After Qi Mu returned—
Within two days, Feng Ming Zhi contacted him of his own accord and said that Jinjin Capital was very interested in Qi Corporation. As for the investment itself, they would still need to conduct further research and evaluation. Qi Mu assured him that he would fully cooperate with Jinjin Capital.
The preliminary process went exceptionally smoothly.
Feng Ming Zhi was extremely easy to deal with. Although Qi Mu would need to give up some equity, it would not affect his control over the company. Compared with the other investment institutions he had approached, Jinjin Capital’s terms could practically be called generous and enticing.
Yet just when it seemed that he really was about to secure the financing… Qi Mu suddenly began hesitating.
Everything was going far too smoothly.
Anything that looked like a gift often had a price tag hidden somewhere on the back.
Can I really accept whatever comes with taking this investment?
Zhan Xiao Hui could not understand why Qi Mu looked so worried. The company had been thriving lately, and now Jinjin Capital’s investment would only make an already strong situation even better. Their funding problem would be solved all at once, so why did her boss still look so troubled?
“President Qi? President Qi? Here’s the report you asked for.”
Qi Mu looked up from his distracted thoughts and saw Zhan Xiao Hui standing beside him, looking at him in puzzlement.
Qi Mu cleared his throat. “Just leave it there.”
But Zhan Xiao Hui did not leave. After hesitating for a moment, she asked nervously, “President Qi, is there some problem with Jinjin Capital’s investment?”
Qi Mu looked surprised. “Why would you think that?”
Zhan Xiao Hui breathed a sigh of relief. “You haven’t seemed to be in a very good mood lately. I thought something had gone wrong with the investment.”
Qi Mu fell silent for a moment before saying, “No.”
Reassured, Zhan Xiao Hui left.
Qi Mu lowered his head and looked at the report on his desk. An inexplicable restlessness rose in him again, as though something were lodged in his chest with no way out.
He knew that everyone had been working hard for this lately. Now that they finally had hope, everyone wanted the investment to succeed. Even the board of directors had agreed to it. He was the only one still hesitating…
Qi Mu closed his eyes.
…
There was plenty happening at the company lately, and everything continued moving forward in an orderly fashion.
One evening, Qi Mu stayed late to work overtime again.
Keeping himself busy allowed him to temporarily put aside his tangled thoughts and focus on what was in front of him.
Inside the quiet, deserted office—
Qi Mu stared at a thick financial report. After reading for who knew how long, his eyes began to ache. He took off his glasses and rubbed them before glancing at the time. It was already past ten at night.
He got up, intending to step outside for some air.
But when he opened the door, he noticed that the lights in the President’s Office across from him were still on. Qi Mu paused.
Who’s still working this late?
Puzzled, he peered through the half-open door and saw Jiang Shao sitting alone inside the office.
Qi Mu: “…”
He badly wanted to turn around and leave immediately, but Jiang Shao had already spotted him. A casual smile appeared on Jiang Shao’s face as he raised the corners of his lips. “President Qi.”
Qi Mu had no choice but to stop. He cleared his throat. “Why are you still here?”
As far as Qi Mu remembered, he had not assigned Long Aotian enough work to require overtime.
Jiang Shao put on a perfectly earnest expression. “I’m new, and there are still a lot of things I don’t understand. I thought I’d use the opportunity to learn more.”
Only a ghost would believe that.
But Qi Mu could hardly call him out on it, so he merely said, “Mm. It’s good that you’re willing to learn, but don’t overwork yourself either. If there’s nothing urgent, go home early and get some rest.”
Jiang Shao looked at Qi Mu, the amusement in his eyes deepening. “Thank you for your concern, President Qi.”
Meeting those smiling, unfathomably dark eyes, Qi Mu inexplicably felt uncomfortable.
I’d say the same thing to anyone, all right?
Why are you making it sound like I’m especially concerned about you?
Forget it. Better not to keep talking to this formidable ancestor.
After the interruption—
Qi Mu lost any desire to go out for air and turned back into his office.
He continued reading the report in his hands, but the thought that Jiang Shao was just next door—and that they were the only two people left in the quiet, deserted building at this hour…
Made it impossible for Qi Mu to settle down.
He could not stop wondering what Jiang Shao meant by this and why he had stayed behind to work overtime.
More than ten minutes passed while his thoughts wandered.
Qi Mu looked down blankly.
He realized he had not turned a single page of the report.
The unease, frustration, and restlessness that had been weighing on him for days suddenly surfaced again. Qi Mu had thought he could simply refuse to think about them, but in reality, he had only been suppressing them temporarily. The moment they resurfaced, they became even more overwhelming and impossible to contain.
They left him unable to find any peace.
Irritated, Qi Mu put down the report and rubbed the space between his brows. Why am I thinking this much just because Jiang Shao is working overtime? It’s almost as if I care about him that much.
