Futile Devices Scans

Song Zhi Xin made another circuit outside Yan Ye’s office. He checked his watch and confirmed that his boss was already two hours late.

Yan Ye was no longer merely a puppet who held the title of general manager at Yanyue Security. After Sheng Yu stepped down and went to prison, Yan Ye took full control of the company’s operations. Following several rounds of both open and covert struggle with Sheng Yu’s former allies and the Yan family’s relatives, the managerial ability and calculating methods Yan Ye gradually revealed ensured that no one dared dismiss him again as an inexperienced young man of little standing or influence.

In just a few short months, Yan Ye balanced the various factions. Relying on the standing he had established within the industry during the Sheng Yu case, he then took firm control of Yanyue as a whole. With guidance from Xue Bao Tian, he seized the right opportunity to convene a board meeting and was elected president of Yanyue Security by an overwhelming majority. From that point onward, Sheng Yu became a thing of the past at Yanyue and was gradually forgotten.

Steady footsteps sounded in the corridor, accompanied by fragments of a man’s deep voice. Even after being promoted to president, Yan Ye had not changed offices. He continued using this inconspicuous room tucked away in the corner.

As the voice drew nearer, Yan Ye saw Song Zhi Xin waiting beside the door. He gave a slight nod in greeting, and even as he opened the door and entered, he was still speaking into the phone. “I’ll come back earlier this afternoon and make your favorite mushroom hotpot.”

Pointing toward the sofa, Yan Ye motioned for Song Zhi Xin to sit, though his attention remained on the call. “You’re still sick. Put work aside for now. Sleep for a while, and don’t forget to take your medicine when you wake up.”

Whoever was on the other end seemed to curse at him, making Yan Ye laugh. He walked to the window, turned his back to Song Zhi Xin, and said quietly, “It was my fault. Next time, we can celebrate my birthday half a year early. It’ll be warmer then.”

Only after murmuring to him for a while longer did Yan Ye hang up. When he turned around, a faint smile still lingered on his face. “Did you need something?”

Song Zhi Xin was a longtime employee of Yanyue. He was highly capable and loyal, and aside from being somewhat rigid in how he handled matters, he was an exceptionally valuable subordinate.

“I’d like to take some time off,” Song Zhi Xin said.

Yan Ye poured a glass of water and placed it on the low table before him. “You could have applied for leave through the administrative office. Since you came to tell me personally, there must be another reason.”

Song Zhi Xin was usually a rough, straightforward man, but he now appeared somewhat awkward. “I wanted to trouble you to help me ask Vice President Xue for permission.”

At the mention of Xue Bao Tian, Yan Ye’s gaze softened further. “Once you go on leave, the company will temporarily assign another bodyguard to Bao… Vice President Xue. When your leave is over, you’ll switch back. That’s standard procedure. Vice President Xue will understand.”

Song Zhi Xin rubbed his hands together, looking uncomfortable. “I’m taking leave because I want to take his sister on a trip. I’m afraid he won’t agree.”

Yan Ye froze, then remembered the relationship between Song Zhi Xin and Xue Bao Tian’s sister. He had been so occupied lately with keeping his own bed warm that he had had no time to concern himself with anyone else’s romantic affairs. Since Xue Bao Tian had not mentioned it either, Yan Ye had genuinely forgotten all about them.

“Xue Bao Tian still doesn’t approve of you being with his sister?”

Song Zhi Xin gulped down half a cup of tea before saying gloomily, “He thinks I’m uneducated.” The large, thickset man sounded rather aggrieved. “President Yan, aren’t you uneducated too? Xue Bao Tian still got together with you. Why does he treat us differently?”

Although Yan Ye was technically still pursuing Xue Bao Tian, their relationship was practically public knowledge throughout Yanyue. First there had been the eighty-yuan-a-night motel they had shared; then Xue Bao Tian had repeatedly come to support Yan Ye. Now their new president behaved like an old bachelor who had not kissed anyone in half his life and had only just fallen in love, so immersed in sweetness that he could no longer tell north from south. Anyone who saw them would consider their illicit affair thoroughly confirmed.

Yan Ye stood and refilled Song Zhi Xin’s tea, correcting him. “It isn’t that Xue Bao Tian got together with me. I’m the one who got together with him.”

Under Song Zhi Xin’s slightly surprised gaze, Yan Ye continued slowly, “Vice President Xue has a sharp tongue, but he isn’t unkind. Although he says he disapproves of you and his sister, hasn’t he also refrained from stopping the two of you from meeting?”

Seeing the worry on Song Zhi Xin’s face ease slightly, Yan Ye continued, “Besides, his sister’s former husband was highly educated, yet he still abandoned her, took the money, and ran. So what Xue Bao Tian values isn’t academic qualifications. He’s worried about his sister. You know how vulnerable women can be. His sister has already been hurt once. As her younger brother, it’s only right that he scrutinize the person she’s dating. You or I would do the same in his position.”

After a moment of silence, Song Zhi Xin nodded. “I genuinely like Vice President Xue’s sister, so I’m not afraid of being tested.”

The man, who was not usually good at joking, finally relaxed and unexpectedly made one. “President Yan, if I do end up with Vice President Xue’s sister, you’ll have to call me brother-in-law someday.”

The thought of a relationship that would bind him and Xue Bao Tian into the same family filled Yan Ye with pleasure, as though he had swallowed a piece of candy.

“What should I call you, then?” Song Zhi Xin had created a difficult problem for himself.

Yan Ye considered it for a while. Whatever occurred to him made his expression gradually turn solemn, and he muttered to himself, “Brother-in-law… brother’s husband… kung fu?”

