Chapter 5
Bo Chi was bewildered as Yu Zhao held her. After Yu Zhao’s emotions subsided, she softly said, “This road is too dangerous. There are actually robbers roaming around. Why don’t you find a different job? My company is hiring. You could start as an intern…”
Yu Zhao released her, a murderous glint in her beautiful eyes. “I recognize that man’s voice. He ate at the barbecue stall before. It’s likely that Lin Ye’s outburst last time attracted his attention, giving him the idea to rob someone and lie in wait here.”
And his target wasn’t likely her, but Bo Chi.
Otherwise, why hadn’t she encountered him despite passing through here every day, yet he appeared the one time Bo Chi didn’t bring her bodyguards?
It was too much of a coincidence.
Yu Zhao quickly pieced together the truth but didn’t tell Bo Chi to avoid making her feel guilty. She simply said concisely, “Don’t worry about this. I’ll handle it. Remember to bring your bodyguards when you go out, especially when I’m not around.”
Bo Chi blinked, then blinked again, before breaking into a bright smile and nodding vigorously.
While she acted obedient in front of Yu Zhao, upon returning home, she folded her arms, sat down, crossed her long, sleek legs, and said in a harsh tone, “Send some people to follow Yu Zhao and give those she fought in the past few days a taste of their own medicine!”
How dare they try to rob her, Bo Chi?
Did they really think she, the villainous female supporting character, was a pushover?
**
Two days later, the bodyguards returned to report. Bo Chi listened absentmindedly, her gaze fixed on the manicurist painting her nails.
It wasn’t until the bodyguard mentioned Yu Zhao that she looked up. “Didn’t I tell you to take care of the aftermath? How did the barbecue stall owner find out about this? And why did he fire Yu Zhao?”
The bodyguard replied, “They don’t know the specifics. They only know that Yu Zhao is someone you don’t mess with, having taken down an adult male. The stall owner doesn’t know the robber. He simply sided with his fellow man and found Yu Zhao disagreeable.”
Bo Chi suddenly understood.
She got it.
Some men are quick to form alliances. They don’t care if the person who made a mistake is a rapist or a murderer. They will always defend their fellow men first, even going so far as to fabricate accusations against the victim.
This time was no exception. The man was clearly in the wrong, yet the stall owner fired the innocent Yu Zhao. Their solidarity was truly applause-worthy.
However, this presented Bo Chi with an opportunity. She had long felt that working at a food stall was a waste of Yu Zhao’s talent. Despite being nemeses, she only wanted to annoy Yu Zhao, not watch her future be ruined.
Now, with the perfect opportunity to persuade her to join the company, she couldn’t sit still any longer and prepared to leave for school early.
After taking a couple of steps, Bo Chi remembered something and turned back. “I recall you mentioned that the stall owner, because Yu Zhao was a student, initially deducted a third of her wages. Now he’s fired her and pocketed the entire month’s pay?”
The bodyguard nodded. “Yes.”
Bo Chi tapped her slender finger against the doorframe, her red lips curving into a sly smile. “That makes things easier. His actions violate labor laws. Take some people and pay him a visit to educate him on the law—and as tuition, get back double the amount he deducted from Yu Zhao.”
The bodyguard bowed his head. “Yes, Miss.”
**
When Bo Chi arrived at school, it was still early. Most students hadn’t arrived yet, but Yu Zhao was already sitting upright at her desk, having been reading for who knows how long.
As her nemesis, Bo Chi, carrying bread and warm milk, sat down opposite her without hesitation, interrupting her diligent studying. “You’re skipping breakfast again. You’ll get a stomachache if you keep this up!”
Yu Zhao paused, her gaze lifting with a strange expression. “How did you know I didn’t eat?”
Bo Chi glanced at the book she was reading and replied casually, “Whenever you eat breakfast, you drink something afterwards, and your lips look moist. If you don’t eat, you don’t drink water, and your lips stay dry all morning… Are you reading a book on financial management? Do you understand it?”
Although she knew Yu Zhao was intelligent and had a talent for business, seeing her, still a student, poring over such specialized books surprised Bo Chi.
Yu Zhao lowered her eyelashes, replying after a pause, “Yes, I can grasp the theory, but putting it into practice is still quite challenging.”
Bo Chi rested her chin on her hand. “Then do you want to come to my company as an intern? Learn from the bottom up, and when you graduate, you can directly take charge.”
Yu Zhao glanced at her, unexpectedly not refusing immediately.
Seeing her lost in thought, Bo Chi leaned closer. “If you agree to come, I promise I’ll never bully you again.”
