Chapter 28: Ji Ming’s Dream

Wen Ya couldn’t help but turn and look directly at Ji Ming, “I didn’t know you could be so inconsistent.”

He is indeed excellent, but it’s a bit too much to admit it so openly. Moreover, he said he chose her because she’s excellent. Does that mean she’s as good as him?

Emmm, it’s undeniable that Wen Ya felt a little secretly pleased.

“You’ve never really known me, so how can you judge? Besides, I’m just being honest,” Ji Ming also turned to face Wen Ya directly. “You’re beautiful, filial, and smart. Most importantly, I feel comfortable with you. That’s the key to a lasting relationship.”

“Are you talking about our compatibility? How can you be sure we’ll last?” Wen Ya stared at Ji Ming, eager for his explanation.

“I’m not a romantic, and I’m not great at making people happy, but I’m committed to being with someone for life,” Ji Ming’s tone and gaze were firm, making it easy to believe him. Seeing Wen Ya’s serious expression, he smiled, “You don’t need to feel pressured, just follow your heart.”

Wen Ya hummed, turned her head, and then couldn’t help but glance at Ji Ming again.

Honestly, Ji Ming’s looks and physique are top-notch. From what we’ve seen so far, his personality is great too. It would be a lie to say I’m not a little tempted. Should I give it a try?

“How is it? Do I look good? You can look all you want. If we’re together, you can look even more,” Ji Ming smirked.

Wen Ya’s cheeks turned red, and she looked away, “Shameless.”

Ji Ming looked at Wen Ya with a pout. He was willing to let her take advantage, yet he was called shameless. It felt so unfair.

“I’m just making the most of my resources.”

Wen Ya was almost stunned by his boldness. It turns out the more serious a man looks, the more flirtatious he can be inside.

They bantered a bit more, and Wen Ya yawned loudly. She hadn’t slept well last night and got up early to catch a flight. She was feeling sleepy now. Ji Ming noticed her tiredness and stopped talking. Seeing her slowly fall asleep, he covered her with a blanket to ensure she slept comfortably.

When they arrived in Yangcheng, each was greeted by their own people. After saying goodbye to Ji Ming, Wen Ya took Assistant Wang to the branch office.

Although Wen’s started as an accessories manufacturer and is now mainly in real estate, it also has other ventures, like a thriving clothing company. The company, Xiaoya Clothing Co., Ltd., was founded by Wen’s mother using Wen Ya’s nickname. It started as a pastime but grew into one of Wen’s main businesses.

The Yangcheng branch is essentially the headquarters of the subsidiary, operating independently. The Nancheng headquarters handles personnel and finance, including all garment factories. Currently, there are three factories with thousands of employees. Even so, during peak seasons, the company still outsources to other manufacturers.

The factory causing trouble this time was a contract manufacturer. Unexpectedly, the vice president misled the workers, claiming it was a company-owned facility.

When Wen Ya arrived, the workers at the gate had already dispersed. Mr. Zhang, recently transferred, was a former junior executive at Wen’s. He was highly capable but had been sidelined for offending a senior executive. He was about to resign when Wen Ya restructured the company, leading to his promotion to general manager of Xiaoya Clothing.

Mr. Zhang was waiting at the company entrance. When he saw Wen Ya, he approached with a smile.

“Mr. Wen, thank you for coming all this way.”

“It’s no trouble. What’s the government’s stance?” Wen Ya got straight to the point.

“Besides making clothes for us, that factory took orders from others. Now that people know the truth, they’ve called the police. The government hopes we can step in, take over the factory, and handle the debts and contracts,” Mr. Zhang explained.

“What does Finance say?” Wen Ya asked as they walked.

According to Ji Ming, acquiring this factory isn’t advisable, no matter how cost-effective it seems. It could set a bad precedent. They need to take a firm stand to avoid appearing weak.

The factory is valued at around 10 million yuan. Besides the unpaid wages, the factory’s rent is about to expire. The building belongs to the local village committee, and it seems they don’t plan to renew the lease. Last night, we also found out there are many unpaid goods. Overall, taking over this factory has brought some profit, but it’s not much.

