444 A step towards the answers
“How is he bad news?”
Hou Lin said, “There are some whispers floating around that Shi Publishing is losing its spark. To regain its importance, there might be some shady activities going on. Internally within the departments too, there have been quite a few disputes. Lu Bohai is one of them in the scuffle who is racing to be someone who can do something to save his job. I heard one author left due to his aggressive marketing tactics. He was starting to get involved with the editing team by forcing the authors to write stories that he wanted based on the market trends.”
Xing Bi gasped. “That’s horrible!”
“One author left with such pressure. It is also becoming increasingly dissatisfied for the authors because nobody is pressurizing Miss. Shi in this way. Only the others are suffering so naturally, voices against this injustice are coming out.”
She pressed her lips.
Shi Huan…
She must be so stressed out by this. I know she is not asking for any special treatment, yet she is forcibly getting it and making her the villain.
Hou Lin adjusted his coat. “Hence I was wondering how Miss. Sun knew Lu Bohai.”
Nian was extremely and thoroughly displeased with this conversation between Xing Bi and Hou Lin.
Why is this man acting like he knows everything! Don’t steal my work! I promised Xing Bi that I will give her all the information!
Do you think you will impress her with your knowledge!?
He pulled his assistant to the side and said in a hushed voice, “How much did you charge this man for the cake?”
“T-the usual rates, Boss…”
“Idiot!” He smacked him. “You should have charged him fifty percent more!”
“…”
That’s way too much, Boss!
He cried. “We are fair to our customers, Boss.”
“Except him!”
“Boss, you cannot be childish because you are jealous.”
“I am not jealous at all!”
“Tell that to your twisted, angry face!”
Xing Bi shook her head. “What would a man like him want from Miss. Sun?”
Hou Lin blinked. “Is he asking her something?”
Her brow twitched.
I-I cannot say that Nian and I stalked her…
She tried to give an innocent smile. “Nian and I just returned from the cafe she was at with Lu Bohai and it was a coincidence we heard some bits and pieces. I couldn’t hear it clearly though. Just that he was asking something from her.”
Hou Lin understood and nodded. “I see. Miss. Sun is a talented person. I only hope she is not involved in anything. The farther she stays away from Lu Bohai, the better.”
Xing Bi nodded and Nian – finally losing his patience and too much tears, pulled her back and projected his threatening figure to Hou Lin.
“Cough out thirty bucks more for the cake, you punk!”
“What for?”
“Excess charge for talking to my Xing Bi. I knew it! You are definitely not pure with your intentions for her!”
“Liu Nian!” She twisted his ear. “I warned you not to make a mess!”
Hou Lin flatly replied. “I already answered that I don’t have any feelings for Miss. Xing. So I won’t pay anymore money.”
The assistant bobbed his head.
Yes, yes, we shouldn’t spoil Boss. Good going.
Nian sniffled. “Xing Biii, he ruined our romantic date. I should tell Jun to fire him.”
“You-“
“I am sure he wouldn’t fire me,” Hou Lin said.
Nian threw him a glare. “You know my brother better than me?”
“Sir Jun is fair and strict and won’t let his personal relationships influence him. And I know that as a man traumatized by his twin elder brothers since childhood, he will do the opposite of what you will say anyway.”
“…”
“I might even get a pay raise instead.”
“…”
Hou Lin paused with this great idea. “So I humbly ask you to please tell him to fire me.”
“…”
Xing Bi burst into laughter. “Hahaha, I can see Liu Jun definitely doing that.”
“How do you even know he is traumatized!? Hmph, you are just an employee at Sky.”
“The whole company knows this. Sky security systems are built in a way that won’t let you and Mr. Liu Jian entry in Sky. The guards are informed of the same. Not to let you two pass through the gates.”
Little brother, you traitor!
Xing Bi choked.
Damn that’s awesome!
Nian lamented.
Maybe I should have bullied Jun a littleeeeeeee lesser back then…
—
The air in the condo was extremely grim as the day had culminated into the night, yet Jin hadn’t woken up from his unconscious state. His fever was at the same level, even peaking a few times.
pan-d a-n0vel.com Jun hadn’t left his side even for a moment. Shui was on the other side of the bed, keeping Jin company.
The door slightly nudged open and a furry figure peeked inside. Shui blinked with shock. “A cat? I didn’t see him before.”
“Ah? Oh yeah…” Jun whispered. “Ai brought him here. We are keeping him for a few days.”
The cat cautiously walked and then hopped onto the bed.
“Ah, can I pet him? He is so cute. Wait, his eyes are so like yours,” she smiled.
Jun’s brow twitched. “I think he won’t let you. He isn’t letting Ai or me near him either.”
The cat proved his words true by ignoring both Jun and Shui. Instead, he stared at the sleeping Jin and perched beside his chest.
Jun stared at the cat in wonder. “Jin is the first person he willingly came in contact with. That’s amazing.”
The cat tapped his paws on Jin’s cheeks and softly meowed. Then he rested his head on his forelegs and closed his eyes.
—
In the kitchen as Ai was cooking a light dinner, she heard a beep from her phone. She checked it and saw that it was an answer to her question she had asked someone a few days ago. She had read some articles and wanted to know if it was true or applicable to her question.
‘You feel that your friend is acting very differently than before. She is doing things that you think are impossible for her to do so. To this I would say that medically, this will require more examination to truly come to a conclusion. But if there are such disparities in her behavior as you say, then I think she might be having a split personality disorder.’