Chapter 1 An Invitation

Bright incandescent lights shone down,

Illuminating the dark red invitation.

The wax seal reflected an eerie red glow, obscuring the pattern for Lin Xian.

Lin Xian remained calm, looking at Zhao Yingjun:

"For me?"

"Yes."

Zhao Yingjun's earrings sparkled under the incandescent light, her eyes full of smiles:

"Surprised?"

"A little."

Lin Xian stepped forward and picked up the invitation.

The moment he touched the material...

He understood.

This wasn't the Genius Club invitation; it was completely different from Zhao Yingjun's.

This invitation had a more luxurious, velvety feel, unlike ordinary cardstock.

Lin Xian held it up and looked at the emblem pressed into the sealed wax, immediately recognizing the familiar name.

Donghai Chamber of Commerce.

"I didn't expect Chu Shanhe to send you an invitation as well."

Zhao Yingjun rested her chin on her hand, propping herself up on the desk as she looked at Lin Xian:

"The most important Donghai Chamber of Commerce New Year's Eve Banquet isn't usually open to people outside the Chamber."

"Of course... it's not absolute. Chu Shanhe still sends invitations to many socialites or big figures in Donghai every year. After all, it's his private banquet, and he can invite whoever he wants."

"But this invitation of yours..."

Zhao Yingjun shook her head with a smile:

"I really don't understand this one. Do you have some private relationship with Chu Shanhe?"

"No."

Lin Xian couldn't figure it out either.

Why would Chu Shanhe send him an invitation to the banquet?

He wasn't a member of the Donghai Chamber of Commerce.

Nor was he a famous figure in Donghai.

He had no private relationship with Chu Shanhe. Their only conversation was at the X Company's celebration banquet.

But that was only because of Zhao Yingjun's status that Chu Shanhe had said a few words to him.

That bit of connection shouldn't qualify him for this invitation.

Could it be...

Because he was famous these last two days for jumping the elevated highway?

That definitely wasn't it.

Lin Xian dismissed the ridiculous thought.

Chu Shanhe would never send someone an invitation just because of something like that; it would be too absurd.

"I don't understand either."

Lin Xian shook his head:

"Could it be he gave me one out of respect for you?"

"How could that be? What are you thinking, Lin Xian?" Zhao Yingjun chuckled:

"What kind of influence do I have with Chu Shanhe?"

"But in any case, this invitation is definitely for you. This afternoon, someone from the Shanhe Group came to the company specifically to give me the invitations, directly giving me two and specifically saying that one was for you."

"Open it and take a look."

Hearing that.

Lin Xian peeled off the wax seal and opened the folded invitation.

Inside were formal invitation phrases.

Stating the time and location of the Donghai Chamber of Commerce New Year's Eve Banquet.

The location was one of Chu Shanhe's private clubs, and the time was seven o'clock the day after tomorrow.

At the top of the invitation, the two words "Lin Xian" were written in strong, forceful strokes... Lin Xian wasn't sure if Chu Shanhe had written them himself, but the strokes were powerful and showed some skill in calligraphy.

"Pretty mysterious."

Lin Xian closed the invitation.

He didn't really want to go.

He wasn't interested in these kinds of banquets, especially since this was an internal banquet for the Donghai Chamber of Commerce... He wouldn't know anyone there; it would be too awkward.

But in order to gain

Zhao Yingjun's trust, he had deliberately created a persona of someone eager for success and hoping to achieve great things in front of her.

If he showed no interest now... it wouldn't be appropriate.

Right now, he was only one step away from becoming Zhao Yingjun's secretary, knowing the password to the office's security door, and seeing that Genius Club invitation. He couldn't afford to fail at the last moment.

"But since Chu Shanhe sent me an invitation, it would be too disrespectful not to go."

Lin Xian waved the invitation in his hand:

"Anyway, I don't have anything else to do the day after tomorrow night, so I'll just go and broaden my horizons."

Zhao Yingjun nodded:

"It's good to meet those big figures; it will definitely help your career in the future."

"Then I'll see you at the banquet the day after tomorrow night."

*Bang.*

After leaving Zhao Yingjun's office, the double security door slammed shut behind him.

Lin Xian clicked his tongue.

Was Zhao Yingjun still considering it?

When was she going to announce his appointment as her secretary? It was almost time to go home for the New Year. Was the opportunity to see that Genius Club invitation going to be delayed until after the New Year?

"Probably not."

Zhao Yingjun always acted efficiently and never procrastinated.

Once she made a decision, she would act on it quickly. It should be within the next few days.

*Ding—*

A crisp sound.

The elevator doors in front of him slowly opened...

...

