Chapter 30: You Should Have Said Something Sooner

“I’m in!” Although Chang Yu’s expression flickered between uncertainty and resolve, his reply was firm and decisive.

Katerina’s explosive revelation had pushed him into a corner, but he still made the right choice with impressive speed.

He could choose not to take Katerina seriously as a person, or disregard her status, but he could not ignore what she represented—the Bureau of Disaster Investigation.

To antagonize the Bureau was to invite disaster upon himself.

“Why are you making that face?” Katerina smiled, her demeanor thawing like spring after a long winter. “Admittedly, our work carries certain dangers, but the Bureau’s benefits are exceptionally generous.”

“I hear you’re just a low-level security guard at present, earning only two thousand yuan a month and without any proper social insurance or pension!”

“Once you join us, you’ll enjoy the benefits of a national civil servant. Not only will you receive an official post, but you’ll also have full social insurance and a pension.”

“The state never withholds salaries from civil servants, and the work is highly respectable—something many private-sector employees can only dream of!”

“Our bonuses and allowances are quite substantial. Every time you complete a mission assigned by the Bureau, you’ll receive a bonus.”

“The more work you do, the more you earn, based on a merit system.”

“By the end of the year, just the bonuses alone amount to a considerable sum.”

“As for allowances, the country covers investigators’ rental expenses, and if you wish to buy a home, you’ll enjoy preferential policies.”

“When it comes to food, we have a canteen open twenty-four hours a day, offering an endless variety of dishes, all you can eat.”

“In terms of transportation, every investigator is provided with a dedicated vehicle. With your work ID, you can refuel at designated spots for free in any city.”

“So if you’re willing, you won’t need to spend a cent on food, housing, or transportation. Your living costs are virtually nil—the only slight downside is that the base salary is a bit low, just five thousand yuan a month.”

“But that can’t be helped; since we’re technically civil servants, our pay is standardized with others in the same system.”

“Still, for someone your age in H City, that’s not bad at all.”

“Wait a minute…” Chang Yu suddenly froze, his previously troubled expression transforming into one of sheer delight. “Did you just say my monthly salary would be how much?” he asked, digging at his ear in disbelief.

“Five thousand,” Katerina repeated, momentarily stunned, thinking he might object that the pay was too low.

“If you’d told me that earlier, I would’ve agreed right away!” Chang Yu slapped his thigh excitedly, his eyes lighting up.

Katerina: “Huh?”

“To join the Bureau of Disaster Investigation is an honor. I’m more than happy to accept.” Chang Yu’s face was wreathed in joy, a stark contrast to his earlier gloom.

“Wow, this salary is really something—more than double what I made before. I’ve struck gold!”

It’s a reputable organization, after all. Wouldn’t it have been easier to just lead with the pay and benefits?

If you’d mentioned it earlier, I would’ve said yes on the spot!

All that time wasted on unnecessary back-and-forth—it’s just delaying things!

“What… exactly just happened?” Katerina found herself questioning reality.

Hadn’t he looked entirely unwilling the moment she mentioned joining the Bureau?

How had he changed his mind so quickly?

Honestly, she still had a twenty-thousand-word pep talk left unsaid!

It was as if she’d captured an enemy spy and, before she could even begin the interrogation, he’d defected as soon as he heard about their generous benefits...

The whole thing felt like a farce, completely unreal.

“Let’s be clear,” Chang Yu declared, “I’m not joining just for the five thousand yuan salary.”

“The main reason I’m willing to come aboard is because I, Chang, have a heart devoted to serving the nation!”

“With my abilities, I ought to shoulder appropriate responsibilities.”

“As the saying goes: with great power comes great responsibility!”

“To contribute my part to the motherland has always been my cherished ideal and steadfast pursuit.”

He uttered these righteous words with a perfectly straight face, sounding almost noble.

At the very least, when it came to lying with a straight face, Chang Yu was a master of the craft.

Katerina’s mouth twitched; she didn’t believe a word of his grand declarations. She’d sooner believe he joined the Bureau out of fear of jail.

But she didn’t expose him, instead handing him a stack of documents: “Since you’ve decided, just sign these agreements.”

Chang Yu signed them all, including the employment contract.

