Lin Xian returned to the office with the invitation in hand.

He couldn't figure it out no matter how he looked at it…

Why would Chu Shanhe specifically send him an invitation?

From any perspective, he didn't believe he was qualified to attend the Donghai Chamber of Commerce's New Year's banquet. He didn't think he had that kind of prestige.

However, attending wouldn't hurt. He needed to maintain his "Tiger of X" persona in front of Zhao Yingjun.

He glanced at his watch.

It was already six-thirty. Even if he entered the dream world right now, he wouldn't catch the Three-Knife Thief's storyline.

Actually, at this point, the nighttime dreams held little value for Lin Xian.

His exploration of the Second Dream Realm had entered the second stage—

Infiltrating New Donghai City.

"I'm afraid I'll have to enter the dream world at noon from now on."

In last night's dream, CC had already told him that she would be hiding in the woods behind Li Cheng's house before evening.

As long as he used the secret "vv" to connect with her then, the two of them could start the plan to infiltrate New Donghai City.

"Then tonight… I'll just relax for once."

Lin Xian stretched and turned off the lights as he left the office.

…

The next day.

Noon.

Lin Xian finished a simple lunch at home and watched TV for a while to build up some sleepiness. He glanced at the time: 2:30 PM.

His earliest dream entry time was 12:42 PM. In order to fall asleep earlier this noon, he had deliberately stayed up late last night before going home.

But because he wasn't used to taking naps, it was only now that he was finally feeling a little sleepy.

He closed the curtains and lay down on the bed.

Lin Xian closed his eyes.

Entering the dream world.

…

…

…

Still no familiar summer breeze. The densely packed, haphazardly built houses around him blocked all incoming wind.

But the midday temperature was still high.

Lin Xian opened his eyes and immediately took two steps, hiding in the shade. The perceived temperature dropped significantly.

He checked his watch.

2:51 PM

Sure enough, falling asleep at noon was still a bit slower.

"First step: I need to find CC in the woods behind Li Cheng's house."

Lin Xian looked around.

Li Cheng's house was still some distance away from here.

Although he could run there… it would take too long.

"It's time to pick up the spirit of a five-star citizen of Los Angeles."

Lin Xian walked straight toward Big Face Cat's house.

Big Face Cat's motorcycle was rickety and almost falling apart. But it was still a motorcycle, and in this poor, dilapidated village, its status was no less than that of a Ferrari.

Moreover, Big Face Cat was a village bully and very arrogant. He never took the motorcycle keys out of the ignition.

He was probably very confident that no one in this village would dare to steal the Face Gang leader's bike.

"Today, I'll give Big Face Cat a lesson."

"Let him understand…"

"What's called a domestic thief is hard to guard against."

Thump!

Just as he walked out of the alley entrance, Lin Xian bumped head-on into a man wearing a black hat.

"Get out of the way!"

The black-hatted man cursed and shoved Lin Xian hard against the wall! Then he picked up the wallet that had fallen to the ground and quickly left.

"Damn…"

Lin Xian didn't know what to say.

He recognized at a glance that the person who had just run past was the Three-Knife Thief who had stolen Aunt Li's handbag in the evening and the convenience store owner's cash box at night!

“…Is there some treasure in this village?”

Lin Xian couldn't help but feel impressed. This Three-Knife Thief’s dedication and perseverance were comparable to CC's.

No matter how the world changed, CC's goal was always the same: to open Lin Xian's safe.

This thief was the same…

He spent all day in this small village stealing things. He must love this land deeply.

"Even the escape route is the same…"

Lin Xian was speechless.

He turned around, preparing to continue toward Big Face Cat's house, when he was met by several fierce-looking faces.

Big Face Cat, leading three underlings, ran over panting, slapping Lin Xian on the shoulder:

"Little brother! Have you seen a thief wearing a black hat!"

"I saw him."

"Which direction did he run!?"

"That way." Lin Xian pointed in the direction of the Three-Knife Thief's escape route.

"Chase!"

Big Face Cat spat and cursed:

"He dares to steal things in my territory… he's gone too far!"

Hurrah, hurrah…

The Face Gang's rabble pushed and shoved each other as they chased into the alley.

Lin Xian smiled.

Good.

Having lured Big Face Cat away, at least no one would stop him from stealing the motorcycle.

Luring the tiger away from the mountain.

…

Arriving at Big Face Cat's house.

After looking around outside to make sure it was safe, Lin Xian strode in and directly straddled the motorcycle.

He turned the key, turned on the switch, and then stepped on the starter lever with his right foot, giving it a hard kick—

Whirr.

It didn't start.

He kicked the starter lever again—

Whirr.

Still didn't start.

"Why are all of Big Face Cat's vehicles so broken!"

Lin Xian was speechless.

In the First Dream Realm, his manual transmission van was very difficult to drive. The gearbox definitely had a problem.

This time, this broken motorcycle had the same problem; it wouldn't start.

He had seen Big Face Cat start it on the first try every time. Perhaps these kinds of broken motorcycles really required a high level of starting skill.

"Mom! Someone's stealing the motorcycle!!"

From the second floor, Big Face Cat's daughter leaned out, saw Lin Xian, and immediately shouted:

"Little brother! Bite him!"

