Chapter Ninety-One: Recklessly Testing the Limits of Danger

Su Xiaoxiao cried for a long time, as if releasing all her pent-up emotions, before finally quieting down. She lowered her head and tidied herself a little, then looked up.

"Thank you," she said first.

Even though this was a transaction, she still felt genuine gratitude toward him.

Chen Qi, who had been lost in thought staring into the distance, pulled his drifting mind back. He shook his head and said, "Don't thank me. I have my reasons."

Su Xiaoxiao gave a self-deprecating smile. "What do you want me to do?"

Chen Qi composed himself a bit before answering, "From now on, I’ll be your boss. You’ll work for me."

Su Xiaoxiao bit her lip and stayed silent, waiting for him to continue.

Given she had already prepared for the worst, this condition seemed trivial to her.

"This three hundred thousand is a loan," Chen Qi said. "When you’ve paid it back in full, you’ll be free. Until then, you have to do as I say. Any problems?"

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head quickly to show she had no objections.

She’d already said, as long as he could give her the money, she could agree to any terms.

Chen Qi glanced at her and continued, "Don’t worry. Working for me is no different from working for anyone else. You’ll have weekends and holidays, and you’ll get paid. I promise the salary will match your abilities."

Hearing this, Su Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened in disbelief. For a moment, she thought she had misheard.

A salary? And holidays?

She had thought she’d be working for him for free!

"Any concerns?" Chen Qi asked, looking at her.

"No," Su Xiaoxiao replied, shaking her head quickly.

"You said you had a part-time job at a translation agency?"

"Yes."

"How many foreign languages do you know?"

"I’m fluent in three," Su Xiaoxiao replied, using the word 'fluent.'

Chen Qi nodded thoughtfully and said, "Quit your job at the translation agency."

"Alright!" Su Xiaoxiao agreed without the slightest hesitation.

"What are your plans for next semester?" he asked.

"I’ve already decided. As soon as school starts, I’ll take a leave of absence."

"No," Chen Qi said, shaking his head. "You can’t abandon your studies. You need to get your diploma and degree certificates. If you need money, I’ll lend you some."

"But..." Su Xiaoxiao looked at him in surprise, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something.

Wasn’t she supposed to be working for him?

"Any problems?" Chen Qi’s face was expressionless as he looked at her.

"...No," Su Xiaoxiao finally said, recalling his demand that she listen to him before the debt was repaid, and she said nothing more.

After a moment’s thought, Chen Qi said, "Give me your phone number."

Su Xiaoxiao gave it to him immediately.

Chen Qi dialed her number, and only hung up after her phone rang. "This is my number. Save it."

Su Xiaoxiao quickly saved the number, entering 'Boss' in the name field.

Chen Qi saved her number as well, and then asked, "How long will it take to settle things at the hospital?"

"One day!" Su Xiaoxiao replied quickly. "There’s nothing urgent now. Just pay, and wait for the doctor to schedule surgery."

"Alright. Come see me at this address at ten the day after tomorrow," Chen Qi said, sending her the location of his studio.

"Okay." Su Xiaoxiao kept her tone low, truly fulfilling Chen Qi’s requirement that she do whatever he asked.

"That’s all for now," Chen Qi said as he prepared to leave, unable to think of anything else. But spotting the small suitcase by her side, he added, "Stop singing at bars, too."

"Alright," Su Xiaoxiao replied, biting her lip and nodding. Yet for some reason, seeing Chen Qi get up made her tense all over again.

"I’m leaving now," Chen Qi said, stepping away.

"Huh?" Su Xiaoxiao looked at him in disbelief.

Was that it?

She… she had been prepared for the worst.

But just as she felt a small sense of relief, Chen Qi, like a ghost, silently returned.

Su Xiaoxiao’s heart leapt into her throat, anxiety and fear filling her once more.

Chen Qi regarded her with a thoughtful look. "Other than the translation agency, do you have any other part-time jobs?"

"Two more tutoring gigs," Su Xiaoxiao replied in a barely audible voice.

"Tutoring..." Chen Qi thought for a moment, then said, "Quit them as soon as you can."

Su Xiaoxiao hesitated, but finally nodded. "Okay."

Chen Qi looked at her. Perhaps he saw something in her eyes, for after a moment’s hesitation he added, "Don’t worry. I won’t be making any unreasonable demands of you, at least not anytime soon. I’m not a good man, but I’m not the sort to exploit someone’s vulnerability."

Su Xiaoxiao froze, standing there in a daze.

By the time she gathered her thoughts, Chen Qi had vanished without a trace.

She stared blankly in the direction he’d gone, but the heart that had been so tense finally settled back into place.

She didn’t even know why, but she felt like crying again.

She felt as if she were dreaming.

To her, everything that had happened tonight seemed unreal.

She sat there for a long while, dazed, before finally taking out her phone and opening her mobile banking app.

There, she saw the three hundred thousand balance.

And then, she fell silent.

She stayed silent for a very long time.

After a while, she turned her head to look out the window. The dullness in her eyes had faded, replaced by a renewed light.

She gazed greedily at the city lights as they flickered on, and at last, her tears fell uncontrollably.

She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d sat by a window, watching the world go by with such peace.

And then, she laughed—a laughter mixed with tears.

The world no longer seemed shrouded in darkness.

It was still that vibrant, beautiful place.

…

On the pedestrian street outside, Chen Qi hailed a taxi.

Watching the city lights and trees flash by through the window, the heaviness in his heart brought on by thoughts of family gradually lightened.

No matter what, one had to look forward.

And truly, finding someone like Su Xiaoxiao was something to be happy about.

He hadn’t made her sign any contract or agreement. He hadn’t even checked her identification.

He’d done it on purpose.

This was his final test for her.

He wanted to see if she would keep her word and meet him as promised the day after tomorrow.

Three hundred thousand was a fortune to many, and he wanted to know whether, without any binding constraint, she would honor her promise.

Yes, it was a little reckless. But he could afford to be reckless now.

He was dancing on the edge, testing human nature!

If she disappeared with the money, then he’d just count it as paying for a lesson.

But…

He believed he’d see her again.

He trusted his own eyes, his own judgment.

She seemed to be someone worth trusting.

…

(Seeing as it’s two in the morning and I’m still updating, how about some recommendations, everyone?)