health.


    Hai Mingzhu watched the two men in front of her, and it suddenly occurred to her that perhaps the legendary sense of understanding and camaraderie was referring to the kind of relationship these two men shared.


    Shen Yue, looking at the distant night, suddenly said, ¡°We met Miss Hai in front of a bridal studio.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was taken aback, not understanding why Shen Yue brought it up out of the blue.


    ¡°At that time, I asked you to look in the mirror to see if I was there.¡± Shen Yue finally got to the point.


    Jin Xin promptly perked up, ¡°After that, I noticed you kept looking at all kinds of reflective surfaces as if something was bothering you.


    You said you¡¯d observe for a few more days, right?¡±


    ¡°I behaved oddly because lately, I¡¯ve occasionally been unable to see myself in the mirror.¡± Shen Yue finally admitted.


    Jin Xin and Hai Mingzhu stuttered in unison, ¡°Can¡¯t see yourself?¡± They asked again in unison, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    Shen Yue kept gazing at the distant night.


    The landscape below was illuminated with lights from countless houses, creating a dazzling spectacle.


    ¡°What I mean is ¨C I can see everything that the mirror reflects, but sometimes, suddenly, I can¡¯t see myself.¡± His gaze alternated between Jin Xin and Hai Mingzhu, ¡°You¡­understand what I¡¯m describing, right?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu¡¯s initial reaction was ¨C are you hallucinating?


    Yet, she realized that she was having the same reaction as those in TV dramas when faced with a plot twist, so she held her tongue.


    Jin Xin furrowed his brow, murmuring, ¡°That¡¯s indeed strange.¡±


    Contrary to the typical ghost story trope, Hai Mingzhu tried to offer a scientific explanation, ¡°Could it be that the position you were standing in just wasn¡¯t reflecting your image?¡±


    ¡°Shen Yue isn¡¯t as reckless as you.¡± Jin Xin shook his head, ¡°If he says so, he must have confirmed it!¡±


    Hai Mingzhu fell silent.


    She noticed a clear difference between her conversations with men and her conversations with women.


    Shen Yue nodded slightly, ¡°Yes, I first noticed this when I was washing my face in the bathroom.


    I looked up¡­and I could see everything in the bathroom, including the wall behind me, but not myself.¡±


    By saying this, he clarified to Hai Mingzhu that it was not a matter of positioning.


    Hai Mingzhu bit her lip.


    ¡°After that incident, I occasionally couldn¡¯t see myself in the mirror.¡± Shen Yue said to Jin Xin, ¡°The time at the bridal studio was the second time I couldn¡¯t see myself.¡±


    ¡°Afterwards, you kept checking reflective surfaces.¡± Jin Xin finally understood why Shen Yue had been acting so strangely.


    He grimaced and said, ¡°I thought you had suddenly become vain.¡±


    His joke might not have been funny given the circumstances, but he really couldn¡¯t explain Shen Yue¡¯s predicament and just wanted to lighten the mood.


    Shen Yue, however, laughed, ¡°Observing your impeccable appearance every time you appear in public, I suppose this should be from your own experience.¡±


    Jin Xin exaggeratedly brushed his hair, as if he was looking in a mirror.


    The three of them broke out into laughter.


    Seizing the opportunity, Hai Mingzhu turned to look at Cui Xin¡¯ai and her daughter in the living room.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai hadn¡¯t sat down on the sofa but instead, pulled up a stool and sat in front of Li Yawei.


    It was a somewhat distant mother-daughter distance, but it didn¡¯t block love.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai just sat on the hard stool, looking at her daughter, as if she could accompany her forever.


    Turning back, Hai Mingzhu tried to offer another explanation, ¡°I studied psychology, and psychology and medicine often relate to each other, so¡­


    could this be a transient neural disorder caused by nerve dysfunction?¡±


    ¡°Are you saying Shen Yue is mentally ill?¡± Jin Xin surprisingly understood these professional terms.


    Hai Mingzhu corrected him: ¡°It¡¯s neurological, not mental.¡±


    Jin Xin spread his hands, indicating he didn¡¯t understand the difference.


    He listened as Hai Mingzhu continued, ¡°Neurological disorders, combined with endocrine disorders and psychological stress, can lead to mental abnormalities¡­


    Shen Yue doesn¡¯t seem to have any mental abnormality, it seems like just his nerves are affected.¡±


    Shen Yue chuckled derisively, murmuring, ¡°Sounds reasonable.¡±


    Hearing Shen Yue¡¯s faint agreement, Hai Mingzhu lost her confidence, ¡°I¡¯m not completely sure either.


    But I know that our understanding of the neural system is still very rudimentary.


    Some people, under certain conditions, can see strange things.¡±


    ¡°Like when under the influence of drugs?¡± Jin Xin pointedly asked.


    Hai Mingzhu pouted, ¡°I¡¯m not bad mouthing Shen Yue, I¡¯m just trying to explain this problem.


    Can you stop being sarcastic?¡±


    ¡°I know you care about Shen Yue,¡± Jin Xin varied nonchalantly, ¡°But I think your explanation isn¡¯t addressing the crux of the problem.¡±


    ¡°Then how do you think it should be explained?¡± Hai Mingzhu defiantly inquired.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Jin Xin imitated Shen Yue¡¯s style, ¡°If I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t know.


    I will not mislead!¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was about to say something else when Shen Yue finally interjected, ¡°I am the one who is sick, can you two stop acting abnormally?¡±


    His self-deprecating tone made Hai Mingzhu¡¯s anger dissolve into laughter, although her smile still showed worry, ¡°How many times have you seen yourself missing in the mirror then?¡±


    Shen Yue nodded slightly, ¡°So far, I think I have experienced this seven times.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu felt that Shen Yue was truly fearless.


    If this had happened to anyone else, it could have caused wild suspicion or even insanity.


    Yet, he strangely remained calm enough to clearly remember every single instance of this odd occurrence.


    She suddenly realized something, ¡°Was the sudden braking on our way to Qianhai because you couldn¡¯t see yourself in the rearview mirror again?¡±


    Jin Xin also agreed with Hai Mingzhu¡¯s hypothesis.


    Shen Yue paused before replying, ¡°If that were the case, I wouldn¡¯t be discussing it with you today; I would probably continue observing.¡±


    As the cool evening breeze wafted by, both Jin Xin and Hai Mingzhu felt a chill and asked in unison, ¡°What did you see this time?¡± Shen Yue must have encountered something new that had shocked him on the car ride.


    Shen Yue was silent for a moment before he finally said, ¡°In the mirror, I saw the gunman who wanted to kill Jin Xin!¡±

 Chapter 68 - 68 Section 68 Companies that Risk Everything

    ?68: Section 68: Companies that Risk Everything 68: Section 68: Companies that Risk Everything Jin Xin and Hai Mingzhu were emotionally prepared, thinking that even if Shen Yue saw his reflection turned into a demon in the mirror, they would try to explain it.


    However, hearing Shen Yue¡¯s response, they exchanged baffled glances.


    After a while, Hai Mingzhu cautiously asked, ¡°So, you mean to say that you didn¡¯t see your reflection in the car¡¯s rear-view mirror, but instead saw the image of the killer?¡±


    Her question was essentially the same as what Shen Yue had just mentioned.


    Repeating it still made it seem unbelievable to Hai Mingzhu.


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t respond immediately but turned to Jin Xin, ¡°Not long ago, I described the killer¡¯s face twice.


    The second time, I said it was as if I remembered¡­ you do remember, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I found it strange at that time.¡± Jin Xin frowned and said, ¡°Memory is memory, what¡¯s with ¡®it¡¯s as if I remembered¡¯?


    I thought¡­


    maybe you¡¯d regained some of your memory.¡±


    Shen Yue seemed puzzled, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Jin Xin coughed lightly, strangely glancing at Hai Mingzhu.


    Shen Yue shook his head and said, ¡°No need to hide it from her, she knows about my amnesia.


    She¡¯s a fast learner, definitely cut out for this line of work.¡±


    This time Hai Mingzhu instantly understood Shen Yue¡¯s meaning and excitedly asked, ¡°Advisor Shen, are you saying we can work together long-term?¡±


    ¡°How long we can work together, that depends on you,¡± Jin Xing retorted, ¡°Every case we work on is perilous; it could be dangerously fatal at any time.


    Those who have teamed up with us have quickly learned that our work is playing with death, causing most of them to quit.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu sobered up, ¡°So, you only recruit people on a case-by-case basis; when you first saw me, you recruited me.


    So, this is your usual method of recruiting?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Jin Xin countered, ¡°You didn¡¯t honestly believe I was really appreciating you back then, did you? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that time, we needed a secretary from a standard company, essentially a figurehead.¡± Then added, rather smugly, ¡°Now let me teach you a lesson.


    Having a green hand on board may seem like a disadvantage to the team¡¯s overall experience, but it, in fact, lowers the opponent¡¯s guard against us, thereby increasing our chances of an unexpected win.¡±


    ¡°What if I had died in the 13th floor then?¡± unsatisfied, Hai Mingzhu wondered¡ª No wonder people didn¡¯t want to work with you in the long-term.


    This was like working for a mentally unstable company.


    You were doing something so dangerous, why didn¡¯t you inform me?


    ¡°Then, I¡¯d probably have to pay you a day less.¡± Jin Xin made an offhand remark.


    Hai Mingzhu was indignant.


    ¡°Alright, stop teasing her,¡± Shen Yue mediated.


    ¡°Jin Xin is always like this, Miss Hai.


    We didn¡¯t expect to work with you long-term or have the test from Titan Industries come so soon.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m not mad at all.


    I just pretended to be upset so that President Jin would speak more.


    Otherwise, he always holds his cards too close to his chest.¡±


    Jin Xin sighed, ¡°Shen Yue, that¡¯s the thing with you.


    You may look cold, but you are warm-hearted.


    You can¡¯t let the young lady think that this is a game, that it is fun.


    You should make her aware of the real danger.¡±


    Exposing the concealed bulletproof vest under his shirt, Jin Xin said, ¡°Getting this bulletproof vest was harder than getting a royal tailor-made suit.


    Missy, if you are to work with us long-term, I can¡¯t afford to buy you a vest.


    If you¡¯re afraid of dying, better leave early.


    Rest assured, with Shen Yue around, we won¡¯t kill you in case you spill the beans.¡±


    Biting her lip, Hai Mingzhu replied, ¡°I¡¯m not scared!


    This job is so much more exciting than watching a movie; even without a bulletproof vest, I can still do it.


    You want me to leave, right?


    I¡¯ll stay here out of spite.


    Besides, I have Advisor Shen to protect me.


    What are you going to do about it?¡±


    At this point, she remembered everything that had happened in the bar and she blushed.


    Then she turned away and pretended to look at the scenery nonchalantly.


    Jin Xin shook his head, felt this girl was more meddlesome than a sticky toffee, and stopped trying to scare Hai Mingzhu off.


    He went back to the main topic and said, ¡°Shen Yue, from what I gathered from your description of the killer in the car, your second portrayal was more detailed than the first.


    I heard you say ¡®it¡¯s as it I remembered¡¯¡­and assumed that you¡¯d regained your memory¡­


    What I mean is, you had seen the killer before!


    Then somehow the memory of the killer appeared in the mirror for you to see.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu felt that her knowledge of psychology had come to naught, as Jin Xin¡¯s explanation was more compelling than hers, and even she began to lean towards this theory.


    Shen Yue thought for a moment, ¡°Do you have a pen and paper?¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡±


    Jin Xin was clear about Shen Yue¡¯s intention.


    He quickly retrieved a pencil and some blank paper from the housekeeper, and handed over a hard cardboard piece to support the paper.


    Hai Mingzhu watched as Shen Yue spread the blank paper on the cardboard, picked up the pencil, and started sketching vigorously.


    ¡°Advisor Shen can draw too?¡± Hai Mingzhu exclaimed, ¡°He is truly a man of many talents.¡±


    ¡°His skills keep increasing over time, probably those forgotten from the past.¡± Jin Xin watched as the sketch on the paper slowly took shape, his face revealing a surprised expression.


    The gunman had sprung off the paper, looking very similar to the description Shen Yue provided in the car.


    The ghastly mask had a unique Western exaggerated style, and the shotgun held by the gunman seemed almost real under Shen Yue¡¯s strokes.


    ¡°Do you see what¡¯s wrong?¡± Shen Yue asked Jin Xin.


    What¡¯s wrong?


    Hai Mingzhu looked for a while but only felt the craftsmanship excellent, the sketch elaborately three-dimensional, from which she inferred that Shen Yue must have had superior drawing skills before.


    Jin Xin nodded solemnly, countering, ¡°Did you see all this in the mirror?¡± Even though he realized his question was redundant, Jin Xin immediately added, ¡°Then my earlier conjecture must be wrong.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡± Shen Yue solved the mystery, ¡°I also saw the alley, the one behind the killer, in the mirror, the same one which you¡¯d just scurried out from.


    Therefore, this shouldn¡¯t be a reflection of my past memory in the mirror.


    The chances of both you and me coincidentally being in the same alley, encountering the same gunman are astronomically slim.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.


    You only arrived here a little over a year ago and hadn¡¯t been in this city for many years; you shouldn¡¯t have such a memory.¡± Jin Xin agreed, ¡°But then again, too many strange things have happened to you, just like that 2:33 alarm clock.


    Since we can¡¯t explain the phenomenon now, why not just put it aside?¡±


    Shen Yue agreed.


    Jin Xin took a picture of Shen Yue¡¯s sketch with his phone and found a conversation box in his contacts to send the picture.


