Chapter 27 – A huge trap (Translated by Xing and edited by Souhi)
Tang Xue was in a deep sleep the whole night and did not dream.
When she woke up the next morning, her memories of the previous night were scattered and she had forgotten most of what happened after she got drunk. She vaguely remembered singing very well, and that Li Yubing had applauded. He even suggested that she sign up for a singing competition and he would play the cello for her.
Tang Xue was not sure if she wanted to give him this honour.
There was no one else in the room besides her. In a daze from the hangover, she sprawled across her bed. A while later, Xia Menghuan came back with breakfast. Seeing that Tang Xue was awake, she called out, “Get up for breakfast.”
“Xia Menghuan,” Tang Xue said languidly, “I’ll treat you guys to dinner tonight.”
“Sure. Why are you treating?”
“Because…” Thinking of the reason, Tang Xue joyously rolled on her bed with a smile on her face. “Because I can finally quit my job with Li Yubing. In the afternoon, I’ll find Manager Wu to settle my pay. After that, I won’t ever have to deal with that lunatic again hahahahaha……”
——
After morning lessons, Tang Xue did not even wait till she had lunch before she impatiently went to find Manager Wu.
The two of them sat facing each other in the office. Manager Wu good-naturedly held the file and verified the details. He said, “I’ll sum up your pay first. Here, your timesheet for this month. Based on this, your basic pay is 2,450 yuan.” As he spoke, he passed the timesheet to her.
Tang Xue reminded him. “Manager Wu, Li Yubing also owes me 10,000 yuan. Have he told you?”
“He did. It’s listed under ‘special service fees’ in the last column.”
The three words “special service fees” made Tang Xue’s brows ticked. She faintly felt like she was an escort.
The total sum listed on the timesheet was 12,450 yuan. Tang Xue grinned from ear to ear as she signed the document and passed it back to Manager Wu. Then, she asked, “Manager Wu, would payment be by Alipay, WeChat or online transfer?”
“Ah? Anything works for me. It’s up to you.”
Tang Xue fished out her phone. “Alipay, then.”
“Mm.” Manager Wu looked at the timesheet and nodded. He then took out another form. “Your total penalty fee for this month will be 50,000 yuan. After deducting your pay, you still owe us 37,550 yuan. My Alipay account is——”
“Wait.” Tang Xue was shocked and quickly interrupted him. “Where did the penalty fee come from? Manager Wu, please don’t scare me like this. I’m still young.”
Manager Wu passed the new form to Tang Xue. He helplessly shook his head and sighed. “Tang Xue, during the 30 days that you’ve worked, you illegally sold Li Yubing’s privacy 29 times to 20 different people. Am I right?”
Tang Xue froze. “What, what do you mean?”
“What I mean is that, every morning, Li Yubing’s privacy would be sold by you once. In total, you’ve done this for 29 times. This is a very serious matter with grim consequences.”
Tang Xue finally realized what he was referring to. She explained, “I was only letting them deliver his breakfast. It can’t be that bad?”
“Then tell me, did you collect money from them?”
“I……” The money was there for the taking, why would she not take it? T^T
Manager Wu tapped the table with his finger and conflictingly looked at her. “Tang Xue, it’s not that I’m purposely picking on you. As long as you collected money, you’re considered to have sold another’s privacy for your own gains. It’ll be a completely different matter. And do you know that because of what you did, there’s always someone waiting at the north exit of the east sports field for Li Yubing’s morning exercise? Once, students even broke into a fight while trying to vie for Li Yubing’s attention. These have caused great disturbance and damage to Li Yubing himself, our school and the club. Fining you with a 50,000 yuan penalty fee is not unjustified at all.”
Vexed, Tang Xue grabbed a fistful of her hair. “But I don’t have so much money.”
“This isn’t something I can help with. Please pay the penalty fee within a week. If not, we may sue you.”
“Even if you sue me, I still don’t have the money……”
“Tang Xue, do you know how serious it is to not pay up after the court asks you to do so? Let’s not mention how you won’t be able to buy a house or a car in the future and just talk about the present. If the court judges you to be insolvent, you’ll be completely banned from riding in more expensive modes of transport such as airplanes and high speed rails. The next time you head home, you can only take the ancient green trains with hard seats.”
Manager Wu rattled off all that in one breath. When he was done, he saw Tang Xue had propped an elbow on the table and was resting her chin on her hand. Her beautiful jet-black eyes were fixed on him and seemed to see all his inner thoughts.
He felt a little awkward and pushed up his spectacles. “Do you have anything else to say?”
“Manager Wu, did Li Yubing put you up to this?”
