If you don’t want to move out, get inside right now. Huo Yuanzhou had already pushed his luggage through the doorway. Seeing him still standing frozen at the entrance, Huo Yuanzhou turned his head to glance at him. If you’re truly set on sleeping in the park, I will respect your preference.
Wei Chun let out an awkward laugh. That’s not the case at all. I’m your personal bodyguard, so naturally, I have to stay by your side at all times, President Huo.
Then I’ll trouble you, Bodyguard Wei, Huo Yuanzhou said with a slight huff. Paying him no further mind, he pushed his luggage straight into the master bedroom.
Although they were roommates in name, the secretary responsible for booking the hotel naturally didn’t dare reserve a standard room where the two would have to stare at each other from morning to night.
The hotel was a luxury suite configured with one master bedroom and two side bedrooms. Every room had an en-suite bathroom, along with an independent scenic balcony that was rare to find on the mainland.
The only people sharing the suite were Wei Chun and Huo Yuanzhou. With Huo Yuanzhou heading straight into the master bedroom, the remaining two side bedrooms were left for Wei Chun to choose at will.
The Nancheng project was intricate and involved numerous partners. Even with Huo Yuanzhou arriving in person, he was swamped with leading the team through handovers, leaving early and returning late every day.
Wei Chun hadn’t forgotten his primary goal in insisting on coming to Nancheng. Originally, sharing a suite with Huo Yuanzhou had made him feel somewhat awkward, wondering if this counted as semi-cohabitation where they’d constantly bump into each other.
He could only comfort himself with the sole benefit: it would be much easier to inquire about the Nancheng project’s progress and partnership requirements.
Yet, after actually moving in together, he realized the reality was closer to never seeing each other at all.
Forget asking about project progress, despite living under the same roof, Wei Chun only caught a single glimpse of Huo Yuanzhou over the entire week.
Before he could even speak, the man had already returned to the master bedroom to rest.
Wei Chun had also tried sending him messages on WeChat, but the account he had worked so hard to get turned out to be no different from having none at all.
He sent dozens of roundabout inquiries, but Huo Yuanzhou only replied with two lines:
Huo: Transfer
Huo: Go play.
Wei Chun was so infuriated he nearly threw his phone.
Sister Cheng, Wei Chun said, at his wit’s end, deciding to call Cheng Yu. Are you all still at the branch office?
Cheng Yu seemed busy, her surroundings filled with endless chatter. Every so often, someone would call out for Assistant Cheng while sprinting down the hall, their heels clicking sharply against the tile floor.
It was impressive that she managed to spare a hand to answer Wei Chun’s call amidst the chaos.
Yes, we are, Cheng Yu replied, quickly reviewing a document. She gestured for another person to leave a stack on her desk, indicating that the files currently queuing up for review would be brought upstairs together shortly. Is there anything you need me to do, Young Master Wei?
Wei Chun replied, No, I just wanted to ask if you were at the branch office, and if Huo Yuanzhou is there too?
Cheng Yu smiled and answered, Of course. President Huo is upstairs holding a meeting with the project team. The Nancheng project left behind numerous issues, so President Huo has been in back-to-back meetings addressing them.
Okay. Wei Chun simply wanted to confirm Huo Yuanzhou’s presence to ensure it wouldn’t interfere with his next plan. As long as he’s there. I’ll hang up now so I don’t add to your workload.
If the mountain won’t come to me, I will go to the mountain.
Since he couldn’t wait for Huo Yuanzhou at the hotel, he would head directly to the branch office to corner him.
Nancheng Operation Plan B: Go.
Wei Chun stuffed his lunchbox into a takeout bag, snapped on his sunglasses, and headed straight for the branch office.
Huo Yuanzhou had just finished his meeting with a temper flaring. Upon returning to his office, he slammed the documents in his hand onto the desk with a sharp thwack.
Assistant Xu, who had been trailing closely behind, stepped forward to neatly reorganize the cluttered files on the desk.
