Ever since Ji Feng told Xue Rui to ignore the noises from the bathroom, Xue Rui obediently suppressed all his curiosity and firmly planted himself on his seat.
He then quietly watched as groups of people kept entering the bathroom... quietly imagining what could possibly be happening inside, why so many people went in but weren't in a hurry to come out.
That older woman was still inside—he wondered how she was doing. Everyone going in were Duan Aoxiang's friends. Could she be at a disadvantage in there?
Just as his imagination was running wild, he noticed a figure moving in front of him.
Snapping back to attention, he saw Ji Feng standing up from the sofa.
Xue Rui quickly stood up as well, eagerly asking, "Boss, please stay seated. If there's anything you need, I can handle it for you."
Ji Feng glanced at him, his tone cool: "I need to use the bathroom. Can you do that for me too?"
"..."
Xue Rui choked on his words.
Then he saw Ji Feng heading toward the very bathroom where the scream had come from earlier. He hurriedly reminded Ji Feng, whose long legs had already carried him three meters away in the blink of an eye: "Boss, that bathroom is full of people, and it hasn't been cleaned up yet. Wouldn't you prefer to use the suite's bathr..."
Before Xue Rui could finish, Ji Feng spoke without turning back, his voice tinged with impatience: "Too far. Tired."
Xue Rui processed this for a moment before realizing Ji Feng meant the other bathroom was too far away, and he couldn't be bothered to walk there—it was too tiring.
But this nearby one was crowded with both men and women. Wouldn't kicking people out be even more exhausting...
He quickly added, "I'll accompany you, to help you..." Help you clear people out.
But immediately his feet were rooted to the spot by Ji Feng's icy tone: "Since when do I need an audience for my bathroom breaks?"
Xue Rui obediently returned to his original position.
How could he have forgotten this? His boss wasn't just particular about cleanliness—he was downright antisocial. Ordinary things like friends going to the bathroom together to bond would never happen with him.
Just as he'd once said, he couldn't imagine waking up one morning to see a woman with sleep in her eyes and morning breath lying beside him. He considered that more terrifying than a nightmare—a horrific dream.
Thanks to his extreme fastidiousness and perfectionism, he remained single and aristocratic to this day, making his mother deeply fear that while she hadn't failed to produce an heir, she might still end up with no grandchildren because of this particular "heir."
As Xue Rui's thoughts wandered, he suddenly saw the bathroom door become busy again. It was like a portal, spitting out everyone who had gone inside earlier, one by one—even Duan Aoxiang was ejected.
Wait—the older woman who had gone in to clean and let out that inexplicable scream emerged too.
Xue Rui stared at the bathroom doorway as if witnessing a brand new unsolved mystery.
His boss had actually let laziness overcome his fastidiousness, willing to use a bathroom that hadn't been properly cleaned.
Soon enough, Ji Feng emerged as well. The disgust on his face carried an almost angry quality, as if furious at himself for entering such an impure space.
Xue Rui immediately went to meet him, eagerly asking: "Boss, nothing... untoward happened in there just now, did it?"He looked at the slightly upturned corner of Ji Feng's eyes, quickly deciphering the emotions hidden within. Besides disdain and anger, he felt there was something more.
What was it? Was it annoyance at himself for meddling in others' affairs?
"What could possibly happen?" Ji Feng's reply was filled with irritation.
Xue Rui spoke before he could think, blurting out, "Actually, sir, were you just helping that older sister out because you couldn't stand Duan Aoxiang's behavior?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he was met with Ji Feng's dagger-like glare.
"If you don't want that loose tongue of yours, I can have it sewn shut. If your brain is suffering from delusions, go see a doctor. If you don’t want to work as an assistant anymore, you can get lost right now."
Xue Rui immediately fell silent.
The intensity of Ji Feng's glare was so terrifying that he felt as though he had already been stabbed to death.
After coming out of the restroom, Xu Miyu wanted to leave, to escape this place that appeared glamorous on the surface but was actually filled with filth and chaos. However, Duan Aoxiang wouldn’t let her go, threatening her harshly with the loss of her job.
Xu Miyu thought about asking the housekeeper to speak up for her, but the housekeeper, resentful over being assigned the unpleasant task of cleaning the dirty restroom, secretly wished for Xu Miyu to suffer. Not only did she refuse to help, but she even sided with Duan Aoxiang, intimidating Xu Miyu by saying that Duan Aoxiang indeed had the power to make her lose her job with just a single word.
Xu Miyu couldn’t afford to lose her job. At this point, this job was her lifeline, the only thing keeping her afloat, and she had to hold onto it tightly.
