Сhарter 19: What Difficultiеs Нave Yоu Encоuntеrеd?
Аmаndа clоsеd hеr nоteboоk. “Time to boаrd.”
Jing Gе: “Okау.”
Аs if mаking сasuаl соnversatiоn, Аmandа glanced сasuаlly at her еyеs, swollеn likе peаches. “Cоmраnу poliсу fоr businеss trips is eсonоmy clаss. I upgradеd your sеat for yоu.”
“……”
“I knоw уou just bесame a rеgular еmрloyеe and dоn’t havе muсh mоneу. It’s my treаt,” Amandа sаid, stеpping forward in her high heels. “First-clаss рassengers cаn bоard first, have а sеparate boarding gate, and enjoy the best service. I don’t know what could be worth being sad about in such circumstances.”
Jing Ge’s lips trembled.
Amanda: “You only have so much mental energy. Don’t use it all up before truly important things happen, or you’ll just be left watching helplessly when the time comes.”
Jing Ge couldn’t help but grab the hem of her clothes.
Like a chick nestling against a mother hen.
Amanda allowed her to hold on for a few seconds, as if unable to bear it any longer, then pulled her hand away. “Work hard. Next time, you can treat me to an upgrade.”
Jing Ge’s red, swollen eyes unconsciously curved into a smile.
“Okay.”
The city they were traveling to for business was in the south, very far south.
As soon as they landed, Jing Ge swapped her thick cotton coat for thin long sleeves and pants.
Things turned out exactly as Amanda had said—there wasn’t even time to drink water. They went straight to the factory warehouse with their laptops, inspecting goods while preparing documents, shipping containers one by one as they arrived.
Jing Ge simply had no time to feel sad or upset.
Before starting work, she thought foreign trade was something very high-end, especially for salespeople who spoke foreign languages. She imagined it would be just like in TV shows, where men and women were all elites, entering and exiting high-end venues with gleaming floors, interacting with impeccably dressed foreigners.
Who would have thought she’d be sitting cross-legged on the warehouse floor, her clothes stained here and there, holding documents in one hand and typing on a keyboard with the other?
She was also left speechless watching Amanda communicate with workers, argue with factory staff, and reason with the people loading the containers, urging them to pack the goods tightly and carefully.
She was capable in both intellectual and practical matters.
After working day and night for five days, the factory went on holiday, and Jing Ge finally got to sleep for a full day at the hotel.
In the evening, Jing Ge received a call from Li’s Mom.
She and Li’s Dad had already returned to Haishi.
Li’s Mom asked which city she was on a business trip to and when she would be back, saying the New Year was approaching and she had brought gifts for her.
Jing Ge would most likely be spending New Year’s Eve there.
Li’s Mom was quite worried. “Then Li Zhan and I will come to keep you company. How can we let a young girl who’s never been away from home spend the New Year alone outside?”
“Aunt Man, I’m fine,” Jing Ge said with a sleepy nasal tone. “My supervisor is here, and so are a few colleagues. I’m not alone.”
Sheng Man: “That still won’t do. How about this—I’ll send Li Zhan to keep you company…”
Jing Ge quickly replied, “No need, Aunt Man. This is an industrial area, very remote. I open my eyes to work and have no time to look after him.”
“Look after him for what?” Sheng Man said. “Just treat him like a dog.”
“…Anyway, it’s not necessary. Thank you, Aunt Man.”
After hanging up, Sheng Man looked at her son. “Did you bully her again?”
Li Zhan’s expression darkened. “Why don’t you say she bullied me?”
“What kind of person you are, and what kind of person she is—your mother knows better than anyone,” Sheng Man said. “If you like someone, be direct about it. These days, the ‘the more you like someone, the more you bully them’ tactic isn’t popular!”
Li Zhan sneered. “She might not even look at me twice. Her ambitions are too big.”
Sheng Man slapped him on the head. “Did you learn this sarcastic attitude from a mangy dog?”Li Zhan stood up and left.
