Chapter 3 : Best Friend

Shi Pengpeng returned to the company, printed out the Pinghe Village product plan, and took it to her boss, Tan Wei.

The company was small—apart from the two sales department supervisors, most employees reported directly to Tan Wei.

The Catpaw Live agricultural promotion event was officially confirmed and would go live in just a couple of days. 

Shi Pengpeng was filled with anticipation—

This was the biggest project she had taken on since starting work, and more importantly, her base salary was low—her income heavily depended on sales commissions.

But before she could speak, Tan Wei cleared her throat with an awkward expression. 

“You came at the right time. I was just about to talk to you about the Catpaw deal…”

It was obviously not good news.

Tan Wei circled around the topic, hesitating and beating around the bush before finally getting to the point.

As it turned out, Liu Yuguang, the company’s sales supervisor, had found out that she had secured a Catpaw Live recommendation slot.

He had immediately gone to Tan Wei, demanding that the channel be handed over to him so he could use it to promote his own products.

Shi Pengpeng immediately refused. 

“No way. That’s against the rules.”

Fuxi Foods’ sales had always relied on offline channels. 

The online store was neglected—no one had even wanted to manage it, which was why it had ended up in the hands of a fresh graduate like her.

Not that she minded—she had no connections or resources anyway, so she had simply focused on studying the platform’s rules and gradually built up an understanding of e-commerce policies.

With limited company funding and support, the Catpaw opportunity was something she had secured entirely on her own, using her knowledge of policies and regulations.

Now, just as she was finally seeing results, Liu Yuguang wanted to swoop in and take all the credit.

Of course, she couldn’t accept that.

Besides, Liu Yuguang’s products were completely different—his main sales were liquor, seafood, and other high-profit goods—nothing like the agricultural products she had originally registered for on Catpaw.

However, Liu Yuguang was a powerful figure in the company. 

The biggest clients were all in his hands, and his sales alone accounted for over 30% of the company’s revenue.

Even Tan Wei didn’t dare to offend him too easily.

As for the category mismatch, Liu Yuguang had already gone behind her back while she was away on her business trip to Pinghe Village.

Somehow, he had managed to convince Manager Kang at Catpaw Live to approve the swap, despite it clearly violating the original agreement.

Tan Wei, even though dissatisfied with Liu Yuguang’s overbearing behavior, had no choice but to give in. 

After all, his products would generate more profit.

Shi Pengpeng argued in vain but ultimately had no choice but to return to her desk, frustrated.

Her phone screen lit up with two new WeChat messages.

The first was from Wen Miao, telling her that the product inventory and shipping logistics were all set—just waiting for Catpaw’s event to go live.

Even just from the text, Shi Pengpeng could feel Wen Miao’s excitement.

She didn’t know how to break the bad news.

After hesitating for a long time, she decided to hold off and see if she could find a way to fix things.

The second message was from her landlord, reminding her that next month’s rent was due.

Only then did she realize it was the end of the month. 

She hurriedly transferred the rent payment, then checked her balance—

Only 1,000 yuan left.

Her frustration deepened.

Technically, she wasn’t from a poor family. 

They were upper middle class.

But back when she was choosing her university major, her father had strongly opposed her decision, believing it had no future and wasn’t relevant to modern society.

To prove her determination, she had proudly declared that even if she ended up broke, she would never ask him for money.

That was easy to say back then.

Her school had always had guaranteed job placements, with decent salaries, so she never thought she’d actually struggle financially.

But life had other plans—she had graduated right when the industry was downsizing.

After barely securing this job, just when she thought she was finally making progress, this happens…

While mentally cursing Liu Yuguang, she also debated whether she should act cute and ask her family for some extra living expenses.

But if she asked for money, she’d have to endure an hour-long lecture first.

Just as Shi Pengpeng was debating her options, her phone suddenly rang—it was her grandfather calling.

She stepped outside to answer, puzzled. 

“Old man, weren’t you supposed to be in seclusion? Did you sneak in a phone?”

Shi Pengpeng took her grandmother’s last name, but her grandfather, Ding Liushui, was an easygoing, sociable old man. 

After retiring, he frequently traveled with tour groups, and just a few days ago, he had signed up for a wellness retreat with an old friend.

The retreat was supposed to be a two-month closed-off program in the mountains, where participants had to surrender their phones to avoid external distractions.

