Chapter 14: Meeting & Assessment. I'm not losing my mind.

Tong Jiaqi was the first to speak up, "He Guan, what are you doing here? Are you the...?"

Jin Jue grabbed his face with one hand, pinching his cheek to silence him.

Gan Qing had a faint suspicion, "He Guan... Director He, can you explain what's going on right now?"

He Guan replied, "Of course."

"Actually, I've said before that I was just dabbling in the entertainment industry. With marriage later on, there's definitely a need to balance family and work."

He Guan caressed the eight-carat diamond ring on his left hand.

He always wanted others to see and show off his enviable marriage.

"This isn't charity. I'm not cut out to be an idol. Being on stage would waste opportunities, and it should go to those who are prepared. I don’t deserve such a place, so I stepped down. It's simple logic."

He glanced at Chu Li, "Now, I have been appointed as a director of Xingyu. The primary task is to debut you all. The group was originally designed for five members, and since you guys are familiar with each other, we decided to bring Chu Li back to form the group. Any issues?"

Wen Mo was the first to respond, "None."

Gan Qing came to his senses, "Uh, none from me either."

Chu Li remained silent.

Jin Jue also did not object, "Mm."

Tong Jiaqi, who had been glancing around as others spoke, seeing that none of the five objected, gritted his teeth and said, "None from me either."

He Guan observed everyone's reactions and said, "Let's go outside. Come in one by one according to age to have a chat. Gan Qing, you first. The conversation is just for me to gauge. If you don't want to answer, that's okay. It won't take long for each person. I'm quite busy; I have a regular meeting at 10. Is that okay?"

All five replied in unison, "Yes."

A group of handsome young men stood up. They weren't exactly lethargic, but their spirits were average, perhaps affected by recent group uncertainties.

It was far from the ideal state in He Guan's mind.

He Guan said, "Gan Qing, wait a moment and come in after two minutes."

Gan Qing responded, "Alright."

After everyone left, He Guan knocked on the lounge door, asking, "Yan Zhu, have you finished eating?"

Yan Xu opened the door, his usually impeccable face now flushed, saying, "…Yes, yes."

He Guan pretended not to notice, "Okay, gather all the contract copies of Nolimit members signed through Xingyu and their personal details for me. I need to review them today."

Yan Xu replied, "Understood, boss."

About to have a conversation, as an executive assistant, Yan Xu knew well the priorities.

He quickly collected the files of the five individuals, delivered them inside, and brought Gan Qing in when he re-entered.

He Guan sat in the executive chair with his eyes closed. At the sound of the door opening, he opened them.

This assistant was quite competent; the only mistake he made was miscalculating the distance between the city center and Hongqiao district, causing him to miss breakfast.

When He Guan took longer than expected to come upstairs, Yan Xu suspected he couldn't find the office, promptly messaging him its location.

After printing the files and ushering Gan Qing in, he took care of what He Guan might have done himself.

All in all, He Guan was satisfied.

He Guan had thought that joining a new company would welcome him with some initial challenges, but the reception and even the assistant were impressive, sparing him concerns about internal politics.

He had skimmed through the company's regulations while waiting in the office; they were well-structured and provided fair benefits.

Although he hadn't yet seen how they were implemented, it was evident the company had a solid framework.

No wonder everyone was caught off-guard when Lou Jun announced the bankruptcy of Xingyu.

At a glance, it seemed to be a thriving company.

He Guan waited for Yan Xu to leave, relaxed his tone, and smiled, "Do you prefer standing? Sit down."

Gan Qing shook his head, "I'd rather stand. You're now a director; it's more respectful this way."

He Guan: "Alright. Is there anything you want to tell or ask me?"

Gan Qing hesitated, "I thought you wanted to ask me..."

He Guan chuckled, "It's clear you have more questions. Go ahead. You know my temperament. Being a director is just a title; it doesn't mean I'm above you. If we go by age, I should be calling you 'bro'."

His tone was gentle and reassuring.

Gan Qing relaxed considerably, sighing, "No wonder you left the group. You had a chairman position waiting."

He Guan playfully touched his ring, "Exactly."

Gan Qing: "So you're saying... Nolimit still has a chance to debut?"

He Guan: "Of course. Otherwise, what's the point? Even Wen Mo has trained for three years. You guys joined the company way before me. Didn't you train for at least five years? I won't let those years go to waste."

Gan Qing hadn't expected this answer and instinctively said, "Thank you..."

His voice choked, "Thank you so much..."