    ¡°President Jin, who are you consulting?¡± Unable to contain her curiosity, Hai Mingzhu asked.


    She felt that Jin Xin was asking a professional¡¯s opinion on the sketch.


    JT Security seemed to consist of more than just the three of them.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know.¡± Jin Xin shook his head.


    ¡°Then, can I know why the killer wanted to murder you?¡± Hai Mingzhu ventured.


    ¡°Well, I really don¡¯t know.¡± The response from Jin Xin was so dismissive that Hai Mingzhu nearly rolled her eyes, but then he added, ¡°It¡¯s not certain that he was trying to assassinate me.¡±


    ¡°But you were shot.¡± Hai Mingzhu seized the opportunity to counter.


    Jin Xin laughed, chose not to engage in a verbal spat with Hai Mingzhu, and handed Shen Yue a sleek mp3 player.


    He then walked over to Cui Xin¡¯ai and whispered, ¡°I need to discuss something with you privately.¡±

 Chapter 69 - 69 Section 69 The Assassins Purpose

    ?69: Section 69: The Assassin¡¯s Purpose 69: Section 69: The Assassin¡¯s Purpose Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s attention was all focused on her daughter, Li Yawei.


    She seemed to want to reach out and touch her daughter, but hesitated to do so.


    It was not until the arrival of Jin Xin that she slowly raised her head.


    Hearing that Jin Xin had something to discuss, Cui Xin¡¯ai got up, nodded, and led Jin Xin into the study.


    ¡°I feel that President Jin¡¯s aura is so strong, as if he were the master of this room,¡± Hai Mingzhu exaggeratedly remarked.


    Shen Yue merely grinned and didn¡¯t refute, instead pressing the play button on the mp3.


    Hai Mingzhu also wanted to know what was recorded inside, so she leaned over to listen.


    After a while, Hai Mingzhu looked enlightened, ¡°So it¡¯s President Jin messing with Blondie and Rooster.


    He recorded the whole process at the time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s our usual way of doing things.¡±


    Shen Yue patiently explained to Hai Mingzhu, ¡°We often cooperate, but most of the time we act separately.


    In order to avoid omissions in recounting events and overlooking details, he often provides me with audio recordings of his actions after completing the tasks.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have a habit of recording things, do you?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked anxiously.


    She still blushed every time she recalled what happened in the pub.


    If the live audio of the time was given to Jin Xin, she would never lift her head again.


    ¡°I have a good memory, so I don¡¯t need to make recordings,¡± Shen Yue responded casually, seemingly oblivious to Hai Mingzhu¡¯s discomfiture.


    Hai Mingzhu heaved a sigh of relief and belittled Jin Xin, ¡°Right, only a scatterbrain like President Jin would make recordings.


    You have a good memory and wouldn¡¯t forget many details¡­¡± She suddenly felt that something was off and bit her lip.


    ¡°Can we continue?¡± asked Shen Yue.


    ¡°Continue what?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked anxiously.


    Shen Yue shook the mp3 in his hand.


    He had paused the playback during their conversation.


    Suddenly realizing, Hai Mingzhu hurriedly said, ¡°Of course, keep playing.¡±


    Shen Yue pressed the play button again and gestured for Hai Mingzhu to listen carefully.


    When she heard the words ¡°Parade of Hundred Demons¡±, Hai Mingzhu¡¯s expression changed unexpectedly, but she remained silent.


    The audio from the mp3 only had sounds, but after the gunman appeared, the horrifying screams, gunshots, and hurried footsteps came together, giving off a truly startling and thrilling feeling.


    When the sounds finally subsided, Shen Yue put away his mp3, ¡°It seems like you know something about the Parade of Hundred Demons?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was already used to Shen Yue¡¯s keen observation skills, she immediately explained, ¡°The Parade of Hundred Demons was once a part of the ghost culture in Japan.


    They have lots of ghost legends, all kinds of them.¡±


    ¡°What you¡¯re trying to say isn¡¯t that.¡± Shen Yue got straight to the point, ¡°Ghost culture doesn¡¯t summon ghosts.


    As far as I know, the Japanese used to use the Parade of Hundred Demons rite to exorcise ghosts.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu agreed, ¡°That was indeed the case.


    However, this ghost culture has now transformed into a culture of despair and further morphed into a unique, extreme game in Japan.


    The players are all individuals who have lost joy in life.


    They gather at their secret bases, adopt a supposedly fair lottery game where the chosen person must complete some extremely severe tasks, many of which involve self-harm.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Why did you say ¡®supposedly¡¯ fair?¡± Shen Yue noticed the nuances in her speech.


    Hai Mingzhu somewhat helplessly explained, ¡°Though I just graduated, I do know that there¡¯s never been real fairness in this world.


    The lottery game rules may seem fair, but rumor has it that it¡¯s nothing more than an extreme game manipulated by the rich.


    The wealthy use means to gather young people who believe they¡¯re deeply despondent, then manipulate the rules and lottery results from behind the scenes, watching as these young people self-harm in order to gain perverse satisfaction.¡±


    Recalling Li Yawei¡¯s delirious rant after her bout of vomiting, coupled with Blondie and Rooster¡¯s descriptions, Hai Mingzhu speculated, ¡°Could it be that Li Yawei was chosen in this game and she left Australia and returned to China because she didn¡¯t want to die?


    The game¡¯s behind-the-scenes boss didn¡¯t want to let her go, leading to the current situation?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, your recent deductions are quite impressive,¡± Shen Yue praised.


    ¡°That reminds me.¡± Hai Mingzhu slapped her forehead, recalling something, ¡°At the airport, weren¡¯t there two men in suits and sunglasses looking for Li Yawei?


    They could well have been assassins sent by those rich people.


    You probably don¡¯t know how bored and how twisted these rich people are.


    Once this game starts, it can only end when all players have completed their tasks.


    If any rebellious young people aren¡¯t cooperative, the wealthy have all sorts of cruel methods to force them to complete tasks.


    This process is both a challenge and a source of enjoyment for these manipulative rich people.¡±


    Pausing briefly, Hai Mingzhu added, ¡°There¡¯s a specialized field in psychology devoted to studying twisted psychology, which explores the dark mental states of these people.¡±


    ¡°Based on the current clues, most of what you said is not a problem,¡± Shen Yue muttered to himself.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the problem then?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked modestly.


    ¡°Those two men in suits and sunglasses are definitely not assassins sent by the rich,¡± Shen Yue stated confidently.


    Hai Mingzhu immediately asked for advice, ¡°Advisor Shen, how can you tell?¡± She now very much admired Shen Yue¡¯s deductive reasoning, because he always managed to derive accurate results from seemingly inconsequential details.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Shen Yue glanced in the direction of the study and whispered, ¡°Those two men in suits and sunglasses were brought in by Jin Xin.¡±


    ¡°President Jin?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was first surprised, and then she had a sudden realization, ¡°You guys knew Li Yawei was hard to deal with, so you had two guys in sunglasses pretend to start trouble in advance to provoke Li Yawei?¡± She marveled inwardly.


    Jin Xin might appear scatterbrained, but his success wasn¡¯t just due to luck.


    She still felt lucky at the airport when Li Yawei agreed to cooperate willingly.


    Who knew that every small detail had been taken into account by Jin Xin and Shen Yue.


    When she spoke, Hai Mingzhu instinctively lowered her voice and glanced at Li Yawei, who hadn¡¯t moved at all, likely still asleep.


    Shen Yue did not deny it.


    ¡°President Jin is so crafty.


    But you Advisor Shen, you are nice, knowing that I have much to learn, you always teach me patiently.¡± Hai Mingzhu fluttered her bright eyes, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this is our secret, I won¡¯t tell President Jin.¡±


    Shen Yue merely smiled but didn¡¯t say anything.


    Hai Mingzhu then let out a sigh, ¡°It¡¯s a pity those two in sunglasses were sent by President Jin.


    Otherwise I was going to have you guys try to get the airport¡¯s surveillance footage to find clues from those two men.


    Now¡­


    besides your sketch of the killer, we don¡¯t have any clues.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that we have no clues.¡± Shen Yue moved his mouth towards the direction of Li Yawei, ¡°When she wakes up, if she¡¯s willing to tell us some truth, it will be very helpful to us.¡±


    ¡°So we¡¯re here¡­


    waiting for her to wake up?¡± Hai Mingzhu realized yet another part of the plan.


    Shen Yue gave a bitter smile, ¡°Of course, we absolutely cannot leave this place tonight.


    The assassin killed both Huang Fei and Wang Quan, and even tried to take out Jin Xin.


    I suspect that the killer¡¯s purpose may be related to the Parade of Hundred Demons incident.


    If your deduction is correct, that the killer is related to those rich people and is likely to know where Li Yawei would be, then we can¡¯t leave.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re saying the killer might come here?¡± Hai Mingzhu exclaimed.

 Chapter 70 - 70 Section 70 You Choose

    ?70: Section 70 You Choose 70: Section 70 You Choose After hearing Shen Yue¡¯s conclusion, Hai Mingzhu immediately realized the gravity of the situation.


    She quickly moved away from the windowsill, pulling Shen Yue into the living room.


    She closed the heavy curtains and turned off the main lights, leaving only the wall lights on.


    She executed these actions as if following a rehearsed procedure, causing Shen Yue to chuckle in surprise, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Are you genuinely clueless or pretending to be?¡± Hai Mingzhu asked, puzzled.


    ¡°An assassin doesn¡¯t necessarily have to show up to kill us.


    Professional assassins have sniper rifles.


    You know what those are, right?¡±


    Shen Yue nodded in response.


    Each had his strengths and shortcomings, and Shen Yue wasn¡¯t omniscient.


    Hai Mingzhu decided to enlighten him on knowledge about assassination, ¡°A sniper rifle can be used to aim at long distances.


    If the killer uses a sniper rifle, we could be taken out by a single shot from exposed areas like the balcony or beside the window.¡±


    ¡°To snipe, he needs a vantage point.


    Haven¡¯t you noticed that we are on the topmost floor with a clear open space in front of us?


    The vast sea is the only thing beyond that.


    Is he going to snipe us from a helicopter?¡± Shen Yue countered.


    Hai Mingzhu was taken aback, not expecting Shen Yue to have observed the surroundings more meticulously than she did.


    ¡°Nevertheless, it¡¯s always better to be cautious,¡± Shen Yue added.


    Hai Mingzhu knew Shen Yue was trying to comfort her to prevent a blow to her self-esteem.


    She mulled over his thoughtfulness.


    She glanced towards the study and asked with some surprise, ¡°What are President Jin and Cui Xin¡¯ai discussing?


    Why is it taking them so long?¡±


    Shen Yue shook his head, indicating he had no idea.


    ¡°Advisor Shen,¡± Hai Mingzhu pulled Shen Yue to sit on a corner sofa, still seemingly worried about a sniper coming by helicopter, ¡°I have a speculation.


    I¡¯m not sure whether I should talk about it or not?¡±


    Shen Yue appeared surprised, not expecting Hai Mingzhu to be cautious about expressing her opinion.


    ¡°Promise not to tell President Jin,¡± Hai Mingzhu started, not waiting for Shen Yue¡¯s response, ¡°Like I mentioned earlier, Jin Xin seems quite familiar with this place, like he¡¯s the actual owner.


    Look at the way he poured the tea; it was such a natural movement.


    These behaviors are subconscious habits in psychological terms.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your conclusion?¡± Shen Yue probed.


    ¡°Could there be some relationship between Jin Xin and Cui Xin¡¯ai?¡± Hai Mingzhu whispered into Shen Yue¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Well¡­


    We all know that.


    It was mentioned just now.¡± Shen Yue frowned.


    ¡°Not that kind of relationship¡ªthe other kind,¡± Hai Mingzhu explained, leaving Shen Yue more puzzled.


    Gathering her courage, she clarified, ¡°Could Li Yawei be President Jin¡¯s daughter?¡±


    Shen Yue looked like he was about to faint.


    Hai Mingzhu pierced the bubble of silence.


    In her mind, she needed to get to the bottom of this, ¡°Having studied psychology, I can tell from their facial expressions while talking that Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s relationship with Jin Xin isn¡¯t that of an employer to a bodyguard.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai looks up to Jin Xin¡­¡± She struggled to find the right words, finally saying, ¡°It¡¯s an adoring kind of look, also a habit.


    These small body language details are formed over a long time and unnoticeable to the person doing them.


    But someone well-versed in the study of psycholinguistics would get it instantly.¡±


    Shen Yue squinted his eyes but didn¡¯t respond immediately.


    ¡°You¡¯ve noticed this too, haven¡¯t you?


    I can see it, you can¡¯t possibly fail to notice.¡± Before Hai Mingzhu could continue, the study room¡¯s door opened, and Jin Xin walked out.


    Seeing Jin Xin¡¯s gaze turn towards them, Hai Mingzhu panicked a bit, worried that her whispered conversation was overheard.


    A slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth, Jin Xin asked, ¡°You two seem to be getting along quite well; your body language suggests a surprising level of intimacy.


    Have your feelings for each other grown so much since the evening that I need to prepare an early wedding present?¡±


    Realizing something, Hai Mingzhu quickly pulled away, realizing she was indeed too close to Shen Yue.


    ¡°President Jin, what nonsense are you talking about?¡± Hai Mingzhu had no idea that Jin Xin was also versed in body language, ¡°We were discussing the gunman.


    We think that the gunman has a connection with the Hundred Ghosts Night Walk and is somehow related to Li Yawei.


    The gunman likely knows everything about Li Yawei and could strike at any time.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± Jin Xin replied casually.


