May There Be An Echo - Chapter 3

Lin Xiaonian’s anger sat bottled up in her chest, and just thinking about it irritated her. But she knew she shouldn’t take it out on Shao Yuci, especially when Shao Yuci was still a patient who had been rescued after jumping into a river.

She took a deep breath and kept her voice calm. “You can’t help with this.”

Seeing that she didn’t want to talk about it, Shao Yuci didn’t press. Her old job had been specifically about helping people resolve crises, but those were clients who came to her with money in hand to buy solutions. She wasn’t naturally the type to meddle in other people’s business.

“Then don’t stay angry for too long after you get home. It’s bad for your health.”

Lin Xiaonian laughed instead. “What, you think I’m the patient now?”

“When it comes to health, everyone’s equal.”

As someone who had collapsed in a conference room, Shao Yuci understood all too well the hidden damage caused by frustrations accumulated in the workplace.

Lin Xiaonian gave her an approving once-over, thinking that Shao Yuci seemed to value her life now, which probably meant she wouldn’t try to kill herself again.

After that interruption broke through her bad mood, she suddenly felt like talking. No longer treating Shao Yuci like a fragile patient, she began complaining on her own initiative. “Actually, it’s not even that big a deal. It’s just that the head nurse keeps trying to set me up with people.”

Shao Yuci raised an eyebrow slightly, not because the statement surprised her, but because she had noticed the change in Lin Xiaonian’s attitude.

“I’ve told her several times that I don’t want to date for now, but she still brings it up every so often. She’s my superior, and the other coworkers join in and try to persuade me too. I’m about ready to explode, but I don’t dare blow up in front of them.”

Lin Xiaonian was annoyed at herself for being so spineless, but if she exploded, she would only have an even bigger mess to clean up afterward, so she could do nothing but smile and let it go.

Shao Yuci rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Then what’s your actual situation?”

“What do you mean by actual situation?”

“Are you seeing anyone? Do you want to date?”

Lin Xiaonian shook her head. “I’m only twenty-three. I don’t want to think about relationships for now.”

In a single second, Shao Yuci switched back into her former work mode. “You don’t want to openly fall out with them and affect your job, but if you keep enduring it like this, it won’t stop the same thing from happening again.”

Lin Xiaonian nodded. That was exactly the problem.

Shao Yuci counted on her fingers. “You can consider three approaches. First, agree—but add conditions. For example, insist that the head nurse come along every single time. Whenever she introduces you to someone new, drag her along with you.

“The second option is to say someone is already pursuing you, but you haven’t officially agreed to date them yet. You’re still observing them, and during that period, you don’t want any outside interference.

“The last option is to bring up every relative in your family and say they’re all busy trying to arrange matches for you too. You’re already too busy dealing with the people they introduce, and you want to make sure you have enough energy to perform at your best at work, so you absolutely can’t afford any more distractions.”

Lin Xiaonian’s eyes lit up. “Hey, why didn’t I think of that?”

“Because you’re honest.”

Lin Xiaonian looked up at Shao Yuci. “I think all those ideas are pretty good. Your brain just works faster than mine.”

Shao Yuci didn’t feel much of a sense of accomplishment. Compared with the hair-pulling projects she used to handle, this wasn’t even remotely on the same scale.

But seeing how visibly relieved Lin Xiaonian looked genuinely made her happy.

“Honestly, the best answer should just be ‘I don’t want to date,’ but there are always people who refuse to believe it.” Shao Yuci sighed. “So we can only resort to harmless little lies.”

Lin Xiaonian deeply agreed. “Exactly. I’ve said it so many times already. Those people get married themselves and then insist everyone else in the world has to do the same.”

“So you don’t have to go home carrying all that frustration anymore, right?”

Remembering how furious she had looked earlier, Lin Xiaonian became a little embarrassed.

“Don’t stay in the sun too long. Autumn’s only just started, and summer hasn’t completely let go yet.”

Lin Xiaonian gave her a few more reminders, just like she usually did while on duty, before leaving with the tips of her ears faintly red.

