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Yu Zhiwan almost spat out her water upon hearing Pei Yujang's suggestion.
She barely managed to keep from smiling as she glanced at Ji Lingxian, her expression a mix of amusement and confusion. Ji Lingxian, however, missed the signal and only felt the urge to roll her eyes.
Pei Yujang's slender fingers tapped her phone screen. After being blocked by the relationship expert, she hadn't unfollowed the account on the app. The expert, with tens of thousands of followers, hadn't bothered to remove her either.
Seeing the familiar profile, Pei Yujang, feeling unusually generous, earnestly showed it to Ji Lingxian:
"Here, this is the one. She works through the platform, so you can add her as a friend and send her your request. She's usually online in the evening, but she's probably busy right now."
Ji Lingxian was speechless.
She suddenly felt a mischievous urge to see Pei Yujang's reaction when she found out that the expert was actually Yu Zhiwan. But the serious look in Yu Zhiwan's eyes made her reconsider. In their long acquaintance, Ji Lingxian knew that while joking was fine, when Yu Zhiwan said no, it meant no—an unspoken rule between them.
Ji Lingxian smiled, deciding to bide her time. She'd get her chance to tease them both when they distributed their wedding candy. For now, she had other matters to discuss and planned to bring them up during their meal.
As they chatted, a server knocked and entered, pushing a cart with the dishes they'd ordered. Yu Zhiwan knew Ji Lingxian's preferences well and had already chosen a few dishes for her. If she wanted anything else, she could always add it.
Having spent so long abroad, Ji Lingxian wasn't picky about the food back home anymore.
The freshly sliced lamb rolls, marbled with red and white, were dipped into the clear soup, releasing a mouthwatering aroma. Various vegetables followed the meat into the pot, with corn slices and enoki mushrooms bubbling at the bottom. Pei Yujang even scooped out a ladle of the rich, flavorful broth.
"It smells amazing," Ji Lingxian praised after sipping the broth. After some small talk, she got to the point:
"Does Yueyang give you guys a break for the New Year?"
"Yeah," Pei Yujang nodded. "Why do you ask?"
Yueyang had excellent employee benefits, offering everyone five days of annual leave that increased with tenure. Pei Yujang and Yu Zhiwan had recently taken a few days off to accompany Jiang Wenxiu, combining it with a weekend. After returning, they took an extra day off to rest.
But the New Year holiday was also five days long, with employees taking turns for staggered leave, ensuring that everyone could rest without disrupting operations.
Pei Yujang wondered if Ji Lingxian was considering joining Yueyang. Although she worked in new media, Yueyang already had Pei Yujang in that role. Surely, Ji Lingxian wouldn't compete with her for a job?
Ji Lingxian's eyes lit up when she heard about the holiday. Smiling, she asked, "How many days off do you get? I'm thinking of partnering with Yueyang—or rather, with you—for a project."
It took Pei Yujang a moment to process.
Ji Lingxian wanted to partner with her?
When Ji Lingxian explained that she was interested in a business collaboration to help promote Yueyang's products, Pei Yujang was initially hesitant, thinking they didn't outsource such tasks. However, the terms and offer Ji Lingxian proposed were quite appealing. Considering that she might be busy soon, Pei Yujang decided to agree.
"You'll need to discuss the details with our marketing manager," Pei Yujang said, passing Zhao Manlin's contact information to her. "Her last name is Zhao…"
Ji Lingxian mentioned that she already had Zhao Manlin's contact information from the time they had worked on the human trafficking case. Zhao Manlin had even asked her to provide psychological counseling for a friend. Despite this, they had only exchanged polite conversation. Being naturally outgoing, Ji Lingxian directly asked Pei Yujang:
"Is your Manager Zhao always so aloof?"
"Not really," Pei Yujang replied, recalling how Zhao Manlin had bad-mouthed her (the original Pei Yujang) behind her back. She remembered it clearly.
As they left the restaurant after the meal, Yu Zhiwan couldn't help but laugh. When Pei Yujang asked what was so funny, Yu Zhiwan only laughed harder.
"How could you not notice that she's interested in Zhao Manlin?"
Back in the car, as Yu Zhiwan leaned against Pei Yujang's shoulder, she couldn't resist whispering playfully in her ear, "Aren't you a little dense?"
Pei Yujang genuinely hadn't noticed.
She had assumed Ji Lingxian was simply looking for a business collaboration, unaware of the underlying motives. Admitting that she didn't quite understand modern dating tactics, she asked Yu Zhiwan:
"If she already has Zhao Manlin's contact info, why not just ask her out directly?"
