Chapter 107: Worshiping the Moment Sis Slammed Her Card into My Hands

The next day, after learning that Li Yunli was at the hospital tending to Ji Zhenshi, Tang Xien took her time and didn’t arrive until the afternoon.

“Feeling any better today?” Tang Xien knocked twice before leisurely pushing the door open.

Inside the room, Ji Zhenshi was sprawled on the bed binge-watching a show, while Li Yunli sat beside her, feeding her bites of fruit.

That smug, blissful little expression—if she had a tail, it would have been wagging furiously back and forth, a far cry from the pitiful state she’d been in yesterday.

Look at you, all happy now, Ji Zhenshi.

Li Yunli stood up and offered her stool to Tang Xien, then settled on the edge of Ji Zhenshi’s bed. “We just got the check-up report. Nothing serious, but the doctor wants her to stay for observation until tomorrow before discharge. As long as she applies the medicine on time and rests quietly for a few days, she’ll be fine.”

Ji Zhenshi was clearly in much better spirits today. Being nurtured by love had chased away that lingering air of melancholy.

“Alright, youth has its perks—quick recovery. It seems Miss Li really knows her way around caretaking. I picked the right person for the job.” Tang Xien gave Ji Zhenshi a once-over. So sunny now, Ji Zhenshi.

“Not bad,” Ji Zhenshi said modestly.

Li Yunli gave Tang Xien a warm smile. “I’m definitely no match for a professional nurse, but I do want to thank Miss Tang for letting me know. It meant I could rush over the moment I heard Xiao Zhen was hurt. Even if I’m not an expert, I wouldn’t feel right unless I took care of her myself.”

With that, both Li Yunli and Tang Xien turned their gazes to the person sprawled on the bed.

Especially Li Yunli—resentment was plain in her eyes.

Ji Zhenshi was the type who would never tell her about something like this on her own. And when Li Yunli had rushed over, worried sick and pouring her heart into the care, Ji Zhenshi hadn’t appreciated it at all. She’d even called her annoying and accused her of false kindness.

Anyone else probably would have lost their temper and stormed out by now.

“Why are you both staring at me?” Ji Zhenshi felt a chill down her spine under their combined scrutiny and instinctively shrank back.

Li Yunli pulled her back and popped a piece of fruit into her mouth. “What do you think? With your weird temper, who else but me could put up with you?”

“I have to agree with Miss Li on that,” Tang Xien said leisurely, crossing her legs. Seeing that the atmosphere between Li Yunli and Ji Zhenshi seemed back to normal, she gave a faint smile. “Call it a match made in heaven. As compensation for your workplace injury, you even scored some love out of it. Ji Zhenshi, you must be pretty satisfied with that, right?”

There was that capitalist smirk of Tang Xien’s again.

Li Yunli was the one who’d come all this way, the one handling all the caregiving, while Tang Xien had just sent a heads-up and ridden the wave of goodwill.

Ji Zhenshi forced a smile, seeing right through the scheming behind that cool big-sis facade. “Satisfied? Totally satisfied. But if Teacher Tang really wants to make it up to me, how about pulling some strings with the doctor so I can check out today?”

She couldn’t do a thing in the hospital. Li Yunli wouldn’t let her get out of bed or touch the heavy, flavorful foods she craved.

Li Yunli was unrelenting on that front.

Before Ji Zhenshi could finish, Li Yunli cut in. “No way. You have to follow the doctor’s orders. Remember what she just said? No rest, no bland diet, and you risk scarring if it doesn’t heal right.”

Just earlier, Ji Zhenshi had been grumbling and sulking about not being able to leave. Li Yunli had worn her voice hoarse, mixing reason with gentle coaxing until she’d finally settled her down.

But now Tang Xien’s arrival had stirred up Ji Zhenshi’s restless heart all over again.

Li Yunli shot her a reproachful look, stuffing a piece of apple into her mouth to silence her. She repeated firmly, “No.”

She hadn’t complained once about dropping everything to stay by her side, even though it was inconvenient with nothing brought along. All Ji Zhenshi had to endure was a little restriction on her movements, waited on hand and foot. She was taking her blessings for granted.

Ji Zhenshi glared at Li Yunli rebelliously but wilted under her stern gaze, ducking her head to resume her show. “Fine, I’ll just binge-watch then!”

“Oh, right—Ji Zhenshi, that guy who landed on you when you fell off the stage yesterday has been hounding me. He wants to thank you in person. I haven’t said yes yet—he feels awful, blames himself, and wants to visit, buy you dinner as thanks. He thinks without him pinning you down, you might’ve gotten hurt even worse. If you’re okay with him coming by, I’ll give him your room number.” Tang Xien had come with actual business, after all.

