Here is my English translation:
Xu Mizi forcibly twisted free of Duan Xiangchang’s restraint. Duan Xiangchang instantly resumed his genial grin, merrily proposing a celebratory toast with tea in lieu of wine.
Xu Mizi withdrew to the side, head lowered to look at her reddened wrist, discreetly massaging it gently. Duan had truly nearly crushed her wrist just now with unrelenting force.
After a round of toasting, the three parties warmly shook hands again, the very image of harmonious success. Perhaps the satisfaction from Ji Feng and Prayut was genuine, but Duan Xiangchang’s broad grin concealed utter resentment churning inside. He truly felt like strangling Xu Mizi now.
His flawless scheme to humiliate Ji Feng and indelibly brand him with shame on the social circuit, so that pompous prick could never again look down that arrogant nose at him, was ruined.
He had imagined the delightful scenes of their circle gathering for meals and drinks, all chatting – Have you heard? That insufferably arrogant Ji Feng was actually duped by Duan Xiangchang. Such a scenario would have been ultimate bliss for Duan, who could laugh himself awake from dreams about it. That scenario should have become reality. He had calculating everything perfectly; it was no exaggeration to say his plans were fathomed to every detail.
The moment he heard Ji Feng wanted to expand his business territory into Southeast Asia, Duan instantly realized Ji Feng had studied or traveled extensively in Germany, Japan, America, England, France and many other nations, grasping their languages. Thailand was the sole exception. Naturally Ji Feng would be helpless with the language there. So the notion of getting one over Ji Feng crystallized in his mind that very second.
He had painstakingly found a property meeting Ji Feng’s requirements and spent time, effort and money approaching Prayut, gradually bringing things step-by-step to this point. His plot to mess with Ji Feng was on the verge of fruition when out of nowhere popped up this meddlesome woman who actually understood Thai, even brazenly exposing everything to his face. Because of her, not only did he lose his chance to cheat Ji Feng and succeed in the jest, he had wasted huge efforts for nothing. All his prior work became useless toil; he felt like an idiot who wasted time and money for a loss.
Thinking this, Duan Xiangchang grit his teeth in rage, yet his face still had to maintain the overjoyed look of a successfully concluded business deal. He even began regretting his complacency and arrogance. Why hadn’t he held the 20 million cheating scheme until afterwards when failure chances would be minimized? But he was too eager to relish mocking Ji Feng face-to-face. In the end that sweet thrill became a shot in his own foot. And this was all because of that woman! If not for her, Duan Xiangchang wouldn’t be eating such a ruthless loss now, still having to grin like an idiot. Duan Xiangchang had never played a game where he took losses despite swallowing grievances!
The more he thought the angrier he became. Duan Xiangchang refused to let Xu Mizi off easily. He told Ah Ni to first bring Prayut to the lounge. Claiming he had a few words to say before joining their celebration party after, he remained behind. Once Ah Ni left with Prayut, all smiles, Duan Xiangchang asked Ji Feng: “Yo, Old Ji, drink together later?” As always, Ji Feng’s response was predictable: “I’ll pass, I’ve got no alcohol tolerance. You know other than red wine, one glass and I’m gone. Have one for me with Prayut. I’m heading back first.” So saying, he made to leave.
Xu Mizi surreptitiously followed behind with Xue Rui, wanting to slip out together. How could Duan Xiangchang allow Xu Mizi to retreat so securely? Instantly he called out detaining her: “You!” One finger jabbing toward Xu Mizi, still all smiles – but now his smile was pure icy sinister intent – “Yeah you. You can’t leave. My suite here is a huge mess still. You’ve got to finish tidying up before leaving.”
He turned again to say Ji Feng: “Old Ji, you go ahead first then. Here, lemme walk you out!” Enthusiastically he moved to drape an arm over Ji Feng’s shoulder. Deftly Ji Feng shifted aside a step, not allowing the contact. Hearing Duan Xiangchang plan to detain her, Xu Mizi instantly panicked. She sensed clearly that once Ji Feng left today, remaining here spelt big trouble for herself. Anxiety swiftly mounted as she shot an entreating look toward Ji Feng, who completely ignored her. Her heart sank, feeling as if decades had been shorn from her lifespan. But in the next second, she heard Ji Feng lazily drawl:
“Now that you mention it, I just recalled the bathroom at my suite also needs tidying. You know I don’t have a butler. Usually Xue Rui helps out, but he’s got no time today. So why don’t you lend her to me for a bit first,” pointing at Xu Mizi, “After all, you’ve still got your suite’s butler here to help clean up.” His causal “After all” preemptively blocked any protest from Duan Xiangchang about needing someone himself. Duan could only keep smiling and nodding, acquiescing: “Sure, sure, you need her so you should use her first of course!” Though he pretended perfect willingness, resentment and inability to immediately retaliate nearly bursting his veins.
