Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Genius
Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Genius
The head of the finance department, also one of the veterans at MX Company, had been with Zhao Yingjun since the beginning of his business venture.
In fact, the vast majority of vice presidents and mid-level executives were veterans of the company, considering that MX Company is quite young and it’s rare for someone like Lin Xian, who joined only a few months ago, to get promoted so rapidly.
“Ah, that matter…”
The head of the finance department lowered his head and chuckled:
“Actually, we don’t know the specifics either. When the company was founded, President Zhao had a young secretary who had also just graduated from university, a very capable girl, and President Zhao liked and trusted her very much.”
“But then something happened… President Zhao suddenly fired the secretary, and he was very angry at that time, so we didn’t dare to ask much.”
“Afterward, she changed her office door to one with a combination lock, keeping the code to herself, and up to now, she has shown no interest in hiring another secretary.”
“We guess privately, maybe the girl did something to let down President Zhao—could it be stealing trade secrets? Embezzling company funds? Or some other privacy leak involving President Zhao?”
“That we don’t know… Anyway, the result is what you see, President Zhao would rather her office be messy and dusty, cleaning it herself, rather than hire a new secretary. We’ve tried to persuade her, but to no avail.”
Ding——
The elevator doors opened on the 17th floor, and Lin Xian realized he had forgotten to press the elevator button.
After the head of the finance department exited the elevator, he pressed for the 20th floor to return to his own office.
He twirled his pen in thought…
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If he could find a way to become Zhao Yingjun’s secretary, it would be a fantastic method to safely and efficiently conduct his investigation into the Genius Club.
But for the time being, Zhao Yingjun had a severe distrust of others and showed no intention of hiring a secretary.
“So, after going in circles, it’s back to square one…”
“I still need to figure out a way to gain Zhao Yingjun’s trust gradually.”
…
Half an hour later.
Zhao Yingjun, three vice presidents, and Lin Xian got into an Alfa Romeo business van and headed to the Donghai City Funeral Home.
As soon as they got out of the car.
“Hmm?”
Lin Xian looked at a group of fashionably dressed young people at the entrance of the funeral home, both men and women, each holding a beautifully covered book.
What’s this all about?
A funeral home, trendy youths, a best-selling book, Xu Yun’s memorial service… these elements seemed completely mismatched.
“What are they doing over there?”
One of the vice presidents also noticed this odd spectacle.
To say that these young people were here for the memorial service… but they didn’t look like it at all.
To say they were there to chase celebrities, but this was a funeral home—what star could they possibly be chasing?
Unless…
Lin Xian thought of a possibility.
He walked over and got a little closer.
Now he could see clearly.
The book held by these young people was the same one, entitled “Broken Bridge,” a very famous mystery novel.
Lin Xian had read the book in college and found it thrilling; he heard it was later adapted into a Hollywood movie, featuring a star-studded cast.
Seeing these book fans waiting here with expectant eyes…
Without a doubt, they must be waiting for the author of this book.
But as Lin Xian remembered, the author of the book seemed to be a quite young man. When Lin Xian read the novel, the cover had the promotion “China’s genius mystery novelist,” though Lin Xian hadn’t paid attention to the author’s name, only remembering the book’s title.
“Oh, these must be the fans of Ji Lin; I guess they’re waiting for Ji Lin here,” said another vice president nearby.
“Ji Lin?”
That must be the name of the book’s author. Lin Xian turned to look at the vice president:
“Have you also read his book?”
“I haven’t read the book,” the vice president smiled and continued, “But Ji Lin is not just a best-selling author… You might not have followed entertainment news recently, but the Hollywood movie adapted from his original novel ‘Broken Bridge’ received several Oscar nominations.”
“And he himself was also nominated for the Oscar for Best Screenplay and is very likely to win. Ji Lin’s commercial value is quite high, and he has good relationships with various Oscar-nominated directors. He has a broad network.”
“Only… he’s usually very low-profile, doesn’t make public appearances often, and even has others accept awards on his behalf at various ceremonies. He’s seldom active in China.”
“I really don’t know why he traveled so far to attend Xu Yun’s memorial service this time; it seems they’re from completely different circles.”
…
So that’s how it is.
Although Lin Xian wasn’t a stranger to Professor Xu Yun, he actually knew very little about his private life, and had never heard him mention a fondness for mystery novels or a friendship with a writer of such books.
But since this well-known screenwriter and brilliant mystery novelist had specifically come back to China to attend Xu Yun’s memorial service…
Presumably, the two must have had a good private relationship.
What kind of relationship it was, he couldn’t figure out; it could have been relatives, mentor and student, or something like that.
“Keep up, Lin Xian, it’s our turn.”
Hearing Zhao Yingjun’s urging, Lin Xian turned his head and walked into the funeral parlor.
The five of them arrived at the chapel of the memorial service where wreaths were placed all around. In the very center of the chapel, there was a grey photograph of Xu Yun from when he was alive.
The man in the photo had a brilliant smile and was dressed very neatly.
Lin Xian didn’t know when the photograph was taken, but it was obviously quite old.
It wasn’t just that the man in the photo looked young; Lin Xian was very clear in his heart… it had been many years since Professor Xu Yun had smiled so genuinely.
He had always lived amid criticism and negation.
After finally achieving success and fame after thirty years, instead of flowers and applause, what awaited him was a chapel with wreaths.
It was lamentable.
“Bow once!”
Following the Vice President and Zhao Yingjun in front of him, Lin Xian lowered his head in deep mourning.
He had watched the news that morning.
The two murderers who had hit and killed Xu Yun were still being pursued, and the authorities were actively gathering clues from the public.
Let alone catching the culprits, up to now, they hadn’t even found the two cars involved. It was as if they had vanished into thin air.
This surprised Lin Xian and also made him question the capabilities of the Donghai City police force.
In a modern city like Donghai, where cameras are everywhere, how could they not find two cars?
It was unbelievable.
“Bow twice!”
Lin Xian glanced at the grey photo of Xu Yun’s hearty laugh, then bent over and bowed his head again.
Towards Xu Yun, and Xu Yiyi, he actually felt quite guilty inside.
Although everyone said that it wasn’t his responsibility, it wasn’t his fault,
he knew very well in his heart.
The death of Xu Yun was inextricably linked to his own actions in altering the future.
That butterfly of time and space, dancing elegantly… Its flapping wings changed the world, rewrote the future, and also altered Xu Yun’s fate.
Lin Xian didn’t know what he could do for Xu Yun, or how he could help.
Perhaps the only thing he could do…
was to try to find Xu Yun’s murderers and bring them to justice. Then he would look after Xu Yiyi more, ensuring that she could enter the Hibernation Pod as scheduled.
That was all.
“Bow three times!”
Lin Xian closed his eyes and bent over once more…
But just then,
the quiet group of Ji Lin’s fans waiting outside suddenly started chattering excitedly, filled with exhilaration!
Separated by just one door,
mournful music played inside Xu Yun’s chapel.
But outside, it was a completely different scene of cheering and jubilation.
Lin Xian frowned and turned around.
He saw an electric door of a black van open.
A young man with slightly curly hair, a vacant look in his eyes, very pale skin, and looking somewhat listless, poked his head out.
He and Lin Xian’s gazes met.
Half-open eyes…
Staring straight at Lin Xian.