A/n: This Chapter is now fixed. Thank you for waiting.
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In the next few days, Zhong Cheng noticed that something was amiss with his student, Lin Sunji.
In the past, whenever he ordered her around, Lin Sunji would stubbornly feign ignorance, pretending she didn’t hear him.
Only when he threatened her would she fake her expression as if she only heard it and would argue to him that he could not order her around because of her noble and grand status.
Each time she lost, she would grumble with an ugly face while cursing him out loud.
After completing her tasks, she would act as if she had made a substantial contribution to the world and needed ample "rest." She wouldn’t move and pretend to sleep no matter how much Zhong Cheng poked her.
However, in the present, after Zhong Cheng issued an order, Lin Sunji’s expression soured, but she promptly acted upon it. She tossed a bag of snacks at Zhong Cheng with a grumpy face, yet unlike usual, there were no complaints or insulting words.
Zhong Cheng who was prepared to hear a lot of complaints from her was stunned. But he did not think too much about it.
He proceeded with their weekly task, which involved Lin Sunji selling rice cakes on the streets. He usually set a quota, adjusting it based on Lin Sunji’s performance. Due to her frequent punishments, the quota typically increased, leading to numerous complaints and grumbling from Lin Sunji.
Today, Zhong Cheng raised the quota in response to the recent incident. Despite the boss claiming that accounts had been settled, Zhong Cheng believed Lin Sunji needed further reflection.
Upon informing Lin Sunji of the new quota, her face contorted in displeasure, yet she refrained from voicing any complaints. She glared at him silently and harrumphedly took the boxes of rice cakes to the bustling streets.
Zhong Cheng, who was anticipating Lin Sunji’s usual outburst, was stunned once again.
That’s it?
He expected her to protest vehemently and stubbornly refusing to do it. He prepared with counterattacks, but to his surprise, she carried out the task without a single complaint.
Had the sun risen from the west today?
Zhong Cheng felt it was strange. Nonetheless, he proceeded to the coffee shop across the street to observe Lin Sunji’s approach to selling rice cakes.
While observing Lin Sunji’s unusual attitude, Zhong Cheng couldn’t shake off his concern. He decided to reach out to Boss for insights. Perhaps Boss would have some information that could shed light on the matter.
Sending a message to Bei Sangyun, Zhong Cheng waited eagerly for a response. Fortunately, Bei Sangyun was available and promptly replied to his inquiry.
[Big Boss: She must be contemplating her value within the family. Her circumstances have undergone significant changes, and adapting to them may be difficult for Lin Sunji. However, this presents a valuable opportunity for her personal growth.]
As Zhong Cheng absorbed the message, a spark of hope ignited within him. This could be a turning point for Lin Sunji’s development. As her mentor, it was his responsibility to provide guidance to his student!
With determination gleaming in his eyes, Zhong Cheng focused his attention back on Lin Sunji across the street.
Lin Sunji maintained her grumpy demeanor, exuding an air of arrogance as she stood behind the booth. Unlike the other vendors who were yelling to attract customers, Lin Sunji did not make any effort to sell which made her distinct and dull from the other vendors.
Zhong Cheng: "..."
Apart from complaining less, nothing seemed to have changed.
With her current attitude, would anyone dare to make a purchase? He had increased the quota; how could she sell all these rice cakes if she didn’t engage with customers?
Those rice cakes came from his own pocket; he didn’t want them to go to waste.
Just as Zhong Cheng was about to rise and reprimand her again, a youth approached Lin Sunji’s booth. Clad in a nearby high school uniform, he examined the rice cakes with silence.
"How much is this?" the youth inquired softly, his glasses slipping down his nose as he spoke. He kept his voice low, a sign of his timidity due to his changing voice.
But Lin Sunji couldn’t hear him well. Seeing such a timid cowardly guy just evoked her annoyance. She asked grumpily, "What? Speak louder."
The youth: "...."
Feeling disheartened, he retreated.
Lin Sunji watched him coldly and harrumphed.
Zhong Cheng: "..."
He rushed to the streets and scolded Lin Sunji, "This is your fifth time selling rice cakes, and yet your attitude remains unchanged? That was a potential customer! You should have greeted him warmly and encouraged him to buy. Go and catch up with him!"
Lin Sunji crossed her arm, "Why should I? I’ve already complied with your demands to sell rice cakes every week. If they don’t sell well, it’s not my fault. Maybe these rice cakes simply aren’t appealing enough to customers."
Lin Sunji had indeed toned down her temper. She did not voice her complaints because she knew she would just be wasting her breath. Her fate was in the hands of the enemy and her parents wouldn’t be able to help her anymore. She realized the ugly truth after having a fight with her mother.
Though she resented Bei Sangyun’s words, they held a painful truth. She needed to reassess her worth within the family.
The Lin household differed from those that cherished familial bonds; it resembled a battlefield where one couldn’t afford to let down their guard.
Yet, this didn’t mean she had to stoop to the level of individuals like Zhong Cheng or the random stranger on the street.
"If you fail to meet the quota, you’ll join the volunteers cleaning up the public park," Zhong Cheng had warned.
Lin Sunji’s expression turned ugly. She wanted to complain but held herself back. Zhong Cheng was really the bane of her existence.
"Fine!" With determination, Lin Sunji began to chase the youth.
Zhong Cheng watched her receding back and sighed.
The reason why he chose selling rice cakes on the street as Lin Sunji’s weekly task was to soften her arrogance and stubborn pride.
Lin Sunji grew up in a life where the world revolved around her. She was smart and could change her face at any time, saying words and acting out without sincerity.
Like in school, she could act as a model student just to make sure her reputation remained untainted. But deep down, she was smug, and looking down on ordinary people like him.
Such an attitude only fostered narrow-mindedness, self-centeredness, and inconsideration.
The boss had entrusted Zhong Cheng with the task of tempering Lin Sunji’s temperament and molding her into someone who could serve the boss faithfully. Yet, someone like Lin Sunji would never willingly accept such a role.
He hoped that by exposing her to the lives of ordinary people, Lin Sunji would develop empathy.
However, it seemed they still had a long journey ahead of them.
...
Lin Sunji dashed towards the street, finally catching sight of the customer she had chased away.
"Hey! You, with the glasses!"
The youth halted and turned in surprise at the sound of the seller pursuing him.
Breathless, Lin Sunji reached him, her face flushed as she took a deep breath. "You walk so fast."
The youth, unaccustomed to conversing with others, especially with such a pretty girl, felt embarrassed and even more timid.