DBAG- Chapter 3

Ch. 03 Nice to meet you!

    The next morning, after being shrouded in misty rain for days, S City finally welcomed a sunny day.

    Chi Ke got up before the sun was even fully out. By noon, he had completed the application for a new ID card and bank card, and even scheduled his passport and visa processing, along with a medical check-up for the following week.

    He had taken good care of the original owner’s belongings, avoiding anything unnecessary—except for one thing he had no choice but to borrow:

    Money.

    Zhen Ting Group, one of the top enterprises in S City, was currently controlled by Leng Yunting’s grandfather. The so-called ‘CEO’ himself only managed a film company under the group’s umbrella.

    Chi Ke soon realized that the original owner’s salary was processed through the group’s headquarters, and employees were paid on the 7th of every month. That meant he had over half a month to go until payday, with not a single cent on hand. In a city as expensive as S City, he wouldn’t survive.

    He wasn’t so stubborn as to starve rather than borrow money. He wrote an IOU in his phone’s memo app and withdrew a thousand yuan from the original owner’s account.

    If he goes a bit frugal, it would be enough to live on.

    Thinking about it, the situation was quite pitiful. Chi Ke still couldn’t figure out which heavenly law he had violated to end up transmigrating into a novel—and of all characters, why did he have to end up as the special assistant?

    Such fate of a corporate slave, could there possibly be a second one in this world?

    He shook his head and answered his own question:

    No way. What was this, a matchmaking show? Do transmigrated characters have to come in pairs?

    With luck this bad, he was probably one of a kind.

    After taking care of his ‘new identity’ documents, Chi Ke went home to rest for a while.

    Yesterday, he went to slept the moment he laid down, without any time to make a plan. Now that he finally had some time alone, he had to figure out his next steps.

    Leng Yunting and Xu Lemian would officially get together on New Year’s Eve next year.

    His role in all this was simple: help the domineering CEO chase his love interest, clean up Xu Lemian’s endless messes, and deal with the CEO’s cold-blooded older brother, who was determined to keep them apart.

    As the owner of a film company, the strikingly handsome Leng Yunting had one foot in the entertainment industry, making it inevitable that he’d be surrounded by rumors involving both men and women.

    His elder brother had long disapproved of his playboy ways, and if he found out that Leng Yunting was neglecting work to pursue someone, he would definitely restrict both, his finances as well as freedom.

    On the surface, Leng Yunting always went against his brother, but in reality, he was quite afraid of him. Even when it came to fighting for control of the family business, he only dared to do it in secret.

    Of course, in the end, he succeeded—seizing power, gaining full control of the company, and winning the love of his life. A double victory in both wealth and romance.

    Meanwhile, Eldest Young Master Leng, one of the novel’s villains, no longer had any foothold in the country and had to flee abroad in disgrace.

    Of course, these are all later stories.

    At this stage, the wings of the so-called domineering CEO’s were not yet fully fledged. In front of his big brother, he was basically just a lapdog [mfn]figuratively, it is used to describe a person who is overly submissive, obedient, or dependent on someone more powerful[/mfn].

    As his assistant, Chi Ke had two main responsibilities:

    One, cover up his boss’s romantic past [mfn]that first love of his[/mfn] to keep Xu Lemian from finding out.

    Two, hide Xu Lemian’s existence so his boss’s elder brother wouldn’t catch wind of it.

    It sounded relatively easy.

    Feeling slightly reassured, Chi Ke temporarily set aside his boss’s ridiculous affairs.

    To be honest, he had no interest in the main couple at all. What he truly cared about was the original owner.

    To him, the original owner’s matters took priority over everything else, even the main characters’ love story.

    Yet, despite the novel’s clearly defined plot, ‘Chi Ke’ himself was practically a blank sheet of paper.

    The original owner’s work phone had no password, but it contained nothing except work-related files. His personal phone was nowhere to be found, and even if he did locate it, it would probably be locked.

    The apartment was so bare that it lacked even basic necessities, let alone any personal belongings that could provide clues.

    Every lead had been cut off. The ‘little brother’ that was mentioned only once in the original owner’s will also could not be contacted.

    All he could do was wait.

    Frustrated, Chi Ke ran his fingers through his hair. He hated feeling this passive feeling.

    He was getting anxious.

    And when he got anxious, he needed something to do.

    So, an hour later, Chi Ke, done with his lunch break, started deep-cleaning the apartment. In the process, he accidentally banged his elbow, leaving a large bruise.

