With regards to Gu You, Tu Nan and the others understood that their boss would never mix his personal matters with work.
…He also didn’t seem to have any personal matters.
Cheng Jun passed down very simple orders: Let Gu You compete. Let his skills do the talking.
What they needed were players with strong mental fortitude, not people who weren’t able to recover after a setback or who would get complacent from success. Those kinds of players easily developed psychological issues, and no matter how strong their skills, they would be a ticking time bomb.
Behind his boss’s back, Tu Nan mocked: “Who can be as calm as you, man? Back when our company just went public and made a huge amount of money, growing hundreds of times in size, there wasn’t even a ripple of excitement in your heart.
Fu Zi Cheng asked: “Then is he as steady in front of Sister-in-law?”
“Steady, going very steady. He takes the initiative to carry the bags, takes the initiative to go home, he’s totally whipped.” After bringing up this matter, Tu Nan was still a bit envious. “I wanna find someone like that to bring home too. It’s such a luxury to go home and have a cute little wifey to warm you up.”
Jiao Fan was a bit shocked: “The boss actually does that sorta thing too?!”
“STFU, isn’t he a man!”
Fan Jiao muttered: “I always assumed that he reproduces asexually.”
The other two: “…”
Very good, this roast gets full points.
……
Ruan Jiu Ji’s attitude towards Cheng Jun was very good these days. She was indeed guilty of sneaking a meal by herself behind his back, so every time Cheng Jun mentioned the words “scraping by”, she surrendered instantly.
She was infinitely regretful for her impulsive mistake which gave Cheng Jun a weapon against her that he refused to let go of like a dog with a bone. Any time one of his requests was refused he’d faintly say, “then we can just scrape by”.
Ruan Jiu Jiu: “…”
She was pissed, but she still had to keep a smile on her face.
Jiacheng Corporation was recruiting computer graphics illustrators. Tens of thousands of players submitted entries. Entrant 233 Ruan Jiu Jiu’s illustration held a huge lead. This time all entries were anonymous. They banned any identifying details. This was just as Ruan Jiu Jiu desired.
She had many supporting comments below her drawing submission. They said that she had a good grasp of color, and that her drawn character was more beautiful than the fairy immortal class.
Although the drama died down, the attention on Ruan Jiu Jiu didn’t lessen. Rather, it grew. Wherever her character went, there would be people enthusiastically clamoring. They were like puppies wagging their tails as they offered to carry her. Ruan Jiu Jiu almost quit the game.
Even the normally frank and straightforward White Dragon Horse was a little shy when mentioning Liszt.
“I’ve been Liszt’s fan for so long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” To emphasize this fact, she added over ten exclamation marks to depict her dedication.
The matter trended once again because of Reminiscence of the Past. He didn’t quit the game. Rather, he made a note in his profile section that said “I’m competing soon and am on hiatus.” Everyone in the esports circles knew that Reminiscence of the Past was vying for Jiacheng’s team. People anticipated his performance.
Light Breeze Bi Ying, who also continued playing the game, was in a bit of an awkward situation. Because her bestie had repeatedly posted slanderous threads, her bestie’s account had been banned and she had no way of coming back. But even with that, Bi Ying didn’t quit the game. It’s just that now her guild members didn’t pay her much heed.
There were rumors that Liszt was signed to Jiacheng. Who knows, maybe in that duel Liszt was preemptively testing Reminiscence’s strength?
The rumor mill churned. By the end, no one knew the truth of the matters.
As for Ruan Jiu Jiu, the next time she saw news of Jiacheng Corporation, she saw a picture of what looked to be Tu Nan. She was a bit shocked. She suddenly realized that there was some truth to the rumors. Cheng Jun had relations with Jiacheng Corporation!
During dinner, Ruan Jiu Jiu snatched a piece of eggplant between her chopsticks and asked, “That day when you were out for dinner, you were with Jiacheng’s CEO.”
Cheng Jun didn’t raise his head. “Mhm.”
“Wow, are you working at Jiacheng then?”
He thought a bit. “You can say that.”
“That’s good.” Ruan Jiu Jiu had an envious expression. “I hope I can also be hired.”
Her words fell and Cheng Jun paused amid his eating. “You want to work at Jiacheng?”
“Yes. I feel like it’s a good place that’s worth working at.”
Ruan Jiu Jiu smiled at him. “I’ll do my best.”
She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but during dinnertime, Cheng Jun’s expression seemed slightly happier.
※
After Ruan Jiu Jiu learned of Cheng Jun’s true identity, she started paying attention to news about him. Liszt was a godly player that hadn’t entered any competitions for years now. He was so elusive, no information about him had ever been leaked on the internet.
Judging from that, he hadn’t competed in a long time. This homebody would often stay in his study without coming out, but rarely would there be any keyboard noises, so she was certain he wasn’t playing any games.
Ruan Jiu Jiu kept her eye on him for a few days before giving up.
