Chapter 10
Translator: Aafkee
Proofreader: Superclubs2
Lu Chuiqing is stupefied upon receiving the message.
He sits on the bed blankly for a long while, before finally giving Uncle Wang a call.
Uncle Wang is very quick to answer. Lu Chuiqing asks hesitantly, “Uncle Wang, please excuse me for calling you so late but… regarding the message you just sent me, did CEO Xiao specify what it is about?”
Uncle Wang laughs gently as he answers, “He did not specify. Boss does not normally tell me about such things, I am only responsible for fetching you to the hotel.”
Lu Chuiqing remains silent for a moment before forcing out a laugh and answers, “Okay, I understand. I will be troubling you to send me over, then.”
Lu Chuiqing can not sit still after hanging up the call.
It is already almost eight-thirty in the evening. If it was a bit earlier, Lu Chuiqing would assume that Xiao Zhan merely wishes to treat him to dinner.
But to ask him to get ready to go out at such a time, straight to Xiao Zhan’s hotel?
Lu Chuiqing sincerely does not wish to make such assumptions about others, but he is also not a young, fresh graduate like his appearance suggests. Despite not having much societal experience, there are certain things he naturally understands regardless.
Lu Chuiqing has indeed heard many rumours surrounding Xiao Zhan and his sexual life. If the majority of the people are saying that, it must have been based on some truth, but that does not stop Lu Chuiqing from taking Xiao Zhan as an aspiration in terms of his career.
Lu Chuiqing takes a deep breath. Perhaps, he is just overthinking?
Lu Chuiqing takes a shower, intentionally wearing something really proper, puts on his collar, and leaves the hotel at nine sharp.
On the other hand, Uncle Wang seems to enjoy small conversations. From time to time, he would ask Lu Chuiqing about his work recently, where he is from, which university he graduated from.
Lu Chuiqing answered all his questions. Uncle Wang smiles and says, “Mr Lu has already gotten such a good job at such a young age. I was still struggling when I was your age. You must be someone who works extremely hard, my boss appreciates people like you the most.”
Hearing Uncle Wang’s words, it feels like a bucket of ice water was poured on him, he feels so frightened as if his heart has fallen into the dark ice cave.
Uncle Wang sends Lu Chuiqing straight to the hotel entrance. Imperial Garden Hotel is City D’s well-known five-star hotel. Staring at the grand main lobby and the gigantic chandelier, Lu Chuiqing is at a loss at what to do.
Uncle Wang, “Boss is in room 1888, you can go there directly.”
In hotels such as this, rooms with an ‘8’* are all considered high-class suite rooms. Lu Chuiqing, dragging his stiff and heavy steps, takes the elevator to the eighteenth floor while contemplating the potential consequences of telling Uncle Wang that he has an emergency right now and needs to fly back to City S. Not long after, Lu Chuiqing arrives at room 1888.
(T/N*: The number 8 has a similar pronunciation as 发 from 发财, which means to get rich. Therefore, the number 8 is often used to give a good omen, especially in terms of financial gains.)
No matter, Lu Chuiqing is merely a subordinate. If Xiao Zhan wishes to see him, regardless of what the matter is, Lu Chuiqing has to meet him.
Lu Chuiqing swallows his saliva nervously and reaches out to ring the doorbell.
The door is opened after a short moment. Xiao Zhan is still wearing his going-out clothes, he has not even changed out of his leather shoes, seemingly to have just returned from outside.
Lu Chuiqing lifts his head and looks at him, asking carefully, “CEO Xiao, you are looking for me…”
Xiao Zhan turns and walks back into his room, the sound of his unrushed steps against the soft carpet sounds like a languid but dangerous leopard, making Lu Chuiqing extremely nervous.
There is an exquisite billiard table in the suite room. Xiao Zhan picks up a cue and asks, “Do you play?”
Lu Chuiqing stuns momentarily and feels slightly relieved in his heart, his body finally relaxing. Perhaps, Xiao Zhan merely wants to play billiards with him. Accompanying the bosses and playing billiards or golf with them is indeed quite common.
Feeling slightly ashamed, Lu Chuiqing answers honestly, “Please excuse me, CEO Xiao. I have never played billiards before.”
