Chapter 24 A Beast in Human Form

*

10 PM, Jinhe Entertainment City.

The brightly lit dance floor was bustling with people, and my heart was pounding from the high-energy music.

After arranging drinks for the three private rooms, Cheng Jia went up to the second-floor bar, picked up his goji berry tea, blew on it, and took a couple of sips.

"Brother, you're really taking care of your health; you've been drinking less lately." Waiter Shi Tou was washing wine glasses at the sink when he looked up and chatted with Manager Cheng.

You should know that Manager Cheng used to be drunk every single day.

Every day, I walk in and am helped out in the early morning to be handed over to a designated driver.

Cheng Jia spends a lot of money on designated drivers throughout the year. Instead of spending that much, she might as well hire a driver herself. Several of her familiar waiters have discussed this with her.

Let Cheng Jia hire them as drivers; he only needs to pay them two thousand yuan a month.

I figured I'd just drop it off since I was off work anyway.

However, Cheng Jia figured he didn't drink too much every day, so he couldn't bear to spend the money.

Cheng Jia warmed her hands with the "holy water for staying up all night": "I need to take care of my body first, or I'll die from drinking more."

"Don't talk nonsense again," Shi Tou said with a grin, unaware that Cheng Jia had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. "Brother, about that thing I discussed with you last time, are you up to it?"

Cheng Jia sat down on the bar stool: "What do you mean, 'can I or can't I'?"

“I’ll drive you home every day, and you’ll give me two thousand yuan a month. You earn so much, you don’t need that extra three thousand. Calling a designated driver is inconvenient and unsafe.” Shi Tou also wanted to earn more.

Speaking of this...

Cheng Jia remembered that the designated driver hadn't waited for him last night.

As a result, after sending Lin Baiyue home, he went downstairs and called a designated driver. By the time he got home, it was already dawn. He hadn't slept for more than a few hours when he was woken up by the fumes from the restaurant.

I can't sleep well every day; I only get bits and pieces of sleep.

This can't go on forever.

Cheng Jia pondered, "...Or maybe I should move to another place."

The apartment he rented was indeed inconvenient.

Firstly, it's too far from Jinhe, so I always have to call a designated driver after get off work.

Secondly, the facilities are also inadequate. Regularly dredging the sewage pipes is fine, but the fumes from the Sichuan restaurant downstairs are too pungent, the curtains don't block out the light, and the landlord won't allow us to change the furniture.

Aside from the rent being a few hundred yuan cheaper than apartments in residential complexes, it has virtually no advantages.

If you live in a neighborhood near Jinhe, you can walk home after get off work even if you've had too much to drink, saving a lot on chauffeur services. It seems like a great deal.

As Cheng Jia was pondering this, a figure carrying a guitar passed by in the corridor.

"Brother Jia." Lin Baiyue stopped and greeted the person sitting down.

He had just finished accepting a playlist and was heading back to the lounge.

Cheng Jia held up a glass of goji berry water and looked at him: "Hey, does your leg still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore... Hey, I wanted to ask you, did they catch those thugs from yesterday?" Lin Baiyue was very concerned about this matter, her tone worried. "If they weren't caught, what will we do if they come back again? I just walked through the alley on my way to work, it was so dark there wasn't a single streetlight, I was a little scared to walk through it."

After the police were notified last night, they were unable to apprehend the perpetrator on the spot.

The police officer messaged Cheng Jia this morning, saying he was checking road surveillance footage.

Those thugs were all wearing masks and riding unlicensed electric scooters, so they were hard to spot.

Cheng Jia reassured Lin Baiyue: "They haven't been caught yet, but they shouldn't be that bold. They won't come back anytime soon. It's only a matter of time before they get caught. You have to trust the security here."

"Safety? Safety means there are still robberies at night," Lin Baiyue sighed, still scared. "I went looking for a place to live today, but the suitable ones were all too expensive, and the cheaper ones had no streetlights around them..."

Oh, right.

Lin Baiyue is also looking for a house.

Cheng Jia's eyes lit up: "How about we find a two-bedroom apartment in a residential complex and share it? We can split the rent in half."

Living together would provide mutual support, and since we both work at Kim Hyuk's place...

The roommate's sleep schedule problem was also easily solved.

Their schedules can be synchronized.

"!" Lin Baiyue looked up in surprise and immediately smiled. "Is it okay? Can I live with you, brother? I can do housework, and I can also cook and make soup."

The monthly rent for a two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment is 1,600 yuan.

If they split the cost equally, each of them would have to pay a thousand yuan, including utilities.

It's perfect in every way!

Cheng Jia laughed and said, "Why not? If you agree, go ahead and look for one. I've been a bit busy lately. If you find something suitable, just let me know so I can take a look. I can move anytime."

"Okay! I'll go look for it. It won't be hard to find now. There are plenty of rental apartments around here," Lin Baiyue said, feeling much lighter after resolving a worry. "Brother, you're my lifesaver!"

I remember how my landlady scolded Lin Baiyue last night.

Cheng Jia watched the whole thing.

That's good, Lin Baiyue won't be scolded anymore.

