Chapter 077: The Emperor Chooses His Concubine
Song Puxin wore a dark gray shirt buttoned up all the way near his Adam’s apple. He was actually half a head shorter than Qi Yu, but because he was thin, he gave the impression that he was tall and lanky.
Song Puxin stood at the door of his room and said, “I heard that you received some minor injuries. Si Ze asked me to come and see you on his behalf.”
Qi Yu was taken aback. “How did Si Ze know that something had happened to me?”
He thought that news of his near-kidnapping hadn’t spread yet.
Song Puxin said, “He must have learned about it from Secretary Dong.”
Qi Yu: “Oh…”
If it was his dad who had revealed it to Uncle Si, it would have been possible for Si Ze to know.
Although it was somewhat unexpected, Song Puxin was here now. Anyway, they should at least exchange some pleasantries. Qi Yu shook his hand and asked him to come in.
Song Puxin brought Qi Yu a bunch of delicately packaged blue tulips. This gift was inevitably pleasing after receiving three fruit baskets in a row.
Qi Yu took the flowers and pointed to the small tea table in the balcony. “I’ll get someone put the flowers in a vase. Take a seat first.”
After he went out, he said a few words to the nurse’s aide. When he returned, he saw that Song Puxin was still standing. Qi Yu walked over and said, “I had them make a pot of Earl Grey tea. Will that be okay?”
Song Puxin: “Anything’s fine.”
Only once Qi Yu approach, did he sit down. However, he didn’t take the initiative to bring up a topic of conversation.
Although Qi Yu is a little curious about Song Puxin, he wasn’t like Qi Feng who was familiar from the get-go. They faced each other and for a while, no words were exchanged.
Qi Yu remembered that when they had the meeting that day, Song Puxin kept his head down taking notes at the meeting table. He had barely said anything. Then when Si Ze invited them out to a meal, Song Puxin was also there but he just sat quietly beside Si Ze, drinking and eating. He couldn’t have said more than a handful of words during the entire process. If not for his outstanding appearance, he’d be a completely invisible person. The sense of presence he gave off was extremely low.
After a few seconds, Song Puxin probably felt that as a visitor, it wasn’t appropriate for him to be so silent. And so, he took the lead and said, “Are you okay now?”
Qi Yu said with a smile, “There’s nothing physically wrong. I was just a little shaken up.”
He briefly talked about what had happened that night. Song Puxin said calmly after hearing this, “It’s really not easy to experience this kind of thing at your age…”
Two nurses came in one after another. One of them was holding the arranged flowers and asked, “Mr. Qi, where do you want the flowers?”
Qi Yu pointed to the tea table. “Just put it here.”
After they put down the tea and flowers, they left and Qi Yu continued, “Fortunately, Fu Yansheng showed up in time. Otherwise, I don’t know if I’d be here now.”
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.
Song Puxin: “Your secretary?”
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Actually, at dinner that day, Fu Yansheng had also said that Qi Yu had been inviting him for a year, but Song Puxin might not have taken him seriously. So it was only now, hearing Qi Yu say it that he had some reaction.
Qi Yu did a good job of pretending in front of Fu Yansheng, but in front of others, Qi Yu wasn’t the least bit stingy in his praises, not wanting others to look down on him.
“When it comes to work, Teacher Fu has a lot more experience than I do. I certainly have a lot of things I can learn from him.” Qi Yu said.
Song Pu looked at him earnestly for a couple of seconds. Then, suddenly, he smiled. Although it was only a brief smile, at that moment, it seemed as though the ice and snow began to thaw from his face. He seemed so unbelievably warm.
Qi Yu was dazed seeing it and couldn’t help asking, “What does Mr. Song mainly do for Si Ze?”
Song Puxin’s eyes were half-lidded. “Work records, inspecting documents, etc…”
When he said this, he subconsciously raised his hand and stroked his shirt; slender and soft fingers rubbed the edge of his neckline. Although his expression and tone of voice did not change, the warm feeling just now disappeared without a trace. From the inside out, his entire person exuded an aura keeping others away.
Qi Yu didn’t know if it was just his misconception but he felt that Song Puxin wasn’t really willing to answer his question. He thought it involved the confidentiality of the other party’s work so he considerately stopped asking questions.
He changed the subject and said, “Regarding the work of the Technology Development Department, will you be responsible for liaising with the people on my side in the future?”
