Chapter 151: To Haggle Over Every Ounce
Seeing this, Qi Yu was at a loss for a while. He heard Si Hang muttering incoherently while crying, “He signed a three-year contract with me, and it hasn’t expired yet…” After a while of being choked with sobs, he said, “I can give him money. I can continue to give him money, as long as he comes back…”
Qi Yu couldn’t help thinking of his relationship with Fu Yansheng, about how Fu Yansheng could leave at any time. He didn’t know what it was that he was feeling in his heart.
He lifelessly comforted Si Hang. After crying for a long time, he finally calmed down. It was like his soul had been drawn out of his body. He looked even more wan and sallow than before.
A call came in. Qi Yu glanced at it, hung up and said to Si Hang, “Si Hang, there’s something I need to do…”
Si Hang said in a flurry, “You-you should go. Thank you for coming to see me…”
After saying so, he sat there, head drooping. It was as if his brain had suddenly gone offline and he couldn’t even manage the basic etiquette of seeing guests to the door.
Qi Yu got up and patted him on the shoulder, persuading him, “Cheer up.”
Si Hang gave no reply. Qi Yu walked to the door and feeling uneasy, turned around to take another look. He saw Si Hang sitting there alone, his shoulders folding in, as though he were trying to seal himself.
Qi Yu sighed lightly and said to him, “I’ll help you find Xu Yizhou.”
Hearing this, Si Hang raised his head. There now seemed to be some hope in his red-rimmed eyes.
Qi Yu left the Si Family’s house. He got in the car and called Fu Yansheng back. Fu Yansheng learned that he was done having lunch with Tang Weiye and made plans to meet him at the hotel.
Qi Yu hung up the phone and checked WeChat. He saw that Su Jing had already replied to him half an hour ago. “I heard before that he’s your business consultant and I thought he studied business management. When we were talking at the dinner table last night, he talked with me about machine learning and algorithm architecture and to me he didn’t seem much like an amateur. I discussed the contract with Chief Ye today and he took into account all the accountability issues that I might face after leaving HZ Technology… Tsk, this person is really an almight all-rounder. He hasn’t got a single chink in his armor!”
After Su Jing finished this long passage, he added another remark: “You’re pretty amazing yourself, being able to keep someone like him by your side. Alright, I’m gonna head back to Yancheng first. I’ll take my team and report to work within half a month. .”
Qi Yu replied with “Have a safe journey.” and put away his phone. Looking out the window, his mind was still filled with Si Hang’s sorrowful sobbing.
Half an hour later, Qi Yu arrived at the hotel room where Fu Yansheng was staying. Fu Yansheng opened the door for him and asked, “Would you like some tea?”
“I could have some to drink.” Qi Yu walked to the small tea table in the room and sat down.
Fu Yansheng had just finished boiling a pot of water. While making tea, he reported to him the results of their negotiation with Su Jing. “We offered him an annual salary of 5 million; a total of 15 million annual salary plus performance rewards for the other 12 people in the team. For three years, they are given the option to purchase stocks at X yuan per share. These shares will be convertible to regular stocks afte three years. Their stock ownership should not exceed 8%.”
Except for the team’s annual salary, almost everything had already bee discussed before they met Su Jing yesterday. Regardless, the 15 million was completely within their acceptable range.
Fu Yansheng returned to Qi Yu’s side after making the tea. He added, “He brought up board and lodging last night and Chief Ye promised to rent a building near the company for their team. Barring any unforeseen incidents, they should already be able to take up their posts before the first of next month.”
Qi Yu took the cup and gave an “en”. He said, “Su Jing told me already. And he also praised you for being amazing.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Looking at Fu Yansheng’s thin lips opening and closing, Qi Yu felt that this person always seemed to be so omniscient, so calm and composed. It would be wonderful if he could get such a person to stay and work for him for the rest of his life.
It was a pity; even if Fu Yansheng liked him, he wouldn’t stay by his side forever…
Seeing him in a daze, Fu Yansheng looked him up and down and said, “What’s the matter? Why are you being so absent-minded?”
Qi Yu took a sip of tea and asked, “Do you know where Xu Yizhou has gone?”
Fu Yansheng: “Why are you asking about him?”
Qi Yu: “I went to see Si Hang earlier.”