Shao Yuci stood quietly where she was and waited for a while, but the system didn’t appear.

She asked silently, “That crisis just now was tiny, sure, but I don’t even get a two-yuan reward?”

The soft, childish voice sounded. [You’re adorable when you help others, but the exchange rules only apply to Ji Linqing.]

Shao Yuci drew in a deep breath. Her experiment had failed.

[If you want the reward money, you can only go find Ji Linqing.]

Shao Yuci frowned. “You really don’t have to be so blunt all the time.”

The system fell silent. Just then, something bumped into Shao Yuci’s leg, making her stagger a few times.

She looked down and found a smiling face belonging to a little girl around four or five years old beaming up at her. A tiny hair clip sat in her slightly curly hair, decorated with a strawberry that looked good enough to eat.

“Big Sister, you’re so tall.” The little girl grinned as she hugged Shao Yuci’s leg, apparently having already forgotten about stumbling into her a moment ago.

Shao Yuci furrowed her brows. Once her initial surprise passed, only helplessness remained.

She had very little experience dealing with children and couldn’t exactly say she particularly liked them. But faced with such a smiling little face, there was no way she could bring herself to say anything harsh.

“Why are you here by yourself?” Shao Yuci looked around, thinking the girl’s parents were probably frantic.

Sure enough, just as she finished speaking, the little girl’s mother hurried over.

“I’m sorry. I answered a phone call, and when I turned around, she was gone.”

The little girl released Shao Yuci and threw herself into her mother’s arms. “Mommy, Big Sister’s legs are so long. They’re way longer than mine.”

Her mother laughed and stroked her face, then gently pushed down the short leg the girl had eagerly stretched out for comparison. “When you grow up, you’ll be just as tall as Big Sister.”

“Really?”

“Really. As long as you listen to the doctor.”

Shao Yuci noticed the hospital gown the little girl was wearing, but she had absolutely no desire to ask about it. She didn’t even want the girl’s mother to volunteer any more information. She was afraid of learning the reason the girl had been hospitalized. There were far too many things in this world that people simply didn’t want to face.

She stepped back two paces before the woman could say more. “Make sure you keep a closer eye on her from now on.”

With that, she passed by the mother and daughter and walked farther away.

The little girl stared reluctantly after Shao Yuci’s long legs. “Big Sister must listen to the doctor really, really well.”

Her mother hugged her tightly as they headed back to the ward. “Then you’re not allowed to eat things you shouldn’t anymore. Even after you’re discharged the day after tomorrow, you still have to remember what the doctor told you.”

With her back to the mother and daughter, Shao Yuci never looked around again.

She tilted her face upward, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight, something she’d rarely had the chance to do when she was working before. Stretching lazily, she discovered that a hospital gown allowed far more freedom of movement than a business suit.

Ji Linqing had originally only glanced over as she passed by, never expecting to stop and watch all the way until now.

Not only had Shao Yuci been laughing and chatting with the young nurse, she had also been remarkably tolerant toward the little girl who bumped into her. This was the first time Ji Linqing had ever seen Shao Yuci like this.

She watched the woman beneath the oversized hospital gown earnestly going through the motions of broadcast calisthenics, looking as though she was genuinely enjoying herself. There wasn’t the slightest hint of dejection or gloom in her.

Anyone who didn’t know the situation would never believe this was the same Shao Yuci who had deliberately jumped into a river only a few days ago. Somehow, Ji Linqing could actually sense a faint vitality radiating from her.

A quiet voice sounded behind her. “Linqing, it’s time to go back to the company for the meeting.”

Ji Linqing turned around without asking Qu Yingzi what she thought.

A few more days passed. After another comprehensive examination, Shao Yuci was told she could be discharged whenever she wanted.

But Shao Yuci wasn’t in a hurry.

When Aunt Lian came to visit and saw that she refused to mention leaving the hospital, she assumed Shao Yuci had nowhere to go.

“Miss, if you don’t mind, why don’t you stay at my place for now?”

