Chapter 76: The Surnamed Jing is a Trouble-Maker

Chapter 76: The Surnamed Jing is a Trouble-Maker

After sleeping for forty minutes in the lounge, Li Wenzhao got up, ready to get back to his afternoon tasks.

Returning to the office, he immediately noticed the person beside him, flushed and tense, mumbling to himself with his head down.

Li Wenzhao: "?"

What happened in the office during a nap?

The young butler couldn't always keep his thoughts to himself, and Li Wenzhao instinctively listened in—

*"You carry the pole, I lead the horse~ Welcoming the sunrise, sending off the sunset... la la~ la la la la la la la~"*

Li Wenzhao: "..."

What the heck is this?

Li Wenzhao tapped on the table, and as Jing Yi looked up, he softly said, "Did watching *Journey to the West* get you all worked up?"

Jing Yi blinked his eyes: "What are you talking about?"

Li Wenzhao pointed at his flushed face with his fingertip, "Can't you feel how hot your skin is?"

Jing Yi then covered his face with his hand, his soft eyelashes fluttering slightly: "It's just really warm."

Li Wenzhao glanced at the display on the wall—24 degrees Celsius. Could that really make someone's skin turn red?

Obviously, he's lying.

Just as Li Wenzhao was about to press further, there was a knock on the office door.

"Mr. Li."

Li Wenzhao put his questions on hold, "Come in."

Fan Ming walked in: "There's a package for you at reception."

Li Wenzhao asked, "Who sent it?"

At the mention of a package, Jing Yi tensed up. These days, unknown packages could be anything from scams to something from Shen Shubai—nothing good.

He leaned over to take a look: "Could it be a threatening package from Shen Shubai?"

It's not uncommon in the original story—this protagonist brother is a repeat offender.

Fan Ming checked the sender's information: "It's from Jiuxuan Mountain."

Li Wenzhao's expression softened slightly: "Bring it here."

Jing Yi was curious: "What's inside?"

The package was carefully opened, and Li Wenzhao took out a small triangular paper from it, yellow, with patterns that no one could understand.

"It's a talisman."

Jing Yi was still confused, surprised that Li Wenzhao believed in such things. Then, in the next moment, he saw Li Wenzhao place the red string around his neck.

Jing Yi glanced down at the dangling charm: "This is for me?"

"Mm."

Fan Ming considerately took away the trash, leaving the space for the two of them.

Jing Yi played with the red string around his neck, "Why did you give this to me? I thought you didn't believe in the supernatural?"

Li Wenzhao spoke softly beside him, "I didn't, at first."

"So what changed your mind?" Jing Yi was instantly amused, boldly speculating, "Is it because your boyfriend is too good to be true, and you're afraid I'll run away, right?"

"So you want to use a charm to keep me by your side, huh? I've completely figured out all the basic tricks of you overbearing CEOs!"

"..."

Jing Yi slid the paper charm into his clothes, his warm body temperature easily accommodating the small item, "When did you get this? I had no idea."

Since coming back to life, they had been almost inseparable every day. When did Li Wenzhao have the time to seek a protective charm?

As if reading his mind, Li Wenzhao said, "I had a master bless it and sent it over."

Jing Yi asked, confused, "So does it still work?"

"Isn't it true that sincerity makes it effective? Li Wenzhao never leaves the house, can the gods really protect us?"

Li Wenzhao: "The temple abbot personally blessed it, so it should work."

Hearing this, Jing Yi was genuinely surprised, patting him, "The eldest young master has such wide connections, even the temple has his own go-to guy!"

"This was something not even mentioned in the original novel! How cool is that?"

"Not really a connection."

"Huh?"

Li Wenzhao's eyes were calm, "I just donated some incense money to them."

Jing Yi: "How much did you donate?"

"Just helped them build ten new meditation halls, that's all."

"..."

"Oh, so it's all about the money."

Li Wenzhao's gaze fell on him, "Since that unexpected windfall, I've had to believe that there are things in this world beyond human understanding."

The endless numbers in his bank account reminded him daily of how surreal life had become.

"This is to ward off evil," Li Wenzhao said, "Keep it safe, and don't let yourself be lured away again."