—Trading ‘minor bullying’ for the ability to monitor Yu Zhao’s every move and prevent her from getting together with Lin Ye was a great deal!
The more Bo Chi thought about it, the more pleased she became, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Yu Zhao. Yu Zhao pursed her lips, a blush creeping up her cheeks and the tips of her ears. Her eyelashes fluttered as she avoided Bo Chi’s gaze, whispering, “If I go to the company, will I see you often?”
Bo Chi hummed. “Definitely. It’s my company, after all. But if you don’t want to see me…”
Before she could finish, Yu Zhao softly said, “Alright, I’ll work at your company.”
Bo Chi hadn’t expected the persuasion to go so smoothly. She was overjoyed.
After enduring the morning classes, she happily took Yu Zhao to the company to complete the formalities. With her, the little boss, present, the staff’s efficiency was extremely high. Half a day later, it was announced that Yu Zhao could officially start work.
Bo Chi observed for a while. Seeing Yu Zhao, though unfamiliar with many things, maintain a calm and focused demeanor, observing the work attentively and quickly getting the hang of things, she felt inexplicably happy for her.
After watching for a while, she didn’t disturb Yu Zhao. Once she confirmed Yu Zhao had adapted well, she quietly left the company.
Because she was a student, Yu Zhao could only go to the company during her free time. With Bo Chi’s protection, coupled with her own excellence and hard work, the employees had no complaints.
Two months passed in a blink of an eye. As she became increasingly prominent in the company, she also found time to send Bo Chi a text message: [The company needs to conduct a questionnaire. Do you have time to fill it out?]
Bo Chi was lounging on the sofa, clipping her toenails, when she saw the message. She readily replied: [Yes, send it over.]
A form arrived shortly after.
Bo Chi opened it and began filling it out seriously.
[What is your birthday?]
[February 2nd.]
[What is your favorite color?]
[Light blue, light green, pale yellow…]
[What do you like to eat?]
[There are too many to list! I like anything delicious, whether it’s southern soup dumplings or northern wide noodles. I’m not picky!]
[What kind of gift would you most like to receive?]
[As long as it’s prepared with care, I’ll like it.]
[Are you free this weekend?]
Writing this, Bo Chi suddenly understood something. She exclaimed softly and sent a text message to Yu Zhao’s supervisor: [The company is conducting a questionnaire?]
The person quickly replied: [We haven’t planned anything like that yet. Would you like to arrange one?]
[No, it’s nothing. I was just asking.] Bo Chi dismissed the supervisor and turned back to Yu Zhao: [Asking all these questions indirectly, are you planning to give me something?]
Yu Zhao was silent for a long time before slowly replying: [I’ve saved up some extra money recently and have nowhere to spend it, so… is there anything you like?]
Bo Chi actually did have something in mind. She typed excitedly: [I’ve had my eye on a hot pot restaurant lately! My friends all say the spicy broth there is amazing. If you’re free, come with me!]
Yu Zhao hadn’t expected her to have such simple desires. After a moment of silence, her lips curved upwards: [Okay.]
On the weekend, Bo Chi put on a beautiful knee-length dress, slipped on her fringed heels, tied her hair back with a ribbon, and walked briskly alongside Yu Zhao to the private room of the hot pot restaurant.
After ordering, she habitually placed napkins on the table.
Yu Zhao glanced at her, thinking nothing of it.
When the broth started boiling and the dishes were served, Bo Chi picked up a fish ball. After one bite, her eyes teared up. Yu Zhao finally noticed something odd and asked in astonishment, “Can’t you eat spicy food?”
Bo Chi’s lips were slightly swollen from the spice, but she still swallowed the fish ball, then expertly wiped her eyes with a napkin, stubbornly declaring, “I can!”
Yu Zhao: “…”
Her crisp voice had become hoarse. Can my foot!
Yu Zhao couldn’t stand it anymore. Snatching her chopsticks, she said exasperatedly, “Wait, I’ll ask them to change it to a clear broth.”
Bo Chi shook her head vigorously. “I don’t want clear broth. It’s bland. I want spicy!”
Yu Zhao’s expression remained impassive.
Bo Chi looked longingly at… the chopsticks in her hand, her voice dejected. “Don’t change it to clear broth. Don’t… don’t you like spicy food the most?”
Yu Zhao suddenly tightened her grip on the chopsticks.
She didn’t ask Bo Chi how she knew this. A thought suddenly arose in her mind—Because she liked it, even though Bo Chi couldn’t handle spicy food, she insisted on coming here to please her?
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