After the negotiations, Ji Feng returned to his suite with Xue Rui.
He was repelled by any strangers approaching him, so he refused to have the suite manager assigned by the SWI Hotel. Xue Rui took care of most of his daily life, from meals to other necessities.
Due to his accustomed reliance on her for daily matters, he had to endure her chattering.
Next door, Duan Aoxiang was still reveling with Prayuk. Ji Feng had agreed with them to finalize the deal in a week, at the same hotel, on the same floor, and in the meeting room of the neighboring suite.
In the bedroom, Xue Rui was closing the curtains, preparing hot water, and arranging the bed. These activities were typically handled by the suite manager or room service staff. However, Xue Rui did them even better than they would. Ji Feng leaned on the sofa in the spacious living room, took out his tablet, and engaged in his daily routine of farming and harvesting in the virtual world.
People couldn’t understand his actions. It was inconceivable for someone of his status and personality to engage in such seemingly mundane activities. Some even analyzed the motives and mysteries behind his behavior. Once, a self-proclaimed expert in psychology, after self-studying a bit, tried to use Ji Feng’s actions as a starting point to analyze his personality and psyche. After a lengthy analysis, the conclusion was that Ji Feng, despite his outward dominance and seeming indifference to women, was internally lonely and empty, yearning for warmth.
During a business discussion, that expert not only brought two women of pleasure but also two men, just in case, claiming to provide warmth to Mr. Ji.
Ji Feng found that night utterly filthy. It was so dirty that he never engaged in any business dealings with the self-styled psychologist again.
For those who demonized his farming and harvesting activities, he couldn’t be bothered to explain that they were overthinking. He was simply cultivating perseverance through these activities. He wanted to see if there was something he could persist in doing for a lifetime, every day without interruption, regardless of circumstances.
Even if it was something mundane.
So, on the first day the seemingly boring game of farming and harvesting was open to users, he registered an account. That was already ten years ago. In these ten years, he hadn’t missed a single day of farming and harvesting. No person or event, no good or bad mood, could interrupt this habit.
This habit had persisted for so long that it had almost become a feat. The longer it persisted, the fewer people had the weight to interrupt it even for a day.
As he continued to harvest the virtual crops, Ji Feng gradually lost focus.
He hadn’t spoken much the night before but felt more tired than usual. After some thought, it might be because getting annoyed with someone also required effort, even if that person was a negligible presence.
Thinking of that woman, he couldn’t help but glance at the cuff of his shirt at his wrist, frowning.
He hated it when others touched him easily, especially flawed individuals, and especially women with family relationships marred by flaws.
And that woman’s hands had been cleaning the bathroom not long ago.
So, when she pulled him, it almost made him feel a bit startled. When he lowered his head and met her eyes—a moment filled with deep nostalgia and supplication, paired with her weary face—it seemed to tell some inhumane stories, surely stories of sadness.
So, her pull made him a bit startled, a feeling even surpassing the discomfort of being casually touched by a woman.
Thinking of this, Ji Feng felt extremely annoyed. He hastily planted the vegetables on the electronic screen, and then he told Xue Rui, “Stop, you can leave.” After a pause, he instructed her, “I won’t go to the company tomorrow. Call me breakfast early in the morning. The buns must be made by Chef Chen. Also, cut some beef that he personally marinated. Slice it, not minced. During breakfast, report the company’s situation for the past week.”
Xue Rui quickly ran through the instructions in her mind, noting down each order from the big boss.
**
Early the next morning, Xue Rui arrived at the SWI Hotel. The night before, she had ordered breakfast service before leaving the hotel. Knowing that Ji Feng didn’t like dealing with trivial matters directly with hotel managers or staff, she had to arrive at the top floor before the breakfast delivery, ensuring a seamless service—receiving, arranging, accompanying the boss for breakfast, and reporting on work in one go.
Today was quite a coincidence; she met Li Kunlun, a delivery guy from the dining department, in the elevator.
Since they met, they exchanged a few words.
Xue Rui had noticed that Li Kunlun could be considered the gossip representative of the SWI Hotel. She usually chatted with him about various things, and magical things happened—she could almost understand all kinds of situations in the hotel.
Today’s topic was quite exciting, and she listened with fascination as Li Kunlun spoke. So, when pushing the dining cart into the room, she was a few minutes later than usual.
Ji Feng, with a built-in timer in his body, accurately sensed this delay. After Xue Rui finished reporting the company’s situation, he changed the topic and asked, “Why is breakfast late today? Did you get into an argument with the hotel staff again?”
Upon hearing this opening, Xue Rui became spirited and promptly recounted the gossip she heard from Li Kunlun.
Fearing that he might interrupt her and not let her finish, she spoke rapidly, eager to deliver all the juicy details.
“Yesterday, the female attendant who came up to help in Mr. Duan’s suite, we’ve seen her several times before, seems to be called Xu Miyu…”
Despite his fast pace, Ji Feng interrupted with a frown, “Why mention the name? Don’t say it! I don’t want to remember that name.”
Xue Rui immediately pressed his lips and continued, “Anyway, it’s that female attendant. It’s said that she received a call from her husband as soon as she went downstairs last night. He was asking her for money, pushing her to the brink of collapse. She couldn’t hold back and shouted on the phone, saying she’s doomed to be tied to him for a lifetime. She questioned if the things he did were what a man should do, and now she has to rely on her to support him. She even asked if he has any self-respect left.”
Xue Rui smoothly finished without being interrupted by Ji Feng this time. So, he added a sentence, along with a touch of personal sigh, “Speaking of which, this sister is really pitiful. She’s not too young, looks like she’s in her thirties. Not only did she endure Duan Aoxiang’s harassment all night next door yesterday, but she also had to deal with her unfaithful husband demanding money when she got back. Life is truly humble.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Ji Feng’s restraint, and Ji Feng’s voice was like ice shavings, cold and stern.