Elio’s Notes: Yan Ye is playing with similar-sounding words: jiefu means “older sister’s husband,” while gefu would literally mean “older brother’s husband.” His thoughts then stray to gongfu—“kung fu.”

He suddenly slapped his knee. “No, that isn’t right.”

…

Feng Jia pushed open the private-room door and stuck his head inside.

There was no music playing in the room, and the shifting colored lights had been turned off. Only ordinary white lights were on, making the space bright and clear. Feng Jia, who was accustomed to losing himself in drink and pleasure as soon as night fell, found it somewhat uncomfortable.

Only one person sat on the sofa inside. Half the table before him was covered with alcohol, but none of the bottles had been opened. He merely held a bottle of mineral water loosely in one hand.

When Feng Jia entered, the man placed the water on the table and politely stood. He did not behave as though he were meeting a male escort from a nightclub, but rather as though he were greeting an important yet unfamiliar friend.

“Construction… Worker Bro? Why is it you?”

Every time Yan Ye saw Feng Jia, he looked different. They had met three times, and Feng Jia had changed his hair color on every occasion. Now his hair was a pinkish gold, paired with gold-rimmed glasses, making him look like an idol from some entertainment agency. Had Yan Ye not undergone professional training in recognizing people, he might genuinely have failed to recognize him at first glance.

Yan Ye gestured for Feng Jia to sit. “Your surname is Feng? Then may I call you Xiao Feng?”

Feng Jia breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Yan Ye did not call him by his stage name, Jia Jia, it meant he had no intention of hiring him for sex. Feng Jia had witnessed far too many filthy things at the nightclub and was terrified that Xue Bao Tian’s sincere feelings might be given to the wrong person.

Removing his glasses, Feng Jia drew out a tissue and wiped the lipstick from his lips. “Brother Zhang, my name is Feng Jia. Just call me Xiao Feng.” He tossed the tissue into the trash and asked Yan Ye, “Brother Zhang, why did you ask me here today?”

The first time Feng Jia had met Yan Ye was at a construction site. Back then, Yan Ye had still been called Zhang Chi.

Yan Ye did not correct him. He merely smiled warmly and said, “Nothing in particular. I only wanted to buy you a drink.”

Feng Jia’s heart, which had just settled, instantly rose again. He said seriously, “Brother Zhang, when I call you ‘brother,’ it’s only a polite form of address. When I call Xue Bao Tian ‘brother,’ I mean it sincerely, from the bottom of my heart.” He glanced at the table full of expensive alcohol and scoffed. “I won’t do anything that would betray Brother Xue.”

Yan Ye opened a bottle and poured only a shallow layer into Feng Jia’s glass. The sound of liquor splashing into the glass mingled with his gentle voice.

“Xue Bao Tian is the person I love. I would never do anything to betray him either.”

Feng Jia frowned. “Then what exactly are you trying to do?”

Yan Ye pushed the glass toward him. “Relax. I’m not going to do anything.”

He poured himself a glass as well. “I booked you for the entire night, so you don’t need to worry about work.”

Feng Jia considered this silently for a moment, then took out his phone, intending to call Xue Bao Tian. Before he could, the man said unhurriedly, “I’ve already blocked the signal in this room, and the door is locked. You might as well stay here and drink peacefully.”

Feng Jia stared at him, dumbfounded. He had struggled his way to becoming the nightclub’s top escort and had encountered all kinds of people and situations, yet he truly could not figure out what the man before him intended to do.

If he called Yan Ye forceful, the man was courteous and kind. But if he called him a good person, Yan Ye had blocked the signal and locked the door!

Feng Jia slammed his phone onto the tea table, picked up the glass, and drained it in one gulp. “The only connection between the two of us is Brother Xue. You want to ask me about him?”

Yan Ye admitted it openly. “Yes.”

Feng Jia raised his eyeliner-framed eyes, and a contemptuous laugh escaped his lips. “I, Feng Jia, don’t have many friends. Brother Xue treated me like a human being. I’d take a knife for him!”

Yan Ye looked at him with open admiration and patted his shoulder. “Starting today, you’re my friend too.”

What was happening? Feng Jia had raised his fighting spirit to its peak and prepared for the other man’s attack, only to receive… praise?

He looked troubled. “What exactly do you want?”

Yan Ye took a sip of liquor and watched it sway faintly in the glass. In a gentle voice, he said, “About a year ago, we met once. When you saw me, you seemed very surprised, and you called me… Brother-in-law.”

Feng Jia froze, remembering the incident.

“I only recently learned that ‘brother’s husband,’ like ‘brother-in-law,’ is something you call a person when you regard him and Xue Bao Tian as members of the same family.” Yan Ye asked, “Back then, Xue Bao Tian and I appeared to be completely at odds. Why did you call me that?”

“Because…”

Feng Jia had barely uttered a sound when Yan Ye interrupted him. “Your explanation back then was extremely forced. Don’t use it to brush me off again.”

Feng Jia suddenly sneered. The thing he feared least was a direct confrontation. Pulling the bottle over to pour himself more liquor, he scoffed, “And what if I refuse to tell you?”

The glass had barely reached his lips when he heard a deep, restrained voice. When Feng Jia lifted his head, he met Yan Ye’s pleading gaze. The man’s eyes were filled with hope and helplessness.

“My friend, this is my first time falling in love. Please help me.”

The toughest-looking face was saying the most pitiful words. Feng Jia, who had always yielded to gentleness rather than force, spilled liquor all over himself…

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