Сhарtеr 13: I Sponsоrеd It.
Аs usuаl, Jing Gе had a nightmarе.
Аfter her hеad was сut оff bу Li Zhаn, hе еven kiсkеd it, аnd thеn some strаy dog from nowhеrе snatсhеd hеr hеаd and rаn оff with it.
It fеlt like a сrоssovеr with Journey tо the Wеst.
Waking up from nightmаres fоr sevеrаl nights in a row lеft Jing Ge utterly ехhаustеd, and she соuldn’t еvеn bring herself tо eаt a bite.
Zhаng Ma wаs worried аnd didn’t know what to dо, sо shе went tо Li Мusi and comрlainеd, “Shе’s only еaten а bag оf сhеstnuts in threе days. Shе won’t be аblе tо hold on like this.”
Li Musi paused, then рut dоwn the newspaреr in his hands. “What’s for brеаkfast today?”
Zhang Ma listed everything, hoping to get Jing Ge to eat something. She had prepared an abundant spread—sweet, savory, light, spicy—everything one could want.
“I have a tea appointment this morning and won’t be eating at home,” Li Musi hummed in acknowledgment. “I’ll have some extra food delivered.”
Zhang Ma thought it would be snacks from the teahouse.
When the delivery arrived, her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
It was actually breakfast from KFC.
Li Ying cheered, “Burgers, burgers, my favorite burgers!! Sister, which one do you want?”
The breakfast spread was dazzling, almost every item currently available at KFC had been delivered.
“I’ll have a Panini,” Jing Ge finally felt a bit of appetite. “And give me a cup of sweet soy milk.”
Zhang Ma beamed with joy. “Of course, you can have as much as you want.”
Li Ying asked again, “Brother, what about you?”
“No,” Li Zhan kept yawning, as if he hadn’t slept well either. “Zhang Ma, where did all this come from? Didn’t you say junk food wasn’t allowed?”
Zhang Ma explained, “Third Master had it delivered.”
Li Zhan’s eyelids lifted.
Zhang Ma continued, “He said Yingying’s IQ test results were fine—though she just barely passed, she’s still way smarter than a dog…”
Before she could finish, Jing Ge choked.
She quickly turned her face away, covering her mouth with her hand, and coughed softly a couple of times.
Li Ying’s cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish.
“J-just said,” Zhang Ma stifled a laugh, “it’s a reward for her, for her brain trying its best to develop.”
Jing Ge couldn’t help but chuckle.
Li Zhan’s expression softened slightly, his gaze silently lingering on her smiling eyes, though his words remained sharp. “Eating like this will just lower her IQ again.”
“What’s so unhealthy about it!” Li Ying bristled. “Bread, eggs, lettuce, chicken patties—which one isn’t healthy?”
Jing Ge patted her head, praising her for making a good point.
It had been a long time since she’d been to KFC, too.
In her memory, it was something from her childhood. Her mother would sneak her out, hiding it from her father and grandmother, taking only her and not even Jing Beile, letting her eat burgers and fried chicken and even allowing her to drink Coke.
After the Jing family went bankrupt, Jing Ge never went again.
The adults were in no mood, and Jing Ge didn’t dare to spend money recklessly.
Over time, she gradually forgot about it.
It wasn’t anything particularly valuable, but it was one of the happiest memories of her childhood.
Jing Ge scolded herself inwardly for suddenly getting sentimental today. She counted the days and realized her period was probably about to arrive.
After finishing a burger and drinking the soy milk, Jing Ge put two sanitary pads in her bag, just in case.
Li Zhan came over with his jacket. “I’ll take you.”
What could Jing Ge say?
It was an honor for the young master to offer her a ride—an honor for her and her entire family.
Even if he kicked her out of the car halfway, she’d still be grateful.
The ride was naturally silent.
Li Zhan seemed to want to say something, but after glancing at her expressionless face, he swallowed his words, replaced by waves of irritation and anger.
Jing Ge was a chatterbox. When she fell silent, it meant she disliked the other person.Realizing this, Li Zhan slammed on the accelerator, his face dark with fury.