He Guan quickly interjected, "No crying, got it? You have to go back out there. If the other four see you, they'll think I made you cry. So no tears!"

Gan Qing laughed at He Guan's urgency, wiping his tears, "Alright, I'll just explain that I'm happy to them."

He Guan waved dismissively, "Who wants an explanation? Just don't leave my office crying. If you do, you'll be trending online instantly. I've even thought of a hashtag for you: #GanQingRunsFromHeGuan'sOfficeInTears. Once that's trending, no amount of explaining will help. Trust me, don't cry. This is a happy occasion, right? As the leader, be composed."

Gan Qing nodded, amused by He Guan's playful and exasperated tone, gently replying, "Alright."

The prospect of forming the group was what Gan Qing cared about most.

Who would want to see five years of hard work go to waste?

Just yesterday a member left the group, and today he discovered his new boss was the one who left. Moreover, they were gathering the right number of members to continue debuting. These emotional ups and downs rendered Gan Qing speechless, making him eager to share the good news with the remaining four.

Now, Chu Li is also part of their group.

He Guan said, "Alright, captain, head out. And send Jin Jue in. I can see you're bursting with the news."

Gan Qing, gleefully nodding, said, "Okay!"

His responses being more enthusiastic than usual revealed his current state of emotion.

As Gan Qing approached the door, he thought he heard a faint apology.

The whisper was so soft, passing swiftly by his ear, making him second-guess himself.

Was he mistaken?

Would the He Guan he knew from before apologize for a little prank on his teammate?

He glanced back and saw He Guan engrossed in some paperwork, not even looking his way. His focus was unwavering, and his lips were firmly pressed together, not looking like someone who had just spoken.

He must have... misheard, right?

Jin Jue's entrance was nothing like Gan Qing's.

While Gan Qing carefully opened the door with caution, this young master barged in with a bang and shut it behind him just as loudly.

Walking up to the desk, Jin Jue sized up He Guan as if examining an object, asking, "Are we debuting? You're not lying, are you?"

He Guan interlaced his fingers, leaning slightly forward to meet Jin Jue's gaze, "Of course."

Their eyes locked for a tense two seconds before Jin Jue broke the standoff, saying, "Then hurry up with the announcement."

He Guan leaned back, casually propping a leg onto the desk, "It's not the right time yet. What's the rush?"

Before Jin Jue could retort, He Guan quickly added, "We haven't recorded the demo, shot the MV, spent enough time practicing, or even learned stage dynamics. The team isn't ready, and there's hardly any content for a performance. If we debut now, what resources do I have to pave your way? Highlights of your antics on 'Talent Hunt 72'? You and Tong Jiaqi confronting me? Gan Qing screaming at a snake? Or maybe Tong Jiaqi sneaking snacks in the middle of the night?"

Jin Jue was at a loss for words.

Although Jin Jue was hesitant to admit it, He Guan's points were valid.

And the fact that He Guan had so much to say meant he genuinely wanted to guide Nolimit properly. This intention made Jin Jue unconsciously soften his stance.

Still, there remained a few concerns.

Jin Jue, a man of few words but piercing insight, quickly homed in on a crucial point: "How did you become a director?"

He Guan, without a shred of modesty and radiating satisfaction, replied, "Gift from my wife."

Jin Jue raised an eyebrow: "What kind of wife can grant you shares in Xingyu? Did you perhaps marry the third of the older generation of the Lou family?"

The Jin family, to which Jin Jue belonged, was not originally from Nan. They were migrants who had seen thriving growth in recent years, maintaining a friendly relationship with the Lou family.

Lou Dongcang has three siblings, two elder brothers and a younger sister in her thirties, who is divorced and has a child.

Jin Jue was well-acquainted with these details.

Given He Guan's sudden ascendancy at Xingyu, a link to the Lou family was evident. Mention of a wife naturally led Jin Jue to think of her.

However, He Guan immediately refuted the assumption: "No, not her. You'll find out during the elder's upcoming celebration. You'll definitely attend, won't you?"

Jin Jue frowned, "The elder? You sound so close already. Have you even checked if the Lou family's patriarch acknowledges you? If there hasn't been any news from the Lou family, it must be a marriage of convenience. And you're acting so high and mighty over that?"

He Guan responded in a relaxed manner, "A marriage of convenience is still a marriage. The certificate is there. You can go now."

Jin Jue quipped, "So, you're dismissing me in less than two minutes?"

