Xu Miyu woke up early in the morning and discovered it was another overcast day in Xing City.
It had been continuous days of gloomy overcast skies, signaling that Xing City was about to enter its autumn rainy season this year.
After going out, Xu Miyu also discovered that not only was the sky overcast, it was also raining, and it didn’t look like it would stop anytime soon. She hurried back to the dorm to grab an umbrella.
When Xu Miyu arrived at the top floor suite of the hotel, she was surprised to discover Ji Feng’s outfit and appearance this morning seemed somewhat different from usual. Normally by the time she arrived at the hotel, Ji Feng would have already washed up and changed into clothes early on.
But today he was still wearing his robe, his hair also somewhat disheveled. His whole being appeared rather listless, slumped limply on the sofa eating congee for breakfast as if it were poisonous medicine.
Xu Miyu quietly asked Xue Rui what was going on with Ji Feng.
Xue Rui softly told her: “The boss had insomnia last night.”
Xu Miyu thought, so even rich people can suffer from insomnia.
She had assumed that for someone as wealthy as Ji Feng, life would be carefree and worry-free. Their biggest vexation each day would at most be wondering how the chef could make their meals not taste like chicken feed, and when meeting so-and-so later, what kind of mocking expression they should use to verbally cut them down.
Hearing Xue Rui speak again softly beside her, “The rainy season is about to start in Xing City these next few days. Every year when autumn rains arrive, Boss Ji suffers consecutive bouts of insomnia and bad temper. Sister Mi, be more careful these next few days.”
Xu Miyu thought to herself that even without the insomnia, Ji Feng’s temper hadn’t been very good to begin with.
But she kept her sarcasm to herself, maintaining an honest and respectful demeanor as she thanked Xue Rui for the warning.
Yet the moment she turned her head, she met Ji Feng’s narrowed gaze looking her way.
That familiar sense of guilt at having her inner thoughts seen through once more clogged in Xu Miyu’s throat, involuntarily making her breath hitch for an instant.
For Ji Feng, once autumn rains arrived every year, the nights became exceptionally unbearable.
When this season came around, as soon as the rains started it would make him feel vexed and sleepless. He would be unable to fall sleep entire nights on end.
To him this season was like the darkest period in his life.
That year when he was eight, it had been on a rainy autumn night like this that he witnessed his father’s affair and his mother’s hysterical side. From then on the home that had once felt warm to him never seemed like home again.
He still remembered that year’s autumn rainy season, the gloomy drizzling rain that went on ceaselessly for almost a month. It was on one of those dank, chilling rainy nights that his father did not return home. His mother held him on the sofa waiting. He watched as she made call after call, her expression growing uglier each time until the usually gentle face had turned ashen and even hideous.
It frightened him a little, but exhaustion still won out over all other emotions. Unknowingly, he fell asleep.
He didn’t know what time it was when his mother shook him awake. Looking outside, the sky was still pitch black night.
His mother’s expression seemed rather odd. She woke him up and would not let him sleep again, telling him that she and Father had fought and Father refused to come home. Now only he as the son could go bring Father back.
His mother swore adamantly to him that seeing his son, Father would definitely return home.
Later when he thought back on it, her adamance had simply been his mother deceiving herself.
Braving the rain, his mother drove him somewhere. She gave him a more detailed address, telling him: Your father is in there, go find him and bring him home.
Then he was made to get out of the car by his mother.
The rainy night outside was indescribably damp and chilling. One umbrella could not block out too much of the rain. His entire being was embedded in the clammy, bone-chilling rainy night. His whole body felt an indescribable discomforting stickiness.
Mustering his courage he headed to the address his mother had given him. It was a beautiful garden villa. Again mustering his courage he knocked on the door, and saw his father. At the same time, he also saw another woman.
That was the first time he understood his father no longer completely belonged to their family. He turned and left.
Returning to the car he told his mother he could not bring Father back. He wanted to go home.
But his mother instantly flew into a hysterical rage, telling him to keep looking, that tonight if he did not bring Father back then neither of them should return home or expect to sleep.
