"Beep-beep-"
The call ended.
Yang Ming set down the receiver, slipped the solid-gold business card into his white coat pocket, and lifted the curtain to step out of the back room.
In the front room, Jessica was bent over, furiously sweeping the last pile of broken glass into a dustpan.
The Irish gang thugs she had thrown out earlier had long since fled, leaving behind a mess and a doorframe that let in the wind.
Hearing his footsteps, Jessica straightened and stared at Yang Ming like a wary cat.
"Want to visit Los Angeles?" Yang Ming walked over to the water dispenser and filled a cup with warm water, his tone as casual as if he were asking what they should have for lunch.
Jessica froze for a full three seconds.
Then she abruptly backed away two steps, crossed her arms over her chest, and eyed him warily.
"What for? To sell my kidneys or my blood? I'm warning you, you evil capitalist, I've already used up the advance on last month's wages. I've got less than two hundred dollars in my account! Don't even think about squeezing another cent out of me!"
When Yang Ming had previously suggested a trip to Hawaii, he had immediately demanded fifty thousand dollars in "employee benefit fees." The incident had left Jessica deeply traumatized.
"It won't cost you anything." Yang Ming took a sip of water and looked at her calmly.
"Nothing?" Jessica's eyes went wide as saucers, disbelief written all over her face. "You'd really be that generous? Is the sunshine in Los Angeles free now? You haven't taken some job in a gang war and decided to bring me along as your meat shield, have you?"
"Tony Stark is paying." Yang Ming tossed the empty paper cup into the trash. "He's