Jing Yi giggled, "Who would make the same mistake three times? That's not carelessness, that's just dumb."

Li Wenzhao: "They're not?"

"..." It seems they are, giggle.

·

Far away in the underworld, Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang both sneezed three times at the same time.

"A-choo."

"A-choo."

"A—choo!"

"Didn't they just put in central AC down here? Why is it still so cold?" Hei Wuchang shrank his neck.

"Otherwise..." Bai Wuchang's teeth chattered, "Too much heat would spoil the Mengpo Soup with all these souls around."

"True." Hei Wuchang nodded, "A-choo...!"

He rubbed his nose in disbelief, "Can ghosts even get sick? Feels like someone's bad-mouthing me."

"A-choo!" Bai Wuchang nodded, "Same."

The two paused for a moment, then turned to look at each other simultaneously, exclaiming in unison, "Jing Yi!"

"That Jing guy!"

They stared at each other for a long time, both shivering at the same time. Hei Wuchang said, "If I had known I could still beg him for help, I would have treated him better last time."

Bai Wuchang looked grave, "With the bank card, he should help us out, right?"

Hei Wuchang was silent for a few seconds, "Knowing him, it's not a sure thing."

Bai Wuchang: "..."

Their steps halted, and their necks slightly retracted, as if both were having second thoughts.

Maybe they shouldn't go just yet? Put it off for a week or two, give themselves time to mentally prepare before facing Jing Yi's 'pay up' glare.

Of course, due to the different time flow between the two worlds, by the time they were mentally ready, Jing Yi might have already reached the end of his life. Then it's not on us if we drop the ball, right?

The black and white figures turned together toward Naihe Bridge.

It was rush hour for reincarnation, and ghost officers were rushing a bunch of fresh souls across Naihe Bridge. Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang blended into the crowd. As soon as they stepped onto the bridge, both froze in their tracks.

Looking up slightly, they saw a hunched figure loomed on the far side of the bridge, holding a half-meter-long soup ladle. The figure smacked the ladle into their palm a few times, then hurled it straight at them—

"Lady Mengpo, don't hit us! We're on our way to Jing Yi!" The Wuchangs turned in terror, ducking and running for cover.

Hei Wuchang got smacked down by the ladle.

Hei Wuchang, now sporting a lump on his head: "..."

Bai Wuchang: "..." Phew, that was too close.

·

·

Jing Yi played with the talisman for a while before tucking it into his clothes. Blessed by the master, he was now safe from evil spirits.

Maybe it was the talisman, but he was crushing it in his games that afternoon. His moves were slick, like he had a cheat code.

Time ticked by, and Mr. Li got back from his meeting.

"Mr. Li, the new projects are on track. I've put together the key schedules and emailed them to you."

Li Wenzhao nodded and glanced around the desk, "Where is my tablet?"

Jing Yi, engrossed in a game, froze at the mention and slowly looked up.

Fan Ming turned around and checked the secretariat, then returned, "Mr. Li, it’s not there."

Li Wenzhao's expression darkened, his gaze sharpened. Fan Ming also thought of a dire suspicion and immediately straightened up, "Mr. Li, I’ll investigate if there’s a mole in the company."

Jing Yi: "..."

Jing Yi: "..."

He robotically opened the drawer, unearthing the hidden object, and gazed in confusion... This isn’t his tablet?

Oh, he remembered, he had taken his tablet home to catch up on dramas a couple of days ago and forgot to bring it back...

"Oh no, how am I going to explain this!"

Li Wenzhao slightly raised an eyebrow and looked at Jing Yi, "Never mind, get back to work."

Fan Ming paused, momentarily stunned, then nodded slightly and stepped out, "Yes."

As the office door closed, Jing Yi became even more nervous, his fingers nervously picking at the edge of the desk.

"Jing Yi."

Jing Yi was startled, "What is it?"

Li Wenzhao, who had only been suspicious before, now saw his reaction and immediately confirmed that he had caught a suspicious lead, "Why are you nervous?"

Guilt was written all over Jing Yi's face, "I'm not."

Li Wenzhao smiled, the young butler’s face betrayed his guilt, "Did you take it to game? I won’t be mad, just hand it over."

Jing Yi: "..."