The car sped so fast that Jing Ge felt sick.
“Slow… slow down,” she pleaded, gripping the seatbelt tightly as she fought the overwhelming nausea churning in her stomach.
Li Zhan remained icy and indifferent, ignoring her completely. In just fifteen minutes, he dropped her off downstairs at Womei Building.
With trembling hands, Jing Ge unbuckled her seatbelt, her face pale as she stumbled out of the car. She staggered to the nearest trash can and finally couldn’t hold back any longer, vomiting until only bitter bile remained.
Everything she had managed to eat that morning was gone.
Li Zhan pressed his lips into a thin line, a flicker of regret and annoyance passing through him, but pride quickly took over, turning his concern into a sharp accusation: “Why didn’t you say you get carsick earlier?”
Jing Ge wiped her mouth and steadied herself against the trash can.
Her eyes were red from the bile reflux, stinging with discomfort.
“Thank you, goodbye.”
She was polite.
So polite that there was no trace of expectation in her tone.
No expectation of his concern, no expectation of his consideration, no expectation of anything from him.
Li Zhan felt a surge of frustration—swallowing it felt stifling, but he couldn’t find a reason to vent it. It just sat there, unresolved, gnawing at him.
It was almost enough to give him an ulcer.
None of his petty tactics worked on her.
His harshness didn’t faze her either.
No arguing, no snapping back, no lashing out at him, no acting coy… none of it.
Li Zhan gave the girl standing in the cold wind outside his window a thumbs-up: “You’re something else.”
With that, his car shot off like an arrow.
The trash can was cold, its stainless steel surface slick with moisture from the frost that had melted overnight.
Jing Ge felt dizzy.
Zhang Hong happened to drive by just then, catching sight of her pale, unsteady figure.
She looked as if a gust of wind could knock her over.
Zhang Hong quickly pulled over: “Xiao Jing, are you alright? Are you sick?”
Jing Ge focused her gaze and forced a weak smile: “I’m fine, maybe just a bit of low blood sugar.”
She hadn’t eaten much in days.
Zhang Hong handed her the steaming breakfast from the passenger seat: “Take this. My wife made it. She treats our daughter like a cow every day, but our girl can never finish it, so she always asks me to help out. Kid stuff—I really can’t eat it.”
His humor made Jing Ge genuinely smile. She didn’t refuse, thanked him, and accepted it.
“Get inside the company quickly,” Zhang Hong urged kindly. “Eat it while it’s hot.”
“Okay.”
Zhang Hong’s daughter had just started middle school, and the breakfast was indeed tailored to a young girl’s tastes—sandwiches, fried eggs, grilled sausages, and steamed buns with glass noodles and minced pork, all homemade, with a mother’s touch.
Jing Ge particularly loved the glass noodle and pork buns. With her stomach empty and worried that her condition might affect her work, she made an effort to finish the bun.
Meanwhile, after arriving at the office, Zhang Hong thought for a few moments and dialed Li Musi’s number.
Given that Li Musi had previously arranged a meeting specifically to discuss Jing Ge being bullied by senior employees, he likely cared deeply about the young woman.
When the call connected, Zhang Hong said, “Mr. Li, there’s a small matter. I’m not sure if I should mention it.”
“Don’t hesitate,” Li Musi replied, sounding busy. “Please go ahead.”
Zhang Hong recounted what he had seen that morning: “Her eyes and nose were all red. I couldn’t tell if it was from the cold… or if she’d been crying.”
Li Musi paused his signing hand.
“Low blood sugar?”
“That’s what she said,” Zhang Hong replied. “But don’t worry, I gave her my daughter’s breakfast. I saw her looking much better just now.”
Li Musi didn’t respond immediately.
Zhang Hong waited patiently.
After more than ten seconds, Li Musi’s low, magnetic voice came through the receiver: “Does Womei’s company benefits include afternoon tea?””…Um,” Zhang Hong was embarrassed, “no.”
Li Musi: “I sponsored it.”
Zhang Hong: “”