Yang Wushe actually deserves a little thanks–
Now there’s a sentence that should never appear, and yet… It’s his unhinged approach to meeting partners which causes the injury which helps Yue Fei and Wei Qing grow even closer, even more intimate. And it’s that injury and the doting that rings it that leaves more than one employee of Wei Securities convinced that Second Master Wei and Assistant Yue Fei are in an official but clandestine relationship.
Or at the very least, having lots and lots of sex.
(Wei Qing appreciates the support, Yue Fei thinks they should focus on their work instead).
At the head of the ‘True Love’ contingent is Receptionist Xiao and her crafting kit full of googly eyes and small, hand-felted fabrics. Abandoned cactus A’Wei was given a companion during Administrative Assistant’s Day, and Xiao Meiling had (secretly) named the taller, slightly blue cactus A’Yue. Ever since she’s been putting them in tiny couple outfits and updating a surprisingly popular weibo account about them. Of course, she uses pseudonyms to protect the innocent, and her own modest paycheck.
Can’t be too careful when it comes to sasaeng plant moms and plant dads.
Also, although the NDA doesn’t actually cover such weirdness, Receptionist Xiao has survived this long because of her grit, determination, and ability to avoid death-seeking. It’s a surprisingly rare mix in the secretarial pool; she blames those dramas that all her friends can’t stop watching. She likes them too, but it’s important to be able to differentiate between fantasy and reality, and too many of the younger ladies (and gentlemen) learn that the hard way. Often with pink slips.
Ma’am, do you have any idea how unsexy it is, to constantly be spilling milk and coffee like some sort of spastic goat every time your Male God boss walks in? Be normal! Be like Assistant Yue, slowly won over to the charms of your not-quite-CEO instead. Date that cute guy at the repair shop by your parents’ place, or the accountant six floors down. Much less stressful, much cheaper on your dry-cleaning, and much better for long-term happiness than this diet of stress and machinations and self-doubt!
But since no one listens to her advice, she just focuses on growing her succulent little family and delightedly noting all the ways that Mr. Wei and Mr. Yue are slowly circling closer and closer to one another. It goes without saying (though to her closest friends, she says it anyway) that she approves.
Mr. Wei was just so sweet when he first hired her! All excited and bright-eyed, nothing like those sullen or black-bellied characters she’d seen on her shows. And his assistant was capable and quiet, but not mean or simpering– just solid and competent, a very nice person to have paving the way for their office. She’d been filled with possibility at what they’d create, what she’d be a part of in her own small but important way.
But then, five months after hiring her, Wei Qing had fallen off the face of the earth, and everything she’d heard about her missing boss was crazily different from her own impression. At first, she’d thought it was just muddy water, but then the stories had gone on and on and on, and he’d been so wounded at those parties…
His assistant had looked so tired, so secretly disappointed…
Well, suffice to say, the old granny trapped in her young skin was Very Concerned. Very heartbroken. She even sent them a tin of cookies once, the kind meant to be dipped in tea near some sort of doily. It was basically law that those would make you feel better.
But then, Boss Wei and Assistant Yue came back! Came back and that old shine on all those old possibilities was re-ignited, even transformed. A capable assistant became a warm shadow– well, not warm to anyone but Wei Qing, but Receptionist Xiao saw it all the same. And she wasn’t alone.
Especially since a bit of excitement had materialized right after Vice President Wei showed up with an injured leg. Receptionist Xiao hadn’t seen it herself, but according to the security uncle in their group chat, someone surnamed Yang had sent a truly gaudy display of white roses and purple and white lilac to the front desk. With a note to Wei Qing, dripping with elegant calligraphy. Courtship? So early in the morning on a Tuesday? But that wasn’t the gossip. The gossip was, Yue Fei had taken one look at the name on the card and ordered the flowers burned–
And Vice President Wei had smiled at him! Smiled at him like the sun, smiled like he very much wished his staid assistant would always be so hotheaded and presumptuous.
