Chapter 7: "Have you heard the saying that if you walk the night road often enough, you will eventually encounter a ghost?

The elder in the office did not speak.

He knew that his young master didn't need a response right now, but rather needed a listener.

After pausing for a moment, the young man's expression became somewhat absent-minded as he watched the familiar yet foreign city through the pale blue smoke rising from the cigar in his hand.

A quiet voice rang out.

"What should a 24-year-old man be experiencing?"

"Just graduated from college and preparing for an internship, or perhaps already married with a wife and children?"

"And I, Gao Yiming."

"Am already the chairman of a company about to go public, with nearly 1000 employees under me waiting for me to pay their salaries every month—behind these more than 1000 employees are 1000 families!"

"I'm strong, aren't I?"

"Since taking over the company at 16, I have forcefully silenced all objections to take this position."

"Ever since then, I've never failed in any major decision for the company."

"I don't know if it's due to fate's favor, or if I truly have the strength, but under my control, the company has grown bigger and bigger."

"If it hadn't been for this unexpected software update, I should already be preparing for the IPO and the bell-ringing ceremony."

"Uncle Wei, do you think I'm strong?"

"Strong."

The elder leant forward slightly and lowered his head, his voice hoarse and raspy, "In this world, there are not many people stronger than you, young master."

This was not flattery.

He had watched the young master ascend step by step; the young master was a true business prodigy.

Sometimes, he even wondered if the young master could foresee the future, otherwise, how could he always find the right options in each company decision?

"Is that so?"

Gao Yiming's expression was somewhat vacant as he muttered with his head lowered, "Since I was 16, I've been constantly making decisions, constantly making decisions."

"From deciding the company's direction to how to handle a disruptive employee."

"Not one decision was wrong."

"But... the more it's like this, the more I start to fear making decisions."

"Because I know, nobody can make the right decision every single time, and at my current position, just one wrong decision could drag me and the whole company into the abyss."

"I've started to fear making decisions."

"I don't know if my next decision will be wrong, what consequences it could bring."

"And this time..."

"The software update introduced Points."

"I ordered most of the company's cash flow to be utilized, trying all means to have the employees collect Points through various methods."

"Tell me, was this decision right?"

"..."

After the elder was silent for a while, his hoarse voice slowly said, "Young master, you've never doubted your decisions before."

"Hmm."

Gao Yiming nodded, slowly crushed the cigar in his hand into the ashtray, and after pausing for a moment, he said softly,

"Send someone to find Chen Yi."

"Clarify what the rewards for the treasure chests are."

"If the rewards are generous... then we should be able to manually create treasure chests, right?"

"Just let ten people die, and there's a chance to get a treasure chest."

"Only ten people, in the scheme of things today, their disappearance won't attract too much attention, right?"

"Uncle Wei, arrange this for me."

"Understood."

The elder nodded, casually made his way slowly to the door, gently leaving the office, and closed the door behind him.

...

After the elder left.

The spacious office now had only Gao Yiming.

Gao Yiming let himself be enveloped by darkness, feeling the chill to his bones. He tightened his overcoat around him and curled up in his executive chair in a daze, murmuring, "This year is my zodiac year, isn't it?"

"The Year of the Rabbit."

"Pretty good."

It was May, strictly speaking just the threshold of summer.

But the temperature in Yancheng was extremely high, already resembling the heat of midsummer.

The air conditioning in the office was set very low.

The temperature was quite cold.

He didn't know when it had started.

He liked it this way, setting the air conditioning's temperature extremely low, then putting on a thick coat and curling up in the boss's chair, always feeling... there was a strong sense of security in doing so.

...

"Captain Li."

Uncle Wei, after walking out of Director Gao's office, his murky old eyes stared at the dossier handed up by his subordinate about Chen Yi. After a glance, he dialed the phone of a small team leader in the Law Enforcement Bureau.

"Garden District, Chen Yi."

"This man is within your jurisdiction. Director Gao wants to find him."

"Bring him here."

After that, he hung up the phone.

Such a minor figure didn't even warrant the security department of the company to take action.

When a company gets to their size, they have to support more than just employees.

...

Inside the Garden District.

Chen Yi, who had just left the rental house and hadn't yet left the district's gate, was stopped.

"..."

Chen Yi, with a calm expression, stared at the man in plain clothes in front of him. After a brief pause, he spoke softly, "Captain Li, long time no see. Looking at this situation, it seems like you're here for me."

"Mhm."

Captain Li, somewhat impatiently, took a pair of handcuffs off his waist and shook them in the air, "Having to operate in the middle of the night really pisses me off. Are you coming with me willingly, or do I have to cuff you?"

"No need for small talk either."

"I've always had no fondness for rapists like you."

"..."

Chen Yi slightly raised his eyebrows and suddenly laughed, "Are you talking about that night?"

"That night, the Law Enforcement Bureau had already investigated the scene, based on the footprints there."

"I was just passing by."

"And the disorderly footprints beneath that couple were all caused by the couple themselves."

"My suspicions have been cleared, yet you still call me by such things as a rapist, which leaves me somewhat unhappy."

"So what?"

Captain Li, annoyed, glanced at Chen Yi, "Not planning to rape, but when a couple is fighting, why do you give a damn?"

"Are you that noticeable?"

"..."

Chen Yi lifted his head to sweep a look at the empty security room and the camera that had long been abandoned, then rested his gaze on the plain clothes of Captain Li, nodded casually, and said, "You do have a point."

"You came in plain clothes, huh? You didn't drive your flashy little car either."

"And you came alone."

"Looks like it's a personal action. If it's a personal action, would you make a trip report to the bureau?"

Captain Li's brow furrowed, a sudden sense of unease rising within him as his hand slowly reached inside his lining.

"Do you have the right to inquire about my schedule?"

"Mhm."

Chen Yi, looking satisfied, nodded and suddenly laughed again, "Looks like you didn't make the report."

"Captain Li."

"Have you ever heard the saying that if you walk the night long enough, you're bound to encounter ghosts?"

The next second—

The Tuberculosis Rabbit, who had slipped behind Captain Li at some point, was holding a towel-wrapped stick high with a fierce and excited expression, leaping into the air!

Aiming for home plate.

"Bang!"

A silent striking sound arose, much like a person walking in the night deliberately heading to a dark corner to release a somewhat muffled fart.

...

ps: I actually wanted to reply to a comment from a reader.

But I... forgot what my author number is.

I tried for a long time but couldn't find my author account, which is a bit distressing.