Donghai suburban, lakeside villa.

With the faint sound of bearings turning, the intricately crafted and expensive mahogany double doors were pushed open by a pair of old, wrinkled hands.

Inside, a fair-skinned young man sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows that covered the front wall. Moonlight spilled beside him, and the glow of the laptop screen illuminated his slender face, making the young man look like an ice sculpture, covered in frost.

"..."

Seeing this scene, the old man was speechless:

"I think this cat-and-mouse game is over... You've won against Ji Lin, completely. If the mouse doesn't leave the house, even the most powerful cat can't catch you."

"But the only thing you have to worry about is... mice are short-lived animals. Are you going to compete with that cat to see who lives longer? Or are you planning to outlive me, this old man, before you're willing to go out and get some sun?"

"Perfect timing, Aoman (Pride)." Ji Lin didn't look up, still staring at the laptop screen, his right middle finger constantly scrolling the mouse wheel:

"I need you to do me a favor."

"What is it?"

"I need an invitation to the Donghai Chamber of Commerce New Year's Eve Banquet. Are you familiar with the president of the Donghai Chamber of Commerce, Chu Shanhe?"

The old man shook his head:

"That kind of small fry... doesn't catch my eye."

"Don't say that, Aoman. Didn't you start your business in Donghai City back then?"

"Heh, even so, when I was developing in Donghai City, Chu Shanhe was just a kid. We're not on the same level."

"In short, I need an invitation to the Donghai Chamber of Commerce New Year's Eve Banquet."

"Okay, that's not difficult."

The old man answered easily, not taking it seriously at all:

"Although a strong dragon can't suppress a local snake, a mere banquet invitation is not difficult. Leave this matter to me."

"It's rare for you to ask me for something... It seems like you're really going to leave your nest to catch a mouse this time?"

"Something like that." Ji Lin put down the mouse, stretched his arms, and smiled:

"At least, it's time to say hello."

"Very good."

The old man was satisfied:

"Then I can leave Donghai with peace of mind. The next time we meet, it might be a few months later... I hope to hear good news from you then."

"Why this time for so long?" Ji Lin looked up:

"Are you going back to Brooklyn again?"

The old man nodded:

"It's the New Year, and I do have to go back to Brooklyn, but besides that, I have other things to do abroad. The historical chaos caused by Xu Yun's published research data is significant... I have a lot of work to do."

"Brooklyn, you really like that place."

"Because there... are my old friends." The old man lowered the brim of his hat:

"I always have to commemorate them."

"It's been many years, hasn't it? Since I can remember, you've been going to Brooklyn at this time every year."

"It's been many years indeed..."

The old man's voice was hoarse, full of the scars of time:

"Much earlier than you think, Ji Lin... The summer of 1952 is so long ago now..."

"All these years, I've actually forgotten what they look like, but I still remember the feeling of being with them... Every time I think about it, it makes me nostalgic, like it was yesterday."

Ji Lin looked at the sad old man:

"I rarely hear you mention your friends. I always thought you only had one friend, Xu Yun."

"People still need to have a few friends, and so do you, Ji Lin."

The old man's withered hand opened the mahogany door, and the warm yellow light from the courtyard shone in, enveloping the old man in a halo.

Outside the door, a black-suited, white-gloved driver stood next to a Lincoln sedan. The car was not turned off, indicating that the old man had not intended to stay here for too long, just to say goodbye.

"By the way, Ji Lin, I have one more thing to tell you."

The old man turned his head, the warm yellow light illuminating his features, outlining them with gold:

"I'm very worried about you this time I'm leaving for so long, so I've called 'Jidu (Jealousy)' to assist you."

"Is it assistance or supervision?"

"It's assistance, Ji Lin. Although I always say you're lazy, most of that is just complaining out of wanting you to improve. Actually, I'm very satisfied with you in all aspects."

"Thank you for your recognition."

Ji Lin put the Rhine cat doll on the table, leaning against the cabinet facing the door:

"Then can you send someone else? I don't like 'Jidu'."

"That's good."

The old man chuckled:

"'Jidu' doesn't like you either, and said the same thing as you. But this is your job. Try to be friends."

Ji Lin yawned and scratched his head:

"Then where is 'Jidu'?"

"I didn't say now... 'Jidu' can only come to Donghai to find you after the New Year."

"After the New Year?"

Ji Lin couldn't help but laugh:

"Does our evil organization have New Year's holidays? Why does it have to be after the New Year?"

"It would be good if you usually had this kind of awareness, Ji Lin." The old man walked out the door:

"'Jidu' is going back to his hometown, Hangzhou."

The withered, wrinkled hand closed the door:

"To attend a... class reunion."