Chapter 54

Because it was stuffy indoors, Luo Jie suggested sitting outside. There was no wind and the temperature was not very low, so they could get some fresh air. He Songgao said yes. They ordered some beer and snacks. Luo Jie found that European food was actually quite monotonous. No matter what restaurant, they always had the same ingredients, just a different way of cooking. He began to miss the food in his hometown again.

He Songgao said, "I just asked you if you wanted to eat Chinese food, and you said no - no waiting after the expiration date."

"I don't mean to complain, I'm just complaining." Luo Jie took a sip of beer. It was really unpalatable, with a strange taste. He stuck out his tongue, "What is this taste, so unpalatable."

"You ordered it yourself." Ginger beer is similar to eating red date ice cream for health preservation. He Songgao pushed his glass to him, "You drink mine."

"Thank you." Roger was not polite at all, "Then you drink mine."

He said that the two of them would exchange, but He Songgao refused: "I don't like ginger beer either, order another one."

He had to clean up the mess he had caused himself. Roger stood up and said, "I'll help you order."

The weather was good today, and there were many guests sitting outside. Roger eavesdropped on their conversation and found that these people came from all over the world, some spoke English, Spanish, French, and even Korean.

Roger remembered that He Songgao had just said that he would take him on vacation, and he didn't know if it was true or a joke. Going on vacation - of course, he could, he wanted it more than anything. But can he have so many vacations, he didn't make any great contributions. But - since he said it, and in that tone, he shouldn't be joking. Roger wanted to ask, but he was afraid that he had misunderstood. Asking on purpose would show how eager and shameless he was. He was complaining to He Songgao again. You can't make jokes like this that will make people look forward to something. If others take it seriously, they will be disappointed when their expectations are dashed.

He Songgao saw through his absent-minded look, of course. "What are you thinking about?" he said, looking closely at Roger's face.

"I..." Roger thought again and again, and finally decided to go for it -

what's wrong with being shameless? He was actively seeking benefits for himself! Only those who take the initiative have the right to obtain happiness. If he is rejected, he will take the opportunity to blackmail him. So what? He was the first one to joke about this matter. How much psychological damage has he caused to himself? Roger asked He Songgao shamelessly: "You just said you would take me on vacation. Is it true?"

"Really." He Songgao took a sip of beer and smiled, "Why, have you considered it?"

"Do you still need to consider this? If you are serious, I will go back and pack my luggage now."

"Of course I am serious."

Roger was so excited that he almost jumped up on the spot: "Really? Don't joke with me! It is immoral to joke about this matter."

"Do I look like I am joking with you?" He Songgao said, with a serious look on his face.

"...When are we leaving? Where are we going?" Roger was almost overwhelmed by this huge surprise that fell from the sky. "How long will we play?"

"Where are you going? As for the time." He Songgao counted the days, "After Christmas."

"!" Roger was surprised, "From today... two weeks?" To be precise, it is 12 days, rounded up to two weeks.

"Yeah." He Songgao's expression was very calm, as if he had not just made a decision that would make another person dizzy with joy, but was just answering the question "Is the beer good?"

"Oh my God." Roger stared, muttering, "If I had known, I would have scolded you earlier. You actually had such a realization after I scolded you... Oh no, sorry, I was too excited so I was talking nonsense."

He Songgao looked at him with amusement: "Are you really that excited?"

"Of course! I have never traveled for such a long time in my life, and it's in Europe... By the way, where are we going to play?" This is a question that Roger is very concerned about.

"Where do you want to go?"

"I want to... I want to go to the UK." Roger thought for a while and said.

"Pass, there is no time to apply for a visa."

"Aren't you the president? Can't the domineering president on TV solve small problems like visas with a wave of his hand?" Roger joked.

"..." He Songgao paused, and actually responded to him with a cold smile with a blank expression, "If I were the President of the United Kingdom, I would allow you to enter the United Kingdom without a visa, and stay as long as you want."

"Hahaha." Roger was immediately amused, "I'm kidding. Do you mean that I can go wherever I want?"

"Yeah."

"Swipe your card?"

"Yes."

"Take a private plane?"

"What's the point of taking a private plane." He Songgao smiled, "Isn't it more challenging to customize your own itinerary."

"How do you customize it yourself?" Roger didn't quite understand.

"Tell me where you want to go first."

Coming to Europe, of course, it's to Northern Europe! Roger rubbed his hands and said excitedly: "I want to go to Northern Europe - to Norway, Finland, Iceland, preferably a place where I can see the aurora!"

"Sure." He Songgao said, "Do we also want to go to the chocolate factory?"

Roger hesitated, "Since we are here, we might as well go and take a look."

"Well, then tomorrow."

"Does that mean we will leave for Northern Europe the day after tomorrow?"

"That's right."

"Hehe." Roger smiled with his eyes curved, "I'm so looking forward to it, I wish it could be tomorrow right now."

"You are really easy to satisfy." He Songgao laughed along, "Is there anything else in the world that can make you happier?"

"What else?" Luo Jie's eyes rolled around in his sockets, and suddenly he leaned forward and said in a low voice, "Of course - a salary increase! This way I can afford to buy a house, and no one will despise me when I get married in the future."