Qi Mu knew he should not continue like this, yet he could not stop listening for movement across the hall, hoping Jiang Shao would leave soon so that he could finally work in peace…
At last—
Qi Mu heard footsteps.
The footsteps gradually faded into the distance. Jiang Shao must have left.
Qi Mu let out a long breath. That formidable ancestor finally left. He had just lowered his head to resume working—
When, only a few minutes later—
Footsteps sounded in the corridor again.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
The distinct, cold sound of leather shoes striking marble tiles.
Closer and closer.
In the silent office building late at night, it sounded like something straight out of a horror movie. Then the footsteps stopped outside his door.
Three evenly spaced knocks followed.
Qi Mu felt his scalp tighten. He suspected Jiang Shao had returned, but perhaps it was simply the atmosphere making him inexplicably nervous. He drew a deep breath before slowly saying, “Come in.”
Jiang Shao pushed open the door and entered.
He was carrying a plastic bag sealed with a delivery sticker.
The grave expression on Qi Mu’s face froze.
Caught completely off guard, Qi Mu could only watch as Jiang Shao walked over and placed the takeout bag on his desk.
So Jiang Shao went downstairs to pick up food?
If you want to eat, then eat it yourself. I’m not going to stop you. Why bring it into my office? Do you need to eat it in front of your boss too?
Isn’t that a little too brazen?!
All sorts of bizarre possibilities flashed through Qi Mu’s mind—
Only for Jiang Shao to hook one long finger through the bag and easily tear it open. He took out a steaming bowl of congee and set it in front of Qi Mu, his sharp features softened by a smile. “President Qi, you’ve worked hard staying late. I bought you some congee.”
What?
Jiang Shao actually ordered the food for me?!
Am I really inside some kind of horror movie? Is the thing in front of me a monster wearing Jiang Shao’s skin? Or did I somehow enter a mirror universe?
Qi Mu’s expression stiffened. He stared at Jiang Shao and cautiously asked, “For me?”
Jiang Shao nodded as though the answer were obvious and raised an eyebrow. “Who else?”
There was a hint of teasing in his words.
It made the person in front of Qi Mu seem slightly more human again.
Without drawing attention to himself, Qi Mu glanced behind Jiang Shao and saw his shadow on the floor. Mm. This should be the real Jiang Shao after all.
Qi Mu lowered his eyes to the steaming bowl of congee. After hesitating for several seconds, he finally asked, “Why did you… think of buying congee for me?”
At the question, Jiang Shao frowned as though he found the subject terribly difficult to admit. Only after a long pause did he solemnly say, “Is it still not obvious enough that I’m trying to curry favor with my boss?”
Qi Mu: “…”
It would sound more believable if you said you were after your boss’s life.
Before Qi Mu could recover—
Jiang Shao suddenly braced both hands against the edge of the desk and leaned toward him. Jiang Shao was tall with long legs, so even with the broad desk between them, he came extremely close—close enough that another slight movement forward would bring the tips of their noses together.
The posture should have felt extremely oppressive, but a lazy smile rested on Jiang Shao’s face, amusement rising from deep within his eyes and softening some of his natural sharpness. It left Qi Mu unable to determine what he was really thinking.
Jiang Shao stared directly into Qi Mu’s eyes and slowly said, “Since my intentions have already been exposed, then…”
Then what?
Qi Mu swallowed nervously as one bizarre scenario after another flashed through his mind. It felt as though Jiang Shao might suddenly drop the smile, sneer coldly, and say, Since I’ve been exposed today, you’re not leaving here alive…
The next moment—
Jiang Shao said, “Considering how hard I’ve been working, can I get a promotion and a raise?”
Qi Mu nearly laughed from sheer anger. All his tension and anxiety vanished, leaving behind nothing but speechlessness and absurdity.
Do you even hear yourself?
You think I’m going to believe you?
Do you take me for an idiot?!
Trying to get a promotion and raise in exchange for one bowl of congee? He might as well dream about it. That would probably get him results faster.
Qi Mu finally understood.
Not a single truthful sentence ever came out of this man’s mouth. Since Jiang Shao wanted to keep acting with him, Qi Mu might as well play along. It was not as though Jiang Shao was the only person who knew how to put on an act.
Qi Mu regained his usual composure.
With all the dignity of a company president, he gave a soft, indifferent laugh. “That depends on your performance.”
Jiang Shao stared at Qi Mu’s face, at those beautiful, delicate, serene eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses, now carrying a trace of slyness. Qi Mu looked like a proud peacock lifting its head once more, haughtily issuing orders to the person before it.
Jiang Shao’s Adam’s apple moved. Suppressing the emotions surging inside him, he lowered his eyes with a faint smile and slowly said, “Please rest assured, President Qi. I’ll make sure to perform well.”
As he spoke, he snatched the stack of reports from in front of Qi Mu. “I’ll look through these for you. President Qi should eat the congee. It’ll get cold if you wait any longer.”