Fu Yansheng: “…”
Qi Yu was silent for a moment. He then lowered his eyes and said, “Si Hang is in very bad shape. He was crying, saying he wanted to find Xu Yizhou. In his heart, Xu Yizhou is the only person he can trust. Him disappearing without a word like that is a big blow to Si Hang. ”
Fu Yansheng put down the teacup, looked at him and said, “Qi Yu, when a wall's about to collapse, everyone gives it a shove. When the Si Family met with this mishap, lots of people disappeared overnight, abandoning them. Xu Yizhou doesn’t need to explain anything to Si Hang.”
Qi Yu frowned. He too wanted to persuade himself to say “don’t bother” but thinking of how Si Hang lookws, he just couldn’t stay indifferent. He asked, “Can you contact Xu Yizhou? Let me have a word with him. If he doesn’t agree, I won’t insist.”
Fu Yansheng stared at him for a couple of seconds and finally gave in.
Qi Yu watched as the man got up, walked to the bed, took out another mobile phone from under the pillow and back to him, sent out a message. Afterwards, he turned back around and came back to him.
After a while, Qi Yu’s phone buzzed.
It was a call from an unfamiliar number. Qi Yu was stunned. He looked at Fu Yansheng and Fu Yansheng motioned for him to pick up.
Qi Yu connected the call and heard Xu Yizhou’s warm voice coming from the other end of the phone, “Qi Yu, I heard you were looking for me?”
Qi Yu: “Secretary Xu…”
Xu Yizhou said, “I’m not Si Hang’s secretary anymore, you can just call me by my name.”
Qi Yu paused. He told him of the state Si Hang was in and asked him if he could visit Si Hang or give him a call. Xu Yizhou’s reaction was almost the same as Fu Yansheng’s. He said, “Qi Yu, I no longer have any obligation to be concerned whether Si Hang is happy or not.”
Qi Yu frowned and said, “I know. Your work is over and it’s only to be expected that you leave. So I’m here to asking you for a favor.”
Xu Yizhou asked, “You don’t consider Si Hang a friend at all. Why do you want me to help him?”
Qi Yu: “He may not be a friend but he had been very welcoming to me. You’ve been by Si Hang’s side for two and a half years, you should know him better than I do. He has many flaws but he’s not some heinous criminal. Besides, you’ve lied to him for so long. He believes you completely. It doesn’t matter to you if you lie to him again, right?”
Xu Yizhou smiled: “How do you want me to lie to him?”
Qi Yu: “At least give him some hope. Get him to pull himself together quickly. Maybe tell him that when he has the ability to support the Si Family, you’ll go back to him.”
Xu Yizhou seemed to be in a good mood. “Okay, for Fu Yansheng’s sake, I’ll help you out. However, I don’t want you to be the one to pay me back this favor. Tell Fu Yansheng he owes me one.”
Qi Yu glanced at Fu Yansheng and was about to say something when he heard Xu Yizhou say, “You shouldn’t meddle in other people’s business anymore. Cherish your days with Fu Yansheng. Goodbye.”
After having said so, he hung up the phone.
Qi Yu: “…”
Fu Yansheng asked, “What did he say?”
Qi Yu put down the phone: “He promised to help but he says you owe him one.”
Fu Yansheng gave a low laugh, “Stingy bastard…”
Qi Yu raised his eyes: “Xu Yizhou knows about our relationship?”
Fu Yansheng: “I have submitted an application to the organization for your right to know. They probably all have an idea.”
……They?
Qi Yu remembered one other person and asked Fu Yansheng, “Is Assistant Song okay?”
Fu Yansheng got up and took the teapot, refilling Qi Yu’s cup. “He’s not doing so well. He has a serious mental illness.”
Qi Yu remembered those details and frowned slightly. “Depression?”
Fu Yansheng responded with “en”, “You know as well that his relationship with Si Ze before was a bit complicated. This assignment caused him serious harm. However, there’s someone with him and taking care of him now and it’s also been some time. He’ll be able to get through this.”
Qi Yu gripped the cup tightly, thinking about Xu Yizhou’s last words. He stared fixedly at the string of jade beads around Fu Yansheng’s wrist, an unstoppable obsession growing in his heart.
The two chatted for a while. Fu Yansheng was heading to Shanyu to continue the remaining handover work.
