Chapter 272: The Person We Chose Can Enjoy Life Just by Lying Down

After nearly fifteen hours of flight, the Jonina family finally arrived over Hong Kong.

Looking down at Hong Kong's night skyline through the plane window, she finally understood why Hong Kong was called the "Pearl of the Orient."

Colors of lights blended into vast patches, shimmering like pearls scattered across a black velvet carpet.

In the 1980s, if judged solely by night scenery, Hong Kong could rank among the top three on this planet.

"Mom, this city is so beautiful—those bays look even prettier than London's. Can we go visit tomorrow?"

Dean, Jonina's son, pressed his face against the window, greedily staring at the night view of Victoria Harbour, unable to resist voicing his small request.

But his sister Louise sternly said: "Dean, sit down in your seat right now, and don't make unreasonable demands. Mom is here to work, not to take you on vacation."

Dean, usually suppressed by his sister, surprisingly talked back: "We can ask Miss Lu to take us out!"

You keep telling me adventure stories, but all I remember are our two rooms—I've never even been to the seaside."

"."

Even the stern sister could no longer suppress her younger brother.

After Jonina moved her children to Manchester, they spent three hundred and thirty days a year at home; their entire world was confined to a hundred-meter radius around their rented apartment.

Her younger brother had just begun to form memories; his understanding of the world was limited to that hundred-meter circle.

So when Louise told him adventure stories, even if Dean was starving, he would sit quietly, dreaming that one day he might become the hero of those tales.

And wasn't Louise herself the same?

Jonina felt overwhelming shame.

A child's childhood should be joyful and mischievous, but her children were quiet and well-behaved.

But Jonina wasn't foolish—she was just socially anxious. As a sensitive writer, how could she not know that beneath this quiet obedience lay suppressed fear and hidden longing?

"If… Mom finishes her work and has time, I'll take you out."

"Really? That's wonderful, Mom, thank you so much!"

Dean nearly jumped up in excitement, but remembering his sister's rules, he quickly sat back down—though his blue eyes sparkled with delight.

But when he cautiously glanced at his sister, he saw she was just as excited as he was.

Jonina looked apologetically at her children, then turned to Lu Jingyao across the aisle.

"Lu, could you please take us to see the sea? I'll pay extra."

"No need, Mrs. Jonina. You've already paid."

"."

"Thank you, Lu."

Jonina now felt her decision at the restaurant two days ago had been utterly brilliant.

Lu Jingyao was clearly the perfect "savior" made just for her.

Back then, Jonina had wanted someone who understood Chinese culture to accompany her to Hong Kong, and she casually asked Lu Jingyao if she knew anyone suitable.

Then she was astonished to discover that Lu Jingyao was a devoted reader of Jonina Worsley's works.

Jonina hadn't believed it at first—but Lu Jingyao pulled out a personal copy of the trial edition of *A Song of Ice and Fire*, with Jonina herself as the translator.

After that, everything went smoothly: Lu Jingyao immediately agreed to Jonina's request and accepted the "ridiculously low" fee of 150 pounds.

Although the average monthly income in early 1980s Britain was only two or three hundred pounds, a personal translator accompanying someone ten thousand miles away for a week at 150 pounds was extremely cheap.

But Lu Jingyao didn't seem to care about money at all—she enthusiastically discussed the plot of *A Song of Ice and Fire* with Jonina.

Only then did they realize how many things they had in common.

In short, both felt they resembled Lyanna Targaryen from *A Song of Ice and Fire*: people shaped by fate, powerless to control their own lives, forced into silent, humble struggles.

Fortunately, both their struggles had begun to bear fruit—they had both seen glimmers of hope.

Jonina might soon receive a massive sum of twenty thousand dollars, and Lu Jingyao had traveled from distant the East to study in Britain.

Literary resonance drew Jonina and Lu Jingyao closer; over the next two days, Jonina didn't have to worry about a single thing.

All tasks were handled entirely by this Chinese girl.

She took Jonina and her family to discount markets and bought them entirely new outfits at prices Jonina couldn't believe, making Jonina truly understand what "stretching a penny" and "using steel where it counts" meant.

In travel planning, paperwork, and other daily skills, this girl younger than Jonina appeared remarkably experienced and mature.

Even more remarkably, the children adored Lu Jingyao—throughout the trip, they needed no care from Jonina at all.

Or rather, Lu Jingyao cared for all three of them—she single-handedly performed the duties of nanny, assistant, and translator.

Jonina felt guilty, but she'd only received two thousand dollars so far; after taxes, she still owed over seven hundred pounds, had bought essentials, and still didn't even own a television.

