After handling Zheng Zhibei, Su Xingyan did not dare to easily leave this matter in someone else’s hands. He had all the documents organized and prepared to handle it personally. Speaking of which, during the years Zheng Zhibei spent in the finance department, he had lined his pockets to the brim. Word on the street was that he had taken in up to nine mistresses. By firing him so abruptly and severing his financial lifeline, Su Xingyan knew Zheng Zhibei was probably having a hard time swallowing it.
But so what? What could he possibly do about it?
Su Xingyan pinched the aching space between his eyebrows. He looked up toward the window, only to see that night had fallen deeply. The city lights were beginning to flicker on, and tens of thousands of homes were brilliantly illuminated. Stunned for a moment, Su Xingyan checked the time, only to realize he had been busy until ten o’clock.
He quickly packed up his belongings, placed the important documents inside a drawer, locked it securely, and began to walk out. To his surprise, the moment he stepped out of his office, he saw Yan Chong leaning casually against the wall with one hand thrust in his pocket. Seeing him come out, Yan Chong offered a radiant smile. “President Su, off work at last?”
“…Why are you still here?” Su Xingyan was startled.
“I’m still here for the exact same reason you are. What, is only one person allowed to work this late?” Yan Chong smiled, presenting two cups of coffee to Su Xingyan. “One vanilla latte, one mocha. Both are hot. Take your pick?”
Su Xingyan froze slightly, hesitated for a moment, but reached out to take one of them. Just as Yan Chong had said, it was hot. The warmth transferred through his fingertips like an electric current, giving him a subtle, imperceptible jolt.
“…Thank you.”
“What’s there to thank? Seeing President Su work so diligently makes me feel very reassured.”
Yan Chong resumed his usual, unprincipled demeanor. Seeing that Su Xingyan was about to leave, he kept his hands tucked inside his trench coat pockets and walked downstairs with him. “It’s so late. Isn’t that person from your family coming to pick you up?”
Su Xingyan glanced sideways at him. He opened his mouth, about to reply, when Yan Chong let out an “Ah” and added, “Though it seems that young master almost never comes to the company.”
Su Xingyan’s smile carried a hint of helplessness, but his gaze turned meaningful as it landed on Yan Chong. “President Yan, you seem very interested in my private affairs. How about this? If there’s anything you want to know, just ask directly. There’s no need to beat around the bush.”
Yan Chong hadn’t expected him to be so direct. But since he was being so upfront, Yan Chong simply asked directly, “Oh… Well then, how long have you two been married?”
“Are you telling me you don’t know?” Su Xingyan feigned surprise. “I thought President Yan had already investigated everything about me thoroughly and clearly.”
Yan Chong looked down at him, copying his expression by raising an eyebrow slightly and feigning surprise as well. “Why would I investigate you?”
Su Xingyan arched his delicate eyebrows and let out a soft “Oh,” acting as if he understood but didn’t quite. “That’s true. Why would you investigate me?”
Ding!
The elevator arrived smoothly at the first floor.
Su Xingyan pulled back his smile and walked out of the elevator without looking back. He didn’t even say goodbye.
Yan Chong kept his hands in his pockets, narrowing his long, slender eyes as he watched the figure drift further and further away. He wanted to take back his previous assessment. This person wasn’t just a proud peacock, he was an absolute rogue.
The rain in Ronggang had ceased long ago. Outside, the sky was high and crisp, and the night breeze felt light and free. Though exhausted from a long day of work, Su Xingyan wasn’t in a terrible mood. After having the driver take him back to the Wei family’s ancestral residence, he shed his overcoat and headed straight for the bedroom.
Unexpectedly, Wei Chengran was already back.
“Yanyan, you’re back.” Wei Chengran seemed to be reviewing financial reports. Hearing the movement, he immediately took off his headphones, turned his head, and flashed a wide, bright smile at Su Xingyan, just like a loyal puppy.
Su Xingyan’s heart softened into a tender mess. He walked over to him step by step. “Yes. Why are you back so early today? Are you not busy anymore?” Standing behind him, Su Xingyan naturally reached out to stroke his hair.
Wei Chengran let him, even pleadingly tilting his head up into his palm, rubbing his fluffy head back and forth against Su Xingyan’s hand. “No matter how busy I am, I have to accompany my wife. Has it been a really long time since I properly spent time with you?”
Su Xingyan froze slightly at his words. A long time? It seemed… it really had been a long time. It felt like an eternity since they had gone out for a private dinner or a date.
It felt like after getting married, the only thing left was a household. The Wei family’s household.
“My uncle even called me specially today, saying we should all gather for a meal sometime soon. Our family hasn’t reunited in ages. Everyone’s busy, just so busy,” Wei Chengran babbled away while leaning into his palm.
Su Xingyan’s hand froze. Looking down at the eager to please Wei Chengran, he hesitated for a brief second before pulling his hand back. “Your uncle reached out to you?” Pausing, Su Xingyan asked again, “You know everything now?”
“I know… some of it. After all, it’s a matter regarding your work, so it wasn’t convenient for me to dig too deep. I didn’t participate in this project anyway.” Wei Chengran sullenly retracted his gaze. He didn’t dare to look at Su Xingyan. In truth, it had been like this since they were young, the moment Su Xingyan put on a stern face, he would become terrified of him. He knew that next, Su Xingyan would have a mountain of lectures waiting for him.
Wei Chengran ran a hand through his hair. “I just… I just feel like we’re all family. There’s no need to ruin the harmony over a minor matter…”
“A minor matter? Do you even know what a minor matter is? You haven’t even stepped foot into the company once this year. Do you have any idea what actually happened?”
