On Monday morning at work, He Wenqi was informed by Han Ji that he would have to act as a substitute assistant for another week.
“Is Assistant Chen still not back?” He placed a stack of printed sketches on Han Ji’s desk.
Han Ji leafed through them casually: “Why? Does being my assistant make things difficult for you?”
“President Han is generous to grant such a long leave with full pay.”
“Assistant Chen was on annual leave before; now it’s marriage leave. If you want to take marriage leave, I’ll approve yours too.”
“Assistant Chen got married?” He Wenqi was surprised.
He had previously only heard that Assistant Chen went back to his hometown to handle family matters, and Han Ji had readily granted him a week off. So, he actually went home to get married?
Han Ji also felt a sense of admiration in his heart.
In just one week, Assistant Chen actually managed to chase down that girl, struck while the iron was hot to get the marriage certificate, and even held the wedding banquet.
This assistant of his was quite something; his efficiency was impressive. At this rate, by next year, he’d probably be applying for paternity leave.
Thinking of himself…
He looked up at He Wenqi: “How is the material you took back to study coming along?”
“Still researching.”
“Mhm. Take your time, no rush. If there’s anything you don’t quite understand, you can ask me.”
Thoughts whirled in He Wenqi’s mind. He suddenly felt that Han Ji making him organize those materials might have been intentional. It wasn’t about classification or needing electronic archives; it was simply to make him carefully read those case studies.
But why didn’t he just say so directly?
He Wenqi returned to his workstation at the front desk, and Ling Chen shimmied over.
“He Wenqi, the assessment designs are due this week. How’s your preparation?” Ling Chen had also signed up.
“Almost done. I just need to check for any omissions before uploading.”
A dedicated system section had been set up for submitting assessment designs. Submissions were to be uploaded this week, and the evaluation would open next week.
Designs were anonymous, and voting was non-identifiable. Each person had three votes, while department heads had two extra. The Director and the CEO would not participate in the voting; they would directly decide which excellent designs would enter the second round of team collaboration—essentially, they could hand-pick people.
Ling Chen: “You’re that fast? I saw you going on business trips with the ‘Big Tiger’ and working overtime; where did you find the time?”
He Wenqi: “It’s fine. The topic isn’t that difficult.”
Ling Chen: “You don’t think it’s difficult? I feel like it’s so hard.”
“It’s only difficult for you.” Wang Dao passed by the front desk.
Wang Dao graduated from a prestigious university and was the top performer among the interns. During school, he had already touched many design projects under his tutor’s guidance, and his resume was very flashy. Naturally, he was a bit arrogant.
He looked down on He Wenqi’s “overestimation of his own abilities” in competing with them. A mere front-desk errand boy—what capability could he have? How could he be worthy of competing with those who had been under the guidance of famous masters, polishing their skills day and night in the studio?
Hearing He Wenqi say lightly that the topic wasn’t hard, Wang Dao sneered: “He Wenqi, you think it’s not hard because people like you can’t even read the deep meaning behind the topic. What kind of thought-provoking work could you possibly draw? Besides, you might not even be able to draw at all. I’ve never seen you draw—do you even know how? You didn’t just learn it in a hobby class when you were a kid, did you?”
The other two interns with Wang Dao also covered their mouths and laughed.
Wang Dao gloated: “I think you’d be better off taking advantage of Assistant Chen’s absence to butter up President Han. It’ll be countless times faster than trying to get promoted through design. That’s what you call a… shortcut.”
Ling Chen couldn’t stand it: “Wang Dao, you’re just a newcomer still in your internship; what are you so proud of? Who are you looking down on?”
Wang Dao squinted at him: “Hey, I didn’t say that. But since you mentioned it, yeah, I do look down on you—plural. Been drifting for a year and still a design assistant? Have you touched a project? Participated in a design? Do you even know how the process line flows?”
“You…” A few words left Ling Chen so angry he couldn’t even finish a sentence.
“Me… what about me? I, Wang Dao, only respect those more capable than me. As for the rest, I don’t care who came to the company first or last.” He waved a hand. “I’m off. After finishing work today, I have to go support my idol’s event.”
