DF Chapter 37
by VolareChapter 37 Alright, Song CEO.
If you were to ask what changes have occurred in Song Ji’an’s life, probably none.
If you were to ask what changes have occurred in Song Ji’an’s state of mind, it would be that after realizing her feelings for Sheng Jia were not purely friendship, she became even more cautious.
Judging by the current time, there are still nearly half a year before the college entrance examination, and she doesn’t plan to disturb anyone because of her feelings.
She is completely blank when it comes to relationships, but the prudence cultivated in her bones prevents her from making a move immediately.
For Sheng Jia, the most important things are her life and studies.
Perhaps some people always say that youth needs a grand romance and confession, but it is clear that this is not the case for Sheng Jia.
Song Ji’an has been exploring her personality and thoughts ever since they met for so long, and she clearly understands that once she tells Sheng Jia about her changed friendship, she herself will feel comfortable, but the next second she will be met with Sheng Jia’s distancing.
Sheng Jia hates trouble and is even less likely to deal with emotional problems in the current situation.
So it’s better to maintain the status quo. She will always infiltrate Sheng Jia’s life little by little, just like she has been doing for more than a month since the start of school.
This is what Song Ji’an thought about in bed after getting home that night by the sea, taking advantage of the alcohol.
Liking someone doesn’t necessarily have to be known to the world. She is willing to choose another path—unrequited love.
At least Sheng Jia treats her specially now. When she stared blankly at the ceiling, she thought about how Sheng Jia hugged her at the beach and said to her, “That’s our common trophy.” It’s hard to explain how shocked she was at that moment.
That was a secret that couldn’t be exposed in the dark, and it was also like an invitation Sheng Jia had sent to her.
No one knows how amazing a thing they did. She is far from as calm as she imagined, and her heart is already screaming.
While she was still pursuing the word “friend,” Sheng Jia had already used another closer and more inseparable word to describe their relationship—accomplice.
They are accomplices.
So Song Ji’an doesn’t mind letting this accomplice relationship of theirs last longer, allowing them to have more secrets.
Two days was enough for her to sort out her emotions and appear in front of Sheng Jia in the calmest state.
Just like now.
“Your own team?” Xu Lijing was a little confused when she heard her suggestion. “Can’t you just go by yourself?”
Seeing that the class bell was about to ring, Song Ji’an quickly explained: “I need a professional inspection team, including going to inspect the factory’s situation, revenue, and surrounding environment. Part of it requires bringing professional personnel along, but my mother’s idea is that since it’s practice, it’s better to temporarily form my own core team to go and familiarize myself with the inspection process.”
“Oh, I understand,” Xu Lijing said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully, concisely summarizing, “It’s like fighting outside of school. You want to hire us to be your muscle, without having to do anything, just to create a very confident and professional image.”
Song Ji’an snapped her fingers, “The words are rough but the meaning is right, that’s basically what it means, but it’s not like you don’t need to do anything.”
“The professionals my mother sent me won’t help me perform any management functions, which means they are only responsible for checking within their professional scope, such as the factory’s safety issues and checking accounts, but the subsequent cooperation has to be negotiated by ourselves.”
“This confidence is not only for the people in the factory to see, but also for the people my mother sent to see.”
This topic ended the moment the class bell rang.
Sheng Jia and Xu Lijing didn’t give an answer immediately, and Song Ji’an wasn’t in a hurry either. These things always need to be considered.
And she doesn’t plan to invite only Sheng Jia and Xu Lijing. She also plans to invite Su Zhaolin and Song Yi.
Su Zhaolin has participated in business management summer camps before and has some experience, while Song Yi is because her martial arts skills are super strong, which can form another layer of security. Even if it’s a makeshift team, you have to consider the cooperation and matching. Song Ji’an has been cultivated to be very rigorous in these matters since she was a child.
This is not something she thought of on a whim, but a decision made after careful consideration.
Taking advantage of the break between classes, she sent invitation messages to the two of them. She had already thought about the salary and benefits she would offer them two days ago, and she quickly received replies from both of them.
Xu Lijing’s tutoring class in the evening has been adjusted, and only Sheng Jia and Song Ji’an are walking together after school today. Song Ji’an is not worried about whether Xu Lijing will agree. Being able to go to another province to play legitimately is also a great help to Song Ji’an, so she will definitely agree.
On the contrary, she is not sure about Sheng Jia.
In fact, a sufficient salary might be enough to impress Sheng Jia, just like Sheng Jia helped Xu Lijing before.
But people, once they have a little thought, they will have more delusions. No matter how restrained they are, they can’t help but secretly test whether they are the different one. Perhaps Sheng Jia can accompany her because of the friendship of being accomplices?
So she didn’t tell Sheng Jia about the salary and benefits from the beginning, but waited until everyone in the cafe had left before she couldn’t help but lie on the table and tentatively asked, “Sheng Jia, what do you think? Are you going with me next week?”
Sheng Jia was washing ice cups at the time and didn’t answer immediately. After she put down the work in her hands and sat opposite Song Ji’an, she seriously asked, “Will you be responsible for the travel expenses, accommodation, and food?”
Song Ji’an was stunned when she heard this, “Of course.”
Sheng Jia then nodded, “Okay, I’ll go.”
