Although They're Mentally ill, They're Extremely Easy to Comfort - Chapter 31

The heart of Ji Changyi ached in waves, hurting for Qiao Bo’er and for herself: “You’re in this state, and she’s still the first person you think of. Why put yourself through this?”

Chu Xi, who was standing behind him, gently placed the cup on the coffee table. She didn’t become flustered because of Qiao Bo’er’s illness. Her tone was as calm as ever: “The Boss believes Ling Xi is her lifesaver, which is why she brought us to Xuancheng without hesitation. She’s been very happy these days, happier than ever before.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her laugh so unrestrainedly, or even be seriously persistent about something, like a child in kindergarten.

Dr. Ji, I know you have a special affection for the Boss. But time and circumstances are telling you she doesn’t belong to you, so please don’t make things difficult for her or for yourself.

I apologize, my words might be presumptuous, but I still thank you for traveling a great distance for her sake.”

Chu Xi, a rare embodiment of clear-headedness.

After speaking, she didn’t linger and quickly left the office to carry out the task Qiao Bo’er had assigned her.

Ji Changyi sat exhaustedly on the carpet, quietly accompanying the deeply sleeping Qiao Bo’er.

If one could find a reason to retreat in just a few words, the meaning of love would become a joke. What Chu Xi said and what he had advised Qiao Bo’er essentially amounted to the same thing—earnest but difficult to shake.

If you fall in love with someone, then hide her secretly in the depths of your soul. When the night is quiet, bring her into your dreams, and let her become a secret from then on.

But such a secret has no place to hide; otherwise, how could Chu Xi have discovered it?

Because no matter how deep it is hidden, the look in your eyes when you gaze at Qiao Bo’er will never lie.

Watching Qiao Bo’er’s brows gradually furrow in her sleep, Ji Changyi tentatively reached out to smooth away her anxiety. If only he could fly into her dreams and wipe away all the suffering.

Yet, he had always been helpless. Even a simple greeting felt superfluous.

Ling Xi, however, was different. Her mere existence brought her an unattainable kind of preference.

How unfair, yet how utterly unavoidable.

Ji Changyi recalled the scene he saw when he entered the office. He gently picked up Qiao Bo’er’s limp hand and clasped their fingers tightly, holding her even tighter, unwilling to let go even for a second.

The cold touch of Qiao Bo’er’s hand resting against his cheek made Ji Changyi close his eyes in pain. He had to accept the current reality: the fact that Qiao Bo’er would not fall in love with him.

“But do you know? How much I love you… If she can truly save your life, I am willing to set aside my selfishness and fulfill everything… Besides that, what else can I do for you?”

Ling Xi stood on the empty space in front of the Jiatai Commercial Building, gesticulating at the entire office building, as excited as a child seeing a room full of fried chicken legs: “Is Qiao Bo’er that rich? The whole building belongs to her?”

Qin Yun looked at her ‘village-girl’ demeanor, crossed her arms, and teased: “Of course, it’s all hers. And there are many expensive plots of land, properties, branch companies, and a whole lot of miscellaneous stuff. Her net worth easily exceeds a few dozen small milestones—no exaggeration.”

“No wonder she dared to fund the school so much money at once. It turns out it was just a drop in the bucket, a small case!” Hearing Qiao Bo’er’s net worth, Ling Xi’s scalp started tingling again. No wonder she could use a white marble gauntlet as a desk pen; her family fortune was ridiculously thick.

“She’s such a huge, rich beauty. Don’t you want to tightly hug her thigh?”

Qin Yun’s joke carried a deep meaning. She deliberately threw out Qiao Bo’er’s wealthy status to see if Ling Xi was sensitive to material things, to achieve a ‘bitch-testing’ effect.

“Hey! I’m not like the wild butterflies outside. I’m just her teacher, only doing the one thing of teaching. I don’t covet or care about anything else. No matter how rich she is, it has nothing to do with me.”

Ling Xi was only surprised by Qiao Bo’er’s wealth but never considered taking a shortcut to make a fortune. Being a kept woman was completely irrelevant to her.

This attitude pleased Qin Yun: “It seems Associate Professor Ling is very clear about things that don’t belong to her. That’s commendable.”

“A gentleman loves wealth but acquires it through proper means. I’m a respectable person; the salary I get for teaching is paid by the school. If I were to say what benefits I could gain from Qiao Bo’er, it’s just leeching a few meals off her. That shouldn’t bring divine retribution, right?”

Ling Xi asked cautiously, eliciting Qin Yun’s hearty laughter: “You’re really cute…”

As the two were casually chatting, Chu Xi hurried out from the main entrance.

