Chapter 204: A Costly Favor

“I can help you!”

When Lu Xin returned to the office, he found Vice President Xiao pacing restlessly, patting his pockets and rummaging through the sofa cushions, clearly searching for his cigarettes.

Lu Xin calmly sat down and kindly offered him one of his own cigarettes, even using his ZIPPO lighter to light it for him. Meeting Vice President Xiao’s grateful gaze, he calmly stated his decision.

“*Cough…*”

Vice President Xiao immediately choked and started coughing uncontrollably, partly because he wasn’t used to the cigarette, but mostly out of sheer excitement.

He abruptly stubbed out the cigarette. Eyes wide and watery from the smoke, he stared at Lu Xin with hopeful surprise.

“You can really help me?”

Lu Xin glanced at the cigarette, stubbed out after just one puff, frowned slightly, and nodded.

“Good, good…”

Vice President Xiao was practically vibrating with excitement. He shot to his feet, but then stood there unsure what to do next, his body trembling slightly. “If you can help me, then I… I’ll give you fifty thousand… no, a hundred thousand as payment…”

“Hm?”

Lu Xin’s eyes widened instantly, and he stared straight at him.

Vice President Xiao was inexplicably startled, asking guiltily, “Then… should I add more?”

Lu Xin felt a surge of excitement inwardly, immediately followed by deep regret.

Why did I have to call Han Bing?

But the call was made, and Han Bing had already submitted the application for him. This was official business now.

And you couldn’t accept personal payment for official business.

His heart ached as if pierced by knives. He glanced at Vice President Xiao, deeply dissatisfied, his tone tinged with displeasure.

“We have our principles! We don’t just take money!!!”

Vice President Xiao was taken aback by his look, thinking, *Did I offend him by mentioning money?*

*Yeah, he really does have that air of a hidden master who sees money as dirt…*

…

…

Suppressing his excitement, he composed himself and quickly asked, “When?”

Lu Xin, still annoyed, let out a heavy sigh, got up, and headed out of the office, saying, “Let’s talk after work!”

Vice President Xiao nodded repeatedly, but his concern was too great, so he still asked, “Why?”

Lu Xin glanced back at him. “Because I have to work.”

Vice President Xiao stared blankly as Lu Xin left the office, returned to his cubicle, picked up the files on his desk, and began working diligently. Xiao felt completely bewildered, perhaps because his sleep-deprived brain wasn’t functioning properly.

Lu Xin was an employee of his company, so he had to work, which meant working for him, helping him make money.

And he himself wasn’t short on money; he was willing to spend a lot to solve this current, most difficult problem.

Lu Xin didn’t care about money, so he couldn’t sway him with it.

Therefore, he just had to wait patiently until Lu Xin finished work before Lu Xin could help him deal with the problem…

Something seemed off, but the logic felt strangely self-consistent…

…

…

Director Liu couldn’t get back into his own office all day.

Because Vice President Xiao had occupied it, and he certainly didn’t dare go back and fight for the space. Apart from popping in a few times to ask if Xiao needed anything or how lunch should be arranged, he was stuck in the lobby area. Since the lobby was full, he couldn’t even find a place to sit. And with Vice President Xiao still in the company, he didn’t dare make an excuse to leave…

And because Vice President Xiao was holed up in the office, no one else dared to leave casually either.

Since they didn’t dare leave, there were no spare seats in the lobby.

And because there were no spare seats in the lobby, Director Liu ended up squatting next to the restroom for most of the day…

Lunch was ordered boxed meals, paid for by Vice President Xiao.

Vice President Xiao had considered asking Lu Xin out for lunch, but seeing Lu Xin diligently handling *his* work, he didn’t dare interrupt. So, he simply had Director Liu order boxed meals with chicken legs for everyone…

Visibly, Lu Xin’s expression relaxed considerably when he received his boxed meal, which made Vice President Xiao heave a long sigh of relief.

Finally, quitting time dragged around. Vice President Xiao watched the clock tick by, minute by agonizing minute. When it finally struck six, he shot up with a *swoosh*, rushed into the office in a few strides, and looked at Lu Xin with eager eyes.

