Chapter 100: You’re Truly Capable
The autumn chill descended suddenly one evening.
The resort was grandly constructed, harmonious and imposing. It was said that a master had been consulted for the site selection, ensuring the mountain’s Feng Shui and magnetic fields were comforting.
“Young Master Wen, it’s too cold here. Perhaps we should head back early.”
Wen Yan was stunned for a second before realizing the title was meant for him. The autumn wind was laced with the dampness of the mountains, seeping into his bones. With his current health, standing in this wind for a few more minutes would likely lead to him falling ill.
Wen Yan didn’t respond, which served as a silent agreement. He turned to head back. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a direct gaze—it was the person who had been staring at him in the hall earlier.
The man’s friend was talking to him, but he was staring at Wen Yan, lost in thought. Wen Yan lowered his eyes, listening to the other conversation.
“Qiu Yuan? Qiu Yuan!” Ming Qing finally noticed Qiu Yuan’s distraction and waved a hand in front of his face. “Are you listening to me?”
The hand blocked his view of the person standing there, and Qiu Yuan finally snapped out of it. “What is it?”
“Should I go say hello to President Pei?” Ming Qing’s voice grew weak before he added guiltily, “He’s my boss. It might be bad if I don’t go, right?”
“Whatever you want,” Qiu Yuan replied dismissively, his eyes uncontrollably drifting back. The person had definitely noticed him staring; would they think he was a creep?
“Young Master Wen, it’s too cold here. Perhaps we should head back early,” the waiter whispered again.
Hearing the title, Qiu Yuan naturally assumed Wen Yan was a young master from a prominent family. Unfortunately, he had only come to A University city on a business trip for this resort project and wasn’t familiar with the locals. He could only make a mental note of the surname “Wen,” planning to investigate later.
“Wen”—the surname suited him well. Gentle and soft (Wenrun).
When Wen Yan walked past them, he stopped. A very faint fragrance drifted by, laced with the cold air of the balcony. Qiu Yuan held his breath, blinking as he looked at Wen Yan from this distance. He was beautiful; every feature was perfectly placed. Being so close, he could even see a small mole beneath Wen Yan’s eye.
“Go on. He doesn’t need to socialize right now.”
The two were stunned for a moment before realizing he was responding to Ming Qing’s earlier question. Wen Yan lowered his gaze, his long lashes obscuring his light-colored eyes. He looked expressionless. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to overhear your conversation.”
“It’s… it’s fine,” Ming Qing said, his ears burning. He spoke with a stutter, relieved he hadn’t said anything inappropriate. “I’ll go right now.”
Qiu Yuan also finally found his voice, putting on a bright smile and offering a frank invitation. “There’s a conservatory here. It’s too cold outside; would you like to take a walk? I can show you the way.”
The aura of the bodyguards behind Wen Yan immediately became oppressive. One stepped forward, about to refuse on his behalf.
Wen Yan didn’t hesitate for a second. “I’ll go.”
Ming Qing struggled with his internal conflict before deciding to join them, his nerves still getting the better of him.
Along the way, Qiu Yuan introduced the layout of the resort. As an architect, he was very familiar with it. Wen Yan responded simply at the right moments, never making it feel like he was being dismissive.
Realizing he might be overexcited, Qiu Yuan finally stopped talking, and the three of them walked together for a while.
“When you meet him, there’s no need to be nervous,” Wen Yan said suddenly. The two were startled, and Ming Qing hurriedly acknowledged it.
Wen Yan’s gaze lingered on Ming Qing for a moment. Light-colored clothes, tall, fair skin, young—he should fit Pei Zhouye’s aesthetic perfectly.
He continued, his voice flat. “Perhaps you could talk to him about Mingde Technology’s carbon nanotube IPO? Are you familiar with that area?”
He sounded a bit uncertain in the latter half, but the question was mostly for himself. Although Pei Zhouye had taken over the entire Pei family, he still placed immense importance on Pei’s Tech, especially the Morning Star series. Lately, many of the files in Pei Zhouye’s study were about Mingde Technology.
He wasn’t sure if Ming Qing, as a special assistant, had been following it. Pei Zhouye wouldn’t easily let his subordinates know his intentions before making a decision; Wen Yan had sensed this during his time working for him.
“Mingde Technology is betting on carbon-based technology, integrating the entire chain from materials to sensors…” Wen Yan didn’t pause for long, giving Ming Qing an introduction and a brief summary of his thoughts.
Ming Qing listened intently. Within three minutes, his expression shifted from nervous to ecstatic. Once Wen Yan finished, he beamed. “I understand. Thank you!”
Qiu Yuan gave Ming Qing a slight nudge with his elbow, and Ming Qing met his eyes. Qiu Yuan’s hint for him to leave was practically a direct order. Ming Qing blinked and smiled.
“Then I’ll be going. You two enjoy the walk.”
Once the two agreed, Ming Qing turned back immediately, walking quickly as if he couldn’t wait to get back.