He Guan, in a leisurely tone, retorted, "You seem quite keen to dig into my background. I'm your superior, isn't it only right that I don't let you openly berate me? Or did you expect me to cling to your leg, begging you to chat a bit longer? Hmm? Young Master Jin?"

Jin Jue was caught off guard.

It was only then that he realized the man sitting so nonchalantly before him was his immediate superior.

He Guan directed, "Off you go. Send Wen Mo in."

Jin Jue: "..."

As sharp as he was, Jin Jue understood the situation swiftly but struggled to swallow his pride, choking out, "I..."

He Guan didn't let him finish, seeing no need to give him an out. He called out, "Wen Mo!"

Jin Jue, face darkened yet too proud to argue further, promptly left.

Wen Mo entered and closed the door, genuinely puzzled, "What's with him? Why does he look like he's been offended?"

He Guan nearly choked on his drink, managing to reply, "No idea."

Wen Mo, with a playful grin, asked, "Can I call you Little Guan?"

He Guan, displaying a gentler demeanor than he had with Jin Jue, nodded, "Sure."

Wen Mo looked intently, "We really are debuting, right? Judging by your eyes, you don't seem to be lying."

He Guan sat up with interest, "Try guessing, what else do I want to ask you?"

Wen Mo pondered for a moment, "I've been doing well recently. You don't need to worry about my family. I have no objections to debuting. All's good."

He Guan gave a thumbs up.

Fans have reasons to worry about Nolimit carrying a penalty fee, among them, Wen Mo is the most concerning. Rumors say he has two younger sisters, one in middle school and one in elementary school, a time when they need someone by their side.

He Guan just reviewed some information, and it's true that Wen Mo's family is not well off. His mother is even classified as impoverished, currently relying on social assistance at home. Furthermore, one of his sisters holds a disability certificate; life for them is challenging.

He Guan passed over the QR code on his phone: "If you need money, reach out. Add me on WeChat."

Wen Mo: "Alright, thank you, Director He."

He Guan got a new phone and SIM card from Yan Xu for work purposes, and he wasn't worried about being recognized by any of them.

On his personal SIM card, he only added five contacts: Ren Ning, Lou Dong Zang, Lou Dong Zang's father, and recently, Chu Li and the driver.

After Wen Mo left, Chu Li cautiously pushed the door open. The loud noise caused by the door and frame startled him.

Like a spooked little cat.

He Guan: "Aluminum doors tend to be loud. Come on in."

Chu Li: "Y-yes, Director He."

He Guan eyed Chu Li for a moment.

Chu Li looked well, noticeably more relaxed and in better spirits since learning he'd be joining the group. His demeanor was much friendlier, a stark contrast to the timidity and excessive caution he displayed the night on the ship.

However, he's still a bit shy.

He Guan said without batting an eye, "Mhm, glad to see you're doing well. A friend asked me to look out for you. We're on good terms, so I agreed. If I treat you well, don't think too much of it. Overall, it won't be much different from how I treat everyone else."

Hearing about the friend, Chu Li's eyes lit up, "Director He, may I ask who your friend is?"

He Guan chuckled, "Trying to outsmart me won't work. I won't betray him; I'm a man of integrity."

Chu Li lowered his head, "...Will I get to see him again?"

He Guan: "He's busy, but you'll definitely see him. How often, I'm not sure. That's between the two of you. I'm just the messenger. But what I'm certain of is he has high hopes for you. Do your best, I have faith in you."

Chu Li looked up with a sweet smile, "I will. I won't let you or him down."

He Guan: "Good. He told me there's an issue with your current agent. Although I'm not sure what happened, from today on, you won't be working with him. For now, I'll assign you my previous agent. You've met him on the ship; he was the one who escorted you off."

Chu Li, slightly taken aback, "You were there that day?"

He Guan covered up the last bit, "Of course, why else would my agent be there? We went together. But I was unlucky that day, caught a fever and was bedridden in the cabin. Why? You seem a bit off; did my friend mistreat you?"

Chu Li: "...No, I just didn't expect it. Thank you for telling me. He's been kind to me."

He Guan: "That's good to hear. Oh, and from now on, you're a member of Nolimit. Your current physique won't do. Have you been keeping up with your training these days?"

Chu Li nodded, "I spend at least four hours in the dance studio every day."

He Guan remarked, "And yet you're so slender? Is it hard for you to build muscle due to your physique? It's exactly what my friend mentioned. Seems like you need a fitness trainer..."