Xu Mizi silently exhaled in relief. She accompanied Ji Feng out of Duan Xiangchang’s luxury suite back to his suite next door. Once inside, Xue Rui went to close the door while Ji Feng headed for the sofa and sat down. Xue Rui turned back, pouring Ji Feng a glass of water. Sipping water, Ji Feng remarked to Xu Mizi standing before him: “You did very well today, quite perceptive actually in not acting foolishly and revealing we’ve already met, right in front of Duan Xiangchang.”
Xu Mizi heard praise for the first time from this man who usually only displayed disdain and contempt toward her. Although that praise had a somewhat odd flavor, it still surprised her speechless for a spell, uncertain how she should respond.
Just as she stood there bemused, she suddenly heard Ji Feng revert to his customary cool indifference: “Off you go.” Xu Mizi saluted, said “Goodbye, Mr. Ji” then turned toward the door.
“Stay put.” Came Ji Feng’s cool yet faintly rising voice from behind. That upward tilt contained a hint of puzzlement. Xu Mizi paused, turning back to find Ji Feng’s scrutinizing gaze fixed unwaveringly on her face. Hurrying back to her original spot, she tentatively ventured: “Mr. Ji, was there anything else?”
Ji Feng quirked a brow, tone bland: “Telling you to go was ordering you to tidy up every bathroom in my suite. Did you think,” he paused before continuing louder, “that I had you come over from Duan Xiangchang’s just to pretend to clean bathrooms?”
Or…not? Xu Mizi thought. So this was truth not excuse to extract her, now that was unexpected! Perhaps her face had betrayed her surprise all too transparently. For Ji Feng deigned to say a bit more to her, though not before first snorting derisively: “Do you believe that given Duan Xiangchang’s vengeful personality, he’ll definitely find some excuse to drop by and check if you’ve actually been cleaning my bathrooms? If not, care to guess what he might do?”
Xu Mizi felt a chill down her back. She was on night shift – once off work here she still had to clock in and work till midnight. If Duan discovered her missing from Ji Feng’s suite in that time, he would definitely find ways to summon her back to his own suite for vengeance while his temper remained raging. Just imagining what torment and humiliation she might suffer then at his hands already made her break out in cold sweat. “Get my point?” Ji Feng asked her. Xu Mizi quelled her trembling and nodded mutely.
“Then what are you standing there gawking for? Waiting for me to show you around?” Ji Feng’s frown hinted rising impatience and irritation once more. Spurred to action, Xu Mizi rushed toward the bathroom closest to her and started cleaning diligently. Engrossed in her work, the physical exertion prevented her thoughts from wandering to turbulent emotions. Too spent to overthink, one could briefly cast cares aside. Moving from one finished bathroom to the next, she scrubbed the toilet bowls so brightly.
In the cold and icy reflection, thinking about the way Duan Aoxiang looked at her tonight, Xu Miyu couldn’t help but shiver.
He had warned her, telling her to wait and see.
Glancing at the still faint red marks on her wrist, Xu Miyu felt a chilling sensation.
She wondered if avoiding any direct interaction with Duan Aoxiang tonight would spare her from further trouble. Perhaps, after he calmed down tomorrow, considering her VIP status, he might not bother her anymore?
While pondering this, she suddenly heard voices from the living room.
“Old Ji, the bathrooms on my side are all occupied, mind if I use yours?” A brash voice, disregarding Ji Feng’s objections, approached with determined steps, heading towards each bathroom.
As footsteps approached, Xu Miyu quickly lowered her head and continued to scrub the already shiny toilet.
The door behind her suddenly burst open. Xu Miyu took a deep breath before turning to look, calmly saying, “Mr. Duan.”
Duan Aoxiang, upon seeing Xu Miyu, had a fierce expression. Xu Miyu felt as if he might pounce on her in the next second and bite her to shreds.
She didn’t know how he would retaliate against her, and she felt a bit anxious.
Fortunately, in the next moment, Ji Feng’s impatient and displeased voice made Duan Aoxiang leave.
“Are you here for my bathroom, or are you counting my bathrooms?”
Duan Aoxiang pointed at Xu Miyu with a raised hand, implying that she should wait and see without uttering a word.
