When Zhan Beijue was seven years old, he had an accident.
It was during the winter break, close to the end of the year, a time for family reunions. Old Master Zhan missed his deceased wife intensely, so he spontaneously decided to take Zhan Beijue back to their hometown, Beitang, to visit his grandmother.
What was meant to be a touching love story of ten years of separation and longing turned into a tragedy when the weather drastically changed mid-journey, and heavy snow began to fall from a gloomy sky. The road to Beitang was steep and high, and the road surface slippery. The car's brakes failed, and Old Master Zhan and Zhan Beijue were trapped under their car at the mountainside.
The car was severely deformed, trapping them inside for several hours. Just as they were in the dark and cold, with their lives hanging by a thread, Jiang Nanfang's family of three happened to pass by. Hearing faint cries for help, her mother insisted on investigating, and thus saved their lives. This also led to the later engagement between the Zhan and Jiang families.
Jiang Nanfang had known Zhan Beijue since she was five years old. She had witnessed him being rescued from that accident, so she was well aware of his claustrophobia.
His weak spot having been exposed, Zhan Beijue was displeased. "Someone will be here to check on the situation within half an hour. Don't get too pleased with yourself."
It was rare to have something over him, and Jiang Nanfang found it hard not to be smug. "That would be for the best. I hope you can make it through this half hour."
"Tch," Zhan Beijue scoffed.
Just half an hour. He hadn't had an episode in over twenty years, and he refused to believe he was so useless today.
They leaned against opposite walls, waiting in silence for rescue, neither speaking.
One minute passed, then two, then three, then five...
His legs were tired, and no one came. Jiang Nanfang simply took off her high heels and sat on the ground to wait.
She was at ease, moving as if in water in the darkness. Across from her, sweat had already soaked through Zhan Beijue's tattered shirt.
His heart pounded faster and faster, the feeling of suffocation intensifying, as if he were reliving the agony of the car accident with every passing second. He felt nauseous and wanted to vomit. Despite his reluctance to admit it, the reality was telling Zhan Beijue that he couldn't hold on any longer.
He clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and endured for another two minutes. Just as he was about to throw up, he had no choice but to speak to Jiang Nanfang. "Jiang Nanfang."
Jiang Nanfang knew he was at his limit and deliberately maintained her aloofness, ignoring him.
"Give me your phone."
Still no response.
"My phone is out of battery. I need to borrow yours."
You're thinking of borrowing my phone now? What were you doing before? When you were so arrogant, you didn't think about leaving yourself an escape route?
Jiang Nanfang continued to ignore him.
"I'll pay you. It's not for free. Just say something!" The words were almost forced through his teeth.
Feeling as if his life was in danger, his breath weak and faint, about to give out, Jiang Nanfang felt a sense of satisfaction. She looked at him with a sarcastic tone. "I'm not short on money, Mr. Zhan. I'm sorry."
"..." Zhan Beijue clung to his sanity, preventing himself from sliding to the ground, and gritted his teeth. "I'll pay you by the second. You set the price."
"Oh, I can name any price? Then you're likely to go bankrupt."
"Ask according to your current market value. Consider it overtime, and I'll pay you overtime wages. If you set an exorbitant price, the tax bureau will investigate, and then you'll be charged with extortion."
"..." He still had the mood to lecture her on the law at a time like this?
But he was right. Setting an exorbitant price could easily lead to trouble.
Since she had nothing else to do anyway, and he had plenty of money, it was a waste not to earn some.
Jiang Nanfang didn't give him her phone immediately. "I've been working at your company for a month and it's been volunteer labor. It's time to discuss my salary. Tell me, after doing so many things for you, how much are you planning to pay me per month?"