Chà Chà Novel

Ji Shileng could barely remember which day he had sent the parcel. It simply felt like a long time ago.

“That was my fault” Shang Jianli answered openly. “My superiors ordered me to rest at home for a while, so I wasn’t going to work”

The parcel had been delivered to his office, but no one had notified him. He had never known it was there.

Fortunately, Ji Shileng had mentioned it recently.

“That’s rare”

Ji Shileng was hazy with exhaustion. Years of accumulated hurt did not erupt; they surfaced only as bewilderment.

“You never used to rest, no matter how often I asked”

Without waiting for Shang Jianli’s answer, he supplied his own.

“Then again, you were younger”

His eyes narrowed in a smile as he mused, “Being young is wonderful. Less rest, more hard work. That way, your children and grandchildren can enjoy the rewards”

Shang Jianli’s grip on the parcel tightened until his knuckles whitened and veins stood out.

Remembering that Ji Shileng had packed it for him, he quickly eased his hold.

“I had such grand ideas back then. I thought doing more would earn other people’s recognition”

He smiled helplessly.

“I don’t think that way anymore”

Ji Shileng sensed a deeper meaning, but he was too tired to consider it.

There was no need to, anyway. They were merely strangers who knew each other best. Their lives would no longer intersect.

“I’m getting in the car. Please lead the way”

Pretending not to have heard, Ji Shileng made a courteous gesture.

Shang Jianli promptly got into his car without lingering and annoying him.

He could not bear to see Ji Shileng dragging himself around, heavy with sleep.

Following the young master’s instructions, the driver stayed a few meters behind Shang Jianli’s car.

Once inside, Ji Shileng felt less sleepy.

He lay motionless for a while, then pushed himself up from the back seat and reached for the gift box of tea in front.

Watching him in the rearview mirror, the driver was briefly speechless.

The young master looked remarkably like someone sneaking off with stolen goods.

When Ji Shiyun had received the tea from the university president, she had seemed momentarily surprised. A few hundred meters later, she had told him, “Not bad. At least this box of tea will please your father”

Ji Shileng knew little about tea. Hooking a finger through the handle, he pulled the box onto the back seat.

The words “West Lake Longjing—Eighteen Imperial Tea Trees” immediately gave it an air of staggering expense.

Those tea trees had been under special protection since the old stellar calendar. The West Lake growing area was controlled by the military, with unauthorized entry forbidden.

Moreover, these were the “Eighteen Imperial Tea Trees” of Longjing, personally granted that title by Emperor Qianlong. They yielded only two liang of tea a year.

It was effectively priceless and unavailable for sale.

Unexpectedly, a security guard roughly stopped their car outside the entrance. Ji Shileng did not mind. He could simply wait for Shang Jianli to bring out the certificate. That would be more convenient, anyway.

When Shang Jianli noticed the car was no longer behind him, however, he turned back.

The guard was berating the driver with an arrogance that made his smug expression thoroughly unpleasant.

“Do you have an entry permit? No permit, no entry”

“Do you know who lives in here?”

“Important people. People you’ll never have the standing to meet in your entire lives”

Shang Jianli frowned and sent a message to the owner of Lannian Gardens.

Then he exchanged a few words with the guard. The man stopped obstructing them and even bowed respectfully in apology.

The driver had never received this sort of “attention” before. He kept waving his hands.

“Please, sir, I’m begging you. Ask that important gentleman in your car to put in a word with General Shang. I have elderly parents and children to support. Life isn’t easy…”

The driver lowered his window and said cautiously, “I’m sorry, sir. Please stop bothering our young master”

“Please! It’s only a word to General Shang. I really can’t lose this job”

The guard began making a scene.

He had worked in security for years. This position paid well and demanded little.

Whenever he told people he worked at Lannian Gardens, they looked at him with envy.

Who could have expected General Shang to suddenly demand his dismissal?

Ji Shileng sat with his legs crossed, watching the farce. After a while, he grew bored and finally spoke.

“You look healthy and strong, in the prime of your life. There are plenty of jobs out there. Don’t condemn yourself to spending your whole life as a security guard with no prospects”

The driver struggled to suppress his laughter, his shoulders shaking.

Their young master truly was the interstellar god of sarcasm.

Naturally, the guard refused to accept it.

“Young master, I was blind and foolish just now. I truly need this job. I’ve worked so diligently all these years…”

Ji Shileng’s laughter rang out. He lowered his window and waved at the guard.

“Hello. Remember me?”

The guard froze at the sight of his face, then turned deathly pale. No wonder General Shang wanted him fired.

He had often made life difficult for Ji Shileng.

Whenever Ji Shileng forgot his entry permit, facial recognition should have been enough. This guard, however, had insisted on obstructing him.

He had mentioned it to Shang Jianli several times. After receiving no response, he had stopped bothering.

“M-Mr. Ji… You’ve always been so forgiving…”

“No”

Ji Shileng wagged a finger.

“I’m not forgiving at all”

His lips curved.

“I can confidently say that being a security guard is the most successful job you’ll ever have held. Do you know why?”

In a good mood, he was willing to chat a little longer.

The guard who had once sneered down at him was now begging him pitifully. So even he could come to this.

“W-Why?”

“Because I guarantee you won’t find another job”

With no other employment ahead of him, this security position would become the greatest success of his working life.

“Drive”

Having finished, Ji Shileng waved goodbye.

The driver took the hint at once, raised the window, and followed Shang Jianli.

Ji Shileng’s mood had visibly improved.

“Young master, General Shang has gotten out” the driver reported. “Should we get out as well?”

Busy chatting enthusiastically with Su Ke, Ji Shileng answered without looking up.

“No. We’ll wait for him to bring it down”

He had no interest in going upstairs and inviting more misery.

Before long, Shang Jianli came down carrying the gift box.

After all this time, the gilded lettering still gleamed.

Ji Shileng opened the door and got out. It was basic courtesy.

“The certificate is inside”

Shang Jianli held out the box.

Although he did not understand what an old certificate meant to Shang Jianli, Ji Shileng promptly accepted it.

“Thank you”

“No need. It belongs to you in the first place…”

Shang Jianli trailed off.

Ji Shileng readily agreed. “Exactly. It was mine all along. This is all your fault”

Shang Jianli’s fault, and that damned Bitcoin.

“I’ll make this right for you”

“How do you intend to do that?”

Ji Shileng tilted his head at him.

“Are you going to give up your position as general?”