Chu Li watched him as he became lost in thought, standing silently with the hint of a smile curling up at the corners of his lips.

The gentleman had asked He Guan to take care of him in such detail, probably fearing something might happen to him.

The feeling of having someone watch over you from behind is so comforting, so different.

It wasn't until He Guan snapped out of his reverie, raising his hand to signal him to leave, that Chu Li obediently closed the door behind him.

Tong Jia Qi had been waiting at the door for what seemed like ages. When he saw Chu Li, his first words were, "Brother Li, why did he keep you inside for so long? Were you okay?"

Chu Li shook his head, honestly replying, "I was asking Director He about someone we both know. Director He... He didn't question me about anything else."

Tong Jia Qi, always one for gossip, teased, "Someone special?"

Chu Li's face turned crimson, "No..."

Gan Qing tapped Tong Jia Qi on the head, signaling him to stop talking.

Wen Mo played with his fringe, pretending he hadn't heard.

Jin Jue never showed any interest in such topics.

Tong Jia Qi released him, after making sure Chu Li was alright, he grinned, showing his teeth, "If anyone bullies you, tell me. I'll beat them up for you."

Jin Jue took a step back.

Gan Qing moved to shield Jin Jue's face, "Don't glare like that."

"And, Jia Qi, no more of that talk. Forget any past prejudices; he's the boss now. If you can't learn basic manners, I really will beat some sense into you."

Tong Jia Qi looked as if the sky was falling, "...Why is it like this?"

Wen Mo leaned against Chu Li, laughing and relishing in Tong Jia Qi's misery.

Now that they knew they'd successfully debut as a group, they were more relaxed. They tried to cheer up a sulking Tong Jia Qi, "Go on, he won't say anything. Director He is quite decent."

After some reluctance, Tong Jia Qi finally decided to open the door and step inside.

As he entered, He Guan was browsing through some documents. Noticing Tong Jia Qi's arrival, but too engrossed to acknowledge him immediately, he didn't motion for him to come closer.

Once he finished perusing Tong Jia Qi's file, without looking up, He Guan casually asked, "So, thinking of leaving the group?"

Tong Jia Qi was taken aback, "How... How did you..."

He Guan teased, "So if I leave, you want to leave as well?"

Tong Jia Qi retorted, "Not at all! I have my reasons!"

He Guan looked up from the documents and inquired, "Is there an issue at home or do you simply not want to continue?"

Tong Jia Qi promptly responded, "I simply don't want to continue."

He Guan nodded, "Well, even if you don't want to, you'll have to. I signed my contract with Xingyu and now directly serve on Xingyu's board. They can just modify my contract without issuing a new one. Your situation is different. If you wish to quit, you'll have to pay a breach of contract fee. Does your family have the funds for that?"

From the information He Guan had just reviewed, Tong Jia Qi wasn't financially well off.

He was the second poorest after Wen Mo. In variety shows, he was always extremely focused on food, behaving as if he had experienced hunger as a child. Occasionally, he would binge eat, consuming until discomfort before realizing he'd overeaten.

Given his growth phase and the fact that he was the main dancer in the group, demanding a lot from his dance routines, Tong Jia Qi wasn't overweight and maintained a decent physique among celebrities.

He Guan prodded, "Speak."

After a prolonged silence, Tong Jia Qi hesitated, "…How much?"

He Guan replied, "One hundred thousand. Can you afford it?"

Tong Jia Qi admitted, "…I can't."

He Guan declared, "I won't lend it to you. I doubt the other four in the group will either. I'm guessing you won't even tell them. So, stay with the group."

Tong Jia Qi was rendered speechless, "..."

He Guan, peering deeply into his eyes, which reflected honesty and tranquility, asked sternly, "I'll ask you again. Is there an issue at home or do you simply not want to continue?"

Tong Jia Qi said in anguish, "I..."

Five minutes later, after hearing Tong Jia Qi's explanation, He Guan, massaging his temples, put down the documents and assured, "I understand. Don't worry, proceed with the debut as planned. I'll arrange for you to stay in a nearby apartment these next few days and have your mother join you there to ensure her safety."

All Tong Jia Qi could do was nod.

He Guan pressed, "Still thinking of quitting the group?"

Tong Jia Qi shook his head vigorously.

He thought to himself that if He Guan could resolve this matter, his last lingering concern would vanish.

He Guan set aside the paperwork.

The neatly bound documents thudded onto the desk with a soft thump.

