When it was time to clock out, He Wenqi had finished packing his things and was about to leave when Wang Dao called out to him.
Wang Dao had joined the company at the same time as him and was also an intern, but he was assigned to the Design Department.
“He Wenqi, a few of us are treating Manager Fang to dinner tonight. You should come along.”
“You guys are treating Manager Fang; what would I go for?” He Wenqi did not like participating in these messy interpersonal socializations.
“Don’t be in such a hurry to leave. It’s like this,” Wang Dao blocked the entrance to the front desk and said in a low voice, “I heard President Han will personally assess our batch of interns. The time to become a permanent employee will be moved up, but the difficulty will also increase. A few of us discussed it—Manager Fang is from HR, right? Since President Han just arrived, he will definitely refer to Fang’s evaluation of us. It might even affect President Han’s impression of us. So, we arranged to treat him to a meal tonight. We’re splitting the bill; you should come.”
That morning, Han Ji had mentioned to He Wenqi that he would start a new project for everyone to participate in, and Fang Zhenkang had also said Han Ji would re-evaluate the interns. It seemed the rumors were spreading fast.
However, notifying him only after the dinner was already settled made it clear that He Wenqi hadn’t been in their considerations at all.
And indeed, that was the case. The group had made plans with Fang Zhenkang, who readily agreed but then casually asked, “Is He Wenqi coming too?” Because of that, Wang Dao and the others had come to invite him at the last minute.
Seeing that he was still considering it, Wang Dao persuaded him further: “Everyone has the same status. If you’re the only one who doesn’t go, people will say you’re not a team player or that we’re isolating you.”
He Wenqi felt like laughing at that reason.
When they applied, everyone was aiming for the Design Department; only He Wenqi was assigned to the front desk. These people had solid academic backgrounds from formal institutions and possessed actual painting skills. They were quite dismissive of He Wenqi’s “overestimation of his own abilities” in competing for a design internship and usually showed their disdain for him, intentionally or otherwise.
He Wenqi understood this in his heart but didn’t care what others said. He focused only on what he needed to do, adhering to the principle of “I won’t provoke others if they don’t provoke me.”
This time, he could very well refuse to go, but he perversely wanted to agree.
He’d go and sit for a while, leave after eating, and it wouldn’t waste much time. He actually wanted to hear what exactly this “re-evaluation” was going to assess.
Wang Dao and the others chose a Chinese restaurant. There were six interns, including He Wenqi, plus Fang Zhenkang and another colleague from HR—exactly eight people for a private room table.
Once everyone arrived, Wang Dao stood up to lead: “Come on, let’s all raise a glass to Manager Fang to thank him for taking care of us newcomers.”
Everyone stood up with their glasses to join in.
Fang Zhenkang smiled and waved for everyone to sit down: “It’s not really about ‘taking care.’ I have always treated everyone equally. If everyone does their job well, you will naturally get the rewards you deserve.”
He scanned the room and added: “The company has its rules. As long as the conditions are met and personal ability is outstanding, I certainly won’t be stingy with my recommendations.”
“That’s right, our Manager Fang cherishes talent the most. He is absolutely fair and just,” the other colleague from HR chimed in.
“Right, right, right.”
“Exactly, Manager Fang is the best, so approachable.”
…
Once the reserved opening remarks were over and the alcohol started flowing, the table became filled with rounds of flattery and humble excuses. The young men began taking turns to propose toasts. The red wine was treated like beer, drained in single gulps.
He Wenqi shrunk back into his chair. He was only responsible for being a warm body to fill the seat and listening for any insider info; he had no desire to be noticed.
Yet, someone just had to call him out.
“He Wenqi, I think you’re the person who should thank Manager Fang the most. With your qualifications, you still wanted to join the Design Department? Fortunately, Manager Fang cherishes talent and placed you at the front desk; otherwise, you wouldn’t even have an internship opportunity,” someone sneered, emboldened by the alcohol.
Put on the spot, He Wenqi didn’t feel like arguing. He simply picked up the glass in front of him: “Thank you, Manager Fang. I toast to you.”
Fang Zhenkang smiled and nodded, looking at him sideways without picking up his own glass.
Seeing this, the person next to him jeered: “He Wenqi, that’s not a very sincere way to give thanks. Look, there’s only a little wine left in your glass. Shouldn’t you fill it up?”
This was red wine, not beer. Beer is downed by the glass; red wine should be sipped.
He Wenqi didn’t say much. He put down the goblet, took the red wine to fill it up, stood up with a slight smile, raised the glass to Fang Zhenkang, tilted his head, and drained it in one go.
“Good! Nice!” someone led the applause.
“Excuse me, I’m going to the restroom,” He Wenqi put down the empty glass and left his seat.
Fang Zhenkang stared at that slender figure with an ambiguous smile and took a shallow sip of his wine.
…
In a two-person booth in the same Chinese restaurant.
“I say, why did you come back so suddenly?” Luo Feiwen raised the wine in his hand and waved it at Han Ji. “Is the person in the video the one you were looking for?”
Han Ji responded by lightly clinking glasses. The tartness entered his mouth, and his throat burned.
“The wine isn’t great, but the food is decent.”
“I’m not familiar with Jingcheng either; I’m just passing through on a business trip. This place was recommended by someone else.”
“When are you leaving?” Han Ji asked.
“Friday night,” Luo Feiwen said. “But at least you’re back in the country now. It’ll be easier to meet up in the future. How long do you plan to stay?”
“It should be for a long time. I just took over the company.” Han Ji paused for a long while before saying softly, “And I just found the person.”
“Is it really him? The one you kept asking me to look for in our hometown these past few years… named… something-Qi.”
“He Wenqi,” Han Ji said.