President Huo, Secretary Zhou brought over a set of documents earlier. Word came from the board of directors that the project evaluation you proposed last time passed unanimously. The project budget will need to wait for your return to be audited, Assistant Xu reported while tidying up. Additionally, news came from the sanatorium. The former President Huo said he wants to see you and the second young master, or else he’ll…
Or else he’ll what?
Assistant Xu stole a cautious glance at Huo Yuanzhou’s expression before continuing carefully, Or else he’ll die in front of you.
Huo Yuanzhou fell silent for a moment. The corners of his lips curved up, yet not a trace of warmth reached his eyes as he asked in a soft voice, Do you think he actually will?
Assistant Xu didn’t dare answer.
The boss’s family affairs had always been his sore spot. In the past, a blind date arranged by the Xue family didn’t know any better and brought up the former President Huo and Mrs. Huo in the sanatorium, asking when their conditions would improve enough for them to be discharged.
Huo Yuanzhou didn’t say anything on the spot; he merely instructed his assistant to see the blind date home safely.
Yet not long after, Assistant Xu heard that the blind date’s family suffered a sudden catastrophe and was pushed to the brink of bankruptcy. The once-wealthy young lady plummeted into massive debt, pulling every string imaginable just to plead before President Huo, weeping uncontrollably as she begged him to spare her family, her pale forehead bruised and bleeding from kowtowing on the floor.
Huo Yuanzhou, however, merely held his coffee cup with a cold expression, ordering the assistant to drag her out, and to remember to see her home safely.
Assistant Xu smiled bitterly to himself, praying that someone would come to save him so he wouldn’t have to answer this life-threatening question alone.
Knock, knock, knock.
Assistant Xu’s eyes lit up. He bolted to the door and opened it at lightning speed.
Outside stood Cheng Yu, holding a stack of files.
Assistant Xu silently mouthed the words The Former President Huo. Cheng Yu instantly understood. She gave a subtle nod before carrying the documents into the office.
President Huo, these are all files submitted by the former branch office project team, including previous survey data and technical support.
Huo Yuanzhou casually picked up a document, it was a previous budget sheet from the branch office. After just a brief glance, he noticed something amiss. With a cold laugh, he handed the document back to Cheng Yu. Who was the former head of finance for the branch office? Have him come see me this afternoon and calculate this budget sheet right in front of my eyes.
Understood. Also… Assistant Cheng paused briefly before continuing, Young Master Wei has arrived downstairs. Should I let him up?
Huo Yuanzhou’s brows furrowed tightly. What is he doing here?
The sheer complexity of the Nancheng project was already giving him a massive headache; having to deal with the young master on top of it left the back of his neck throbbing with pain.
If he hadn’t taken a dose of suppressants before the meeting, he had no doubt his pheromones would have already spiraled out of control from anger.
A moment later, both Assistant Xu and Assistant Cheng turned deathly pale, cold sweat rolling down their faces like stringed beads. Cheng Yu, whose lower rank rendered her unable to withstand the pressure, clutched the table to keep from collapsing.
Huo Yuanzhou’s brows knitted closely together as he realized the pain at the back of his neck wasn’t a hallucination, but a genuine physical reaction. His pheromones had violently flared up again alongside his chaotic emotions.
Damn it. Huo Yuanzhou frantically pulled a medicine box out of the drawer, popped out two pills, and swallowed them with water.
The suppressants were lasting for shorter and shorter periods now. Even though he had taken medicine right before the meeting, symptoms of total failure began emerging after just over two hours, the gland at the back of his neck burning with a searing ache from his heightened emotions.
Having served Huo Yuanzhou for years, the assistants didn’t dare utter a sound to disturb him. With pale faces, they stood on either side, awaiting his next instruction.
The swallowed suppressants temporarily provided a tiny bit of relief, suppressing the violent surge of pheromones.
Huo Yuanzhou closed his eyes to compose himself, waiting for the harsh pheromones in the room to gradually settle before speaking.
Let him up.