Before jumping into the river, the original Shao Yuci’s lease had expired, and she could no longer afford the expensive rent. The landlord had refused to return her deposit and had even said some cruel things, becoming the final straw that crushed her.

What Shao Yuci was thinking about wasn’t where she would live. Once she left the hospital, she would lose this natural protective barrier and would have to face the consequences that came with the original character’s identity head-on.

During her hospitalization, she had tested the system’s rules more than once. Its reward mechanism truly didn’t work on anyone else. If she wanted that two million, she had to go find Ji Linqing.

She had also researched the debts left behind after the Shao family’s bankruptcy online. The original Shao Yuci disliked working, and after returning from overseas with her master’s degree, she had never joined the company or participated in its operations, so she bore no legal responsibility for the debts.

But not every creditor could swallow their anger, and plenty of them had caused trouble for the original Shao Yuci in private. Add in the original character’s formerly spoiled, arrogant personality, and the list of people she had offended was even longer.

So leaving the hospital itself was a small matter. The most important question was which powerful backer she should attach herself to afterward.

After thinking it through again and again, Ji Linqing was the most suitable choice.

The Ji family not only stood at the top of Yuncheng but ranked among the country’s elite as well. Although Ji Linqing had not yet taken over completely, her status as the heir had long since been made public. Her influence now carried even more weight than before. If Shao Yuci could really make Ji Linqing her shelter, those troublesome creditors would definitely rein themselves in.

Seeing Shao Yuci fall silent again, Aunt Lian grew quite worried.

In the past, Miss Shao had never been the type who could keep her thoughts bottled up. When she was angry, she cursed. When she disliked something, she complained. When she was happy, she hummed songs. When she was moved, she cried. But after jumping into the river this time, she had become reluctant to express herself, and it was difficult to tell what she was feeling.

“If you don’t want to stay with me, should I look for a suitable apartment for you?”

Shao Yuci had always been extremely demanding when it came to material comforts. When the Shao family first went bankrupt, she had still been unable to adjust to the change in lifestyle, so after moving out of the Shao family villa, she rented a large luxury apartment. The rent alone had nearly drained more than half of her private savings.

Aunt Lian knew Miss Shao’s temperament very well, but under the present circumstances, it would be difficult for anyone to afford the level of spending Shao Yuci had always been accustomed to.

“I’ll handle the apartment myself.”

Shao Yuci asked her for help with something else. “About Ms. Yu I asked you to find before—please find out her address as soon as possible. I want to visit her personally and thank her.”

Shao Yuci was discharged from the hospital without any fanfare. When Aunt Lian saw the room she had rented, disbelief covered her face.

“Miss, this… this environment isn’t suitable!”

She managed to stop herself just in time from saying the words “far too terrible.” Forget Shao Yuci, who had been raised in luxury since childhood—even Aunt Lian, who had worked for the Shao family for decades, thought the place was awful.

The location was rather remote, and getting to the city center required transferring between two subway lines. It was a subdivided rental room, extremely small, with barely any space beyond the most basic furniture. The lighting was poor, and the soundproofing was enough to make anyone shake their head.

A private room with its own bathroom was Shao Yuci’s final line in the sand.

She had checked the original character’s bank balance. If she continued living according to her previous standards, the money really wouldn’t last long. But for Shao Yuci, who had relied on scholarships and part-time work all the way through graduation, this was about the same as when she had first graduated and gone to Haicheng to look for a job.

She wasn’t particularly saddened by it, though she didn’t deny that the conditions were poor.

“It’s only temporary. Once I get back on my feet, things will be fine.”

Aunt Lian assumed she was merely trying to reassure her. She felt both relieved and sorry for Miss Shao. But Shao Yuci cared deeply about saving face, so Aunt Lian didn’t dare make her sympathy too obvious.

After seeing Aunt Lian off, Shao Yuci opened her newly purchased laptop and began writing her résumé.

She had seen a job posting on the Ji Corporation’s official website for a secretary—and specifically for Ji Linqing’s secretary. The original Shao Yuci’s academic credentials were ready-made, but qualifications alone weren’t enough to make her stand out. She would have to add a few touches of her own.