    Half an hour later, as he finished, he decided to read up on criminal law—only to get a papercut from the sharp edges of that A4 sheet.

    Two hours later, after immersing himself in those legal texts, he started to watch the news to understand the market trends and stock movements. While adjusting the volume on the remote, it slipped from his hand and smacked right on his nose, turning it bright red.

    …

    Finally, at 8 PM, Assistant Chi, after a full day of being a busy bee, officially ran out of things to do.

    He was used to bad luck such that he barely even noticed his bruises and cuts. Lying calmly on the bed, he began to feel anxious again.

    Security.

    He needed a sense of security.

    Maybe he should get a side job…

    The thought had even barely formed when Chi Ke sat up expressionlessly and slapped his own thigh.

    What the hell was he thinking?

    How far had he fallen to even consider taking on a side gig?

    Had he not worked enough in his last life? Was he really going to live this second life being another overworked corporate mule? What if he dropped dead from exhaustion again—wouldn’t he be embarrassing the King of Hell?

    Once that realization hit, Chi Ke laid back down in peace.

    He hadn’t been given a second chance just to repeat the same tragic cycle. So what if he slacked off a little?

    Being alive was the greatest sense of security.

    The worst that could happen? He’d just die again. No big deal—he had experience now.

    Rolling onto his stomach, he did a few push-ups against the bed as a pre-sleep workout, then switched his work phone to silent mode.

    As for the call from his ‘living Dad’ boss? [mfn]What do you think is better, ‘living dad’ or ‘living ATM’. Do let me know.[/mfn]

    Well, wasn’t it perfectly normal for an employee to ignore work messages during off-hours?

    If the boss didn’t ask, he wouldn’t know.

    If the boss asked, he’d act surprised.

    Before he died in his last life, he’d had one final thought:

    Was there anything in this world more important than getting a full eight hours of sleep?

    Feeling enlightened, Chi Ke happily went to take a meticulous shower and, for the first time in ten years, went to sleep by 9:30 PM.

    He had expected a peaceful night’s rest until the morning.

    But exactly at midnight, an urgent knocking at the door woke him up.

    Who could it be at this hour?

    Chi Ke sat up with a gloomy face, ran a hand through his hair, and wordlessly went to open the door.

    “Assistant—”

    The next word ‘Chi’ got stuck in the visitor’s throat.

    Oh my god!!

    At this time, Leng Yunting’s newly hired assistant was screaming internally:

    Didn’t the boss say Assistant Chi had a mild, easy-going personality?

    Why did this man, with his cold gaze and sharp features, looked more like a Grim Reaper than a gentle assistant?

    Wuwuwu [mfn]the sound of crying, in this case ‘crying internally’[/mfn], is he about to punch me?!

    The assistant’s legs went weak, “Assis….assis…assistant”

    Chi Ke: “…”

    If Chi Ke knew what the assistant was thinking, he’d be speechless.

    His skin was pale, his jawline sharp and his lips thin, making his overall features sharp and well-defined. He had slightly sunken eyes which paired with a small mole under his right eye, made him look distant and aloof.

    This kind of facial structure often gave people the wrong impression—making him seem like he was perpetually annoyed at life, bad-tempered, and unapproachable.

    …Although to be fair, he actually was bad-tempered.

    Having been misunderstood countless times, Chi Ke simply nodded slightly and asked politely, “What do you need?”

    The assistant stammered, “L-Leng…Ugh…Mr. Leng tried to call you but couldn’t get through, so he sent me to find you. He needs you to book an amusement park trip because the doctor said that a happy mood helps with recovery, so he wants to take Mr. Xu to see the parade floats [mfn]A parade float in an amusement park is a big, decorated vehicle that moves in a parade with lights, music, and characters. – this is what I understood. If any of you has read the raws and thinks it means something else, please let me know. I’ll make the necessary changes.[/mfn] tomorrow morning!”

    Chi Ke: “?”

    Chi Ke was confused for a second. He pulled out his phone and double-checked politely, “Tomorrow morning? Sunday? Rainy day? Parade floats?”

    Each word made sense individually, but together, they formed an absolutely absurd request.

    “Yes, Assistant Chi.” The assistant nodded. “Departure is at 8 AM, expected to arrive at the amusement park by 8:30 AM. Right now, we need you to come with me to the Leng residence to meet with Secretary Sun and handle the paperwork for the private booking.”

