Yu Sibai felt that his boss’s gaze was a little strange. He frowned faintly, almost imperceptibly, and replied sparingly, “Really.”
In the enclosed space, a soft sigh suddenly sounded—one that carried a suppressed laugh, long and lingering. It sent a chill down Yu Sibai’s spine.
…Me and Ji Wenze just don’t get along at all!
The boss lifted his eyelids and glanced at him, smiling in a way that was hard to read.
“Good.”
Good how? Don’t tell me you’re about to drug me and sell me off.
Yu Sibai warily took half a step back, maintaining a distance that felt just safe enough—like circling a pillar to avoid Qin Wang.
The elevator stopped at Basement Level 2. Gao Xiangri smiled as he bid them farewell, then dashed off in a flash.
Assistant Yang, who had been waiting by the elevator, stepped forward but lowered his head. “Sorry, President Ji. The driver got into a minor scrape on the way here. I’ve already called another car for you, but it might arrive fifteen to twenty minutes late…”
“Is anyone hurt?” Ji Wenze asked.
“No. The other driver cut in. Just minor damage to the front headlight.”
Remembering the responsibility on his shoulders, Yu Sibai hesitated for two seconds before speaking up—rare for him.
“If you’re in a hurry… want to take my car?”
Before he could finish, two pairs of eyes fell on him one after the other, making his brows knit slightly.
Assistant Yang smiled apologetically. “Team Leader Yu, President Ji usually doesn’t ride in other people’s cars…”
Almost at the same time, Ji Wenze’s lips curved.
“That’s fine.”
Yu Sibai tilted his head slowly. “…That’s fine?”
For a moment, the young man before him overlapped with the streamer from last night who had been shouting “Hubby Execut2” and “I won’t remarry.”
Ji Wenze raised a hand to his lips and gave a light cough. “Mm, it’s fine. Team Leader Yu drives steadily.”
Just talks a bit too fast.
He turned his head and chuckled.
After Yu Sibai walked away, Yang Mengyue couldn’t help asking, “President Ji… are you sure that’s okay? Should I talk to Team Leader Yu and let you drive yourself…?”
Ji Wenze not riding in other people’s cars was something only a few of his long-time secretaries knew—and only because of work. No one knew the reason. The last person who speculated recklessly had been directly fired by Chairwoman Ji Ying from headquarters.
So Yang’s tone carried a hint of caution.
“No need,” Ji Wenze said briefly, still smiling as if it were nothing.
Yang Mengyue nodded and swallowed his curiosity.
Yu Sibai’s car soon pulled up. The gray-blue color stood out sharply in Ji Wenze’s eyes.
…No wonder it’s gray-blue. That matches.
Suppressing a laugh, Ji Wenze stepped forward and opened the car door. Music drifted out from inside, only to be quickly cut off by Yu Sibai and replaced with a quiet instrumental track.
Even in that half-second, Ji Wenze recognized the song.
It was the theme song of the S3 championship—the last title he had won. The chorus accompaniment had been built into the finishing effect of the S3 champion AK skin.
If a character stood in the center of the effect and looked up, the surroundings would shift into an illusion: as if standing on the competition stage, with stands and giant screens all around, distant cheers echoing, starlight flickering overhead. The music would gradually fade, like the setting sun.
The gray-blue car slowly exited the garage. Early spring sunlight filtered through the glass, a bit glaring, and Yu Sibai lowered the visor.
Ji Wenze glanced at the motion instinctively, but his attention was quickly caught by a small rabbit hanging from the rearview mirror.
It looked like a flat ceramic piece, gently swaying with inertia, revealing two long-legged rabbits in different poses on each side.
It felt familiar.
Thinking of the song just now, Ji Wenze suddenly understood.
Wasn’t this the animal avatar that streamer had drawn for Execut2 nearly ten years ago?
Come to think of it, even until retirement, Execut2 never figured out why he’d been drawn as a rabbit—specifically an Arctic hare.
Just because his name had a “two” in it?
While waiting at a red light, Yu Sibai noticed his boss staring at the charm for quite a while. That face—three parts resembling Execut2—paired with the cute rabbit made him feel momentarily dazed.
The dream of “personally giving the rabbit charm to the Card God” from years ago… had somehow been fulfilled in this roundabout way seven years later.
Yu Sibai pressed his lips together, reminding himself repeatedly, I’m here today to fight for the project. He suppressed the urge to take photos like crazy, calmed himself, and finally asked,
“What’s wrong, President Ji?”
Ji Wenze chuckled, withdrew his gaze, and adjusted his seatbelt.
“Hanging things in the car isn’t safe.”
Yu Sibai immediately recalled what Yang Mengyue had said earlier—that President Ji didn’t ride in other people’s cars—and a guess flashed through his mind.
Could it be that this rich young master had been in a car accident before?
Well, safety is no small matter.
Seeing the red light was still long, Yu Sibai shifted into park, removed the rabbit charm, opened the compartment, rummaged through the pile of coffee candies inside, and carefully placed the precious charm in.
After hesitating, he suddenly thought of his boss and handed over a candy. “Want one?”
Only after saying it did he realize it might be a bit rude to be so direct with his boss—he was just used to being casual with his former one.
Ji Wenze didn’t seem to notice. Still smiling, he waved it off.
Seems like a decent person… The project might actually have a chance!
Yu Sibai closed the compartment, feeling oddly nervous. After confirming his seatbelt, he shifted gears and set off again.
The restaurant was lavish beyond belief. Yu Sibai would have to work overtime all night just to afford two small desserts here—one that would give him cavities, and one that would get stuck in his teeth.
