Chapter 921
The Mysterious Man
Chinatown.
Restaurants representing three provinces, which are rarely seen in southern China, have sprung up everywhere in Chinatown.
Dumplings and barbecue are very popular here, and almost every restaurant is packed with customers.
Moreover, the price is very reasonable. The genuine lamb skewers are even bigger than those in China, and they only cost five or six RMB per skewer.
Chen Xi brought the two women to a restaurant he frequented in his previous life.
The three sat at a round table by the door, evenly divided into three angles.
"I observed for a long time as you said, and there was no one spying on you. I did notice several men glancing at me and Saori. Aren't you getting a little too narcissistic now, thinking you're a big star? And being followed by paparazzi?" Jin Nana mumbled through her mutton skewers.
Saori nodded in agreement, because she didn't see anyone suspicious either.
Chen Xi scratched his head awkwardly. The three of them had observed from almost every angle, yet after a long time, they hadn't seen anyone suspicious. However, he still had a feeling of being watched, a feeling that had been there ever since he stepped out of the room.
"If you're so scared, bring a bodyguard next time you go out. Now that your business is so big, do you feel like you're going to be kidnapped?" Jin Nana continued to complain.
"I'm not used to it, but it's safe here. Besides, I'm such a good fighter, why would I need bodyguards!" Chen Xi took a sip of his drink.
"I think you should just leave your friend alone. We see all sorts of things like this where we're from. Even if someone gets swindled out of all their money, they'll still find excuses and reasons to say that the project is fine, it's just that the company is having some difficulties, and things will get better in a while!" Jin Nana comforted her.
"Ha, I'm not that stupid, to keep lecturing someone who won't listen to advice." Chen Xi smirked.
He usually only repeats himself once or twice, and if the other person doesn't listen, he won't bother repeating himself.
However, attending today's meeting wasn't a waste of time, because he now has a good idea in mind.
“There’s been a lot of discussion in the family lately because Father’s position is going to be changed. According to the agricultural cooperative’s regulations, the chairman’s term is coming to an end…” Saori said softly at that moment.
Chen Xi simply nodded and didn't say anything more.
Kosuke Saeki didn't tell him about this, but instead had Saori relay the message that he probably wouldn't be in that position for long.
Although the changes I made in this life allowed the old man to serve for a longer period of time, it ultimately could not change the outcome.
After the new chairman took office, he didn't know if his businesses could continue to maintain high profit margins.
“Saori and I discussed it, and we both think it would be better to go back to Australia to live in the future. What do you think?” Jin Nana looked at her friend and then asked the young man in front of her.
Given the awkward relationship among these individuals and the families of the three parties involved, moving to another country might actually resolve this complex situation.
"Hmm, let me think about it," Chen Xi said after a long silence.
To be honest, he didn't want to go back to Australia.
Because there are still a lot of things to deal with domestically.
However, when he thought about what the two women had done for him, he hesitated again.
In his past life, he prioritized his career, even at the beginning of his rebirth. But now...
"Hmm, no rush. You should take care of things back home first." Saori nudged Jin Nana, who was about to speak again, and then gave Chen Xi a forced smile.
"Don't worry." Chen Xi didn't say much, but simply took their hands gently.
One hour later.
A damp river breeze swept over us.
Clarke Quay is brightly lit.
Bars converted from old buildings on both sides of the river are lit up with colorful neon lights, the light and shadows directly hitting the Xinjiapo River and being shattered by passing cruise ships.
The crowds surged, and the air was filled with the smells of alcohol and perfume.
"This is a nice spot, let's take a picture." Jin Nana stopped by a railing and shoved her phone into Chen Xi's hand.
She pulled Saori over, and the two of them leaned against the river.
The backdrop is a backdrop of flowing light and shadow and a bustling crowd on the opposite bank. Saori tilts her head slightly, a smile playing on her lips, serene. Kim Nana stands with one hand on her hip, chin slightly raised, still exuding an air of arrogance.
Chen Xi took two steps back and raised her phone.
On the screen, two girls with very different personalities stand side by side, enveloped in the dazzling night.
He crouched down, avoiding the jumble of passersby, to find the best composition.
"Look at the camera."
Click.
The image freezes.