“I didn’t sneak it in. We’re just gathering now—we won’t head into the mountains for a while,” Ding Liushui said hurriedly. 

Unlike his usual playful tone, he sounded serious.

“Pengpeng, I just ran into Lao Yan, and he mentioned that something’s been troubling his family lately. He’s really worried, and I thought… maybe you could help?”

Lao Yan was Yan Fengshu, the friend who had invited Ding Liushui to join the retreat. 

The two had known each other for years, and Shi Pengpeng was also familiar with him.

She vaguely recalled that the Yan family was in the antique business and was quite successful, so she couldn’t imagine what kind of problem would require her help.

“What’s going on with Old Master Yan?” she asked curiously.

“It’s not him—it’s his grandson, Yan Jing. You remember him, don’t you? He stayed with us for a while when you were younger—the one you used to bicker with all the time?”

“Oh, him…”

The moment his name was mentioned, an image of a smug, annoying face popped into Shi Pengpeng’s mind.

Hard to forget.

It had been the summer after her high school entrance exams. 

As usual, she had gone to her grandparents’ home in the countryside to relax. 

At the same time, Yan Fengshu had brought his grandson, Yan Jing, to stay with them.

Yan Jing was around the same age as her, but he had a young master’s temperament, completely at odds with Shi Pengpeng’s carefree personality.

They clashed constantly, arguing over everything, and even playing pranks on each other—so much so that their elders were at their wits’ end.

Shi Pengpeng still clearly remembered—

One time, they had bickered so much that Yan Fengshu got frustrated and, in a moment of exasperation, threatened:

“If you two don’t stop fighting, I’ll arrange a childhood engagement! Let Yan Jing grow up and marry you—you’ll be stuck together forever!”

Shi Pengpeng had been speechless.

“What century do you think this is? Who still uses arranged marriages as a threat?”

She hadn’t taken it seriously, but Yan Jing had actually looked alarmed.

Maybe it was because the Yan family had strict traditions, or maybe he was genuinely terrified at the thought of marrying her.

Either way, after that, he toned down his antics significantly.

Thinking back, Shi Pengpeng couldn’t help but chuckle.

She casually asked, “So what’s wrong with that brat now?”

“…Why are you calling him names?” 

Ding Liushui sighed.

“What? He is the old man’s grandson, isn’t he?” she said innocently.

Ding Liushui: “…”

He was in a hurry and had no time to argue over semantics, so he ignored her remark and quickly explained the situation.

Apparently, Yan Jing had been encountering supernatural occurrences repeatedly.

Though he had narrowly avoided disaster each time, his family was deeply worried.

They wanted him to stay at a monastery for protection, but he refused, claiming he was too busy with work and wouldn’t let the family hire a spiritual master to follow him around either.

“To be fair, you can’t really blame him,” Ding Liushui said. 

“He works at a pretty big company in Xiluo now, and he holds a high position. Having a ‘spiritual master’ following him everywhere would look really weird.”

“But you also study this field, and you just happen to be in the same city as him…”

Shi Pengpeng immediately understood.

Yan Jing had always had a unique constitution, making him prone to supernatural encounters.

Back then, when he and Yan Fengshu had stayed in the countryside, it had actually been to avoid a similar problem.

At some point, his family must have found a solution, since they had even sent him abroad. 

He never visited the countryside again.

But now, after all these years, the problem had returned.

The main issue was that he was now an independent adult—there was no way he’d blindly follow his family’s arrangements anymore, especially since he prioritized his career so much.

Yan Fengshu had been stressed out over it, but since he didn’t have a solution, he had just been venting to his old friend.

That’s when Ding Liushui had thought of his granddaughter.

She was professionally trained in the field.

She wasn’t a stereotypical “mystic master,” so she wouldn’t draw attention.

Yan Fengshu, knowing the reputation of the Shi family, was thrilled and immediately agreed.

And so, this call was to ask for Shi Pengpeng’s help—not to follow Yan Jing around 24/7, since that would be too intrusive, but simply to check in on him occasionally and remove any potential supernatural threats.

Shi Pengpeng’s brows furrowed.

She was already exhausted from work—why would she go out of her way to babysit that rich brat?

It wasn’t like he couldn’t afford to hire someone—he was just too prideful to admit he needed help.

And besides—

She didn’t even like him.

