6 Xiao Ming

The guard took another look at Theo and saw what he was wearing. From the looks of it, this boy seemed pretty formal. But he was too young, it didn't seem that someone so young had connections with the leader of ShanShui industries, one of the 50 most influential companies in China.

The boy could even be a European who appeared to be rich to try to deceive the president and get a good job. He found himself with the eyes of his colleague, and it was evident that the two shared similar thoughts.

"What business do you have with the president?" The fat guard cleared his throat, putting on a solemn expression as if Theo could attack at any moment.

"Business," Theo replied sharply. He didn't want to waste time with these weak security guards, and he didn't care how powerful the client was in the outside world, it was he who was asking for Theo's help.

"Business? What kind of business?"Theo's words only confirmed the suspicions. This young man was, after all, a European looking for work.

"It's none of your interest. Tell me what floor Xiao Ming is in." Theo had no time to waste with these two idiots. He wanted to meet the client as soon as possible.

"The president is not here today..." The tall, thin guard decided to just tell Theo to leave. He had already agreed that Theo was a swindler coming from Europe.

Theo was tired of the comedy duo blocking him. They kept looking up and down at him as they nodded. What was unique about him?

"Isn't he? I see. Then, I'll wait for him inside." Theo said as he passed between the two of them.

"Wait! You can't come in!" Both guards exclaimed in surprise, not expecting Theo to simply pass between them.

Just as they were about to block it, the doors of the elevator on the first floor opened. A well-dressed middle-aged man came out next to a man of similar age but darker and thinner.

"Why hasn't Theo contacted us yet? Maybe you should go to the airport, just in case." The well-dressed man told the thinnest.

"I'll be right there, president." Shun Shaoran replied without delay, with a respectful voice.

Shun Shaoran was about to leave when the commotion in front of the company caught the president's attention. "Before that, go see what's going on there first."

Shun Shaoran quickly arrived at the entrance, only to see the two idiotic guards arresting a young man.

«So it's these two again, they don't stop causing problems...»

"What's going on here?"

"Mr. Shaoran, this guy here is saying he wants to see the president, and he even wants to force his way in!" The guards recognized Shun Shaoran. He did not have a specific role in the company, but it was known that the president trusted him more than anyone else. If one had to describe his position, he was most likely the president's personal driver.

However, everyone in the corporation knew that he was not a simple driver. For that reason, the security guards respected him as they would the president because, on many occasions, this man's words represented the president's wishes.

Shun Shaoran's eyes widened as he recognized the young man. "Theodosius Ignis? Are you Theodosius Ignis?"

"Yes, that's me." He had already paid attention to the man at the time he appeared, but Theo knew that he wasn't Xiao Ming. He had an air of solemnity but lacked the atmosphere that influential leaders had.

More importantly, Theo had already investigated Xiao Ming. This included his close people, and this man was one of them. Shun Shaoran, the man who accompanied Xiao Ming 90% of the time. The other 10% was in charge of picking up Xiao Ming's daughter from the school and attending to her personal affairs. As Theo had investigated, this man was a driver in name, but Theo guessed by his posture as he walked that this man practiced some kind of martial arts.

"Pleased to meet you!" Shun Shaoran understood how important the young man was in front of him, and by approaching him, he gave him a handshake without hesitation. "I'm President Xiao's secretary, Shun Shaoran. We had no idea you'd already arrived, I was about to come looking for you!"

"I know perfectly well who you are. But okay, I wanted to get to know the place a little anyway," Theo said with a warm smile as he shook his hand. The man was treating him with respect, so it would be rude not to treat him the same.

"The president is inside, I'll take you with him. Follow me, please." Shun Shaoran gestured before returning to Xiao Ming. As he approached the president, he secretly wiped away the sweat falling from his forehead.

«That boy already knew who I was, he seems to have investigated us. If it took me a few more minutes to get out, I don't think those idiot guards would have escaped alive. Besides, the boy's warm smile gives me a creepy feeling!»

The security guards looked at Theo's back with their mouths open.

Theo immediately recognized the well-dressed person who appeared next to Shun Shaoran. This was his client, the president of Shanshui Industries, Xiao Ming.

"You should be Theo." Xiao Ming made ample strides toward Theo when he saw him coming. With a smile, he held out his right hand.

Theo responded with the same warm smile with which he had greeted Shun Shaoran as he shook the president's hand. Standard social greetings were basic to Theo.

"Mr. Xiao, nice to meet you."

It was the first time Theo had met such a passionate client... He had hired him for an extremely difficult mission (old Lin's words), but even so, the man was the president of one of China's 50 largest companies and one of the 500 largest companies in the world, after all. The guy almost treated him like an equal, and it seemed strange to Theo, he felt like they were on the same level.

Theo was, after all, a hired assassin. Most of his employers were afraid of him, and those who were more important, such as Chief Xiao, treated him as if he were someone inferior. An assassin was a person who lives on the dark side of society, his work couldn't come to light, or he would be doomed, so it was reasonable to be treated in the ways mentioned above.

"Mr. Theo! I know, I know... It's too much to ask you to come here for something like this..." Xiao Ming spoke after a moment of hesitation.

Theo frowned, why was the customer absurdly friendly? He relaxed quickly, it wasn't as if he cared about the customer's attitude. Theo only had to focus on the mission and complete it.

"Don't worry, just tell me about my mission and payment." Theo was direct in his words. He was beginning to think that the guards before him were nicer than this president.

Theo was surprised to see how his client was crossing the boundaries of kindness. He was paying for his services, so there was no need for Xiao Ming to treat him with respect. Some of his clients complained about paying Theo, some were even trying to deceive him! The dead Frank was one of them.

"Yes, yes! Your salary from now on is fifty thousand a month, your school expenses, and the daily expenses represented. Naturally, the money you spend on my daughter will be paid by Shun Shaoran."

"All right, all right..." Theo waved his hand. Money wasn't what mattered to him. It could be fifty thousand, one hundred thousand or one thousand million that Theo was not going to care about. But some of Xiao Ming's words caught his attention.

«School expenses? Money spent on your daughter?»

Theo was at a loss. What was this man talking about? What about the mission?

"Well, let's go upstairs, and I'll give you the details." Xiao Ming waved a smile, walking shoulder to shoulder with Theo as they headed for the elevator.

Theo found it strange, Xiao Ming was Theo's employer and was deliberately walking at the same pace as the boy. Theo, as a professional hitman, had specific labels to follow and could not afford to walk at the same level as his employer. It was basic etiquette and a show of respect for the man who hired him. Xiao Ming's legs, however, insisted on walking beside him.

Understanding that it was something the president was deliberately doing, Theo decided to shut up and keep walking. This was the first meeting, and they would have time to clear things up.