Qi Yu also planned to leave after hearing that. Fu Yansheng grabbed him, asking in a suggestive tone of voice if he could come to the hotel to spend the night with him.
Qi Yu smiled and shook his head. “No, my parents have been spending time at home these past few days and my dad already has his suspicions about our relationship. If I don’t go back, he’ll be even more suspicious.”
The two haven’t slept together since returning to China. After being ruthlessly rejected by Qi Yu, this calm man finally showed a hint of impatience. He clasped Qi Yu’s wrist and pressed him against the hotel door for a kiss. After a long time, he reluctantly let go.
The next day, Qi Yu received a text message from Si Hang, thanking him. It seemed that Xu Yizhou had already contacted Si Hang. Qi Yu didn’t know whether Xu Yizhou had followed his suggestion but listening to Si Hang’s tone, he seemed to now have some spirit.
However, within a few days, Qi Yu encountered another incident related to Si Hang.
Si Hang’s game company had been suspended from trading due to illegal activity in the process of its listing. The company would face penalties after being investigated by the Securities Regulatory Commission. Due to the public nature of the incident, the reputation of the company’s players was also damaged. The manager decided to join hands with the players to sue Hangfan Technology, asking for compensation and early termination of their contracts so as to change jobs as soon as possible.
However, as soon as Xu Yizhou left, they became a thunder of dragons without a head. Si Hang had been completely hand-off in its operations. Facing such a big mess, he was simply unable to deal with it.
Since Xiao Ye was still a mightly figure in the e-sports circle, numerous companies have come trying to poach him during the past few days, including Lin Huan’s club. When Lawyer Yin learned about this, in order to stop their loss in time, he planned to resell the entire club, along with the players and their contracts. After looking around, only Lin Huan’s club was willing to buy it as a whole package. Moreover his bid was the highest. But Lin Huan’s team had always been Si Hang’s team’s nemesis. Hearing of this, Si Hang was simply unwilling. Crying, he called Qi Yu asking him if he could help.
Almost at the same time, Xiao Ye also sent a message to Qi Yu, asking, “Yu Ge, can I come and see you?”
The two have been in contact since meeting in West City, but Xiao Ye rarely disturbed Qi Yu.
Qi Yu could already guess why the other party wanted to come see him. He agreed: “Okay.”
————
【Little Theater】
Qi Yu: You’ve lied to him for so long. It doesn’t matter to you if you lie to him again, right?
Xu Yizhou: For Fu Yansheng’s sake, I’ll bring myself to help you.
(Calling Si Hang and deceiving him.)
Si Hang: Xu Yizhou really is the best! I’ll try my best to pull myself together. My goal is to ask him to be my secretary again one day! QAQ
Qi Yu: A secretary’s mouth, a demon of deceit…
Ty for the chapter ❤️
.. What a mess..
I want Xu Yizhou to be promoted. The secrecy of his job causes the divorce of his fledgling marriage but he’s so into his work that he doesn’t really care. I want a scene where its revealed that from time to time, he still checks up on what Si Hang’s been up to. He receives messages from Si Hang updating him on his achievements and random things; Xu Yizhou reads them secretly but never replies.
They cross paths again when Xu yizhou is trying to infiltrate another business and in the spur of the moment, maybe as he’s about to be caught sneaking in to his target’s study, Si Hang spots him and swoops to his rescue by pretending that Xu Yizhou is his date or secretary or something…
Xu Yizhou decides to go with the cover Si Hang has provided for him and so their renewed relationship ensues. As the relationship goes on Si Hang does all these sweet, thoughtful things for Xi Yizhou realizes with the help of his former gf that he’s always been in love with Xi Yizhou. He also works out all the things that happened in BBVBB but he works through them by himself and it propels his maturity and growth. He comes to terms with how shitty he had been and how shitty his family had been too. His dad and Si Ze’s release from prison also plays a part in his self-reflections. Though his dad tries to get power back, Si Hang is already too strong to ever cede power back to his dad and Si Ze. (I don’t know if I want a redemption arc for Si Ze too.)
Xu Yizhou slowly, ever so slowly begins to fall for Si Hang as well. I want a scene when Xu Yizhou is so frustrated at how Si Hang seems to clueless that he’s just been using him that Xu Yizhou just blurts out that he’s being used and Si Hang smiles at him and just goes “I know. But it’s you. I’ll always believe you.”
