Shen Qi replied matter-of-factly, "Yeah! Once I pay off your debt, you and I won't have any connection. Of course I'll keep doing styling for others, serving them. If Feng Kexin wants to blacklist me, who in the whole H Province would dare hire me for styling?"
"So you just stood there and took the beating?" He Yining was amused. This was the funniest thing he'd ever heard.
Shen Qi actually nodded.
"By the way, do you know what it really means to be the female companion of the president of the He Group?" He Yining put down his chopsticks, looking at Shen Qi with a half-smile.
Shen Qi looked completely clueless: "Huh? What difference does it make? Isn't it just... an ordinary companion?"
"Do you know what privileges my companion has?" He Yining continued.
"...No." Shen Qi answered honestly.
He Yining genuinely laughed this time. So this silly woman had no idea what her role meant today. She didn't even think to use it to gain something for herself. She didn't know that as He Yining's companion, she had the right to enter high society. Even if Feng Kexin wanted to blacklist her, it was impossible! Because no one dared to blacklist this workplace tyrant's woman. If He Yining publicly said, "This person is mine," then no matter how much others disliked her, they'd have to give him face! That's what it meant to be an emperor! A tyrant!
"Aren't you just afraid of being blacklisted? Don't worry, no one dares to blacklist you." After saying this, He Yining couldn't help but smile. Used to women who flattered and schemed, meeting one who seemed smart but was actually this clueless was refreshing.
Shen Qi still looked confused.
"How about this: since you already owe me a lot, I don't mind hiring another stylist. From now on, you'll be my personal stylist, no need to serve others. How about a monthly salary of two hundred thousand?" He Yining made an offer.
Two hundred thousand! Shen Qi was almost stunned by the number. She still owed one million three hundred thousand. At two hundred thousand a month, she could pay it off in over half a year! Then she could save more, wait for the one-year term to end, divorce, and take her brother far away! Leave H City, leave H Province, go somewhere no one knew them. With that thought, Shen Qi was instantly tempted.
Shen Qi's eyes sparkled as she looked at He Yining: "Really... two hundred thousand?"
He Yining looked at her with a half-smile: "If you perform well, the debt can be further reduced."
Hearing that the debt could be reduced further, Shen Qi's eyes lit up even more!
"Then, it's a deal!" Although Shen Qi earned decent money, serving upper-class young ladies and gentlemen meant using top-tier brands, so expenses were high. If she became He Yining's personal stylist, those costs would be saved! And at two hundred thousand a month, she could save over a million in half a year, enough to start fresh in a new city with her brother! Thinking of that bright future, Shen Qi suddenly felt the meal wasn't so hard to swallow. She happily ate the ribs He Yining had picked for her.
After dinner, Shen Qi took the two hundred thousand He Yining gave her and rushed home. She first made sure Shen Lu ate, then quickly found a bigger apartment nearby and paid for Shen Lu's treatment. Looking at the spacious place, Shen Qi happily hugged Shen Lu's waist: "Brother, once I earn money, we can live in an even bigger, better house. We won't have to depend on others or watch their faces anymore."
Shen Lu stood silently, letting Shen Qi hug him. He seemed to feel her joy, his eyes curving into a smile so beautiful it dazzled Shen Qi. She couldn't help reaching out to pinch his cheek: "Brother is so handsome, it makes me, as your sister, feel ashamed."
Hearing her praise, Shen Lu smiled even more brightly.
After settling everything, Shen Qi took Shen Lu outside to slowly mingle with people. Shen Lu nervously held her hand, like a child afraid of ghosts. He clearly hated strangers, but since Xiao Qi didn't like him staying cooped up at home, he was willing to force himself to go out for her. Shen Qi patiently led him, starting in empty, quiet areas, then moving to slightly busier places once he adjusted. Shen Lu walked stiffly as she pulled him along, pointing out street sights: "Look, isn't that steamed bun shop's sign cute? The buns we had this morning came from there. That fruit shop next door is where I always go. Your favorite oranges are from there."
Shen Lu mechanically followed, not really remembering anything she said. When they finally got home, he visibly relaxed and hid in his room like an ostrich, refusing to come out no matter how much Shen Qi called. She just laughed. She knew going out today was already his best effort. She had patience! She didn't expect great results on the first try; she believed that with persistence, her brother could return to normal!
When Shen Qi washed some fruit and brought it to his room, she found him studying her laptop. She said nothing, quietly set the fruit down, sat beside him, and peeked at the screen. What... was this? She thought her computer skills were decent—she'd gotten a basic certificate in college and could handle standard tasks. But now, streams of data flashed before her eyes, and she had no idea what it was.
"Brother, what... is this?" she asked after staring for a while.
Shen Lu's fingers flew across the keyboard, typing line after line of commands. As the instructions poured out, the screen suddenly changed! One surveillance feed after another appeared. Shen Qi was stunned—these feeds looked so familiar... Wait, wasn't this the building they lived in? How did her brother...
Meanwhile, the building's security room was in chaos! Why? Because their surveillance had been hacked! All screens went black. The bald security manager broke into a sweat, stammering orders: "Quick, check the lines! A hacker's broken in!"