Chaрtеr 6: А Нint оf Humanity.
Аs sоon as thе words left his mоuth, Li Zhаn rеgrеttеd it.
Тhe dоwnfаll оf thе Jing family hаd been brutal—within a singlе dаy, thеу рlummеtеd from thе lоftу heights of industriаl kings tо being bеsieged by сreditоrs at their doоrsteр.
Thе nеws was ablаze with repоrts оf thе Jing fаmily’s bankruрtсу аnd scenеs of thеm hiding and fleеing.
It was a timе of pаnic and humiliatiоn fоr thе Jing familу.
Jing Gе, too, transfоrmed оvеrnight from a уoung ladу into а Сindеrellа after thе cloсk struсk midnight, striрped of her fine clothes, jеwеlry, and glass slipреrs.
The Li familу hаd extended a helping hand to the Jings.
Unlike the dramatic scenes on television, they hadn’t shut their doors, released the dogs, returned the betrothal gifts, or demanded the cancellation of the engagement at the first sign of trouble.
They kept their promise, reassuring Father Jing and Mother Jing that once the two children came of age, they would marry immediately.
It was only out of fear of the Li family’s influence that the creditors agreed to sit down and negotiate peacefully with Father Jing.
Li Zhan should never have said such a thing.
It was tantamount to mocking the Jing family’s bankruptcy.
Using another family’s pain as a weapon to attack them.
Jing Ge’s eyelids suddenly reddened: “I’m not a young lady anymore, which is why I have to take the bus!”
“……” Li Zhan ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Can you stop provoking me? I’ll drive you, okay?”
Jing Ge: “What if you abandon me halfway again? I’ll be late. You might not care about the six-hundred-yuan attendance bonus, but I do!”
Knowing she was bringing up the past, Li Zhan grew even more agitated: “I came back for you! You were gone in just two minutes!”
He had been irrational in his anger, but he had turned back to find her just two minutes after letting her out of the car.
But Jing Ge was already gone.
Of course, Jing Ge had disappeared.
It was Li Musi who happened to pass by and gave her a ride. At the time, she was drenched like a drowned rat in the rain. Li Musi dropped her off at a hotel near her company, let her shower, and even had clean clothes delivered to her.
Because of helping her, Li Musi had postponed his own meeting.
That’s why, as soon as Jing Ge received her salary, her first thought was to thank him.
She wasn’t wrong.
She hadn’t done anything wrong from start to finish.
What right did Li Zhan have to blame her for everything?
Jing Ge turned and walked away.
She didn’t want to waste another word on him.
Li Zhan, utterly frustrated, caught up with her in two strides and grabbed her wrist: “Stop making a scene, will you…”
Jing Ge forcefully shook him off and sprinted forward, just as the bus arrived and its doors opened. She hopped on like a rabbit.
Li Zhan gritted his teeth until they nearly shattered.
As the bus swayed into the distance, that indescribable emotion boiled over into a towering rage. Li Zhan kicked the car door hard, leaving a dent in its spotless surface.
Jing Ge worked at the largest foreign trade company in Haishi. The probation period was six months, after which she could earn commissions on shipping containers. Once she became skilled enough to independently develop clients, she could apply to become a company partner after evaluation, receiving shares and dividends.
Jing Ge’s dream was to one day establish her own foreign trade company.
The company was called Womei, and the boss was a gentlemanly and refined southerner, kind and approachable to employees, with excellent benefits and policies.
He just didn’t come to the office often.
Almost the entire company was left in the hands of several managers.
The finance manager, business manager, warehouse supervisor, quality control supervisor, and so on.
The business department was divided into three sections, and Jing Ge was assigned to Business Section One.
Her immediate superior was a middle-aged woman who championed singlehood. She treated Jing Ge well, often correcting her mistakes repeatedly.
She just had a habit of being late.
Whenever she was late, she would ask Jing Ge to clock in and sign for her.Helping others clock in seemed to be an unspoken practice within Womei.
Especially in the business department, where schedules were flexible and free.
As a newcomer, Jing Ge was young and inexperienced, unfamiliar with workplace rules. When her supervisor asked her to help clock in, she did it.
Nothing had happened on previous occasions, but that day, she was called into the finance manager’s office and scolded harshly.
The finance manager’s voice was sharp: “Do you think the company is your home? Is the time clock just for show? Write down exactly how many times you did it. The deductions for those times will be taken from your salary!”
“…”
Learning from her mistakes, Jing Ge accepted that the scolding and punishment were deserved. However, what truly upset her was that her supervisor, Anna, acted as if nothing had happened.
During lunch break, Anna even walked arm in arm with the finance manager, chatting warmly as they went out for lunch.
From start to finish, Anna never acknowledged Jing Ge.
The first lesson of the workplace: never place expectations on any “colleague.”
As the workday neared its end, Jing Ge received a call from Li Ying’s smartwatch.
The little girl had likely made the call secretly, her voice hushed: “Sis, come to school and save me, quick.”
“…What happened?”
“It’s about that signature thing,” Li Ying stammered. “The teacher called my uncle. Please come, or I’m dead!”
Jing Ge: “”
At that moment, Li Musi was meeting with a client. The client had a rough, menacing demeanor, wielding a watermelon knife and demanding an explanation. With a swing of his burly arm, he pressed the watermelon knife against Li Musi’s neck.
The meeting room fell dead silent.
Li Musi sat calmly, indifferent to the blade at his neck. His elegant hand held a pen as he signed his name on the contract.
The man with the watermelon knife grew furious: “I told you not to sign! This deal has to be mine. Are you fucking deaf?”
Everyone else held their breath, too afraid to make a sound.
The man seated at the center didn’t even lift his gaze. His cold, handsome face held a sharp, almost dazzling intensity, radiating an undeniable aura of power and a charm that seemed to exude hormones.
The watermelon knife pressed closer: “I said—”
As the word “said” left his lips, a silver pistol was pressed against his forehead.
The watermelon knife froze instantly.
Li Musi looked up, leaning back slightly, the veins on his forearm bulging as he gripped the pistol.
He asked, “Say what?”
“…” The man with the watermelon knife saw not a flicker of emotion in his eyes.
The eldest of the Li family was in politics, known for his approachable demeanor. The second was in literature, even more amiable. Only the third, Li Musi, was unfathomable and elusive.
But based on their few encounters, the man with the watermelon knife believed the rumors were false.
Li Musi was nothing more than a well-mannered block of wood.
What was there to fear?
Yet, seeing the icy calm in his eyes, the man’s knees went weak, and he suddenly backed down.
Because a normal person wouldn’t be so utterly devoid of emotion.
Li Musi pressed the gun barrel into his flesh: “Go on, say it.”
The man trembled: “N-no, I won’t say anything…”
Li Musi: “That’s no good. If you like to talk, talk more.”
The man: “R-really, I won’t say anything…”
Li Musi’s finger pressed down, gripping the trigger.
The man screamed like a stuck pig: “I was wrong, I was wrong!!”
Li Musi watched him quietly for a few seconds before abruptly snatching the watermelon knife away. The blade whistled through the air and slammed into the man’s hand with a thud.
The man’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
The chillingly cold blade landed precisely in the wooden table, wedged between his fingers.
Just then, the teacher’s call came.
Everyone in the office watched as his expression shifted—seemingly puzzled, confused, as if his composure had shattered into silent fragments.It also added a touch more humanity.
“8 points?”
“Out of 10?”
“Did she pass out after finishing two questions?”
Otherwise, how could she have scored 8 points?
“Jing Ge?”
“Yes, I am their guardian.”
“I’ll head over now.”