After logging off, when Xiao Lin opened his eyes, he only then realized that不知 (who knows/when) when, Lin Niannian's office had filled up with people.
Not only was Bai Xiaoyun there, but Lan Shiyu and the others from the Law Enforcement Squad were also present.
His brow felt slightly sore and distended, and there was a viscous sense of dizziness in his head, like the feeling after shaking one's head vigorously.
But before he could speak, Lin Niannian's hand reached over, holding two pills and a glass of water.
"What is this?" Xiao Lin asked.
"Motion sickness medicine. Logging on consumes a lot of mental energy and focus. It's very normal for newbies to feel dizzy," Lin Niannian pursed her lips and said.
Bai Xiaoyun also asked with a hint of concern: "Xiao Lin, do you want to go rest for a while?"
"No need, it's nothing serious." Xiao Lin shook his head.
"Then let's have a brief meeting first." Bai Xiaoyun sat on a desk and tapped it lightly. "Let's talk about the negotiation with Simon."
"How was it? Was the negotiation result good?" Yan Jie immediately asked anxiously.
Hearing this, Lin Niannian stood next to Xiao Lin, hands on her hips, looking smug and acting like a total sycophant:
"You guys don't know how awesome Mr. Xiao Lin was during the negotiation. He scolded that lunatic Simon severely. That guy was furious!"
Everyone's gaze fell on Xiao Lin in unison, and they all inhaled sharply.
Didn't they go to negotiate with Simon? How did they... end up pissing off the person they were negotiating with?
And Simon was one of the few powerhouses in the Red Zone, so strong that others would despair just seeing his mark.
And Xiao Lin scolded him?
Was this really appropriate?
Lan Shiyu forced out an extremely reluctant smile and said: "Failure in negotiation is also within expectations. It was just a try anyway."
Bai Xiaoyun's eyebrows raised slightly: "Who said the negotiation failed?"
Everyone: "???"
Could it be that Simon is a masochist, getting happier the more he's scolded?
"Mr. Xiao Lin exchanged a little professional knowledge with Simon, and then Simon seemed somewhat... frightened," Bai Xiaoyun shrugged.
Everyone looked at Xiao Lin again, one by one with their mouths agape in shock.
And Xiao Lin just shrugged indifferently: "Don't blame me. It's mainly that his writing really is terrible."
Actually, in the final analysis, this should be attributed to Yue Taizhou.
It was Yue Taizhou's theory that provided Xiao Lin with the mindset to view Simon rationally.
From the result, although he had not yet penetrated the true reason for Simon's fear, at least this line of thinking was correct.
"Wait, so... the negotiation succeeded?" Yan Jie rarely showed such excited emotions.
"That's right." Bai Xiaoyun nodded with a smile. "Although Simon didn't cancel his interference with the Satellite Town, he won't finish writing this work."
"That's enough. We didn't expect a peaceful resolution anyway. This is already very favorable for us!" Lan Shiyu also let out a long sigh of relief.
"But is there any possibility of Simon breaking the agreement?" Zhou Zheng interjected with some worry.
"The possibility is very small. After all, the contract is built on Mr. Xiao Lin's deterrence over him. He wouldn't dare act rashly."
Lin Niannian suddenly became excited. She waved her fist and said firmly: "I declare that from now on, Mr. Xiao Lin is my boss. Whatever he tells me to do, I'll do it!"
Xiao Lin glanced at her: "Go pour me a glass of water."
"No way, my legs hurt~" Lin Niannian said with a grin.
Xiao Lin remained unruffled, looking as if he expected nothing less.
"How is the manuscript analysis going?" Bai Xiaoyun sat on the edge of the table, fingers interlaced.
"Analysis is complete. We also have good news. It's currently March, and the story starts in May. The two-month time difference is enough for us to make thorough preparations."
Afterwards, they held a short meeting hosted by Bai Xiaoyun himself.
Bai Xiaoyun was indeed a very capable person. Preparation, defense, medical care, logistics—it was all arranged in perfect order.
As for Xiao Lin, he made no arrangements. After all, Xiao Lin had agreed from the start that he was only participating in the negotiation.
When the meeting ended, Bai Xiaoyun personally walked Xiao Lin back.
Xiao Lin originally intended to refuse, but Bai Xiaoyun said pitifully: "I haven't strolled around my town for a long time. Just let me steal some leisure time from my busy schedule. This might be my last bit of free time."
"Alright, alright..." Xiao Lin helplessly rubbed his forehead.
Bai Xiaoyun was a strange person. When he went out, he always carried a black long umbrella, and when walking on the road, he looked around like a child.
"It seems you really like it here," Xiao Lin said, finding his behavior somewhat amusing.
"Of course. Compared to Yunze City, this place is paradise for me," Bai Xiaoyun said with utter frankness. "Unfortunately, I can't stay here. I can only make this place better by staying in Yunze City."
"But why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you like it here? This is just an ordinary town."
Bai Xiaoyun looked at Xiao Lin, then smiled: "You are wrong there. This is my town."
He looked at the empty bluestone long street: "Mr. Xiao Lin, I hope the world returns to order, but unfortunately, I am not someone who can change the world. This town is the limit of what I can do."
He stopped and looked back at the administrative center hidden in the mist. The Blue Dragon Mining Company stood silent in the dampness.
"So I will give everything to defend it, even my life," he murmured.
This sentence wasn't said to Xiao Lin; it was said to himself. Xiao Lin just happened to hear it.
Xiao Lin also looked at the town with him. It was quiet and peaceful, with a gentle breeze rippling through it. Against the backdrop of the vast city ruins, it formed a bizarre painting.
"Will there be more and more people in this town in the future?" Xiao Lin asked.
"There will be." Bai Xiaoyun smiled. "Oh right, in a few days I'll give you an umbrella."
"An umbrella? I have quite a few umbrellas in my institute."
"A rather special umbrella. You'll know when the time comes," Bai Xiaoyun said.
The two chatted casually like this until they reached the boundary of the town. Bai Xiaoyun said: "I'll see you off up to here then."
Xiao Lin nodded and said: "Alright, then go back and get busy. If you need any help, you can contact me."
"Mm, but I will try my best not to disturb your leisure," Bai Xiaoyun smiled.
Xiao Lin continued walking forward. When he looked back, Bai Xiaoyun was still standing in the same spot. Although it wasn't raining, he slowly opened that black umbrella.
The moment the black umbrella was opened—
Crack!
Lightning exploded in the sky above the town. A few short seconds later, a torrential rain arrived with a roar, with no transition whatsoever, covering the entire town in a curtain of rain.
Not a single drop of rain fell outside the town.
This should be the actual manifestation of Bai Xiaoyun's Transcendent power.
Bai Xiaoyun held the umbrella and bowed slightly towards Xiao Lin, then turned around and walked into the curtain of rain.