Su Xingyan had tried his best to control his tone. But because he spoke too quickly, his pitch inadvertently raised a bit. He realized it, but he didn’t care to explain further. Taking a deep breath, he knit his brows and turned his face away. “Given the current circumstances, it’s not convenient for me to have dinner with him. If you want to eat, go back by yourself.”
“…Oh.”
To his surprise, Wei Chengran didn’t argue further. He rubbed his nose, sighed deeply as if he had expected this outcome all along, and picked up his laptop to head toward the study. “I still have some things left to handle. I’m afraid I’ll disturb you… so, I’ll go work in the study.”
The bedroom fell into a dead silence.
After an unknown amount of time, the younger sister, Wei Mingran, cautiously poked her head out from the doorway while holding a doll. “Sister-in-law, did you and big brother have a fight?”
Sitting by the edge of the bed, Su Xingyan suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him upon hearing Wei Mingran’s question. He didn’t answer. He only lowered his head, gently spinning the ring on his ring finger. In reality, it wasn’t a sudden argument between him and Wei Chengran. Their relationship had been this lukewarm and distant for over half a year, perhaps even longer.
…What exactly went wrong?
Su Xingyan didn’t know either. But he did know that their wedding anniversary was coming up soon.
Ever since Wei Chengran ran into Tang Songzhi last time, he hadn’t been able to get in touch with him for quite a while. He had originally thought that such a delicate boy would pester him the very next day for a follow-up medical examination. He never expected that after waiting for two whole days, the other party wouldn’t even call. Unable to contain himself, Wei Chengran dialed the number.
He had actually been blacklisted?!
For a moment, Wei Chengran was completely bewildered, unable to fathom what the boy was playing at. Before he could figure it out, he spotted him again the very next day among the batch of applicants interviewing to be his junior assistant!
Wei Chengran immediately pulled him out of the crowd and dragged him straight into his private office.
“You! could it be that you’re interested in me?!”
“What nonsense are you talking about! Even if I’m interested, I’m interested in autonomous driving! Who would be interested in a reckless fool like you?”
Probably because of the interview, Tang Songzhi wasn’t wearing any makeup today. His bare face looked exceptionally clean and delicate, yet it carried a trace of wild, unbridled defiance. Like a patch of wild grass, Wei Chengran thought.
Wei Chengran didn’t quite believe him. He widened his eyes, staring with an aggressive glare as he circled Tang Songzhi, he was probably trying to emulate those big bosses in Hong Kong movies who could see right through someone with a single look. Unfortunately, his skills were too weak and his level too shallow. All his staring did was amuse Tang Songzhi.
Tang Songzhi burst into laughter. Leaning across the office desk, he suddenly drew closer. “You don’t believe me?”
Wei Chengran also rounded his eyes. Supporting himself with both hands on the desk, he leaned forward to stare back. “Are you really interested in autonomous driving?”
“Otherwise?” Tang Songzhi gave an arrogant snort. His eyes rolled up and down as he freely scanned Wei Chengran’s magnificent, luxurious office. “I’m also interested in your company! CY, right?”
“I know what it stands for.”
“What does it stand for?”
“It stands for Wei Chengran and Su Xingyan! It’s the combination of your name and your wife’s name.” Tang Songzhi pointed it out with a beaming smile. Catching the fleeting look of astonishment on Wei Chengran’s face, he suddenly seemed to understand something, pressing forward slyly. “Does your wife know?”
“I bet he definitely doesn’t know, he doesn’t really pay much attention to you anyway.”
“I know the outside world has always rumored that our Eldest Young Master Wei is a useless slacker, a hopeless cause who can’t be propped up, and that Su Xingyan was appointed in a crisis, like a wife receiving a deathbed entrustment at Baidi Castle. I don’t think those rumors came out of nowhere, right?” Tang Songzhi winked playfully. “Mr. Wei, between you and your wife… is your relationship really that good?”
【Ah Cheng, it’s not that your uncle wants to gossip, but Su Xingyan really went too far this time! Who in the company doesn’t know I’m your uncle? He fired me right in front of so many people, overstepping his boundaries. Does he still respect you as his husband?】
【I originally thought a family dinner would put this matter behind us. If I shouldn’t be the director, then fine, I won’t be. I’ve been one for most of my life anyway. But he refused to give even this tiny bit of face… Ah Cheng, you normally spoil Su Xingyan way too much! That’s why he has become so lawless and disrespectful to his elders!】
“Mr. Wei, between you and your wife… is your relationship really that good?”
Wei Chengran stared at the messages sent by Zheng Zhibei on his screen. His lips tightened into a hard line, and his hand gripped the phone with rising force. Finally, when Tang Songzhi asked yet again, Wei Chengran suddenly looked up, his gaze burning intensely as he locked eyes with him.
“If you came all this way today just to gossip about the relationship between me and my wife, then you can leave right now.”
“CY needs an assistant. Not an entertainment tabloid reporter.”
Tang Songzhi was stunned by the scolding. For a split second, he actually caught a glimpse of a young CEO’s shadow in Wei Chengran. Meanwhile, this young CEO was frowning deeply, raising his phone to send a voice message to the other end.
“Uncle, if it’s just a family dinner, Yanyan won’t be able to attend and I apologize on his behalf. As for matters regarding work…”
Wei Chengran paused. He racked his brain trying to find a suitable phrasing or a position of authority to suppress the issue. After thinking for a long time without any result, he could only take a deep breath, close his eyes, and throw caution to the wind.
“As for matters regarding work, if you have any objections, just call the police.”
Tang Songzhi: ?
Pfft.
Wei Chengran glared back at him in sheer frustration.