24: Chapter 24 Ji Guangli's Sleepless Nights

"Leader, you're awake?"

Cao Kun hadn't been sleeping deeply, and he opened his eyes immediately upon sensing movement.

Seeing Ji Guangli awake, a relaxed smile instantly appeared on his face, though it was quickly followed by a hint of worry.

"Are you feeling better? Why is your face suddenly so red? Is the fever coming back?" He instinctively reached out to check her forehead.

Ji Guangli was made even more embarrassed by this gesture and hurriedly turned her head away to dodge him. She used the moment to compose herself and put back on her mask of calm composure, though the flush on her earlobes was slow to fade.

"I'm fine, the fever broke. Thank you... for taking care of me the whole time."

Her voice was still a bit raspy, but her tone had returned to its usual indifference.

"Sigh, Leader, why are you being so polite with me?"

Cao Kun scratched his head and grinned. "I'm just relieved to see you're okay."

He checked the time and then looked at Ji Guangli's still somewhat frail appearance before suggesting, "By the way, Leader, seriously, if you're still feeling unwell, I'll give Manager Li a call to explain the situation. We can reschedule the contract signing for another day. Your health comes first."

"No!" Ji Guangli immediately shook her head, her tone resolute. "It wasn't easy to land this client; we can't let anything go wrong. I'm fine now. I'll just rest for a bit and go sign the contract on time this morning."

Looking at her forcing herself to stay strong despite her weakness, Cao Kun felt both heartache and admiration. He smiled helplessly. "Alright, we'll do as you say. Close your eyes and rest a bit longer. Once this IV bag is finished, we'll get some medicine and head back."

After confirming Ji Guangli was no longer in danger and the IV drip was finished, the two took the medicine prescribed by the doctor and left the hospital.

The morning air in the City of Luo was fresh, carrying the dampness of a post-rain morning.

They found a clean breakfast shop near the hospital, where they had some hot porridge and light food.

It was just past six in the morning when they returned to the hotel.

There were still over two hours until the eight-thirty appointment with Manager Li.

"It's still early, Leader. Hurry back to your room and sleep a bit more to recover your strength. I'll call you when it's time," Cao Kun urged as he escorted Ji Guangli to her door.

Ji Guangli did indeed feel exhausted and nodded. "Okay, you go back and rest too! Today... thanks for your hard work."

"It was no trouble. Go get some rest, Leader." Cao Kun watched her enter her room and close the door before returning to his own room.

His body was exhausted, but as Cao Kun lay on the hotel bed, reflecting on the night's intensity and that moment of suspicious blushing when Ji Guangli woke up, he felt a strange sense of fulfillment.

Meanwhile, in the next room, Ji Guangli lay on the soft bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Images of Cao Kun carrying her into the hospital and dozing off by her bedside kept replaying in her mind, along with that sudden thought that had left her flustered.

...

Seven-thirty in the morning.

The urgent ringing of his phone dragged Cao Kun out of a deep sleep.

He groggily fumbled for his phone and squinted at the screen; it was a call from Ji Guangli.

"Hello... Leader?" His voice was thick with sleep.

"Cao Kun, time to get up. Wash up, we're getting ready to head out." On the other end of the line, Ji Guangli's voice had returned to its usual clear and capable tone, with no trace of illness remaining.

Cao Kun jolted awake, instantly becoming mostly sober. He quickly checked the time—seven-thirty!

He had fallen asleep the moment he returned last night and hadn't heard his alarm at all!

"Sorry, Leader! I overslept, the alarm didn't wake me... Is your body okay? How are you feeling?" he apologized while asking with concern.

"I'm fine, completely recovered. Hurry up and get ready; time is getting tight," Ji Guangli said in a steady tone, her emotions unreadable.

"Right, right, right, I'll be ready right away!"

Cao Kun hung up and rushed into the bathroom to wash up at top speed.

Splashing cold water on his face completely dispelled the remaining traces of sleep.

He recalled how weak Ji Guangli had been when she had the fever last night and still felt a bit of lingering fear, but hearing her energetic voice put him much more at ease.

Five minutes later, Cao Kun was ready and sent Ji Guangli a message.

The two opened their doors almost simultaneously.

Today's Ji Guangli had transformed back into that meticulous workplace elite.

She had changed into a light gray, slim-fit professional skirt suit. Her long hair was tied back into a neat bun, and she wore exquisite, light makeup that completely masked any signs of illness, leaving only her radiance and competence.

She had also swapped her high heels for a lower, more stable style, likely considering the condition of her ankle.

In contrast, Cao Kun was much more casual, still wearing a casual short-sleeved shirt, long pants, and sneakers. However, he looked fresh and clean, and paired with his tall frame and handsome face, he exuded a certain sunny vitality.

The two shared a tacit look, neither mentioning the previous night's mess or the care provided. However, Ji Guangli's gaze lingered on Cao Kun's face for a split second longer, as if trying to gauge his level of fatigue, before she quickly looked away.

After checking out, they drove to the appointed business hotel.

They arrived at exactly eight-fifteen, with plenty of time to spare.

They didn't rush inside but instead did one final check in the car of the original contract, copies of the company's qualifications, and all other documents to ensure everything was perfect.

At eight-twenty-five, Cao Kun and Ji Guangli carried their document folders and calmly walked into the hotel lobby.

A set of comfortable sofas and a coffee table were located in a quiet corner of the lobby.

Not long after they sat down, a man in his forties, dressed in business casual with glasses and a capable aura, walked toward them with a smile on his face.

"Are you Manager Ji and Mr. Cao from Xingchen Advertising? I am Li Bin from Xuefen Food."

The newcomer took the initiative to extend his hand, his attitude very polite.

"Hello, Manager Li! I am Ji Guangli, and this is Cao Kun. Thank you for taking the time to meet us in your busy schedule."

Ji Guangli immediately stood up and greeted him with a graceful handshake.

Cao Kun followed suit, greeting him politely.

"You're too kind. Secretary Long specifically requested this, so I must take it to heart."

Li Bin smiled and invited them to sit. His gaze swept over Cao Kun and Ji Guangli, praising them with a mix of professional courtesy and genuine sincerity. "Secretary Long's younger brother is indeed a fine-looking young man, and Manager Ji is also young, capable, and radiant."

"Manager Li, you flatter us," Ji Guangli responded appropriately before cutting to the chase. She handed over the prepared contract and relevant materials with both hands. "Manager Li, this is the draft framework agreement for our cooperation based on our previous communication. Please have a look."

Li Bin took the contract. He didn't scrutinize every word and sentence like in a typical business negotiation but instead quickly scanned the key clauses, scope of cooperation, amounts, and delivery cycles.

He read very quickly, but his eyes were focused, showing he was clearly very experienced in his work.

"Mm, the terms are clear, and the price is within a reasonable range."

Li Bin nodded, his tone relaxed. "Manager Ji is very meticulous, and the quote provided is very honest. Since this was introduced by Secretary Long and is being handled directly by Mr. Cao, our level of trust is very high."

As he spoke, he took a fountain pen from his briefcase, turned to the end of the contract, and without much hesitation, signed his name as the representative for Party B and stamped it with the departmental contract seal he carried.

"Regarding the price, we..." Ji Guangli wanted to confirm it once more according to the standard procedure.

Li Bin waved his hand and smiled. "No need for further discussion. We'll go with what's in the contract."

"Secretary Long specifically mentioned that her brother does things honestly and wished us a happy cooperation."

"I trust her judgment. In the future, I'll have to trouble you both to put more effort into this part of our business."

...