Chapter 32: Expired in Five Months
When Shou Jiaxun opened his eyes early in the morning, Liang Bo was standing with his back to him in front of the desk, fiddling with something.
Assistant Liang was still wearing the loose T-shirt and big shorts he slept in last night. His hair was sticking up in all directions, likely having just gotten up a few minutes ago himself.
President Shou kicked his legs and stretched lazily, letting out a groan of comfort, and asked his big, goofy assistant: “Bo’er, what are you doing?”
The light “er” sound (rhotic accent) made him seem particularly familiar, like calling a child from his own family.
“Giving you medicine,” the kid said.
“Huh?” Shou Jiaxun rolled out of bed, shuffled over in his slippers, and went to see what medicine Liang Bo was giving him.
In front of Assistant Liang were the two thermos cups they bought new at the home goods store yesterday, along with several small glass jars.
Ginseng, goji berries, ginseng, blueberries, licorice.
He really was “dosing” him.
President Shou chuckled sheepishly: “When did you buy these?”
Assistant Liang’s attitude towards dispensing medicine was quite rigorous. He even had a palm-sized mini electronic scale at hand. Before each small Chinese herb went into the cup, it was weighed to ensure the appropriate amount.
Shou Jiaxun found it even more strange: “Why do you have these things?”
These were obviously not things one could buy casually on the streets of North America early in the morning.
Liang Bo threw his head back and yawned, then slowly explained to him: “My dad bought them for me to soak in water and drink. I was too lazy to do it, and they were almost expired.
I saw you needed them, so consider it waste utilization…”
“Expired? Waste?” President Shou repeated the keywords, his eyebrows almost raising to his forehead.
He picked up a jar of licorice and checked the label on the bottle.
Five-year shelf life… currently less than five months from expiration.
“Are you afraid I’ll be too moved, or do you feel pressure if the boss thanks you?” Shou Jiaxun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, slapping the silly assistant on the back.
“No?!” Liang Bo looked innocent: “I… spoke the truth.”
Shou Jiaxun raised his hand to rake his hair and scratch his head, thinking the brain circuits of young people nowadays were really cute!
Then he sighed sincerely: “Truly a good child. Carrying things unused for five years over thousands of miles on a business trip, seems you really listen to your dad.”
“It’s not… what you think.” Liang Bo looked down at his young boss beside him, his tone slightly hesitant.
Shou Jiaxun pursued: “What is it then?”
Assistant Liang chuckled憨ly: “I received your company’s interview notice at school, then arranged with HR to interview on the day I returned to China.
Given that your company location is relatively close to the airport, I interviewed first, originally planning to go home after the interview ended, result…”
Result: hired on the spot, immediately assigned to chase President Shou on a business trip, didn’t make it home.
Assistant Liang pointed back at his huge thirty-two-inch suitcase: “Everything is inside, but mostly useless stuff. Want to see?”
“No need, haha…” The unscrupulous boss smiled guiltily: “Isn’t there stuff we can use too?”
He immediately changed the subject, pointing to the other thermos cup on the table filled with iced Americano: “This one, didn’t you say you were giving it to your dad?”
Liang Bo spoke righteously: “I’m testing it out for him.”
“Wow, you are so filial.” Shou Jiaxun praised with a smile. Then he turned to go to the bathroom to wash up and “detox.”
A few minutes later, just as he was sitting on the toilet reflecting on life, the bathroom door was suddenly knocked on by Assistant Liang.
“Boss, what’s the schedule today? I’ll prepare in advance.”
President Shou looked up with a dull expression… He had never assigned work to an employee while sitting on the toilet before.
But today President Shou chose to be tolerant.
Assistant Liang outside the door soon received an electronic spreadsheet via phone, which detailed Shou Jiaxun’s itinerary for the next two weeks.
Tonight they would fly to New York, meet with an accounting firm tomorrow noon… plan to stay in New York for a week, then fly directly to Hong Kong, followed by another week of meeting arrangements there.
“President Shou, are you taking ‘Indeed’ public?” Assistant Liang knocked tap tap on the bathroom door twice, continuing to discuss work with his boss.
Shou Jiaxun bit his lip: “Can you… wait for me to come out… before chatting?”
“Okay.” Assistant Liang’s tone was quite obedient, but the next second he continued asking: “Then I have to book tickets now, right? What time exactly do you want to fly? There are quite a few flights from San Francisco to New York.”
“The fastest flight takes six hours. We might have to spend the night on the plane… You have a meeting at the accounting firm tomorrow, how about we leave a bit earlier? There will be time to rest when we get there.”
The sound of rushing water suddenly came from the bathroom. Shou Jiaxun flushed the toilet and turned on the shower directly, using environmental noise to cover Assistant Liang’s nonsense.
President Shou complained secretly while showering: “Stinky brat is definitely doing it on purpose…”
However, when he walked out of the bathroom refreshed, he was still quite pleasantly surprised inside.
Because Liang Bo had already organized all their personal items and packed them back into the luggage.
Assistant Liang hadn’t changed his underwear, just threw a white shirt open over his T-shirt. Beside the bed was a bulging polyester sports backpack with a thermos cup stuffed in each side pocket.
Looking like a college student preparing for a spring outing.
Waiting only for President Shou’s command, they could immediately start the next leg of the journey.
“Pretty fast action.” Shou Jiaxun praised with a smile.
Assistant Liang sat on the edge of the bed, stretching out two long legs, looking up to complain: “Mainly, I’m hungry.”
…Hunger was normal.
Because Shou Jiaxun slept until past ten o’clock. If they dawdled a bit more, they would even miss lunch time.
