The smile vanished from Zhao Yingjun's face.

She slowly straightened up, looking directly at Lin Xian.

"Leaving X Company? So suddenly… Do you have other plans? Going to work for another company?"

"Not really."

Lin Xian replied calmly, "I mainly want to… go out and create my own business."

"Have you thought it through?"

"Not yet." Lin Xian shook his head, speaking frankly. "I'm also very confused right now.

"You know, a lot has happened during this period. It's true that I've gained a lot, and I have a certain amount of capital and experience. But… I have no idea how to proceed in the future, how to develop."

"I admire you for achieving so much in the business world at such a young age. Actually, I also want to become someone like you, so I'm considering… whether to take this opportunity, while I'm young, while I have capital, and start my own business like you, to create something of my own?"

"Of course, I'm not saying that I want to leave X Company right now."

Seeing that he had successfully piqued Zhao Yingjun's interest, Lin Xian began to engage in a push-and-pull strategy.

"I think I'm still too inexperienced. I don't know anything about business and management. It wouldn't be a wise choice to start a business rashly at this time."

"I still want to learn more from you, to learn more skills. There's no rush to start a business. But I think it's still necessary to have a preliminary plan and direction."

"So, that's why I said I wanted to treat you to a meal. If you don't mind… I'd like to chat with you about this tonight, talk it over, hear your opinion, and get some advice from you."

…

Leaving X Company was Lin Xian's trump card when facing Zhao Yingjun.

This was what Zhao Yingjun was most worried about.

Half of Rhine Cat's copyrights were in Lin Xian's hands. Once Lin Xian left the company, the issue of Rhine Cat's ownership might have to be discussed again.

What's more, it wasn't just the copyright issue. Lin Xian's miraculous designs were the true value of Rhine Cat.

And…

Professor Xu Yun's authorization for that magical chemical substance was also in Lin Xian's hands.

He could revoke X Company's authorization at any time, and he could also authorize it to other cosmetics companies in batches. This was X Company's real benefactor.

These two things were actually ticking time bombs for X Company. The switch was in Lin Xian's hands.

Just because Lin Xian was still a member of X Company, these problems weren't problems at all, and these two bombs would never explode.

But if Lin Xian really left X Company one day… then the question of whether these two bombs would explode later, and when, would have to be faced.

Of course, Lin Xian didn't want to leave X Company.

He hadn't seen that invitation letter from the Genius Club yet.

But if he didn't use this to pull Zhao Yingjun in… she probably wouldn't go out to dinner with him.

As long as Zhao Yingjun agreed to have dinner with him, her original schedule for tonight would change, and the corresponding historical trajectory would also change.

If the shooting happened tonight, Zhao Yingjun could easily avoid it, and her untimely death would be rewritten.

"Hmm…"

Zhao Yingjun nodded thoughtfully. "Your consideration is very reasonable. If you have plans to start a business, or ideas for commercial planning, I can indeed impart some experience to you… It's not so much experience as lessons learned after hitting a wall."

"But, I'm sorry Lin Xian."

Zhao Yingjun sat back in her office chair. "Tonight is not possible, because I already have an appointment tonight."

She took out a document from the side.

It was the information about Rhine Cat that Lin Xian had organized a few days ago, which Zhao Yingjun said she would give to other composers later.

"Tonight, I have an appointment with a top domestic music producer, and I'm going to talk to him about the Rhine Cat theme song."

"We're meeting quite late… because he has other engagements to attend. I need to wait for him to finish that meal before I can meet with him to discuss this."

"There's no way around it. After all, we're asking for a favor, so it's inevitable that we have to be humble. This music producer is very talented. Although I think it's unlikely that he'll agree to compose for a cartoon character… I think we should still try."

"Rhine Cat is our company's mascot, and it's also your hard work. I definitely have to be responsible for it."

"So… how about we meet tomorrow night?"

She looked up and smiled at Lin Xian. "I had plans for tomorrow night, but since you're my right-hand man, I think your business is more important. We can have a good chat tomorrow night."

…

Tomorrow.

Lin Xian was silent.

Zhao Yingjun's arrangement was very reasonable and natural.

A normal person would definitely gladly accept rescheduling for tomorrow night.

After all, it was just a dinner to talk about future plans. Why rush it by a day or two? It was already great that the female boss agreed to go out with you alone.

But…

He couldn't wait until tomorrow.

Lin Xian didn't know the exact day of Zhao Yingjun's death.

If it happened to be today, it would be too late to regret it tomorrow.

"My Affairs with X" stated very clearly.

Zhao Yingjun "perished at midnight," and she had just said that the music producer had prior engagements tonight and could only meet Zhao Yingjun after those engagements…

No matter how he looked at it, it was too dangerous.

Lin Xian couldn't take the risk.

The real world didn't offer endless chances to start over. He had to ensure everything was foolproof.

But…

The problem arose again.