    ¡°You¡¯re aware?


    You knew this and still brought Li Yawei here?¡± Hai Mingzhu was incredulous.


    Jin Xin stared at Hai Mingzhu, a cold flame flickering in his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m hoping the gunman would come to us.


    Where else am I supposed to find him?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu fell silent, finally understanding, ¡°Are you suggesting, President Jin, that it¡¯s either us or the assassin?¡±


    Jin Xin didn¡¯t respond, but his expression said it all.


    ¡°I just spoke to Ms.


    Cui¡­


    She doesn¡¯t know anything about her daughter¡¯s situation.


    For years, she hasn¡¯t seen Li Yawei.


    It was only a week ago that Li Yawei called her.


    Li Yawei sounded panicked and tense, only mentioning that someone was trying to kill her.


    Distraught, Ms.


    Cui asked her to return immediately.


    That¡¯s the extent of what she knows.


    I¡¯ve told her about the potential danger, and she thinks my idea of waiting for the assassin to come to us is feasible.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu challenged, ¡°Waiting for the assassin to show up is a good idea.


    But have you considered, President Jin, that the killer has a gun!


    What do we have, kitchen knives?¡±


    Jin Xin¡¯s smile was icily cold, ¡°He has a gun, and so do we.


    That¡¯s why I came out to find you.


    Come with me.¡± He gestured towards the study.


    Hai Mingzhu was a bit confused.


    She wondered where Jin Xin could possibly hide firearms.


    Once they were back in the study, Jin Xin addressed Cui Xin¡¯ai, ¡°Ms.


    Cui, there¡¯s no need to introduce Shen Yue, I¡¯ve mentioned him to you before.¡±


    Cui Xin¡¯ai nodded subtly, offering Shen Yue a friendly smile.


    Jin Xin continued, ¡°This young lady is Hai Mingzhu.


    She hasn¡¯t been with us long but she¡¯s a trustworthy girl!¡± Hai Mingzhu felt a bit touched, but the statement that Jin Xin made next caused her warmth to fade, ¡°Shen Yue trusts Hai Mingzhu, and I trust Shen Yue.¡±


    ¡°I trust you,¡± Cui Xin¡¯ai added, before instructing everyone, ¡°Go ahead and pick.¡±


    Pick what?


    As Hai Mingzhu wondered, Cui Xin¡¯ai approached the bookshelf in the study.


    She manipulated a seemingly decorative and unremarkable bas-relief. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Putting her hands at the edge of the shelf, she pushed it, causing the entire bookshelf to rotate, revealing its backside.


    Hai Mingzhu almost dropped her jaw as she looked at the bookshelf¡¯s hidden side.


    The backside of the shelf was filled with objects.


    They were not books, but various long and short firearms, along with hand grenades and ammunition.


    At a glance, the weapons stockpiled could easily arm a whole squad.


    Like in a dream, Hai Mingzhu had never imagined that Giant Li¡¯s fourth aunt would have an armory hidden in her house!


    What exactly was Cui Xin¡¯ai up to?


    Could she be the fabled arms dealer?!


    Jin Xin offered no explanation.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai stepped forward, picked up a pistol from the concealed armory, and explained, ¡°This is a Makarov pistol, made in the former Soviet Union, also known as the ¡®Red Star Pistol,¡¯ with an 8-round capacity.


    This model has the shortest recoil of all the pistols, which means it¡¯s the most stable.


    It has a short sighting radius and is very accurate at close quarters, making it suitable for indoor combat.¡±


    After explaining, Cui Xin¡¯ai held out the pistol to Shen Yue, completely ignoring Hai Mingzhu¡¯s stunned expression, ¡°Advisor Shen, this pistol should be a good fit for you.¡±

 Chapter 71 - 71 Section 71 Ive grown up and recognize the way

    ?71: Section 71 I¡¯ve grown up and recognize the way 71: Section 71 I¡¯ve grown up and recognize the way Shen Yue looked a little stunned as well.


    He had always seen a weak woman with red eyes, full of love for her daughter, who could not help but sense some trouble between Jin Xin and Cui Xin¡¯ai, but he clearly had never thought that Cui Xin¡¯ai was such a woman!


    His gaze fell, but Shen Yue did not look at the pistol, but at Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s hands.


    They were well-manicured hands, delicate and slender, seemingly untouched by hard work.


    None the wiser for it, Shen Yue was misled.


    But the fluent way that woman introduced and handled the gun made Shen Yue deeply realize that without years of training, Cui Xin¡¯ai would not have performed so proficiently.


    If there was talk that Cui Xin¡¯ai had been on the battlefield before, Shen Yue would believe it.


    But that must have been quite some time ago.


    Years can erase many traces, but it¡¯s hard to erase scars that left them.


    A thought crossed Shen Yue¡¯s mind.


    He slowly took the pistol and joked, ¡°I don¡¯t even know if I¡¯ve ever touched a gun.¡±


    The moment he held the gun in his hand, he naturally examined it, loaded it, ensured that the safety was on, and made a slight aiming action, only then slowly lowered the pistol.


    In his memory, he had never used a gun, but the moment he lowered the barrel, he knew he had most definitely used a gun before. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His actions were natural, indicating muscle memory!


    Building muscle memory requires lots of repetition, a fact he knew all too well.


    ¡°It looks like I¡¯ve used a gun before.¡± Shen Yue gave Jin Xin an apologetic smile.


    ¡°It seems your deduction is close to the truth.¡± Jin Xin once told him he might be an amnesiac special agent.


    ¡°Your actions only prove that you¡¯ve used a gun, we can¡¯t determine the full extent as of yet.¡± Jin Xin cautiously replied, glancing at Cui Xin¡¯ai.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai understood what Jin Xin meant, ¡°Not only has Advisor Shen used a gun before, but he seems quite proficient with it.


    He even had a subconscious habit of dodging to the side while aiming.¡±


    ¡°What does this imply?¡± Hai Mingzhu didn¡¯t understand.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai looked at Hai Mingzhu, ¡°Real combat not only requires aiming and shooting at the enemy, but it¡¯s also about avoiding becoming someone else¡¯s target, therefore defensive habits are also important.


    These things are taught on the shooting range, but only through actual combat will one truly master them.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu finally understood and looked at Shen Yue admiringly, ¡°Advisor Shen, have you been to war?


    Were you part of the peacekeeping force before?¡±


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t respond.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai handed a gun to Hai Mingzhu, ¡°This is more suited for ladies to carry.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu, seeing that Cui Xin¡¯ai had also selected one for her, hastily waved her hands, ¡°I can¡¯t use this, I definitely can¡¯t.


    I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll end up shooting myself.¡±


    Cui Xin¡¯ai glanced at Jin Xin, and Jin Xin said indifferently, ¡°Leave one for her.


    She¡¯s with us, sooner or later she¡¯ll need it.¡±


    Cui Xin¡¯ai handed the gun to Jin Xin, who immediately tossed it to Shen Yue, ¡°Teach her how to use it.


    It won¡¯t hurt to learn some more skills.¡±


    Hearing this, Hai Mingzhu didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry.


    Shen Yue said, ¡°Alright.¡± He skillfully caught the pistol and gestured for Hai Mingzhu to leave the study, then he closed the study door.


    As Cui Xin¡¯ai watched the door close, she suddenly said, ¡°Young master, Shen Yue is a very good helper.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that, call me President Jin.¡± Jin Xin corrected her.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai gave a bitter smile, as if reminiscing a distant past, ¡°I¡¯ve actually been waiting all this time.¡± She slowly turned her head to look at Jin Xin, ¡°I made a promise to your parents that one day, I would bring you back.¡±


    Jin Xin fell silent.


    ¡°But all I can do is ask for your help now.¡± Cui Xin¡¯ai said hesitantly, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to trouble you, but I¡¯m unfamiliar with Australia.


    I don¡¯t even know if I can still handle a gun.


    Over here, I find it hard to trust anyone, even Li Jixian.


    I¡¯m sorry¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have¡­¡± As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.


    ¡°I told you something a long time ago.¡± Jin Xin suddenly said, ¡°but you may have forgotten.¡±


    Cui Xin¡¯ai looked at Jin Xin, a little bewildered.


    Jin Xin¡¯s face was serious as he said it, word by word, ¡°My business is my own, and yours is yours!


    Ever since you risked your life to get me out, you have owed me nothing.


    You don¡¯t owe the Jin family anything.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Cui Xin¡¯ai wanted to say something but stopped midway.


    ¡°There are no ¡®buts¡¯.¡± Jin Xin interrupted, ¡°You lent us the guns.


    We¡¯re only going to use them here.


    Once Li Yawei¡¯s matter is resolved, you won¡¯t owe me anything, nor will I owe you.


    Let¡¯s not get involved with each other too much.¡± Jin Xin grabbed a large-caliber pistol, walked over to the study¡¯s entrance, and without turning around, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve grown up, I¡¯ve got legs, and I know the way back.


    I don¡¯t need anyone to guide me.¡±


    Having said that, he walked out through the door.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai watched Jin Xin¡¯s retreating figure, and her tears finally fell.


    After she returned the bookshelf to its original place, it seemed like she had used all her strength.


    Slowly crouching down, Cui Xin¡¯ai buried her head in her hands, her shoulders trembling slightly.


    After Jin Xin left the study, he glanced towards the entrance.


    Shen Yue was over there, teaching Hai Mingzhu some basic knowledge and safety precautions for using a gun.


    Hai Mingzhu claimed not to want to use a gun, but under Shen Yue¡¯s instruction, she appeared very excited, asking him for more details.


    Shen Yue was patiently explaining in a low voice.


    ¡°What a fortunate couple¡­¡±


    From Jin Xin¡¯s point of view, the interaction between the two was cozy and natural, verging on a couple¡¯s intimacy, ¡°He should also find a woman for himself, otherwise always daydreaming like this will ruin his mind.¡±


    Mumbling to himself, Jin Xin shook his head and walked away.


    As he was leaving, he didn¡¯t notice Shen Yue looking at his retreating figure, his expression tinged with worry.


    **


    When it was bright, although there were curtains, Hai Mingzhu could still feel the sunlight shining through.


    She slowly opened her eyes.


    Where am I?


    What¡¯s going on?


    What happened?


    A series of questions echoed in her mind, causing her to jump up and realize she was still on the couch in the first-floor living room of the duplex, the couch where Li Yawei used to sleep, which was filled with the pungent smell of alcohol.


    Jin Xin stood on the balcony, and Shen Yue was sitting across from her, seemingly lost in thought.


    Was he looking at me just now?


    Such a strange thought flashed through Hai Mingzhu¡¯s mind when she suddenly heard a frantic knock on the door!

 Chapter 72 - 72 Unexpected Guest Episode 72

    ?72: Unexpected Guest: Episode 72 72: Unexpected Guest: Episode 72 The gunman¡¯s here?


    At the sound of the slightly violent knocking, all Hai Mingzhu¡¯s memories came flooding back ¨C they were all waiting for the assassin to creep in, so Cui Xin¡¯ai had given her and Shen Yue each a gun.


    Last night she had learned a great deal from Shen Yue about how to use a gun, she wasn¡¯t a greenhorn anymore.


    Li Yawei had been asleep the whole time, and after she¡¯d discussed matters with Jin Xin and Shen Yue about taking turns to keep watch, she¡¯d agreed to do her share of the job.


    She had said she would doze for a while and then take over, but she had slept through to this point.


    Why didn¡¯t Jin Xin and Shen Yue wake her up?


    Li Yawei was not in the living room, had she been moved to the bedroom to sleep?


    Had Li Yawei woken up?


    All these thoughts were left unanswered.


    Hai Mingzhu tried to feel for the gun, only to find that it had disappeared.


    Realizing she was starting to panic, she turned to Shen Yue for help.


    Not daring to make a noise, she gestured frantically with her eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s not the assassin.¡± Shen Yue replied simply.


    Hai Mingzhu began to calm down, thinking to herself that if it wasn¡¯t the assassin, then which fool didn¡¯t use the doorbell but insisted on knocking on the door?


    ¡°Aunt Wu.


    Go and check.¡± Cui Xin¡¯ai came out carrying a pot of fragrant soup and said to Aunt Wu.


    Hai Mingzhu suddenly felt confused.


    Looking at Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s domesticated housewife appearance, she almost doubted if she¡¯d been dreaming last night.


    Was she too nervous and insecure, that¡¯s why she started to dream about learning how to use a gun?


    In fact, were there even any guns?


    Was Cui Xin¡¯ai just your typical wealthy housewife?


    Aunt Wu obediently went to the door, looked through the peephole before opening the door.


    Before she could speak, the visitor had already walked in from outside, shoved Aunt Wu aside, and marched straight up to Cui Xin¡¯ai, raising her arm to slap her forcefully across the face!


    Slap!


    The room instantly fell silent!


    Seeing this, Hai Mingzhu instantly had a vivid mental image of what would happen next ¨C Cui Xin¡¯ai would casually draw a pistol from behind her waist and instantly riddle the intruder with bullets!


    However, the imagined scene didn¡¯t happen.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai held the pot of soup tightly, she didn¡¯t even let the pot fall to the ground, not a drop of soup spilled out.


    However, five quick marks appeared on her face, showing how hard the slap had been.


    She slowly placed the pot on the table.


    With a furrowed brow, Cui Xin¡¯ai asked, ¡°Madam Qian, what are you doing?¡±


    The surprise visitor turned out to be Madam Qian, the mother of Li Jizu.


    Shen Yue and Jin Xin exchanged glances, somewhat taken aback.


    They couldn¡¯t understand why Madam Qian had come.