The waiter opened the private room door. Inside sat a middle-aged man in a gray suit, who immediately stood up warmly to greet them.
Ji Wenze took off his coat and handed it to the waiter. Yu Sibai followed suit.
He felt awkward letting a waiter around his own age hang his coat—it felt like bad luck.
“President Duan, this is Engineer Yu from the Tianzhen Garden project—the one you asked about.”
Ji Wenze turned slightly to introduce him, but when he looked back, the person he had brought had vanished on the spot.
President Duan: “…Pfft.”
Ji Wenze raised a brow. “Engineer Yu?”
No response.
“…Team Leader Yu?”
A beautiful, expressionless face peeked out from the cloakroom, looking serious.
Ji Wenze: …
“Come out.”
The refined “ice block” in a thin sweater came out crackling with static, while the waiter chased after him. “Sir, wait—let me spray some anti-static—”
Like a ragdoll cat that jumps out the moment it’s put into a bath.
When Secretary Zhao had said Yu Sibai never attended social dinners with Qian Yuanxin, Ji Wenze hadn’t believed it. Now he had to.
Yu Sibai stood still, crackling. “President Duan, hello. I’m Yu Sibai.” With a “I might shock you” posture, he was about to extend his hand when Ji Wenze subtly pressed his arm down.
This man looked gentle, but his grip was strong.
The three took their seats. Amid the two bosses’ conversation, Yu Sibai finally fell silent.
“So quiet—doesn’t seem like your style,” Ji Wenze smiled.
President Duan laughed. “Haha, eating with you, President Ji—how could I dare bring a bunch of random people?”
Yu Sibai sipped his tea and glanced at Ji Wenze.
Likes quiet? …Doesn’t seem like it.
Sure enough, the next moment Ji Wenze tapped his glass. “Just the two of us drinking is no fun.”
President Duan burst out laughing. “That’s why you’re so easy to get along with, President Ji—you get me! Drinking has to be lively! Next time, I’ll gather a bigger group…”
Yu Sibai withdrew his gaze.
It was rare for him to observe Ji Wenze like this. But the more he watched that smiling face, the less he could find that fleeting resemblance to his idol from before.
He sighed silently.
Strange… how do those domineering CEOs in novels even find substitute lovers for their “white moonlight”?
The round table was too big for just three people. Sitting far apart, Ji Wenze raised his glass with a smile.
From start to finish, Yu Sibai found no chance to interject.
He might be eloquent on livestreams, but with bosses… he really couldn’t keep up with conversations full of hidden meanings.
So he decided to stay still and adapt, lowering his gaze and quietly picking up some cold dishes.
When he first became a team leader, he had once seen Qian Yuanxin drink. It was always the same routine—clinking glasses, laughing loudly, discussing business in between.
Ji Wenze looked more refined, but he downed a full glass right away—calm and composed, surprisingly straightforward.
Yet he looked like the type to nurse a drink over several rounds.
Appearances really are deceiving…
As President Duan cheered beside him, Yu Sibai absentmindedly chewed his food.
Just like his idol, Card God—who looked like he could drink ten thousand cups but actually didn’t drink at all, sitting at the kids’ table until retirement…
He chuckled inwardly. Before the smile reached his face, a glass of liquor was suddenly placed in front of him.
He froze and looked up.
With the swagger of a seasoned businessman, President Duan raised his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Engineer Yu. Care to try my private stash?”
Here it comes.
Yu Sibai took a quiet breath.
The antibiotics Gao Xiangri had given him were still in the car. Bringing them along after being found out would be like discussing a coup in front of the emperor.
He had no choice but to face it head-on.
He pressed his lips together, eyeing the small clear bottle, estimating how much a capful would be. Just as he was about to reach out, the table suddenly turned.
The drink moved to Ji Wenze, who calmly picked it up and poured it into his own glass.
“Engineer Yu won’t have that luck today. I’m counting on him to drive me back later.”
“Ah, just call a designated driver,” President Duan tried to stop him.
Ji Wenze waved with a smile. “Sorry—I really don’t trust others with driving.”
Yu Sibai slowly withdrew his hand, studying him, but that smiling mask revealed nothing.
Not talking, not drinking—did he bring me here just to be a driver…?
President Duan asked, “Where’s your assistant?”
“Just got back to the country—busy. If I come out to see you, someone else has to represent me elsewhere, right?”
“Oh, then I’m the one holding you up!” President Duan said, though inwardly pleased.
“Food comes first—especially when it’s your treat, President Duan. Work can wait… Cheers.”
They clinked glasses.
“By the way,” President Duan said, “weren’t you interested in trying commercial interiors? There’s a project you might like.”
“What project?”
“Something ‘Fearless… something’… oh, right—Valorant. The 10th anniversary carnival exhibition hall and stage design. You young people know it? My son plays it all the time—keeps talking about some ‘Go senior’ and ‘Wa junior’… is it a dating game?”
Yu Sibai choked violently. The rib he’d just picked up slipped from his chopsticks and clattered onto the plate, so he didn’t hear Ji Wenze’s muffled cough beside him.
“Not familiar. Probably some low-tier game,” Ji Wenze said lightly, then looked at him. “Team Leader Yu, do you know it?”
The chopsticks paused mid-air. “Well…”
Ji Wenze lowered his gaze slightly and smiled silently.
Team Leader Yu wore a calm expression, but clearly wasn’t good at lying—under the table, his hand was practically wringing the tablecloth apart.
So it really is him.