Forget it. Better not do something you don't have. Just ask for the vice president's card number. Then transfer your meager savings to his bank card.
I can't do that. I'll withdraw a little from the card my mom gave me. Return it to the vice president. I'll save it back into my mom's card later.
After Aria made that decision, she started typing a text message. She read it over several times. She made sure there were no mistakes before sending it.
No reply.
A few minutes passed. Her phone still didn't move.
Aria finally gave up.
Either the vice president was too busy to read her message. Or he simply couldn't be bothered to reply.
She figured this amount of money meant nothing to him.
Better just collect the cash. Put it in an envelope. When she had work to do in his office, she'd return it to him then.
Just as Aria made this decision, she put her phone back on the nightstand. She was ready to sleep.
Her phone rang.
Aria jumped. She grabbed her phone. It was Evan calling.
She fumbled, and the phone almost hit her face. She let out a small scream.
Embarrassed, she picked it up. She answered with an awkward voice.
"Hello..."
There was silence on the other end.
"Hello..." Aria said again, hesitantly.
Still nothing. She pulled the phone away from her ear and muttered to herself.
"Did I break it? Why is there no sound?"
"Aria—"
Aria froze.
It was Evan's voice. So clear through the phone.
"Vice President... Vice President..." Aria stammered.
"What's the matter?" Evan asked on the other end.
Aria remembered she always contacted him for something. She quickly said, "Sorry, Vice President. I forgot about the money I owe you. I don't know if it's convenient for you to give me your card number. I'll transfer it to your account. If it's not convenient, that's fine. I'll return it to you when I come to your office another day!"
"No need. I was joking with you before."
"Ah?" Aria replied, stunned.
"Don't worry about it anymore. If there's nothing else, I'll be busy now."
"Oh... okay!" Aria responded.
Then she heard the beep of him hanging up. Her heart felt empty.
She didn't know if he was always joking with her. Or if he was serious. But clearly, he didn't want to have any connection with her because of this.
Aria sighed. She thought that if she ever had a chance to go shopping with him someday, she'd buy him a gift. She'd return the favor that way.
That night, Aria didn't sleep well. She dreamed about Evan. When her alarm went off, it took her a long time to react. Her mind was a mess.
Aria rubbed her sore temples. She walked toward the company.
She had to drink coffee today. Otherwise, she was worried she'd make a mistake or fall asleep from lack of sleep.
Before she knew it, she was at the company building. She was about to enter the gate when she bumped into someone.
Aria was stunned for a few seconds before she reacted. She quickly lowered her head and apologized.
"Sorry, I didn't see you!"
"Do you walk without looking where you're going?"
Evan's voice came from above her head.
Aria looked up in surprise. She saw his expressionless face. She was so embarrassed she wanted to dig a hole in the ground.
"I'm sorry. I was thinking about something. I was distracted."
Aria stepped back and apologized again.
Evan didn't say anything more. He walked past Aria and got into the car waiting for him by the entrance.
Aria didn't recover until the car drove away. When she turned her head, she only saw the car merge into traffic.
She lowered her head and walked into the lobby. She greeted the front desk and was about to walk toward the elevator.
Then she heard Ava say, "Aria, you're lucky today!"
"Why?" Aria stepped back two steps, went back to the front desk, and asked Ava.
"Didn't you just have close contact with the vice president?" Ava said with a smile.
Aria felt her headache get worse. "I didn't mean to. I was just thinking about something!"
"That's even worse because it wasn't intentional. By the way, there was a girl who knocked the vice president down in the lobby once!" Ava couldn't help but laugh.
"Vice President... The vice president is really unlucky!" Aria answered with a forced laugh.
Luckily, Ava didn't say anything more. Aria quickly found an excuse and went to the elevator. She thought to herself, please don't let anyone recognize me. Otherwise, she really couldn't face Evan anymore.
Aria had been very busy these past two days. She had to take inventory and arrange gifts for the festival.
As soon as she caught her breath and went back to the office to drink some water, she heard Hannah say, "I heard the vice president had an accident!"
Aria choked. She finally stopped coughing. She looked at Hannah in fear and asked, "Is the vice president okay?"
"I don't know. I just heard about it! Why are you so nervous about the vice president?" Hannah looked at Aria and asked.
"No... I'm just asking! I hope the vice president is okay!" Aria answered.
Then she took her phone and walked out of the administration office. She didn't call Evan. She called Emma.
"Sister Aria!" Emma said excitedly on the other end.
"Emma, sorry to bother you!" Aria replied awkwardly.
"No bother at all, Sister Aria. Why are you so polite! What's the matter?"
"It's nothing. I just thought I haven't contacted you in a while. I wanted to give you a call."
"Really? Is it because of my big brother?" Emma asked with a smile.
Aria was immediately embarrassed. After a long pause, she asked unnaturally, "Vice President... Is he okay?"
"I'm right here with my brother. You can ask him directly!" Emma finished, handed the phone to her brother, and winked at him suggestively.
"No, no, I'm fine!" Aria heard Evan's tone and figured he wasn't seriously hurt. She quickly answered.
The next second, she heard Evan's voice. "Come see me."
"I... I heard you... had an accident..." Aria didn't know what to say.
"Yes," Evan answered lightly.
"Are you... okay?" Aria asked, her heart pounding.
"It's just a skin injury."
"What skin injury, Sister Aria? My brother is seriously injured. He can't move lying on the bed right now!" Emma's voice came through.
"Ah? What did the doctor say?" Aria asked hastily.
"He needs surgery. He needs to be hospitalized. But my brother insists on going on a business trip now. Do you think he's joking with his health? We can't persuade him. Can you help us persuade him?" Emma pleaded.