Song Puxin: “It should be the secretary named Huang Junwen who will be working with you. My responsibilities tend to be matters regarding Si Ze’s life… For example, seeing you on his behalf.”
Qi Yu smiled, thinking that Song Puxin’s example was very interesting.
At that moment, Qi Yu’s cell phone rang. He glanced at it and saw that it was his mother calling. He hurriedly said, “Sorry, I need to answer this call.”
Song Puxin nodded.
Qi Yu pressed the answer button, got up and walked out. “Mom?”
Jiang Ying’s anxious question came from the other end of the line. Qi Yu thought that this matter had been hidden quite well but now, even Jiang Ying knew about it.
“En, I’m okay… Don’t worry too much… Eh, there’s no need to come see me. I’ll be discharged tomorrow… OK, I’ll go home tomorrow and we can talk more then…”
After finally calming his mother down, Qi Yu let out a sigh of relief. He hung up the phone and returned to his room. He saw Song Puxin sitting at the table and looking out the window. The bundle of light blue tulips on the table set off his handsome face and pale skin. A melancholy air was inexplicably created around him…
Qi Yu paused. He was about to talk to him when Song Puxin heard him come in and got up first.
“Qi Yu, I have to go back to Si Ze, so I won’t be bothering you too much. Have a good rest.”
“En, okay. Please thank Si Ze for me,” Qi Yu said politely, “I will be heading back to the US in a couple of days. We will be in touch with the group for work later.”
***
Towards the evening, just like yesterday, Fu Yansheng came to the hospital ahead of schedule. When he came, he even had a bag of things with him. He glanced at the flowers on the table and asked, “Who came to see you today?”
“Do you remember Si Ze’s assistant? The one surnamed Song?” Qi Yu said.
“Song Puxin?” Fu Yansheng asked while he had his head down to open the bag, “What did you talk about?”
“Nothing much. We just chatted casually,” Qi Yu smelled the aroma and walked over, “What did you buy?”
“Fried crab meat dumplings. Fresh out of the pan.” Fu Yansheng opened the lid and raised his eyebrows, “Your half-million-a-year takeaway boy personally queued up to buy them and delivered them to your doorstep. Have as much as you’d like.”
Qi Yu was amused by Fu Yansheng into smiling. He took the chopsticks handed to him by Fu Yansheng and while fiddling with the dumplings, said, “Speaking of which, I’ve always thought that Song Puxin is a bit like you…”
Fu Yansheng was startled. “How are we alike?”
“Temperament? Aura?” Qi Yu looked at Fu Yansheng, then shook his head, “I can’t put it into words…and the feeling’s less obvious now that I’ve met him twice.”
Fu Yansheng ate a dumpling before saying, “Actually, I’ve seen him before.”
Qi Yu was puzzled. “You’ve seen him? Did you come in contact with him through work?”
Fu Yansheng raised his eyes. “Not through work. It was a math competition held many years ago at T University. At the time I was in the T University’s Department of Mathematics. He was still in high school, I think and he came to participate in the pre-competition training camp during summer vacation. He stayed in our dormitory building. At that time, several people said that I was a bit like him, so I still remember him.”
Qi Yu knew that Fu Yansheng had gone to college earlier than most people. After a little calculation, he estimated that Song Puxin was a year or two older than Fu Yansheng.
He asked, “You guys participated in the competition together?”
Fu Yansheng: “No, I didn’t participate. I was helping the professor review the questions.”
Qi Yu: “…………”
Qi Yu looked at Fu Yansheng, a weird expression on his face. “Aren’t the people who can participate in your math competitions geniuses?”
Fu Yansheng: “It’s difficult to tell, but at least, when it comes to their math level, they’re ranked among the highest in their respective provinces. There are many famous schools in China that exempt winners of mathematics competitions from having to take the college entrance examination.”
The corner of Qi Yu’s mouth twitched. He seemed have a idea now. In addition to the bookishness, Fu Yansheng and Song Puxin probably had that temperament…that was unique to geniuses?
Although they were courteous and polite when dealing with people and matters, they inadvertently revealed a sense of arrogance and aloofness that made them out of tune with others.