If that wasn’t proof, what was?
By the week of the big presentation, it’s only excitement about the future of Project Lagan that keeps intra-office matchmaking from being the main event. In the (sane parts of the) outside world, interest in Wei Qing has faded, but on floor seventeen, everyone has a theory and a timeline, even Old Man Wang (ahem, Project Manager Wang) is finally forced to give his opinion– “Of course something is going on, but only short-lived people should talk about it!”
He just wants to save up enough vacation days to go on a cruise with Mr. Whiskers.
He’s already collected brochures, there are plenty of nice routes nearby, they might even see whales if they’re lucky. He can’t afford to offend those two and end up filing for unemployment instead. Don’t put him in this position! (That said, he’s not blind… those two are clearly as smitten as Mr. Whiskers is with the Russian Blue in the across-the-courtyard apartment). He wishes them all the best, but he’d like to do it from the coast of New Zealand. Imagine his kitty’s eyes if he’s allowed to see such a big fish!
—
While Wei Qing runs a final test-run of the presentation with an oddly calm Li Daiyu, Yue Fei excuses himself to check on final preparations–
And visit Wei Qiwan. He needs to warn him– about Yang Wushe, and perhaps more importantly, about just how vulnerable his bullshit makes his brother. Because at this point, after months of experience and years of regrets to consider, he knows that Wei Qiwan’s method is unequivocally incorrect.
Wei Qing does not need to be angered into churlishness and indifference; he cannot be. His indifference is not indifference at all, but self-hatred. Wei Qiwan should properly apologize, and direct his schemes towards actively punishing those types, instead of passively (failing at) protecting his brother by acting like he’s meaningless and beneath notice for such schemes.
Yue Fei adjusts his cuffs and loosens his shoulders; sends a text in the hopes of avoiding small talk with the receptionist. Yue Fei is grateful when it works.
“President Wei has ten minutes between meetings, if that is sufficient.” She wears the same bland smile, comforting in its indifference. A different flavor than Ms. Xiao, but an excellent receptionist nonetheless. She’d been around in their last life too, all the way until the end, and he still knew next to nothing about her.
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.
Now that was dedication.
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Wei Qiwan finds it confusing but is pulled in by a strange sense of deja-vu nonetheless.
“Thank you for making the time.”
“It seems I had little choice. Anyway, there’s nothing wrong with working together more closely.” Wei Qiwan goes for faux casualness, stroking the rubbery leaf of a jade plant before continuing, “And I heard- from that silly little driver, and Doctor Li mentioned- he said it wasn’t anything major, but still-” Wei Qiwan coughs and rubs his thumb and forefinger together.
It’s always been his nervous tic, a tell that only activates when the cause for concern is familial. Probably why no one had let him know about it yet. After all, if Wei Qiwan loses his tells, with how reticent he is, won’t he become completely unknowable?
And then how will anyone put up with him?
“Yes. There was an accident. But Wei Qing is already mostly fine.” Yue Fei’s tone catches on the word, bitterness blossoming across his tongue before Wei Qing’s name sweetens him back to mostly normal. Still, Wei Qiwan catches it. Of course he does.
“You suspect something?” Wei Qiwan finally looks straight at him. Yue Fei snorts, and now he’s the one exposing tells left, right, and center. Disrespectful tone, dismissive attitude, the twitch of anger in the line of his jaw.
“Yang Wushe is exactly the type of person to use his car and injury as a type of introduction, President Wei should be as clear on this as anyone. He’s completely dark, just as filthy as that family of his, no matter how he pretends or what his police record says.”
He’s worse, even. At least they do it for money, not perversion.
There’s a beat of silence too much, as Yue Fei grinds his teeth.
“…Yes. But I’m surprised that Assistant Yue is so discerning.” Wei Qiwan manages to sound simultaneously disapproving and approving, in the same ten words. Very impressive. Of course, the unspoken accusation still comes through loud and clear.