“Are newcomers these days all so arrogant?” Ling Chen’s nostrils flared with anger.
“Don’t mind him. Just do your own thing.” He Wenqi was calm instead.
“Mr… Mr. He Wenqi…” A woman called out to them.
The two turned their heads abruptly. It was a well-dressed, slightly plump middle-aged woman.
Ling Chen suddenly stepped forward, blocking He Wenqi behind him: “Don’t you start anything now; this is the company.”
He Wenqi was confused. Being tall, he slightly tilted his head from behind Ling Chen: “I am He Wenqi. Ma’am, are you looking for me?”
The makeup on the woman’s face was very thick, as if trying to hide a poor complexion; powder was trapped in the wrinkles when she smiled. She took a step forward, stood up straight, and bowed solemnly toward He Wenqi: “I am sorry.”
He Wenqi was full of question marks.
Ling Chen stood sideways, equally puzzled.
Some colleagues noticed the situation and gradually gathered to watch.
The woman stood up straight and explained: “I am Fang Zhenkang’s ex-wife. There’s one last procedure for the divorce, which will be handled in a few days.”
He Wenqi realized—she did look somewhat like the woman who splashed water at the residential compound entrance that night.
She gave an embarrassed smile: “I brought unnecessary trouble to you at the company last time; I am truly sorry. And about the water splashing that night, I specifically came to apologize to you.”
Last time He Wenqi wasn’t at the company and hadn’t experienced it personally. Although “a clear person stays clear,” the company had been in an uproar. Everyone superficially acted as if it was none of their business while gossiping privately.
He Wenqi addressed Fang Zhenkang’s ex-wife: “I’m sorry, Ma’am, I don’t quite understand what you mean. But Manager Fang and I definitely have no relationship whatsoever.”
He understood the apology, but he didn’t understand the meaning behind this 180-degree turn in attitude.
Fang Zhenkang’s ex-wife nodded: “Yes, I got it wrong; I misunderstood you. This whole thing was Fang Zhenkang’s fault from beginning to end, and it has nothing to do with you. I really shouldn’t have come to the company to cause a scene.”
She said indignantly: “That bastard Fang Zhenkang—he is gay, yet he tricked me into marriage and even had a child with him. I used to think he became cold to me after the child was born because passion fades after being a couple for a long time. Who would have known…”
It seemed the following words were hard to say. She swallowed: “Who would have known that behind my back, he was always having… those things with a man.”
“Ma’am, how did you mistake it for me? You seemed very certain it was me at the time.” He Wenqi was puzzled.
Fang Zhenkang’s ex-wife explained: “A gentleman surnamed Han called me and hinted that Fang Zhenkang was cheating. I had been suspicious for a long time, so I checked his phone and computer and found your photos in his phone.”
In fact, they were photos Fang Zhenkang had sneakily taken of He Wenqi at the company. Due to the angles—and they were all partial shots—it was easy to be misled.
“I didn’t link it together then, but then someone anonymously sent me an express delivery. It was a USB drive, and inside…” She bit her lip. “Inside were unspeakable photos of two people together, as well as videos. But only Fang Zhenkang’s face could be seen clearly; the other man’s face wasn’t captured.”
“I linked the photos in his phone with the things in the USB drive and mistakenly thought the other person was you. I am truly sorry. It was Fang Zhenkang’s own misconduct; it has nothing to do with you. It was a misunderstanding.”
“Did you say the gentleman surnamed Han is named Han Ji?” He Wenqi asked.
“No, he’s named Han Xin. He’s the other person in the video; he did all those things because he wanted to force Fang Zhenkang to get a divorce.”
He Wenqi still had doubts in his heart: “Then how did you become certain it wasn’t me? Did Han Xin say it himself later?”
“No, it was President Han—the Mr. Han Ji you just mentioned—who helped me find out.”
The truth was out.
On the third floor, a figure that had been standing there turned around.
As if sensing something, He Wenqi looked up, but the figure was gone.
It wasn’t Han Ji who did it; he had misunderstood Han Ji.