Then, he finally yielded to Ji Feng’s mood and left with a somewhat resentful look.
As the footsteps faded away, Xu Miyu patted her chest in relief. She thought Ji Feng was indeed formidable, accurately understanding Duan Aoxiang’s personality and style—he actually came to check if she was flushing the toilet.
There seemed to be another set of footsteps at the door, refined and certainly not Duan Aoxiang’s. Following that, three pairs of footsteps headed towards a particular room.
Xu Miyu steadied her breathing and left the neatly arranged bathroom, heading to the next one near the study. There were people in the study, so she tiptoed into the bathroom, gently closing the door. She didn’t lock it, afraid that the clicking sound might disturb the conversation inside the study.
Behind the slightly ajar bathroom door, Xu Miyu overheard the conversation in the study. Initially reluctant to eavesdrop, she knew it wasn’t right. She intended to turn on the tap to let the flowing water drown out the voices.
But suddenly, her hand froze on the faucet.
She heard Ji Feng speaking Thai. He was speaking Thai. Moreover he spoke standardly and fluently. Those pronunciations rolled off his tongue utterly effortlessly. Ji Feng actually knew Thai! Xiao Mi Yu stood stunned rigid.
An unfamiliar voice also spoke Thai, saying: “Mr. Ji, after all is said and done, I still have to apologize. It was still me who came late in the end.”
Ji Feng consoled him in Thai: “It’s alright, I already explained to you earlier that it was my side who moved the meeting time forward without informing you.”
Then he further explained in Thai: “Later I should have had my assistant notify you. Actually you didn’t need to specially make another trip over tonight.”
The interpreter responded: “How could that be okay? I already received generous payment from you without doing any work at all. To not even show my face in the end, no matter what it can’t be explained away.”
The interpreter also asked: “To be frank Mr Ji, your own Thai is already very good. You actually don’t even need an interpreter.”
Ji Feng told him: “After all I’ve only learned for a couple months. Listening and speaking isn’t a problem for simple things, but when it involves complex business expressions, still having an interpreter by my side is safer.”
…She couldn’t hear what else they discussed afterwards. Xiao Mi Yu stood frozen as her mind swirled chaotically. Ji Feng knew Thai. But he acted like he didn’t. He had long seen through all of Duan Xiang Xiang’s tricks. He knew Duan Xiang Xiang wanted to play him for a fool, yet he imperceptibly played Duan Xiang Xiang instead.
He had originally hired an interpreter, and a Thai interpreter at that. This sealed Duan Xiang Xiang’s lips – discrepancies between Chinese and Thai information weren’t because of inaccurate translations by the interpreter. Thai was the man’s mother tongue, there was no possibility for misunderstandings. But Ji Feng had intentionally sent the interpreter away. If she hadn’t popped up offering herself to Ji Feng, volunteering to expose Duan Xiang Xiang’s schemes, shouldn’t the one exposing him in the end be this interpreter? Yet now, Ji Feng didn’t even need the interpreter’s involvement at all. She had rushed forth eagerly to offend people on his behalf all by herself.
Originally there was still a little offense he would have to shoulder towards Duan Xiang Xiang – by hiring an interpreter, it made him appear distrustful of Duan Xiang Xiang. But now that was taken care of, with her assuming all responsibility of offending people for him.
Xiao Mi Yu raised her head to look in the mirror above the sink. She saw the woman in it had an ashen complexion. That was her discovering what a fool she was, actually allowing herself to be used as a gun by others. She had thought she was rather gutsy and clever this time too. Turns out she was merely a gun in another’s hands. She thought she truly was a laughable existence.
Her entire body shuddered involuntarily, trembling uncontrollably. She felt Ji Feng, who showed no joy or anger, was even more frightening and terrifying than a furious, sinister Duan Xiang Xiang. So this was society. She must have been kept a fool at home before this.
So actually, Ji Feng didn’t need her at all. She had even complacently believed herself useful to him, and used it as a bargaining condition wanting him to help her dismiss Zhang Cai Lu. This truly was a delusional joke. Xiao Mi Yu grasped the faucet to steady her somewhat dizzy self.
She told the ashen-faced woman in the mirror to sober up. He actually didn’t need her help in the first place. So don’t expect either that he would fulfill his promised exchange to send Zhang Cai Lu packing.
Xiao Mi Yu took a deep breath and finished cleaning all the bathrooms in the luxury suite before leaving. Passing through the living room, she saw the interpreter had left at some unknown point. Ji Feng was sitting on the living room sofa speaking with Xue Rui. He seemed to already know she was aware he could speak Thai. After all, if she could hear them talking from the bathroom beside the study, he could also hear the sounds of her entering the bathroom.
