At 3 or 4 o'clock on Friday afternoon, every office was filled with a sense of perfunctory and impatience, even a company like GC was not immune. Suddenly, a low cry came from the large office of more than 200 people, and then it continued and surged like waves. Some people stood up, some stretched their necks, and some whispered to each other to ask what happened.
In fact, there was nothing wrong. It was just that someone suddenly sent two or three hundred cups of milk tea.
The receptionist stood up to greet him. Gu Xiu had already said hello and let him pass. She smiled sweetly: "Mr. Ye."
No one taught her to address him that way, but she had racked her brains for the entire afternoon and still couldn't figure out how to address Ye Kai.
Ye Kai was wearing a silk shirt with a unique bee logo on the chest, washed light blue cigarette jeans with the legs rolled up, and classic VANS high tops. When he passed by her, he could smell the faint scent of sage and the ocean. Although the age difference was a bit big, the receptionist still noticed that she blushed.
"Mr. Chen is still in a meeting. You can wait in the president's office." She led Ye Kai through the office. Everyone was sharing milk tea - to be honest, nothing can celebrate the upcoming weekend better than a cup of calorie-filled milk-topped fruit tea.
"Thank you for your expense," Bai Zhong pulled out a chair for him and asked, "Are you healed?"
Ye Kai was going crazy after lying down for two weeks. He just finished his TOEFL yesterday and came to get his internship report on Friday. He booked two movie tickets online. It was an arty drama, which he liked very much. He went to see it when it was released in Hong Kong last year. He wanted to watch it again when it was released in mainland China this time.
Gu Xiu was not there. He must be in a meeting with Chen Youhan. He turned sideways and glanced at the large conference room opposite: "How long have you been in there?"
"About an hour or so." Bai Zhong glanced at his watch. "It's almost time. Why don't you sit down for a while?"
Ye Kai nodded, with just the right amount of politeness and familiarity: "Don't bother me, I'll go over there."
"Over there" refers to Chen Youhan's office. Although he has been demoted to general manager, a business group can find thirteen executives who are equal to or higher than him - including Gu Xiu, but he still blatantly occupies the president's office.
Not long after they sat down, the door of the conference room finally opened, and more than a dozen people filed out. Chen Youhan strode with great momentum. Seeing that everyone was drinking milk tea, he knew that Ye Kai had arrived. He hadn't seen him for two weeks. For some reason, the desire in his heart swelled uncontrollably at the moment of meeting, and he even had to deliberately slow down his pace. He only slowed down five or six meters in the twenty-meter distance, and then hurried again.
Gu Xiu walked slowly behind him, passed the administration office, picked up an unopened cup on the girl's table, and said with a half-smile, "Cheese strawberry, it's too sweet."
"It tastes good." The administrative girl bit the straw and took a big sip, then blinked and looked at Gu Xiu in confusion.
"It tastes good," Gu Xiu took the cup and shook it as he walked, "but my teeth hurt."
The door was slammed shut with a force that was out of control despite the effort. The roller blinds were then closed with a single click. Fortunately, everyone was busy drinking tea, and no one except Gu Xiu noticed this detail.
"Shameful." Gu Xiu looked horrible, but couldn't help but chuckled.
Ye Kai dozed off on a single sofa chair, his hand resting on his cheek, his ears plugged with noise-cancelling Airpods. His black hair fell softly, his breathing was shallow, and his eyelashes cast a light shadow on his eye sockets. He had been sleepy recently and often felt sleepy. He couldn't help yawning when doing reading in the examination room. If Chen Youhan had come a little later, he might have really fallen asleep.
The light was bright, so it was easy to distinguish when the shadows in front of him dimmed a little. Ye Kai maintained his posture and did not open his eyes. He just smiled with his lips pursed, and a very shallow dimple appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Chen Youhan took off his headphones: "Still pretending."
His eyelashes trembled slightly, and finally opened slowly, but the smile on the corner of his lips was immediately stolen - Chen Youhan quickly lifted his chin and kissed him.
"I haven't seen you for half a month. Why do I feel so unfamiliar?" Chen Youhan brushed his cheek with the back of his hand frivolously, and his eyes were mixed with dangerous teasing: "Let me think about whose Sleeping Beauty this is."
"I lost my memory," Ye Kai met his gaze, keeping his posture unchanged, crossing his legs in a leisurely and elegant manner, "I got lost."
Chen Youhan leaned down, "That's easy—" He pressed his knees between his legs and pressed forward, "I can help you remember."
Ye Kai's breathing became unstable as he could feel each other's breath. He glanced at her with a trembling voice, "How can I help?"
Chen Youhan answered him with action.
The touch of lips rubbing against each other was strange and familiar. Because it was strange, it was more vivid and strong. Because it was familiar, it made him feel more eager and nostalgic. His tongue tip was sucked faintly, and the feeling of contact went from the tip of his tongue to his heart.
"Have you remembered?" Chen Youhan let him go briefly, his voice low, the confusion and aggression in his eyes were not suitable for the office.
Ye Kai couldn't help but laugh, pecking him again and again, and raised the corner of his mouth: "I remember now, I should go home."