“Cough, errr that……”
It was clear to Tang Xue what was going on. She stifled the rage in her heart and gave a scathing smile. “You don’t need to deny anything. If Li Yubing had any objections, he would have raised them long ago. Isn’t the truth that he was tolerating all that just for this moment? He wants to mess with me.”
Manager Wu felt a little upset. As an old, single dog[1], why is he getting involved in these youngsters’ trivialities? What’s with the vibes of “The Overbearing CEO’s Relentless Pursuit” and “Contract Secretary: 100 Percent Love”?[2] Screw this all!
Even though he had rolled his eyes countless times in his heart, what needs to be done still needs to be done. Manager Wu arranged the documents and told Tang Xue his Alipay account number.
“I want to see Li Yubing,” Tang Xue said.
“You can see him at any time. That’s between the both of you.” As Manager Wu spoke, he kept the documents, rose, and with extremely swift steps, escaped the office.
When he was outside, he bent his head and texted Li Yubing: This is the last time I’m helping you to trick someone!
In the room, after Manager Wu left, Tang Xue was so furious that she heavily slammed one hand on the table.
Her phone screen lit up. She lowered her head to glance at it. It was Li Yubing informing her of his current location in the canteen.
……
When she reached the canteen, Tang Xue was still fuming. She sat across Li Yubing and stared at him. Her chest heaved heavily from anger and her rounded eyes glittered with hostility. Her cheeks were puffed up like an angry pufferfish.
Li Yubing’s heart brimmed with glee.
This appearance of her was great for whetting his appetite. Li Yubing finished his meal and went to buy another set.
When he sat back down, Tang Xue heavily stomped his feet beneath the table.
She succeeded only once. When she tried again, he swiftly dodged. The two of them kept at this for a while. Then, Li Yubing suddenly stretched out his legs and deftly pinched Tang Xue’s two legs together. His lower legs were long and strong, managing to firmly trap her two ankles together. Like an animal leg-hold trap, he mercilessly secured this small animal that has encroached on his territory.
His legs were too strong. Tang Xue repeatedly tried and failed to break free. She said lividly, “Lunatic, let me go.”
Li Yubing did not continue messing around and actually released her just like this.
Tang Xue wanted to stomp him again. He easily dodged her feet, raised his brows and grinned at her. “Really?”
She resentfully withdrew her leg and rapped the table. After keeping her emotions in check, she raised her chin and asked, “Li Yubing, just what are you up to?”
“I was oppressed by you for six years.” Li Yubing lightly quirked his lips, his smile seeming somewhat perverted. “It’s only been one month and you can’t stand it anymore?”
“Oh, I get it. You just want me to continue being your little eunuch, isn’t it? Li Yubing, bullying me like this is really fun for you, huh?”
“Nope.” Li Yubing shook his head while smiling. “It’s extremely fun.”
Tang Xue wanted to kill him.
Li Yubing finished his lunch and neatly stacked his plates together. He told Tang Xue, “It’s either you pay up or you work your debt off. Choose one.”
“What if I don’t choose?”
“Then I can only wield the long arm of the law to protect myself. I almost forgot to tell you. The 20 people who bought my privacy from you have all agreed to be my witnesses.”
Tang Xue leaned back, crossed her arms and studied him. She shook her head and sighed, “What a perfectly lovable boy you are. Really gives one the urge to beat you up”
Li Yubing: = =
……
Tang Xue completely did not expect Li Yubing to set such a huge trap for her, let alone using such a crude and unscrupulous method.
As a veterinary science major, she could only Baidu[3] the relevant laws and use her general knowledge to briefly analyse the situation. In the end, she texted her father.
Tang Xue: Daddy! I miss you all so much!
Principal Tang: What? Are you out of money?
Tang Xue: = =
Principal Tang: It’s only been a few days into the month. Where did all your allowance go?
Tang Xue: No, I just want to buy a little bit of stuff.
Principal Tang: Buy what?
Tang Xue: A laptop, ice skates, clothes, bags and lipsticks.
Principal Tang: Is this the “little bit” that you want to buy? You’re such a modest child.
Tang Xue: And a telescope.
Principal Tang: What does a veterinarian like you need a telescope for? Are there pigs in the sky?
Tang Xue: Who doesn’t have a hobby……
Principal Tang: How much do you need?
Tang Xue (feeling guilty): 40,000 yuan should be enough.
Tang Xue: If 40,000 yuan is too much, 37,000 is fine too……
Principal Tang: Child, now that you’re 18, there’s something that Daddy should let you know.
Tang Xue: What?
Principal Tang: Actually, you’re adopted.
Tang Xue: ……
She almost fell for it. -_-#
Unable to get any money from her father and unwilling to take the ancient green trains home, Tang Xue hesitated for an afternoon before she finally texted Li Yubing.
Tang Xue: I’ll have you know that I have an unyielding spirit.