The smile on He Songgao's face disappeared in an instant, "Get married?" He snorted, "What kind of woman is willing to marry a guy like you--"

"What about me?" Luo Jie's eyes bulged, having a premonition that he was about to say something disgusting again.

"——Naive fool." He Songgao said, turning the beer glass on the table, "As a man, you are not mature enough."

"Not mature enough?" Roger touched his chin, thinking, "It seems true. You are quite mature, maybe you can teach me how to be a mature person."

"A mature man will not think about getting married all day long, he must be ambitious. What do you think?"

"That's true. But," Roger said hesitantly, "I don't think being a secretary has much future. I've been a secretary for five years, and I feel that this position is essentially a waiter, a senior waiter, but the person I serve is the president - can you transfer me to another position? Being the president's assistant is not bad either.

" "Is there any difference?" He Songgao thought for a moment and said.

"Well." This question really stumped Roger. There is actually a big difference between a secretary and a general assistant, but He Songgao has not had his own assistant in recent years. Roger basically does the work that an assistant should do. To be frank, sometimes he can even sign on behalf of He Songgao (this is authorized by the president). So, what is the difference? In fact, there is - general assistant sounds better than secretary, especially for men. Roger cleared his throat, and in order not to sound too vain, he said seriously, "I really want to improve. For employees, when they have worked for a certain number of years and their work ability has improved to a certain extent, they should consider promotion. I haven't been promoted in five years. Do you think you are being too harsh on me?"

He was still laying the groundwork when He Songgao interrupted and said, "Didn't I increase your salary?"

"Yes, there was an increase--" Roger said in a long voice, "but this is not the improvement I want. As your assistant, I can share more than just those trivial things with you. I can also help you with business matters. Or do you think my business ability is not good enough and I can't help you at all?"

"Hmm." He Songgao nodded thoughtfully, as if he really began to think about this problem.

Worried that he would be embarrassed, Luo Jie quickly added: "Of course I'm just talking. It doesn't matter what I do. As long as I stay in Kaihua, I will listen to your arrangements."

He Songgao stared at him, with a genuine smile in his eyes: "So obedient?"

"Yeah." Luo Jie said, a little awkwardly, "This is not called obedience, it's called being aware. You are my boss, of course I will listen to your arrangements." In fact, if Luo Jie spoke the truth, there was another reason why he didn't want to be the president's secretary. It was a bit embarrassing to say it - a secretary, in other words, a follower, a chores. No matter how high-sounding his words were, they could not cover up his disappointment that he could not stand next to He Songgao openly on important occasions. Just like taking photos at the venue this afternoon, everyone went on stage, but Roger felt that his position was a bit awkward. As a secretary, why should he stand in the center with the boss and accept the baptism of long guns and short cannons from all directions? (This is not discrimination, but an objective evaluation. After all, secretaries have not been allowed to sit at the main table since ancient times, unless they step out from behind the scenes to the front of the stage.) This idea made Roger feel ashamed. This must not be known to the president himself. Is he going to reveal his ugly thoughts of worshipping and wanting to catch up with the president? Absolutely not. He Songgao will be so happy and he will be so ashamed.

Roger held the beer glass, feeling the cloud-like beer foam he had drunk earlier now moved to his heart, which was soft and fuzzy, a little drunk, and a little inexplicably stagnant - oh, what happened to him, why did he become different after coming to Germany?

"What are you daydreaming about?"

He Songgao's voice woke him up from his thoughts. Luo Jie straightened his back subconsciously: "What did you say?"

"I said, I'll consider it." He Songgao said, taking a sip of beer, "You're right, you might be more suitable to be my assistant. I remember you did it six or seven years ago? You're qualified, right?"

"Ah?" Luo Jie thought he had heard it wrong. Wasn't being an assistant just a joke at that time? He just thought about being lazy every day and then complained. He didn't have any awareness of sacrifice for his work. How could he be considered qualified? When did He Songgao's requirements become so low, "You, you are not deliberately mocking me, are you?"

"Am I so boring?"

That's not the case, Luo Jie counted on his fingers, "But if that is considered serious, I can be considered a model worker now... Forget it, forget it, actually I am just talking, I am quite happy to be your secretary."

"Really." He Songgao said, in a good mood, "I am also very happy."

"What are you happy about?"

"You are my secretary, I am also very happy." He Songgao said, looking at him and smiling.

In an instant, Luo Jie's heart was moved. The breeze brushed across his cheeks, bringing the coolness of the deep winter night. But I don't know why, Luo Jie's face slowly warmed up under He Songgao's gaze. He seems to be like this all the time recently. I can't help but feel hot on my face when he looks at me. I feel weird, as if I stole something very valuable from someone else. I feel guilty, nervous, awkward, and scared... Why is this happening? Is it because the cold virus in Germany is too strong and burned his brain?

Yes, that's right, that's it. Otherwise, how can we explain why his heart would keep beating when facing a man? His brain must be broken.

Shit, I didn't take my medicine today!

- He finally found the reason.