【If I win first prize, I must give her fair compensation—even though she's an undocumented worker.】

…………………

At Taiping Mountain Villa, Pei Wencong knocked on Li Ye's door.

"Mr. Li, Mr. Jeff from the Americas will board his flight tomorrow afternoon and arrive in Hong Kong the day after tomorrow, but he insists the meeting be scheduled for the morning of the day after tomorrow—he must catch an afternoon flight back to the Lighthouse."

"If he came all this way, why rush so much?" Li Ye asked, puzzled. "Did you tell him we're likely discussing a contract?"

Pei Wencong replied: "Mr. Li, I told him, but he said he's an amateur writer—if he doesn't get back quickly, he might get fired."

"Huh, interesting," Li Ye nodded. "Then schedule it for the morning of the day after tomorrow."

"Understood. I'll notify the other three right away."

Pei Wencong turned to leave, but at the door, he hesitated and asked: "Mr. Li, are we really not considering Mr. Wood? He might really be busy."

Li Ye replied coolly: "Let him stay busy. The people we've chosen can enjoy life lying down—they don't need to rush around."

Pei Wencong's eyes widened suddenly—he seemed to understand something.

How had he even met Mr. Li in the first place?

Since joining Mr. Li, hadn't he himself begun… to enjoy life lying down?

But if Mr. Li already had him, why did he need others?

Lost in thought, Pei Wencong nearly bumped into his sister just leaving Li Dayong's room.

He frowned and asked: "What's wrong, Xiao Hui? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Pei Wenhui rolled her eyes. "I'm not in a hurry—you're the one lost in thought."

Pei Wencong smiled. "I was thinking. It's late—go to sleep."

Pei Wenhui pouted, brushed past him, but was immediately called back.

"Xiao Hui, have you been working with Li Dayong at the factory lately?"

"Not really," she replied, confused. "I have my own things to do. But I've taken good care of him—I got him lots of sewing machine manuals."

"But Mr. Li really is strong—and so simply adorable. Did you know?"

Pei Wenhui leaned in, whispering mysteriously: "Today he saw the Macau horse racing on TV and asked me, 'Do Hong Kong tycoons' horses run faster?' Ha ha ha ha ha—I nearly died laughing!"

Watching his radiant sister laugh freely, Pei Wencong couldn't help sighing inwardly.

If only Mr. Li didn't have a girlfriend.

No—I need to ask Ah Qiang again.

Pei Wencong turned and hurried to Ah Qiang's room. Inside, he found him staring at a letter, grinning foolishly.

"Ah Qiang, what are you daydreaming about again? Did you finish this week's comic? Living off me and eating my food—you're getting lazier."

Ah Qiang slowly turned his head, like a hidden boss in a comic, startled and ready to unleash a killing aura to obliterate everything around him.

"I'm in love. What do you know, you single dog?"

Pei Wencong froze, then roared: "Who are you calling a single dog? Who taught you that filthy language?"

"Pfft~"

Ah Qiang sneered. "Mr. Li said it. Go ask him."

Then he turned back to the letter, smiling as if Pei Wencong didn't exist.

Pei Wencong's anger vanished instantly.

He was thirty—he should be falling in love too.

………

On the third morning, Lu Jingyao, with dark circles under her eyes, helped Jonina fix her hair and clothes.

"Mrs. Jonina, I've read all your reader letters these past two days and analyzed reviews of your translation from seven literary newspapers. I believe your version has a high chance of winning."

"So the original author will surely grant you translation rights—you must fight hard for the licensing fee."

"Lu, can't you fight for me? I'm not good at these things."

"I'm not good at it either," Lu Jingyao hesitated. "Today's meeting is too important—I can't be sure I'll secure your maximum benefit."

Jonina smiled. "No, I trust you, Lu. You're the smartest person I've ever met. Believe in yourself—you can do it."

"Alright then."

Lu Jingyao reluctantly agreed.

In fact, before coming to Hong Kong, she had consulted several alumni, researched key issues about translation rights, and prepared accordingly.

But after arriving in Hong Kong, she encountered an unexpected problem.

She didn't speak Cantonese.

During yesterday's outing, Lu Jingyao had been scolded and looked down upon multiple times for speaking Mandarin.

Eventually, she switched to English. Though her English wasn't "London accent," her treatment changed instantly.

But if everyone was speaking English, how could her role as translator matter? Didn't Jonina know English?

Today's crucial meeting—if the other side discovered she was from the mainland, would it affect Jonina's translation contract?

Remember, once Jonina receives translation rights, the copyright of her *A Song of Ice and Fire* translation belongs to Jonina herself, not the original author.

So today's meeting is extremely important.

(End of chapter)