The second protagonist, Ye Xingchen, had no idea that he had been manipulated by Lin Beifan into becoming a protagonist-level enemy.
At present, he was at home, trying to boost his spirits: "Lin Beifan, the scourge of the world, won't be so easily defeated! In my previous life, he managed to handle so many formidable foes single-handedly with ease, showcasing his terrifying prowess! This setback is just a minor hiccup; I'm by his side, and there will be plenty of opportunities to take him down in the future!"
After consoling himself in this manner, he felt somewhat better.
On the second day, Ye Xingchen arrived at Lin Beifan's place full of energy to report in.
Lin Beifan looked at him with relief: "Brother Ye, you look much more lively after a day's rest!"
"Mr. Lin, your concern is deeply appreciated," Ye Xingchen said remorsefully, "After reflecting on it last night, I realized it was wrong of me to leave you abruptly..."
Lin Beifan waved it off: "No need to dwell on it. After all, you helped me out yesterday by staying sober. Plus, your assistance in making some money was invaluable. I hadn't even had the chance to thank you properly, so there's no blame to be placed on you."
"Thank you, Mr. Lin!" Ye Xingchen expressed his gratitude, wearing a look as if he had given his all for the cause and was prepared to die for it.
Lin Beifan stood up with a smile and said, "Now that you're feeling better, come with me. There's a surprise waiting for you!"
Ye Xingchen was intrigued. "What surprise?" he asked.
Lin Beifan maintained his mysterious smile. "You'll find out when we get there," he replied.
Following Lin Beifan's lead, the two arrived at a conference hall. Lin Beifan stood at the entrance, gesturing for Ye Xingchen to enter.
Ye Xingchen, confident in his skills and audacious by nature, recognized that in this world, there was no one else who could match him except for Lin Beifan standing before him. For now, they were still allies, so he couldn't turn hostile. With a resolve, Ye Xingchen pushed the door open and stepped inside.
He only heard two sounds of "bang" and "bang", fireworks scattering across the sky, creating a festive atmosphere all around.
Inside the conference hall, many people were gathered, and they all exclaimed in unison, "Surprise!"
The hall was adorned with decorations, including two bottles of red wine, snacks, and more.
Ye Xingchen was taken aback. "Mr. Lin, this is..."
Approaching with a smile, Lin Beifan interrupted, "Brother Ye, yesterday, thanks to your advice, our company made hundreds of millions. It's a remarkable achievement, so this is a special celebration in your honor!"
Ye Xingchen tried to downplay his role. "President Lin, I actually didn't do anything..."
Lin Beifan feigned a hint of annoyance. "Brother Ye, don't be so modest! Without your guidance and assistance, we wouldn't have achieved this success. I'm someone who acknowledges contributions, and since you've contributed, you deserve to be rewarded!"
Lin Beifan clapped his hands, prompting Liu Rumei to present a red ribbon of recognition, adorned with a large red flower and sparkling characters that read "Excellent Advanced Worker."
"Brother Ye, hold still, I'll do it for you!"
With a serious expression, Lin Beifan took the commendation ribbon and carefully placed it on Ye Xingchen.
"And this!"
He then presented a large, ornate golden card to Ye Xingchen, adorned with gold trim and prominently featuring the words "1 million " in the center.
"Mr. Lin, what is this?"
Lin Beifan said with a smile: "This is a bonus for you! Brother Ye, you've earned us so much money and made significant contributions! After careful consideration, I've decided to award you a bonus of 1 million! It might not be much, but please accept it with a smile!"
Before Ye Xingchen could object, Lin Beifan intervened: "Don't refuse, you deserve it!"
The surrounding employees looked on with envy.
"A million bonus!"
"That's my salary for three years!"
"Five years' worth for me!"
"This bodyguard is incredibly lucky!"
"It's all about being with the right boss!"
"It's worth it to have such a boss!"
Lin Beifan waved his hand: "Our department has made a significant profit! Therefore, I'm pleased to announce that all employees in our department will receive double their bonus salary this month!"
The audience erupted into excitement.
"We get a share too? That's fantastic!"
"Double the salary and bonus? That's a lot of money!"
"Mr. Lin is incredibly generous!"
"Following the right leader pays off!"
In the end, thousands of words condensed into one sentence.
"Thank you, Mr. Lin!"
Thunderous applause filled the room.
*Clap clap...*
Lin Beifan raised his voice once more: "Brother Ye has made a significant contribution and will receive triple his salary!"
The audience erupted into excitement once again.
"In addition to the 1 million bonus, he also gets double the bonus?"
"President Lin really values him!"
"A boss like this is truly worth following!"
The applause erupted once more.
*Clap clap...*
Lin Beifan's voice resonated again: "From now on, if you're with me, you'll be rewarded! Contributions will be recognized, no matter who you are!"
Predictably, another round of applause ensued.
*Clap clap...*
Excitement filled the air, with everyone envisioning a bright future.
Our protagonist, Ye Xingchen, felt the thrill as well.
He observed the scattered flowers, the thunderous applause, the envious glances, the 1 million bonus in his grasp, and the prominent red flower pinned to his chest. Suddenly, he felt an urge to give his all!
But hold on!
Where did that thought come from?
Ye Xingchen shook his head vigorously, snapping out of the enchanting atmosphere.
This man is a formidable foe, an adversary across two lifetimes. It's too late for revenge; throwing everything away for him would be absurd!
Ye Xingchen sternly reminded himself: "This demon is a master manipulator. I must remain composed, never succumbing to his schemes!"