"I could be a good CEO on my own merit," Nuocheng said, some frustration finally breaking through. "How does having a husband and child boost my performance? Isn’t that a bit shallow?"
Guanting nodded, because Nuocheng wasn’t wrong. It was a shallow, underhanded way to measure someone’s fitness to lead, but shallow didn’t make it any less real. Nuocheng was an omega, and that alone meant the opposition against him carried more weight than it would for anyone else in this family. He’d need someone who could stand beside him, not just for appearances, but for the very real battles still waiting to be fought.
"Your dad and I will do our best to protect you, kiddo." Guanting stood, straightening his coat. "You just focus on doing your best, and if things ever get hard, I hope you’ll actually tell us instead of carrying it alone."
Nuocheng nodded, something tight easing slightly in his chest at the reassurance.
"Your dad and I are heading to City B for a little getaway," Guanting continued, already checking his phone. "Don’t forget your daily pictures. You know he uses those for his check-ins."
Nuocheng stood as well, moving to see him out. "Don’t worry about that. I’ll see myself off."
"Goodbye, kiddo. I love you."
"I love you too, Pops. You and Dad take care."
Guanting found Chenxi waiting just outside the office door, who offered without hesitation to walk him to his car. Guanting accepted gladly, already texting his husband to let him know he was on his way.
He fell into step beside Guanting, tablet tucked under one arm, matching Guanting’s pace toward the elevators.
The doors slid shut, and Guanting wasted no time. "While his dad and I are away, I need you watching him. Not just the work side of things."
"Of course, sir."
"He’ll tell you he’s fine. He tells everyone he’s fine, even when he hasn’t eaten since breakfast or slept more than four hours." Guanting kept his eyes fixed on the floor numbers ticking down. "Don’t take his word for it. If he’s running himself into the ground again, I want a call, no matter the hour."
"Understood."
"And Xu Lin." Guanting’s jaw tightened at the name alone. "If he or anyone tied to him gets too close, if there’s even a whisper of something happening behind closed doors, I need to know the second you hear it. Not after. The second."
"I’ll be listening."
"Alright." The elevator opened onto the parking garage, cool air spilling in as they stepped out. Guanting paused before reaching the car, turning to face him fully. "I trust you. You’ve been with him for years now, more than most people in that building. So while you’re looking after him, please don’t kill my son. He’s a bit of a ditz, but he’s not that bad."
Chenxi huffed a laugh despite himself. "I can’t guarantee that, sir. He’s a bit foolish, but I’ll try my best."
Something in Guanting’s expression eased at that, the weight of the past hour finally loosening from his shoulders. He clapped Chenxi once on the back, firm and grateful.
"That’s exactly why I trust you with him."
Chenxi opened the car door, offering a small nod as Guanting settled inside. "Safe travels, sir."
"Thank you." The window rolled down as the car began pulling away, Guanting’s final words carrying back to him. "Take good care of my son."
"Always."
Chenxi came back to the office and found Nuocheng at his desk, still working through a pile of contracts.
"Fourth floor," Chenxi said, already heading for the door. "Chef’s ready for the tasting."
Nuocheng nodded, gathering his things and following him out. As they walked, he fell into step beside Chenxi with the particular energy of a man who’d been sitting on something he couldn’t wait to say.
"Do me a favor," Nuocheng said. "Find out everything you can about a man named Han Sicheng. I met him last night, and I think he might be the one I’ve been searching for."
Chenxi shot him an irritated look. "Did you harass him?"
"What? No."
"Please don’t tell me you felt his dick in public."
"What do you take me for?!" Nuocheng pressed a hand to his chest, scandalized. "I’m not a pervert. I only asked him for his sperm."
"What do you think a pervert is?!" Chenxi’s eyebrows shot up. "Some people just walk around undiagnosed. Next time, please refrain from that kind of nonsense, it makes people uncomfortable. You’re lucky he didn’t punch you in your stupid face."
-_-
"Hey, hey, hey. I’m the boss here, I won’t accept insults."
Chenxi’s eyebrows twitched. "Then as the boss, you can find him yourself."
"No, no, I’m sorry." Nuocheng backpedaled instantly. "My tracking skills are shit compared to yours."
"That’s what I thought."
The fourth floor was one big kitchen split into smaller stations, one for each chef on the high-end dining team, each with its own equipment and staff.
Today they were meeting Chef Komi, whose newest dish had already gotten half the culinary team talking.
This was, without question, the best part of the job as far as Nuocheng was concerned.
What he didn’t know was that Chef Komi had a massive crush on him, one she couldn’t shake even though he was openly gay and actively hunting for a husband.
Chenxi trailed a step behind Nuocheng as they crossed the kitchen toward her station, and couldn’t help but feel a small pang of sympathy for her.
She really was lovely.
But completely, hopelessly barking up the wrong tree, but lovely all the same.
Chef Komi looked up the moment they walked in, her whole face lighting up before she quickly schooled it back into something more professional.
"Young Master Gu." She wiped her hands on her apron, gesturing toward a small plated dish waiting at her station. "I’ve been working on this all week. I think you’re really going to love it."
"I already love it," Nuocheng said, sliding onto the stool across from her, entirely unaware of the way her cheeks warmed at the compliment. "You could serve me plain rice and I’d still tell everyone it was the best thing I’d ever eaten."
"Please don’t decide my promotion based on flattery alone. I want to actually earn it.