Jingxia Rose

Chapter 20020: I Can't Hold On Anymore

Knowing that Wen Qi had something come up and couldn't go to Minghai with them, all the staff sighed and said it was a pity.

He's a boss who's down-to-earth and doesn't follow complicated rules. He doesn't like flattery, but he's generous and lavish, and he always participates in one or two team-building activities every year.

The employees don't feel the same pressure and distance from the boss in private as they do at the company.

Ji Xuan rode in a car with the people from the president's office and the administration department, and they chose seats near the front.

Ye Xueyan was sitting next to me, and across the aisle were two male assistants.

As soon as the car started, Ji Xuan prepared to put on an eye mask and take a nap. The car was quiet, unlike the other cars, which had already turned into a karaoke room with constant singing.

Ye Xueyan leaned closer and whispered, "Is President Wen really not coming?"

"Ah."

Ji Xian glanced at the scenery passing by and gave a faint reply.

Ye Xueyan sighed in disappointment, resting her head on her shoulder. "I even bought you a swimsuit, a red one, so sexy, I guarantee President Wen's eyes will light up when he sees it."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xian turned his head sharply, his face filled with horror.

What?
Did I buy her a swimsuit?

“I went shopping the other day but didn’t find anything nice. I saw this online and thought it looked pretty good, so I ordered one for you based on your size. It just arrived yesterday. I washed and dried it for you.”

Ji Xuan: "..."

Thank you for your kindness.

I am truly flattered.

She took a deep breath. "What color is yours?"

“Black.” Ye Xueyan raised an eyebrow at her. “Want to try it tonight? I heard from the administration department that there’s some kind of party tonight, it sounds like it’ll be really lively.”

Ji Xian shook his head decisively, "No, I'm not going."

Ye Xueyan kept pestering her for half an hour without getting anything out of her, and then the two of them put on eye masks and slept the whole way.

When I woke up, I could see the boundless sea outside the car window. The sunlight shone on the sea, making it sparkle like a string of dazzling diamonds.

Her bright red lips were slightly upturned.

Why do we yearn for the sea?
Perhaps it's because it's boundless, the sea breeze is free, the waves are unrestrained, and the beach has no sharp edges.

Or perhaps it's the promise my father made when I was a child, "I'll take you to see the sea on your birthday," a promise that can never be fulfilled, like the string that tugs at a kite, like a dream I haven't been able to wake up from.

The land ends here, and the sea begins here.

Standing on the beach, the moment her feet touched the seawater, her eyes felt a little dizzy, and her nose inexplicably felt a little sore.

I can't remember the last time I cried; it's been too long.

In the end, I managed to suppress all the sorrow in my heart and didn't cry.

She walked alone on the beach for a while before returning to the hotel. Ye Xueyan was looking for her everywhere. When she saw her, she said, "I was wondering why you disappeared right after we finished taking the group photo. Where did you go?"

"Beach."

"Aren't you going to the beach at this hour? Won't you get sunburned?"

"Fortunately."

She made a point of wearing a hat and sun-protective clothing today, and applied sunscreen underneath. She also borrowed Cui Min's sunscreen spray and sprayed it all over her head and toes.

Getting a tan is every girl's nightmare.

During lunch, everyone was discussing where to go for fun, as the group activity wouldn't start until around 6 PM.

Barbecue party.

There's no explicit rule that everyone has to participate, but since it's the first team-building activity, it's best for everyone to attend, and no one can refuse.

Of course, Ji Xian was an exception. She only showed up briefly at the party, didn't even eat any skewers, and went out for a stroll.

But she didn't wander around for long; she returned in less than an hour. After getting to her room, she took a shower and did her skincare routine when Shi Wan made a video call.

"Are you alright?" "Hmm?" Ji Xian raised her voice, gently patting the face mask on her face with her fingers. After a moment of reaction, she paused, "I'm fine. The scenery here is really nice. You can come and visit when you have time. The sea is especially blue, and the breeze is very pleasant."

Shi Wan stared at her for a long time, wondering if she was really okay or just pretending.

But there's no way around it; Ji Xian has now mastered the art of remaining impassive, and without a keen eye, it's impossible to discern her emotions.

In the end, Shi Wan gave up, "What I said during the day..."

“I understand,” Ji Xian interrupted.

"And then?" Shi Wan asked with a serious expression.

Ji Xuan tilted his head. "And then what?"

Shi Wan: "..."

Well, it's all for nothing.

She knew Ji Xian's personality well; he was a clear-headed and rational person with a good temper. He seemed gentle, but he was actually very stubborn, headstrong, and opinionated, determined to see things through no matter what. Unless he finally came to his senses and saw things clearly, nothing could pull him back.

There must be a reason why she insists on something. If she gives up on it one day, it means that the reasoning is no longer valid.

As a friend, Shi Wan didn't think that her relationship with Wen Qi would last or have a future, but she wouldn't try to persuade her. The sentence she said to Ji Xian most often was, "You still have me. I will always support you."

Ji Xian understood what she meant, but deep down he still had a stubborn streak, he just hadn't reached the bottom line yet.

I want to try again, wait a little longer, and persevere a little longer...

But at certain moments, she also feels that she can't hold on any longer.

If she had created a scorecard in her mind, with a maximum of 100 points, and if Wen Qi had previously been able to barely pass her, then this time, she would silently deduct 20 points from him.

Only 40 points left.

"I understand," Ji Xuan murmured.

Seeing her like this, Shi Wan didn't know how to continue the topic and could only sigh silently in her heart.

Love is a damn thing, you absolutely can't touch it!

It's like having a terminal illness, a miserable state of being half-dead.

The two chatted for less than two minutes after putting the topic aside, when a phone call flashed above their phones, and the video call naturally ended.

The phone number displayed the location as Luanying City.

Her hometown.

There is a note above – Ji Heng.

Her cousin, the eldest son of her second uncle.

Without hesitation, she answered the phone. A young and energetic voice came from the other end, "Sis, my dad is dying. Do you want to come back and see him?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xuan's expression changed, and he ripped off his face mask. "What happened? What's wrong with Second Uncle?"

Hearing her anxious and worried tone, Ji Heng quickly explained, "It's my back, my back is hurting. I injured it while working in the fields this afternoon. They brought me to the hospital and said I need to have surgery."

He's speaking in a very breathless manner.

But Ji Xian's expression didn't improve much after hearing this. She frowned, knowing that her second uncle's back injury was an old problem, so she asked for more details.

"I understand, I'll be back tomorrow."

After hanging up the phone, she went on the app to search for flights.

Luanying City is a third- or fourth-tier prefecture-level city with no airport, only the provincial capital.

The earliest flight is tomorrow morning around 7 a.m., which takes three and a half hours to reach the provincial capital. Then, it will take nearly two hours to take the high-speed train back to Luanying City.

Judging by the time it takes, it will probably take about a day to travel.

Ji Xuan bought the tickets, first explained the situation to Shi Wan, and then sent messages to Ye Xueyan and several executives to inform them that he would be away for the next few days.

I heard that President Wen has angered many people; everyone wants to beat him up.
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(End of this chapter)