Li Wenzhao raised an eyebrow.

Jing Yi shrank his neck, "It broke."

Li Wenzhao: "?"

He raised an eyebrow, "Did you throw it away?"

Jing Yi covered the drawer, "Yeah."

Li Wenzhao almost couldn't hold back his laughter, the young butler was simply too endearing.

He tilted his head to suppress a smile, easily retrieving the tablet despite Jing Yi’s frantic efforts, "Not lost, what's this?"

Jing Yi grabbed his hand, "Don’t look, it’s bad news."

Li Wenzhao: "...?"

Seeing that he wouldn't let go, Jing Yi had no choice. To salvage his tarnished image, he lunged forward and hugged Li Wenzhao, his cheek pressing against the other's neck.

"Eldest young master, just look at me."

He reached out, snatched the tablet, and with a swift motion, tossed it back into the drawer.

Li Wenzhao: "..."

Jing Yi tried to slip away after deploying his charm offensive, but was easily restrained by Li Wenzhao, "What are you hiding that you'd go as far as using your charm?"

Jing Yi's gaze darted around: "Can we not talk about it? It's my secret."

It was about his tarnished reputation, something he absolutely couldn't let out.

Li Wenzhao looked down and stayed quiet.

Jing Yi paused for a moment, then rose on his toes to kiss the corner of Li Wenzhao's mouth, his eyes shining: "Is this alright, eldest young master?"

Li Wenzhao smiled, then leaned in to wrap his arms around Jing Yi's waist, returning the kiss with passion.

·

·

Tomorrow was the weekend. After handling a week's worth of piled-up work, Li Wenzhao gave the employees an early break at 4:30 PM.

The employees were all thrilled.

Jing Yi was also pleased, "Leaving early is nice."

The two stood in front of the elevator, and Li Wenzhao was puzzled: "Why are you happy? You're not like them."

"You don't get it, this is how employees feel about holidays," Jing Yi said.

Li Wenzhao was curious: "Between holidays and goofing off, which do employees prefer?"

Jing Yi didn't hesitate: "Goofing off."

Li Wenzhao was surprised: "Why?"

Jing Yi showed a look that said "how can you not understand this," "Holidays don't come with a paycheck."

"Working pays, so why prefer goofing off?"

"Hard work gets you paid, but the money from goofing off is what you really earn."

"..." What a twisted way of thinking.

As they chatted, they entered the elevator and reached the parking garage. The cold air hit them, and Jing Yi shivered, his teeth clattering.

Li Wenzhao adjusted his scarf: "Wait here, it's out of the wind. I'll go get the car."

Jing Yi, shaking from the cold, didn't refuse: "Go on, Driver Li."

"..."

Li Wenzhao pinched his cheek, helped him put on his hood, and then turned to leave.

The parking garage was chilly even in summer, and in winter it was downright freezing. Cold wind kept blowing in from the entrance, and Jing Yi was nearly frozen solid.

In this unusually cold air, Jing Yi's heart sank, and a bad feeling came over him.

"Screech—thud!"

A screeching sound of brakes came from around the corner. Jing Yi turned to see a black sedan coming around the corner.

The moment Jing Yi saw the car, his heart inexplicably skipped a beat—the car was jet black, with not a single ray of light penetrating through the windows or windshield, making the driver's seat invisible.

Inside the car, a heavily tattooed man slowly exhaled smoke, taking a quick look at the photo beside him, "Mr. Shen, I've spotted the target."

Shen Shubai's voice came through the speakerphone, "Take care of it?"

The tattooed man chuckled, "You didn't tell me he's Li Wenzhao's guy."

Shen Shubai: "Are you backing out?"

The tattooed man sneered, "I, Scar, never leave a job unfinished. But you know who Li Wenzhao is, so this job will require extra payment."

Shen Shubai: "How much more?"

"Five hundred."

"...Fine."

"Got it." The tattooed man placed his right hand on the gearshift, "You'll see."

The black car revved up in the garage, tires screeching against the ground, producing black smoke, bearing down on Jing Yi with menace.

"!!!"

Jing Yi hadn't anticipated such a turn of events, but fortunately, he was prepared. He quickly backed away several steps, hiding behind a nearby support column.