He directed, "Alright, take a moment to gather yourself. I'll make a call. Once you've collected your thoughts, call the other members in. You're excused from the upcoming meeting. My driver will take you to fetch your family."

Tong Jia Qi wiped his eyes with his sleeve, "Understood!"

Three minutes later, Tong Jia Qi peeked out from the director's office and summoned the remaining four.

Now, all five stood once again before He Guan.

The atmosphere in front of He Guan now was strikingly different from before. He scanned the line of the five members before lifting his wrist to check the time, "Currently, apart from Tong Jia Qi who has another assignment, the rest will join me for the regular meeting."

The other four cast curious glances at Tong Jia Qi.

Tong Jia Qi flashed a dimpled smile, "I won't tell you what it is!"

The others collectively booed him in jest.

The one least eager to see He Guan ended up being the happiest to have done so.

He Guan internally acknowledged this.

His self-adjustment abilities were commendable. Tong Jia Qi wasn't as impulsive and tactless as he appeared on the variety show.

After all, "The Talent Hunt of Seventy-Two" wasn't exclusively hosted by Xingyu. Xingyu was only responsible for initial investments and subsequent selection of talents. The intermediaries, driven by the show's ratings, sometimes employed unscrupulous methods.

As He Guan led the way, he lowered his head to type a message, sending a WeChat to Du Jun Yan.

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He Guan called out, "Little Qi, go to the underground garage and look for a tall man, around 1.9 meters, waiting by the staircase."

Tong Jia Qi sprinted towards the elevator.

Walking beside He Guan, Gan Qing whispered, "Can't we know what's happening?"

He Guan smiled, taking the meeting agenda handed to him by Yan Xu approaching from the opposite side, "Let him handle it. I'll fill you in once it's sorted. For now, we need to think about the future of Nolimit. Let's head to the meeting. Many topics today are pertinent to you all. I'll discuss specifics with you afterward."

Opening the door to the conference room, under the bright overhead lights, he took his position at the head of the conference table. He nodded to the department heads and initiated, "Let's begin. Good morning, everyone."

"Before we start the meeting, take a sip from the water bottle beside you. Otherwise, I fear you'll be explaining things to me for quite a while."

Initially, only a few reached for the bottles.

He Guan shuffled some papers, "You all know that today I'm here for a Q&A, right?"

A few murmurs of agreement filled the room.

Unfazed by the lukewarm response, He Guan considered, "If I, an outsider, were constantly pampered upon arrival, I'd wonder if something was amiss in the company. Let's start with the technical department. If we were to launch a video interaction app tailored for celebrity fans, what's its feasibility and timeline? I require at least the following features, take note."

"First, for every artist under the company's banner, once followed by a user, all their past stage performances should be uploaded and pushed. Second, a segment for artist-edited content, where users can upload videos. Third, live rooms where artists can live-stream, either dancing in the studio or casual chat sessions while eating. Fourth, a video signing feature, to combat unforeseen issues like bad weather preventing in-person signings. If effective, we can consider moving all signings online. Fifth, a chat system, akin to the back-end chat boxes in Otome games. A subscription feature should be added where, upon approval, subscribers can send messages to artists. Artists can view and reply from the back-end, with both group and individual messaging capabilities."

Concluding his list, the technical department head hurriedly unscrewed his water bottle and took two gulps.

The Head of the Public Relations Department felt the gaze of He Guan on him, knowing he'd be the next one to speak. He quickly took a sip of water and began to flip through the notebook he'd brought with him.

The Chief of the Technical Department, a bald man, stood up and spoke rapidly with a hint of the nervous tremor typical of some male programmers: "We can implement features one through three simultaneously; these are standard features on video platforms. We have similar apps under the Xingyu brand. However, features four and five will require more time for development and testing. Even though they're existing models, no company has integrated all five into one system because they aren't solely designed for celebrities... It would take... at least... three months."

He Guan nodded, "Good, you've got the main point. I'm interested in the features that cater exclusively to celebrities. They might seem vague, but in practice, there aren't many. If the first three features are already available in apps, share them with me. Project my QR code on the screen; everyone add me and make a note, and the Chief of Technical Department, send me the apps."

"Next up, Public Relations Department."

The Head of Public Relations jolted in surprise and said, "Director He, you were saying?"

He Guan continued, enumerating his points, "Where are our primary channels for promoting our talents? List all channels for me, categorizing them into online and offline, including the costs and net profit of each channel. If you can't answer now, sit down."

