The curve of Ji Yanzhi's lips abruptly froze. His gaze cut toward the velvet gift box like an ice-tempered blade, his jaw tightening inch by inch as he clenched his teeth.
Shen Mu Lan's eyes went as wide as saucers, and his jaw nearly dropped.
Qin Zaiye had sent Ji Ting a gift? And such an expensive one? Wait, why had he suddenly lost track of the plot?
Why is Qin Zaiye sending me a gift?
Ji Ting looked away from the card and said expressionlessly, "I won't accept this. Take it back."
The man seemed to have anticipated this response. His smile didn't change. "Mr. Qin said he meant nothing else by it. He only wanted to offer a small token of thanks."
Ji Yanzhi gave an icy laugh and tossed the box heavily back onto the table. "His thanks amounts to a chunk of gold? Heh. Quite a pricey gesture."
Ji Ting said, "Please go back and tell him there's no need to thank me. Tell him to remember what he's supposed to do and conduct himself accordingly."
Faced with such an unequivocal refusal, the man could only put the box away. "Then I won't disturb you any further. I'll be going."
The man left the shop, crossed the road, and approached a Red Flag sedan.
The window slowly lowered, revealing Qin Zaiye's stern, sharply defined face.
"Captain, Mr. Ji refused to accept it."
Qin Zaiye's dark eyes settled on the box. Even without hearing Ji Ting's thoughts, he had known Ji Ting wouldn't accept this gift.
"Did he ask you to pass on a message?"
A trace of embarrassment crossed the man's face as he relayed Ji Ting's warning to conduct himself accordingly.
Qin Zaiye's lips curved in an inscrutable smile, so faint it vanished almost at