Chu Xi’s appearance instantly attracted Qin Yun’s attention. She slightly turned her head to look at the disrupted pace of the steps and somewhat guessed what had happened upstairs.

“Associate Professor Ling.” Chu Xi approached and directly addressed her target to state her purpose: “Did you enjoy looking around the company? President Qiao has an important, temporary arrangement and can’t accompany you, so she instructed me to take you home.”

Chu Xi’s explanation was natural and polite. Ling Xi, of course, didn’t sense anything amiss, merely nodding blankly: “Your company is quite large and nice… Then let her get busy. I need to go back to school to pick up my car; you don’t need to bother driving me.”

“I only follow the Boss’s arrangements; I dare not act on my own.” Chu Xi was in a difficult position, but Ling Xi waved her hand and refused again: “You really don’t need to worry about me. I have other plans. You two go back and get busy.”

“Then… see you next time, Associate Professor Ling… Oh, right, President Qiao’s class tomorrow is tentative. If it’s on, I will inform you beforehand.”

“No problem, go back quickly.”

Watching Chu Xi and Qin Yun walk toward the office building, Ling Xi stood with her hands in her pockets, staring blankly up at the towering office building, wondering where Qiao Bo’er’s office was, staring for a long, long time.

Ruling the world and saying she’s busy is understandable, Ling Xi thought, shrugging her shoulders lightly before turning and heading toward the street corner.

…

Xiao Mo leaned back on the sofa and teased Ling Xi grumpily: “What have you been busy with lately? Not coming to the studio, not coming to the cafe. If you don’t show up soon, I’m going to report you as a missing person.”

Ling Xi lay straight on the sofa, gazing distractedly at the ceiling lamp, answering lazily: “What else can I do? Dealing with that crazy woman.”

“She’s still pestering you?” Xiao Mo counted the days; it had been almost a week, and he was surprised Ling Xi was still resolving the compensation issue.

Ling Xi propped her head up with her arm, squinting and yawning: “She recently proposed a new compromise—to offset the 3.5 million debt with no less than 30 antique appraisals, and I also have to find the raw materials to help repair that pair of glasses. I haven’t agreed yet, so I came here to discuss it with you… This has really worn me out these days…”

Su Yunjin delivered a coffee to Ling Xi, then turned and sat beside Xiao Mo, thinking the new proposal was acceptable: “Isn’t that a good suggestion? As long as you don’t lose money, everything is negotiable.”

The two sat side-by-side, staring intently at the lazy Ling Xi, not even blinking, curious to hear the rest of the story.

Ling Xi scratched her ear, wearing a look of deep-seated grievance, and began a minute-long painful complaint: “You have no idea how I’ve survived these days!

To retaliate, Qiao Bo’er abruptly donated 50 million to the school and demanded, in front of all the school leaders, that I open a class just for her.

Now I have morning classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and afternoon classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My schedule is packed; where do I find the time to come to your two places?

She also constantly uses her Big Boss identity to pressure me. I got unlucky getting mixed up with her!

It’s all your fault, Xiao Mo. If you hadn’t asked me to go to the studio that day, my life would be so much more comfortable now!

Look at the ink on me; she did this today. She wasn’t serious about my class at all. Every day she finds ways to mess with me, making me lose all face in front of the students.”

Su Yunjin smiled, sipping her coffee and smacking her lips, seemingly happy about Ling Xi’s tragic encounter: “You’ve been acting like a bully for so long, and now someone finally dares to ride roughshod over you, the ‘Demon King of the World.’ Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Yunjin! Why are you siding with her?”

Xiao Mo gave Su Yunjin a meaningful look and agreed with her point of view: “Although I don’t know why this President Qiao is fixated on you, Yunjin is right. It’s a good thing to have someone spur you on, and it helps us keep an eye on you so you don’t cause trouble outside. It’s simply a wonderful thing.”

Ling Xi sat up and pointed at Xiao Mo and Su Yunjin, grumbling indignantly: “It’s bad enough that you two are ganging up on me, but you can even agree with the crazy woman’s actions? She hasn’t even put a spell on you, and you’re like this. If she gives you some money, will you two conspire with her to take me out!?”

“Let’s get back to the point. Find a day to invite Miss Qiao to the cafe, or invite her to dinner in the name of the studio partners. Let’s finalize the compensation solution as soon as possible; I’ll handle the negotiation. As for repairing the glasses, I’m afraid that young lady will designate you to handle it before she’s satisfied.”

Su Yunjin hit the main point and decisively assigned the compensation negotiation task. Ling Xi had no objection and sank back into the sofa: “Fine, when I arrange it with her, I’ll call you.”

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