Chapter 2

It was a simple worry: flowers and cards in the trash. However, Pei Huai's energy was limited, constantly juggling morning shifts and field work, leaving him with no time to deal with this. Furthermore, the unique nature of his job meant he couldn't bring himself to contact the patrol officer.

The place he chose was a classic, old-fashioned rental house, combining the bedroom, living room, and kitchen into one space. The stove and refrigerator alone took up a third of the space. The entrance faced the bed, and the space was so cramped that there was only enough space for a small bathroom. The entire house stretched to the horizon.

Pei Huai lay down on the sofa in boredom and had to take some sleeping pills before going to bed. Soon, the night slipped away as his eyelids closed.

He began to think about the flowers, the card, and even whispered the details of the funeral in the text message.

—Funeral. He hadn't heard that word in nearly ten years.

The reconstituted family that had cared so much for their young son suddenly vanished the moment the word appeared, leaving Pei Huai somewhat in disbelief. It was like the noose that had been around his neck for over twenty years had been removed, declaring his freedom.

So he didn't want to keep the appointment, and even more so, he didn't want to see those relatives pecking at the coffin.

Even though it was the funeral of his only brother.

The chaotic thoughts became scattered.

When his breathing returned to a steady pace and his chest rose and fell, but there was no sound that could stimulate his nerves anymore, the wardrobe door was gently pushed open.

The movement was so subtle, it made almost no sound. A figure slowly descended. In the darkness, they expertly maneuvered around the coffee table, chairs, and decorative vases, moving to the side of the sofa.

He raised his phone, pointed it at the unconscious face and pressed the shutter. When he lowered his hand and looked at the face in the focus frame again, the other person seemed to be completely lost in thought and couldn't help but lean closer.

A hand reached under Pei Huai's shirt, stroking his slightly undulating abdominal muscles, and his palm wrapped around his chest from one side. A button near his collarbone popped open, revealing a large area of ​​his chest.

His five fingers slowly squeezed, he bent over closer, and his breath swept across Pei Huai's lips that were filled with moans.

"Brother, can you sleep with me tonight?"

-

The next morning, Pei Huai was woken by the alarm clock ringing at 7:00 sharp—two full hours before work. After washing up, he chose an open-front sweatshirt, paired it with straight-leg jeans and Doc Marten boots, going for an avant-garde and fashionable street style.

He was a natural fit for such a casual outfit. His back, concave all the way to his tailbone, not only made his waist appear narrower and his legs longer, but the narrow gap between his shoulders and neck was also faintly covered with a thin layer of muscle, giving him a stunningly good figure.

Breakfast was oatmeal, just enough for one last meal before the milk expired.

Pei Huai cleaned the living room on time and went out to throw out the trash. As he went downstairs, he heard the old man on duty at the door of the garbage room, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan and complaining in dialect about how many flowers had been thrown away recently, and how delicate they looked, which was a pity.

He walked to the bus stop without saying anything and caught the bus that was due ten minutes later. He arrived at the Bangkok Hotel half an hour early—the company's name was "hotel," but it was just a gimmick.

The Bangkok Hotel was actually a private enterprise that primarily accepted debt collection commissions and occasionally engaged in illegal activities. Pei Huai didn't know much about it, and he only knew what he was supposed to do and what he should pay attention to as an employee.

Even though today's visit was not something to look forward to, he was still prepared to meet the new person.

Before the introduction began, the manager of the Bangkok Hotel-Kennesaw branch called him into his office, saying that he wanted to discuss some work matters.

This man, in his late twenties, wore a suit and a striped tie. His classic style was complemented by a watch, a brooch, and a white shirt with a pointed collar. He exuded a rich perfume, a blend of grapefruit and amber, the unique aura of a mature man.

There was a name card on the table with the words "Zhu Zhiyang" written on it.

"Pei Huai, these past few commissions are thanks to you. Our division's performance has increased significantly. Ruan Yunhao will also be transferred to a division more suitable for him." Zhu Zhiyang kicked his swivel chair and pointed to the whiteboard behind him. The growth curve on it clearly explained everything. "The new person that headquarters recommended to you this time is said to have a good personality. HR hopes you can train him for three months as an internship. Please report any developments to me at any time."

Pei Huai nodded calmly, having no objection. Seeing that his boss had no other instructions, he turned and started to leave.

"Pei Huai."

The employee whose name was called turned around and looked at him.

"You really don't want to be transferred to the corporate department?" He picked up a cigarette butt from the corner of the desk mat and pressed it into the ashtray. "With your ability, managing a small district shouldn't be a problem. There's no need to just get paid daily like you do now."

"I can't wait for the monthly payment."

"I know your family's situation well, and I won't ask you questions knowing the answer. But if you're still worried about it," Zhu Zhiyang expected this answer and sighed deeply, "I can offer you help. But you've never accepted my offer."

“…Because there’s no need.”