Qiu Yuan was amused by the reaction. He turned to Wen Yan with a smile, his gaze softening further. “Let’s head to the conservatory.”
The person behind them cleared his throat, drawing both their gazes. The bodyguard had only kept quiet earlier because Ming Qing and Qiu Yuan were both with Wen Yan; now that Ming Qing was gone, Wen Yan would be alone in a conservatory with another man. President Pei would go insane if he found out. Thinking of Pei Zhouye’s potential reaction, his expression turned grim. There was no room for negotiation.
Wen Yan looked at him flatly. He knew the bodyguard wouldn’t let him negotiate, yet he still hesitated before saying, “What if I call him and tell him?”
The bodyguard was surprised by Wen Yan’s initiative. After a moment, he handed over the phone. Qiu Yuan met Wen Yan’s eyes; he politely looked away, while Wen Yan gave him a grateful smile.
“What is it?” the voice on the other end asked.
Wen Yan: “It’s me.”
“Baby?” Pei Zhouye’s tone lifted, his smile practically radiating through the line. Shen Yao’s voice could be heard in the background. The pet name was clearly for the benefit of his friends. “Tired of walking? I’ll come find you.”
Nearby, someone could be heard laughing, saying, “Is this how Master Pei dates?” and “Brother, aren’t you being a bit too sappy?” Pei Zhouye didn’t respond, the curve of his smile never wavering.
Wen Yan was silent for a moment before speaking. “I’m going to the conservatory with a new friend. I’ll be back a bit later.”
Pei Zhouye didn’t answer.
“It won’t be long,” Wen Yan added.
Only then did he finally relent. “Alright.”
The call ended, and the bodyguard took the phone back. He considered reporting the details, but Wen Yan gave him a cold look.
“ I’ve already told him.”
The bodyguard hesitated but eventually put the phone away in silence. “I understand, Young Master Wen. I didn’t mean anything by it,” he said with a grin, though he planned to report it secretly later.
Wen Yan couldn’t be bothered. He just needed to delay as much as possible. He walked closer to Qiu Yuan.
Qiu Yuan smiled at him, joking, “Who was that? You even have to report in.” Seeing that Wen Yan didn’t answer, he didn’t pry. “It’s fine, just a casual question.”
Wen Yan’s tone on the phone hadn’t sounded like a boyfriend’s; it sounded more like a report to a family patriarch.
As an architect, Qiu Yuan had access to most areas of the resort. A servant pushed open the large doors.
Following around a corner, Wen Yan was stunned by the sight. He stood outside for a moment before entering the conservatory. It was a massive glass structure, warm and filled with the fragrance of flowers. The blooms inside were beautiful and rare, but they looked fragile. There were flowers of every kind—many varieties he’d never seen—in shades of red, pink, and blue. In a corner sat a patch of yellow and green. As he drew near, he saw it was a field of sunflowers. They seemed to grow aggressively, their pale yellow faces all pointing outward in a way that looked almost eerie.
Wen Yan stared at them.
Qiu Yuan noticed his gaze and explained, “The resort isn’t open yet, so the conservatory hasn’t been officially pruned. The designer said this area wasn’t suitable for this type of sunflower, but the owner thought the pictures looked good and transplanted them anyway. Now they’ve grown like this, and we’re not sure if they can even be fixed. Do you like sunflowers?”
He was just making conversation and didn’t expect an answer. He’d noticed Wen Yan was a man of few words; he only spoke more when explaining the project to Ming Qing.
“I do.”
Qiu Yuan looked over in surprise. Wen Yan’s gaze was faint. Due to his poor health, his lips were pale, and combined with his quiet nature, his aura was very delicate. He never would have associated him with a flower as intense as a sunflower.
“I used to like them very much,” Wen Yan said, looking away. His long lashes lowered to hide his emotions. “I still do.”
Reception Hall.
After rushing back, Ming Qing stood in a spot for a moment, catching his breath and straightening his clothes. He scanned the room and soon found Pei Zhouye at the center of a crowd.
Pei Zhouye was easy to find; his height, striking features, and aura made him stand out. The crowd naturally kept a slight distance. He was eye-catching and attractive—the kind of person people were afraid to approach but desperately wanted to follow.
Ming Qing finally mustered his courage, trying not to look intentional as he stepped forward. Pei Zhouye’s gaze swept over him flatly, but he said nothing.
Ming Qing braced himself and greeted him. “President Pei, I didn’t expect to run into you here. What a coincidence.”
“Mm,” Pei Zhouye hummed in response.
Ming Qing froze. Seeing that Pei Zhouye’s patience was about to run out, he spoke hurriedly, “President Pei! I heard you’ve been following Mingde Technology lately…”
The shout made Pei Zhouye pause. He turned his dark eyes toward Ming Qing, but there was no trace of a smile in them.
“Who did you hear that from?”