Song Ji’an opened her eyes wide, full of surprise: “Aren’t you going to ask anything else?”
“There’s no need,” Sheng Jia said slowly, “Besides, you helped me with such a big favor some time ago, I always have to return the favor.”
“Just a favor?” Song Ji’an said, “I never thought of asking you to return it.”
“If there hadn’t been that favor, wouldn’t you be willing to come?”
Sheng Jia’s eyes were calm, and she pointed out truthfully, “If there hadn’t been, I would be willing if you offered a sufficient salary. Earning money when there is money to be made has always been my principle. But you have given me help, so I will reciprocate with equal help.”
“Is that so?” Song Ji’an said softly. She took a sip of the lemon tea in her cup and lowered her eyes.
So delusions are just delusions, not the friendship of accomplices, but still a favor.
There is actually no difference, but Song Ji’an is just slightly disappointed.
“May I ask,” Sheng Jia tapped the table with another cup of lemon tea in her hand, “Are you unhappy right now?”
“Ah?” Song Ji’an, who hadn’t recovered her emotions, hadn’t reacted yet.
She crashed into Sheng Jia’s eyes.
The very direct inquiry made Song Ji’an not know what to say.
She also didn’t expect Sheng Jia to suddenly ask about her emotions. She had never seen Sheng Jia pay attention to anyone’s emotions, which was really sudden.
“I, I didn’t,” she stammered a bit, rarely flustered by this unexpected question.
“I suggest you speak directly if you have something to say.” Sheng Jia looked at her eyes steadily. “I don’t like talking in circles. You can tell me directly whether you are happy or unhappy.”
“Okay, there is a little bit,” Song Ji’an said. For some reason, her shoulders relaxed. Sheng Jia’s words allowed her secret tests to be put on the table in a fair manner.
“Why?” Sheng Jia seemed puzzled. “Which of my words made you unhappy?”
“Sheng Jia, it’s not which of your words made me unhappy,” Song Ji’an said helplessly, “I just can’t separate favors and emotions so clearly. I want to try whether you will agree to help me simply because of our friendship, because we are accomplices with a common secret. Although we haven’t known each other for that long, we have experienced a lot of things. I cherish my friendship with you, so I can’t help but want to test my weight in your heart, whether it will be different compared to others.”
“Isn’t it good to calculate everything clearly?” Sheng Jia asked back.
“I can’t do that, and most people in this world probably can’t do that either, just like Sheng Jia yourself can’t do it either.” Song Ji’an smiled. “Wasn’t it because you thought it would be difficult to repay the favor you owed me right away that you were willing to let me into your world in the first place?”
“Since you couldn’t calculate it clearly from the beginning, then why bother to continue calculating it?”
This time it was Sheng Jia who was silent for a long time.
“Do you want me to change my habits?” Sheng Jia’s question this time was a bit sharp, “I’ve been like this for so many years, I haven’t had any friends, you are the first.”
Song Ji’an met her gaze and was not depressed by her question. On the contrary, her heart was beating wildly, perhaps touched by the sentence “first friend,” or perhaps something else—a feeling of being challenged by going head-to-head with Sheng Jia.
“Since I’m the first friend, maybe I can also become the first person who doesn’t make you calculate so much?” Song Ji’an’s eyebrows curved. “Sheng Jia, I’m looking forward to the day when you will subconsciously not calculate so much with me. It might be a challenge worth doing for me to become an exception in your life.”
“You think you can?” Sheng Jia chuckled, “Isn’t that a bit too confident?”
“It’s a good thing to be confident, right?” Song Ji’an has completely relaxed now. She joked, “If I’m timid in front of you, I can’t succeed. I’ll be scared away by your indifference from the beginning.”
Sheng Jia took a deep look at her and finally said in a low voice, “Whatever.”
Song Ji’an laughed, and the little disappointment in her heart completely disappeared. In her eyes, Sheng Jia at this moment was more like indulging her words and deeds and was embarrassed to admit it.
“Then next Friday, shall we leave together after school? Go straight to the airport.” Song Ji’an took out a pre-printed A4 paper from her bag. “By the way, this is the salary for this trip. Take a look and see if there are any requirements.”
“I’m your assistant?” Sheng Jia took the paper and glanced at her identity and salary on it. “It’s really high, much higher than I imagined.”
“Did you already know that I would offer you a salary?” Song Ji’an couldn’t help but ask.
“I wanted to just reimburse you for food, accommodation, and transportation, but judging by your personality, you probably wouldn’t be embarrassed to do that, right?” Sheng Jia said lightly, but she was also showing that not only Song Ji’an understands her, but she also understands Song Ji’an just as well.
So she had no intention of asking at all. She trusts Song Ji’an enough in this regard.
“You really don’t suffer any losses,” Song Ji’an said with a smile. “If I make you choke, you must make me choke once too.”
Sheng Jia put down the A4 paper and retorted, “Aren’t you also saying you want to test me, but in reality you are defending yourself tightly?”
“I have no objections, let’s do it this way, Song CEO.”
Song Ji’an was stunned by her title, and then couldn’t help but feel a little shy and red in the ears, “You don’t need to call me that now, right?”
Sheng Jia looked up at her and nodded, “Okay, Song CEO.”
Song Ji’an: …
Sheng Jia must be doing it on purpose!