Chapter 42: Ongoing Perilous Business War!

Chapter 42: Ongoing Perilous Business War!

After leaving the office, Jing Yi was still in a state of shock.

Were Secretary Fan and Secretary Zou secretly the kind of people who would drown their sorrows together?

Turns out, finding a close friend in an opposing camp isn't just a myth.

"It wasn't like this before. This strange relationship only started recently," said Li Wenzhao.

Jing Yi turned his head. "Recently?"

Li Wenzhao dropped his gaze with a meaningful expression. "Yes, since the strange business war began."

Jing Yi was stunned for a moment, then felt a wave of relief. "So the credit is mine."

It was his efforts that helped the second-in-commands of the two opposing camps break down their barriers, share drinks, and enjoy each other's company. Although the aftermath of the drink wasn't so pleasant, it still counted as a successful expansion of their circles for the two secretaries.

Li Wenzhao smiled slightly. "You're quite good at finding reasons for yourself."

"Just a small virtue," Jing Yi said, pursing his lips. When he looked up, he saw that the elevator hadn't stopped but was instead going down. It was almost on the first floor. "We're not heading to the cafeteria?"

"No," Li Wenzhao said softly. "I'm treating you to a special meal."

Jing Yi got excited and pursed his lips, pretending to be reserved. "That's not really necessary."

"Braised prawns, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, appetizers, dim sum, and a warm blood tofu stew!"

"It's only right," Li Wenzhao said calmly. "Since I'm pursuing you, I should at least be aware of that."

Thump—

Jing Yi's heart beat violently.

Pursuing me?

Li Wenzhao said he was pursuing him.

"Didn't you say..." Jing Yi paused for a second, shrinking his neck. "That I should take my time thinking about it?"

"You can think it over. I'll keep pursuing you. There's no conflict," Li Wenzhao stated calmly.

There was no conflict, but it sure made a mess of one's heart.

The elevator reached the ground floor, and as the revolving door opened, a blast of cold air rushed in. Jing Yi shivered on the spot.

Li Wenzhao handed him the windbreaker he had draped over his arm. "If you're cold, put it on."

Jing Yi looked at it for two seconds, then shook his head. "I'll pass."

Li Wenzhao raised an eyebrow.

Jing Yi muttered softly, "I'm worried office gossip will ruin your noble and aloof image."

"..."

Li Wenzhao said lightly, "If I were truly aloof, I wouldn't like you this much."

Hiss...

A few Li Corporation employees passing by caught snippets of Li Wenzhao’s words and gave curious glances.

Jing Yi quickly turned and bolted.

"Don't say that in the company!"

·

Li Wenzhao chose a newly opened mushroom restaurant near the company for lunch. The damp, chilly weather made a hot bowl of soup perfect.

The restaurant had a cozy, inviting decor, and the air was filled with a rich, fresh aroma.

Jing Yi's mouth started watering just from the smell.

"It smells so good."

Li Wenzhao glanced at him and followed the waiter into the private room. The seating was already reserved, and the soup pot was delivered quickly. "Here's the menu, gentlemen. Would you like to order any additional side dishes?"

Li Wenzhao scooped some soup with a spoon and placed it next to Jing Yi, gesturing to him, "Order whatever you like."

The waiter smiled and handed over the menu.

This time, Jing Yi didn’t hesitate. Afraid that Li Wenzhao might say something revealing in public again, he quickly selected his favorite meats and vegetables and handed the menu back to Li Wenzhao. "Eldest young master, I've made my choices."

Li Wenzhao nodded. "Alright, let's serve the dishes."

The waiter nodded and left.

The soup base arrived soon after, and the fresh, rich aroma of the mushrooms was enticing, making Jing Yi eager to eat. He picked up the bowl and couldn't wait to take a sip, his eyes lighting up. "...Delicious."

It warmed him from head to toe.

Li Wenzhao placed a mushroom in his bowl. "I wouldn’t bring you somewhere that wasn’t good. Since you haven’t agreed to be with me yet, I can’t do anything that might ruin my chances."

Jing Yi almost choked, wishing he could turn into an ingredient and hide in the soup pot. "Eldest young master, you really don't need to keep mentioning that... I remember."

Li Wenzhao softly hummed, "I’ll stop mentioning it once I’ve won you over."

"……"

Jing Yi fell silent and quietly continued to drink his soup.

Before long, he was captivated by the delicious food and forgot about the awkwardness.

