Chapter 15: Refusing to Work Overtime
Li Hao stared fiercely at Ruan Mianmian, his sinister gaze as if he meant to devour her whole. Through gritted teeth, he declared, “Anyone who stays tonight for overtime, your pay will be doubled!”
He refused to believe that someone as money-hungry as Ruan Mianmian could resist the lure of double overtime wages.
Ruan Mianmian packed up her things, glanced at her phone, and saw that it was precisely time to clock out. “Excuse me, please move aside. It’s time to get off work.”
Li Hao’s bulky frame blocked her path.
“Ruan Mianmian, are you—are you really not staying for overtime? Didn’t you hear me say the pay will be doubled?” Li Hao stared at her in disbelief, his eyes nearly shrinking to green beans. She used to be obsessed with money! She wouldn’t even take sick leave when she was ill!
“Supervisor Li, you look at most like a greasy middle-aged man. Why are you so hard of hearing? I’ve told you more than once—I have plans tonight, no time for overtime. Why can’t you hear me?” Snickers echoed around them.
The fat on Li Hao’s face twitched uncontrollably. He spat out harsh words, “Ruan Mianmian, you just wait!”
Ruan Mianmian replied indifferently, “Please move aside. If you don’t, I’ll start charging for overtime.” Wasn’t it always “you just wait” when he threatened her? Not a shred of originality.
Li Hao stepped aside.
Ruan Mianmian walked toward the employee lockers, and a gentle, senior-like voice from the system spoke in her ear: “Congratulations, Host. You have refused an unreasonable overtime request and left your opponent speechless. Reward: 200 points, life extended by 20 days.”
Ruan Mianmian was secretly thrilled. She hadn’t expected the system upgrade would really double her points. Before, whenever she stood up to Li Hao, she’d earn at most 100 points. Even when she confronted those aunties on the subway, the points came in dribs and drabs—so hard to earn. Now that the points had doubled, it was truly satisfying.
She’d worried about not earning enough points and life extension today, yet here was an unexpected harvest right after work.
Li Hao watched Ruan Mianmian walk away, gnashing his teeth with hatred, wishing he could destroy her. Once again, she’d made him lose face in front of his subordinates. Damn it!
In the end, Li Xiaofei—despite her reluctance—was forced to stay for overtime. She hated Ruan Mianmian for it!
Ruan Mianmian couldn’t care less how much Li Hao and Li Xiaofei hated her. She took the subway to Jiarun Building.
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She found the manager at the apartment administration and said, “Hello, I’m Ruan Mianmian. I’ve come to collect my keys and property certificate.” The manager checked on the computer, asked for her ID for confirmation, then opened the file cabinet with a key and handed her a property certificate and a set of keys.
“Tenth floor, Room 1006.”
“Thank you,” Ruan Mianmian said, accepting the certificate and keys.
“You’re welcome. Wishing you a pleasant stay. If you have any issues, feel free to contact us.”
“Alright,” she replied.
The management of a high-end apartment truly was different.
Ruan Mianmian took the elevator to the tenth floor, found Room 1006, and opened the door. When she stepped inside, she was delightfully surprised.
It was a fully furnished apartment!
She closed the door and toured her cozy new home.
According to the property certificate, it was a sixty-square-meter single-unit apartment—one living room, one bedroom, one bathroom, one kitchen.
The living room was decorated in a minimalist, elegant style, equipped with a television, sofa, coffee table, and water dispenser. Beside the water dispenser stood a table, which could serve as both a dining table and a desk.
Outside the living room, there was a small balcony with a washing machine.
The bedroom had a bed, bedside table, wardrobe, and dressing table.
The bathroom, though not large, had a separate wet and dry area.
The kitchen was compact but had everything: gas stove, exhaust hood, cookware, cabinets, dish cabinet, and refrigerator.
She could move in right away!
She loved it. She’d thought she’d have to buy a lot herself, but everything was already there.
Ruan Mianmian decided to move in over the weekend.
After seeing the place, she didn’t want to return to her old, shabby rental.
Tomorrow, she’d bring clothes to work and head straight to the apartment after her shift.
After locking up, she returned to her rental.
In high spirits, she cooked dinner for herself.
While eating, she received a message from Xu Weiwei on WeChat—a sticker of a miserable wage slave.
Ruan Mianmian responded with a hug sticker, then sent a photo of her one-pot meal.
She’d put rice in the pot, added a steaming tray, cooked ribs and corn soup, eggs, potatoes, and meat patties.
When the rice was ready, the dishes were done too—no need for stir-frying, just serve straight from the pot.
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She often cooked this way.
Living alone, the simpler the better—and healthier than takeout.
After finishing the last of the ingredients in the fridge, she decided not to buy more.
Starting tomorrow night, she’d stay at the apartment, not here.
[How late do you have to work tonight?] Ruan Mianmian messaged Xu Weiwei.
[Probably till ten. After you left, Bald Li was furious, and Li Xiaofei’s face was sour.]
[Doesn’t matter. I won’t let him exploit me. Ten is so late—have your family pick you up, it’s not safe alone.]
[I’ve told my parents. My mom said she’ll have my brother pick me up.]
[Good, then I won’t worry. You really have a good family.]
Ruan Mianmian felt envious of Xu Weiwei once more.
Her own family never showed concern—only asked her for money.
She’d worked overtime many times, and not once had anyone picked her up, nor even called to check on her.
Whenever her family called, it was either payday or an urgent need for money, asking her to find a way. Or it was to introduce her to a blind date, hoping she’d marry into a wealthy family and bring home a hefty bride price.
[And yet you won’t let me introduce my brother as your boyfriend.]
[Weiwei, I won’t drag your family into my mess. You know my situation.]
She had a pair of parasitic parents and a brother who was useless at everything except spending money—how could she burden someone else’s family?
Just as she thought this, her phone rang—it was a call from Ruan Jinbao.
Ruan Mianmian really didn’t want to answer, so she silenced it and let it ring out.
Only after it rang three times did she pick up.
“Sis, why didn’t you answer my call?” Ruan Jinbao’s disgruntled voice came through.
“If you’ve got something to say, say it quickly. It’s not that I didn’t answer—I told you, my phone screen is cracked and barely responsive. My finger’s nearly sliced open and the screen still won’t work properly. What can I do?”
“Sis, I’m out of money. Can you transfer me five hundred yuan? Just five hundred, I won’t ask for more.”
Ruan Mianmian replied impatiently, “Why ask me? I don’t have money. Doesn’t Mom give you living expenses every month?”
She knew it—Ruan Jinbao only ever called to ask for money.
“But Sis, I’m out with classmates for barbecue and can’t pay the bill. Mom’s living expenses are gone.”
“There’s still a week left in this month, isn’t there? You’ve blown through your monthly allowance already? Ruan Jinbao, you get three thousand a month—how’d you spend it all so soon? What will you do for the rest of the week?”