Cheng Jia might be able to have a bowl of hot soup after get off work.

Most importantly, he no longer has to worry about vomiting and choking to death after drinking too much.

Previously, Cheng Jia was terrified that she would die in her rented room and no one would find her.

It's settled then about sharing the apartment.

Before leaving with her guitar, Lin Baiyue turned back and asked Cheng Jia, "Brother, what have you been busy with lately? If I find a place to live, would it be convenient for me to give you a call?"

"It's convenient. You can call anytime. I might not be able to answer if I'm sleeping, but I'll call you back when I wake up," Cheng Jia said.

He's going to do housekeeping for someone the day after tomorrow.

It's embarrassing to bring this up.

Lin Baiyue lowered her eyelids slightly and asked in a low voice, "...Is it working for that General Manager Shi in the provincial capital?"

"Ah, right," Cheng Jia paused for a moment before admitting, "How did you know?"

Lin Baiyue explained, "Last time, Boss Zhou took me and President Shi out for a late-night snack. From what I heard him say, it seemed like he really appreciated you, so I guessed that the boss might assign you some work, like helping President Shi with something."

“You’re quite smart,” Cheng Jia said, a little worried as she thought of the smile on the other person’s face fade. “Go and rest. Let me know when you’ve found a place to live.”

Lin Baiyue nodded: "...Okay."

He was able to live with Cheng Jia.

That means there's still a chance to contact Mr. Shi.

After all, Cheng Jia often helps President Shi with his work.

To attract investment and release an album.

We must succeed!

"......"

*

It was a little after 4 p.m.

I almost got strangled to death on this sofa three days ago.

Cheng Jia knelt on one knee on the black sofa, holding a wrung-out wet towel in her hand, wiping the dust off the surface of the sofa.

The gate behind them was wide open, and many workers were going in and out.

They came to deliver luggage, tables and chairs, coconut fiber mattresses, and a coffee machine.

The owner of the house doesn't seem to be here.

Cheng Jia had been here for more than half an hour and had not seen Shi Qingci. There were only two part-time cleaning ladies helping the workers arrange the items. The ladies cleaned up the packaging boxes and plastic wrap and threw them outside.

In short, everyone is quite busy with their own responsibilities.

It was Cheng Jia's first time doing housekeeping, and she didn't know what to do.

Wiping the sofa was a task he assigned to himself.

I was just about to help the workers move the computer desk, but they said it was a high-end height-adjustable desk and very expensive, and they were afraid Cheng Jia would break it, so they told Cheng Jia not to touch it.

He was not allowed to touch the computer; a specialist was responsible for assembling it.

The mattress has been dry-cleaned and I don't want him to touch it.

After wandering around for a while, he finally found a rag to wipe the sofa. In fact, the sofa looked cleaner than Cheng Jia's face, spotless.

The aunt said she had already wiped it twice this morning.

Cheng Jia almost laughed as she wiped, feeling helpless about her situation.

He didn't need to clean the villa at all.

That Mr. Shi deliberately called him over to mess with him.

There wasn't even anyone to assign work.

Another half hour passed, and Cheng Jia wiped down the coffee table and TV cabinet. The workers behind him left one after another, and the villa became quiet.

The cleaning ladies were gathered in the kitchen, seemingly busy preparing dinner.

"5:30." Cheng Jia took out her phone to check the time, feeling it was about time to leave.

I was lucky today; I didn't run into any Shi Qing porcelain.

Does this mean the mission is complete?

It wasn't that difficult.

He lowered the rolled-up sleeves of his hoodie, intending to say goodbye to the aunt and leave.

Suddenly, the sound of a car door closing came from outside the villa.

Then, a series of footsteps approached from afar and drew near to the entrance.

There were quite a few people listening.

"......"

Cheng Jia turned around while standing in the living room.

There were six or seven people in the group, all dressed in suits.

It was Assistant Tony, accompanied by bodyguards dragging suitcases, who appeared in front of Cheng Jia, following behind President Shi in a suit in the center.

The scale was impressive and the sense of oppression was very strong.

Cheng Jia was holding her phone and coat, her intention to leave was obvious.

"You're leaving already? Are you just trying to fool me, or are you just trying to fool President Zhou?" Shi Qingci's voice was cold and tinged with sarcasm. She glanced at Cheng Jia and didn't stop walking.

He skipped over Cheng Jia and went straight to sit down on the sofa.

"Take these things to the bedroom and put them away properly. Each item must be arranged according to my rules. You can only leave after you've finished."

This is Cheng Jia's job.

"!" Duo Shao?

Eight oversized suitcases, and four giant plastic crates in the back.

It's clearly clothing, accessories, and shoes.

Cheng Jia turned around in surprise: "I'll do it all by myself?"

This will take until late at night to clean up.

When I got back, Kim Hyuk had already closed up shop!

"That's funny, or do you want me to do it for you?" Shi Qingci sat leisurely on the sofa, took off her diamond cufflinks with one hand, and removed her light silver cocktail suit jacket, revealing a pure black shirt underneath, exuding an extremely elegant temperament.

Aloof and cold, a beast in human form.

"......"

"......"