Chapter 384: Gardenia Swaying in the Wind

Yang Xun’s gaze swept over the crowd, a gentle smile playing on his lips. “Passing Manager Sun’s interview proves that you are all exceptionally capable. Welcome to Yangyuan Residence.

“Manager Sun will have full authority over the store’s operations. Just follow her arrangements. Your compensation and time off are clearly stated in your contracts.

“We will officially open in a week. Until then, you will be paid for your training. In short, as long as you work hard, I won’t treat you poorly.”

He spoke casually and sincerely, without any condescending airs. The young women, who had initially been quite nervous, visibly relaxed. They exchanged glances, smiles tugging at the corners of their mouths.

Yang Xun’s gaze continued to move to the right, finally landing on the figure at the very end of the line. It was a girl of about twenty-two or twenty-three. She wore a faded, light-colored short-sleeved shirt, a clean pair of jeans, and simple white canvas shoes. Though on the slender side, she had curves in all the right places. Her fair skin was almost translucent, shimmering with a porcelain-like luster in the afternoon light. Her features were soft and exquisite; her Liu Mei curved gracefully, her nose was straight and delicate, and her lips were a pale shade. But what caught Yang Xun’s attention the most were her eyes. They were clear and calm, devoid of the impetuousness and childishness typical of her age, making her look incredibly resilient.

Seeing Yang Xun staring in that direction, Sun Rao introduced her. “This is Lin Zhi.”

Yang Xun nodded and smiled at her. “Hello, Lin Zhi. We’ll be relying on you a lot in the store. After all, the ingredients are medicinal herbs, and we can’t afford any mistakes.”

Lin Zhi looked up, her clear eyes meeting his gaze as she offered a faint smile. “Thank you for your appreciation, Mr. Yang and Manager Sun. I’ll do my best.”

Yang Xun felt his heart skip a beat. There was a unique beauty about her, like a gardenia swaying in the wind. He discreetly averted his gaze, briefly went over a few more important points, and then let Sun Rao continue the training.

By evening, the staff training concluded, and the employees packed up their belongings and left in twos and threes. Yang Xun was also preparing to get off work and go on a date with Sun Rao. However, when he reached the first-floor lobby, he saw Lin Zhi still standing by the counter. She was tightly gripping the strap of her canvas bag, her head bowed as she stared at the tips of her shoes. Sun Rao wasn’t in the lobby; she had probably gone to the back warehouse to take inventory of the materials.

“Why haven’t you left yet?” he asked.

At the sound of his voice, Lin Zhi trembled and abruptly raised her head. “Mr. Yang…” She looked nervous, like a startled deer.

Seeing her look as though she wanted to speak but didn’t dare, Yang Xun softened his tone. “What’s wrong? Just tell me if you need something.”

Lin Zhi bit her lip, mustering all her courage. “Could I… could I get an advance on half a month’s salary?” The moment she finished speaking, her cheeks visibly flushed. Knowing this request was rather abrupt, she didn’t even dare to look him in the eye. Her body was completely tense, fully prepared for rejection.

Yang Xun didn’t ask for a reason, nor did he hesitate. He pulled out his phone right away. “Sure. Give me your account number, and I’ll transfer it to you now.”

Lin Zhi hadn’t expected him to agree so readily. She froze, her mouth falling open slightly. It took her several seconds to react. “You… you’re not even going to ask me why?”

“Everyone has their own difficulties. The fact that you’re willing to ask means you truly need it.” Yang Xun had already opened the transfer interface and glanced up at her. “You’re an employee of my store. If you’re in a tough spot and I can help, I will. Just mention this to Sun Rao so she can make a note of it.”

“Thank you, Mr. Yang.” Lin Zhi bowed deeply, her beautiful eyes reddening.

She hurriedly took out her phone. Yang Xun quickly finished the transaction and looked up at her. “I transferred ten thousand. Is that enough?”

Lin Zhi’s pupils dilated slightly; the amount far exceeded her expectations. “It’s… it’s enough.” She felt overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, her cheeks flushing. She looked so endearing and vulnerable that it made one want to plant a hard kiss on her.

“There’s no rush. Just take care of your pressing matters first,” Yang Xun said casually, putting away his phone. “If you run into any more difficulties later, just tell me. Don’t be shy.”

Lin Zhi looked up at him, her clear eyes glistening with tears. She nodded firmly. “Mr. Yang, I will definitely work hard. I won’t let you down.”

Seeing how hard she was trying to hold back her tears, Yang Xun figured this girl probably had a lot of history behind her. “Alright, hurry home and get some rest. You still have training tomorrow, so don’t be late.”

“Mhm!” Lin Zhi gave a vigorous hum of agreement. She turned and headed for the door, her steps noticeably lighter than before.

A smile touched the corners of Yang Xun’s mouth. He was just about to head out and get into his car when his phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was an unknown number. Yang Xun pressed the answer button.

“Hello?”

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the line before a distressed and hoarse voice came through. “Yang Xun, I… I’ve turned into a man again. When can you come to Shunping?”

Yang Xun furrowed his brows slightly and questioned, “Did you sleep with a man?”

“No!” Wen Ruyu’s tone carried a hint of urgency.

“Then what happened?”

“I…” Wen Ruyu stammered, hesitant to speak.

Feeling that she was hiding something, Yang Xun grew slightly displeased. “If you insist on being intimate with men during your treatment, then I can’t cure this illness. There’s no need to waste our time.”

Catching the anger in his tone, Wen Ruyu hurriedly explained, “I… I really didn’t sleep with a man. It’s just that I felt so restless at night, and I couldn’t help but use… use a little toy.

“I’ve used them before, and nothing changed. I don’t know what went wrong this time.”

She felt incredibly frustrated. If she hadn’t been so worried about the effects of the treatment, she never would have had the face to call Yang Xun. By the time she spoke the last few words, her voice had dropped so low it was almost inaudible. Even over the phone, he could easily picture her blushing cheeks.

Hearing this, Yang Xun was somewhat speechless. After several seconds of silence, he finally spoke, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, “I forgot to remind you last time. Your body is extremely sensitive right now and can’t handle stimulation. You must abstain from sex.”

Who would have thought that Wen Ruyu, who appeared so aloof and arrogant, would be so wild in private.

Flying into a rage out of humiliation, Wen Ruyu snapped, “What are you laughing at?! Think about it—I’ve been single for so many years and have never truly experienced romantic intimacy. I’m very thirsty, okay?!”

“Don’t be so impatient. Once your illness is cured, you can play with three men a day for all I care. But for now, you must abstain.” Yang Xun forced back a laugh.

“What nonsense are you spouting? One is enough for me,” Wen Ruyu retorted indignantly.

“Have you been stimulated by something recently?”

“N-no,” Wen Ruyu panicked slightly. She was simply too embarrassed to say that ever since Yang Xun left that day, she had been constantly dreaming about him. In her dreams, she was pinned beneath Yang Xun, entangled in passionate intimacy. Every time she woke up, she felt consumed by lust. That was why she had been forced to use a little toy. When she closed her eyes, her mind was filled with Yang Xun’s figure. Who knew that she would inexplicably transform because of it?