Chapter 38: Too Ostentatious Chapter 38: Too Ostentatious “How did you know it was me?”
Wen Zhi couldn’t contain her curiosity and blurted out the question.
Shang Hexing said indifferently, “Bei Sheng collects her salary from me, and this time, she acted first and reported later. Do you think I should deduct her salary?”
Wen Zhi was instantly speechless.
It turned out that Bei Sheng had reported the matter to Shang Hexing before Wen Zhi could make the call.
At the time, seeing how straightforward Bei Sheng was, she thought Bei Sheng wouldn’t say anything.
Well, she was too naive.
Wen Zhi said anxiously, “Don’t deduct her salary. I forced her to give me your contact information.”
There was a hint of amusement in Shang Hexing’s tone, “You managed to force Bei Sheng to speak?”
“…”
Although she had only had brief interactions with Bei Sheng twice, Wen Zhi could tell from Bei Sheng’s behavior that she was an extremely slick and formidable person, not one to be coerced into talking.
Wen Zhi was relieved this was a phone call, and Shang Hexing couldn’t see the embarrassment on her face; otherwise, she would be mortified.
“Then go ahead and deduct it,” Wen Zhi succumbed to his rules, knowing that pleading was futile.
She could always figure out a way to reimburse Bei Sheng after he deducted it.
As she was thinking this, she heard Shang Hexing instructing his assistant over the phone, “Deduct all of Bei Sheng’s salary for this month, and tell her that Wen Zhi agreed to the deduction.”
Wen Zhi, on the other end of the phone, widened her eyes in panic, afraid that Chen Zhu would contact finance even a second late, and she quickly shouted, “Wait, wait a minute—!”
Shang Hexing asked, laughing, “What’s wrong?”
Wen Zhi said urgently, “That’s not what I meant. You can’t let Chen Zhu say that.”
If that was really communicated, she would be detested by both sides!
Shang Hexing reminded her, “Wasn’t it you who just said, go ahead and deduct it?”
The last four words were his paraphrase.
And indeed, they were her exact words.
Wen Zhi took a deep breath and called out softly, “Mr. Shang…”
That call was soft and tender, unintentionally stirring emotions, captivating to the ear.
Shang Hexing stopped teasing her, “Alright.”
Wen Zhi whispered, “What?”
Shang Hexing responded patiently, “I won’t deduct her salary.”
Wen Zhi was skeptical, “Really?”
Shang Hexing chuckled, “Do you see me as a person without integrity?”
Wen Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, “No, you are very…”
Her voice trailed off.
Shang Hexing asked her, “I am very what?”
Wen Zhi wanted to say, “You are good.” But those simple three words, she felt somewhat embarrassed to say because he didn’t like being given the ‘nice guy’ label.
After a moment of hesitation, she changed the subject, “Mr. Shang, the litchis, kumquats, sugarcane, and snow lotus fruits have all been planted.”
“I know,” he said.
Wen Zhi spoke softly, “The litchis are very sweet.”
Shang Hexing, “You already had Chen Jinhai convey that message.”
“Ah? He did?”
“Yes, he did.”
Wen Zhi did not expect that even the last four words, Chen Jinhai had perfectly relayed on her behalf.
She wanted to say thanks again since that was her original intention for making this call.
But before she could utter her thanks, she heard Shang Hexing say first, “Come over and try some another day.”
Wen Zhi fell silent, not reacting for a long while.
Shang Hexing asked her, “Not welcome?”
Wen Zhi snapped back to reality and said, “It’s not unwelcome.”
She shifted her phone to the other ear and continued, “I was thinking, maybe we should let Chen Zhu come and pick some?”
She really couldn’t imagine what it would be like if Shang Hexing personally came to her place to pick litchis. If the people at the old mansion heard about it, she couldn’t even begin to guess how ‘exciting’ it would be.
And about the planting of the fruit trees, even though she didn’t know how Shang Hexing handled it, he surely hadn’t completely escaped the notice of those people at the old mansion.
She really didn’t want to draw too much attention.