Chapter 10: I Am the CEO??

"So, you mean the entire human world is just left with—"

"No, that's just a cover. I'm here to find someone."

Lin Xu interrupted the Skull, who had already repeated the same line dozens of times, and quickly stripped off his tactical vest. Time was limited; he had to be fast. He pulled off his helmet, shoved it along with his night-vision goggles into the Skull’s arms, and said, "The plan has changed. Security here is lax; perhaps you won't be needed after all. I’ll go inside and take a look first. If something seems off, I’ll signal you. If everything is fine, the operation is canceled for today."

"Whatever." The Skull shrugged. "Since you already hired us—"

"I know, I know—I have to pay you regardless of whether we actually work or not."

Lin Xu opened the car door, but to his surprise, the Skull followed him out.

"Actually, I need to stick with you," the Skull said, nimbly removing his own gear and tossing his sidearm back into the vehicle. He wore only a tactical vest now, and his skull mask was off. "You are the employer, after all. I’m responsible for your safety."

"…That’s not what you said last time," Lin Xu muttered.

"Last time? What last time?" The Skull looked puzzled.

Lin Xu waved his hand, eyeing the Skull’s face with interest. "Nothing. I just read your story during the background check… it’s not important. But to be honest, you look a bit more handsome than I expected—nice beard."

The Skull shuddered. "Damn it, I’m not some bear! I’m warning you, I have a wife!"

"Are you f***ing kidding me? You idiot," Lin Xu rolled his eyes. "If you’re coming, then come on. Follow me!"

"Are you sure about just walking in like this?" The Skull followed skeptically. Lin Xu ignored him, walked straight to the security gate, scanned his iris, and led the Skull into the corporate campus.

The Skull didn't even need to register—with Lin Xu’s clearance at Sky-Dome Technology, he could bring anyone in or out at will.

"I’m starting to doubt your identity now… If you’re such an inside man, why do you need to hire us?" The Skull clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

Lin Xu replied casually, "I already told you, the original plan was to steal a spacecraft. It’s just that the plan changed, so it’s on hold for now."

"You were actually going to steal a spacecraft?" The Skull was stunned. "Who is your employer? That’s way too bold. NASA? No, that can’t be right. Even if NASA is in decline, they wouldn’t need to steal technology from a commercial company, would they?"

"Don't ask things you shouldn't."

The Skull wisely shut his mouth. The two men quickened their pace. This time, Lin Xu moved faster, slipping into the elevator adjacent to the exhibition hall just before the man who recognized him could step out of the other one.

Looking at the floor directory in the elevator, Lin Xu saw familiar department names: Flight Control Design, Fuel R&D, Engine Development, Hull Engineering…

Twenty years later, Sky-Dome Technology’s operations had become incredibly comprehensive. Judging by the department structure, the company was fully capable of manufacturing an aerospace-grade vehicle from scratch. It seemed the company had followed the "in-house production" path he had once envisioned. That was the only way to minimize costs and maximize operational revenue. Beyond the hardware design and manufacturing wings, the platform support and operations departments on floors 16 through 20 were dedicated to "space tourism." Those departments were the company’s real money printers.

Lin Xu scanned the list, wondering which department and office Jiang Xingye would be in. If she had been working in flight control all along, should she be in the Flight Control Design department?

The elevator reached the 10th floor, and Lin Xu and the Skull hurried out. Every office door had an electronic display showing the occupant’s name and title, but after searching, Lin Xu couldn't find Jiang Xingye’s name.

*Did she get promoted?*

He returned to the elevator, confused, and continued to ascend. Not on the 11th. Not on the 12th. He searched all the way up to the 16th floor, but still, no sign of her.

Lin Xu started to feel that something was deeply wrong.

Not only was Jiang Xingye’s name missing, but his own was nowhere to be found either. Logically, with the high level of clearance he had at Sky-Dome Technology during this period, he should have at least been a middle-to-senior level executive. Yet, he had checked all the offices of the middle and senior management, and there was nothing.

"Seriously, what are you looking for?" the Skull asked, bewildered. "If you’re looking for someone, shouldn't you come at a different time?"

"I was looking for someone, but before I find them, I need to find my own office."

"?? Your own office?? You don't even remember where your own office is??" The Skull was shocked. "Are you suffering from amnesia? Is this some kind of cheesy movie plot?"

"…Stop talking." Lin Xu’s brow furrowed. There were only 35 minutes left. Could he have been transferred to the operations department?

