Chapter 43: Work

A vein throbbed on Ji Min's forehead.

"I want an explanation," he said in a cold tone.

Lu Ran defended himself earnestly, "This is a protective amulet!"

Ji Min was not convinced by his nonsense, "Take it off."

Pointing at the photo on the pendant, Lu Ran said seriously,

"If the Shen family gets any ideas about harming my dog, I'll show them this pendant. Once they see your picture, they surely won't dare to do anything."

Ji Min: "...."

He did have a point.

"Suit yourself," he said.

Called down, Lu Ran didn't rush to leave.

It was still very early at this time.

He sat with Big Yellow in a corner of the sofa and looked up at Ji Min, asking, "What time do you usually finish work in the evenings?"

"Is there something?" Ji Min inquired.

Ji Min found it somewhat peculiar.

He has a disability, and his temper is visibly short.

As a result, most people kept their distance from him with a mix of respect and wariness.

The youth before him had clearly been the same at first, as well.

Recently, however, it seemed that Lu Ran had let his guard down.

Not only did he dare to audaciously ask for his assistance in raising a dog, but he outrageously had the audacity to print out his photograph and hang it by the dog's side; now, he even dares to inquire about his off-duty hours.

Just like...

Exhausted by the attention, Big Yellow jumped down from Lu Ran's lap and nestled beside Ji Min's wheelchair.

Ji Min cast his gaze down to the little dog at his feet before raising his eyes once more to the youth on the sofa.

Just like a tamed little stray dog that has grown attached.

Initially, it was fiercely guarded, but now it sees him and eagerly wags its tail, approaching affectionately.

"Given that you tend to finish work quite late at night," Lu Ran explained, "I thought if you're free, I could come later to pick up Big Yellow. That way, I could also take on a part-time job in the evening."

Ji Min involuntarily furrowed his brow.

His gaze swept over the boy's visibly undernourished frame, his voice deepening as he said, "It's already seven o'clock and you're just getting off work now."

"Indeed! During the festive season, the pay for evening part-time jobs is incredibly high." Lu Ran's eyes shimmered, resembling an excited puppy discussing the discovery of new treats.

Ji Min's actions paused for a moment.

Gently rubbing the pads of his fingers against his knuckles, he nonchalantly gave a time: "Eleven o'clock."

Lu Ran was startled, his face filled with astonishment.

Why did even a boss have to work so late?

"Relax, I'll definitely be there before eleven!" Lu Ran made an 'okay' gesture before departing.

True to his word, he immediately found a part-time job that very night.

The young man became visibly busier.

Big Yellow spent more time in Ji Min's office.

For Ji Min, this seemed like a positive development.

During those long and dull nighttime work hours, he would occasionally take a break, gazing thoughtfully at the sleeping puppy on the sofa.

Sometimes, when Big Yellow got up to stretch, Ji Min would join in and play ball with him for a while.

The puppy had been trained well, fetching the ball and placing it gently into someone's hand, awaiting the throw.

It spared Ji Min the awkwardness of having to bend down from his wheelchair to pick up the ball.

However...

The young man who came to collect the puppy in the evening was clearly not in the best state.

Lu Ran rushed in with enthusiasm.

Ji Min paused in the act of throwing the ball, lifting his head to look at him.

"Am I late?" Lu Ran asked.

He had just finished his tasks, beads of sweat still clinging to his forehead.

Ji Min gave him a careful once-over and, despite the youth's slender eyelashes, noticed the faint shadows beneath his eyes.

"Next time, don't come so late," he said, averting his gaze, his tone cool.

"Okay, okay." The teenager readily agreed and carried Big Yellow away.

The following two days, Lu Ran did indeed arrive earlier.

He still ran with great vigor, even breaking out in a sweat on such cold days.

Upon seeing him, Ji Min subtly furrowed his brows.

As the year-end approached, the weather grew colder, and others donned thicker clothing. Yet, Lu Ran still wore those two relatively light cotton coats.

Perhaps due to recent weight loss, the clothes seemed to hang loosely on his frame, accentuating his slender build.

Two more days passed.

The faint shadow beneath the youth's eyes had grown significantly deeper, transforming into a wearied, bluish-black hue.

On that day, Ji Min beheld the young man who should have been nestled within the warmth of a heated room, enjoying his winter break, yet he uttered not a word more.

In the evening, sitting in the car on the way back.

Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he asked the driver abruptly, "How far is this from Emerald Garden?"

Emerald Garden was the villa area where the Shen family resided.

The driver was caught off guard by the question but still estimated the distance truthfully, "About half an hour by car."

Ji Min didn't respond, as if it had been a casual inquiry.

If it took half an hour by car, the walking time would be even longer.

With a dog in tow, it was highly unlikely that they would take a taxi.

It was rather chilly that day. By the time Lu Ran exited the elevator, most of his body warmth had dissipated.

"Good evening," he said as he entered as usual.

Lifting his gaze, he met the man's somewhat solemn stare.

"What's wrong?" Lu Ran was taken aback.

Scanning the office, he couldn't detect anything amiss, so he cautiously asked, "Did Big Yellow cause trouble?"