They spent forty minutes on lunch. Jing Yi ate until his belly was full, and the umami flavor of the mushrooms was so intense it was almost overpowering.

The two went to the front desk to pay together. Li Wenzhao paid while Jing Yi stretched his limbs.

"Sirs, today is our store's anniversary. Couples who dine here get a 10% discount and a small gift. Here’s a love toy we’ve prepared for you both, hoping you’ll come back soon."

"……"

Jing Yi looked up, a bit dazed, his face slightly warm. Li Wenzhao, however, remained composed and smiled slightly. "Thank you, but you're mistaken. We're not a couple."

The waiter, rarely caught off guard, quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, you two seemed quite close, so I thought..."

"It's alright." Li Wenzhao swiped his card and calmly said, "Once we’re a couple, we’ll come back for the toy then."

Jing Yi: "..."

The waiter's eyes immediately brightened. "Then I wish you both a quick escape from societal judgment and a long, happy life together."

After saying that, the waiter glanced at Jing Yi.

Jing Yi’s face flushed red as he ran away in a panic. He even stumbled over the threshold as he rushed out the door. "..."

When Li Wenzhao caught up, he saw his young butler standing under the eaves, his chin buried in a high collar, with only half an ear exposed, small and slightly red.

Li Wenzhao walked over with the gift bag in hand and heard Jing Yi’s jumbled thoughts.

It was a chaotic mix of meaningless sounds, showing just how flustered he was.

"Sorry." Li Wenzhao looked down at him gently. "Did I scare you?"

Jing Yi shook his head.

"It’s not that easy to scare me."

It was just that in public, he easily felt embarrassed, but refusing Li Wenzhao felt like betraying his own feelings.

Li Wenzhao hummed. "I understand. I’ll try to restrain my feelings for you and not show them in front of others."

·

In the afternoon, back at the company, Jing Yi’s face was still hot, his head buried low, panic and embarrassment clear on his face.

When Fan Ming saw Jing Yi, he was momentarily surprised but quickly addressed Li Wenzhao. "Mr. Li, young Master Huo is here."

Jing Yi lifted his head.

Li Wenzhao didn’t recall this person. "Who?"

Fan Ming glanced at Jing Yi. "Huo Cenxin from the Huo Corporation."

The so-called 'villain love interest' mentioned by the young butler. Li Wenzhao frowned. "I remember that the Li Corporation doesn’t have any projects with the Huo Corporation."

Fan Ming explained, "The supplier for our resort's construction materials has been struggling, causing a significant financial gap. They had to transfer shares, and now, Huo Cenxin is the largest shareholder in the supplier company."

That meant they would have to deal with Huo Cenxin frequently. Li Wenzhao asked, "Where is she?"

"In the meeting room."

Li Wenzhao passed the gift bag to Fan Ming. "Put it in my office and send an assistant to take meeting notes."

Fan Ming replied, "Yes, Mr. Li."

Li Wenzhao turned back to see his young butler standing silently, neck shrunk, chin bobbing up and down in his collar. "With your head down like that, are you looking for money on the floor?"

Jing Yi lifted his head.

Li Wenzhao gently pressed his ruffled hair into place. "Not much work this afternoon. If you’re tired, take a nap in the lounge next door."

Secretary Fan was momentarily stunned, his glasses reflecting a brief flash of light.

Jing Yi looked up. "You know who Huo Cenxin is, don’t you?"

"Your toxic canon pairing, just like Ning Jiang, Qiu Minzhi, and Yuan Tingxuan, are all equally awful people."

Li Wenzhao gave a slight smile. "I get it."

Jing Yi nodded. "That's good then."

Even though Li Wenzhao was sharp and had an advantage, Jing Yi still feared he might fall into the storyline, especially since the love lines of the other three young masters of the Li family had all come true.

This also hinted that while career pitfalls could be dodged, the love story... would eventually catch up?

After all, this was a melodramatic romance.

In this sappy romance, love trumps all. Who knows, Li Wenzhao might come out of that meeting brainwashed...

"You have too little confidence in me." Li Wenzhao chuckled. "The words I said just now will always count."

Jing Yi’s face turned a light shade of pink. "..."

Li Wenzhao left for the meeting, and after standing in place for a moment, Jing Yi prepared to return to the office. However, as soon as he turned around, he met Secretary Fan's teasing eyes. "Butler Jing, are you and Mr. Li... secretly hooking up?"