Like how she had done with Yu Zhiwan—simply inviting her out for a meal to see how things went. Ji Lingxian was lively, funny, and respectful of Omegas, making her a decent Alpha. It shouldn't be hard for her to find a girlfriend if she wanted one.
Yu Zhiwan nodded. "That works for most Omegas."
But Zhao Manlin wasn't most Omegas. Yu Zhiwan couldn't forget how excited Zhao Manlin had been after getting the chance to buy original shares, practically shouting "career first" from the rooftops.
People who have been hurt before often find it difficult to open their hearts again, and Zhao Manlin was all about her career. After Yu Zhiwan's analysis, Pei Yujang couldn't help but feel a bit gleeful.
Serves Ji Lingxian right for having a crush on her girlfriend. Who would have thought she'd end up in this situation?
Pei Yujang still believed that Ji Lingxian had genuinely liked Yu Zhiwan before and couldn't let go of it.
As for how challenging Ji Lingxian's pursuit of Zhao Manlin would be, that was a story for another day.
Not long after, Pei Yujang received a message from the mayor of Xiangcheng, who had asked her for evidence related to the body found in Yihu Lake in Yicheng. Pei Yujang had taken photos when she discovered it, but by the time she returned, the body was gone. Only the faint, lingering stench of decay clinging to the water plants remained, evidence of a mysterious crime.
Once all the cases were consolidated, Xiangcheng began a new round of urban renewal, this time focusing on genuine improvements rather than just superficial cleanliness. Anti-trafficking and environmental protection became prominent themes throughout the city.
Under Pei Yujang's guidance, the mayor of Xiangcheng dismantled two human trafficking rings and established a task force, encouraging public reports of such activities.
The promise of rewards inspired bravery, and once credible tips were confirmed, the mayor didn't hesitate to mobilize the military to raid a village involved in the trafficking network. Every participant, regardless of age or gender, was arrested, sending a clear message to deter others.
Other cities across the continent began to follow Xiangcheng's example. Of course, in places where local officials colluded with criminals, dismantling such deeply entrenched networks was no simple task.
The weather had been poor lately. As November transitioned into December, cold air continued its southward march, arriving in Xiangcheng a few days ago. This year, Pei Yujang had wrapped herself in the red scarf Yu Zhiwan had knitted for her. She avoided using the heater at home, opting to stay warm by layering up. During a video conference, someone asked about it, and she confidently replied:
"Isn't everyone talking about saving the environment? I'm just trying to conserve energy."
A few women on the other end of the call couldn't help but laugh, and even Pei Jinhui chuckled.
"Alright, let's finish up this summary, and then we'll break for lunch."
Pei Yujang was currently working remotely from Xiangcheng. After the meeting ended, it was already past one in the afternoon, and she could finally get some hot food. Yu Zhiwan was busy in Yicheng, so after the meeting, Pei Yujang sent her a message and ordered takeout.
As she watched the delivery guy leave, she noticed how windy it was outside. Grabbing a warm bottle of mineral water from the insulated box, she called out to offer it to him.
But the delivery guy hurried off without looking back, so Pei Yujang placed the water back in the box.
Starving, she opened her takeout, only to find a tangled mess of yarn on top of her sweet and sour pork rice bowl. The seal hadn't been tampered with, likely packed in a new bag. Frowning, she took a picture, her appetite gone. She noticed what looked like a slip of paper amidst the mess, but before she could inspect it, Yu Zhiwan returned her call.
Pei Yujang quickly put on a smile and grabbed a chair, setting the food aside as she greeted the woman on the other end.
Yu Zhiwan, still in her lab coat, looked exhausted but her eyes sparkled as if seeking praise:
"Xiangcheng has been making great progress, and Yaocheng is also cracking down. We have some contacts there. But Yicheng is proving more difficult, so it might take a bit longer."
Despite her fatigue, Yu Zhiwan stifled a yawn.
"I've been really busy lately, so it might be a while before I can see you. But let's work hard together so we can enjoy a proper New Year's break, okay?"
The A-Organization, now cornered by their unexpected actions, wouldn't go down without a fight. Yu Zhiwan was focused on her tasks, and Pei Yujang was equally busy. They hadn't had much time to see each other lately. After exchanging a few words, Yu Zhiwan noticed the signal was getting weak and asked:
"I'm about to hang up. Do you have anything else to say?"
Pei Yujang hesitated, but couldn't bring herself to say anything too sentimental. The beautiful yet weary Omega on the screen smiled at her before ending the call.
Meanwhile, Pei Yujang was already checking flights to Yicheng and contacting Yu Zhiwan's favorite cake shop to order a custom cake.