But Ji Min quickly averted his eyes, saying, "It's more well-behaved than you."

Lu Ran: "..."

Perplexed as to why this person seemed in a slightly bad mood, Lu Ran bent down to hug Big Yellow.

The moment he lifted the dog, he heard a sudden reminder, "Your hair."

"Huh?" Lu Ran was confused.

Ji Min's gaze swept over again, now with more precision, "Your bangs."

Lu Ran reached up to smooth them, only to brush off a handful of ice crystals.

It was ice formed from sweat that had seeped through and frozen.

He paid no attention to it, wiped his hands clean, and thanked Ji Min before attempting to leave.

Just as he was about to step out of the office, the silent man behind him suddenly spoke up, asking nonchalantly, "If you return too late at night, would the Shen family have already locked their gates?"

Lu Ran froze for a moment before wearing a proud expression. "I have experience with this!" he declared. "If they're closed, I'll just set up a sleeping bag and tent right outside their front gate."

Ji Min: "..."

For a moment, he wasn't sure whether to tease Lu Ran for his audacious maneuver or to be astonished that the Shen family had actually locked him out before.

But some slightly unconventional invitations got stuck in his throat.

Ji Min waved his hand dismissively.

"Prompting Lu Ran to depart hastily."

Swiftly, Lu Ran rolled away.

As the others departed, the man seated ramrod straight at his desk gently eased his wheelchair back once more.

He moved to the window at his back, drew aside the curtains, and peered down.

Just then, he chanced upon the youth leading a dog out of the grand gates of the Ji residence.

The moment the glass door opened, the person was caught off guard by the chilly wind.

Retreating several steps in quick succession, he hastily pulled on the hood of his coat and then bent down to cradle the dog in his arms. With a brisk jog, he dashed onto the street.

Ji Min lingered by the window for a while, watching Lu Ran's figure gradually fade away.

He thought to himself, Let him freeze to death.

The next day.

Lu Ran arrived at Ji Min's office just after six in the morning.

"A rare visitor," the man remarked, slightly surprised.

Lu Ran paused in his movement, fixing his gaze on the other person.

Perhaps it was his imagination, but the tone of the comment seemed to carry a hint of sarcasm.

He came here every day; how could he be considered a rare guest?

Seemingly aware of the inexplicable tension, the speaker paused before asking calmly, "What brings you here today?"

"I finished my shift at the coffee shop an hour early. I'm just taking a brief break before heading out again," Lu Ran explained.

He took Big Yellow outside for a toilet break.

Upon their return, Lu Ran petted Big Yellow while secretly observing Ji Min.

The man behind the desk wore the same cold demeanor as always.

His pale and melancholic face never betrayed any emotions.

But Lu Ran had a feeling...

That this person seemed somewhat displeased.

Lu Ran was actually very perceptive when it came to people's emotions.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have compromised himself so much for the Shen family in his previous life.

It was no different now.

Except, most of the time, he adopted an indifferent attitude.

But with Ji Min...

Lu Ran didn't hesitate and directly asked, "Have you been unhappy lately?"

There was a slight pause in Ji Min's actions.

He asked nonchalantly, "Why do you ask?"

"Because you're just a bit unhappy," said Lu Ran.

Ji Min finally lifted his gaze and looked at him.

The youth tilted his face upward, gazing at him with earnestness. "Do you dislike dogs," he said, "or is it that you don't wish to stay up so late in the evening? You can tell me. I can take Big Yellow away beforehand and place him somewhere else."

Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Big Yellow being here is already you assisting me. So there's no need for you to feel aggrieved."

His tone was earnest.

The gaze he directed at him held the unique straightforwardness and clarity of a young person.

He was genuinely concerned that Yu might be feeling uncomfortable but was too embarrassed to express it.

This concern was overly sincere, overly genuine.

A sudden urge to smile tugged at Ji Min's lips.

Why did this child think that, with his status, he would ever compromise himself?

"No," Ji Min replied.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran blinked twice.

Ji Min elaborated, "None of what you mentioned applies."

"Oh?" Lu Ran caught on. "Oh, that's good then."

With the conversation concluded, silence fell upon the office once more.

Checking the time, Ji Min switched on his computer to join a brief international conference call.

Upon finishing the meeting, he realized the office was eerily quiet.

Looking up, Ji Min noticed that Lu Ran was no longer there.

The office door was also shut.

Big Yellow was nowhere to be seen.

Ji Min furrowed his brow. At this time, Lu Ran should still be off doing his part-time job and wouldn't have taken Big Yellow with him.

This kid couldn't possibly...

Just as he maneuvered his wheelchair out from behind the desk, he heard faint sounds of someone fiddling with the door handle outside the office.

Ji Min approached and opened the door, revealing Big Yellow standing outside.

The subtly raised heart just now gently settled back down.

Upon opening the door, Big Yellow didn't enter right away but instead ran a few steps further down the corridor.

Feeling a sudden stir in his heart, Ji Min followed.

Scarcely had they taken a few steps when they beheld the erstwhile vivacious youth serenely seated by the wall's base.

