Chapter 7
Having worked for Pei Songji for so long, Jing Ciying had become attuned to his every whim, often understanding his intentions without a word being spoken.
But today’s cryptic remark left him baffled.
“Hold back what?” Had Pei Songji seen through him?
Hesitant, he probed, “What?”
Pei Songji seemed to regret his words, dismissing him with a casual “Nothing,” clearly unwilling to elaborate.
Jing Ciying knew better than to push, focusing on adjusting Pei Songji’s accessories before accompanying him to the blind date.
Yes, his job was that trivial and tedious.
At the restaurant, Jing Ciying stationed himself at a discreet distance, ready to assist if needed.
He had no interest in his boss’s personal life, so he ordered his own meal and ate.
He usually avoided such expensive places, but since Pei Songji was footing the bill, he indulged.
Midway through his meal, feeling obligated, he glanced towards Pei Songji, assessing the situation.
Pei Songji was chatting with the woman but kept glancing in his direction, seeming distracted.
Although he couldn’t hear their conversation, Jing Ciying had a feeling the date wouldn’t be successful.
Less than an hour later, Pei Songji stood up to leave.
Jing Ciying followed.
Pei Songji was unusually quiet, the atmosphere tense. Jing Ciying was surprised. It was just a blind date; such a reaction seemed excessive.
Despite his curiosity, he remained silent, respecting his boss’s privacy.
Back in the car, Pei Songji unexpectedly asked, “What did you think of her?”
Jing Ciying was taken aback. Pei Songji was usually decisive and rarely sought his opinion, especially on personal matters.
But since he asked, he had to answer. He quickly recalled the information he had gathered on Pei Songji’s date.
The Pei family held a prominent position in Lincheng, so his potential partners were never ordinary.
Today’s date was Su Yu, the daughter of the Su Group. She had reportedly grown up abroad, joined the family business after obtaining her master’s degree, and was being groomed as the heir. She and Pei Songji were a perfect match on paper.
Their backgrounds, upbringing, and experiences were similar; they should have plenty in common. Jing Ciying had hoped it would work out.
So, he offered his honest assessment. “Miss Su is a good match for you in terms of family background and capability. But of course, your feelings are what matter most.”
“Feelings…”
The word seemed to sting Pei Songji, who fell silent.
Did he have feelings for Su Yu? The answer was obvious.
She was perfect, almost flawless, but he felt nothing.
A wave of regret washed over him. He shouldn’t have agreed to the date.
He had just come to terms with his own feelings; how could he possibly fall for someone else so quickly?
But…
He glanced at Jing Ciying, who was oblivious to his inner turmoil, and reminded himself.
He couldn’t allow himself to have feelings for Jing Ciying.
Pei Songji wasn’t interested in Miss Su, and the feeling was mutual. They didn’t contact each other after the date.
However, Elder Pei wasn’t ready to give up. Having finally gotten his grandson to agree to a date, he wasn’t about to let go. He tried to arrange more, but Pei Songji refused them all.
Elder Pei was furious, feeling like his grandson was playing games with him. He had longed for great-grandchildren for years, and now that there was a glimmer of hope, it had been extinguished.
But he knew his grandson’s stubborn nature. Force wouldn’t work. He resorted to a softer approach.
One of Pei Songji’s peers was getting married and sent an invitation.
Elder Pei immediately forwarded it to Pei Songji, insisting he attend.
Perhaps witnessing a wedding would inspire him.
Pei Songji knew his grandfather’s intentions but couldn’t refuse him outright. He agreed, reasoning that it was just attending a ceremony, not getting married himself.
He asked Jing Ciying to accompany him, carrying the gift.
Attending a wedding wasn’t a problem; it meant a free meal.
But the wedding was on Saturday, Jing Ciying’s day off.
Pei Songji knew this and offered triple overtime pay.
Jing Ciying readily agreed.
He usually spent Saturdays with his sister at the hospital. Although it was only one day, he felt guilty.
He visited her on Friday, explaining the situation before leaving.
As he stepped out of her room, he saw commotion in the next room. People were moving things out.
Curious, he approached and saw the room was almost empty. The patient, the young man, was gone, along with the medical equipment.
He usually saw the handsome young man lying there, but now the bed was empty, the sheets neatly folded.
His first thought was that the young man had woken up.
A surge of joy filled him. He had witnessed such miracles before, though rarely. In all these years, only once or twice.
Even though they were strangers, he felt genuinely happy for him.
As the relative of a coma patient, he desperately needed such stories to fuel his own hope.
For a moment, he felt as if Jing Cijun had also awakened. He looked around for Ji Shuhuai, wanting to congratulate him.
But he couldn’t find him. He must have taken the young man home.