Clang, clang, crash, bang—

Inside the house, there was a sound of pots and pans fighting, accompanied by a roaring sound.

Bang!

The door was crashed open by a miniature version of Big Face Cat, launching a flesh-bomb attack toward Lin Xian!

Clang!

A crisp sound.

The miniature version of Big Face Cat crashed straight into the steel pillar supporting the grape trellis. A large bump rose on his forehead at a visible speed!

"Waaah!!!!!"

Big Face Cat's son's mouth twisted, and he sat on the ground, wailing loudly.

Boom——

Just then, Lin Xian finally started the motorcycle. Black smoke billowed from the vibrating exhaust pipe.

"Be careful, Little Face Cat."

Lin Xian took off the helmet hanging on the rearview mirror, reached over, and put it on Little Face Cat's head, waving with a smile:

"Uncle's leaving now!"

Boom——The motorcycle, with the throttle fully open, launched forward in the burning smell of the tires, and sped out of the yard.

…

Li Cheng's house was on the other side of the village, almost on the very edge, which was why it had such a large courtyard.

Big Face Cat had already taken Lin Xian there several times before.

He knew the way well.

Screech, screech, screech, screech, screech—

Lin Xian finally understood why Big Face Cat always braked with his leather shoes… because his broken car's brakes didn't work at all.

Fortunately, Lin Xian was braking in the loess forest, and there was enough of a buffer zone, or it would have been tragic.

He propped up the motorcycle and got off.

This was the forest behind Li Cheng's house.

It was very dense, the trees were very close together, the branches and leaves were lush, and sunlight had difficulty penetrating.

It was a good place to escape the summer heat.

"CC!!"

Lin Xian shouted.

There was no response.

She must be hiding.

"CC!!"

Lin Xian changed his angle and looked around in the greenery, but still there was no response.

"Come out!! I'm vv!!"

A dozen seconds later.

Whoosh!

A black figure descended from the sky, carrying surrounding falling leaves.

Lin Xian looked closely. That beautiful oval face, the beauty mark in the corner of her left eye, the model-like slender figure…

It was CC, the real deal.

CC was also slightly stunned when she saw Lin Xian's appearance, and then asked:

"Are you vv?"

"I'm not." Lin Xian answered truthfully.

"Then why do you know the name vv?"

"The you from tonight told me." Lin Xian looked at CC, telling her about the things that would happen in the next few hours.

Including her original plan, impersonating Li Ningning, human ladder artistry, and the safe that wouldn't arrive at the garbage plant.

And accurately stated the traffic information for the garbage disposal plant.

At the same time, he also explained the memory fragments in her mind to CC.

Of course.

Most importantly, he told her the truth:

"The name vv was told to me by the you from a few hours from now. The purpose was to make you believe what I said."

"vv is the name of that long-haired, bearded middle-aged man, right? His voice should sound quite like mine. Actually, I think that man is probably me, but you don't believe it, and I don't have any evidence, so I can't explain it clearly."

"Do you have any questions now? If you don't, we can start planning the next step of our operation."

…

CC thought for a long time.

A full ten minutes.

Lin Xian didn't disturb her.

Because these fantastical plots took time for anyone to digest.

What's more, for CC, giving up a plan she had been plotting for a long time and instead believing a stranger who suddenly appeared was indeed a difficult decision to make.

"You're saying… that the safe with Lin Xian's name on it will only arrive at the garbage plant at 12:57 AM, but this world will be destroyed at 12:42 AM."

CC frowned, looking down in thought:

"So in order to sneak into New Donghai City, you opened this safe in advance and traveled back to this point in time."

Lin Xian nodded:

"Although your understanding has some minor deviations, it's generally correct. That's what it means."

"Whether you believe me or not, I'm going to try to sneak into New Donghai City, because that's the only way to open the safe… You won't be able to wait for it at the garbage plant. I don't need to lie to you about that."

In the end…

CC nodded thoughtfully:

"Actually, I don't believe what you're saying, but… firstly, I have seen your face in my memory fragments; secondly, since you can say the name vv… I don't understand why you would know this, but it's indeed very convincing."

She looked up at Lin Xian:

"Including the fact that you know so much about the traffic information at the garbage plant… Much of this information was only just released this morning. Even if I don't believe in time travel… it seems like there's no other explanation to explain the current situation."

"So…"

Lin Xian extended his right hand in a friendly gesture:

"Will you cooperate? This plan to infiltrate New Donghai City really can't work without a code expert like you."

CC hesitated for a while.

Finally.

She raised her right hand and high-fived Lin Xian:

"You've mentioned a lot of my future plans. I choose to believe you."

"But the biggest problem now is…"

CC crossed her arms and turned to look at the distant, dark, lifeless giant steel city:

"If we want to use the garbage truck to sneak into New Donghai City, we must first find a way to enter the garbage disposal plant."

"There are many people around here, like Li Cheng and Big Face Cat, who are in the business of stealing things from the garbage plant. They all use the trick of building a human ladder… Although it's troublesome, it's indeed very efficient and useful."

"But now that there are only two of us…"

"How are we going to build a human ladder and climb over the eight-meter-high wall of the garbage plant?"