Ji Feng’s sudden closeness felt like immense pressure squeezing towards Xiao Mi Yu. His words gave no hint of emotion, yet saw through Xiao Mi Yu’s ulterior motives. Xiao Mi Yu felt she had nowhere to hide before this man. Just like Ke Wen Xue and the others said before, he did indeed have an extremely good-looking pair of eyes, the outer corners slanted up, the thin double eyelids fanning out along the upward curve.
They were very cold eyes, as if he had long seen through all kinds of petty human thoughts, yet didn’t expose them, instead watching the comedy of people wielding schemes as they pleased. Trying to hide things before such a person would only make one a laughingstock. Xiao Mi Yu looked up to meet Ji Feng’s eyes, urging herself mentally to calm down. She took a deep breath and spoke the truth: “I was hoping the hotel could dismiss the current supervisor of the admin floor. I heard you can talk to the boss…” Saying this, her heart shook a little.
Taking a breath to steady herself, she continued: “The current supervisor has sufficient grounds to be dismissed. She privately switched the hotel’s consumables with fakes…” She tried her best to keep her words even and steady without trembling, so that what she wanted didn’t seem like a hopeless fantasy. But after listening, Ji Feng still smiled with narrowed eyes. His smile spilled from the corners of his lips, fully unconcealed mockery.
Beside him, Xue Rui could clearly see that sneer contained in the boss’s smile – contempt and disgust. He disliked the woman before him even more than before. He scorned how she was mired in shame yet didn’t love or respect herself, yet actually still harbored the cunning and ambition to sabotage others behind their backs. Even he himself had just been shocked by this woman’s words – she actually understood Thai. She had said that Duan Xiang Xiang was deceiving them that night. When she was there serving tea at the time she showed no sign that she understood anything. She did have thick skin to keep this up her sleeve and take it out now as a bargaining chip when she needed something. Indeed very scheming.
Xue Rui looked at Ji Feng thinking that since he smiled like this, his next move must be to even more scornfully and decisively reject this woman. But the next second, he heard Ji Feng say: “You want me to help you get rid of the current supervisor? Fine.” Xue Rui stared blankly at Ji Feng. Meanwhile, Ji Feng was looking at Xiao Mi Yu’s face with narrowed eyes. Then he heard Ji Feng continue: “Then when we meet to negotiate again, you come expose Duan Xiang Xiang’s lies for me.”
With her hands hanging at her sides, Xiao Mi Yu secretly clenched her fists. Thinking of Duan Xiang Xiang’s shamelessness, pettiness, gangster air despite his money that night…even when she was minding her own business she couldn’t escape his bullying. If she really exposed his tricks to his face, wouldn’t he explode in anger on the spot and tear her apart? Xiao Mi Yu hesitated a little. As she hesitated she looked into Ji Feng’s eyes, and found that he had long predicted she wouldn’t dare agree. So he was just scornfully toying with her. Without needing her to respond, he already saw her as insignificant.
Xiao Mi Yu hardened her heart and agreed decisively: “Fine, I’ll do as you say, I’ll expose them for you. In exchange, you handle dismissing the current supervisor!” For an instant, Xiao Mi Yu seemed to glimpse surprise flash in Ji Feng’s eyes. She thought Ji Feng must be surprised that her, looking so deferential, would actually dare agree to expose Duan Xiang Xiang. She also thought that in the end, she was acting on Ji Feng’s behalf. Even if Ji Feng still looked down on her, when Duan Xiang Xiang came after her later, he should at least be able to protect her a little. After all, she was making Duan Xiang Xiang her enemy for Ji Feng’s benefit, to help him protect his interests. Thinking this way, Xiao Mi Yu reassured herself, willing herself not to fear.
After Xiao Mi Yu left, Xue Rui didn’t wait for Ji Feng to speak before starting to repent on his own initiative, ceaselessly saying it was all his fault, he hadn’t stopped Xiao Mi Yu and let her rush over.
Ji Feng sat back down on the sofa, not buying this. His voice gave no hint of joy or anger as he asked: “Then explain, why couldn’t you stop her?” Xue Rui hemmed and hawed. Ji Feng glared at him. Xue Rui promptly responded anxiously with the truth: “Seeing how hard she tried to make herself presentable today, wanting to meet you and speak to you about this matter, I just couldn’t bear to stop her for a moment…”
Ji Feng coldly laughed: “You’re sentimental without differentiating between objects.” Xue Rui defended himself a little: “She did really look a bit different than usual today, just…much prettier…” Ji Feng laughed coldly again, berating him: “Haven’t you seen a woman before?” Xue Rui shuddered anxiously at the question. In order to pacify Ji Feng’s anger, he swiftly served up a cup of hot tea, then switched topics asking: “Boss, although I can tell you actually really detest that woman’s cunning ambition, why did you agree to help her?”