She opened her mouth to refuse: “Grandpa, I don’t think—”

Before she could finish, the phone crackled, and suddenly, Yan Fengshu’s voice cut in.

“Pengpeng! I really appreciate this. I’m out right now, so I don’t know how to properly thank you—why don’t I just send you a red envelope? 

Nothing much, just a few thousand… or maybe tens of thousands, just as a small token of gratitude. Does that sound good? …What were you about to say?”

A red envelope?

Thousands? 

Tens of thousands?!

Shi Pengpeng’s tongue instantly twisted.

With righteous determination, she declared: “Grandpa Yan, I would never stand by and let Yan Jing remain in danger!”

Realizing she sounded too stiff, she paused for dramatic effect, then added with heartfelt emotion:

“After all… he was my dearest childhood friend!”

Yan Fengshu: “…”

Yan Fengshu, confused: “I remember you two didn’t get along?”

“That was just at first,” Shi Pengpeng said smoothly, completely unfazed. 

“But over time, we grew close. You even joked about arranging our marriage, remember?”

Yan Fengshu: “…”

He did remember making that joke back then, but clearly, it was because…

“Anyway, I’ll protect him well and make sure nothing happens to him!” 

Shi Pengpeng quickly shifted the topic. 

“You don’t have to worry!”

Sure enough, Yan Fengshu got sidetracked and laughed. 

“That’s great, that’s great. Add me on WeChat, and I’ll send you Xiao Jing’s contact info. Hurry up, we’re about to head into the mountains.”

After hanging up, a WeChat friend request appeared—it was Yan Fengshu.

Shi Pengpeng quickly accepted: [Hello, Grandpa Yan! 😊]

Yan Fengshu was straightforward—without a word, he sent a money transfer.

The amount was more than she expected—60,000 yuan.

Shi Pengpeng stared at the zeroes, eyes brimming with tears.

No matter what their past was, from this moment on, Yan Jing was her best friend!

60,000 yuan was more than enough to secure her friendship!

Menahwile a young man, looking impatient, leaned back in his chair.

One hand rested on the armrest, supporting his chin, while the other idly moved the mouse, scrolling through documents.

In his Bluetooth earpiece, someone was talking endlessly.

Finally, he cut in: “Mom, stop fussing. I really don’t have time for a blind date…”

His mother was relentless:

“No time, or no interest? You’re not young anymore! You’ve never even had a proper girlfriend. Be honest—do you have a problem?”

Yan Jing remained unfazed. 

“If I had a problem, wouldn’t you know by now?”

“Pfft, don’t start with that! It doesn’t stop you from dating! Listen, I’ve seen this girl myself—she’s great in every way, plus she just came back from overseas. You’ll have plenty to talk about!”

Yan Jing felt a headache coming on. 

“Keep this up, and I’m hanging up.”

His mother played her trump card:

“If you keep refusing, I’ll have your grandfather talk to you!”

Yan Jing’s eye twitched, but he remained indifferent. 

“Grandpa wouldn’t bother with this.”

“Heh, you sure?” 

His mother scoffed. 

“Don’t forget, back in high school, he wanted to set up an engagement for you!”

Yan Jing: “…”

A messy-haired girl popped into his mind.

A sharp-tongued troublemaker.

A wave of discomfort hit him. 

Damn, why was that memory still so fresh?!

He forced his tone to stay calm. 

“That was years ago. And it wasn’t serious. I’m really hanging up now.”

Call ended.

A WeChat notification popped up—a new friend request.

He opened it, only to see a familiar golden profile picture.

spp: [Hello~ Yan Jing, I’m Shi Pengpeng! Your grandpa asked me to contact you~]

Yan Jing: ?

He stared at the message.

Then read it again.

It was really her.

Every alarm in his head went off.

He immediately called his grandfather—

Phone turned off.

He switched back to WeChat and saw a voice message from Yan Fengshu.

“Xiao Jing, this can’t be delayed anymore. Since you won’t listen to your parents, I’m stepping in. Do you remember Old Ding’s granddaughter, Shi Pengpeng? 

Well, it seems fate has brought you two together again! She happens to be in Xiluo, and after looking into it, I realized she’s a perfect match for your situation. I spoke to her just before heading into the mountains—she’ll be contacting you soon!”

Yan Jing: ????

No way—his grandfather wasn’t seriously trying to arrange a marriage again, was he?!