    “…”

    “So,” Chi Ke took a deep breath, “Boss Leng wants me to single-handedly book an entire amusement park, refund all the original ticket holders, and arrange a parade performance… all within eight hours? And work overtime on a Sunday?”

    “Yes, Assistant Chi.” The assistant nodded, bobbing his head. “Boss Leng said he’ll give you a raise.”

    A raise? How much money would make this 007 [mfn]extreme work schedule where someone works from 12 AM to 12 AM, seven days a week—essentially no rest at all. – This number was also there in the original title, but I had to exchange it with something else to make more sense, and that’s why here I have kept it as it is, because this will repeat many a times in chapters ahead[/mfn] work schedule worth it?

    Chi Ke’s face darkened as he prepared to unleash a full-scale rant about capitalist exploitation, “Please tell Boss Leng that I—”

    “A hundred thousand. Paid tomorrow. On the company account.”

    Chi Ke: “…I’ll take care of it right away and ensure that Boss Leng is completely satisfied with the results.”

    “Thank you, Assistant Chi.” Hearing that the assistant felt a huge weight lift off his chest. “You should get going now. I won’t be accompanying you to the villa—I also have to talk to someone else.”

    “Someone else?” Chi Ke raised an eyebrow, suddenly feeling much better.

    So, he wasn’t the only one getting worked to the bone.

    “Yes.” The assistant forced a bitter smile. “Boss Leng is also bringing Mr. Xu’s younger sister tomorrow. But Miss Xu has a heart condition and usually stays in a specialized medical ward, so I need to speak to her doctor and figure something out… Ah, hold on, I need to take this call.”

    The assistant answered his phone, muttered something in a low voice, and then quickly came running back.

    “Assistant Chi,” the assistant said, “Boss Leng and Secretary Sun are visiting Miss Xu at the hospital. Boss Leng has his ID with him, so you’ll need to pick it up before heading to the villa. Let’s head over together now.”

    —

    Chi Ke was efficient. In just five minutes, he washed up, got dressed, and left the house wearing a bulky jacket and a pair of plain, design-less jeans.

   The night air was chilly. On his way home the day before, he had stopped by the wholesale market to buy some thick clothes—perfect timing.

   S City had its own street-shopping areas, where he found a stall selling clothes, four pieces for 100 yuan, including all styles of tops and pants. Sure, the styles were basic, and the fabric was rough, but they were warm and cost-effective.

    Chi Ke had long since outgrown the phase of choosing style over comfort.

    At work, you just needed to show up alive—that was already impressive enough. Who cared if you dressed like crap? Who was he dressing up for? The boss?

    If the management didn’t like it, they could fire him.

    But in reality, the way you wore clothes mattered more than the clothes themselves.

    The assistant secretly observed him, feeling puzzled, how does someone make such ugly clothes look like they belong in a fashion show?

    With a face like that, only an idiot would dare to criticize him.

    —

   “Assistant Chi, what kind of outfit is that for work?”

    The moment Leng Yunting saw Chi Ke, his brows furrowed so hard they practically formed the Chinese character for ‘river’ [mfn]川[/mfn]. “Go change! You look completely unprofessional—this nowhere complies with the clean-cut, efficient corporate image of Leng’s!”

   Chi Ke glanced at the ‘CCU’ [mfn]Critical Care Unit[/mfn] sign on the hospital room door, then at Leng Yunting in his perfectly tailored suit, then at Secretary Sun in another suit, then at the assistant—also in a suit.

    Someone tell him…

    How much was their ‘business aesthetic’ really worth?

    But he remained calm, “I’m poor. Can’t afford better clothes.”

    “Blew your paycheck on women?” Hearing that Leng Yunting sneered, then turned to the assistant. “Go buy him a suit. The most expensive one. The best quality. If you’re not back in ten minutes, don’t bother coming back.”

    Chi Ke’s first reaction was to clarify, “You’re not deducting this from my salary, right?”

    “What kind of person do you think I am?!” Leng Yunting was fuming. “Since when did you become such a money-grubber? Did your brain rot from getting a semi-permanent makeup?”

    Chi Ke shrugged and said nothing.

   If a worker doesn’t love money, why would they even work?

    For passion?

    Leng Yunting shot him a glare and barked at the assistant, “What are you standing there for? Go!”

    The poor assistant, caught in the crossfire, ran off with a miserable look.

    Ten minutes later, the assistant returned.