From this moment, his fate was tied inseparably to the motherland—and, of course, to Katerina.

“Welcome, Comrade Chang Yu.” Watching him finish, she smiled and offered her hand. “From today, you’re one of us.”

“Comrade Katerina, thank you for your trust.” Chang Yu took her delicate, fair hand and returned her smile. “From now on, we’re colleagues, comrades-in-arms, and fellow servants of the nation.”

His smile looked forced—more theatrical than sincere.

“Let us strive together for the realization of socialist modernization, for the comprehensive development of a moderately prosperous society!”

“Let us work side by side for a prosperous, democratic, and civilized socialist nation!”

As he spoke, vivid images filled Chang Yu’s mind: himself and Katerina battling evil side by side.

He even began to imagine himself in the shoes of those tragic heroes, ultimately collapsing on the battlefield after braving endless gunfire, blood slowly seeping from his body, while Katerina knelt beside him, calling his name in anguish.

...

Katerina’s eye twitched involuntarily. For a moment, she had the distinct impression that something was not quite right about Chang Yu’s expression.

She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart and rising blood pressure.

All she wanted now was to end this meeting as soon as possible.

...

Leaving the office building, Chang Yu was in high spirits all the way.

From the moment he shook Katerina’s hand, he—once a nameless nobody—had undergone a brilliant transformation.

He still had no idea what exactly the Bureau of Disaster Investigation did, but he was now, undeniably, a national civil servant.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call himself a special talent of the state, would it?

At the very least, he now had a stable position, far better than his old security job, which could disappear at a moment’s notice.

Though it seemed, on the surface, that Katerina had forced him into the Bureau by catching him out, the truth was that, after hearing her talk about the salary and benefits, Chang Yu was already eager to join.

Who could resist such generous pay?

For Chang Yu, getting his salary to climb was the thing he wanted most.

Only he knew how hard life had been these past two years.

With only two thousand yuan a month in H City, he was at the very bottom. After living expenses, he had nothing left.

Sometimes he couldn’t even afford a proper meal with meat.

If his salary rose to five thousand, life would be much easier.

He’d offered the same amount to Mr. Zhao the Capitalist as his price to serve as a bodyguard—that was the standard he wanted.

Since Mr. Zhao failed to recognize his talent and refused his offer, letting a priceless gem gather dust, he could hardly blame Chang Yu for turning his back on him and running headlong into the embrace of socialism.

And what delighted him most was that, not only was the job respectable, but the organization would cover all the major costs of living.

Aside from clothing, he’d have virtually no expenses for food, housing, or transportation.

With a little thrift, he could save nearly all of his monthly salary.

That meant sixty thousand yuan a year in basic pay alone—not counting bonuses and allowances!

This was on par with those white-collar workers who earned ten thousand a month but spent half of it on living costs.

As for any danger the job might entail, Chang Yu had been worried at first, but soon came to terms with it.

He was no longer the weakling he’d once been; he now had absolute confidence in his abilities.

He believed that, with his strength, he could keep himself safe even in the face of peril.

This, perhaps, was the confidence that strength brings.

“To think I, Chang Yu, would live to bring honor to my ancestors,” he thought, growing ever more excited and jubilant, as if his heart were steeped in honey.

He pulled out the business card in his pocket and examined it closely.

It was bright red, bearing nothing but a phone number.

Katerina had given him this card, her own number printed on it.

According to her, his file, credentials, and documents would be ready within three days and delivered to him then.

If he ran into any trouble he couldn’t handle before that, he should call her directly.

She’d also assured him there was no need to worry about the police; she would notify them to drop the investigation and use her special authority to have the security footage deleted and ensure all involved officers kept silent, so nothing would reach Mr. Zhao.

He put the card away carefully and strolled through the bustling streets.

Gazing up at the glittering skyscrapers, Chang Yu felt as if he were floating, walking on air.

It was like emerging from a mire—a weight suddenly lifted from his body.

“Now that I’ve got a new job, there’s no way I can keep working security. I’ll resign first thing tomorrow,” Chang Yu thought, with a tinge of melancholy.

After all, he’d spent nearly two years there and developed some attachment.

Most of all, he would miss Fatty Wang.

That odd fellow, who came from a well-off family but insisted on working as a security guard—what a strange character!