"But this is an opportunity." He shrugged, resting his chin on the back of his hand to move his elbow forward, offering the gentlest of invitations. "We can find a Western restaurant and have a good chat about what to do next. I don't want an employee I'm confident in to face this pressure alone."

"unnecessary."

"—not even a dinner?"

"Yes." Pei Huai nodded as politely as possible. Just before turning the doorknob, he seemed to have thought of something and turned back to say, "Tomorrow is the weekend. Please don't call." This was followed by an extremely stiff "thank you."

With a bang, Zhu Zhiyang was not surprised to find himself facing a door that was slammed shut.

Pei Huai's every move repelled him. He disliked any intimacy or overtures from anyone, and kept himself isolated from many relationships. If it wasn't work-related, it would be difficult to find a reason to see him.

From the moment they met, the boss had a deep understanding of his temper. The man shrank back in frustration, smiling and shaking his head.

"You really don't give me any face at all."

This sense of distance continued until the introduction meeting—a young man with a bright smile walked into the meeting room after the HR director. He was very tall, estimated to be half a head taller than Pei Huai.

From top to bottom, he wore a sports jacket, jeans, and a brown and yellow striped rugby shirt. His hair was naturally curly, and the corners of his eyes tilted up slightly, giving him a sly, smiling look, like a short-tailed kangaroo.

She looks a bit childish, which matches the vitality in her smile.

He bowed, clapped his hands on his chest, and introduced himself with a beaming expression.

His name is Xiang Mingqi, an international student who originally attended college in New Jersey. After graduation, he had no idea where to go, so he came here when he saw the job posting. His hobbies include rugby, billiards, and a variety of other ball games. He came here without doing any research or understanding the company beforehand; he came here purely out of personal interest...

As for why the newcomer had to include so much nonsense in his self-introduction, Pei Huai's brows furrowed in confusion. Furthermore, the newcomer kept winking at him during the introduction, and he had no idea what that meant.

"Work is not a game." Pei Huai concluded his self-introduction with this comment. He stood up and gestured to the HR representative, "Next time, please do a background check in advance. Excuse me."

"Brother!" the newcomer still standing on the stage hurriedly called out to him—the title made Pei Huai's back stiffen slightly, and his steps slowed down a beat. Xiang Mingqi darted into the middle of the road, shook his hand, and looked at him with hope. "I made a cake especially for you today. Let's take this opportunity to get to know each other."

"No need." Pei Huai broke free.

"Hey, you don't like sweets? Do you dislike cake base or do you hate cream?" Xiang Mingqi pressed forward without getting discouraged, holding on to the door frame. "I've been researching cakes all night. Brother, do you really not like it?"

"...Thank you." Pei Huai took a step back and distanced himself from him. "Also, it's working hours now. Please keep quiet." He finally nodded and gestured politely.

As he left the meeting room, he thought, "I hope the new guy can actually put the same effort into his work as he put into making cakes. He doesn't want to be tortured to the point of mental breakdown by a careless fool."

The HR director wasn't surprised by this sort of situation. She added a few lines to the end of the report, essentially a comprehensive assessment of the new hire. She breathed a sigh of relief; the meeting ending this way was the best possible outcome.

Pei Huai's pathological efficiency—it wasn't easy to get him to accept someone from the bottom of his heart, especially a partner. Three months. She knew very well that this young man would probably suffer greatly at his hands.

"Has he accepted me? What a unique way." Xiang Mingqi put his hands on the corner of the table and jumped. "Do you think he will accept the cake I give him now?"

"I can't give you an answer to that."

"Just tell me, or I'll be sad."

"If you can change his mind about efficiency, it's not impossible. I can see that his first impression of you wasn't very good. Don't be so frivolous next time."

"Did I mess up just now?" Xiang Mingqi snorted in disappointment. "No, I even wrote down my plan several times on the way here."

"Your behavior wouldn't be disliked by other seniors. But Mr. Pei isn't easy to get along with. He likes to make his own decisions on many things." The latter put the pen on the table and patted his sturdy shoulders a few times. "Don't be disappointed. You still have three months to get along. During this time, he won't let any personal feelings get in the way of anything work-related. You can rest assured about that."

"What? My parents used to say the same thing. Sister, why are you acting like a balding middle-aged man?" Xiang Mingqi pouted slightly in dissatisfaction. "Don't worry, I promise I'll be able to warm up to him in a week."

The HR patted his face, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "You're quite good at painting a rosy picture for yourself. Okay, I have work to do, so I'm leaving."

"Bye." Xiang Mingqi said goodbye, holding his phone with his thumb. The door to the conference room clicked shut, and he leaned back and clicked on the lock screen.

A scene cuts into view. The background is a dim and cramped old residential building, covered in dust and cobwebs.

He narrowed his eyes, and the curve of his lips gradually deepened.

Diagonally across from the camera, a figure can be vaguely captured. Even with the distorted image, this person is still incredibly beautiful, like a model or movie star walking onto a set, and every frame makes your heart beat faster.

"After all... I know him better than any of you." His thumb stroked the blurry profile.