Chapter 27 – A huge trap (Translated by Xing and edited by Souhi)
Tang Xue was in a deep sleep the whole night and did not dream.
When she woke up the next morning, her memories of the previous night were scattered and she had forgotten most of what happened after she got drunk. She vaguely remembered singing very well, and that Li Yubing had applauded. He even suggested that she sign up for a singing competition and he would play the cello for her.
Tang Xue was not sure if she wanted to give him this honour.
There was no one else in the room besides her. In a daze from the hangover, she sprawled across her bed. A while later, Xia Menghuan came back with breakfast. Seeing that Tang Xue was awake, she called out, “Get up for breakfast.”
“Xia Menghuan,” Tang Xue said languidly, “I’ll treat you guys to dinner tonight.”
“Sure. Why are you treating?”
“Because…” Thinking of the reason, Tang Xue joyously rolled on her bed with a smile on her face. “Because I can finally quit my job with Li Yubing. In the afternoon, I’ll find Manager Wu to settle my pay. After that, I won’t ever have to deal with that lunatic again hahahahaha……”
——
After morning lessons, Tang Xue did not even wait till she had lunch before she impatiently went to find Manager Wu.
The two of them sat facing each other in the office. Manager Wu good-naturedly held the file and verified the details. He said, “I’ll sum up your pay first. Here, your timesheet for this month. Based on this, your basic pay is 2,450 yuan.” As he spoke, he passed the timesheet to her.
Tang Xue reminded him. “Manager Wu, Li Yubing also owes me 10,000 yuan. Have he told you?”
“He did. It’s listed under ‘special service fees’ in the last column.”
The three words “special service fees” made Tang Xue’s brows ticked. She faintly felt like she was an escort.
The total sum listed on the timesheet was 12,450 yuan. Tang Xue grinned from ear to ear as she signed the document and passed it back to Manager Wu. Then, she asked, “Manager Wu, would payment be by Alipay, WeChat or online transfer?”
“Ah? Anything works for me. It’s up to you.”
Tang Xue fished out her phone. “Alipay, then.”
“Mm.” Manager Wu looked at the timesheet and nodded. He then took out another form. “Your total penalty fee for this month will be 50,000 yuan. After deducting your pay, you still owe us 37,550 yuan. My Alipay account is——”
“Wait.” Tang Xue was shocked and quickly interrupted him. “Where did the penalty fee come from? Manager Wu, please don’t scare me like this. I’m still young.”
Manager Wu passed the new form to Tang Xue. He helplessly shook his head and sighed. “Tang Xue, during the 30 days that you’ve worked, you illegally sold Li Yubing’s privacy 29 times to 20 different people. Am I right?”
Tang Xue froze. “What, what do you mean?”
“What I mean is that, every morning, Li Yubing’s privacy would be sold by you once. In total, you’ve done this for 29 times. This is a very serious matter with grim consequences.”
Tang Xue finally realized what he was referring to. She explained, “I was only letting them deliver his breakfast. It can’t be that bad?”
“Then tell me, did you collect money from them?”
“I……” The money was there for the taking, why would she not take it? T^T
Manager Wu tapped the table with his finger and conflictingly looked at her. “Tang Xue, it’s not that I’m purposely picking on you. As long as you collected money, you’re considered to have sold another’s privacy for your own gains. It’ll be a completely different matter. And do you know that because of what you did, there’s always someone waiting at the north exit of the east sports field for Li Yubing’s morning exercise? Once, students even broke into a fight while trying to vie for Li Yubing’s attention. These have caused great disturbance and damage to Li Yubing himself, our school and the club. Fining you with a 50,000 yuan penalty fee is not unjustified at all.”
Vexed, Tang Xue grabbed a fistful of her hair. “But I don’t have so much money.”
“This isn’t something I can help with. Please pay the penalty fee within a week. If not, we may sue you.”
“Even if you sue me, I still don’t have the money……”
“Tang Xue, do you know how serious it is to not pay up after the court asks you to do so? Let’s not mention how you won’t be able to buy a house or a car in the future and just talk about the present. If the court judges you to be insolvent, you’ll be completely banned from riding in more expensive modes of transport such as airplanes and high speed rails. The next time you head home, you can only take the ancient green trains with hard seats.”
Manager Wu rattled off all that in one breath. When he was done, he saw Tang Xue had propped an elbow on the table and was resting her chin on her hand. Her beautiful jet-black eyes were fixed on him and seemed to see all his inner thoughts.
He felt a little awkward and pushed up his spectacles. “Do you have anything else to say?”
“Manager Wu, did Li Yubing put you up to this?”