Ji Zhenshi glanced guiltily at Li Yunli. “Nah, no need. I didn’t get hurt saving him or anything. Whether he crushed me or not, the outcome would’ve been the same.”

She emphasized, “My fall was pure accident—not because I was trying to save him.”

She watched Li Yunli’s expression the whole time, terrified of any misunderstanding.

She recalled the guy on top of her—a young part-timer in his early twenties, studio staff. He’d crashed right onto her as she tumbled.

Tang Xien nodded and let it drop. “Fair enough. Tomorrow after discharge, head back home. The team’s already gone ahead. Take a week off to rest, but we’ve got unavoidable work after that. When you’re ready, touch base with Li Jie for the details.”

“Got it,” Ji Zhenshi replied.

“Alright, then I won’t keep you. I’ve got a flight tonight.” Tang Xien rose and gave Li Yunli a slight nod.

If she hadn’t been unsure about Ji Zhenshi’s condition, Tang Xien would’ve flown back last night. She’d stuck around an extra day on purpose.

Thank goodness it wasn’t serious. Otherwise, who knew what would’ve happened.

“Wait, you’re leaving already?” Ji Zhenshi looked up at her.

No way—her mentor, her beloved boss, was ditching her too in the end?

Wahh… In the end, only Sister A-Yun would stay by her side.

The thought made Ji Zhenshi want to cling to Li Yunli.

“Mm.” Tang Xien smiled lightly, fiddled with her phone for a moment, then turned to leave.

She walked off briskly, without a hint of sentiment, zero teacher-student bonding.

Ji Zhenshi sighed, watching wistfully as Tang Xien’s commanding figure departed.

But merely two seconds later…

“Ah!” A delighted cry escaped Ji Zhenshi as she blinked at the transfer notification, double-checking the decimals several times.

Twenty thousand. Tang Xien had wired her twenty thousand, with the note: “Workplace injury compensation for pain and suffering.”

“Spend it freely, Ji Zhenshi. Consider it my personal bonus as your boss. Hope you enjoy your vacation.” Tang Xien’s breezy voice drifted through the not-quite-closed door—calm, carefree, the coolest thing done with the iciest face.

She’d spoil her promising student through hardship, of course.

And she couldn’t let her hyperactive charge waste away bored in bed, fidgeting like a monkey under a tight spell.

Ji Zhenshi stared at the transfer in excitement and shouted back, “Thanks, Teacher Tang! You’re the best boss in the world. Paid leave plus injury pay!”

Meeting Tang Xien really was a stroke of luck. At least her half-year at that shitty company hadn’t been a total waste.

Tang Xien might project an aloof, unapproachable aura, but she never let anyone under her wing get shortchanged—friends or studio employees alike.

“Such a money-grubber.” Li Yunli chuckled at the sight of Ji Zhenshi clutching her phone, eyes lighting up at the money.

Right now, it felt like a little cash could buy Ji Zhenshi’s total devotion. What a little miser.

How broke was she, anyway?

Logically, Ji Zhenshi should be flush from gigs lately.

Ji Zhenshi hugged her phone to her chest like a sacred relic. “I’ll be loyal to Teacher Tang forever. She’s my one and only boss—I’ll sell my soul to her. She’s straight-up my idol.”

Li Yunli smiled softly at her glee, her eyes full of indulgence. “Xiao Zhen, you’re hopeless. Twenty thousand makes her your idol? Do you really need money that bad?”

Ji Zhenshi nodded emphatically. “I need it bad. I’m dirt poor—whoever pays me is my new god.”

“Money-grubber,” Li Yunli teased, though she honestly reached into her bag, pulled out her wallet, and slipped a bank card into Ji Zhenshi’s palm. “But Xiao Zhen’s money-grubber side is adorable.”

“What’s this?” Ji Zhenshi stared at the bank card in confusion.

Li Yunli smiled serenely. “Lots of twenty thousands in here. Doesn’t that make me your idol too? For this life, the next, and the one after.”

One lifetime felt too short. If possible, she wanted to meet again in the next.

People were greedy at heart—having each other for one life wasn’t enough; they craved the next.

Ji Zhenshi gaped at Li Yunli’s grand gesture, her jaw nearly on the floor, eyes brimming with awe. “Manager Li, you’re loaded!”

Not just Manager Li anymore—full-on CEO Li.