If this was a more confrontational meeting, perhaps Wei Qiwan would actually say it, ask him, “If you’re so wise, why didn’t you ever use those skills before?”
It’s fair. If he could tell so much after just a meeting, why hadn’t he protected Wei Qing from Gao Zhong, or all the less clever snakes that had come in his wake?
Of course, at this point, he shouldn’t know about any of that, so Yue Fei just shrugs. He can’t keep quiet about Yang Wushe, but also can’t explain his ‘insights’ without being sent to the nearest mental ward. Instead, he redirects the conversation to his favorite topic.
“Wei Qing has become more choosy, naturally, I must match his taste level.”
If Yue Fei was a cat, he’d be purring with pride.
Wei Qiwan quirks an eyebrow. “So what, it’s a chicken and an egg scenario over which of you inspired the other?” Checking his watch, he shakes his head. “Nevermind. You came here for something.”
Yue Fei nods. “Yes. Project Lagan, I believe President Wei has the vision to see how strong it is.”
“The strength of the project has never been in question. Personnel are more complicated.” Wei Qiwan goes for a sneer but doesn’t quite achieve it. Yue Fei raises an eyebrow. He wonders if Wei Qiwan realizes just how much his mask has already fallen. What disgust? Haven’t you already exposed over and over just how concerned you are with every little matter of your didi’s? What kind of president calls up a little valet for reports?
And do you really think I don’t notice those oddly burly baristas and shopkeepers and road pavers who have appeared around us, ever since that farce of an accident? How little do you think of my situational awareness, that you’ve replaced the valets with bodyguards and the gardeners with bodyguards and the little grocery delivery boy with a bodyguard?
Can’t you just be a little honest instead of silently throwing money and personnel at him?
Laughing in the family patriarch’s face is bad; Yue Fei gets hold of himself.
Mostly.
“Yes, people are very complicated. Even when they care for one another deeply, they can do counterproductive things. Like pretending to hate someone out of a misguided sense of protectiveness, even if all it does is make everyone miserable.”
Now Wei Qiwan is sneering earnestly. Evaluating Yue Fei like he’s a threat. Yue Fei doesn’t mind. Actually, at this point, he’d be a little offended if Wei Qiwan didn’t. President Wei’s voice drops by several degrees, all business and ice.
“Assistant Yue, I am not my brother. I believe that distinctions in status exist for a reason, and that one must earn the right to speak.” Sure you do, Mr. Tyrannical President. “Usually, when people forget their place, it is a sign that they’ve forgotten other things as well. Such as their duties.”
Read: If you can’t be a good assistant, if you overstep, you don’t need to be around him at all.
Wei Qiwan is very intimidating when he wants to be; it’s just a pity Yue Fei is already inoculated. He sighs and nods his head, like this is still a normal conversation and not a monologue of thinly veiled threats and warnings about his own continued employment.
“My concern for Wei Qing goes beyond duty, so naturally, my words must as well.” Yue Fei rushes on– he needs to return to the seventeenth floor sooner rather than later, lest Wei Qing start thinking about unnecessary things. “President Wei, if you wish to continue to hold him at arm’s length, I cannot stop you. But– you’ve been successful already. Successful enough that even little barbs like at our last meeting are enough to stay in his heart for weeks, making him even more vulnerable to all those people that President Wei has worked so hard to keep him beneath the notice of. Like I said. Counterproductive.”
Yue Fei stands up-
“Sit down!”
-and sits down. Okay, maybe he needs a booster shot, this Wei Qiwan has a little aura left.
“President Wei-”
“I thought you weren’t sleeping with him.” Despite being the one with the upper hand in this exchange of asymmetrical information, Yue Fei feels stripped. Seen through, beyond the ability of any denial to be effective. There’s no mirror to check, but he suspects his cheeks are red. Manages to choke out a small sentence, after a pause that thoroughly exposes him.
