See You Again (Time Already Knows) - Chapter 29
Chapter 29 - The Sprout In The Heart Could Be Dug Out With Ruthlessness
Shi Jian was overjoyed that Zhang Kai returned. She wouldn’t have to go on Yi Pei’s dates anymore and her workload would be lightened.
Zhang Kai didn’t expect Shi Jian to be so elated at his return. He’d brought a few boxes of Maxim’s western style cookies back from Hong Kong and shared them with the general office. He also biasedly gave Shi Jian an extra box of egg rolls. Shi Jian was helping with his work right now and could be considered his disciple, so he definitely had to treat her better. Furthermore, he felt quite sorry for Shi Jian.
On the second day he arrived at Hong Kong, Yi Pei gave him a call to get him a diamond ring custom made, a marriage ring with a very large inlaid diamond. Any woman who saw it would be emotional. But the “VV” engraved inside the band meant that the only one who would forever possess this ring would be Zhao Wenwen.
Zhang Kai looked at Shi Jian with a complicated expression. He exceptionally amiably asked: “Does it taste good? Have some more.”
Shi Jian felt unable to eat any more, but still replied: “Okay.”
In the early morning, when it was not yet time to work, two or three people leaned against Shi Jian’s desk chatting and bantering. The warm sunshine of the beginning of the day fell in from the floor to ceiling windows and landed exactly at the foot of her desk, making the atmosphere cheerful and lively. Emily couldn’t help stirring up trouble: “The more I watch, the more I feel that our Zhang Kai has errant thoughts towards Shi Jian.”
Yes. Shi Jian also nodded inwardly and felt that Zhang Kai had errant thoughts towards her, even though she didn’t really like how Emily acted. She felt he had some kind of hidden intentions.
Zhang Kai grinned and really had a thought. Shi Jian pretty much couldn’t love Yi Pei in this life. If his disciple was willing to settle for second best, he wouldn’t necessarily prohibit it. At this, he immediately turned his gaze towards Shi Jian.
Shi Jian was provoked. She let out a cough and was choked by the fragrant egg roll.
At that moment, a pair of eyes turned towards them. Emily had the fastest reflexes and immediately composed her expression. President Yi arrived; she had to go brew coffee. For unknown reasons, Emily felt that Yi Pei had been unsatisfied with the coffee she’d brewed the past few days, even though he’d been drinking it for two years.
It was difficult to work for someone else.
But to be honest, Yi Pei was a pretty good boss. They’d known each other for a long time. He was young, he really wasn’t hard to communicate with, and he definitely wouldn’t have the arrogance of a CEO. Of course, Yi Pei definitely knew his place, unlike Zhang Kai. Because he came from a large family, he had a clear understanding of the social hierarchy deep within his bones.
Yi Pei was in a slightly bad mood today.
When Emily went in with the coffee, Yi Pei asked her as he flipped through documents: “What were you guys chatting about?”
“Just joking with each other.” Emily replied with a smile, “Zhang Kai is pursuing Shi Jian. We’re just having fun.”
“Oh.” Yi Pei closed his folder, “You can go, and tell Zhang Kai to come in. I want to ask him about the situation in Hong Kong.”
“Okay.”
Zhang Kai quickly came in. He had managed the situation in Hong Kong pretty well, and the pleased expression on his face was difficult to hide. He sashayed to the front of Yi Pei’s desk, and lightly asked: “President Yi, how did Little Shi do when I was absent?”
Yi Pei didn’t answer.
Zhang Kai felt a bit angry.
Yi Pei didn’t even look up: “Zhang Kai, come with me to Gelan City in a bit.”
“Alright.” Zhang Kai thought of Shi Jian. She was very invested in Gelan City, Yang Jiantao was her uncle, and he also wanted to get her some more work opportunities, so he added: “I’ll bring Shi Jian along.”
Yi Pei looked up. He was in a foul mood, so his voice was a bit cold: “As you wish.”
“……” Zhang Kai tapped his nose. A-Pei was so cold, was he about to lose his favor? He’d only been gone for a week.
Shi Jian followed Yi Pei and Zhang Kai to Gelan City and remembered that she still had half of her graduation thesis to write. She’d specifically brought a notebook and a ballpoint pen so she could record notes on Yi Pei’s conversation and turn them into material for her paper.
Yi Pei toured the site of Gelan City and arrived at the VIP lounge outside the sales office. Manager Du, the person in charge outside the sales office, greeted them.
Yi Pei and Zhang Kai found a few managers and had a private informal meeting. A bunch of people sat around on the sofa, brainstorming freely as if they were friends having a chat. There wasn’t enough room on the sofa, so Shi Jian brought over a chair and sat next to them.
An informal meeting was still a meeting after all. Yi Pei was hunched over, with both his hands together, straightforwardly listing out the important questions. Everyone collated and reported according to his questions.
Shi Jian pretty much had her head down and took notes nonstop from noon to sunset, like an attentive student. Shi Jian jotted down another of Yi Pei’s sentences. There were indeed many things one could learn from Yi Pei. Moreover, she discovered that Yi Pei listened to the employees very courteously. When he listened to their questions about the analysis, he even stopped drinking his water.