Wen Ya nodded. “Call the police and make all the company’s losses public.”

This matter has already come to light, and it’s impossible to cover it up completely. Going through official channels is the best option. Besides, the company itself is a victim, and it’s not worth taking the blame for such a small factory.

After a quick meeting and brief instructions, Wen Ya went back to the hotel to rest. Assistant Wang had just finished checking in when Ji Ming and his group arrived.

“You’re staying here too?” Ji Ming wasn’t surprised to see Wen Ya.

The hotel they were at was the only six-star hotel in Yangcheng. Wen Ya would likely stay here when she came for business, so running into her wasn’t unexpected.

“Boss Ji,” Assistant Wang greeted and stepped aside. As an assistant, he knew when to be discreet. It was clear his boss didn’t dislike Ji Ming. In fact, Ji Ming might become his boss in the future, so he couldn’t afford to offend him.

“Yes, Assistant Wang booked the hotel,” Wen Ya said with a smile.

“I always stay here when I’m in Yangcheng. The environment is quite good,” Ji Ming added. “Which room are you in?”

Wen Ya paused for a moment. Good environment? When she found out the room cost over 60,000 yuan a night, she almost asked Assistant Wang to cancel the booking. But then she remembered she was now a wealthy woman and decided to let it go.

“I’m in room 03.”

“What a coincidence, I’m in 02,” Ji Ming said, raising an eyebrow.

Room 01 in this hotel took up an entire floor and wasn’t open to the public. Rooms 02 and 03 were on the same floor but separated by different elevators, so they wouldn’t run into each other. Still, they were next-door neighbors, which Ji Ming found amusing.

“It really is a coincidence,” Wen Ya replied, unsure if it was fate or just luck.

“Since we’ve met like this, why don’t we have dinner together tonight?” Ji Ming invited her.

Wen Ya chuckled, walking to the elevator. She waited for it to open, stepped inside, and turned to face Ji Ming. “Okay!”

When Wen Ya arrived at the top floor of the hotel, Ji Ming was already waiting for her.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“I was early,” Ji Ming said, standing up. He helped her take off her coat, pulled out a chair for her, and waited for her to sit before returning to his seat.

Wen Ya was pleasantly surprised by his gentlemanly manners. She had expected him to order Western food in such a setting, but instead, he chose Chinese cuisine.

“Both the Chinese and Western food here are famous, but I noticed you prefer Chinese food.”

He even noticed that? Wen Ya couldn’t help but glance at Ji Ming.

“Yes, mainly because I’m allergic to beef. I get rashes all over my body, and it’s painful and itchy. Very uncomfortable,” Wen Ya explained. She had never eaten beef as a child, so she didn’t know about the allergy until college. Her roommate once brought steak from her hometown, and after eating two pieces, Wen Ya broke out in rashes. A hospital visit confirmed her allergy to beef. Even though her current body might not be allergic, she still avoided it.

“Allergic to beef?” Ji Ming nodded, making a mental note. “The Buddha Jumps Over the Wall here is famous and needs to be booked a month in advance. I asked a friend to secure a spot so we could try it.”

Ji Ming served Wen Ya some soup and handed it to her, then introduced the other dishes.

“Are you very knowledgeable about food?” Wen Ya asked. Whether it was at Azure Villa or here, he seemed to know every dish in detail.

“I don’t have many hobbies besides cooking. My childhood dream was to become a chef, so I’ve learned a lot about food. I was often laughed at for it when I was younger, so I never told anyone. You’re the first person outside my family to know about this hobby,” Ji Ming admitted honestly.

For the heir of the Ji family, this dream was unusual. He still remembered the strange looks he got when he told people he wanted to be a chef. Eventually, he stopped mentioning it.

Wen Ya: This hobby is great, especially for me.

“Dreams aren’t tied to status, and I think being a chef is wonderful! My dream as a kid was to eat delicacies from all over the world, and people laughed at me too. But we should always hold onto our dreams, no matter what others think!” Wen Ya was talking about her own past dreams, which once seemed impossible but now felt within reach. As for Ji Ming’s dream, he could always cook for his family at home and still fulfill it.

I think I just discovered another great thing about him.