What had he said before? He said the man used schemes to force people away and told him to stop meddling.
Taking a gap in time, He Wenqi knocked and entered Han Ji’s office.
The man was flipping through documents; when he entered, he didn’t even look up.
“President Han.” He Wenqi called out.
“Mhm, something the matter?” Still no head raised.
“Just now Fang Zhenkang’s wife… ex-wife came to the company to apologize to me.” An apology was due for his own misunderstanding.
“The misunderstanding is cleared up?”
“Yes, it was indeed a misunderstanding.”
“That’s good.” Han Ji finally looked up from the pile of documents. Seeing he wasn’t leaving: “Anything else to say?”
He Wenqi steeled himself, wearing an expression like he was offering his neck to the blade: “I also misunderstood you. It wasn’t you who did it.”
Han Ji interlaced his fingers and raised an eyebrow. Was this person going to apologize? Why did he look like he was facing death?
“I apologize to you. I’m sorry.”
As expected, Han Ji gave a satisfied smile: “It’s fine. I accept the apology.”
He Wenqi added: “Fang Zhenkang’s ex-wife told me that you sought her out late that night and helped her find out the truth the next day.”
“I wasn’t helping her.”
“I understand. You helped me.”
“Don’t think my helping you is ‘unnecessary’ anymore?”
“I misunderstood you; I shouldn’t have argued with you. Thank you for persuading her to come to the company to explain to me in person.”
With a smile, the grudge was vanished—not that there was much of a deep grudge anyway.
Having said what he wanted to say, He Wenqi turned to leave, but was stopped by Han Ji: “Work overtime tonight.”
“What for?”
“Remember the Liner Company? Their people are coming tomorrow for one last meeting before signing the contract. I had the design department put together a set of proposals to serve as a preliminary negotiation. Stay tonight and help me see if there’s anything… that can be improved.”
“Me?” He Wenqi found it unbelievable. He had no experience participating in such projects; Han Ji wanted to hear his opinion?
“What, you can’t? Didn’t you look at so many cases at home over the weekend? You must have some thoughts, right?”
As expected, Han Ji had ulterior motives for making him look at those proposals.
After work, Han Ji ordered takeout, including the little desserts He Wenqi liked.
The two discussed while eating; the meal took quite a bit longer than usual. After a post-meal rest, He Wenqi offered many ideas. Han Ji listened seriously, his brow furrowed, but he remained non-committal.
Presumably, they couldn’t be adopted. He Wenqi felt a bit frustrated.
In the blink of an eye, it was nine o’clock at night.
Han Ji had no intention of letting him go. He threw three proposals revised by Fu Zhichen at him, along with the ones previously rejected: “Compare them and see what’s better and what’s worse between the versions.”
As He Wenqi was about to take them out, Han Ji called him back: “Read them in my office. Everyone outside has left, and the heating and AC are off. My office is warmer.”
He Wenqi pulled a chair and sat opposite his desk.
He looked intensely, but having looked at too many materials at once, his eyelids started to fight as time passed.
Han Ji said he was going to the restroom and hadn’t been back for a long time.
Taking a nap now shouldn’t be too much, right?
He Wenqi relaxed his body, pillowed his head on his arms, and closed his eyes.
He slept peacefully.
Suddenly, he felt a warm breath fanning across his face, and the woody scent he was obsessed with floated around his nose, like a dream or a phantom.
His eyelids felt like they weighed a thousand pounds. He Wenqi unwillingly propped open a slit; before his eyes was a dark, fuzzy mass.
Sleepy beyond belief, He Wenqi’s eyelids drooped again.
Suddenly, he felt something rubbing against his mouth. Half-awake and half-dreaming, He Wenqi pursed his lips and stuck out his tongue to lick it.
A jolt—his heart suddenly cleared. He propped open his eyes slightly once more, and his heart immediately began to throb wildly.
He had just licked something soft—someone’s lips! Not just that, this “someone” was none other than Han Ji!
A very clear voice in his consciousness said: At this moment, Han Ji is kissing him…
Secretly.