In the end he did not keep looking for his father. He did not want to plead with that unfaithful father. It wasn’t him who had done something wrong but Father, so why should he be the one to yield and plead.
And so he faced off against his mother the entire night in the rain, neither of them sleeping a wink.
The endless gloomy drizzle of that night seemed to cast a curse, sinking deeply into his mind. That clammy, bone-chilling feeling made it so every year when this season came around, he would be unable sleep. As if when darkness fell he would recall that unfaithful father, his other home in the garden villa, his mother’s hysteria, and her hoarse words forbidding anyone to sleep.
The previous night as soon as it turned dark, a pattering mizzle started falling. He immediately became unable to sleep. No matter how much liquor he drank or intense exercise he did, none of it worked during the autumn rains.
Morning came and he had hoped it would be sunny, that he might see some sun and perhaps catch up on sleep during the day. But it disappointed him by still being overcast. Even the stock market had better prospects than the weather outside – no matter how overcast things became there would still be an eventual turnaround. Yet the skies remained stubbornly gloomy.
While eating breakfast his mind was still on what other methods could be used to make himself fall sleep.
His gaze happened to sweep over Xu Miyu and Xue Rui standing together whispering about something.
Whether it was her posture, bearing, or the respectful expression on her face, everything was impeccable about her.
Yet beneath that perfectly presented exterior he seemed to glimpse her innermost thoughts fiercely badmouthing him.
He couldn’t help giving a mocking huff of laughter at that.
It wasn’t the first time he had noticed her extremely two-faced inner world. So she wasn’t truly and utterly honest as she appeared. She dared to think and curse about things in her heart.
Thinking this, Ji Feng suddenly called Xu Miyu’s name.
“Xu Miyu, come over here.”
Xu Miyu immediately walked over respectfully, cautiously asking if he needed anything.
Ji Feng spoke flatly, as if discussing a simple matter. “I didn’t sleep well last night. Find a way to make me fall sleep and take a nap today.”
“……”
Xu Miyu was stunned speechless for a moment.
“If you can’t do it, I’ll send you back early to the administrative department for your supervisor to deal with.”
“……”
Xu Miyu thought Ji Feng might be one of those people called hypocritical scoundrels.
This demand was truly unreasonable and scoundrelly.
Although she felt Ji Feng was being utterly unreasonable and making undue demands of her, she still had to restrain herself in the end. She forced back the rebellious thoughts of talking back and resisting. Instead she racked her brains trying to think of methods to make him fall sleep.
Soothing music, no effect. Hot milk, no effect. Getting people from the recreation department to come up and give him a thorough foot massage, still no effect……
Xu Miyu had wanted to try massaging him herself. But she had cut her hand last night while slicing beef and couldn’t exert any strength, so she had to give up on that.
With all methods proving ineffective, Ji Feng’s patience was nearing its end. Gloomily he scolded her in increasingly caustic tones, his commands growing more and more tormenting.
Xu Miyu was about ready to directly go find a stick to fiercely knock Ji Feng out unconscious.
Enduring indignantly, she made great efforts to fulfill his endless vexing demands.
Yet oddly, the more obedient she was, the more it seemed to anger Ji Feng. As if her swallowing indignity and grievance only spurred him on to increasingly press down and torment her.
His words grew unbearably taunting, as if deliberately picking faults.
“Is that all you’re capable of? Can’t even properly make someone sleep?” Ji Feng continued verbally mocking her.
Xu Miyu took a deep breath, telling herself to endure and not argue back.
But she still couldn’t help retorting in her heart. Sleep isn’t something that you yourself should be controlling! If you can’t fall sleep what does that have to do with my capabilities? Totally unreasonable!
“You were a full time housewife for a few years right? With no need to work everyday, at home you still can’t properly research something as basic as sleep?” Ji Feng’s mockery raged on fully.
Xu Miyu silently took deep breaths.
Too shameless! What does being a housewife have anything to do with you! Who made the rule that housewives must research these things? Simply…bastard logic!
