Chapter 6: Boss? Treating Her So Well?

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5310224
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

“Get in the car, and I’ll explain when you’re inside.”

Fine, with Jiang Shu saying this, Ji Lianxing really felt a bit tempted.

Besides, standing here wasn't a solution. It was better to obey than to insist, so she chose to get into the front passenger seat.

It was her first time sitting in a sports car. When she sat down, she felt the chassis was much lower than a regular sedan. She fastened her seatbelt, and Jiang Shu started the car, slowly driving out of the parking lot.

"Where do you live?"

"Song Homes 3rd Courtyard."

Jiang Shu frowned, "Song Homes 3rd Courtyard?? Where is that??" She had lived in City A for over ten years and had never heard of this place.

"Ah, it's an old neighborhood near the night market street. It's quite old, surrounded by demolition houses, but it's close to the company, just two subway stops away." After Ji Lianxing said this, she glanced out the car window. The bustling streetlights were dazzling, and the small colorful lights hanging on the trees slowly passed by. She felt out of place in this light and shadow.

"Wait a moment, I'll set up the navigation." After searching, Jiang Shu found that there really was a place called Song Homes 3rd Courtyard, and it wasn't far from the company, maybe two or three kilometers away.

Only then did Jiang Shu understand that Ji Lianxing's place was probably one of the last old neighborhoods to be demolished in the city center. It was a bit old.

Before starting the car, she turned on the player, and it started playing Radiohead's most famous song, "Creep." When Ji Lianxing heard the first line of the lyrics, she turned her head and looked at Jiang Shu.

Noticing from the corner of her eye, Jiang Shu glanced at her, "What's wrong?"

"I like this song."

Jiang Shu smiled, "I like it too."

Ji Lianxing thought, people who like "Creep" are said to have someone they can't get in their hearts. Whenever she heard this song, she felt a deep sense of empathy. That feeling of being low to the ground would inexplicably and irregularly wash over her.

"I just like the melody," Jiang Shu added.

Ji Lianxing nodded, understanding her meaning. Someone like Jiang Shu, who naturally radiated light, would never be a creep. (In this song, "creep" probably refers to someone who feels inferior in love because they like the other person too much.)

The car stopped at an intersection, waiting for the green light. Ji Lianxing listened to the song quietly, and Jiang Shu didn't speak either.

At this moment, her phone vibrated. Ji Lianxing picked it up to check the message, her brows furrowing instantly.

Ji Siyu was calling her. Usually, whenever Ji Siyu called, answering it meant a whole day of trouble. So, when the phone vibrated a second time, Ji Lianxing decisively hung up.

After a few seconds, he called again. Ji Lianxing pressed the hang-up button again and then blocked the number.

Jiang Shu saw her series of actions and thought this girl was pretty ruthless, blocking someone without a second thought. But respecting personal privacy, Jiang Shu didn't ask anything.

The red light turned green, and she pressed the gas pedal.

"So, President Jiang, what does 'little hedgehog' mean?" Ji Lianxing hadn't forgotten the conversation they had before getting in the car. She was quite curious why Jiang Shu called her a little hedgehog.

"You still remember that?"

"Of course."

"Have you seen those mini hedgehogs? They're about the size of a palm, very alert, with little pink feet showing when they lie on their backs. If you gently poke their bellies, they'll curl up into a ball?"

As Jiang Shu described the mini hedgehog, she smiled, and from her tone alone, one could tell how much she liked these little hedgehogs.

This was the third time Ji Lianxing saw her smile tonight, more than she had seen in the past five years combined. So the cold iceberg wasn't really an iceberg; she actually loved to smile...

"Uh, I know." Ji Lianxing answered seriously on the surface, but she wondered what a mini hedgehog had to do with her. She didn't have pink little feet, and Jiang Shu had never poked her belly.

"I think when you're scared of me, you look a lot like a mini hedgehog."

???

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5310224
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com

Is it okay to be described as a hedgehog for the first time? Ji Lianxing didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

3 kilometers, just about ten minutes. The car quickly stopped at the entrance of the Song Homes 3rd Courtyard. Jiang Shu glanced at the gate. It was a very, very traditional courtyard with two buildings inside. Each building had a red number plate on its side, marked "1" and "2," indicating Building 1 and Building 2.

Ji Lianxing opened the door and got out of the car, bent down, and said to the people in the car:

"Thank you, President Jiang. I'm sorry to trouble you tonight."

"Not at all. Do you live in Building 1 or Building 2?"

"Building 1."

"Which floor?"

Ji Lianxing was momentarily stunned. Did they need to know which floor she lived on? After thinking for a moment, she answered, "Third floor."

Jiang Shu nodded. "Head back quickly."

"Mm-hmm."

Ji Lianxing did not say anything more. She turned and left quickly, not wanting to stay long, especially not wanting to be seen by acquaintances. After all, it was too easy for people to make assumptions when such a car dropped her off at home.

Jiang Shu watched her walk through the iron gate, saw Ji Lianxing greet the security guard, and then turn a corner. Soon, her figure disappeared from view.

Jiang Shu stayed in the car and continued to observe the old building.

****

The corridors of old buildings typically have sensor lights. Recently, the lights on the first and second floors were broken. Ji Lianxing disliked the dark and narrow feeling, so she always quickly went upstairs when she got home.

Today was the same as usual. She walked into the first floor and was about to quicken her pace to go upstairs when she suddenly encountered a tall, strong figure in the darkness. The dim light outside barely allowed her to see his face.

"Ji Siyu! What are you doing? You scared me!" Ji Lianxing clutched her pounding heart and, on guard, took a few steps back, and movied outside.