Chen Youhan also laughed, and the breath of desire dissipated easily, like the mist on the mountain during the Qingming Festival. He hugged Ye Kai, using his strong back to hold him tightly in his arms, and said in a voice without any desire: "I really miss you."
Ye Kai deliberately said: "I don't want to."
Chen Youhan smoothed down the black hair on the back of his head, indulging his duplicity. After hugging him for a while, he lifted up the hair near his wound and asked, "How is your injury healing?"
The stitches were removed long ago, and now there are only faint marks.
"Will it leave scars?"
Ye Kai replied childishly: "Scars are a man's honor—"
Chen Youhan hit him on the head without mercy: "Retarded."
"Fuck," Ye Kai covered his head, "I have a concussion! Aren't you afraid that you'll slap me to death?"
"You are blessed with great fortune," Chen Youhan said perfunctorily, "You will be a disaster for thousands of years."
"..." Xiaobie's warmth was completely gone, "Break up!"
"We'll break up if there's a scar." Chen Youhan said slowly.
Ye Kai's eyes suddenly widened: "What do you mean?"
“How can such a valuable item have a flaw?”
Ye Kai was so angry that he pushed him very hard and threatened angrily in a low voice: "I will leave a scar on your back now!"
Chen Youhan smiled and hugged him. He was tall, and his muscle strength, which he had maintained for many years, was naturally stronger than Ye Kai. He easily held the man in his arms, "Tonight, tonight, don't make trouble, shh, Xu - I still have a meeting."
Ye Kai calmed down: "Want to work overtime?"
"Um."
The asset value of the Palau resort and flight route is being revalued. Such a large project is not easy to sell, and GC has less than four months before the bond matures.
"I booked movie tickets."
"when?"
"Eight twenty."
Chen Youhan breathed a sigh of relief and estimated the progress of the meeting. He was unable to make any promises and could only say that he would try his best.
Ye Kai added: "I have also booked a restaurant."
The restaurant has three Michelin stars at the top of the tower and 360-degree circular transparent floor-to-ceiling windows a hundred meters above the ground. It is the French restaurant with the best view in Ning City, and all the seats were booked two months ago.
Chen Youhan was stunned and whispered, "I really can't leave. How about going with classmates? Or should I take Ye Jin with me?"
Ye Kai's mood was visibly depressed, and Chen Youhan had to lower his head to comfort him: "Sorry, baby, tomorrow, ok? I will be free tomorrow."
Ye Kai took a deep breath, half pushed him away, and asked expressionlessly: "Do you know what day it is today?"
Chen Youhan’s first reaction was the anniversary, but that was wrong, their love was in spring.
Before he could remember, Ye Kai said coldly: "——It's your birthday."
Chen Youhan was completely panicked. He had forgotten everything. He was always dealing with Meihui, the government, and the investors who were eager to take away the Palau Resort. He had no time to care about such an insignificant day. He forgot that Ye Kai would care about the days he didn't care about. Just like if one day Ye Kai didn't want to celebrate his birthday, he would still solemnly circle the note on the calendar and send his blessings.
"I—" He wanted to excuse himself, but before he could finish his words, Ye Kai grabbed the front of his shirt. He pressed his forehead gently against his chest and said helplessly, "Happy birthday, Brother Youhan."
Chen Youhan hugged back vigorously, speaking incoherently: "I'm sorry, baby... No, thank you."
Hearing Ye Kai laugh, the clear and clean voice of the young man said obediently: "Although you are one year older, you will always be twenty-five in my heart."
Chen Youhan: "...You did it on purpose, didn't you?"
Ye Kai grabbed his shirt with both hands, and laughed so hard that his shoulders shook: "Old man, brother, no, uncle."
Chen Youhan slapped his butt hard: "Don't even think about getting out of bed tonight."
It would be silly to go to such a place to eat alone. The meal fee of more than 8,000 yuan per person had already been paid in advance. Ye Kai called Shi Yi and sent a concise invitation. Although he knew that he was a substitute, Shi Yi still gladly accepted the order - Michelin, it would be a waste if he didn't eat it!
The night view outside the window was gorgeous. The waiter elegantly held the red wine with a white handkerchief. He bowed and whispered to them to recommend it. Ye Kai was not interested and politely declined.
Shi Yi doesn't often come to such occasions, but surprisingly he didn't feel constrained. It was just that the probing looks from the people around him made him feel a little uncomfortable. With a sigh, he lowered his voice and said, "...It's so hard to be gay."
Shi Yi honestly knew that he couldn't express his sexual orientation and same-sex partner in public with complete ease and grace.
Ye Kai didn't answer, so Shi Yi asked directly: "Are you planning to come out?"
"out."
"Damn, this is exciting." Shi Yi took a sip of orange juice to calm down. "Do you think your family would agree?"
"I don't know, not necessarily." Ye Kai smiled, thinking of Ye Jin, "My sister should be fine."
“Is this true or false?”
"She saw it, but she didn't say anything—" Ye Kai knew Ye Jin very well. She knew about his relationship with Chen Youhan after the dance drama. Since she didn't say anything, she must have tacitly agreed, or was wavering. In short, "she shouldn't object."