“In the future, don’t tell me gossip about this woman. It dirties my ears.”
Ji Feng spoke with a creased brow, forming a disgusted and annoyed knot. That knot didn’t loosen for quite a while.
He could never understand such women—knowing their husbands are unfaithful, yet choosing to continue living with them. He wouldn’t pity such women; he would only mock their lack of resistance.
He had grown extremely weary of such matters.
As for that Xu—no, that woman, he absolutely didn’t want to remember her name. He had grown disgusted with her as well.
If she could divorce, he wouldn’t despise and loathe her as he did now.
“Xue Rui,” when Ji Feng called Xue Rui’s name again, his voice remained cold and stern as he instructed, “Later, go tell the housekeeping manager. From now on, this woman should not be allowed to come to the top-floor suites.”
The next day when Xu Miyu went to work, she vaguely felt a change in the environment around her. She was more sensitive than the average person, a trait developed from a childhood overemphasis on others’ feelings.
But what exactly changed, she couldn’t say. It just felt like someone passing by her was looking back at her.
When she entered the changing room, there were two or three female colleagues who had been chatting about something. Seeing her come in, they immediately fell silent.
Xu Miyu thought they were either discussing something they didn’t want her to know or something about her.
Considering her expressions when she woke up in the morning, both Ke Wensnow and Yin Xiang looked at her with a hint of sympathy.
She thought they were sympathizing with her suffering on the top floor yesterday.
But now thinking about it, they didn’t ask about her situation on the top floor.
So, what were they sympathizing with her about?
And what they were sympathizing with her about, and what others were privately talking about, was it the same thing?
Understanding the sequence of events up to this point, Xu Miyu became somewhat uneasy.
Sensitive people always had to live more anxiously.
She wanted to approach those colleagues and ask, “What were you talking about just now?”
But she was never such a proactive and brave person.
She could only endure it, not dwell on what they might be discussing. She became more cautious, refraining from standing out in any way, striving to be as ordinary as possible, fading away into the eyes of others to ensure safety.
Throughout the morning, she worked diligently, not disturbing anyone and hesitating to refuse any help requests. Living quietly, ordinary, and avoiding offending anyone was the key to not making mistakes.
As lunchtime approached, the floor supervisor, Zhang Cailu, came over and said, “You guys, a business room needs to be checked out later. This morning, after the shift change, this room was missed on the work order, and it wasn’t recorded who was responsible. So, one of you, go check the room in five minutes and clean it.”
Ke Wensnow quickly remarked, “Leader, couldn’t you have said this over the intercom? Was it necessary to come all the way here? Isn’t that tiring?”
Zhang Cailu sternly pointed at her, “You talk too much. If you’re all talk and no action, be careful; I’ll deduct your performance points.”
Ke Wensnow, seeing Zhang Cailu looking somewhat serious, was a bit dumbfounded.
Xu Miyu quickly tried to cover for her, “Supervisor, she’s just joking. Willing to be one with us.”
Ke Wensnow turned to look at her, her eyes widening. She whispered to Xu Miyu, “Xu Jie, you’re quite eloquent, and what you said is accurate. Although Zhang Cailu doesn’t have a big position, she loves it when others say she lacks authority!.”
Xu Miyu didn’t expect Ke Wensnow to talk about Zhang Cailu’s lack of authority so openly, just two meters away from the person in question. It was more thrilling than when she talked about Zhang Cailu from five meters away earlier. She was stunned, not knowing how to respond.
At this moment, Zhang Cailu spoke up, “Ke Wensnow, what are you mumbling about?”
Ke Wensnow put on a casual expression, “Nothing, just casual talk.”
Zhang Cailu looked at her, raised an eyebrow, and suddenly said, “Oh, by the way, the lipstick you asked me about, my cousin who does purchasing got back to me. She said she has the shade you want in stock. I told her to set it aside for you.”
Ke Wensnow’s eyes immediately lit up. She moved from beside Xu Miyu to stand next to Zhang Cailu in an instant.
“Really? Ping Ping, you’re the best, still remembering what I said. Oh my god, this lipstick is so hard to buy. Love you, love you!”
Xu Miyu watched this scene, somewhat stunned.
Yin Xiang walked over and comforted her, “Don’t take it seriously. Ke Wensnow is a gossip lover. You’ll get used to it over time.”
Then, she suddenly took out a piece of Ferrero Rocher chocolate from her uniform pocket, handed it to Xu Miyu, and said, “Xu Jie, I know you love chocolate. Here, for you!”
Xu Miyu was somewhat surprised, accepting the chocolate with a smile and thanking her.
Yin Xiang immediately said, “Xu Jie, you look really beautiful when you smile!”
Xu Miyu, afraid of being praised, tended to agree to various requests. She felt a bit comfortable and also understood what might happen next.
Sure enough, Yin Xiang immediately added, “Xu Jie, I really don’t want to tidy up that room. Sister, can you go for me?”
Xu Miyu felt her bones going numb from being manipulated.
She quickly agreed, “Okay, I got it. Don’t ask again. If you keep asking, you’ll make me sick. If you don’t want to check the room and clean it, just don’t go. I’ll handle it.”
Xu Miyu pushed the linen cart and left.
Ke Wensnow, looking somewhat awkward at the doorway, said, “Hey, are we bullying Xu Jie a bit too much?” She pretended to leave, looking like she wanted to help Xu Miyu.
Yin Xiang grabbed her and gave her a disdainful look, “Don’t take it seriously. Ke Wensnow is a fence-sitter and a gossip lover. You’ll get used to it over time!”
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