Chi Zhan glanced meaningfully at Zhou Yanxing, who hadn’t said a single word since arriving.
Since everyone knew each other, they decided to squeeze into one table. Chu Xingxiao, quick as ever, darted in and snagged the seat directly across from Chi Zhan.
“I was actually planning to surprise you,” Tao Ran sighed dramatically. “President Zhou contacted me first to ask if I had time over Christmas. He knew we were close, so he wanted me to hang out with you for a few days. Said he’d cover my lost wages—your boss is seriously amazing. I think he’s truly in love with you! But that puppy-eyed cutie seemed pretty nice too. Did you see how he blushed when he looked at you just now? So innocent it’s almost unreal!”
Tao Ran had always been obsessed with BL comics, the kind filled with beautiful, chiseled men. In reality, it was usually a wasteland of busted faces. So when he found himself staring at two god-tier handsome guys in one place, he half-thought he’d crossed into another dimension.
“How did he know you and I are friends?” Chi Zhan asked suspiciously.
“You forgot? My apartment is owned by your company. Plus, the company I work for is a Zhou Rui subsidiary. It’s just tiny, so we hardly ever interact with HQ except during annual reports,” Tao Ran explained. “Come to think of it, my boss did ask recently if I knew you. Must’ve been Zhou testing the waters.”
The two of them sat huddled, whispering to each other with the kind of closeness that raised eyebrows, until Chu Xingxiao’s voice rang out.
“Gege, if you don’t start eating, the food’s gonna get cold.”
Tao Ran’s eyes practically sparkled.
“Oho~ he cares about you, huh?”
Chi Zhan had no words. He picked up his soup and started drinking in silence.
“Try this.”
Chu Xingxiao had finished slicing his steak and gently pushed the plate toward Chi Zhan. At the same time, Zhou Yanxing also slid over a plate with perfectly cut steak.
Now Secretary Chi had two neatly sliced steaks in front of him—but he could only choose one. It was the classic no-win scenario:
If your boyfriend and your boss fall into the water, who do you save first?
Save the boyfriend, and once the boss gets rescued, he’s guaranteed to go nuclear—docking your salary, slashing your performance score, cutting your bonus. The fallout would be brutal.
+10 Life Stress / Mental Pressure
Save the boss, and while the boyfriend wouldn’t say anything, he’d give you those betrayed puppy-dog eyes all the way home. If you didn’t grovel and apologize, forget forgiveness. Worse, he might start suspecting you were hooking up with your boss: “Who do you love more, me or him?!”
+10 Mental Pressure
-10 Conscience
Zhou Yanxing watched him leisurely, eyes filled with unspoken threat: If you don’t accept mine, deal with the consequences.
Chu Xingxiao, meanwhile, was looking up at Chi Zhan like an eager puppy: If we’re playing the boyfriend act, we’d better sell it all the way.
Chi Zhan remained perfectly calm.
“Oh, there are two? Just as well, I’m starving. Guess I’ll graciously accept.”
He took both plates without flinching—then slid one of his own untouched steaks across the table with a polite smile. “Now I’ve only got one. Why don’t you two figure out how to split the extra?”
“……”
“……”
As the saying goes—if you can’t solve a problem, toss it right back and let the others fight it out.
Chu Xingxiao chimed in, “I don’t eat much at night. Gotta watch my figure. President Zhou, why don’t you take it?”
Zhou Yanxing shot him a look.
“Skip too many meals and you’ll stunt your growth.”
Chu Xingxiao’s eyes gleamed with challenge.
“Who says I’m not eating? Gege, can you feed me a bite? And as for that plate, maybe President Zhou should have it…After all, no one else is gonna feed him.”
Damn, you’re really out here taunting Zhou Yanxing to his face… impressive. Chi Zhan quietly gripped his plate, ready to stop Zhou from flipping the table.
But Zhou Yanxing didn’t even flinch. He just said calmly, “Well, I won’t stand on ceremony, then.”
Tao Ran muttered under his breath, “I don’t even recognize the phrase ‘won’t stand on ceremony’ anymore…”
Ever since Zhou Yanxing showed up, Chu Xingxiao had gone full drama queen—picking out scallions from Chi Zhan’s soup one moment, talking about some mysterious surprise gift the next. Said Chi Zhan would get to see it once they got home.
Mentioning gifts jogged Chi Zhan’s memory—he’d originally planned to give the jade pendant to Chu Xingxiao tonight, but the whole plan had gone off the rails.
Zhou Yanxing said lightly, “Secretary Chi bought some gifts today. Weren’t they for your friends?”
Those little boxes were still in Chi Zhan’s coat pocket. Tao Ran leaned in, curious.
“What kind of gifts?”
“Saw them in a little shop in town,” Chi Zhan said as he pulled out a box and handed it to him. “See if you like it.”
“Gege went shopping for gifts today?” Chu Xingxiao’s face fell slightly.
If Cen Chi wasn’t there, then the only one who could’ve gone with Chi Zhan… was Qi Song.
He never should’ve let them be alone.
Zhou Yanxing cast a sidelong glance at him, sending the provocation right back.
“Oh? You didn’t know?”
Tao Ran opened the box and gasped,
“Wow—so pretty! And delicate! Is this bamboo?”
“Do you like it? I just stumbled on the shop by accident. We can go together next time.”
Zhou Yanxing added, “The one you gave me—I really liked it too.”
Chu Xingxiao’s expression froze.
Giving one to a friend was one thing… But why did Zhou Yanxing have one too?
Zhou raised a brow at Chu Xingxiao.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t get one?”
Chu Xingxiao was left speechless. He honestly wasn’t sure. He could only stare at Chi Zhan like a neglected puppy.
Chi Zhan found the whole thing funny.
“Of course I got you one.”
He reached into his pocket again—no, not that one. Switched boxes—huh? Still not the right one.
He’d bought exactly five, had even asked the shop to engrave initials on each one: one for Qi Song, one for Tao Ran, one for Zhou Yanxing, and two more—one for Chu Xingxiao, and one for Cen Chi.
But now, only Cen Chi’s and…
Chi Zhan glanced at the label on the box in his hand.
Shanshui Brand.
That one was meant for Zhou Yanxing.
A terrible realization crept over him.
He must’ve given Zhou Yanxing… Chu Xingxiao’s gift by mistake.
“……”
