Although They're Mentally ill, They're Extremely Easy to Comfort - Chapter 9

“Just let me stay for one night, just one night! I’ll go back tomorrow after the smell at my place is gone, please, please…”

Ling Xi clasped her hands together, batting her eyes, which were glistening with tears, pretending to be pitiful, and begged Xiao Mo in a deliberate, simpering voice.

Xiao Mo ignored her. Being stood up by Boss Xiang was already frustrating enough, and having a stinky nuisance clinging to him made him even more irritated.

“Go away. What will people think if a man and a woman stay together? Absolutely not.”

“I’ve always treated you like an older sister. I don’t even mind, why are you making such a fuss?” Ling Xi said shamelessly. Xiao Mo suppressed his temper: “Boss Xiang’s two treasures were snatched by another party. I don’t have time to mess around with you right now.”

When business was mentioned, Ling Xi instantly became serious, expressing disbelief: “Qizhen Pavilion has always recognized our Xiaoyunxi brand and is a loyal, long-term client. How could they suddenly back out? I thought he came to sign the contract today… Something’s fishy. It must be that crazy woman meddling.”

Without any hesitation, Ling Xi directly pointed the finger at Qiao Bo’er.

Xiao Mo also felt there might be some truth to it, but without proof, they couldn’t just inexplicably run over and argue with her. Furthermore, they hadn’t given an explanation for the valuable item she damaged, so no matter how he looked at it, his own side was in the wrong.

“Forget it. The Autumn Auction is in less than two months, and the studio is already busy. Just remember to make time for it. Old rules, the three of us will prepare the auction details together.”

“Don’t worry, I haven’t selected a single course with kids this semester.” Speaking of classes, Ling Xi was as excited as if she’d won a five million dollar lottery, even imagining a more unreasonable arrangement: “Once I work things out with Director Chen and convince him not to assign me anything else, I’ll naturally have plenty of time.”

“Heh, it’s almost evening and you’re still daydreaming… You know what kind of temper Old Chen has, don’t you? He wouldn’t let anyone off the hook, least of all you.” Xiao Mo poured cold water on her, trying to make Ling Xi, this lazy bum, face reality.

…

Chu Xi’s phone rang. She quickly walked to the door before answering. After hearing the other party’s response, she promised with satisfaction: “Very good, Boss Xiang. Rongzhi Company will provide you with the best service. After your collections receive their certificates, the company will do its utmost to find new buyers for the two treasures at the highest price during the Autumn Auction… Then, I wish us a pleasant cooperation.”

With nothing much to do on a weekend, Qiao Bo’er was about to leave the office with her designer bag, but when she heard Chu Xi’s conversation, she quietly leaned against the door, waiting lazily.

After hanging up, Chu Xi turned around and noticed Qiao Bo’er waiting for the result, so she immediately reported: “General Manager Qiao, the two collections that Xiaoyunxi Studio was preparing to take on are now the responsibility of Rongzhi Company. That boss was quite agreeable.”

Qiao Bo’er, leaning against the door with her arms crossed, didn’t show much happiness. She just calmly instructed: “You are fully in charge of Rongzhi Company’s operations and management.”

“Understood.” Chu Xi replied, then looked her up and down and quickly asked: “Are you planning to leave work now?”

“Yes…”

Receiving a cold response from her boss, Chu Xi planned to pack her documents and follow her.

However, Qiao Bo’er had other plans and briefly refused: “You don’t need to follow me. It’s the weekend, make your own arrangements.”

“Then I’ll immediately contact Qu Ye to pick you up.”

“No need, I want to be alone.” Qiao Bo’er refused again, ending their conversation.

“Alright, call me if anything urgent comes up. Have a good weekend.” Chu Xi didn’t pry further, offered a blessing, and returned to her own office first.

…

Although the sun was scorching, it highlighted the blue sky. Clusters of contrails gathered in the sky, looking like sweet cotton candy or creamy soft-serve ice cream, tempting one to take a big bite.

Qiao Bo’er drove her AMG G63 aimlessly along the riverside Nanbin Avenue.

The black matte Mercedes G-Wagon was more eye-catching than a sports car. On the wide eight-lane road, it looked like a small tank speeding along.

Qiao Bo’er rested her arm casually on the car window, lazily supporting her temple, and steered with her right hand, completely at ease.

The traffic light at the intersection turned red. She stepped on the brake and stopped, quietly looking around at the street view during the wait.

It seemed that only when she was alone did she realize that Xuan City was actually unfamiliar. There were many places to stay here, but none gave her a sense of belonging.