Sitting on the sofa speaking with Xue Rui he made no attempt at concealment from her. Even when he saw her, his gaze merely flicked over her lightly before withdrawing again, continuing his own words. “Tricks so shallow and childish, yet he wanted to dupe me. I think he’s gone mad. If he didn’t get dead drunk night after night when he was abroad, perhaps he wouldn’t hallucinate he could use such a flawed scheme full of holes to play me. With that sort of debauched brain, these are the only clumsily obvious tricks he could come up with, exposing the joke everywhere.”
Xue Rui laughed in agreement: “Of course. Our company has extremely stringent internal contract procedures. Just to coordinate this ridiculous farce of President Duan’s, we still have to specially bypass legal and appease the general manager, telling him that skipping over him wasn’t mistrust, rather this business deal was a bit special. We really had it rough!”
He sighed and said, “Think about it, we wasted several precious evenings.”
Ji Feng let out a cold laugh: “I wasted time humoring his act to tell him, those who try to play others will always get played in the end themselves. If it wasn’t for those not bad property qualifications, we could take it over ourselves and establish a footprint in Thailand, or package it up to flip for profit when the timing is right. Otherwise, I really can’t be bothered to waste time with him.”
Xue Rui nodded in agreement: “You said it.”
Ji Feng elegantly lifted his water glass and took a sip, then slowly said: “After everything’s considered, people must have self-awareness. Otherwise, thinking too highly of themselves, in the end they’ll just become a joke instead.”
His words seemed meaningful, like he was talking about Duan Xiang Xiang, yet also seemed directed at Xiao Mi Yu. As Xiao Mi Yu heard these words ringing in her ears, she bade them numb farewell and numbly returned to her own floor.
In the changing room, while changing clothes, she couldn’t help bitterly thinking to herself – could she still ask Ji Feng to exchange getting the supervisor dismissed? Probably not anymore right. After all, everything she had done from start to finish was merely a joke in others’ eyes.
Xiao Mi Yu tossed and turned anxiously all night, dreaming many fragmented dreams. In every dream a battered version of herself struggled wanting to pull herself together, yet in none did she reach the conclusion. Waking up still shouldering all those unresolved hopes made Xiao Mi Yu feel even more wretched than before.
Forcing herself to go to work and get changed, right then she happened to receive a call from Jiao Xiu Mei. Jiao Xiu Mei’s voice first thing in the morning was loud and clear, without any pretense she unleashed a wave of questioning and censure pouring down on Xiao Mi Yu: “Do my words as Jiao Xiu Mei mean jacksh*t to you now? I told you to transfer money for your brother’s mortgage yet you didn’t do it. And you even more often don’t pick up when I call you, you think you’re capable of great things now that you’ve spread your wings huh? I’ll tell you Little Duo Yu, no matter how capable you get I birthed you from my stomach. You can’t escape the grasp of your dear mother me!”
After catching her breath, Jiao Xiu Mei started interrogating: “Let me ask you, are you keeping your money to warm your quilt at night or to cook yourselves rice? Aren’t you afraid it’ll grow fur left alone like that? Do you think if you leave money hoarded in your wallet you’ll hug it til you die? Listen up Little Three, I’ll lay it out plainly now. I know you must still have money. As long as you take out 200,000 now for your brother, from then on I won’t have to pester you every month to transfer money for your brother’s mortgage. Your brother finally found a girl willing to marry him. Her family is asking us for 200,000 yuan dowry. If it’s lacking even a cent the girl won’t marry. If you don’t hand over this dowry money, you’ll be an enemy of the Xiao family. You’ll have failed your brother for life! I’m telling you if our Xiao family line is cut off because of you, after your father and I die and become vengeful ghosts we won’t let you off either!”
Xiao Mi Yu irritably listened to Jiao Xiu Mei’s lengthy tirade. How could she prove she really had no money? She asked Jiao Xiu Mei so. But Jiao Xiu Mei merely raised the stakes even higher: “After so many years together with Nie Yu Cheng, it’s impossible he only left you with that little money. Even if you lost money investing before, you definitely still have other money squirreled away. Little Three quit pretending to be poor with your mother. Your mother Jiao Xiu Mei’s eyes are sharp! You have to apply pressure, only pressure will squeeze out the money!”
