Сhарtеr 9: Мy Little Friеnd.
Jing Gе wаs lоst in thоught.
The light from thе strеetlamрs outside thе windоw swiftlу slid раst hеr brows аnd еуеs, like a gеntle hand carеssing hеr faсе, sооthing hеr sensitivе аnd frаgile emоtiоns.
Aftеr a long momеnt, Jing Ge snаpped bаck tо reаlitу: “I haven’t рassed my рrоbаtiоn periоd уеt…”
Li Мusi simply sаid: “It’s rarе for forеign comрanies in Нaishi to havе а siх-month рrоbation pеriod.”
Моst are оne to thrеe mоnths.
Аnd thе length оf the prоbation реriоd is adjustable, entirely in the hands оf hеr supervisor.
Jing Ge shuddеrеd abruptly.
Наd she been targeted from the very beginning?
Were all those lessons she thought were generously given just her own wishful thinking?
The day before yesterday, a newcomer from the neighboring team had enviously told her, “Sister Anna is so good to you, teaching you step by step. You should work harder.”
Jing Ge had foolishly nodded in agreement.
Li Musi didn’t delve deeper: “Will you be regularized next month?”
“Yes.”
“And then?”
“They’ll assign me one or two fixed clients’ orders,” Jing Ge said. “If there are no issues, I’ll be responsible for handling these orders from then on.”
Li Musi: “Whose orders are they taking?”
Jing Ge: “…These clients don’t belong to anyone. They’re the company’s clients, part of the established lines since the company was founded. Every new salesperson at Womei goes through this. When I train newcomers later, I’ll have to pass these on too.”
Li Musi: “Others might not see it that way.”
Once something has been in your hands for a long time, it becomes yours. Why would anyone willingly give it up?
Jing Ge was clever; with just a slight hint from him, she quickly grasped the key point.
It was just that her emotions were too abundant, easily swayed by feelings, causing her to overlook the underlying truth.
Li Musi: “Did she apologize for making you run that pointless errand?”
“…No.”
“Hmm.”
“……”
What was with this tone of “he knew it all along”?
Jing Ge felt inexplicably annoyed: “I’m an intern. Of course, she can manipulate me however she wants.”
“Do you prefer open attacks,” Li Musi abruptly changed the subject, “or hidden schemes?”
“I don’t like either. Why would I like such things?”
“……”
Perhaps it was just her imagination, but Jing Ge felt she caught an extremely faint and fleeting smile at the corner of Li Musi’s mouth.
Li Musi didn’t continue: “Do you want to change jobs?”
“No.”
“What about the family’s ceramics factory?”
Jing Ge fell silent.
After a while, Jing Ge said flatly, “It’ll probably go to Jing Beile.”
There’s no share for me.
Li Musi gave a slight, understanding smile.
With no one to back her up, she was always cautious. Her job was practically her only way out, which was why she was so careful and concerned.
The car arrived at the Li residence.
Under the courtyard lights, Li Musi turned his face to look at her: “Let’s make a bet.”
“What bet?”
“I bet your supervisor will act as if nothing happened tomorrow,” Li Musi said calmly. “If you lose, you give me a hundred yuan. If I lose, I give you two hundred.”
“……”
No bet was needed.
Jing Ge believed it.
The incident with the clock-in wasn’t over yet.
Jing Ge mumbled, “I just need to endure until I’m regularized.”
Li Musi looked at her for a moment, nodding with an inscrutable expression.
He said nothing more.
Her regularization was imminent. She could endure it, but her supervisor might not.
It would only get worse.
Jing Ge directly took out a hundred yuan and handed it to him.
Li Musi: “”
Although the bill was folded, it was brand new.
Li Musi accepted it calmly, without a hint of awareness that he was coaxing money from a child.
“Remember to tell me the outcome.”
Jing Ge turned and walked away.Didn’t even say hello.
Knowing full well what the outcome would be, yet still reporting it to him.
Li Musi gently rubbed the banknote between his fingers, a faint, elusive smile in his eyes.
It scared Zhang Ma half to death.
“Th-Third Master… you…” Are you smiling?
Li Musi looked at her, his expression already back to normal, as calm as stagnant water: “Is Li Ying asleep?”
“She’s asleep, squeezed in with Jing Ge again.”
“…And Li Zhan?”
“…” Zhang Ma stammered, “He hasn’t come back.”
Li Musi walked toward his room: “Tell him to come back tomorrow, or I’ll confiscate his car.”
“.”
That’s going to cause an uproar.
That night, Jing Ge had another nightmare—Li Zhan grabbing her hair, holding a knife, trying to cut off her head.
But he didn’t succeed. At the critical moment, Li Musi suddenly appeared, kicking the knife out of his hand.
And saved her.
The next day, when Jing Ge and Li Ying went downstairs for breakfast, Li Musi had already left early.
Zhang Ma said he had business at the company.
It was all too normal for Li Musi to be busy. He was swamped, and the fact that he could come home frequently these past few days was probably just to act as a guardian for the few of them.
But surprisingly, Li Musi had driven himself.
“Third Master said he has a lot on his plate lately,” Uncle Zhang explained. “Driving himself is more convenient. Since I’m free anyway, why don’t I take you instead?”
Jing Ge didn’t refuse.
Not having to rush for the bus was indeed much easier.
On the way to Womei, Jing Ge received a message from Anna, the same old routine: “Sweetie, help me clock in, I’ll be ten minutes late, love you~”
Jing Ge: “”
How can someone’s face be as thick as pigskin!
Jing Ge’s temper flared, and she immediately took a screenshot of the message and sent it to Li Musi.
This was her first message to Li Musi.
It felt a bit like gossiping with a close friend—she wanted him to see it right away, to show that some people really were as he suspected, acting as if nothing had happened.
After sending it, Jing Ge’s heated mind gradually cooled down.
And, like a coward, she withdrew the message.
Oh my god.
In the heat of the moment, she forgot who she was talking to.
Was Li Musi someone she could casually badmouth or gossip about others with?
Don’t be ridiculous!
As soon as the message was withdrawn, Li Musi looked up from his phone, his expression unreadable as he glanced across the table.
The assistant reported: “This is the owner of Womei, Mr. Zhang.”
Zhang Hong quickly extended his hand: “Mr. Li, I’ve long heard of your reputation.”
“No need to be polite,” Li Musi shook his hand. “Please, have a seat.”
“Ah,” Zhang Hong couldn’t help but feel nervous in his presence. “Mr. Li, I heard you want to place an order through our company?”
Li Musi said calmly, “A few international friends want to order some Christmas supplies for next year from us. Li Corporation doesn’t handle foreign trade, so professional matters should be left to professionals.”
“No problem,” Zhang Hong replied cheerfully. “For your friends, I’ll personally take charge.”
Li Musi: “No need to trouble you, Mr. Zhang. That would be overkill—it’s just fifty containers.”
“…”
Zhang Hong was stunned.
What kind of friends were these? He thought they were just ordering some Christmas supplies for personal use, to be shipped together in someone else’s container. Who would need fifty containers?
Wasn’t this just handing him an order?
Zhang Hong was actually too shocked to speak.
“By the way,” Li Musi looked at him, “Our little one hasn’t caused you any trouble, has she?”
“…” Zhang Hong was confused. “Who?”
Li Musi: “Jing Ge.”
Zhang Hong: “”
After a long pause, Zhang Hong finally reacted: “Jing Ge is from your family?”Li Mushi pushed the water in front of him, calm and composed: “The young girl is just starting out and wants to go out and gain experience. We can only let her.”