    ¡°Where¡¯s that whore?¡± Madam Qian roared, her eyes almost bloodshot, her hair was a little messy, as if she hadn¡¯t had a good night¡¯s sleep.


    ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± Hearing that the first words out of Madam Qian¡¯s mouth were ¡°whore¡±, Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s face inadvertently changed.


    ¡°I¡¯m talking about your daughter, Li Yawei.


    Where¡¯s that whore?¡± Madam Qian yelled.


    Slap!


    Another resounding slap echoed around the room!


    The room fell silent once more.


    Everyone assumed that Madam Qian had slapped Cui Xin¡¯ai again ¨C looking at the situation, it seemed that Madam Qian was used to ordering people around, while Cui Xin¡¯ai seemed to be tolerating her patiently.


    However, in reality ¨C it was Cui Xin¡¯ai who had sharply responded with a slap to Madam Qian¡¯s face!


    Everyone was stunned, including Madam Qian herself.


    She seemed to find it hard to believe what was happening in front of her eyes.


    She covered her face, took a step back, and said in a panic, ¡°You dared to hit me?


    Was that you hitting me just now?


    You actually dared to hit me?¡±


    She repeated the same question three times, each time regaining some of her previous momentum so that, by the last question, she had recovered her former storming energy, almost like a furious lioness.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m the one who hit you!¡±


    Cui Xin¡¯ai appeared remarkably calm back, she worked her wrist, appearing to be preparing for another slap.


    Glaring coldly at Madam Qian, Cui Xin¡¯ai added, ¡°You can insult me, but if you dare to insult my daughter again, I swear I¡¯ll kill you!¡±


    Madam Qian suddenly wanted to laugh.


    Among the four women acknowledged by Giant Li, she was ranked third, but her temper was the fiercest.


    Though she didn¡¯t dare to offend Li Linping, the chief wife, she could still throw her weight around with the second wife, Cai Shuzhen, even though Cai Shuzhen¡¯s sons were Li Jiye and Li Jixian.


    She always believed that her own son was the one who should take over the Li family.


    It was this arrogance that made her look down on Cui Xin¡¯ai, the fourth wife.


    In the past, she indeed used to slap Cui Xin¡¯ai, having given her countless slaps over time, she had come to think of it as a matter of course.


    But now Cui Xin¡¯ai dares to resist, claiming she would kill her?


    Madam Qian felt the situation was absurd, ¡°Not only will I smear your daughter¡¯s name, but I will also smear yours.¡± Seeing the sharp look in Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s eyes, a look she had never seen before, Madam Qian finally changed her approach.


    ¡°You colluded with your daughter to kill my son, I will never let you go!¡±


    Cui Xin¡¯ai froze, ¡°Li Jizu is dead?¡±


    Shen Yue and Jin Xin looked at each other, both a little surprised. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They remembered Huang Fei saying that Li Jizu was also at the Wild Bar last night, so if something happened to Li Jizu, it should have also happened last night.


    Why would Li Jizu be in trouble?


    Was Madam Qian like a mad dog, blaming it all on Li Yawei?


    ¡°Do you wish he was dead?¡± Madam Qian yelled angrily.


    ¡°Yes, I wish he was dead.¡± Cui Xin¡¯ai said emphatically: ¡°So he is really dead?


    That¡¯s great!¡±


    Hai Mingzhu, standing on the sidelines, noticed something.


    She realized that Cui Xin¡¯ai was not simply speaking out of anger.


    Madam Qian was somewhat flustered, she hadn¡¯t expected Cui Xin¡¯ai to react this way.


    After a pause, she shouted with a cold face: ¡°Remember what you just said, if my son is really dead, you will be the murderer.


    Where¡¯s your daughter?


    Isn¡¯t she daring to see me, that ¡­¡±


    She had wanted to say the words ¡°troublemaker¡±, but she suddenly remembered the cold look in Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s eyes and her warning, so she swallowed the words she was about to spit out.


    ¡°Get out!¡± Cui Xin¡¯ai didn¡¯t show the slightest sympathy even though Madam Qian seemed to soften, ¡°You¡¯re not welcome here.¡±


    ¡°You dare to kick me out?¡± Madam Qian felt as though the world had turned upside down, ¡°I won¡¯t go, what can you do to me?¡±


    Cui Xin¡¯ai took a step forward, but was blocked by Jin Xin,¡±If you don¡¯t leave, we can file a lawsuit against you for intentional injury and unauthorized entry.¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Madam Qian¡¯s eyes widened as she finally recognized who Jin Xin was, she mocked, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re the meal ticket-jumping Jin Xin who was fired from Giant Industries and is trying to latch onto another big shot.¡± Seeing Jin Xin there, she naturally assumed that he was up to the same antics as Xun Jiasheng.


    Jin Xin smiled as he flexed his fist.


    ¡°You dare to hit me?¡± Madam Qian retreated a step, seemingly a little fearful.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare.


    But, if Lady Cui continues to hit you, I may be willing to help.¡± Jin Xin didn¡¯t say who he¡¯d help, but it was quite clear.


    Lady Cui immediately took a step forward.


    Seeing the situation turning against her, Madam Qian quickly beat a retreat.


    But before she left, she couldn¡¯t resist dropping a threat, ¡°If my son is dead, you will all be buried with him!¡±

 Chapter 73 - 73 Section 73 Spoiling Asking for recommendations at the fifth watch!

    ?73: Section 73: Spoiling (Asking for recommendations at the fifth watch!) 73: Section 73: Spoiling (Asking for recommendations at the fifth watch!) The door closed, and like a tidal wave, Qian Qiaoqiao came quickly and left just as swiftly, leaving everyone in the living room looking at each other in confusion.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Hai Mingzhu was the first to ask.


    Jin Xin shrugged his shoulders, ¡°Who knows?


    A mad dog doesn¡¯t need a reason to bite people.¡± After saying this, he looked at Cui Xin¡¯ai, ¡°Should we get a lawyer and sue her?¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± The smile on Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s face was strained.


    Hai Mingzhu almost felt that the Cui Xin¡¯ai who held the gun last night was an illusion ¨C the stimulating life of the rich is something the poor could not comprehend.


    ¡°Qian Qiaoqiao is a woman who pursues sophistication and the admiration of others.¡± Shen Yue suddenly began, ¡°Her entire body is covered in brand name items, the makeup pasted on her face can feed an ordinary person for half a year.¡±


    ¡°Are you implying something, Advisor Shen?¡± Hai Mingzhu was unhappy with Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s meddling, she felt more reassured by Shen Yue¡¯s insights.


    ¡°For a woman like her, going out without makeup is almost fatal,¡± Shen Yue slowly sat down.


    ¡°But I noticed she didn¡¯t wear any makeup today.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize Advisor Shen was so meticulous in studying women¡¯s makeup.¡± Hai Mingzhu said, clearly disappointed.


    At this point, Jin Xin suggested, ¡°Does this mean she rushed out for some urgent matter?¡± Upon seeing Shen Yue nod, Jin Xin continued: ¡°This urgent matter must be extremely important to her if she forgot to apply makeup.¡±


    After a moment, Jin Xin concluded, ¡°She¡¯s not just causing a scene for no reason, something big must be happening to Li Jizu.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu responded with undisguised admiration, ¡°You and Advisor Shen are truly insightful.¡± She couldn¡¯t believe these two men could deduce so much from a woman¡¯s makeup.


    Feeling that her degree in psychology was almost useless, she queried, ¡°But if Li Jizu is sick, he should see a doctor.


    Why come to find Lady Cui¡­


    or rather, why come to find Li Yawei?¡±


    The color drained from Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s face, all she managed to say was, ¡°Everyone, have breakfast.


    It looks like none of you got a good sleep last night¡­¡± While saying this, she turned her attention to someone who just entered the room.


    Everyone followed her gaze and saw Li Yawei leaning against the bedroom door, her face pale.


    Li Yawei finally woke up, her face was much cleaner.


    No doubt, Cui Xin¡¯ai had wiped her face clean while she slept the previous night.


    She looked at Cui Xin¡¯ai, her gaze as cold as if she was looking at a stranger.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai managed a strained smile, ¡°Ya Wei, you¡¯re awake?


    I noticed you haven¡¯t been sleeping well lately, so I let you sleep in a little longer.


    Since you¡¯re up now, have some porridge.


    I made your favorite fish and meat porridge from when you were little.¡± After saying this, she didn¡¯t go over, but simply waved her hand, ¡°Come, let¡¯s have breakfast together.¡±


    She didn¡¯t go over to pull her daughter, not because she didn¡¯t want to, but more like she didn¡¯t dare to.


    Li Yawei finally moved, but instead of heading towards the table, she was walking towards the door.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai grew anxious and asked, ¡°Ya Wei, where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Are you going to meet with the gunman?


    I was already shot yesterday because of all the chaos.¡± Jin Xin finally spoke up.


    Li Yawei¡¯s body trembled visibly, and she stopped in her tracks.


    ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s still danger outside, why not stay and have some porridge, and we can all think of a solution together.¡± Hai Mingzhu quickly walked to Li Yawei¡¯s side, led her by the hand to the dining table, and glanced at Shen Yue. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Shen Yue gave a slight nod, signaling that Hai Mingzhu had done well.


    Seeing her efforts acknowledged, Hai Mingzhu felt pleased and reached for a spoon, ¡°Madam Cui, let me serve the porridge.¡±


    Cui Xin¡¯ai politely refused, ¡°I¡¯ll do it, these small tasks are usually my responsibility.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s really quite something.¡± Hai Mingzhu remarked sympathetically, ¡°Despite your status, you¡¯re still hands-on.


    Whoever has a mother like you certainly has a fortune from a past life.¡±


    Li Yawei sat at the dining table in silence, her head bowed.


    Shen Yue glanced her way and saw the knuckles on Li Yawei¡¯s leg clenched white.


    He shook his head at Hai Mingzhu.


    Hai Mingzhu stopped talking, realizing her plan to provoke a sympathetic response had failed.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s hand, which was ladling porridge, paused slightly before she went on as if nothing happened, saying, ¡°Come, eat the porridge.¡± She then introduced, ¡°Ya Wei, you should already know Advisor Shen, he picked you up yesterday.¡±


    Li Yawei finally lifted her head to glance at Shen Yue and gave a weak ¡°Mm¡± in acknowledgement.


    Shen Yue smiled in a friendly manner, but said nothing.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai said softly, ¡°You¡¯re grown up, I can¡¯t take care of you anymore.


    You have to learn to take care of yourself.¡± Her eyes reddened a bit as she said, ¡°You have to be more careful in the future.¡±


    After she spoke, she placed a bowl of porridge in front of Li Yawei, ¡°You always liked to drink half a bowl at a time, you said you wanted to slowly eat the porridge I made so that you could spend more time with me¡­¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Li Yawei suddenly pushed the bowl of porridge in front of her.


    The bowl fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.


    Everyone gasped ¨C they didn¡¯t expect Li Yawei¡¯s anger to occur so suddenly.


    ¡°Aunt Wu, please clean this up.


    The bowl accidentally broke.


    Get a new one,¡± Cui Xin¡¯ai hurriedly said.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Li Yawei shouted, her gaze full of hatred when she looked at Cui Xin¡¯ai, ¡°Can you stop pretending already?


    Do you think that if you put on this act in front of others, I will stop hating you?¡±


    ¡°Ya Wei,¡± Hai Mingzhu tried to interject, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t treat your mother like this.


    Can we discuss this in a more civil manner?¡±


    Li Yawei didn¡¯t even glance at Hai Mingzhu as she sternly said, ¡°I have no mother.


    My mother died more than ten years ago.


    Please stop pretending, the more you act, the more I want to throw up.¡±


    After saying this, she abruptly stood up and rushed towards the door, not looking back.


    The conflict erupted so suddenly, everyone was stunned.


    The tears in Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s eyes silently began to fall, but she didn¡¯t try to stop Li Yawei.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go and take a look.¡± Shen Yue was the first to react, and quickly walked out.


    Jin Xin knew that Shen Yue was very reliable, so he decided to stay with Hai Mingzhu, who showed concern, ¡°Lady Cui, Miss Li is a bit impulsive, you¡­¡±


    Before she could finish her sentence, Cui Xin¡¯ai shook her head, ¡°No, it¡¯s my fault.


    I never blamed her.¡±


    Seeing the sorrowful look on Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s face, Hai Mingzhu also felt sorry for her, ¡°Lady Cui, I do feel you have some responsibility here.¡±


    Cui Xin¡¯ai was taken aback, raised her head to look at Hai Mingzhu, ¡°You¡­what do you know?¡±


    Jin Xin frowned slightly.


    He only knew that Cui Xin¡¯ai and Li Yawei didn¡¯t get along well and had always ignored it.


    But seeing Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s reaction now, he felt there was more to the mother-daughter relationship.


    ¡°Although I don¡¯t know what exactly happened,¡± Hai Mingzhu whispered, ¡°her current wilfulness is probably partly your fault.


    If you hadn¡¯t spoiled her this much, she wouldn¡¯t be yelling at you!¡±


    Cui Xin¡¯ai sank to the floor with a look of despair, buried her face in her hands, and after a moment, raised her tear-stained face, pleading, ¡°President Jin, Miss Hai, all of this is my fault, not Ya Wei¡¯s.


    It¡¯s really my fault.


    I wish I hadn¡¯t¡­¡±


    She abruptly cut herself off, her tears flowing freely.


    ¡°Please, leave me be.


    Help Ya Wei instead.


