In the quiet office, a man dressed in a black suit lowered his head to review the document in his hand, his brow slightly furrowed. He then circled the problematic sections with a fountain pen.
Ji Qingyan pulled out the document and handed it to the assistant standing beside him. “The project budget deviates too much from the actual figures. Have the finance department redo it.”
“Understood, Mr. Ji.”
Assistant Wen took the document and glanced at the schedule, reminding him, “You have a meeting in ten minutes.”
Inadvertently catching sight of the bandage on his boss’s neck, Assistant Wen didn’t immediately realize what it was and assumed he was injured. Concerned, he asked, “Mr. Ji, are you hurt?”
Ji Qingyan set down the document in his hand and looked up at him, puzzled. “Hmm?”
Noticing his gaze fixed on his neck, Ji Qingyan instinctively covered it with his hand. He couldn’t very well say it wasn’t an injury but a hickey.
Ji Qingyan made up an excuse. “I accidentally scratched myself. It’s nothing serious.”
“By the way, has the paint I asked you to buy arrived?”
“It’s already been sent to the young master.”
Assistant Wen had witnessed firsthand how much his boss doted on his younger brother. He had once bid millions on a rare painting just to make the young master happy. When the young master mentioned wanting to see the ocean, his boss had immediately purchased a private yacht for him. The extent of his favor was evident.
Reception Room.
“Apologies, Mr. Lu. Please wait here for a moment. Mr. Ji has been unexpectedly delayed but will be here shortly.”
“It’s fine. I’ll wait a bit. You can go ahead with your work.”
Lu Qi nodded, showing no airs. He walked over to the sofa and sat down, crossing his long legs, and picked up a magazine from the table to pass the time.
Soon, the door to the reception room opened from the outside, and steady, purposeful footsteps echoed inside. Lu Qi gently closed the magazine in his hand and looked up at the newcomer.
Black leather shoes, long legs clad in tailored trousers, a charcoal-gray suit of exquisite quality, and a meticulously knotted tie. His gaze slowly traveled upward, and he suddenly met a refined and gentle face, framed by a pair of silver-rimmed glasses—restrained and dignified.
Who would have thought that he had just woken up in this man’s bed this morning, and now they were meeting again. What a small world.
Ji Qingyan was also somewhat surprised. He stepped forward, adopting a professional demeanor, and extended his right hand, his tone gentle. “Apologies for the wait.”
He introduced himself, “I am Ji Qingyan, Executive CEO of Hydens. It’s a pleasure to collaborate with your company.”
His attitude was impeccable, leaving no room for criticism.
Lu Qi rose from the sofa and shook his hand. “Lu Qi, Project Manager of the Lu Group’s Bay Project.”
The two exchanged polite formalities as if meeting for the first time.
Just as Lu Qi was about to release his hand, he felt a faint, almost imperceptible scratch against his palm, like the gentle brush of a feather. He suddenly looked at Ji Qingyan.
The other man still wore a composed expression. Meeting Lu Qi’s sharp gaze, Ji Qingyan asked with feigned confusion, “Is something wrong?”
With others present, Lu Qi naturally couldn’t say anything. Suppressing his emotions, he replied calmly, “It’s nothing.”
Lu Qi and Ji Qingyan sat facing each other on opposite sides of the desk. The Bay Project was the first collaboration between Hydens and the Lu Group, a venture the company had spent half a year preparing to secure.
Binxi is a coastal city surrounded by sea on three sides. The Lu Group invested 3 billion to purchase a plot of land by the bay, planning to build a luxurious villa community and high-end residential area, divided into several zones, along with a resort hotel and entertainment facilities.
“This project is massive and will be carried out in three phases. The company will also deploy double the construction teams. Each phase is expected to take five months, and with the later stages of construction, the entire project should be completed in two and a half years if everything goes smoothly.”
Lu Qi casually flipped through the project proposal and looked up at him. “Compared to other projects, what are the distinct advantages of this villa community in the market?”
“Each villa is uniquely designed by an architect. To cater to market demands, each one features a different style—Chinese, European, American, modern, and over sixty other standardized villa styles. The villas and the community have direct access to the bay, meeting clients’ needs for sea outings. The location is excellent, just a ten-minute drive from the city center. Additionally…”
Once immersed in work, Ji Qingyan relaxed and spoke naturally, eloquently sharing his insights on every question without any hesitation or unnecessary details.
Lu Qi crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair, fingers pressed against his lips, his eyes fixed on the man speaking before him.
At first, he listened attentively to the explanation, but gradually, his mind began to wander.
His gaze swept over Ji Qingyan’s face. Why does a man have to be so good-looking? His eyes are beautiful, his nose is beautiful, his lips are beautiful—every part of him is flawlessly attractive.
Noticing Lu Qi’s undisguised stare, Ji Qingyan curved his lips into a smile. The sudden, unexpected smile unsettled Lu Qi’s emotions. The other man’s eyes were like whirlpools—enticing yet dangerous.
Lu Qi hurriedly averted his gaze, pretending to look at the desk as he muttered under his breath, “Damn, he looks so good when he smiles.”
Wait, why is he smiling?
Did he notice me staring?
Why did he smile only at me?
Is he trying to seduce me?
There are so many people here—doesn’t he know how to behave properly?
Earlier, Ji Qingyan had noticed Lu Qi frowning seriously, his eyes fixed intently on him, and couldn’t help but feel amused. He doesn’t seem very clever—too innocent.
Most of the relevant matters had already been handled. This meeting was mainly to discuss minor details and allow representatives from both companies to meet, ensuring smooth progress for the subsequent work.
As soon as Ji Qingyan entered the restroom, he met the gaze of the person reflected in the mirror. He paused for a moment before continuing inside.
Out of the corner of his eye, Lu Qi watched the man washing his hands beside him. Neither spoke, and the restroom was quiet, creating an awkward atmosphere between them.
Feeling uneasy, Lu Qi fiddled with the cufflinks on his sleeve, trying to break the uncomfortable silence.
He turned to look at Ji Qingyan and asked, “Why did you pretend not to know me earlier?”
Ji Qingyan took a handkerchief from his pocket and meticulously dried his hands, not sparing Lu Qi a glance. Calmly, he replied, “You did the same.”
“Business and personal matters shouldn’t be mixed. Besides, we don’t seem that familiar.” He lifted his eyelids to glance at Lu Qi, his tone and gaze indifferent, as if they were strangers.
Is this playing hard to get? Lu Qi had seen this kind of act too many times.
“Not familiar? Wasn’t it you who came to me for help last night? We slept in the same bed this morning, and wasn’t it you who just scratched my palm?”
Lu Qi said all this in one breath, with a tone that felt like tattling—and tattling directly to the person involved.