Chen Xi stood up and glanced at the finished product. The light perfectly outlined their silhouettes, while the background blurred into colorful specks of light.
It's beautiful. Not the artificial look of a heavily edited photo, but a vivid and genuine beauty.
"Let me see," Saori leaned closer.
Looking at the photo on the screen, her eyes crinkled into a smile.
Jin Nana also peeked over and, unusually, didn't find fault, but her eyes held a strange look: "Not bad, your technique has improved."
Chen Xi smiled, handed the phone back, and then turned to walk towards the nearby shopping mall. "Wait for me a moment, I need to use the restroom."
He had been to this area many times in his previous life, so he knew the way very well.
Chen Xi walked through the crowd on the first floor of the mall, her steps even. The footsteps behind her were rhythmic, always maintaining a distance of about ten meters.
He walked into the corridor leading to the restroom, which ended at a right-angle turn. In a flash, he disappeared around the corner.
The person behind him stopped at the corner. He hesitated for less than two seconds, then lowered his head and quickly followed.
It has just begun to emerge.
Chen Xi was already waiting by the wall.
He suddenly reached out and grabbed the other person's arm, then slammed his knee into the other person's abdomen.
The man in the hoodie was pinned against the wall by Chen Xi.
Chen Xi stared at the face hidden by the hoodie: "You've been following me all the way from the hotel, what are you trying to do? I already gave you a close-up photo when we were taking pictures!"
The other person remained tense and did not look up.
"Are you from 3X Exchange?" Chen Xi increased the pressure on his hand.
The man in the hoodie remained silent. Suddenly, he shrank back, his shoulder twisting at an odd angle, slipping out of Chen Xi's palm like an eel.
Then he shoved Chen Xi aside, crashed into the fire escape next to him, and ran wildly toward the underpass.
Without hesitation, Chen Xi took off after him. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the empty fire escape stairwell.
Passing through the side door, ahead lay a somewhat dimly lit underpass. Several lights were broken, causing the light to flicker. The man in front suddenly stopped at the corner, standing still with his back to Chen Xi.
Chen Xi slowed down and stopped five meters away, not rushing forward rashly.
This position is a blind spot and makes it easy to be flanked.
really.
Another man emerged from the shadows.
Wearing the same black hoodie and the same hood, but with an additional black face mask.
He waved to the man in the hoodie, who lowered his head and quickly disappeared into the other exit.
Chen Xi stared at the masked man who remained behind, shifting her weight downwards.
"who are you?"
The masked man chuckled: "We've been chatting online for so long, and you can't recognize me when we meet in person?"
Chen Xi's pupils contracted as he stared intently at the other person.
"Are you Dark?"
The man nodded.
"Damn it, it turns out you were the one sneaking around and following me! If you wanted to meet, you could have just called. By the way, why didn't I see you at the hotel? I felt like I was being followed ever since I left my room."
"Haha, let's play it mysterious! I was tracking you with cameras before, but your intuition surprised me."
Dark shrugged helplessly.
"What, suddenly meeting in person, something urgent? I bet you're wanted by the US, that's why you're acting so suspiciously," Chen Xi said sarcastically.
Dark smiled awkwardly upon hearing this: "You went to the 3X conference."
"What, that's your project? That's perfect, just kick my friend out of the game, save me the trouble of wasting my time." Chen Xi grinned.
"I have no interest in that kind of petty business. I was just curious why you went to this kind of meeting. So I had someone lure you here. You're half right; I am indeed being watched, but not to the point of being wanted. The United States has compiled a list of suspects among the higher-ups of the dark web, but I'm not on it because we higher-ups have never met. But we still need to be careful..."
"So what do you want from me by bringing me here? To invite me for tea?"
"I still remember what you said: that you could save my life in a critical moment. What do you know? According to my investigation, you have no connection with those departments in the United States."
"You have secrets, and I have secrets too. Since they're secrets, how could anyone else know? Even America can't find you, so why are you able to find out about me? Anyway, I wasn't lying to you; I can definitely save your life. Have you read Romance of the Three Kingdoms? When generals are in danger, they always open the secret plan given to them by their strategist. Come find me when you're in danger! But you have to do me a favor first..."
Chen Xi stood there with a grin on his face and said.