If he insisted now that they had to have dinner tonight! That Zhao Yingjun had to cancel her meeting with the music producer!

That would seem too deliberate. Anyone with eyes would know there was a problem.

If the news reported tomorrow morning that a shooting had occurred on Zhao Yingjun's usual route home…

Combining these two things, it would be hard not to arouse Zhao Yingjun's suspicion.

Right now, Zhao Yingjun's stance, purpose, and intentions with the Genius Club were unclear. Lin Xian couldn't take that risk either.

He had to.

He had to think of a win-win solution.

One that would prevent Zhao Yingjun from meeting that music producer tonight, and would also ensure that she had dinner with him tomorrow night.

That way, he would be directly changing Zhao Yingjun's schedule for two days, which might directly allow her to escape the shooting.

Moreover, scheduling dinner for tomorrow night was something Zhao Yingjun herself suggested, so it naturally wouldn't arouse any suspicion.

Yes.

This was a very good idea, killing two birds with one stone.

"Alright."

Lin Xian gladly accepted. "Then I'll book a place for tomorrow and send the address to…"

"Just send it to my driver."

"President Zhao, you said the music producer you're meeting tonight… Is he also not very interested in writing a theme song for Rhine Cat?"

Lin Xian began to change the subject.

"Yes."

Zhao Yingjun nodded. "We had some preliminary contact, and he wasn't very interested, but I'll try my best to persuade him tonight."

"Actually, as the designer, I'm very unhappy that Rhine Cat is looked down upon like this," Lin Xian said. "Why don't we just not look for those composers and find a way ourselves?"

Zhao Yingjun looked up at Lin Xian. "What's your idea?"

"I'll write the theme song for Rhine Cat," Lin Xian said confidently.

…

Zhao Yingjun narrowed her eyes, staring at Lin Xian.

"Pfft—"

Finally, she couldn't help but laugh, wiping the corner of her mouth. "Sorry, but I think your idea is better left alone. It's not that I don't trust you, Lin Xian…"

She tossed her hair. "We have to admit that composing music has a certain barrier to entry. It's a very professional thing.

"I acknowledge your talent, but one should specialize in one's own field. Don't worry, I won't let your cat down. I'll definitely try my best to find a top composer for it."

"Cough, cough."

Lin Xian coughed twice, speaking seriously. "Actually, I'm not just talking nonsense. I taught myself guitar in college."

"Only self-taught?"

"But I did compose a song. I feel it's quite suitable for Rhine Cat. And I also filled in the lyrics when I was designing Rhine Cat. I just didn't think it was necessary, so I didn't show it to you guys," Lin Xian lied, but his acting was on point, and his mysterious confidence was convincing.

"Oh?"

Zhao Yingjun blinked. "You filled in the lyrics too?"

"Yes."

"Really…" Zhao Yingjun changed her posture, revealing an incredulous smile. "Okay, since you want to show off, why don't you go to the warehouse and get a guitar, and play and sing it live?"

"Sure, why not?"

Lin Xian had already thought of a response.

A few minutes later.

The logistics department personnel brought Lin Xian a guitar from the warehouse.

Lin Xian sat on the sofa and tuned the guitar in front of Zhao Yingjun, who looked half-believing. He strummed the most basic chord.

"Then I'll start."

…

Of course, Lin Xian couldn't compose music.

His guitar skills were only at the beginner level.

But strumming the chords 53231323 wasn't a problem. Lin Xian was also proficient with the F chord barre, so basic strumming and singing was definitely no problem… because guitar strumming and singing was 70% singing and 30% strumming.

The real difficult techniques were in fingerstyle playing, which was difficult to learn by self-study.

Lin Xian's confidence didn't come from his beginner-level guitar skills.

It came from the "spiritual pollution" in the first dream.

In the first dream, the toy store in the square was a place Lin Xian frequented recently.

He had almost finished plagiarizing all of Rhine Cat's designs inside.

Rhine Cat would be very popular in the future.

An entire shelf was filled with Rhine Cat merchandise, and the speakers next to it were playing the very catchy "Rhine Cat Theme Song."

He was too familiar with this song.

Especially recently, he had spent almost every day in the dream's toy store, looking for inspiration and scanning Rhine Cat dolls with his eyes.

At that time… the loudspeakers on both sides of the shelf were repeating this "Rhine Cat Theme Song" over and over and over again. Lin Xian felt his spirit was being polluted.

But he had to admit that this song was really catchy and brainwashing.

Once Lin Xian accepted the melody… he often couldn't help but hum along. It was simple, nice to listen to, and catchy.

After being spiritually polluted, it was really hard to forget.

It was already on the same level as "Sister, you sit on the bow of the boat; brother, I walk on the shore."

So.

Under Zhao Yingjun's gaze, Lin Xian sang and played this memorable, catchy song.

After singing and playing it once,

Lin Xian put down the guitar and looked at Zhao Yingjun.

"How was it?"