The Head of Public Relations sat back down and turned to seek assistance from his aide.

He Guan took a sip of water and said, "Alright... next... Wardrobe Department, can the Chief of Wardrobe signal to me?"

The Chief of the Wardrobe Department raised his hand.

He Guan commented, "Great. Our Wardrobe Department is in-house, and while there's room for improvement in aesthetics and there's an urgent need for effort, I'm generally satisfied. After all, we have a large team of makeup and fashion artists."

Sweat was beading on the Chief of Wardrobe Department's forehead.

He Guan bluntly addressed the current inefficiencies within the department, despite their numerous staff.

He Guan directed, "Wardrobe Department, compile all previous styles and looks for our male groups. This should include the design philosophy for each look. If you haven't got it, then make it up. I want every group's entire style catalog from debut to disbandment."

Without uttering a word, the Chief of Wardrobe sat down.

He Guan continued, "Next, lead planners of each group. Do we have any girl groups?"

Someone stammered, "...Director He, we don't."

He Guan nodded, "Well, send scouts to recruit trainees. The market for girl groups shouldn't be overlooked. Other companies of our kind are already contemplating establishing girl groups. We shouldn't fall behind. Observe our competitors, make a report on the girl groups, and advise me on the type of talents we should recruit to broaden our market reach."

"Next, Photography Department, regarding your equipment..."

"Next, Logistics Department..."

By the time he finished speaking, the only sounds in the meeting room were the rustling of papers and the tapping of keyboards.

He Guan concluded, "For today, we'll leave it at that..."

Someone raised their hand, interrupting him, "Director He, who'll be personally managing the Nolimit group after this? We genuinely can't spare any more managers, and good managers are so scarce. And now with Nolimit..."

The four representatives from Nolimit in the meeting simultaneously turned their attention to He Guan.

He Guan pondered for a moment, "I can assign someone who'll guide them at least until their debut. During that time, allocate an executive manager and a chief manager to assist me. A two-month grace period. Is that acceptable?"

The inquirer breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you, Director He. There's one more thing."

He Guan: "Go on."

The inquirer spoke: "What about the music? We've always outsourced our arrangements. Do we need to change that now? The company isn't exactly poised for that shift at the moment."

He Guan was momentarily lost in thought.

It was as if a seed had sprouted, rekindling memories from years past, reminding him of a faint desire he once held.

He found himself saying: "Indeed, the approach needs to change. For now, we can utilize private studios. Let's cease collaborations with our previous outsourcing partners. I'll handle this. In due course, I'll provide you with samples."

The inquirer: "Understood."

With a downward gesture of his palm signaling the speaker to sit, He Guan took a drink of water, steadying himself. He continued, "The tasks can't be finished in two days. Excluding the Technical Department which already has a deadline, the Wardrobe and Public Relations Departments have half a month to compile the data I mentioned. All other departments should summarize their tasks into a report within a week."

"Nolimit is currently in dire straits. The decision to debut after the last program was rather hasty. We need time to nurture a more enduring, genuine star group. I need your support. That's the purpose of this meeting."

"Our next meeting will determine Nolimit's debut. Everyone should be prepared. I might excuse your inability to answer today, considering it's our first meeting and we're unfamiliar with each other."

"However, next time, if department heads cannot provide input and rely solely on a PowerPoint made by subordinates without even reviewing it for the meeting..."

Several heads of departments visibly tensed.

"Such negligence will face consequences. I believe in clear rewards and penalties. This time, I'll allocate a portion of the budget as a reward for the Photography Department, who performed the best."

"Meeting adjourned."

Contrary to the casual demeanor at the start of the meeting, everyone unanimously replied: "Acknowledged!"

After the intense meeting, a palpable relief washed over the attendees.

For the first time, almost all the mineral water provided by the company was consumed.

The cleaning lady, collecting the bottles later, found it unusual that she didn't need to empty any remnants.

Not long after the meeting, He Guan received good news from Du Junyan: The abused woman was safely in a private hospital with Tong Jiaqi by her side, ensuring no paparazzi followed.

"Alright, Junyan, come back. Let Tong Jiaqi stay with her for a couple of days." After ending the call, He Guan turned to the four men who had joined him, "You all can take a break. No need to come in for the next two days. Enjoy your short holiday. It'll be a while before you get another break like this."

Wen Mo exclaimed, "Wow, sounds intense! Is some sort of rigorous training coming up?"

He Guan gave Wen Mo a scrutinizing look, "Well, for now, none of you... are quite up to the mark."