    I¡¯m begging you!¡±

 Chapter 74 - 74 Article 74 Assisting Investigation

    ?74: Article 74 Assisting Investigation 74: Article 74 Assisting Investigation As they approached the elevator, Hai Mingzhu suggested, ¡°President Jin, you have an excellent relationship with Lady Cui.


    You should inform her that her daughter is acting spoiled.¡±


    Surprisingly, Jin Xin didn¡¯t rebuke her; instead, his eyebrows frowned.


    After listening to Cui Xin¡¯ai¡¯s pleading, they reluctantly left to look for Li Yawei.


    Jin Xin took out his phone and said, ¡°Shen Yue and Li Yawei are still in this community.


    We should go and check on them.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu nodded, and after they took the elevator and left the building, they were both taken aback.


    Shen Yue and Li Yawei were standing a short distance from the entrance of the building.


    Unbelievably, standing before them was a policeman!


    Jin Xin raised an eyebrow and quickly walked over to them, whispering, ¡°What seems to be the problem?¡±


    Shen Yue succinctly said, ¡°This is Du Feng, the head of the criminal police detachment in the city.


    He came to ask¡­


    Li Yawei to assist with the investigation at the police station.¡±


    Du Feng, a man in his forties, looked sharp and capable.


    He politely said, ¡°Please cooperate with us.¡±


    Jin Xin glanced at Du Feng and asked, ¡°What happened to old Ma?


    Did he retire early?¡± Having been in business in Deep City for several years, Jin Xin was familiar with the police department structure and knew that the former head of criminal police was named Ma Jintao.


    Du Feng calmly responded to Jin Xin¡¯s impudence, ¡°Not at all.


    He was promoted.


    I¡¯ve just transferred here recently, so if there is anything that I need to improve on, Advisor Shen and President Jin, your suggestions are welcomed.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu felt as though she had met a police imposter ¨C this cop was too polite.


    ¡°Why do you need Miss Li Yawei¡¯s help with the investigation?¡± Jin Xin asked while glancing at his phone.


    A picture soon appeared on the screen, which prominently showed Du Feng¡¯s picture and his file information beneath it.


    Hai Mingzhu took a quick look and thought to herself that Jin Xin seemed very efficient.


    She wondered if he had hacked into the GA system to obtain this information.


    It was entirely possible that he had set up the security system for the city¡¯s police department.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not convenient to disclose that at the moment.


    Once we get to the police station, we will provide a reasonable explanation.


    ¡± Du Feng appeared polite but was evidently evasive.


    After exchanging glances with Shen Yue, just when Hai Mingzhu thought they would find a way to resist, Jin Xin surprisingly agreed, ¡°Sure, cooperating with the police is the basis for a harmonious society.


    We will definitely cooperate fully.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was speechless, feeling that Jin Xin¡¯s image had suddenly become noble.


    Li Yawei had remained surprisingly silent all this time.


    Maybe in her mind, there was nowhere to flee, and returning to the country was, to begin with, a last resort.


    ¡°How many of us can accompany Miss Li Yawei?¡± Jin Xin asked tentatively.


    Du Feng hesitated slightly, ¡°I am afraid I did not familiarize Advisor Shen with the situation.


    It¡¯s not only Miss Li Yawei.


    All of you present here are required to assist with the investigation.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hai Mingzhu was taken aback and pointed to her nose, saying, ¡°Including me?¡± She didn¡¯t understand why she had been summoned for questioning.


    She was an upright and law-abiding citizen.


    She had always been a law-abiding citizen!


    ¡°Yes, you too.¡± Du Feng subsequently included Hai Mingzhu among the suspects, ¡°Last night, the police received a report from a citizen stating that his car had been stolen by two car thieves.


    We checked the surveillance and found that Miss Hai and Advisor Shen match the appearance of the thieves!


    Therefore, both of you need to explain the situation at the police station.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was left dumbfounded.


    Due to the urgency of the situation last night, Shen Yue borrowed a car from the side of the road to help Jin Xin, and then was thrilled by the exciting prospect.


    Only now did she realize that this was illegal.


    Shen Yue did not deny this.


    He glanced deeply at Jin Xin.


    Jin Xin nodded, understanding and said, ¡°The police¡¯s efficiency is commendable.¡± What he didn¡¯t mention was that from the time the car was reported stolen to its recovery, there were rarely cases handled this swiftly.


    Someone was fast-tracking this matter!


    Du Feng seemed not to understand the implicit meaning of Jin Xin¡¯s words, he smiled and said, ¡°Improving work efficiency is our duty.


    Please lead the way, President Jin.¡±


    ¡°Am I also going?¡± Jin Xin surprisingly asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Du Feng cheerfully responded, ¡°I was worried about how to invite all of you to the station for tea.


    I didn¡¯t expect all of you to be together.¡± It seemed like he intended to catch all of them in one swoop.


    ¡°Why do I also have to go?¡± Jin Xin squinted.


    ¡°Because not far from the Wild Bar, someone was found dead there.¡± Du Feng spoke about the death as casually as if he was saying ¡°the weather is wonderful today¡±.


    ¡°According to the surrounding surveillance records, President Jin, you seem to be a suspect.¡±


    Though Jin Xin did expect this accusation, he did not anticipate it to spring up so suddenly.


    He extended his hands and asked, ¡°Do you need to handcuff me?¡±


    ¡°No need, it¡¯s just a routine investigation.¡± Du Feng seemed to be a smooth operator.


    Since others were cooperating, he was not seeking unnecessary trouble.


    As they neared the van, he courteously allowed them to board before he drove towards the police station.


    Jin Xin and Shen Yue looked at each other, both understanding what the other was thinking ¨C this van had seven seats, their opponents had thought through their plans.


    They did not resist though because it was evident from the fact that only Du Feng was sent to fetch them that they intended to use soft tactics before resorting to force.


    Upon arriving at the police station, Du Feng led the four upstairs.


    Turning a corner, they arrived at a seemingly inconspicuous room.


    He held the door open for them, saying, ¡°Please wait inside for a while, thank you for your cooperation.¡± After they walked in, he closed the door and left.


    Jin Xin noticed several chairs scattered in the room.


    He pulled up one and sat down, looking at the large mirror hanging on the wall opposite him, ¡°Shen Yue, can you see yourself in the mirror?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu found this joke far from funny given the situation.


    However, Shen Yue glanced at the mirror and responded seriously, ¡°I can.¡±


    The two of them burst into laughter.


    Hai Mingzhu found their laughter puzzling.


    She finally asked, ¡°President Jin, Advisor Shen, we¡¯re not going to be jailed, are we?¡± She was unsure about the punishment for car theft.


    ¡°Of course not.¡± Jin Xin responded nonchalantly, ¡°Shen Yue acted under circumstances beyond his control.


    He was trying to save a life.


    We just have to compensate the car owner for their loss and apologize, and that¡¯ll be it.¡±


    Shen Yue was saving you then, a murder suspect.


    How are you planning to tackle the murder charges against you?


    Hai Mingzhu knew Jin Xin hadn¡¯t murdered anyone.


    However, ordinary citizens like her are most afraid of facing the authorities because once slandered, it¡¯s hard to clean up the mess.


    Hai Mingzhu was very concerned, feeling that the situation was serious and not as simple as Jin Xin made it sound.


    Not much later, the door of the room was opened.


    Du Feng walked in with a notebook, accompanied by a middle-aged man dressed in a plain suit, ¡°This is the car owner.


    I thought it would be good if you met first.¡± He then looked at Shen Yue and Hai Mingzhu and asked, ¡°Let¡¯s start with the simple matters.


    Do the two of you acknowledge the fact that you stole the car?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu became uneasy and as she was about to start defending herself, Shen Yue held her back and turned to the middle-aged man, ¡°May I have your surname, sir?¡±


    The middle-aged man was taken aback and timidly said, ¡°My surname is Feng.


    Is there a problem?¡±


    Shen Yue began to smile, ¡°Can you tell me when did you first notice that your car was missing?¡±


    The middle-aged man was more confused.


    He looked at Du Feng.


    Du Feng coughed and said, ¡°Advisor Shen, aren¡¯t you asking my questions?¡±

 Chapter 75 - 75 75 International Criminal Police

    ?75: Chapter 75: International Criminal Police 75: Chapter 75: International Criminal Police It seemed that Du Feng was somewhat dissatisfied.


    Shen Yue was a car thief, but he was asking questions typical of a policeman.


    It appeared that Shen Yue was overstepping his boundaries.


    ¡°Captain Du,¡± Shen Yue looked a bit apologetic for stealing the policeman¡¯s lines, and explained: ¡°I feel that our time is precious at the moment.


    If I¡¯m the one asking the questions, our conversation will be more efficient.


    Do you have any objections, Captain Du?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu wanted to laugh, but dared not¡ª Shen Yue was truly audacious.


    Du Feng, taken aback, retorted with a laugh, ¡°Advisor Shen, you indeed have a good sense of humor.¡±


    ¡°Do I?


    Many people often say the same about me.¡± Shen Yue replied softly.


    Du Feng stopped laughing, he suddenly realized that when Shen was not speaking, you could almost ignore his presence, but when he wanted to take control of the conversation, his words were like sharp thorns, piercing deep into your heart.


    Shen Yue was just like a thorn now! S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Very well.


    I¡¯m curious to hear your lines of questioning,¡± Du Feng prodded, ¡°Do you think your questioning will exonerate you from the charge of auto theft?¡±


    Shen Yue chuckled and turned to the middle-aged man who had lost his car, ¡°Mr.


    Feng, right?


    You haven¡¯t answered my question yet.¡±


    Mr.


    Feng seemed flustered.


    He probably never expected to be questioned by the car thief instead of acting the victim.


    ¡°Around a minute after the car alarm went off, I had a feeling it was my car.


    I went outside and saw someone driving off in my car,¡± Mr.


    Feng glanced at Du Feng before continuing: ¡°Then this officer told me they found the car and asked me to identify it.¡±


    ¡°Captain Du is indeed efficient,¡± Shen Yue appeared to be praising him: ¡°In just one night, not only did you witness a murder case and a car theft, but you also found the thief and managed to bring the car owner here in advance.¡±


    With an expression of admiration, Shen Yue said, ¡°If all our policemen were half as efficient as Captain Du, there would be no thieves in the world.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not suggesting that I¡¯m framing you, are you?¡± Du Feng said sternly.


    ¡°No, no.¡±


    Shen Yue then looked at Mr.


    Feng, ¡°You drive a Jeep Wrangler, right?


    You remember the license plate number, don¡¯t you?


    Are you sure the car we drove off is yours?¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Du Feng, unable to bear it any longer, slammed his notebook down, ¡°Shen Yue, I warn you, this is not a place for games, stop messing around incessantly!¡±


    Shen Yue leaned back in his chair, feigning surprise, ¡°This isn¡¯t a place for games?


    Then what kind of joke are Captain Du and Officer Feng Haonan of the International Police playing with us?¡±


    As soon as his words fell, the room fell silent.


    Surprise replaced Du Feng¡¯s furious expression, and the middle-aged man who had appeared somewhat humble was taken aback by Shen Yue¡¯s revelation of his true identity.


    However, he then straightened up, his posture as if he was a spear jabbed into the ground.


    The man paused for a while before asking, ¡°Did you know my identity earlier?


    Have we met before?¡± By saying this, he inadvertently confirmed what Shen Yue had just said¡ª he was indeed Officer Feng Haonan of the International Police!


    Hai Mingzhu was taken aback.


    How did things escalate to this point, involving even the International Police?


    She knew they were mainly responsible for cross-border cases.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you before I used your car,¡± Shen Yue revealed, ¡°But after driving your car, I did want to know who the owner was.


    By coincidence, you had left your driver¡¯s license in the car, and I happened to take a look at it.


    Furthermore, by chance¡­President Jin looked into the owner¡¯s information, as we were planning to compensate the owner.


    And even more coincidentally¡­since President Jin is in the security business, he could unearth information that others couldn¡¯t.


    So we found out that the car belongs to an officer of the International Police.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was dumbstruck again.


    While she was sound asleep last night, it seemed that Jin Xin and Shen Yue had not only been taking shifts, but had also found time to research the International Police officer¡¯s information.


    These two could really keep their cool.


    After stealing a car from an international police officer, they were still acting nonchalant as if nothing happened in the early morning!


    There was a smile on Shen Yue¡¯s face, ¡°Owners of Jeep Wranglers are usually quite flamboyant, which fits Officer Feng¡¯s occupation.


    But when I saw Officer Feng come in pretending to be a timid citizen, I really thought he was joining forces with Captain Du to play a joke on us.


    Captain Du, are you sure this isn¡¯t a place for games?¡±


    His last sentence was obviously in response to Du Feng¡¯s earlier words.


    Du Feng fell silent.


    The middle-aged man nodded slightly, and said with a hand over his heart, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the president and the advisor of Jin Tang Security are quite talented, and upon meeting today, I can see that it is indeed the case.¡± He then stood up and extended his hand toward Shen Yue to introduce himself formally, ¡°Let me introduce myself, my name is Feng Haonan, International Police.¡±


    Shen Yue looked at Feng Haonan¡¯s outstretched hand but did not take it, ¡°I assume Officer Feng, when you arrived, your initial intentions were certainly not to shake hands with me.¡±


    Feng Haonan¡¯s expression was slightly awkward as he withdrew his hand, then he asked, ¡°So what do you think I came here for?¡±


    Shen Yue smiled, ¡°I guess you didn¡¯t come here for a vacation.¡±


    Feng Haonan laughed along, ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right!¡± His tone clearly implied ridicule, but Shen Yue¡¯s subsequent words froze his smile.