With no other choice or way out, she had no option but to follow Duan Aoxiang’s orders.
Duan Aoxiang made no attempt to hide his vindictiveness as he bossed Xu Miyu around.
Wherever he went, he made Xu Miyu follow behind him, constantly having her serve and pour drinks, ordering her to wipe this and that.
Before the Thai business partners arrived, he deliberately gathered a group of people around him and announced loudly, "Come on, everyone! We’ve all been enjoying ourselves separately for a while now. It’s time to have a drink together!"
Ji Feng was sitting right beside him, and he made it clear with his furrowed brows that he wanted no part in this.
Duan Aoxiang didn’t press him. The fact that Ji Feng hadn’t gotten up and left was already a sign of respect. He didn’t dare ask for more.
He played along with the others.
Leaning back on the sofa like a pompous lord, he ordered Xu Miyu, "You there, yes, you. Go get us some drinks. We’re going to have a toast together."
He counted the people around him—more than ten in total—and proceeded to list over ten different drinks: "Get me a glass of brandy, no warmer than 18 degrees; two glasses of champagne, no warmer than 8 degrees; a glass of white wine at 7 degrees Celsius; a glass of 1997 Burgundy red wine... and two glasses of whiskey, one without ice and one with ice. The one without ice should have ginger ale, and the one with ice should have soda water."
Over ten glasses, each with different requirements, he deliberately spoke quickly and in intricate detail, without repeating himself, and threatened Xu Miyu, "You there, if you dare get any of these wrong, I’ll report to your supervisor that your professional skills are utterly lacking!"
Xu Miyu remained unfazed by his harassment and intimidation. Her face showed no emotion, though inwardly she cursed Duan Aoxiang with exhaustion.
She turned to fetch the drinks, carefully gathering each one according to the specifications before arranging them on a tray and carrying them over to Duan Aoxiang.Duan Aoxiang was fully prepared for that woman to inevitably mix up the drinks. He had eagerly devised a plan: if she didn’t beg him tearfully today, he would seize this mistake and torment her relentlessly.
A woman who dared to displease Lord Duan deserved nothing but a miserable fate.
“Let’s see how many drinks she can get right for me!” he remarked, turning to Ji Feng with a raised eyebrow and a mocking glance.
Ji Feng shot him a cold look, making Duan Aoxiang feel somewhat awkward and deflated.
Shortly after, Xu Miyu returned carrying a tray.
Her slender arms appeared frail, yet she held the tray laden with over a dozen glasses of alcohol steadily.
As she presented the drinks to Duan Aoxiang, he glanced at them and immediately began his sarcastic remarks: “If I find even one mistake, you’re finished!”
But when he took a second look, he abruptly stood up from the sofa.
Leaning in, he scrutinized each glass carefully, only to grow dizzy from his own inspection.
He grabbed his assistant and asked, “A Ni, did you record everything?”
A Ni, seemingly experienced in such matters, promptly took out his phone, opened the audio recording app, and handed it to Duan Aoxiang.
The assistant, tall and imposing, obeyed Duan Aoxiang unquestioningly. Though called an assistant, he resembled a loyal bodyguard more than anything.
Duan Aoxiang listened to his own voice on the recording, cross-referencing the chaotic additional conditions he had listed earlier. To his astonishment, the woman had not made a single mistake—the types of alcohol were correct, the temperature specifications were accurate, and even the details like ice, soda water, or ginger ale were all perfect.
“Well, aren’t you clever? You must have recorded it too, didn’t you? Did you sneak your phone in during work hours? Come here—I’m going to search you!” Duan Aoxiang rolled up his sleeves, ready to frisk her.
Seeing him and his hands advancing, Xu Miyu instinctively stepped back to avoid him.
Drunk and agitated, Duan Aoxiang grew impatient: “Come here! What are you hiding from? I just want to check your phone—it’s not like I’m interested in you. Take a good look at yourself—do you really think I’d be into someone like you?”
With that, he grabbed Xu Miyu’s arm.
She struggled, insisting she hadn’t brought her phone and trying to break free. She even pleaded that if such a search was necessary, her supervisor should be called.
But Duan Aoxiang ignored her and gave her no chance to seek help. The more she struggled, the tighter his grip became. The onlookers egged him on, closing in around her and blocking her escape route.
Trapped like a cornered animal, Xu Miyu felt a wave of bleak despair wash over her.
Was this the top-floor suite? Were these the glamorous, elite people residing in the luxurious rooms?