“What, you don’t agree with what I said?”
Xu Miyu forcibly suppressed the rebellious emotions churning in her heart, peacefully replying. “No.”
Yes, I truly completely disagree! So much I want to throw myself at you and bite you!
“No? But I can hear you cursing at me in your heart. What, you dare to secretly curse but don’t dare to say it aloud?”
This is already directly provoking her.
Xu Miyu swallowed indignity: “I’m sorry Mr. Ji, if this has given you that feeling then it is my mistake.”
“Heh.” Ji Feng gave a cold mocking laugh. “I don’t feel your apology is sincere at all. Apologize again.”
Xu Miyu took deep, deep breaths.
At the side even Xue Rui was starting to feel anxious. He also didn’t understand why today Ji Feng was insisting on nitpicking Xu Miyu. Although his temper turned bad from insomnia every autumn rainy season, it shouldn’t become like this. Right now it was practically as if he was deliberately provoking things.
He wanted to speak up for Xu Miyu but the moment he opened his mouth Ji Feng silenced him with a fierce glare. “Shut up.” Then he turned back to stare at Xu Miyu, continuing to mock and command. “Apologize again.”
Xu Miyu made tremendous efforts to suppress her nearly uncontainable urge to rebel. Breathing deeply she apologized again. “I’m sorry Mr. Ji, I was wrong.”
But Ji Feng did not seem satisfied by this at all. His mocking even took on a sarcastic bent. “You did nothing wrong, how could you be wrong.” He paused, then his tone turned. “Since that’s the case, tell me what exactly you did wrong then.”
“……” Xu Miyu felt she was a mere step away from completely exploding. She had never met someone as utterly unreasonable and relentless as Ji Feng!
She forcefully restrained herself, reluctantly apologizing again. “I was wrong in…making you feel I said bad things about you in my heart.”
“Didn’t you?” Ji Feng immediately mocked and questioned in return.
“……No.” Xu Miyu asserted.
“Heh.” Ji Feng gave another cold laugh. “You think just because you’re the only one who knows if you said it or not that’s enough? Do you think I’m blind and an idiot, unable to see or feel it?”
“……” Left without recourse, Xu Miyu could only attempt to mollify him. “I’m sorry Mr. Ji, don’t be angry. It’s all my fault okay? As long as you’re no longer angry I’ll accept any punishment.”
“Is that so?” The mocking lift in Ji Feng’s tone leaked a trace of malice. “I’m in a bad mood today. Kneel and apologize to me, otherwise I can’t get over this anger.”
The moment this demand left Ji Feng’s lips, its preposterousness left Xu Miyu and Xue Rui dumbstruck.
“B-boss……”
Xue Rui wanted to intercede again but Ji Feng’s glare shot out once more, warning him. “Shut up, get out!”
Xue Rui no longer dared to make another peep.
Ji Feng looked back to Xu Miyu. “Since you can endure so many things, one more kneeling apology shouldn’t be difficult for you either.”
Staring at Ji Feng’s completely mocking face, listening to his extremely outrageous words, sensing his aloof arrogance and contempt for other people’s dignity, the surging rebelliousness and defiance within Xu Miyu could no longer be contained. They welled up together, bursting from her throat.
“Mr. Ji, may I ask if you aren’t going too far with this? Yes, even if I did secretly complain in my heart, is that even illegal? Do you reign over everything under heaven, able to control even what other people think? Is it my mistake or are you interfering too much, being too overbearing and going overboard? I can tolerate many things but I absolutely won’t tolerate kneeling to wrongly apologize to you this time! Fire me if you want since you can decide my position with one sentence. But I will definitely not kneel for you today no matter what! Then I simply won’t work here anymore if that’s the case!” After saying all this in one breath Xu Miyu was so agitated even her complexion had turned red.
It seemed she had never been this brave before at work, completely not enduring and instead pouring out her true thoughts and all the things she wanted to rebel against and resist.
