"Ghost story m-01-02, the ghost blows out the lamp, and when the lighter is lit, it will turn the space with a radius of five meters into a state that cannot be observed by outsiders. It is a man-made gadget."
Zhao Guangming shook the lighter in his hand, his tone hesitant.
"It turns out that this kind of stuff is called ghost stories."
Wang Jin smiled and nodded, seemingly not surprised at all.
"It seems that you have long realized that you are different."
"I said during the interview that I am naturally attracted to such strange things. Now it seems that it should be called Kaitan affinity?"
"Ah haha, that makes sense."
Zhao Guangming scratched his head and grinned, as if he wasn't the one who almost kicked Wang Jin up half a minute ago.
"You have to tell me first. How did you find our company? You can't really rely on the few small advertisements I posted, right?"
As Zhao Guangming spoke, he took out a small colorful card from his pocket. Under normal circumstances, it should appear under the door of the hotel room.
"Huh? There's no way I could get here with something like this."
Wang Jin took the small card, looked at it, and threw it aside.
"I found clues from my father's relics, and there was something in the dark that led me here."
"Inspiration? That'll be easy. You should have a rough idea of the company's affairs. If you want to ask anything, just ask. We don't have much time."
Zhao Guangming shook the lighter in his hand. A large part of the fuel inside had flowed away along the cracks, causing the flame to flicker.
"First question, what does your company have to do with the weird stories you told me?"
"Well... our company's philosophy is to contain, maintain, and utilize. It's a symbiotic relationship."
Zhao Guangming answered the first question without any hesitation.
"Second question, do you know me?"
Wang Jin took a piece of tissue paper to wipe the nosebleed on his face, and at the same time asked the question that had been bothering him.
"Why do you say that?"
"There are many things that make me suspicious, but the most suspicious thing is the look in your eyes."
"The first time you saw me, your eyes showed surprise and helplessness. Although you tried to cover it up by lying on the chair, I still saw it."
As Wang Jin spoke, he imitated Zhao Guangming's appearance and lay on the chair, with the shadow perfectly covering his expression.
"You...are you really an ordinary high school student?"
"Otherwise? Didn't you check me out?"
"Ha, is this talent? My observation skills and fighting style are both inherited from that man."
"who?"
Wang Jin maintained his original posture without moving, but his body began to tense up involuntarily.
"Your father, my senior, Wang Jue."
Zhao Guangming tugged on his collar, took out a low-quality cigarette, lit it with the flame of a ghost blowing lamp, and took a long drag.
"my father?"
Wang Jin murmured to himself. Although he expected that his father would be related to this weird company, he didn't expect that he was a regular employee here and a veteran.
After a moment of silence, Wang Jin suddenly spoke excitedly.
"I don't have such a bastard father. He would have left us to die long ago."
His original rationality was gone, and Wang Jin was like a child having a tantrum at this moment.
"No, no, no, kid, you are wrong. He is not dead, he is just missing. At least the notice above said he is missing."
"But you're right about one thing, he is indeed a bastard."
The lighter's light flickered on and off, and Zhao Guangming let out a long breath.
"Wang Jue is a genius, but not many people have actually met him. Judging from your current situation, he may not be a competent father."
"I don't know much about your father, but I heard that his disappearance is related to the company."
"Is it related to the company?"
Wang Jin couldn't help but ask. There were so many things that happened in just a few minutes that even he couldn't accept it.
"Um."
Zhao Guangming nodded and continued.
"I only know this, the rest is up to you to explore on your own."
"Find a serious job and earn money to treat my sister's illness safely, or put your head in your pants and talk to monsters to death, it's your choice."
"I want to remind you that it is very dangerous for our company to deal with ghost stories."
The faint flame of the lighter became increasingly dim and seemed to be extinguished soon.
"You are pretty good, you can even be said to be excellent. Originally, I planned to persuade you by eating and drinking first, but if it doesn't work, I'll beat you until you can't go to the interview. I didn't expect that the young people will be terrible..."
"You call this delicious food and good drinks?"
Wang Jin curled his lips and pointed at the blood stains on his clothes.
"Ha, I feel bad too."
Zhao Guangming grabbed a few noodles from his head.
"Anyway, if you want to join the company to find the truth, I won't stop you, but the opposite of our company is not just weird stories. Think about your family."
The flame of the lighter was only about the size of a mung bean, but it still refused to be extinguished.
Wang Jin's face was hidden in the darkness and his expression could not be seen clearly.
"So you don't have a family because you don't want to hurt your family?"
"Haha, you guessed it."
Zhao Guangming's naive chuckle came from the darkness, and Wang Jin could feel that his eyes would still stay on the female boss from time to time.
There was another moment of silence.
"If I want to find Wang Jue's whereabouts, I must join the company?"
"right."
"Will my family members be in danger if I join the company?"
"If your father's disappearance is really related to the company, you should hide your identity. Your father has already erased his own file."
Zhao Guangming smoked a cigarette.
After a brief silence, Wang Jin asked again.
"Is your company really giving that much?"
Zhao Guangming smiled helplessly.
"You are from the tune-up department. If you die, you will get more than one month."
Zhao Guangming made a gesture, and Wang Jin's eyes widened.
"Hoo——, Lao Zhao."
Wang Jin stood up and blew out the flames. Immediately, the landlady's exclamation came from the direction of the counter.
"We will be colleagues from now on, please take good care of us."
...
half an hour later
Zhao Guangming walked out of the noodle shop dejectedly, followed by Wang Jin who changed his clothes.
"Damn, no one tried to stop me. I paid over 700 yuan in compensation and lost my lighter."
"Hey, don't think so. The lady boss washed and ironed your clothes with her own hands. I'm happy for you."
"I'm so happy! The image I finally built up in front of her has been completely ruined. I was covered in blood when I ate noodles and blew up a light bulb. Is this something a normal person can do?"
"You seem to have a sense of mystery."
Wang Jin smiled and hugged Zhao Guangming's neck, completely losing his previous gloom.
"Go, go, no matter how big or small, according to seniority, you have to call me uncle."
Zhao Guangming pushed Wang Jin's arm away, and then looked up and down.
"Sumin's brother's clothes... they look good on you."
"Yo? You already know the names? And you still call them so intimate?"
Wang Jin had a smile on his face and was still teasing Zhao Guangming.
"My personality is like my mother's, heartless."
"Why are you so heartless? I am indeed happy."
Wang Jin glared at Zhao Guangming.
"I have a job, my sister's illness is resolved, and my mother can also enjoy the blessings. Aren't I happy?"
"You... I am over thirty and I am not as stressed as you. I feel like you are more like a middle-aged person... By the way, have you really thought about it?"
"Well, the only impressions I have of my father are photos and tombstones. I also want to find out why he disappeared without any reason."
"I'm going to die."
"I know, but you gave me too much."
“Do people die for money?”
"Ha, right."
The two of them walked unsteadily towards Ping'an Building, the cold wind making Wang Jin shiver.
"The company...didn't match...you a car?"
Wang Jin was so cold that he couldn't speak fluently.
"It works...I don't think it's a waste of gas..."
Zhao Guangming was not much better, his legs were shaking but he still walked forward step by step.
"You can spend 50,000 yuan to do good deeds, but you can't bear to give up a few dozen yuan for gas?"
Wang Jin squinted his eyes and looked at Zhao Guangming, who was shrinking his neck, and suddenly felt that he didn't know what to say to him.
Two hours later, at half past twelve in the afternoon.
Two people who were numb from the cold appeared at the door of Ping An Building, startling Zhang Yi who was waiting.
"Hey, Xiao Zhang, I brought new employees to report."