This was practically the lifestyle of a NEET! If he was thirsty or hungry he’d just scrounge around in the fridge and then return to his study to rest.
The thing that made her the most confused was, Cheng Jun was always lazing about yet he didn’t get fat and his skin was still so good. The instant she had that thought, Ruan Jiu Jiu truly seethed with jealousy. For the sake of maintaining her figure and skin, she’d periodically diet and exercise, fearing that she’d grow a squishy little muffin top and look bad in her clothes.
Cheng Jun, the focus of her attention, had taken out the last bottle of Yakult and was just about to peel off the cap.
The weight of Ruan Jiu Jiu’s gaze was too heavy, to the point that she was impossible to ignore. He looked back and forth a few times between Ruan Jiu Jiu and the last bottle in his hand. Then after awkwardly considering something for a long time, he passed the Yakult over to Ruan Jiu Jiu.
Ruan Jiu Jiu, holding a bottle of Yakult, was a bit taken aback: “???”
What was the meaning of this?
Ruan Jiu Jiu had no idea, but for a glutton this was an enormous sacrifice.
The frequency that Cheng Jun went out had increased these days but Ruan Jiu Jiu couldn’t be bothered to ask about it. The two of them each did their own thing, it was better not to muddle things up.
Cheng Jun left the house and she habitually started the game. She discovered that she got a notice from the game representative.
It wasn’t related to the illustration competition. What shocked her was that apparently she had won a prize!
[Congratulations Jiu Jiu Jiu. As the winner of this month’s gacha event, Lady Luck is on your side! You have drawn a ticket which may be exchanged for a three-day vacation. You may bring one other family member along. Please redeem your prize within a week. Enjoy your trip~]
Forever-unlucky Ruan Jiu Jiu was shocked.
She reread the notice over and over in disbelief, confirming that she had indeed won and that it wasn’t some spam ad.
She immediately replied, “I’ll redeem it.”
It was like giving a sleepyhead a pillow. It just so happened that Ruan Jiu Jiu wanted to go out, and an opportunity presented itself just like that. She definitely would go.
As for the family member…
Meanwhile at this time.
Cheng Jun sat in his office looking at the data analysis report.
Tu Nan entered and seemed to have a secret up his sleeve. He gave a mischievous laugh. He was cheery and in high spirits. “Boss, I’ve got good news.”
Cheng Jun ignored him.
Tu Nan rubbed his nose and continued to scooch closer. “C’mon, ask me what it is.”
Cheng Jun: “…” His emotionless gaze fell on Tu Nan. Tu Nan suddenly realized that he seemed to be a little too close to his boss.
Tu Nan took a step back in embarrassment. “You’ve been working so hard doing so much overtime these days. Why don’t you go on vacation?”
Cheng Jun shot him a glance with an expression that seemed to say, “You’re meddling too much.”
Tu Nan didn’t receive the response he anticipated. He sighed, discouraged. “I really worry to death over you and your wife.”
“I’ll just be straight with you. I sent Sister-in-law an official notice from the game and told her that she won a three-day vacation. She could bring one family member. She’ll definitely bring you along, man. So go enjoy yourselves. If three days is too short, you can make it longer.”
Cheng Jun finally lifted his head. He slowly said, “If you’re so free why don’t you do some overtime.”
The boss didn’t seem to be that happy. Tu Nan knew that his ass-kissing gesture probably missed the mark.
He dejectedly said, “Then I’ll continue working overtime.”
At night, Cheng Jun returned home. As soon as he pushed open the door he smelled the food. Ruan Jiu Jiu was happily busying about. He didn’t even need to think and he knew that it was due to “winning” the prize.
Cheng Jun suddenly thought of what Tu Nan had said.
“Sister-in-law will definitely bring you along.”
“Go enjoy yourselves.”
Cheng Jun didn’t like the thought of vacationing with another person. But once that other person was Ruan Jiu Jiu, it seemed like he didn’t hate the thought that much anymore.
Ruan Jiu Jiu turned back and gave a dazzling smile. “Go wash your hands! Ah, I’m so hungry.”
It might have been that the steam rising off the food was too warm, or that the smile on her face was too pretty, but he was frozen in shock for a moment, and the exhaustion of the day seemed to disappear. His whole body relaxed.
The two sat at the dining table. Ruan Jiu Jiu told Cheng Jun to quickly eat or else the braised shrimp would get cold.
This time, Cheng Jun was a little absentminded as he ate.
Only
He kept on waiting for Ruan Jiu Jiu to say something about winning the prize.
He waited through the entirety of dinner. He waited while he washed the dishes. He waited as Ruan Jiu Jiu showered and put on a face mask. He even waited as she went to watch her soap opera and browse her phone.
But there was nary a peep about the prize.
Soon after she returned to her room.
Her lights turned off and her room turned pitch black.
Cheng Jun sank into his thoughts in the darkness. “…”
Author’s Note: Cheng Jun: Second time.
Ruan Jiu Jiu: What do you mean “second time”???