Ji Min: "..."

He was taken aback for two seconds before realizing that the child must have left to avoid any potential conflicts of interest, fearing that he might overhear any "business secrets" during his meeting. However, due to recent exhaustion and sleepiness, the boy had simply fallen asleep in the corridor.

He slept soundly.

Breathing came in a slightly heavy rhythm.

Ji Min suddenly placed a hand on his forehead, smoothly maneuvering his wheelchair forward.

He unfurled the lightweight blanket across his lap and gently draped it over the sleeping youth, bowing his frame in a tender gesture.

Fortunately, it wasn't long after work had ended, and the corridor still held the residual warmth of the central air conditioning.

Otherwise, sleeping like this would surely end up with a hospital visit tomorrow.

Ji Min turned on the air conditioner and adjusted the temperature slightly higher.

Glancing at the time, he suddenly lost all enthusiasm for continuing his work.

And so, they came to a halt in the corridor.

He sat regally upon his wheelchair, gazing down upon the slumbering youth sprawled on the ground beneath him, an air of superiority subtly emanating from his poised demeanor.

Due to the fact that the involved party is asleep.

Sight became much more audacious.

With an undercurrent of displeasure, his gaze swept over the feverish flush that tinged the youth's features, where droplets of moisture clung to his lashes like dew, casting deep shadows beneath them.

A body that had grown increasingly gaunt, and fingers, red from the cold and slightly swollen at the joints.

He also noticed that the cotton coat on the youth had seemingly been grazed by a stray spark, leaving a tiny hole.

Within the cave, there was no soft and fluffy goose down, but ordinary polyester fiber.

Ji Min realized belatedly that he had been somewhat unhappy these past few days.

He couldn't quite pinpoint the source of his displeasure.

It was just a subtle, unanticipated irritation that arose at random moments.

Like seeing a stray dog he often fed, desperately seeking food from others and ending up in a sorry state.

The sight irked him, yet he seemed to have no right to feel upset.

Suddenly, the teenager's phone vibrated, slipping out of his pocket.

Ji Min, quick on his feet, bent down and grabbed it with an outstretched hand.

The sleeping person stirred slightly from the disturbance.

Instinctively, Ji Min's finger pressed the hang-up button as he moved.

After ending the call, he finally lowered his gaze to look at it.

The contact displayed on his phone screen read "Manager of Some Plaza."

Glancing at the time, Ji Min realized it was almost seven-thirty.

It must be the supervisor from his part-time job, calling to inquire since Lu Ran hadn't shown up yet.

moments later, the phone rang again.

Ji Min cast a glance at the youth who had once again drifted into a gentle snore.

He held his phone in hand, maneuvering his wheelchair away remotely.

Once he was certain he was at a distance where he wouldn't disturb anyone, he answered the call.

On the other end of the line was a man with a deep voice, seemingly polite, though barely suppressing irritation.

"Why haven't you arrived yet? I've been waiting for you in the chilly wind for over ten minutes."

Ji Min's gaze was composed.

His tone was indifferent yet carried his usual refinement: "I'm sorry, Lu Ran won't be coming over today."

Upon hearing his voice, the man on the other end of the line instinctively calmed down.

But he soon grew anxious, "What's going on? I can't find anyone else at the last minute."

Ji Min spoke with a steady voice:

"Lu Ran won't be taking on this job anymore. I'll compensate for your losses accordingly, and a specialist will get in touch with you."

After Ji Min hung up, he passed the project manager's number to his assistant, briefly explaining the situation.

Lu Ran slept through the day and night.

When he woke up, even the slightest movement caused his neck and waist to creak.

The moment he realized he had fallen asleep, Lu Ran's heart sank.

Sleeping for so long in such frigid conditions on the corridor.

Had he endangered his life?

Yet, after waking up, he realized that apart from a stiff neck and cramped waist and legs, he didn't feel overly uncomfortable.

He quickly thought of something and reached for his phone.

The phone was right by his hand.

Upon touching it, he saw the prominent time displayed on the screen—10:30 PM.

Lu Ran was furious.

He cursed and immediately bounced up from the ground.

He saw the person sitting in a wheelchair beside him.

Lu Ran was so startled that he even forgot to be surprised about how this person ended up in the corridor.

Muttering to himself, "Oh no, oh no, what about my part-time job!"

Lu Ran searched for the supervisor's number and dialed it.

Just as he was about to make the call, the man in the wheelchair spoke, "I'll quit your job for you."

Lu Ran: "?"

Lu Ran: "!"

He froze for two seconds, then his face was struck by a bolt of realization, as if a sudden storm had darkened his expression.

"Quit? I finally found a job where I can slack off and they even provide midnight snacks, ah ah ah ah!"

For reasons unknown, Ji Min found an inexplicable, clandestine amusement stirring within him upon witnessing the young man's fit of agitation.

So he nodded and repeated, "Resign."

Just as Lu Ran was on the verge of collapsing and spinning in circles on the spot.

He curved his lips again and offered, "I have another job for you. Would you like to take it?"