Qi Yu remembered the scene when Song Puxin was sitting at the table and looking out the window just before he left. The other party’s expression at that time was indifferent, as if he were floating above the world; at the same time it seemed as though he was trapped in infinite loneliness…
Fu Yansheng before occasionally gave Qi Yu a similar feeling. The one difference was that Fu Yansheng was not melancholy. Fu Yansheng gave off the sense that his lack of desire or demands created in him freedom as well as clear-headedness.
Of course, this kind of temperament ceased to exist the night they negotiated the new contract. Now, Fu Yansheng was like an insatiable old hooligan…
Qi Yu coughed lightly and said, “By the way, Song Puxin mentioned that later on, Huang Junwen will be responsible for liaising with us for work with the Technology Development Department.”
“Huang Junwen?” Fu Yansheng thought back. “Oh, that guy who’s good at blowing rainbow farts.”
At the dinner table, it was Secretary Huang who praised Fu Yansheng and Xu Jing the most. Aside from him, there was also a manager named Jiang. The two echoed each other so much they could practically put up a crosstalk skit.
Qi Yu shrugged and said bluntly, “I don’t like that person much.”
Fu Yansheng gestured with his chopsticks: “Although you might not have too much contact with them in the beginning, if you think you like Song Puxin more, you can suggest to Si Ze for Song Puxin to be the one to liaise with us.”
Qi Yu: “I can do that?”
Fu Yansheng: “Why not? You are the deputy general manager. Si Ze should be able to agree to this request. Besides, the people around Si Ze are very versatile. Last time at that strategy meeting, I sat with Huang Junwen and Song Puxin during lunch. I asked around and found out that Song Puxin is even a dual master’s degree holder in law and accounting.”
Qi Yu said in surprise, “He’s that amazing?”
But he was also a little puzzled. Given how capable Song Puxin was, why was he only serving as Si Ze’s life matters assistant?
Fu Yansheng got up and went get the briefcase he had set to one side. He took out a stack of files and handed them to Qi Yu. “During the day, I helped find some people for you. They all meet the requirements for our future team. Take a look.”
Qi Yu took the stack and flipped through it. Among them were talents familiar with the operation of Internet-related companies, talents who have done work with compliance and risk control, and senior analysts who were good at data collection and analysis…
Qi Yu was extremely surprised, “You already sent out recruitment notices? You’ve already found people looking for a job so quickly?”
Fu Yansheng laughed. “How can you find these kind of talents by posting a recruitment notice? Do you think you’re looking for some small assistant like Wu Shuang?”
Qi Yu: “Where did you find them then?”
“I asked a headhunter.” Fu Yansheng tapped on the pile of documents and said domineeringly, “Look at which ones you like and we’ll dig them out at a high price.”
Qi Yu: “…………”
Why did he inexplicably feel like an emperor choosing his concubines?
————
【Little Theater】
Complex Number: A'Xin, I can only help this much.
Even number: I’m afraid you can’t help me anymore…
Concubines you say XD
Thank you for the chapter ❣️
That’s a solid and astute observation you’ve made there, Emperor Qi. Empress Fu has gathered so many talented “ladies”, you should at least appreciate your beloved Empress’ recruitment skills with some love~ 23333333
I find this comment so funny. Empress Fu is indeed very good 2333333
So what exactly is the relationship between Song Puxin and Teacher Fu? I’m really curious now
This was such an interesting chapter! I’m very intrigued by Song Puxin and YS’s acquaintance!
they are part of a secret organisation that suss out whether or not a business is doing anything against the law? There are many of them planted in the industry, all with amazing skills. The Zuo Shi I think is a front for them???? idk but this is what i think
Thank you for the chapter! 🙂
Hmm i smell some drama with song puxin and si ze. Is si ze doing something to song puxin without his consent? Cause song puxin is good looking and all
Perhaps sz and spx have a similar relationship to our main cp but oneside? 🤔 could 100% be wrong tho…
thanks for the chapter!
i can accept it if song puxin and si ze are going to be a cp but why do i feel bothered by puxin’s behavior, as if he’s in an unpleasant situation. he’s not being molested or something, isn’t he?? was he the one who requested from the secret organization for a change of target/task back then? if he is, was it because he wanted to escape from si ze?
That government mission of digging fishy things in Siyuan Group will surely be a success at this rate.. They were able to plant so many talented people.
Hehe.. Empress Fu helping his emperor screening beauties into the back palace himself