……
When Yi Pei and Manager Du finished discussing their sales figures, market shares, and other matters related to work, they switched the topic to a normal everyday conversation. He noticed that Shi Jian was still taking notes, and couldn’t help but to notify her: “You don’t need to record that last part.”
Eh? Which part? Maybe the part where Manager Du talked about how his wife had just given birth to a chubby kid, and Yi Pei said his congratulations. Shi Jian felt a bit helpless. She took so many notes that she was getting muddled.
Yi Pei looked over with his peripheral vision. He’d thought she was attentive, but it turned out that she was absent-minded.
The meeting ended. When Yi Pei stood up, Zhang Kai and everyone else also stood. Shi Jian also stood. It was almost dinnertime so Manager Du asked if they should prepare anything. Yi Pei declined and smiled: “We’re all familiar, no need to prepare anything.”
“Yes, yes.” Manager Du repeatedly nodded his head, apparently used to the way Yi Pei operated.
Shi Jian silently left with them. She’d even thought she could have something to eat with them.
Zhang Kai drove them back, so Shi Jian chose to sit in the shotgun seat as before. She was pretty much used to how it felt to come out on work trips with Yi Pei and Zhang Kai. She let go of the restraint she had when facing Yi Pei. She used to think Yi Pei was quiet and uncommunicative, and had a bad temper. In actuality, Yi Pei had a pretty good personality, and never rashly criticized his employees.
When the car drove onto Tianyue Street, Yi Pei seemed to have thought of something and said to Zhang Kai: “Ruihe Yudiao1 is up ahead. Master Tian has already finished Grandpa’s birthday present. Go pick it up.”
“Okay,” Zhang Kai replied.
Shi Jian listened to Yi Pei and Zhang Kai’s conversation and somewhat wanted to take a peek at the gift Yi Pei commissioned. Zhang Kai stopped the car in front of Ruihe Yudiao. Yi Pei didn’t step out of the car. He stayed sitting quietly in the backseat. Shi Jian looked out the window. Yi Pei didn’t tell her to go along; she also didn’t want to get out of the car.
“Shi Jian, you go too,” Yi Pei instructed.
“Alright,” Shi Jian nodded, then immediately opened the car door and followed Zhang Kai.
Inside the car, Yi Pei slowly looked away.
If there was no possibility at all, then he and she would be better off being apart as much as possible. Leaning back, he helplessly thought that in this current situation, transferring her out of the general office would be the best decision. The sprout in the heart could be dug out with ruthlessness. But, he couldn't bear to do it in the end.
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Feelings were very odd. One couldn’t tell when they started, just like how he’d listened to her conversations with Zhang Kai today. He also thought that it was a fleeting thing, and hoped she could continue speaking. Her voice lingered by his ear.
……
Half an hour passed by. Zhang Kai and Shi Jian still hadn’t emerged. Yi Pei looked out the window again. Why were they taking so long?
He gave a quick call. After a pause, the sound stagnated: “Nothing’s wrong. Bring Shi Jian out first.”
Another pause, and he got out of the car.
Fifteen minutes previously—
Shi Jian encountered the Yi family’s Madam Guo inside the shop. Madam Guo brought her grandsons out to see the jewelry. Madam Guo, who was sitting on the European style sofa, looked over just as she and Zhang Kai stepped inside the shop. Madam Guo not only recognized Zhang Kai, but also knew why Zhang Kai appeared in this place. She shook her head as she said: “Master Tian sure worked quickly this time. I presume he worked overnight for A-Pei. No wonder he didn’t have time for me recently.”
Shi Jian froze as soon as she heard that. She knew Yi Pei didn’t have a good relationship with Madam Guo, but didn’t expect it to be this terrible. Madam Guo’s words clearly expressed her dissatisfaction and dislike for Yi Pei.
“Aiya!” Zhang Kai pulled on a blinding smile and went over to start a conversation with Madam Guo. After a short while, Zhang Kai undeniably coaxed a smile from Madam Guo.
Shi Jian truly admired this art.
On this side, Master Tian displayed the present that Yi Pei commissioned for Forefather Yi. It looked prosperous and flourishing, was carved out of alluring emerald green glass-type jadeite of the highest standard, and was of the highest quality.2 Shi Jian considered herself a person that had a glance of the market before, but even she couldn’t help but silently gasp when she saw it. It was beautiful.
This gift was truly commissioned with sincerity. His taste was good. If this piece was put into the jade marketplace, the price would probably be sky high. Shi Jian couldn’t tear her eyes away. The three Yi grandsons next to her were as captivated as she was.
Master Tian gave a final wipe to “Prosperous and Flourishing”, and planned to put it into the box. At that moment, the short and tasteless third grandson of the Yi family, who was about Tim’s height, overbearingly strutted in front of “Prosperous and Flourishing”.
……
When Shi Jian came out of Ruihe Yudiao, she went directly to the hospital.
Just now inside the shop, the jade carving was carried away by the third Yi grandson. Then, what she was afraid of really came to fruition. To save the jade carving that was knocked over by Madam Guo’s grandson, her knee practically slammed straight into the marble flooring.