Sheng Man: “Where are you going?”
Li Zhan: “Meeting a friend.”
Sheng Man: “Come back. Stay home and behave!”
Li Zhan didn’t even look back: “No.”
Sheng Man was so angry she started looking everywhere for a feather duster.
Zhang Ma comforted her for a moment.
“Oh, right,” Sheng Man calmed down, “I’ll call the third brother and ask when he’s coming back.”
Li Musi was busy with work, so Sheng Man had to call twice before he answered.
“Second sister-in-law,” the man’s voice was light and calm.
Sheng Man: “When are you coming back? It’s almost New Year, Grandfather and Grandmother are waiting.”
Li Musi: “The day after tomorrow.”
Sheng Man: “Still in Singapore?”
“No,” Li Musi said, “I’m in Wu City.”
Sheng Man paused: “Wu City? Isn’t that close to Gege?”
Li Musi: “Hmm?”
“Gege,” Sheng Man sighed, “I don’t know if she’s really busy or if Li Zhan bullied her, but she said she wants to spend New Year there.”
Li Musi was silent for a few seconds before replying calmly, “What do you need me to do, second sister-in-law?”
Sheng Man: “Go check on her for me. It would be best if you can persuade her to come back. If not, see if she’s missing anything and help her out. I’ll transfer the money to you…”
Li Musi: “Okay.”
He added: “No need for money. I have it.”
Meanwhile, Jing Ge also received a call from her parents.
Cai Zhi spoke softly and gently, worried about her being there alone, saying she would come to keep her company.
Father Jing took the phone and said sternly, “You must come back. For a holiday like New Year, you need to show filial piety to the Li family’s Grandfather and Grandmother! Don’t embarrass Li Zhan!”
“……” Jing Ge looked out the window at the gloomy sky. “I’m working.”
“Then quit your job!” Father Jing said without room for negotiation. “Nothing is more important than pleasing Li Zhan!”
Jing Ge lived on the 12th floor. The traffic on the road below looked like tiny ants, moving in rows and streams.
She had no energy left: “How about I just die? Did I ask you to give birth to me? Since you treat me as an investment, don’t you know investments come with risks?”
Before Father Jing could explode in anger, Jing Ge hung up.
Investment failure was Father Jing’s greatest pain.
Jing Ge’s words were like stabbing his soft spot.
If they were face to face, Father Jing might have slapped her.
Amanda held a glass: “You lied to them about not being able to go back for New Year?”
Jing Ge pursed her lips: “I don’t want to go back. Please keep it a secret for me.”
“You’ll be here alone?” Amanda asked. “It’ll be very lonely.”
Jing Ge: “Can I stay here permanently?”
Amanda smiled: “You like business trips that much?”
Jing Ge nodded.
Amanda thought for a moment: “Permanent stay isn’t possible, but if you want business trips, there are plenty.”
Seamless transitions were almost the same as staying permanently.
The container loading was nearing its end. After the last one was loaded, the workers and factory employees cheered and dispersed, taking their red envelopes and starting their New Year holiday.
Jing Ge stayed behind to wrap things up.
When Li Musi arrived, she was still sitting cross-legged on a warehouse cart, rushing to finish the documents to send to the freight forwarder and then compile and send them to the company.
The sunlight streaming through the door was suddenly blocked.
Jing Ge looked up.
The thousand-square-meter warehouse was cold and empty, dust swirling and dancing in the light, the laptop emitting a faint electric hum.
The man was tall and lean, his well-fitted shirt and trousers accentuating his solid arm muscles, his chest muscles faintly visible.
The sexual tension of a mature man.
Jing Ge’s mind went blank for a moment.
Until Li Musi half-squatted down, the scent of soap and sunlight washing over her.
Jing Ge suddenly lost control: “Uncle.”Tears fell freely down her face.
Li Musi looked at her disheveled, hanging hair and the dust smeared all over her clothes.
He patted her head gently and rhythmically with his palm. “What trouble did you run into?”