Xiao Zhan, “I’ll teach you.”
Lu Chuiqing is rendered speechless, he could only agree. As if he is walking on thin ice, Lu Chuiqing enters the room carefully and closes the door lightly.
Xiao Zhan passes him a cue and brings them both to the table, “Just imitate my posture.”
Xiao Zhan leans down, displaying the long and lean lines of his back and legs, his muscular form exposed by the fitting shirt he is currently wearing. Xiao Zhan places his full focus on the ball, his lips thin, strong jaws and prominent adam’s apple… this is a perfect body that would incite jealousy out of anyone.
Aiming and hitting the white ball with his cue, Xiao Zhan accurately hit his target into the corner pocket.
It almost felt like the impact from the ball has been transferred straight into Lu Chuiqing’s heart. He looks away frantically, a hint of anxiousness in his eyes.
Xiao Zhan straightens himself, “Give it a try.”
Lu Chuiqing answers with a nod and imitates Xiao Zhan’s posture and leans forward, his movements stiff. Xiao Zhan places one hand on Lu Chuiqing’s back lightly, while the other slightly lifts his chin. Xiao Zhan’s hands are not warm nor cold, but it causes a sense of panic in Lu Chuiqing’s heart, causing him to tense up his body involuntarily.
Xiao Zhan can feel how much Lu Chuiqing has tensed up through his lower jaws. Lu Chuiqing is a bit skinny, even his chin feels small and fine in Xiao Zhan’s hand like it is merely wrapped by a thin layer of skin and nothing else.
Xiao Zhan, “Keep your body low, head up. Observe the distance and angle, control your power when you hit the ball. Aim for the upper part of the ball to reduce the chances of it bouncing off.”
Xiao Zhan places two balls down, giving Lu Chuiqing an easy and straight route to try it out. Lu Chuiqing attempts to hit the ball nervously, successfully getting the ball into one of the pockets.
Xiao Zhan nods, “Practice by yourself.”
Lu Chuiqing answers. He lifts his head subtly, quietly following Xiao Zhan with his eyes as he sneakily observes what Xiao Zhan is doing. Xiao Zhan opens a bottle of red wine and pours a small glass for himself.
Xiao Zhan then sits on a sofa in the living room, maintaining his silence. However, Lu Chuiqing can still somehow feel an intense gaze nailed on him, making Lu Chuiqing feel wrong and awkward no matter how he stands.
Lu Chuiqing decides that he might as well take this opportunity and focus on learning how to play billiards. This could become a useful skill in the future. Xiao Zhan does not give him any further guidance, so Lu Chuiqing has no idea if he is doing it right. He can only guess and follow his guts.
Just as he was about to aim, Xiao Zhan, from not far away, asks, “Do you have a lover?”
With a “thud”, Lu Chuiqing’s cue hits the lower half of the white ball, causing it to bounce on the table, missing all the other balls. It bounces several times, making loud and piercing noises, just like Lu Chuiqing’s current nervous heartbeat.
With his back facing Xiao Zhan, Lu Chuiqing pauses momentarily before replying, “Why are you asking, CEO Xiao?”
“Why am I asking, can’t you tell?” Xiao Zhan leans on the sofa leisurely, a hint of laughter in his set of deep eyes, “Although I can clearly tell that you didn’t want to come here at all.”
Lu Chuiqing’s hand tightens on the cue, his knuckles turning white.
Lu Chuiqing feels a sense of disappointment mixed with anger, but he is not a rash person. He knows he can not let out such emotions freely. Instead, he replies, voice coarse, “CEO Xiao, I respect you… but I really hope that you would not look at me in such a way.”
Xiao Zhan replies faintly, “Whether or not I like you does not obstruct you from respecting me.”
“CEO Xiao,” Lu Chuiqing recalls what happened at the new-year gathering. That young omega next to Xiao Zhan, docile and obedient, an appearance that incites the feeling of tender affection. He does not meddle with others’ personal affairs, but that does not mean that Lu Chuiqing agrees with such practice. Lu Chuiqing’s tone turns heavy subconsciously, “Please do not be like this.”