She worked until late at night before realizing that she still hadn’t shaken the habits she’d had before transmigrating.

“I need to end this wage-slave life as soon as possible. I’m going to make money and then lie flat!”

She made herself a bowl of instant noodles and encouraged herself as she ate.

On the second day after leaving the hospital, Shao Yuci took the gifts and bouquet she had bought and went to the address Aunt Lian had given her.

The person who had pulled her from the river that day was named Yu Zhi. The one who had given her CPR and slapped her face to wake her up had also been Yu Zhi.

Shao Yuci had come to thank her not on behalf of the original character, but for herself.

She knew that on the day she collapsed in the conference room, she should already have died. And when the original Shao Yuci sank to the bottom of the river, she should have died as well. Fate had somehow sent her into this novel through a bizarre twist of circumstances, but the person who had truly brought her into this world was Yu Zhi.

Yuncheng wasn’t cold in early autumn, but anyone who had experienced river water knew just how freezing it could feel. Whenever Shao Yuci remembered that sensation of being trapped in an icy cavern, her entire body still felt uncomfortable, which only made her admire Yu Zhi even more.

The residential complex where Yu Zhi currently lived had been specially purchased by Ji Linqing. Whether in terms of location or layout, there was nothing to criticize, and naturally, the price was far beyond what an ordinary person could afford.

When Shao Yuci looked up information about the complex online, she was even more stunned. She hadn’t expected Yu Zhi to be so wealthy and still throw herself into rescuing someone without considering the consequences.

That was rather different from the wealthy people Shao Yuci had dealt with in her previous work. Those people were extremely willing to spend money to resolve a crisis, but their true personalities often left her at a loss for words.

Shao Yuci knew security at a complex like this would be difficult to persuade. After obtaining the address, she asked Aunt Lian to use her connections to find a resident who could bring her inside.

After successfully clearing the first hurdle, Shao Yuci moved one step closer to the building where Yu Zhi lived.

Ji Linqing happened to be at Yu Zhi’s place today as well, specifically because she wanted Aunt Yu to remain in Yuncheng.

But Ji Linqing and Yu Zhi had never really had an opportunity to speak directly. She had come over for a meal today, hoping she could take the chance to discuss the matter.

Yet at the dining table, Aunt Yu kept putting food into her bowl and telling her all sorts of interesting stories and customs from Yongxiang. Ji Linqing was unable to find an appropriate opening for quite some time.

As they chatted, Aunt Yu eventually brought up marriage.

“Qingqing, what do you think about what happened with the Jiang family last time?”

There were plenty of families interested in forming a marriage alliance with the Ji family, and the Jiang family was the most proactive. Jiang Shunyi was a doctor, and the Jiang family’s background and strength were the best match for the Ji family, but Ji Linqing had firmly refused.

“I’m not considering him.”

Aunt Yu nodded. “Then does Qingqing already have someone she likes?”

Ji Linqing shook her head. “No.”

Aunt Yu wasn’t surprised. Ji Linqing had always been emotionally detached ever since she was young. No matter what type of relationship it was, she remained exceptionally restrained and distant.

Over all these years, very few people had ever truly grown close to her.

That became even more obvious after she entered the company. Plenty of people privately described her as abstinent, someone who looked cold as ice at first glance.

Yu Zhi didn’t know Ji Linqing as well as her older sister did, but she also wasn’t like those middle-aged aunties who loved playing matchmaker.

“Young people should enjoy their own lives more. It’s not as though everyone has to date and get married. As long as you’re firm about what you want, any choice is fine.”

She took a sip of orange juice and looked genuinely distressed. “Not long ago, I ran into a girl who couldn’t see past her troubles. She looked even younger than you. I heard the others say she might have gone through a breakup, so she jumped into a river.”

She shook her head. “Even if you got dumped ten times, it still wouldn’t be worth throwing your life away.”

Ji Linqing’s brow twitched. She asked, “Do you know the name of the person who jumped into the river?”