Chapter Eight: The Invitation

Lin Chu looked at the young man before him, six years his junior, with deep admiration. To possess such wisdom and courage at that age—perhaps he could truly be of help. Suddenly, Lin Chu stood up. Li Sen was still a bit stunned. Excitedly, Lin Chu grasped Li Fengyu’s hand and said, “Mr. Li Fengyu, I’m definitely making you my friend.”

Unaware of the full situation, Li Fengyu awkwardly scratched the back of his head, a puzzled expression on his face. “It’s an honor to be your friend, but you seem a bit overenthusiastic.”

Hearing this, Lin Chu glanced around. Many people were watching them; some were even whispering. He then released Li Fengyu’s hand, pulled out his business card, and handed it to him. “Mr. Fengyu, this is my card. I’d like to invite you to join my company. I know you’re still studying, and your diploma or anything else won’t be an issue. Talent like yours is something I won’t miss. If you’re interested, you can come anytime.”

Li Fengyu smiled and nodded in agreement. “Alright.”

As Lin Chu packed up, he said, “I’ll be off then.”

After Lin Chu left, Li Sen gathered his things and left as well. Only Li Fengyu remained, staring at the business card, lost in thought. He wondered whether he should go. It wasn’t about still being in school; if he didn’t seize this opportunity, it would be a great loss. The Lin family was influential and prosperous—an opportunity many would envy. Going meant he could realize his ambitions and gain valuable practical experience. Besides, Lin Chu seemed like a good person who appreciated him. Yet, questions lingered—Lin Chu’s eager invitation and previous probing left some doubts about the true complexity of the situation. And what about his parents?

When Li Fengyu got home, he found his parents packing. They said to him, “We have to go abroad for business for a while. Take good care of yourself.”

Li Fengyu was stunned. Now, there were no worries holding him back.

Next, Lin Chu used his connections to get the school to allow a leave of absence. At Li Fengyu’s request, Li Sen also joined them, working at Xinmin Securities.

On May 6, 2020, after the May Day holiday, Li Fengyu officially began his first day at work. Standing before the Xinmin Securities building, he was astonished. He hadn’t expected the firm’s headquarters to be a towering skyscraper of over thirty stories, located in the city’s most bustling district. The exterior glass shimmered magnificently under the sun. Even the entrance was grandiose, with a ten-step staircase crafted from marble and granite. No wonder it was the premier financial trading institution.

Li Sen added, “I heard this is actually the smallest of their enterprises. The Lin family’s business has expanded overseas.”

Li Fengyu gazed at the towering building, gradually lost in thought. When he turned back, he and Li Sen had already entered inside.

The interior was even more magnificent. The lobby was vast—rumored to be over two hundred square meters—with a European-style chandelier hanging from the ceiling, evoking the ambiance of a 19th-century European palace. The decor was Chinese, with corridors branching out in all directions. The finance, public relations, human resources, administration, marketing, and product departments were scattered throughout.

While Li Fengyu was still marveling, a familiar voice came from behind: “Li Sen, Fengyu, you’re here.”

They turned to see Lin Chu carrying a stack of documents. Li Fengyu quickly took them from him.

“These are some materials about our company; take a look first. The next floor down will be your workplace today. I have high hopes for you—don’t disappoint me.”

Li Fengyu looked surprised. “This much?”

Lin Chu continued, “And there’s stuff for Li Sen too.”

Li Sen waved his hand. “But I don’t understand futures trading.”

Li Fengyu replied, “It’s okay. You’ll learn quickly. Just learn on the job.”

Lin Chu then introduced them to various department managers and employees, giving a brief overview. He led them to an office with no nameplate. Only then did Lin Chu reveal everything to them openly.

At that moment, Li Fengyu understood why Lin Chu was so eager to have him help. His heart was tangled with conflicting emotions. He had anticipated some complexity before coming, but hadn’t realized it was so intricate. The affairs of such a wealthy family were indeed tangled and far-reaching—especially with Li Sen involved.

Since he was here, he resolved to settle in. He took a deep breath and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”