COULDN'T AFFORD A HOTEL ROOM

Yu Qing was brooding. He was in his office, talking to Yun Jinghan on the phone. He signaled K-2 to leave the room before he was going to vent out on him. K-2 happened to see Luo Jingyi getting inside the restaurant, so he immediately informed his boss, who was overseas. Maybe it was his way of rectifying his mistakes in Sanya. Because K-2 didn't notify Yun Jinghan immediately that Wen Minghua bothered Luo Jingyi at the medical conference, he was sent to work in Yu Qing's kitchen as a punishment. It was a light punishment compared to the usual practice but K-2 didn't like following Yu Qing. 

When Yun Jinghan was informed that Luo Jingyi was in the restaurant, he immediately ordered K-2 to take Yu Qing's most prized bottle of wine and gift it to Luo Jingyi. Yu Qing was saving the Château Rousseau 1878 for a special occasion. But now it's gone. He bought that bottle from a private auction with a hefty price tag. "I incurred a big loss. I don't want to live." 

The silence was the answer to Yu Qing's complaint. Then he heard Yun Jinghan order him to send lunch to Medlife starting the next day. "Are you paying me to be a babysitter?" Yu Qing let out his unhappiness, still feeling displeased with the loss of his precious wine. 

"That piece of land in South City, it's yours." Yun Jinghan said. He originally planned to build a summer home there, but hearing that the Song Family was going to be his neighbors, he didn't push for it. Song Huan was the woman Yun Jinghan was supposed to meet that night when someone attempted to kidnap Luo Jingyi. Moreover, it would be better to discuss future homes with his wife. 

"Are you serious?" Yu Qing didn't believe that he was easily letting it go. Yu Qing had been asking to buy that land from Yun Jinghan, but he always refused. The road connecting South City to Capital was underway, so South City's development was imminent. And Yu Qing wanted to open another branch there. 

"You don't want it?" Yun Jinghan rested his back on the sofa. He was exhausted. He was still working when he received K-2's SMS. If it had been in the past, he would have ignored it. But thinking it was related to his wife, he checked the message. And he was glad he did. Learning she was in the restaurant gave him an idea of what to give her. 

"It's not a question of want. Why are you giving it to me suddenly?" Yu Qing had been following Yun Jinghan for eight years, and by now, he was aware of his friend's personality. 

"You said you incurred a big loss. That's the compensation. Besides, that land has no use for me."

It suddenly crossed Yu Qing's mind of the news he heard recently. That the Song Family also bought properties in South City. Yu Qing put one and one together. The reason his friend was easily giving the land was related to the Song Family. "The Song Family allied with the Lin Family. This move will definitely grow their business exponentially. Are you really letting Song Huan go?" The Song Family owned one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the country. Since Yun Jinghan recently entered the medical industry, it would be beneficial for Terra Firma Corporation to collaborate with the Song Family. That was the other reason why Yun Jinghan's grandmother arranged the date with Song Huan. 

"I don't need a commercial marriage to consolidate my business." Yun Jinghan answered before adding, "If you are interested, you can marry her." 

…...

Meanwhile, Luo Jingyi was returning to their room when the corner of her eye caught two people's shadows. An older woman was kissing a younger man passionately. The woman's clothes were almost undone. They were so into each other that they hadn't realized the door was left open. Any passerby could see what was happening. Luo Jingyi was surprised when she recognized the woman. It was Wang Hua, the original's stepmother. 

'They couldn't afford a hotel room?' She frowned. The original's father was running for office, and scandals like this could ruin him. In her understanding, Wang Hua was always cautious, but what happened today? The answer to her question was, passion had completely clouded Wang Hua's brain. The young man who was touching her had ignited the longing and desired she had. She loved the attention the man was giving her. 

Luo Jingyi was no voyeur. So she left. As she walked away, she could hear their faint moans of pleasure coming from that room. Luo Jingyi took out her phone and called someone, giving the address and the room number. She wanted the security footage of today and filed it for later use. Wang Hua sent people to kill her before, and she hadn't collected that debt yet. Soon she would. Smiling, Luo Jingyi went to see Nicolette. 

They returned to the hotel. Nicolette packed her things, and Luo Jingyi accompanied her to Nicolette's company dormitory. It was inside a gated community. Climbing out of the taxi, Luo Jingyi glanced over the rows of buildings. They were modest and clean. "Are you sure you don't want to stay in the hotel room for a few days?" Luo Jingyi asked, helping Nicolette with her things. 

Nicolette shook her head. "I want to get used to it. Besides, I have to go to the company tomorrow to familiarize myself." Her answer made Luo Jingyi quiet. She no longer insisted. The guard at the building entrance helped Nicolette with her suitcase. "I won't invite you in because I am not sure who I will be sharing the apartment with," Nicolette added. 

"Next time will be fine. It's not like I am going anywhere." Luo Jingyi laughed. 

"I'll send you a message when I get settled in." Nicolette bent forward, kissed her on the cheeks, and dragged her suitcases forward. Upon seeing Nicolette enter the elevator, Luo Jingyi turned away.