Ji Feng drank a mouthful of tea. He did indeed detest that woman’s cunning ambition. To come seek him out to negotiate she even dolled herself up and put on makeup. Raising her head looking at him she even balled up fists to pump herself up, making herself seem all pitiful. She really had ways. Did she take him, Ji Feng, for the kind of man who would lose his principles at the sight of a beautiful woman? Utterly ridiculous. Not to mention she wasn’t even that pretty. Ji Feng didn’t think much of all kinds of outstanding glamorous ladies from prominent families, much less her, a woman stuck in a rotten marriage unaware of her own situation. To achieve her ends she would use whatever means necessary, even putting herself forth as a bargaining chip. His eyes once again revealed disgust.
He set down the teacup, and calmly said: “Doesn’t it help that she’ll stand out to provoke hatred from others on our behalf? That’s not bad is it?”
Xue Rui nodded: “Not bad indeed, just afraid that based on President Duan’s petty personality, afterwards he might retaliate against her in a major way.”
Ji Feng stroked the rim of the teacup as a mocking sardonic smile spilled from the corner of his mouth: “You don’t think she’ll be unaware of the consequences? She’s merely chosen ambition over being retaliated against when weighing which side of the scale to place more importance.” Since she chose ambition, she would have to bear the consequences ambition brings. There were no free lunches in this world.
The second meeting between Ji Feng and Duan Xiang Xiang, as well as Pu La Yu – in other words the meeting to finalize the transaction price – was arranged on the evening following the day Xiao Mi Yu went to the top floor. Xiao Mi Yu was working late shift the next day, from noon straight until midnight at zero hour. Shortly after six in the evening, she received notice from Zhang Cai Lu: the top floor required borrowing manpower to assist, since Xiao Mi Yu had gone to help last time, this time the VIP guest expressly asked for the previous server – that is, you – to go up again.
Xiao Mi Yu thought that the top floor VIP summoning her again must be Ji Feng right? But when the elevator reached the top floor the butler directly brought her to a different suite instead – the exact one Duan Xiang Xiang had stayed in last time. Xiao Mi Yu thought it must be like last time, the meeting venue was still selected as Duan Xiang Xiang’s suite, thus she was brought over.
The butler led her into the lounge. Xiao Mi Yu subtly swept her gaze around. The room atmosphere was about the same as last time, also a group drinking and partying amidst a decadent reveling mood. She almost had the illusion that the meeting from last time had never ended and persisted until today. As she finished scanning the spacious lounge, she didn’t catch sight of Ji Feng however. She felt a tiny bit dubious. Ji Feng had already sent someone down to fetch her, but hadn’t come himself yet.
Just then she heard the butler call over the swaying, dancing crowd towards that exceptionally tall man whooping in the center as if partying hardest of all: “President Duan, I’ve brought the person you asked for!” Xiao Mi Yu gave a start upon hearing this. Now the person at the center of the crowd shoved people apart left and right like human walls, while snatching a glass of red wine from someone’s hand and gripping it as he swayed over.
“That’s it, your job’s done after bringing the person. Go on, shoo.” After dismissing the butler, Duan Xiang Xiang turned to look at Xiao Mi Yu. He exclaimed in recognition, then suddenly bent at the waist leaning his face close to Xiao Mi Yu’s. His tone turned loose and dissolute: “What’s with the primping today? Heard you were summoned up to see me and specially made yourself up for me?”
Xiao Mi Yu immediately recoiled. But Duan Xiang Xiang pressed forward again. This time he didn’t bend down, just loomed over Xiao Mi Yu looking down at her appraisingly: “Hm, much stronger than last time I saw you.” Still waving about the glass of red wine in one hand, he rubbed his chin with the other towards Xiao Mi Yu, arching his brows with a debauched, evil smirk: “But Boss Duan’s tastes don’t run your way. Not fresh or tender enough, worn goods.”
“Reason I called you up was purely to torment you!” Xiao Mi Yu’s throat tightened as she suddenly became nervous. She secretly clenched her fists to keep herself from trembling under Duan Xiang Xiang’s bullying. Luckily new sounds came from the entrance, finally interrupting Duan Xiang Xiang’s malicious teasing. Duan Xiang Xiang glanced once towards the door then brushed past Xiao Mi Yu to greet the new guests. Xiao Mi Yu looked back to see Ji Feng and Xue Rui walking in this time. She breathed out in relief. She regarded them with a beholding gaze, as if having caught sight of refuge. But these two men acted as if they were strangers with her. As if they had never seen her just yesterday and reached some kind of agreement.
