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 – 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. 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."