Chapitre 18: A Mysterious Package

Xue Ning gets discharged the very next morning, after eating a delicious hospital breakfast. She wasn't going to turn down a free meal, especially not one that included fish congee and fried dough sticks. It even came with a serving of fruit to help her digestion!

Ah, the perks of being a VIP in a hospital ward. She doubts she would have gotten a meal half as good as this if she was in a regular ward. Maybe some buttered bread or steamed mantou at best.

With her belly full of food and a spring in her step, she made her way to her small, dingy apartment. Her neighbours were probably out for work, so Xue Ning didn't need to bother with small talk; she could enter her apartment in easy silence.

"Home sweet home," she says to herself, looking around her apartment. Home for now, was a small apartment with only one bedroom, with paint peeling off three out of the four walls, and pipes that groaned ominously whenever she tried to have a hot shower.

Her kitchen had a frequently used microwave with a less frequently used stove, as well as a sink full of unwashed dishes, with kitchen tiles that had seen better days. The previous renter had caused more than a few to crack, making them safety hazards, liable to cut an unsuspecting foot.

(Xue Ning, being a consummate problem-solver on a budget, merely put a stack of old newspapers on top of them. Problem solved. Those crack tiles did help her get cheaper rent though, and everyone around her had newspapers to donate always. As far as she's concerned, this was a win-win scenario.)

It had only been two days, but her house seemed to look a lot dustier. She could see dust particles floating in the late morning sun and her floor felt grimy already. Urgh. She groaned to herself and rolled up her sleeves; before deciding to tackle the easiest chore - her dirty dishes.

After washing her dishes and sweeping the floor, she sits on her lumpy couch, exhausted, resisting the urge to pick at the scabs on the cuts left behind from the glass shards. It was almost time for lunch, but her fridge was still depressingly empty.

Just as she was about to leave her home to get food, her doorbell rings, followed by someone thumping at her door.

Suspicious. She has never had anyone visit without prior warning. A glance at the peephole shows a well-dressed woman carrying a huge box. She frowns - she didn't order anything.

Her doorbell rings again. She opens it warily, making sure there's only one small gap so that she can slam the door back in that person's face if necessary.

"Is this Miss Li Xue Ning's house?" The woman asks politely, with a touch of confusion as though she can't believe she lives in such a place.

"Yes, and I am Li Xue Ning," she replies, one eye looking through the gap.

"Oh good, I'm delivering the necessary work attire from Sun Enterprises," the woman replies in relief. The box must have been heavier than expected. But still, she has to make sure she isn't someone out to kidnap her. Women can be kidnappers too.

"Do you have any ID?" She asks.

The woman sighs and puts down the box with a thump, grumbling under her breath. Xue Ning could vaguely make out the words 'pain', 'fuck', and 'stupid boss.' It didn't take a genius to figure out what she meant.

She flashes his employee ID at her. Her photo looks a lot happier than her actual face.

WANG YI TING

HR & Admin Executive

Wow, an executive is here delivering her parcels like an ordinary delivery woman.

Xue Ning opens the door more apologetically.

"Sorry," she says, opening the door to receive the parcel. Yi Ting deposits it into her arms with the feeling of someone finally free of a huge burden.

God, the package was heavy. Did Sun Jingwei pack her a gold bar? She stumbles and dumps the package on the couch. It creaks ominously under the weight.

"Are you alright back there?" Yi Ting asks. She catches the inquisitive look she gives to her apartment, taking in the small size, the second-hand furniture, the peeling walls.

"I'm fine," she replies. "Thank you for making the way here to deliver this parcel."

"It's my job," she shrugs. "Or not really, but I was forced to do this. Can I take a photo of your front door so that I can prove I delivered the parcel?"

"Sure."

After the picture was taken with a loud snap, an awkward silence falls as they both run out of pleasantries.

"Well, goodbye then, thanks again!" She hastily says.

"Bye," Yi Ting says just as quickly, and all but flees away from the house. She shuts her door and locks it, before turning her attention to that huge parcel.

"Let's see…" she mutters to herself, using a rusty pair of scissors to cut open the box, making sure to avoid damaging the inside. If she damages it, she might have to replace it with her own money.

With a triumphant flourish, the box finally opens to reveal… fabric in plastic? She goes through the box slowly, marvelling at the five black T-shirts and five black long-sleeved shirts as well as the black pants packed inside.

This is a great new work outfit, she thinks gleefully, all black and fitted and identical. Perfect because she doesn't need to think about matching tops and bottoms.

She continues digging through the box, and becomes increasingly confused at what she finds.

A pair of black boots, that is normal enough.

A pair of strappy black heels with crystals inlaid at the front? Strange.

A pair of stilettos, this time in bright red. She could probably kill a man with them, and not by wearing them.

With increasing confusion, she pulled out a slinky red cocktail dress. The fabric was stretchable, but Xue Ning had no doubt that this dress was made to cling to every curve in her body.

This dress was barely long enough to cover her ass. Did Sun Jingwei overestimate her height? Was this dress even for her? Or was he that much of a pervert?

She raises her eyebrows and keeps looking through the box.

The next outfit she pulled out took her breath away. It was an evening gown that seemed to shimmer from within. She gingerly touched the fabric - it was softer, silkier than anything she owned. The gown shimmered as she held it in front of her, wishing for once she had a full-length mirror so she could take all of it in. She expected it to sweep the floor, but strangely enough the gown wasn't that long - in fact, if she put on the heels delivered, they would reach the perfect length.

She wanted to try it on, but then shook herself out of those ideas. There's a possibility that these outfits were sent to her wrongly by mistake. It would hurt more, if she wore it and fell in love with it, only to realise it was never meant to be hers to begin with.

Something that seemed luxurious didn't belong to someone like her. She regrettably folded it back, carefully settling it aside to be repacked later.

She rummages through the rest of the box, hoping for a pleasant surprise, only to be greeted with lacy undergarments.

What on earth? Is this his idea of a joke?

She stares incredulously back at the box, the first thing she sees is a sexy black lace bra that probably cost more than a month's worth of rent. She gingerly lifted it aside, only to reveal the matching panty set. She removed that, only to be greeted with another bra, this time with smooth satin cups instead of lace.

Of course it came with the panties too. She lifted them up for a closer look, and they were almost sheer in the afternoon sunlight. If she focused, she could see her hand behind the fabric.

How could she possibly wear this! It was almost translucent! Practically good for nothing! Perfect for perverts!

She growls. Sun Jingwei better explain himself!