Xiao Mi Yu thought she should be long used to this sort of mother. So used to it that the pain had already gone numb. But feeling her wet cheeks she discovered that she was actually crying. Touching her damp face she felt a burst of despair for a time. She silently burst into sobs standing in front of the locker. Was there anyone left in this world who loved her? Her parents’ eyes and hearts no longer perceived her existence. Her siblings merely treated her as a valuable ATM. She once had a husband who loved her but now he loved someone else. Even she herself wanted to loathe her own awkwardness and supposed cleverness on that evening last night when her actions were regarded as a mere joke by others. Even she herself no longer loved her. How could she go on living?
She grasped the phone on the verge of bursting into an inconsolable wail. She didn’t understand why Jiao Xiu Mei could pitilessly demand her own daughter to death for the sake of a 200,000 yuan dowry from an unrelated girl’s family. Through her tears she asked Jiao Xiu Mei: “Are you really trying to force me to death? You absolutely have to force me to death for another woman?”
Paying no heed to her thick nasal tones, Jiao Xiu Mei’s voice rose to drown her out: “Don’t spout death at me Little Three. I’m giving you one week’s time. If you don’t take out this 200,000 yuan dowry for your brother in a week, I’ll come directly to your workplace and die in front of you right then!” The call was first disconnected by Jiao Xiu Mei’s side. It was as if she had issued a life or death verdict before hanging up. Xiao Mi Yu felt she was wounded by this verdict, unable to catch her breath.
Leaning on the locker, she restrained herself for quite a while before finally suppressing her tears bit by bit. When it suddenly dawned on her that aside from crying for herself, no one else could sense her sorrow or ache for her pain anymore. So shedding more tears was meaningless if no one hurt for her. When no one cares, one needn’t even weep.
She wiped away her tears, changed into uniform, and had almost bumped heads with Ke Wen Xue and Yin Xiang when reaching the door. Ke Wen Xue was flustered, hastening to ask if she was alright. Just that one line of polite concern made Xiao Mi Yu feel a warmth in her heart somehow. She smiled and said she was fine, then stepped out.
After Ke Wen Xue and Yin Xiang entered the changing room they immediately huddled together whispering. “You heard it just now right? What Sister Xu said: Are you really trying to force me to death? You absolutely have to force me to death for another woman? What do you think she meant by that?” Ke Wen Xue asked while goggling at Yin Xiang.
“What I think is exactly what you’re thinking right now.” Yin Xiang replied.
“Right!” Ke Wen Xue exclaimed while slapping a palm, “You also think it’s that cheating scum and mistress bullying Sister Xu again right! That wretched scumbag, to actually force Sister Xu to death for another woman too! Although I’m not very close with Sister Xu, cheating trash like him deserves to be flayed and flogged to death by thousands!”
Yin Xiang also sympathized deeply: “To be honest I do feel Sister Xu is rather pitiful and cowardly. That the mistress is openly harassing her like this, I’m getting a bit indignant over it too.”
Ke Wen Xue slapped and stomped her feet: “Exactly! Let me tell you, I feel indignant over this long ago already! I thought it was because Sister Xu was old and plain that the man looked down on her. But I saw yesterday after Sister Xu tidied herself up a bit, wow, she’s actually really pretty! Is that man blind? Right now Sister Xu is just extremely emaciated and sallow. With some self-care and restored energy, she’ll become beautiful!”
After some thought Yin Xiang suggested: “Why don’t we bring Sister Mi Yu with us to get cosmetic treatment after work tonight then?” Ke Wen Xue immediately nodded: “Good good, that’s settled then!”
She paused, then promptly exclaimed while pointing at Yin Xiang: “Wait wait, how come a shrewd fox like you is being so kind today? You’re usually unwilling to get up early without benefit to yourself. Tell me, did you secretly obtain some advantage from Sister Xu?” Yin Xiang swatted Ke Wen Xue’s hand randomly: “If you keep spouting nonsense I’ll break your hand and turn you into a cripple beggar. What advantage could I get? Isn’t it the same as you, just vexed seeing honest people getting bullied by scum?”
After pacifying Ke Wen Xue’s curiosity, Yin Xiang still didn’t forget to caution her some more: “Let’s keep tonight’s cosmetic treatment plans between just us, don’t tell anyone else.” She was actually afraid of Ke Wen Xue’s big mouth letting it slip to Zhang Cai Lu that they wanted to bring Xiao Mi Yu for treatments. Then her privately tipping Xiao Mi Yu off could end up exposed.
Ke Wen Xue promptly agreed: “That works out, I didn’t want Luo Qing Ping finding out anyway. No way am I taking that bootlicker along.”
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