“Cough, errr that……”
It was clear to Tang Xue what was going on. She stifled the rage in her heart and gave a scathing smile. “You don’t need to deny anything. If Li Yubing had any objections, he would have raised them long ago. Isn’t the truth that he was tolerating all that just for this moment? He wants to mess with me.”
Manager Wu felt a little upset. As an old, single dog[1], why is he getting involved in these youngsters’ trivialities? What’s with the vibes of “The Overbearing CEO’s Relentless Pursuit” and “Contract Secretary: 100 Percent Love”?[2] Screw this all!
Even though he had rolled his eyes countless times in his heart, what needs to be done still needs to be done. Manager Wu arranged the documents and told Tang Xue his Alipay account number.
“I want to see Li Yubing,” Tang Xue said.
“You can see him at any time. That’s between the both of you.” As Manager Wu spoke, he kept the documents, rose, and with extremely swift steps, escaped the office.
When he was outside, he bent his head and texted Li Yubing: This is the last time I’m helping you to trick someone!
In the room, after Manager Wu left, Tang Xue was so furious that she heavily slammed one hand on the table.
Her phone screen lit up. She lowered her head to glance at it. It was Li Yubing informing her of his current location in the canteen.
……
When she reached the canteen, Tang Xue was still fuming. She sat across Li Yubing and stared at him. Her chest heaved heavily from anger and her rounded eyes glittered with hostility. Her cheeks were puffed up like an angry pufferfish.
Li Yubing’s heart brimmed with glee.
This appearance of her was great for whetting his appetite. Li Yubing finished his meal and went to buy another set.
When he sat back down, Tang Xue heavily stomped his feet beneath the table.
She succeeded only once. When she tried again, he swiftly dodged. The two of them kept at this for a while. Then, Li Yubing suddenly stretched out his legs and deftly pinched Tang Xue’s two legs together. His lower legs were long and strong, managing to firmly trap her two ankles together. Like an animal leg-hold trap, he mercilessly secured this small animal that has encroached on his territory.
His legs were too strong. Tang Xue repeatedly tried and failed to break free. She said lividly, “Lunatic, let me go.”
Li Yubing did not continue messing around and actually released her just like this.
Tang Xue wanted to stomp him again. He easily dodged her feet, raised his brows and grinned at her. “Really?”
She resentfully withdrew her leg and rapped the table. After keeping her emotions in check, she raised her chin and asked, “Li Yubing, just what are you up to?”
“I was oppressed by you for six years.” Li Yubing lightly quirked his lips, his smile seeming somewhat perverted. “It’s only been one month and you can’t stand it anymore?”
“Oh, I get it. You just want me to continue being your little eunuch, isn’t it? Li Yubing, bullying me like this is really fun for you, huh?”
“Nope.” Li Yubing shook his head while smiling. “It’s extremely fun.”
Tang Xue wanted to kill him.
Li Yubing finished his lunch and neatly stacked his plates together. He told Tang Xue, “It’s either you pay up or you work your debt off. Choose one.”
“What if I don’t choose?”
“Then I can only wield the long arm of the law to protect myself. I almost forgot to tell you. The 20 people who bought my privacy from you have all agreed to be my witnesses.”
Tang Xue leaned back, crossed her arms and studied him. She shook her head and sighed, “What a perfectly lovable boy you are. Really gives one the urge to beat you up”
Li Yubing: = =
……
Tang Xue completely did not expect Li Yubing to set such a huge trap for her, let alone using such a crude and unscrupulous method.
As a veterinary science major, she could only Baidu[3] the relevant laws and use her general knowledge to briefly analyse the situation. In the end, she texted her father.
Tang Xue: Daddy! I miss you all so much!
Principal Tang: What? Are you out of money?
Tang Xue: = =
Principal Tang: It’s only been a few days into the month. Where did all your allowance go?
Tang Xue: No, I just want to buy a little bit of stuff.
Principal Tang: Buy what?
Tang Xue: A laptop, ice skates, clothes, bags and lipsticks.
Principal Tang: Is this the “little bit” that you want to buy? You’re such a modest child.
Tang Xue: And a telescope.
Principal Tang: What does a veterinarian like you need a telescope for? Are there pigs in the sky?
Tang Xue: Who doesn’t have a hobby……
Principal Tang: How much do you need?
Tang Xue (feeling guilty): 40,000 yuan should be enough.
Tang Xue: If 40,000 yuan is too much, 37,000 is fine too……
Principal Tang: Child, now that you’re 18, there’s something that Daddy should let you know.
Tang Xue: What?
Principal Tang: Actually, you’re adopted.
Tang Xue: ……
She almost fell for it. -_-#
Unable to get any money from her father and unwilling to take the ancient green trains home, Tang Xue hesitated for an afternoon before she finally texted Li Yubing.
Tang Xue: I’ll have you know that I have an unyielding spirit.
