I'm Just Getting Your Luck - Chapter 14

“Should I offer myself as payment?”

With a mountain of debt to repay, Ying Yu knew there was no way she could afford to get near Zhou Chenyi again anytime soon.

Unfortunately, Million Company wasn’t that big. The more she tried to avoid him, the more likely she was to run into him.

She was quietly waiting for the elevator. As the doors opened — there he was, Zhou Chenyi, standing inside with He Xini.

“…”

Didn’t he have a private elevator?

“Hello, President Zhou… Goodbye, President Zhou!” Ying Yu turned and bolted.

He Xini looked puzzled. “Why did Ying Yu act like she just saw her debt collector?”

The “debt collector” snorted without saying a word.

Ying Yu was now budgeting down to the last cent. She was eating in the company cafeteria every day, cutting out takeout and milk tea completely.

No way would Zhou Chenyi show up at the cafeteria.

But as she queued for pineapple rice, she saw Zhou Chenyi standing in line ahead of her.

Ying Yu tugged Cui Se and quickly turned away.

“I thought you said you were craving pineapple rice?”

“Too crowded,” Ying Yu whispered. “Come on, Sis Se, let’s go get some stir-fried pork.”

Zhou Chenyi glanced in her direction and muttered, “Coward.”

The Product Department’s key project had a meeting that day. The PR Department had to attend, and Zhou Chenyi was present too.

No way to avoid him this time. Thankfully, Zhou Chenyi sat at the front of the long table while she shrank into a seat at the back.

“This cultural tourism navigation project is promising,” he said. “Coordinate with the cultural tourism bureau on the details. If other departments are needed, let me know.”

“Yes, President Zhou! We won’t let you down!”

The proposal was thorough and well-done. The Product Department was confident. Ying Yu, from PR, was assigned to join next week’s field research trip.

The destination was a tourist spot in another province. It had gained some popularity in recent years, but due to its remote location, it never quite boomed.

The meeting lasted two hours. When it ended, the Product Department head offered to buy everyone afternoon tea. Colleagues rushed out. Ying Yu bent to pick up a fallen pen and was the last to leave.

She assumed Zhou Chenyi was long gone.

She was thinking about what materials to bring when she opened the door — and bumped directly into someone.

She stepped left; he stepped left.
She stepped right; he followed.

Zhou Chenyi stared at her hairline with a complex expression. “No wonder people say debtors are the bosses — your actual boss is right in front of you, and you don’t even greet him.”

Her cheeks flushed. “…President Zhou.”

“Hmm, getting a word out of you is like pulling teeth,” he said lazily. “I’m not a stack of cash, but the way you avoid me is a bit much.”

“I wasn’t avoiding you.”

“Good. Then you can start now.”

“?”

Zhou Chenyi began listing her ‘debts’ with infuriating calm:

“The bar tab was 800 — I paid. I drove you home, and you puked in my car. Cleaning and replacing the seat — 2,000. Then there’s my suit. You know how much that cost, don’t you? Otherwise, why would you run every time you see me?

“Oh, and let’s not forget — that night, you copped a feel all evening. How much are those male models at Li Shuangyi’s bar? 1,500 a night? And my physique’s better than theirs. They’re for everyone to look at, but me? I let only you touch me. That’s VIP treatment. How much do you think I should charge you?”

Ying Yu finally looked up.

So that’s why he cornered her — to collect payment.

But she was drunk! She couldn’t even remember it — that shouldn’t count!

Zhou Chenyi stared at her like she better not even try to deny it.

Ying Yu held back, then burst out: “Why didn’t you stop me from touching you?!”

“You kept clinging to me, trying to kiss me. I was too busy protecting my innocence to block your groping.”

“If you didn’t come near me, I wouldn’t have been able to reach you in the first place! You’re the one who got close — you wanted me to touch you! I was fulfilling your needs! You should pay me for emotional damages!”

Zhou Chenyi chuckled. “Should I just offer myself as payment?”

Under his intense gaze, Ying Yu dropped to her knees figuratively and said swiftly: “I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

“Good. You know you were wrong.” He raised a brow. “Still planning to go to bars?”

“Never again. I swear!”

Before going out that night, she’d proudly told her parents she could support herself — one drunken incident later, she was back to square one.

Zhou Chenyi was definitely not the kind of male model you could touch for free.

“Alright. Go work.”

“You’re not collecting the debt anymore?”

“Where will the money come from if you don’t work?” he said gently. “You already lost your full attendance bonus this month from that one missed day. Keep slacking and you’ll be paying off this debt the rest of your life.”

Zhou Slavedriver! Zhou Slavedriver! Zhou Slavedriver!

The PR Department manager picked a few people to go on the business trip.

Ying Yu, being new, was naturally on the list.

The scenic spot had seen better days, but the roads were decent. After landing, they took taxis, and then rode electric scooters to their lodging.

They rented a two-story farmhouse from a local. Everyone stayed together for convenience and safety.

The village was beautiful but neglected. The bulletin board was covered in dust, and the stone ball from the lion statue at the entrance had long gone missing.

Though the villagers heard the team might bring in investment funds, they didn’t react warmly. Going door to door with surveys, the team got mostly cold shoulders.

Over dinner, Cui Se was baffled: “We’re offering money and they don’t want it? Our design is solid. Once the cultural navigation goes live, their visitor traffic will skyrocket.”

The PR manager, seasoned as he was, explained: “They think we’re too young — not reliable. Our PowerPoints don’t match their way of thinking; they won’t even read them.”

Everyone sighed.

Old habits die hard. They couldn’t age overnight.

After two days, Ying Yu gained a new insight: “An auntie told me they’ve had people come here before, promising the world. Then those people ran off with the money. Now, they don’t trust anyone.”