President Shou stared at Assistant Liang with a complex expression, thinking… Say he’s stupid? He does things quite cleverly; say he’s clever, he speaks like a “hamburger” (dull/naive).
“Never heard you mention your family. Is your family two dads, or mom and dad?” Shou Jiaxun asked casually while going to the luggage rack to fish out jeans and a T-shirt from the suitcase.
Liang Bo waited for him to change clothes and come out of the bathroom before answering President Shou’s earlier question: “Two dads. Both are AI engineers, work is relatively busy, usually don’t manage me much.”
Shou Jiaxun instantly understood. In his heart, he commented that Little Student Liang belonged to the typical child “raised free-range” by a double-high (high IQ, high income) family.
Two fathers with high IQs and high incomes, but busy work and no time to interfere much in the child’s growth.
To put it more bluntly, he had never been beaten since childhood.
Liang Bo inherited the high-quality genes of his two dads’ intelligence. He was smart enough, but his studies were so-so, advancing all the way relying on height and physical fitness.
However, although his brain was good, he had never deliberately cultivated EQ. He said whatever he had, didn’t know how to actively curry favor with the boss, and spoke clumsily, easily offending people.
But honesty and straightforwardness had always been President Shou’s favorite.
“Let’s go, go eat.” President Shou took the initiative to drag a small suitcase, leaving both large suitcases and the backpack for Assistant Liang.
See, people who speak unpleasantly are bullied with particular peace of mind.
Liang Bo followed behind Shou Jiaxun with big and small bags, like moving house: “Boss, let’s eat meat later? Not the burger kind.”
Shou Jiaxun nodded: “Mmhmm, leave the luggage at the front desk, you decide what to eat.”
Assistant Liang had chosen a cheesesteak restaurant on a local information website early on. After checking out and leaving the luggage at the front desk, the two walked more than two hundred meters out of the hotel and soon turned into a cheesesteak flavor restaurant.
The signature dishes were all large chunks of beef, high calorie, high protein, rich aroma.
Shou Jiaxun stared at the menu scanning for a long time before ordering: “…Cheese salad, fresh orange juice… add a fried egg.”
Liang Bo ordered two large steaks for himself, totaling more than a pound.
When the meal was served, the difference in their eating habits was clear at a glance.
Shou Jiaxun picked up his fork and casually asked his companion: “Why didn’t you order a drink?”
Assistant Liang turned sideways to take the thermos cup from his backpack.
Shou Jiaxun thought he was going to say “brought my own drink.” Thought to himself this kid is really nice, spending money where necessary, saving where possible…
Result: Liang Bo turned back and directly swapped the orange juice in front of Shou Jiaxun with a thermos cup.
President Shou was dumbfounded: “…What does this mean?”
Thought to himself, did I think wrong? Is it you spend where necessary, and I save where possible?
“Cold food with ice water isn’t healthy. You drink something hot, give this to me.” The reason given by Assistant Liang was quite “righteous,” and he drank the juice very happily.
“I just… wanted to drink something sweet.” President Shou didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I’ll order another cup.”
Assistant Liang looked stubborn, reaching out to pop open the thermos lid for President Shou: “This is sweet too. I put a lot of licorice in it. Not only sweet, but also protects the throat.”
President Shou, unable to refuse the kindness, had to try holding the thermos cup and sipping.
Not used to the taste; the sweetness was a big step down from orange juice.
But he had to admit, the feeling of drinking it was very soothing, and his throat felt comfortable.
Shou Jiaxun received two calls while chewing vegetarian salad like a rabbit.
The first was from Guo Duoyu, asking him to join the high school class chat group.
Shou Jiaxun immediately obediently clicked the invitation card.
However, at the same time as entering the chat group, he immediately clicked “Do Not Disturb” on the function settings page.
Assistant Liang craned his neck to look, whispering: “People pulled you into the group, surely they want to chat with you. Even if you turn on do not disturb, you should greet everyone first, then block it tomorrow.”
President Shou nodded in agreement: “Very reasonable.” But he refused to correct it.
Sure enough, in less than two minutes, the tag of that class group flashed with red stars. Who knew how many people were tagging Shou Jiaxun to speak at the same time.
Assistant Liang looked mocking: “See, I told you so…”
Shou Jiaxun swiped open the group chat to take a look. The last message tagging him said: “Why not make a sound after joining the group? Late at night, what exactly are you busy with?”
President Shou pasted his phone against the restaurant window glass, took a casual photo of the “bright sunny sky” and sent it, then voice typed: “Busy catching a plane uh… Brothers, as the saying goes, green hills do not change, green water flows forever, talk details when I land.”
In pan-social situations, “wait for me to land” and “meal next time” were similar in nature; there was a high probability there would be no “next time.”
So no matter how the group chat flashed later, President Shou only focused on eating and joking with Assistant Liang.
Liang Bo became more curious: “You have a bad relationship with your high school classmates?”
“Of course not.” Shou Jiaxun shrugged his eyebrows: “I’m afraid they’ll feel inferior seeing me. After all, I’m so excellent.”
Assistant Liang raised a hand to cover his face, sending him a live-action “can’t bear to look” emoji package.
That chat group wasn’t a campus management group, so Shou Jiaxun didn’t voluntarily leave the group after leaving school back then.
He was kicked out of the group by Class Monitor Xiao Yu.
Returning to the group now would definitely make Xiao Yu feel awkward. In case he said something wrong and provoked the “Great Filial Son” to go crazy and kick him again…
Double social death, even more awkward.
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