"..."

Jing Yi suddenly understood the frustration Li Wenzhao felt when he messed up idioms. "Secretary Fan, don't make things up."

Fan Ming smiled knowingly. "Don’t worry, Butler Jing. I’ll make sure Mr. Li stays away from Huo Cenxin."

"..."

Unbelievable—Secretary Fan, once lovesick, had now turned into a full-blown gossip.

·

·

In the afternoon, with nothing pressing to do, Jing Yi grew bored and decided to chat with Secretary Zou.

This was also a key move in the cutthroat business world—if you weren’t going to work, you might as well drag your competitors down with you!

[Jing Butler]: Secretary Zou, are you there? [Cat peeking.jpg]

[Neighboring Secretary Zou]: It's Butler Jing. Are you here for the public secret manual as well?

[Jing Butler]: As well?

[Neighboring Secretary Zou]: Yes, many people from the Shen Group are asking me for it. I've already sent out 80 documents.

Jing Yi was stunned. "..."

If the Shen Group suddenly lost 80 employees... yikes, the thought was too grim to even imagine.

[Neighboring Secretary Zou]: If you want, I can send you the newly revised version.

[Jing Butler]: Thanks, but no thanks, Secretary Zou.

[Secretary Zou Next Door]: Are you sure you don't want it? It contains a variety of practical features like a test-prep guide, sprint techniques, high-score simulations, and guessing methods. It's something you deserve to have.

[You, Uncle Jing]: ...

It seems that Secretary Zou is determined to go all the way down this one-way street to nowhere.

Jing Yi hurriedly changed the subject: [The reason I'm looking for Secretary Zou is actually to ask a question.]

[Secretary Zou Next Door]: Go ahead, Assistant Jing. I excel at general knowledge, verbal reasoning, math, judgment, and data analysis.

[You, Uncle Jing]: ...

[You, Uncle Jing]: What I wanted to ask is, what did you and Secretary Fan talk about last night?

[Secretary Zou Next Door]: [Confused cat emoji] What specifically do you mean?

[You, Uncle Jing]: He... seemed to have persuaded his girlfriend to get back together with her ex-boyfriend last night.

The shocking news left everyone stunned for a moment.

After a few minutes, Secretary Zou finally replied:

[Assistant Jing, that was an example I used while explaining questions. Are you saying that Fan Ming could only understand and remember the questions I explained when he was drinking?]

[You, Uncle Jing]: ...

Jing Yi blinked, confused.

...That didn’t seem to be what he was getting at.

[Secretary Zou Next Door]: I see, thank you, Assistant Jing.

Jing Yi: “……？？？”

Hold on, we weren’t done talking—what exactly did you understand?

Jing Yi frowned and looked up.

Just as Fan Ming emerged from the secretary's office, and right when his figure appeared at the office door, his phone coincidentally rang. He looked at it and answered with a less-than-pleasant tone: “What is it?”

“......”

Whatever was said on the other end, Fan’s face fell instantly, his mood shifting faster than flipping through a book.

“...Get lost, who wants to drink and discuss questions with you? Are you not done playing, you love explaining questions so much, why don't you open a class outside? Zou Ting, you're a real piece of work!”

Jing Yi: “…………”

Got it, Secretary Zou is obsessed with civil service exams and even wants to drag the people around him into it.

Outside, Secretary Fan was yelling obscenities. After watching the scene for a bit, Jing Yi's phone rang. He didn't check the caller ID before answering, “Hello?”

“Jing Yi, is that you?” A familiar voice came through the phone.

Jing Yi was shocked, “Mr. Shen?”

“It's me,” Shen Shubai's voice was eerily cold, “I want to know, do you have something against the Shen Group?”

Jing Yi, confused, “No, I don't.”

Shen Shubai: "So you have a grudge against me?"

Jing Yi: "No, not at all."

"Then why the hell did you encourage Secretary Zou to take the civil service exam?! Now the whole company is in turmoil, and everyone wants to take the exam! Are you trying to screw me over behind my back? Do you have a grudge against me or something?" Shen Shubai lashed out.

Jing Yi explained, "It was Secretary Zou's personal choice. I just provided a perspective."

"Screw your perspective!" Shen Shubai said with a sinister smile. "Do you think just because Li Wenzhao has your back, I won't dare touch you? Jing Yi, are you afraid of walking in the dark at night? Let me tell you something..."