“Right, right, I didn’t remember the name clearly. My impression of him back then was a very pretty young boy a grade below us.” Luo Feiwen laughed. “He used to love squatting by our back door waiting for you to get out of school. When I saw him at the nightclub, I wasn’t sure—he’s changed so much.”
Han Ji: “You weren’t sure, yet you still filmed him and sent it to me.”
Luo Feiwen: “Well, I thought he looked good and wanted to give you something to appreciate. Who knew he was the one you were looking for?”
After laughing for a bit, Luo Feiwen suddenly asked: “You didn’t come back early because of him, did you? Have you contacted him?”
“I have.”
Not only had he contacted him, but the guy was also right within reach. He just wouldn’t acknowledge Han Ji; it would probably take some time to slowly coax him.
The booth was by the window. Outside, the city lights sparkled and cars flowed by. Inside, guests were boisterous, and the fine food was steaming hot.
The light through the frosted glass screen made the two-person space feel both open and hidden.
Suddenly, a figure swept past the screen. Han Ji’s gaze shifted, his heart feeling a tug.
“Feiwen, I’m going to the restroom.”
…
He Wenqi’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t particularly high, but he wasn’t usually the type to collapse after a few glasses. It was likely because he was just recovering from his stomach ailment and fever; after three glasses of red wine, the world started spinning.
He rinsed his face at the sink for a while, his hands gripping the edge of the basin, head hanging low. After resting for a good while, his stomach was still churning uncomfortably.
A shadow loomed over him, and a voice full of reproach spoke: “He Wenqi, what is wrong with you? Why have you become like this?”
He Wenqi looked up, his face covered in water droplets. The wet hair on his forehead hung down, half-covering his dark eyes. His gaze wandered over Han Ji’s face for a moment as if trying to recognize him.
After a moment, the corners of his mouth curled up, but there was no smile in his eyes: “What, President Han? You don’t let employees go to nightclubs, and now you won’t even let us have a dinner gathering with drinks?”
President Han sighed helplessly: “You guys are having a gathering?”
“That’s right. But it’s not very convenient for a big boss like you to participate in a small gathering like ours; no one would feel comfortable. So, we didn’t invite you.”
Han Ji naturally had no intention of joining their dinner. He just felt uneasy seeing He Wenqi’s state.
“You can’t drink anymore. I’ll take you back.” Han Ji reached out to pull him.
He Wenqi pushed against his shoulder, bracing himself to stand straight: “It’s none of your business.”
“He Wenqi, I didn’t want to control you.”
Han Ji suddenly barked the reprimand, startling He Wenqi.
From their reunion until now, He Wenqi had been rejecting his kindness. If that were all, it would be fine, but he was always full of lukewarm sarcasm. Han Ji was starting to get angry too.
“I didn’t want to control you; I just don’t want you to ruin your own body. You just had a high fever and took medicine yesterday, and today you’re drinking like your life depends on it. Who are you socializing for? If it’s your boss, then shouldn’t I, the president of this company, be even more worth flattering?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Han Ji regretted them.
Sure enough, He Wenqi didn’t even look at him. He turned his head and walked away. His steps were unsteady, yet he forced his back to remain straight.
Han Ji sighed as he watched that departing figure.
…
When He Wenqi returned to the private room, everyone was about ready to leave. He had originally intended to just say goodbye and go, but seeing the situation, he stayed for another moment.
No one called him out again, but he drank by himself out of agitation. He didn’t eat much food but filled himself with wine.
People were either picked up or left with those going the same way. Eventually, only the colleague from HR, Fang Zhenkang, and He Wenqi—who hadn’t caught a cab yet—were left.
As luck would have all it, there were no empty cabs at all at that moment.
Fang Zhenkang sent the colleague away and waited for the designated driver he had called. He strolled over to He Wenqi’s side: “It’s hard to call a car at this hour. Let me give you a ride.”
“No need, Manager Fang. There’ll be one in a bit.”
“Hey, why be so polite with me? Xiao He, you know, when you first came to the company, I took a liking to you at first sight.”
The words were ambiguous with a double meaning. He Wenqi wasn’t stupid; he understood the underlying implication.
In the company, Fang Zhenkang would always take the opportunity of talking to him to pat his shoulder or back. It looked like a boss’s care for a subordinate, but in reality, it was groping.
He was good at judging the boundaries—a quick touch and then he’d pull back. Others couldn’t see anything wrong, and even He Wenqi hadn’t noticed the abnormality at first.
Over time, Fang Zhenkang’s true colors gradually showed, and he even began to say things intentionally to “hint” to He Wenqi.
He Wenqi acted as if he didn’t understand. He hadn’t achieved his goal in joining the company yet and couldn’t afford to offend Fang Zhenkang too much, so he just tried his best to avoid being alone with him.
Now, with a few drinks in him and no other colleagues around, Fang Zhenkang didn’t want to hide his fox tail anymore. His claw overtly landed on He Wenqi’s narrow waist.
He Wenqi wanted to stop him, but as soon as he reached out, he realized he didn’t have much strength. Instead, he was pulled in by the momentum and leaned against the man.
Fang Zhenkang’s alcoholic breath was laced with excitement: “Xiao He, your waist is really thin.”
He Wenqi was already dizzy. The wind on the roadside further catalyzed the alcohol’s effect. When pulled, he leaned over limply.
Just then, the designated driver pulled the car up. Fang Zhenkang held him and went to open the car door.
He Wenqi couldn’t stand steadily, but his mind wasn’t yet muddled. He used one hand to brace against the upper frame of the car door, refusing to get in: “Manager Fang, I can get back myself.”
After all, he was a tall man; Fang Zhenkang couldn’t push him for the moment.
In the midst of the stalemate, Han Ji and Luo Feiwen came out.