    ¡°You handle cross-border criminal cases, and coming here isn¡¯t about me, a small-time local car thief.


    And a stolen Jeep Wrangler wouldn¡¯t warrant you to go undercover.


    As terrifying as the Glass Killer is, you couldn¡¯t have predicted that he would appear in this city, so your sudden arrival here isn¡¯t to deal with Jin Xin.


    As for Hai Mingzhu, from your interactions when you arrived, it¡¯s clear that you two are strangers.¡±


    Shen Yue¡¯s words wiped the smile off Feng Haonan¡¯s face completely.


    Shen Yue then concluded, ¡°Therefore, you¡¯re actually here for Miss Li Yawei.


    Your real purpose is to request Miss Li Yawei¡¯s cooperation in the investigation of the Ghost Hitmen case in Australia, right?¡±


    At these words, a sharp light flickered in Feng Haonan¡¯s eyes ¨C he was taken aback that Shen Yue had guessed his true intentions.


    Li Yawei shivered.


    Since she had arrived, she had been silent and kept her head down, but the mention of the ¡°Ghost Hitmen¡± apparently had a significant impact on her.


    ¡°See, if I were to conduct the questioning, we could save a lot of time, right?¡± Shen Yue spread out his hands.


    ¡°You and Li Yawei weren¡¯t acquainted before?


    From what I understand, you were hired by Li Jixian to protect her,¡± Feng Haonan, seeing Shen Yue¡¯s ability, stopped beating around the bush and got straight to the point.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°You went to the Random and Wild Bar last night, and Shen Yue, you carried Li Yawei away from the Wild Bar,¡± Feng Haonan continued.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°So, why did the Glass Killer want to kill you?¡± asked Feng Haonan once more.


    Shen Yue sighed, ¡°Officer Feng, you came to us for assistance in an investigation, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Feng Haonan didn¡¯t immediately respond, seemingly not understanding Shen Yue¡¯s implication.


    He had dealt with all sorts of characters, and faced countless heinous criminals, thus certainly had his own abilities.


    However, when dealing with Shen Yue, he always seemed to be at a disadvantage.

 Chapter 76 - 76 76 Universe in the Mirror

    ?76: Chapter 76: Universe in the Mirror 76: Chapter 76: Universe in the Mirror Feng Haonan felt each of Shen Yue¡¯s statements seemed to have a specific direction, forcing him to respond with caution.


    Yet, Shen Yue behaved like an investigator in a criminal case, ¡°Since it¡¯s a cooperative investigation, we aren¡¯t criminals.


    We have the right to refuse to answer.


    According to the law, we even have the right to ask a lawyer to answer.¡±


    Feng Haonan remained silent.


    ¡°But we do not want to refuse because we realize the significance of this matter.


    If you cooperate, we can both achieve our tasks.¡±


    Shen Yue unveiled, ¡°We work in security.


    This task is a highly paid commission by Ms.


    Cui Xin¡¯ai to help Miss Li Yawei with her troubles.¡±


    Li Yawei was slightly taken aback, she only now realized her mother had undertaken this matter.


    ¡°We discovered that someone was likely to threaten Miss Li Yawei¡¯s safety.


    Hence, we cooperated with the police, hoping to catch the instigator.¡± Shen Yue pointed out the stakes, ¡°What about you?


    I presume you want to uncover the truth from Miss Li Yawei about her involvement in the haunted night incidents in Australia to solve the case as soon as possible.¡±


    After a pause, Shen Yue said, ¡°This is a win-win situation.


    We¡¯re not suspects, we¡¯re also searching for the suspect, we need to uncover the truth!¡±


    He emphasized the word ¡°truth¡±.


    Feng Haonan laughed and said, ¡°We feel the same.


    In this regard, we share common goals.¡± He slowly stood up as he spoke.


    ¡°But you still plan to leave for a while, right?


    To see who can make decisions?


    Then decide on what to do next?¡± Shen Yue asked.


    Feng Haonan¡¯s pupils contracted.


    He couldn¡¯t believe that Shen Yue accurately guessed his next move.


    Shen Yue immediately revealed the answer, ¡°When you stood up, your toes were pointed towards the door.


    In body language, this movement implies wanting to leave.


    Normally, one can lie with words, but it¡¯s hard to control subconscious body movements, hence body language hardly lies.


    Even though you¡¯re an Interpol agent, you aren¡¯t a politician, it seems you haven¡¯t learned how to lie with body language.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu nodded as she listened.


    She studied psychology and understood these facts, but the constant observation and vigilance that Shen Yue exhibited required extensive practice and was something most psychologists couldn¡¯t master.


    Feng Haonan exhaled slightly, betraying a hint of nervousness.


    He initially came here to probe, not expecting to face an extraordinary person, let alone being caught (almost bare) before he could figure out the other¡¯s cards.


    ¡°While you were listening to me, your glance inadvertently rested on the mirror several times.¡±


    Shen Yue rotated his chair, facing the large mirror on the side wall.


    The reflection of Shen Yue in the mirror did not appear triumphant, but his gaze appeared penetrating, ¡°You didn¡¯t brush your teeth this morning, there¡¯s still remnants of your breakfast egg on your teeth.


    Your hair is slightly disheveled, showing you¡¯re not a man who cares too much about his personal appearance.


    Therefore, your frequent glances at the mirror are not because you¡¯re vain, but because there¡¯s someone on the other side of the mirror.


    Even though you can¡¯t see them, your subconscious knows there¡¯s a person there.


    Are you taking instructions from them?¡±


    Feng Haonan stood there in surprise, momentarily forgetting how to respond.


    Hai Mingzhu looked in the direction of the mirror, recalling that Jin Xin and Shen Yue had discussed the mirror as soon as they entered the room.


    They must have detected something amiss with it early on.


    She had heard of a two-way mirror used in interrogation rooms.


    From the inside, it appeared as a regular mirror, but from the outside, it allowed a clear view of the occupants inside.


    As Shen Yue pointed it out, she quickly understood.


    However, if Shen Yue hadn¡¯t mentioned it, how could she have imagined that Du Feng casually leading them into a room would have such implications?


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget, we¡¯re security professionals.¡± Shen Yue smiled, ¡°You have a receiver in your ear, casually touching your ear may seem meaningless to others, but from our security perspective, you¡¯re receiving messages.¡±


    Feng Haonan took a deep breath and applauded, ¡°Brilliant, really brilliant.


    Seeing Advisor Shen who possesses such talent makes my visit worthwhile, even if the case isn¡¯t solved.¡±


    Pausing for a moment, Feng Haonan said sincerely, ¡°Even if Advisor Shen has seen through me, I still have to ask.


    I feel ashamed.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to ask.¡± Shen Yue suddenly said, ¡°I¡¯ll speak to her directly.


    She won¡¯t come out because she still wants to act behind the scenes which would help her oversee the entire situation.


    But if I know her identity, she has no need to hide behind the observation mirror.¡±


    ¡°You know her identity?¡± Feng Haonan expressed disbelief.


    ¡°If I guessed it right, could you ask her to come out?


    Let¡¯s all discuss pursuing the criminal openly, can we?¡± Shen Yue proposed.


    ¡°Yes, no problem!¡± Feng Haonan answered firmly, although he was certain that Shen Yue couldn¡¯t possibly know.


    Shen Yue wasn¡¯t divine.


    How could he guess who was behind the mirror?


    ¡°I think there might be a few people behind the mirror, but among them should be CIO Ms.


    Gao Jie newly employed by Giant Industries, right?¡± Shen Yue sounded casual while guessing, but he slightly stretched out his tone when pronouncing ¡°Ms.


    Gao Jie.¡±


    The room fell silent.


    Everyone displayed various expressions of disbelief, doubt, or a frown¡­


    Even Jin Xin seemed to be expecting Feng Haonan¡¯s response, his expression validated that he didn¡¯t know whether Shen Yue¡¯s guess was true or false.


    Feng Haonan stood there like a stone, his eyes twitching, he muttered, ¡°Impossible, absolutely impossible.


    You couldn¡¯t possibly know this.¡±


    He didn¡¯t directly admit to Shen Yue¡¯s deduction, but anyone who saw his expression knew Shen Yue was correct.


    Even Li Yawei looked up in surprise, seemingly reevaluating Shen Yue.


    When Shen Yue first approached her at the airport, she had a vague sense that Shen Yue was not an ordinary person.


    However, only at this moment, she truly discovered that he was extraordinary.


    ¡°Ms.


    Gao Jie, it seems I guessed right.


    I know you can hear and see!¡± Seeing Feng Haonan¡¯s reaction in the mirror, Shen Yue knew he was right, ¡°Given this, there¡¯s no need for you to act mysteriously anymore, it would be better for us to communicate face to face than for you to command from afar, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡±


    When Gao Jie appeared in the room, her face was cold, but she couldn¡¯t conceal her surprise.


    Beside her was a foreign man, black hair, green eyes, a high nose.


    As soon as he entered the room, his eyes focused on Shen Yue. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He gave a thumbs up and said with a somewhat stiff accent, ¡°Advisor Shen, hello.


    I am a policeman from Australia, you can call me William.


    Nice to meet you.


    Your abilities really broaden my horizons.¡± He openly expressed his admiration in his speech.


    Shen Yue smiled and nodded as an expression of goodwill, thinking¡ª Interpol, Australian police, plus Gao Jie, it seemed that the trouble that Li Yawei had caused was indeed not small.

 Chapter 77 - 77 77 Sections - Knowledge of a Person through Fragrance

    ?77: 77 Sections ¨C Knowledge of a Person through Fragrance 77: 77 Sections ¨C Knowledge of a Person through Fragrance The Australian police officer named William was as fervent as fire, but Gao Jie behaved as cool as ice.


    Standing there, slightly aloof, Gao Jie blurted out: ¡°How did you know that I was the one behind the mirror?¡±


    She had always been a very proud woman, holding herself in high regard, yet she genuinely couldn¡¯t understand how Shen Yue managed to reveal her presence with such divine precision.


    ¡°A silver BMW Series 5, meticulously crafted and resplendent, instilling a sense of steadfastness, perfectly fitting for a steady, perfection-seeking woman like Miss Gao Jie.¡± Shen Yue spoke as if he was a car salesman.


    While everyone else was dazed, Gao Jie retorted: ¡°Have you been investigating me?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been investigating us too,¡± Shen Yue replied courteously.


    Gao Jie faltered, then said: ¡°You mean¡­


    You identified my car¡¯s license plate number, and just from that, you decided I was the one behind the mirror?


    ¡± Her powers of deduction were also second to none.


    Hai Mingzhu had remained silent all this while, but was trying her hardest to grasp Shen Yue¡¯s deductive reasoning.


    On hearing this, she couldn¡¯t help but exclaim internally ¨C just what kind of genius was this Shen Yue?


    Most people would worry about police questioning, but when he entered the police station, he even managed to casually note down license plate numbers and remember them?


    Shen Yue smiled and said, ¡°Miss Gao Jie, you really do possess great acumen.


    It¡¯s no wonder you were the top student in the forensic science program at the University of Pennsylvania.¡±


    ¡°You seem to have done your investigation very thoroughly,¡± said Gao Jie, slightly taken aback.


    ¡°Of course, I had to,¡± said Shen Yue nonchalantly, ¡°When Miss Gao Jie suddenly arrived, we couldn¡¯t grasp her background at first, but we would always inspect our investigator¡¯s history afterwards.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been resentful about being kicked out all along.¡± Gao Jie decided to turn the tables and deflate Shen Yue¡¯s arrogance.


    She realized that the situation was being controlled by Shen Yue, and this was something she was not used to.


    Usually, she was the one controlling the situation!


    ¡°Of course, we¡¯ve been resentful.¡±


    Shen Yue¡¯s smile seemed to signal a sense of relief, ¡°But after reviewing Miss Gao Jie¡¯s remarkable life and achievements, both President Jin and I think that our dismissal wasn¡¯t unjust.


    A woman like Miss Gao Jie, with her pristine reputation and glorious career, would naturally have reservations about a company with unclear origins like ours.


    Although Qian Qiaoqiao had added fuel to the fire, the basis of Li Jiye¡¯s choice probably came from Miss Gao Jie¡¯s professional judgment.¡±


    Gao Jie felt that the prestige she established was immediately suppressed by Shen Yue.


    She wanted to counterattack, but her opponent was so sharp that many things seemed to be seen firsthand, which significantly increased her surprise.


    Unable to organize an effective defense, she opted to remain silent instead.


    Feng Haonan also seemed to realize something was off, and said from the side: ¡°I feel that concluding that Gao Jie¡­


    Miss Gao is here, based solely on a license plate number, seems rather hasty.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, it is a bit arbitrary.


    Both forensic science and criminal investigation call for evidence,¡± Shen Yue said leisurely.


    ¡°The evidence I have based on this alone is indeed insufficient, but I do have other evidence.¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What is it?¡± This could be considered Feng Haonan asking on behalf of Gao Jie.


    ¡°Officer Feng, you¡¯re still single, right?¡± Shen Yue suddenly posed a question.


    Feng Haonan was taken aback, ¡°You even found out about this?¡± His personal information was top secret, and he felt it unbelievable that Jin Xin and the others even found out that he was an Interpol officer.


    Incredibly, they had managed to dig out his family information as well.


    If Jin Xin¡¯s company were to cooperate with criminals, wouldn¡¯t they, the Interpol officers, be in great danger?


    At this thought, Feng Haonan couldn¡¯t help but shudder.


    Luckily, Shen Yue quickly cleared his doubts, ¡°I guessed.


    When I used your car, I noticed that it was very clean.