All she wanted was to make a living—why did it have to be so humiliating and difficult?
In her despair, she thought, Forget it. Let him search me if he wants. Let him humiliate me to vent his anger.
Her life was already in shambles—how much worse could it get?
But just as she was about to give up, a voice cut through the noise. Cold and disdainful, yet commanding.
“That’s enough.”
Hearing this, Duan Aoxiang released her and sat back down on the sofa.Xu Miyu saw clearly that the person who had just spoken was Ji Feng. When she looked at him, his gaze was also sweeping toward her. It was a brief glance, but it made her entire body stiffen.
He didn’t seem to recognize her. But the annoyance and disdain in his eyes were unmistakable. It was as if she were some kind of garbage, so repulsive that even a single glance at her had soured his mood completely.
She thought Ke Wenxue was right—this man had exceptionally handsome features, especially those upturned eyes of his.
But how could such beautiful eyes hold such a sharp, cutting gaze?
She lowered her head.
“If you’re going to tease someone, at least pick someone clever. What’s the point in teasing a block of wood?”
She heard Ji Feng speaking to Duan Aoxiang, his tone dripping with boredom and impatience.
“You’re right, Old Ji. Am I drunk or what? Why am I even bothering with her? She’s all dusty-faced, old, and ugly. No fun at all, no fun at all!”
Even as he said it was no fun, his expression turned thoughtful. After studying Xu Miyu for a few moments, he turned back to Ji Feng and said, “Wait, no—it’s not that it’s no fun. Actually, there’s something interesting about her. But I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. Isn’t that weird, Old Ji?”
Ji Feng ignored Duan Aoxiang’s rambling. With the last shred of his patience, he asked, “You said your Thai client would be here ‘right away,’ but that ‘right away’ was half an hour ago.” He stood up, ready to leave. “I’ve waited long enough. You can keep drinking. I’m heading back.”
Duan Aoxiang quickly stood up to stop him. “Hey, Old Ji, don’t go! Look, I set this whole thing up just for you. Wait a little longer, okay? Just a bit more!”
Ji Feng insisted on leaving. Duan Aoxiang scrambled to follow and block his way but was suddenly blocked by Xu Miyu, who was standing with her head bowed in front of the sofa. The combination of the obstruction and his drunken dizziness made him stumble and fall.
That was the last straw. Sitting on the floor, he lashed out at Xu Miyu, “What are you, a wooden post? Standing there like a blind fool—can’t you see he’s about to leave?”
Xu Miyu turned to look at Ji Feng’s retreating figure. She remained frozen in place.
Duan Aoxiang, still sitting on the floor, was growing increasingly frantic. He pointed at Ji Feng, who was almost at the main door of the room, and shouted at Xu Miyu, “Hey, you! Go! Go help me stop him! If you manage to keep him here, I’ll let tonight slide and won’t hold it against you! What are you standing there like an idiot for? Go!”
The words “Go!” jolted her mind. Instinctively, she moved, trotting over to Ji Feng and reaching out to tug gently on his sleeve.
It was a small gesture she used to use with Nie Yucheng when he was upset. She would gently pull his arm, look up at him with pleading eyes, and beg, “Don’t go, okay?”
More often than not, Nie Yucheng would soften at her little gesture and pleading tone. He would ruffle her hair and tell her that he had been wrong to lose his temper, promising that he would never let her feel wronged again—and that no one else would either.
For a moment, as she watched Ji Feng stride forward, she seemed to see the Nie Yucheng of the past. She stood there, stunned. Then Duan Aoxiang’s roar jolted her mind, and in a mechanical reaction, she performed that familiar little gesture.
She tugged at Ji Feng’s sleeve and looked up, seeing through him as if he were someone else.Her voice trembled as she pleaded with him, "Please don't go..."
But the response that came was filled with such disdain it chilled her to the bone: "Who gave you permission to touch me? Let go!"
Her vision sharpened into focus.
She saw clearly now that the man before her was Ji Feng. When he looked at her, his expression was filled with revulsion, as if gazing upon something filthy.
She began to loathe herself intensely as well. Had she suffered some injustice outside that made her think of Nie Yucheng again? But when she decided to abandon him and the privileged life they once shared, she shouldn't have kept yearning for him—for the tenderness and good days he had once given her. Why was she so weak? Could she not live without Nie Yucheng?
She immediately released her grip as if burned, and "I'm sorry" poured from her lips like floodwaters.
A series of footsteps at the doorway rescued her from her embarrassment.
The distinguished guest they had been waiting for had finally arrived.
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