Before Qi Mu realized what was happening, the reports had already been taken away. Why are this guy’s hands so damn fast?
Do you even know how to read these?
But before Qi Mu could say anything, Jiang Shao continued, “I’ve been studying a lot lately. This is a good opportunity to see how much I’ve learned. If I do anything wrong, President Qi can correct me.”
After saying that, Jiang Shao calmly pulled over a chair and sat beside Qi Mu’s desk to read through the documents. He actually looked surprisingly convincing…
Qi Mu’s lips moved.
In the end, he said nothing.
He watched for a while and realized Jiang Shao never even lifted his head. He really was concentrating on the work, so Qi Mu could only helplessly withdraw his gaze.
Then he lowered his head and saw the bowl of congee in front of him.
It was a simple bowl of vegetable-and-lean-pork congee.
Judging from the packaging, it came from an upscale private dining restaurant. The place served very good food, and Qi Mu himself had eaten there several times.
Fragrant steam curled gently upward.
Warmth drifted into his nose.
Qi Mu pressed his lips together.
He had not felt particularly hungry before, but now he suddenly did. His stomach, especially, had begun to feel faintly uncomfortable after going so long without food. Perhaps a small bowl of hot congee would make him feel better.
Steam rose hazily before his eyes, slightly blurring his vision.
Soft rustling sounds came from beside him. Even without looking, Qi Mu knew someone was sitting there. Unlike the empty, lonely nights he was accustomed to, this enclosed space had now been invaded without permission, driving away the chill and silence, while a perfectly timed bowl of congee sat before him.
It really is strange, isn’t it?
The dangerous Long Aotian is right beside me, so why does this somehow feel a little… cozy?
Qi Mu knew something about that was not right.
Yet as he stared blankly at the bowl of congee, he thought, Even if Long Aotian really is plotting something, what crime has this bowl of congee committed?
He should not waste food.
Qi Mu secretly glanced at Jiang Shao. Seeing that Jiang Shao was not looking his way, he cautiously picked up the spoon, acting furtively as though afraid of being caught…
And took a bite of the congee.
Perhaps because the night was cold and he was hungry, it tasted even better than he had imagined.
By the time Qi Mu came back to himself, the entire bowl was empty.
Warmth slid down his throat into his stomach, and before long, it felt as though his whole body had warmed up.
Qi Mu stared at the empty bowl in a daze for a moment. He suspected he might have fallen under some kind of spell.
Otherwise, he should not have let his guard down.
But the warmth had driven away the anxiety and unease in his heart, dulling his tightly wound nerves.
Qi Mu looked at Jiang Shao with a complicated expression.
Jiang Shao had one hand resting on the report while the other idly twirled a pen. His expression was focused, his profile sharp and cool.
As the saying went, it was hard to speak harshly after eating someone’s food or accepting their kindness.
Although this formidable ancestor never seemed to speak a single truthful word, had a terrible personality, and was nearly impossible to predict, when Qi Mu thought about everything Jiang Shao had done, his heart ultimately softened.
If Jiang Shao had continued behaving as he had before—ignoring Qi Mu’s wishes and doing whatever he pleased—Qi Mu could have pretended not to care while quietly distancing himself. But Jiang Shao had suddenly changed completely. Not only had he obediently stopped causing trouble, he was even working hard and helping Qi Mu.
Instead, Qi Mu found himself unable to harden his heart.
He began wondering whether he had overreacted before.
Whatever Jiang Shao had been like in the dream, at the very least, the Long Aotian before him now was already different. Qi Mu should not blame Jiang Shao for things that had not even happened.
If Qi Mu condemned Jiang Shao solely because of his own fears when Jiang Shao had done nothing wrong, that would be unfair.
As for why Jiang Shao was helping him…
Qi Mu still could not figure it out for the moment, but at least so far, Jiang Shao had shown him no malice. If that was the case, what right did Qi Mu have to insist that Jiang Shao must be plotting something?
Could Jiang Shao simply have grown attached to the company while working here and decided to help it out?
After all, to Jiang Shao, doing so truly was only a small favor.
Meanwhile, because of his own unease, Qi Mu had been hesitating endlessly, worrying over every possible gain and loss, unable to move forward, and had even considered turning down this opportunity… But he was not responsible only for himself. He was also responsible for this company and for all the employees who depended on it. He had an obligation to help the company develop and give everyone a better life.
He should not let his own personal fears—
Drive him into making a willful decision.
Or disappoint everyone who was counting on him.
Thinking this through, Qi Mu slowly let out a breath. It was as though the knot that had been堵ed in his chest for days suddenly loosened, leaving everything clear.
Since everything before him was moving in a positive direction, why think so much about it? He might as well keep going like this. If the day came when Jiang Shao truly asked something of him, as long as it was something Qi Mu was capable of giving, he would willingly give it.
He would simply consider it repayment for Jiang Shao’s help.
Even if—
There truly was a price to pay, then Qi Mu alone should be the one to bear it.
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