For children of similar age, Tim was simply the better child. When Shi Jian’s knee hit the floor rigidly, it was so painful that tears rolled down her cheeks.
Then, Yi Pei took her away in front of Madam Guo, insisting on taking her to get an x-ray at the hospital.
The problem wasn’t actually that serious and didn’t affect her kneecap. Shi Jian sat in the emergency room, and let a doctor administer the treatment.
The sound of Zhang Kai and Yi Pei’s conversation drifted in from outside. Zhang Kai described her heroic act of saving the jade carving with an exaggerated tone, as if he was giving her all the credit.
“Quiet down,” Yi Pei interrupted Zhang Kai.
Zhang Kai: “Oh.”
Her knee didn’t hurt all that much anymore and the medicine made it hurt more. Shi Jian’s knee recoiled at the pain. The doctor administering the medicine was old, and thought she’d tripped, so he preached: “Just to look pretty, you girls each wear heels taller than the last.”
Shi Jian looked down at the heels on the floor. They were only five centimeters high.
But in a bit, she wouldn’t even be able to wear five centimeter heels.
Outside, Zhang Kai stood up and went to buy shoes.
When Yi Pei came in to assess the situation. Shi Jian was still being bandaged, and her pants were rolled up to her knees. Her calf was exposed. It was pale and beautiful. The wound was a bit red and swollen, and it probably wasn’t that serious, but he still asked the doctor: “How is it?”
“Not too serious. It will be healed within a few days if medicine is taken on time. Otherwise, don’t wear heels.” The old doctor replied to Yi Pei’s question. He was finished bandaging her. He adjusted his glasses and asked Shi Jian, “Your boyfriend?”
Yi Pei frowned.
“No, he’s not.” Shi Jian sat on the high medical chair, hurriedly denying it and introduced him, “Yi Pei is my boss.”
“Cough…… cough cough!” The old doctor coughed, and shook his head.
Shi Jian remained silent. This old doctor was way too unprofessional!
Fortunately, she wasn’t terribly hurt and she didn’t need Yi Pei to help her out of the emergency room. She sat on a bench outside and waited for Zhang Kai to return with the shoes. Yi Pei sat down next to her and asked again: “How do you feel?”
“Alright.” Shi Jian put her right hand on her knee. The medicine felt cool, and it didn’t hurt anymore.
“Thank you.” Yi Pei said, and gave her a smile, “How fortunate, to think that I have such a good employee.”
“Actually, I……”
Shi Jian looked away. She didn’t know how to say that Zhang Kai exaggerated too much for her. The main reason she reacted instinctively to save the jade carving that had toppled over was because she was afraid the blame would fall onto her.
After all, she was the one who was closest to it.
If she didn’t save “Prosperous and Flourishing”, even if Yi Pei didn’t investigate the situation, Madam Guo would push all the blame onto her. Yi Pei and Madam Guo had an abhorrent relationship, so at the shop, he knew that her injury wasn’t serious but still dragged her to the hospital. This was exactly like the Gelan City Project, magnifying something small. Yi Pei did this to let Madam Guo see.
Shi Jian relaxed greatly as she thought about this. It was so strange that she could inadvertently help Yi Pei again.
Not knowing whether Zhang Kai was ready with the shoes, Shi Jian picked up her cellphone and gave him a call. Zhang Kai was still in the middle of choosing a pair. She was about to spit up blood: “I’m begging you, hurry up. It just needs to be from the women’s section……”
Embarrassedly, Shi Jian glanced at Yi Pei and added: “President Yi is waiting for you.”
Yi Pei curled his lip and dully leaned back on the hospital bench. He wasn’t as impatient as she was.
Ending the call, Shi Jian continued to hold onto her phone. She really wanted to send a text to Ye Jiacheng. Her finger stilled in front of the button for a long time. Yi Pei suddenly asked her: “I heard Zhang Kai is pursuing you?”
Shi Jian looked down: “……”
After a pause, she was still: “……”
Yi Pei saw her flabbergasted expression, and chuckled apologetically: “I’m just joking.”
Yi Pei knew how to kid? Yi Pei and Zhang Kai’s relationship was so great, could it be possible that…… Shi Jian lowered her head and rolled her eyes. She must think of an idea to make Zhang Kai give up his pursuit!
Zhang Kai soon returned with a pair of red flat soled sneakers. They were so ugly that Shi Jian wanted to cry. Moreover, this pair of shoes were very expensive. Today’s medical expenses could be reimbursed, but not the shoes.
Shi Jian asked Zhang Kai: “How much?”
Zhang Kai looked at her curiously: “What are you being so polite for? Consider it a gift from me.”
“……” As expected! Shi Jian lowered her head and changed shoes. Zhang Kai stood in front of her and said as he waited: “Come eat with President Yi and I. Afterwards, I’ll take you back.”
“No need,” Shi Jian declined the offer. She fastened the shoelaces and stood. Then she said in a supremely embarrassed tone: “President Yi, Assistant Zhang. Thank you for today, but my…… my boyfriend is coming to pick me up.”
Author’s Note:
Ye Jiacheng, your rival has been activated……
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