    It¡¯s quite unusual that a slob like you cherishes a car so much.


    I know plenty of men whose cars are as messy as a pig-pen, especially for scruffy men like you.¡±


    Feng Haonan wore a bitter smile, and also felt a bit sore at heart, ¡°Knowing that my car was brazenly stolen, I was actually quite worried.


    Honestly, I¡¯ve been cherishing this car as if it were my wife.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why you don¡¯t have a wife.¡± Shen Yue responded casually, ¡°If you had a wife, I¡¯m afraid she wouldn¡¯t tolerate the existence of this ¡®mistress¡¯.¡±


    Feng Haonan was taken aback, and quickly realized that the ¡°mistress¡± Shen Yue referred to was the Jeep.


    Ruminating over Shen Yue¡¯s seemingly simple, yet highly distinctive question, Feng Haonan sighed, ¡°You¡¯re damn right.¡±


    He suddenly blurted out a swear word and couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter.


    The men present let out knowing smiles.


    Even the Australian police officer William nodded repeatedly¡ªthinking to himself, which man would have the mood to maintain their vehicle when they have a nagging wife?


    Sensing Gao Jie¡¯s expression growing colder, Feng Haonan realized he had lost his cool and cleared his throat, ¡°We seem to have gone off-topic.¡± He also realized that he had been playing along with Shen Yue¡¯s tune the whole time.


    ¡°Not at all,¡± said Shen Yue.


    ¡°The reason I knew Miss Gao Jie was behind the mirror is because of you, Officer Feng.¡±


    Feng Haonan froze, not understanding why Shen Yue would say this.


    ¡°When President Jin passed on Miss Gao Jie¡¯s splendid career history to me¡­I picked up on a detail.¡± Shen Yue said calmly, ¡°In addition to obtaining academic credentials from several prestigious universities in North America and Europe, credentials that others could not acquire in their whole lifetime, Miss Gao Jie has also studied under the renowned handwriting analyst, Lin Yufan.¡±


    Gao Jie¡¯s face became colder, and she was more surprised.


    Initially, she thought that Shen Yue and Jin Xin were quite clever and their backgrounds were slightly mysterious.


    But at this moment, she realized that their intelligence gathering was astoundingly efficient!


    What were the origins of Jintang Security?


    Who are Jin Xin and Shen Yue, exactly?


    Shen Yue acted normally and said, ¡°And Officer Feng, you¡¯ve also studied under Master Lin Yufan.


    Handwriting analysis is a skill that all police officers should have.¡±


    Feng Haonan couldn¡¯t help but nod.


    Shen Yue slowly said, ¡°Therefore, Officer Feng and Miss Gao Jie can be considered disciples of the same master.


    It¡¯s highly likely that the two of you know each other¡­you should know each other.¡± Before Feng Haonan could ask a question, Shen Yue added, ¡°Last night, the scent of ¡®Roses Royale¡¯ perfume produced by Lushan lingered in the passenger seat of the Jeep.


    Miss Gao Jie, this noble yet rational rose scent perfectly suits your composed demeanor.¡±


    Gao Jie¡¯s expression changed slightly, finding it hard to believe that not only was Shen Yue¡¯s mind sharp, but his nose was equally sensitive.


    Then Shen Yue revealed the answer to the mystery, ¡°When I first met Miss Gao Jie at Giant Industries, I could smell the scent of ¡®Roses Royale¡¯ perfume on her.


    This perfume is mostly used by nostalgic people.


    At that time, I just thought that Miss Gao Jie might be a nostalgic person.¡±


    After a short pause, Shen Yue continued, ¡°However, when I recently found out that Miss Gao Jie and Officer Feng are from the same school and have both come to this city, the likelihood that Miss Gao Jie was catching up with old times in Officer Feng¡¯s jeep last night should be pretty high, as everyone here should already know!¡±


    Feng Haonan was so shocked that he couldn¡¯t utter a word.


    Even though Gao Jie wanted to dispute this, how could she do so in the face of undeniable facts?

 Chapter 78 - 78 78 Love Guru

    ?78: Chapter 78: Love Guru 78: Chapter 78: Love Guru The room finally fell silent.


    Everyone was looking at Shen Yue with an incredulous look to varying degrees.


    Shen Yue didn¡¯t stop, continuing, ¡°Oh yes, I forgot to mention one thing.


    Here today, Gao Jie sprayed herself with the same rare Rose Queen perfume.


    It seems Gao Jie not only has a penchant for nostalgia, but also for this particular perfume.¡±


    Everyone couldn¡¯t help but take a whiff of the air.


    They detected the scent of perfume, but pinpointing its origin was impossible for them.


    ¡°Do I need to go on?¡± Shen Yue asked somewhat provocatively.


    Gao Jie had control of the situation, but wasn¡¯t he doing the same?


    Only by gaining control of the situation could he gain more information to clarify the case at hand.


    ¡°No need, no need.¡± Feng Haonan placated, ¡°Advisor Shen is so knowledgeable, it¡¯s enlightening ¡­ let¡¯s get back to the main topic¡­¡± He said this, but inside he was feeling a bit uneasy.


    He felt that if he allowed Shen Yue to continue, there might be big trouble.


    ¡°No, you need to continue.¡± Gao Jie said frostily, ¡°I think the evidence is insufficient!


    Just based on a license plate, a perfume, and a relationship, I am supposed to be in the surveillance room behind the mirror?


    I think it¡¯s far from enough.¡±


    Shen Yue nodded, agreeing, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s a little presumptuous to deduce that Ms.


    Gao Jie is behind the mirror only based on these details.


    But¡­.¡± Shen Yue chuckled, revealing a beautiful set of white teeth, ¡°The conclusive evidence that convinced me came from a detail on Officer Feng.¡±


    Feng Haonan looked embarrassed, completely unaware of any such issue on his part.


    Looking around the room, Shen Yue began to explain, ¡°Most men here should know, or be subconsciously aware, that when a woman is attracted to a man, she will often casually brush her hair back in his presence.


    This is because she hopes to show her most enticing side.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu became flustered and dropped her hand right after hearing this, almost fainting.


    Seeing a dismissive look from Li Yawei, and everyone else focused on Shen Yue, she sighed in relief.


    ¡°I¡¯m a man.¡± Feng Haonan couldn¡¯t help but interject.


    ¡°I can see that.¡± Shen Yue¡¯s response triggered chuckles in the room, ¡°Women have gestures to attract men, and men also have gestures to attract women.


    It¡¯s like the peacock spreading its feathers to attract mates, men would, either intentionally or unintentionally, exhibit their energy to win the favor of women.¡±


    Looking at Feng Haonan, Shen Yue added, ¡°The peacock that spreads its feathers is the male.¡±


    Feng Haonan felt a sense of awkwardness.


    ¡°What does this have to do with me¡­¡± He suddenly realized something and looked embarrassingly at Shen Yue.


    Shen Yue continued, ¡°I once mentioned that you are a somewhat disheveled man.


    I can well imagine that you probably didn¡¯t sleep much last night and managed a nap at some point, during which your hair got messy.¡±


    The others looked and sure enough, a part of Feng Haonan¡¯s hair was sticking up.


    Feng Haonan reflexively reached up to smooth his hair down, glancing at Gao Jie unintentionally.


    Shen Yue¡¯s lips twitched in a faint smile, ¡°A dishevelled man tends not to care about other people¡¯s opinions.


    It could be inferred from this fact that Officer Feng is more focused on the case than how he looks.


    But¡­.¡±


    Dragging out his words, Shen Yue continued, ¡°If you pay a little more attention, you¡¯ll notice that a part of your hair has been wetted, indicating that you felt that the sticking up hair was unsightly, so you intentionally dampened it, hoping to flatten it a bit.


    I believe most men in this room have done this before?¡±


    Both William and Du Feng reflexively nodded their heads.


    Everyone in the room was working, sometimes too busy to spruce themselves up.


    Damping their hair to keep it in check was common practice.


    ¡°You¡¯re originally not the kind of man who cares about his image, but you suddenly became aware of it.


    Clearly, there¡¯s someone whom you deem worthy of maintaining your image for.¡±


    Feng Haonan couldn¡¯t help but raise his hand to flatten his hair, but managed to resist doing so.


    Shen Yue¡¯s gaze shifted towards Gao Jie and he revealed, ¡°Since Officer Feng entered this room, according to my count, he has looked at that mirror six times, and absent-mindedly smoothed his hair four times.


    Being so focused on this case, yet frequently being distracted by the mirror and grooming himself, the intelligent Ms.


    Gao Jie should fully understand why he did this, right?


    And also understand why I¡¯m certain who¡¯s behind the mirror?¡±


    As Shen Yue finished speaking, Gao Jie fell silent, with nothing more to say.


    ¡°I¡¯m still a little confused.


    Can you explain it more clearly?¡± Jin Xin suddenly interjected.


    ¡°It¡¯s all clear now, it¡¯s all clear.¡± Feng Haonan¡¯s face was red, not daring to look at Gao Jie, ¡°Advisor Shen, there¡¯s no need to explain further!¡±


    Gao Jie huffed coldly, snarling, ¡°See you in the conference room.¡± She then departed from the room.


    It was only then that Feng Haonan, like a death row inmate who¡¯d been pardoned, let out a sigh of relief and composed himself.


    ¡°Ms.


    Gao Jie means that we should take our discussion into the conference room.


    The resources here are insufficient and that place is more conducive for discussion.¡±


    Shen Yue furrowed his brow, ¡°It seems I can¡¯t go.


    The case of me stealing a car hasn¡¯t been closed.


    Do I need to elaborate more on your relationship with Ms.


    Gao Jie last night, Officer Feng?¡±


    ¡°OK, OK.¡± Feng Haonan was wishing he could stitch Shen Yue¡¯s mouth shut.


    ¡°Advisor Shen, we¡¯re all honest people here.


    I liked you from the moment I met you, why would I report you and cause trouble?


    If there¡¯s no report, then there¡¯s no stolen car, right?¡± he signaled to Du Feng and William to leave.


    Jin Xin smiled and glanced at Li Yawei.


    Li Yawei slowly got up, lowered her head, and left with Jin Xin.


    It seems, aside from following everyone else, she had no other options.


    Shen Yue was leisurely walking a few steps when he was stopped by Hai Mingzhu, ¡°Advisor Shen.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Shen Yue turned back, somewhat confused.


    Hai Mingzhu¡¯s face was also slightly flushed, ¡°I have something to talk to you about.¡± she had to say it.


    While Feng Haonan had halted the conversation, anyone with a keen eye knew what was going on by now.


    Feng Haonan certainly had a thing for Gao Jie, or more accurately, Feng Haonan was attracted to Gao Jie.


    That¡¯s why he was so concerned about his appearance and looks.


    As for whether Gao Jie reciprocates his feelings, that¡¯s hard to say. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Based on Feng Haonan¡¯s current behavior, it appears he has an unrequited crush on Gao Jie!


    Shen Yue did not reveal this, but anyone who isn¡¯t deaf basically knows what¡¯s going on between Feng and Gao.


    How could Jin Xin, a man as shrewd as they come, not know?


    His feigned confusion was simply to embarrass Gao Jie!


    As soon as Shen Yue revealed everything, Hai Mingzhu understood the whole picture.


    Celebrities taking a year or more to be recognized by those around them had nothing on Shen Yue; he hardly knew Gao Jie and had merely a brief encounter with Feng Haonan.


    And yet, based on merely perfume, ticket stubs, and hair habits, he not only discovered their secret but could also deduce their ambiguous relationship.


    He was practically a master love guru.


    Could he really understand male-female relationships this thoroughly?!


    Upon pondering this, Hai Mingzhu felt she had something that she absolutely needed to say.

 Chapter 79 - 79 Section 79 Clarifying Risks and Benefits

    ?79: Section 79: Clarifying Risks and Benefits 79: Section 79: Clarifying Risks and Benefits Shen Yue quietly looked at Hai Mingzhu, seeing her trying to compose herself, he asked with some confusion, ¡°What exactly are you trying to say?¡±


    Hai Mingzhu felt a itch in her throat, ¡°Can¡¯t you figure it out?¡±


    ¡°Why would I bother guessing what you¡¯re going to say?


    If I have to guess everything, I¡¯ll be exhausted.¡± Shen Yue laughed.


    ¡°We have to take the initiative.


    Only when I put effort into presenting a compelling argument will people like Gao Jie and Feng Haonan take us seriously.


    They¡¯ll only leak useful information to us if they think we¡¯re useful.


    Do you understand this principle?¡±


    ¡°I understand, I understand.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu went to brush her hair subconsciously, noticing that Shen Yue was watching her right hand, she wished she could just chop her hand off, ¡°I touch my hair because my ears itch, not for the reason you mentioned.


    You know, body language analysis often only serves as a general directional prediction, but nothing is absolute.¡± She quickly clenched her hands in front of her.


    Shen Yue smiled, ¡°You¡¯re right, nothing is absolute.


    If you want to discuss psychology with me, let¡¯s not rush.


    Right now, we need to understand what¡¯s going on with the Australian Hundred Ghosts Night Walk case.¡±


    As Shen Yue made to leave, Hai Mingzhu called out, ¡°I want to talk to you about what happened at the bar last night.¡±


    Shen Yue looked somewhat perplexed.


    ¡°I only graduated college recently and haven¡¯t had much experience with men.


    Or should I say¡­never¡­


    been so close to a man.¡± Hai Mingzhu stuttered.


    ¡°Then what?¡± Shen Yue frowned.


    ¡°So, when I was suddenly so close to you at the bar, it was inevitable that I might act a bit weird, like breathing heavily, my heartbeat speeding up, that sort of thing.