Although she felt a tinge of regret after, not knowing what consequences this would bring about. But it still felt fantastic to vent these feelings instead of endlessly swallowing her indignation! She now understood how delightful it was to give voice to her defiance instead of docilely bearing it!
After saying her piece Xu Miyu stood there fists clenched at her sides, chest thrust out and head lifted proudly. Like a warrior marching to the execution grounds she awaited Ji Feng’s verdict and sentence on her.
At the side Xue Rui also didn’t even dare to breathe loudly. He had never seen Ji Feng deliberately make things difficult for someone to this extent before, nor had he seen anyone resist Ji Feng’s deliberate provocations like this. It was as if each of them was on display demonstrating their extremes today.
Like Xu Miyu he also awaited Ji Feng’s angry pronouncement of Xu Miyu’s sentence.
But unexpectedly the next second, what left Xu Miyu and Xue Rui shocked was Ji Feng actually laughing.
Although it was an extremely subtle smile with only the corners of his lips quirking up slightly, he was indeed smiling.
“Xu Miyu, fortunately you did not truly kneel and apologize. If even that demand could be endured by you I would have looked down on you even more.”
Hearing this Xu Miyu stared blankly.
The outcome differed far too greatly from what she had imagined……
While she remained stunned, Ji Feng leaned back lazily on the sofa, casually gathering his robe closer as he unhurriedly said. “Xu Miyu, my goal today was to make you understand that what I detest most is cowardly people. Always so servilely obedient, never learning to reject the demands of others. No matter how awful they feel inside, they would still go ahead and do it. And remember this as well. I also detest all those who don’t know how to demand recompense. So you had better learn not to do extra work for nothing – not claiming payment doesn’t mean you’re kind, that merely shows your cowardice in the end. The most useless people in society are cowards. In my eyes cowardice is even more terrifying than wickedness.” He looked steadily at Xu Miyu, enunciating word for word. “Because villains go hurt others while cowards only hurt themselves.”
Xu Miyu stared at him dumbly.
So…he had been teaching her just now to resist and say no?
After a long time she softly said, “Thank you Mr. Ji.”
Ji Feng’s brow quirked up. “Thank me for what?”
The corners of Xu Miyu’s mouth lifted slightly as she told him. “Thank you for not truly making me kneel just now.”
Seeing her smile, Ji Feng also gave an amused snort.
“But you still must find a way to make me sleep. Otherwise I’ll really send you back to Feng KaiXin’s disposal.”
“……”
Xu Miyu thought some people were just so strange. Always making it so one couldn’t even maintain their gratitude to him for three seconds.
Xu Miyu racked her brains for numerous methods but still nothing worked on Ji Feng.
The two eyes Ji Feng glowered at her with already had clearly visible red veins from lack of sleep.
Xu Miyu privately discussed with Xue Rui. “Why don’t we just drug him?”
Xue Rui shook his head. “Useless.”
Xu Miyu asked. “The effects aren’t good enough?”
Xue Rui said. “He feels the medicine tastes bad and is picky about eating it.”
“……Oh, I see.” Xu Miyu thought, so he’s picky about even medicine.
“So what does the boss usually do to get through this time every year?” She couldn’t help asking Xue Rui again.
Xue Rui told her, “Around this period every year, he’s basically in a half-dead state until the rainy season passes and he can fully revive. So during the autumn rains each year Boss Ji usually doesn’t discuss any major projects. Outsiders can never figure out why, but the reason is very simple. Purely because he lacks sleep and has no energy.”
Xue Rui shook his head as he spoke. Xu Miyu clicked her tongue as she listened.
Then they continued racking their brains together.
In the end it was as if every method that could possibly work had been tried to no avail. The three of them couldn’t help feeling a bit despairing, it seemed they could only resign themselves to fate and let nature run its course.
Xu Miyu only hoped Ji Feng wouldn’t exhaust himself to death before the rainy season ended.
Without proper sleep at night and unable to nap during the day, even Ji Feng’s appetite turned bad. He practically ate nothing at lunch, soon having Xue Rui clear away the dishes.