That look made Director Liu, whose legs were numb from squatting by the restroom all day, and everyone else in the office stare blankly, completely baffled by the situation.

“Lu…”

Vice President Xiao wanted to ask, but unsure how to address Lu Xin, he mumbled, “Could we have dinner together?”

Lu Xin glanced at the time on his computer. “I have something else to do tonight.”

Vice President Xiao instantly grew nervous. “Then… I… How about this, let me drive you there and wait for you?”

Lu Xin considered it seriously for a moment. “That works too.”

Then, under the watchful eyes of the entire company, he slung his bag over his shoulder and left with Vice President Xiao.

“*Woah…*”

The moment they went downstairs, the entire office erupted.

“What’s going on?”

“What did Little Lu do to scare Vice President Xiao like that?”

“My god, don’t tell me he kidnapped the Chairman?”

“Did he put a hit out on Vice President Xiao?”

“…Why are you all thinking so violently? I get the feeling Vice President Xiao is pursuing *him*?”

“…”

Only Director Liu watched their figures descend the stairs, one after the other. He pondered quickly for a moment, then instructed his secretary, “Little Wang, tomorrow, call some construction workers over. Knock down that partition wall and renovate it into an office…”

“Actually, forget tomorrow. Call them over tonight. Get it done overnight…”

“…”

Vice President Xiao drove Lu Xin to the Security Hall, and Lu Xin went inside.

Seeing how familiarly Lu Xin entered the Security Hall, Vice President Xiao’s speculation about him multiplied instantly.

*What’s he doing at the Security Hall?*

*Could he actually be some extraordinary individual specially hired by the Security Hall?*

*Is he here now to make arrangements to handle the problem I’m facing?*

Actually, Lu Xin was just there for training.

The nightly training sessions came with a two-hundred-yuan meal allowance. Unless something crucial came up, attendance was highly recommended.

As for letting Vice President Xiao come along, there were two reasons.

Normally, Lu Xin shouldn’t let others know about his job at the Special Cleaning Department—not to protect himself, but to protect others. However, since Vice President Xiao was already involved in such an incident, the confidentiality clause was temporarily moot. Secondly, if Xiao went back alone, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t come into contact with his younger brother and sister during this time, leading to another unexpected event.

Having him tag along made it easier to keep an eye on things if something happened.

…

…

“Tonight, let’s skip some parts and focus on understanding the Dream Weaver-type…”

Lu Xin said this to Han Bing through the speaker after going upstairs and sitting down.

“Okay. After Mr. Lone Soldier notified me this afternoon, I already prepared the relevant materials.”

Han Bing’s gentle voice sounded from the speaker as the corresponding materials appeared on the screen directly opposite the meeting room table.

Hearing the word “notified,” Lu Xin couldn’t help sighing again.

His mood dipped slightly.

Of course, he couldn’t blame Han Bing, but he felt an inexplicable resentment towards Vice President Xiao downstairs.

“The Dream Weaver-type is one of the ability systems that our Qinggang Cleanup Department has researched quite deeply. We previously recruited two Dream Weaver-type Ability Users. One later died in the line of duty, while the other is still responsible for special pollution cleanup work in the Main City.”

“However, it must be acknowledged that although the Dream Weaver-type is relatively well-researched, its Ability Users are also widely considered among the strangest and most difficult to handle. Their core ability lies in entering others’ dreams and guiding their dream experiences. From this core, three derivative abilities have emerged: Forced Dream Entry, Dream Traversal, and Dream Manipulation.”

“The combined use of these three abilities allows them to accomplish many incredible things.”

“…”

As Han Bing spoke gently, Lu Xin diligently took notes.

Only occasionally, he would let out a faint sigh, seeming somewhat dejected.

*Mr. Lone Soldier seems to be in a bad mood today?*

Han Bing caught the sighs several times and couldn’t help but wonder, *Is it because my support work today wasn’t adequate?*

Meanwhile, as Lu Xin studied, one thought kept popping into his head.

*”A hundred thousand…”*