“I don’t need to sleep with him to love him.” He gives in.
Welp, the cat’s out of the bag.
Yue Fei feels a bittersweet mixture of delight and regret; happy that he can honestly admit his feelings, sorry that it must be to Wei Qiwan, instead of Wei Qing. Still, it is better this way. Safer for all of them. What the eyes don’t see, the heart won’t grieve.
Wei Qing still has time to retract his feelings, without anything having to change between them. Yue Fei is not easily moved; having already fallen, he knows that he will not be able to un-love Wei Qing. But given enough time, he can stuff it back into a brotherly shape, a caretaking affection, if Wei Qing needs.
As long as they don’t rush towards anything unforgivably unbrotherly, he can recover from this.
Eh, not the kind of thing to be thinking of when facing down his actual brother. Who is at this very moment watching him with a level of quiet intensity that makes Yue Fei feel like he’s slowly peeling his skin. Yue Fei shivers despite the heat.
“Does he know?”
“Of course not. Impulse is different from action, feeling is different from expression. I know my place a little.” Although, if Wei Qing keeps being so persistently disarming, there’s no telling how long that will last. But there’s no honor without struggle, no self-control absent temptation.
Wei Qiwan relaxes, crumpling into the chair and rubbing his temples at this meeting that stretches on, full of mines that he hadn’t expected. He speaks as much to himself as to the man sitting before him.
“Heh. Of course. Of course you would. Father was so sure that for some reason, you’d be protective and dedicated without judgment or jealousy, loyal without ever wanting more, but how can two unattached-”
Wei Qiwan closes his eyes. “You’ve been frank with me, so I will return the favor: You shouldn’t do anything you can’t take back, unless you’re prepared to live with what you express forever.”
“I know.”
“As long as you know.” Wei Qiwan, eyes still closed and brows furrowed, waves Yue Fei out of the silent office. Long after the door closes softly behind him, Wei Qiwan stays lost in his thoughts. Despite his instinctive disgust towards anyone coveting his brother, if Yue Fei is serious…
It’s not a bad match.
For all his talk about status, Wei Qiwan would prefer his brother find someone outside the machinations of the rich. But Wei Qing has the unfortunate tendency to bring out the very worst in his pursuers, and he will not recover if Yue Fei is similarly corrupted. After all, Yue Fei is more enmeshed than any of the rest of them. Wei Qing hadn’t even relied on Gao Zhong so much, and look how he’d acted after that was broken off?
They will all need to be sure, very sure, forever sure, if Wei Qing and Yue Fei take that step.
Heh.
And Father said Yue Fei was a man without desires or judgments. Asexual, the old man said! The perfect life-and-death subordinate specifically because this would never happen. Wei Qiwan laughs, exhaustion and disbelief rolling off him in waves as he vents his emotions, and tries to get all of his Pavlovian ugliness out of his system. After all, according to his potential future brother-in-law, Wei Qing won’t be able to handle a single speck of snark.
Better get it all out now, since evidently, he’s taking orders from his brother’s subordinate.
What a President!
He doesn’t remember his brother being so fragile, but… it has been a long, long time since they truly talked.
Peh. Fine. It’s better to empty himself of all his emotions before that lot shows up. He chews a Tic Tac and consults the wooden-framed calendar cheekily sticking out of his closet. It is- If Yue Fei is right, if this is all really as pointless as the evidence seems to suggest… How nice would it be, to be brothers again?
If that’s even still an option.
—
“Ready?”
“Ready!”
“Sure?”
“Sure!”
“Any last-minute fears or resignations or fires to put out?”
“Nothing at all! Please have faith, our team is ready to show this department’s hard work!”
They seem to be honestly excited.
Somehow, Wei Qing is the most nervous one here! He doesn’t understand it. Li Daiyu had been a nervous ball of energy for over a month, randomly stealing staplers and shouting about the wifi like she was a grandpa convinced birds weren’t real. And yet now that they are about to present her first big project to their boss’s boss– she has gone into some type of heroic battle trance; like a general about to defend her homeland’s borders, the fear of death is already something trampled beneath her.