He didn't go forward because Dark is a very wary person and won't let his guard down just because you have a close relationship with him.
Today's meeting was probably a decision Dark had thought about for a long time before making.
The two were only about five meters apart, but that was the maximum distance they could get.
An hour later, at Clarke Pier.
"Chen Xi, did you fall into the toilet? Why did it take you so long to go to the toilet? I called you but you didn't answer. Saori and I searched every toilet in the entire commercial area. It was so embarrassing. We called your name in every men's room, and the people who came out looked at us like we were idiots." Jin Nana grabbed Chen Xi as he returned, so angry that she wanted to kick him.
"Ouch, I just got an upset stomach. That barbecue place wasn't clean, I won't go there again." Chen Xi clutched her stomach, making an exaggerated expression.
"How come we're both fine after eating? Why didn't you say anything in the bathroom?" Jin Nana asked suspiciously.
"I was too exhausted to reply... Besides, I got lost as soon as I came out..."
"..."
At this moment, Chen Xi was staying at the hotel upstairs.
"President Zhu, the response to today's conference was quite good, wasn't it? I've been talking until my throat is hoarse!" Wang Xianqi sat smugly on the sofa, while several men in front of him smoked and looked at documents.
"Sigh." Mr. Zhu, sitting in his chair, put down the documents and sighed.
"What's wrong?" Wang Xianqi asked, somewhat surprised by the other person's expression.
He remembers that his performance today was outstanding, and the enthusiasm of the investors in the audience almost melted his heart.
"This is the latest analysis report. Our exchange currently only has tens of thousands of users in China. This number is far from what I expected. You did work very hard today, but the actual results are still unsatisfactory. So, what you need to do is not to give speeches on stage, but to help the company cultivate a large number of top-notch lecturers like yourself!" the young man interjected.
“No problem, leave it to me! This is the speech I wrote. In a few days, I’ll be giving a speech that will broaden the horizons of users worldwide! As for the money I mentioned before…” Wang Xianqi patted his chest, then stammered as he asked for money again.
He'd paid off his online loans, but the loans his girlfriend had taken out for him had all gone into debt. Now his girlfriend was demanding money from him, and Wang Xianqi was naturally getting anxious.
"Okay, do a good job. We'll talk about this after the meeting. Let's make big money together! Remember, you're not an employee of the company, but a shareholder!" The young man patted him on the shoulder.
Upon hearing this, Wang Xianqi hesitated for a moment, and could only swallow back the request he had just made.
After he left, only the two of them remained in the room.
"Thomas, what are you planning to do?" General Manager Zhu asked.
"This guy does have some public speaking skills. But just talking isn't enough. Let him train a few lecturers first, then give him some money to get rid of him. Our new partner has been too greedy lately. He's only been with us for a short time, and he's already trying to reduce our shareholding. Where are we going to find any extra meat to give to others?" Thomas shook his head.
"You mean that Mr. Yang? I had someone inquire about him when I was in Hong Kong. He was just kicked out of Macau..."
"Don't worry about that. Our project isn't just about setting up a business. It's about building a huge industry chain, and 3X is just one link in that chain. But this industry chain definitely can't function without Yang Dan!"
"Alright, I'll only handle the technical aspects; you can handle the rest." Mr. Zhu pushed up his glasses.
Back in his room, Wang Xianqi took out his phone and called his girlfriend.
"What are you doing? I've been calling you non-stop and you haven't answered. The debt collectors have all come to my house." As soon as the call connected, his girlfriend's roar came from the other end.
"I'm in a meeting, aren't I?" Wang Xianqi said with a grin.
"Meetings, all you ever talk about is having meetings. Have you even gotten the money yet?"
"It's already underway, don't rush. It's like a rocket launch; look at how many times Musk failed before finally getting it up and running. You have to trust me..."
After comforting his girlfriend, Wang Xianqi hung up the phone, then looked at the speech in his hand and clenched his fist.
He believed that he could make a name for himself through this project.
The next day.
Inside an office building near the stock exchange.
“Vice President, what are we doing here…” A young man looked around.
This is a financial company, and the young men don't know why Chen Xi brought them here.
(I haven't been feeling well lately, so updates have been a bit slow. I'll try to get back to normal later...) (End of Chapter)