Ming Qing didn’t dare tell the truth. In his panic, he told a lie. “I don’t remember. I’ve just been following them lately too…” He repeated Wen Yan’s words verbatim.
Pei Zhouye said nothing, while Ming Qing’s clenched hands trembled with nerves.
Wang Shu, watching this new assistant—who didn’t yet know he’d been reassigned—looking like he was about to burst with anxiety, felt a bit of pity. He spoke up to mediate. “Brother Pei, what he said was actually quite good, wasn’t it?”
Pei Zhouye gave a forced smile. “Mm. His memory is indeed quite good.”
Ming Qing’s smile stiffened before it even fully formed. He looked at Pei Zhouye in surprise. Ignoring their shock, Pei Zhouye asked coldly, “He sent you?”
Ming Qing didn’t dare lie any further. He was nearly in tears. “Yes. President Pei, I didn’t mean to lie to you…”
“Where is he now?” Pei Zhouye interrupted.
Ming Qing stopped talking. He couldn’t guess the relationship between Wen Yan and Pei Zhouye, but seeing the man like this, he was afraid for Qiu Yuan.
Pei Zhouye had no patience to wait. His voice turned dark. “You can go.”
Seeing the sadness in Ming Qing’s eyes, Wang Shu explained, “You’ve been reassigned.”
“It has nothing to do with this,” Wang Shu added casually. “The notice was sent out before this. It’s likely already on your phone.”
Setting aside the lie, the reckless way he had shouted about Pei Zhouye’s business in front of so many people made him unfit to be a personal assistant. Wang Shu had only helped earlier because he thought the ideas were good—turns out they were Wen Yan’s.
Ming Qing numbly checked his phone and found a text about a generous final paycheck and a reassignment notice. He had been so busy he hadn’t noticed.
Pei Zhouye had already strode away. Wang Shu, seeing he had nothing else to do, followed quickly. Pei Zhouye’s aura was incredibly low, and Wang Shu didn’t know how to start. After a long conflict, he asked tentatively, “Where is Wen Yan now?”
Pei Zhouye let out a cold laugh, his pace quickening. “In the conservatory.”
He added sarcastically, “Looking at flowers with someone.”
Wang Shu thought about who Ming Qing had come with and put the pieces together. He didn’t dare speak again.
Good heavens. The two friends were each trying to steal a “corner of the wall,” one for each of them. They certainly had guts. Wen Yan likely realized Ming Qing had feelings for Pei Zhouye and taught him how to talk to him.
Wang Shu thought about how he’d told Pei Zhouye that Wen Yan was jealous and how Pei Zhouye had bothered to entertain him… Wang Shu shut his mouth. That wasn’t jealousy; Wen Yan was clearly pushing Ming Qing to get close to Pei Zhouye. Even if he were Zhuge Liang himself, he wouldn’t have seen that coming.
Wang Shu followed silently like a quail.
Ever since seeing the sunflowers, Wen Yan’s spirits had been low. His health was poor, and after walking for so long, he was exhausted.
Qiu Yuan noticed and adjusted his pace, unwilling to part from Wen Yan too quickly. They walked back slowly. Truly tired, Wen Yan sat down on a bench. Qiu Yuan, feeling it was inappropriate to sit beside him, stood and watched him.
It was very late, and the sky outside was pitch black.
Seeing Wen Yan’s weary, half-asleep state, Qiu Yuan called out softly, “Wen Yan.”
Wen Yan looked up. His clear eyes reflected the lights like a pool of water.
“Could I have your contact information? Can I see you again?”
Before Wen Yan could refuse, he heard footsteps. He turned his head.
“No.”
Pei Zhouye, his face dark, stopped in front of them. He stood there, his cold gaze sweeping over Qiu Yuan before settling heavily on Wen Yan’s pale face.
Silence stretched between the three of them, so thick you could almost hear the air freezing.
After a long time, Pei Zhouye squeezed a sentence through his teeth.
“Wen Yan, you’re truly capable.”
Translator’s Note:
Things just went from 0 to 100! Wen Yan finding comfort in the stray cats is so sweet, but the “cherishing the present” from Pei Zhouye feels like an ominous calm before the storm.
Cultural/Term Notes:
- Picking the tallest out of the dwarves (矮子裏面拔高個): An idiom meaning to pick the best out of a bad bunch. Wen Yan choosing to trust Wang Shu over the others.
- Hating the house and its crows (愛屋及烏/恨屋及烏): Loving or hating something by association. Wen Yan distrusting Shen Yao because of his closeness to Pei Zhouye.
- Green Tea (綠茶): Slang for someone (usually a girl, but can be used for guys) who acts innocent and sweet but is actually manipulative. Shen Yao jokingly used it on himself.
- Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮): A famous military strategist in Chinese history, often used as a synonym for someone incredibly brilliant.
- Good for you / You’re truly capable (你真是好本事): A very common sarcastic remark in Chinese when someone has managed to pull something off (like Wen Yan “managing” to find another man to hang out with).
See you in the next chapter!
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