Jin Jue questioned He Guan's judgment, "Even me?"

He Guan: "If I asked your body fat percentage right now, could you answer? Have you even checked since hearing about the group's hiatus?"

Jin Jue's eyebrows furrowed, and he fell silent.

He Guan spread his hands in resignation.

He wasn't yet aware that, behind Jin Jue's handsome façade, lay a homebody who probably spent his days gaming and snacking.

Gan Qing: "14% is acceptable?"

He Guan: "Yes, it's pretty standard for a team leader. Alright, stop asking me here. Tong Jiaqi will discuss this with you after his vacation. I've got things to handle, so off you go. Why are you all hovering around me? Do you think I'm a mother hen with her chicks?"

Jin Jue strode off without hesitation.

Wen Mo, trailing behind Jin Jue, playfully mimed tapping him on the back and made a face at He Guan.

Gan Qing gave a casual wave.

Chu Li gave He Guan a silent smile and followed the others out.

He Guan tossed his empty water bottle into the bin, took the private elevator to the parking lot, and only relaxed once he settled into the car waiting for him, driven by Du Junyan.

The sudden change in pace was a bit much for him too, but times were different now.

The project he aimed to complete aligned surprisingly well with his own aspirations.

A good development indeed.

Only when Du Junyan drove up did He Guan realize it was a Rolls-Royce Wraith, even better than Lou Yi's EQS.

Today was so packed, he hadn’t even noticed.

By the time the meeting ended, it was nearing midnight. When they reached Zang Dongyuan, it was past two. Yawning, He Guan bid Du Junyan farewell. As he walked into Zang Dongyuan, he was so tired he felt like collapsing into a pile of fallen leaves.

But he couldn't.

With Uncle Yue's help, he ate a reheated lunch, attended to all the WeChat messages from the morning's meeting, and then looked out the window. The sky was almost completely dark, with only a hint of orange glow on the horizon.

He Guan rubbed his eyes, "Uncle Yue, how did it get dark so quickly?"

Uncle Yue handed him a cup of tea brewed with cassia seeds, "This will help clear your vision, young master. Take a sip."

He Guan took a drink, leaned back on the couch, and asked, "Where's Lou Dongzang?"

Uncle Yue: "I'm not sure. He hasn't come downstairs this afternoon."

He Guan, still weary, set down his phone, "Oh, right... I've been so busy since I got back and haven't been upstairs. He might think I'm still out... I should let him know..."

Uncle Yue: "No need. Dinner's ready. You should eat. I'll call him."

He Guan: "Oh? He's willing to come down for dinner?"

Uncle Yue: "Yes, we discussed it earlier. He agreed to dine downstairs when I'm here."

He Guan playfully whined, "That's nice. Seems you two had a good chat. I don’t feel like moving. Uncle Yue, could you please call Lou Dongzang down for dinner with me?"

Uncle Yue: "Certainly."

Uncle Yue reheated the leftover pork rib soup from the morning and prepared two stir-fries and a cold dish for dinner.

At the dining table, He Guan devoured his meal, all the while making sure to serve Lou Dongzang.

Lou Dongzang was especially quiet today, obediently eating whatever He Guan served him. It seemed he was hesitant to speak in the presence of an outsider.

After dinner, He Guan, having cleaned up, went upstairs to find Lou Dongzang, suggesting, "You should sleep in the guest room tonight."

Lou Dongzang paused, sitting at the edge of the bed, softly inquiring, "Why? Didn't you promise to sleep beside me?"

Having forgotten his one-night promise amidst the chaos of recent events, He Guan simply explained, "I drank alcohol tonight."

Lou Dongzang looked puzzled: "...?"

Overwhelmed by exhaustion, He Guan quickly explained, "We have a banquet in a few days, right? I need to gauge my tolerance to avoid getting too drunk then. I'll certainly get drunk tonight and I don't want to sleep beside you reeking of alcohol."

When drowsy, He Guan had a tendency to blurt out anything that came to mind. He carelessly coaxed, "Be good and sleep on your own tonight."

This wasn't the first time he'd spoken so unguardedly out of fatigue.

Noticing this trait, Lou Dongzang did not contest. With a neutral tone, he simply responded, "Alright."

In his own room, He Guan took a few moments to steady himself. He then set a small round table, preparing to open a bottle of Moutai, seeming to be in the mood for hard drinking.

Instead of sipping, he was going for quick shots which would get him drunk faster.