The cool way Li Yunli had handed over the card was god-tier, like she was about to become her sugar mama.

Li Yunli kept her eyes down, calmly peeling an apple. “Average.”

Ji Zhenshi’s eyes turned to stars. “I seriously worship the way you slammed that card into my hands, sis. You’re my one true god—so cool.”

Li Yunli lifted her chin slightly. “Look at Xiao Zhen, so hopeless.”

She glanced at Ji Zhenshi’s beaming, spring-breeze smile and laughed. “But having a little money-grubber at home means sis has to hustle harder, right?”

That way, Ji Zhenshi wouldn’t melt over pocket change like an easily bought pushover, making it seem like she was skimping on her.

She remembered bankrolling Ji Zhenshi through school without letting her go short. She’d held back sometimes to spare her pride, but when she did give, it was generous amounts—plus Ji Zhenshi’s side gigs filling the gaps. She shouldn’t be this desperate for cash.

“Nah, it’s just that no one ever says no to more money,” Ji Zhenshi said, fiddling with the bank card. She figured Li Yunli’s lawsuit had wrapped up successfully, and selling the house had left her flush.

Li Yunli was decisive like that—lawsuit declared, lawsuit won, before Ji Zhenshi could even get the full story.

“That’s the money-grubber in you. And Xiao Zhen is more than just that.” Li Yunli’s voice held a teasing edge.

Ji Zhenshi had once boasted about providing for her, but really, it was the other way around.

What a little con artist, step by step stealing her heart until she willingly followed.

“I’m no money-grubber—it’s human nature. Teacher Tang’s different; she’s a legit rich lady, and every cent she spends is precise, never wasted. My injury pay? Earned it fair and square… Plus, you didn’t see how high that stage was. Falling hurt like hell, and I was lucky not to be messed up worse.” Ji Zhenshi quibbled.

The nurse had yanked glass shards from her wound with tweezers—a torturous ordeal of pain.

She’d bitten her wrist to keep from crying out.

“Earned it?” Li Yunli frowned in disapproval. “It broke my heart, and you’re calling it ‘earned’? As if I don’t know how high that stage was—I nearly died when I heard. Don’t act like it’s a bargain. Pain’s something you feel yourself, got it? And if you need money, I can give it.”

Maybe before she couldn’t promise that, but now she could—backed by real power to protect Ji Zhenshi.

Ji Zhenshi had just been joking, but Li Yunli’s serious reply caught her off guard.

The air grew stiff for a few seconds. Ji Zhenshi’s brows shot up. “It wasn’t that bad. I’m used to bumps and bruises. I was just…”

Joking around.

But Li Yunli took it to heart. “Still, I’ll worry. And next time, don’t throw yourself at money like it’s a marriage proposal. Whatever she can give you, I can too.”

Twenty thousand buying her loyalty—what a hopeless money-grubber.

Her eyes clear as a mountain spring, Li Yunli’s expression turned solemn.

Ji Zhenshi toyed with the bank card between her slender fingers. “No way—Sister A-Yun, are you actually jealous?”

Li Yunli was quick to jealousy, her possessiveness strong.

Ji Zhenshi loved it even more…

She adored the shift from gentle sis to dominant—sweet yet commanding, that contrast was irresistible.

Li Yunli said nothing. Her silence was answer enough.

She was jealous. She couldn’t stand Ji Zhenshi idolizing another woman. Whatever others could offer, she’d match it—as long as Ji Zhenshi’s eyes stayed on her.

Having lost her once, she treasured her more fiercely now.

No rebreaking this mended bond; she’d cherish it doubly.

Li Yunli ignored her. Ji Zhenshi leaned forward with a cheeky grin. “I never noticed before, but Sister A-Yun gets jealous so easily—and solves it by throwing cash. So if I poke at it more, will I get rich quick? Filthy rich?”

Snap.

The apple peel broke mid-peel.

Li Yunli’s face changed. She paused for several seconds before resuming, slicing the apple into neat little pieces.

Ji Zhenshi sensed the shift and leaned in appeasingly, mouth open for a bite. But Li Yunli calmly popped a piece into her own mouth. “You want me jealous?”

“N-nope.” Ji Zhenshi’s neck shrank back as danger dawned. She tried to retreat.

But Li Yunli wasn’t letting her escape. She pinched Ji Zhenshi’s chin, her tone scolding. “Ji Zhenshi, you little troublemaker. You just want to see me jealous, huh? Think you can bully sis’s good temper? Get your kicks from that?”

Had she never considered how much it might actually hurt?

Heartless brat—zero clue about caring for her big sis.