Reclining on a chaise lounge by the window in the living room, his whole being appeared rather on his last legs.
That weak spot in Xu Miyu’s nature for finding others pitiable started bouncing around uncontrollably again. Seeing the usually powerful and arrogant man so easily laid low by insomnia really made one’s heart ache with distress.
She couldn’t help asking Ji Feng, “Isn’t there anything that would make you feel unbearably sleepy?”
Ji Feng also raised his eyes halfway to look at her asking back, “Is there anything that would make you feel unbearably sleepy?”
Xu Miyu thought about it then replied, “There really is something! Back in college whenever we had to do English listening comprehension, I would feel sleepy without fail every time.”
Thinking about it made her smile.
“And not just me, all our classmates were like that too. Later whenever we had trouble sleeping, we would put on earphones and listen to some listening comprehension passages or English articles. Five minutes top and we’d be out cold.”
Lying there Ji Feng gazed at her smiling face through slitted eyes.
Abruptly he ordered Xue Rui who was sitting at the coffee table going over documents. “Go get the files from my study desk in the bedroom.” Then he instructed Xu Miyu. “Grab a chair and come sit across from me.”
Xu Miyu was a little confused but still obediently went to pull a chair over and set it before the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, sitting opposite Ji Feng.
“Too far. Move closer.” Ji Feng said again.
Xu Miyu shifted the chair closer towards him a little.
“Still too far. Come closer! What, you afraid I’ll eat you? You’re not that tasty-looking.” The mocking started up once more.
Xu Miyu decisively pulled the chair right up to Ji Feng until she was nearly face-to-face with him, close enough they could have a nice heartfelt chat.
Ji Feng seemed satisfied with this distance. But Xu Miyu felt rather awkward, unclear just what Ji Feng intended.
Surely he didn’t really want to casually chat with her?
Xue Rui swiftly went to fetch the documents and handed them to Ji Feng, who accepted them and started flipping through. As he did so he told Xue Rui, “You can carry on with your tasks.”
Xue Rui returned to his seat on the sofa and continued with his work.
As Ji Feng browsed the pile of documents he asked Xu Miyu, “Which foreign language listening used to make you sleepiest?”
“English.” Xu Miyu replied.
Ji Feng halted his rifling through the files. Then he pulled out a sheet and passed it to Xu Miyu.
Xu Miyu accepted it and glanced down. It was an English market research report.
“Read it.”
Ji Feng’s command was simple and to the point.
Only now did Xu Miyu understand his intention in having her sit so close.
Taking the document she started reading aloud. Whenever she came across words she didn’t quite recognize she would replace it with “um”. The first page was full of technical terminology introductions. Her ums were rather frequent. After umming her way down the page it didn’t make Ji Feng drowsy at all. Instead it amused him into laughing.
He gave an mocking chuckle. “Trying to add some humor to invigorate me since I lack energy? Or do you think I’m not spirited enough?”
Xu Miyu could feel her cheeks grow vaguely hot. She softly murmured an “apology”.
But with so much professional jargon that I’m seeing for the first time, isn’t it normal? Why mock her?
“Speak your real thoughts. Don’t say one thing but think another.” Ji Feng directly stated.
Xu Miyu thought back to the lesson Ji Feng had just taught her. She directly voiced her true thoughts.
“The first page is full of technical terms I’m unfamiliar with and don’t recognize many of. So reading it is a bit challenging…” She couldn’t help tacking on a little grievance at the end. “But why does this warrant mockery too?”
Ji Feng glared sharply. “So it turns out you’re actually hiding quite some grievance in your heart?”
Pinned by his sudden glare Xu Miyu had an urge to shrink back into her shell. She almost blurted another apology by reflex.
But Ji Feng put away his piercing look. He found a more comfortable position to lounge on the chaise as he told Xu Miyu. “Flip ahead and find a page with fewer words you don’t know to start reading.”
Xu Miyu swiftly turned the pages. After flipping over two or three pages she scanned one that had far fewer obscure words to her. She started reading.