“What do you think I want? Make you accompany me everywhere I go, like a toy?” Xiao Zhan places his glass on the tea table, stands up and slowly walks towards Lu Chuiqing, “Yes, I have many omegas like that around me, but they were not forced. They did that out of their own volition, to be treated as a toy, to rely on others for a living. If they don’t respect themselves, I don’t have the obligation to respect them either.”
Lu Chuiqing stuns, can not help himself and turns to look at Xiao Zhan.
Xiao Zhan takes the cue from Lu Chuiqing’s hand, leans forward, and hits the ball one by one into the pockets, each hit powerful but his voice remains smooth and unbothered, “I admire you, for not wanting to rely on connections to get what you want.”
There is only the white ball and a number eight black ball left on the table. Xiao Zhan stops and looks at Lu Chuiqing, “I can assure you that I have no intention of using my authority to force you. Your development in Zhong Ming Funding has nothing to do with me. My uncle also does not like people doing such rubbish in his company, nor do I have the ability to. Whether or not you leave or stay right now, will have no effect on your career.”
Xiao Zhan hits the final black ball into the pocket. The table is now empty, save for the white ball in the middle of the table.
Lu Chuiqing’s mind is blank. He feels like he is the white ball on the billiards table, having been hit around by Xiao Zhan’s cue, his brain in an absolute mess.
Xiao Zhan has no intention of forcing him with his authority? Even if he chooses to reject Xiao Zhan right now, will he not take advantage of his relationship with Zhong Ming Funding’s boss to give him a hard time in his career?
Or rather, is he seriously given an option to reject?
It seems like Xiao Zhan admires him and merely wants to have a deeper understanding of him. Xiao Zhan is… Lu Chuiqing finds it hard to use the word “pursue”. It feels inappropriate to use such a word on Xiao Zhan. At the very most, Lu Chuiqing feels that Xiao Zhan is merely interested in his personality or in a physical relationship. Perhaps Xiao Zhan is looking for a comfortable, long term sex partner?
Lu Chuiqing’s brain is buzzing. Like rusted gears, his brain is struggling to process the conversation.
Lu Chuiqing is feeling a bit frantic. His cheeks flushed due to nervousness, “CEO Xiao, I… Sorry, this is too sudden.”
Xiao Zhan turns and glances at the digital clock on the tea table, unbothered, “It is time you go back.”
Lu Chuiqing stuns, Xiao Zhan is telling him to go back?
Lu Chuiqing’s heart relaxes gradually, the nervousness disappearing, “...I understand. CEO Xiao, thank you for teaching me how to play billiards.” He pauses, face burning, “ About this, I will consider it seriously. Thank you for your admiration.”
Xiao Zhan takes out the balls from the pockets, seemingly wanting to play a few more rounds by himself, “Take the bouquet, it is for you.”
Lu Chuiqing turns, only to notice a bouquet of roses at the bar table near the entrance. It is a common type of deep-red rose, wrapped by black and golden wrappers, quiet and subdued but eye-catching at the same time.
Lu Chuiqing expresses his thanks mindlessly and takes the bouquet of roses. Looking at it, Lu Chuiqing suddenly notices a black card stamped with gold. There is a line of numbers written in fountain pen, the handwriting clean and neat.
Xiao Zhan, “That is my personal number.”
Lu Chuiqing purses his lips and hesitates for a moment before keeping the card in his pocket, and once again bids his farewell formally before opening the door and walks out.
Lu Chuiqing Don't fall for that kind of a guy. It's already a red flag when he said omegas only follow him willingly, even though he will surely leave one omega to another. Based on the first impression, Chan Yuan's better, though the toxic masculinity of him though. All in All, Lu Chuiqing, please bring and extra collar, I don't want your hardwork to go down the drain just because of an Alpha
ReplyDeleteagreed! honestly not a huge fan of ml (rn at least) he’s like high key scummy and kind of a hypocrite (“it’s ur choice” says the dude who used his authority to contact the 2 companies mc and as going to visit like ml knows exactly how that looks to other people ugh)
DeleteXiao Zhan being so smooth here ah??? thank u for the chapter~
ReplyDelete