I want Si Hang to grow taller (is a growth spurt in your early 20’s still possible?) and develop a sort of puppy personality. And I want Xu Yizhou to be the shou because an older shou (in his early 40s or late 30s) sound absolutely perfect to me.
I’ve thought about this way too much…Hahahahaha
!!! Calling out all (fanfic?) writers to make this a reality! Why is your description so detailed and so good-
And also, I expect Si Ze to have a “redemption arc” where he does this and that in the background to be “better” and maybe he really became better. Maybe he’s able to touch Song Puxin’s heart a bit… but Song Puxin will still reject him. Because he needs to know that it was a very shitty thing that he has done >:(And also maybe because, I don’t know, that TRAUMA which is bad enough to cause severe depression isn’t that easy to overcome.
I want Si Ze to, at first when he comes out of prison, feel bereft, the position he has hold on to is not his anymore and his little brother is doing a good job of it. In the prison he gets news of how well his brother is doing and he feels a complex mix of gratitude, guilt and something something angsty.
So he comes out right and Si Hang is super busy he couldn’t even meet up with him and Si Ze is like “i fine just take me home’. They still have the same house or maybe they moved out but there his mother sees him and hugs him. (tbh i dont remember if his family is loving or not but wtvr). Si Hang does manage to see him like three days later but like Si Ze is messy or something like he’s still fcked up. He cares a lot about how people see him too so this is like the worst Si Hang ever saw him. Si Hang says something, motivates him or something and Si Ze is left thinking. In the next few months he cultivates few hobbies or something (I want SH to put him in house arrest or somethign) like gardening? or taking care of pets?? he adopts a senior cat and takes a few online course to distract himself. He tries to contact people outside but no one is willing to deal with him at this moment. Idk if I want the dad to be there too let’s assume he’s put somewhere else. This goes on for half a month or so until he gets fed up and ask Si Hang (kind of humiliating to ask his little brother) to let him get a job or something. but Si Hang doesn’t 100% trust him so he gets a simple job outside (i was thinking a random flowershop lmfao), some job where he has to perfect a craft. He tries to do well but his ego isn’t there anymore, it’s embarrassing to associate himself with the young master of the past. So he gets bullied, maybe by his customer, maybe by his coworker. Through all of this he meets someone, not Song Puxin but someone similar and he’s the owner of the shop. He’s so reminiscent of Puxin but the dynamic is different now, he’s the subordinate and the other guy’s the boss. Through it he learns hardship and finds himself mastering something. I want him to first try to cheat and take the easy route or something but eventually doing (wtvr his job is) the right way. I want his charisma to come back too like I want the boss to separate from that identity, somehow and they date and the first few months it’s good but Si Ze’s still scared over Puxin and their BE. but then they work it out maybe not together since Si Ze has a fckton of things to work through but the boss is there by his side. Then one day his senior cat dies and he tries to work through the grief but he is better at this whole thing than he was when he was fresh off the prison and he gets through it then fun times with his lover (idk if i want the lover to be a dom shou or sub shou but wtvr they have to work on the trust during interc*urse). Then it’s like years later and Si Hang is marrying Xu Yizhou and of course most of the mathletes are going to be there, Si Ze goes to Xu Yizhou and ask if Song Puxin is okay. Xu Yizhou looks at him a little weird and maybe disgusted as well and Si Ze says he hopes Xu Yizhou can wish him well. Xu Yizhou say yeah sure and wasnt even planning to say it to SPX until one day the mathletes hang out and they’re both in the restroom and he just blurts it out. SPX is visibly shaken but he’s like “i dont forgive him but after all these years ive mostly forgotten what happened, im not keeping grudges with him anymore, i dont even want to be near him. i cant wish him well but i wish he’d forget all of this too let us be two strangers.” or something IDK. but i dont want si ze to appear prominently too just like once in a while he’s there doing his own thing.
I approve of this Si Ze redemption story! This sounds darn good!
Wait sleepy this is so good and detailed,,,, I want all of this and for SH to have a praise k*nk
SH with a praise k*nk!!! Genius!
Omg!! Yes
thanks for the chapter!
Ah.. xiao Hang x Yizhou another side CP far far in the future maybe
Yizhou is kinda of an ass,like this dude is a dumb kid. But he has feelings treating him like he’s scum.