Jing Yi slammed the phone down.

Shen Shubai is such a hothead, nothing like a proper main character.

The phone rang again after a short while.

Jing Yi hung up and blocked the number without a second thought. He wouldn't listen, wouldn't look, and no one could scold him. Let Shen Shubai lose his temper alone.

·

·

Jing Yi had successfully slacked off all day and thought he could leave without a hitch, but then someone barged onto the top floor, trying to get into Li Wenzhao's office.

Talk about nerve!

Curious, Jing Yi stepped out and saw a young man arguing with Fan Ming, looking impatient and speaking rudely.

"Secretary Fan, what's going on?"

Fan Ming, blocking the unauthorized man, quickly said, "This is Secretary Yuan from Director Huo’s office. He wants to enter Mr. Li's office."

The young man angrily said, "Since you know who I am, how dare you stop me? Move aside! Our Director Huo has something to give to Mr. Li. Can you afford to pay if it gets damaged?"

Fan Ming didn't budge. "Either give the item to me to pass on, or make an appointment to come back later."

"Give it to you? How do I know you won't keep it for yourself?" Yuan Xiucheng said loudly. "Director Huo specifically instructed me to deliver it to Mr. Li's office personally!"

Fan Ming repeated, "Mr. Li isn’t here. Nobody gets in his office."

Yuan Xiucheng, getting even angrier, pointed at Jing Yi and exploded, "So he’s not a person? Why does he get to go in?"

Jing Yi blinked and looked at him.

Both are secretaries, but this guy’s attitude is way worse than Zou’s or Fan’s.

Yuan Xiucheng forcefully pushed Fan Ming aside and came face-to-face with Jing Yi. "Move."

Jing Yi didn't like this rude person and stood his ground.

Yuan Xiucheng huffed, "Do you know who I am?"

Jing Yi paused. "Didn't your parents tell you?"

The other man froze. "..."

Yuan Xiucheng didn't expect Jing Yi to respond like that and was stunned for a long moment, his face turning a bit red. "What do you mean? Do you want to argue with me?"

Jing Yi, with little expression, said, "I don’t argue; I just calmly slap people. Want to see?"

Yuan Xiucheng stepped back with a peculiar expression on his face.

"Is this how the Li family treats their guests?" He lifted his chin, trying to morally intimidate Jing Yi. "Do you think I won't report you to Mr. Li?"

Jing Yi responded in a low, ominous tone, "Do you believe I will actually slap you?"

Yuan Xiucheng: "……”

After a few moments of silence, realizing he wasn’t getting anywhere, Yuan Xiucheng stormed off in frustration.

Jing Yi watched his back and furrowed his brow suspiciously. "Secretary Fan, who is this person?"

"Yuan Xiucheng."

Jing Yi fell silent.

This was Yuan Tingxuan’s younger brother—a real bully who acted like a vampire—domineering since childhood. After his sister married Li Ting as she wished, he became even more unrestrained, using the Li family's name to commit misdeeds outside.

But because his sister protected him, he had always evaded the law. In the side story, the author hastily redeemed him, showing his change of heart, as he helped Shen Shubai bring about Li Ting's downfall. In the end, he married the protagonist's younger sister and lived a sweet life until old age.

What a terrible person.

"What do you mean by saying he’s such a terrible person?"

Just inside the door, Li Wenzhao, who had just come back, overheard the young butler’s silent musings.

Jing Yi turned to Li Wenzhao with a serious tone and complained, "A troublemaker just showed up at the door."

After listening to the whole story, Li Wenzhao’s gaze hardened. "I’ll get Third Brother to take care of it."

Jing Yi looked concerned. "Do you think he’ll believe me?"

Li Wenzhao gave a faint smile. "He wouldn’t dare defy me."

Jing Yi thought it made sense and felt relieved.

"Alright, time to clock out." Li Wenzhao paused, then suddenly said, "There's a lantern performance tonight."

Huh? Jing Yi paused mid-pack and turned his head, surprised by the sudden announcement.

Li Wenzhao's hand lightly rested on the table, tall, handsome, with the light brightly illuminating the room, reflecting the warm color in his eyes.

Jing Yi felt a flutter in his heart again. Truly top-tier male beauty.

Li Wenzhao suddenly turned his head and smiled, his eyes filled with uncontainable bright joy.