"The revolution has achieved a phased victory. Come on, roommates, let's celebrate." Shi Yi raised his glass. "Cheers."
Ye Kai laughed, and the glasses clinked lightly, making a crisp sound. In the high-end lighting atmosphere, his eyes were gentle and sparkling.
"Then I'm just curious, what progress have you made?"
"Puff—cough cough cough!" Ye Kai coughed and hurriedly covered his mouth with a napkin, trying his best to remain elegant and said, "I don't think it's very convenient."
"Okay comrade, I understand." Shi Yi nodded modestly, but he didn't use enough force when cutting the lamb chops, and the knife made a violent scraping sound on the expensive porcelain plate.
Both of them looked horrible. Shi Yi was tense for a long time, put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and uttered two words: "Are you satisfied?"
Ye Kai: “…”
The cinema was just downstairs. Shi Yi thought about it and politely declined the invitation to watch the movie. After all, Ye Kai was very good-looking, and the atmosphere was fucking weird. He said goodbye and begged for mercy: "Please let me stay awake for a while."
During the break of the meeting, Chen Youhan received the photos taken by Ye Kai, which showed the exquisite plating, beautiful night view, and elegant and charming atmosphere. He replied sincerely: I'm jealous.
Ye Kai ignored him and coldly took a screenshot of the QR code of the movie ticket and shared it with him. When the movie started, he walked into the theater alone, carrying popcorn and Coke, feeling particularly comfortable.
He knew the plot by heart, and he revisited it purely for the beautiful camera language. In the middle of the film, under the jasmine wall, the heroine jumped into the ice-blue swimming pool. After a dreamlike montage, someone sat down next to him. Mr. Li's garden, green lime after the rain, and a hint of tobacco.
The corners of his lips curled up, and he moved the popcorn from his left hand to his right hand. No one cared about it, but the Coke he had drunk was picked up by the other party. The same straw, the ice had melted, and it was as light as water. The scene suddenly changed, the lights in the night were like stars, a long and graceful shot, and Ye Kai's shoulders suddenly felt a little heavy. He tilted his head and lowered his eyes. The light from the screen outlined the curve of Chen Youhan's profile, from the deep brow bone to the straight nose bridge, the slightly upturned lip peak, and the jaw that he always wanted to kiss. The camera on the screen pushed from the night to the sunrise at dawn, and the light and shadow slowly pushed across Chen Youhan's face, and then fell into shadow again.
The heroine said in English: "You know, I love you."
The male protagonist said, "It's dawn, Juliet, goodbye."
Ye Kai adjusted his posture to make Chen Youhan more comfortable.
He probably slept in the late night every day. Apart from work and long, suffocating meetings, he couldn't even remember his birthday. But at least he remembered the day when Ye Kai's stitches were removed for a follow-up visit, the day of the TOEFL exam, and asked Gu Xiu to write him a beautiful internship report.
The end credits began to roll, and the lights in the theater came on. This movie didn't sell well, and the few viewers got up one after another. Chen Youhan woke up from a deep sleep, but didn't open his eyes for the time being.
Ye Kai asked, "Is the movie good, Brother Youhan?"
Chen Youhan spoke, his voice a little hoarse, and said half seriously and half jokingly: "It's quite comfortable to sleep."
I picked up the Coke and took a sip. It tasted so damn bad.
"Happy birthday! Let me sing a birthday song for you." Ye Kai said.
The ending song is very long and beautiful. There is a small projection window on the right side of the screen, which shows a jasmine wall with dense light green leaves and small white flowers scattered around. It goes forward and forward with no end.
The cleaning lady held a broom and dustpan and looked at them expressionlessly.
Chen Youhan was still resting his head on his shoulder, catching the impressive scent of sage in the dull air of the cinema.
Ye Kai also took a sip of the unpalatable Coke that had been melted by ice, and cleared his throat.
"happy birthday to you,"
"happy birthday to you,"
"I wish you happiness and joy,"
"Happy birthday forever."
After he finished singing, Chen Youhan laughed and applauded him gently.
The two finally stood up. The cleaning lady seemed relieved. She stood sideways on the side of the road and watched them leave with a fearful and complicated look in her eyes.
The Jasmine Wall came to an end, and the ending theme finished playing. Chen Youhan asked, "What is the movie about?"
“Almost a love story.”
"Where's the cake?"
"It's in the fridge. I made it myself," he paused and said jokingly, "You must be looking forward to it."
Chen Youhan held his hand and restrainedly expressed his disgust: "Please let me go, it tastes so bad."
Ye Kai probably also had some self-awareness: "Just for show, don't eat so seriously."
The mall had already started to clear out and close at around 10 o'clock, so there were very few people. The two of them ignored the elevator and inexplicably took the escalator, one floor after another. Ye Kai intertwined his fingers with his: "Is the car downstairs?"
"Um."
"But I want to kiss you right now."
Chen Youhan put his arms around his shoulders, held the back of his head gently and domineeringly with his large hands, and lowered his head to kiss him.
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