After Xu Miyu had read two pages Ji Feng made no more caustic comments for quite a while.
She temporarily halted her narration and glanced up at Ji Feng.
Upon looking she couldn’t help feeling rather shocked.
Ji Feng had actually fallen fast asleep sprawled on the chaise!
She looked back and forth between Ji Feng and the English document in her hands. Abruptly she felt somewhat unhappy.
She had tried so many methods yet he stubbornly resisted drowsiness. She had merely read two pages of English before he conked out.
So her reading English was just that dull and soporific?!
In the middle of her silent complaints, she noticed Ji Feng stirring awake again.
After a brief moment to orient himself, even he seemed surprised. “I fell asleep just now? So monotonous English recital really is useful.”
“……”
Xu Miyu truly wanted to disregard all consequences and fiercely fling the document right at Ji Feng’s face.
Ji Feng shifted to recline even more deeply and lazily into the chaise. Then he told Xu Miyu, “Keep reading.”
And so Xu Miyu continued reading.
As Ji Feng listened he fell back asleep again.
But the instant Xu Miyu paused he would wake up.
“Don’t stop. Read it all the way through then start over from the beginning again.”
Ji Feng’s instructions came easy but Xu Miyu read until she was dizzy and tongue-tied, barely enduring. She had to read the same document over and over. By the later repetitions she nearly had it memorized.
If she dared to pause for a drink of water, to use the bathroom, move around the room a bit…none of it permitted.
The moment she stopped, Ji Feng would wake.
She wanted Xue Rui to take over reading but after he managed four or five pages Ji Feng showed not a hint of drowsiness. Instead he persistently corrected any hesitations or misplaced accents from Xue Rui.
Xu Miyu and Xue Rui exchanged silent, mutual incomprehension.
Looked like only she could read, and must do so without any breaks or stopping…
Xu Miyu didn’t know how many times she had read that one document front to back. By the end she was utterly dizzy and tongue-tied, finally unable to endure and stopping completely.
Ji Feng woke right up.
But he seemed to have regained his energy. Even his tone of voice had lost its dispiritedness, now brimming with vigor.
“Why did you stop again?”
The indignation Xu Miyu had been enduring could no longer be borne. She unleashed a tiny tantrum. “I’ve been reading the entire afternoon until seeing English letters makes me nauseous. I can’t possibly read all night for you!”
Wasn’t it going overboard for him to refuse to release her like this just to let himself sleep?
Ji Feng thought for a bit then asked Xu Miyu, “Can’t you just wake up later tomorrow then? I’ll allow you to come late tomorrow night. Pause for now and read me a while more.”
Xu Miyu quickly informed him, “Tomorrow’s the weekend and I’m off. Also I have plans tomorrow morning that require me to get up early. I really can’t stay up late tonight.”
Ji Feng promptly quirked a brow. “What plans do you have tomorrow?”
Xue Rui who had been waiting to one side was also startled.
Ji Feng had never concerned himself with what plans others might have.
Xu Miyu looked at Ji Feng’s completely blasé face waiting for her answer. It seemed if she didn’t provide a reasonable explanation or casually make up some excuse to mollify him, he would not lightly let her leave.
She could only say, “My older sister’s appetite has been poor lately. She can only eat the braised beef I make. She asked me to go over tomorrow to make her some more.”
Ji Feng was in no hurry to speak after hearing this. Xu Miyu assumed he would still make things difficult for her, forcing her to read English for another few hours before allowing her to leave.
But after a brief silence Ji Feng said, “I’ve slept enough today, you may go.” Xu Miyu hurriedly got to her feet, afraid that moving a beat slower might make Ji Feng change his mind.
Yet right when she reached the door, Ji Feng called for her again.
“Xu Miyu.”
Xu Miyu halted. Her heart sank down.
Maintaining a calm front she turned to ask, “Mr. Ji, anything else?”
Lazily draped across the chaise, Ji Feng leisurely informed her, “I want some of that braised beef tomorrow too.”
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