Phew, phew, that scared the hell out of him.

Why is someone trying to kill him again?

After the first attempt failed, the black car turned around ahead and continued to bear down on Jing Yi aggressively.

Jing Yi's heart raced, his hands trembling and legs weak, but he steeled himself to stay calm, searching for a way out.

The elevator lobby was out of the question; if he got trapped there and couldn't get into the elevator in time, it would be a death trap.

The garage was filled with cars and had a complex layout. As soon as security noticed something amiss on the surveillance, they would call the police. Moreover, he just had to hold on until Li Wenzhao returned.

If Li Wenzhao noticed he was gone from the spot, he would definitely come looking for him.

"Bang!"

The car collided with a nearby vehicle, causing a loud crash and setting off alarms.

The car window rolled down, and the tattooed man winked at Jing Yi, making a slashing gesture across his throat. The car drifted, bearing down on Jing Yi like a predator chasing prey.

"..." Shit, shit, shit!

Jing Yi immediately turned to run, but a sudden pain shot through his calf, causing him to collapse to the ground. A long pole rolled away from his feet.

The tattooed man stuck his head out of the window, "Let's see you run now, cackling."

Jing Yi tried to stand up, but one leg was throbbing with pain, dragging uselessly, unable to support his weight, as if it was shattered.

He turned his head, and the black car was bearing down on him.

The tattooed man flashed a bloodthirsty grin.

"Holy shit, look in front of you!" In the corner, Bai Wuchang, who had just found the basement with a compass, slapped Hei Wuchang beside him, "What the hell is this? What's happening?"

Hei Wuchang: "Damn, Jing Yi is gonna die."

Bai Wuchang was furious and slapped Hei Wuchang: "Stop gawking and help!"

Hei Wuchang ran forward, shouting as he ran: "Is this considered meddling with human life and death? Meng Po won't let us off the hook."

Bai Wuchang also ran: "He's not going to die; he's not on today's death list!"

"Why the hell didn't you say so earlier!" Hei Wuchang braked and turned his head: "Then what do you want me to do?"

If he's not going to die, can't we just find him after the accident?

"He won't die, but he'll get seriously hurt." Bai Wuchang was exasperated: "If he gets hospitalized, it'll take months for him to recover. How long do you want to be stuck in the hospital with him? Damn it, stop messing around! He's really going to get hit!"

"Holy shit!" Hei Wuchang ran as fast as he could, his long tongue fluttering in the wind: "Damn, Jing Yi is a troublemaker; nothing good ever happens when we see him!"

"Damn, he's too far; I can't reach him!"

"Just float over! You're a ghost, for crying out loud!"

"Why the hell didn't you tell me that earlier!"

"..."

"Ahhh Jing Yi is going to die!"

...

As the car was about to hit, Jing Yi closed his eyes in fear.

The expected pain never came.

Jing Yi opened his eyes, feeling a strong sense of weightlessness, his ankles slightly cold, gripped by something hard, as he hung upside down in the air.

Jing Yi: "...???"

Scarface: "What the hell???"

Jing Yi struggled to look at his feet, there was nothing on his ankles, so what was he hanging from? The Emperor's New Clothes?

Blinking, Jing Yi's gaze fell on the talisman flying out from his chest.

Money really is powerful; even talismans can fly.

"This is some ghostly shit..." Scarface rubbed his eyes.

"What?" The phone was still connected, Shen Shubai heard the voice: "Success?"

"Success, my ass." Scarface: "Why the hell didn't you tell me he could fly?"

Shen Shubai: "...He can what?"

"Fly! F-o-e—fly! He's flying! Got it?"

Shen Shubai: "..." What the hell are you talking about? Is that even human language?

"Whatever, I must have drunk too much." Scarface gripped the steering wheel: "Let's just crash into him."

He shook his head and hit the gas.

Jing Yi zipped past his field of vision, veering into the opposite lane.

The tattooed man blinked rapidly: "...??" What the hell just happened?

As he was turning the wheel, out of nowhere, a massive, imposing G-Class SUV barreled out from the side, smashing him into the concrete wall.

Crash!

The deafening impact was followed by the tattooed man being knocked out cold by the airbag.

And then—"Jing Yi!!"