    Chi Ke: “?”

    Gotta admit it—Leng Yunting had a talent for hiring employees.

    The previous assistant [mfn]the original owner[/mfn] had worked like a horse without complaints. Secretary Sun didn’t even grumble about working overtime at night. And now, a random new hire actually managed to secure a high-end suit in under ten minutes?

   Truly a natural-born capitalist.

   Chi Ke was incredibly grateful that he had the willpower not to be assimilated along these people.

    Taking the suit, he lowered his voice and said, “Sorry for dragging you into this.”

    The assistant waved his hands frantically. “No, no! It’s a part of the job!”

    Poor kid.

    Hopefully one-day, he does not end up being work place bullied without even realising it.

    Chi Ke discreetly noted the assistant’s inconspicuous birthmark on his neck, nodded slightly, and left to change.

    The suit was nice—simple, elegant, and understated. But it wasn’t warm. Indoors, it was fine, but outside, he’d probably freeze to death.

    Typical heartless capitalist—zero understanding of real-life struggles.

    With a stomach full of complaints, Chi Ke left the restroom, only to stumble upon Leng Yunting in the emergency stairwell, yelling into his phone so loudly that the stair railing seemed to tremble.

    “What?! You can’t come?! Your grand-uncle’s cousin’s nephew’s son’s grandmother passed away?! You’ve had seven relatives die this week?!”

    Oh?

    Chi Ke paused and realized who was on the other end of the call.

    Before Leng Yunting could turn around, Chi Ke adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and lowered his head to hide his smirk.

    See? I told you—every employee would eventually reach their breaking point.

    Even personal doctors weren’t immune.

    Seven relatives died in one week?

    What a load of crap.

    That Dr. Ji seemed far more interesting than how he was described in the book.

    “Are you out of your mind? What do you mean ‘show me the family tree as proof’? I don’t give a damn about your genealogy!” Leng Yunting, who had been angry for the entire day, was still fuming. “I don’t care if it’s your grandpa’s grandma or your grandma’s grandpa—hell, even if someone crawled out of the ancestral tomb and came back to life! We have a date tomorrow morning, and tonight you must check on Mianmian! His fever is almost at 38 degrees—how can I rest easy if he isn’t properly examined?”

    “I don’t care. If you’re not at the villa by 2 AM, I’ll have your brother lock you up. Now do what you want.”

    Leng Yunting angrily hung up the phone and, without even turning his head, tossed the car keys to Chi Ke. “Go pick up the documents from Secretary Sun and head back to the villa. If you don’t see Ji Qian by 2 AM, call me. For now, wait for him at the entrance of the villa.”

   Both the Ji family and the Leng family were prestigious elites in this world.

    Leng Yunting and Ji Qian were both second-born sons, having grown up together. One was arrogant and untouchable; the other was gentle, shy, and reserved—polar opposites in personality.

    It was obvious which one was easier to deal with.

    Chi Ke disliked the smell of hospital disinfectant, so as soon as he caught the keys, he turned on his heel and left—afraid he’d get dragged into more trouble if he lingered.

    Just before stepping out, he glanced through the frosted glass doors of the CCU at the only patient inside—Xu Yun.

    There were many machines around the hospital bed, and even with just a vague look, Chi Ke was certain—she wouldn’t be going to the amusement park tomorrow morning.

    That trip was destined to be a sweet, romantic date for the main couple.

    —

    It was only his second time coming to Leng Yunting’s massive mansion, yet Chi Ke already felt the same level of resentment he used to have for his old company.

   Working at 2 AM? Ridiculous.

    If not for the fact that he couldn’t afford the consequences, he’d have smashed the villa right then and there.

   Obeying his boss’s orders, Chi Ke leaned against a stone table in the courtyard, playing on his phone while waiting for the Grim Reaper of the White Funerals—aka, the doctor who had attended seven funerals in one week.

    As expected, expensive suits were useless in keeping people warm. The night wind easily went through the fabric, making his skin ache from the cold.

    His fingers grew stiff, forcing him to put away his phone and hug his arms to keep warm.

    Time went by, and the S city, which had just cleared up of mist not long ago, seemed on the verge of welcoming another bout of damp autumn rain.

    Luxury residential areas on the outskirts of the city were always quieter than anywhere else. The dim streetlights barely illuminated the roads, making it hard to see the scenery near the courtyard entrance.