While saying things like “Old Ji, you’re just next door, how is it you’ve only just come over”, “Pu La Yu is resting in the bedroom, I’ll have the butler go get him”, “Come, sit on the sofa first while we wait for Pu La Yu then we’ll go to the conference room together” – Duan Xiang Xiang led Ji Feng to the sofa. Passing Xiao Mi Yu, he pointed at her and told Ji Feng: “Old Ji, still recognize her? Last time I was drunk and put her through a lot. Today I’m sober, just watch and see what I’ll do to properly teach her a lesson!”
Ji Feng gave Xiao Mi Yu an indifferent glance, then looked back to Duan Xiang Xiang. Suddenly he revealed a ghost of a smile: “When you grow to eighty years old, your narrow-mindedness might still be stuck at three years old. Watch out, if you keep vengefulness in your heart you’ll overturn and flip the situation, don’t let her be the one giving you a lesson later on.” Duan Xiang Xiang brandished his arms, loudly exclaiming that was impossible.
Only Xu Mizi understood the true implication behind Ji Feng’s words. They took their seats on the sofa. The penthouse butler walked over, sweetly reporting to Duan Xiangchang: “Mr. Duan, I’ve had the conference room prepared according to your specifications on temperature and humidity. Mr. Prayut just woke up and is washing up. He says he’ll head directly to the conference room after. Would you also like to go ahead to the conference room first?” Duan Xiangchang agreed. He arranged for the butler to host his party animal friends in the lounge, then gestured toward Xu Mizi: “You, come to the conference room with me. Yeah you, stop dazing out and hurry up to pour tea!”
Xu Mizi glanced at Ji Feng. He showed no reaction. Xu Mizi figured perhaps he simply didn’t want to give away that they had prearranged anything. She likewise stayed expressionless, deciding to play things by ear.
The seating arrangement in the conference room was the same as last time. Xu Mizi also served tea, poured water, and passed hot towels to each person, just as before. Duan Xiangchang began chattering away again as translator. He jabbered with Prayut for a spell first, then turned to Ji Feng with a smile:
“Old Ji, this Thai bro is asking 120 million from you, but ol’ Duan helped drive it down to an even 100 million for you. 20 million bucks saved, whaddaya think, not bad huh?”
“Oh? Is that so?” Ji Feng’s tone remained unruffled. Hearing this, Xu Mizi glanced over at him. Ji Feng signaled almost imperceptibly with a quirk of his brow. That was the cue – hadn’t she said he was scheming to cheat him? Then it was time to debunk it and prove her words.
Xu Mizi took a deep breath, then looking toward Duan Xiangchang, she spoke out in fluent Thai: “Mr. Duan, the prices you just told Mr. Prayut seem different from what you reported to Mr. Ji. The exact numbers don’t match up.” Duan Xiangchang instantly whipped his head toward her, his mien shifting abruptly as well. His previously dissolute expression solidified in an instant to nearly murderous. “You understand Thai?” he also asked in Thai.
“A little,” replied Xu Mizi. Her heart raced urgently, but she strove for calmness and answered in Thai. “How much did you make out?” Duan Xiangchang questioned further. “All of it,” said Xu Mizi, fist clenched to bolster herself before replying.
Duan Xiangchang stared at her, his gaze icy. Gone was his usually slovenly gaze, now replaced by keen eyes scrutinizing her like she was an unrevealed stranger. Beside them, Prayut also watched Xu Mizi with astonishment. Duan Xiangchang switched to Chinese as he commanded Xu Mizi: “You’ve got no business here. Don’t make trouble with your lousy Thai. Leave.”
Xu Mizi’s Thai was in fact not poor at all; on the contrary, her pronunciation was accurate and pleasant. She knew Duan Xiangchang said this to get rid of her. But momentarily shaken by his stare, she reacted by instinctively turning again to look at Ji Feng on Duan Xiangchang’s other side: “Mr. Ji, perhaps I could stay and help interpret for you…”
Duan Xiangchang furrowed his brows, calling sharply: “Ah Ni.” His assistant rose to come around the table and haul Xu Mizi out. At this point Ji Feng finally spoke. “Ah Ni, sit back down first.” His simple order instantly nailed Ah Ni back down.
Then Ji Feng set down his teacup and used the prepared hot towel to wipe his hands before looking up at Duan Xiangchang. He smiled as he drawled: “She’s so determined to interpret, why not let her have a go? I’m rather curious what kind of thing she comes up with.” In a second, Duan Xiangchang changed his countenance again. All smiles now, he breezily responded to Ji Feng: “Come on, Old Ji, isn’t this just playing? Letting a mere server get involved with our hundred million dollar deal, wouldn’t that just be meddling?”
