The assistant replied diligently, "We have several employees named Lu Qiaoya in our company. Which one are you asking about, President Xiao?"
"The new CTO of our group, that internet prodigy."
Hearing Xiao Xun say this, the assistants spoke in unison, "His office is on the twelfth floor."
Xiao Xun enjoyed emperor-like treatment in this building. With people preceding and following him, he never had to open a door himself. Even when taking the elevator, a dedicated person would operate the buttons. After Xiao Xun went up, only three assistants followed him. The rest would take another elevator to the floor Xiao Xun was going to.
Anyone who saw his entourage would stop and stand to the side.
Xiao Xun gradually grew to like such grandeur, that feeling of being supreme. It wasn't just Xiao Xun; any man who experienced or witnessed it would particularly aspire to it.
By the time Xiao Xun reached Lu Qiaoya's door, an assistant had already pushed it open. He thought to himself, "A true man should be like this."
Lu Qiaoya was discussing issues with several heads of the technical department concerning mainstream software on the domestic market. Seeing someone rudely push the door open, the arrogant Lu Qiaoya was about to stand up and reprimand them.
Unexpectedly, the person who pushed the door open bowed respectfully and stood aside after opening it, which made his heart skip a beat.
Following that, Xiao Xun's appearance caused everyone else to stand up and obediently step aside, allowing Xiao Xun and Lu Qiaoya to have a face-to-face encounter.
Xiao Xun said to an assistant beside him, "You all wait by the door. I have something to discuss with him."
Those assistants swarmed in and then swarmed out.
Xiao Xun sat on the sofa in Lu Qiaoya's office. This was the first time in many years that he sat down with a clear conscience in front of Lu Qiaoya.
He knew that for all four years of university, Lu Qiaoya had been an existence that Xiao Xun looked up to. Handsome, from a good family, good at studies, and always the center of attention wherever he went.
Lu Qiaoya smiled, "Long time no see. We didn't get to chat properly at the class reunion that day."
Xiao Xun nodded, "I have to thank Zhang Ming for this. Without him, I wouldn't have known you were back."
"Not at all. You are my boss now, and it was inevitable that we would meet. It's just that I didn't expect you to change so much in the six years since graduation."
Xiao Xun smiled, "I'm not your boss. Our boss is Mr. Feng. We're both working for him. My changes also only started this year."
As he spoke, he crossed his legs, "Unlike you, you've always been so outstanding, haven't you? Survivor of the Ark."
Lu Qiaoya was greatly surprised but quickly regained his composure, "What do you mean by that?"
"How many years did we share a dormitory? Who doesn't know who? With the methods you use, anyone familiar with you would know."
Hearing Xiao Xun expose his past, Lu Qiaoya's face showed some embarrassment, "In that case, you are?"
"That's not something you can ask. You might have an answer in your heart, but you can't be sure, so there's no need to say more."
Lu Qiaoya pondered for a while, looking intently at his roommate of many years, "What do you want? Or rather, what do you want me to do?"
Xiao Xun stood up and patted his shoulder, "Look at you. We've been roommates for years, and now we're working in the same company. Naturally, we should help each other and resolve problems for the company. Our Longtan Group is a strong dragon. As the saying goes, 'A strong dragon doesn't suppress a local snake,' but if the local snake comes knocking, we can't just not fight back, can we? Otherwise, how can we establish ourselves here?"
Lu Qiaoya, being extremely intelligent, asked, "To what extent do you need me to deal with the local snake?"
"Just enough to make it struggle to survive. How does that saying go? 'See his high buildings rise, see his banquets spread...'"
Xiao Xun didn't finish his sentence, but Lu Qiaoya understood perfectly, "How much time is needed?"
"It's almost New Year's. Even the landlord doesn't have much grain left. Let him have a good year!"
Unexpectedly, Lu Qiaoya agreed without hesitation. To avoid collateral damage, Xiao Xun added another sentence, "You want to make a big pancake?"
Lu Qiaoya replied, "I understand. You need a big pot."
Xiao Xun said nothing more, got up, and walked out.
The assistants, fawning over him, followed Xiao Xun out. The technical supervisors came in and discreetly inquired about what the company's executive president had said to him.
Lu Qiaoya looked out the window and said with a serious expression, "Do you know what 'a snake coiled around a rabbit' means?"
The few people looked at each other, utterly bewildered by this cryptic remark, and subconsciously shook their heads, indicating they didn't know.
Xiao Xun didn't linger at the company. He didn't need to approve documents, participate in company operations, or make final decisions. Frankly, he was just a mascot, so his presence or absence had little impact on the company.
When he returned home, Mu Jiahe was still working out in the gym, showing her genuine passion for fitness.
Xiao Xun began preparing dinner. It had been many days since he last cooked, and his skills had indeed become rusty. He had initially wanted to conquer battlefields in another world like Mu Jiahe, and then rest well in this world upon their return, but a restless heart prevented him from stopping.
As soon as he finished cooking, Mu Jiahe also came upstairs.
"Are you leaving on your own later, or through the original passage?"
Xiao Xun scratched his head, "How about I leave with you? I'll leave after we get back."
Mu Jiahe appeared indifferent, "As you wish!"
When the time came, the two returned to the other world. After a moment of intimacy with Mu Jiahe, Xiao Xun used his spatial ring to travel to the Revenge Spear camp.
As soon as he appeared, his legs went weak, and he stumbled, almost falling to his knees before the person in front of him.
"To greet me with such a grand gesture upon meeting, I truly cannot accept it."
Xiao Xun looked up at Boris Adore in front of him, "Why are you here?"
"That's what I should be asking you. Where did you go all night? I looked for you all night, and I didn't expect you to suddenly appear here."
Xiao Xun didn't answer her question, stood up, and brushed the dust off his knees, "Do you need something from me?"
"Of course, I do. I've found a way to defeat the King of Pride."
Xiao Xun's expression lit up, "What way?"
"I don't know the specific method yet, but after much inquiry and verification, the King of Pride is a product of the Orcs' demonization. Therefore, as long as we know what happened to the King of Pride, we will surely find a way to defeat him."
Xiao Xun thought about it and felt it made sense. Looking at the mermaid before him, "I've been fighting them for so long, and I don't even know his true identity. Where did you get this information?"
Because he suspected a trick, he didn't expect Boris Adore to say, "The Orc Great General Botu told me. I don't think she has any reason to lie to me."
Xiao Xun was shocked, "You've met Botu? When?"
This was because he had met Botu many times, and Botu had never mentioned that the King of Pride was an Orc.