    “Assistant Chi,” a voice suddenly spoke from behind. It was Butler Wu, dressed in his usual suit and tie, “Waiting for Dr. Ji? Why not wait inside?”

    Chi Ke had long given up complaining about how the Leng family members were always dressed like they were about to attend a formal event at any given moment. “Boss told me to wait at the door.”

   “The young master’s orders are indeed hard to refuse,” Butler Wu said with an understanding nod.

   With his grey hair, white gloves, a monocle [mfn]those single sided glasses[/mfn], and neatly trimmed moustache, he looked like the very definition of a stereotypical butler.

    “It’s cold at night,” he continued. “Shall I fetch you a cloak?”

   Chi Ke had a mild case of germophobia—he’d rather freeze than wear someone else’s clothes. So, he politely declined. “I’m in good health. I can handle the cold.”

    Butler Wu chuckled kindly, using the tone of an elder teasing a junior. “You just don’t like how cloaks look, do you? Assistant Chi, people dress up for those they want to impress. The way you’re dressed, it looks more like you’re waiting for a date rather than a doctor.”

    “…”

    A date? At 2 AM?

    Would this even count as a relationship?

    The corner of Chi Ke’s lips twitched, “Doctors are always dress formally in their white coats. I can’t be too casual, right?”

    Just as he finished speaking, a loud engine roar approached from the distance.

    The dim light cast on the cement road was instantly shattered by the headlights of an incoming sports car, spilling bright light all over the ground.

    …A Ferrari?

    From behind his glasses, Chi Ke narrowed his eyes slightly in disbelief.

   Besides Dr. Ji, was someone else coming over tonight?

    Such a flashy sports car—bright red and showy—definitely didn’t match the image of the mild-mannered and gentle Ji family’s second son.

    A chilly autumn breeze swept through the courtyard, clearing a small patch of air amidst the lingering mist.

    Before Butler Wu could react, a figure lazily stepped out of the car, one hand in his pocket, the other rubbing his neck. His steps were unhurried and careless.

    Because of the backlight, Chi Ke couldn’t see his face clearly at first.

   He only knew that the man had very long legs, a great physique, but absolutely ridiculous clothing—just a sleeveless grandpa tank top, knee-length floral shorts, and a pair of cheap flip-flops that looked like they came from a roadside stall.

    Chi Ke had a random thought: Driving in flip-flops is dangerous. This guy isn’t dead yet, which means he’s got good luck.

   The man walked closer, head drooping, exhaustion radiating even from his hair.

    Chi Ke stayed silent, instead it was Butler Wu, who very naturally greeted him first, “Dr. Ji, long time no see.”

    Chi Ke: “…”

    Ah. It really is the private doctor.

    Why does he look so different from the book’s description?

    He looks so… unreliable.

    “Hello?” Chi Ke tentatively extended a hand, “Chi Ke, Assistant to Mr. Leng.”

    “Ji Qian.” The doctor’s head barely lifted as he weakly extended his hand—only to completely miss the handshake. After an awkward moment, he sluggishly grasped Chi Ke’s hand and muttered lifelessly, “Sorry, I’m a bit unwell.”

    Such a perfectly timed joke.

    Seeing someone with even more complaints about life than himself, Chi Ke’s mood improved. For once, he returned the humor, “Just think about your overtime pay?”

    “Ha… thanks, I’ll try my best.” Ji Qian chuckled shortly before finally looking up.

    They stood barely half a meter apart, locking eyes.

    Chi Ke paused momentarily.

    At the same time, for some reason, Ji Qian’s brown pupils trembled slightly.

    The next second, their hands simultaneously let go.

    Before Chi Ke could even get a clear look at his face, Ji Qian suddenly turned around and ran.

    Chi Ke: “?”

    The man dived back into his car, causing the sports car to wobble from the sudden attack. Something seemed to break, making the vehicle even less stable.

    When Ji Qian emerged again, he was wearing a pristine white trench coat—long enough to cover his floral shorts.

    If you ignored his bare calves and flip-flops, he actually looked somewhat presentable now.

   Covering the short twenty-meter distance again, Ji Qian’s posture was no longer sloppy. His steps were brisk, his coat flaring behind him—suddenly exuding an inexplicable air of charm.

    “Ahem.” He stopped in front of Chi Ke, flashing a bright smile and extending his hand again. “Apologies for earlier.”

“Good evening, Mr. Chi. Nice to meet you. I’m Ji Qian.”