Ji Feng quirked a brow but didn’t take his bait. Instead he looked toward Xu Mizi and asked directly: “Well I have no interest in listening to childish antics either. Can you vouch for the content and words of your succeeding interpretations?” Immediately nodding, Xu Mizi replied at once: “If there is anything untrue in my succeeding interpretations or utterances, please go ahead and report me or press charges.”
Ji Feng turned to Duan Xiangchang with a smile: “See, she’s pledged herself like this. Why not let her spout and see, I’m rather curious what kind of stuff comes out.” In a heartbeat, Duan Xiangchang changed his expression yet again. All smiles now, he joked casually with Ji Feng: “Sure, Old Ji, that settles it! Your call. Let her say her piece then. Careful now, speak properly!” By the last three words “speak properly,” his gaze was piercing – hinting Xu Mizi was aware of what he was capable of; better watch her step.
At this point, Xu Mizi found her own legs slightly weakening. Mentally she told herself not to let Duan Xiangchang intimidate her like this. She made herself think back to the humiliation she received as she cleaned the room of Lu Zhenzhen and Nie Yucheng. She couldn’t let people step on her like dirt all her life. This resolved her and she gnashed her teeth firmly, moving to stand between Ji Feng and Duan Xiangchang. Ji Feng asked her: “What exactly did you first tell Mr. Duan in Thai?”
“Mr. Ji,” replied Xu Mizi, “I first said this to Mr. Duan in Thai: The prices you just discussed with Mr. Prayut seem different from the prices you reported to Mr. Ji. The exact numbers don’t match.”
Ji Feng glanced at her briefly. “Oh?” Noiselessly querying: “How do they not match?” Biting her lip lightly, Xu Mizi said: “I heard Mr. Prayut confirm the amount to Mr. Duan as 80 million…”
Ji Feng looked at Xu Mizi, raising his brows in query: “So what are you implying? That Mr. Duan reported 100 million to me here, demanding an extra 20 million from me?” His gaze shifted toward Duan Xiangchang. “Old Duan, isn’t she suggesting you’re trying to cheat me?”
Duan Xiangchang maintained his habitual grin as he casually denied, “That’s impossible! Old Ji, she’s spouting nonsense. Has she even been to Thailand? What can she make out clearly? I still have follow up I didn’t tell you yet! Just now Mr. Prayut said again, that if you pay in installments, one 100 million is fine, but if you can pay him the full amount upfront in one go, he’d be willing to further discount 20 million. Total 80 million for the deal!”
Having said his piece, he glowered at Xu Mizi – desisting her speaking out any further. Then he looked back at Ji Feng and asked: “Well, Old Ji, what do you think?” Ji Feng laughed. “If there are no issues, I’d consider paying in full upfront.” Duan Xiangchang broke into bright laughter, full of joy as if the deal was settled to mutual benefit. Although grinning, various emotions still churned inside.
Originally he only wanted to make a fool out of Ji Feng for a bit, cheating 20 million as a practical joke to get back at him. Since childhood, everyone around him endlessly sung Ji Feng’s praises to his face. Especially his father – he wishfully thought Ji Feng was his own son day and night. So what if his family was wealthy? What was wrong with being a rich second generation? He was still damn unhappy, living in the shadows of that Ji kid his whole life. He had fled to Thailand desperate to escape Ji Feng after learning Ji Feng had studied abroad extensively except for Thailand. Finally a piece of pure land untouched by the name “Ji Feng”!
After his studies, now more mature, he thought he could open his chest and accept Ji Feng who had long cast a shadow over his life with magnanimity. He even sincerely considered making real friends with Ji Feng. Yet in his presence Ji Feng always remained lofty and arrogant. Though Ji Feng never said it aloud, he could sense a contempt originating from the depths of his being, which made Duan Xiangchang hate him more and more. What right did Ji Feng have to act so superior before him? Duan was determined to make a fool of him! He didn’t expect a disastrous nuisance woman like Xu Mizi to suddenly pop up and expose his little game, thwarting his chance to get one over Ji Feng. Not only did his prank fail, he now had to endure the humiliation of being debunked to the face.
While Ji Feng and Prayut shook hands sealing their partnership, Duan Xiangchang glowered fiercely at Xu Mizi. He told Xu Mizi to refresh everyone’s tea again, proposing they drink tea instead of alcohol as celebration of a successfully concluded partnership. As he uttered the words “concluded successfully”, his dagger-like gaze gutted Xu Mizi.
Xu Mizi made the rounds changing out tea and towels again. When she got to Duan Xiangchang, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist in an iron vice, concealed from others’ views. Xu Mizi immediately looked him in the eye. Pain shot through her wrist, making her heartbeat jump. Duan’s grip only tightened further, squeezing until she nearly couldn’t withstand it. Grinning sinisterly, his gaze seemed intent on tearing her apart as he hissed in a low voice: “Just you wait, you stinking bitch!”
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