    But I can assure you, it was just a normal physiological reaction, not the higher-level psychological response that Maslow¡¯s theory suggests.


    Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡±


    Shen Yue thought for a moment, seemingly considering who Maslow was, before finally saying, ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°Do you really?¡± Hai Mingzhu questioned.


    ¡°Alright, if you think I don¡¯t understand, why don¡¯t you explain it in more detail?¡± Shen Yue said helplessly.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, it¡¯s nothing.


    As long as you understand.¡± Hai Mingzhu was somewhat flustered and quickly walked away, not daring to look back at Shen Yue¡¯s expression.


    When Shen Yue walked into the conference room, everyone was already seated.


    Gao Jie gave Shen Yue a cold glance, but it seemed she had no intention of kicking him out.


    Feng Haonan had already closed the window curtains and adjusted the projector.


    Seeing Shen Yue come in, he said to Gao Jie, ¡°Everyone¡¯s here, we can start.¡±


    Gao Jie glanced at Du Feng, who was sitting in the corner.


    Despite being the captain, Du Feng showed great respect for Gao Jie, ¡°I have received instructions from above and understand what assistance I am to provide.


    I¡¯m here to listen and learn more sophisticated investigative methods¡­


    I won¡¯t leak anything.¡±


    ¡°I know that Captain Du has been ordered to assist us by our superiors and that he needs to report to them about the case¡¯s progress.


    But I didn¡¯t intend to kick Captain Du out recklessly.¡± Gao Jie explained cooly, ¡°I just want you to turn off the lights.¡±


    Du Feng looked somewhat embarrassed, ¡°No problem.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu was surprised and thought, a CIO of a giant corporation like Gao Jie wouldn¡¯t be so deferential to the captain of the city bureau.


    There must be something more behind Gao Jie!


    She initially wanted to share this observation with Shen Yue, but changed her mind, figuring Shen Yue must know more than she did.


    The lights were dimmed and the conference room fell into darkness. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The first image on the projector was a rotting corpse with an unrecognizable face, looking both terrifying and disgusting.


    Li Yawei let out a gasp, her voice trembling a bit.


    Gao Jie allowed the image of the corpse to continue displaying on the screen, ¡°Advisor Shen, do you know anything about the Australian Hundred Ghosts Night Walk case?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it, but I don¡¯t know a lot.¡± Shen Yue said, ¡°If possible, please explain the details, Ms.


    Gao.¡±


    ¡°The only person here who can give a detailed account is not me, but Miss Li Yawei.¡± Gao Jie said, her gaze landing on Li Yawei.


    ¡°Miss Li, it would be better if you tell the story.¡±


    Hai Mingzhu suddenly realized that among the people in the room, only Li Yawei was sitting closest to the desk lamp on the long table, which made her stand out.


    This is a variant of interrogation!


    Hai Mingzhu, from her observational standpoint, quickly perceived the oddity.


    Li Yawei kept her head down and didn¡¯t say a word.


    ¡°Miss Li, if you don¡¯t speak the truth, we¡¯ll be unable to find the true culprit.


    Not finding the true culprit might not matter to others, but for you, it¡¯s a matter of life or death.¡±


    Gao Jie was evidently skilled in interrogation, hitting the nail on the head.


    Li Yawei trembled a bit, suddenly looking at Shen Yue with pleading eyes.


    The comforting words he had said earlier not only made people like Gao Jie look at him differently, but also seemed to earn him a bit of trust from Li Yawei.


    Shen Yue softly said, ¡°Miss Li, we¡¯re here to assist with the investigation.


    You don¡¯t need to feel burdened, just tell the truth and we¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡±


    If he had said this an hour ago, people would have scoffed at him.


    But now, it carries more weight.


    ¡°Avoidance is not the solution.


    When there¡¯s a problem, we should solve it.¡± Shen Yue continued to reassure.


    ¡°We are a company that specializes in solving troublesome matters, you can trust us.¡±


    Li Yawei nodded slightly, whispering, ¡°What should I say?¡±


    Shen Yue furrowed his brow, thinking to himself, how would I know what you should say?


    All he knew at the moment was that Li Yawei was involved in the Hundred Ghosts Night Walk case, and that Gao Jie seemed to see Li Yawei as a suspect!


    ¡°Start with how you and George manipulated the Hundred Ghosts Night Walk game.¡± Gao Jie said coldly, her face expressing disgust.


    It seemed she didn¡¯t have a high opinion of Li Yawei.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t manipulate the death game.¡± Li Yawei waved her hands hurriedly, then looked at Shen Yue, ¡°Advisor Shen, can we go home?¡±


    As she suddenly stood up and started to walk out, everyone was taken aback.


    Gao Jie sternly said, ¡°Li Yawei, stop right there!


    You think that by not saying anything¡­


    we¡­


    ¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Shen Yue cut in hastily, ¡°Ms.


    Gao, let me make one thing clear, Li Yawei came here to assist in the investigation, she¡¯s not a suspect.


    If you continue talking to Miss Li like this, we can refuse to answer, and if you invite us again, we will bring a lawyer.


    You wouldn¡¯t want such hassle, would you?¡±


    Stopped in her tracks, Gao Jie fell silent.


    Seeing this, Shen Yue confirmed his speculation ¨C up to now, Gao Jie hadn¡¯t interrogated Li Yawei as a criminal suspect, it wasn¡¯t out of politeness or respect for Shen Yue, it seemed more likely because she didn¡¯t have concrete evidence yet.


    Jin Xin, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke.


    ¡°Ms.


    Gao, your tactics might be intimidating to ordinary people, but they¡¯re too naive for us.


    We were hired by Mr.


    Lee Jixian at the request of Miss Cui Xing¡¯ai, we¡¯re professionals.


    It seems we can skip the pointless back-and-forth and the petty games to save time for real business, doesn¡¯t that sound better?¡±


    Gao Jie snorted, ¡°I need to remind you, Jin Tang Security, the one in mortal danger is your protectee, Li Yawei!¡±


    Shen Yue looked at Gao Jie, ¡°And I need to remind Ms.


    Gao ¨C Even if you¡¯re doing this out of old friendship, without any personal stake, you wouldn¡¯t have come here personally, right?¡±


    Gao Jie was taken aback, not expecting Shen Yue to see through that.


    She understood Shen Yue¡¯s implication ¨C she, Gao Jie, was desperately in need to understand what had happened with the Australian death game, and the fact was indeed so!

 Chapter 80 - 80 The Beginning of Courting Death - 80

    ?80: The Beginning of Courting Death ¨C Chapter 80 80: The Beginning of Courting Death ¨C Chapter 80 Shen Yue made it clear.


    Seeing that Gao Jie was still unhappy, he decided to lay it all out: ¡°This should be a mutually beneficial arrangement.


    If the police and Ms.


    Gao still want to hear more, why not let me do the asking?


    If you all don¡¯t want to listen, Jintang Company and Li Yawei could go find another place!¡±


    After a pause, Shen Yue added, ¡°If you insist on resorting to aggressive tactics, we¡¯ll only reply in kind.


    I don¡¯t think we need to take this to court, do we?¡±


    Feng Haonan quickly smoothed things over: ¡°Ms.


    Gao means well and Advisor Shen is also right.


    Advisor Shen, please, ask what you want to know.


    We¡¯re all ears.¡± He then tried to catch Gao Jie¡¯s eye.


    Finally, Gao Jie fell silent.


    Shen Yue turned to Li Yawei, ¡°Miss Li, it¡¯s your turn.


    If we are to uncover the truth, we do need the police¡¯s help.¡± He knew better information would come to light if both sides could cooperate.


    I thought you were capable of anything.


    Gao Jie thought to herself, but decided not to provoke further conflict.


    Li Yawei hesitated, then trustingly settled back down.


    ¡°Where should I begin?¡±


    ¡°Start wherever you¡¯d like and say whatever you want.¡± Shen Yue kindly suggested, ¡°However it goes, we from Jintang Security will be all ears.


    As for others, if they¡¯re bored they¡¯re welcome to leave.¡±


    Li Yawei gave a forced smile, ¡°I went to Australia for school when I was not even ten years old and there I made some¡­


    friends.¡±


    Shen Yue nodded for Li Yawei to continue.


    ¡°By the time I graduated from high school, I had met many people and had quite a few relationships.¡±


    Maybe because Shen Yue seemed trustworthy, or maybe it was time for the shared secrets to be revealed.


    Under the lamplight and in front of the composed Shen Yue, Li Yawei began to recall, ¡°I had some good friends back then such as George, Elinda, Wang Yangwei, Chen Xiaoyu, and Daniel¡­¡±


    As Li Yawei spoke, Feng Haonan changed the slideshow.


    Everyone noticed and turned to see that five photos had appeared, below each was the information of the person Li Yawei had just mentioned.


    The information showed more than just names, it also had personal details of each person.


    George was the son of an estate owner, Elinda¡¯s parents were Australian entrepreneurs, Wang Yangwei¡¯s family owned a mine, Chen Xiaoyu¡¯s family was involved in import-export trade, and Daniel¡¯s family owned a vineyard¡­


    Among these five people, four were men and one was a woman; three of them were Australian and two were of Chinese descent.


    Despite their differences in appearance, they all came from rich families.


    Shen Yue frowned as he realized that these five people were likely connected to the mysterious ¡®Hundred Ghost Parade¡¯ case.


    If not, Interpol wouldn¡¯t have a detailed investigation on them.


    With a far-off look in her eyes, it seemed that Li Yawei didn¡¯t notice the change in slideshow images.


    She continued, ¡°Foreign students in Australia often feel¡­


    quite empty.


    Some things that seemed fun at the time now seem rather pointless.¡±


    Many of them thought that these students who study abroad usually come from relatively well-off families, wishing their children could receive a good education.


    Yet most of these kids lost their way at a young age.


    Without supervision and stuck in a foreign land, their spiritual world became barren.


    Judging by Li Yawei¡¯s regretful tone, it was clear that her past actions during her time in Australia were probably quite questionable.


    ¡°One day, George came up with an idea for a fun activity and asked us if we¡¯d be interested.¡± Li Yawei seemed lost for a moment, ¡°George was the one who usually initiated all sorts of ideas among us.


    I felt jittery for no reason at first, so I didn¡¯t immediately agree.¡±


    ¡°What was this fun activity?¡± Shen Yue asked in a low voice, trying not to interrupt Li Yawei¡¯s reminiscence.


    ¡°He called it the ¡®Hundred Ghost Parade¡¯ ¡± She replied.


    Everyone stiffened a bit.


    They had all heard of the ¡®Hundred Ghost Parade¡¯ and now it seemed that they were about to get the true picture.


    ¡°You said you didn¡¯t immediately agree, meaning you still ended up participating.¡± Shen Yue ventured.


    ¡°Correct.¡± Li Yawei didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°Elinda liked George and we were good friends.


    She always tried to persuade me to join.


    Not wanting to lose her as a friend, I eventually went along with it.


    Because of my participation, both Wang Yangwei and Chen Xiaoyu also joined.¡±


    Shen Yue could suddenly feel Feng Haonan nudging him.


    Turning his head, he saw Feng Haonan pointing towards the projector screen where big words were now displaying: When did it happen?


    What is their relationship in detail?


    Understanding that Gao Jie didn¡¯t want to give up questioning but also didn¡¯t want to disrupt the current atmosphere, he nodded in acknowledgment but didn¡¯t ask right away.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t know what ¡®Hundred Ghost Parade¡¯ was, so George and Elinda explained it to us.¡± Li Yawei¡¯s expression was confused like she was lost in a dream.


    ¡°They said the Hundred Ghost Parade was a game originated from Japan.


    The participants all gathered secretly and were considered sacrifices to the hundred ghosts.


    They drew lots to decide who would end their life next.


    Whenever one person died, everyone else would celebrate and pray for them, congratulating them for becoming a sacrifice and joining the ghost parade.


    Then they would draw lots again to decide who would choose to end their life next.¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The meeting room was dim, and Li Yawei¡¯s words were chilling.


    Although everyone sort of knew the rules of the game, hearing it directly from Li Yawei sent shivers down their spines.


    What kind of lonely, bored, vacuous person would want to play such a game?


    ¡°When I heard what the game was about, I was irked.¡± Li Yawei¡¯s expression reflected some anger, ¡°I might have considered dying at times, but I never thought I would end my life in this manner.¡±


    At least you aren¡¯t completely foolish.


    Hai Mingzhu thought, shaking her head.


    A new question appeared on the screen, why did Li Yawei consider dying?


    Shen Yue glanced at it and nodded again.


    Seeing this, Gao Jie became somewhat impatient and Feng Haonan hastily tried to calm her down.


    The conference room was filled with tension, but Li Yawei who seemed to be immersed in her world was oblivious to it.


    ¡°I wanted to quit.¡± Li Yawei somewhat regretfully voiced, ¡°But unexpectedly, Elinda immediately revealed a shocking secret¡ª she said that all of this was just a game created by rich people!


    We were supposed to relax and join the fun, that there wouldn¡¯t be any consequences, because¡­


    because¡­¡±


    Suddenly several questions popped up on the projection screen in unison.


    Because what?


    Because what?


    ¡­


    Looking at this, Shen Yue knew that if Gao Jie had been the one asking the questions, these would be the issues she¡¯d press Li Yawei on.


    Yet he chose to stay quiet, ignoring Gao Jie¡¯s impatience.


    Apparently more at ease communicating with Shen Yue, Li Yawei finally revealed her conclusion, ¡°Because this was actually a game controlled by George!¡±