"……”

Jing Yi was dazed for a moment, then suddenly snapped back, his face immediately turning red.

Oh no, he had been eavesdropped on again.

Li Wenzhao laughed for a while before stopping. "It's good, at least you don’t dislike my appearance."

"..."

·

The city's premier aquarium had its grand opening, and on the night of the opening ceremony, a large-scale light show was performed outside the venue.

The night in the city was brilliantly illuminated, and many people had come to attend the opening ceremony. The long street was teeming with people, and the fireworks display was counting down.

Besides the fireworks, there was also a light performance. Thousands of drones soared into the sky, creating dazzling patterns and hues that shifted unpredictably, like entering a futuristic dreamscape.

Jing Yi gazed upward, his dark eyes reflecting the stars above.

Li Wenzhao led him forward, blocking the crowds surging from all directions. "Is it beautiful?" he asked softly.

"Beautiful," Jing Yi nodded, his eyes brighter than the lights in the sky.

He stared at the changing patterns without blinking, his face with thick lashes and his lips slightly parted in surprise, occasionally letting out a soft "wow."

An ordinary reaction, but it held Li Wenzhao spellbound.

"Jing Yi."

"Hmm?"

Jing Yi's gaze briefly returned from the sky, his glittering eyes looking over.

Amidst the bustling crowd and flickering lights, Li Wenzhao softly asked, "Can I hold your hand?"

Jing Yi's heart raced, his fingers instinctively tightening. "In public, how can you..."

Li Wenzhao chuckled. "I think I've underestimated how much I like you—I can't wait any longer."

Jing Yi's heart pounded, and he pursed his lips. "When you came back from your business trip, you said we should take it slow."

Li Wenzhao laughed softly. "I see you understood."

Jing Yi retorted, "I'm not a fool."

Li Wenzhao was silent for a few seconds, then smiled. "But I also said that I like a quick finish, not a slow simmer."

Jing Yi swallowed nervously, realizing something amidst his increasingly rapid heartbeat.

He looked up...

At that moment, the lights suddenly went out, and darkness enveloped him as the fireworks countdown began.

Still confused, Jing Yi was jostled by the crowd, stumbling forward.

Then his arm was grabbed by a large hand, and he fell into a warm embrace.

Vivid fireworks exploded overhead, and he nestled against Li Wenzhao's chest, hearing a heartbeat in sync with his own.

...Jing Yi felt like he couldn't think anymore.

Li Wenzhao gently encircled him with his arms, offering a comforting embrace. Surrounded by the constant flow of people and noise, he found peace in Li Wenzhao's arms, undisturbed.

He didn't know how much time had passed before he was slowly released as the fireworks ended.

The cacophony of voices returned like a tidal wave, snapping Jing Yi back to reality, his ears hot.

"You okay?" Li Wenzhao looked down.

Jing Yi shook his head. Even if something was wrong, he wouldn't have noticed at this point. His mind was more tangled than a ball of yarn after a cat had played with it.

His feelings for Li Wenzhao... didn't seem to be entirely those of a subordinate for his superior.

Remembering that Li Wenzhao could hear his thoughts, he quickly coughed a couple of times to cover up the turmoil in his heart.

Li Wenzhao looked back at him, his expression unchanged. "The fireworks show is over. Do you want to go home or wander around a bit more?"

Jing Yi's eyes drifted nervously. Unaware that his face was flushed like a sunset, he said, "Let's go home."

Li Wenzhao let out a soft chuckle. "Alright."

·

Back at the Li family home, Jing Yi retreated to his room, took a shower, and lay down on the bed, but his heart was too restless. He tossed and turned, too restless to sleep.

It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that he slowly began to feel sleepy.

But his sleep was far from peaceful. A thunderstorm broke out in the dead of night, with lightning and thunder shaking the bedframe, disturbing his rest.

Half-asleep, he heard the door open and someone switch on the light. A dampness filled the room. Jing Yi blinked awake and saw a bedraggled Li Ting, dripping wet, standing by the bed.

"Third Young Master?"

Jing Yi propped himself up on the bedsheet. Noticing the unlocked door, he realized he'd forgotten to lock it again.

Water dripping from him, Li Ting loomed over Jing Yi and tossed something heavy onto the bed. "You've been working quite diligently lately. Here, take this car and drive it."

A black car key lay on the quilt, its top side engraved with a fierce, charging bull.

Jing Yi's eyes lit up.