Wei Qing can understand how people fall in love with women, watching her. But it makes his own nervousness feel crass, and he jams his hands into his pockets to hide his own weakness. Fuck, why does his throat taste like bile? Is it really-
Is he really so worried about Wei Qiwan rejecting him? Still? Or is he worried that once this ragtag group meets Wei Qiwan, they will be won over, just like Yue Fei had once been. That his elder brother will be able to show them just how unworthy he is in comparison? What if he can’t even defend this small bit of land?
Who knew Wei Qiwan had leveled up to the point that he didn’t even need to do anything to make him panic; just memory and his own imagination is enough to make him regret not just taking the fucking money and running like a proper second-generation hooligan. Still, if he did that, would someone as steady as Yue Fei be willing to follow him?
At the back of the elevator, no one notices their boss’s oddity, too focused on the packages they’re carrying and the excitement of being one presentation away from being greenlit for a full project, with all the extra hires and excitement that goes along with it. Only Yue Fei stays apart, Wei Qing’s little tells laid bare before him.
And maybe it’s because his confession to Wei Qiwan is still fresh in his mind, but in the back of that mirrored elevator, smushed in with seven other people, Yue Fei unobtrusively reaches down and pulls Wei Qing’s wrist from his pocket.
And holds his hand.
Author’s Note:
It’s a bold move, to send flowers that symbolize purity and first love and innocence to someone that you hit with your car. But Yang Wushe’s a bold guy. Is bold the right word?
Meanwhile, Yue Fei starting to take the initiative, I’m so proud of you.
I would say Yang Wushe is shameless but I quite like shameless people and it’s not mean enough… So proud of Yue Fei !
Thank you for the chapter !
Qiwan better be a good bro and listen to Yue Fei’s advice so that he doesn’t hurt our lil Wei Qing 😔
Thank you for the update ❤️💯
He loves him your honor!!! 😍😍😍 go Yue Fei hold that hand you madlad!!!!! And maybe a change finally from Wei Qiwan… this chapter was so good and wholesome it makes me scared. But I adore the R&D team, cheering for their project’s success!!!
Also, because I’m a nerd for flower language, I’m analyzing that bouquet 👀 as stated, purity, first love, and innocence are one meaning. But white roses can also mean silence and secrecy, which is interesting with the fact that Wang Yushe hides so much of his true self. Am I overthinking? Absolutely, but it’s funny symbolism
Thanks for the chapter~
Considering how far Wei Qiwan is willing to go to collect information while pretending not to spy on his little brother, it’s really better than Yue Fei told him before anyone else could report their impressions of the relationship. It seems deliberately ignorant to assume that means they’re sleeping together – I’m sure he knows the other sex partners didn’t love Wei Qing.
It’s not fair, but he doesn’t trust Wei Qing’s ability to judge the hearts of others or guard himself. Yue Fei’s actions clue in Wei Qiwan that his interest has gone beyond the professional, and Wei Qing’s ‘good behavior’ makes Wei Qiwan feel that Wei Qing would do anything to keep Yue Fei’s attention.
Basically, in his mind, Wei Qing is almost certainly offering, and if Yue Fei isn’t taking him up on it, he’s the first. Black-and-white thinking brother is black-and-white thinking and judging Yue Fei based on others’ bad examples.
Oh. Yes, Yue Fei’s position is potentially very powerful even before taking Wei Qing’s affection and trust into account.
No, Yang Wushe is SCUM. One with a fake pretty facade, but still utterly scum. AND I HAVE A KNIFE AND AM NOT AFRAID TO USE IT.
I wouldn’t say Yang Wushe is bold, maybe more so gaudy, tacky, or obnoxious. Yue Fei holding Wei Qing’s hand is bold 👍🏻