Chapter 458: Dinner, Duties, and Dark Secrets

Doesn’t this guy realize that no matter his status, he’s still a leader?

A company vice president casually insists on taking a small branch supervisor out to dinner.

Clearly, their statuses don’t match!

……

Lu Xin’s odd look sent a wave of unease through Vice President Xiao.

Feeling that his sudden dinner invitation might be too forward, Lu Xin quickly explained, “Brother Lu, don’t take it personally. It’s just dinner. After all, you helped me so much last time and I haven’t properly thanked you…”

At those words, Lu Xin suddenly recalled, “Ah, it’s because of that incident…”

He remembered that Vice President Xiao’s stepmother had practically been sent to prison by his own hand.

In that light, he felt his invitation was entirely justified.

So he eagerly asked, “So, where are we going?”

“Ah…”

Vice President Xiao seemed caught off guard by Lu Xin’s quick acceptance, even pausing in surprise.

Then he hurriedly laughed and said, “Of course, we’re going somewhere great. I know a fantastic place—though I’m not sure when you’ll be free, Brother Lu.”

Lu Xin thought for a moment and, realizing he had ample free time, replied, “Not before six, at least.”

Vice President Xiao quickly nodded, “Alright, alright.”

Impatiently, he subconsciously asked, “Why after six?”

Lu Xin eyed him strangely and remarked, “Your company sets strict working hours—are you really coming here to question mine?”

Vice President Xiao was instantly left speechless.

He even wished Lu Xin would skip work and come with him.

But seeing the determined, no-nonsense look on Lu Xin’s face, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Resigned, he treated the whole company to boxed meals at noon, then went to Director Liu’s office, quietly booted up his computer, and idly passed the afternoon playing Solitaire.

Meanwhile, Lu Xin silently occupied himself with Tetris next door.

Director Liu even vacated his own office, settling into Lu Xin’s former cubicle to review some files.

Every employee in their cubicles worked with laser-sharp focus.

The atmosphere was harmonious.

……

Lu Xin, eagerly waiting for the company to assign him work, played Tetris until six.

Having had no tasks all day, he oddly felt as if he’d earned an extra day’s wage for doing nothing.

Maybe it was because he had allowed himself to slack off?

But the feeling of indulgence was just too satisfying…

Meanwhile, Vice President Xiao endured a torturous afternoon.

Even though he had Solitaire open on his computer, he kept checking the time, frequently leaving the office to chain-smoke in the hallway or make anxious calls.

His constant bustle left everyone in the office on edge; no one dared to slack off.

By the afternoon’s end, work efficiency visibly soared.

‘Brother Lu…’

At six sharp, he darted out of the office, shouting as he peeked into Lu Xin’s tiny workspace.

He finished his sentence with one simple word: “Bro.”

With hopeful eyes, he asked, “Are we leaving now?”

Lu Xin calmly switched to a spreadsheet and replied, “Wait a little longer.”

Vice President Xiao, clearly puzzled, asked, “Why?”

Lu Xin, studying him curiously, said, “No one really leaves right when work ends. You wait until the leaders have gone.”

He said it with the confidence of someone who’d learned from past mistakes.

Vice President Xiao looked bewildered as he shot a resentful glance toward Director Liu in the corner.

Has our company’s cutthroat culture really reached this level?

Noticing Vice President Xiao’s gaze, Director Liu felt a surge of alarm.

He immediately put on a serious demeanor while handling his files and vowed not to leave until at least ten tonight.

After all, the top brass was watching, and such a performance might come only once in a lifetime.

……

Eventually, Lu Xin and Vice President Xiao left the company at 7:30.

Vice President Xiao, having had enough, stepped out to display his concern for the employees—subtly questioning why they couldn’t finish their work during office hours and insisting they stay late to work overtime.

At the same time, he encouraged them about their personal goals.

He hinted cryptically that if you’re meant to fall in love, you should; if you’re meant to have fun, go ahead.

We capitalists only want you to make us money—even at the cost of your life.

It’s the meddlesome middle managers who obsess over appearances and strict rules.

In front of Vice President Xiao, everyone put on a display of reluctance to leave work, and the last to depart, Director Liu, unknowingly ensured that Vice President Xiao would not soon forget him.

……

“Where are we eating?”

After being the second-to-last to leave, Lu Xin relaxed slightly as he stepped downstairs and smiled, asking.

“I know a great place—it’s in Second Satellite City. Just follow me, Brother Lu.”

Vice President Xiao repeatedly assured him, got Lu Xin into the car, and sped off.

From behind, Director Liu watched them leave, fondly ruffling his hair before calling his secretary, “I told you so. We couldn’t really let him go back then. Look at how invested Vice President Xiao is in him!”