“You have deviated from the route. Recalculating route for you.”

Qiao Bo’er lightly stepped on the accelerator and smoothly made a U-turn as the light turned green. The navigation prompt was sudden, and she had temporarily changed her destination.

The apartment directly opposite Ling Xi’s house was bought by Qiao Bo’er at a price higher than the market value.

The three-bedroom, one-living-room large flat was very airy. The living room sofa faced the wide balcony with an excellent view. The two buildings were separated by the distance of a courtyard, neither too far nor too close, just right.

The electronic lock beeped. Qiao Bo’er entered, changed into slippers, and quickly walked to the coffee table to pick up the binoculars.

A comfortable rocking chair was specially set up on the balcony. Qiao Bo’er sat in the chair, resting her long, slender legs on the footrest. She raised the binoculars, intending to take a closer look.

But after a long time, Ling Xi hadn’t returned since she left. Her patience was being worn down by the passage of time.

Finding nothing, she threw the binoculars aside. Qiao Bo’er, bored, got up and went to the study.

The study was spacious, but the furniture was minimalist. Only a small notebook with a sheepskin cover was placed on the large desk.

Tapping the desk casually with her fingertips, Qiao Bo’er leaned against the table, thoughtful, and picked up the notebook to look through it.

The handwriting on the title page was elegant and slender, but the large title made her chuckle and cry at the same time—”Operation: Play Dead the Salted Fish.”

Suddenly looking up at the window, it was her favorite time of day again. The plain clouds were tinted with color by the golden-red sunset. The tranquil study was also permeated with warm light.

Everything was imbued with the gentle beauty of time.

She picked up the fountain pen and crossed out the perfectly executed “Surströmming Can Plan.” Her face, which had just been captivated by the sunset and dusk, instantly took on a scheming and gleeful look.

The stream of wicked ideas continued, and the handwriting in the notebook remained delicate and smooth, adding a spectacular new scene to the upcoming plan.

Qiao Bo’er even felt an unprecedented sense of anticipation. She desperately wanted to see Ling Xi completely unable to cope with her mischief.

Hmph, who told you to be inactive.

Just you wait, you stinky salted fish.

…

The soul-draining Monday that sapped the energy of all working people arrived as scheduled.

Ling Xi drove her car into the teacher’s parking lot and searched for a long time, only to barely find a spot in the corner. Looking at the row of luxurious executive sedans parked there, she couldn’t help but mutter: “What day is it today? Why are there so many luxury cars?”

Jiang Xingran, who hitched a ride with Ling Xi, peered out curiously and speculated logically: “There must be an important guest reception… Look at that Maybach, how grand. Tsk tsk, imported cars are different, the paint is so glossy black.”

Ling Xi followed Jiang Xingran’s gaze and also sighed: “It’s great to be rich. You get the royal treatment everywhere you go.”

“Oh, come on, you’re a small rich woman too.” After a light tease, Jiang Xingran got out of the car and touched up her lipstick in the rearview mirror.

Ling Xi slammed the car door shut listlessly. As soon as it was a workday, her laziness began to flare up violently.

Seeing that she was about to be late, she had to urge: “Stop being so particular, you’re the prettiest within a ten-mile radius! Hurry up, I don’t want to be late. Director Chen will definitely skin me alive today.”

“What do you know? It’s natural for women to love beauty. Maybe I’ll meet my Mr. Right today, so I have to be in top condition at all times… You, on the other hand, are wasting your beautiful looks. You’re unkempt. It won’t kill you to spruce up a bit.”

Ling Xi always looked bare-faced and half-asleep.

Five days a week, she wore a white T-shirt with jeans every day. When walking on the campus tree-lined avenue, she was often mistaken for a student. Several times, the auntie at the cafeteria mistakenly thought she had stolen a teacher’s meal card to sneak a meal.

“Please don’t. Making me wake up early to put on makeup is practically the same as death.”

“Hey, I have an early class today, so I can’t chat anymore. Let’s meet at the cafeteria for lunch.” Jiang Xingran carried her laptop, gave a few simple instructions, and hurried off to the lecture hall.

Ling Xi walked into the office building listlessly. She didn’t know why, but the atmosphere of the entire building felt unusually quiet today, and she couldn’t even see a single person.

Pondering this, she slowly climbed to the fourth floor. Just as she turned the corner and entered the hallway, she ran into a group of people coming towards her. It was a dense crowd, all in suits and leather shoes, creating a magnificent presence.

In comparison, Ling Xi, who was standing foolishly at the other end, looked like a lonely, pitiable soul.

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