He sprinted from the 16th floor to the 20th. It was nearly midnight, and the office building was empty. Still nothing. How was this possible? He had high clearance; in his previous experiences, he could access all the company’s confidential information without any obstacles. And as for Jiang Xingye, the fact that she could mobilize company resources to send him a doomsday warning proved her status. How could two people like them not even have an office in the company?

Lin Xu felt as if he had stepped into an illogical dream. Everything seemed taken for granted, but under scrutiny, it was incredibly irrational.

"Only one floor left," the Skull said, seemingly convinced this was just an easy payday. "The executive level, floor 21. Don't tell me you’re actually the CEO of Sky-Dome Technology? If you were the CEO, why would you need to steal a spacecraft? You could just fly it away yourself."

True.

The elevator continued to rise, and Lin Xu grew increasingly anxious. Was it possible that either he or Jiang Xingye had actually become the CEO? But that didn't make sense either… He felt his line of reasoning hitting a dead end. The few limited clues he had were now severed.

The elevator doors opened, and Lin Xu stepped out. Behind a massive reception hall sat the door to the CEO’s office. The electronic screen on the door displayed the title and name according to the company’s standard format:

[Chairman and CEO of Sky-Dome Technology: Xu Rushan]

Below the name was a professionally shot, dynamic portrait. Lin Xu stared at it, confirming he had absolutely no idea who this person was. More importantly, this person didn't even share the same surname as the owner of Sky-Dome Technology from 20 years ago! The original owner was named Ren Jian, and as far as Lin Xu knew, his personal life was clean—he’d never heard of any illegitimate children.

*Was he a parachuted-in appointment?*

Lin Xu walked toward the empty CEO’s office and tentatively pressed his eyes to the iris scanner. He didn't actually expect to open the door—after all, the name on the door wasn't his. No matter how high his clearance was, it shouldn't allow him to bypass the most core security in the entire company.

Yet, the next second, the lock clicked, and the CEO’s office door swung open.

The Skull was dumbfounded. "No way, brother, you really are the CEO? But wait! The photo outside isn't you! The former CEO? Damn, is this a corporate warfare plot? You’re the predecessor and the security system hasn't been updated yet?"

"Maybe," Lin Xu said, stepping into the office. He had only 8 minutes left.

The computer on the desk was on. He sat down and tried to unlock it with his password, but he failed. This was a personal workstation, not a public system. The set of credentials he had painstakingly figured out through trial and error wouldn't grant him access here.

"Should we take it?" the Skull asked. "I have some technicians who might be able to crack it for you. But it’ll cost extra!"

"No need," Lin Xu shook his head. "All the critical information is stored in the cloud. Taking this hardware is meaningless. Time is almost up, we—"

Before he could finish, his gaze locked onto a corner of the CEO’s office. There was something familiar there: Jiang Xingye’s water cup. It looked very worn. Lin Xu rushed over and picked it up, feeling the "traces of time" on the surface.

*This thing… didn't Jiang Xingye leave this with me?*

Wait, it wasn't just the cup. Lin Xu scanned the room and noticed more details. Most of the books on the bookshelf were ones he had read. In the tea area, there were dried herbs like Codonopsis and goji berries that hadn't been brewed yet. Every piece of furniture and decoration felt comfortable the moment he looked at them.

This office was laid out exactly the way he liked it.

*This is my office!*

But why was there a new master? Was it really corporate warfare?

The Skull was still happily looking around the office, likely thinking he could collect his pay just for walking around with a former CEO. This was much easier than being a mercenary in a war zone.

But Lin Xu raised his hand and looked at his watch. One minute.

There was no time left. Lin Xu sighed and picked up the chair from behind the desk. "Give me a hand. Help me smash the floor-to-ceiling window."

"The window?" The Skull asked, stunned. "Why?"

"Don't ask, just smash it and run. No one will come after you."

"Fine…" The Skull stepped forward, grabbed the chair, and slammed it against the window alongside Lin Xu.

*Crash!* The glass shattered everywhere.

"What now?"

Lin Xu dusted off his hands and walked to the edge of the opening.

"Holy s***! Don't move!" The Skull rushed toward him, but Lin Xu had already stepped out.

In the moment he jumped, he saw the look of utter disbelief on the Skull’s face, as if he had witnessed something completely absurd.

"You went through all that trouble just to die hereeeee—"

The Skull’s voice echoed from above. Lin Xu looked up slightly.

At that exact moment, a building hundreds of meters away suddenly lit up. Immediately after, images appeared on the exterior walls of the building.

*RUN!*

*LIN XU! RUN!*

...

Lin Xu stood there, dumbfounded. It wasn't what he had expected. It wasn't just Sky-Dome Technology.

At this moment, Jiang Xingye was using the entire city to send him a signal of the apocalypse.