“After the way I handled things today, I’ve even got a shot at a vice presidency at headquarters…”

“…”

Vice President Xiao brought Lu Xin to a meticulously decorated Western restaurant located on the north side of Second Satellite City.

As soon as they stepped in—since it was past dining hours—the restaurant was unusually quiet with hardly a soul in sight. After Vice President Xiao quietly spoke with the head waiter, the remaining guests quickly settled their bills and left.

Before long, the restaurant was empty, save for Lu Xin and Vice President Xiao.

“Brother Lu, take a look at the menu and tell me what you fancy.”

“After all, you helped me so much last time. I owe you this dinner.”

……

Vice President Xiao, almost bursting with excitement, took the menu and generously said to Lu Xin.

Lu Xin glanced at the dish prices and felt a pang of shock.

How grateful must Vice President Xiao be for having his stepmother sent to prison that he’d treat him so lavishly?

Every expensive dish on the menu looked tempting, but as a senior executive, Vice President Xiao couldn’t risk appearing extravagant. So he briefly scanned the menu, modestly pushed it back, and smiled, “You decide—I’m fine with anything.”

……

‘I’m fine’ basically means you should pick the priciest options. Of course, if you choose something cheap, I won’t complain.

At most, I’ll nurse a grudge.

Fortunately, Vice President Xiao was a reasonable man. After scanning the menu, he casually handed it to the waiter and said,

“Bring us the chef’s recommendations.”

……

Lu Xin immediately felt a surge of respect, mentally noting the trick.

“Brother Lu, I don’t know if you’ll like it. Let’s start with a taste; if the flavor doesn’t suit us, we’ll change it.”

Vice President Xiao was very generous—not only did he order the chef-recommended set for Lu Xin, but he also ordered a bottle of red wine.

He personally opened it, decanted it to let it breathe, and served Lu Xin with genuine hospitality.

Truth be told, whether it was the steak or the red wine, Lu Xin couldn’t discern any striking qualities.

Yet, every move he made was cautious, as if meticulously observing and learning from a serious battle.

Throughout the meal, both men acted as if facing a formidable enemy, yet maintained a casual air.

They chatted lightly about Lu Xin’s recent trip to Central City to visit family and exchanged updates about the Xiao family.

……

Ever since the incident in Central City, Vice President Xiao’s stepmother, Lu Weiwei, had been taken away by a group of mysterious figures and had yet to return. The Xiao father and son were on high alert, isolated for a long time, and underwent numerous assessments with no one daring to ask questions.

But since then, Xiao Yuan hasn’t suffered those dreadful nightmares—it seems he dodged a bullet.

After much hesitation, Vice President Xiao finally recounted his experience to his father.

And that old CEO Xiao, initially unwilling to accept the situation, had used his connections and explored multiple channels.

However, after numerous inquiries, he eventually received warnings from some acquaintances and finally realized the gravity of the matter.

From then on, he dared not push further; he even lost interest in work, choosing instead to stay home with his child.

The Special Cleaning Department’s ruthless handling of ‘Special Pollution’ was well known…

Lu Xin mused inwardly.

……

“Brother Lu, honestly, after that last incident, I’ve grown quite curious about you…”

After dawdling for half an hour over his meal, Vice President Xiao hesitantly said to Lu Xin, “No matter how unsolvable my nightmare issue seemed, you came along and fixed it. Are you all… part of some mysterious department?”

Lu Xin gave him a long, hesitant look.

Normally, the work of the Special Cleaning Department isn’t meant for ordinary people to know.

Those caught up in these matters usually have their memories wiped afterward.

But memory wiping occurs in layers—not every detail is perfectly erased.

Now that incidents of ‘Special Pollution’ are becoming more frequent, it seems the Special Cleaning Department has gradually eased its standards.

This has led more ordinary people to slowly become aware of this peculiar department’s existence.

They’ve even started speculating and discussing it behind closed doors.

Of course, even so, the Special Cleaning Department’s rules still stand, so Lu Xin couldn’t elaborate further to Xiao Yuan.

“Brother Lu, please don’t misunderstand…”

Vice President Xiao, clearly overnervous, as soon as he caught Lu Xin’s gaze, hurriedly explained, “There are some things you can ask and some you can’t. I understand—I’m just a bit curious. Do you all handle any mysterious matters?”

Lowering his voice, he added, “Ghost hunting, chanting sutras, exorcisms, Feng Shui… are those part of your line of work?”

Lu Xin’s expression grew even stranger. Did Vice President Xiao misunderstand his work?

Meeting Lu Xin’s gaze, Vice President Xiao grew even more flustered.

He hesitated and whispered, “Actually, I meant to ask—since you’re so formidable, have you ever seen…”

“…people possessed by demons?”