“The former village chief’s nephew did that. Since then, no one dares believe outsiders.”

“They told you all that gossip?” The manager saw hope. “How’d you earn their trust?”

“Well…” Ying Yu hesitated. “She had a pigeon that wouldn’t eat. I helped her figure it out…”

“You’re a vet? Or have vet friends?”

“Sort of.” Ying Yu had asked the wild goose for help. The goose, proud as always, didn’t want to talk to “lesser species” like pigeons — but eventually agreed. It turned out the pigeon was upset because her tail feathers had been plucked bald by the neighbor.

Ying Yu made her a fake tail. Problem solved.

“After her pigeon recovered, the auntie started telling me everything.”

“You’re amazing, Ying Yu,” a colleague said. “When we’re back in Jincheng, help me with my husky. He’s been gnawing on doors lately, and I don’t know why.”

Ying Yu forced a smile.

No way — she was terrified of dogs. If she went, she’d be the one gnawing doors.

“Back to work,” the manager said. “Ying Yu, walk around the village again tomorrow. See if you can help other animals — build some goodwill.”

“Okay, got it.”

The night sky sparkled over the courtyard. A soft breeze drifted by.

After dinner, everyone lounged outside, chatting. Someone brought back a few Budweisers.

Ying Yu had matured. She proudly rejected alcohol and grabbed a bottle of orange soda, sending a photo to Zhou Chenyi.

[Debt Repayment Ongoing: No Alcohol Today]

Zhou Chenyi had made a deal: no drinking for a month, and she wouldn’t have to pay back the bar bill.

Every penny counts. After sending that, she opened her chat with Zhou Fan.

Zhou Fan the Cutie:

“Sister Monster! Look at Xiao Bai eating — it’s so happy!”
“Xiao Bai’s sleeping now, it cuddled with me! I was too happy to sleep all night! Got scolded for dozing off in class — totally worth it!”
“Xiao Bai’s poop stinks…”

The most recent message was from five minutes ago — a video.

Xiao Bai lounged on the couch, tail flicking cheerfully. Zhou Chenyi, all in black, was towel-drying his hair nearby.

“If you put this much effort into studying, you’d be top of your class,” Zhou Chenyi said.

“If you put your energy into chasing the girl in that photo, you wouldn’t still be single!” Zhou Fan turned the camera away from him. “Sister Monster! When are you visiting Xiao Bai? He misses you!”

[Debt Repayment Ongoing]: I’ll come see him when I’m back. You be good and study hard!

Suddenly, footsteps pounded outside. “Ying Yu! Someone’s here for you!”

“Coming!”

The PR department’s group chat had been buzzing nonstop for two days.

Videos of Ying Yu treating alpacas and roosters in Yuyou Village had gone viral within the company.

The PR manager’s latest nine-photo post showed villagers lining up with their pets for Ying Yu’s help.

One limping rabbit, under her care, was now running like the wind.

He Xini paused mid-lunch to like the video.

No one even knew Ying Yu had this skill. In today’s job market, you needed to be multi-talented — good with people and animals.

“The new vet in Yuyou Village.”

Zhou Chenyi’s voice suddenly came from behind.

“President Zhou!” He Xini choked.

“Yuyou Village is where the PR team went?”

“Yes.” He Xini wiped his mouth. “And this isn’t just some random video — that vet is Ying Yu. She’s really popular there. The villagers love her! This is great for the company.”

Ying Yu… a vet?

Zhou Chenyi searched her name in his WeChat — but couldn’t find the group chat.

“Uh… it’s a work group,” He Xini explained quickly. “Didn’t want to disturb you with too many notifications. I’ll add you now.”

He Xini sent a Level 3 Alert: Zhou Chenyi joining the group — be on your best behavior.

Ten minutes later, Zhou Chenyi was flooded with “Welcome, President Zhou!” and the latest field footage.

Ying Yu, nose flushed from the sun, hair tucked behind her ears, knelt in front of a little boy barely taller than her knee. The boy held a fishbowl — a goldfish floated belly-up inside.

Even Zhou Chenyi, watching through a screen, was speechless.
She’s a vet, not a magician — she couldn’t bring a dead fish back to life.

But Ying Yu was patient.

She knelt and explained gently that dead fish can’t come back. Then she placed her hand on the bowl, paused, and said:

“The fish says, next time, don’t pour hot water in the tank. It doesn’t want to become boiled fish.”

“But… but my dad says I should drink more hot water. Why can’t the fish?”

“…Because her dad told her to drink cold water. Fish don’t do well in heat.”

“…Oh. I got it. Thank you, big sister.”

The child left, mumbling to the fish, “I’m sorry, I’ll never give you hot water again.”

The kid’s parent was so moved that they filled out five surveys — and promised to hand more to the neighbors.

Even with the crowd and all the bizarre requests, Ying Yu showed no irritation — just genuine care.

Zhou Chenyi didn’t know how long he’d been watching.

His eyes eventually drifted to the photo stuck to the back of his phone. He called the PR manager.

“Some employees clearly contribute a lot to the company. That doesn’t mean we should overwork them. Make sure she gets enough rest.”

The manager sounded helpless. “President Zhou, I tried… but she insisted she’s not tired. I couldn’t persuade her.”

“Then dock her pay. She’s not stupid.”

He sighed. “Fine. Put her on the phone — I’ll talk to her.”

“Right away.”

Zhou Chenyi waited, suddenly feeling nervous.

He picked up a glass of water — when a loud commotion exploded on the other end. People were shouting her name.

“What happened?!”

“President Zhou — the horse got spooked and kicked Ying Yu!”