How wonderful. They had a chance to express their feelings.
He offered to help, but the room was almost cleared out. The person in charge declined his offer.
Seeing his familiarity with the room, the person asked, “Do you know Mr. Ji?”
“Yes,” Jing Ciying pointed to the next room. “My sister is the patient next door.”
“I see.”
“Has Mr. Ji gone home already? I haven’t had a chance to say goodbye.”
“He’s gone.”
“Then…”
Jing Ciying was about to ask him to convey his congratulations when the person continued, “The funeral home called, so Mr. Ji went there directly.”
“Funeral home?” The words froze the smile on Jing Ciying’s face. It felt brittle, like a mask.
The joy he had felt moments ago shattered into a million pieces.
A chill ran down his spine.
“Yes,” the person sighed. “It wasn’t entirely unexpected. The doctor had said the young master’s condition wasn’t good and he might not make it through the year. But we didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. He was gone just like that.”
Jing Ciying remembered Ji Shuhuai’s sadness in the stairwell.
He must have known. No wonder he had been so heartbroken.
“We’ve almost finished packing. We’ll be going now,” the person said.
Jing Ciying snapped back to reality, wanting to speak, but his throat felt constricted. He managed a weak nod.
“Goodbye,” the person said, turning to leave.
“Wait…”
Something compelled him to follow. He opened his mouth to speak, but his throat was dry and scratchy. He finally managed to croak, “Wait.”
“Yes? Is there something else?”
“I…” He clutched his throat, wondering why it suddenly hurt so much. “I don’t know your… the young master’s name. I never asked. What was his name?”
“Oh, his name was Lu Mi.”
“Mi?”
“Yes, like ‘lost’ . TL’s note: The name ‘陆迷’ (Lù Mí) includes the term ‘迷路’ (mí lù), which literally translates to ‘to lose one’s way’ or ‘to get lost’ in Chinese. The character ‘迷’ (mí) implies being disoriented or lost, while ‘路’ (lù) means ‘path’ or ‘road.’ When combined, ‘迷路’ conveys the idea of being lost or off course, often symbolizing confusion or a sense of directionlessness. In this context, the name may suggest that the character is metaphorically ‘lost.'”
Jing Ciying couldn’t understand his grief for a stranger he had never even spoken to.
That night, he developed a fever. The next morning, his throat was raw and painful, his voice barely a whisper.
He considered calling in sick but, remembering the triple overtime pay, dragged himself out of bed, took some medicine, and went to Pei Songji’s residence to accompany him to the wedding.
Despite his discomfort, his professionalism compelled him to put on a brave face. Even Pei Songji didn’t notice he was ill.
At the wedding, Jing Ciying presented the gift and sat quietly behind Pei Songji.
The bride and groom were childhood sweethearts, their relationship a natural progression.
Although Jing Ciying knew that marriages in their circle were often transactional, this couple seemed genuinely in love, even shedding tears during their vows.
He had initially felt indifferent, but now, he thought of Ji Shuhuai and Lu Mi.
If Lu Mi hadn’t died, would they have been standing here one day?
There were no ifs.
No one knew what tomorrow held.
He couldn’t predict the future or change the past.
A pang of sadness, or perhaps fear, gripped his heart.
Fear that his sister might also disappear one day, without warning, like Lu Mi.
Illness made one vulnerable. He hadn’t realized he was crying until his vision blurred.
Ashamed, he quickly lowered his head, hiding his tears.
He had no right to cry at a stranger’s wedding.
He raised his hand to wipe his eyes with his sleeve.
Another hand reached out first. It was a beautiful hand, long and slender, with elegant fingers and perfectly manicured nails, untouched by the hardships of life.
It was Pei Songji’s hand.
He was offering him a dark gray cotton handkerchief.
Jing Ciying stared, incredulous, then hesitantly took the handkerchief and wiped his tears.
He wasn’t sure whether to return it. He knew Pei Songji’s aversion to germs.
Even a slight touch was usually unacceptable, let alone a used handkerchief.
But he also knew the price of Pei Songji’s belongings. Even a small handkerchief cost a fortune. He couldn’t bring himself to throw it away.
As he hesitated, Pei Songji took the handkerchief back.
Jing Ciying was stunned. “Mr. Pei, I used it.”
Pei Songji turned away, as if he hadn’t heard, offering a nonchalant “Yes.”
“Mr. Pei…” Jing Ciying started to say something.
Pei Songji cut him off.
“I don’t mind.”
Jing Ciying touched his forehead. It wasn’t as hot anymore. The fever must have subsided. He wasn’t hallucinating.
Then…
He pulled out his phone, opened the browser, and typed a search query.
What to do when your boss is acting strangely? Urgent.