Holding a 400ml mug usually reserved for water, He Guan began pouring the Moutai, readying his phone to start a timer: "Let me set this up..."

The man, who had been sitting on the bed, had silently approached and now sat across from He Guan, gently stopping his hand.

His hand was still cold, which slightly invigorated the drowsy He Guan.

He Guan asked, "What's the matter?"

Lou Dongzang replied, "You won't need a timer. I can keep time for you."

He Guan protested, "Move aside. You can't see, and you're distracting me. I'm tired and not in the mood to accommodate you right now."

Lou Dongzang pointed out, "But won't you need to turn off the timer once you're drunk?"

A bit taken aback and too sleepy to think clearly, He Guan pondered, "Oh... So, what should I do? Should I call Uncle Yue?"

With the utmost patience in his deep voice, Lou Dongzang reassured, "No need."

Lou Dongzang continued, "Enable the accessibility mode for visually impaired users on your phone. I can help with the timing."

He Guan, intrigued, questioned, "Oh? There's such a mode?"

Lou Dongzang affirmed, "Yes, first set your phone screen to stay on constantly so it doesn't turn off."

He Guan complied.

Lou Dongzang: "Turn on the narration in settings under accessibility."

He Guan immediately did as told.

Lou Dongzang: "Lastly, hand me the phone."

He Guan passed his phone to him, his sleepiness slightly fading, and asked, "How do you use it? Show me."

The two brothers stood up, and He Guan took a step to sit next to Lou Dongzang. With half-closed eyes, he leaned against Lou Dongzang's shoulder to see how he operated it, saying, "Mind if I lean on you?"

In a languid manner, He Guan didn’t want to open his eyes fully but was curious about how it was done, so he chose this position.

A cushion might be good... Mmm.

So refreshingly cool. Quite pleasant.

One's energy is finite. He Guan exerted too much mental effort today, making him much less sensitive to physical contact.

He found this posture comfortable, so he took it, not noticing the tension of the person he was leaning against.

He had thought Lou Dongzang didn't have a phone before, assuming he didn’t use one. But since he knows the blind mode, maybe he should buy one for him...

That being said, Lou Dongzang must have had a phone before. Why doesn't he have one now? Was it taken from him...?

Ah, my head aches...

Before He Guan could ponder further, he heard the mechanical female voice from his phone abruptly announce, "Settings."

He Guan looked at Lou Dongzang's hand.

Lou Dongzang swiped up from the bottom left corner of the screen, and with two distinct beeps, the screen went back to the main menu.

He Guan asked, "Is that the back function?"

Lou Dongzang: "Yes."

He Guan watched as Lou Dongzang tapped on the screen, with the mechanical voice reading out each action.

"Home screen."

"Camera."

"Clock, 9:53 PM. Double-tap to open."

So that's how the blind mode works.

Lou Dongzang double-tapped on the clock app, automatically entering its interface. Then, he navigated to the tab bar searching for the stopwatch.

"Tab bar."

"Alarm clock."

"Stopwatch."

Found it.

He Guan: "When did you learn this?"

After a moment of silence, Lou Dongzang's operating fingers paused, speaking with a hint of self-deprecation: "...I researched it a long time ago. Didn't think I'd use it now."

He Guan remarked with genuine curiosity: "It's so clever of you to know this. If it were me, I might not even realize these features exist even if my phone broke. Why downplay such a skill?"

His words seemed out of the blue, but they effortlessly brought out Lou Dongzang's subtle emotions.

Lou Dongzang: "...Yes."

He then double-tapped to switch from the alarm clock to the stopwatch.

The mechanical female voice diligently announced:

"Zero seconds."

"Lap."

"Page one of two. Digital stopwatch, adjustable. Swipe up or down with a single finger to adjust values."

"Page two of two. Analog stopwatch."

As he had said, if it weren't for Lou Dongzang using the accessibility mode today, He Guan might never have known that there was an analog stopwatch face in the stopwatch app, just like a real stopwatch.

Lou Dongzang finally tapped 'start.'

The relentless mechanical voice declared: "Start, button."

Lou Dongzang, eyes closed, turned to him and said, "Double-tap to start, and double-tap again to stop. It's convenient. Drink up, I'll watch over you."

He Guan opened his mouth, and after a few seconds, broke into a laugh, revealing his charming canine teeth, and responded, "Alright... I promise I won't go wild from the alcohol."

Lou Dongzang replied with an upbeat tone: "Good."