A Light Left On

Chen Xi had a killer figure.

So killer that even if she was not your type, you would definitely not refuse to give her a try.

So Li Shishi felt a sense of crisis.

Pulling herself together, she adopted the seriousness she used in business battles and said with a pleasant smile, "Miss Chen, Li Yao is hiring the sort of Yingying Monster who acts cute and coquettish to be the receptionist. With your status and position, isn't it beneath you to work here? It's such a waste of your talents."

Chen Xi shook her head. "I can work reception too."

After a pause, her cheeks flushed as she said shyly, "Ying, ying, ying... I-I can act coquettish too."

Li Yao: "!!!"

Li Shishi: "???"

You're really giving it your all! The blush on Chen Xi's face deepened, and she even felt heat spreading throughout her body. She took a light breath to ease her embarrassment, then organized her thoughts and prepared to continue selling herself. She knew how to move Li Yao. "I also know a thing or two about hotel management. I previously managed several hotel nightlife venues, and their profits were all quite good."

Li Shishi smiled. "There's no need to worry about that. I'll have the company hire a professional team to come up with an operating plan."

Li Yao shot Li Shishi a surprised look. You didn't say that just now!

He glanced over the two girls and felt that the atmosphere... seemed a little charged.

Li Yao fell into thought. Could this be the legendary Shura Field?

Heh, it was only so-so.

It was nowhere near as exaggerated as those novels made it out to be.

Li Da Yao grinned smugly and leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed and at ease—he decided to sit back and watch the girls fight.

Chen Xi said unhurriedly, "Of course, I don't need a salary. Just provide food and lodging."

"Done!"

Li Yao immediately sat up straight and made the decision with a slap of his hand!

Li Shishi stared at Li Yao in astonishment, nearly breaking down.

Can't you show a little ambition? You're worth tens of millions now, and you're still pinching pennies over that tiny bit of salary? Have you gone broke in the head? Chen Xi smiled.

She knew it would work!

Li Shishi pulled Li Yao aside and said sternly, "Do you know what she's really here for? The Chen Family is so powerful, yet she came here asking for nothing and volunteering for you? She must be after something!"

Maybe she was after the Original Liquid! But Li Yao knew that Chen Beixuan had already died.

Chen Xi's appearance was indeed a little strange, but she probably was not plotting anything against him.

He thought about it, then said, "Maybe she has some difficulties? If we can help, we should help."

Li Shishi looked at Chen Xi. The girl still had the demeanor of an icy beauty, with little emotion visible on her face. Standing there, she looked like a crude painting, lacking life. She really did seem a little pitiful.

Li Shishi felt a pang of sympathy.

But she quickly came to her senses. "You just want to save money, don't you!"

Li Yao immediately said seriously, "That's not right!"

Li Shishi froze. Did this guy have some other idea? Li Yao looked toward Chen Xi and said, "She's very capable. I'm not just trying to save money—I'm trying to save myself trouble too."

Li Shishi broke down...

You're acting so serious while being this shamelessly lazy. I really want to kill you!

Li Shishi wanted to yank at her hair, but then she remembered that she had specially paid a lot to get it treated before coming here today, so she could not bear to... Damn it, why can't I bear to? Has Li Yao infected me?

Irritably scratching her head, she strode away with her little handbag in hand.

"I'm leaving. Don't see me off!"

Li Yao said, "Oh, drive carefully."

Li Shishi truly broke down. In the car, she frantically slapped the steering wheel. "No wonder you're fucking single! You really aren't seeing me off!"

Then she started the Porsche and drove away amid a roar...

Inside the tavern, Chen Xi looked a little lost. "Miss Li seems a little unhappy."

Li Yao waved a hand. "Ignore her!"

She had money and did not know how hard it was to run a household. So what if he was worth tens of millions? Did that mean he should stop living sensibly? Someone so capable was asking for no money at all, so why would he not hire her? More importantly, she was pretty! And had a killer figure! There was no reason to refuse... As for acting like a Yingying Monster... no, Chen Xi would not do. A Yingying Monster had to be the kind who was outrageously flirtatious while pretending to be innocent. Chen Xi was not that type.

Li Yao looked behind Chen Xi and asked, "You don't have any luggage?"

Chen Xi shook her head.

Li Yao got up and headed upstairs. "Then come with me."

Only the first floor of the tavern was open for business. Li Yao had converted the second floor into living quarters. Of course, he could not use all two hundred and fifty or so square meters himself, so he divided the upstairs into east and west sections. The east side was Li Yao's private territory, off-limits to others. The west side had been divided into four suites, each with its own bathroom. Li Yao pointed at the rooms on the west side. "Pick whichever one you like."

Chen Xi said, "Okay."

Li Yao smacked his lips. This girl was a little too quiet.

He added, "Go buy some daily necessities, then. Do you have money? Right... I can't really not pay you either. How about base pay plus commission, with a bonus share at the end of the year? We can discuss the details."

Chen Xi seemed distracted. "Boss, whatever you decide is fine."

Li Yao: "..."

Fine, this girl was not short on money anyway!

Li Yao said, "Then I'll be troubling you from now on. Take care of things inside and out around here. From now on, treat this place as your own home."

Chen Xi's unfocused gaze returned and settled on Li Yao.

Li Yao got goosebumps under her stare...

But Chen Xi smiled. "Mm-hm, I will."

Wow, her smile was really sweet.

She became lively all over... and even prettier.

Li Yao pulled himself back to his senses and said, "Then that's settled." He went downstairs and simply tore up the plan he had written himself... What the hell was this garbage! Then he called upstairs, "Chen Xi, watch the shop for a while. Or you can go buy some daily necessities. I'm heading out to handle something."

Chen Xi said, "Okay."

After Li Yao left, Chen Xi chose the outermost room upstairs, the one closest to Li Yao's private area. Then she slowly wandered around the tavern, her fingertips brushing over the stair railings, the bar counter, and the spot where Li Yao had just been sitting, before finally stopping.

Standing beside that seat, Chen Xi was as still as a statue.

After a long while, she let out a faint, lingering breath. "Home..."

It felt so nice to have a home.

She had seen many homes—old houses, tall apartment buildings, and she even owned many properties herself. Whether they were old houses or luxury apartments, each of those homes had warm lights shining inside. She did not know whether the people living there were happy... but at the very least, someone would leave a light on and wait for them to come home.

There used to be an old man who would leave a light on and wait for her to come home too.

Later, the old man was gone.

Now...

Someone had told her, "From now on, treat this place as your own home."

So there would be a light left on here,

waiting for her to return... right?

Or perhaps she could keep a light on,

waiting for that person to return?

That seemed pretty nice too~ Chen Xi felt a little happy. She carefully locked the door, then went out to buy daily necessities...

The second update was complete.

This chapter title, this chapter number—so nice.

To be honest, you may not understand how I felt while writing this chapter, but... I really did leave a light on. Yet the world is full of risks. Keeping a light on is harder than lighting one, but it still has to be kept on, doesn't it?

Everyone, please send some rewards.