"I called you several times. Not only did you hang up, but you also blocked me?" Ji Siyu stepped out of the darkness, trying to close the distance between him and Ji Lianxing.

Through the light outside, his appearance gradually became clear. A buzz cut paired with small eyes, a square face, tall and burly. His height gave him an imposing presence, and with that face, he looked like trouble.

Of course, he was trouble. When he walked towards Ji Lianxing, she stepped back again, always keeping a distance from him.

"You repaid 3,000 when I asked for 50,000 yuan?"

Talking about money again, Ji Lianxing's head started to ache.

"How did you know my address?"

"Don't give me that nonsense. Hurry up and pay back the rest of the money."

"I don't have money. The 3,000 yesterday was borrowed from Yu Meng. I can only pay you back in monthly installments."

Ji Siyu, however, pressed on aggressively. He stepped forward and reached out to grab Ji Lianxing's collar. This movement was quite practiced as if he had done it countless times.

Ji Lianxing fiercely shook him off. Ji Siyu probably did not expect her to resist. His hand missed, and the collar slipped from his grasp.

"Ji Siyu, get this straight. Don't use your tactics on me. You are annoying, so annoying that it makes me sick. Stop interfering with my life. Get lost, okay?"

"Is that how you talk to your older brother?"

"Stop disgusting me. Since childhood, you've always had that superior attitude. Who do you think you are? Why can't I talk to you like this? Your paternalistic attitude is gross, understand?"

Ji Siyu was taken aback. It had actually been a long time since he had seen Ji Lianxing. Over the years, she seemed to have changed a lot. The biggest change was in her eyes. They were no longer weak but sharp as if a light touch could make her draw blood.

"Then pay me back. If you pay me back, I won't bother you anymore." Ji Siyu's mouth twisted upward, and he extended his long arm in front of Ji Lianxing, looking like a beggar.

Ji Lianxing wanted to dodge him and go upstairs directly, but when she moved left, Ji Siyu moved left. When she moved right, Ji Siyu moved right, persistently blocking her path, extremely annoying.

Ji Lianxing stopped, looked up at Ji Siyu, and asked, "What do you really want from me? Are you trying to drive me crazy?"

Unexpectedly, Ji Siyu said, "You're so pretty. Making some money should be easy. I can help you find a way." His smile revealed his stupidity and selfishness, so disgusting that he couldn't even bother to hide it.

Ji Lianxing took a sharp breath to compose herself. She had to fight back.

"You're not bad-looking either. I mean your height and physique, very marketable. If you're really willing, you might earn more than me. Find an auntie? Save yourself ten years of struggle?"

Ji Siyu almost had a heart attack. Realizing he couldn't outtalk Ji Lianxing, he changed the subject, "It's natural to repay debts. If you don't pay, isn't my Dad's death your responsibility?"

That same phrase again. Ji Lianxing understood it was moral coercion, but it was effective.

Her heart twisted in pain. She had never compromised with Ji Siyu, but it was different with her uncle. First, she had indeed borrowed money from him many years ago, although he never asked her to repay it. Second, over the years, her uncle had been good to her, practically her only family left in this world.

"Hurry up!! Stop dawdling. Even if you have to steal, you need to repay my Dad's money!" Ji Siyu raised his voice.

"How much does she owe you?"

A woman's voice came from behind. Ji Lianxing's face instantly turned pale. She froze, unable to turn around, unsure of when she had arrived or how much of their conversation she had heard.

"How much does she owe you?" Jiang Shu repeated. She stood by the incandescent lamp, the light casting her shadow long.

With her back to Jiang Shu, Ji Lianxing remained silent. While Ji Siyu, looking at this imposing woman, didn't dare to make a sound.

"I am her boss. Tell me, how much does she owe you?" Jiang Shu had already walked up to him. Her shadow loomed over Ji Siyu's, and at 176 cm tall, she was only four centimeters shorter than Ji Siyu, but her presence overshadowed him by several degrees.

Ji Siyu's throat felt like it was blocked by a piece of wood, and he couldn't say a word. He raised his hand, showing a "2" and then a "5".

"250,000, right? I'll pay it for her." Jiang Shu handed a business card to Ji Siyu. "This is my phone number. Send me your father's account number. Remember, your father's account number, not yours."

“President Jiang, I—" Ji Lianxing began, but Jiang Shu shook her head, signaling her not to speak.

Ji Siyu stared at the business card, a bit confused, and asked Jiang Shu, "250,000, all at once?"

Jiang Shu nodded, "Yes, in one go. I will keep a record of the transfer to prove that she has repaid the debt. My condition is that once you get the money, you are not to come looking for her again."

Ji Siyu, eyes gleaming with greed, took the business card. He looked at Jiang Shu, then at Ji Lianxing, and showed an incredulous smile, "Her boss? Treating her so well?"

Ji Lianxing couldn't stand it anymore. She turned her back, her eyes stinging, tears welling up uncontrollably.

Words like unlucky, shameful, and disgusting flooded her mind. A heavy stone pressed down on her heart, making it hard to breathe.

She needed money, she really did, but she also needed her dignity, even if it felt like sickening dignity at this moment.

Yet, she couldn't say, “President Jiang, please don't help me, I'll find a way to handle the money myself," because she couldn't think of a way. She had no one else to borrow money from.

Accepting Jiang Shu's help was very clearly laden with implications.

She recalled the scene from last night, the one she had fallen into and then fled from.

Would she have to return to square one, adding another layer of frost to an already impossible relationship?

Author's Note:

President Jiang: Be good, don’t cry. It’s just 250,000. I’m willing to pay 25 million.

Xiao Ji: Cried even harder.